Voices of the Olympics

pic from powerpoint clipart

Have I ever told you how much I love to watch the Olympics?  I especially like to watch gymnastics.  I'm so amazed at their skills, especially since I only mastered the forward roll, backward roll, headstand, and cartwheel.  (I showed the girls my headstand a few weeks ago.  I think I should retire).  I've been watching gymnastics since Mary Lou Retton scored her perfect 10s in the 1984 Olympics.

When I heard the commentators for gymnastics a few days ago, I asked the girls if they recognized the voices.  Of course they didn't.  They've never heard Bart Conner speak.  When I told them, "Bart Conner," my nine-year-old began giggling.  "Oh, no," she said.  Her cousins hadn't heard my Bart Conner story so I shared....

I loved watching Bart Conner in the 1984 Olympics.  In my ten-year-old opinion, his blond hair and muscular body made him the best looking one on the team.  My crush continued.  In 1989, as a freshman in High School, my dream came true.  I had the privilege of attending the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival in Oklahoma City.  And guess what!  I saw Bart Conner.  Squeeling with excitement, I ran to get in line to get his autograph.  I got to talk to BART CONNER.  
And most recently (just a few years ago, actually), I rushed as usual to pick up my daughter at school.  This particular day I had time to take a shower before I left the house, but jumped into my van with wet hair and no make-up on.  I passed the line of cars waiting for school to let out and headed down the one-lane that entered the parking lot when a lady waved me down.  She asked me to back up to let Bart Conner out of the parking lot.  BART CONNER?  Really?  I backed my van up and turned into a giddy teenager again.  Sure enough.  Bart, in his black Cadilac SUV drove my way.  When I saw his blond hair, I began waving for him to see me. (not a small, polite, "hello" wave.  But a "look here," a can't believe this is happening wave).  And guess what!  He stopped and rolled down his window.  (He must have thought, "Do I know this lady?"  She acts like I do).  Shocked that this was happening, I yelled, "I used to watch you when I was little."  Realizing he didn't know me, he politely said, "Hi."  And just as quickly, "Have a good day."  As he drove off, I began laughing.  I can only imagine what he was thinking.  Here's a crazy lady with wet hair, no make-up, blocking the road to tell me, "I used to watch you when I was little?"  And me, I acted like  a crazed teenager that had just seen a good looking guy, but chose the stupidest words to say (no wonder I didn't date much in high school and college).

My daughters, embarrassed by my Bart Conner story, continued watching the Olympics with my twelve-year-old and seven-year-old nieces.  I just laughed.

How does this story tie to the Bible? In John 10, Jesus is the good shepherd.  John 10:2-4 says, " But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice".   Just like I recognized Bart's voice, do I recognize Jesus' voice? 

 Later in John 10: 9-11, Jesus says, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and  have it abundantly  ¹¹ “ I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."   Do I recognize Jesus' salvation?  He layed his life down for me.

More importantly, does Jesus recognize me?  Matthew 7:21-23 says “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’" (emphasis mine)

Even though I called out his name, Bart Conner didn't recognize me.  Does Jesus recognize me as a follower with a changed heart?  One who listens to His voice and obeys?  

What about you?  Have you accepted the shepherd's sacrifice for your sin?   Do you listen and follow the good shepherd, Jesus?  Does He recognize you? 

Change and China painting

Me and my sweet Grandmother in her new room

My grandmother's china painting

This week has been difficult.  Because my eighty-four year old grandmother has had increased health concerns over the last few months, she has decided to sell her condo to move into to an assisted living.

We have two more days to get ready for the sale.  The last few weeks, we've reviewed every item in her house to decide if family should keep it, or sale it.  Some items we've definitely kept.  My cousin gets the cookie jar, the smell and taste of my grandmother's house, opened every time we walked through her door.  The cuckoo clock, weary from years of winding, the sound of her house, another cousin chose and will be cherished for years to come.  We got the piano, another sound from my grandmother's house.   Even though it needs to be tuned, the girls play it every chance they get.  I have a picture of me and my brother playing the piano when we were probably three and five years old.  Precious memories!  The very used crochet set may have to retire from play, but my sister rescued it from the sale.

As for decorating, my grandmother has good tastes, but decorates very frugally (like everything she buys).  In her living room, she has thirty-year-old couches, tan with brown leaves (selling to a good home).  My grandmother framed her father's violin with a hymn and hung it above her mantle, the focal decor of her living room.  My dad said, "I don't care what I get, but that vioin is already mine.  My grandfather gave it to me."  My grandmother decorated her kitchen with china plates she had painted.  As we dusted them off, each great-grandchild picked a plate and matching cup.  They picked out their china based on their favorite colors.          

Yesterday, I brought more painted china home.  As I explained the process of china painting, the girls realized for the first time that my grandmother (G.G., great-grandmother to them) had painted them.  My girls' perspective about their new plates changed.  They know the creator.  They looked at the plates more carefully.  They admired their G.G.'s talent.  They carefully displayed their dainty, chosen treasures.   

It reminded me of how people can change when they learn about their creator.

By learning about the creator,  the God of the Bible,  people can look more carefully at themselves and realize how far they are from perfect. The Bible calls this sin. 

By learning about the creator, people realize how special God created them.  Like each plate my grandmother painted, God creates each person uniquely.  God thinks each person is so special, special enough to send His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. 

By knowing the creator, chosen followers of Jesus desire to please Him because of His greatness and His great care for us.    

Psalm 139:14 says, "I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well." (Holman Christian Standard Version HCSV) 
Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them". (HCSV)

Do you know your creator?  You can.
Do you act like it?

Taking Time at the Table

Pic from power point clip art.  (I didn't have a pic of our blanket tents.  Maybe next time). 

I love summer time with my girls.  I love the days of "no schedule", getting up late, and frozen waffles.  Today is one of those days.  At the beginning of the summer, I had great intentions of using the summer to study the book of John with the girls.  We had a few good weeks and then our days filled up with friends, swimming, and other excuses.

This morning we decided to continue our study using Jesus in the Spotlight by Kay Arther (Inductive Bible Studies for Kids).  Today we spent extra time at the table after breakfast, John 7.

The girls learned about:

Travel 

My girls love to travel.  We drive our comfortable minivan on road trips.  Actually, they are pretty spoiled.  Sometimes they complain if they don't get to pick out the next DVD to watch.  They eat and drink whatever they choose. 

In our study, when we looked at the map, they discovered Jesus WALKED about 60 miles.  My six-year-old said, "That's dangerous."  Maybe next trip we will be more thankful for our minivan. 

Tents 

When my girls hear the word "tent", they do not think of a camping tent like most.  Like me, they think of the blanket tents that engulf our living room.  I remember making tents with my sisters.  We'd use our chalk boards, kitchen set, and plenty of blankets to make our bedroom into a "full house", with plenty of rooms for all of our dolls.

When the girls learned about the Feast of the Booths in John 7, they remembered their tents.  The Jews celebrate the Feast of the Booths to remember the tents they made when God led the people out of Egypt. They also celebrated the autumn season and its harvest.

Temple

When the girls hear the word "temple", they think of our church building.  Yes, the temple was the place of worship, but very different than our modern churches. 

The girls read about Jesus teaching in the temple. John 7:25- 30 (NASB) ²⁵ So some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is this not the man whom they are seeking to kill? ²⁶ Look, He is speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to Him. The rulers do not really know that this is the Christ, do they? ²⁷ However, we know where this man is from; but whenever the Christ may come, no one knows where He is from.” ²⁸ Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, “ You both know Me and know where I am from; and I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know. ²⁹ I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” ³⁰ So they were seeking to seize Him; and no man laid his hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come.

This temple visit shows the majority of the Jews didn't know Jesus was the Christ, the Promised One.

What have you learned at "Table Time"?
The next time you build a tent (or your children, or grandchildren), or set up a tent to camp, take the time to tell the story of  how God rescued the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 11-14).   

  

Prepared for Company?

 

When I found out we were having company this week for 4th of July, I prepared for our guests. I cleaned, planned, and shopped.  I cleaned sheets, my WHOLE house, including my disasterous playroom/study.  My girls knew someone would arrive when I cleaned the guest bathroom/oldest daughter's shower (about the only time I clean the shower...oops).  I made a menu and went to the grocery store.  Yes, it can be done (note to myself).  I even bought new washcloths.

My oldest daughter, A, also prepared.  She knew if mom cleaned the shower, her room inspection would shortly follow.  She made her bed and even looked under her bed.  She discovered clothes she had missed, trash, and yes, even a chocolate bunny from Easter.  Her closet, a dangerous place,  overtaken by clothes that had fallen off  hangers, shoes without mates, and piles of duct tape (new fad).  Even though she hated to clean up her room, she loves having guests.

While I cleaned, I thought of another guest.  One who doesn't tell me when he will arrive.  One who desires to dine with me.  One who invites me as a guest into heaven for eternity (No.  Not a guest, a daughter).

The guest:  Jesus. 

Matthew 24: 42, 44
⁴² “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. ⁴⁴ For this reason you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

Are you prepared?  We don't know when He will come.

pics on my Grandmother's wall

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Are you prepared?  He wants to dine with you.

John 1:12
¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

Are you prepared?  He wants to call you His child.

Like preparing for my house guests, I must prepare for Jesus.  My preparation for Jesus determines my eternal destination.  I started my preparation when I asked Jesus to forgive me and become my boss.   Preparing for house guests never ends (even though I would love to quit cleaning forever).  Likehouse, my "spiritual house" always needs work.  When Jesus comes, I want to be in awe not ashamed.

What would you change if you knew Jesus would come today?  Priorities? Plans? Purchases?

Are you prepared?  You can have eternal hope.  If you have Jesus, our hope, you can share hope (H.elp O.thers P.repare for E.ternity).
     
Need to prepare?




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