Monday Morning Memo: Kicked Up a Notch

My phone rang last Monday and it was my husband Dan.  His question made me shudder as he asked, “Are you sitting down?”   I’m smart enough to know that those words are often asked when there is some bad news to share.  When I told him that I wasn’t sitting down, he told me that I needed to be.

In those few seconds, all kinds of scenarios went through my mind and when he proceeded to tell me that Erica, our oldest daughter who lives in NC, had just called him, many new possibilities flooded my head.  Was she sick?  Was she hurt?  Had something happened to one of her friends or the family with whom she nannies?  Yes, believe it or not, all those negative thoughts can pass through my mind in a matter of moments.

You can then imagine my relief when Dan went on to share with me that the big news was that Erica was coming home for Thanksgiving.  She rarely does for this holiday because she doesn’t have much time off from work, so we always know that we have to wait for Christmas to see her again.  But she had just been told that morning that she would have a few extra hours off this year and so she decided that as soon as she was done working on Wednesday, she would hit the road and drive home.  She would only be able to stay for three days, but we would take whatever time we could get with her.

I then did what any stable, well-balanced mother would do…I started crying.  A flood of emotions poured through my being and I went from being scared of what I might hear, to being thrilled with what I did hear.  Oh how this mama missed her first-born child and hearing that she would soon be with us was such welcome news.

As I have thought about my reaction to this news, my mind went to the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.  The details were different in our stories, because the child in this parable returned home after he had disappeared and blown all of his inheritance.  His father had no clue where he was or what he had been doing. Jesus’ story didn’t say that the father had the luxury of receiving a phone call ahead of time to let him know that his child was on his way, so he was surprised when he saw him on the horizon walking towards home. But the father’s reaction was similar to mine…but even kicked up a notch.  He was overwhelmed with emotion, threw his arms around his beloved son and kissed him.  All the past pain that this son had caused his father had been forgiven, and he was overjoyed to have him back home. 

What must our Heavenly Father’s reaction be like then when one of His children decides to come “back home”?  How must He feel when one who was once a follower, but has turned his or her back on Him, realizes the error of their ways and returns?  I believe His reaction is similar to the father of the prodigal son…but even kicked up a notch.  If He turned away…if He wasn’t willing to forgive and forget…the outcome would be disastrous.  But instead, our Heavenly Father welcomes the wayward one back with open arms, accepting His dear one’s confession of wrongdoing and washes them white as snow once again.

I can’t help but wonder today if someone reading this devotional can relate with this scenario.  Maybe you have made decisions in your life that have caused you to fall away from your walk with your Heavenly Father.  I can guarantee you that He isn’t the one who has moved and He is patiently waiting for you to come home.  Whatever you have done or wherever you have been, He is willing to forgive and will welcome you back with open arms. 

Maybe you have never accepted my Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  The same is true for you as it is for the prodigal one because there is nothing you have done that can’t be forgiven by this One who loves you so.  His reaction to your desire to make Him your Lord and Savior will be similar to the prodigal one…but even kicked up a notch.  Because the Heavenly Father’s reaction has an eternal consequence.  Your decision to accept Him means that you will spend eternity with your Jesus and there is nothing that makes Him happier than to welcome a new child into His family.  God wants you to be blown away by how much He loves you so He is willing to do whatever it takes to have a relationship with you.  Why not accept Him today?  I think you will be amazed at His over-the-top reaction!

 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!”  Luke 15:4-7

Monday Morning Memo: Chiseling

For those of you who are on Facebook, you know that sometimes when you go on your page, it will show you posts that you made previously on that date.  Well, the other morning, I found myself reading the following, which I had posted on Facebook several years ago:

"Choose to believe the truth that God is changing you, and you should clear up a lot of confusion. Next time you wonder about what you are seeing or experiencing and struggle to know what God could be up to, just say to yourself, 'He is changing me,' and you'll be right. Next time disappointments or heartaches come (maybe you're in the midst of them right now), you might hear yourself asking, 'God, what are You doing?' Next time you look over your shoulder in the midst of your pain, try to recognize that God Himself is holding the hammer and chisel." (from the book, "Lord Change Me")

I’m sure these words must have had an impact on me when I read this book, or I wouldn’t have posted them.  But I can’t imagine that they had the same impact then, as they did this week when I re-read them.  The reason is because of where I am in my life right now and how one particular word has a much greater meaning now than it would have had then.

The word that jumped off the page at me came at the very end and when I read the word “chisel” I laughed out loud.  This word has not been used in a positive way since I underwent back surgery eight weeks ago.  The reason is that during those hours on the operating table, lots of bone was chiseled out of me.  I had a back fusion 16 years ago, which included placing rods and screws in my spine.  Since this new fusion would need to be hooked onto the old fusion, all the bone that had grown around this “hardware” had to be chiseled out so that the old could be removed (see picture!) and new, longer rods and screws could be inserted.  As I’m sure you can imagine, I have been left with pain from all of their chiseling.

As I’ve thought about this, I have realized how much what happened to me in this surgery is like what this book excerpt is talking about.  My surgeon knew that for me to be stronger…for me to hopefully some day be in less pain…the old had to be chiseled away.  I’m sure he knew that in doing so, I would have to experience more pain as I healed, but he needed to do what was best for me in the long run.  It sure wasn’t what I wanted, but I had to be willing to put myself in the hands of my surgeon and trust that he knew what was best for me.

The same is true in my Christian walk.  There are times when there are things in my life that need to be cut away.  It might have something to do with my attitude, my priorities or maybe my lack of faith and chiseling needs to be done to make me look more like my Jesus.  Or, I’ve realized that it may be that what is being cut away isn’t anything that is bad, it just needs removed so that it can be replaced with something that will make me stronger in the long run.

Will the process cause me pain?  More than likely the answer is yes.  But I have to put myself in the hands of my Jesus and trust that He knows best.  I have to willingly allow Him to use the hammer and the chisel on my life so that I can be changed into a more devoted follower of His and look more and more like my Jesus.

If I’m honest, I have to admit that I have said the words, “God what are you doing?”, more than once over these past weeks and I’m sure you have probably said it a few times yourself.  What we are going through doesn’t always make sense and it can easily lead to confusion and inner turmoil.  It’s at these times that we need to remind ourselves that God is working in us and changing us during our times of disappointments, heartaches and pain.  While we may not enjoy it, we can be confident that everything He does is for our best interest and for His glory.

If we think about it…it is kind of exciting.  The God of the universe is working within us and through us so that we can be more like Him.  It really amazes me that He sees hope in someone with as many flaws as I have and He desires to patiently mold and prune me so that others can see Him in me.  And the same is true for you.  What an honor! 

“So all of us who have had that veil removed

can see and reflect the glory of the Lord.

And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us 

more and more like him

as we are changed into his glorious image.”

2 Corinthians 3:18

Middle of the Night Meanderings...

Well, it’s 3:30 am and I’ve had very little sleep.  I’m sure part of the reason is the steroids that they just started me on and part of it is the pain.  But as I lay here tonight, all I can think of is that my Jesus Is. So. Good.

I feel like I need to ask you a favor at this point.  Please, don’t feel sorry for me and please, please don’t think I’m a saint.  Just a few hours ago I was crying.  Crying because my pride was rearing its ugly head.  You see I’ve been told over the years that I have a very high pain tolerance.  Before my surgery seven weeks ago, I had been in terrible pain for quite awhile, but most days I was able to keep going.  I had people tell me that they had no idea that I was hurting that bad because I was able to slap on a smile and keep putting one foot in front of another.  So now, when I have been stopped in my tracks by this current pain, I at times feel like a failure.  Just hours ago I was telling my husband that I should be stronger…I should be able to work through this pain…but I can’t.

But as I lay here tonight, my Jesus just keeps asking me if I’m willing to praise Him in the pain.  Am I willing to face this mountain and show others that my Jesus is enough?  Am I willing to give up my pride and stop relying on my strength and start drawing from His strength? 

I have felt Jesus whispering to me tonight, saying that anyone can praise Him when things are going well.  It’s not hard to thank Him and raise our hands in praise when our life is on a smooth path with no pain, no heartache, no lack of strength.  But that doesn’t show others who are unsaved anything.  They aren’t going to be drawn to my Jesus because of my holding onto Him when life is a bowl of cherries.  They are going to be drawn to Him when they see that even in the darkest hours…my Jesus is enough and with Him, mountains can be moved.

So now, in the middle of the night, tears are once again falling, not because I’m wallowing in the fact that I’m not strong enough, but because Jesus is reminding me of how much I have been blessed.  I am seeing improvement in my recovery and am stronger than I was seven weeks ago.  I have a husband who deserves an award for being by my side for these past weeks.  I have an amazing family whom I love more than words can say.   I have a dear group of friends from our small group at church who have been “Jesus with skin on” for me during this time of recovery.  I have a larger group of friends who have also come alongside me during these days and brightened some dark moments and brought laughter at just the right times.

Most importantly, my Jesus has never left my side.  He hasn’t just watched from a distance…He has held me every second of every day and it is HIS strength that I know will see me through this.  And in HIS perfect timing…we will see this mountain moved.  So tonight I am choosing to praise my Jesus because He. Is. So. Good.

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part V

As we wrap up our look into how we can choose to have peace even when chaos is all around us, I want to go back to one of the points I shared in our second week.   This point, along with all the others I have shared, came from Jim Lange’s book, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World.  This book, along with two others, has been a part of the blessings I have received during my time of recovery.

In the second week, I shared Lange’s statement,

“Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because

I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”

This statement has continued to come to mind during these past weeks as I have asked myself over and over again where my focus is.  I have realized that when my focus is on me, the chaos around me can easily become blown out of proportion.  When my focus is on me, it’s way too easy for me to start whining and asking, “Why is this happening to me?”  When my focus is on me, I can easily become panicked about my situation and I begin to bring my Jesus down to my size instead of focusing on how big and powerful He is.

I am learning that when my focus is on Him, it is so much easier to feel His presence in my life.  When my focus in on Him, I realize that He is all-powerful and able to handle anything that life throws at me.  When my focus is on Him, it is easier to see the chaos around me as something positive…something that He can use to make me look more like Him.  And, I also believe that when my focus is on Jesus, I’m a nicer person to be around which will hopefully entice those with whom I come in contact, to want to know my Jesus.

Do I feel like I have this area of my life completely under control?  No, I don’t.  I still have a long way to go to be the person my Jesus wants me to be.  Just ask my husband, who has had to live with me, especially these past 7 weeks of recovery.  OK…maybe you shouldn’t ask him J These days and weeks have been hard…very hard.  And it has been easy for me to lose my focus and forget that Jesus is in control and that His timing and ways are perfect.  There have been days when I have become discouraged when my time table for being up and going strong has not lined up with His.  But the amazing truth is that my Jesus has been so faithful.  Even when I have been weak...He has been so strong every.single.day.

By the way, why is it that we often don’t want anyone else to know that we do have struggles at times?  Why is it that we want others to think that we have it all together and that we lead a perfect life?  Now don’t get me wrong…I don’t think we need to broadcast our every fault…but I think we need to be willing to let others know that we are a work in progress.  I believe we can make other peoples’ problems seem even worse to them when they compare what they are going through with our apparent “perfect” life.  And I think this even plays a role in some of the anger and violence that we are seeing played out in our communities.  Some, who are facing serious difficulties, finally break and take their frustrations out on others because they want them to suffer as much as they are.  None of us are perfect and as Christians, we need to be willing to be transparent with those around us, so that they can see where and to whom we turn when the chaos is swirling around us.

I saw this definition of peace and thought it summed it up well.  Having peace doesn’t mean there isn’t the world’s noise around us.  Having peace doesn’t mean we won’t ever be faced with a serious health issue.  Having peace doesn’t mean we won’t ever lose our job or have our spouse walk away.  Having peace doesn’t mean that we won’t have a child who makes the wrong decisions.  What it does mean is that even in the noise…even in the chaos…even in the heartbreak…we will still have calmness in our heart.  Calmness because our eyes are focused on our Jesus and we realize just how big He is.

John MacArthur said, “The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path.  The more you know Him and commune with Him, the more the Spirit will make you like Him.  The more you are like Him, the better you will understand His utter sufficiency for all of life’s difficulties.  And that is the only way to know real satisfaction.”  Do you want peace?  Get to know Jesus.  The more you know Him…the less you will want to take your eyes off of the One who can handle anything that life throws at you.

When besieged, I’m calm as a baby.
When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.

I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing:
To live with him in his house my whole life long.
I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.

That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world,
The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.

Psalm 27:3-5 The Message

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part IV

We are in our fourth week of looking at having peace each and every day.  I began thinking about this in a more in depth manner as I read the book, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World by Jim Lange.  This book spoke to me in so many ways, and I hope something I share with you from it will help your search to have peace no matter what chaos is swirling around you.

The first week we learned from Mr. Lange’s statement, “Chaos is a part of life that cannot be avoided.  We need to actually embrace the chaos because God allows it for our own good.”  The second week we looked at his words, “Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.” Last week we looked at the fact that we probably won’t have peace until our thoughts change from “Why is this happening TO me? To What is God doing FOR me?”

I think this week’s insight from Mr. Lange’s book is where the rubber meets the road.  I think it is something that if we really took to heart…if we really grasped this truth and believed it…we would experience more peace.  He says this, “This might surprise you, but worry and anxiety (or a lack of peace) is sin.  It dishonors God, because when we worry or have anxiety in our hearts, we are effectively saying that God is not big enough to handle it, or that we trust ourselves more than we trust God.  We are putting ourselves and our issues ahead of our Creator, which is the ultimate in pride and selfishness.” 

I have preached and written about this very truth and I have even gone so far as to say that when we worry, when we lack peace, we are acting like an atheist.  We are saying that we don’t believe that there is a God big enough to handle our needs.  We are saying that we don’t believe His promises…that our pace is better than His pace...that our plans are better than His plans.   We are saying that we don’t trust Him enough to allow Him to be our Shepherd.  And when we don’t believe…we won’t have peace.

It is so sobering to me when I think about the times that I have acted like an atheist.  When my actions show others that I don’t believe there is a God big enough to handle whatever life throws my way, why in the world would they want to have a relationship with my Jesus?  If I don’t have peace; if I don’t show them that my faith and trust is in the One who gave His all for me, they aren’t going to want to hear about my Jesus.  This is sobering because these actions of mine can have an eternal consequence for those who need my Jesus.

A dear friend of mine sent me an article this past week on how the Israelites were provided manna daily.  This story has always intrigued me because God could have provided them with storehouses full of manna that never would have spoiled.  He was more than capable of doing that.  But instead He chose to feed them daily because He wanted them to trust Him for today AND trust Him for tomorrow that He would provide whatever was needed.  I am sure He wanted them to learn to have peace, even when they knew they only had provisions for today.

I don’t know about you, but I know this is an area of my life that I need to turn completely over to my Lord.  I, just like the Israelites, need to have peace knowing that He has promised to provide whatever I need for today and He is big enough to handle my tomorrow also.  My Jesus needs to be enough. 

I hope you don’t struggle in this area, but if you do, I would love to pray for you.  I think it is important that we support each other in prayer as we strive to demonstrate and live out peace as chaos is swirling around us.  If you would like for me to lift you up to our Jesus, just let me know either by e-mail, luannfulton@gmail.com, or feel free to private message me through Facebook.

Our Jesus is enough.  When we live like we believe this…peace will come.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27