Spiritual PJs

This thought began with a Sunday School discussion on some verses from Colossians chapter 3...  "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues  put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."   One friend pointed out that Paul does not assume that we are already dressed in these things, but he tells us to actively put them on.  During this discussion I realized that some days I wake up so weary from the previous day's battle that I lounge around in my spiritual pajamas.  Some days I am so sore from the fight that the very act of dressing myself for the day hurts, so rather than going out in my armor I hide in "comfortable misery."

Ephesians 6:14-17 says, " Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

We have a lot of gear to carry, but it's there to aid us and to make us effective witnesses.   Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, peace, forgiveness and love are our clothing.  Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation are our armor.  We are given everything we need, but we must make the effort to put it on.  Just because you have a winter coat doesn't mean you will be warm, you have to wear it, and a coat of mail will not protect you unless it is fastened in place.  That is not to say that God will not protect us in our weakness, but we have a responsibility to be active participants in the fight.  

If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, the truth is you lack even spiritual pajamas; you're naked.  Don't let yourself shiver to death!  Put on the gift of God!  Romans 6:23 explains that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord,"  and 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 reveals how the gift was purchased.  "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."  Just ask Him to save you (Romans 10:13)  I have received this gift, and I want to pass it on to you so that we can both get dressed to meet the day.

Uncommon Comfort

Last night while preparing for corporate worship I turned to Psalm 23, because one of the songs for this morning's service was based on the passage.  

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

I began to jot it down on paper as if I were talking to someone about God instead of talking to God as it is written.  While going through this process the end of verse 4 caught my attention.  It struck me that a rod and staff would be used for correction, and that on the surface doesn't seem very comforting.  I would think that lying down in green pastures and being lead by still waters would be comforting.  It would seem that being held close, or given a pat on the back would be comforting.  How do a rod and staff bring comfort?  As I thought about it I realized that it is comforting to know that God disciplines us as a parent who wants what is best for His children, so I decided to find out a little more about a shepherd's rod and staff.  

A shepherd's rod was indeed used for discipline.  If a sheep was wondering away, the shepherd would throw the rod to startle the animal back to the flock.  I was also used for protection and was carried at all times as an extension of the shepherd's own arm.  In addition to discipline and protection, the rod was used in examining the sheep to make sure they were healthy and had not developed a skin infection under their wool, and it was the instrument used for marking the sheep to indicate ownership.  A look at the shepherd's good intentions for the sheep in using the rod does bring comfort.  Knowing that: He won't let us wander too far away, He will protect us from enemies, He searches out our sickness so he can heal us, and He marks us as His own, is reassuring.  

A shepherd's staff was a separate tool that had other functions.  It typically would have a crook that could be use for pulling sheep out of the awkward situations they are prone to getting stuck in.  With his staff a shepherd could reach a sheep that had fallen into a precarious spot or gotten caught in a thicket.  It was also used for guiding a sheep onto the right path.  The shepherd would gently lay his staff on the sheep's side, and apply pressure to guide the animal the direction it should go.  We all find ourselves in awkward situations that we can't get ourselves out of.  The Bible is very clear that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), but God reached into the brambles and rescued us when He sent His Son to pay our debt on the cross.  The pressures of life are uncomfortable, but our Shepherd is using them to guide us to the path we must take.  It is comforting to know that He will guide us; and that when we fail to follow, consequently finding ourselves in a tight spot, He will pull us out.

In our Sunday School class this morning we were lead to Titus 3:3-7 which reads:  "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."  That is what our good and merciful Shepherd has done for us! 

Information on the shepherd's rod and staff is from http://www.antipas.org/commentaries/articles/shepherd_psa23/shepherd_07.html

Aunt Mary Etta, and The Martin Guitar

I remember going to visit her when I was little.  I remember a Christmas at her brother's house when she had a special gift for each niece and nephew.  She really couldn't afford it.  It must have taken time, careful planning, and sacrifice.  She had no children of her own, and lived with her husband Harry.  She was one of twelve children:  seven sisters and five brothers, and my mom is one of her sisters. 

Aunt Mary Etta, with some of her brothers and sisters and their spouses.

Music, I think, was one of her passions.  Aunt Mary Etta loved to go to bluegrass shows and festivals, and was friends with many of the performers.  She enjoyed the picnic lunches we would have with these friends at Sunset Park.  She had difficulty carrying a tune when she sang, but she was able to play the harmonica, and she truly enjoyed listing to her brother Chris, and her sisters Lois, Edie (my mom) and Reba sing in their quartet. Her participation was in her appreciation of the gifts and talents that God had give those she loved, and in her encouragement of them to use those gifts. 

Aunt Mary Etta and Uncle Harry moved to a little house that was very near to her sister Ruth.  Aunt Ruth and my mom opened a sewing shop in the apartment building between the two houses, and when I was a senior in high school I began four years of employment with them.  In that time I had many opportunities to visit with Aunt Mary Etta.  Uncle Harry passed away during those years, and being unable to get out easily because of a disability, she always appreciated the company. One of the things that really stood out to me was how important each person was to her.  She kept records of everyone's birthday, and would send out cards regularly. 

Heaven becomes more dear every time a loved one goes to be with Jesus, and Aunt Mary Etta is in his presence now.  She's been there almost five years by our time, but in eternity I am certain that perspective is quite different.  There was never any doubt that her nieces and nephews were special to her, but when we received notification that she had divided her estate among us all, it was certainly confirmed.  My Aunt Mary Etta didn't have much in this world as far as money and possessions go, but she was rich in relationships.  Through the sale of her property she was able to bless each one of us more than she ever knew.

Aunt Mary Etta's gifts have been significant to my life.  God has used her generosity to lead me, and even to call me into a sphere of ministry I only dreamed of.  About a year after she died my husband, Eric, and I found out about the check that we were to receive.  Eric encouraged me to think of something I could buy and keep in remembrance of her.  One day, around Easter time, I was out walking and praying and the Lord spoke to me about using me in a leading role in the worship ministry, and buying a guitar with my inheritance from Aunt Mary Etta that would be part of that process.  

I had tried to learn to play the guitar on several occasions, and had given up in frustration every time, so to spend this amount of money on a guitar was a bit shocking.  There was enough doubt that I made a commitment to play the guitar Eric's Uncle Rod had loaned us every day for six months before I would buy my own.  If I made enough progress in that time I would proceed.  After a few months my sister, Loni Kirklin, loaned me one of her guitars to practice on.  It was more like the one I was hoping to buy, and it was easier to play.  It was about a year after making the initial commitment that I finally bought my Martin Guitar.  I had looked a couple of times, but when my mom and Loni were here that spring we went shopping and it became clear exactly which instrument I should buy.  It's my "Aunt Mary Etta Guitar," and it's a blessing from God.

It took a long time before I began to actually play it in the worship service at our church.  I would take it to practices and play along when I was scheduled to sing.  My friend who leads worship would ask me to bring it along at different times and he would just play with me a little and try to help me along.  I took it along to Uncle Rod's bedside the last time we were able to visit him.  I didn't know what to say, so I played and sang a few hymns instead.  He passed away a few days later, and I was asked to play with my kids and their cousin who sang at his memorial service.  

I soon went to have electronics installed in my guitar which was a step of faith, and a few months after that I asked if I could play an offertory in church. Since then I have been playing with the worship team.  I still fumble a lot, but this whole process has taught me so much.  Not only have I been learning more about music, but I have been learning about trusting God's plan.  He has brought me to a place in this ministry that had long been in my heart and seemed more like a dream.  It was not just a dream, it was a vision. I am amazed and grateful.  Sharing my passion with others is such a blessing.

Sometimes it is hard to know if I am really hearing God, or if I am hearing what I want to hear.  I think I usually know, but I am so prone to doubt.  I think that I am just making it up to suit my own desires, but Psalm 37:4 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Why should I assume God is going to ask me to do things that seem like a burden instead of the ones that are a delight?  If I can stay focused on delighting myself in the Lord there should be no reason to question motives.  When I look back at how it all worked out, I know that only God could have done it, and I am thankful that He chose to use my Aunt Mary Etta to lead me here. 

The writing on my guitar case reads,
"In loving memory of Uncle Harry and Aunt Mary Etta Hoover.
Dedicated to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!"

2012 Greetings From The Huyett Family

New Year's Day

We hope this letter finds you well and joyfully preparing for the Holiday Season. As 2011 drew to a close our family participated in the New Year's Eve Resolution Run in State College. It was a fun family event that many from our church attended together. Training for a 5K was a rewarding experience for me, and I have since begun to build my endurance for greater distances. I hope to be able to participate in at least a half marathon sometime in 2013. One of the greatest things about trying something that you never expected to do is that it can inspire others to step out of their comfort zone and strive for new goals. I thank God for using me in this way, and using others to help keep me motivated.

Disc Golf

Eric had to do some traveling for work again this year and spent some time in Australia as well as Denver. He continues to play softball and volleyball as the seasons change. Eric is serving as a deacon at our church now, and he also volunteers as the treasurer for the Employee Benefit Organization at work as well as the Music Booster Club at the Middle School/High School. When he has free time he enjoys going out to play a round or two of disc golf, and periodically will still lead the family to a geocache or two. The children have become so busy with activities that it is difficult to plan as many family outings as we used to take.

 

Can You Find Cody and Austin?

Austin and Heather both participated in the drama club this year, and Cody and Austin each participated in their first year of Track and Field. Cody threw discus and shot put, and Austin was in the high jump, triple jump, 4x400 meter relay and the 4x100 meter relay. The two boys also marched in the Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C. The rest of us took a charter bus down for the day to watch them. For all but Eric it was our first visit to Our Nation's Capitol.

First Day of School

Heather joined the marching band this summer and all three of the older children marched in the field show at our high school football games this fall. Cody played trumpet, Austin played the sousaphone, and Heather played saxophone. We have a neat story about Cody's instrument that you can read about in my blog post called The Silver Trumpet. Darren started playing trumpet now that he is in fourth grade. Austin will put away his sousaphone for the season and concentrate on trombone, and all four students will participate in concert bands for the remainder of the school year. Cody is now in tenth grade, Austin is in eighth, and Heather is in seventh.

Kinzua Bridge State Park

The kids were all involved in soccer again this year. Cody played defense on the High School JV team, Austin played keeper for the Boys Jr. High team, Heather played defense on the girls Jr. High team, and Darren played a variety of positions on Bald Eagle Youth Soccer's team TNT. I volunteered as registrar for the youth soccer program. With all of the kid's fall activities Eric and I spent a lot of our time in concession stands and on bleachers. We also had the opportunity once again to work at a Penn State concession stand with a group from our church. Now that the fall activities have wound down we are thankful for a bit of a break as we look forward to the holiday. 

Mother's Day

For me it's been a year of growth and blessing, but it hasn't been an easy one. I struggled with emotional issues for the first half of the year, but I am sure that God was working all things together for my good every step of the way. I am thankful that He brought me through that time and is helping me move forward in His plan for my life. 

Our 16th Anniver

Addressing our cards this year was a prayerful time for me as I remembered each recipient. Signing each card together as a family was also a very special event. May you find that 2013 is filled with more blessings than you can count, and may each one cause you to turn your heart to God in praise and thanksgiving. Jesus gave His life for us, let us live our lives for Him.

 ♥JMH♥

 

The Silver Trumpet

Cody wanted a silver trumpet.  We have been talking about it for a while now.  He had been using the same beginner trumpet that was handed down to him from a friend when he was in the fourth grade, and it seemed it was time to reward his efforts with a more advanced model, but he really wanted it to be silver.  Last Thursday I took all four kids to the used instrument sale at State College High School, because Austin's trombone has been broken for a year now, and he has been borrowing one from the school.  We found a trombone for Austin, and Cody found a silver trumpet that he thought would be perfect.  The price tag did not agree with our budget though, and we had to walk out without it.  Cody was devastated.  My heart was nearly broken for him.  I sat in the Suburban practically paralyzed.  I couldn't go back in and buy it, but I could barely stand to pull out of the parking lot.  Cody finally asked that we just leave, and I told him that I really thought we needed to start praying for God to provide the right trumpet at the right price.  I began praying about it immediately and took the kids to Dairy Queen hoping to cheer up my very sad boy, but it didn't really work.

The next evening we were working with the Music Boosters in the concession stand at our high school football game.  Eric was standing near the window talking to a friend about the previous evening and how disappointed Cody was.  At just that moment a woman was walking past and the words "silver trumpet" commanded her attention.  She asked Eric if he was looking for a silver trumpet, told him that she had one and the price she was willing to part with it for, and gave him her name and number.  I could hardly help  declaring to my fellow music boosters that it was an answer to prayer. 

My Happy Boy!

This week we got in touch with her, and when I told her about my prayer, I discovered that our faith is common ground.  She told me that it is very unlike her to overhear another person's conversation, or to sell things that belonged to her children, but just the previous week she had gotten in touch with a music store about putting the instrument on consignment.  Before I went to meet her, Eric and I found that we were in complete agreement that we should offer her a certain price for the instrument.  It was one of those times when we both had the same idea before saying it out loud. It was the strangest "business deal."  Each of us was so determined to treat the other fairly that we had a hard time settling on a price.  It was completely backward from the way a transaction usually works.  I tried to give her more than she was asking because I didn't want to take advantage of her, and she insisted on staying with the lower price.  We finally agreed on a compromise, and after I wrote the check she told me that she wanted me to remember that she was content with the lower price and that she would be putting the extra money in her tithe check for her church.  

Praise be to God!  Both my new friend and I are convinced that God was in total control of the whole affair, and that Cody's silver trumpet is indeed an answer to prayer.  I got to watch him play it at the football game tonight.  What a blessing!  What a God!  I am excited to see how He will use Cody and the silver trumpet for His glory!  ♥

Stuck In A Rut

This song came from a time when I felt like I was chained to obligation and I was getting nowhere.  It's not a solitary instance.  This happens to me more than I like to acknowledge, but now I have a song to sing when I am feeling that way.  It helps me remember where my focus needs to be.  Sometimes I just feel like letting go; I wonder why I bother.  I do need to let go of obligation so that I can be free for heartfelt ministry.  This is a prayer that God will relight my passion for sharing His love with the world.  I wrote this two years ago while Eric and I were away celebrating our 14th anniversary.  It had nothing to do with the occasion, but it was a quiet time when I was able to step away and reflect on the things that had been building up in everyday life.  I've been back in that "stuck" place again for the past five months.  It hasn't been fun, but I have to trust that God won't leave me stuck, no matter how I got here.  I can hardly stand myself right now, but the Bible says God loves me, so it's true.  I feel like a failure, but the Bible tells me that God paid the highest price for me. 

Psalm 119:105  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."  

I can't trust my feelings, I have to trust His word.

Here's The Scoop

It was time to go for a run this morning.  I had been feeling an urge to run around the track in town this morning instead of my usual route.  I hesitated at the turn off trying to determine whether the urging was from the Lord or whether it was just a strange inclination I had, because I really don't like to run in circles.  I decided to head for the track wondering if God was protecting me from some danger that awaited on my regular trek.  As I walked toward the park I passed three people visiting on a patio and greeted them, all the while dreading my run on the mostly sunny, gravel loop.  How many times would I have to run it to equal 5K?  I set out faster than I had intended and questioned the accuracy of my GPS as I went.  Part way around the path I noticed that a dog had been there.  I was grateful that I had avoided stepping in that, made note of where it was, and continued on my way.  As I ran I noticed two more areas where evidence of the dogs visit had been left.  I knew cleaning it up would be right, but had nothing with me to do the job.  It might sound silly, but I prayed that if God wanted me to clean it up he would provide the necessary plastic bag.  I looked around for a station that offered such supplies, but saw none and decided it was best to keep my eyes on the trail.  I finally finished my laps and was ready to head home, but it bothered me that I was leaving a mess for someone else to step in.  I looked in the trash can, but the bags in there were covered with sticky beverages and who knows what else.  By the time I left the park I had mostly decided that I would have to go home, where I knew there were more plastic bags available than I knew what to do with, and return to make the situation right, when I remembered the people on the patio. 

As I approached the house I saw that they were still there.  They greeted me again, and this time I stopped  and asked them, though it's hard to believe that I had the nerve, if they had a plastic bag that they could give me.  One of the ladies asked me if I had seen a dog, and I told her that I had not seen the dog, but I had seen that he had been there.  She said that the dog was hers and that she would clean up after him, but I told her that I would take care of it.  She was very thankful and then she asked where I lived and said that I looked familiar and didn't I used to go to church in town?  I replied that I lived just outside of town and that I had brought my kids to VBS there for a few years, but that we go to church in State College.  I told her that we are hooked there, it's our family.  The man who had gone in the house returned with the plastic bag and handed it to me.  As I walked away I was amazed.  It is times like that when I want to let people know why I am doing what I am doing, but I don't know how without making it seem forced and awkward.  God revealed Himself in the situation through her question without any effort on my part.  I began to criticize myself for my words.  Had I made it sound like I am stuck going to my church because I am related to the people there?  That couldn't be farther from the truth, I don't have a single biological brother, sister, aunt, uncle or cousin in the whole congregation.  I didn't dwell on that for long, my Father had given me an opportunity and allowed me to demonstrate love to a stranger.  He is able to use the words for good whether I feel like they came out right or not.

I walked home thinking about how I had almost gone my usual way because I don't like to run in circles, and what I would have missed out on.   I thought about whether or not I should share this with you.  I often remember that Jesus said not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, and I think it would be better to keep things between God and I, but it really isn't about my hands at all.  It's about Him, and that is something I should share.  If you ever feel discouraged, like you aren't being used for His glory, remember this crazy little story.  I must be out of my mind to be so excited about removing dog deposits from the local park, but I am so amazed at how he cares for us.  I have really been struggling lately, but as I ask God to keep my gaze fixed on Him life takes on a new light.  Jesus cleaned up my mess, I hope He uses this mornings experience to draw attention to Him and to encourage someone to give their mess to Him and accept His sacrifice.