Author and Illustrator

 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge." Psalm 19: 1-2

    The painting of a pink peony portrays what the artist desired to say. Before brush was put to paper, this peony only existed in the imagination of the illustrator. Now it is framed there on my wall to remind me of my daughter, the artist. It is proof of her existence.

    My biography, as told by God, is beautifully illustrated by the Author himself. I don't just hold the book in my lap, reading as a third party observer, rather I exist in this living tableau, excitingly involved as each page is freshly written. He and I together, as collaborators.

    When time allows, I sometimes flip back over previous chapters to reread favorite portions. When I can't sleep at night, pictures from my childhood home, captioned with words of my mother, are absorbed like dog-eared pages. Then, there are dark, unabridged chapters I prefer were not included, but there they are, to illustrate what I looked like without Christ. 

    As each day unfolds, the Author may write in a new character so I keep my eyes peeled for the introduction. One day, on a walk to the park, a brilliant gold leaf gave me pause, so I picked it up feeling it may be a clue. With each step, I examined the intricate, delicate design of the leaf, praying to share its beauty with someone. 

    A busy woman with two dogs approached me, but she was not the one. Continuing on, I spied a gal with wavy hair on a bench beneath the boughs of a maple tree, bent over her phone. As I passed, she glanced up and I knew she was part of my story. We exchanged greetings, then I stepped forward with the gold leaf.

    "Isn't this a thing of beauty?" I began. "That God would spend such time creating a simple lovely leaf..." These words developed into the next until at last, she and I joined hands in the sunshine and prayed over her needs. We met as strangers over a leaf, but it was not strange to the Author who knew the plot and whose illustrations completed the glorious scene.

    His painting of a gold leaf was the proof of His existence that drew two people together beneath the canopy of His grace. And someday, when He pens the conclusion of my life, I hope to flip back through and see many such smiling faces as the gal on the bench. 

    Only the Author and Illustrator knows how many I may see when my story continues in the heavenly realms, the sequel I cannot wait to read.

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2

    

    

My Life According to God

 "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16

    A birthday provides the perfect time to reflect back on life's progress. Are there regrets? A few, surely. Were goals reached? Were they ever made in the first place? If former colleagues and co-workers were called upon to testify about me, what would their observations be? Most importantly, what does God see when He examines my days?

    Recently, when I attended a memorial/worship service for Charlie Kirk, tears rolled down my cheeks as I raised my hands to the Lord. As I did, it seemed as if God showed me clips of my life, like a movie trailer, demonstrating all the times He ministered to me personally. Scenes from childhood to present time were projected onto my heart; some were times of great sorrow while others triumphed with joy.

    As God spoke to me, it became clear that the pinnacles of my life, which identify who I am, all revolve around the One who wrote the events of those days in His book before one of them came to be. Success cannot be measured by the things that I have done, but only by the accomplishments of my Creator. 

    The words of a song brought this special time to a close as I cried out to God: "All my life you have been faithful; all my life you have been so, so good! With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God."

    God has done His best work in my life when I have gotten out of His way in total submission and fully relied on Him. When the Potter has completed His task, I will resemble Jesus.

    I join Charlie Kirk in saying I want to be remembered for my faith in God. Nothing else matters.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:2-4

 

On a Bicycle Built for Two

 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you...and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 1:18-20

    When our two daughters still lived at home, we went on a family vacation to Mackinaw Island, Michigan. The island is a charming spot where automobiles are not permitted, so horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down cobblestone streets, while mingled aromas of fudge and horse manure swirl through the air. It's a very unique experience. 

    Our eldest, Lauren, who loved all things equine, couldn't wait to ride a horse on the beach, so we got her set up with that before heading over to rent two bicycles, one being a tandem. Hannah and I hopped on the tandem and the three of us set out on a trail in the heat of the day. 

    The charm quickly wore off when we became disoriented with the map and the profusion of sweat soaked my cute outfit as I struggled to power the bike. "Are you pedaling at all?" I spoke into the wind to my passenger, who seemed to be enjoying the ride. By the time we reunited with Lauren, my mood had soured and my limbs quivered.

    Life, under our own power, can be exhausting. The effort it takes to rise, shine and greet the morn in a broken world is like riding a tandem without much assistance.

    But the beauty of being in Christ is the infusion of power He bestows, so we don't have to pedal our brains out all by ourselves. He's with us on the ride.

    Picture Christ ahead of you on the bike. You see his strong muscles working, his hair blowing in the breeze while he takes you to places of which you had never dreamed. Some may seem scary, but He turns around and pats your hand. "Don't worry!" He implores. "Just keep pedaling. I am the way." 

    At times, the way is arduous as hills are scaled, but the descent on the other side is a breeze, so you raise your hands with a whoop, as if on a roller coaster. The days are not always sunny, the clouds cover in brooding fashion as contrary winds buffet, but when the Driver is the same one who calms the storm, what have you to fear? Though dark nights crowd 'round you, the feeling is never sinister when you're riding in tandem with the Light of the world. There's no chance of getting lost and the destination at the end of the trail will be sheer paradise.

    Don't go it alone. 

    "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40: 28-31