Speaking Shadows

II Samuel 1:18

Also he bade them teach the children...

the use of the bow...

© Angela Beatty 10/10

As I was walking this trail along Oil Creek, my shadow preceded me and I recalled a sermon I heard many years ago, "What kind of Shadow are you Casting?"  All of us leave a shadow in the lives of those close to us - sometimes even on those not so close to us.  Probably the shadows that will live the longest are those we cast on our children's lives. 

In the Scripture today, Samuel was telling the Israelites to teach the children the use of the bow.  In essence, he was commanding them to pass down the skills they had to their children.  It seems "apprenticeship" is a thing of the past.  No longer do we see generations of tradesmen who grew up under the tutorage of a father, grandfather, or uncle.  The sad thing is that along with skill, we teach character and build relationships when we invest that much time in helping someone develop a skill.

I wonder what skills I have that I've neglected to take the time to teach my own children.... When I'm gone, will the shadow I leave in their lives be short-lived?  Or will I leave my children with values and skills that will stay with them all their lives, values and skills that they in turn will pass on to their children? 

Who's Hand?

Psalm 37:24

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:

for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

© 9/10 Angela Beatty

This little guy was not happy about being held, regardless of how gently it was. He kept jumping down and refused to pose for his picture. I really don't think he had a clue to what was going on, and that we meant him no harm.

I kind of act like this little creature when life doesn't make sense.... jumping around, heart pounding in my throat, madly trying to get back to my own little world of comfort and sameness. I forget that I'm in God's hand!

The Friendship Bridge

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loveth at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

© 9/10 Angela Beatty

It had been a while since I walked this trail... much longer than I thought. I was totally surprised to find this dilapidated contraption standing among debris, dry rocks, and a slight trickle of water where a bubbling stream hand once meandered under a freshly painted and sturdy bridge. The shock literally stopped me in my tracks and confused me. I had to pause and try to figure out exactly when I had last been there. My best guess was eight years ago.

It's amazing that things can change so drastically in less than a decade. I tend to forget that time is eating away at everything and expect it to remain just as I last saw it. At least.... time wears away things that aren't kept in good repair. I can't imagine letting a bridge just waste away after all the hard work that went into building it! It seems like such a waste!!

But maybe I do that too. Like the stream, relationships dry up and the need for a bridge to connect two people just doesn't seem as important anymore. Does it? But when the spring rains come again, and the brook is bubbling, a broken bridge is useless in making a connection. All of the years spent together... all of the laughter.... the tears.... the learning about each other.... where does it all go? There's something heartrending about recognizing the shell of a once strong friendship and yet being helpless to span the gap that now separates you.

Whether it's a friend or family member, it's worth the time to make sure our bridges are still serviceable and can be crossed when the need arises.

My Mansion's Under Construction

John 14:2

In my father's house are many mansions:

if it were not so, I would have told you.

I go away to prepare a place for you.

© 9/10 Angela Beatty

Nature vs. Nurture

© 8/10 Angela Beatty

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man

sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Have you ever noticed the difference between wild apples and those picked from an orchard? As I was walking through Oil Creek State Park I noticed quite a few wild apple trees growing and didn't spot one perfectly apple shaped apple. Just like the apples in the wild trees that grew behind my house for 17 years, each of these were misshapen or blighted in some way.

In an orchard, trees are planted an exact distance apart so that they receive the correct amount of sunlight. They are pruned of dead branches that block the sunlight. Their leaves are dusted to kill the bugs that would destroy the fruit. A lot of effort is made so that the tree can put all of it's strength into producing good fruit.

In the wild an apple tree doesn't have nice straight branches. They are often twisted in their quest to reach for the sunlight because nearby trees or dead branches often block sunlight. The tree endures blights and is invaded by insects. Instead of nice perfectly round fruit, it produces knobby and wormy apples.

What about us? Does our environment matter? Child psychologists have long debated the effect environment plays on the development of a child. I'm convinced that it has an impact. That's why I chose Christian school for my children. And it's why I need to carefully consider my own environment. Do my friends encourage me to be fruitful or do they blight my attempts to grow? Am I growing in my place of employment, or have I become stunted? What about my Christian walk? Do I attend a church where sinful branches are pruned out of my life to give me freedom to grow straight and tall spiritually?

Sometimes it pays to walk through my personal orchard and see how things are growing there.

Delicacy or Poison

© 8/10 Angela Beatty

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat the fruit.

Yesterday I walked around a nearby college campus and was surprised to see this crop of mushrooms that had seemingly grown overnight. There's something both beautiful and repelling about a mushroom to me. It fascinates me that they can be both a delicacy and a poison. Only one who has a good handle on "mushroom knowledge" can tell the difference.

It kind of reminds me, of our tongues. Such good and such evil comes from the mouths of mankind. There are those who just blurt out whatever frivolous thoughts pop into their head, while others carefully weigh each word.

I recall reading a story about a young boy who had a terrible habit of spouting unkindness when he was angry. His father took him out to the fence post and had him drive dozens of nails into a rail. He then instructed him to remove the nails. When the boy had finished, he commanded him to remove the nail holes.

Of course that is impossible! And it's just as impossible to take back a carelessly spoken word! My prayer today is that every word I speak is used to build hope, love, joy and peace and that there are no nail holes left to haunt me!

The Cycle of Nature

© 8/10 Angela Beatty

Ecclesiastes 1:5

The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down

and hasteth to his place where he arose.

I recall a sermon my father preached years ago called, "The Cycle of Nature." He talked about how everything in nature has a tendency to return to its original state...

• The sun rises and sets, to rise and set again
• Rain falls, finds its way to the rivers, is swept to sea to evaporate and become rain again
• Spring, summer, fall, and winter repeat again and again.
• As humans from dust we were created and to dust we will return

Sometimes we find ourselves trapped in that cycle of returning to our originally state. Have you ever worked to overcome a flaw (procrastination for me), to think you have it all worked out and then one day you notice you're right back where you started or close to it? That can be a great source of frustration - especially when you worked really hard to make progress.

But another side of the whole scenario is that there are times when we our world seems to be frigid and unyeilding... things just aren't easy and aren't going well for us. Just remember, Spring always comes. The flowers will bloom again, gentle rains will fall, and the gardens will grow. It's just a matter of time.

True Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

4. Love is patient and kind.

5. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not

demand its own way. It is not irritable and it keeps no

record of being wronged.

6. It does not rejoice about injustices, but rejoices

whenever the truth wins out.

7. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is

always hopeful, and endures through

every circumstance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whenever a relationship goes sour in my life and I'm feeling smugly in the right..... one look at this Scripture usually wipes the smugness off my face. It's a mirror that shows my flaws, my real flaws way down inside where nobody but Jesus and I can see.

But on the other side of the mirror, isn't it good to know Jesus loves us like this Scripture? His love is true and unflawed. Sometimes when we've been spurned in love for a real or imagined flaw we project that type of love on our Saviour. But when I remember that He knew every mistake and fault I'd have long before He chose to love me I realize I don't have to fear that He'll walk away from me when I am not perfect!

If only we could love like Jesus!

Let Freedom Ring

© 8/1 Angela Beatty

Thank God and all who've

paid the price for

freedom of worship!

Little Green Bombs

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Isaiah 54:7

No weapon that is formed against the shall prosper;

and every tongue that shall rise against thee

in judgement thou shalt condemn.

This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What exactly is a weapon? I consider these little green crab apples to be one of nature's most lethal weapons. As youngsters, some of the country boys could throw these little buggers with enough force to black eyes and leave some pretty mean bruises. I have a sneaking suspicion that boys of every generation manage to discover their fire power if they happen to be exposed to nature very long.

Just the other day, after I pointed out a crab apple tree on one of our walks, Andrew walked up to me with a bag in his hand and asked if I could buy him some PVC pipe. I held my hand out for the bag and peeked inside and immediately knew that he had thoughts of taking an age-old boyhood crab apple stage to whole new heights. This is the child that just last week explained to me how to make gunpowder out of charcoal and sulphur or some such chemical. But my Momma didn't raise a fool! lol (The child is as mild as they come, but has this irresistible urge to experiment - my little Thomas Edison.) I can see the headlines now. Family home destroyed when youngster's crab apple cannon explodes.

So what defines a weapon? I'd say anything that can be used to hurt us. Not many of us are going to carry the scars of bullets on our body, but most of us already sport scars in our hearts from lies, harsh words, broken promises, and disillusions. And chances are pretty good we have a fresh wound or will be wounded in the near future.

These things hurt, but in my opinion the most lethal weapons known to mankind are anger and bitterness. Words and lies are fired from others, but anger and bitterness are like errant grenades. When the pin is pulled they blow up and destroy the one holding them before they can ever be thrown. Sure the intention is to fight back against an enemy, but they never seem to work that way.

God's promise is that no weapon formed against us will prosper. That doesn't mean they won't hurt, but that they won't destroy us. Our heritage is HIS righteousness..... peace, love, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness... Ah, but it's so much easier and so much more satisfying to start stockpiling our own grenades, isn't it?

PS. If my blogs suddenly stop appearing, check the local headlines to see if Andrew managed to find his PVC pipe! lol

Little Foxes

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Song of Solomon 2:15

Take us the foxes,

the little foxes,

that spoil the vines;

for our vines

have tender grapes.

~~~~~~

I've read that the reason little foxes spoil the vines is because they are too small to get to the grapes so they gnaw at the vine to make the grapes fall within grasp.

Do you ever wake up angry first thing in the morning? Depressed? Worried? Grumpy? Nothing has had time to happen to put you out of sorts, and yet you are. Maybe there's a little fox gnawing at the vines in your vineyard.

I have this strange little habit, I like to just stop and listen to myself - especially in the morning. I'm listening to what's going on inside of me. Am I singing a song? Am I silent? Am I crying inside?

Not everything can be fixed with positive thinking that's for sure, but counteracting the negative things inside by consciously choosing something positive can help. If my heart is silent I can find music to put on that makes me smile. If I'm lonely I can make up my mind to give more hugs today (Amazingly, when you give away what it is you want you get it back. Chances are real good that you'll hug someone else who needs a hug and their appreciation will make you feel loved.)

Sometimes we have to just outsmart those little foxes and send them on their way.

One Race, One Prize.

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

I Corinthians 9:24

Know ye not

that they which

in a race, run all

but one receiveth

the prize?

So run, that

ye may obtain.

Late yesterday evening, the kids and I went walking on a trail through the woods. After about half an hour the trail crossed a set of railroad tracks and we decided to follow the tracks back. Anita and Andrew immediately felt the oldest urge known to offspring, sibling rivalry. A race to see who could walk the tracks without falling off the longest began.

Andrew, being the youngest, was determined to keep up with his big sister, and being a boy his competitive nature took over. He took large steps and spent a great deal of time looking to see where he was in comparison with Anita. The competition was being measured in the number of railroad ties passed over. His highest score was 29.

Anita blocked everything out and totally forgot she had a little brother and her competition was with herself alone. She wanted to know how many railroad ties she could walk over whether her brother beat her or not. Her score was 575.

I think we're all affected a little bit differently by competition. In the real world, the prize is probably a trophy and recognition. But in our spiritual race, we have an eternal prize. Running with with determination to the end has a much greater importance. So what happens when "sibling rivalry" kicks in on our spiritual journey?

Got Termites?

©7/10 Angela Beatty

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is

the same
yesterday,
today, and

forever.

~~~~~

In mid May sometime, I found myself sitting between these two trees overlooking the Allegheny River. Nature has a way of soothing my emotions when I'm upset (especially the sound of a River or the waves on Lake Erie), and I was upset.

As I sat there just soaking in the peace and talking to God, I leaned my back against the tree on the left and looked at the second tree. The tree against my back felt so strong, so secure, and so unchanging. I whispered to God, "Why can't life be this way? Why can't I trust it not to let me down?"

As I sat there, I noticed a piece of bark bubbled out on the tree to the right and began to stare. Before my unbelieving eyes I saw termites as long as my pointer finger begin to emerge from the bubbled piece of bark. I stood up to examine it and there was a four inch diameter hole eaten clear to the center of the tree. In that moment, I realized that given enough time everything in life is likely to let me down - no matter how secure it seems today.

Yesterday, the kids and I went to that spot and I curiously found the trees. In just two short months, half of the tree I had been leaning against has been eaten through and fallen into the water. You could see the fresh green leaves where it had bloomed and started the summer just like any other. But all the while, something was eating the inside away. The tree on the left has no face left on the water side, you can see clear to the heart of the tree where it's been eaten away. It's just a matter of time before it too falls.

But the good news is that although life has let me down, people have hurt me, and I've disappointed myself, God has never let me down. He is truly the only unchangeable thing in this temporal world. If there's any stability in my life I will find it in him!

The second lesson from these trees is to be careful of what I allow to "eat on my insides." Bitterness, anger, discouragement, or other negative emotions can erode even the stongest of individuals!

l

The Widow's Walk

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

Faith is the confidence

that what we hope for

will actually happen;

it gives us confidence

about things

we cannot see.

I recently saw a widow's walk for the first time in my life. I've read the romantic stories in which a beautiful young woman spends her days pacing the rooftop watching for her beloved sailor to return from sea. Many of them clung stubbornly to the hope of their beloved's return for decades. I can't imagine seeing the mast of a ship appearing on the horizon, feeling the quickening of the heart in hope, only to have it dashed again and again.

Or maybe I can. There are things that I've entrusted to my Heavenly Father and in my heart know that He won't disappointment me. But the Scripture says hope deferred (delayed) maketh the heart sick. It's very true for me! I personally can't live pining for some far off promise without something inside of me dying everytime I "spot a mast on the horizon." Maybe I'm just not romantic enough. lol

I kind of think that if the sailor did come home he'd want to come to a place prepared for him and kept in good repair. So my solution is to stay busy making preparations during the waiting period. If I'm believing for an answered prayer, it would be shortsighted of me to expect something I'm not prepared for.

Today, I believe I'll take some time to do a little inventory in my life to see what skills or characteristics I need to implement in order to receive the things I hope for. Could it be that's faith in action?

Wee Ones

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child

in the way he should go:

and when he is old,

he will not depart from it.

~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to watch this mama duck taking her ducklings from the shore out onto the Lake. The waves were rolling in and she just seemed to bob for a second with each one and then emerge on the other side. For the ducklings it was a different story altogether. They'd swim out a little ways and then a wave would wash them right back onto shore.

It was a bit comical to watch. I was videoing the event, sure I had a viral video, but unfortunately it didn't turn out. It took about 15 minutes for the gaggle to get out of range of Melinda and I who were threatening their space. We enjoyed watching the mama "get her ducks all in a row" and paddle off.

But what about my little ducks? lol They're not so little anymore! One is grown and the other as tall as I. Much of my training is in the past. But I recall an eye opening moment when my oldest was two years old. She was a big girl for the day and rode in the front seat with me (pre air bag era). I remember her telling every car on the road how to drive... "put the pedal to the medal sneed" ...."this is the road, not a driveway"...."let's move, I don't have all day"

After the humor wore off it really struck me that she was emulating me. The lesson struck home, and since that day when I see a flaw in one of my kids I take a good look in the mirror before I correct them. Showing your children how to behave is more effective than telling them. Kid's learn "what is caught" much more quickly than what is taught.

I've come to the conclusion that kids are God's little spies!

Doorways to the Unknown

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans

I have for you," declares

the Lord, "plans to prosper

you and not to harm you,

plans to give you hope

and a future."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm not the kind of gal who can just get up in the morning and start running and then sit down at the day's end feeling satisfied and accomplished. I get too caught up in the moment and my curiosity will lead me on a wildly erratic path through the day - a bit like the flight of a butterfly hopping from one thing to another. I need a pencil and a day planner so that I have a plan of attack.

I've gotten kind of used to planning my days... my weeks.... my life, even. And to be honest I am not comfortable when I come to blind doors in my life where I know I have to make a turn and can't see where the turn is leading.

The doorway in this photo has two paths leading from it, though you can only see one. Life is full of those kinds of surprises, unexpected paths or opportunities. I'm glad to know that nothing surprises God. He looked ahead in time while he was forming the world and knew every step I would take. I know he has great plans for me, sometimes I just wish He would let me in on the secret! But that's what faith is all about isn't it? Trusting when you can't see your own way.

Spiritual Fruit

Galations 5:22-23

But the fruit of the spirit is...

love

joy

peace

longsuffering

gentleness

goodness

faith

meekness

temperence

That's a mighty challenging list of traits to have in one life. But with God all things are possible. Sometimes we focus too much on growing the fruit and forget these are fruits of the spirit. It's when we're full of the spirit that these things blossom in our lives. I'm convinced that the key to a fruitful life is to stay full of the Spirit of God.

God's Bugs

©7/10 Angela Beatty

Leviticus 11:4

There is a law of the beast,

and of the fowl, and of

every living creature that

moveth in the waters, and of

every creature that

creepeth upon the earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God obviously didn't ask my opinion on the matter. If it were left up to me there would be no creepy crawly creatures on the face of the earth - especially the variety that bite humans! But the truth is that every creature plays a role in a finely balanced ecosystem and all have a purpose in God's plan.

Yesterday I took the kids into the backyard to show them my recent discovery of a grapevine with grapes growing on it and we also discovered this giant beetle. Of course it was a big deal! This thing that looks like a faded lady bug was several inches long and had eaten quite a chunk out of the leaf it was sitting on.

But guess what. In the real world, we all have a few things or people in life that bug us to no end. And it's easy to forget that God has a plan for even our worst enemies! He really does.

In my work in the Christian school I discovered that it's not the good students who made me a better teacher or principal - it was the students who had me ready to pull my hair out that forced me to find solutions. Any educator would prefer a room full of perfect students, but then we'd never be really good at what we do would we? God really does do all things well.

The Well at Sychar

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

John 4:5-6

Then cometh he

to the city of Samaria,

which is called Sychar...

now Jacob's well was there.

Jesus therefore being

wearied with his journey,

sat thus on the well...

It never ceases to amaze me that Jesus is so immune to the rules of mankind! What happened that day at the well broke all the rules of the time. Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman - a group despised by Israel. After Jesus had told her the sin in her life of having five husbands and living with one who was not her husband, he revealed to her who he was. Then he did the unthinkable. In a society where women were a lesser race, Jesus chose to use a woman to stir up the city. He used a woman to start a revival.

If that wasn't bad enough, imagine this. Jesus has just told her about all the illigitimate men in her life. So what does she do? She runs back to the city to tell the MEN about Jesus and brought them to see him! If that isn't a character reference...?

I wonder what would we think if Jesus sat at the well on the wrong side of the tracks in our towns. Would we discount his revival because he used someone "unsuitable" to spark it?

I don't claim to understand it, but sometimes it seems that Jesus enjoyed breaking all of man's rules and accomplishing his purpose on Earth with unlikely vessels. It sometimes appears that Jesus is looking for willingness to spread the word more than a perfect vessel.

It makes me wonder if He chooses to do a work in my sphere would I be available or would he need to go to the well?

Pipes, Barrels, Esther and Memories

© 7/10 Angela Beatty

Esther 9:28

And that these days should be

remembered and kept throughout

every generation, every family,

every province, and every city;

And that these days of Purim

shall not fail from among the

Jews,nor the memorial of

them perish from their seed.

~~~~~

This morning I was meandering through the woods and came across these old oil well pipes and a rotting wooden oil barrel. My home town is the birthplace of the oil industry. In 1858 Colonel Edwin Drake was hired to find a way to capture oil, and in Titusville, Pennsylvania he did just that by drilling the first ever oil well. Without him, BP wouldn't be scurrying to cap a rig in the ocean, there would be no gas stations, vaseline, or hundreds of medicines just to name a few. The world would be a much different place and we like to remind ourselves of the impact on the world, so it's common to find old oil relics scattered around the forests and countryside as a reminder of our heritage.

I imagine Israel must've felt much the same about the close brush with annihilation they came through in Esther's day. They didn't want to forget God's deliverance through Esther or their victory overMordecai who had plotted against them so they began the annual feast of Purim to celebrate and remind the generations to come.

Every now and then I come across something that jogs memories in my own life of things God has done for me - deliverances, miracles, and acts of love. I treasure each and every trip down memory lane. To remember is to be reminded that God's power and faithfulness has not diminished. What he did yesterday, he can still do today!