Cindy Gaskins

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! 

“For the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15 NLT

Gogo is her grandmother name. And while that is the word for grandmother in the African Chichewa language, Gogo lives up to the English version.

Her physical pace is not that of the 105 year old Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins who recently finished the 100 meter dash in just over 1 minute. Gogo still moves but mostly it is into the hearts of others.

A few months ago, Gogo moved into assisted living for a couple of weeks of respite care. Before moving in, Gogo learned how to make 60 second microwave cookies.

One at a time.

This was to prepare for tea parties that she hoped would happen with new friends.

The two weeks turned into a permanent stay in the new assisted living neighborhood. Gogo learned the names – and the life stories – of everyone who came to her room. She joyfully listened to the conversations at mealtimes, exercise, or activity time. On her strolls down the hallways, Gogo admired the decorated doors and learned the resident names behind every door. She tried her first cookie only to set the smoke alarm off. With giggles and tales of the micro-cookie, Gogo assured new friends that there would still be a tea party.

Two at a time.

The cookies still haven’t been made but the starter recipe of friendship has been blended. 

One of the most natural responses Gogo makes is one of joy and thanksgiving. Conversations are sprinkled with authentic delight. Wonder and thanks is natural as she expresses it over the ribbon on a wreath, the lightbulb changed in the bathroom, the shared video from a staff nurse who dances during worship at her church. New friends have strolled the halls, rocked on the porch, and looked with aged but clear eyes speaking of their confidence that Gogo was brought to their home just for them!

Living in thanks opens the doors.

Living in thanks brings hope.

This week of living in thanks brings the chance for gathering, remembering, hoping. May the joy of small things bring delight in and through you. May sweetness walk through your home, your shared spaces. May our living thanks be a sweet aroma to our Lord Jesus and to neighbors close and far away.

“My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them for they will refresh you.” Proverbs 3:21-22, The New Living Translation.

Is it just me? Or does it feel like common sense is a missed commodity, experience, thought these days.  Is it just me? Or does it feel like we all need refreshment? Who’s ready for some seasons of refreshing.

Living in the tropics means we don’t have seasons that are obvious. Around here people put on jackets and sweaters when the temperatures hit 69! There is always something blooming here. I pretend the yellow flowering trees are Fall colors!

But seasons are real even if not well defined on the calendar or in the air. Common sense and discernment can be refreshing

with the just right book or music

with a favorite candle scent (pumpkin in the Fall at my house!)

with recipes that trim the season with smells and tastes

in pulling out favorite seasonal clothes.

How about common sense and discernment offered

during the weight of a burden

in the ache of loss

in the hope for a beginning …or an end.

In our seasons of uncertainty, anticipation, longing, wonder, God’s gift of common sense can be our refreshment. So

reach for the easy well-loved favorite family stories

reach for the easy, well-loved mealtimes – a bowl of cereal does well at our house

put a lipstick kiss on your kids hand so they can see it all day at school

sing the doxology at meal time

listen with your eyes and not hurried activity

host an impromptu dance party in your house, on your neighborhood street

keep looking at your yard, trees around you, birdhouses and feeders

call your dear friend who you miss

hydrate your body

and your soul.

Proverbs tells us to Hang on to common sense and discernment for they will refresh you!

Is it just me or do you want to lean in for more common sense and discernment?

Hang on!

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

We have all experienced the slow wait for life to return to normal. Are you there yet? Will we have another disruption with life?

We’ve probably all experienced a strain, tension, out-right explosions in relationships. Is it at work, in your family, with a neighbor or a close friend? The restored sense of rightness has been slow in coming, in fact you can’t see the way to recovery yet.

Maybe it’s a renovation that has had more delays than starts. Or an exercise commitment that hasn’t shown the expected results…yet.

Our family experienced a major heartbreaking disruption several years ago and tension has existed since. Each of us are in a different stage of recovery. It has been slow and will be. But my husband and I have come to a place where all we know to do is love anyway.

The Space Between Us by Sarah Bauer Anderson tells this Jewish tradition. When God created us, he put a rope between his heart and ours. When humans chose their own way, the rope was severed. But God (don’t you love those words) didn’t want to remain with the untethered rope between us. So he picked up the ends of the rope and tied them back together. And has been doing so with every broken choice we have made. Ironically, when God ties the rope together again and again, it shortens the distance between us.

Surely this idea can apply to us in the places our ropes are severed with each other. Does the end of the rope – or thread – you hold in your hand need to be tied again? What keeps you and me from taking a simple first step towards a retie?

Believing God’s promises is hard when the asking isn’t getting an answer. Believing God’s will is for brokenness to be redeemed, rescued, renovated is believing and living His Kingdom come, His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. He is not slow in keeping his promise that all come into His rescue, that all of us find grace, hope, and forgiveness. He is at work.