Dinghy Tossing

06.20.19.  Two surgeries in three days. This is my momma. Originally, we had spaced out the surgeries over a couple of weeks to allow for healing and the courage to walk into another surgery center. 

Life happens. When it does, it sends out ripple effects in all directions tossing everyone in their dinghies. Some go overboard and some lower their center of gravity, hold on and roll with it. I would like to think my family has become quite adept at managing dinghy tossing waves. This week has been an ocean full of rolling waves and we are still in the boat!

We do extra things for our family members that we may not ask others to do, because we are family. And, because we are family we make room, make time, make allowances with or without gracious intentions.

For the days of both surgeries, Momma and I strategically coordinate our departure based on weather, location and traffic patterns, because one of the surgeries is on the other side of Nashville during drive-time. Then, there is the follow-up appointment on the day between both surgeries. And, my hubby makes the decision to travel to be with dear friends for the final service of a loved one. These friends are like family to us and one of us was going to be there to show our love. This means I am on-point for the transportation and care-giving for these three days.

The first surgical procedure is a snap with almost immediate results. We feel good with the direction the current pulls our dinghy. The second procedure is painful. There's no immediate reward. There's only a projected slow recovery with medications and stitches and gauze. In a way, our dinghy feels stalled and tossed at the same time, because other decisions have to be made. There's that ripple effect mentioned earlier. But, it's family and we love our family.

Before I read today's devotional in the EMBRACED book, I asked God for a quick nugget in my noggin that would partner with Lysa TerKeurst's thoughts. I penciled the following whisper of gold into my journal: Caring well for others reflects the love of God in our own hearts. 
In the Day 20 devo, Lysa recalls the focused attention of one young reporter (with a very public family) who interviewed the TerKeurst Family observing, "She stayed present in that role alone." Instantly, my brain picked up where God's golden nugget dropped. 

Schedules rearranged while maintaining other plans. Additional trips into town and back. Meals changed. All are waters to navigate, this week, to stay present in my role as a family member caring for a member of my household.

...

In 1 Timothy 5:8, Apostle Paul gets really focused in the letter as he admonishes young Preacher Tim regarding taking care of family members, "If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely." 

With a zing he adds a stinger, "Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That's worse than refusing to believe in the first place."

Point taken. To that end, I believe it's time to administer Momma's afternoon meds ...with extra care.

Are you still in your dinghy? Let me know.

What's In My Hand?

06.13.19.  Every now and then, a girl must shake herself from the routine and ask, "What am I doing and why?"

In this morning's Day 13 EMBRACED devo, Lysa TerKeurst brings to the stage Mr. Shamgar, the maybe-farmer who "struck down" six hundred oppressors with a cattle prod. Say what? I must have zoned out while reading through that part of Judges, because either I glazed over it or read the account as just another win for God's team. How could another miracle ever become too familiar? Further proof I need a shake-me-up miracle of my own.

Check it for yourself in the Old Testament book of Judges Chapter 3. 

After reading through the devo, my insides were all jittery. Not like from too much caffeine on an empty stomach. More like anticipation at finally getting to unwrap the gift from that one person who totally gets you, because you know it will be the best gift ever! I wanted to dive right into ripping the paper off this best-ever gift with words and action.

But first, in Obedient Heart and Feet I challenged you to be still -without requests or grievances- for 5 minutes each day until Sunday listening for God's voice. I did it. I opened my journal to a blank page (just in case) and set the timer (because I'm lame). I knew there would be difficulty in actively listening if I were to be wordless (That reads like the most oxymoronic sentence). Multi-tasking is a strong suit. As I offered up words of praise and thankfulness, my spiritual ears were at-the-ready to catch His words of love and instruction sent down to my open spirit.

Did I hear the audible Voice? Nope. 
Did my hand begin to mysteriously scribble notes? Nope. 

Instead, an emotion of stillness seemed to settle around me... peace was accompanied by the sweetest knowing that I am loved by the Heavenly Father. 

Back to the shaking of myself, if being all that I am is living to make His name known, then I am living with impact. Every situation, every gathering, every encounter becomes His best gift to me by choosing me for the thing at-hand! My willingness qualifies me! Little ol' me in a little ol' town in Tennessee need only to look at what is in my little ol' hand to accomplish this extraordinary thing for today and the days to come. 

In my hand, today, there's a computer keyboard clicking out a blog about the living and loving God. There's a kitchen to prepare nourishment for which my family will thank the Lord for providing. There's an evening fitness class that will end with prayer for my friends -- whether or not they have a relationship with their adoring Creator who wonderfully made our bodies to move and be strong.

Tomorrow, there will be more opportunities to make His name known with impact. 

As Lysa asked in today's devo from Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close, I'll pose a question to you: Even if you feel small and unlikely, what's in your hand to accomplish extraordinary things in His name?

Obedient Heart and Feet

06.12.19.  Have you ever decided to sit and listen for God? Instead of doing all the talking, all the asking, all the telling Him about grievances, have you ever thought of sitting and listening for the voice?

Next question, how long did it take before your mind started darting around or you just stopped listening?

Most every morning, my busy mind cranks up and begins rolling like a self-propelled lawn mower almost as soon as my eyes open, even without the shot of caffeine. There's a chair in the living room where I love to curl my feet under me to read and journal, but I don't always get there. There's a rolling chair in the office where the morning sunshine spills on and I feel like the family pet absorbing its warmth while studying the Bible, but I don't always get there, either. There are so many places that are perfect for being still and being quiet, but I don't get there until late or never.

Honestly, sitting and listening for the voice of God is not my forte. I beg to hear His voice, but never close my mouth nor intentionally open my spirit for His promptings. If it's not my mind rushing around, it's my feet.

In today's devo in EMBRACED, Lysa TerKeurst shares about her own rushing past and missing opportunities for acting on God's instruction. She repents and He provides a do-over! 

Finding the perfect spot has little to do with hearing from God. The point is to be available and, then, obedient to partner with Him.

Sitting in the first row of chairs at church is where I sit, because they are available and mostly because I'm 5'3". One Sunday, I felt a prompting (a knowing) to stay put after the service. Instead of rushing off to talk to friends or rushing to a restaurant, I sat back down after the closing prayer. Hardly two minutes clicked off when one young lady approached for godly advice. Another faced me with tears and began pouring her heart into a crumpled Kleenex. In a matter of minutes, my obedient heart was full because I had been available for His purpose. Lysa calls this "companionship with God."

Each time I choose to listen and obey, my "spiritual ears" become familiar with the voice. Each time I choose to listen and obey, God must certainly line up opportunities to make me part of His plan. That's how I want to live!

Let's -you and me- decide to spend 5 minutes actively listening from now until Sunday to see how God wants to partner with us! 

Grace: Tolerance or Love?

06.04.19.  I confess I don't find all scripture uplifting.

Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are the reasons my goal for reading through the year isn't well, yearly. The other reason is the Children of Israel frustrate me. Why couldn't they just remember all the amazing feats God provided? Miracle after miracle! Why did they keep messing up? 

I would much rather read practical Christianity tips in Ephesians and Romans. But, I chose for this year to be a read-through year and I'm in Judges. <sigh>

Pushing myself through these scriptures, I hear an annoying sound that reaches through to my brain making its way to my one, last nerve and bounces on it. It sounded like someone trying to start their car, but it just won't crank. It keeps on and on and on. 

mee-mee-mee-mee-me.  mee-mee-mee-mee-me.  mee-mee-mee-mee-me.

I look around to see if my neighbor is having car issues. Nothing. The sound stops. I turn back to the nagging failures of the tribes of Israel. 

mee-mee-mee-mee-me.  mee-mee-mee-mee-me.  mee-mee-mee-mee-me.

Once again, I look around for the irritating source. And, once again, the sounds stops.

Off and on for a couple of hours this noise filters through my focus as I work on the computer until focus cracks and I whip around to seek and destroy ...only to see absolutely nothing.

In Day 4 of Lysa TerKeurst's EMBRACE book of 100 devos, she writes about her quiet time with God each morning as a preparation and an invitation. This time spent with Him prepares her for the day at the invitation of Jesus "to do life with Him" and "to look for His activity" throughout the day as she redirects frustration to replace it with grace.

Grace looks like God's tolerance to me. I roll my eyes each time a verse begins with "The Israelites again did what was evil in the Lord's sight." He could have crushed them into the

sand they wandered around and complained in for 40 years. But, He did not, because they were His chosen children. With all the moaning and disobedience, He still chose them.

Grace looks like love to God. With all the moaning and disobedience, He still chose to love them and wanted them to choose Him. 

He still chooses to look at me with those same eyes of grace and love when I am frustrating and disobedient. My soul is deeply thankful Jesus is the rose-colored filter covering my sin and shame. 

"Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with Him and to be His holy and innocent and loving people. God was loving and kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children. God was very kind to us because of the Son He dearly loves and so we should praise God." (Ephesians 1:4-6 CEV)

My hubby walked into the office about the same time I caught sight of a gigantic fly buzz in and circle around the office. Once I saw him, I knew the source of my frustrating noise, but it flew out the door before it could be silenced forever. 

If you need God to look at you through eyes of grace, I would love to invite to you consider a relationship with His Son, Jesus. If you have already experienced this love, say so, below.