Morning Glories

 “A quiet conscience makes one strong!” ― Anne Frank

Everyone has a favorite parking place, a favorite seat in the meeting. So, after five years of parking in the same spot at work, I was a bit miffed to find someone else arriving earlier and taking mine. I passed it off the first couple of times, even managing one morning to arrive early enough to take my old familiar spot. I rationalized that a newer employee probably forced the perpetrator to find another spot, but why mine? After about a week of this, I began to feel... irritated. 

The parking places are not marked. It was just tradition. It was comfortable. I had a cordial relationship with the parking space bandit until then, but new room assignments at work meant we would be seeing each other more often. So, I made a choice. I decided I wanted to maintain my peace and that meant I needed to make a change, even if I really didn't want to. 

Reminded that all things work together for good to those who love God, and continuing with my morning prayers of thanksgiving, I pulled into a spot in an adjacent section of the lot. I wouldn't be able to see my car from my window any longer, but the first thing I noticed was it was closer to the building. Then I noticed the morning glories.

I had seen them before and often thought, "Some day I'm going to photograph those." Characteristically running in at the last minute, however, some day had not arrived...until now. 

Morning glories, of course, are only seen in the morning. Delighted now, I grabbed my cell phone and took a few photos, vowing to bring my real camera the next morning. As I did, the new tenant of my old parking place called, "Good morning! Thank you for the song!" Just then, I remembered attaching the mp3 of a new song and sending it through the email to a few folks who had asked about it.

"You're welcome!" I called, smiling and hurrying into the building. 

What if I'd gone on grumbling? What would I have missed? Among many other glories, I would have missed the opportunity to display God's love. I would have missed the opportunity to be an authentic representation of God's beauty and grace in the world around me. Being nice later wouldn't have compensated for the missed opportunity. 

The day proceeded on its own busy course. Returning wearily to my car nine hours later, the veil of blue flowers had mysteriously vanished from the shrubs, but their memory refreshed me. I was glad I had chosen the path of the morning glories and amazed that a mere parking place had jeopardized my peace and the joy of knowing I'd done the right thing. 

Song of Solomon 2:15

Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming! New Living Translation

Matthew 5:25

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. World English Bible

Romans 12:9-10

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. The Message

2 Corinthians 10:5

We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One. The Voice

Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without complaining or bickering with each other, so you will be found innocent and blameless; you are God’s children called to live without a single stain on your reputations among this perverted and crooked generation. Shine like stars across the land. The Voice

Excerpt from:    
While it is Called Today - 
a 30-day photo devotional for living well   
 by Dee Marvin Emeigh

(c) 2014 Dee Marvin Emeigh
all rights reserved

www.livwellseedco.com

Loyalty Rewards

"The idea is not that we do work for God, 

but that we are so loyal to Him that He can do His work through us" – Oswald Chambers

Hot air balloons rely entirely on the heated air to fill them - Hudson River, July 6, 2014

When I made my reservation a month ago with an airline I had not flown in many years, I knew I had a loyalty membership number, but didn't know where and didn't want to take the time to find it. During a layover for my return flight, however, I received an email with the membership number and found my way, both to a cafe for some coffee, and through the forgotten username and password maze into my account to register my ticket. Obviously, earning loyalty points was not my first consideration and I had not been a particularly loyal consumer, but I graciously received the blessing, nonetheless.

My departing flight was delayed, so I sat sipping the rest of my coffee and opened a pocket devotional to the day’s message. Once again, I was awed at the way The Lord assures us of His presence and His guidance. The author's topic was introduced with an exposition on airline loyalty rewards.  He proceeded to relate the story of Paul's first-century travels, motivated by his loyalty to Christ. But, it was not the message the author intended to convey that impressed me; it was what the Spirit of God was revealing to me that was so meaningful. 

Undoubtedly Paul listened to and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, as we endeavor to do. But in so doing, what was proven was not his own loyalty, but the loyalty of God Himself: faithful to bless, faithful to fulfill His promise, and faithful to show His power through Paul. Paul showed no false humility when he professed to being the worst of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He simply acknowledged the truth he recognized and yielded himself along with his faults to the leading of an almighty, merciful God. Paul didn't plan His itinerary to be in a certain place at a certain time, to speak to a certain people in practiced prose, and he didn’t rely on all of his studies to convey his message. In fact, he stated, “My message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:4). 

The Spirit of The Lord instructed him and led him, and on at least one occasion told him not to speak (Acts 16:6). The other disciples had been told not to worry about what they would say, even when they were arrested (Matthew 10:19, Luke 12:11, Mark 13:11). Depending on the promise of God's loyalty to his followers was all they needed.

What God wants from us is not our loyal performance of perfectly ordered lives, or even pledges of loyal service. He simply wants to display His loyalty through our earth-worn vessels, so that we continue to be overflowing with His love, joy, peace and power. He wants others to see His loyalty and goodness, not ours. 


Psalm 145:13
The Lord will keep all his promises [is faithful/true in all his words]; he is loyal to all he has made (Expanded Bible).

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in a fragile vase of clay, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be seen to belong to God, and not to originate in us (Weymouth Translation)

Acts 17:24
The God who made the universe and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn't live in shrines made by humans (God’s Word Translation).

2 Timothy 2:13
If we do not believe in him, he still is true, because he cannot say he is not what he is (Worldwide English New Testament).

Excerpt from:    
While it is Called Today - 
a 30-day photo devotional for living well   
 by Dee Marvin Emeigh

(c) 2014 Dee Marvin Emeigh
all rights reserved

www.livwellseedco.com

Dark Hurdles

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged 

to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” ― Nelson Mandela

My friend is watching her mother grow older, less mobile, and frail. I wish I could comfort her, but the truth is, it’s going to be painful. I can only offer prayer that our Father will immerse her in assurance that her mother’s life comes and inevitably continues with Him, though it may be in a different form. It is the story of the butterfly, of the seed, and of the earth itself. This is the hope of those whose lives have been given back to Him as an offering.

The last time I saw my dad in this world, he asked me if I really believed all those people who go forward at Billy Graham crusades were going to heaven. The answer came from somewhere within, as if it had been waiting to emerge at the right time. “If they really believe it, they are.” 

I hope it gave him hope. Over time, I would come to believe those words more fully. I have come to know the nature of the Father, which is always to honor what we believe: our faith. In fact, without faith it is not possible to please Him, because the one who comes to him must first believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). 

So, while we may face dark clouds, we who believe must look beyond them to the constant shining of the sun.

My friend and I had a nice talk over our seaside lunch. The dark clouds evaporated into the ocean and in the course of our conversation, she spoke Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:34. “Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.” She is working on believing it. Together we believe that when she gets to the hurdle she’ll be able to go over it. 

We walked out into the sunshine and followed our separate paths. Mine got pretty bumpy, but peace sustained me. At another time, those bumps would have knocked me off balance into the undertow and dragged me out to sea. Her words drifted back on the gentle tide of evening. I searched them out in various translations of light until I found the one that expressed what the Spirit was speaking:  

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (the Message). Yes, He has and He will. Amen.

John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. Good News Translation 

Psalm 1:6
The Lord protects everyone who follows him. Contemporary English Version 

Jeremiah 29:11 
I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. God’s Word Translation 

“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!” - Thomas Chisolm, Great is Thy Faithfulness

Excerpt from:   While it is Called Today - a 30-day photo devotional for living well  
by Dee Marvin Emeigh

(c) 2014 Dee Marvin Emeigh
all rights reserved

www.livwellseedco.com