Thursday, May 22, 2008

Update on Illusions


(This is an update on the post "Illusions" of May 16)

Surprise! Surprise! NOW do you see a bird in the picture? :) Today one of my co-workers at Sav-A-Life came out of her office carrying a small neon orange gift bag with bright yellow tissue paper sticking out the top. She was walking straight towards me with her arm outstretched and the gift in her hand. I was more than surprised when she handed me the bag....I mean, my birthday's not for another two weeks and I couldn't think of any other reason she would be bringing me a present! "For me?", I said. With that smiling, pixie look that only T. has she said, "Yes, it's a gift for you!" Well, who can resist a gift no matter what the occassion? When I took the bag I first noticed the weight of it....so much heavier than I had expected it to be. I reached down into the depths of the billowing yellow tissue paper and felt something hard and cold. When my hand came out of the bag I was holding the beautiful stone bird you see in the picture today! I know I was probably standing there with my mouth open! I immediately knew that the bird in my hand had some connection to my blog about the illusional "sand rock bird" on my deck railing at home. Then T. said, "I got this so that you would never be deceived again when you look out your kitchen window!" Wow! What a great statement! We DO need the real thing, or standard, sitting along side the illusion just so that we can always realize what is real and what is not.

God is the standard that we should judge our lives by. Sometimes even we Christians judge our lives by the lives of others.......some who may be weaker than we are. In doing so, it sure makes us look good when we think we're not as bad as someone else. So to the casual onlooker....we are the dedicated, sold-out Christian. But deep down we know we have to judge our lives by the life of Jesus Christ and not other humans. And when we put ourselves beside Christ for judgement, we all fall flat on our faces and can see where we come short. And it's there , on our face, that we can begin to do what we were born to do.....worship and honor and glorify the Lord because only He is worthy. Is your Christianity real? Or are you an illusion of Christianity?

Thank you T. if you are reading this! I love the bird and I love the analogy! And I can't wait until I see the expression on his face the first time B.looks out the kitchen window! I am not going to warn him there's a new feathered friend carved from stone sitting on the railing! (Smile!)

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God." Psalm 62: 7

May God bless you today!

Marilyn


5 comments:

Jana said...

Beautiful!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

What a tender and kind gesture. Makes for a great post!

peace~elaine

Deborah said...

I just love the way you weave a story into a great devotion! I love the new bird!

De'on Miller said...

Strong. Our friends, our faith, our mentors, our own inner turmoils, and as you say, when we measure even our best work or intentions next to OUR ROCK, we are humbled all the more.

God bless you, your family, your writing and all that He'd have for you Dear Harrell's on this beautiful Memorial Day Weekend.

So much love coming your way from the family of not only our Fallen one, but I know Aaron was yours too.

Thank you for the gift of love to him from your veteran and for the gifts of love to his mother.

God is so good and rich in His Mercy. He surprises me still! As I get ready for our Memorial Day, it is with joy and anticipation of a few of my family members together to spend time in a beautiful spot here on this earth. It is not with sadness at all.

I've loved Jesus for so many years. I have tears just now because I know I've not loved him near as much as He's loved me. I could never.

There's so much He wants for all of us and I'm thankful for the friends and talents He blesses us with to experience that love in part.

Your blog, your writings, the photos of the rich land and growth that surrounds you is so much a part of my blessings today.

Write On!

Joyful said...

What a thoughtful friend you have Marilyn. This story made me think about detectives who study forgery. In order to recognize counterfeit money, they spend countless hours studying the 'real' thing. They know everything about it - look, feel etc..., so they can easily recognize the imitation bill.

We need to be studying the "real thing" too....the real One - Jesus Christ, so that our lives can reflect Him. When others look at my life, I pray they see Jesus in me.

Embracing Him,
Joy