OAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated, they will renew the ruined cities...

Isaiah 61:1, 3-4

God moves into the the lives of broken people. God meets, heals and transforms.

God calls us to move into the lives of the poor, believing that His power can transform them into "oaks of righteousness." 

Now a drug addict or homeless person may not appear to be an "oak of righteousness" (or even a seedling of righteousness!). Perhaps that's why secularists who work among the poor have limited goals for the beneficiaries of their services. Secularists are happy if their programs help a homeless man to get sober, get a job, secure an apartment, and become a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen. (which is a good thing, of course) Christians, through their ministries, want the same homeless man to do all that and to become a servant of others--perhaps walking the streets and ministering among the homeless as one who has been there and, by God's grace, made it out. In our labors among the broken and destitute, we envision people whom God can transform into leaders who advance His Kingdom in marvelous ways. 

(from "Sharing God's Heart for the Poor" by Amy L. Sherman)

Continue serving this New Year!

Jen Too part 2

Another song that meant a lot to me after my brothers death was “Daniel”. I’ve posted it below and tried to explain what it said to me personally. 

“Daniel”

Elton John and Bernie Taupine

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane 

(he’s leaving us and his earthly home)

I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain 

(well, he wasn’t headed for Spain, but I could see the red tail lights as he flew out of sight--actually my eyes were quite red)

Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye 

God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes 

They say Spain is pretty though I've never been 

(I’ve read about heaven, sounds pretty)

Well Daniel says it's the best place that he's ever seen 

Oh and he should know, he's been there enough 

Lord I miss Daniel, oh I miss him so much 

( I do miss Charley, very much--but it doesn’t hurt as much as it once did.)

Daniel my brother you are older than me 

(he was 3 years older than me)

Do you still feel the pain of the scars that won't heal 

(he had scars from tests, surgeries--of course, no more pain)

Your eyes have died but you see more than I 

(his physical eyes have died, but he sees so much more now that he has perfect eyes to see with. the eyes of Jesus)

Daniel you're a star in the face of the sky 

(Charley’s up there in the heavens--a star)

Daniel is travelling tonight on a plane 

I can see the red tail lights heading for Spain 

Oh and I can see Daniel waving goodbye 

God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes 

Oh God it looks like Daniel, must be the clouds in my eyes 

For JenToo

This evening I was in a bit of a nostalgic mood. Back in the day, 70’s to be exact, I was a big John Denver fan. So much so, my oldest son Caleb’s middle name is Denver. (Yes, I do have an older son. Yes, from the same marriage.) Anyway, I had found a couple of my John Denver cds (Since I no longer have the vinyls--what’s that you say? Ask your mother.). I also pulled out some of his songbooks. Do I play an instrument? Well, that’s questionable. Let’s just say I no longer have callouses on my finger tips and they hurt really bad! HA! So, on the way home from Panera tonight (yes, my favorite hangout) I was listening to “Rocky Mountain High” which brought back memories and a tear to my eye. So what does this have to do with anything? (Remember, this is MY blog and I write about what’s “On My Mind”. LOL) It got me thinking about my brother Charley. Charley passed away in 1973, a month before my first son Caleb was born. So, why didn’t I name him Charley? Well, I found it just too hard. His death was quite a shock to me and affected me for the next several years. His passing near the birth of my firstborn also took its toll on me.

On to John Denver...music often speaks to me, whether a worship song, hymn or pop tune. The following are the words to “Rocky Mountain High” with my attempt to explain what it means to me:

Rocky Mountain High

John Denver

Words by John Denver

Music by John Denver and Mike Taylor

He was born in the summer of his 27th year

(he was “reborn” in heaven at the age of 27--he was a believer)

Comin' home to a place he'd never been before

(he was going home, his heavenly home,  he’d never been there before)

He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again

You might say he found a key for every door

(he did leave yesterday behind him including a young wife and 2 year old daughter)

(he found the key to his heavenly home)

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away

On the road and hangin' by a song

But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care

It keeps changin' fast and it don't last for long

(When he came to the mountains--heaven--his earthly life was far away. Things are changing fast for him, a new place, a new home, seeing people that have gone before him.)

(the chorus doesn’t have much to do with it but I’ll leave it just the same)

But the Colorado rocky mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye

Rocky mountain high

(though I believe the heavens are a site to behold)

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below

He saw everything as far as you can see

And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun

And he lost a friend but kept his memory

(the site of heaven is majestic, so I’m thinking he saw a lot of this and maybe seemed so close to the sun he could try to touch it)

(he did have some close friends and perhaps he was remembering them)

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams

Seeking grace in every step he takes

His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand

The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

(I’m not sure if there will be forests and streams and lakes in heaven--I hope there are--but this verse reminds me of Psalm 23, so maybe there will be.)

And the Colorado rocky mountain high

I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky

You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply

Rocky mountain high

Now his life is full of wonder....

That’s one song that reminds me of my brother. I loved him dearly. We may not have always gotten along when growing up, but we became quite close after he joined the Army and was shipped off to Viet Nam. 

So, 16 years after Caleb, I gave birth to my second son, and he wears the name of Charley.

By the way, Charley (my brother) died from melanoma (so slather on the sunscreen you guys). Well, that was the primary tumor. That caused a brain tumor the size of a plum which was removed. However, without my knowledge (and I think without my parents knowledge) the tumor returned and he actually died from a brain aneurysm (an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall).

More will come later.

I HOPE YOU DANCE

I love this song. I never really paid much attention to it before but Kelsey sings this in some of her sets and it kept running around in my head. Of course, any of these songs
that I post are better when heard by a performer but just another song that speaks to me.

I Hope You Dance
by Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
Hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin'might be a mistake but it's worth makin'
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin'out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder
where those years have gone.

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance
I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Dance
I hope you dance

Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder
where those years have gone
I hope you dance
Hope you dance