Open Wide My Horizons

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory!  Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!"  And God granted him his request.  I Chronicles 4:10

     Commonly we call it 'The Prayer of Jabez.' Books and Bible studies have been written about it.  Sermons have been preached on it.  Songs are sung about it.  For the last few days one line of a MercyMe song has been running through my mind over and over and over.  "...open wide my horizons to share your name." 
    Maybe it's because of the new focus of our church.  We are asking our members to invite at least one person to church each week.  We have cards to hand to people.  We are becoming aware of the people around us and making a conscious effort to share Jesus with them. 
     This week I became acutely aware of how limited my world is when I made a quick trip to Staples.  As I drove up, I wondered what was going on;  it looked like they were knocking down part of the front wall of the store.  I walked in and realized it has been a long time since I was there last.  The store is smaller and totally reorganized.  I walked in the door thinking I knew exactly where I needed to go to get what I wanted.  Frankly, I wasn't even paying attention to where I was walking until I looked up and noticed that the cash registers were not where they used to be. 
     I had to regroup.  I had to look for signs to find the item I was looking for.  I had to reorient myself and rethink what I was doing.  I found what I wanted and had a nice chat with the cashier as she processed my purchases.
     Then my brother called and asked me to run to the high school and pick up his son.  No problem.  I enjoy my little bit of time with my nephews on days like this.  It was especially nice this time since Chris looked over and said, "This is a nice surprise," when I drove up.
     Back to the topic....what struck me about the trip down to Ringgold was the fields that have been plowed.  Fresh, rich earth is ready to plant.  New fencing separates fields.  A farm just down the road from us has gotten a face-lift.  It's so close to home.  Yet, I had not driven by there in what is apparently a long time. 
     This question came to mind:  If I am asking God to expand my horizons, how can I expect that to happen when I continue to stay close inside my self-imposed boundaries and never venture out in the world?
     If you are like me, you see the same people every day.  You go to the same places every day.  You might go to work or school and then home again.  My day begins before daylight and I can't wait to get home at 3:00.  Well, I do come to Panera some to meet friends, study, and write, but when I am here I don't talk to strangers. 
     I am too caught up in my routine.  I need to get out more often and see what's going on the world around me.  There's a lot of stuff happening out there and I am missing it.
     How is God prompting you?  I have found it so easy this week to talk to new people.  Usually I leave the conversation to someone else.  This week, though, I enjoyed a sweet conversation with that young woman at Staples who noticed my work badge and asked if I knew her cousin who had attended my school.  Yesterday I had a nice chat with a lady as we rode in the elevator and walked to the parking lot together.  Today I ran into a friend at Panera who invited me to join her for a few minutes.  I sat down and we talked for thirty minutes!  (Even though I really came here to blog, I am so glad my routine got interrupted and that I ran into her!)
     I'm truly amazed, and those of you who really know me will understand.  I'm not the person who runs up to the new person in the room.  Years ago I would let me friend, Dee Dee, talk to the new people at church because she loved to ask questions and get to know people.  She could ask people anything and they would tell her.  I struggled just asking people their name.  Then I would let her tell me a little bit about them and I would gradually venture into a short conversation with them.  I've never been good at asking the right questions to get to know someone.
      Until now.  It seems like God is opening up a new world to me. He is broadening my horizons and giving me peace and security to go to the edge.  I've enjoyed talking with people this week.  Not about work or school or family or the weather....Interesting things, real conversation.
     I want you to know this blog post surprises me.  I am loving what I am seeing God do.  It's exciting to be aware of His hand and to know He is doing a work in your own life.  So, I wonder, what's on your horizon?  Are you asking God to open it wide?  Or, are you caught up in your own little world, missing out on the life that is going on around you.  Friend, get up and get moving.  Go where the Lord leads and let him show you some great and marvelous things!

Nerves!

This is where I wish I were today. This beautiful path is high atop Lookout Mountain, headed down to Sunset Rock.  Doesn't it look peaceful and welcoming?  Can't you imagine that it is a place to sit and talk with the Lord?  A place to escape the craziness of life and sit at the feet of Jesus? 

 

 

Do you ever need to escape?  Today my family is waiting for an answer to an important question.  It's so hard to wait!  I have carried my phone with me every step I have taken for two days.  Waiting for it to ring.  Waiting to hear what I desperately want to hear.  Still I wait.

     For the last few days we have been extra busy. There is so much to do!  We have been painting and working to get things ready for the opening of our new church which is coming up in just a little over a week.  It's one of those times in life when we run home long enough to change clothes and grab a bite to eat somewhere along the way.  It's exciting.  I don't want to miss a minute of it.  I'm tired.

     I need to sit down along the path and talk with the Lord.  It's so easy to get caught up in fear and worry when you are waiting for an answer from the Lord.  It's so easy to be busy doing things for our church, for our family, for our work....and it's even more easy to neglect time to drink from the living water provided to us, to sit in the garden and talk with the Lord.  Today I have turned on Pandora and poured through the Psalms.  "His steadfast love endures forever....His steadfast love endures forever....His steadfast love endures forever." 

     No matter what.  No matter where I am.  No matter how busy life becomes. No matter what is troubling my heart. God's love never fails.

     Today I had to face the question, what if God doesn't answer my prayer the way I am pleading him to answer?  Frankly, I don't want to think about it.  I don't like the prospect of what that would mean.  I can't imagine what it would mean.  If his answer is "no" will I stand firm and proclaim, "His steadfast love endures forever?" 

     If his answer is "no" my heart will hurt.  I won't understand.  I will ask him why.  Yet, like the song says, "I will praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands, for you are who you are....though my heart is torn, I will praise you in this storm.:

 

Well, two days have passed since I wrote the paragraphs above.  We got our answer from the Lord.  He heard our cries and graciously granted our plea, and he is even providing more than we imagined.  There was crying, screaming, and even some shouting.  Celebrating the mercy of our Father.  Celebrating his affirmation that the path we were walking was indeed the path he had set before us.

    I can't help but be reminded that my heavenly Father, the God who created this universe, loves me.  He gave me this beautiful verse this morning.....

 

God saw the people of Israel - and God knew.  Exodus 2:25

 

What are you going through today?  God knows.  He knows.  You may have to wait, but rest assured that he knows.  His steadfast love endures forever.  Even when you feel forgotten, he loves you and knows.  You may have to wait, and if you do - praise him in the storm...because he knows.