Beloved Artwork

by Audrey Wauson

When you look at me, what is it you see?
A piece of driftwood abandoned by the sea?
Then you are missing what I was meant to be

For I'm in the process of becoming a different kind of me
One without splinters, shapely and formed
Displaying His beauty, a beloved artwork.

The Carver knew the shape and the size
And set out to make a most valuable prize
So gentle and tender He picked me up
And began sanding and buffing the rough
Torn ugly surface, that hides all the lines
And curves of His graceful, beloved artwork

Unlike most others, the Carver still sees
The dream He's creating so surely in me
When I squirmed and I wriggled out of His hand
Destroying His timing, delaying His plan
He stained me with His blood and polished me with grace
Purposely finishing me, His creation, His beloved artwork

To eveyone else I may look like some driftwood
Abandoned, forgotten, useless and no good
But to the Carver, I'm precious and rare
Worth all His time, devotion and care
He's carefully, patiently, loving, holding
His costly treasure, His beloved artwork

You Are The God Who Sees Me

by Barbara Chadwick

Genesis 16:13-14
Sarai, Abraham’s wife, had no children so she asked Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar. When Hagar conceived she began to despise Sarai. Sarai complained to Abraham who told her to just deal with it. So Sarai mistreated Hagar and Hagar ran away.

The angel of the Lord finds Hagar near a spring in the desert. He talks to her and tells her to go back to her mistress and submit to her. In verse 11 the angel says to her, “You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” (Ishmael means God hears) God had heard her cries.

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me,’ That is why the well was Beer Lahai Roi.” Beer Lahai Roi means well of the Living One who sees me.

Lord God, You see us? Do you see us when our sickness makes us weak, when our pain consumes our minds and we forget to praise You? Do you see us when our feelings are hurt, when we are criticized and we cower in our darkness and our prayers seem to rise only to the ceiling? Do you see us when we have financial struggles and we feel like You are withholding Your wisdom and Blessings?

Help us, Lord. Give us strength to look up and carry on. Your eyes see us. Lift our faces to You as a mother lifts the face of her child and says, “Look at me, I’m speaking to you.” Because only then can we face the day. Only then can we face the situation. Only then can we experience the blessing of Your presence, “The living One who sees me.”

The Happy Way Is To Obey: Part II

by Audrey Wauson

Why? ... Why is the happy way to obey?
(Have you ever noticed that we never seem to get past the age of three when it comes to doing something that we’re not really keen on doing, or something that doesn’t make sense to us? We still want to know, Why?)

Why? Because, “Obedience is the opener of eyes.” says George Macdonald. The training that we receive from our parents is invaluable. Pretty much regardless of the kind of parents we had. This training, or raising, opens our eyes to the great big world of ‘not me.’ When we’re tiny we live under the delusion that it’s all about me. But gradually, thanks to our parents, we learn there are other people out there who sometimes take priority over our time, attention, and love. God knew who we were going to have as parents and He knows what kind of parents we will be. And somehow it is His divine plan, His purpose, that we learn from our parents everything that we need to learn to have a long, full life. What is it Jesus says…
“My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” John 10:10 NLT

What is a full life? I think it’s going to be a God-filled life, a life of purpose and direction, full of laughter and tears, gladness and sorrow, challenges and accomplishments, defeats and victories. It will be a life where God never leaves us, doesn’t abandon us, doesn’t forget about us, or reject us. But calls us His very own sons and daughters. And is always working for our good, because He is good!Honoring/obeying is not a feeling that seems right, or something that we need to pray about whether or not we should do it. It’s just one of those things that we do, because God said so! Honoring/obeying is all based on trust. Do I believe God when He says that if I will honor then I will be honored and receive the promise? Do I trust God to know what is best for me? Do I believe that He really knows who my parents are and how hard/impossible it seems to be to honor?

Ok, so how do we teach honor/obedience to our children? - We model it.
That’s what Jesus did. “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” Luke 2:51 NIV Then He said, "If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15-16 NLT

And we train/disciple it in. We gently tell them to hush so that we can speak to them. We remind them that we love them and that we are going to do whatever it takes to comfort, care, and provide for them. We do what we say we will do. Therefore we don’t lie and say that we’re going to stop loving them if they don’t stop doing such and such. We don’t threaten them with days of sitting in the corner when we know that we’ll only supervise 30 minutes of it. We don’t throw fits and scream and yell at them trying to intimidate them into doing what we want them to do. We don't ignore them and their behavior, deluding ourselves into thinking that it doesn't matter what they do. Nor do we lazily ignore the whole situation and focus on our own interests and desires.

Instead, we think about the outcome, the result, the finished product. What is it that we want to see our children doing and saying next year? When they are 10? 20? When they are parents? What does God want our children to know? How does He want them to behave? Then we set clear and defined rules that they can be understand and that we are willing to enforce. (More than a handful of rules is too many.) Then we obey our rules, and we all suffer if we disobey them. We suffer because it means we have to do the dirty work of discipline (sometimes in the form of corporal punishment – which is always painful, but often in the form of practicing – which is really almost more difficult for us as parents) And they suffer, who wants to be disciplined? However, we can all be like Christ when we submit to discipline.

...Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered ... Heb 5:8 NIV

After disciplining our children, we should remind them of our love for them, of our plans for their future, plans that will prosper them and not harm them, plans to give them a hope and a future… Where have we heard that before? Hmm… ;) …Jeremiah 29:11

Really and truly, the happy way is to obey!

The Happy Way Is To Obey

by Audrey Wauson

We used a curriculum in kindergarten with our sons that had a little ditty that said, “The happy way is to obey.” (Kindergarten is a very foundational time ;) And oh how much happier we all were when they obeyed! Obedience… it’s what Samuel talked about to Saul when he said… …Obedience is far better than sacrifice… 1 Sam 15:22-23 NLT

The Bible tells us to…
"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.” Ex 20:12 NLT

“Children, obey your parents …”

This is the first of the Ten Commandments that ends with a promise.

And this is the promise: If you honor your father and mother,

"you will live a long life, full of blessing." Eph 6:1-3 NLT

How is it that honoring our moms and dads is THE only commandment with a promise? Why not “love God with all your heart, soul, and mind…so that you will live a long full life?”

There are some differences between obedience and honor, but not much

Definitions of honor
· a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
· bestow honor or rewards upon;
· show respect towards
Definitions of obedience
· dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
· the trait of being willing to obey
· Obedience is the willingness to follow the will of others.

Note: obedience is NOT just doing what the other person tells us to do. There is an agreeing on our part to become a part of the problem, the process, or the solution. Still, we can’t get away from the fact that God says honor/obedience is the key to living a long, full life. So, even after we are past the age of having to obey our parents we still have to honor, IF we want to live a long, full life.

The Next 50

by Audrey Wauson

Today I turned 50 … nifty 50. It is not something I’m ashamed of. I’m not 29 and holding. Although I enjoyed being 29, I also enjoyed being 30, and 40, and intend to enjoy being 50. I kinda wish my hair would turn gray or white or frosted so that I’d look like I had some wisdom about me. But it’s still my dishwater blonde … highlighted reddish blonde … that’s it’s been for years. I still weigh basically the same 135 – 140 pounds. I still have my ADD tendencies. I still enjoy talking and meeting people. I still love to sing. Basically I’m still me. The me that you know (the good, the bad, the ugly).

If you are reading this you are someone who has helped to shape who I’ve become in some way or another. But there is a me that you don’t know. The me that I was meant to be. The me that I sometimes avoid. This is the me that I hope you will someday see. The me that I hope you will pray for me to be. The me that I need to be.

In the first 50 years of my life I was blessed with abundant blessings: good health, healthy children, a good … great marriage, wonderful friends, opportunities to travel, educational endeavors and achievements, lovely houses to live in, wonderful neighbors, saw many beautiful sunrises and sunsets, heard amazingly glorious music, felt the softness of a baby’s hand, tasted some delicious food, smelled the sweet fragrance of beautiful flowers, through all of which I learned a knowledge of God.

In the first 50 years of my life I was also blessed with many trials: sick children, hospital stays, stressful moves, loneliness, lack of monetary funds, quarrels, roaches & mice, leaking roofs & toilets & sinks, friends who rejected me and friends who died, rebellious children, fights with my spouse, cancer, car accidents, broken appliances, misunderstandings … through all of which I learned more about trusting and believing in God.

When I think back on my life though, it revolved around me; what I wanted, my goals, my plans, my dreams, my desires, my friends, my family, my neighbors … my, my, my.

In this second half of my life I want to learn a healthy fear of God. What will it take? Where do I start? What does the Lord require of me but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God? How in the world do I do that? Where do I learn to fear Him? God please let me hear from You clearly! Lord, please reveal Yourself to me very clearly … at least in such a way that I do not doubt Your direction … please Lord, use me. Here I am, your servant, … use me.

Also, in this second half of my life my plan, my dream is to pursue what God wants. I want to find out what His goals are, His dreams & desires, who His friends are, who does He call family … I want my thoughts to be about Him and His. What I want now for the next 50 years is to live every day, every moment reflecting Him, doing the things that He wants me to do, the things that He created me to do.

I want to thank you for being my friend, for sharing with me. I pray that God will bless you for every act of kindness that you have shown to me and my family. And that you would feel His blessing upon your life. I truly hope that you enjoyed this day, December 18, 2008, my birthday.

Audrey Wauson

Be Thanksful

by Barbara Chadwick

Psalms 92:1
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your
name, O Most High.

When I am thankful my spirit lifts from the ground to the sky. Try it
and you'll see that it works.

Today I am thankful for:
God's Love
God's provision throughout life
God's mercy and grace to me -the imperfect, ungracious, undeserving one
God's leading
Opportunities to serve Him
Family - Godly parents, a Godly husband, Children who love and serve
Him, and Grandchildren who love and serve Him
Our home - and that we can share it with others
The beauty of the mountains that surround our home
Sunrises and Sunsets and their dependability
Snow
Stars - the incredible beauty of a clear night sky
Seasons
Music and how it lifts our spirits
Praise to the Lord
Seeing God work in people's lives
Seeing the giftedness in individuals
Friends
Health - in our 60's and 70's we can still:
walk and climb stairs,
drive, exercise, love,
read, cook, clean house (ugh)
play piano, write, work on computer
For church

God's Blessings are: Incredible, Uncountable, Reliable, Dependable,
Generous, Inspiring

Will They Remember You?

by Audrey Wauson

As I was reading my Bible this morning I was noticing that whenever I think of Mary and Joseph, I think of Jesus. And whenever I think of Zachariah and Elizabeth I think of what God allowed them to be a part of. And when I think of the shepherds and the wise men, I think of God’s glory and angels.

It got me to thinking… when my name is mentioned …do people think of Him? Is my story… hmm.

You see we each of us tell each other stories all day long. We explain how we got an A on the exam, the studying that went into it etc. We explain to each other the intricate details of how we got into and out of a fight with someone else. And usually we tell our story in such a way as to highlight why we were right and they were wrong. We recount the funny, sad, strange things that happen in our lives. But how prominent is He in our stories. Read through the Old and New Testament, lots of great plots, twists, turns… but who are the stories about? What is the point?... God, His Son Jesus, the gift of His Spirit, salvation, grace, mercy, and love.

Anyways, I got to wondering this morning …do my stories lead to Him? What is the plot? Is He the climax of my stories? Do my stories reveal more of His character to others? Do I remind myself and others through my narratives that there is no god like my God? It got me to wondering …

Is there enough evidence of You, in me
That when others hear my name …
They remember You?

Daily someone new is born
Born to display Your grace
“born to” grows into …(not often) “lived to” …
Have I lived to spread Your fame?

After I am dead and gone
In the stories told about me …
Will they remember You?

Please Dear God, I don’t ever want to forget who You are and what You have done for me. Especially this season, when I am reminded of how ordinary people trusted You enough to tell others of the truly great things that You did in their lives. You are so amazing! Please help me to tell my stories in such a way that people remember that “nothing is impossible with God” Luke 1:37 and we “are blessed because we believe that the Lord will do what He says” Luke 1:45. Help me to spread Your fame throughout the whole earth!