Knowing and Believing and Scared and Worried

Oct25

We have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them. 1 John 4:16

 

I have a friend whose daughter recently had surgery. Doctors promised that after the surgery, she would be “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!” Maybe that’s not exactly what they said, but they did make grand promises and painted a picture of an outcome that would make the pain and physical therapy seem trivial. Those promises have proven to be as empty as Superman’s pod. The doctors are baffled at some of the things that have happened and have expressed their confusion during many consults and conversations.   But, no matter the variety of comments made during the various consults, each doctor always ended with “It will get better.” That is supposed to be encouraging, but better than it is now is still worse than it was! Her parents are strong believers in the Lord, but their spirits are dragging from seeing their child suffer. My friend is wiping her child’s tears as exercising therapy becomes excruciating torture, is cheering her child on as walking the steps feels more like climbing the mountain, facing each new day with a big smile while silently crying in her bedroom every night. Crying into her pillow and crying out to God. Someone once said, “The hardest part of being a parent is that you can’t stop the world from hurting your child. You can only be there to ease the pain.” But, she can’t ease the pain; she can only watch the pain. Watch and wonder and worry . John MacDuff reminds us that we need to “Trust God where you cannot see Him. Do not try to penetrate the cloud He brings over you; rather look to the bow that is on it. The mystery is God’s; the promise is yours.” My friend knows that this is just a season of their lives, a difficult and discouraging season but just a season. There are times when the dark night of discouragement tries to block the light of God’s promises. There are times when she feels the night will never end and begins to doubt the dawning of a better day. There are times when she feels alone, even as she clings to Jesus’ promise that He is always with us. There are times when we all have emotions that spin and tumble much like a child’s toy, but no matter what our emotions are telling us, Jesus tells us that He has control over the storm (Mark 4:37-40). As moms we worry about our children. We suffer when they are in pain. We smile so they will be encouraged and sob because we are so discouraged. We cry out “Lord, don’t You care?” Jesus says to us as He said to the storm in verse 39, “be still.” Sometimes we beg God not to be silent, but maybe He is silent so that we will be too. Like the disciples, we get scared and we want God to make the scary part go away. But, while we are busy being frantic and scared, He just wants us to be faithful and still. He wants us to feel His presence and know that His presence is enough. My friend is very strong – strong in her faith, strong in her parenting, and strong in her body and spirit. Lord, I ask You today to help her be strong in the knowledge that You are always with her.

Seasoned Language

Oct9

Ephesians 4:29-30:  Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Colossians 4:6: Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

brokenbonesAs I’m drinking my coffee this morning and reading Ephesians 4, this verse really jumps out at me. I have an uncle who joined the Navy during WWII. He is the stereotypical sailor, and it is his image that comes to my mind whenever I hear the phrase “curses like a sailor”. Peppering his speech with curse words is so normal to him that he isn’t even aware that he does it. I think most people read Ephesians 4:29-30 with my uncle in mind and therefore think it doesn’t apply to those of us with a less seasoned vocabulary. Actually, the Greek words Paul uses here would paint a picture of something putrid, decaying, and rotten. I translate that to say “don’t be so putrid and rotten in your thoughts that your words naturally come out that way.” We have all heard, and probably most of us said, the children’s rhyme “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Eric Idle said “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.” Sadly, I can identify more with the Eric Idle version that with the actual nursery rhyme. Herb Warren said, “sticks and stones may break the bones but leave the spirit whole, but simple words can break the heart or silence crush the soul.” My own version would be “Sticks and stones may break my bones but they will heal and be strong. Words will be forever in my head and always tell me I am wrong.”   When do we use foul and dirty language? Unkind comments are foul and hurt. Gossip can destroy. Tearing someone down to build yourself up uses dirty language that contaminates everyone involved. Making comments with the intent to cause hurt is murderous. Sometimes its not the words themselves that cause the brokenness but the tone that breaks the heart. Sometimes having someone stand silently while foul comments are being made is what crushes the soul. I have a T-shirt with the words “I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean for it to be out loud.” The shirt is meant to be funny but the reality is not. Luke 6:45 tells me that when putrid, decaying, rotten thoughts are in my head, they come out of my mouth.   Lord, I want to always speak with love, to build up rather than tear down, to add support rather than crush. I want my language to be seasoned with the salt of Colossians 4:6. May my new rhyme be “sticks and stones may break my bones but they will heal and be strong. May my words always be filled with love and create a joyful song.”

Loving My Husband

Oct3

Titus 2:3-4 – In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, (HCSB)

couple-in-love-1-1164095-mAs I was drinking my mid-morning cup of coffee (aka unfinished morning coffee reheated), I was reading someone’s social media comments about how to love your husband. Of course there is the physical love but also love in the day-to-day treatment of your husband. The comments made me think Titus 2: 3-4. Most articles I’ve read and speakers I’ve heard put the focus on verse 4, but I think verse 3 teaches verse 4. All wives have had times when our fabulous hints fell on deaf ears. We may even have had our very clear and precise words change completely between leaving our lips and arriving on our husbands’ ears. But, we ponder the mystery in private and not vent to the world. Being around a woman who is constantly criticizing her husband is embarrassing and uncomfortable but also a tutorial to young wives. Ephesians 5:33 says that women are to respect their husbands. This is the man that I vowed to love, honor, and cherish. How can I belittle a man that I cherish? How does that show honor? Proverbs 17:9 says “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” (NLT) If it separates close friends, how could it possibly strengthen a marriage? How can I be antagonistic with the man I cherish? How can I be negative, always talking about what’s wrong, with the man I love? Paul told Titus to encourage older women to teach younger women. How do you teach but by words and actions? Are my actions teaching younger wives to be encouraging or condemning? Supportive or critical? Fun or harsh? Proverbs 31:12 says that a wife should not bring harm to her husband. I read a poster that said “When my husband looks at me, let him see love, warmth, caring, commitment, support and desire.” I couldn’t find who actually said it, but I would add “and let others see those too.” I am thankful for my husband and want to live in such a way that he will be proud to call me his wife. Lord, help me to be quick to forgive and slow to criticize. May I be a living example to young wives of how to love a husband.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Sep26

Mark 1: 32, 35-37: When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Simon and his companions went searching for Him.  They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”

hurrytimeWhile still in bed and before I even had my first cup of coffee this morning, I was thinking of all that I had to do today. I was making a random list in my mind and then trying to prioritize my list. Multi-tasking isn’t possible with this list; I’ll just be in a mad rush all day to finish everything before I need to leave for my meeting tonight. Instead of being energized and excited about the day ahead, I am feeling overwhelmed and discouraged. In the book I’d Kill for a Cookie, Susan Mitchell and Catherine Christie write “Sometimes it seems your ever-increasing list of things to do can leave you feeling totally undone.” That’s exactly how I feel – an ever increasing list of things to do and the list and I are both undone!  Lord, I need Your help. I feel pulled in every direction, and I know that You understand how I feel because You have “been there, done that!” People were always wanting something from you. People wanted You to heal them. People wanted You to teach them. People wanted You to give them answers. The disciples demanded Your presence, and friends demanded Your time. People wanted to see You and be seen by You. Mark 1 tells us that people showed no respect for the time of day when trying to get to You — verse 32 says they came at night and verses 35-37 says they came very early in the morning. You knew the feeling of being pressured. You knew the feeling of being stressed. You knew the needs of the world, and You knew that Your time was limited. But unlike me rushing around with no time to spare, You didn’t rush from one thing to another. You took the time to be kind to the woman at the well (John 4). You took the time to touch the leper (Matthew 8:3, Luke 5:13, Mark 1:41). You took the time to acknowledge the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48, Mark 5:25). Most significantly, You took the time to pray (Mark 1:35). You had a long to-do list, but You always had time for the things that really mattered –time with God and time for the people He created. A. W. Tozer said that “God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which He must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” Lord, as I go about my day today help me to take the time to be kind, to reach out to someone who needs a gentle touch, to acknowledge someone who just needs to be noticed. Lord, I ask You today to quiet my spirit and relax my nerves.

Steps in the Right Direction

Sep16

Isaiah 30:21 – “and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” (HCSB)

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.” (HCSB)

I am in the dark in more ways than one this morning. The house is dark; there is no light to brighten my path into the other room. I am also in the dark about a decision I need to make, and just as with the house, there is no light to brighten my path into the future. The only sound in the house is the sound of the coffee brewing. As I wait for that marvelous beep, I also wait for an answer from You, Lord. I am fully confident that You set my feet on this path, but now I have come to a fork in the path, and quite frankly, it would be so awesome to hear Your audible voice telling me “take this path.” I crave signs and a voice that will provide the absolute-without-a-doubt knowledge that I am headed in the right direction, but I am afraid of only hearing “recalculating”. I have no doubts that You want me to move forward.  But which path do I take from here?  I don’t want to make a wrong move. Someone recently told me a quote that went something along the lines of “the direction you go in will determine where you end up”. Well, as my granddaughter used to say “I already knowed dat!”  I know that if I drive on I-95 North, I will not go to Florida and definitely not to California!!  Reaching the desired destination requires being on the right path. Yoga Berra once said “When you get to a fork in the road, take it.” Lord, I desire the destination that You have for me and want to be on the path You have laid out for me to follow. I have desire to reach the path, but I need discernment to recognize the path. Just like David in Psalm 25:4, my prayer is “Show me the right path, O LORD; point out the road for me to follow.” Lord, my prayer is that I would recognize Your will for me. Isaiah 30:21 gives me encouragement that You totally encompass me, giving me direction. I know that You have a plan for me. Help me to follow the path that You have planned rather than any path of my own limited knowledge and planning. Psalm 32:8 gives me the promise that You will not only show me the direction I should go but also that You will watch and make sure I stay on the right path. Lord, I ask You to determine my steps, my path, and my direction.

Thief in the Night

Aug30

2 Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (KJV)

While sharing coffee and catching up with my friend, I shared with her that someone had broken into our family vehicles one night. Someone came between midnight and 3 AM, broke into our vehicles, ransacked the compartments, and stole from us. I leave my car unlocked all the time, even at times make sure all the doors are unlocked before I exit it to go into the house because it is convenient when I want to put something in the car later. When my husband went out to get in his truck to go to work that morning, he first noticed that the between-the-seats storage compartment door was open, then saw the mess of things thrown around. The GPS and a few random things were taken from my car but mostly just tissues and coupons tossed about. My husband’s GPS was left behind but some other things were stolen. I can’t even begin to describe how it made me feel. I can say that I was numb with disbelief and shock that this happened, but those words seem so inadequate. I was so secure and complacent in my ignorant actions. I thought I was okay because of our neighborhood. As I was pondering all of these feelings, the “what-ifs”, and the “why-this-times”, 2 Peter 3:10 came to mind. In our situation, a thief came quietly in the night and surprised us. In the situation Peter describes, the Lord will come with great noise but also with great surprise. We woke up to messy vehicles and a few missing items. On that day people will wake up to pure destruction. We thought we were okay because of the people living around us. On that day there will be people who thought they were okay because they were living like the people around them. They will be so secure and complacent in their ignorant actions. My feelings on the morning of the robbery were of shock and disbelief, but I can’t even imagine the shock, disbelief, and horror to awaken on that morning! Our day was a wake-up call for my husband and me of what we need to do. Lord, I pray that today will be the day that those who don’t know You will wake-up to their need. My husband and I were happy when some of our belongings were returned to us, but I know our joy can’t begin to compare to Your joy when a sinner comes to You because Luke 15:10 tells us that even the angels rejoice! Mark 13:32 tells us that even though we don’t know when You’re coming, we know that You are coming. Help us to help others be ready!

Broken Promises

Aug19

Hebrews 6:13-18 – For when God made a promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham] obtained the promise. For men swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.  Because God wanted to show His unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. (HCSB)

Broken promises. Those two words can bring all kinds of images to the mind and hurts to the heart. Some people make mindless promises, just saying what they think you want at the moment with no plans to give you what you need for the future. Some people make promises knowing they have neither the authority nor the power to make those promises a reality. Ray Hitt said “Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep.” Some people make promises with the full intention of following through, but something unforeseen happens and everything changes. It doesn’t matter how much sincerity is involved, people simply cannot guarantee all of their promises because people have limited knowledge, limited power, and limited control. But, God is all knowing, all-powerful, and unchanging. As humans, we tend to equate how God works based on our interactions with other humans. Our mental image of Him is as a person, so we imagine He probably acts like people we know. When God made His promise to Abraham in verse 13, He promised to bless Abraham with multiple blessings, to bless and bless and bless and bless. Abraham received all that had been promised to him because God keeps His promises. When people make promises, they have to swear by a higher authority. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, He swore by Himself because there is no one higher. He is the ultimate power and authority. We can trust His word because God can’t break His word. He cannot lie, and circumstances will not change His word. Because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. Deuteronomy 7:9 tells us that God is faithful, and will keep His covenant to a thousand generations to those who love Him and keep His commandments. In a world of broken promises, I know from experience that Proverbs 30:5 is truth — that God keeps every promise that He makes and that He is a shield for me. While I plan to make every effort to follow Ray Hitt’s advice, I can rest assured that God will have no problem keeping every promise He has made. His word will never fail me.

Afraid of the Dark

Jul22

Psalm 56:3 – When I am afraid, I will trust in You. (HCSB)

Philippians 4:6-7 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 We all have things that we worry about. Sometimes we worry almost to the point of panic. You would think we would get pretty good at distinguishing the risks likeliest to do us harm from the ones that are statistical long shots, but you would be wrong. Several years ago people agonized worryover Bird Flu, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, only one person in the US actually was infected and no one in the US died from Bird Flu. Again, according to the Centers for Disease Control, the common flu causes around 36,000 American deaths each year, but about 64.8% of Americans don’t get a flu shot. People choose to drive long distances because they believe that flying is dangerous, but, according to the US Department of Energy, a few hundred people die each year in commercial airline crashes while about 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States — one death every 13 minutes. In 2005 in the US, about 42,636 people were killed in auto accidents. In 2002 the US auto accident death toll was 42,815 people.  Several years ago my husband and I were in St. Louis when a radio personality announced “there’s no sharks in the Mississippi River” except he slurred his words enough to make it sound as if he was saying “there’s snow sharks in the Mississippi River”, and people were in pure panic mode! Fredrick W. Cropp said “There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid.” In John 14:1 Jesus tells us not to let our hearts be troubled. The word He used means not to let your heart shudder. He is basically saying that things may look really bad from your perspective but don’t worry about it. Philippians 4:6-7 says that instead of worrying to pray, tell God what we’re concerned about, ask for His comfort and calmness. In The Purpose of Christmas, Rick Warren writes “The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You’ll feel more patient and less pressured.”  Lord, I thank You that I can bring my fears and anxieties to You. Just as a child needs a nightlight to destroy the fears hiding in the darkness, I need Your light to destroy the fears that hide within me. There is much darkness in the world, but John 1:5 tells me that darkness will not overcome the light.

Is Winning Always Everything?

Jun28

Genesis 13: 8-11 –Then Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives.  Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left. Lot looked out and saw that the entire Jordan Valley as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. So Lot chose the entire Jordan Valley for himself.

Genesis 13: 14-17 – After Lot had separated from him, the Lord said to Abram, “Look from the place where you are. Look north and south, east and west, for I will give you and your offspring forever all the land that you see. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust of the earth, then your offspring could be counted.  Get up and walk around the land, through its length and width, for I will give it to you.”  

 

traffic Sometimes relationships collide. Sometimes the colliding is reminiscent of a small fender bender. Sometimes it is major smash-up. But, no matter what, when humans are dealing with other humans, we are going to collide at some point. We are going to have conflicts and disagreements. Sometimes we need to stand our ground, but often times exercising humility can bring resolution.   Genesis 13:2 tells us that Abram had done very well financially while he was in Egypt, but he had left Egypt and moved to Negev and then to Bethel with his wife, his nephew Lot, and all of their entourage. Then relationships began to collide! Abram knows that he needs to do something to bring resolution. He is the head of this group so he can pretty much do whatever he wants and Lot will have to take what he gets, but Abram decides it’s not worth the fight. In verses 8-9 he tells Lot to choose whatever land he wants. Lot looks over the Jordan Valley, sees food, fresh water, and fun! Did Lot see all of this and then say to Abram “no, it’s too much” or “let’s share”? No, he “calls dibs – mine, all mine”. Abram had lived around Lot and had to know Lot’s way of thinking, but Abram was willing to sacrifice to avoid conflict. God speaks to Abram in verses 14 – 17 and tells him to look around, walk around, and see it all. I don’t know why You did that, Lord – maybe to get Abram to focus on what he gained not what he lost. I ask You to speak to me when I find myself in conflict and help me bypass the win-or-lose attitude. Help me to focus on the end result, to evaluate what really matters. Society teaches us that laying aside differences is a sign of weakness, but Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). A peacemaker lets go of the petty stuff, is the first to apologize, talks calmly instead of yelling. Lord, You are the ultimate peacemaker. Help me to keep my eyes on You in difficult circumstances and to bring peace to conflict.

The Sweetest Bumble Bee

Jun13

Proverbs 17:6 – Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers (ESV)

Proverbs 31:30 – Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. (HCSB)

photo-5

Today is my sweet Bumble Bee’s seventh birthday! Not an actual bumblebee of course, but my sweet granddaughter. “Bumble Bee” is a nickname that I gave her when she was just a few months old, and it has always been my special name for her. When she was a babe in arms, I was holding her and playing with her brother who is 2 ½ years older. He was a super hero and I was his archenemy, but what is an archenemy without an evil sidekick so The Stinging Bumble Bee was born! She and I would hide, and when he came by, I would hold her so that she could touch him (usually sit on his head) and “sting” him with her venom, thus rendering the Super Hero helpless until we could find a new hiding place. I can still hear the cackles of laughter! She has been her Pops’ girl from the very beginning, and people just had to accept that and move on because it wasn’t going to change, but no one need dare attempt to get some “sugar” from “Granny’s sugar spot”!! She has a tender heart, an athlete’s spirit, and a comedian’s outlook. She has a face like her dad, eyes and hair like her mom, and a look that leaves no doubt as to her true feelings about any situation (it’s quite possible she got that one from her Granny). Dr. C.C. Miller said “The only consistent thing about bees is their inconsistency.” My Bumble Bee loves pink, fancy fingernails, and jewelry — and having her brother practice his martial arts on her. Lord, I know that you have great plans for this little girl. People who see her notice her beauty; people who know her see that she is even more beautiful on the inside. She loves her church and her Bible, and I pray that her love for Your word will continue to grow as her body does the same. I know that You have created a little boy who is growing up to be the Godly husband she deserves, and I pray for him too. Lord, I thank You for the blessing of having this precious little girl as my granddaughter. I thank You for the little girl she is now and for the woman that she will become. She truly is a gift. There’s nothing sweeter than being loved by a Bumble Bee!