DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP KID

1958

When I was fifteen I got this thing in my head that I was the only one in the family who could take care of everybody.  I felt that I had to take care of my parents, my three brothers, and my sister.  It was up to me to do something great so that I could help my family. I had no talent or abilities that were outstanding.  So this thought was overwhelming to me. I had placed on myself an impossible task.  

 What I didn't know at the time was that I was proud.  I thought too highly of myself.  I was taught in my family we wanted to be humble.  We believed that bragging was wrong.  Jesus said, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth."  We wanted to be meek.  Unfortunately some of us went about it in the wrong way.  Instead of bragging we would put ourselves down.  Our family friend, Nan, said, "Don't put yourself down kid.  Everybody else will do it for you." 

This led me to the conclusion that either bragging or putting your self down is actually pride-- conceit or inordinate self esteem.  When we call attention to ourselves, or are self involved, this is pointing to ourselves in a prideful way.  Instead we should look to God to help us.  

Then after studying the Bible for many years God opened  I Corinthians 1: 26- 31 up to me:

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,[c] not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being[d] might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him[e] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 

So it wasn't up to me to do something great--it was just necessary to be open to what God would have me to do.  He would use me in some way even if I had no talents.

Those who believe and trust in Jesus have self esteem because we can trust God completely to do His work in us.  We can forget about ourselves and keep our eyes on Jesus.

WOMAN TO WOMAN

Mom 1957

In the Christian religion we are told in God's word, the Bible, that the older women should teach the younger women.  Fortunately, I had a mom who was a Christian.  She taught me everything she knew up until I left home at 18.  Because I moved 3000 miles away from home it was too difficult to go to my mom for advice. So God put some incredible women into my life.

The second Christian woman who had an impact on my life was Evelyn Christenson.  She came to Spokane to lead a Sunday School teacher work shop.  She had us form groups of 3 or 4.  Then she instructed us to go around our circle and say a one sentence prayer.  I had never prayed out loud before but I did manage one sentence.  

BSF luncheon

Next I joined Bible Study Fellowship and had many wonderful group leaders pour into me. I was asked every year to lead a group but I turned that opportunity down because it required a commitment of 2 days a week. Dealing with my chronic pain would make that too difficult. 

College and career Moms in Prayer

A few years later Fern Nichols started "Moms in Touch", now "Mom's in Prayer," a group who prays for their children and schools. I joined a group and I learned to pray Bible verses back to God and to pray of one accord.  One mom would pray about something on her heart and anyone else who has something put on her heart by the Holy Spirit would pray about the same subject.  My prayer life grew by leaps and bounds.

After attending a women's retreat and meeting with the speaker one on one, she recommended that I work through Myrna Alexander's book, "Behold Your God." In studying the attributes of God all problems tend to grow smaller in the light of the greatness of God.

Nan and Heather 1994

The next mentor I had was Nan.  Her husband was a close friend of my dad's.  His mother was my dad's first Sunday School teacher. Nan was about 15 years older than me.  Even though we weren't living in the same town I could call her and opine my troubles to her.  She was empathetic and a woman of prayer. 

2004

Then we moved again and began attending the church we had been members of years before.  Two of the older women had started a prayer group to pray once a week for one hour for our families, church, the government, and many other topics.  I joined and loved praying with them.  After each move to a new church I followed their example.

Kay 2012

When we began attending a different church I met Kay.  She was 92 and still going strong.  I asked her if she would pray with me every week.  We prayed together for 6 years.  Kay invited me to attend Precept Bible study with her.  A move was necessary so I lost that connection. 

At my new church I signed up for Precept Bible study.    The class had some of the most Spirit filled and intelligent women I have ever met in a Bible study.  

But I longed for a group of ladies to pray with.  It seemed difficult to do in a big church.  It was then that I signed up to mentor a young woman who wanted to be mentored through our church's mentoring program.  God had nudged me out of the receiving group and into the giving group.  I was very nervous but I figured somehow God could take what I gummed up and make it work for good.  I committed to one hour a week which I thought I could manage and not cause my chronic pain to flare up.

Me with Deb

So I met Deb 6 months ago at a dessert meeting. Through all her problems she has learned the same thing that I have learned--there is no where else to go but to Jesus.  Only He has the words of life!  So after talking to Deb, and hearing her concerns, I recommended that we work through, "Behold Your God."  The process has seemed slow to me as we have only gotten through 1/2 of the book.  But looking back on all the years I have had mentors nurture me I shouldn't be impatient.  So we will keep working through the workbook and God will keep growing both of us to become the women of God He wants us to be.

Proverbs 31: 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

GRANDPA SHOT A BEAR

Grandpa in Jennings, Montana 1904

It's all the fault of my paternal grandmother that I'm an indoor sort of person.  She preferred attending movies, Canasta parties, and club meetings over hiking or camping in the great outdoors.  I believe that my mom, dad, and younger brothers enjoyed camping, through all the states in the Union. (They stayed in a hotel in Hawaii though.) My youngest brother missed out on camping in Alaska because that was before his time.  As for my older brother and sister -- I don't recall them relishing a good hike.  My sister did enjoy swimming though.  

So when my son and daughter-in-law traveled to Orwell, New York and looked into the genealogy on that side of the family they discovered that my grandfather shot a bear and sent his mother a bear rug for Christmas.

Apparently he was quite an outdoorsman.  He was also a wonderful gardener.  I didn't inherit that ability or interest at all.

I was glad to read this article which tells us that outdoors is good for the brain.

Another thing that is good for the brain is meditating on our Creator.  Isaiah 26: 3 says:

You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,

    because he trusts in you.

If we keep our eyes on God through prayer, Bible study, Christian fellowship, and not looking at the circumstances, we will have considerably more peace. 

BETRAYED AND ABANDONED

I wonder if everyone believes that they were born at an inoppertune time? I believed that my summer birthday was the worst time to be born.  My family was usually on vacation or traveling cross country to visit relatives.  I remember visiting Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Ill. when I was just turning 12.  We were on our way to visit relatives in Spokane. My mom picked up a pen with a feather on the end at the gift shop and handed it to me over the back seat of the car as we sped down the highway.  At least she had acknowledged my birthday!

But when my daughter was 15, my son was 9, and my husband was working long hours I awoke the day of my birthday to see nothing going on.  No cake was being baked.  When my daughter told me she was taking her friend out to lunch at Taco Time I objected.  "It's my birthday," I said.  It made no difference to her.  She left.  My son was playing with legos and didn't notice anything was amiss.

As a result I was feeling sorry for my self.  I pulled down the shades and crashed on the couch.  When my daughter came home she was shocked to see me in this condition as I was usually busy most days.

When my husband arrived home from work he was amazed that there was no dinner ready.  I said, "It's my birthday and I'm waiting for my cake." He went into the kitchen and baked me a cake!  

From then on my daughter always made sure I had a cake for my birthday.  Years later, when we were living on our boat in Roch Harbor in the San Juan Islands, she drove up and baked me a cake on the boat.  My husband had them announce over the loudspeaker during the evening announcements that I was turning 29 on the 29th. ( I have instructed my family that I turn 29 on the 29th every year.)

These feelings are nothing compared to what Jesus suffered when He was betrayed by Judas and abandoned by all the disciples, even Peter.  But God had a marvelous plan.  I remind my self about this when I'm feeling abandoned and betrayed.  One verse I cling to is Psalm 37:8-9-- 

    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

If I continue to live steadfastly before the Lord some day He will make everything beautiful! 

THE REST OF THE STORY ON CLIMATE VARIATIONS

Jay 1948

My brother, Jay, wanted to have 12 children.  Sadly he wasn't gifted with any children in his 64 years of life on this earth.  He wanted to obey God and "be fruitful and multiply."  So I am saddened by what some teens are thinking these days.  Some are pledging to have no children.  Here is an article which tells us that having children is one way to combat climate variations.

Dominic Green tells us the rest of the story on Greta Thunberg.  Click here to read the story.  

My dad, a meteorologist, attended weather variation conferences years ago.  I'm sure he would have wise words to say about this.

American Meteorological Association sign

So what is the truth?  The only way we can walk a straight path on this issue is to trust in God and do good.

Genesis 1:28  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

OPEN DOORS

Last month my family lost the last of my parent's generation.  She was my Aunt Ruth, my mom's younger sister.  Born in 1926 in Spokane she was immediately adored by her two older sisters. The above picture of her was taken in 1927.  She lived a great life which included marrying, rearing three children, singing with her beautiful gifted voice, working as a nurse, living as a widow for many years, keeping up with friends and family, and mall walking to name a few things.

God blessed Aunt Ruth with every spiritual blessing and many natural talents.  Her parents valued music. She was fortunate to take singing lessons from the same voice teacher who coached Patrice Munsel.  Her voice was even better than Patrice's according to her teacher.

Flashing back to my first meeting of her--I was a few months old--at  Grandma and Grandpa's farm-- I was already doing the high kick and attempting to run away.

Aunt Ruth would graduate from North Central High School while living with us in Grandma and Grandpa's town house.  She recalled having to tie the bathroom doors shut so Jay, 3 years old, would not walk in on her.

After WW II my family settled in Burbank, California.  Aunt Ruth lived with us, before she was married, while she worked as a nurse in a local hospital.  She told me that both she and my dad worked shifts and that with only a 2 bedroom house, and three kids, she did a thing called "hot bedding."  That meant that if someone was at work the other person would sleep in their bed.   

Uncle Jack, before he was Uncle Jack, would visit us in Burbank.  One favorite memory of Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jack was when they sang, "I Said My Pajamas And Put On My Prayers," for me.

I was able to serve as a flower girl in Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jack's Spokane wedding.  After our move to Alaska I wore the flower girl dress in "A Tom Thumb Wedding" put on by my school.

Aunt Ruth was one of the few people who sent me a gift for my high school graduation.  It was a manicure set which came in very handy.

In 1965 Aunt Ruth and Diana traveled to Spokane to participate in Chris and my wedding.  Aunt Ruth sang and Diana was our flower girl.

After Chris and I were married and on our way to live in Santa Barbara we stopped by Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jack's.  After a sight seeing trip to a glass blowing gallery they gave up their king sized bed for us to sleep in, and slept with their kids that night.  

Jes recalls that Aunt Ruth and John attended one of his concerts when his college jazz band was touring California.  Another memory he had was, after his graduation from Whitworth, he showed Aunt Ruth around the campus, as it was also her alma mater.

One of my favorite pictures is of the 3 sisters taken in 1997 in Redwood city.

Ruth, Grace, Evelyn

One time, on a visit to my Aunt Evelyn's family in Seattle, she attended church with us.  At the end of the service all the senior women were trying to recruit her for the senior group activities.  She was such a good looking and friendly lady. 

She was the only one in her family to achieve an undergraduate degree.  She carried on the tradition of her ancestors on both sides of the family by working as a nurse.  Two of the great grandfathers worked as medics in the Civil War. 

God opened many doors for her and she went through!  Click here to read her obit.

Revelation 3:8  I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

SHARE YOUR MASTER'S JOY!

She finished well--my friend Kay.  She would have been 98 in September.  I've lost my prayer partner of six years.  They tell me that I'm the next Kay.  Only problem is I can't find another me.  We were committed to prayer.  The reason being that we were no longer able to serve in any physical duties in the church  such as kitchen, children's program, musical ministry, women's ministry, and many others.  We were the twins-- attending Bible study, church, and praying together every week.  God has a way of removing someone from your life so that you will depend on Him and not anyone else.  He is moving me on to other things.  

Many of Kay's friends from Martha Lake Covenant church showed up for Kay's memorial this last Saturday.  We were thrilled to see the new flooring, large vegetable garden, and remodeling taking place.  Our former pastor, Bill, preached the perfect sermon. Another church was planted in our building and continued to rent to the Seventh Day Adventist church and several others.  And now we have seen what God has done! Here is what I wrote when MLCC closed several years ago.  

*****

Today I feel as if I have been put through a meat grinder.  Not only am I physically wiped out I'm also emotionally drained.  The reason is that another evangelical church has been returned to dust.  The good people of Martha Lake Covenant church put their minds, souls, and bodies, in to keeping the church and the Awana program alive.  But yesterday, after 70 years of faithful ministry, the church was disbanded--each member to go their own way.  

Vanity. Vanity it is all vanity I remember from Solomon's lament in the book of Ecclesiastes.  God didn’t agree with my vision for the church.  For six years my prayer partner, Kay, and I prayed every Tuesday for our families, the church, our country and the world.  I thought God would bring to us Christian refugees from countries where Christians are persecuted.  We were encouraged when one man, who had moved to the United States 20 years ago from Iran, joined us.  Others thought that after the condos were built across the street from the church that those people would join.  We served free food.  We had “Narnia” nights.  We offered free concerts.  We had some visitors but few stayed.  We put new carpeting and paint in the nursery.  We sent post cards.  I don’t remember what all.  With the Awana program and the Vacation Bible Schools we had good attendance but not many came back on Sunday. 

God has different plans and higher plans than we do.  Maybe what God had in mind for us was just being faithful for a time, to learn perseverance, or even to learn how to suffer for Christ.

I was encouraged by Pastor Bill’s final sermon.  He exhorted us to go out and make disciples, baptize, and teach.  This is how we live a life of significance.  He also gave us an encouraging quote from C.S. Lewis--"now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle.

We may morn and weep for a while but joy comes in the morning.  Some day God will show us how our prayers and good works have made a difference in many lives. 

*****

And we saw it on Saturday with over 130 attending the service to support Kay's family and to celebrate her life.  Jesus is alive! By the power of the Holy Spirit He will achieve everything He has promised. Here are some pictures Chris shot during our anniversary celebration for MLCC a few years ago.  Click Here to see the link to Kay's obit in case you haven't seen it.

Kay and me

Matthew 25:23  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’