The text read: "Be kefir (careful) in the storm."
"What storm?" I thought and re-focused my attention to my coupon book. A few minutes later, while unloading my groceries into the car, I got another text. This one said, "Serious storm headed toward Alex." Another text immediately followed. It was a picture this time of a TV screen covered in reds and greens - a weather radar shot.
Now, THAT got my attention.
You see, our son was participating in a Disciple Now weekend at a church in Wendell, directly in the path of an on-coming tornado.
My heart began to beat a little faster. My mind started racing: Where is he now? Is he safe? Is he scared? Where is the tornado? Is it on the ground?
All the sudden, I stopped thinking and began praying. "God protect him. Cover him, the building he's in, the people he's with, with your protection." All the sudden, the crazy, bullet-speed type thoughts ceased and peace came. I no longer was worried about his safety. I knew whatever happened, God was in control, and it would be okay, even if it wasn't okay.
I put the car in drive and began heading home. It wasn't until I got home and started thinking about how horrified all those kids must be that the thoughts returned. My mind was flooded with how my own child must feel, being there without us...with people he didn't really know...in an unfamiliar place.
I wanted to be there with him. I wanted to tell him that God "had this." Most of all, I wanted him home and safe with me, and I wanted it NOW. Flurries of anxiety filled my head and again, I found myself praying. Except this time, it began with an apology to the Father. Because somewhere in my rant and rave, the Spirit spoke into my heart: "So you can trust Me with your child's safety, but you can't trust me to handle his emotional state?"
God was right - as usual : )
I don't have a hard time trusting Him with the Big stuff...the stuff I know that I have no control over, but I have an incredibly hard time trusting Him with the little stuff - the stuff that I think I can do something about - the things I think I can control if I have the chance.
And yet, regardless of the "bigness" or the "smallness" of it, fear is fear - sin - a lack of trust in the Father. Period.
Is. 41:10 says, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I
am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I
will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
I love this verse. In it, God commands us not to fear. "Why?" you might ask. "Why should we not be afraid of the tornadoes and the bad weather and the emotional upheaval they cause?" Simply put - for He is with us. "Why should we not freak out and allow those crazy, random thoughts to fill our minds, causing stress and inhibiting rational thinking?" Again, simply put - He is our God.
God doesn't tell us not to fear, because it's really not as bad as we think it is. He doesn't try to gloss over the emotional upheaval and say that tornadoes are just little gusts of wind. He doesn't pretend that we have nothing to be afraid of as humans. Instead, He focuses our attention away from the things that cause us fear and re-focuses our attention onto Himself. He is with us. He is our God, and He is big enough to handle anything that is thrown OUR way.
He's letting us know that He is still in control, when everything makes us think otherwise. He is reminding us that nothing can touch us that hasn't been filtered through His hand first. He assuring us that He's "got this," that He hasn't left us alone...and never will.
Do yourself a favor. Memorize this verse. Place it in your spiritual arsenal to hurl against those fearful emotions, when they seem to be enveloping you.
Remember. God is your God, my friend, if you are in Christ - and He is WITH us.
Dear Father, thank You that you are my God...that You have never once thought about leaving Your child, and You never will. Thank You that You are always there and that You don't PRETEND that everything will be alright - You MAKE everything alright. You truly are my God. I love You, and I trust in You.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Life's a Little Like a Lawn Mower Sometimes
Spring is upon us. Okay, so there is actually a Winter Storm Warning that has crept back into the forecast for today, but the daffodils are blooming and the Bradford Pear trees are beginning to bud. Along with these signs of spring, come thoughts of gardens producing (or not!), flowers blooming in bright, beautiful colors and patterns in our lawns, and grass...and oh, the grass. Grass that needs to be cut and lawnmowers that spend more time in the shop than they do on our lawns. Are you with me?
Speaking of lawn mowers...
Have you ever thought about the fact that a lawnmower is just a big, hunk of useless metal that takes up space in your back yard, unless it has something to power it? Intrinsically, it has no power on its own. You can try to coax it to cut your grass. You can even slip it a twenty, but it won't budge unless it has something filling the tank.
It's THEN the mower becomes useful. The engine can be turned over and behold - this big hunk of metal begins to do it's job. Within a matter of minutes or hours, the mower accomplishes the purpose for which it was created - to cut the grass.
Let's pretend for a moment. Let's just say that I had company coming over in less than an hour and realize the grass has not been cut. I hurry outside, grab the lawnmower, pull the cord, the engine roars, and I go on my merry way. All of the sudden, my mower spits and sputters and the engine quits...reminding me that I forgot to fill the tank with gas. I go to get the gas can and alas, no more gas and no more time to go get some.
Being the mechanically brilliant person that I am, I decide that if I add a little oil and water to the gas tank, that should get the engine working enough to finish the yard. All of you who know anything about motors are shaking your heads in shame right now. You know that if I add anything else to the tank besides gasoline, I've got real problems. The engine won't start, and my guests will arrive, unable to see the driveway because of the forest of grass that blocks the view.
Translate that into our spiritual life.
II Corinthians says, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
Like it or not, we are the earthen vessels II Corinthians talks about. We are plain, useless, and powerless. The "treasure" that we hold within us has nothing to do with us. It is not our abilities or our talents or our even gifts we desire to give to the Lord. The "treasure" is the Spirit, Himself. The "treasure" is the power that works within us to show God to the world...that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Unfortunately, I sometimes have issues with this. You see, I want to be the power behind the treasure. I want to "help" God fulfill His plans for me. I want to "add" something to my tank.
For example, rather than pray about what I need to do in certain situations, I have a tendency to go ahead and try to fix the problem in my own power. Rather than sitting and listening to Him tell me what I need to be involved in, I'd rather just jump in with both feet and feel important in my service. Rather than waiting for an answer to a question I have, I'll push forward, hoping things will work out for the best.
I will live in, and by my own power, trust my human abilities to fulfill God's purpose and plan for my life...while the whole time adding water and oil to my GAS tank. My intentions are good, but my energy is soon drained, and I am once again, left feeling very empty. I was never intended to fulfill God's plan for me. That's His job.
God said that the excellency of the power was to look like Him, not like us. So when we try to "help" God, the things we do and accomplish look more like us, than like Him.
So my advice to you and to me today? Be the thing you were created to be - a vessel - a clean, empty, useable vessel. And allow Him to be the power that lives within, does the work, and ultimately gets the glory for the excellence of His power at work in your life.
Lord, let me be just a vessel today and when I try to take glory for the power that is at work w/in me, forgive and remind and rebuke, if necessary. Thank You for the power that lies within!
Speaking of lawn mowers...
Have you ever thought about the fact that a lawnmower is just a big, hunk of useless metal that takes up space in your back yard, unless it has something to power it? Intrinsically, it has no power on its own. You can try to coax it to cut your grass. You can even slip it a twenty, but it won't budge unless it has something filling the tank.
It's THEN the mower becomes useful. The engine can be turned over and behold - this big hunk of metal begins to do it's job. Within a matter of minutes or hours, the mower accomplishes the purpose for which it was created - to cut the grass.
Let's pretend for a moment. Let's just say that I had company coming over in less than an hour and realize the grass has not been cut. I hurry outside, grab the lawnmower, pull the cord, the engine roars, and I go on my merry way. All of the sudden, my mower spits and sputters and the engine quits...reminding me that I forgot to fill the tank with gas. I go to get the gas can and alas, no more gas and no more time to go get some.
Being the mechanically brilliant person that I am, I decide that if I add a little oil and water to the gas tank, that should get the engine working enough to finish the yard. All of you who know anything about motors are shaking your heads in shame right now. You know that if I add anything else to the tank besides gasoline, I've got real problems. The engine won't start, and my guests will arrive, unable to see the driveway because of the forest of grass that blocks the view.
Translate that into our spiritual life.
II Corinthians says, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
Like it or not, we are the earthen vessels II Corinthians talks about. We are plain, useless, and powerless. The "treasure" that we hold within us has nothing to do with us. It is not our abilities or our talents or our even gifts we desire to give to the Lord. The "treasure" is the Spirit, Himself. The "treasure" is the power that works within us to show God to the world...that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Unfortunately, I sometimes have issues with this. You see, I want to be the power behind the treasure. I want to "help" God fulfill His plans for me. I want to "add" something to my tank.
For example, rather than pray about what I need to do in certain situations, I have a tendency to go ahead and try to fix the problem in my own power. Rather than sitting and listening to Him tell me what I need to be involved in, I'd rather just jump in with both feet and feel important in my service. Rather than waiting for an answer to a question I have, I'll push forward, hoping things will work out for the best.
I will live in, and by my own power, trust my human abilities to fulfill God's purpose and plan for my life...while the whole time adding water and oil to my GAS tank. My intentions are good, but my energy is soon drained, and I am once again, left feeling very empty. I was never intended to fulfill God's plan for me. That's His job.
God said that the excellency of the power was to look like Him, not like us. So when we try to "help" God, the things we do and accomplish look more like us, than like Him.
So my advice to you and to me today? Be the thing you were created to be - a vessel - a clean, empty, useable vessel. And allow Him to be the power that lives within, does the work, and ultimately gets the glory for the excellence of His power at work in your life.
Lord, let me be just a vessel today and when I try to take glory for the power that is at work w/in me, forgive and remind and rebuke, if necessary. Thank You for the power that lies within!
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Mirror of the Word
I have food on my face all the time...at least it seems like it. My husband and children are always pointing at the corners of my mouth and grinning that "you've done it again," grin. I have just about decided that I need to keep a mirror with me at all times and glance at it every time I eat, just to check and make sure no straggling crumbs have found their way to the outside corners of my mouth. Pretty good, idea, huh?
Well, what if one day I decided to do that very thing. I went out and purchased a little, inconspicuous, hand-held mirror and the next time we sat down to a meal, I put it in my lap. All throughout the course of the meal, I glanced downward, not seeing much of anything. However, during the last few moments at the table, I looked down and noticed there was some pizza sauce that had somehow made its way to my nose and was slowly dripping down my cheek.
Now, wouldn't it be ridiculous for me to see the mess and then totally ignore it? Wouldn't it seem rather odd to you that I chose to NOT use the mirror for its intended purpose...to leave my napkin sitting idly by my plate? Wouldn't you think there was something wrong with me for acting as if the sauce really wasn't there? I can guarantee that if I did, it wouldn't be too long before the snickers and the pointing would commence.
Yet, I do that all the time...in a spiritual sense.
James 1:22-25 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the Perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."
In this passage, James is telling us that the Word - the Perfect Law of Liberty - is our Mirror. We are to look in It and examine ourselves to see what we need to do and don't need to do...to see how much sauce we REALLY do have on our faces, so we can take our napkin and clean it off, instead of walking around like that the rest of the day with people pointing and snickering!
"What does this not-so-godly sauce look like," you might ask. Well, it looks like that little white-lie told yesterday to make someone feel better. It looks like that harbored anger against someone who has "done us wrong." It looks like the jealously exhibited towards a co-worker who got the promotion we wanted. It looks like utilizing too much time on the computer, so the family suffers. It looks like all of those things that hinder our walk with Christ - and so much more.
Sometimes, I even wonder if when we look in to the Mirror of God's Word, we see a whole pizza on our faces, instead of just the sauce.
I don't want to go around with food on my face. There's something wrong with that. But there's also something wrong with looking into the Word and seeing something out of place in my life...something that ought not be...and then getting up out of my chair and pretending that I never saw my sin at all.
Let's not do that today. Let's carve out time in our day to spend in the Word, so that God can show us the proverbial "sauce" on our faces. Let's allow Him to remove it, instead of pretending that it don't exist. Let's be doers of the Word and not just hearers, only.
Deal? Deal.
Thanks God for giving me Your Word and the conviction of Your Spirit, so that I can be holy before You. My I use it as the Mirror it was intended to be, and may I then respond accordingly to what It shows me. Thank Your for Your patience and for Your gentle rebukes. I love You. I really do.
Well, what if one day I decided to do that very thing. I went out and purchased a little, inconspicuous, hand-held mirror and the next time we sat down to a meal, I put it in my lap. All throughout the course of the meal, I glanced downward, not seeing much of anything. However, during the last few moments at the table, I looked down and noticed there was some pizza sauce that had somehow made its way to my nose and was slowly dripping down my cheek.
Now, wouldn't it be ridiculous for me to see the mess and then totally ignore it? Wouldn't it seem rather odd to you that I chose to NOT use the mirror for its intended purpose...to leave my napkin sitting idly by my plate? Wouldn't you think there was something wrong with me for acting as if the sauce really wasn't there? I can guarantee that if I did, it wouldn't be too long before the snickers and the pointing would commence.
Yet, I do that all the time...in a spiritual sense.
James 1:22-25 says, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the Perfect Law of Liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."
In this passage, James is telling us that the Word - the Perfect Law of Liberty - is our Mirror. We are to look in It and examine ourselves to see what we need to do and don't need to do...to see how much sauce we REALLY do have on our faces, so we can take our napkin and clean it off, instead of walking around like that the rest of the day with people pointing and snickering!
"What does this not-so-godly sauce look like," you might ask. Well, it looks like that little white-lie told yesterday to make someone feel better. It looks like that harbored anger against someone who has "done us wrong." It looks like the jealously exhibited towards a co-worker who got the promotion we wanted. It looks like utilizing too much time on the computer, so the family suffers. It looks like all of those things that hinder our walk with Christ - and so much more.
Sometimes, I even wonder if when we look in to the Mirror of God's Word, we see a whole pizza on our faces, instead of just the sauce.
I don't want to go around with food on my face. There's something wrong with that. But there's also something wrong with looking into the Word and seeing something out of place in my life...something that ought not be...and then getting up out of my chair and pretending that I never saw my sin at all.
Let's not do that today. Let's carve out time in our day to spend in the Word, so that God can show us the proverbial "sauce" on our faces. Let's allow Him to remove it, instead of pretending that it don't exist. Let's be doers of the Word and not just hearers, only.
Deal? Deal.
Thanks God for giving me Your Word and the conviction of Your Spirit, so that I can be holy before You. My I use it as the Mirror it was intended to be, and may I then respond accordingly to what It shows me. Thank Your for Your patience and for Your gentle rebukes. I love You. I really do.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Patience Isn't Such an Ugly Word, After All
People jokingly say to "never pray for patience." I think that's because in my lifetime, patience has become an "ugly word." It's the very last thing you want to hear when you are going through a trying time. You can test me on this and see. The next time someone you love is having a hard time, try to tell them to just have a little patience. On second thought...don't try me on this. You might just get punched in the eye!
Yet, in my aging years, I'm finding out that patience is not such an ugly word, after all. Instead, it is something to welcome into our lives, because it works in us to make us into who God created us to be. You see, if we never pray for patience - if it's something to avoid, rather than seek after - then we will never grow up! We will stay babes in Christ, drinking milk when we should be chomping on steak!
How do I know? Well, take a look at James 1:2-4:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So, if we truly believe the Word - if we truly believe that what God says is true - then we will accept patience into our lives as a good thing...something that works in us, causing us to be "perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Now that phrase doesn't mean that we will one day wake up completely sinless and be perfect in our every action and attitude. Instead, it means that one day, if we allow patience to have its way in us, then we will wake up mature, "grown up" in our spiritual walk with the Lord...empowered to fulfill His perfect Plan and Will for our lives completely.
Notice that I said, "If we allow patience...." You see, we have the ability to short-circuit this work. We can keep patience from doing its job in our lives. "How?" you may ask. I'll tell you how - by simply not choosing it!!!
For instance, it's a whole lot easier to blow up at your children when you are having a bad day, than choose to work through your anger, and act with kindness and gentleness despite your emotional upheaval. It's a whole lot easier to grumble and complain when things don't go your way at work, than it is to choose to accept what comes your way as part of God's plan for you. It's a whole lot easier to gossip about your brother or sister in Christ when they falter, than it is to choose to pray that he/she would receive forgiveness and grow in Christ.
So, I challenge us all today - as I sit at this computer trying to concentrate and type while a young child in my home beats loudly on a foam shark - to let patience have its perfect work...to allow God to use that "ugly word" to grow us up...to make us mature Believers...to make us who we were destined to be in Christ.
Dear Jesus, I pray for patience today, and as I find myself in situations that require me to choose patience over impatience, that You would remind me of James 1:2-4. Grow me up in You, Jesus. Complete me...that I may lack nothing in my relationship with You. Thank You, Lord.
Yet, in my aging years, I'm finding out that patience is not such an ugly word, after all. Instead, it is something to welcome into our lives, because it works in us to make us into who God created us to be. You see, if we never pray for patience - if it's something to avoid, rather than seek after - then we will never grow up! We will stay babes in Christ, drinking milk when we should be chomping on steak!
How do I know? Well, take a look at James 1:2-4:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So, if we truly believe the Word - if we truly believe that what God says is true - then we will accept patience into our lives as a good thing...something that works in us, causing us to be "perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Now that phrase doesn't mean that we will one day wake up completely sinless and be perfect in our every action and attitude. Instead, it means that one day, if we allow patience to have its way in us, then we will wake up mature, "grown up" in our spiritual walk with the Lord...empowered to fulfill His perfect Plan and Will for our lives completely.
Notice that I said, "If we allow patience...." You see, we have the ability to short-circuit this work. We can keep patience from doing its job in our lives. "How?" you may ask. I'll tell you how - by simply not choosing it!!!
For instance, it's a whole lot easier to blow up at your children when you are having a bad day, than choose to work through your anger, and act with kindness and gentleness despite your emotional upheaval. It's a whole lot easier to grumble and complain when things don't go your way at work, than it is to choose to accept what comes your way as part of God's plan for you. It's a whole lot easier to gossip about your brother or sister in Christ when they falter, than it is to choose to pray that he/she would receive forgiveness and grow in Christ.
So, I challenge us all today - as I sit at this computer trying to concentrate and type while a young child in my home beats loudly on a foam shark - to let patience have its perfect work...to allow God to use that "ugly word" to grow us up...to make us mature Believers...to make us who we were destined to be in Christ.
Dear Jesus, I pray for patience today, and as I find myself in situations that require me to choose patience over impatience, that You would remind me of James 1:2-4. Grow me up in You, Jesus. Complete me...that I may lack nothing in my relationship with You. Thank You, Lord.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
When I Am Afraid, I Will Trust in You...
For all those who are struggling with an on-going battle of some illness or heartache...for all those whose hearts are tired and whose bodies are weak...for all those whose souls ache for rest...for all of you...a story of hope...a story of understanding...a story of the Father's love.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was very sick. Every day was a struggle.to just get out of bed. She was mentally tired and physically worn down. Her body was weakened by the sickness that grew within her, and it seemed her bad days were becoming more frequent than ever. Her heart ached for the days when she could run and play as she used to, but she just didn't have the energy any longer. Besides, if she did overexert herself, even for a few minutes, she knew she would "pay for it" later, and it just didn't seem worth it anymore.
She was so tired of all the doctors. So far, she had been a good patient, but this day, she'd had enough. As she and her dad pulled up to the doctor's office, a mixture of panic and anger began to rise into every fiber of her being. She was tired of all the poking and prodding. She knew what awaited her in that office, so she decided enough was enough. She had had it. She was done.
Her Dad got out of the driver's seat and opened the passenger door. The little girl remained rigid and still, her hands clasped firmly in her lap. Her seatbelt remained untouched and securely in place. Her dad lovingly leaned into the car and said, "Honey, it's time to go in."
"But I don't want to," she said emphatically, sounding a lot like a two-year old. "You always bring me here, and it hurts every time. If you were a good daddy, you wouldn't make me go in."
The father looked down, as tears filled his own eyes. "Sweetie, you don't have a choice. You have to do it this way. It's not my fault that you are here, but it is my responsibility as your daddy to make sure you don't miss this appointment."
"Why? What kind of a good daddy would make his child sit through some strange man poking her with needles. The medicine they give me, makes me feel sick. It makes me tired and feel like I don't want to get out of bed." Tears filled her own eyes, as she looked away from the gaze of her father. She didn't want him to see her cry. She wanted him to know how angry she was, how unfair she thought he was for bringing her here. She was angry at him...at the doctor...at the nurses...at everyone in her life who had anything to do with this sickness.
Suddenly, she felt his hand gently wrap around her arm. "Honey, it's time. We've got to go," he said.
"No!" she screamed "I'm not going! I don't want to." and she pulled her arm, trying to break free from the grasp that held her tightly. The daddy gently reached in with the other arm and unbuckled the seat belt, which still clung to her ever-tightening fingers. "I'm sorry, honey, but you've got to go in. You don't have a choice...and I don't either. You have to do this. You won't get better, if you don't go in. I'll be with you the whole time. I won't let go of your hand. I won't let them take you from me...ever."
"But it hurts," the little girl finally turned her attention towards her dad and noticed for the first time, the own hurt covering his face. Somehow, that comforted her.
"I know. I wish there was another way. I wish I could make this all go away, right now, but that's not how it works. The medicine - this shot that you hate so badly - all this is not just because I want to hurt you. It's because I know this is what will make you well." A smile covered his face, almost as if he could see into the future - her running, playing, completely free of any pain and suffering. "This is what will heal you," he said. "If staying home in bed would take away this sickness from your body and make you stronger, I would let you do it. But the longer you fight me on this, the longer you resist your own healing. The longer and harder it will be to get well."
"Please, just come with me," he pleaded. "Trust me, my love. I would never let them do anything to you that didn't NEED to be done. I would never put you through something, just to make you suffer. I know what I'm doing. Please, don't fight me. It just prolongs your healing. Come...walk with me. I'll be with you the whole time. I'll be the one to hold your head when the room is spinning. I'll be the one to pick you up and carry you back out to the car when you're too dizzy to walk. I'll be the one to take you back home. And tomorrow, we'll get up, and I'll cook you your favorite breakfast, and you'll see, you'll feel better. Trust me. Just trust me," said the dad.
Seeing the father's compassionate eyes and hopeful smile, brought to mind all the times he had done exactly what he had said. He had never left her. He had always taken such good care of her. He had held her hand in the waiting room and again in the room with the doctor.
Then it hit her - as hard as anything ever had - He really wasn't going to leave her. He really would be with her the whole time. She could see that he didn't want her to go through this, but that he was doing what was best for her - to help her get well.
Her clenched fists loosened. Her muscles relaxed. She let go.
Fearful and teary eyed, she let him help her out of the car. She jumped into his arms, sobbing on his shoulders. When they reached the door, she picked up her head and looked deep into his eyes. "I'm scared...but I trust you," she said. And with that, the biggest grin covered his tear-stained face. "You just wait. You'll see. I have so much planned for us after this. You can't even begin to imagine the fun we'll have together. You'll get stronger and be able to do things you were never able to do before. Come on, let's go do this thing."
And they did.
The dad was right. She did get stronger. The disease that racked her body, could not fight against the medicine the shot provided.
But that wasn't the best thing that happened.
You see, the best thing that happened was that the daddy and the daughter's relationship grew deeper. The little girl learned that she really could trust her dad...that even when it looked like he was being mean, he wasn't. He really was doing what was best for her...for her healing. He really was trustworthy...even when she was afraid.
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Ps. 56:3).
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was very sick. Every day was a struggle.to just get out of bed. She was mentally tired and physically worn down. Her body was weakened by the sickness that grew within her, and it seemed her bad days were becoming more frequent than ever. Her heart ached for the days when she could run and play as she used to, but she just didn't have the energy any longer. Besides, if she did overexert herself, even for a few minutes, she knew she would "pay for it" later, and it just didn't seem worth it anymore.
She was so tired of all the doctors. So far, she had been a good patient, but this day, she'd had enough. As she and her dad pulled up to the doctor's office, a mixture of panic and anger began to rise into every fiber of her being. She was tired of all the poking and prodding. She knew what awaited her in that office, so she decided enough was enough. She had had it. She was done.
Her Dad got out of the driver's seat and opened the passenger door. The little girl remained rigid and still, her hands clasped firmly in her lap. Her seatbelt remained untouched and securely in place. Her dad lovingly leaned into the car and said, "Honey, it's time to go in."
"But I don't want to," she said emphatically, sounding a lot like a two-year old. "You always bring me here, and it hurts every time. If you were a good daddy, you wouldn't make me go in."
The father looked down, as tears filled his own eyes. "Sweetie, you don't have a choice. You have to do it this way. It's not my fault that you are here, but it is my responsibility as your daddy to make sure you don't miss this appointment."
"Why? What kind of a good daddy would make his child sit through some strange man poking her with needles. The medicine they give me, makes me feel sick. It makes me tired and feel like I don't want to get out of bed." Tears filled her own eyes, as she looked away from the gaze of her father. She didn't want him to see her cry. She wanted him to know how angry she was, how unfair she thought he was for bringing her here. She was angry at him...at the doctor...at the nurses...at everyone in her life who had anything to do with this sickness.
Suddenly, she felt his hand gently wrap around her arm. "Honey, it's time. We've got to go," he said.
"No!" she screamed "I'm not going! I don't want to." and she pulled her arm, trying to break free from the grasp that held her tightly. The daddy gently reached in with the other arm and unbuckled the seat belt, which still clung to her ever-tightening fingers. "I'm sorry, honey, but you've got to go in. You don't have a choice...and I don't either. You have to do this. You won't get better, if you don't go in. I'll be with you the whole time. I won't let go of your hand. I won't let them take you from me...ever."
"But it hurts," the little girl finally turned her attention towards her dad and noticed for the first time, the own hurt covering his face. Somehow, that comforted her.
"I know. I wish there was another way. I wish I could make this all go away, right now, but that's not how it works. The medicine - this shot that you hate so badly - all this is not just because I want to hurt you. It's because I know this is what will make you well." A smile covered his face, almost as if he could see into the future - her running, playing, completely free of any pain and suffering. "This is what will heal you," he said. "If staying home in bed would take away this sickness from your body and make you stronger, I would let you do it. But the longer you fight me on this, the longer you resist your own healing. The longer and harder it will be to get well."
"Please, just come with me," he pleaded. "Trust me, my love. I would never let them do anything to you that didn't NEED to be done. I would never put you through something, just to make you suffer. I know what I'm doing. Please, don't fight me. It just prolongs your healing. Come...walk with me. I'll be with you the whole time. I'll be the one to hold your head when the room is spinning. I'll be the one to pick you up and carry you back out to the car when you're too dizzy to walk. I'll be the one to take you back home. And tomorrow, we'll get up, and I'll cook you your favorite breakfast, and you'll see, you'll feel better. Trust me. Just trust me," said the dad.
Seeing the father's compassionate eyes and hopeful smile, brought to mind all the times he had done exactly what he had said. He had never left her. He had always taken such good care of her. He had held her hand in the waiting room and again in the room with the doctor.
Then it hit her - as hard as anything ever had - He really wasn't going to leave her. He really would be with her the whole time. She could see that he didn't want her to go through this, but that he was doing what was best for her - to help her get well.
Her clenched fists loosened. Her muscles relaxed. She let go.
Fearful and teary eyed, she let him help her out of the car. She jumped into his arms, sobbing on his shoulders. When they reached the door, she picked up her head and looked deep into his eyes. "I'm scared...but I trust you," she said. And with that, the biggest grin covered his tear-stained face. "You just wait. You'll see. I have so much planned for us after this. You can't even begin to imagine the fun we'll have together. You'll get stronger and be able to do things you were never able to do before. Come on, let's go do this thing."
And they did.
The dad was right. She did get stronger. The disease that racked her body, could not fight against the medicine the shot provided.
But that wasn't the best thing that happened.
You see, the best thing that happened was that the daddy and the daughter's relationship grew deeper. The little girl learned that she really could trust her dad...that even when it looked like he was being mean, he wasn't. He really was doing what was best for her...for her healing. He really was trustworthy...even when she was afraid.
When I am afraid, I will trust in You. (Ps. 56:3).
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
A Good Work Ethic Doesn't Build a Good Relationship
You know, sometimes, the very thing that you don’t want to
do is the very best thing for you. For
example, I don’t like to sit. Never
have. I feel like I’m wasting my time,
if I am not filling my time doing something.
I remember when Steve and I first married, he would come in,
sit on the couch and just watch me for a few minutes. I, of course, was up running around, cleaning,
cooking, and straightening things. You know, everything that needed to be done in
order for a new marriage to work well.
Yeah, right.
After about 5 minutes, Steve would finally say, “Hey,” and
then motion for me to come sit with him.
I promise you, my heart fought me the whole way to the couch. I knew I needed to go sit with my new
husband. I knew I needed to spend some
time with him, but there was so much to do…so much else to get done before the
end of the day, if I was to be the perfect wife. Begrudgingly, I would go sit.
And you know what? I
never regretted it.
It’s funny. You
would think after 20 years of marriage, I would have learned something about
building a relationship. You think I would
have learned how better to “sit” with the one I love. Yet, just the other day, my husband lovingly
looked at me from the corner of the couch and said, “Hey,” once again motioning
for me to take a seat. I fought the urge
to say “But I have to - ,” and instead, plopped down next to him, snuggled in
close and spoke with him about my day and just life in general.
Yes, it goes against my nature. Yes, I have to fight the feeling of THINGS
needing to get done, in order to spend a few minutes of quality time with my
husband, but the benefits far exceed the initial “interruption” of my daily
plans. We have a beautiful marriage and
a very deep communication…which, by the way, didn’t come from a clean house, an
organized kitchen, or even a well-cooked breakfast. Instead, it came from spending time with him –
fighting my urge to do things FOR him, and learning how to just be WITH
him.
You would think that bit of knowledge would transpose itself
over into my spiritual walk. However, I
still have to fight my nature, when it comes to my relationship to Jesus. There are so many things to do in a day, and
only so much time. There are meals to fix,
clothes to wash, school to be done. So much
clamors for my attention, and yet, as much as it goes against what I feel, I
know deep inside it is the necessary thing to sit with my Lord and spend time
with Him in order to build our relationship.
How do I know it’s the “necessary thing?” Because in Matthew 10, Jesus tells us it is: 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Notice that Christ didn’t condemn Martha for her work
ethic. He didn’t tell her that her
service was un-needed or unappreciated. There’s
nothing wrong with doing something well and working hard at it. He did, however, say that a good work ethic alone
doesn’t build a good relationship.
Hmmm….
What about you? What
do you choose to do when you hear Him whisper, “Hey,” and then see His hand
motioning for you to come and sit for a little while? Let me make that a little clearer. What do you do when you see His Word, lying
on your nightstand unopened? Do you say,
“I’ll do that later, AFTER I get some things done?” Do you pass by and try to pretend It’s not
there or do you grab It, plop down on the couch and sit for a while, talking to
Him about your day?
I challenge you.
Learn to sit with Him. Work on
your relationship with the Father, instead of just working for Him. Learn to spend time with Him - talking with
Him - listening to Him – reading His Word.
I promise you…you won’t regret it.
Jesus, thank You. Thank
You for wanting to spend time with me…for calling me to come and sit with You
for a while, and then speaking when I do.
Thank You that my relationship with You can be meaningful and deep. Thank You for loving me. I praise You, Lord.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
The Prescription for Ultimate Healing
Let’s face it - I just simply don’t like to take medicine. I never have. To me, there’s just something strange about putting chemically-created, chalky, circular discs covered in a lacquered coating into my body! But recently, I’ve become a little more tolerant of the idea. I still don’t like it, but sometimes, I have found that you just have to bite the bullet and swallow the thing!
Recently, my doctor prescribed a medication for my grumpy joints that caused my stomach to rebel and feel as if my food would not remain with me for very long, if you know what I mean! I decided the side effects weren’t worth the trouble and so, I stopped taking the medication, against doctor’s orders. It felt rather freeing at first - at least for a couple of days. But by the end of the third night, I had decided that maybe the doctor DID know something about my joints and that the little chemically-created, chalky, circular discs covered in a lacquered coating didn’t seem so bad after all! For me, the benefits far outweighed the side effects.
The point is...the doctor knew what was best for me. He knew that I needed to take the medicine, even though I told him I didn’t want to take it. He knew that I would feel better and be able to function more efficiently in my body, if the medicine were a part of me. It was only my sheer stubbornness that decided to take matters into my own hands and stop the meds. After all, I knew what was best for me...or so I thought. I wanted to do it my way - not his...
...AND what does this have to do with Jesus?
Well, sometimes, what He tells us to do in His Word (His Prescription) is something that we do not FEEL like doing. Instead, we FEEL like doing things our way. We FEEL like doing what makes us happy, not whole. So, in our stubbornness, we don’t listen. Instead we go our own way - doing things the way we think they should be done. Soon enough, one of two things happens We either crawl back to Him on our hands and knees begging for relief from our own selfish nature, OR worse yet, we blame Him for not doing what He said He would do in our lives. Isn't that interesting? We blame Him, even though, we are the ones who refused to take the remedy that He has prescribed!
Okay, okay, but what in the world does that look like in real life? What does it look like to take the medicine that the DOCTOR (in this case, GOD) prescribed?
It looks like praying for your enemies - the ones who hate you, who despitefully use you and persecute you, who curse you - even when you feel like punching them in the mouth instead (Matt. 5:44). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like loving other with action, not just in word or deed - even though it might take a little effort on your part to stop and help the widow lady next door get her groceries into her home - even though it might mean you have to be ready for rejection when you offer to help someone in need - even though it might mean not ever receiving thanks for something you did for someone (I John 3:18). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like opening your mouth and speaking with kindness and gentleness to someone who is chewing you out - literally - even though it might make you look weak to those around you - even though it might be embarrassing to your pride - even though it goes against every angry fiber rising in your being (Prov. 15:1-2). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like choosing to be thankful to God in the midst of hurtful situations, when all you can see around you are walls collapsing and torrents of water covering you up to your neck (I Thess. 5:18). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
The list could go on and on. There are SO many examples of “prescriptions” in Scripture, and all of them, though they might not be something that you WANT to do or like the effects of, ALL of them are for your healing.
So, the question before us today is - are we gonna trust the DOCTOR to know what is best for us - to prescribe the perfect medication for our remedy, OR are we - in our stubbornness - going to do things our own way and toss the Prescription to the side? I pray that we will choose the former and trust that God - even with side effects - knows what He’s doing to bring about our ultimate healing.
Dearest Jesus, Help me today to take my medicine like a good patient. Help me listen to what Your Word has to say about the situations that arise in my life today and respond the way You would have me respond. Teach me Your Word. Sink It deep into my soul that I may be healed. Thank You, Father, for Your healing...Your ultimate healing.
Recently, my doctor prescribed a medication for my grumpy joints that caused my stomach to rebel and feel as if my food would not remain with me for very long, if you know what I mean! I decided the side effects weren’t worth the trouble and so, I stopped taking the medication, against doctor’s orders. It felt rather freeing at first - at least for a couple of days. But by the end of the third night, I had decided that maybe the doctor DID know something about my joints and that the little chemically-created, chalky, circular discs covered in a lacquered coating didn’t seem so bad after all! For me, the benefits far outweighed the side effects.
The point is...the doctor knew what was best for me. He knew that I needed to take the medicine, even though I told him I didn’t want to take it. He knew that I would feel better and be able to function more efficiently in my body, if the medicine were a part of me. It was only my sheer stubbornness that decided to take matters into my own hands and stop the meds. After all, I knew what was best for me...or so I thought. I wanted to do it my way - not his...
...AND what does this have to do with Jesus?
Well, sometimes, what He tells us to do in His Word (His Prescription) is something that we do not FEEL like doing. Instead, we FEEL like doing things our way. We FEEL like doing what makes us happy, not whole. So, in our stubbornness, we don’t listen. Instead we go our own way - doing things the way we think they should be done. Soon enough, one of two things happens We either crawl back to Him on our hands and knees begging for relief from our own selfish nature, OR worse yet, we blame Him for not doing what He said He would do in our lives. Isn't that interesting? We blame Him, even though, we are the ones who refused to take the remedy that He has prescribed!
Okay, okay, but what in the world does that look like in real life? What does it look like to take the medicine that the DOCTOR (in this case, GOD) prescribed?
It looks like praying for your enemies - the ones who hate you, who despitefully use you and persecute you, who curse you - even when you feel like punching them in the mouth instead (Matt. 5:44). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like loving other with action, not just in word or deed - even though it might take a little effort on your part to stop and help the widow lady next door get her groceries into her home - even though it might mean you have to be ready for rejection when you offer to help someone in need - even though it might mean not ever receiving thanks for something you did for someone (I John 3:18). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like opening your mouth and speaking with kindness and gentleness to someone who is chewing you out - literally - even though it might make you look weak to those around you - even though it might be embarrassing to your pride - even though it goes against every angry fiber rising in your being (Prov. 15:1-2). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
It looks like choosing to be thankful to God in the midst of hurtful situations, when all you can see around you are walls collapsing and torrents of water covering you up to your neck (I Thess. 5:18). You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
The list could go on and on. There are SO many examples of “prescriptions” in Scripture, and all of them, though they might not be something that you WANT to do or like the effects of, ALL of them are for your healing.
So, the question before us today is - are we gonna trust the DOCTOR to know what is best for us - to prescribe the perfect medication for our remedy, OR are we - in our stubbornness - going to do things our own way and toss the Prescription to the side? I pray that we will choose the former and trust that God - even with side effects - knows what He’s doing to bring about our ultimate healing.
Dearest Jesus, Help me today to take my medicine like a good patient. Help me listen to what Your Word has to say about the situations that arise in my life today and respond the way You would have me respond. Teach me Your Word. Sink It deep into my soul that I may be healed. Thank You, Father, for Your healing...Your ultimate healing.
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