Category Archives: God’s character

Royal Deliveries

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Once a boy grows into a man and takes on the heavy responsibilities of a family, home, and job, life gets pretty serious. Having fun is a priority that slips farther down the list, and bits of contentment and peace become the new “good times.” One thing, though, that’s always fun is purchasing a new vehicle.

Today my British relatives had an afternoon of pure fun together as they bought a new red van, at least new to them. During the summer when school teaching is on hiatus, Hans becomes a full time gardener, a business that is flourishing as much as the plants he tends.

He had outgrown his old van long ago and today found the perfect vehicle. It was particularly exciting to 4 year old Nicholas, since this van had originally carried the “Royal Mail” of London.

Postal BagNicholas’ has been all about mail since the cartoon “Postman Pat” became his favorite nearly 2 years ago (half a lifetime for him). For his last birthday I put together an official mail bag loaded with colored paper in several sizes, stickers that resembled stamps, a variety of envelopes, pencils, and pens. According to his parents, it’s been a hit.

Nyman PostHans added a cardboard postal box, and Nicholas has kept busy creating and delivering mail nearly every day. The fact that the new van had been used to haul real mail was like the fulfillment of a fantasy for Nicholas, and he counted the minutes till we all went to pick it up.

On the lookout

Since the van was being driven up from London, Hans arranged to take possession at the local train station so the driver had a way to get back. We arrived 10 minutes before he did, and the children sat on the station wall keeping a lookout for “a red postal van.” When Nicholas saw it, his eyebrows went up and his eyes grew wide.

Best of all, though, was when he noticed the faint outline of the words “Royal Mail” on the side of the van indicating where the letters had once been. But the new van isn’t the only way Royal Mail has been delivered.Royal Mail

God is in the mail business, too. Long ago he delivered the biggest and best parcel ever sent: his Word. Within the package were 66 individual books, each one full of messages from him. And he has continued to prepare and deliver additional items ever since, things like job opportunities, excellent medical care, repaired relationships, new babies, financial rescue, good health, and the most important thing he ever sent, his Son. Without him, God’s life-changing Gospel couldn’t have been delivered to us.

The inspectionAfter Hans’ red van arrived home, the children eagerly inspected it, finding treasure in the back: a stash of rubber bands “that used to hold real mail!” Nicholas said.

That may indeed be accurate, but the real Royal Mail came to us by special delivery, many centuries before.

First ride

“Royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)

Making Mistakes

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The last time I traveled to England to visit Hans and his family, I worked hard preparing in advance. A month before the trip, I pulled out my biggest suitcase, balanced it on the arms of my bedroom chair, and propped it open. Each time I thought of something I wanted to take, I’d put it in the suitcase.

PackingThe night before departure, my big suitcase was full, as was a second one on the floor. But as I went down a mental checklist to be sure I had everything, I couldn’t remember what was in the bags. Had I packed my walking shoes? What about a Sunday outfit? An umbrella? My gifts for the grandchildren?

The only thing to do was unpack. I emptied both suitcases, spreading everything on the bed, and started over. Good thing, because half of what I’d packed was unnecessary, and several important things were missing.

Hans and Katy's.Today I’m writing from England, where I’ve joined Hans and his family of six for 11 lively days of work and play. This time I waited to pack until the night before. It was a good plan and worked well, a lesson learned from my mistake.

Several years ago when I came, I packed poorly for a different reason. It was the middle of October, and at packing time we were having a heat wave in Michigan. Without thinking, I packed according to the hot weather in my neighborhood without a thought to the cool October of north England.

When I got there, my bad packing was evident. I’d forgotten warm socks, long sleeves, and a cozy coat. After that goose-bump visit, I learned from that mistake, too.

Scripture is full of stories about people learning from their mistakes, most of them far more serious than badly packed suitcases. They resulted in ruined careers, destroyed marriages, divisions in families, damaged businesses, curses from God, and even deaths. The sad part is that people didn’t always learn from their mistakes.

That’s true of us, too. Whether we do or don’t learn from them is up to us. But because God want us to gain wisdom from wrongdoing, he often forces the issue by letting us push our way into additional messes. If we don’t learn the wisdom-lesson the first time through, we can be sure he’ll provide another run at it.

Every mistake is a let-down, but it’s also an opportunity.

If we put our lives in God’s hands, he can bring good not just from our positive actions but also from our negative ones. That’s just how he  chooses to do things, always thinking of our best good.

As for packing for England this time? I finally got it right.

Hand-holding“Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he’s happy. If he stumbles, he’s not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.” (Psalm 37:23-24  The Message)

Wildlife

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I don’t know if it’s a drop in the barometric pressure, a problem of over-population, or just friendly natives, but this morning before I was out of my PJs, I had personal encounters with 3 spiders, 1 pincher bug, 2 rolly-pollies, 1 copper beetle, and 2 moths, all enjoying residence inside my house.

My rule is kindness to animals unless they enter without an invitation. After that, it’s “death to intruders.”

From a bug’s vantage point I see how running indoors has its advantages: shelter from a downpour, warmth on a cold day, an abundance of food, and, well, maybe the fellowship. Whatever the cause of this morning’s influx, my reasons for why it was unacceptable trumped their reasons for coming in.

A grasshopperToday’s wildlife scenario put me in mind of an interesting Bible verse written from God’s perspective. He says he sees us as grasshoppers far below him. Interesting.

His point is that people are small and helpless compared to him, just like a skittering spider is to me (and why I feel free to step on it). I have full confidence that I can eliminate it.

Not that people are to God as a bug is to me. The Isaiah chapter is just trying to make the point that God is so much greater than we are, we can’t even comprehend it.

HousesFor example, in the real estate business when a house is put up for sale, realtors look for “comparables” in the neighbor- hood to help set a fair price. These comparably-priced homes are even listed for house hunters to see, to help them make a realistic offer.

But with God, there are no comparables.

Isaiah 40 is a Scripture passage that attempts to describe our extraordinary God as effectively as human language can. Jesus taught with questions, and in these verses God does that too, using a string of fascinating rhetorical questions to make his point:

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
    or showed him the path of understanding? (vv. 12-14)

The same answer works with all of them: “No one but God.”

He’s making the point that he could have said, “Death to all intruders,” stepping on us like a man steps on a grasshopper. But the reality is that he did just the opposite. Not only did he let us live, he lifted the lowly “grasshoppers” to royal status by permitting us join his family.

Our only right response has to be absolute awe.

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:18)