I like how God uses unsuspecting people, things, or nature to give us little lessons. My 2 year old, Jacob, is in the phase of toddlerhood where he is exploring independence, determined to do things on his own. Today, while at my mom's house, she asked me to turn on the television for Jacob. I went for the remote, and Jacob grabbed it saying "I do it myself". He was pressing all the wrong buttons, not getting anywhere. I kept saying, "Let me do it for you, let me help you". I had this sudden revelation that God is doing the same thing in our lives. He is saying to us, "Let me help you" and we respond "I do it myself". God is waiting to help us in our times of need, questioning, doubting. Some of us still are in our toddler years, or even adult years yelling back at God that we can do it all alone. The truth is, if we really got to the heart of all of our issues, we'd find a list of turning points when we insisted on doing it our way instead of God's way.
I often go back to a time when I know that I know that I know that I was in the perfect will of God. The peace that I had at that time was like none other. It was summer of 1995 through spring of 1996. This is not the only time in my life that I knew I was following God's plan, but it's the one that I'm thinking about right now. That summer of 1995, I was an adult leader going with a bunch of teenagers and other adult leaders on a missions trip to Managua, Nicaragua. I had no idea what was in store for me on that trip. We did the usual crusade type of things, went into orphanages, schools and town squares. We did dramas and outreaches. It was an amazing time. But, while we were there, I had a strong urgency in my spirit to pray about going back. I prayed from August through the beginning of January until I knew that it was time. In January, I called the pastors there and asked if it would be possible for me to come and if I'd have a place to stay, etc. That night, I booked my flight; the next day, I quit my job (which is whole other awesome story that ties into this, but kind of long). I left on February 5, 1996 for Managua and lived with a beautiful family for 3 months. It was truly one of the most rewarding and significant experiences of my life. I play those months over in my head many times a year.
There was just something wonderful and special about being in God's will, and knowing without a doubt that I was. I didn't do anything in my own power, but God opened doors for me. Imagine if we lived our entire lives that way? How wonderful would it be to experience God's perfect will, His hand guiding us in every decision, every question, every doubt? This is what I strive for! I can say that I still struggle with "I do it myself", but God is still there waiting to turn things on for me, just as I was there for Jacob waiting to turn things on. He finally gave in and handed me the remote, and to his surprise, his favorite show was on. Just like God to show us His good thoughts toward us through our children. :)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Peace and Quiet
Since having children, I have longed for some peace and quiet in the morning hours. I stay up later than I should to gain a sliver of quiet time, but I fill it with computer or tv noise. We have so much noise in our lives, and with the addition of "social networking" and other technology, that noise has increased 100 times. By the time I get to bed, my head is spinning, and I'm thinking of all the people going through problems, all the people enjoying successes, all the people.... So, the past few weeks, I've been going to bed a little earlier. It's not that I've wanted to sleep at 9:30, but my body has needed the sleep.
On the reverse end of that, I've been waking up at 2 or 3 every morning, wide awake and not able to go back to sleep until 5. I have come to savor those 2-3 hours every morning. It's dark, everyone is asleep, it is peaceful in my home and it is QUIET! I've been praying that the Lord would help me to make this a habit, but that I would wake up at 5 rather than 2. I'd like to have a couple of hours each morning before the family gets up to read my bible, pray and have some time to reflect and meditate. I'm not as likely to turn on the computer or tv at 5 in the morning, and I need this carved out time for the Lord. So, if you pray for me, pray that my body will adjust and I'll have the diligence to do this.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Lean not on your own understanding
I have been meditating on Proverbs 3 all week. There is so much in this one Proverb, written by Solomon. If we want to live a successful life, Proverbs 3 gives us the foundation for that. Verse 5 keeps ringing in my heart: Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Man, that is a powerful statement. I don't know about you, but I am the expert of my life. HA! If I look at the history of my life, I see strong faith, weak faith, all over the place faith. Thank God for his mercy. He loves me just the way I am, but is always working in me. When I think of trusting the Lord with all my heart, initially I say "YES, I can do this" "He is my God, He is my help, He is everything to me". And this voice in my head pops up "But how are you going to work this out, how are you going to get through this, how are YOU going to make it happen?" It takes a great deal of faith to let go and fall into the hands of God. I think of those ropes courses that were popular in the 90's for team building and other seminars where you have to "trust" your team members to catch you or hold you up if you can't go on. God is the ultimate team leader waiting to catch you if you should fall or hold you up when you feel defeated in life. Leaning on my own understanding or "trying to figure it all out on my own" does not bring anything but grief and worry. I have had to learn this lesson over and over and over and.... let's just say that the Lord has been faithful to me when I have not always been faithful to Him. I often try to figure my problems out before trying to go to the Lord in prayer. As I write this, I am encouraged to go to Him about things that I haven't yet. This is building my own faith, and I hope it is building yours as well. Trust in Him, don't lean on your own experience, understanding or knowledge! His ways are higher, He sees our past, present and future and He holds us in the palm of His hand! Thank you God for being so faithful. You are so good to me!
Proverbs 3 (NIV)
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the LORD detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Proverbs 3 (NIV)
1 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the LORD will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31 Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32 For the LORD detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33 The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Revisiting Goals
One of my goals for this year was to spend more quality time with the friends that I've made and hold dear. I want real and deep relationships, not just surface acquaintances. I have not done anything toward this goal this year. I have good intentions, but no follow through. I've set several dates for inviting people over for a cookout, dinner, games, whatever. Then, each time I set the date on paper, something comes up. This is why I'm really looking forward to our small group retreat in a week and a half.
For me, it will be a time to reconnect with friends, and just have some time to think and work through the things going on in my life. It's hard to spend much time doing that when you have two young children who require more time than there is in a day! I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I am REALLY looking forward to a couple of days of refocusing and revisiting some of my goals for the year. It's probably good to do that every couple of months anyway. At the beginning of the new year, there is so much hope, wonder and excitement about what the year will bring. I start each year wondering "what does God have in store for this year". A few months, or even weeks sometimes, into the year and some of those goals get lost in the shuffle of day to day life.
Thank you Lord for helping me to refocus my priorities, yet again. Thank you for giving me peace in the process. I praise you Lord for giving me hope and a future!
For me, it will be a time to reconnect with friends, and just have some time to think and work through the things going on in my life. It's hard to spend much time doing that when you have two young children who require more time than there is in a day! I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I am REALLY looking forward to a couple of days of refocusing and revisiting some of my goals for the year. It's probably good to do that every couple of months anyway. At the beginning of the new year, there is so much hope, wonder and excitement about what the year will bring. I start each year wondering "what does God have in store for this year". A few months, or even weeks sometimes, into the year and some of those goals get lost in the shuffle of day to day life.
Thank you Lord for helping me to refocus my priorities, yet again. Thank you for giving me peace in the process. I praise you Lord for giving me hope and a future!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)