Monday Morning Memo: A Time of Loss

If I had to sum up 2022 so far in one word…it would be the word “loss”.  So far this year, we have lost two very special members of our family.  I shared on January 24th about my dear Aunt Gerry who passed away. She served as a missionary nurse in Africa for 37 years and in everything she did, she always wanted God to be glorified, not her.  She knew how important each person was to her Jesus and she wanted to make sure everyone knew about His great love for them.

Then last Monday, my precious mother-in-law entered Heaven and saw her Jesus face to face.  I called this amazing woman “Mom” for over 40 years and losing her has been difficult.  When she began with Hospice care, they told us she probably had one to two days left…and this strong woman lived another three weeks.  Even though I knew she was ready to hear the words, “Welcome, my good and faithful servant”…I selfishly didn’t want to let her go.  But she was called Home and is now walking the streets of gold with those who have gone before her.

I don’t understand why we had to lose these dear family members so close together…but I know that God’s plan and timing are always perfect.  As I shared last week, I had re-read an article by Bronwyn Lea who shared about being convicted that when she prayed, instead of praying “God, make it better”, she needed to start praying, “God, make it count”.  I revealed that her words made me realize that many of my prayers these past weeks had been asking Jesus to just “make it better”…or “make it easier”…or “make it just how I thought things should be”.  Instead, I was convicted that I needed to be praying that what we are going through, will count for HIS glory.  I knew I needed to be asking for Him to make it count for eternity…that my witness of His faithfulness, day in and day out, will make others want to know my Jesus.

Today we have the viewing for Mom and then tomorrow I will officiate her funeral.  I know that on my own, I can’t do either of these things…but with God’s power, all things are possible.  I would appreciate your prayers that we will be able to be a light to those who come to celebrate Mom’s life and that I will share not my words, but words that come from our Jesus.  Again, my prayer is that our time together will count for His glory and will impact eternity.  That is definitely what Mom would want to happen.

These weeks have left me tired.  God has been so faithful to walk with us every step of the way, but it has taken its toll on me and has left me physically and mentally depleted. As a result, I have decided to take some time off to allow my mind and body to be refreshed.  As soon as I feel I am ready, I will begin writing again.  I have also been working on writing another YouTube video series, so I am hoping this time will help give me direction and insight into what God wants me to share in the days to come on my “The Image Seeker” channel which can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0szlDSgNBtFuzzNLBWzwMA.

Until then, I thank you so much for following my “ramblings” and for the love and support you have shown me.  I hope to be back soon sharing with you each Monday what God lays on my heart and with a new YouTube series.  May each of you be blessed in the days to come as you continue to seek His image!

“For you are my rock and my fortress; 

and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;

 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, 

for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; 

you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.”

Psalm 31:3-5

Monday Morning Memo: Make It Count

Life isn’t always wrapped in a box with a pretty bow, is it?  Oh, sometimes it might feel like we are in a box…but that box is torn and ripped and isn’t at all beautiful.  The walls feel like they are closing in around us and we may begin to feel claustrophobic.  There have been times recently when I have felt this way, since my mother-in-law has been under Hospice care for the past three weeks.  It has been a roller coaster ride and as of today, signs are showing us that she will soon see her Jesus face to face.

I’ve done a lot of praying these past weeks as I have sat beside her bed.  Praying for peace, praying for comfort, praying that she would not suffer.  Mom has always told us that she hoped when it was her time to pass, she would just go to sleep and wake up with Jesus.  She has not gotten her wish…these have not been easy days for her…and I have struggled with that fact.

These past days have made me think of an article I read several years ago which really spoke to me.  It was written by Bronwyn Lea and it was entitled, “One Little Word That Radically Changed My Prayers.”  Her words really shook me to the core.  If you haven’t read these words from Bronwyn, I highly recommend that you do.  If you have read them, I highly recommend you read them again!  I have read them over and over, and I am working hard to use her idea in my daily life.  You can find it at http://bronlea.com/2013/08/06/one-little-word-that-radically-changed-my-prayers/.

To give you just a short synopsis, this woman concluded that when she prayed, instead of praying “God, make it better”, she needed to start praying, “God, make it count”.  I so needed to read her words then and I needed to read them again now.  I realized that many of my prayers have been asking Jesus to just “make it better”…or “make it easier”…or “make it just how I think things should be”.  Instead, I need to be praying that what we are going through, will count for HIS glory.  I should be asking for Him to make it count for eternity…that my witness of His faithfulness, day in and day out, will make others want to know my Jesus.

Back in 2018, I wrote these words: “So what do we do when life isn’t what we bargained for?  We trust.  Not in ourselves, or our family, or our employer, or our all-important tech giant.  We trust in the One who created us.  The One who knows the number of hairs on our head.  The One who loves us more than we can even imagine.  The One who loves our spouse, our children, our friends…even more than we do.  The One who was nailed to a tree, so that we could spend eternity with Him.  The One whose plan for us is perfect, even if it doesn’t make sense to us.  The One who is our Jesus.”

I have tried this past week to trust my Jesus when things didn’t make sense. Instead of badgering Him to “fix” what has been happening, l have tried to pray for Him to make it count in light of eternity.  Honestly, I haven’t succeeded every day, but I think I did better and hopefully in this next week, I will trust my Jesus even more and will let Him lead me wherever will bring Him glory.

Some of Bronwyn’s final words were, “God, now that I think about it, please don’t just make it better. Not if it doesn’t count.”  WOW.  I’m not there yet…but I’m sure working on it.

What are you going through today?  Are you also just nagging Jesus over and over again to take away your current health problem…or work situation…or family issue?  Why not try something different this week and ask Him to make your problems count…for eternity…and for HIS glory.  What do you have to lose?   

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.”

Proverbs 3:5-7a (The Message)

Monday Morning Memo: Faith in Action

Growing up, there was a story in the Bible that all the kids loved to hear; the story of Zacchaeus.  We would hear about him, sing about him and even do motions to act out his story. Everyone enjoyed talking about the little man who had to climb a tree to see Jesus.

 

As we know, Zacchaeus was not a favorite among his peers because he was a dreaded tax collector, an employee of the Roman government. Under the Roman system, men bid on the position of tax collector, pledging to raise a certain amount of money. Anything they raised over that amount was their personal profit. Luke says Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, so he must have extorted a great deal from the people and encouraged others to do so as well. 

 

It is surprising then that Zacchaeus was so intent on seeing Jesus.  Why would he need Jesus?  He probably had everything the world could give; yet something drew him to the Savior.  What is amazing is the fact that all it took was Jesus speaking to him to make him realize the error of his ways.  We read in Luke 19:8, “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord!  Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

 

In those days, if someone was monetarily wronged, the law required that they be paid back the amount due plus 20% (Numbers 5:7, Leviticus 6:5).  Zacchaeus was going far beyond what the Lord demanded; he wanted to make sure that Jesus knew he was serious about making a life change.  The commentary in my Bible states that “Zacchaeus demonstrated inward change by outward action.”

 

How pertinent that is for us today. Following Jesus in our head or heart alone is not enough.  Our faith must be shown by changed behavior.  If we are a true follower of Christ, it must be obvious to others that we are different; that we want to go far beyond what is expected of us to do His will.  It means not finding our self-worth in what the world has given us, but only in what Christ has given us.  It means there may be times when we must take a stand for what the Bible says is true; even when that won’t make us popular.  It means we may have times when reaching out to someone who others despise, may not be the easy choice but the right choice. 

 

So, I have two questions for you today.  The first one is, “Are you listening?”  If Zacchaeus wouldn’t have been listening to Christ, he more than likely wouldn’t have realized his need to change.  There is so much noise in our world today that can drown out our Savior’s voice if we aren’t intentional in allowing Him to speak to us.  We must listen to know His plans for us.

 

Secondly, “Is your faith resulting in action?”  It’s not enough to just say you are a Christian because, more often than not, your actions will speak much louder than your words to others.  Those with whom you come in contact need to see that you are different because of what Christ has done in your life. 

 

I urge you this week to make it a priority to listen to Christ and then look within yourself, as I am doing, to see if there are changes that need to be made so that others will see Him in you! 

 

“Just as the body is dead without breath,

 so also faith is dead without good works.”

James 2:26