Cindy Gaskins

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:33

It’s beginning to look a lot like…

You fill in the blank. A lot like Thanksgiving…Christmas..busy…full…Christmas programs,  cookie swaps, lists, lists, lists?

Jesus knows busy. Look at his time in Mark 1 starting at verse 21

Teaching in the synagogue

Healing a demon possessed man

Visit to Simon Peter’s house and healing Peter’s mother-in-law

Then an evening filled with many sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door and Jesus healed many…v 33

Then verse 35: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up…Another day had begun for Jesus. More doors would open, people needing him, a mission to live well.

Busy is real. It’s what we do before the busy that can shape us. What shapes you before the busy? What do you and I do before the busy begins is what gives us strength, perspective, priorities.

Starting or ending the day with words from our compassionate God will help restore His image in us.

Lectio 365 is a daily devotional app that has a regular phrase that starts the devotional: “As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breathe slowly, to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.”

Pausing on that phrase “to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God” every morning, reminds me I am scattered. But coming into the presence of God Almighty, Jesus my Savior, and the Holy Spirit, my comforter, I can re-center. I can become new again, pliable and surrendered for the day.

That is what Jesus did regularly, often, alone, intentionally. And Jesus was able to finish all the work on earth God had given him. (John 17:4)

What’s at your door today…in your home, at your work station, your car or public transport, your to do list? Are you ready? Jesus is waiting at your heart’s door, ready to come and sit with you.

P.S. Did you get stuck on ‘re-centre’. The writers of Lectio 365 are from the UK and so it is ‘re-centre.’

“The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes.” John 1:14

For most of my life I have been intrigued with the British monarchy. So, the death of Queen Elizabeth has captured my attention. As a child living in a Commonwealth nation in Africa, I saw the Queen pass by in her royal motorcade. With our children, we happened to be in London the day the Queen was opening Parliament. Surprised and in awe, we were on the right street where few had gathered, and we saw with our own eyes the royal wave as the Queen’s carriage passed by.

With her riches, castles, and sovereign living, her neighborhood is not like ours. Popping in for tea or a walk in the dog park with her corgis is not something we commoners can experience. But Queen Elizabeth did cherish and follow One who became ordinary for her sake and ours.

The dear friend of Jesus, John, wrote about the King of Creation, the King Most High, becoming one of us and moving into the neighborhood. No castle with the flag announcing his presence, no carriage, no riches. But John, along with so many others, saw with their own eyes the glory of God.

Today, this moment, we can sit in the presence with our God. Our Savior and Lord. Our Holy Spirit. With awe and intimacy, with confession and gratitude, we can take in the truth that our God lives with us. The invitation for time with Him is always open.

Intimacy with our King also moves us to go into our neighborhoods with His love and welcome. Invite someone to have tea or a dog walk with you this week.

“The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Have you ever had an itch you just can’t stop scratching?  

Here’s the picture of my summer vacation:

• my first case of poison ivy in the first week
• a slight infection 
• remedies set in place
• allergic reaction to an antibiotic
• full body hives that made me look like a dot to dot picture!
• 5 weeks of itching and little sleep
• 4 trips to Urgent Care and all this as I am visiting family far from my home.

Here’s another picture:

• at birth we are infected with a sin itch that infects our want, our will, our wishes
• we look for ways to scratch the itch
• it irritates, annoys, discourages us even when we try to resist
• remedies are short-lived and disappointing sometimes causing more reactions

Here’s another picture

• we were created with the eternal itch for relationship with God (Eccl. 3:11)
• while we were still ‘itching in our own way’, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
• His death and life became the Way for our sin itch to be remedied, satisfied, removed
• His life in us becomes the Way to walk with him, for him, to him in every step – no matter what itch may tempt or attack us.

I am still recovering from my summer itch. And I’m so thankful to tell you, I didn’t completely miss a lesson from the Father. Paul’s words came into fresh view  ‘…the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the One who loved me and gave himself for me.’ (Gal. 2:20b) So in my raging, itchy, sleepless moments, I tried to pray for those in deeper painful itches than mine

• for those whom I’m praying will invite Jesus to rescue from their sin itch
• for those who are in cancer treatments that bring enormous itching as a side effect
• for young parents and caregivers to loved ones who are exhausted 
• for refugees, war-trapped people, hunger-depleted bodies
• for cities and neighborhoods whose itch for justice, truth, refuge are spinning
• for fostering families, those waiting for adoption
• for ministers and lay folk who are shouldering heavy burdens because of their ministry to others
• for the enduring itch of anxiousness, loneliness, depression, doubt, fear of friends…our world.

Where does your itch find you today? Who is on your ‘itch list’. Who needs some relief? Maybe it is just a “sit and be quiet” moment on the phone, in a text, in person with a friend, co-worker, neighbor? Maybe it’s a rest with Jesus.  Take it all to Emmanuel, our with us God.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Hebrews 13:20

Because the end of the school year is near, I’ve been doing a backward glance. There is naturally an expanded glance back over the last two school years in pandemic life.  I have wondered, laughed, tried new things, pivoted more than a few times, practiced classroom basics. Exhaustion, surprise, protocols, tears, and joy have covered the days.

How about your backward glance of the last two years? We’ve learned new skills, understand delivery for all sorts of things, experienced crazy settings on computers, DVRs, and in our living spaces (did you go to church in your living room in your pjs?) We have wondered, laughed, tried new things, pivoted more than a few times, practiced the basics. Exhaustion, surprise, protocols, tears and joy have covered our days.

Life, no matter what the season, causes upheaval, explosions in routines, rollercoaster emotions, grief, anxiousness but also grit, creativity, relief, even amazing silence and stillness.

Life in general can smash against what we understand, hope for, believe in.

The book of Hebrews reminds us about the unseen, the adventures of our faith forefathers and mothers, the hope we have even when life isn’t what we hoped.

Glance at Hebrews 13:20-21

“Now may the God of peace,

who through the blood of the covenant

brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep,

equip you with everything good for doing his will,

and may he work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ

to whom be glory forever and ever.”

What a blessing. Or is it a short sermon? A prayer request?

May the God of peace.

Oh what a thought.

The God who keeps his promises and displays his power over death.

Oh what a truth.

The Father of the Great Shepherd of the sheep.

Oh those sheep.

May this God of peace, equip you and me with everything good for doing his will.

His will not mine. His purpose not my agenda. His way not my ideas. His supply not mine.

May this God of peace work in you and me what is pleasing to him.

Even in the midst of the unsettling, the unknown, the uncomfortable, the unwanted, the unreal.

May this God of peace work in us what pleases him.

For the glory of our Jesus Christ.

Breathe. Take a backward glance for your next forward steps.

Glory to Jesus.

“Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.” Matthew 6:28

Here in my island neighborhood, there is something blooming all the time! Spring feels basically the same as winter, summer, and fall. For those of you feeling the hint or wishing for spring, take a deep breath as you read. I’m sending you some aloha air!

As much as I love all the blooms around me. I do miss Texas bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, dogwood, azaleas, tulips, snowball and rose bushes this time of year.

Recently I was trying to arrange some dried fall-colored roses in a vase. First let me say, I don’t have a floral arranging gift. Second, I’m not sure why rearranging these dead, falling apart roses was a task I tackled. Except I wanted to keep these dried remnants, a reminder of those who lovingly put them fresh in my hands.

Matthew and Luke’s gospels record Jesus’ words about the beauty of lilies and how God arranges and dresses them. The truth of the Jesus Way tells us the Father cares for us more than the lilies of the field. And calls us to die. To die to ourselves, our way of arranging life. The life he breathes into us shapes us. He becomes the master arranger. Jesus takes what’s given to him to prune and transform. The old becomes new. 

My flower arrangement doesn’t have the elegance of creative hands and it won’t last forever. But for now, it still reminds me of love bestowed on me.

Our Master Designer’s wonder working love and delight in and for us is bestowed now and forever.

“Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.” Matthew 13:52 (The Message)

Listening to a favorite podcast about books, the guest on the show astounded me. She is a book lover and had a room of bookshelves full of her favorites along with not-so-favorites and ones she hadn’t read. Did you see HAD? 

In making room for her coming baby, the woman decided to give away all but ten of her books. You read that right! From a room full of books to ten! This mom-to-be filled bags with books and gave them to friends, neighbors, coworkers and her library. 

The decision of this book cleansing woman created a welcoming space for her new baby. But it also baptized others with goodness. People who had received one of her bags of books later acknowledged more gratitude.  Sentiments like:

I would have never picked this book up. But it is an absolute favorite now.

This book was like a friend I didn’t know I needed.

It was like you picked each book for me.

I read every one that was in my bag. 

Incredible. A gift back to the giver who was just sharing what she had.

Looking at my shelves this week has had me thinking. Could I really give most of my books away? Would any of my friends and coworkers have the same reaction the ten-book lady was given? 

Truthfully, I don’t think I will find just ten books in my house in the near future. But it does challenge me in fresh ways to consider the treasures in my life. Would they benefit others in clear ways? Are my earthly “treasures” the kind that point to the joy of The Word, Jesus. Would any of them bring healing or refuge, or hope?

This isn’t just about books or what’s in our homes. It is about our living. Jesus teaching his closest followers about the Kingdom said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.” (Matt. 13:52)

How is your general store? Do you have what someone else needs in the moment? A cup of tea for a teary friend, babysitting a single parent’s children, gently worn shoes for a women’s shelter, prayers over the phone, the ‘how have you been?’ to the irritable neighbor, quiet for the hurried student, lunch with a senior adult.

Lord Jesus, let my home, my treasures, my ordinary stuff bring joy and surprise to others. Train and transform me so that the goodness of God can be shared by the bagsful!