Trusting God Is For the Birds

Trusting God -- do you find it as difficult to do as I do? I mean, I don't blame us; it's hard to trust things you can't see. Even Jesus said, "[B]lessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29b). We believe the sun will come up today because it came up yesterday and all the days before. Trust grows out of a consistent experience. It's funny that we are supposedly the superior species of all God's creations, yet we're so hardheaded. Let's take birds, for example. I don't think birds are all that smart. I've seen quite a few doves collide with a glass window at top speed. And sometimes the same dove does it over and over again. But even the birds have some things figured out that we don't.


My husband, over the past few years, has taken to feeding the hummingbirds in our neighborhood. The first year he purchased some plants known to attract hummers. Unfortunately, those plants have since died, but the hummers keep coming to our back porch for their nectar. Why? Because of past experience. Consistently, every summer, food has been provided to them. This weekend my family is visiting my dad in South Texas. Growing up, my mom consistently fed the birds and squirrels of the neighborhood. I hadn't thought much about this till this weekend. My dad and his "lady friend" (his term, not mine) have begun hanging bird feeders (including a hummingbird feeder) and setting out bird baths. (Don't worry, squirrels -- you'll have your own feeder soon, too.) And the birds flock to the trees, enjoying the seeds and the refreshing water. I love that these men in my life take care of the birds. Why can't I learn that the "Other Man" in my life (He should be the Top Man) does the same for me consistently? In the words of Jesus:

"'Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.... Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!'" (Luke 12:6-7, 24).

Yes, even the birds trust our God.

Yesterday I read this quote by Martha Tennison: "We only trust people we know. If you're struggling to trust God, it may be because you don't really know God" (quoted by Joanna Weaver in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, p. 125). Wow. So now what do we do? Even if we have the why, we're often left with the how. If you've read my blog before, you already know the answer. Set time aside for you and God. Do it regularly. As you consistently experience God, your trust will grow.

I'm praying for you. Please pray for me. We all need to trust God more.

This Is How We Overcome

My heart is awash in a variety of emotions and thoughts this morning. First of all, please know that I know that the world is full of pain, suffering, problems, weariness, and confusion. But also know this, as our pastor put it last night: "The comfort that the Comforter brings is greater than the pain that you're suffering." I know. That sounds nice, doesn't it? But how often do we really feel that? Let me tell you, I hear ya. When the bills come in, and those numbers are bigger than you'd expected, God's comfort seems pretty far away. When you suddenly lose a loved one, the agony feels like death to your spirit. When your relationships are strained, you feel so alone. BUT I can tell you that God's comfort is real. It is possible. I have experienced it. And I've experienced it more than once. These writings began as a quest for joy. I have to be honest: I have not felt joyful regularly in a very long time. But I pray that I'm on the right path to get there again. The way I always get there is through regular (daily!) reading of God's Word.

One of the names for the Holy Spirit is Comforter. The Spirit can be a difficult "God-person" (remember, God is 3 persons) to understand. But as our pastor has guided us through a study of Him, I've begun to get it. John 16:13 says, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come." Our pastor reminded us in his last sermon that the Spirit has come to us from the very throne room of God to speak to us. You may feel beat down, but the Spirit tells you that you will be okay. He will tell you what is yet to come. You may lose things you hold dear, but do not lose heart. You will be okay. "Weeping may endureth for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b, KJV). Other verses rose up and encouraged me this morning as well:

"Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy" (John 16:22, emphasis mine).

"Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:24b).

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters" (Psalm 18:16).

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?.... For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling" (Psalm 27:1, 5a).

"I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul" (Psalm 31:7).

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all" (Psalm 34:18-19).

I hope those verses encourage you as they did me. I have also been thinking this morning of Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." When I was growing up, I heard more than once the idea to focus on each of these traits at a time, working on developing that trait. There is some good to that idea, but I think the premise of it is all wrong. We make things so difficult for ourselves. Why do work that was never ours to do? It is the Spirit's work to make these things happen in us! If we are spending time with God, listening to Him, reading His Word, asking Him for guidance, then these are the fruits, the produce, the result of our "work" of abiding in Him. I think it is no mistake that the first fruit is love, followed by joy. If we experience God's love, we feel more loving towards others. And when you experience this sort of love, how can you be anything but joyful? And then I think the other fruits follow much more easily. If we can just learn the key to joy!

A few days ago, a friend and mentor prayed for me. I don't often cry, but I always cry when someone prays aloud for me. I guess I finally release some of the burden that I am carrying and let someone else carry it for me, for just those moments of prayer anyway. (The reality, of course, is that God will carry it for me, if I'll only let Him.) Please know this morning that I prayed for you. I prayed for an open heart, for wisdom, for peace, for direction, for joy, for comfort.

Grace, peace, and joy be yours today. And tomorrow. And the next day.

Being Still

This morning I decided to try something a little different in my quiet time. I decided to fix a cup of coffee (well, instant cappuccino, but it works) and go outside and sit on the back porch. I decided to be quiet. Normally, I promptly open my Bible, read some passages recommended in our pastor's most recent sermon notes, and then I write. I've recently decided that I need to do some praying first. But yesterday, as I thought about this morning's quiet time, I thought about needing to be quiet. So this morning I sat and...just sat. Because of our dog's aging bladder, I was up fairly early. And it was quiet. Our pool's waterfall hadn't begun to run (it starts up at 7:00), the planes hadn't begun to fly overhead, and apparently, the creatures hadn't gotten going yet either, with the exception of a bird and a squirrel. For whatever reason, I got up and walked around, and suddenly I could hear something. It was a constant rustling, not too close, but not too far away. It was the cottonwood tree in the front yard of the house next door. While we're not too fond of the cottony stuff the tree produces (it coats the outside of our air unit and can clog up our pool's inner workings), I love to hear the leaves. Probably part of why I love it is because it's similar to an aspen. My parents spent their college years in Colorado and loved it, so the cottonwood's unique song reminds me of them.

Now, this tree is tall. And as I looked across the rooftops to enjoy the visual dance of the cottonwood's leaves, I began to notice the tops of the two large oak trees that stand guard at the front of our house. And I noticed the clouds in the great expanse of blue, blue sky. I happened to glance down at our back porch. It looked so small. I saw the beach towels and pool floats draped around the table and chairs. Those are the things I usually see. I rarely really see the trees, clouds, and sky.

I often think to myself that I should go for a swim in these mornings when I'm up before the rest of the family. And so today I did. I stretched my muscles, stiff from the night's sleep, and felt the water roll over my arms as I moved them through the water. And I enjoyed what God has made.

It's funny how the small things usually seem large, so large that they block our view of the truly large things. And it's funny how the noise of life drowns out the silence that we so desperately need in order to hear the things we really ought to hear.

Before long, the waterfall began to rush, the planes began gliding with their buzzing rumble above, and I made my way back to the porch. And soon after, my toddler girl appeared at the back door, awake and ready for some attention.

I never made it to the Bible reading that I had intended for today. But God spoke to me anyway and confirmed that I had made a good decision about how I spent my morning.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a).

Dependence Day

Today is the Fourth of July, America's Independence Day. As the daughter and granddaughter of Air Force officers, I am a patriotic sort. My blood boils if there isn't silence when the National Anthem is played. I glare at the backs of teenage boys' heads if they don't remove their hats when I hear "O say, can you see." Respect and support for our country is a huge part of who I am. And when my mother and I took a summer vacation to England some years ago, I wanted to be sure we'd be back in the States on the Fourth of July; it seemed wrong to be in England on such an American holiday!

And while I honor our nation's past and pray that we continue to work against injustice, today I'm not thinking about independence. I'm thinking about dependence. As human beings--and especially as Americans, I think--the idea of dependence is distasteful. To be dependent upon someone or something is a sign of weakness. Or is it? Depends on whom it is, doesn't it?

Recently, I have begun to understand what dependence on God really means. I'm nowhere close to achieving it, but I'm beginning to understand what it means and how I can get there. The more I read, the more I listen to our pastor's sermons, and the more I mull over what I've heard in the past, the more I see that it all begins with having some time with God. Just you and God. And you have to be completely open with Him; you can't be tentative and guarded in your meetings with Him. It's pretty pointless anyway, seeing as that He made you and knows what you're thinking. As I see it, there are 3 main components of a good chat with God: prayer, Bible reading, and listening. You've got to talk to God, then You've got to see what He's been saying, and then you've got to LISTEN. What are you listening for? What God wants YOU to hear. Hmmmm...three components, three persons of God--the Father, the Son, the Spirit...coincidence? Doubt it. Interesting. You talk to Jesus, who's been here on this earth, in all its misery and frustration, so He gets it. You go to the Father for advice, encouragement, and motivation, and He'll give you what you need, just like a dad should. And then the Spirit.... The Spirit here means "breath," originally. So after you consult with the Son and the Father, the Spirit breathes in your ear what you need to hear and gives you the spirit to follow it. I'm sure I've heard sermons or read books that have explained all this before, but isn't "discovery learning" best? Sometimes you have to come to an understanding on your own.

I have a pretty strong background in church and religion. I don't remember not going to church, growing up. While this is good, it isn't enough. Once a foundation is built, it doesn't mean the building is finished; it's only just begun. I have to continue the work that my parents, grandparents, and teachers began and build my own house of worship for God and me. This idea of building a strong foundation on God is becoming more and more urgent to me by the day. My daughter is 19 months old. While I'm thankful for Nick Jr. and the Fresh Beat Band (Google it, if you're that curious), I want her to sing and dance to songs about God. I want her to not only be able to tell me that the sound a lion makes is "AHHHHHH!!!" (it's adorable, by the way), but also tell me that God made lions and that He even closed their mouths when Daniel needed protection. And as she grows up, she'll learn on her own how the story of "Daniel in the lions' den" applies to her life. Deuteronomy 11 says, "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds.... Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up" (v. 18a, 19).

So how can I be a good enough and wise enough mother to instill this in my child? How am I going to do or be anything I want to do or be? The only answer I have is to depend on God. And that starts with having regular conversations with Him, reading His advice book, and listening for what you personally need to hear. And really, quite frankly, just knowing that you don't have all the answers and are in need of guidance every step of the way. And that's dependence. At least as I see it. :)

Happy Dependence Day! Have another one tomorrow!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my husband and my eighth wedding anniversary. We've been together for close to 13 years, but in our 8 years of marriage alone, we've been through quite a lot together. We've bought our first house, experienced the deaths of family and friends, gotten new jobs, remodeled most of our fixer-upper house and pool, experienced infertility, traveled to some beautiful and interesting places, started a business, had our daughter, lost a lot of sleep, and cooked a lot of excellent meals. Anniversaries are great because they remind you to look back on where you've been, remember what you've come through, and--perhaps most importantly--examine where you're headed.

June is a great month for me personally. My birthday is also in June, as well as a very important anniversary: that of my baptism. I was baptized 20 years ago this past Sunday. In these 20 years, I've been through quite a lot in my spiritual life. I've built upon my knowledge of the Bible, the foundation of which my parents built in me. I've made some bad choices, I've made some good choices, and I've chosen not to make choices at all. I've attended 11 churches, read a variety of authors discussing God and spirituality, I've conversed with a variety of people about what it means to be a Christian. I've pushed God to the back burner, I've made Him my first priority, I've had sporadic devotional times. Really, I guess the analogy of being married to God is a good one. Sometimes you're so focused on your spouse, you feel so in love, he is the first thing you think about when you wake up. And then there are those other times. Times that you forget about making your spouse a priority, when he's more of a roommate. In the case of God, He can become even less of a roommate because He can be so unintrusive. As the saying goes, God is a gentleman--He won't barge in. (At least, most of the time.) Why do we forget so easily? Why do we forget the people (including our Father!) who have supported us through the hard times? God, save me from memory loss! I suppose you could say time spent reading the Bible and in prayer is like omega 3's--it helps preserve your memory!

This morning I read Psalm 119:105-107: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word."

Couples sometimes hold a ceremony at which they renew their marriage vows. My husband and I have discussed doing this in the future. Again, it reminds you to think of your past, your present, and your future. But we also need to do this in our spiritual marriage. One of the things I love about marriage to God is that every day is a new one. Really, every moment is a fresh start.

Thank You, God, for these past 20 years. You've held me close through some difficult, lonely times--even when I didn't realize it at the time. Thank You for Your neverending love. Thank You also for my husband and our marriage. Strengthen us, teach us, inspire us to be the best we can be for You and for each other.

Happy Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. I'm sure I've heard this angle before. Surely in the 30-something years I've heard sermons, I've heard this point made. But that's the funny thing, isn't it? You rediscover important truths all the time, if you tune in.

I've wished my father and my husband (it's his 2nd Father's Day as the "da-DEEEE!!!" to our adorable 19-month-0ld) a happy Father's Day today. And they're both great dads. But--and don't be offended, guys--but you're not God. So on this Father's Day (and future ones, I pray), I'm remembering that God is our ultimate Father. He's the one all fathers should model themselves after (and we mothers too!). He loves us more than anyone else can or will.

So, God, thanks for being my dad. You've always been there for me and always will be. Thanks for giving me wings but also roots. I didn't get you a card, but I know You know I love you.

Without Even Trying

How often have you heard someone (maybe yourself?) say, "I try to do the right thing"? We do try to do the right thing, don't we? We try not to lose our temper, we try not to be mean-spirited about people behind their backs, we try to be positive. And how often we fail.

In my continuing pursuit of what this whole Christian thing really means in everyday life, I read this phrase (attributed by Joanna Weaver to good ol' Oswald Chambers): "Conscious repentance leads to unconscious holiness." Yes, we're going to mess up. We do mess up. But our job is to stay connected to God, ask Him to clean our hearts of the messes we make, and trust Him to do what He says He'll do. Over time, the more we are connected to Him, those sour attitudes will dissipate and be replaced by His fruits of the Spirit. As we remain connected to the Vine, we will produce these attributes of a follower of Jesus. I used to tell God I was going to be more compassionate, more patient, and so on. But I tried to do it as a flawed human. The trick is to live in Him, rest in Him, and then more and more, we'll become like Him. Without even trying.

Home Is Where...?

My mother passed away unexpectedly five years ago this past Monday. I was nearly 29 years old, had been married almost 3 years. Mom and I had had our conflicts, but she was still Mom. She was the one I griped to about work (though she'd always been a stay-at-home mom, so those conversations weren't always fulfilling), she was the one I talked to about wanting a child. She was the one I went to when I wanted to make a trifle look beautiful. She was the one I asked to pray for me and for my husband and whatever difficulties we were facing at the time.

And then she was gone.

In her book Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss, Hope Edelman spends time discussing the different issues faced by women who've lost mothers at different ages. A small child who loses her mother is affected differently from a teenager who loses her mother. Edelman says, "If adolescence is all about forming an identity, the twenties are about taking that identity and putting it to use in the larger world. That's why a woman who loses her mother at this time may well be the most overlooked and misunderstood daughter of all." The author goes on to explain that as a young woman establishes her career, family, and motherhood, she needs a "home base" to which to return for encouragement, affirmation, advice, nurturing, and so on. If the daughter lives in a town away from her family, visiting her family is a vital part of succeeding during this time of life. But what happens when there isn't a home to go to? Fathers can do what they can, but the heart of a home is created by the mother.

In the five years since Mom's death, I have essentially withered without the nurturing a young woman, wife, and mother needs. In the past year or so, it has become apparent that I need to find some nurturing for myself. While I do need some nurturing from human women, a different idea came to me this morning. I have been slowly making my way through Joanna Weaver's Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (which, among many other books, had been on my mother's bookshelf at her passing). I have a hard time understanding the concept of taking care of myself. This book is one of several resources (which include people I know!) that have helped me see the need for self-care. Weaver discusses Robert Boyd Munger's article "My Heart Christ's Home" and the idea of Jesus's living in each of us. Not a new idea to me, really. I've been in church most of my life. Jesus wants to live in us. Right. I get it. Or so I thought. Weaver quotes Munger: "'[Jesus] built a fire in the cold hearth and banished the chill. He started music where there had been stillness....'"

Instead of wishing for a home that I can escape to, to envelop me, to comfort me, perhaps I already have that home right here inside me. Perhaps I should ask God to come on in, ask Him to put the tea kettle on the stove, ask Him to pat my hand and stroke my head while I tell Him about how tired, weary, and confused I am. This is exactly what I wish my mother were here for. My heart hurts because I want her to visit my home and enjoy the little comforts and joys my little family and I have created here. But she's not here, and really, God can bring even more comfort than she could.

The saying goes that home is where the heart is. True. But perhaps it matters more who is in your heart. And if God is, then you're home.

"Abide in me, and I in you" (John 15:4a).

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love" (John 15:9).

"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full" (John 15:11).

She Wore What?

From Proverbs 31:22b: "She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns."

She wore what?! Wait a minute. I thought a good Christian woman went without and denied herself luxuries. But this woman to whom we are taught as little girls to aspire wore nice clothes. "Fine linen and purple gowns." In those days, purple was the color of the upper crust, as purple dye came from some sort of crustacean that was highly prized.

So this morning as I finished blow-drying my new haircut (thanks be to God for my hairstylist of over 10 years), I prayed God for some kind of revelation. And this was it: that it is good for me to spend time and, yes, even splurge on myself. It's even biblical! Now, let's not ignore the getting up in the dark hours of early morning to get meals prepared (verse 15) or the working hard (verse 19) or the giving to the poor and needy (verse 20). There's much to be expected of a daughter of God. But here's what I've been missing (even though my husband has tried to get it through my head and I've heard dozens of sermons and other messages on this topic): You've got to take care of yourself SO THAT you can take care of others.

When I asked God for a revelation this morning, I didn't expect one like this. Funny how God knows exactly what we need, isn't it?

It's About Time

It's about time that I began posting again. Why? Well, it's about time. Time on this earth is short. We are but a vapor that quickly dissipates. Time flies. So as my 16-month-old daughter climbs on file boxes and stacks of household paperwork in our home office, I promise to her, myself, my husband, and my God that I will return to this oddly beautiful thing called writing that is an essential part of who I am, the woman God created me to be. Welcome back, Joy to the Girl. It's about time.

No Video

When I was young, my mother's sister and her family lived overseas for several years. From time to time, we'd send them videotapes of ourselves--a letter is nice, but you can see and hear a person on a video.

One morning, my mother spotted a series of hot air balloons floating above our house. She got out the videocamera and began recording the balloon race. I watched the race too, and my mother and I commented about the different colors and designs of the various balloons, the tape all the while recording our comments. But only our comments. The tape was just video of the balloons and audio of our voices.

I'm not sure why, but my mom sent this videotape to her sister and her family. Later, they joked about how frustrating it was to hear our voices but not see us. They knew we were there because they could hear our voices. But they longed to see our faces.

For some reason, I thought about this the other day, this memory from my childhood. And it made me think about how frustrating it can be when God seems so far away. He seems a world away. We can see His creations, and sometimes we can even hear His voice. We know He's there. But we can't see Him. But someday we will. And it is also a comfort to remember Matthew 28:20: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus is with us. Always. And He always will be. Remember this. Remind yourself constantly. We've got a big brother who is always there to guide us, cheer us, protect us, and love us.

The Good Times and the Bad Times

This morning I read the first half or so of Mark 1. When I read the account of Jesus' baptism and then what followed, I stopped and pondered. After Jesus was baptized (an act of submission to God the Father), He was tempted by Satan for 40 days. In the desert. Alone. Well, alone until the angels came and cared for Him.

So I got to thinking....

Have you ever gone through a period of good times, only to go through a really bad time? You keep thinking things just can't get any worse, but they do. Unfortunately, during the good times, we often forget about God. We don't pray regularly, we don't read our instruction manual (i.e., the Bible), we let our church attendance slide or at least don't really put our all into it when we're there. So then when the bad times come (which they do because we live in a fallen world), we're not prepared for them.

Jesus experienced a good time (His baptism) and then immediately a bad time (the temptation by Satan). I'm sure He was pretty hacked off about it at times. Good grief, stupid Satan! Just leave me alone! But He was prepared. How was He prepared? He was prepared with Scripture. Also, He was attended by angels. When we are combatting evil, we need God's people attending us. That will probably mean that you need to reach out and ask for help. We can't all read each other's minds. So we have to reach out.

I pray that you are daily preparing yourself for whatever you may face and are developing relationships with people who are doing the same.

When I Get to Heaven....

This post is short and very unlike most of my posts here. Too bad. It's my blog, so I can do what I want. ;)

So, when I get to heaven, I'm going to be a mermaid part of the time. I love the ocean, and I want to swim with the dolphins and sea turtles. I'm not too sure about the sharks, but if the lion and lamb can lie together, then I figure I can be friends with a shark.

A Fresh Coat

Jesus taught using parables. He used everyday things to help make sense of things that were hard to understand. I just thought of an analogy for a biblical concept....

In today's DIY world of home improvement, many decorators advise turning an old piece of furniture into something new with a fresh coat of paint. For some reason, I thought of the idea of being dressed in Christ's righteousness. I understand the meaning. I am inexpressibly grateful for this gift. But I never really...connected with the "dressed" part. Now, I get it. God takes our beat-up, chipped exterior and strips our old paint and varnish. We're totally bare and exposed. It's the most extreme feeling of vulnerability. But He loves us like this. He loves us because He knows we're trusting Him.

And then...

...He gives us a fresh, cheery, shining coat of paint. The color? Christ's Righteousness, of course!

Loving the Unlovable

One of the things my mother told me often as I was growing up was that people are the most unlovable when they need the most love. It makes sense. When we are miserable, we give very little thought to any one else but ourselves. But isn't it hard to love someone when they're at their worst? It's much easier to avoid the person. But -- and here is the question you should constantly ask yourself -- would Jesus have chosen the easy way? Nope. He wouldn't. And He didn't. And He still doesn't.

He loves you and me, doesn't He? Are we always easy to love? Nope.

But He loves each and every one of us more than we can imagine. And He loves us when we're at our worst.

But, as Max Lucado often says, He loves us too much to leave us there. He wants us to live abundantly.

When you are feeling at your worst, remember how much your Father and His Son love you. And when someone is at their worst, remind yourself that God and Jesus feel the same way about that person.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, emphasis added).

Getting a Lift

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (I Peter 5:6-7).

What's this about "in due time"? I read a devotional last night that said that "[t]he thorn and the thistle - the difficulties and trials that make (man's) life one of toil and care - were appointed for (man's) good as a part of the training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought (The Path to Peace: Finding Hope in a Troubled World, Steps to Christ).

We are so impatient, aren't we? We're even impatient about God's speed in helping us. We wonder how long we'll have to suffer whatever it is we are going through. But do we do what it takes to let Him help us? The key is in the humility. Are we not being arrogant when we think we can handle all of life's difficulties on our own? God knows us -- we're His creations. And He knows that we need to understand that -- that He made us, so He can take care of our problems better than we can. This is not to say that we don't have a part in the solutions to our problems. But we must remember to constantly ask for His guidance, strength, wisdom, and peace. Then maybe we'll get a lift.

Renewal

Yesterday a co-worker and I were discussing locus of control, the idea of whether things happen to us because of things beyond our control (external locus) or because of what we do and tell ourselves (internal locus). Certainly, the reality is a combination of the two. Our discussion got me to thinking about thinking. Obviously, things happen that we can't control. But we can control how we react to them, including how we think about them. This is basic, popular psychobabble, isn't it? Nothing too new here. But it is worth thinking about.

When you are a Christian, these concepts go beyond psychobabble. We have a God who is available to help transform our thinking. I thought about Romans 12:2 this morning:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It seems to me that we tend to think of this verse in light of the indulgences of the Romans--you know, those horrible, not-to-be-spoken-of sins. (The previous verse talks about offering our bodies as living sacrifices.)

However, what about stress? What about not getting enough sleep, enough exercise? What about eating unhealthful foods? What about isolating ourselves, away from relationships and community?

The pattern of our world is extreme stress, coupled with pressures to be perfect--whatever that means in your life. God never meant for us to feel this way.

We may not be able to control all of the circumstances we are in. But we can make changes in how we live. With New Year's just around the corner, it's a great time to think about renewing your thinking about how you live. One of the best ways to do this is to read scripture. God made everything, so He's probably the best One to consult on life.

So, Why Don't We?

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).

I read this verse and am encouraged in the reminder that Jesus has been through the struggles of this life and wants to help us through them. But then I stop and wonder....

Why don't we approach the throne of grace and request help from our Father more often?

There are many reasons why we don't. But none of them are very good. So if you, like me, have not been daily asking your Father for direction, strength, wisdom, comfort, or whatever, please renew your resolve today to make it a priority. And this time of year--with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner--is a perfect time to remember the One from whom all good things come.

Everyday Gifts

Lately I've been struggling a bit with the "Why?" issues of faith. We all go through these phases--I believe we must experience these times to have true, tested faith. Sometimes God doesn't provide many answers to the big questions. However, He often grants our prayer requests in the form of little, "everyday" gifts. They may seem insignificant, but when you're really wondering if He's up there, if He cares, it makes a big difference.

Chronic insomnia plagues me, and recently I woke up in the middle of the night to loud, gusting winds. I was concerned about our patio furniture and plants outside, and the anxiety kept me awake for a long time. The narrative of Jesus' calming the winds at sea jumped into my mind. I said to God, "I know You calmed the winds at least once. I know You can do it now. Please, please, God, make the winds die down just long enough for me to go back to sleep."

Within minutes, the winds were stilled.

I slipped back into sleep, somewhat surprised and very grateful.

When I awoke in the morning, the wind was active again. But it had calmed down enough for me to sleep again, and that was exactly what I'd asked for. The next morning I told my husband about my middle-of-the-night prayer. He said that he had noticed that the winds calmed down and very abruptly--so I know it wasn't just my imagination.

God knows that our faith sometimes needs a little boost. He knew I needed sleep that night. I've experienced at least one other honored "everyday" prayer request since that windy night. I still have some big prayer requests that give me some pain. But these little gifts from my Father help me to continue to ask and give the strength and wisdom to understand that His wisdom and timing are much better than mine.

Those Good Ol' Psalms

Well, it hasn't been quite a month since I last posted, but pretty close. I've been busy, busy, busy with a major project for work, but we finally completed it last week.

I received the following quotation from an email list I subscribe to. Because I originally began this blog (and the email messages preceding it) with the Psalms, I felt it was appropriate to share this quotation:

"The Psalms defy our notions of profane and sacred, proving that everything we feel, witness, do unto others, and have done to us is acceptable subject matter for conversing with the Divine. They invite us to bring every part of ourselves into our houses of worship. If we omit expressions of faith lost, of rage, of disdain, and of the desire for revenge, we leave parts of ourselves at the door." --Kari Jo Verhulst

God knows our every thought, so why not be completely open with Him about our feelings? We might as well discuss them with Him.

The email list had verses 6 through 10 of Psalm 103. But here is the psalm in full--it's even more powerful.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul" (Psalm 103).