GOODBYE

by Barbara Chadwick

What a lovely thing it is to go for a visit, bask in the love of family, enjoy the fellowship of old friends, see new things and meet new people.

But there always comes a time to say goodbye. We will leave beautiful Sitka by the sea and return to our Colorado mountain home tomorrow.

Also, I want to say goodbye to our readers. This has been a meaningful journey for me but this will be the last blog for Reflections For Life. Thank you for reading these many weeks.

There are many words of goodbye in scripture. I have chosen three to share with you.

We have this beautiful benediction in the book of Numbers:

The LORD bless you and keep you;

 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.  Numbers 6:24-26

The apostle Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians with these words:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

And finally the comforting words of Jesus as He was preparing the disciples for His departure:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

GROWTH

by Barbara Chadwick

“Salvation is the miracle of a moment. Growth is the labor of a lifetime.”
(Posted on the marquee at the First Baptist Church, Sitka, Alaska)

Genesis tells this story of Jacob.  (Genesis 27:5-29 and 28:10-22

Jacob stole Esau’s blessing and Esau vowed to kill him so Jacob fled.  On the way he had a dream: There was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven… and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it…The Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring…Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you…

Then Jacob made a vow saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God…And of all that You give me I will give a full tenth to You.”

See how selfish and cynical he is?  IF God will be with me – IF God will give me bread to eat – IF God will give me clothing to wear – THEN the LORD shall be my God!

Well, as Kenneth says, he hadn’t had much experience with God yet. But let’s follow him a little.

Jacob goes to his uncle Laban, works seven years for Rachel and Laban gives Leah to him. He works seven more years for Rachel. Fourteen years the man worked for these two wives and in addition six years for his flock. Then we see that, the man increased greatly and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.  (Genesis 30:43)  Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” (Genesis 31:3)

Jacob leaves, sneaking away in the night from Laban with wives, servants and animals.  Laban catches up and accuses him. They have it out and finally made a covenant,  Then  Laban said to Jacob, “See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me. This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me to do harm.” (Genesis 31:51-54)

Well, trouble follows this man. He was going to travel through the country of his brother, Esau. He was afraid. He sent messengers ahead with gifts and this message: “I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.” (Genesis 32:3-5)

The night before he was to meet his brother he divided his camp into two camps so that if Esau attacked one camp then the other camp could escape. Then he prayed:

“O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord…I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps…”  (Genesis 32:9-10)

The selfishness and cynicism apparent when he first encounters God, changes to thankfulness and trust through the growth he experiences.

“Growth is the labor of a lifetime!” 

EVIDENCE

by Barbara Chadwick

Tomorrow I will play the piano at a memorial service for a woman who was a member of the church here. Her daughter came from out of state to settle her mother’s affairs.

As this daughter spoke I was reminded of my own mother’s death and after the funeral going through her things choosing some to keep and some to give away. Going through the clothes, the books, the drawers and boxes we found evidence of the faith she kept to the end. It was not just words or church attendance for her. It was a life lived in determination to honor Christ. There was her Bible beside her chair, devotional books on a shelf nearby, the hymnal on the organ, Christian DVD’s and the memories. Growing up I heard the words, “Thank you, Nancy” over and over:

“Thank you for the meal you brought after the funeral.”

“Thank you for the dress you made for my daughter’s first day at school.”

“Thank you for the time you took to listen to my heartache.”

“Thank you for filling in for me at the store last week when I was sick.”

“Thank you for keeping my daughter while I had to work.”

“Thank you for cleaning my house when I was not able to do it.”

“Thank you for the groceries. It kept us going.”

I never thought of living out my Christian life as a race but there are several scriptures that make that comparison:

1Corinthians 9:24, 25-27,  Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it… Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

The writer of Hebrews says in chapter 12:1-2,  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith

At the end of the Apostle Paul’s life he said,  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I Timothy 4:7

There is always evidence. We watched a Detective movie tonight and saw that as they found the evidence they were able to piece together what happened. Just so in a life.

In 2014 let us put evidence - in our homes, cars and our very lives – of running with endurance and determination through the days, weeks and months. Let us finish the race and keep the faith.

INKSPOT

by Barbara Chadwick



Ogilvie tells the story that Martin Luther dreamt that Satan appeared to him reading a long scroll with all his many sins from his birth on. As the reading of the list proceeded, Luther's terrors grew until he finally jumped up and cried, "It is all true, Satan, and many more sins I have committed in my life which are known to God only; but write at the bottom of your list, 'the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin.' "
Then grasping the ink well on his table, he threw it at the devil, who immediately fled.

This ink spot on the wall of Wartburg Castle, Germany is one of the most famous ink spots in the world."


I read the ink spot story yesterday after reading the following scripture from Zachariah 3:1-4:
       Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan: "The LORD rebuke you Satan!...."  Now Joshua was dressed with filthy (the Hebrew word here means human excrement!) clothes as he stood before the angel. So He spoke to those standing before him, "Take of his filthy clothes!" Then He said to him, "See I have removed your guilt from you and I will clothe you with splendid robes."

What a perfect picture of us standing there in our grime at the moment we come to the Lord. Then, it's as if He says, "Welcome, I've been waiting for you!" He completely removes the guilt and grime and dresses us in a new, splendid robe of white. No spot or stain visible.

Satan wants to keep us in our guilt, despair, depression or whatever has us groveling in the dirt. But he will run from us if we even whisper the name of Jesus.

THE TRIP TO BETHLEHEM

by Barbara Chadwick and Audrey Wauson

One month. We’re going to stay one month. It took several days to pack. I kept finding things I would surely need. At last we were ready for the trip.

On December 19^th we boarded a plane in Denver. Our itinerary was Denver to Seattle to Ketchikan to Sitka, Alaska.

 We had smooth connections and pleasant seat mates. However, for much of the trip we had serious turbulence. It was like riding a wildly bucking bronco. There was a crying baby – maybe I should call it a screaming baby – for the entire trip. In addition, there was a crying cat across the aisle. Don’t know if it was reacting to the baby, or scared or just unhappy at being put in a bag under a plane seat!

After my six hour plus trip I was very tired with a headache, backache and just wanted to put my head down on a pillow for a day or two of rest.

During those hours on the plane I thought of Mary; nine months pregnant, away from family and in unfamiliar, possibly unsafe territory, riding on a donkey. My trip was really a piece of cake in comparison.

I have to stop here and say that scripture does not say that Mary rode on a donkey. That picture has become a tradition. I suppose it was expected that being nine months pregnant she could not have walked the approximately 75 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Pregnant, at nine months, it’s hard to get comfortable. No position feels good. Mostly miserable is what you feel. Walking feels more like waddling and riding on a donkey would surely have felt like rolling around on top of a beach ball!

I can only imagine how uncomfortable and weary she must have been that last day or two before her firstborn son, the Savior of the world was born. I wonder if she had to keep reminding herself that this was indeed going to be a blessing.

But let’s go back to the beginning of this journey:

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.

The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you

who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Mary was greatly troubled at his

words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to

her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with

child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will

give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of

Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the

angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come

upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one

 to be born will be called the Son of God.   Luke 1:26-35

Now read the words she said after receiving this amazing message.

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. Luke 1:45-49

Beautiful.  Just imagine how it would be for us if we could respond to the Lord with similar words of acceptance and obedience in every situation. “I am the Lord’s servant…My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”

Mary was ready for the trip to Bethlehem.

AT THE RIGHT TIME

by Barbara Chadwick

November:

The anticipation and waiting!

Deanna, our daughter-in-law, always sends me a gift on our son Kerry’s birthday.  She includes and note saying how thankful she is for her husband and thanks me for bringing him up so that he’s this wonderful man! This gift she gives me every year fills my heart with blessings and joy. So this year the gift was an amaryllis. 

The amaryllis is growing tall and at just the right time it will bloom.  I wait daily for this. I check it every day to see if it needs water and to see just how much it has grown.

We are also waiting for two great grandchildren. One is imminent and the other in February. One granddaughter posted on facebook a picture of her belly (the baby) showing how it seemed to be ready – but not yet.  That picture was two weeks ago. At just the right time these two babies will come.

December:                               

What a joy to see the gift in full bloom!

Our church is doing a Living Nativity this weekend. A guide takes a group of people around to different active scenes depicting the beautiful story of the birth of Jesus. The first scene shows the pregnant Mary with Joseph, there are Roman soldiers, the innkeeper, shepherds in a field with animals then, of course, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in the manger. The tour continues with the Wise Men, etc. and ends with cookies and hot chocolate in the fellowship hall.

In this fifteen minute tour we go from the pregnant Mary to see the baby “wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:7 

In our world we talk about “real time” and instant chocolate, oatmeal, etc.  We, (humans) get impatient sometimes thinking God doesn’t see what’s going on. We think we can see and judge when a thing should happen. But God’s timing is different.  It is perfect just as His gift of a Savior is perfect.

The Jews waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah, But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son.  Galatians 4:4

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Ever lived in a no-where town? Nothing ever happens, no famous people or leaders are from there, outside of the very near surrounding area no one’s ever even heard of it … that was Bethlehem

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler who will be the Shepherd of my people Israel

Matthew 2.6

I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep … 
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 
I and the Father are one.

John 10:11-30

Ever thought that you life was so low that you would never crawl up out of that pit? I mean no one seems to know your name and the ones that do don’t use it with respect … pity maybe … Ever wished someone would just come in and make it all right?

So the two women [Ruth and Naomi] went on until they arrived at Bethlehem … 
“Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara

because the Almighty has made my life very bitter” Ruth 1.19 …

Praise be to the LORD who to this day has not left you

without a kinsman- Redeemer … Ruth 4.13-17

The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord. “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, and My words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 59.20-21

… “The righteous will live by faith.”

… Christ Redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us

… He Redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham

might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,

so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Galatians 3.11-14  

Ever wondered if there was a leader out there that was worth following … or ever listened to the news and wondered if there was someone worth listening to?

I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be King.

1 Samuel 16.1

They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because

He is LORD of lords and KING of kings

– and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.

Revelation 17.14

Ever really wanted a drink of water something that would quench your thirst? Maybe just an inward longing … just a wishing that there was something that would satisfy?

David longed for water and said,

“Oh that someone would get me a drink of Water 

from the well near the gate of Bethlehem.

2 Samuel 23.15

You ask me for water and I would give you Living  Water …

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,

streams of Living  Water will flow from within him.

John 7.37-38

Ever wanted some peace? No arguing, quarreling, griping or complaining? No wars and rumors of war … just a place in your life where all would be at rest?

Peace I leave with you;

My Peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world give.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14.27

O little town of Bethlehem

… and He will be their Peace.

Micah 5.2-5

O Little Town Of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight