A Manicured Lifestyle...

Manicure: to trim closely and evenly

Often when I sit for a manicure, I relish in the "me" time and get lost in being pampered. Although I love getting my nails done, there is a portion of the manicure process that I always scrutinize. The filing and buffing process is not something  I sleep through because I don't want my nails too short where I lose dexterity, or too long, where they snag on everything.  During the filing and buffing process, I usually cringe at the raking sound of the file as it shapes and forms the perfect rounded square fingernail. On many occasions, I hold my breath, as the discarded nail filings fly into the air in powdery clouds of white dust.  Somehow this less than desirable portion of the manicure is quickly overshadowed by the end result.  Without it,  I wouldn't walk out of the salon with healthy, shiny and colorful fingernails.

Certainly going through hard times in life is much like a refining manicure. The abrasive nature of life's difficult moments, buffs and  softens many of the rough edges in our character. This is a process that can only  be perfected by the skilled hands of our Creator.  If we have fewer rough edges, we will not easily snag, offend or be offended by others. We will also be less likely to have foreign, negative or purpose-draining attachments and expectations.

Let's begin (or continue) to not only envision but apprehend the next level in God. This is definitely not the time for resting in an established place. Agitation is not always negative. It can also be a strong push into deeper, greater and  unshakable communication with the Lord, that produces good success!

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Back To The Future... My Trip To Israel pt. 1

I recently concluded a life-changing trek across the world to Israel.  As I boarded the massive international flight, I tried to wrap my brain around the fact that in about 10 hours, I would place my feet firmly in the Holy Land.  On our way over I was captivated by the fact that during our time in Israel, we would celebrate Pentecost and as I scanned our flight, I saw the intermittent fervent prayers of many  Hasidic Jewish men with shoulder length payot (side curls).   As I marveled at their dedication to Orthodox Jewish traditions and beliefs, my excitement and curiosity multiplied with each hour of travel.  One of the first things that took me by surprise was the massive expanse of ancient stone and just how far I could see from various high points along our 10-day tour.  
Our tour guide was a native Nazarene that had been on the job more than 39 years!  His Hebraic accent was certainly representative of Jesus, and often, as He patiently explained the landscape and history of this great country; I found myself secretly wondering if Jesus' voice was as deep as his or did he speak much slower.  There are many items of interest from my trip that I would love to highlight here. I certainly plan to do so in future submissions, but for today, I will be content to share a little about my re-baptism in the Jordan River.  YES!  The Jordan River! The very place that John the Baptist humbly served Jesus in Mark chapter 1, Luke chapter 3 and Matthew chapter 3. 

Upon arrival at the baptism site, our group buzzed around and separated in order to change into our white linens in preparation for the service.  By the time we reconvened, we were busy talking about how to avoid messing up our hair (hence my beautiful swimmers cap), or just how nice the white robes were that we had obtained or just how many live fish and other river dwelling creatures we could catch on camera. 
Apostle Rebecca Murray (www.porteringtheglory.org) quickly reminded us of the significance of what we were doing. Our intermittent conversations about less than weighty subjects, soon transformed into beautiful harmony as we sang, "We Are Standing On Holy Ground."  Just about the time I belted out the lyrics, "and I know that there are angels all around,"  I truly was enveloped with the presence of the Living God!  This time of corporate worship prior to setting one toe into the Jordan River, meant more to me in my short time on earth than I can describe in mere words.  In hindsight, I truly felt a portion of the humility that I imagine John the Baptist felt in antiquity.  I knew for a fact that my Savior once stood in this body of water and now I am participating in the Holy sacrament of baptism much in the way that He did thousands of years before!  I won't continue to bore you with my musings of just how much this event means to me, but I will say this,  it was a pleasure and my reasonable service to die to all that is Meghan (one more time), and come up a new creature in Jesus' name! 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:1-11