"For in the day of trouble He shall hide me in His Pavilion; In the secret place of His Tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." Psalm 26:5

Pondering "The Words of My Mouth"

So my friend Jeannie called today, and for the next two hours we caught up on each other's lives. (Maybe if we talked more often it wouldn't take so long. Actually, now that I think about it, the last time we talked it was for four hours...so this wasn't so bad!)

Well, one particular part of the conversation left me with something of the "heavy duty" nature to ponder for awhile. Inevitably, in the course of our conversation, she will say something to the effect, "Do you remember when you told me...." or "One of the things you said to me one day was...." or "Several years ago you told me..." She does this to me often and sometimes it is oddly disconcerting.

And, of course today was no different, except that she had to set me up for what she was going to tell me that I had said. So the whole time she was giving me all of the details, I was feverishly wondering where she was going with this line of conversation and hoping that whatever it was I told her was fair, just and wise and not random, off the wall or shallow!

Jeannie's "still waters" run deep and my responses, my counsel and my advice need to be worthy of her formidable introspection, and she seems to remember so much of what I have spoken over the years! Blessedly, what she shared-that I had shared-was very familiar because I wholeheartedly believe it and have said it to any number of people throughout the years. So I could confirm and reaffirm the gist of the conversation, but here's where the post-phone call pondering took me...

How many times, through the years, have I given poor counsel or thoughtless advice or...whatever, not just to Jeannie, but to others; to my children, to my friends, to the people in my realm of influence, to those  under my spiritual leadership? How many times and in how many situations have I shared insights from my own painful pre-healed past that might not have been at all wise or helpful. I am reminded of my "life's theme" a few year's ago (I usually discover one for every year of my life). The one that stands out the most was from 2006: "Who Am I and What Do I Know?"

So where has this reflection taken me today? Right into the face and heart of my God and with that comes the humbling experience of realizing that, in and of myself, I have nothing of any value to offer anyone! It is only as my Father guides, directs and instructs me; only as He gives me divine wisdom can I offer another something worth the remembering.


Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Isaiah 50:4 "The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught."


Proverbs 15:2 “When wise people speak, they make knowledge attractive, but stupid people spout nonsense.” (GNT)

“The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” (NKJV)

“Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.” (The Message)

“The wise person makes learning a joy; fools spout only foolishness.” (NLT)
                LORD, may You EVER teach me wisdom!

Pondering the Fact that "I Don't Need to Know..."

Several years ago, at a radically different time in my life,   I was in an emotional conundrum. My life was topsy-turvy and falling apart, in many ways. I was also desperate for answers to a mindful of questions that I felt compelled to have answered, even if it meant resorting to subterfuge.

One evening in the dead of night, I set out alone to solve one particular mystery that was haunting my every thought and action. As I drove through the country, my thoughts and my feelings were probably as dark as the night around me. Desperation and those disturbing questions, suspicion and months of turmoil had worked overtime on my heart, mind and soul.

Miraculously, it was into that anguished moment that I heard the LORD speak to my spirit with words that would begin to change my outlook and my perspective and send me down a different path...one that would bring peace even in the midst of this drama-filled chasm. What I clearly heard Him say was, "You don't need to know. You just need to trust Me."

It took me no more than a instant to receive the truth that I had heard, to embrace its reality, to choose my next course of action and, to turn around and go back home. Thus began an incredible time of healing in my life. The situation itself did not improve, but my choices made all the difference in the world. In the midst of God's amazing peace I was able to let go of "the need to know" and entrust everything that was happening and would happen to my God. And I became one who was able to echo Joseph's words in Genesis Chapter 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done..."

Well, I have been reminded of this particular lesson and its impact on me just this week when I learned of a decision that was made and implemented that shocked and grieved me. It caused me to question the motives of others. It caused me to begin to distrust another's wisdom. It left me feeling raw and helpless. The truth is I don't have all the facts that lead to this decision, but for the life of me I can't imagine what good will come out of it. But I have a choice. I can choose to fret and worry. I can choose to pick up this burden and carry its weight. Or I can, once again, choose to follow the LORD's direction to me... "You don't need to know. You just need to trust me." 

And with that decision I receive His peace and my heart sings...

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there. 

Pondering the Ability to Adjust

One of the gifts that the LORD has blessed me with is the ability to adjust well. It doesn't always happen immediately...sometimes it takes awhile, but I have come to count on this ability as I cope with my often changing world.

A good example is adjusting to  living in Mechanicsburg. I have been here for a little over a year and I do not "know" any of my neighbors. Well, I know Michael. He is in the apartment next to me. He came over one night when a bat was in my bedroom and I was just a little freaked out and needed help to catch it. Michael and I both squealed and jumped around, but we were finally able to corner it and get it outside. We're that kind of neighbors. He shovels my sidewalk and I sweep his porch. I can call on him when I need to and he notices when I'm away for a few days.

And I know Brittany, who lives above us, well enough to say, "Good morning" and chat for a couple of minutes, but that's it. For the first time in my life I am living in a place where I don't know any or all of my neighbors. I can't even describe how foreign that is to me and it took some time to adjust. In fact, I think the adjustment was so slow and so subtle that by the time I realized it was happening, I had been here for several weeks.

The thing is, when I lived in Hanover, I was living by myself for the first time in my life and my office was in my home, therefore I spent a good part of my work week at home, alone, with no one else around. So, by the time I called it a day, I was desperate for people! Walking the neighborhood every evening exposed me to the colorful variety of the people who lived around me and I established some meaningful relationships with my neighbors. By the end of the evening my need for "socialization" and "community" was fairly well satisfied.

So, how have I adjusted to this radically different life? Well, it's the job thing. I am pastoring at Messiah Village Retirement Community now, and my "work" days are filled with people...filled to overflowing. Going home to a quiet, peaceful, empty apartment has taken on the semblance of refuge. It's where I can finally relax and recoup after a day filled with people and ministry. And I am loving the feeling of healthy balance for my particular needs. I need to be with people, but I also need the time without. Thank you, LORD, for giving me the ability to adjust well.

Pondering the Roles We Play....

Okay, here’s the deal. I can’t even count how many women I have seen riding motorcycles recently. And I don’t mean riding on the back with their guy in front, I’m talking about women-all by themselves, on a motorcycle of their own, tearing down the highway! The sight still catches me off guard!

Then there are all these television series that have aired in recent years, where women are in the roles of tough, no-nonsense, gun-wielding, high-kicking killing machines who make Annie Oakley look like a fairy princess with a pop gun. Women like “Fi” on Burn Notice or Angelina Jolie in the movie role of Mrs. Smith, along with dozens of others...that’s what I’m talking about.

The truth is, I am not sure why it is so hard for me, of all people, to adjust to these particular gender shifts. The reason being, for the last 14 years I have been in the similar place in a dominantly male role...a pastor, no less. I admit it caused me ongoing and reoccurring duress till I got used to the idea myself, but none-the-less, I did get used to it and I have flourished in the role and love the ministry opportunities and the opportunity to serve my God and others this way. I am suited for pastoral ministry. It is my nature, my calling and an act of obedience. Which makes it a joy.

Those other roles? And even seeing men as nurses...well, I guess eventually “the shock” will wear off and I will get used to the idea, well maybe not the “gun toting” thing, but the others anyway. 

Pondering: "Friends"

Is it only me or do we all have "friends" like this? 
You can spend an hour, a day, a weekend or a lifetime with a person and you know just about every answer to every question you've asked or they have freely divulged...but you walk away from him or her thinking,  "She doesn't know a thing about me..." And it's not because you wouldn't have been more than willing to share. 

So, is it simply because it's all about them? Or maybe they just don't really care about you and what's happening in your life. I wonder if they ever, for a moment, even consider the fact that you parted ways and they never asked a question, or if they did they quickly filled in with an answer, an opinion or a story of their own. 

Did you ever start to say something and he/she just runs over your voice with his/her own narrative? 

You know what it does for me? Reminds me of what kind of friend I want to be and it also gives me an opportunity to be thankful for the good friends I have...the ones who share a mutual story and interest. The ones who make me feel like I have worth to them. Yeah, it makes me thankful. 

Riding on a Cloud

I am awed by the clouds below me,
Airborne I fly one way,
Blissfully they float the other.                          
Mountains and ridges,valleys and peaks
Shadows among light take flight.
And He will come...riding on a cloud!


Marshmallow cloud on wings of fantasy,
Look, there's a dinosaur, a bear, no a face
Captured in cloud dust for a moment in time,
Cotton ball clouds thick, thin, then fluffy,
Peaceful they hang suspended in space
A bed for the angels in silent repose.
And He will come...riding on a cloud!


Psalm 68:4 (NIV)
Sing to God, sing praise to His Name, extol Him who rides on the clouds---His Name is the LORD---and rejoice before Him.