TerryLema

Carter, our oldest grandson, and I visited a local Bosnian restaurant on Monday. The food was delicious. I think I have found a new “favorite” place. Carter and I laughed and talked for about an hour and a half. It was fun, but it was also sad. He’s leaving early July for Western Oregon.

Monday as we sat there, I looked at this now-grown 6’2” man and remembered the little boy I first knew. Carter came into our life “ready-made” when he was a baby. He’s been my “bud” since he was around two when his parents moved to Idaho. There were a few years where we spent almost every Saturday together. We’d have breakfast at IHOP, then go off on some adventure, grab a little lunch, and finish the day at Baskin-Robbins where he would make me tell him what all the 31-Flavors were before he made his choice.

I’ve taken him on a plane to California, train rides, a car trip to Eastern Idaho to see the T-Rex Named Sue, and lots of other places. We spent a week in Washington DC together, just the two of us when he turned 18. We’ve visited museums, new art exhibits, tea shops and ethnic restaurants. And we have talked about everything, no subject off limits. Now he is going off on his own and I am going to miss him greatly.

A couple of us were talking about adoption the other evening. I said that while Carter has none of my DNA, he has all of my heart.  From the first moment I saw those blue eyes and blond curls I was hooked, line and sinker! Adoption is one of the most beautiful words in any language. It is especially beautiful in God’s language.

“In love [God our Father] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” [Eph 1:4-7 NIV]

My oldest and only grandson in Idaho is moving to Western Oregon. Carter is my ethnic food adventure partner. For as long as I can remember, he and I have enjoyed trying out every new ethnic food restaurant that calls the Treasure Valley home. We have eaten at Greek, Indian, Vietnamese, Himalayan and lots of others. Monday, we dined at a Bosnian restaurant (which I really liked!).

I love trying new things with him, like yak mo mo’s, moussaka and sirnica. I am going to miss my culinary adventure partner, because I know I’m not going to get Bob to try any of this! He got as far as Baba Ghanoush and quit.

I love my children. I adore my grandchildren. It’s a special kind of relationship. I’ve heard it described as all the fun of being around kids, without the responsibility. While that is true in some ways, it’s not in others. We have a responsibility to and for our children’s children … and their children if we live long enough to see them.

We must be a stable influence for Christ, teaching them the love of the Lord through our words and our actions. We need to pray for them that they hold strong and steady after we are gone. But more than anything, we need to show them our love for them is completely unconditional and will never waver – no matter what phase they may be going through at the time or how badly they are driving their parents crazy!  When they come to us, they will always find someone who loves them and finds the best in them.

Solomon was right when he wrote, “Children’s children are a crown to the aged….”  [Proverbs 17:6 NIV]

Monday morning, we opened our windows when we first awoke. Knowing that the temperature was predicted to top out the day in the upper-90’s, we were hoping to get the house cooled down early. Immediately, we were flooded with a terrible stench. When the wind blows from just the right direction, combined with the morning humidity, we are blessed with a reminder that we aren’t that far from the sugar beet processing plant.

I remember when we first moved here from California, we drove by the Sugar Beet Factory and the stench was almost more than I could stand. I didn’t think I had smelled anything that bad since we drove by the pulp mills in Northern California.  Later, I read an article where someone who worked there was asked about the smell … citing the fact that people moving into the area thought it was awful.  The worker remarked that it was a sweet smell to him since it represented his financial security for his family.  I remember that article every time I open my windows to the “sugar beet factory blessing!”

I also remember what Paul wrote.  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.”  [2 Cor 2:14-16 NIV]

I thought as I shut my windows Monday morning to block out the stench, that the world thinks of us the same way.  We are a “stench of Christ” – the smell of death to them. No wonder they want to block us out, to remove us from their midst. But we are also the beautiful fragrance of Christ to our Father God and to all those who have placed their trust in His Son, Jesus, the Christ. Praise His Holy Name!

It was a beautiful Idaho summer day. I took an early morning walk before the heat of the day set in. There was a gentle breeze and the sky was filled with clusters of clouds lazily moving from west to east. I watched as they would occasionally block the rising sun and then move on their appointed rounds. I listened to my worship tape, singing and praising as I walked.  I’m not sure any man-made cathedral could have felt more holy.

“For Your mercy [love in the NIV] is great above the heavens, And Your truth [faithfulness in the NIV] reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth.”  [Psalm 108:4-5 NKJV]

I love that phrase … Your truth (faithfulness) reaches to the clouds.

 The word for “truth” is ’emeth (eh’-meth) in the Hebrew. It means stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness and is often translated as faithful, sure or true. God’s faithfulness is established in His truth, which never changes. The NT reminds us in Hebrews that it is impossible for God to lie, thus it is impossible for Him to be unfaithful. [Heb 6:18]

God’s truth, His faithfulness reaches to the clouds. What a picture! And if we really think about it … God’s truth, His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds, reaches beyond time … reaches into eternity. “For God so loved the world that He gave ….”

Why should we ever fear?

I am reminded this morning how marvelously blessed I am. Sure, I have a few struggles, some of my own making and some not. I live in an aging body, so there are always struggles in that arena! Rising costs combined with a “fixed” income also create a few challenges. But amid all the circumstances and situations that are negative in nature, grace and blessings abound. And one of the greatest blessings in my life now is the women who call The Way Assembly of God in Middleton, Idaho, home.

God has surrounded me with women of all ages, from the young to those a few years older than I. I realized how great a blessing that is at the Yard Sale last Saturday that the church held as a fund raiser for needy children and families in our local school district. They donated items, came to set up, host the sale, and take down everything. They even bought stuff! They laughed, greeted and helped, willingly and eagerly.  They even engaged a few men to come along and help too.

As we sat and talked during the lulls between customers, I realized that God has truly blessed me with wonderful women of faith.  I never had a sister. I have two good friends that I’ve known for many decades, but they live far away now. These women are both sisters and friends.

When I went home Saturday night I knew what David meant when he wrote, “God sets the lonely in families.”  [Ps 68:6 NIV]

God has given me a beautiful church family to love and enjoy.

Father, thank you for Your love and for bringing these wonderful women into my life!  Bless them abundantly for all they do!  Amen.

One of the things I love best about living in Boise are the surrounding mountains and foothills. They are beautiful year-round, but I especially love them in the winter when the snow covers them. There are certain roads where I drive that present a clear view and I always have the sense of being up high, even though our elevation is just a little under 3000 feet. My favorite place is by the ocean, but I do love living amid the mountains.

The psalmist asks a question in Psalm 121.  “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?”

Then he answers his own question.  “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” [Ps 121:1-2 NIV]

Psalm 121 is labeled as “A Song of Ascent.” This group of psalms (120-134) are also called “Pilgrim Songs.” Jerusalem is situated on a hill. Several times a year the pilgrims traveling to the city for one of the Jewish Festivals would sing these songs as they ascended the uphill road.

Where does our help come from? As much as I love the mountains and the hills around the Treasure Valley, I know that our help doesn’t come from them.  Our help doesn’t come from the government nor society.  Our help comes from the LORD God Almighty. The psalmist reminds us in this song that the One who watches over us does not slumber nor sleep. He reminds us that the LORD is our shade in the heat of the battle. He reminds us that the LORD will watch over our lives … when we come in and when we go out … both in the present and for all eternity.

Take a moment today and use this lovely song to praise God for all He is to us, Creator, Sustainer, Protector.

It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon when the man was confronted by a sight he had never seen.  He was a soldier, a man of courage and had seen much that would shake lesser men. But this was unlike anything he had ever confronted on a battlefield. It frightened him. His name was Cornelius, a Roman centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment, and what he saw was an angel from God.

According to Acts 10, Cornelius and his family were devout and God-fearing and gave generously to those in need. He was also a man who prayed regularly. As Cornelius stared at the angel in fear, the angel gave him a message. “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” [Acts 10:4-6 NIV]

Cornelius obeyed. The Apostle Peter also obeyed a message from an angel and went with the men to the house of Cornelius. And with that, the Gospel was opened to the Gentiles. Paul would become the principle Apostle to the Gentiles, but it was Peter who first opened the door through his obedience.

As I was reading the story of Cornelius this morning, I was touched by one part of the message brought by the angel. “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” 

Cornelius apparently had aligned himself with the True God of Israel. He would have still been excluded from the Temple, held to the Court of the Gentiles, yet his prayers and what he did for the poor were seen and received by God Himself. While excluded from the earthly Temple, He would soon be included in the Heavenly One. Peter’s visit would lead Cornelius and his family to Christ, and the Holy Spirit would fall on them just as He fell on those in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost. What a wonderfully amazing God!

Today is going to be one long, very busy day. Our church, The Way Assembly of God, in Middleton, Idaho, is hosting a yard sale. Our first one ever. I know people who are big fans of yard sales; I’m not one of them. But this one is important to me because any proceeds will go to benefit our local school district. The funds will be given to the district’s family advocate to use to buy necessary items for children from families in need, things like shoes, underwear, clothes, school supplies, even laundry soap.

Every year we buy gift cards from places like Walmart, Target, Staples, using donations from our congregation.  This year we decided to host a yard sale to add to those donations. The outreach to our school children is our biggest outreach into our community. It includes buying for a family in need at Christmas that we also obtain from those vetted by the school district’s family advocate.

I love this outreach because it isn’t geared for us to increase members. It helps families in need and it is somewhat anonymous. Jesus said that when we take care of those in need, we are doing it as unto Him. “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” [Matt 25:40 NIV]

He also reminded us that we will always have the poor with us, not that we need a reminder [Matthew 26:11].  All we need to do is open our eyes and we will see the poor in every part of the world, even in our own neighborhoods. It can be overwhelming at times. The little we do can seem like we are trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon, but that doesn’t mean we should do nothing. We may not be able to change the circumstances of every poor child, but we can change it for one, or two, or three that are within our reach.

So …. If you have nothing to do today … come to The Way’s yard sale. We even accept donations if you don’t find anything to buy!

The great coverup! The “Saga of the Sink” has added a sequel — “The Saga of the Fridge.” Monday was to be the day, the day when the flooring was installed and except for some spot painting, everything was to return to normal.  It didn’t happen. When the old flooring was ripped up underneath the fridge we found a large section of black mold. There was only one problem, there was no leak and it was completely dry (attested to by the inspector the next day).

Because the flooring, baseboards and exterior drywall showed no visible signs of any damage, it was decided it had probably been covered up by the previous owner with new flooring and baseboards just before we bought the house. This means without an active leak, insurance won’t cover the mitigation to spray so the mold doesn’t become active again, nor the removal and replacement of the drywall.  The old owner’s coverup worked great – for him.

The Greatest Coverup of All!  In the Book of Romans, Paul used David’s words from Psalm 32 to remind us “of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’”  [Rom 4:7-8 NIV]

Paul reminds us in many of his letters that this “Greatest Coverup” is accomplished through the blood of God’s Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. When we come to Christ, our sins are covered, forgiveness is granted, and God promises never to hold those sins against us. [Ro 3:25, 5:9; Eph 1:7]

That’s a coverup I can really appreciate!

Thank you, Father, for sending Your Son, and for His sacrifice at Calvary that covers us so completely! Amen.

Monday was supposed to be a great day.  We were entering the final stretch after weeks of dealing with the mitigation and reconstruction following the water damage under our kitchen sink.  The flooring crew arrived early, moved the fridge and stove out of the kitchen into the living room and began ripping up the old flooring. The superintendent showed up with the new flooring. All that was going to be left after this was a little bit of painting and we were home free!

Didn’t happen. When the old flooring was ripped up, more damage and mold was discovered under the fridge. So, they moved my kitchen table into the living room, moved the fridge where the kitchen table resided and re-set the stove. Then they left leaving me to deal with the insurance company – was this something that could be added to the old claim or was it something that would require a new claim to be investigated (with another deductible). As it turned out, it was neither, everything will be out of our pockets.

We have been dealing with this since April 29. It’s June 21 and it still isn’t settled. Life is taking its toll on my living!  But nothing like the toll life is taking in the living of our friend and his family. “It’s back” is a terrible message after eight years cancer free. “This time we need to be more aggressive in treatment” is what he’s going to be walking through in the months ahead.

Our problems are minimal, I’m sure whatever happens God will provide for us to handle this financially – even if it means I go back to a secular job for a time. I’m also sure that “It’s back” did not take God by surprise either and He will provide the support, the love, the comfort our friends need as they walk through this difficult time.

Those words first spoken to Israel, then repeated to Joshua, and referred to again in the Book of Hebrews are often quoted, but it is at times like this that they become more than words … they become our very lifeline.  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  [Deut 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5-6]