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Archive for the ‘God’s Goodness’ Category

Heart Surgery

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, God, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, God's Promises, Joy, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2014| 7 Comments »

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While skimming through my grandmother’s Bible, I came across a notation she made next to Jeremiah 31:33.

First, the verse:

 “I will put my law in their minds

And write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

And they will be my people.”

 

Perhaps a bit of context would be helpful.

Jeremiah was a prophet of Judah for over forty years. He was instructed by God to speak strong judgment against the people because of their sin. They were following worthless idols and had become worthless themselves (2:5). God promised disaster from the north, even terrible destruction (4:6).

Babylon, the empire from the north, did attack in 586 B.C. and Jerusalem was destroyed.

But Jeremiah offered great hope, recorded in chapters thirty and thirty-one. The verse in bold print above makes clear two glorious assurances.

Assurance #1

“It is God’s work.” (That’s what my grandmother wrote in the margin of her Bible next to Jeremiah 31:33.)

See the phrase “I will” used twice in the verse?  It is our Heavenly Father who initiates the work of transformation in our minds and hearts. We couldn’t make ourselves godly no matter how hard we tried. It is his Spirit who enlivens the instruction of God’s Word to our hearts.

A friend of mine accepted Jesus into her life as an adult. M. once told me that before becoming a Christian, she had tried to read the Bible, but it didn’t hold her attention and didn’t make much sense. But after coming to Jesus? Oh, my! What a difference! Suddenly M. became a ravenous reader of God’s Word. Every word spoke wisdom and encouragement to her heart.

You see, what God provided for my friend (and for all of us who seek him) is a miraculous, spiritual heart transplant.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you,” God says.  “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

God is not saying he will force us into surgery.   We can accept or reject his offer of a new heart and spirit.

When you receive an appealing offer, how do you decide whether to accept or not? Do you consider the reliability of the person or company making the offer? Probably so.

And when you are given advice to follow, do you consider the source? No doubt.

So let’s consider the One making the offer of a new heart and a new spirit–God Almighty himself.   His love for us is limitless.  He is the all-knowing, all-wise God of the universe. We can trust that his instructions are for our good, that following them will bring peace, contentment, joy, and more.

(Tell me again why we rebel?!)

Assurance #2

He will be our God.

 “When this is fulfilled, you are the possessor of all things,” Spurgeon said.

Think of it: innumerable blessings are ours, beginning with a precious, personal relationship with the King of the universe.

His comforting presence, 24/7.

His guidance and provision for every day of our earthly lives.

And the glory of heaven assured.

 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

We praise you, holy God, the One who has informed us through your Word, who transforms us by your Spirit, and conforms us, day by day, to be like Jesus. Praise you for the privilege to be yours, guided and cared for by an all-wise, all-powerful God!

(Photo credit:  www.wallpaper4god.com.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I Will Yet Praise Him

Posted in Blessings, God's Faithfulness, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Provision, Uncategorized, tagged , , on October 13, 2014| 28 Comments »

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On Friday, September 26, my younger brother, John, called with the heartbreaking news that our mother, age 85, had suffered a massive stroke. Her entire right side was affected; she could neither see nor talk. The prognosis left little room for hope.

By Sunday morning I was on a plane for Austin, Texas, to see Mom and care for Dad (age 90) while John and his wife, Collene, took care of numerous business matters related to Mom’s and Dad’s welfare.

For at least ten years Mom has been Dad’s primary care giver, due to his degenerative arthritis and Parkinson’s disease. But she considered her responsibilities a privilege, often saying, “He took care of me for many years; now it’s my turn. He’s my ministry now.”

For ten days we put our hope in God and witnessed his power at work.  In spite of great sadness, we could say, “For we will yet praise him, our Savior and our God” (Psalm 42:5), as he blessed us with his presence, guidance, and provision.

Mom was taken to Brackenridge, a teaching hospital, where she received conscientious, compassionate care. Doctors and nurses alike spent time with us, patiently explaining Mom’s condition and what we could expect.

Though she could not speak, and her brain had sustained extensive damage due to swelling, Mom communicated her love with hand squeezes. She also drew our hands to her lips for kisses.

My daughter, Heather, received permission from her kind boss to take time away from work and fly to Austin. She was able to stay for three days, visiting her grandmother, offering help, and lifting the spirits of us all.

On Day Five, I believe, it was recommended that Mom be moved to Hospice.   Immediately the name of a highly respected facility came to Collene’s mind. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Grandma were taken to Christopher House, she thought. But that particular hospice is small. What were the chances that a bed would be available? Collene kept the thought to herself, just in case Mom was assigned elsewhere.

Sure enough, a representative from Christopher House came to the hospital and directed us through the process to have Mom transferred there. An added blessing: John and Collene knew one of the nurses. She asked to be assigned to our mother for the duration of Mom’s stay.

Meanwhile, we visited three nursing homes for Dad. (He had told Mom on numerous occasions, “Just put me in a nursing home!” She wouldn’t hear of it. Only four months ago did she agree to have a care-giver come four hours a day.)

All three facilities were close to John and Collene, all relatively new.   One seemed a particularly good fit for Dad’s needs and interests.

Two doctor’s appointments, many phone calls, and much paperwork later, Dad was approved and processed for admittance to the nursing home we had hoped for.   The day before my flight home I did laundry for Dad, gathered toiletries and other items, and marked his name on all belongings.

The next morning, Wednesday, John and Collene got Dad settled, and I flew home.

Later, John sent me a video of Dad playing a piano duet with a staff member. Granted, he could only play with one finger, but he packed a lot of rhythm and soul into those single notes.  What a delight to see him having a good time–already.

That night we spoke by phone.  Dad told me the folks at his dining table enjoyed his jokes, and he’d already taken advantage of the library.

On Thursday, October 9, Mom graduated to heaven. It was her father’s birthday.

Do they celebrate birthdays in heaven? I’d like to think that my grandmother and grandfather stood at the gate to greet Mom, as Jesus ushered her in. Together with many family and friends who already reside in heaven, they celebrated her arrival as a precious gift for Gramps’ birthday. Somehow it seems very fitting.

 

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

 

You can read my mother’s story at http://www.memorialwebsites.legacy.com/gerischaub.

 

(Photo credit:  www.jeanierhoades.com )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Is Your Dream Too Small?

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Dreams, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Joy, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , on September 11, 2014| 14 Comments »

freedoms

“Jesus hasn’t brought us into the family of God just to make our dreams come true.

Our dreams are always too small.

We are here to fulfill God’s dream:

That we will bring Him glory through a remarkably abundant life.

That’s how we find our greatest personal fulfillment, now and for eternity.”

–Bruce Wilkinson

(Secrets of the Vine, Multnomah, 2001)

 

No wonder some folks have been dissatisfied. They thought the abundant life Jesus spoke of in John 10:10 meant an abundance of enjoyment – free from problems and pain, and a life of plenty – free from want.

God just wasn’t big enough, not big-hearted enough, to make it happen – or so they thought.

Turns out their dreams of personal satisfaction or success are not too big for God to fulfill. They’re too small. He has grander plans for each one of us.

In fact, God has one over-arching vision statement that applies to all his children. Paul explained it like this:

“We who had already fixed our hope on the Messiah might live for his praise and glory” (Ephesians 1:12, ISV).

God wants us to live for the praise and glory of himself. That’s God’s bottom line.

Now someone is going to say, “That sounds rather self-serving to me!”

Truth is, when God created us, he put a craving for himself within us. To know him and be known by him, to experience him is a God-given pleasure that nothing else can satisfy. That’s the gateway to the abundant life–the God-enhanced life.

“OK,” someone else may say. “But spending all day praising God and giving him credit for everything isn’t my idea of abundant living. Where’s the satisfaction, the adventure, the fun in that?”

I’d ask, “Have you tried it?”

Gratitude would be a good place to begin. Gratitude for what God has already done satiates the soul. We start to realize how much we already have.

Gratitude becomes an adventure. How many things can I identify today for which I’m grateful?

Gratitude becomes fun because it fills the heart with joy, which naturally leads to praising him and giving him the credit for everything positive.

His blessings do provide an abundant life:

  • Eternity in heaven (John 14:2-3)
  • Access to God at any time, through prayer (Hebrews 14:6)
  • His loving care through life’s ups and downs (1 Peter 5:7)
  • Wisdom to determine right action from wrong (James 1:5)
  • Joy that is independent of circumstances and defies logic (Psalm 16:11)
  • Freedom from worry and fear (John 14:27)

Of course, that’s only the beginning of a long list.  Each one is a wondrous and precious gift. Our Heavenly Father most certainly deserves continual praise for all he has done.

In addition to gratitude, each of us–no matter who we are, where we live, or what we do–can display the excellencies of our God – his loving kindness, grace, mercy, wisdom and more – to those around us.  Each of us can be obedient to his Word, helpful and generous to others.

And all the while we are giving God the glory–the credit–for who we are becoming and for what we’re able to do. We’re expressing gratitude for all his benefits and praise for all his attributes, which he pours into our lives.

This is how we fulfill God’s dream and, as a natural, God-engineered consequence, we also find great personal fulfillment.

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Heavenly Father, I do not want my attention side-tracked by small dreams. I want to fulfill your grand dream for me: that I might bring you glory through an abundant life of enthusiastic worship and service. You are majestic, holy, all-powerful, completely trustworthy, good and loving to your people. You are more than worthy of every word of praise and every kind deed accomplished in your name—period. But you grant us deep, satisfying, personal fulfillment as we bring you glory. We stand in awe of your magnificence and grace!

 

(Photo credit: http://www.fromhispresence.com.)

 

 

 

 

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Sunshine in the Dark

Posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, God's Goodness, God's Love, God's Provision, Hope, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2014| 8 Comments »

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We sat on the runway, awaiting take-off clearance for our flight. Low, thick clouds hung above us, shrouding the area in gloom. Folks in the plane sat quietly in their seats. Really quiet. Not very many smiles either. The oppressive bleakness outside seemed to cause a depressive state inside.

Finally we felt the plane move, pick up speed, and lift off the ground. In seconds the view out our windows was obliterated by the gray-white clouds. We could see absolutely nothing, as if curtains had been drawn outside the windows. Was the plane even moving? There was no way to tell, except for the loud drone of the engines and the upward angle of the plane.

Suddenly we escaped the cloud bank and were almost blinded by the brilliant sun. Some people turned off the overhead lights, others closed their window blinds against the glare.

As a result of the bright light, the atmosphere changed inside the plane. The dark mood of moments before turned to cheer. Some passengers shifted in their seats, sitting up a bit straighter. Soft chatter, even a few chuckles, peppered the air.

What a difference sunlight makes.

The physiological connection between sunlight and mood has been studied by scientists. They’ve determined that sunlight increases the production of serotonin in the brain, which is tied to wakefulness and feeling happy.

Those of us who know God can experience another source of light – his light — even when the dark clouds of trouble roll in (Psalm 18:28).  The benefits are incredible.

1.  “In [his] light we see light” (Psalm 36:9b). As we practice God’s presence and live according to the directions of his Word, we see the wisdom of his ways. We also become more aware of God’s glorious attributes shining into our lives—his power, loving kindness, grace, and more.

2.  “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength” (Psalm 89:15-17a).

Take note. God is righteous. Everything he does is good and right, absolutely perfect.

Did you catch that amazing statement at the end?  Our God of Light is our glory. He is magnificent, full of splendor, and grandeur, yet he is our Heavenly Father!  Could any state of circumstances be more incredible?

God is the source of all strength. Think of it. The all-powerful, all-knowing, sovereign God of the universe is on our side—all the time. He is completely, forever committed to us, until that day we see him in all his glory, our King of kings!

3.  “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear” (Psalm 27:1)?

Consider what dark clouds might symbolize in our circumstances: stress, problems, fear, and sorrow.

Now consider what the Lord of Light brings to us: guidance, wisdom, joy, provision, comfort, grace, and peace.

He is light within us and around us.

Sometimes when a thick cloud bank of difficulty settles over our lives, we think God has abandoned us. But take note of these wise words:

 

“Measure not God’s love and favor by your own feeling.

The sun shines as clearly on the darkest day as it does in the brightest.

The difference is not in the sun,

but in some clouds which hinder the manifestation of the light thereof”

– Richard Sibbes (Anglican theologian, 1577-1635).

 

Praise God for his glorious constancy!

 

 

(Photo credit:  www.vision.cs.uiuc.edu.)

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Slow and Steady

Posted in Encouragement, Excellence, God's Goodness, Maturity, Perseverance, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2014| 8 Comments »

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Elena, almost eighteen months old, loves to collect acorns. A grand oak tree on the church property across the street from her home provides perfect hunting grounds. She trundles along the edge of the sidewalk, her eyes on the grassy edge. Now and then she bends over, chooses a prime specimen, and clutches it tightly to her chest.

Yesterday was a banner day for acorns. Way too many shiny nuts with perfect caps. Her little hands couldn’t carry them all. I was given the honor of transporting a few of her treasures home. And this opportunity became the starting point for a train of thoughts.

You’ve no doubt noticed this yourself:  acorns do not appear capable of producing oak trees.  They’re too small and too hard.  How can the seeds inside even escape those tough shells?   Yet given the right soil, the right climate, and plenty of time, the miracle of growth occurs.  White oak trees can reach the height of 150 feet, growing twelve to fourteen inches per year.  Acorns do not appear until the twentieth year.  In the end, the majestic giant provides hundreds of benefits (www.arborday.org and http://www.ehow.com).

 

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Now a few tall plants, like bamboo, grow very quickly. But not tall, strong trees.  I wonder why?

We humans are also slow-growing–in body and spirit. And I wonder about that, too.  Why didn’t God make us more like bamboo, able to reach maturity quickly? Instead, we progress through a protracted, sometimes painful learning process to become “mature, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

Perhaps God willed our development to happen slowly so we have many opportunities to follow his chosen path and fulfill the potential he’s especially prepared for each of us. A false step in the wrong direction can be corrected, just as a crooked tree can be straightened if attended to promptly.

 

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Yes, there are those who choose not to mature, not to participate with God.

But we know that God is good, that what he does is good. I want him to train and teach me (Psalm 119:68). My guess is you feel the same.

Day by day, choice by choice, we can progress along the spectrum from self-centered to selfless, from impatient to patient, from lesser to greater.  But we have to realize: it happens slowly over time.

Here’s another possibility, even better than just accepting slow progress.  Let’s embrace it.

You see, our culture tends to look at time as a thief who steals away our youth, worth, mental acuity, and energy.

But what if we view time as a gift–a gift of countless opportunities provided day by day, choice by choice–to grow into the mature and gracious people God ordained? Instead of regretting the passage of time we can celebrate:

  • Our progress to become rooted and built up in Jesus, strengthened in our faith (Colossians 2:6).
  • The growing ability to bear fruit (the fruit of the Spirit, exemplary living, glorifying God to others)–even into old age (Psalm 92:14).
  • Becoming “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:3).

Oh, I like that last verse especially, don’t you?

And it can happen through  slow and steady perseverance, with God as our guide.

 

(Photo credits:  www.bio.brandeis.edu; http://www.treetopics.com; http://www.awesometools.com.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Unexpected Blessings

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, tagged , , , , on August 14, 2014| 13 Comments »

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Eric, our older son, and I were chatting on the phone.

“Mom, did you happen to save my old Uncle Wiggly book from when I was little?”

Uncle Wiggly? Goodness. I hadn’t thought about that old rabbit and his adventures for years.

“I doubt that we have it,” I responded. “Didn’t each of you kids already take the children’s books you wanted? I think all we have are the leftovers we’ve saved for the grandchildren.”

“No, I don’t have it either,” he replied.

“Well, maybe it was just too worn out to save,” I offered.

“Could be,” Eric said. “I was hoping to find a copy because it would be such fun to share with our Elena when she gets a little older.”

He paused for a moment.  “Remember the picture of Uncle Wiggly in his car?”

No, I didn’t remember.

“The wheels were made from big, fat sausages. That was my favorite page. But every illustration was full of imaginative detail like that,” he reminisced.

That would explain why Eric, our artist, would have such fondness for this particular book.

“I even checked on Craig’s List to see if anyone might have a copy, but didn’t find one.”

Wow. He did have a big soft spot for Uncle Wiggly. And I had a big case of guilt for getting rid of it. Why hadn’t I remembered that book was his favorite? How could I have thrown it away, even if it was tattered?

Months later, my husband, Steve, and I were sorting through boxes in the garage. Two of the boxes contained the children’s books we still owned.

Maybe we could pare down to one box, I thought.

I started unloading the books and organizing them into piles. At the very bottom of the second box was—you guessed it–Uncle Wiggly. And it wasn’t in such bad shape after all.

I whispered a prayer of gratitude for this small but precious gift—a blessing that I hadn’t even asked for.

Does it seem to you that unexpected blessings bring the most joy? Perhaps that’s true because they give us glimpses of God’s love and grace–love and grace that is:

  • Undeserved. Just as he “gave” me a book I had not searched for nor prayed for, God loved and provided for us before we ever searched for him or prayed to know him.
  • Personal. Surely there are not many folks who would delight in finding Uncle Wiggly.  The blessing of discovering its whereabouts was, it seems, personalized just for me (and Eric).

Similarly, God’s love and grace is personal. Remember the parable of the lost lamb?

“God loves each of us as if there was only one of us”—St. Augustine.

  • Lavish. It is doubtful a copy of Uncle Wiggly will turn up at a Sotheby’s auction.  It is not a valuable antique volume for which collectors will pay thousands of dollars.   But for me, finding that book at the bottom of the box was like finding buried treasure, placed there by God himself.  It was an unnecessary but perfectly lovely gift from my Heavenly Father.

I couldn’t wait to call Eric and share with him the good news.

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What unexpected blessing have you received that caused you great joy? Please share your story in the comment section below!

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God Is My Portion

Posted in Blessings, God, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Presence, God's Provision, God's Strength, Uncategorized, tagged , , , on July 31, 2014| 13 Comments »

Psalm-73_26

Have you met Asaph? He was one of the worship leaders appointed by King David. Twelve of the psalms are credited to him or his sons, including #73.

Read that particular psalm in a modern translation or paraphrase, and you’ll think Asaph is a present-day poet.   He writes about pretentious, arrogant people who wear the latest fashions–how they’re pampered, overfed, and full of hot air.

“People actually listen to them—can you believe it?” he complains (vs. 6-10, The Message).

Asaph found his attention drawn to these people who seemed to have it made. He lost sight of true reality for a moment–until he refocused on God and his ways.   Asaph realized that many who appear confident and successful are actually on a slippery slope toward disaster. They do not know God.

Tucked at the end of Psalm 73 Asaph celebrates a number of glorious blessings we enjoy as children of the Most High God:

  • He is as close as a father holding his son or daughter by the hand
  • With perfect wisdom he guides us through life
  • When our earthly lives are completed, he’ll take us to heaven to be with him
  • He is our strength—dependable and empowering
  • He is our portion forever (vs. 23-26)

These are precious gifts that money cannot buy. God—our constant companion, our perfect guide, our omnipotent strength. Simply affirming such attributes can energize my spirit and provide new resolve.

But one concept does leave me puzzled: “God, my portion.”

A bit of research revealed that the statement, “My portion forever,” is a metaphor taken from an ancient custom of the Jews. When the patriarch of a family died, they would divide the inheritance among the sons. Each would receive his allotted portion, and have his basic necessities taken care of.

The psalmist is proclaiming that GOD is his portion. That portion includes the Lord’s presence, power, strength, peace, joy—all supplied in generous measure. And those are just a few of his many attributes, blessing us with sublime goodness.

Unlike the inherited portion of ancient times, all of God’s children receive all of him, not just a part.

And God as our portion will never diminish. Never could we exhaust all of these attributes. He will be our gracious, caring, empowering Heavenly Father forever.

“As for me, it is good to be near God,” the psalmist continued (v. 28).   He’s saying, to live with God is good for us.  

Oh, yes.  To rest secure upon him as our foundation is the epitome of peace.

To allow him to work through us to fulfill his perfect plan is the essence of fulfillment.

To know that heaven awaits is the height of security.

God as our portion means complete wholeness and absolute contentment.

Who could want anything more?

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Like Asaph, Father, I can lose my focus on what is truly important and valuable. Thank you for this timeless psalm that draws me back to you and the splendorous gifts you offer. Thank you for nurturing me so that I may affirm with Asaph: “ Earth has nothing I desire besides you” (v. 25). Amen—so be it.

(Photo credit:  www.susancady.com.)

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I Shall Not Want

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Godly Character, Jesus, Joy, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2014| 14 Comments »

 

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“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, KJV).

Many of us memorized those words as children. And many of us may have thought, “Wow! That means, God will give us whatever we want!”

So we prayed for new bicycles, the latest gadgets, and swimming pools in our backyards—absolutely certain that if God gave us these heart desires, we’d be completely satisfied.

Some of our prayers were answered affirmatively. A new bicycle with sparkling spokes actually materialized under the Christmas tree. Or Aunt Louise heard the pleas for Mattell’s Magical Music Thing, and sent it as a birthday gift.

But the wise and introspective among us may have realized early on that:

1. When one desire is fulfilled, another quickly takes its place.

Years ago I heard that a famous actress had accumulated seven houses, each one decorated differently from the others. Why? Because changing locations eased her boredom.  ( I wonder how long after each home was completed she decided to purchase another?)

2. God isn’t in the business of making wishes come true.

Some desires become reality; some do not. If he did provide our every whim, we’d become spoiled and self-centered.

So how are we to make sense of David’s introductory statement? It sounds like a whopping exaggeration.   “I’m one of God’s flock! I’m gonna live on Easy Street!”

Hardly. David is saying, “God is my loving Care-Giver. What I enjoy in my relationship with him far outweighs anything else this world has to offer. I really don’t want.  Another.  Single.  Solitary. Thing.”

Now there’s an attitude of devotion to cultivate!  How can we become that contented?

One place to begin is with gratitude and praise.

Think of all we enjoy as a result of our relationship with God.  Peace, joy,  and provision, quickly come to mind.

Here are a few more:

  • Companionship with a perfect Friend—every moment of every day–into eternity.  He is always listening, always watchful, always diligent.
  • Hope. No situation is beyond the abilities of our Almighty God.
  • Settledness, because he is in control, and “makes good things even out of hard times” (Erica Hale).
  • Truth. We don’t have to muddle through life like a do-it-yourselfer with no instruction manual. “The unfolding of [God’s] words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).

The truth of the matter comes down to this:

No possession or position, no person, and no place will fill our hearts with satisfaction.

Peaceful, joyful contentment is the outcome of one determination: affirming that in God we have all we need.

Perhaps Jesus was teaching us the way to contentment when he said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Are you weary of the dissatisfaction that results from striving for the next desire?  Are you burdened by unfulfilled wishes and dreams?

Come to Jesus.  Count the scores of blessings he has already provided in the past, is currently providing this very moment, and has already prepared in the glory of heaven yet to come!

Rest in contented gratitude and praise–free from want.

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What helps you rest in contented gratitude?  Please share in the Comments section below!

 

(Photo credit:  www.kingjamesbible.org.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Splashes of Joy

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Provision, Joy, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on July 2, 2014| 20 Comments »

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(Very similar style to our new home–only ours is even prettier!

Photo credit:  www.houzz.com)

 

Two weeks ago today we arrived at our new home in Ohio, to begin retirement near our sons and their families. Steve’s forty-year chapter of pastoring churches has been completed.

Times of transition almost always prove challenging. The month of June was no exception for us. Saying good-by to our loving, supportive congregation in Florida was difficult. I wanted to split myself in two, leaving half of me there, and moving the other half north to be near family. Either that, or convince the whole church to move with us. Alas.

And then there are all the questions such as:

  • Will the family still be as enthused about our close proximity a year from now? In ten years?
  • Will we be able to find a loving, supportive church, where we can make friends and enjoy new opportunities for service?
  • Will we be able to tolerate winter again, after four decades in the South?

But I already know the answers—in part.

  • If the family loses their enthusiasm for our presence, whose fault is that?!
  • I can trust God’s leading to the church home he’s already hand-picked for us. He wants us to grow and serve even more than we do.
  • Of course we can survive winter! Billions of people do it every year. Besides, the warmth of family will more than compensate.

And warmth of family is just one of many joys proffered by this new chapter in our lives. In fact, I’ve become “misty-eyed from splashes of joy”* a number of times in this process:

  • Last get-togethers (at least for a while) with old friends, accompanied by much reminiscing and laughter.
  • A surprise party and reception where love permeated the very air we breathed.
  • The dozens of thoughtful cards, notes, and gifts received.
  • A real estate agent and moving company representative who both turned out to be Christians.
  • The ride from Florida to Ohio with our younger son, Jeremy. (He’s a very funny guy!)
  • The first glimpse of our new home, especially the spacious, newly renovated kitchen. (We had made decisions from Florida, trusted our son, Eric, with the details, and had seen the process only in pictures.) Just like the homeowners on HGTV, I cried.
  • The stunning tree-top view out the kitchen/sitting area windows and from the deck, because the house was built into the side of a hill.
  • A raccoon we’ve named Ralphie, whose home is clearly visible from our back windows and deck. We’ve chuckled at his antics.
  • Friendly neighbors—one of whom works at Home Depot and has already helped us with an electrical problem.
  • And of course, the privilege to pop over to Eric’s and Hilja’s—to enjoy their delightful cooking and company and Baby Elena.

I could list more, but you get the idea. Perhaps the phrase “splashes of joy” isn’t quite accurate. It’s been more like a flood.

+     +     +     +     +     +     +     +     +     +

Oh, Father, how I rejoice in all of the splashes of joy, the good which you have given to me and my house (Deuteronomy 26:11)—INCLUDING the house!  

 

* (Someone else’s expression–not mine—though I wish it was.)

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Part of the Process — Revisited

Posted in Blessings, God's Goodness, God's Power, God's Promises, Perseverance, Praise, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , on June 12, 2014| 4 Comments »

(As most of you know, Steve will soon be retiring from the pastorate, after serving forty years in Florida. Mid-June we move to the Midwest, to be close to our sons and their families. If our daughter and her family would just move east from Washington State, life would be near-perfect!

No doubt you’re also aware that packing and unpacking are time-consuming tasks, so I’m putting the blog on hold for a few weeks. But please continue to visit! I’ll re-blog some previous posts, and hopefully you’ll find them meaningful again, or perhaps for the first time.

The following post was first published 11-7-13.)

 

tears

 

Before my friend, Elizabeth, said a word, I knew something was wrong. The slump of her shoulders, the wrinkled brow, the tears welling up in her eyes–they spoke loud and clear.

“You know how Michael and I would like to have a little brother or sister for Ashley,” my friend said, dabbing her eyes with Kleenex. “Well, it’s become more than just a desire for me. I so desperately want another child.” Her voice became tight. “The waiting and uncertainty are becoming unbearable.”

We stood together, in the emptying sanctuary after church, arms entwined. And I prayed for Elizabeth and Michael.

Psalm 113:9, a verse which had ministered to me years before, came to mind. I included the promise in my prayer: “God, you’ve promised ‘to settle the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.’ We are claiming that promise today for Michael and Elizabeth. Even now we look forward to the day when they are holding a precious, new baby in their arms.”

Note the verse says children, not child.

The prayer came out of my mouth with certainty and brazen expectation, not in keeping with my cautious personality at all. I have to admit, the thought crossed my mind, What if God intends for Elizabeth and Michael to have just one child? You’ve gone way out on a limb with that prayer!

But I voiced no disclaimers. I let the prayer stand on its foundation of conviction–conviction that didn’t come from my spirit as much as from the Holy Spirit.

For the weeks that followed, I continued to pray that God would bless this couple with another child.

Weeks later, Elizabeth approached me once again. Before she said a word, I knew what she was going to say. Her outspread arms, wide grin, and sparkling eyes spoke loud and clear.

“I’m pregnant!” she cried.

We hugged each other tight and noisily exclaimed our jubilation.

Would I have been as excited had I not been praying for this family? Delighted, yes. But jump-up-and-down ecstatic? Probably not.

My joy was greatly expanded because I had invested myself in the outcome—with the effort of prayer.

Yes, there are many reasons to pray, including these benefits:

Our wills are aligned to God’s will (Psalm 37:4).
Strength of character is developed through the discipline of perseverance (Luke 11:5-8).
We have the opportunity to bring glory to God (John 14:13).
Prayer is a means of fighting against evil (Ephesians 6:10-18, especially verse 18).

But the wonder of prayer, for me, is the privilege God gives us to be part of the process, as he engineers circumstances to accomplish his will.

Every time God moves in situations for which we’ve prayed, he is giving us a precious gift: the gift of participation with him–in a miracle.

Maybe two.

Michael and Elizabeth had twin girls!

 

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*      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

Heavenly Father, thank you for the splendid privilege of participating with you in the healing, protection, provision, and guidance with which you bless others. May I never get tired of bringing my requests to you, knowing that the joyful conclusion will be worth every moment spent in prayer!

(Photo credit:  www.saveourschoolsnz.files.wordpress.com; http://www.etsy.com.)

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