Articles by Lisa Mikitarian at Heartlight

God on eBay?

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Of course, God is everywhere. I shouldn't feel wonder finding Him there. In fact, everywhere I go, I should seek Him.

On this day, what I was seeking, though, was shoes. With the high gas prices added to living far from civilization -- 30 miles to the nearest shopping -- I've learned to buy on-line. Of course it's not as if someone had to twist my arm. The world has become an oyster at my fingertips -- Bah-ha-ha-ha! Sorry, I don't know where that came from.

Anyway, when it was time to buy new Size 10, Ladies, New Balance Running Shoes -- all-terrain, preferably -- I went to eBay, where I knew I would spend less. I found them, bid on them, and won them. Woo hoo.

About a week later, on that particularly clear spring morning, the UPS man delivered my package. I opened it and was surprised to see, along side my shoes, a small item wrapped in pastel pink tissue paper with fuchsia ribbon. I unwrapped it to find a tube of perfume-scented hand lotion, which I promptly applied. I would thank the sender later.

I went through the rest of the morning with a cheerful spirit, thinking about my mom who had died many years ago. She stayed at my side into the afternoon of that beautiful day before it dawned on me why I was thinking of her. She used to send me small wrapped surprises in the mail.

As soon as I made the connection, I went to the computer and logged onto eBay and found the sender's address and wrote her a note to thank her for the kindness of that small gift which had brought me such joy. Minutes later "Kira" replied that she too had lost her mother and that her mother also used to send her small gifts by mail. She added that my writing to thank her had really blessed her day.

Blessed? Added to the tone of the email and the gesture of the gift—could it be?

A couple more emails back and forth and we ascertained, indeed, we were sisters in the family of Christ -- sisters who had blessed one another's day. Kira wrote she sends a small gift with everything she sells as a way of saying thank you and periodically she receives a response and of those responses, sometimes she meets a member of her Christian family.

What a beautiful testimony. It made me wonder if I send out "calling cards" in my interactions with strangers, signs that those who "know the secret handshake" would pick up on. Taking it further, do I send out "touches of God" others could feel whether they personally knew their Savior or not? Touches that might lead the way to Him?

God on eBay?

Of course, God is everywhere. I shouldn't feel wonder finding Him anywhere. Everywhere I go, I should seek Him and every place I visit, I should reveal Him through loving words and kind gestures.

Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone (Colossians 4:6 NLT).

Lisa is a Christian, a wife and a mother of three. Lisa shares, "I know how my story began and Christ divulged the ending, so now I'm concentrating on developing the middle. May the setting, characterization and plot twists all work to His glory." You can email Lisa using this link!

Companion Runner

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (Psalm 119:32 NIV).

Ultra marathons are grueling races. They stretch anywhere from 35 to 100 miles, cover all manner of terrain, and can take 24 hours to complete. It would be easy for a runner to lose his way, his motivation or his judgment somewhere along the arduous course. Because of this, they practice what is called "companion running." This is where the runner of the race -- the main runner -- chooses companions to run specific segments -- usually five miles -- of his race with him. Companion runners keep him on track, because they're trained and fresh and possess clear judgment with which to guide the Main Runner.

"Companion" comes from Latin and it means "somebody who shares bread." We usually break bread with people we trust. "Companion" also means "someone who accompanies or shares time with another." In astronomy, the companion star is the fainter of two that make up a double star -- similar in concept to the companion runner.

I look at life like an ultra marathon. We each have our own rigorous race, our own hurdles that God has set before us and problems the evil one puts in our path. I am running my race and you are running yours. Actually, I'm married, and I consider myself to be running a three-legged race. But the important thing is our courses run parallel to one another, and at some points we all need the help of someone who is honest and reliable and willing to put our needs first as they come up along side us to guide us in our weak and weary state.

The question I asked myself today was: What kind of Companion Runner am I?

Do I even have time to participate in someone else's race or have I filled my own with too many obstacles? Am I always a Main Runner and never the Companion?

Am I trained for the task? What provisions do I have to offer?

Can I discern what my runner needs? Maybe my only purpose is to listen to her cry that her feet feel like hamburger, or her knees feel like mush. Maybe my purpose is to give her counsel.

And that leads me to a critical question:

Have I learned enough about the mind of God so I can give my Main Runner solid counsel? I want my presence to be a benefit to her, not a liability. And, I don't want to be a liability to myself either!

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be (Galatians 5:7-10 NIV).

I do not want to be "the one" in that last verse who is throwing anyone into confusion, so I had better have God's word tucked into my heart and head, and have it ready to use when needed and I had better carry the Bible in my race sack for quick reference. I don't want my runner or me to pay the penalty for suggesting the cliff she is nearing isn't treacherous or that she should skip the next water station to shave 30 seconds off her time.

God created us in community to fellowship with one another and to support one another while on our earthly course and to glorify Him in all we do. And He, in turn, provided the Ultimate companion runner for each of us through Jesus Christ. When I am in close fellowship with Him, I am better equipped to serve in whatever capacity I am called to on any particular day.

Jess, to His Friends

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many" (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV).

My husband gave me the priceless (no matter what he says) gift of a laptop. No more going to the frigid basement to word process. Now in the halcyon of my post-desktop computer days, I'm snuggled on the couch with a blanket, coffee and thoughts. Ah, the bliss.

Imagine my annoyance when the letter U on my keyboard began sticking. I found myself writing emails such as:

Dear Sam, My Generos Hsband,

What's p with yo?

Yor Faithfl Wife,

Lisa

I circumvented the annoyance by relying on the spell checker. After all, "U" is the least used regular vowel, so the changes were minimal. This worked well until I received an email from a friend who asked, "Who's Jess Christ?" Apparently, I had sent out an email in His name -- to a lot of people. The letter "U" may not be seen as often as an "A" or an "I," but its absence proved embarrassing, just as the absence of a smaller article of clothing might prove embarrassing under a certain set of circumstances.

It's easy to overlook components that don't have an outwardly readily recognizable role. It's easy to overlook parts that serve with understatement. But in the body of letters, every "J," "V," and "U" has its place and does its job just as every toe, elbow, and Achilles heel has its place and does its job in the body of Christ.

We can't all be ministry staff and worship leaders -- for one thing, some of us can't sing. Yet there are many beautiful and vital parts of the body. The hands that prepare food for the sick or gather clothes for the homeless are lovely. The faithful men who provide for their families by persevering in jobs they wouldn't choose if given a choice are men of godly character. The faithful women who find themselves in circumstances they never could have imagined, but nonetheless, remain obedient to the Father are women of godly character. It takes a variety of Christians to build a strong, universal church body -- one that reflects the glory and grace of Jesus Christ.

So here is a salUte to "U" -- for each of Us who has the seemingly minuscUle, bUt absolUtely crUcial role of illUminating the trUth and love of JesUs Christ jUst by living obedient and beaUtifUl lives and commUnicating His love and trUth to every hUman being we encoUnter.

The sticky "U" situation also reminded me not to rely upon the unreliable, over-lauded spell-checkers and other devices of man. In the future, I'll stick to "Jess" alone.

Navigating by GPS

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5 NIV).

Recently my son, Spencer, asked me to help him prepare for a psychology mid-term. Of course I said, "Yes." I have learned that a little psychology in the hands of a minor is a dangerous thing. He would be tested on several important studies in psychology including one called, "Are You the Master of Your Fate?" This study contrasted external verses internal driving forces of behavior.

According to the study, when people believed their lives were controlled by luck, fate, or "powerful others," they acted from external controls and tended to live reckless lives because they didn't believe their own actions mattered. On the other hand, when people believed their own behavior and decisions were directly responsible for consequences, they operated from internal controls.

People who operated from internal controls exhibited less risky behavior, less self-pity, and were generally regarded as healthier and more stable. According to this study, it is better to be the master of your own fate.

When Spencer and I reached this point in the review, I asked, "What about God? Is He lumped in with fate, luck, and 'powerful others' (aka: tyrants)?"

As a mother of a teenager, I want my son to develop internal controls and exhibit sound decision-making skills. I want him to know that the choices he makes will impact him directly.

As a follower of Christ, the way this study was framed presented a problem. My husband and I are teaching our son to rely on God's word and will in directing his life. This study seemed to say either you believed you were in control (good), or someone else was in control (bad), because when someone else was in control you didn't believe in your ability to influence cause and effect.

Spencer said, "So we're a bunch of unhealthy risk-takers."

"Ha, ha -- good one," I answered, scanning the entire chapter -- including the parts not being tested and therefore unread by my practical son. There I found it. At the very end of the chapter, I found another example of science supporting the reality of God.

It seemed that I was not the only person to question this study. Many participants asked, "What about God?" So another study was conducted -- this time concentrating on people who specified God as their "powerful other." The results of this study showed people of faith were just as stable and psychologically healthy as those with an internal locus of control.

This is when I had the bigger "ah ha" moment. Something was still missing in the premise of the second study, namely: the specific nature of Jesus Christ, who once accepted, resides within us. So in addition to being around us and over us, He resides within us -- making Him both the internal and external locus of control for our behavior. I wonder what a properly framed study would show.

This was a classic example of how faulty or incomplete logic in the academic arena could erode a young person's faith. I told my son he was the "car's" driver; he had the God-given power to make decisions in getting to where he was supposed to go. The question was on whom he would rely when making navigational decisions. He could rely on himself, faulty maps, and his friends' misconceptions (bad), or he could rely on his Godly Positioning System (GPS), which was a completely accurate and objective truth (good). I received the eye roll my analogy deserved.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11).

In Search of Love

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

I'm one of those people who decorate for Valentine's Day. Sam's and my wedding anniversary is either on the 19th or 20th of January -- it depends on whom you ask and in which time zone he/she was in at the time. So when I decorate, I'm not just commemorating Valentine's Day, but also our marriage.

This year, I started planning for the holiday at the end of December. Now December is early, but I needed the extra time if I hoped to be successful. I wanted to find a print of a painting that reflected my vision of love -- that passionate, all-encompassing gift from God for husband and wife. I wanted to find a picture that moved me the way Sam's love moves me. I would buy it and frame it and have it ready for our anniversary and Valentine's Day. I wasn't after a particular style or period of art -- I enjoy many. The only stipulation I had was that all subjects needed to be fully clothed. My kids could not handle any more Gauguin-type Tahitian girls even if it was in the name of art appreciation.

One of the first prints I found was Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss," which I liked -- a lot. When I showed it to Sam, he said it was too "flowery" and he looked worried. I assured him I would find something we could both enjoy.

The Internet can be a wonderful time saving device. I traveled to galleries spread across the country to view not hundreds, but thousands of prints from the comfort of my very own home.

In fact, it was so easy and saved so much time, that I reactivated the bursitis in my right shoulder. My fingertips developed calluses. I looked until the internal fan went out in our computer and we had to remove the cover and place a window fan next to it to keep the CPU from overheating. It became so cold in the basement that I had to wear gloves and a coat. But, I trudged on, red nose and all. (As an aside, this became a true test of love as I went to bed with ice-cold feet. Sam came dangerously close to failing this test.)

And with all that effort, the returns were dismal. Each night, I shut the computer down more determined than ever to find that perfect picture. I knew it had to be out there. Sam thought this was preoccupying way too much of my time.

By the end of January -- I missed the anniversary deadline -- Sam had become VERY impatient with my nightly outings. He came downstairs one night wanting to know when I would be done. I assured him that I was narrowing it down. He said that was good. I double-clicked to one of the finalists, "The Afternoon Siesta," by Vincent Van Gogh. This shows a husband and wife asleep in a field among haystacks. They have toiled together, and are now resting together. They seem like real partners in life. Sam gave this print a "thumbs up."

I also liked several prints by Jack Vettriano. One in particular was called, "Dance Me to the End of Love." Sam liked Vettriano's "Mad Dogs" better. It depicts a couple taking a frolicking walk on a beach. He is being chivalrous -- trying to protect her from the sun with a parasol. He's having trouble because her movement is hard to predict. There is playfulness to their relationship.

Sam wanted to know which one I was going to get. "I don't know," I said. "I like these prints, but they don't reflect passion."

"You've been looking all this time and you haven't found one you would consider passionate?" he asked incredulously. I reminded him I really liked "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, but he didn't like it. Now he wanted to take another look.

I brought the picture up on the screen and gave him my interpretation. She is enveloped by his love. She is protected by it. She feels totally secure in it. It is difficult to tell where he ends and she begins. They are one. It is how I think of my love with Sam, and it is how I think Christ wants us to feel with Him. Sam changed his mind about "The Kiss." We bought it along with "Mad Dogs" and "The Afternoon Siesta" -- pictures reflecting different facets of love between husband and wife.

The prints won't be ready for Valentine's Day, but that's okay. I found the love for which I had been searching a long time ago when I met Sam and we each -- separately and yet together -- met Christ. The prints will be a nice reminder, but we already possess the real thing.

May your searching for love lead you to Him, also. He is ready to envelop you with His love. You may search to the ends of the earth, by foot, by car or by computer, but a purer love you will never find.

I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine ... (Song of Solomon 6:3).

MAYDAY!

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Did you hear about the fourteen-year-old, Laura Montero, whose appendix burst while she and her family vacationed on a cruise ship off the Baja Coast? Because the ship was hundreds of miles from help, the crew sent out a distress call looking for the nearest surgical unit. The USS Ronald Reagan, which was about 500 miles away, answered the call. Training exercises for the carrier with a 6000-person capacity came to a halt. At 2.5 million dollars per each operational day, the ship steamed 250 miles through the night to get within helicopter transport range. Laura was airlifted on board and doctors performed the life-saving surgery.

What a story! The first thing I thought was those are going to be some hefty medical bills! No, I'm kidding. The first thing I thought was this: maybe it isn't so difficult to understand, after all, the lengths Christ went through to save each of us, individually, all by ourselves. Sorry for the redundancy, but it can be a hard concept to understand -- our individual worth to the God who knows billions of human hearts.

I imagined how Laura felt upon awakening from the operation. Maybe she experienced astonishment at so many, at such expense, acting to save her life. Perhaps she felt sheepish: who am I to be the recipient of such lavish thought and attention and resources? In her position, I would feel those things. But, looking at it from the outside, what happened seems natural.

Though the sailors aboard the naval carrier didn't know Laura, I would venture saying that saving her life gave them a joy which they will never forget, and will more than likely remain a highlight in their lives. In fact, the recognition of the value of one life and the willingness to take Herculean effort to preserve it is what makes this whole event so noteworthy.

As followers of Jesus, we know the value of a single human being and it's gratifying to see that concept unfold in "real" life among people who may or may not be Christian, but nevertheless are created in His image. Who among us in the Heartlight family, with the ability to help, would not have answered the distress call to save Laura? Can we possibly imagine our Lord, who knows us to the hairs on our heads, would do less for us?

Laura's family was grateful for the speed of the USS Reagan's response and for everything they did. Her mother told reporters: "It was beyond words. It was like the whole world just lifted off my shoulders." This is how many people describe the moment they come to Christ. As for me, my goal is to redirect astonishment at His graciousness and my sheepishness at not deserving it, to live with increased thankfulness.

There is a final connection this story brings to me. Our Compassion Child, Satish, has expressed wonder and thankfulness of our sponsorship of him. It humbles us. Helping him is relatively simple -- we don't have to change the course of ships and spend millions. Satish reminds us of the impact small gestures can make. There are many who reach across wide waters to answer the distress calls of children in abject poverty. Who among us with the ability to help, wouldn't answer?

Join us in "reaching across the distance" to help! Learn more about sponsoring a child with Compassion by checking out:
http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm

Find out more about the Uganda effort for children at the Compassion & Uganda info page and follow along next week in Heartlight as we document this historic trip.

Phil Ware, President of Heartlight.org, is going to Uganda with Compassion along with a number of other bloggers and Internet types. Please be part of the prayer team that prays for this trip. You can sign up by going to the bottom of response list and leaving your name and a prayer by going to this web address:
http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/?p=194#prayerteam

For more on the Uganda trip with Compassion International, check out Phil's blog information:
http://blogs.heartlight.org/phil/?page_id=193

Thanks!

Finding Beauty

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning (John 1:1-2 NIV).

Poetry. The book of John is pure poetry, especially the prologue (John 1:1-18). It's one place I like to go when I need a dose of beauty. In a world of pop-culture, I need those doses regularly.

Over the summer, my twenty-year-old daughter, Maddie, was lamenting all the pop-culture I was responsible for making her miss during her childhood. "Mom," she said, "when people my age talk about 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' or 'Strawberry Shortcake,' I'm lost." This made me laugh. "What was so bad about 'Strawberry Shortcake'?" she asked.

"What's so bad about (fill in the blank)?"

This is a question my children have asked me and I have asked myself hundreds of times over the years. We've asked it about all sorts of books, movies, and activities. It seems to me, we only have so much free time -- time set up for no purpose other than enjoyment and we can choose things that are "not bad," or we can choose things of value.

Early in parenting I wanted to give my kids only value. So while other children were reading books about a babysitting club, mine were reading the "Wind in the Willows" and "Misty of Chincoteague." I softened my stance somewhat as the years unfolded, so by the time my son was old enough, he saw all the "Star Wars" movies (I only liked the original three). Maddie laments this, too -- how Spencer had it better. I try not to laugh.

One of my favorite verses of the Bible was written by Paul in a very intimate portion of his letter to the Philippians as he seeks to instruct them how to live:

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

I'm not immune to pop-culture and I admit to watching things that are "not bad" and sometimes, even things I know veer straight into "bad." These things don't edify me in any way; in fact, if I'm not careful, they erode my convictions. But sometimes I watch them. That's when I need a dose of "pure" or "lovely" or "admirable." That's when my husband and I trek to some beautiful part of God's world, or I listen to "Pachebelle's Cannon" or I read the poetry of the book of John.

The other day, Maddie called to say she was tired of seeing little girls who dress too old for their age -- that when she has children, she is going to pick "nice, age-appropriate clothes." I was glad we were on the phone and she couldn't see me smiling.

Maybe I'll surprise her the next time she comes home. I'll put together a "Strawberry Shortcake Fest" complete with videos, shortcake, and balloons. Time spent with her laughing -- that's worthwhile.

Snow Days

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes (Psalm 147:16 TNIV).

Because I grew up on the west coast, I didn't experience a snow day until I was married, had children, and was transplanted to the east coast. In the Shenandoah Valley, I have discovered the gift of these remarkable days.

Like Christ covering our sins, every defect in our town, in our neighborhood, and in our yard is covered with a pristine blanket of white wool. Is there anything to compare with the beauty of freshly fallen snow?

I like the vacuum of sound that seems to accompany one of these days. I've noticed an interval of time when life pauses -- everyone has already stood in lines with their gallons of milk and their loaves of bread. The snowplows have not yet rolled by and the shovels lean against the house, waiting. The children, who ventured outside when it first started coming down, are now inside -- also waiting -- wanting the fluffy inches to accumulate. In this moment, it's as if our world has been encapsulated in a giant snow globe and only the snow is moving.

The result of this stillness is a feeling of freedom. Freedom from school and work. Freedom from piano lessons and dental appointments. Freedom from board meetings and choir practices. The activities may even be enjoyable ones, but having an unexpected break feels liberating. This freedom, though, extends beyond schedules. For a moment, we seem to let go of the worries and tribulations of life we may be facing and instead rest in the serenity before us.

When I shared my feelings on snow with my husband, he said when life with bills and illnesses and job worries becomes overwhelming, he thinks about Christ and what he did for us and what it means for us. Then, for a moment, he experiences the complete sense of freedom I was describing.

Then the telephone will ring reporting the next crisis. But that moment of pure peace helped him put life back into perspective and he is recharged to handle whatever comes.

"Well I do that, too," I told him, somewhat taken aback.

"Wow!" I thought, "my husband manufactures his own snow days. He doesn't have to wait for the hundred-year blizzard to feel free from the cares of this world. He could live in the Sahara Desert and enjoy the benefits of a snow day."

This wintry season -- and all year long -- may you have many snow days regardless of where you live or what the weatherman forecasts. May you know the peace Christ offers all who believe and accept His words.

In the Shadow of God

miks@shentel.net (Lisa Mikitarian) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

David also said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20 TNIV).

I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. (John 17:4).

Autumn in the Appalachians is my husband's idea of heaven on earth. Sam is in his element in Autumn. It makes me chilly just thinking about it. I prefer mid-spring with its warmth and new life. And while I appreciate the wonders of God's natural world, I also prize the movement and wonder of a colossal city.

I have deep respect for people who design and build all sorts of things -- my husband chief among those I respect. How do they keep slabs of stone from collapsing before the keystone is inserted? How does the Eiffel Tower appear to be gracefully curved when every single one of its girders is straight? I might know the "book answers," but these questions still boggle my mind.

In college, I took a class on interpersonal skills called, "Building Bridges Not Walls." In our first experiential learning exercise, we were placed in teams of four and assigned the task of building a bridge. Each team was given an assortment of office supplies -- pencils, sticky notes, paperclips, etc. -- with which to create the structure. As far as our team went, there was not an engineer among us, but what we lacked in knowledge we made up in enthusiasm. In high school, we were probably the same kids whose inflated math egos didn't correlate with the academic scores we earned in the standardized testing arena. We didn't so much build a bridge as we fashioned or even decorated a bridge. It was heavy on form and light on function. "Interesting" was how the instructor diplomatically termed it -- just before it collapsed.

Later on in life, during a trip to New York, I tilted my head and looked up, and up and up, as my eyes traced the lines of the skyscrapers. I thought to myself, "No wonder it's easier to find Jesus in the natural landscapes of home than it seems to be in the city. In the country, you behold what God created; in the city, you behold what humans have created. And if you didn't know that Almighty God had endowed these mortals with the intelligence and skill to make their endeavors possible, then humanism and human hubris just might make sense."

However, when humans do recognize from whom they have received their gift, they are similar to Bezalel and Oholiab, the craftsmen Yahweh handpicked to build His Tabernacle (Exodus 35:30-35; Exodus 36:1-8). And why did he pick them? It's not likely they had many building opportunities while they wandered in the desert for forty years. They didn't seem particularly verbal, either. The only time speech is attributed to them, when they talk to Moses -- instead of directly to the Israelites -- telling him that the people are being too generous with outfitting the sanctuary (Exodus 36:5). They were chosen because God had equipped these two men of few words to build to His glory. The very name "Bezalel" means "In the Shadow of God" and his design and building skills clearly reflect his time in the presence of the Most Holy One and his desire to honor his God.

Some of our children are gifted with a builder's hands or an engineer's mind. We need to give them the opportunity and the encouragement to explore and use those gifts. In a recent "Popular Mechanics" article, Jay Leno wrote about a young man who in 1931, at age seventeen, built a three-wheeled coupe powered by a 77.2 cu. in. four cylinder Indian Motorcycle Engine (like I know what that means). He did this because his father told him that if he wanted a car, then he had to build it. Jay decided to see what boys in the 1930's were up to. The editors of "Popular Mechanics" sent him a copy of "The Boy Mechanic", which was aimed at boys age 8 and up. When Jay looked at the projects, he came to the conclusion that the boys of today wouldn't be able to build them because now boys sit in front of screens instead of work with their hands.

I don't completely agree with Jay. It is true many youngsters spend too much time on video games and computers, but I still bet some of our kids could construct those projects. If you have such a child, I hope you don't overly fret if that child doesn't seem "academic enough"; if he or she would rather spend the day hammering more than conjugating, fabricating more than spelling, and measuring more than writing, then find ways to encourage the use of those gifts responsibly. Pray that your child will find a way to use those interests to honor God. They may just be like Bezalel -- gifted to live "in the Shadow of God" and build to his glory.

As for Sam and me, we'll appreciate the splendor of it all together -- autumn and spring, mountains and cities, God-made and mortal-made. We recognize that when people design and create, whether they realize it or not, that ability has been bestowed on them by our heavenly Father, the Master Builder of it all.