Monday Morning Memo: In His Presence

I don’t know how it is in your life, but I have days where I get to bedtime and I wonder if I really accomplished anything of real importance during the 16 or 17 hours I was awake.  When this happens, it makes me feel sad to think that maybe I missed God’s plan for my day because I was too focused on my agenda.

Then, there are other days where when the sun sets and I look back on the hours I have just lived, and I know I have been blessed with being in His presence.  I have experienced life to its fullest…not because of my plans but because of His.

This past Saturday was one of those days.  I had the privilege of spending it with a group of women at the Waynedale UM Church in Ft. Wayne.  I knew no one there…they had just asked me to speak at their “Day of Growth Spiritual Retreat” on the recommendation of someone else.

I’ll be honest, a day like that can be a little unnerving.  Being asked to speak when I don’t know anyone there can make me a little nervous…but I’m even more nervous, wondering if they will be greatly disappointed that they asked me in the first place!

I was also apprehensive because I had no idea how I would minister to these women, when I myself felt depleted.  My Hypermobility Syndrome has reared its ugly head the past few months and as a result I have been tired and at times discouraged…so knowing that it would be my responsibility to share God’s Word seemed a little overwhelming.  But I tried to focus on the fact that God had known when I scheduled this retreat last year what I would be experiencing on Saturday so He must be powerful enough to see me through.

Any jitters that I may have felt were quickly dispersed as I walked into the church and began meeting the women.  They were so welcoming and made me feel like I had always known them.  They greeted me with smiles that would light up the darkest room and I immediately felt God’s presence in our midst.  It was obvious that each of them had given up precious hours of their Saturday because of their desire to be drawn closer to each other and even more importantly to their Savior.

Another highlight that blessed me to the core was two young people, both seniors at a local high school, who took time out of their day to sing for us.  We hear so many negatives about the youth of today, but don’t often hear the positives.  These two teenagers, Michael and Sierra, were amazing.  With Sierra’s father accompanying them with his guitar, their voices blended beautifully as they blessed us with their talent.  As they sang, I just imagined how the Lord was smiling down on them, so proud of them for using their abilities for Him.

As I reflected on that day, I realized that I entered the doors of that church in the morning knowing no one…but left that building later in the day knowing that I had just spent precious hours with dear sisters in Christ.  I had also arrived worn-out…but left feeling refreshed and renewed as only God could do.  I knew at that point that I hadn’t done the ministering that day…I had just been the vessel through which He chose to share His words.

Unfortunately, I think most of our schedules are so jammed packed that we don’t often take the time to spend a day in His presence…. listening for His Word to come alive and speak to us in a new and powerful way.  As I shared with you last week, “We live in a crazy world with so much chaos going on around us and as a result, it is easy to become too busy doing those things with no eternal value.  Because of this, it is critical that we grasp what is truly important.  For us to look more like Christ…for us to be a light in the deep darkness…we must spend time at Jesus’ feet, listening to what He has to teach us.  Only then will we be equipped and able to lead others to His saving grace.”

It is so important for us to take the time to be refueled if we are going to do what Christ has called us to do.  Are you in desperate need of replenishing?  Then I would recommend you begin to pray that God would make it possible for you to receive it.  It may not be an organized event that He will use to fill you to the brim and overflowing with His Spirit.  But whatever He chooses to provide…wherever He chooses to lead you…I am confident that He will gladly fulfill your request to spend time in His presence as he renews your spirit as only He can do. 

“You will show me the way of life,

    granting me the joy of your presence

    and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

Psalm 16:11

Monday Morning Memo: At His Feet

Mary and Martha.  What a pair they were.  Martha was always running around making sure everything was just perfect while Mary was more interested in spending time with her guest.  I used to wonder if Mary was just lazy and knew that she probably couldn’t do anything to please Martha anyway, so she opted to just take a chair instead.

Up until the last couple of years, I’ve related very well with Martha.  I understood her desire to keep all her plates spinning at the same time…priding herself in the fact that none of them crashed to the ground.  I’m guessing she took great satisfaction in making sure everything was crossed off her list at the end of each day; and was very frustrated when it wasn’t.

Mary, on the other hand, was someone I couldn’t relate to.  How in the world could she just sit there when she knew that there were potatoes to peel and bread to bake?  I mean, guests were coming and what would they think if they arrived and everything wasn’t in order.  How embarrassing!  She really needed to get her priorities in order.

Then…I began spending time in the oncology center with my in-laws.  I started seeing people come in for their treatment who were pale, thin and weak.  Obviously their lives had come to a screeching halt, as they had to learn a new “normal” which included many doctors’ appointments, needles and IV’s.  The things that used to seem so important to them on a daily basis, didn’t seem so critical anymore. 

Spending the hours that I have with my mother-in-law in this environment is changing me.  While I still love to have a list to work off of and look forward to crossing each task off, I’m starting to understand the importance of sitting still.  While accomplishing my tasks still gives me a level of satisfaction, time spent with Mary’s guest, my Lord Jesus Christ, is even more satisfying. 

As I was thinking about this last week, a friend of mine posted a video of her singing Christy Nockels song, “Find Me At The Feet of Jesus”.  The words brought tears to my eyes.

"Find Me At The Feet Of Jesus"

Lord, here I am

You have all of me

Take the world

You are all I need

Find me, find me at the feet of Jesus

Savior, find me with my heart bowed down

Find me on my knees

Find me close to Thee

Find me at the feet of Jesus

Lord, I belong to You

You have my heart

My only hope is You

And everything You are

I can almost hear those angels singing, holy, holy

I can almost touch the heavens in their glory, glory

We live in a crazy world with so much chaos going on around us and as a result, it is easy to become too busy doing those things with no eternal value.  Because of this, it is critical that we grasp what is truly important.  For us to look more like Christ…for us to be a light in the deep darkness…we must spend time at Jesus’ feet, listening to what He has to teach us.  Only then will we be equipped and able to lead others to His saving grace.

 “Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet,

listening to what he taught.”

Luke 10:39

You can listen to this beautiful song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GThyC6ZFUgI

Monday Morning Memo: Imposing Our Way

In just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming another grandson into our family.  I think it is so exciting when the time remaining is finally just weeks instead of months!

Things will change in our daughter and son-in-law’s home.  Twenty-two-month old Elias will no longer be the center of attention.  The limelight will now have to be shared with this brand new wiggly, sometimes crying precious little one.  Up until now, he has only known this baby as being in his mommy’s tummy and now will have to adjust to his brother being visible and sometimes noisy and maybe at times annoying.

Of course things will change for Elias’ parents too.  While they already know that taking care of a young one who is nearing two is exhausting, they will now discover a new level of fatigue when they add a baby who will be entirely dependent on them.  Feedings throughout the night will return and lack of sleep will most likely become the norm for a time.  Not only will they be helping their new little one adjust to living in his new surroundings; they will have a two-year-old asking questions at every turn.

The word I think of when I think of what they all are facing is “change”.  Lots of changes are on their horizon and there is no way they can know or even understand those changes until they are in the middle of them.  They can be told over and over again by those who have been through it what it will be like, but until they experience it for themselves…it is almost impossible for them to understand.  They can read every book ever written about how to handle multiple children, but until they actually have two children in their home they can’t truly know what it will be like.

The reason is that no two children are alike and so what happens with someone else’s children may never happen to theirs.  They will more than likely discover that what works in someone else’s home as far as juggling their new schedule, may not work at all in their home.  They will have to experience it themselves and figure out what is the best for their family.  Instead of trying to measure up to what others tell them is the right way, they will just need to keep their focus on Christ each and every day and allow Him to lead them as they raise their family for Him.

The same is true in our Christian family too.  No two of us are the same and so what happens in my life…may not ever happen in your life.  What works for me in my walk with Christ, may not work at all for you.  Likewise (and this may make some of you squirm), what Christ convicts me of that needs changing in my life, may not be something of which He convicts you…and vice versa.  Each of us are at a different stage in our Christian walk and as a result, He will mold us and shape us to look more like Him at the time that is perfect for us individually.

Unless we have walked in the shoes of others…there is a good chance that we can’t understand exactly what they are going through.  We can sympathize, console and pray for them and even share with them what has helped us.  But at some point, they will need to face their own changes and learn to rely on Christ’s leading in their particular situation.

I wonder how many people we have hurt or scared away from walking with Christ because we imposed our way of doing things on them.  Instead of pointing them towards Christ and loving them through their journey, we’ve demanded that they do it our way, when our way may not be what is best for them.  Unfortunately, our way isn’t always Christ’s way and imposing our thoughts on them can do more harm than good.  It is so important that anything we share is based on Biblical principles as we come alongside those who need to know that we care.  I think that so often, others will be helped much more if they can see Christ in us on a daily basis.  How we act and react will speak much louder than what actually comes out of our mouth.

Just as it is not my responsibility to demand that my daughter’s family do things exactly like I would, it is not my responsibility to do the convicting in other people’s lives.  Again, I can share Biblical principles, sympathize, console and pray with those I come in contact with, but it is Christ’s responsibility to do the convicting.  My job is to be willing to walk with those who are hurting, loving them where they are today and making sure that it is evident that Christ lives in me.  I am confident that if we do this as we focus on pointing others towards Christ, our actions will speak much louder than our words.

“So why do you condemn another believer?

Why do you look down on another believer?

Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.  

For the Scriptures say,

‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,

‘every knee will bend to me,

    and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.’

Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.

So let’s stop condemning each other.

Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not

 cause another believer to stumble and fall.”

Romans 14:10-13