Monday Morning Memo: Life's Hurricanes

Do you know that moment when you read something, and you feel like God put the words there just for you?  It’s not so bad when what you are reading gives you a warm fuzzy feeling; but it isn’t nearly as much fun when the words slap you right between the eyes.

 

This is what happened to me recently.  The words?  A quote from Corrie Ten Boom: “Don’t bother to give God directions, just report for duty.”  Oh man…did I have to read that?  Why couldn’t I have read the verse, “Thou shalt not steal”?  I don’t ever struggle with wanting to steal.  Or why couldn’t God have impressed on me the saying, “Stressed spelled backwards is desserts”?  Now THERE is something to make me feel good and celebrate!

 

No, He led me to read something that made me squirm, because if I reflect on some of my recent prayers, they have sounded more like a to-do list for God, instead of seeking His direction.  Why do I do that?  Why is it so easy to fall into the trap of telling Him what I think He should do?

 

I know He wants me to pour out my heart to Him.  I know He loves to hear my desires and my dreams; but the problem arises when I am more concerned with what I want than what He wants.  When my today and my tomorrow is spent instructing Him to do what would make me happy…there is a problem.  The reason is that what I think will make me happy, may not be good for me at all.  What I think should happen in the lives of my loved ones, may not be beneficial to them in the long run.  He can see my tomorrows and the tomorrows of my family and friends and so it is in Him that I need to put my faith and trust.

 

At the same time, He brought me the book, “How to Quiet a Hurricane – Strategies for Christian Endurance in the Midst of Life’s Storms” by Justin Kendrick.  I’m only on page 50, but there have been so many good nuggets of truth so far.  It is reminding me over and over again that God’s way is best and that the “hurricanes” in my life may actually improve my life and Christian walk.  He wrote about the time when the disciples were in the boat with Jesus and the weather was like a hurricane and what was Jesus doing?  Sleeping.  Can you imagine?  Sleeping during a terrible storm.  Wow, I’m guessing I would have had some choice words for Jesus at that moment.  But the author penned these words:

“But what if this hurricane nap is intended to model for us a different way of life?While the disciples were panicking, Jesus was resting.  They were drowning in feelings of terror, but he was perfectly at peace.  He rests in the hurricane as a vivid picture of a better way to live, showing us that God doesn’t always take away the storm, but he always gives us what we need to get through it.  He views all of life from the perspective of eternity, and that perspective changes everything.”

 

Just as I’m sure I would have had some words for Jesus in the boat, I find myself having conversations with Him recently which begin with, “Lord, please do…..”, or “Lord, I need you to…” or “Father, they need you to…”  I’m beginning to think that maybe my prayer time might be more productive if more of my sentences consisted of, “Lord, open my mind to what you have to say”, and “Father, work your way and Your will in my life and in the lives of my family”.  In doing this, I am giving Him free reign to do with me as He sees best, and yes, that might just include some “hurricanes”.

 

Scary?  You bet it is; especially for a control freak like me, but I can’t think of anyone in this world who I would rather trust with my today and my tomorrow than the One who created me.  So, my plan this week is to enter into His presence, bow down at His throne and just say the words, “Father, I’m reporting for duty.  Lead me where you want me to go, even if it includes a hurricane.”

 

“Lead me by your truth and teach me,
  

for you are the God who saves me.
    

All day long I put my hope in you.”

Psalm 25:5 (NLT)

 

Monday Morning Memo: Acts of Kindness

Today’s blog post isn’t deeply spiritual…it’s just sharing something that happened to me last week that made me smile.  And I think we all can use more of those kinds of “happenings”.

 

We have a local store where a young man works who I do not know.  He’s nice looking and seems to do his job well…but I realized from the first time I saw him that he was very quiet and rather serious.  Because of this, I decided to make an intentional effort to show him kindness.

 

So, for many months now, whenever I have seen him in the store, I have made an effort to speak to him.  I usually just ask him how he is…or I might talk about something exciting like the weather.  Just anything to make sure he knows he is seen.  A few times, I’ve actually had him answer me with as few words as possible…but it was at least a beginning.

 

Last week, I went to check out at this store, and I didn’t notice that he was working in the lane behind me.  I started unloading my things on the conveyor belt, and suddenly there was someone standing next to me taking my things out of the cart for me.  I looked over to see that, lo and behold, it was this young man.  He had come from his lane to mine, unloaded my things, and then immediately started back to his lane.  I said to him, “Thank you so much!” and I heard softly, “You are welcome”.

 

Yep, that was our short-lived encounter…but you can bet I came out of that store grinning from ear to ear.  He had made the first effort this time and it made my whole day!

 

I have shared before that I have a “game” I play whenever I go up to a cashier or have a waitress come to our table.  My game is to see if I can greet them, before they greet me.  Unfortunately, in some stores and restaurants, it’s not hard to win at the game, because sometimes the person doesn’t even recognize that I’ve entered their territory.  But it is surprising how shocked most of them are when I say to them, “How are you doing today?”  I’m not sure they get asked that question very much, so to have someone honestly want to know how they are doing, is unusual.  

 

I do have a warning though if you try this…be ready to hear how they are really doing.  I’ve had cashiers tell me everything about their day, week and sometimes life and I’ve had waitresses sit down beside me in a booth to give me more details!  My husband laughs and shakes his head, but I don’t mind.

 

We are living in a world where so many people just want to know that someone cares…that someone “sees” them.  Many are going through life feeling rather invisible, and just having someone smile and ask them how they are…can make their whole day.

 

You know…we may be the only “Jesus with skin on” that those we meet…will ever know.  So, if they only see us being disgusted and frustrated and in a rush to get on to the next thing…will they ever want to know about Him?  I don’t know.  But if we can at least brighten their day a little bit, and show them that there are people in this world who truly care…maybe…just maybe…they will begin to wonder what makes us different. 

 

I want to challenge you to make an effort this week to really “see” those with whom you come in contact.  Make eye contact and ask them how they are doing…and then make sure and listen when they tell you.  Who knows…maybe next time you will have someone unload your cart for you too!  

 

“Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 16:24

 

“And may the Lord make your love for one another 

and for all people grow and overflow, 

just as our love for you overflows.”

I Thessalonians 3:12

Monday Morning Memo: What is Important?

Have you ever had a day that just dragged on and on? A day where you thought for sure it had to be at least 2:00 pm, but when you checked the clock and realized it was only 10:00 am, you felt like crying. I have. But to be honest, I have more days that just seem to fly by. Days where, if I just had a couple more hours to work on my to-do list, I just might get caught up. The truth is though, I wear out much faster these days and so if I was given those extra couple of hours, I probably wouldn’t have the energy to do more work anyway 

 

The question then becomes, “Is what I’m spending my day doing, making a difference in the light of eternity, or is it just busywork?” I can find many worthwhile tasks to fill my day, but are they duties that the Lord wants me to be doing, or are they the things that I want to do? 

 

Many years ago, I heard a statement that so spoke to me, I immediately jotted it down. The statement was, “What you prioritize is what you will eventually worship”. If you asked me what or whom I worship, my immediate answer would of course be, I worship God. I’m surely not like those people who I read about in the Old Testament who just kept returning to their idols to worship. How could they be so stupid to bow down to their man-made statues? Isaiah 2:8 sums up what they were doing, “Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.” It is obvious that they had lost their way; they were more concerned as to what they were doing and what they had achieved, instead of what God had done and what He wanted to accomplish within and through them. 

 

I’m so glad I’m not like them...or am I? When my life is spiraling out of control and I feel overwhelmed, could it be that I feel that way because my priorities have gotten out of whack? Could it be that my agenda has become the idol which I’m worshipping, and I have left God out of the picture? 

 

It won’t be long now until the spring and summer months are upon us and our schedules can become even more hectic as it fills up with ballgames, barbecues and other outdoor activities. None of the activities I listed are bad, but we need to be intentional to make sure they don’t become our priority. What message are we sending our children when we make the decision that going to the lake or attending the ballgame on Sunday is more important than worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ? What message are our friends receiving from us when they hear us say that we don’t have to go to church on Sunday, because we choose to worship God as we are out in nature; it’s just not necessary to go into a church to give praise to our God. 

 

I pray that your summer will be filled with all those activities that the warm weather allows you to experience. However, I also pray that you won’t forget Who should be the center of your attention as you go through each day. Allow God to lead, to guide and to prioritize your day. If you do that, you will be able to look back on the summer months, knowing that what you accomplished DID make a difference in the light of eternity. I just can’t think of a better way to spend your days! 

“You must worship no other gods, for the LORD,
whose very name is Jealous,
is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.” 

Exodus 34:14 (NLT) 

Monday Morning Memo: Life as a Klutz!

I looked up what the word “klutz” means the other day and it said:  1) A clumsy person 2) A stupid person 3) A clumsy or stupid person; an oaf.  Yep, that pretty much describes me!

 

I have always been a klutz.  If it is possible to trip over air…I will do it.  Sometimes it’s because I’m in too big of a hurry.  Sometimes it’s because my big feet just get in the way.  Sometimes something seems to suddenly appear in front of me and as a result…I find myself on the ground.  One of the worst experiences was when I was walking down a sidewalk in the dark and a section of it was raised up and I couldn’t see it.  As a result, I went flying out into the street and landed full force on my elbow.  That “fun” event landed me in an ambulance for a trip to the hospital and an eventual surgery to repair my shattered elbow.

 

Fortunately, most of my moments of klutziness…don’t result in injuries that severe…but pain is usually involved in most of them.  That’s what happened last week when I once again tripped in my kitchen and my eye ended up square on a chair railing (I was going to include a photo…but trust me…it wasn’t pretty!).  If you have ever thought about doing that…take my word of advice and don’t do it…because the pain is unimaginable.  My first thought was that I was either going to be sick…or I was going to pass out, and since I was home alone, I didn’t want to do either.  So, once the room stopped spinning, I retrieved an ice bag for my eye and I hit the couch until my husband came home.

 

Life happens, doesn’t it?  In an instant, things can change and you can go from feeling ok to writhing in pain.  You can go from having your plans set…to having them instantly changed.  You can go from having good health…to receiving a cancer diagnosis.  And of course, it isn’t always associated with your health.  Sometimes, life changes in an instant, when your spouse suddenly announces he or she doesn’t want to be married to you anymore.  Or, your boss informs you that your services are no longer needed.  Or a person who you thought would always be your close friend…betrays you and walks out of your life forever.

 

Unfortunately, pain comes in all forms and many times when we least expect it.  Sometimes it’s a result of our own actions and then at other times, it’s not from anything we have caused, it’s just a consequence of an accidental event or a result of other people’s actions.  Regardless, pain can often paralyze us emotionally, and cause us to fear our tomorrows.  It’s easy to become so focused on our current circumstances, that we do whatever it takes to “hide” from our future.

 

We all know that life is unpredictable, and changes can occur unexpectedly.  But we need to remember that nothing is a surprise to God.  He knows our today and our tomorrow and promises to guide us every step of the way.  I think He wants us to strike a balance between being prepared for tomorrow, but yet living fully today.  It might be that the pain we are now experiencing, will open up new opportunities for the days to come as God’s will unfolds for us.  I think it’s important to remember that it’s not about controlling every outcome but trusting the journey we are on.

Remember, God loves you and me right where we are today…even if we are a klutz!

Monday Morning Memo: Living for Him

Soon after the first of this year, I was looking for a book in my library.  As I perused, I saw the book that is in today’s picture.  I think it was a book of my Dad’s, and I now own it since I inherited all his books when he passed away.

I’ve read this book, based on the poem, The Dash, before…but probably because I’m not getting any younger and I just joined Medicare…the words of this poem have a much deeper, timely meaning.  In case you have never heard of The Dash, here are the words to this poem written by Linda Ellis:

 

I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before. 

If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life’s actions to rehash…
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash?

 

No, my dash has nothing to do with running or a seasoning in my kitchen cupboard.  It has to do with the tiny dash that will someday come between my birthdate and the date I meet my Jesus face to face.

Some of you may think that this is rather morbid or depressing, but I happen to think it is a good thing to spend some time thinking about what we want our dash to represent.  That tiny mark will someday represent everything we did in our lifetime; everything we stood for and everything for which we will be remembered.  

Sometimes I think it is easier to think about what I don’t want it to represent.  I have no interest in others looking back on my life and saying:

“She acquired so much wealth”

“She had more ‘toys’ than her neighbors”

“She always kept her house immaculate”

“She always got everything done on her list each day…”

None of those things will amount to a hill of beans when I take my last breath.  None of those things will leave a legacy on this earth which will impact the eternity of those who come behind me.  But I am finding that it is so easy to fall into the trap of having each day consumed with those very things for which I don’t want to be remembered.  

To make sure my dash stands for what is truly important, I think it is crucial then that I am intentional to make sure each day on this earth is lived for my Jesus.   My eyes need to be kept on Him.  My ears need to be listening for His voice to direct my path.  My voice needs to be filled with words which will direct others to Him instead of away from Him.  And, my heart needs to be filled with His love for each and every soul who comes across my path.

I would like nothing more than to come to the end of my life and have others say just one thing about my dash, 

“She lived for her Jesus”

I know though, for that to happen, I need to make choices and decisions today which will show for Whom I am living.  It won’t always be easy, and I know I will stumble along the way.  But I also know that if my eyes are kept on my Jesus, He promises to give me the strength, courage and wisdom I will need to make my dash worth living.

 “He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired,

and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

Monday Morning Memo: Once and For All

I am a “fixer”. If I see a problem, my first thought is OK, what do I need to do to get this taken care of so we can get on with life. Well, maybe that is describing me nicer than it should. To be honest, I am a control freak. I like to be in control of my circumstances and if I’m not, I’m not what you might call a “happy camper”. 

I think there are times when being a control freak can be good; such as times when things are in disarray and someone needs to take charge and get things organized. I do not like it when things are done half-way and are unorganized. My grandmother had a saying about this that I believe should have been in the Bible. She would often say, "Once a task has begun, never leave it till it's done. Whether it be great or small, do it well or not at all." Because these words sum up what I believe, some have called me a perfectionist...I prefer to call myself “detail- orientated”! 

While there are positives to being a control freak, there are also many negatives. The biggest one I have found is that it is often hard for me to allow the Lord to have complete control of my life. It is easy for me to fall into the trap of believing that my way is best and that I can do things on my own, without the Lord’s direction and guidance. Of course, this path usually lands me in the middle of a battle which I can’t win on my own and I have to go running back to the One Who truly is in charge. 

Remember the months of the Covid pandemic?  That time made it harder on control-freak people like me.  Suddenly, all of us were thrown into circumstances where everywhere we turned…we were being told what we could and couldn’t do.  We couldn’t go where we wanted to go…see people we wanted to see…or even buy what we needed to buy because of hoarding and shortages.  Life as we knew it instantly changed and so many things we thought we had control of…wasn’t in our grasp anymore.

The positive to those dreadful days of Covid was that it was hard on control-freak people like me.  Yes, you may need to re-read that sentence again.  The same circumstances which were very difficult for someone like me…were also good for me.  Each event was a reminder that as much as I think I’m in control…I’m not…and thankfully…this world is not my home.  If my focus and my trust is in this world…it will inevitably let me down, but my Jesus never will!  

There is a verse in Exodus 14:14 that many are familiar with which says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” What a wonderful promise. I have the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings ready and willing to take charge and direct my every step; even when things are out of my control.  I just need to hand over the reins to Him. I must be willing to stop being a control freak and just be a Jesus freak instead! 

What about you? Have there been circumstances in your life which have stretched you in ways that you really didn’t want to be stretched?  Maybe, like me, it has shown you areas of your life where you need to realize that you aren’t supposed to be the one in control anyway…only Jesus should have that responsibility and fortunately…nothing you experience will catch Him by surprise.

Let’s spend some time this week in, once again, “being still” and focusing on the One who is in charge. Maybe then, we will start to loosen our grip and allow Him to take over the reins of our life…once and for all. 

Monday Morning Memo: Dancin' Shoes

If you know me well, or even if you only slightly know me, you recognize the fact that I’m rarely at a loss for words.  I can usually find something to talk about with just about anyone I meet.  In fact, I’m confident that there are times when I need to remember the words, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”

 

There are just certain topics of which I have trouble staying silent.  Ask me about my husband and children…and you will hear an earful.  Ask me about my friends…and you will probably learn way more than you wanted.  Ask me about my church…and I’m pretty sure my face will light up and you will hear how much I love my church family.  And beware…ask me about my grandchildren…and you better hope a chair is nearby because you are in for a long description of each precious blessing and more than likely…pictures will be included.

 

I am passionate about each of these subjects.  I love my family, friends, church and grandkids more than I can even put into words (even though I will try!).  They all mean the world to me, and I am never bashful or embarrassed to talk about them.  But do you know what?  None of them are perfect…(gasp)!  They are all human and probably, at one time or another, have let me down.  Maybe they did or said something that hurt me…or maybe they didn’t live up to my expectations.  But regardless…it hasn’t stopped me from bragging about all of them…especially since I know I have also let them down at times too.

 

So, how come I can ramble on and on and on about all these people…but shy away from telling everyone I meet about my Jesus…who IS perfect and has never let me down?  Why are there times I don’t speak up about everything He’s done for me because I’m afraid I might say the wrong thing?   Why are there times I keep my mouth shut…when I should open it…to stand up for issues which go against Biblical values…because I’m afraid I’ll step on someone’s toes or make them feel uncomfortable?  

 

There is a fairly old song which I love to listen to by the Gaither’s called “Good, Good News”. The first verse and chorus are:

 

I woke up Monday morning and I walked out on the lawn
My eyes were barely open and my mouth began to yawn
Picked up the daily paper, every single headline said
That this whole world is full of trouble and I wished I’d stayed in bed
Sometimes the bad that's goin' on's enough to bring you down

Turned on my television and began to flip on through
All one hundred channels, HBO and pay-per-view
Not one message had a meaning that was good in any way
Just before I wrote the whole world off, I heard the Father say
"Don't forget what I have promised, you can overcome it all"

I'll spread this talk all over town 'bout the peace and joy I found in you
(good news, good, good news)
This story is about to break and blessed are the feet that take the truth
(good news, good, good news)
I'm slippin' on my dancin' shoes 'cause I’ve got good, good news

 

As I was listening to this song the other day, all I could think of was, I’ve got Good News to tell!  Not just Good News…I have Great News and I need to make sure I’m spreading what I know all over town!  Christ has given me peace and joy and I need to tell everyone I meet.

 

Just like this song says…there sure isn’t much good news in our world today and people are starving to hear about the hope, joy and peace we have in our Jesus.  So, as we go throughout our week…let’s be intentional on telling those who Christ puts in our path about our Good News.  If we don’t tell them…who will? 

 

If you still aren’t convinced that you should speak up…click on the following link and listen to this song.  Then join me as we slip on our dancin’ shoes (I want red ones!)  because we have good, good news to tell!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehxHP7AO-Vc