Monday Morning Memo: Absolutely Nothing

“Accomplishing the impossible begins with seeing the invisible.”  I love this quote by Steven Furtick and when I read it, I immediately agree with what it says…but then living it out doesn’t come so easy.

 

Why is it so hard for me to see the invisible…especially when it comes to trusting God?  I trust a lot of other things that I cannot see.  I trust that there is a sun in the sky even when it is completely covered by clouds.  I trust there is going to be air to breathe as I go throughout my day, but I can’t actually see it (well, with the current smoke from fires…I guess I can see it!).  Many times in my life, I have trusted that when I have been pushed into an MRI machine, the pulses of radio wave energy, which I cannot see, will take pictures of areas inside my body.

 

But trusting an invisible God, even though I have seen the effect of the power of His hand, is much more difficult.  When it comes to trusting Him, I want something tangible.  I want proof.  I want facts.  I want details.  And of course…I want results!

 

I have a feeling that I am not alone in this, and I wonder how often God shakes His head at our ways.  Knowing how much He loves us and how much He wants the very best for us, I can’t help but believe He is saying, “Please my dear child, trust the invisible…because it is much more wonderful than anything you can even imagine or see with your own eyes.” 

 

I think part of the problem is that we bring God down to our size, instead of realizing how big and powerful He really is.  Nothing is impossible for Him.  Nothing makes Him wring His hands.  Nothing catches Him off guard or even makes Him break a sweat.  Absolutely nothing.

 

If I’m honest, the disorder I deal with on a daily basis, Hypermobility Syndrome, often has me fearing the future.  Learning more about it and realizing what the future may hold for me…can easily put me in an emotional tailspin.  Sometimes I think I might be better off to not have a clue what my future more than likely holds…figuring ignorance just might be bliss.  But I also realize that education can help me know what I need to do to try and stay mobile for as long as possible.  

 

What I need to remember is that even though I don’t know what tomorrow holds for my health…I serve Someone who does.  My disorder is not making my Jesus wring His hands.  It has not caught him off guard and He definitely isn’t breaking a sweat over my future.  Nothing that happens to me will surprise Him…absolutely nothing.  What seems impossible to me…isn’t impossible for Him.

 

What is it in your life today that just seems impossible?  What do you want to see accomplished but you just can’t make yourself step out in faith because there isn’t anything tangible to hold onto?  Remember the size of your God.  What you cannot see…He sees clearly.  What you cannot do…He has already done.  What you cannot achieve on your own…He already has it accomplished and is just waiting for you to step into His plan.  I happen to believe that when we do this and when the fog finally clears, what we will behold will be worth the first step into the unknown.

 

“We don’t yet see things clearly. 

We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. 

But it won’t be long before the weather 

clears and the sun shines bright! 

We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, 

knowing him directly just as he knows us!”

1 Corinthians 13:12 (MSG)

Monday Morning Memo: Do You Tinkle?

I’m going to be honest right off the bat today.  I find parts of the Old Testament really boring.  Yep, I’ve said it and I’m not taking it back.   Who begat who (which includes names I can’t even pronounce) and what animal could or couldn’t be eaten, can, at times, cause my mind to wander. But once in a while I come across a verse that catches my attention and even makes me chuckle a little bit.  At least it makes me snicker…but I know I have a strange sense of humor.

One of those verses is Exodus 28:35, “Aaron will wear this robe whenever he ministers before the Lord, and the bells will tinkle as he goes in and out of the Lord’s presence in the Holy Place. If he wears it, he will not die.”  I know…I have a weird sense of humor, but I just keep picturing Aaron walking around with his bells tinkling and the scene just makes me smile.

Of course, it also makes me curious.  Why did Aaron have to wear bells when he went into the Lord’s presence?  Why was it important that he tinkled?  These questions took me to several commentaries to see what others thought about this scene.  

The consensus of the writers was that the bells were worn so the people knew every move the priest made while he was in the tabernacle.  He was there to perform the sacred rite on their behalf and so the tinkling of his bells was proof to them (even though he was out of their sight) that he was doing just that.  This was so important that if the priest failed to wear a robe with the bells, he would be put to death!

This really got my mind wandering.  What if you and I had to wear a bell so that we tinkled throughout our day?  What if, because we tinkled, everyone would know exactly where we were and what we were doing?  Would I be ok with doing that?  Would you be ok with doing that?

I guess if we are doing exactly what the Lord wants us to do during our day, we shouldn’t mind tinkling.  Our day should basically be an open book to those around us and we shouldn’t have any actions which we need to hide.  There shouldn’t be books we are reading which are filled with pornography or television shows or movies which take our mind to places not pleasing to the Lord.  We should be treating our spouse and our children with the utmost respect and showing love to whomever we come in contact.  Our business affairs should be above board with nothing done “under the table” and our employer should see us doing our very best at all times. 

I don’t know about you, but I have to admit it made me smile when the priest had to wear the bells…but not nearly as funny if I had to.  I like to think that my life is totally focused on the Lord and His desires for my life, but unfortunately, there are times when I would be ashamed to have others listening to my every word.  But, of course, there IS Someone that hears my every word and sees my every move and I’m even more ashamed of those times I let Him down and cause Him pain.  I’m afraid that I would have been dead a long time ago for not tinkling when I should.

As we go throughout our week, let’s imagine we have a bell around our neck that others will hear.  You may even want to put a bell in your pocket as a constant reminder that there is Someone who knows your every move, hears your every response, and knows your every thought.  This just might help us remember that we are to be the light in a very dark world and hopefully, even in the darkness, those around us will hear us tinkle 

“So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—

before the Lord returns. For he will bring our 

darkest secrets to light and 

will reveal our private motives. 

Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.”

1 Corinthians 4:5

 

“You are convinced that you are a guide 

for the blind and a light for people 

who are lost in darkness.”

Romans 2:19

 

Monday Morning Memo: Flying By the Seat of Your Pants

I had to back up what was on the TV, because I knew Dan hadn’t seen a certain commercial yet. I had recently told him about it, so when it came on a few days ago, I thought he needed to watch it.  It was another one of the ads for an insurance company that usually states something close to the beginning about young homeowners turning into their parents.  This particular commercial states, “Young homeowners can’t do anything without a plan”.  These young people are at the shopping mall and of course they can’t just take their time and shop…everything must be planned…right down to where they will go, what and when they will eat, etc.

 

If I ask myself why these commercials make me laugh so hard…it doesn’t take long to get an answer (yes, I answer myself).  I’m confident that the writers of these commercials have been following me around and all they are doing is just making notes of how I act and react…and that gives them plenty of material to write more ads.  These young people are me…especially the ones in this commercial…because I always need a plan.

 

I don’t like unpredictability.  I don’t particularly like being around people who just “fly by the seat of their pants” through life.  That isn’t me.  I like to know where I’m going…how long it will take to get there…what I will find when I arrive…and then of course…what will happen afterwards.  The word “flexibility” isn’t usually in my conversation because that would mean I might have to change plans in the middle of my journey and well…I don’t do well with that.

 

Attending an event that isn’t well organized?  Well, you might as well put me in a torture chamber.  Let’s just say I don’t do well with that either.   It’s all I can do sometimes to not jump in and start “fixing” things by doing what I think should be done.   

 

But unfortunately, my way isn’t always better.  There are times when those who do “fly by the seat of their pants” are much more successful with what they are doing than I would be.  They have a talent for getting things done at the last minute, all while keeping their stress level much lower than mine.    I often wish I was wired that way…and I’m sure people who have to be around me…wish I was too 

 

This makes me think of the verses in James 4:13-16, Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

 

OUCH.  These words step on my toes a little bit.  Now, do I think it is wrong to be organized and want to make plans?  No, I don’t.  But I think these verses are reminding me that life is so short and so very precious…and there are times when I need to be open to follow the Lord’s leading…even when the details I have set…don’t line up with His.  Because since He can see my tomorrow, and I can’t…He may just need to change my plans today for my benefit tomorrow.  

 

And maybe…changing my plans isn’t for my benefit at all.  Maybe a detour is put in my path to benefit someone else…because as hard as it is to accept sometimes…life isn’t all about me   Maybe the new path will give me an opportunity to bless someone else and make their day just a little brighter.  That can quickly make a dreaded change…into a blessing in disguise.

 

I know I’ll never stop making plans and I will always enjoy a well-organized event.  But hopefully I will learn to “roll with the punches” just a little bit more often.  At least…that’s my plan 

Monday Morning Memo: Spending Time Together

I was going through my files the other day and I came across this devotional that I wrote back in 2019.  Oh, how it made me miss my in-laws!  I sure wish I could have another evening, sitting at their table.  So, I couldn’t help myself…I just had to share these words with you again.  I think the words are timely…whether it is 2019 or 2026…so I hope they will speak to you today.

 

When I married Dan almost 38 years ago (now almost 45 years ago!), I had no idea what all I was getting myself into.  I was fairly young (21), probably a little naive and just knew that I loved this man and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.  What I didn’t realize at the time, but soon figured out was, I had married the son of Betty Crocker.

 

Oh, I knew his mom was an amazing cook…I had already been blessed to sit at her table various times.  But it wasn’t until after we married that I really understood how much she deserved the title of Betty Crocker.  This woman was amazing!  She never served a vegetable she didn’t grow herself.  She was a master at frying chicken that was raised, killed and “dressed” (I had no clue what that meant until I learned I had to help!) on their property.  She made her own noodles, dinner rolls and of course, hamburger buns.  Every Easter she made iced bunny cookies and every Valentine’s Day she made iced heart shaped cookies and each family member got their own bag of them. 

 

You could drop in on her and my father-in-law at any given time and she could just pull food out of the air to feed you in just a few minutes.  In fact, when our son was a teenager, if he didn’t like what I was fixing for dinner, he would just head over to grandma’s because he knew everything she made was good.

 

All of this was overwhelming to a young bride who was raised in the city.   I had no clue how to garden or can or freeze the produce from a garden…and I sure didn’t have a clue how to make everything from scratch.  My mom was a good cook, but we never lived in the country where we could have a big garden so most of our food supply came from the grocery store.  This was a whole new world for me and it was obvious that I had a lot to learn.  Inviting my in-laws over for dinner was a very frightening ordeal because I felt so inferior to the cooking of Betty Crocker 

 

As I was canning green beans this past weekend, so many memories came flooding into my mind. I remembered those early years of standing in my mother-in-law’s kitchen as I helped her can green beans.  After a few years I felt confident enough to tackle the job in my own kitchen and bought my own canner.  When I had questions, I knew I could call Mom Fulton and she would patiently go over the protocol with me.

 

We spent many hours cooking together in her kitchen as I learned how to make some of her favorite dishes.  I worked alongside her and Dad Fulton as we turned the 200 live chickens into fryers that would go in the freezer.  That’s when I learned that dressing a chicken had nothing to do with clothes and that gizzards had to be cleaned out before freezing!

 

Looking back, I am so thankful that God placed someone in my life who could come beside me and teach me these things.  I discovered that I love to cook, garden and can and without her patient teaching…I probably never would have learned all of this.  She never made me feel stupid when I asked so many questions…she was just happy to spend the time together.  

 

I’m also so thankful that my Jesus is the same way.  He has so much to teach me and He patiently shows me His ways.  At those times when I am feeling overwhelmed and so unqualified…He encourages me to keep going and keep trying.  He never tires of all my stupid questions…He’s just thrilled to spend the time together.

 

Jesus is anxiously waiting to teach us and I think He expects us to be willing to come alongside those we meet to teach them.   My prayer is that our hearts will be open to His leading and our eyes will be open to see those around us who are in need.  Who knows…you might just be the Betty Crocker or the Paul Bunyan that someone is looking for.  And don’t worry…they won’t be looking for perfection…they will just be thrilled to spend time together with you.

 

“Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

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 25:4-5

 

“Don’t look out only for your own interests,

but take an interest in others, too.”

Philippians 2:4

Monday Morning Memo: A Facepalm Moment

There are things that happen in life, which just makes a person shake their head.  It’s those moments when you wonder what has happened to intelligence in a society where we are supposed to be so advanced.  I like to call them “Facepalm Moments”.  Let me explain.

 

We are very blessed in our area to have something that makes a necessity that isn’t the most fun…at least more convenient.  I’m talking about mammograms.  Now men…hang in there with me.  I know this isn’t a subject you care much about…but hopefully the point I will make through my experience this past week, will be something you can relate to!

 

In our area, we have a mobile mammogram unit that goes around to different communities and sits in a parking lot which has been advertised on their website.  The patient calls the phone number and tells them which location they would like to go to, and an appointment is made.   The 3D mammogram is then done inside their unit.

 

I found out through my doctor’s office that the unit would be in our town this past Friday.  So, I called and made the appointment for 9:30 am.  This appointment also showed up in my medical MyChart account and there was a place to “click” to see more details on my appointment.  This page on the website instructed me to be there by 9:15 am and to make sure I had my insurance cards and a form of ID with me.  All of that made sense and was what I was expecting.

 

What I didn’t expect was the address where they said the mobile unit would be.  As I said, I was told the unit would be in our town this past Friday, but the location on the website was in another town 36 miles away.  I was confused and a little frustrated, because I really didn’t want to have to drive that far on that particular day.

 

I decided Thursday afternoon that I better call the number I used to make the appointment to find out for sure where I was supposed to go.  A very nice woman answered the phone and I explained my dilemma.  She assured me that I was correct…the unit would be in our town and my appointment was set for the next day.  She said the address listed in MyChart always says their main location, since the unit moves around to different locations.  That’s when the “Facepalm moment” occurred.  The woman laughed and said, “Oh yes, we have people going to the wrong location all the time because that address is listed in their MyChart”. 

 

Really?  This happens all the time and nothing has been done to correct it?  I’ll be honest, I would have been rather ticked if I had followed what my MyChart said and driven 36 miles, only to find out it was wrong!  Couldn’t something at least be added to the MyChart listing, saying that this is the main location address, not necessarily the address where your mammogram will be done?  Surely something could be figured out to make sure this confusion isn’t happening on a regular basis, because wouldn’t life be easier for everyone if this issue was solved?  These workers know something is wrong…but instead of doing what is needed to make it right…they just laugh it off and nothing changes.

 

Isn’t that though, how many of us are in our daily walk.  Most of us know how we should be living…we’ve read God’s Word and we know how He has instructed us to live.   But when something isn’t right…when we make choices which aren’t in His plan…we laugh it off and just say that’s how it is and we don’t make any changes.  Why?  Because that’s easier.  It takes work to redirect our path, to correct something that is wrong.  And I have to wonder if it makes God have a “Facepalm Moment”.

 

I think what we fail to realize is that life would probably be easier if we made the necessary changes which are needed as we go through life.  As we see where we’ve veered off the path and do what it takes to get back on track…I think there would be a lot less confusion and frustration in our lives and as a result…we would end up at the right destination.  

 

It will be interesting to see if they have this problem solved next year when I make my appointment, or if they still have the wrong address listed in MyChart.  I guess it will depend on whether someone cares enough to take the time to make the necessary changes.  I don’t think I’ll hold my breath 😳

Monday Morning Memo: Hope in Jesus

The seventh and final truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

7. My God turns evil into good.

 

Life doesn’t always work out as you hope.  You’re living on a broken planet.  But no circumstance can hinder the seeds we’ve just discussed from being cultivated in your mind.  No hardship or disappointment or disease or divorce or darkness or desert can stunt the growth of godly thoughts from becoming mighty trees in your way of thinking.

 

So plant this in your mind: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 

I think we can all relate to this last truth.  Life isn’t always easy.  Our carefully made plans sometimes seem to blow up in our face and we are left stunned, frustrated and discouraged.  We think we know where life is going to take us…only for it to take a drastic detour which we never saw coming.  

 

So, what can we do when living on a broken planet is what we are destined to do?  Until we walk the streets of gold, we are imperfect people living in a far from perfect world…so it is imperative that we figure out what will make a difference.  Because if we as Christians don’t have a clue what can make a difference in our daily life…why would those who don’t know our Jesus want what we have?

 

As our truth today states, it really comes down to our mind and what we fill it with.   I had something happen recently that helped me understand this concept in a practical way.

 

Here in the Midwest, we had a very rainy, cold, windy spring. It was miserable.  We sat out at our grandsons’ baseball games with 3 layers on, including a winter coat, gloves, earmuffs and a hood.  And we were still cold!  We weren’t sure warm, sunny days would ever return, and I found myself becoming more and more discouraged.

 

Finally, a beautiful day arrived.  I was so anxious to feel the sun on my face, I went outside to walk around our property.  As I perused our landscaping…I was overwhelmed.  Our flowers were gorgeous…even though I had been unable to do anything with them yet this year.  The rose bushes were flowering, the bushes were blooming and the grass was a deep shade of green.  That’s when I felt a quiet whisper from my Jesus.  He said, “LuAnn, see what can happen when times have been difficult?  See what can take place during those times in your life when you think the sun won’t shine again?  If these beautiful flowers can bloom as a result of cold, dreary days…what more can I do in and through you when you go through a dark valley.  I care much more about you LuAnn than I do those flowers…keep your eyes on me and you will see beauty again.”  I then thought about the verses in Luke 12:27-28, “Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?”

 

As Giglio said, “So plant this in your mind: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Even in the storms…God is working.  Even in the darkest valley…God is planting seeds.  We need to remember that nothing we will face can stunt the growth of godly thoughts from becoming mighty trees in our way of thinking.  Nothing can stop Him from making everything work together for our good and His glory. 

 

I don’t know what you are facing today…but you may feel like all hope is lost.  I’m here to remind you that there IS hope in Jesus.  No matter how dark things look right now…your Savior is working behind the scenes, and He is going to make something beautiful out of these days of discouragement.  Remember, He is able to do far more than we can even imagine so hold on…because I believe brighter, warmer, sunnier days are on the way 

Monday Morning Memo: Firmly Planted

The sixth truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

6. Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is my Lord.

 

Your God is stronger than anything, higher than anything, and worthy of all praise.  Your God is the Great King.  His kingdom is forever; His plans are unassailable and sure.

 

Plant this thought by memorizing these verses:  “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

 

When I first read this sixth truth…I sort of skimmed through it and thought yeah, yeah, yeah…I know all that.  Then…I took a few moments to slowly read it again to absorb the truth into my mind and soul.

 

Two things spoke to me.  The first was the beginning, “Your God is stronger than anything…”.  After all I have been through the past three years, I had to ask myself if I truly believed this statement.  If I don’t believe it…I have reason to fret…wring my hands…and give up in despair. If I don’t believe it…then no one would blame me if I said, “My God is stronger than most things…but throw in two torn Achilles tendons, double pneumonia, MRSA double pneumonia, months and months of severe coughing, severe pain, pansinusitis, more MRSA and then throw in some back and neck issues…and well…He isn’t THAT strong.”

 

We can laugh at that…but I know there have been times in the past three years when I have conveyed this message by the way I acted and reacted.  I know my witness has not always been that He IS stronger than anything…my actions showed I thought He was stronger than just most things.

 

The second part of this truth that jumped out at me was, “His plans are unassailable and sure.”  Hmmmm.  Do I believe that?  I looked up the word “unassailable” and I found, “Unassailable refers to something that cannot be doubted, attacked or questioned.  It describes a state of being so strong or certain that it is impervious to criticism or challenge.  It leaves no room for skepticism.”

 

WOW.  Am I so firmly planted in the soul of my Savior, that I can trust His plans…His ways…without doubting?  Do I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He knows what is best for me?  Do I believe that whatever happens in my life is ordained by Him for my good and for His glory?

 

Oh, I have so much to learn and I am so thankful that my Savior loves me…with all my doubts, faults and failures.  He doesn’t scold me when I fall into discouragement, nor does He tire of my many questions.  He patiently leads, encourages and answers in ways I may never understand this side of heaven. But again…if I am firmly planted in His soul…then I should be able to wait until the day when I see Him face to face.  In the meantime…I need to hold onto the fact that He IS stronger than anything…and His plans ARE unassailable and sure.  There is NO reason to fret, wring my hands or give up in despair.  Because Jesus IS Lord…He is MY Lord…and worthy of my praise!