The Prison of Freedom

(by Lorie Codispoti)

A prison is a place of involuntary confinement.

I’ve often referred to the lift chair I sit in all day as a prison. It’s where I’ve spent the majority of my waking hours for the past two and a half years. Throughout the course of my sentence, I’ve tried everything within my power to escape, as well as exhausting every appeal process you can imagine. I’ve ridden the roller coaster of emotions and have prayers to match every unending series of twists and turns.

It's a love/hate relationship. There are days I’m grateful and days I curse the confinement. But, even on the worst days I end with a grateful heart for the God who is teaching me that the bars that confine me have been assigned the task of revealing true freedom.

EVERYONE IS A PRISONER

As much as we’d like to convince ourselves that we are free agents, with the ability to escape the limitations we don’t like, we aren’t.

Think about it. We don’t get to choose our birth day, gender, or age of death. Each of us lives in a temporary body (subject to all manner of pain and suffering), on a dying planet. We are bound by certain things we have no control over. Two examples: 1) I enjoy a good time travel movie, but the reality is that I can’t harness time. I have no power to stop, reverse, or push fast-forward on the universal clock. 2) I might have fanciful dreams of flying or breathing underwater, but I’m neither a bird or a mermaid, and it would be suicidal for me to test the laws of nature. We are not free agents with the power to will away our boundaries.

Adam’s sin exiled us from the freedom of God’s created confinement and His holy presence. On this side of Eden, we are all prisoners serving out a sentence of death.

But, that’s not the end of the story!

God became a man who willingly entered our exile. He incarcerated Himself in order to “set the captives free” (Luke 4:18). His finished work unlocked the prison doors and provided a way for us to re-enter into God’s presence.

YOU’RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME

When you are imprisoned by an inescapable circumstance, it can feel incredibly hopeless. Of all the biblical and post-biblical accounts I’ve read, the thing that determines whether a prisoner suffers with or without hope is completely dependent on who’s in charge. In this world we all serve time in circumstances we didn’t sign up for (financial, relational, health, persecution, etc.). We may not get to choose our prison, but we have the option of choosing between a warden who aims to destroy us and the One who uses our suffering to strengthen our hope and build our faith.

Did you hear that? If you feel hopelessly bound by your circumstance, YOU, Christian, have the power to change who’s in charge. You get to tell the devil, “You’re not the boss of me!”

HOPE RESTORES

In his great affliction, Job said, “My spirit is broken. My days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me.” (Job 17:1) In his despair he asks, “Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?” (Job17:15)

I’m not sure you can be any more hopeless and broken than Job was. However, something happened in the prison of his suffering that changed everything. By the end of his story Job testifies, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” (42:5) (FYI, this was before God healed and restored him.)

What was it? What broke into the prison of his pain and changed everything?

Hope!

“Hope is a revolution, a powerful Presence that breaks in from the future and transforms today. Jesus’ arrival has brought God’s destiny for humanity crashing into now—an explosion of life into a world marked by death. It changes everything.” (InTouchMinistries)

PRISONER OF HOPE

Zechariah was a Babylonian captive who returned to Jerusalem when the exiles were released. God’s people had started rebuilding the temple, but for over 12 years they were on a self-imposed hiatus, leaving the temple in a half finished state. They needed to be motivated to get off their buns and get back to work. God commissioned Zechariah to encourage them. He reminded them of the importance of finishing the temple - the Messiah is coming and will inhabit and reign in this temple - and they needed to be prepared to receive Him. It was imperative that they heed his instructions, as their future blessing depended on their present obedience.

“Return to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope….” (Zech.9:12)

To be a “prisoner of hope” means the same thing for us as it did in Zechariah’s day.

The return of Christ is imminent. No matter how difficult our situation is, now is not the time to retreat and cower in the corner of our cell. It’s not the time to justify a self-imposed hiatus. Our greatest need during our most intense times of suffering, is to RETURN to the fortified place of Hope. Christ is our fortress of hope. It’s in Him, not outside of Him, that we “live and move and have our being.”

Do you want to survive? If so, “return.” Daily!

HOLD ON

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb.10:23)

I have the ability to “hold” on to Christ... to “return to the stronghold” in my daily affliction... not because I have a strong grip. (I can't even hold a cup without using both hands.) I can "hold" onto Him because Christ is holding on to me. And, because His “righteous right hand”(Isa.41:10) is very strong, I have no need to fear. I am safe and secure in the fortress of His presence.

I continue to lament the physical freedom I’ve lost as I serve time in this chair. There are days when it feels as if the bars are closing in on me, like a python slowly asphyxiating its prey. But, then I hear the Voice of Hope, calling me to return to the fortification of Christ. He reminds me that this is the place where His temple is being built. And if I surrender to His loving Oversight, He will crush the head of the snake, and the bars of confinement will give way to the greatest freedom I’ve ever known.

Rejoice

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Scripture reveals the way for us to rejoice, regardless of our circumstance.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” (Psalm 16:8-9)

The way to rejoice under any circumstance? “I have set the Lord always before me.”

The psalmist isn’t communicating a desire or a request. This is an absolute declaration, coming from a nonnegotiable position. “I have” (past tense) “set the Lord always” (not sometimes) “before me” (not beside or behind me). And because Christ is holding my “right hand,” and guiding me, “I will not be moved.” Do you hear the resolve in this proclamation?

The Hebrew word for “rejoice” in this passage means, “to spin round,” and carries with it the idea of making an abrupt, forceful turn - as if going against what you feel emotionally in favor of what you know to be true. This isn’t a sweet ballerina twirl while you’re doing a happy dance in your living room. This is a willful, militant, about-face in the middle of a dark and bloody battle, when everything in you wants to do anything but “rejoice.”

Our English word for “rejoice” means, "To make joyful; to gladden; to animate with lively pleasurable sensations; to exhilarate." (Webster's 1828 Dictionary) And, the Latin prefix, "re," means “to go back.”

I am not a person who is easily angered, but we all have our triggers and I would be a fool to think that I am slow to anger if the right buttons are pushed. The fact that there have been times when I was caught off-guard, and reacted to anger in the wrong way, is enough of a reminder for me, that without “setting the Lord always before me” I will default to the kind of ungodly behavior that requires a supernatural intervention.

Because Jesus is the source of every believer’s joy, we have been given the opportunity to reset our hearts - to “spin around” and “go back” to the Source of our joy when we fall into a hard place.

Both the Hebrew and English words for “rejoice” point to the same thing… We must “set the Lord before us” and purpose to rejoice in every circumstance. It may mean spinning our hearts around and going back to remind ourselves of the truth of God's word, but it will always result in us testifying … “my heart is glad, my glory rejoices, and my flesh rests in hope.” (Vs.9)

He Is The Tree Of Life

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Adam and Eve went from a world where they were warned to stay away from the one tree whose fruit produced death, into a world now saturated with them.

Jesus Christ willingly entered into the darkness of this densely populated forest, having strategically placed within it a single, life giving tree. And rather than warning us to stay away from it, He points us to it and invites us to consume its fruit.

Do you feel lost in this dark forest of death? Ask for help. Jesus cleared the path to the tree where He defeated death once for all, and He has provides the only Light that will lead you through the darkness. Everyone who seeks finds their way to the Tree of life.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Mtt.7:7-8) 

When I Grow Up

(by Lorie Codispoti)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Throughout grade school I think this was every teacher’s favorite writing assignment.

Hmm, let’s see… maybe an artist, a teacher, a wife, a detective, a writer. I’m pretty sure there was an essay written for each of these occupations. But, the thing I most wanted to be never made it to any of my essays.

Perhaps I kept this unspoken desire safely tucked away because I didn’t want to be laughed out of the classroom. Maybe it was because I didn’t have the vocabulary to express it. It was most certainly those things, but I also knew that there was no rushing this vocation. Only the hands of time would bring this secret longing to pass.

A GODLY OLD WOMAN

I’m pretty sure the desire to be a godly old lady started with my grandmother’s influence, but as time marched on, the Lord added to the list. Some pursued me, and others I pursued. Some I never met, but they showed up to teach me through the radio and various Bible and book studies. Each one reflected God’s beauty in such a unique way that it fueled my desire to emulate what I saw.

The following are a few things on a long list of what was modeled for me...

RUN LIKE A… TURTLE?

Being a spectator is fine, if all you ever plan to do is watch those running the race. But, no one ever crosses the finish line as an observer. At some point, you have to lace up those running shoes and jump into the race.

Am I willing to run like a turtle in what appears to be a hare race? Am I willing to fall down, take wrong turns, and endure all kinds of weather to cross the finish line?

Yes, Lord, I’m willing!

Interestingly enough, after doing that “surrender your life to Christ” thing, I was surprised to learn that my encounter with Him had infused within me with a supernatural Helper who gave me abilities I was not born with.

It’s this Helper who lightens the weight of a turtle’s shell, and strengthens her weak resolve so that she doesn’t cower away inside when she becomes afraid. This Helper picks her up when she falls down, and cheers her to the finish line. And best yet, He put springs in her chubby, short legs. Have you ever seen a turtle hurdle? Makes for a bad hare day.

BORDERLESS BRAVERY

A person who exemplifies borderless bravery is someone with “chutzpah.” Considered audaciously rude by some, this person refuses to let what others think deter them from reaching their goal. They are determined and persistent, and they refuse to give up when they fix their eyes on the mark.

Two biblical examples stand out.

First: The leper who violates social protocol, and approaches Jesus for healing (Mark 1:40-45). Considered “unclean” by Jewish law, this man was an outcast, relegated to a life of isolation. He must have been hearing about this Healer, because it ignited desperation within him. This leper displayed unyielding chutzpah when he dared to show himself in public, risking everything to gain an audience with the Messiah.

Second: The lady who had the audacity to reach up and grab Jesus by the hem of His garment (Mark 5:25-34). Considered unclean, she too was sentenced to an isolated life. It was against the law for her to have any human contact whatsoever. Imagine 12 years of being with your family, but not being allowed to touch any of them. What kind of heartache would you experience if you couldn’t hug your husband, comb your daughter’s hair, or help your son get dressed?

She too must have heard of the Man who was performing miracles everywhere He went. It was a criminal act, but this woman was desperate. Concealed, she methodically made her way through the crowd, and when she was close enough she reached out and made the first human contact she had made in over a decade. The untouchable risked everything to touch the only One who could change her life.

Each of these encounters resulted in life-altering transformations, but none of it would have been possible if they weren’t willing to risk everything to get to Jesus.

WE BECOME WHAT WE BEHOLD

Who remembers what it’s like to stand in front of those funhouse mirrors at the state fair? The horizontally convex ones make you look taller, while the vertically convex ones make you look shorter. None of these mirrors is an accurate representation of your appearance, but if they were the only mirrors you ever looked into, your mind would convince you to believe what you see.

What would happen, though, if Someone were to come along and expose the distortion? What if they replaced the mirror with one that reflected an accurate representation? Our thinking would change, and we all know that when our thinking changes, so do we.

“Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Cor.3:16-18 NKJV)

Mary Madeline personifies this passage beautifully.

Satan had been successful in warping Mary’s identity. As a result of gazing into his mirror for so long, she believed and was enslaved by the distorted image she saw reflected in his lies. After Christ delivered her from the demonic spirits she was transformed, and free to live a new life in Him.

I’m drawn to Mary’s proclamation to the disciples, after she encounters the risen Christ... “I have seen the Lord!” (Jn.20:18) As a result, she will forever behold the One she was created to reflect.

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who’s the fairest of them all?”

If your reflection does not resemble the risen Christ, then the enemy of your soul has stolen the Image you were saved to see.

Smash his mirror! If you peer into his distortion long enough you will become what you behold.

Let the word of God be your mirror. That way you will always reflect the Image of Beauty - the Fairest of them all.

READY

I’m ready to write that essay now.

Although I still want to be a godly old woman, my eyes are fixed on a greater goal.

Like Mary, “I have seen Jesus!” and He is what I want to be when I grow up.

Before Asserting Consider Kindness

 (by Lorie Codispoti)

After painstakingly going through my cabinets and packing up a few boxes for the second-hand store, I asked my husband if he would mind adding to his list of errands and dropping them off while he was in town. He graciously loaded the boxes and headed out.

When he returned home that day, I could see that he was totally frustrated. He reported that, without even checking the contents of our boxes, the sour faced man receiving our donation sharply chastised him by saying, “You know, it costs us a lot of money to haul away other people’s junk.”

WHAT? Are you kidding me?

The nerve of this guy!

My defenses were triggered and I wanted nothing more than to pay this thankless ingrate a visit. I needed to inform him (aka… set him straight) that I don’t give “junk.” I wanted him to know that it takes more time to wrap all the glass and package things neatly into a box than it would for me to simply throw them away. Not to mention the fact that we live thirty minutes from town and it takes time and effort to deliver this “junk” to them for resale... which, by the way, pays his and his co-worker's salaries. I was hot and he was about to be baked in the oven of my fury.

However, when my defense is triggered like this, I’ve learned that before I move forward with any intention, I need to take a few steps B.A.C.K. (Before Asserting Consider Kindness) and assess my heart.

My prayerful contemplation revealed two very unpleasant things about my motives.

1) I had expectations I shouldn’t have had.

While I may have been cheerfully contributing items that help to support the worthy cause of this organization, I was expecting an equal measure of gratitude as compensation. And when it wasn’t given, the ugly in me was pre-heated.

B.A.C.K lesson: Give without expecting others to reciprocate.

“When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others…. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret...”(Mt.6:2-4)

I understand that Jesus’ illustration here is hyperbolic, but I also think there’s significance to his literal example. What if - because we have a tendency to give with one hand while expecting accolades placed in the other - the key to “giving in secret” involves spiritually putting our left hand behind our back in order to protect the anonymity of our right hand? What a great way to guard our hearts. Pretty cool way to give too.

2) I reacted just like he did.

My response to Sour Face may not have been in-person, but it was as crass and unkind as his response to my husband. I wanted to make him feel the same way his inappropriate comment made me feel. 



B.A.C.K. lesson: Compassion is stirred when one considers the plight of others.

I was angry with this man for impulsively speaking, without taking the time to investigate the contents of our boxes. Stepping B.A.C.K. enabled me to realize that my retort was just as impulsive, and taking time to consider what might be in his box changed my attitude.

This man is assigned to a portable container, stationed in the corner of a shopping center parking lot. He works in all kinds of weather with no heat or air. I’m sure he deals with all kinds of people and has to sort through plenty of “junk” contributions. When I ponder his condition and consider his predicament, all I want to do is bake the man some cookies, and let the oven of God’s kindness bake off all the ugly in my heart.

(I’m not excusing the man’s rude behavior. He is a representative of his organization. He’s the person every contributor encounters. He failed to examine the contents of our boxes before he spouted his distain, and that is inexcusable.)

The last part of the verses I quoted above says, “And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” No earthly compensation can compare to the reward of our Heavenly Father.

Like Jesus, not all of our good deeds are received with gratitude. So, be like Him and give without expectation. And when your generosity is met with unkind words, take a few steps B.A.C.K. Consider your words, as well as the circumstance of your offender.

Who knows, you might want to bake a batch of cookies. Serve them on a plate though; boxes don’t present well.

Interesting Food Origins

(by Lorie Codispoti)

For health reasons, I’ve had to make some radical changes to my diet over the last few years. I’ve learned more about food science than I ever cared to know.

There is something I’ve actually enjoyed learning about food, however, and that is the etymology of some of my favorites. The history behind some of these origins is quite entertaining. I mean, have you ever wondered who put the “marsh” in “mallow” and why there is no “ham” in your “burger”? The research has been fun so I thought I’d share some of my interesting discoveries with you. We all need a bit of comedy these days.

(Before I start, I thought I’d throw in this little, obscure fact about the Food and Drug Administration... Before 1920, the FDA was known as the Food, Drug and Insecticide Administration. Interesting, huh?)

Okay, here we go…

Hamburger - Why all the pigs are safe.

Hamburgers originate from the German city of Hamburg. It’s home to a cut of beef called the Hamburg steak. In 1940 an attempt was made to change the word to “beefburger,” to emphasize the main ingredient, but someone must not have liked the idea because obviously didn't take.

Pizza - Deep dish with lots of mushrooms, olives, and cheese, please.

Though pizza originated in Greece it was the Italian Queen Margherita who made it famous. In 1889, while out inspecting her kingdom she noticed peasants eating large pieces of flat bread. She became so curious that she tried one, and it quickly became one of her favorite foods. To honor his queen, a local chef created a pizza that he topped with tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil – the colors of the Italian flag.

Coconut - Can anything bad come from a coconut?

Interesting tale: During the 16th century Portuguese parents threatened their children with a bogey-man named Coco (derived from a Latin word that means skull). When Portuguese traders visited the Pacific islands and saw the large, brown fruit of the palm trees, with its three black “eyes,” they were reminded of their childhood horror, Coco. The jury is still out on whether Coco is a nut or a fruit, but “coconut” seems to roll off the tongue easier.

Chewing Gum - I always feel for the kids who wear braces and have to give up their gum for a couple years.

It was 1869, and after many failed attempts at turning chicle into synthetic rubber products like boots, bicycle tires, toys, and masks, Thomas Adams decided to pop a piece of the natural gum from the Manilkara chicle tree into his mouth. After enjoying it and chewing for a while he thought of adding flavoring. It wasn’t long before Mr. Adams opened the world’s first chewing gum factory, and we’ve been chewing on his discovery ever since.

Popcorn - One legend talks of a summer so hot that the corn started popping right off the stalks. (I’d like to live next to that field.)

We all know that the Native Americans introduced corn to the colonists, but did you know that the Iroquois used a pottery vessel with heated sand to make popcorn soup, and that the colonial women mixed sugar and cream with popcorn and served the first “puffed” cereal?

During the Great Depression popcorn was one of the few luxuries one could afford, and the popcorn industry thrived while many others failed.

French Fries - No better way to serve potatoes, in my opinion.

The next time you visit your local fast food restaurant try ordering “potatoes fried in the French manner” and see what kind response you get.

Originally from Belgium, French fries gained popularity among American soldiers when they were stationed there during WWI. But, before that, Thomas Jefferson introduced them to the colonies in the late 1700’s. In one of his manuscripts, he talks about a French dish ,where thin, small slices of raw potato are deep-fried and served hot. Some historians have identified a French chef; maybe that’s how they came to be known as French fries.

In 1853 Cornelius Vanderbilt complained that his fries were too thick, so a chef decided to slice the potatoes paper thin and fry them. Hello, potato chips!

Marshmallow - How about a lovely bouquet of marsh mallows?

The marsh mallow is a hardy plant whose blooms are quite lovely. They were considered to be a weed until medieval herbalists made mallow syrup from the roots and used it as a cough suppressant. Gum Arabic was added and it became such a popular confection that it later evolved into the marshmallow. Hot chocolate and sweet potatoes have never been the same.

Avacado - I refuse to let this influence my love for guacamole.

Colorfully known as the fruit of the “Testicle Tree,” the Aztecs named the avocado after the male body part they felt it most resembled. Fully fruited, avacados hang from the trees in twos, and have a longstanding reputation as aphrodisiacs.

Whoopie Pies - Who doesn’t love cake with cream in the middle?

Though there is no proof, some claim that the name actually comes from the Gus Kahn song "Makin' Whoopee."

Nevertheless, these pillowy, cream-filled confections were created to make use of leftover cake batter. One theory links them to the Amish. Another legend describes children opening their lunchboxes, and upon discovering the treat they would shout, "Whoopie!"

Bubble Drink - Because I love the fizz.

(Technically not a food, but I had to include this favorite. My grandchildren call carbonated water, “bubble drink,” so I’m attributing the origin to them. I’ve become so used to calling it by this new name that I actually ordered it with my food one day. The waitress and I laughed after I explained myself. She remembered me on my next visit and asked, “Bubble drink”? I think it’s catching on.)

What about those foods with strange, or even gross stories? None of these would ever reach my pallet, but I thought their origins were interesting enough to include here.

Century Eggs - Uh, no thanks!

While they are not 100 years old, these eggs are aged for a few months in a brine that turns them black. Sound appetizing?

SPAM - A mystery meat for the brave explorer.

The name is said to have originated from “SPiced hAM,” but in 2019 advertisements turned it into the acronym, Sizzle Pork And Mmmm.

Witchetty Grub - Is this the “cream filled kind” that Pumba talked about in Lion King?

The indigenous Australians were the first to discover that the larva of a moth, that feeds on the Witchety Bush, could be tasty. It is eaten raw or cooked, and is said to taste like chicken. I’m thinking I’ll stick to my chocolate protein shake - I’m sure not to taste it twice.

Rocky Mountain Oysters - While from the Rockies, these are not oysters.

In an effort to keep this article disclaimer free, I’m going to let you research this one on your own. All I can say is GROSS.

Every food has an origin, and very likely an interesting story. If you were writing a family cookbook, which of your favorite culinary masterpieces would you include for future generations?

Forgiveness For Mother's Day

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Every year was the same. I’d search through the card display and walk away frustrated and empty handed.

Most of the Mother’s Day cards host a litany of accolades and thanksgivings. And why wouldn’t they? It’s a day set aside to honor mothers, and a great way to express the biblical command to “honor your father and your mother.” But, I could never find a sentiment that fit. The best I could do was to call my mother, wish her well, and pray for God to intervene and mend what broke.

You see, when your childhood is marked with neglect, abuse and abandonment, and the word “family” is associated with disjointed parts and dysfunctional patterns, your view of a loving parent is skewed. Confusion builds an unstable house and the concept of “home” is a foreign and unattainable one.

Fast forward a few decades.

Due to circumstances outside of her control, my mother was forced to move in with my sister - across the street from me. My sister became an instant caregiver, and I became her assistant (picking up the slack when she was working). To say that this time was difficult is an understatement. Mom didn’t want to be here, and if I’m honest, I’d have to say that I didn’t want her here either. I was perfectly content with the shallow relationship we managed to salvage from the wreckage of our experience together. I knew that her being this close would mean we’d have to face some things we had both swept under the rug a long time ago. I was not eager to deal with the dust cloud I could see coming when God steps in to renovate areas that have been neglected for a long time.

Forgiveness is hard to walk, but beautiful to live.

To forgive means “to lift off - to carry away.” It communicates a loosening or complete removal of a barrier.

One of the things I learned about forgiveness, after my mother moved here, is that while there is the “one and done” price that Christ paid in order to secure the forgiveness of our sins, there’s an ongoing feature of forgiveness that involves “lifting” and “removing” the dirt that surfaces during the process of rebuilding a relationship.

Anyone that renovates houses will tell you that it’s easier to build from scratch than it is to refurbish an old house. Renovations are expensive, time consuming, and can involve unforeseen obstacles that take you by surprise.

When God is invited into a broken relationship, He begins the renovation process. His love tears down the barriers that keep forgiveness from flowing; His word softens and transforms hard hearts; and His Spirit enables you to pick up those broken pieces, look at them, and surrender each one to the Master Renovator.

During the years that Mom was here with us, God did amazing things - more healing and restoration than I ever thought was possible.

When Joseph forgave his brothers for throwing him in a pit, selling him as a slave, and telling his father he was dead, he said, “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” He was reunited with his family and they began the process of renovating their relationships.

Was everything Joseph lost, including years of separation, restored to him? No! You can’t restore what’s been lost, but sometimes you can be reconciled and walk in the renewal that God’s forgiveness affords every believer.

Mom, I can’t send you a card this Mother’s Day, but if I could:

~ The cover would picture a white rose in the foreground. (Your favorite flower, and a symbol of new beginnings.)

~ And, behind the rose would sit an old house, under construction. (Illustrating the ongoing and transformative work active in our relationship.)  

~ Inside, the card, I would express my appreciation to God, for the years He gave us to mend the holes that brokenness wears in the hearts of wounded people.

~ I’d tell you that I miss our fun times, and laughing together over silly things.

~ I'd tell you that those last months of reading and discussing books that talked about our forever home, where renovations cease and all is restored, meant as much to me as they did to you. 

"Happy Mother's Day, Mom! I love you!

Victory Dance

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I love a good victory dance!

We’ve all heard wonderful testimonies of people that have overcome incredible odds and won great battles. Victories are part of what make every story great and its heroes memorable.

When we hear the word “victory” it's typically paired with the word “over.” As in, “I’ve gained victory over ____.” (Fill in the blank.)

Victory is defined as “an act of defeating an enemy or opponent in a battle, game, or other competition.” It carries with it the idea of success, triumph, and defeat.

The ability to overcome obstacles is worth rejoicing over, but I think we inadvertently limit this gift by relegating it to the end of the story. What if we broadened the scope, to see that victory is just as attainable in the middle of our trial as it is at the end? It’s not always about gaining victory over something; sometimes victory travels alongside brokenness and defeat as we press on in our faith.

Genuine faith is realized when the battle rages. It’s when we’re in the thick of our trial that we discover victory - not in the sense of winning the battle necessarily, but in discovering Who enables, Who provides, and Who gets the credit. “Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Ultimately, we will see victory overcome every obstacle; God promises that. But God also provides victories IN our difficult and trying circumstances. It’s part of the cumulative process He uses to sanctify us and draw our hearts to Him.

I know a woman who gets up every morning, and goes to bed every night, with a debilitating condition. She has battled it for years, and barring a miracle, she will continue to fight her condition until she dies. Does the fact that she battles, but has never conquered her condition mean that she will never taste victory this side of eternity? Absolutely not! In fact, if you knew how victorious her life has been, you'd be awed at the God who has enabled her to run her race with such grace that she inspires all who know her, including me.

Victory has not been relegated to the end of our story. God never placed that kind of restriction on victory, nor did He place a cap on the number of victories we can have as we "fight the good fight." Discovering this truth is liberating.

Our idea of what it looks like to be victorious boxes us into a very small frame. In reality, the picture is much bigger than that.

Did you know that the Hebrew word for a song leader is linked to the word for victory? When we lift our hearts in praise it boosts our confidence in God and strengthens our resolve. Anxiety and fear are pushed out of the way and gratitude fills the void.

It was no coincidence that God appointed worshipers to lead in battle. Victory starts at the gate and follows a warrior all the way to the finish line. When our enemy hears us singing to the only One with the power to throw “horse and rider into the sea” (part of Miriam’s song of praise in Ex.15) he does the back-step-shuffle. He knows what it means when God's children begin to sing and dance.

I may not be able to dance like I used to, but I'm still practicing my moves. I plan on singing my Savior's praises as I dance my way home. I want to be ready for the party!

Earth Day

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Earth Day marks the anniversary of the environmental movement that began in 1970. According to one article, it’s the largest secular observance in the world, with over a billion people promoting awareness and involvement. While I think recycling is a great idea, love hugging trees, and am all for saving baby turtles, the extreme politics behind the movement prevents me from supporting the majority of ideas promoted by those in this camp.

Does that mean I can’t celebrate the day? On the contrary; I think Christians should be celebrating like no one else.

Due to God’s revelation in nature, Christians have been given a unique lens. Our planet is like no other in all of creation, and the brush strokes of our Creator reveal things about Him that cultivate an awareness of an amazing Artist.

When I take time to observe the variety of mountain ranges, each with their own design and unique color pallet, I am in awe of the Designer. When I drink in the beauty of the underwater world I am inspired to cultivate a relationship with the One who created this one-of-a-kind canvas. Understanding that God masterfully planned and executed the design of this earth before sculpting mankind out of it reveals to me the loving care He had for us long before anything even existed.

While I believe that our natural world displays the evidence of God’s existence, and gives us a basic understanding of some of His attributes (Psa.19:1-3 & Rom.1:20), I do not believe that we can know God and be saved through that awareness. Author, Don Stewart puts it this way: “Any conclusions about God's character and purpose one might make from nature must be evaluated in light of what God has said about Himself and what Jesus revealed about God when He invaded history. Nature is a witness to God's might and power but it does not supply all the knowledge a sinner needs to develop a personal relationship with God. That is the job of God's written Word-the Bible.”

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Restore The Earth.”

I love this theme, but it’s not because I dance to the beat of the climate changer’s cadence. In their view, they alone have the ways and means to bring about change; believing that the power to restore lies within their hands. What they don’t realize is that their efforts are futile.

This theme is notable because it’s prophetic.

Every Christian knows that the Earth is dying. The death sentence was pronounced when sin disrupted God’s created order and turned our world upside down. (Mtt.24:35 & 1Jn.2:17) No man can fix what sin did to our world, and no man will prevent the inevitable destruction to come. And that’s good news!

This theme echoes God’s promise to restore what sin broke. (Isa.65:17-25, Rev.21:1-5, 2Pet.3:10-13)

The incarnation of Christ set in motion God’s redemptive plan and His death and resurrection secured that plan. Consider a world where pain and suffering have been removed, where there is no more crying over sickness and death, and gone forever are the consequences of living with theft, betrayal, greed, envy, murder, etc.

Another great feature of this theme is that while it points to what’s coming, it speaks to the current restoration already in progress.

When I surrendered my life to Christ, it was at that moment that He began making “all things new.” (2Cor.5:17) The work won’t be completed until Jesus comes back, but I don’t have to wait until then to see that restoration began with my salvation. Jesus said, “I am making everything new.” (Rev.21”5) That statement is in the present tense. It’s happening right now! This proclamation energizes my soul.

So go ahead and plant a tree, clean the beaches, and do what you can to save the forest animals and sea creatures - God called us to be good stewards of His creation. But, don't forget to celebrate Earth Day because of the One who created this amazing planet. He not only tasked us with caregiving, but He invited us to be an active participant in His redemptive work to restore what was stolen.

The beauty that I view from the lens of redemptive eyes is awe-inspiring, but it is veiled like velum over a masterpiece of art. The day is coming when the overlay of sin will be removed. Our lens will change again, as the radiance from the Light of the world displays a canvas of beauty that is beyond anything we can reference or imagine in our world.

Choose The Bruised Fruit

(by Lorie Codispoti)

Several bushels of peaches were in the kitchen waiting to be canned the day we arrived at my friend’s house. After lunch, her children were anxious for us to try some of the "best ones" they had picked from their orchard.

Something was strange though: The children purposely searched for and selected the bruised peaches. “Here’s one!” they declared with great enthusiasm, and they searched until they found a bruised one for each one of us.

When I questioned their mother about it later, she told me that when she was growing up "snacks" were found among the family's fruit trees. In order to prevent waste her mother convinced the children that the best peaches were the ones with bruises because they contained the sweet spots. My friend carried on her mother’s frugal tradition, and in the process taught her children to be content with what was provided. Her children had picked out the very best pieces to serve us that day and I was greatly humbled by their generosity and joy.

How often have you picked up bruised produce only to cast it aside for a more perfect piece? I’m not advocating the purchase of bruised produce, but there's a great lesson to be caught and taught here.

(Interesting fact: Up to 30 million dollars a year is lost in potatoes alone due to the damage caused from shipping and handling. The produce industry is continually looking for ways to preserve the quality of their product, from the time it leaves the field till it arrives in your hand. This is because our culture demands perfection.)

Ever heard of Esther Ahn Kim?

Esther was an upper class, Korean woman who was imprisoned by the Japanese during World War II.

Long before her imprisonment she began to feel the Lord preparing her for the prison ministry she would have as an inmate.

Though they could afford otherwise, one of the ways that Esther prepared herself for the poverty and deprivation she saw as part of her calling was to relocate with her mother and sister to the poorest neighborhood in their community. There she purchased complete lots of poor produce from the nearby market and culled through them for the edible pieces. She gave those pieces to her mother and sister while she ate what was left in preparation for the rotten food she expected in prison.

Several years later Esther was in prison, and her physical condition was deteriorating. As she lay in her cell, preparing to die, she had a strange craving. She prayed and asked the Lord to give her one, whole apple to eat.

Later that same day, Esther overheard the soldiers talking about a shipment of rotten apples that no one wanted. She asked for and received the whole shipment. Due to the condition of her teeth she would have never been able to eat a crisp, firm, ripe apple, so her heart was filled with thanksgiving for the brown, soggy apples the Lord provided especially for her that day.

Esther did not die in prison. She was physically revived enough to press on, and after the war she married a godly man. They ministered together for many years before she died in her nineties.

What are we teaching our children about contentment? About hardship? About suffering?

The apostle Paul testified in Romans 8:18, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Are we learning to embrace the suffering that God allows in our lives and trust Him with the outcome?

We live in a culture that encourages us to avoid suffering at all costs. The same technique we employ in the produce department is what we teach our children - avoid the bruised fruit. Rather than choosing and embracing the bruised fruit we’ve cast it aside and labeled it “bad.” What we’ve failed to understand is that while this may be a good technique for grocery shopping, it’s not the best one for harvesting good spiritual fruit in our lives. And it certainly won't produce joy.

I heard a father instruct his children to note the marks of great Christians, not by there popularity or what they have attained in this life, but by what they have suffered for the cause of Christ. These are the lessons that build faith and produce the kind of fruit that can be harvested and shared with others.

Though most of us will never suffer the way that Esther Ahn Kim did, we will all experience a measure of hardship and watch those we love suffer.

Whenever I walk through a hard place now, I’m not interested in hearing about the lives of those that appear to have it all together. My Father has taught me to search out the bruised fruit among my brothers and sisters in Christ. Their stories are the ones that encourage me to persevere with contentment and joy.

I exhort you to spend some time walking through the orchard, searching out those whose lives have been bruised and used by God. Look for the ones who testify, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

Then make a pie and invite your friends over. It will be the sweetest spot in your day!

Bloom

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I’ve always loved the phrase, “Bloom where you’re planted.” It’s full of hope and it makes me smile.

Remember the story of Naomi? The book of Ruth opens with this woman grieving deeply over the loss of her husband and sons. All she has left is her two daughter-in-laws. In her love and concern for their futures, she tearfully implores them to return to their homeland, where she’s convinced their chances for a brighter tomorrow reside. As far as her own future, however, she remains broken and hopeless as she tells them, “…the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” (Ruth1:13b) Even after Ruth chose to stay with her she remained unconsolable. They traveled to Naomi’s hometown and when the women there saw them coming they were excited. They asked, “Is this Naomi?” to which she replied, “Do not call me Naomi (which means “pleasant”), call me Mara (which means “bitter”), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (Ruth 1:20) She goes on to say that when she had left Bethlehem to follow her husband her future was hopeful, but now she was returning empty from God’s affliction.

As a bride-to-be, Naomi probably envisioned her life as one being settled in one place, raising a family, and watching generations grow up and bloom all around her. I imagine she took the seeds of all she had learned growing up in her father’s house and planted them in the rich soil of her new home. How many seasons of blooms did she enjoy? Likely many if she watched her sons grow up and get married.

But one day tragedy struck and the unexpected happened. Violence ravished the landscape of her life, ripping her roots from the soil of everything she had meticulously cultivated over the years. In an instant it was all gone. Imagine the shock - the grief - the heartache.

Transplanting is necessary.

Just as the Bible tells us there are times and seasons for everything in this life, we know there are times when God transplants us.

Personally, I like the fact that we’ve lived in the same place for several decades. I grew up in the military and by the time we got married and moved here I had moved 13 times. I can remember telling John, “I really want to be from somewhere.”

If you’ve ever worked a flower bed you know how messy and ugly everything looks when you have to get in there and thin things out. It’s hard because sometimes everything looks picture perfect, but you know that if you don’t get in there and work that bed the plants are going to crowd and choke themselves out of a space to flourish.

The same thing happens to us. Seasons change and because God is the Master Gardener, He knows what needs to take place in each one (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) in order for the soil of our hearts to be cultivated and nourished into the blooms that show off His radiance in our lives.

Do you know what I love about Naomi’s story - my favorite part? It’s at the end of the book, when Ruth gives birth to a son and the women proclaim to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age…” (Ruth 4:14-15) This heartbroken widow, who felt like she was too old to bloom was filled with hope after God transplanted her.

Although we have enjoyed many seasons of life rooted in this location, the landscape continues to change with every season. My young self was never a fan of change, but I have learned (am still learning) to let God have His way with the soil. It’s very messy at times, as He digs in and separates me from the things I want to hold onto, but He always reminds me that while I may currently be “from somewhere,” I have not yet reached my final destination. In my forever home He will root me in a garden more beautiful than I can even imagine. And the flowers there never stop blooming where they are planted.

(Origin: While the sentiment is clear, "Bloom where you're planted." does not come from Scripture. It was derived from something a bishop wrote in the 16th century... “Truly charity has no limit; for the love of God has been poured into our hearts by His Spirit dwelling in each one of us, calling us to a life of devotion and inviting us to BLOOM in the garden WHERE He has PLANTED and directing us to radiate the beauty and spread the fragrance of His Providence.”)