I Am With You Always…

- dannalundstrom

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When I was a child, I was afraid of the dark. I would go to bed paralyzed with fear. Only two things comforted me, a light so I could see through the darkness and the presence of someone I trusted to take care of me. Without those two securities, my situation was hopeless. I did not rest, and my mind became a battlefield generating fear faceted thoughts that terrified me relentlessly.

I am not that child that is afraid of the dark anymore, but I am still that child who is prone to fear and needs light, and the presence of someone else who I trust and know will take care of me. I have both in One, and so do you.

The situation you are facing today; the one that is terrifying you; it does not have to control you. The One you keep company with controls all things. He conquers, commands and contains all things. At times when you feel abandoned by Him, perhaps you forgot to turn the light on. Psalm 119:105 tells us God’s word is light. ~Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Once you have light, it is easier to mind your mind so that you may take captive every fraudulent thought and rest in what is promised you.

You are not doomed to your darkness today unless you choose to be. Pay attention to what and Who you are paying attention to. Ask for the grace to focus on your Savior, not your situation. It can be a challenge. I know, friends.

Father give peace to your children who are surrounded by darkness today. Carve a cleft of protection for them to seek shelter in as you did for Moses. Give them full assurance of your presence and protection. Gratify them with your glory today, Father. Amen.

 

A Happy Ending

- dannalundstrom 1 Comment

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Young and beautiful, she struggled through the door of a conference room I was sitting in yesterday; walking with great effort and the assistance of a cane. I knew she had a story. We all do. I could not help but wonder what her’s was. “Does this story have a happy ending,” she asked? “I just have to know before we get started.”

What a picture she represented to me. I, a daughter of the King, struggle and limp through life often needing assistance to be steadied. All along asking my Father, does my story and that story and those stories, do they have happy endings? And I imagine my loving God smiling as he says to me, all my stories have happy endings, my child. You may relax and enjoy the journey. Rest in this truth today friends. If you know Jesus as your Savior, your story has a happy ending, too. If it is not happy, it is not the ending.

Freedom in Jesus Alone

- dannalundstrom

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I have to be honest even when honesty feels scary. Today I feel an incongruence in my heart about celebrating our freedom. The tone of our world right now feels more about imprisonment and fear than independence and freedom.

Are we free? We are burning one another’s churches. Are we free when we are judging and persecuting one another’s sin with a blindness to our own? Our young women and children are being sold into slavery and Americans are committing unthinkable crimes against Americans. Are we free?

I saw an add this morning that said, “freedom is never given, it is won. Many brave men and women have sacrificed immensely, some everything, to keep us safe. They are true heroes, and I will never forget their loyalty, courage, and dedication.

From a different perspective, though, if we are followers of Jesus, the story reads a little different. Our freedom was both won and given. If I look at our world, I often become discouraged and angry. This world feeds us a lot more fear than freedom. Only Jesus gives us the freedom from that fear.

Today more than ever, it is crucial that we fix our eyes on Him. Today more than ever it is vital that we base our hope and our future on our providential creator, not our presidential candidate. Our power, our protection, our purpose and our plan does not come from anything or anyone authentic to this world, but the Author of this world. We must ask Him to use us as vessels of his peace and His purpose. All of us individually must decide to get out in this world and make a difference. We cannot afford to wait for someone else to do it.

We must put idol aside to pursue intentional.

I don’t think our presence in this world is to lead people to delight, but disturbance colored in shades of hope and kindness.

Until we are confused, we will always be content.

There are a lot of good people doing a lot of good in this world. Today I pray we highlight more of the good that is pervasively present than the evil that is persistently pursuing. Darkness can take many things away from us, but not our choices. An inactive light cannot be seen. We must shine our lights! Let’s celebrate the freedom to pursue purposeful paths today.

Vertical Vision

- dannalundstrom

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When I have an issue, I do not have time for or do not want to address, I ignore it as if it will go away.  That senseless strategy only works for a limited time.

My vision is the perfect example.  I have glasses for distance that I have used intermittently for several years.  Now I require the aid of readers for smaller, up close print.  I know I need bifocals, but it has been easier to neglect that fact than to address it.

Yesterday I happened to have my readers on when I pulled out my iPhone to look at a text message.  I have the 6 Plus, so the screen and font are bigger, but when I viewed my phone with the advantage of my readers, it was like a whole new world opened up before me.  A crisp, clear, bright and beautiful world.  I did not realize how bad I had been struggling until that moment when my world was brought into focus.  Wow!  What a difference.

It occurred to me that this is not only representative of vision for daily tasks but also daily living.  When I become overwhelmed, exhausted or distracted, I am vulnerable to neglecting my “gospel glasses” that aid vertical vision.  That is always to my detriment because without them my life becomes blurry, unfocused, and I struggle to make sense of things.  Possibilities appear small, and my insufficiencies great.

Why would I want to navigate life with an obscured perspective?  There is a whole new world, a whole new life available when I see things through a lens focused on biblical truths.  To live life out of focus is to miss out on so much beauty and clarity that is available to me.

I am grateful for the reminder that played out before me yesterday.  Perspective makes all the difference.  May we not forget to put on our glasses every day, friends.

Matthew 6:22-23~ Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

Small Things That Sparkle

- dannalundstrom

 

I’m going to be honest for the sake of being transparent because I have learned that it is in admitting my struggles that I find freedom, and maybe loan a little out, too.  Holidays are difficult for me.  Whether it’s Christmas, birthdays, 4th of July, I have to fight some degree of sadness, and sometimes my fight is weak.

I grew up in a big family.  Everyone lived within a reasonable distance.   Holidays were very grand at our house and my grandmother’s houses.   My mom and grandmothers were all exceptional cooks and fed many small armies over the years.   As much as the food, I remember the fellowship, the laughter, the sporting events on TV, big firework displays, football games in the yard, all the men falling asleep on the couches.   I remember masses of people, the constant roar of conversation and laughter; and the euphoria of kids everywhere, a lot of kids!

Every holiday was as old as it was new, foreign as it was familiar and frayed as it was fancy.  They were truly wonderful times that wove priceless memories deep into my heart.

As The 4th of July approaches again, I have felt that familiar restlessness settling into my soul.   I have to be intentional to remember the happiness of what was while forging gratitude in what is.   What is, is still beautiful, it is just different.  If you have the luxury of having most of your family healthy and close by, don’t take it for granted.  You are blessed.   I am blessed too; my blessings just look different than yours.

Two weeks ago I was flying back from Texas, where all of my family lives, to Birmingham.   As I was standing in line waiting to board the plane, a dialogue was playing in my head.  Was I flying back home or leaving home?   There was a sense of confliction in my answer.  Later, I realized that the answer didn’t matter because home is where the people we love are, and that can be many places.   Also, in his grace, The Father reminded me that all these homes are just temporary resting places along the journey to my forever home.   There, it will be one big, ongoing reunion with all those I love in attendance.

Jesus promises “in my Father’s house there are many rooms.”  (John 14:2)   I am so grateful because we will need them!   As for this holiday, it may be quiet, it may be small, but sometimes it is the quiet and the small that create the most sparkle!   More importantly, it is about focusing on cherishing my blessings and committing to choosing joy in all situations, whether they are extraordinary or ordinary.   In retrospect, I often realize that so much beauty in this life is intrinsic to the ordinary.

Self and Serve

- dannalundstrom

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I am reading Romans For You 1-7, by Tim Keller. If you are familiar with Romans, you will know the irony in my timing contrasted with current world events. This was not a planned read. I just prayed about a book to read, and as it always happens, God leads me where He wants me. This book has been so rich in quotable material, but so far one has stood out to me. I have printed it and put a copy on my desk and phone so I can read it daily.

Today the thought crossed my mind that two, simple words benefit me, and perhaps you, too in life. Self and Serve.   I need to keep my eyes on myself, not my neighbor, and I need to seek to serve my neighbor, not myself.

Below is the Keller quote.

“We only grasp the gospel when we understand, as Paul did, that we are the worst sinner we know (1 Timothy 1:15)—and that if Jesus came to die for us, there is no one that he would not die for. This sets us free to obey Jesus in loving our neighbor; and to be able to accept Jesus’ definition of neighbor as being the person who our culture (church or secular) tells us is, or should be, beyond help (Luke 10:25-37).”

Have a good day neighbors, near and far.

Fixed and Fastened On You, Lord

- dannalundstrom

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Remember dear friends as you wake today to the news, the diagnosis, the trial or tragedy; none of it has the power to make us spin without our permission.  We alone choose our thoughts and perspectives.  That is one thing that may not be taken away.  Also, no matter what the circumstances, as Christ followers we have this great hope of a perfect eternity.  This world is not our home.  As James 4:14 says of our life, so it is true of this world; it is like a morning fog, here today and gone tomorrow.  Do not let your hearts be burdened.  Keep your eyes fixed on the eternal and your thoughts embedded in the truth.  May we all anchor ourselves in the life-giving words of Philippians 4:6-8 today and all the days we occupy this life:  Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.   Lord, let your word not just be the song of our lips, but also the symbol of our lives.  Amen.

Dancing in the Darkness

- dannalundstrom

It was one week ago today that we said see you later pop to my dad.  This is what was on my heart that day.

Today we honor my dad; not his finalization, but his freedom. The last twelve days have been a tornado of emotions. Last Saturday, the day my dad truly became alive, we were gathered at his side. There had been inadequate time for me to open my Bible the five preceding days. That day seemed as if it would be the same, little time.

Then, a lull happened and everything was quiet.  In hindsight, it was a unique calm, as if not of this world. One of those special moments we rarely recognize until they are written, gone from our grasp, but forever etched in our hearts.

Soft music was playing, and my mom was at my dad’s side.  I sat down behind her and opened my Bible. The verse I landed on was Isaiah 45:3 ~ And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness–secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the one who calls you by name.

It was when I was reflecting briefly on this verse that my dad took Jesus’s hand.  I have gone back daily since last Saturday to that same verse. In reflection, I realized it has been the truth of my travels here. These twelve days have been excruciating, and they have been extraordinary.

I know many of you are enduring dark seasons right now, too.  Sometimes they become so oppressive that our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds become clouded by the dust swirling around us.  When I view this world horizontally, it becomes too much to bear.  When my perspective is eternal, I find gratitude even in grievous places.

God has a way of depositing hidden treasures deep in our discouragement.

It is in the dim places that the growth laden, secret riches from God’s hand become undeniably accentuated.  I was not forsaken this week, and neither was anyone in my family.  We have been given some heavy and layered loads, but they were not void of the promise in Isaiah 43:5. Time and time again the Lord has revealed himself.  We do not drift in disillusionment alone.  When Jesus is our choreographer, it is possible for our souls to dance even in darkness.
He pads our paths with priceless pearls of peace that bring grace to our grief.  We must be watchful to see.

One of my biggest challenges is to abide freely in what is, rather than to shackle myself to what should be.  I cannot imagine that we are that different.  I pray this for us today, friends:

Father hold our hearts to a standard of hope within the haze of pervasive pain.  Let us speak the truth when we tremble.  Unite our hands in faith when we fear. Focus our eyes in the realm of the eternal and not the earthly.  Equip us to trust where You have us, not where we think we should be. Believing in You is the inviting part, trusting You with the devastations of our lives is the intentional part.  You know this of us, God.  Give us fountains of gratitude in our grief and grace for our journeys.  I praise you for knowing and loving us intimately enough to call us all by name.  Thank you for your enduring faithfulness.  Amen.

One God, One People

- dannalundstrom

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I am a color,  but my color does not define me.

I am born of a race,  but I become who I choose to be.

God created me equal to all man so please respectfully acknowledge me.

I have a heart that beats just like yours.  It sins and loves no matter what my ethnicity.

History holds a wealth of bondage from scars inflicted by ancestors,  you and me.

The future does not have to reflect our wounds.  The choice is for God’s people, no matter color, race, religion or gender to spread and live in harmony.

There are good and bad of every kind.  Exclusive to no one;  not yours or mine.

My birth branded me with many labels,  but please don’t use them to judge me.  I only wish to be known as the person who desires to reflect God in how I live,  love and chose to be.

Kindness knows no boundaries in available hearts.  It is immune to the prejudice or color, race or gender.  It respects all, the receiver, and the lender.

We are all one.  May our eyes be blind to any differences and our hearts be open to every kind.  For it is in seeing, knowing and loving,  many treasures we find.

Standing In the Fog

- dannalundstrom 1 Comment

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My family said see you soon to my dad last week as he took his spot in his eternal home. His departure was brutal, and it was beautiful. There was a cd player gently playing; I’ll Fly Away, sung by George Jones. My mom was at his side rubbing his arm and singing the song. I behind her had just opened my Bible, as my son sat at the foot of Poppy’s bed. Then in the most peaceful posture, his breathing stopped, and he flew away.

I have been trying to wrap my brain around everything that has happened. The processing has been slow. When someone asks, “How are you?” It is difficult to explain. I am in a fog. That may sound like a vague answer, but it is my most accurate explanation. I don’t know how I got there, and I don’t know when I will walk out, but this morning, this occurred to me:

At some point after the storm, you realize that perhaps the fog you are standing in is God’s gentle protection to prevent all the pain from pressing in at once. Gratitude is born even in the fog because we remember His tender mercies weather every season we endure.