July. 1st month of Quirky Faith is just about finished.  I have some random photos I took over the month I figured I'd share to wrap up the month. 

Just a walk in the park. One month to go until this year's Portland to Coast.   I've been flirting around with training for this relay over the past couple of months.  Last week, I panicked a bit when I got my race assignment. Three separate legs of the relay totaling 19 miles. Um. My four mile a week training schedule is clearly not sufficient. Last Saturday I finally got in a six mile hilly practice. Still panicked. However, this pathway did a lot to restore my soul.  Fresh air and gorgeous trees generally provide a reset in my life. 

Just a little public service announcement that not everything cute in the world is good for you. We have a family of raccoons living in our yard. Darling. Seriously scary. My cat is such a tough boy because he routinely holds his own with these guys. He has a few scars and a mangled ear to prove it. I love my cat but I gotta admit he's not going to win any beauty contests. But his mellow temperament makes him quite the dapper man. Some cute things will scratch and claw and cause great havoc. And I'm not just talking about the raccoon. I'm hoping my daughters learn this lesson early in life. Go for heart quality, meh on the cute.

Just a little fish story. Really I have nothing to add to this photo.

Be nice, people! We are all stuck with each other.

Just some shameless Quirky Faith marketing. Our good friends of ours invited us over for pizza, pie and production. We sat in their dining room and made Quirky Faith buttons. Really this picture is a great analogy for the whole point of Quirky Faith. My life is lived out sharing with friends amidst random childhood clutter and some of my garbage and a big pile of fun work. And in the corner is Christmas. All year long I live in joy that Jesus came. Emmanuel. God with us. Not just in July.

I have a fear of deep water. I’m not afraid of water itself; in fact I have always loved to jump in the pool with my kids and walk along the beach as the ocean splashes over my toes. Not being able to see all the way through to the floor of the lake I’m in is what gets me. Random creatures skimming past my feet and legs while I float in the ocean totally unnerves me. A very large sea turtle once swam over the back of my legs as I was snorkeling on Maui. I didn’t think it was possible to scream while wearing a snorkel, but I sure tried! Some of my fear also centers around the fact that although I do love water, I am not a skilled swimmer. I can hold my own in the six foot end of the pool, but beyond that I flail and dog paddle to the side so I can hold on to the edge. As I recall these things about myself, it makes me shake my head and smile when I remember that last year I completed a mini triathlon with some of my friends.

I think a great deal of people assume they know themselves. Knowing myself and my fears of being touched by random critters while in deep water, and the fact that I can’t really swim all, should have led me to the conclusion that I should not attempt a triathlon of any sort. The mini triathlon that my cohorts and I wanted to complete included a 1/4 mile swim (in a lake), 12 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run. Did I mention I also don’t ride much and I don’t run? Another story for another time. One of my friends had completed life guard training as a young teen and the other friend grew up swimming in her grandparents’ pool every summer. I was clearly the amateur in the swimming department. We devised a plan that we would join the local YMCA and practice swimming. We figured out how many laps would equal a quarter mile. We donned swim caps, goggles, lap suits and then jumped in. Swimming came easily to my buddies, but not so much for me. I couldn’t get the hang of the front crawl. As I would turn my head to take a breath my feet would sink and I would gulp water. Other times I would work on my stroke and get water up my nose as I tried to avoid water in my mouth. I began to doubt whether I would be able to even complete the swim portion of the race.

What then? I resorted to about the only swim stroke I thought I could do; the side stroke. I had learned that particular swim stroke from my brothers’ Boy Scout leader as a kid. I remember him saying, “Pick an apple, put it in the basket. Pick an apple, put it in the basket”. The saying nudged my memory and brought me some relief in knowing that I could indeed, if not clumsily, do the sidestroke. I also was able to do a modified backstroke when I needed a break from water being too close to my face. So armed with my two swim strokes, I met up with my fellow racers to compete in the mini triathlon. We discovered that we could not swim together, since the swimmers were separated into age groups, and I was the oldest and was above the age bracket of my friends. I watched as my race buddies swam away from the shore as I stood and waited for my start time. Those of us waiting to start the final wave made small talk and shared some nervous laughs. The start gun went off and away we went. I had never swam with a group of people so close to me and going in the same direction. Very odd experience. I’m pretty sure I kicked someone in the head at one point. I slowly side stroked along as the other swimmers pulled ahead of me with smooth front strokes and powerful breaststrokes. Our wave was wearing bright orange swim caps. I would glance ahead to spot the large buoys that dictated our course. I could see all of the orange swim caps pulling farther and farther ahead.

As I fell farther behind, I felt a sense of panic setting in. I felt alone, and I was in deep water. I think a fish touched me. I tried not to think about it. “Pick an apple, put it in the basket. Pick an apple, put it in the basket” was running through my head. I kept swimming. I started praying, Please let me finish the swim, please let me make it out of the water without needing help. There were volunteers in canoes and kayaks out on the water on the course in case a swimmer needed help. If you swam to the boat and held on or got in, you were disqualified from the rest of the race. I looked for the shore as I rounded the final buoy of the triangular course. I could hear my family yelling - that meant I was closer! I swam and swam, oh so slow, but I swam. As I neared the exit point my husband yelled that I should be able to touch bottom. Low and behold I could! I felt heavy as I walked out of the water on my legs that felt like rubber. Most ran to the transition point for the cycling, but I could only walk. I was so very relieved that I had finished the swim. I was the very last person of our race out of the water that day, but I made it!

Swimming in deep, open water was challenging. I honestly didn’t know if I could do it. Just as a lake or ocean has depth, so does a person. By trying something that seemed beyond what I was capable of, God allowed me to see parts of me that I never knew were there. It is hard to comprehend the things that lie beneath the surface. It would probably be easier to stay along the shore where you can see every pebble and shell below the rippling surface. Nothing new is gained by always staying in the shallows. Go ahead, swim in the deep, open water and be amazed at what you find.

This photo is from the 2015 Baltimore riots. The line of civilians guarding the police is a beautiful reminder to me that we can protect each other. The people standing in front of the police potentially sacrifice their safety to provide a covering. Anytime someone dons a uniform and rushes into a burning building or a crime scene to save others a similiar sacrifice happens.

In Exodus, Moses warned the people that a final and devastating plague was coming and they were all in the line of fire. Unless they carefully followed directions. The people were told to sacrifice a lamb and paint their doorframes with the blood of the lamb. When the executioner came by to kill their firstborn sons he would see the doorframe and pass over. God provided a way for the people to remain safe inspite of the judgment headed their way. Protection required sacrifice. It usually does.

Protection requires sacrifice.

Exodus provides another hint of God's grand plan to restore people by showing how a sacrifice works to cover people under judgment. The Egyptions finally relent and the people head out of town. Two large barriers to freedom lay in their path. The massive Red Sea and the return of their enemy.

The Red Sea

If it had been me and I was an Israeli mama holding a baby in one arm, my posessions in the other and I was being asked to step into the Red Sea while the slave owners chased me down I would have been terrified. This story makes me think I've never been in a situation where I had to trust God with the lives of my children, with my full livihood, with my future on the line and my painful history chasing me down.   The only thing they had going for them was that God said he would deliver them. The promise was more than plenty. Next chapter over and the enemy is vanquished, the future is bright and a miracle has been logged in their collective history.   

The greatest miracles come in times of pain.
The Conference

Moses heads up Mt. Sinai for a conference with God. God laid out the laws he wanted the people to follow. Three chapters including the Ten Commandments and a variety of social justice laws to protect the people from being as brutal to each other as the slavery they just escaped.

Sad thing when free people enslave themselves.

Moses went down the mountain and gave a report. Mind you, they’d just been dramatically rescued from slavery and seen the Red Sea part so they were in an amiable mood to accept rules from the One who’d saved them. Exodus 24:7 says the people said "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!" I like the exclamation point.

Moses goes back up the mountain. God resumes the conference with Moses. He’s gone forty days. It takes eight chapters. God lays out the plan for the tabernacle, offerings, priests clothing, altar and or meeting place. This is very exciting. Slightly overwhelming. I’m sure Moses was panicked. The creator of the universe wanted to spend time with His people. Moses is writing all the details down. Surely he’s trying to figure out where he’s going to find someone who knows how to carve Acacia wood or spin fine linen.

This is what I do. When I feel like God has asked me to do something I charge out with lots of questions. How am I going to do this? Who am I going to find to help?

​Guess what? In Chapter 31 God says to Moses "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all kinds of craftsmanship to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze…" It goes on from there. I need to remember this next time I spin into overdrive.

God has a plan already.

​The Golden Cow:

So Moses goes down the mountain all ready to give the good news to the people. God is coming to meet with you! You promised to listen to what He said so He’s coming to lead us! Moses has been gone a month. And the people were worshipping a golden cow. Just lovely. I do this too. I see God do amazing things in my life. I promise to listen. I get tired of waiting. My attention wavers. I end up over in a corner obsessed with something other than what’s eternal. Facebook or Pokemon or my fingernails or my checkbook. Sigh. Golden Cows.     ​

Exodus has many more stories and lessons . Stories that tell of how God provides;  manna, quail, and fire by night.   Stories of loyalty and creativity and wise delegation;  Aaron, Jethro and Miriam. Songs of praise and laments of pain. You really are going to have to read it yourself. See if you can identify what has to be the lamest excuse ever provided for a bad decision. Send me an email if you find it, or let me know what inspires you from Exodus and I'll send you something fun.  ​​

The Bible Project Exodus Part 2.   Seriously if you have not taken the time to watch these you should.  Love, love, love them. 

Do you love symbols and history?  If so, this is the book for you. 

This story did not happen to me. It feels like it did though. It happened to my sister. She and I share an odd sense of humor, a strong will and a pitiful history where PE is concerned. So my little sister had a goal.  (One I had too but didn’t actually achieve). She wanted to finish running the mile in high school PE and not come in last in her class. Totally reasonable goal. One day, she gave it her all. Ran like the wind. Finished ahead of someone. Looked up to heaven and closed her eyes to pray and to thank God, promptly tripped and fell flat on her face.  Sigh.

I must point out here that another thing my sister and I share is a willingness to self-deprecate in order to have new blog material.  She did in fact give me permission to throw her under the bus.

You know how in high school they try to talk you into buying an extremely overpriced coat so you can display your proudly earned letter?  I had a letter but frankly wasn’t interested in wearing it. I’m not sure that Pep Band really qualifies, especially when you play the flute. The flute is designed for a symphony not a marching band. You can’t hear it over cheering football fans or a cadence from the drum line. Don’t get me wrong. I loved band. I just didn’t want to hear about it from all the sports people. I had a couple pins on this letter too…one for Honor Society and one for the Math team. In college, my debate coach thought it was hilarious to tell people I was on the math team. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that debate fell in the same category as competitive math.

My sister signed up with me to do the Warrior Dash this fall. Partly I think it was because she felt sorry for me because I came home from Rwanda with TB and she didn’t.  Partly I think it was because it’s fun to surprise people and do something out of character.  Partly I think because I’m the big sister and she’s used to sometimes doing what I tell her to.  At any rate, we’ve been running for about two months now.  We’re running at least once a week together just to stay accountable. The rest of the time we’re begging others to keep us in line and have acquired a couple of good coaches who push us. One of them is pregnant. I find it difficult to believe that I have a really hard time keeping up with the pregnant person. Sigh. Our other coach just finished this year’s Portland marathon. Starting running for the first time last spring and ran the whole thing.  She’s my hero.

We all spent all last week eating. Decided yesterday we were ready for a “hard run”.  Three Miles.  Faster pace than normal.  Really Really big hill. All three of us had to walk the last push of the hill.   It’s a big hill.  My friend said it felt like someone had ripped out her lungs. Clearly we all need a bit more training.    Funny thing was when we finished the hill, the next bit was pretty nice.  My sister had her best run ever.

In 2004 I did the Portland Marathon.  I ran 1/4 of each mile and walked the other 3/4. At mile 15 or so I was feeling great. Mile 20 I was starting to get tired.   Mile 21 my IPOD battery gave out. Mile 22 I was worried. At mile 25 with only one mile to go I had nothing left. I saw a little man shuffling ahead of me.  I told myself “I’m going to try to run by this gentleman, maybe if I can encourage him, I’ll be able to finish”.    So I ran in step with senior and said “You can do it, only one mile to go”.  He said “This is my fifth marathon.  I know I can do it.  You can do it too.  Don’t give up”.   Okay then.

I did in fact finish all 26.2 miles.  When I crossed the finish line, my mother burst into tears.  She said she had a picture of me running a race in life and crossing the finish line into heaven.

I really don’t like to exercise.  Not crazy about running.  I do however like that my pants fit. I also like the extra energy when I’m faithful to run.  I really don’t like much of what constitutes balance and discipline in life. Balancing my checking account, taking out the garbage, having those oh so hard conversations to iron out misunderstandings, saying sorry, getting out of bed even when the snooze button is calling me, devotions with my daughter, praying for friends, tackling the big hills.
​
Its easier to do anything with your sister at your side.  And I know that it’s all worth it in the long run.

The campsite was just over the bluff from Lake Billy Chinook which hosts speed boats, inner tubes, kayaks and the occasional party boat. We are of the party boat clan. One little guest called it the potty boat. Pretty accurate since its the one place on the lake you can convince littles to go. ​

I am frankly not a competent camper. I like cruise ships and hotels with room service. First evening of camping I hauled the kids and piles of cleanish clothes and my makeup bag over to the showers. Groaned when I realized that my toothpaste lid had failed and blue sparkly toothpaste now covered every item. I washed and dried and threw out the toothpaste. Ugh. Took more pictures of the sunset.

My youngest is a colorful one. She is a fan of rainbow t-shirts, fancy headbands and watermelon. She ate a lot of watermelon.

Some of my favorite colors are these blue eyes and sunkissed freckles. My girls chased bugs and found rocks. Road bikes and watched geese. Pointed at deer and watched the stars. Earned Jr. Ranger badges and rolled in the grass. Giggled with friends and cuddled in at night. 

We had one stormy afternoon. At one point you could see the moon, a rainbow, lightning and these amazing clouds all at the same time. No filter. I think God was showing off. 

Next morning I hauled my filthy children and my makeup bag to the bathroom to change. Dropped my makeup bag. Are you aware that fingernail polish is much harder to wash off than toothpaste? I wasn't fast enough and as a result my hands are now chapped from polish remover and stained slightly pink. It took quite a while to pick out the glass shards. Threw out my toothbrush. Who takes fingernail polish camping?

The contrast between my attempts at coloring my life and God's joyful painting may be the point of camping. Its about being out amongst the color and sounds and smells that are real. Blue sparkly toothpaste and pink fingernail polish have nothing on sunsets and watermelon. If you are feeling cynical or stressed try turning off the reality TV (or the election coverage) and go take photos of the sky. Take a walk. Eat veggies from the garden. Count the colors. 

My friend Elizabeth is a beautiful picture of grace.   I have been cheering and praying for this lovely woman as she rebuilds her life.  I'm always amazed at her trust in God, her cheerful acceptance of difficulties and her open forgiving heart.   She challenges me to make room in my life for all people. 

I no longer shred my cheddar cheese.

I used to buy those 2-pound blocks of cheddar and they would be eaten in a timely manner between family suppers, husband lunches and late-night nachos with friends. But the other day I found in my fridge a crusty, too-orange block of a mere 8-ounce bar of the stuff. From that day forward, I started buying bags of pre-grated, subpar cheddar for the blah quesadillas and noodles I regularly make my kids.
A bag of the shredded stuff is now a near-daily symbol of divorce to me. It’s one of a dozen small things that continually hit you upside the head, reminding you that your life is a lot different than it once was or than you had planned. I have tried to look at the silver lining around the cheddar-cheese bag: As a single mom -- heck, as a mom of two young boys -- there's not a lot of time to shred cheese. For that reason, thank goodness for bags of the overpriced, shredded stuff, right?

This month's holiday weekend escorted in another reliable reminder that I'm in singleton territory. In the married life, my husband and I always had big family plans for days like the Fourth: There were no broken divorce schedules to accommodate, and we could have a yearly tradition with extended family.　I've lost that. I've lost all of the family traditions I had. I've even lost a social life we had with friends who still adore me. When you become a "mom and kids" and are no longer a man-carrying family, your event inclusion or hosting possibilities change. I totally get it: I now offer a mom-and-kids playdate vibe. Former friend-families aren't to be faulted. I have had to leave the married world and am a different puzzle piece since the divorce. Like me, some of my friends aren't sure how how I fit. (Whoever figures that out first, let me know. We’ll make nachos to celebrate. I'm on the cheese.)

Another one of the little things that reminds you that you are living in the Twilight Zone of your life is the small talk you find yourself engaging in when getting a pedicure. Suddenly, being asked if you have a husband takes on new emotion and silences the conversation. At least you hope it silences the conversation. One time, answering, "No, I’m recently divorced," spawned the question, "Did he leave you?" After I nodded yes, my nail technician commented, "Oh. You need brows done! You can’t let yourself go downhill now." Awesome. Those beauty experts have tried to get their hands on my brows for years. This one thought she had a new angle.
I didn’t let her touch my eyebrows.

Divorced people don’t just lose a spouse, deal with divorce-related kid drama and have new monetary considerations to iron out -- or new monetary considerations that leave them feeling smacked by an iron.  The small, every-day things change, too. Like one’s social life and interactions. And how you buy cheese.

My boys questioned the lack of block-cheddar a while ago: "Don’t you have any you can slice?" they asked when I gave them a small handful of the grated stuff on a plate with some crackers.　I must say, it looked pretty sad. What would the Oregon members of the Federation of American Cheese-makers say? A recent article by Michael H. Tunick, a research chemist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and author of "The Science of Cheese," said the federation made the largest cheddar cheese ever in 1989. It weighed 56,850 pounds (25,790 kg).　And I can’t even house a 2-pound block?

Handing my boys little piles of grated cheddar to go with their Wheat Thins feels less than ideal. It is. But God teaches us that life's circumstances are often less than ideal. The Bible is full of stories of betrayal and hardship. However, the common theme in those stories is even more rich and wonderful than a block of Cougar Gold, the award-winning cheddar; God never leaves His people alone in an unfair storyline, betrayed or abandoned. And we never have to eat subpar quesadillas alone.

One day at work typing along I heard a suspicious scratching sound. Oh my. I assumed I had a mouse. Peered over the side of my desk and there wedged between the wall and the back of my desk sat a possum. Pink nosed, grey furred, beady eyed possum. I kinda freaked out. My coworkers rushed in and we spent the next half hour using a broom and box to capture the little guy. My employees started mocking me for my earlier yelling and dancing. "Mindy! Its cute, just look!" And off came the lid. The possum seized the opportunity, jumped out of the box and ran for freedom. We couldn't find him. I spent the rest of the day on the phone with my landlord with my feet tucked up on my chair.

The book of Exodus is large and important. I'm covering the first half this week. The theme of this section of Exodus is that God is powerful enough to rescue his people. He sees and rescues suffering people. This book is an encouragement to me to trust that God will answer when I hurt.

In the beginning of Exodus, the family of Jacob, the Israelites, have resettled in Egypt to afford themselves the protection of their second in command very forgiving brother Joseph. 400 years later and the Israelites have taken seriously God's instruction to be fruitful and multiply. The saga continues.

Pharaoh and Fear:

The new Pharaoh has not studied history and knows nothing of Joseph. Pharoah decides that the Israelites are a liability. To combat this fear he implements two drastic measures. The first is to enslave the people and the second is to order that all their baby boys be killed. Anytime a group of people are targeted because of their demographics it's heartbreaking.  And just like today, fear and greed combine for some awful circumstances.  What happens ultimately to Pharoah should serve as warning to us all.

Using fear as an excuse for cruelty leads to self-destruction. 

Midwives, Mama and Miriam:

Exodus contains stories with some amazing heroins who saw horror around them and refused to bow to despair. The midwives were told to throw all the Israelite baby boys into the river. They refused. When Pharoah turns to orders to kill baby boys there is at least one brave mom who finds a way to protect her son, Moses. And the big sister who watches over Moses speaks to all women about the important role we play in protecting others. God used these women to protect a baby to change the course of history. ​

Love is the only weapon large enough to battle fear and win. 
​
Moses and the call:

Moses is rescued from the Nile, raised as a prince, later kills a man in anger and ends up hiding in the wilderness herding sheep. Chapter 3 shows our unlikely hero face to burning bush being told to go rescue the people. Moses has an honest and scared question.  "Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt".   And God says "I will be with you".   Truth is that nothing about Moses qualifies him except that God will go with him.  Nothing about Moses' messed up background prevents him from being used as long as God is on the journey.  ​

The best answer to our identity questions is that we are not alone.

The Israelites:

So after much whining, Moses heads back to Egypt to tell the Israelites that God has promised to set them free. I love this verse. "And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped." I'd like you to know that God is concerned for you also.   I know what I can't breathe, tightness in my chest, weight of sorrow feels like.   I also know that God is faithful to help on those hard days.   He is good.  All the time.

Faith is not a promise for no pain.   Faith is knowing pain is not the end of the story. 

The Showdown:

Imagine being Pharoah sitting in glory surrounded by wealth and with power at his demand. In comes Moses, the fugitive sheep herder, which a message from God to let the Isrealites go. Pharoah replies

"Who is the Lord; that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go"

Which hastens back to the promises to Abraham. The point of the whole nation of Israel is to be a light to the world to show a way back to relationship with the creator. Pharaoh's question is about to be answered in spectacular fashion. The coming plagues, rescue from Egypt and parting of the Red Sea spread the word about this God across the known world.

Sometimes grace speaks loudest in our suffering.

My saga continued. Turned out we had 8 possums, a couple of raccoons and some rats all living in the crawl space under my building. A full team of exterminators caught the critters. The dry wall and all the insulation was replaced. Vapor barriers and air cleaners were installed. Environmental specialists signed off. I sighed in relief and set back to work typing, typing, typing. And then, I heard rustling. I searched boxes and behind my desk. Low and high. Sat back down. Rustling. Took a deep breath and peaked in my garbage can. There sat a big fat mama possum. She apparently had been sitting there right by my feet all morning. This time I quietly put a box over the garbage can, didn't tell another soul and marched out to the field next door. Set the possum free. I called the landlord again.

The Plagues​

I'm telling you, my own personal plague of possums makes me feel for the Egyptians and the Israelites as they dealt with the plagues of Exodus. Blood, gnats, hail, locusts and five other nasty signs and wonders wrecked havoc. My pastor says that one of his goals in life is to learn his lessons quickly. Soon Pharoh's refusal to submit hit the point of no return. The last plague meant that every first born son in Egypt died. Massive heartache. When that happened, all of Egypt finally begged Israel to leave. Which is where we pick up next week. ​

The longer it takes to learn, the more pain involved

When my possums invaded I called my landlord. He had the authority and resources to provide help. When caught in consequences from failure or am under attack from outside it makes sense to call the one who has power to rescue. Exodus shows what can happen when God is called.

Patterns of Evidence is a documentary about the archeological footprint that point to the historical Exodus.  I love this sort of thing.   Rent or purchase by clicking on the photo.

Exodus tackles the hard topic of pain and suffering.   Why do we hurt? Does God care?  Does He act?  Kay Arthur's book "When the Hurt Runs Deep: Healing and Hope for Life's Desperate Moments" unpacks some of these questions with lots of grace.    If you are in crisis or healing from a deep pain please consider finding this book at the library or click the photo to buy a copy.   

Great detail and art in these two Read Scripture YouTube videos for the book of Exodus.  Check them out at the links below or their website www.jointhebibleproject.com if you are interested in seeing more from these talented artists.

You can click on this infographic to make it larger.   Check out some thoughtful Exodus questions that go along with the infographic from NewSpring Church here.

A reader sent me a request today that I write about the times we struggle with faith. I'm pondering dear one. But for now I offer this post from five years ago. It's certainly not the answer to your question. The answer is probably I don't know. However, this is a truth I stand on when I'm struggling.

In case you hadn’t noticed, life isn’t perfect. Cars crash, things break, families fight, wars start, pets die, medical tests loom and jobs are lost.

It can feel like you are standing by the ocean and waves keep coming. Wading in the surf and anticipating that next cold wave to hit is a vulnerable place to be. I’ve talked to several people who are jumping waves recently. Naturally, questions abound. “Why is God letting this happen?” “Why me?” “Does it ever end?”
​
The way to keep your balance when the waves are hitting is to make eternity your personal timeline. The thing about happiness in this life is to remember it isn’t about this life. It does not mean that the difficulties don’t hurt. But it puts that pain in perspective. It is not permanent.

Matthew 6: 19 – 20
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Want to know what kind of treasures you can
​ store in heaven?

AUTHORS:

I love books. All kinds. My favorites though are by people who claim to know Jesus. When I get to heaven I plan on going and meeting all my favorite authors. I am going to have lunch with C.S. Lewis. On a side note, this is one of the many reasons to read the whole Bible. Do you know how embarrassing it’s going to be to be standing in heaven when Malachi comes up and asks how you liked his book? Awkward if you didn’t read it.

​FAMILY:

​I can’t wait to meet my mom’s father. He sounds like an incredible person. He died about four years before I was born. I want to see my cousin and my grandmother again. Talk about a good family reunion. It’s one of the many reasons I pray for my daughter and my niece and nephews. I want to see them there too.

TEARS:
​
Psalm 56:8 “Record my misery;
list my tears on your scroll
are they not in your record?”

I love that God sees us when we hurt and keeps track of those tears. Someday, we’ll have the joy of watching as He wipes them off the record permanently. In The Great Divorce, CS Lewis talks about how in heaven, Good ultimately wins everything and sadness and gloom and strife
​no longer have any sting.

So cry deeply but briefly. God sees you.


STORIES:

My sister has a theory about heaven that one of the fun things to do will be to go hear about the stories you were a part of on Earth that you had no idea. Ever donate to a good cause? Want to meet the people who were impacted? How fun would that be. It’s a great past time, giving unexpected kindness. If you are having a bad day, do something nice for someone else.

Store up a fun story for heaven.
​

GRACE:

​If God created us to be in relationship with Him and each other then heaven is bound to be the best party. Ever been somewhere when old friends reunite? Ever introduce people you knew were going to hit it off? That’s the kind of relationships God is looking for. The best treasure to invest in here is in introducing people to eternal relationships.

It doesn’t get better than friends forever.