The Waiting Game

I waited, and waited and waited.  I had a plan, and it wasn't being fulfilled (I know many of you are surprised at that)!!  It was Saturday morning and I had a full day of activities to attend to.  The first one being, I was going to be at the grocery store at 7AM.  Now, that's not abnormal for me, but of course, I am still in the "broken ankle" boot.  I had it all planned, though.  I am cleared to drive small distances, so the grocery store fits into that distance.  I would leave home at 6:50, be at the store at 7AM, do my shopping and be home by 8:15, put away groceries, and be ready to leave for the next errand at 8:30.

That was until my husband woke up with me and said he would take me to the grocery store.  The more I insisted that he didn't need to come, the more he insisted that he did.  I wasn't going to win this one.  Okay, how many of you ladies are very envious of me - having a husband who is willing to go to the store with me??  Of course, he needed to shower first, get ready, etc.  Yep, you guessed it, at 6:50AM I am waiting near the door, list in hand, ready to go.  6:50 passed.  So did 6:55, 6:58 and the bewitching hour - 7AM!!  Now I'm REALLY ready to lose my patience (okay, maybe that was lost when he shared he was coming with me).  I kept trying to put all of this into perspective, but my lack of patience was getting the best of me.  At 7:05, he arrives, ready to go. 

In the car, I looked out the window - AND PRAYED.  The car ride was quiet as I reached out to God, asking for a new batch of patience that day.  Of all the things for me to get upset about - REALLY?  Yes, my schedule was off.  Yes, I might be a bit late to the next appointment.  Yet, I had a wonderful husband sitting next to me in the car, going shopping with me on the only day he could sleep in.

I began to realize the things I get frustrated about - lose my patience over.  I seem to be better with "the big things" and sometimes let the little ones be the catalyst for me losing my patience.  My thoughts drove me to Jesus.  Now THERE'S a man who has patience to be modeled after.  He has such patience for me.  With all that I've done (and continue to do) wrong.  With my poor actions, improper words, and yes, at times, lack of faith - He still continues to have patience with me.  He is there for me, patiently waiting, until I recognize and repent my sins.  He is there for me, patiently waiting, until I turn back to Him for guidance and counsel.  He is there for me, patiently waiting, to love me and bless me abundantly no matter how many times He could have turn His back on me.  He is there for me, patiently waiting.  The more I thought of Jesus' patience, the more my heart melted and my impatient behavior faded away.  I had the gift my Jesus gave to me, my precious husband, sitting right next to me - even if we left 15 minutes later than I wanted.  Jesus' patience is a model for how I should act - EVERY TIME.

We completed the shopping quickly (probably quicker than if I were to have done it by myself) and we certainly had plenty of time to leave by 8:30 for the next errand.  Throughout the day, I found myself to have more patience - not getting thrown off by the little things.  Bottom line, my Simple Faith kicked in Saturday morning, and brought a more peaceful day for all.  A big thank you to my husband - I do appreciate everything you do for me.

An even bigger thank you to my Jesus.  Please pray with me:  Jesus, your model of patience is all around me.  You are patient with my behavior, my words, my actions.  You are patient with my praise to you (or lack thereof sometimes).  You are patient, most of all, because I know you love me.  Help me, Jesus, to continue to be patient in all I do.  Show me, guide me, to not only be patient, but show my patience to others.  I love you, Jesus, and may waiting always show me grace.

"But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life."  (NIV)  1 Timothy 1:16

Clouds of Love

There is something about a cloudy day.  Many people say they enjoy the sunny days.  Yes, I do too, but when there is a cloudy day, something comes over me.  A sense of reflection, of peace, maybe some melancholy.  Either way, I do love my cloudy days.  Looking at the clouds up in the sky is such a great reminder of God's power.  His creation of clouds helps me to see His incredible power and strength.  The clouds can bring devastation with torrential rains and heavy flooding.  Clouds can bring much needed relief to parch-stricken land.  Clouds can bring comfort on a hot day.  As always, God's creation can share much for us.

As I focused on the beautiful clouds, I couldn't help but be taken in by their beauty and strength.  When a weather person predicts a "partly cloudy" day, I get excited for I know that I will get to view God's hand at work.  It made me think of the "partly cloudy" days in my life.  Some days, when the sun may not shine all the way - I realize I probably have more of those type of days than once thought.  Maybe the day was going great - lots of positive things going on, and then a cloud of "discomfort" comes along to cast a shadow on the day.  Maybe my thoughts were nice thoughts, and a cloud of improper or not pure thoughts came into my head, bringing a cloud of sin.  Yes, many times when we think of clouds, we think of storms or impending floods in our lives.

Yet, it is always important to think of the good things that clouds can bring.  When my life seems "parched" with not much goodness, a cloud of blessings can rain over me.  Those are joyous days!  When I can't see the joy or happiness this world can bring, God is always there to bring clouds full of laughter and smiles to rain down on me.  Clouds are filled with God's love.  Even the clouds that brought the great flood of Noah's time were filled with God's love.  Yes, they brought destruction for those that didn't focus on God's greatness, but it also brought a way for us to strengthen our faith in God - knowing that He will bring goodness for those who obey him.

Job is a great example of God's love in clouds.  Job, a man who seemed to have it all, lost everything in what seemed like a blink of an eye.  Yet, God's love rained down on him as Job showed his dedication and faithfulness to God.  God will deliver the clouds of love.  God will share with us all we need, even on the "partly cloudy" days.  In fact, it is on those days that we can feel His love, and see it around us.

So the next time that the weather person calls for a partly cloudy day, see it as a chance to look up in the sky and see God's wonder - and look forward to feeling God's love.  I pray that as you read this, God rains His love on you in buckets!  May the week ahead bring all of you joy and happiness.  

In our Father's name - peace!

"He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love."  (NIV)  Job 3:13

Attitude during Adversity

                                             

So the story goes, that when you least expect it, adversity strikes.  This week, I thought a lot about adversity.  I spoke with many regarding the adversity that they were facing in their lives.  One is battling cancer and began the journey to healing with the first step, surgery.  Another shared the possible prognosis of cancer.  Another is dealing with a parent whose health is failing.  Still another is considering career moves due to possible company difficulties.  I also heard of friends who were dealing with personal health issues.  Listening to adversity is not just part of my job, I consider it to be part of my heavenly calling.

When people share so much about what they are going through, I keep thinking that I may not be able to do much - I'm only listening.  Then I thought about others who have had the patience to listen to me during adversity, family and friends who gave of their time to listen to tough times I was going through. They brought me much during those times - they brought comfort with their words (or just by "being" there); they brought companionship; they brought empathy; they brought a smile when I needed one.  Sometimes, they even had the courage to say "enough is enough - start moving".  These saints that Jesus sent to me just when I needed them provided me much when adversity came knocking.  Jesus knew what I needed (doesn't He always?), and He sent someone to be with me.

Have you been there for someone who is going through adversity?  I am sure you have.  It is important to be there - to be "the Jesus" they need at that moment.  We all need someone here on Earth to guide us through tough times.  Think about what you can do the next time someone is going through difficulties - listening is such a big part of what Jesus provides to us.  I know He is the first one I go to when the times get tough.  I start talking to Him - and I KNOW He is listening.  How?  Because He always sends someone FOR me - to listen, to comfort. Our lives can be hectic - endless meetings at work, endless priorities at home.  Sometimes it can seem like we don't have any time for others who may need us.  Be there for someone who needs you.  I guarantee you that Jesus will "pay you back" tenfold.  He always does.

As I reviewed those conversations I had this past week, I remembered how I ended all of them, "I'll pray for you."  I know that when someone shares those words with me, a sense of relief comes over me.  I hope that the same happened for those I spoke with.  Prayer is Powerful - especially during times of adversity.  Sometimes, when we are facing challenges, we just can't seem to find the power to pray anymore.  That's when those that hear our adversity can take over - and pray for us.  That is even more powerful than a listening ear.  Jesus is waiting to hear our words, our cries, for help.  

The power of prayer can bring so much to all of us.  Being there for each other, through prayer, gives us an attitude of blessings.  This past week, I experienced my own adversity.  Okay, are you sitting down?  I fractured my OTHER ankle.  Yep, after finally fully recovering from the severe break I had in my left ankle, I fractured my right one (misstepping a stair).  As we race off to the emergency room, the prayers started.  I kept praying and praying (and I know my husband was as well), that we wouldn't have to endure what we did the last time - surgery, weeks off of my feet, carrying up and down the stairs, work from home, etc.  God Answers Prayers.  Yes, it was fractured, but no surgery, a boot that I can walk in, ability to get to work, some time to keep it up, no difficult weather to manage through - lots of blessings.  My attitude to this adversity is knowing that I was given many blessings by God - my attitude in this adversity has been one of prayer and thanksgiving.

Let us be the blessing for others who are handling adversity.  Let us listen, let us provide words of encouragement, let us do what we can do best - PRAY!!  Jesus is waiting for our prayers.  There is no greater gift we can give to those that are suffering.  A prayerful attitude during adversity is POWERFUL.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity."  (NIV)  Proverbs 17:17

Change and Same

  

Yep, you got it, I found it time for a change.  I met the wishes of my children for a couple of years and tried to grow out my hair.  I have always donned short hair with many layers, so to grow it out to one length was a real accomplishment!  Yet, as I kept trying to make my straight hair full of volume (let's face it, I am a child of the '80s in New Jersey), I was never satisfied.  So I went back to my comfort level, short hair.  What a freeing experience to go back and feel comfortable.  

Meanwhile, at work, we are continuing to move forward with change.  Funny how about 20 years and insight to new technologies can make a real difference in the workplace.  What was once comfortable and stagnant is now in constant motion.  At every turn, in every industry, change is rising.  Yes, it is always nice to be working towards something new, something different.  

It is great to continuously improve in any aspect of our lives - at work or at home.  Yet, I know that there are times when I find change difficult to manage.  I like comfortable.  I realize as I get older, that comfortable becomes more important to me.  I like my "comfy" clothes, I like my "comfy" blanket, I like my "comfy" food - I think you get the hint.  Still, change is important as we move through life.  If we shouldered all of our days in the "comfy" column, how would we grow?  How would we improve?  

As always, I find myself in conflict.  I fully believe that changing, for the better, is a goal I need to pursue.  There are many areas where this can take place.  I can change and learn more professionally. I can change and become healthier (yea, that goal in the beginning of the year is slow in coming).  I can change in many ways.  I don't know about you, but I find change to be a bit scary.  Changing processes and procedures at work can be tough to sustain - I do enjoy going back to my comfortable way of doing things.  Change at home can be tough - kids leaving for school, pursuing their dreams, produces a home that is much quieter than it used to be.  Change with me personally has always been difficult (as evidenced by my lack of a healthier lifestyle).  Change is hard, but necessary, if we are to grow.

There is good news, though, in the midst of change and the discomfort it can provide.  We have a constant in our lives that NEVER changes, that NEVER goes out of style (like my '80s hair), that NEVER leaves us on our own.  That constant is Jesus.  He is always there for us, the way He was when He entered our lives, the way He is in every conversation we have with Him, the way He will be when we meet Him in paradise.  I find that part of our Savior to be a huge comfort in the midst of change.  He never stops loving us unconditionally.  He never takes away our heavenly home, no matter how much we might not deserve that.  He is ALWAYS there - NEVER changing.  That's better than my "comfy" clothes and blanket all wrapped up into one.  I need Jesus' constant amidst all the change.  

Are you longing for comfort amongst the change of every-day life?  Look no further than the arms of our Lord - He is waiting for you to sit with Him, have a cup of coffee with Him, and talk with Him.  So let's make a commitment to each other - when the days of change get to us (and they do), let's go seek Jesus' face.  Open up the Bible to hear His words of comfort.  He is waiting for us!

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (NIV)  Hebrews 13:8

Deep, Simple Faith

Funny, the other day I was driving to work and listening to a devotion, when the question popped into my head, "What is faith?"  Wow, did that one boggle my mind most of the day.  Yes, I write about it and I know the feeling I get when I experience faith in something, but I really wanted to better understand what God said about faith.

I searched and found our verse for today.  So many powerful words for us to explore.  "Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  Faith, confidence, hope, assurance . . . all words for us to consider.  We can hope for so many things.  The other day, we were travelling and I hoped for a safe flight.  I hope for good health. I hope for nice weather.  Yet, the type of hope that breeds faith is something much deeper, much broader.

The hope that I believe God is sharing with us is the hope for where deep faith comes from.  The hope that there is something bigger and better than all of us - the hope for eternal life.  True hope that when things are difficult around us, that God is there with us to guide us down a path that we can't see at the moment.  Faith is that strong level of hope that whatever God says is the right thing to do, I will do with faith that His will is much greater than mine.

I have to admit, there are times when my faith waivers, that what God is asking me to do, I just can't "see" that end result - so I don't proceed.  There are times when God may be tugging on my heart to reach out to a stranger with a kind word, a small gift, etc.  Yet, due to my own personal misconceptions or anxiousness, I don't.  I have many ways in which I need to do better in Christ's vision for my life.  If I had deep, simple faith all the time, I wonder what my life would be like?  How much more fulfilled would my life be than it is today?

Stepping out in faith can be a scary place to be - stepping out in God's plan for us can be terrifying.  What if I fail?  What if I don't come to the results that He is expecting from me?  Yet, if I don't do anything, how will I ever know?  I need to listen to God more, and to have the simple DEEP faith and confidence that what I hope for, what God wants for me, is real.  I need to have the great  blessed assurance that although I can't see, God will do great things.

What about you?  Is there a plan that God is tugging on your heart?  Is it time for you to step out in faith that God knows better than we for our plan?  It's hard to have such deep faith - but I know that if we have that deep faith, He will not let us down.  He never does.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (NIV) Hebrews 11:1

God's Provisions

Another beautiful day in New Hampshire.  Our Dear Lord has provided a wonderful summer for us - full of sunshine and warm breezes.  As I sit under a huge mapel tree in our backyard, I praise God for all he has given us.  In NH, as in many other regions of our nation, the winters can be brutal.   We enjoy it, for a few weeks, but then many of us long for days like today.  I find it amazing how God created all of this - just for us.

Above is some of the bounty from my garden.  It's not a tremendously big garden, but this year, it has given us many wonderful veggies - from zucchini to peppers, from beans to eggplant.  Yes the tomatoes are right around the corner.  There is nothing more satisfying than a salad made from the harvest.

Yet, as I was reflecting on all of this, I couldn't help but think back to creation.  It still amazes me how God, with a blank canvas and a palette, created such beauty.  Yes, the seas and the animals, the sun and the moon, each one of us along with all we can accomplish.  Yet, the vegetation - the trees, the plants that provide for us, well, that just blows my mind.  God's bountiful blessings can be see in so much around us.  For me, it's about taking the time to sit, to stop, to appreciate His goodness.  Today is one of those days - to appreciate the world around me.

Life can bring us many emotions every day.  Happiness, sadness, pain, hope, joy, hurt, etc.  The multitude of emotion can be overwhelming.  I know there is much out there to create difficult moments.  People need prayers today more than ever - and we should be providing those prayers for them.  Yet, we can also rejoice with them - in God's goodness.  You see, as He provided the heavens and the earth, He will also provide for all we need - health, comfort, joy, guidance.  He will see to it that it is exactly what we need.  Just like the tomatoes and zucchini!!  He provides days like today - with the sunshine and the breeze, to remind us of His goodness, of His power & strength, of His path for each of us.

Remember, the beauty of our world is NOTHING compared to the beauty that is ahead of us in our heavenly home.  Yet, until we see our Maker, let us enjoy what He has created - and remember - that His provisions are with us in all we have in our lives.  If you need a prayer to bring you closer to God's provisions, please email me or comment on my blogspace.  We can always use a prayer to help us get closer to what God has in store for us.

"The land produced vegetation:  plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bering fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.  And God saw that it was good."  (NIV)  Genesis 1:12

Reaping What We Sow

 

 

It's blueberry season in New Hampshire.  Yes, one of my favorite times of the summer.  I find it so fulfilling to be out amongst the blueberry bushes, typically with other die hard blueberry pickers, appreciating the little gems we are all picking.  I so appreciate the great farmers who tend to these bushes, ensuring that each year we are blessed with such goodness.  As I was picking my bucket of happiness, I couldn't help but think of these bushes that were sowed many years ago, and how we were reaping the benefits of what was sowed. 

 

This led to thoughts of what WE sow in our lives.  Yes, I have a wonderful garden in my backyard that my husband helped me greatly to grow beautiful vegetables.  Yet, I'm talking about what we sow with our words and our actions.  I thought over the past week, and realized that there were times when what I sowed was definitely not what Jesus has taught me to sow.  Think for a moment what JESUS sowed.  Think about his journey on our Earth on how His words and His actions sowed incredible greatness.  His words pierced hearts and souls every day.  His actions, His miracles, changed lives - changed OUR lives.

 

Although we may not have the abilities of Jesus, we do have an ability to sow words and actions that help people, not hurt people.  We have the ability to step back and to evaluate words that we want to say or actions that we want to take BEFORE executing them.  I don't know about you, but I know that there are many times when I wish I hadn't responded with sarcasm, with biting words, with body language that isn't positive.  How do you know that what you are "sowing" isn't what Jesus would?  I notice when the person I'm speaking with loses their smile, loses their enthusiasm, and may even respond back in anger.  They have a right to- I was "reaping" what I had "sowed".  I hadn't sowed words of kindness, of generosity, of patience.  I didn't receive it in return. 

 

Taking back what we sow is difficult.  When what we sow is good, we want it to cultivate, to grow, and we pray that the words will reap good things.  When what we sow is bad, we want to remove it right away - and that's not always possible.  What is possible is to ask for forgiveness, both with the person and with God.  He can help us - He can guide us - out of the poor choices and into His grace.  Yes, His wonderful and amazing grace - that helps us out of the hurtful words and into forgiveness. 

 

I know I am going to work on sowing better words - sowing better actions.  I am going to work on less sarcasm and more sunshine.  Would you like to join me?  Let's think about what we want to reap - and how we can sow in Jesus' image.  Next time you grab a handful of blueberries, I hope you think of reaping and sowing!!  I know I will.

 

 

"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."  (NIV)  Galatians 6:8