Why is it that the people closest to us don't always notice when we have fallen? I am so thankful for an old friend who happened into my office last week. She saw things that had gradually taken over my attitude. She saw that I was in a bad place. Boldly, she approached me a few days later. Reminding me to keep my eyes on the Lord, she pulled my reality back into clear focus.
After we talked I reflected on the brief, yet very profound, conversation. I was keenly aware of amazement at what had just happened. I can't say that I had been on the receiving end of such an encounter before. The thought crossed my mind --- should I be offended? Well, that thought lasted only a quick second. What followed was gratitude and relief.
Gratitude that someone would say to me, "You have to remember what God's Word says." Relief because hearing His Word spoken over me brought freedom. It was so easy to sink into a muddy pit of misery. The quicksand of selfishness swallowed me quickly. However, when I turned to the promises of God's word, He pulled me out of the mess and cleansed me from the filth I had been sinking into.
Sometimes the daily grind of life becomes too heavy to carry alone. Oh, we sure try to keep going. Think of a basket. (You know, the baskets and tubs the ladies in Haiti carry on their heads.) Placing the basket up on our heads, we gain our balance, and off we go into the day. Picking up a worry here and a heartache there, we toss them up, catch them, regain our balance, and keep on going. Rather than emptying the basket before heading out the next day, we pick it up - a little heavier now - and go back to our routine. Each day we toss a little more up there. Small things...none of them huge or particularly heavy on their own...but gradually the weight adds up. Day by day we go on, our steps are harder to take, we begin to stumble. Finally, into the ditch we go. Bruised and scraped pain shoots through our heart and body as we realize what has happened. We have fallen, and we can't get up.
The burdens and heartaches, worries and fears are strewn about. The basket is crushed from the weight of it all. Good!! Leave all that junk there! Why were you carrying it around anyway? God tells us, invites us, even begs us in I Peter 5:7 to cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Cast them = throw them. God loves me. He loves you. He is waiting to carry the basket. Patiently He watches as we continue tossing stuff in. Can't you hear Him?
"I'll carry that for you."
"You don't have to do this alone, let me help."
"That looks heavy. Here, let me."
Stubbornly, though, I have clung to my basket. I have held on and tried to keep it balanced. I don't want help. I don't want to appear weak. I don't want to admit I can't do this!
You see, when my focus is centered on balancing my basket, I am forced to shift my entire life focus to it completely. It is the only thing I can think about. My steps are slow with shuffling and stumbling. I can't turn my head to the left or right. Careful. Don't trip. Stand straight. But the load shifted and down I went.
Luke 12:22-26 Jesus said to His disciples, "I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; don't worry about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, they have no storehouse or barn; and God feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than the birds? Can you make yourself taller by worrying? If you can't do that why do you worry about the rest?"
What is in your basket? Concerns about money? Worry about your child's life choices? Frustration on your job? Fear for the future? Indecision? Bitterness from past hurts? Embarrassment over past mistakes? Anger at your spouse? Envy of someone else's life?
Is your basket getting heavier? Less stable? It is going to be so much better if you take the basket and empty it at the feet of Jesus. Do what He invites you to do, cast all your cares on Him. He will listen and take your burdens upon His own shoulders. Jesus loves you so much! He doesn't want you to take this walk alone.
Regarding my friend, Susan: I was so stunned at the time that I can't really say for sure, but I'm pretty sure the verse she spoke over me was Colossians 3:17. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. She went on to say, "Stop looking at life horizontally. You have to look up - to the Lord. Your focus has been on the people around you. You need to focus on the Lord." The beautiful thing is she said these words just minutes before Jennifer Rothschild spoke. Jennifer's topic for the weekend? Mooove It. She taught about moving to the other side! Getting on with what God has planned. Leaving behind those things that are keeping us from a close relationship with Christ. Suddenly I realized I was like that lady in Haiti who had three watermelons in the tub she carried on her head. I have trouble just carrying one watermelon in my arms! Let's understand that the ladies who carry these loads have stiff, deformed necks, and much pain. It is life altering, carrying all that heavy stuff everyday.
I had fallen hard and the hurt I was experiencing was shooting out of me at the people who were standing in my path. Maybe it took someone outside my closest circle of friends because she isn't there everyday, and when she was there she saw the drastic change. Whatever the reason, I praise the Lord! Thank you, Susan, God sent you to me when I needed you most.
Vicki
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Overcoming
The day began gray and gloomy. After a month of very hot, very dry days and nights, today and tonight we are getting heavy rain and winds. Creeks and roadways are flooding. Schools are delayed for tomorrow. Trees are falling. Power outages are growing. The darkness is black and heavy.
Strangely, as much as the earth needs the rain, as desperate as the cracked, parched ground is for relief, when it comes all at once, it's too much. Overwhelmed. The word describes the earth as it attempts to soak up every drop of rain. Oddly enough, it won't be able to take it all in because it was so dry to begin with.
Tomorrow the rain will pass and creation will relax. The waters will roll from streams to creeks to the river. The puddles will absorb into the ground, and because of it all, the brown grass will turn green and begin to grow. The air will be cleaner, cooler, and we will welcome the sun.
My day has been like this. Even as I awoke, I felt gray and gloomy. Did you ever wake up feeling yucky like that? Just like the individual raindrops converge to flood the ground, little doubts and frustrations gathered and grew to flood my thoughts. None of these things was huge on it's own, but together they combined to make me feel like I was caught up in flood waters rushing over me, sweeping me away.
It won't happen. I will not be washed away. Just like the rain will soak into the ground and the grass will turn green, I will overcome the storm that entered my world today.
I wonder if you, like I, have times like this in your life. Flash flooding of worries, concerns, and emotions can come at the most unexpected times. What do you do when you feel the crush upon you? Some of us lash out at the people closest to us. Some of us withdraw into a shell of helplessness. We feel alone, isolated. Oh, but we aren't. As God's child, we have the security that absolutely nothing, nothing can separate us from Him.
Flash floods are aptly named. I was caught in one last spring. The experience was terrifying. I couldn't turn down any side road to escape. The only way out was straight through. Carefully and cautiously I moved forward. I slowed down. Speeding was not an option. I drove with extreme care, praying the whole way through. I made it to the other side. Victory!
My friend, we must choose our way carefully when the pressures, concerns, worries, and doubts of life engulf us. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Don't look away. Don't allow these difficulties to distract you from being who God created you to be. You must understand that there will be gloomy days. We read in I Peter that life will contain times of sufferings. We also have the promise that God takes all the things in our life and uses them for good IF we are His child. There is no flood without rain, but that storm also bring the rainbow. In the same way, there is no victory without a battle. Read Romans 8; it is full of great teachings! Most importantly, remember that as a child of God, a woman who has trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, nothing you have ever done or will do will be held against you. When you feel weak and overwhelmed, find comfort in knowing the Spirit of God is praying for you. Finally, always, always remind yourself that no thing, no situation, no failure on your part, nor any person that can take you away from the love of God.
It may be gloomy today, but with the help of God, you will overcome! Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be know to all, the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; and the peoce of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 4-7)
Vicki
Strangely, as much as the earth needs the rain, as desperate as the cracked, parched ground is for relief, when it comes all at once, it's too much. Overwhelmed. The word describes the earth as it attempts to soak up every drop of rain. Oddly enough, it won't be able to take it all in because it was so dry to begin with.
Tomorrow the rain will pass and creation will relax. The waters will roll from streams to creeks to the river. The puddles will absorb into the ground, and because of it all, the brown grass will turn green and begin to grow. The air will be cleaner, cooler, and we will welcome the sun.
My day has been like this. Even as I awoke, I felt gray and gloomy. Did you ever wake up feeling yucky like that? Just like the individual raindrops converge to flood the ground, little doubts and frustrations gathered and grew to flood my thoughts. None of these things was huge on it's own, but together they combined to make me feel like I was caught up in flood waters rushing over me, sweeping me away.
It won't happen. I will not be washed away. Just like the rain will soak into the ground and the grass will turn green, I will overcome the storm that entered my world today.
I wonder if you, like I, have times like this in your life. Flash flooding of worries, concerns, and emotions can come at the most unexpected times. What do you do when you feel the crush upon you? Some of us lash out at the people closest to us. Some of us withdraw into a shell of helplessness. We feel alone, isolated. Oh, but we aren't. As God's child, we have the security that absolutely nothing, nothing can separate us from Him.
Flash floods are aptly named. I was caught in one last spring. The experience was terrifying. I couldn't turn down any side road to escape. The only way out was straight through. Carefully and cautiously I moved forward. I slowed down. Speeding was not an option. I drove with extreme care, praying the whole way through. I made it to the other side. Victory!
My friend, we must choose our way carefully when the pressures, concerns, worries, and doubts of life engulf us. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Don't look away. Don't allow these difficulties to distract you from being who God created you to be. You must understand that there will be gloomy days. We read in I Peter that life will contain times of sufferings. We also have the promise that God takes all the things in our life and uses them for good IF we are His child. There is no flood without rain, but that storm also bring the rainbow. In the same way, there is no victory without a battle. Read Romans 8; it is full of great teachings! Most importantly, remember that as a child of God, a woman who has trusted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, nothing you have ever done or will do will be held against you. When you feel weak and overwhelmed, find comfort in knowing the Spirit of God is praying for you. Finally, always, always remind yourself that no thing, no situation, no failure on your part, nor any person that can take you away from the love of God.
It may be gloomy today, but with the help of God, you will overcome! Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be know to all, the Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God; and the peoce of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 4-7)
Vicki
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Thrill of Watching God Work
Lately I have been wrapped up in the absolute thrill of seeing God's hand on my life. It is amazing what happens when you make yourself available to Him and ask Him to use you. The problem for me is that I ask Him to use me and then forget to be ready. When I have been ready, though, it's been incredible!
The fact that you are reading this is a perfect example. I never dreamed of writing a blog. What I longed for was the opportunity to share with ladies what the Lord has done for me and how much He loves them. So, we find ourselves here. Me sharing with you. See what I mean? Dear friend, please let me tell you that Jesus loves you more than you could possibly imagine. John 3:16 tells us that God loves us so much He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for us. Only because of Jesus can we have God's forgiveness for the filthy sin of our lives.
Tomorrow I have the intense pleasure of teaching again. The beautiful ladies in my class are growing in their own walks with God, and as they do, I do. As one of the girls said this week, "I don't always like where He is taking me." She and I are both stepping out to follow a path we hadn't really planned. She and I are going to have something great to share soon as we open our lives up to other women and encourage them in their Christian walk. Just a few minutes ago I got a text from a young woman, a recent college grad, who now has a full-time job --- with benefits! Answered prayer! Another lady is just beginning her walk with Jesus and is tasting the freedom of life in Christ for the first time. All of these women are examples of God's hand on my life. I am learning so much from them. They have real faith and are willing to be who God has made them to be.
Take a few minutes to reflect on how you have seen God work in your life lately. Think about the past week, month, and year. As I look back at my own life, this is what I see:
The past week - seven very full days. As a church family we grieved the death of a man we will miss a lot. Together we celebrated his life and the knowledge that he is walking in heaven. God challeneged me through the days of remembering Chuck. I am hearing it over and over: People need the Lord. People need the Lord. People need the Lord. Chuck wasn't afraid or embarrassed to ask anyone he met if they knew Jesus. I stand before you convicted and aware of my failure at sharing the name of Jesus.
Also this week, confirmation from God came through a dear friend. An idea for a mentoring group had been tumbling through my thoughts. This sweet, shy lady came to me Wednesday night and said, "I think there are women who need (a particular study, challenge, and support.) " Random? Coincidence? No way! Now the two of us will form two groups. We will meet with other ladies and study the word of the Lord on a particular topic. My own group even grew to a couples group with my husband stepping up to meet with the husbands of the girls I am learning, praying, and growing with. Wow!!
The past month seems like a year almost. My husband and I have had fun finding our empty-nester identity as our daughter begins her senior year of college. We have had fun walking, talking, and laughing. We found a house for his mom. It is close to us -we can see it from our own home. He seems so relieved that she will be close and we will be able to get to her quickly if she needs us. Even though she didn't live far away now, the closeness of this new home brings a sense of security.
This month I have had the opportunity to learn from the teaching of a young man who passionately loves God. I have had the opportunity to share the work of the Lord by sharing my pictures and stories of my trip to Haiti. I have gone back to work and learned a lot about myself and my husband. He has stood up for me and affirmed my desires for some things that need to change. I stood amazed as God used me in a couple of ways that I never expected. There isn't time here to share the last year - that would take a book!
What about you, my friend? How have you seen God work in your life? Has He taken your passions and opened doors for you to serve others? Have you basked in the peace that comes from walking with Jesus? Are you able to say, "He definitely has answered my prayer."
It is thrilling to see God's hand on your life. Sometimes there is pain, and I have been through that in the just last couple of days. We are not promised sunshine and rainbows for every minute of life. In fact, there is thunder rolling around me right now, but that sound brings hope. Hope for rain. Hope for an end to the drought that has killed our garden, plants, and turned the grass crispy brown. The earth is so dry that the deluge that is coming will not be absorbed at first. Gradually the ground will soften and the water will be absorbed. So it is with our spiritual lives. After we have turned away from God for a period of time, we become hard, dry, and cracked. If we are willing to allow the Lord to pour over us, He will refresh our souls and new growth will begin. Only then can we rejoice in the changes He makes in us. Only then can we find the thrill of seeing God work in our lives.
Friend, I hope you have experienced that thrill. I would love to hear how God is working in your life. What have you seen Him do lately? Leave me a comment and tell me how you are growing in Christ.
The fact that you are reading this is a perfect example. I never dreamed of writing a blog. What I longed for was the opportunity to share with ladies what the Lord has done for me and how much He loves them. So, we find ourselves here. Me sharing with you. See what I mean? Dear friend, please let me tell you that Jesus loves you more than you could possibly imagine. John 3:16 tells us that God loves us so much He sent His only son, Jesus, to die for us. Only because of Jesus can we have God's forgiveness for the filthy sin of our lives.
Tomorrow I have the intense pleasure of teaching again. The beautiful ladies in my class are growing in their own walks with God, and as they do, I do. As one of the girls said this week, "I don't always like where He is taking me." She and I are both stepping out to follow a path we hadn't really planned. She and I are going to have something great to share soon as we open our lives up to other women and encourage them in their Christian walk. Just a few minutes ago I got a text from a young woman, a recent college grad, who now has a full-time job --- with benefits! Answered prayer! Another lady is just beginning her walk with Jesus and is tasting the freedom of life in Christ for the first time. All of these women are examples of God's hand on my life. I am learning so much from them. They have real faith and are willing to be who God has made them to be.
Take a few minutes to reflect on how you have seen God work in your life lately. Think about the past week, month, and year. As I look back at my own life, this is what I see:
The past week - seven very full days. As a church family we grieved the death of a man we will miss a lot. Together we celebrated his life and the knowledge that he is walking in heaven. God challeneged me through the days of remembering Chuck. I am hearing it over and over: People need the Lord. People need the Lord. People need the Lord. Chuck wasn't afraid or embarrassed to ask anyone he met if they knew Jesus. I stand before you convicted and aware of my failure at sharing the name of Jesus.
Also this week, confirmation from God came through a dear friend. An idea for a mentoring group had been tumbling through my thoughts. This sweet, shy lady came to me Wednesday night and said, "I think there are women who need (a particular study, challenge, and support.) " Random? Coincidence? No way! Now the two of us will form two groups. We will meet with other ladies and study the word of the Lord on a particular topic. My own group even grew to a couples group with my husband stepping up to meet with the husbands of the girls I am learning, praying, and growing with. Wow!!
The past month seems like a year almost. My husband and I have had fun finding our empty-nester identity as our daughter begins her senior year of college. We have had fun walking, talking, and laughing. We found a house for his mom. It is close to us -we can see it from our own home. He seems so relieved that she will be close and we will be able to get to her quickly if she needs us. Even though she didn't live far away now, the closeness of this new home brings a sense of security.
This month I have had the opportunity to learn from the teaching of a young man who passionately loves God. I have had the opportunity to share the work of the Lord by sharing my pictures and stories of my trip to Haiti. I have gone back to work and learned a lot about myself and my husband. He has stood up for me and affirmed my desires for some things that need to change. I stood amazed as God used me in a couple of ways that I never expected. There isn't time here to share the last year - that would take a book!
What about you, my friend? How have you seen God work in your life? Has He taken your passions and opened doors for you to serve others? Have you basked in the peace that comes from walking with Jesus? Are you able to say, "He definitely has answered my prayer."
It is thrilling to see God's hand on your life. Sometimes there is pain, and I have been through that in the just last couple of days. We are not promised sunshine and rainbows for every minute of life. In fact, there is thunder rolling around me right now, but that sound brings hope. Hope for rain. Hope for an end to the drought that has killed our garden, plants, and turned the grass crispy brown. The earth is so dry that the deluge that is coming will not be absorbed at first. Gradually the ground will soften and the water will be absorbed. So it is with our spiritual lives. After we have turned away from God for a period of time, we become hard, dry, and cracked. If we are willing to allow the Lord to pour over us, He will refresh our souls and new growth will begin. Only then can we rejoice in the changes He makes in us. Only then can we find the thrill of seeing God work in our lives.
Friend, I hope you have experienced that thrill. I would love to hear how God is working in your life. What have you seen Him do lately? Leave me a comment and tell me how you are growing in Christ.
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