Miss Mary Mack


 

Over the weekend, I was in a converted old school house from the 1920’s.  This unique brick building was restored in great condition.  The floors in the banquet room and a couple other rooms were original to the building.  While we were waiting for dinner and music to start I was in the banquet room sitting on the stage with the original wood floors.  As I was there looking at the beautiful old floors, it took me back to  many years when this same girl many years younger was sitting on a very similar floor.

I instantly remember playing clapping games, “Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack.”  Hundreds of memories came pouring in.  I remember saying other rhymes as well but I do not recall them until I did a little research. “Miss Susie had a steamboat, the steamboat had a bell, and Miss Susie went to heaven…”  Memory triggers can be anything, a smell, a picture, a sight or music. 

It made me ponder.  Something as simple as an old wood floor can make the memories of elementary years long ago come back.  What a gift.  You know they say we remember moments not days.  I do not remember what days I sat on the old wood floor in the gym at Theresa A. Mulvey Elementary School, Westbrook, Connecticut, but I remember some of those moments. 

What things has God brought into our lives to help us recall simpler times?  What moments are the most precious when you look back and see God’s hand on your life? What moments are we making for our children?  What moments will we remember as our time draws short?

Cathedrals

Last year I was blessed by being able to travel to the U.K. The land of Harry Potter, the Queen, the Beatles, London and yes Cathedrals.  My family and I stayed in a town in Cambridgeshire, Ely pronounced Ee-lee.  Ely is famous for having one of the oldest and most unusual Cathedrals.  It does not matter what part of town you are in you can see the octagonal tower which makes it unique all over the village.  It was after my daughter visited this town that I decided to use this town as our hub for our stay. 

Ely is located about 1 hour north of London (via train) it a quaint village with a river front town and it is a very quiet village.  The people are very quiet and reserved.  I was blessed to attend 2 church services during my stay.  The first service was at a non-denominational church people were friendly and spent a lot of time before and after church talking to us and giving us hints on where locals go to eat.  The second service was at the Cathedral for the Sunday evening service –“Evensong”.  This service was very liturgical and very reverent.  I was so blessed to be among the attendants that evening.  More than 50% of attendants that evening were the ministers and the choir. 

In this Cathedral that dates back to the 1300’s it gave me pause to think of all the services and the reverence shown to God over the centuries.  It was such a solemn time.  I praise God that I was able to attend.  I was able to walk through several churches, abbeys and cathedrals during our stay. 

In the beautiful village of Bury St. Edmunds, we were able to walk through the gardens, ruins and abbey.  To say breathtaking is an understatement!  The experience still gives me pause when I recall it.  The abbey is in process of some restoration.  But the way men expressed their love and faith through the stained glass windows, the beautiful details of windows and passage ways gives my heart a boost.  These buildings took people not years but several life times of service to create. 

When I returned home from my trip I did a little more research on Cathedrals.  But then as life goes, it got really busy.  It was not until I attended a women’s conference some 7 months later and one of the speakers mentioned Cathedrals was my mind and spirit once again refocused on the detail and reverence within a cathedral. 

I ordered a history book on the Cathedrals of Great Britain.  I read with enthusiasm the minute in was in my hands.  (This is a type of book that only gets printed for now. It is not available on Kindle.) But sometimes there is a special purpose when holding a printed book.  Being able to see pictures, look at places I will probably never get to see in person.  I will be honest a lot of the vocabulary was more for an architect major but I made it with looking words up on my phone to understand a clearer meaning.

Just this past weekend, here in the states I got to see a chapel built in the 1950’s at College of the Ozarks in Hollister, MO.  This Christian college is very unique in that all students work on campus for their tuition.  I was captured by some of the gothic elements in this chapel that I had seen in U.K.

What captured me this time was that even though the chapel was beautiful from the outside, it is not until you enter a chapel or Cathedral that you do not get to assess its true beauty. Once inside the stained glass windows come to life. The colors and details are almost overwhelming.  The care and detail of each window must have taken years to create. 

Isn’t that how God is?  The outside of relationship looks beautiful and interesting, but it is not until you enter into a relationship with God that everything is stunning.  He opens our eyes to the world he created and the gifts he gave to men.  A relationship with God is breathtaking!

My love for Cathedrals is new.  I am a little obsessed that men dedicated lifetimes to respect and worship God through their crafts.  I am honored that I can visit them and be blessed. If you have a chance to visit one a Cathedral please do!

Hello my name is Thomas…

You might have heard of Thomas the disciple of Jesus Christ.  Oh! You mean “doubting Thomas”.  Poor Thomas gets a bad rap!

Dear Thomas, he is human.  He doubted.  He thought that there was no way possible that Jesus was alive.  He from some vantage point saw Jesus, Rabbi and friend crucified.  Yes, he saw the details of Jesus’s death.  If he did not see them personally he sure heard a lot about it because Jerusalem was crawling with tales of the crucifixion.

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”

John 20: 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.

If we are real honest with God and ourselves we too will admit that we doubt.  We doubt that God would forgive us.  We doubt that God is who He says he is.  We doubt that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We are human, we question and we doubt.  There are 30 some words that mean doubt, distrust, ambiguity, skepticism etc. That is where faith comes in.  To have faith in someone you have to trust, accept, believe, and rely on someone else. 

I am Thomas.  I have doubted and I have had faith.  I believe in Jesus. We must have the most trust in God for him to work in our lives.  If we believe we will see many things come to pass for His kingdom.

Faith takes a step into the unknown. But with God all things are possible.

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26

“My LORD and My GOD!”  Help us in our unbelief! 

Aaron Smith

May 15, 2016

Hello my name is Judas

My friend warned me, “you will learn so much when you blog.” Well, I guess I am learning and also I am finding myself contemplating a lot of what the scriptures do not tell us.

I was pondering the characteristics we know about the disciples.  I have decided that I do relate in some aspects to all of them.  Thinking about Jesus living with them and what their personalities were like.  Who took on what responsibilities?  Who was the “clown” in the group?  Who was the one who was most liked? Etc.

Today my name is Judas. 

Just the name Judas sends all kinds of bad thoughts, traitor, evil, Satan, betrayer, greedy, etc.  It is because of Judas that Jesus was arrested.  But it was God’s plan that Jesus come to earth, live among us, teach, preach, heal and die for us.  The word says, Luke 22:3-6

3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

The only things we know about Judas was he was a follower of Christ, treasurer for the disciples, and a betrayer. He betrayed Jesus after Satan went into him.  We do not know what other reasons he would betray his teacher.  This could lead us down a tangent-was he dishonest the whole time he was with Jesus, was he stealing from the monies they had for their travel etc. We are not given the information.

I too have betrayed others:  Jesus, my husband, family, mother, father, sisters, brother and children.  Did I intentionally betray them?  NO! I do not always but things in the right priority, the “correct” order, I betrayed a confidence, I gave my unrequested opinion, or I ignored a situation when I should have spoken up or taken action.  My words and actions made them feel betrayed and that I was a traitor.

I definitely am not perfect.  I learn something new every day.  I try very hard to love, protect and work hard.  Do I have opinions?  Yes, I think we all do.  Do I want to be Judas?  No I want to be like JESUS.  It is hard work to follow Jesus, it is worth it.  Obstacles come along the way to refine us and sharpen us. 

Judas is not a popular name because of one man.  However, there were other men named Judas mentioned in the Bible. Judas is a form of the word Judah- which means high praise.  So there is hope for us that sometimes seem to be “Judas”. 

If God can use a donkey, he can use a Judas as well.  God’s grace thankfully covers a multitude of sins.

Please Dear God; Help us to be like Jesus and not Judas. Help us to be strong in the faith.  Help me to be the supporter, encourager, and helper you need me to be for your purpose.   Our goal is to only hear-“Well done-good and faithful servant,” that is the high praise we desire.

In Jesus name,  Amen.

Aaron Smith

May 31, 2016

Just a girl

Just a girl…

Yes!  That is me.  Just a girl, well a girl who happens to be in her forties!  She is a nurse, mother, wife and fan of literature and travel.  She also is a follower of Jesus.  I do my best, to follow and hopefully I am doing a good job.  The goal is to hear well done one day.  I pray that I do my absolute best.

I recently read a quote-“I am old but I am forever young at heart.  We are always the same age inside.  Know that you are the perfect age.  Each year is special and precious, you can only live it once.  Do not regret growing older, it’s a privilege denied to many!”  Richard Gere

Yes, Richard Gere an actor and not a current Christian.  We can all pray for Jesus to be revealed to him.  But he has lived life.  He has experienced love and loss. I enjoy watching his films he seems genuine in his roles.

There is a lot of wisdom in his quote.  “We are always the same age inside.” This made me ponder a lot of things. Are we all the same age inside?  Is it the age that we most identify with? I think we feel as young as we allow ourselves to feel.  In many ways I don’t feel that much different from when I was 18.  That is until I hang around some 18 year olds then I realize that I am not the same.  I really do not feel like I have changed that much.  I am around some people my own age who have made different life choices and I don’t feel like their age either.

In my career of nursing, I have met many patients. Most of my patients are older than I.  I have learned that they are young.  They have young stories.  Their stories have surprised me and made me smile.  Looking at a woman of 89, thinking about how she sneaked out of her house to see her “boyfriend” I couldn’t help but think of her life.  She tells the story with the smile of a young girl.

I have seen pictures or “memes” of patients and how they see themselves.  Most commonly portrayed as an older lady looking into a mirror and seeing a reflection of her younger self.

So I have decided that I am a woman of God who feels mostly like a girl! I am proud to be a girl.

Girls and boys- Jesus said we need to be like children well he said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17.  So I don’t mind being a girl for Jesus.  I am His child, and that is all I need.

A child trusts, a child does not question too much.  A child loves without question.  A child has faith.  Children are resilient.  God wants us to be content to be his children.

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Proverbs 2:1

My child, listen to the wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Proverbs 23:19

My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! Proverbs 23:15

Aaron Smith, May 2016

Do you live with Peter?

A few weeks ago, my Pastor Ronnie mentioned something that I guess never really sank in completely about Jesus.  He said, “Jesus in his humanity experienced every emotion and situation possible. There is nothing you are going through that Jesus will not understand.”  He continued, “Have you every stated to God, you just don’t understand!” 

Ok, I am guilty!  I have stated that mostly due to relationship issues said, “Do you see this God? What am I supposed to do with this?”  Etc.

So during my busy week, sorry it is true.  Working mother and wife, my weeks are busy!  I was contemplating these thoughts.  Wow, Jesus you experienced true heart breaks, sadness, death, despair and relationship woes.  I don’t think anyone of us would argue that his last week of humanity was the absolute worst!  But I was mulling over the mundane details of my life and situations periodically throughout the week I began to see the situations that might have happened. I wish I had more insight and could write a story, like Max Lucado when he writes about biblical characters.  I mean the four gospels include a lot of information, but do you think John wants to recount when he did something foolish in front of our Lord and Savior!  We have a difficult time admitting it, and we can’t see Jesus in the flesh but we know he is there.

I recently read an introduction to a book. Yes, a Christian Adult coloring book.  There I said it!  The introduction was marvelous, in fact so much so I copied and carry it with me.  The author is Margaret Feinberg and she is talking about a difficulty a friend is facing and she said but I just learned to “live loved.”  Wow, live like we are loved.  Most of us are blessed with family, friends, and acquaintances that love us, like us or put up with us.  But God always and forevermore will love you.  Live Loved, so I was in this reference of mind when I at church.

When we “live loved” we know that Jesus is with us. Immanuel.  He knows all and is always ready to listen and speak if you are still enough.  I was particularly flustered with a member of my family, who will remain nameless, I was in the shower and I just said, do you see what I go through, do you know what it is like to live with this person?  Suddenly, I heard “Did you live with Peter?”  The first thing I thought about is that Peter is usually represented as a loud, burly, rough fisherman those thoughts flooded my head.

I replied, “Wow, oh Lord, no but you did, and not only did you live with Peter but for several years you lived with 12 men.  Oh God, 12 men with their various habits, flaws, odors, personalities! Not only 12 men but you grew with a house full of siblings. Oh Jesus, no I guess you really do understand!  You know what I am talking about!! Oh Jesus, I am so sorry you had to put up with 12 stinky men!  And you are willing to put up with me!”

So the realization that Jesus not only put up with people who were educated, uneducated, moody, anxious, depressed, suicidal, mental unbalanced is very clear in my mind.  I like to think in terms of putting myself in that time period.  The dust, dirt, sandals, uncleanliness, etc.  We do not know much about the private meetings with Jesus and the disciples, but I bet if we really contemplated it, we could make a sitcom out of it!

Do you live with Peter? Do you live with Judas?  Jesus has and regardless who your Peter or Judas is…Jesus gets it!

by Aaron Smith
May 2016