A Day with JaNice

I spent yesterday afternoon with my middle daughter, JaNice. She took me up north (North-side Chicago) with her to run some errands. I regret not bringing my camera----there was so much to see. I hadn't visit this part of the city in years.  

We went to a place called "Reckless Records" to pick up some CDs she had reserved.  I didn't know there was any place that still sold records.  It was fun looking through the selection of LPs seeing titles and artists from my teen years. The store even sold 45s, cassettes, and 8-track tapes! From the DVD section we purchased 4 old favorites.

JaNice (doesn't like being photograph)

From there we visited neighborhood bookstores, and took in the sights of a very diverse community lined with outdoor cafes and various ethnic restaurants.  At one of the bookstores I found a copy of Mary Higgins Clark Mystery novel, "Stillwatch." Stillwatch was the first book I read by Clark.  I've been reading her books ever since.   Of all of her mystery novels that I've read, Stillwatch is still my favorite.  

The lakefront was bursting with life! The beach was filled with people grilling, jogging, bike riding, and just stretching out on lounge chairs enjoying the view.  Chicago has such a beautiful skyline. That and the sailboats made Lake Michigan a picture perfect postcard scene.

A Still Small Voice

When experiencing unforeseen circumstances in life and/or ministry we often seek advice from our pastor or close friends. We strain to hear God’s voice of direction through a sermon, or a song. We’ll pull out our Topical Bible looking for passages that mirror our situation to explain or make sense out of what we’re going through. And many times God will speak to us through others and through specific examples from the Bible.  But there are also times when God will speak through the still quiet moments of a seemingly mundane task.

One of the easiest to grow houseplants for me is the philodendra. I like the fact that it can be grown in water or potting soil, and it produces lush green cascading vines. I had notice that for some time one of my plants appeared to be dying. One by one its long lush vines withered, turning yellow and then brown before falling off the main branch. Yet there was new growth shooting up near the base of the plant. In an attempt to save the last of its dying vines I clipped it and placed it in a separate container of water with a few drops of plant food. The next morning, the clipped vine had made a miraculous recovery! The leaves were no longer drooping, they were pointing upward and the green color had returned to its stem. It was here, in this unexpected moment of serene amazement that God spoke peace to the bewildering situation I was going through. 

There are seasons of growth when it becomes necessary for God to "clip" us, setting us apart from the group in order to prepare us to bear more fruit, either in a different position or in a new location for His purposes. If we cling to where God desires to remove us from, like my vine, we will wither and become unproductive.