Muddy Waters

To sneak in a two-week getaway is always rejuvenating.  And our most recent escapade to South Carolina was no different.  My family always put a huge emphasis on service to others.  I know today my parents chose to involve us in community service because it was an outpouring from the heart.  Serving others was one way our family could be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I am forever grateful my Mister has a huge heart for service over self.  I am thankful together we can be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Our two weeks in Chester, South Carolina were spent on a work team with our weekends spent among family in Atlanta, GA and Crossville, TN.  To be able to encourage hope and new beginnings for families in dire need of new homes is a blessing.  I know my faith in God was renewed and strengthened.

Throughout our time in South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky water was a consistent presence.  Our jobsites were sloshy and goopy from hours of rain.  Our quads were quaking with the strain of climbing to the top of a waterfall.  Our clothes were soaked through from the deluge of sudden rainstorms while framing up and siding homes.  Our views on the winding roads were breathtaking with each new stream pouring down the mountainside.  We were lulled to sleep as the gentlest of rains pelted our window.  We stood in awe at the size of the Ark that saved Noah and his family from utter destruction.  No matter the form water took on our adventure it spoke something deep into my heart.

If it was possible to loaf all summer long you would find me next to water.  I have always been drawn to water.  And as time passes I have a deeper appreciation for the significance of water in my life.  God revealed himself to me with each encounter of water on our vacation.

The shoe-sucking mud at our jobsites caused by the torrential rains reminded me of the filth of my sins.  Just as the goopy mud dirtied every article of my clothing and caused me to almost walk out of my shoes so is sin.  The quiet voice that says to ignore the Holy Spirit is like the shoe-sucking mud, it gets a hold of you and your feel mired, stuck.  The quagmire of sin is impossible to navigate if you turn your focus inward instead of heavenward to God.  And yet, with the rain there is also a cleansing.

The water that accumulates from rain washes away the dirt and grime that builds over the winter months. The rains soak into the parched ground and entices spring into its full glory.  So too is the Water of Life, Jesus Christ.  When you turn your eyes to heaven and seek forgiveness from God he washes you clean.  Your sins are no more, they are as far as the East is from the West.  What was once a cracked and hardened soul is filled to overflowing with the Water of Life.  From his grace and forgiveness your true glory is revealed: you are made in the image of God.  He made a way to rescue you from your filth and sin and he promises forgiveness and eternal life.

At one point in the history of the world the Creator of the universe was filled with disgust by the filth and sin of his creation.  He chose water as the means of destruction.  Yet in his mercy he made a way to rescue Noah and his family from death.  The Ark.  All of humanity and their deep dark sin was thrust under water.  The water covered the sins of all mankind.  It was the Ark that rescued the eight set apart by God.  Just as the Ark rescued Noah from the wrath of God and the punishment of death the Cross and death of Jesus has rescued you from your sin.

When I acknowledged my sin and sought forgiveness Jesus rescued me from my sin.  As I grew in my faith I made the decision to become baptized.  My baptism took place in water.  When I was baptized, my sin was symbolically immersed in water as my physical body was covered in the waters of Pearce Community Center.  Just as God used water to wipe away all sin on the earth with a worldwide flood the baptismal waters symbolize my new life apart from sin.  When I was brought out of the water I was brought into new life, forgiveness, and eternity.

I am thankful God uses his creation to remind me of his redeeming love and forgiveness. This love and forgiveness must be my draw to water, no matter the form.  To sit beside the crashing waves of the ocean, to hear the soft patter of rain on a tin roof, to walk beside the tumbling waterfall, to swim in a prairieland pond, to splash in a puddle of rain, to hear the roar of rapids is to be reminded of my rescue from sin.

May I never cease to stand in awe of the life giving water of Jesus Christ.  I was once muddy and dying from the drought of my soul.  And today the waters of forgiveness have washed me of my sin, restored my soul, and brought me into glory.

 

Beauty

Central Illinois has been full of rainy days.  Not just a handful but the majority of the summer has been chock full of cloudy, dreary days.  But when those not so glorious days give way to a day of sunshine and blue skies I am reminded of all the beauty waiting to be discovered not just on clear, gorgeous days but amidst the overcast and not so joyous days.

The heavens appear a little more blue after endless days of rain.  The fields are verdant and lush.  The creeks and rivers are gushing.  My heart is bursting with joy and wonder to run my hand along a wheat field rippling in the breeze. My soul is quieted when the teaming brooks and streams melodiously rumble past me.  I could sit contentedly by a babbling brook for hours and soak up the Son, feel His grace and mercy pour over me as the waters cause my feet to go numb with cold.

His beauty is on display daily.  It is just a matter of pausing to soak in His beauty.  To capture His grace and His still small voice I must be still.  I must be quiet.  I must listen.  There is no better place for me to be quiet and still than to bask in His glorious creation.  To soak in His beauty is pure bliss.

For the Children

Seventy years ago on January 27, 1945 the liberation of the concentration camp, Auschwitz occurred.  Yesterday, around the world  friends, family, dignitaries, and holocaust survivors gathered to remember the atrocities held within the boards of this infamous concentration camp.  As guest speakers simultaneously took to their podiums around the globe, one gentleman’s words of caution rung true and struck my heartstrings.

“We do not want our past to be our children’s future.”

~ Roman Kent, Auschwitz Survivor ~

I would encourage you to listen to Mr. Kent’s bold words of caution and take them to heart.  As a Christians I am called to, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3) and to “Speak up and judge fairly; defend[ing] the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).  I am called to give a voice and to speak God’s truths in love.  Today I am reminded of Isaiah 56:1, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.”   Am I that defending voice?

For Unto You

There is no better way to share the truths of Christmas than from the words of God’s Holy Scripture.  May you and yours be richly blessed by God’s abundant grace.  May you find in Him forgiveness at the cross.  Christ came so that we might have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10b).  Seek the Christ child and you too shall find abundant grace and forgiveness.  Merry Christmas.   

Luke 2

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 

Misty and Smokey

I couldn’t tell you the last time our family went camping.  Camping is a regular occurrence for me because of Venturing but going with the family is a rarity.  So this weekend we packed our bags, tents and chairs and made our way to Camp Wokanda.

 

Camp Wokanda holds a plethora of memories for the Bauer family.  There are so many memories encapsulated at Camp Wokanda I’m sure if trees and trails could talk they’d have a story or two to share.  Most stories to be told would probably leave you in stitches.  You never really know what we’ll get into while we’re there.

 

The whole weekend was super chillax.  We soaked up the smokiness of the fire and dried out from the mist and rain almost all weekend.  It was wonderful to just relax and chat around the fire.  Oh!  And eat s’mores!  No fire is complete without an ooey gooey s’more!

 

We braved the drizzle and launched the canoes for a little trip around the pond.  Jebby, the Bauer Beagle, even made a trip out onto the water.  He did not enjoy his family being in two canoes, traveling in different directions.  Because of his squirminess, my sister held him to avoid certain calamity.  But for a while it was touch and go!

 

The skies were mostly gray and the air was always damp but it was not a reflection of our time spent together.  Time together as a family is precious and always hilarious.