Monday Morning Memo: Loosening Our Grip

This week I’m sharing with you another devotional from my first book, Image Seeker, in which I wrote about a “moment” of time from when we were raising our children.  I remember thinking the hardest days were when they were all young…but little did I know that as they grew older…God might ask more of them than I was willing to share.  

The details of this story pertain to our second daughter, where God led her to go for a year and how it sure kept me on my knees while she was gone.  His plan is not always what we would select for our children…but through it we are taught that His ways are perfect and that sometimes, we have to be willing to loosen our grip for His glory.  

Just like last week, I’ve included questions at the end to ponder this coming week.  I hope you enjoy!

“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart” (Psalm 40:8).

Letting Go

Through most of our middle child’s high school days, she thought she would someday work in the field of music.  Megan is a pianist, self-taught guitarist, and shares her love of the Lord vocally.  It was just always a given that this was the field that she would explore.

But as Megan entered her senior year, her spirit became troubled.  She felt the Lord was telling her that music was not to be her vocation; yet she didn’t sense a strong leading into any other area.  She had a passion for missions and wondered if that was where the Lord was leading her.  Her youth pastor at the time knew of her struggle and invited her to go to a program at our local university where members of a group called “Mission Year” would be sharing.  Megan came home that day pumped and ready to send in her application.

Unfortunately, I didn’t share her excitement.  If she was accepted into this ministry, she would be living in the inner city of Atlanta, walking the streets by herself on a daily basis.  The thought of sending my beautiful 18-year-old daughter into those dangerous surroundings for a year wasn’t what I envisioned for her, and I began to argue with the Lord.  I wanted Him to understand that this was asking too much of her and of me to have her live and work in these precarious surroundings.

As I was struggling with all of this my husband, in his infinite wisdom, asked me to remember what we had done with each of our children after they were born.  He wanted me to think back to the times we stood in front of our church and dedicated each precious baby to the Lord.  We vowed to raise them in a Christian home, nurturing them and doing our best to prepare them to serve the Lord.   Dan asked me if we had put the stipulation in our vow that we would raise our children for the Lord as long as they stayed in our area where it was safe.  Of course we hadn’t; we had promised the Lord that we were dedicating them for His service wherever that may be.  

I began to loosen my grip and allowed Megan to serve where the Lord was calling her to go. That didn’t mean it was an easy year for any of us.  To complete her volunteer and ministry tasks, Megan walked the inner-city streets during the day, many times walking alone to and from houses in her community.  She was often in dangerous situations, being mistaken on several occasions as a prostitute, for, as she puts it, “drug dealers and prostitutes were the ones populating the streets during the day”.  She was yelled at, followed, and propositioned; but the Lord was so faithful.  In every situation, He protected her and got her to safety before she could be harmed.

The Lord not only protected her during that year, but He also blessed her abundantly for her faithfulness.  She had the privilege of forming relationships with many of her neighbors as she shared God’s love with them.  She developed courage that amazed me as she learned to put her complete trust in her Savior.  She learned the importance of being “Jesus with skin on” to many people that had never met her Lord.  And she truly learned that wherever God places you, He promises to be faithful and supply all of your needs! 

What are you holding onto that you need to loosen your grip?  Are you struggling with letting your children go or allowing yourself to follow His leading?  Remember that as Christians, everything we have is the Lord’s to use as He desires; we are just the caregivers.  What a privilege that is, and it is only when we surrender everything to the Lord and allow Him to have complete control that we can become more like Him! 

Image Seeker Prayer – “Father, thank You so much for allowing us to be a part of your plan.  Help us to loosen our grip on the persons or things that are keeping us from surrendering to your will, and then please hold our hand as we trust You even if we are called to unknown territory!”

Questions to ponder this week:  

Why do we desire to be in control of every aspect of our life?

What are you holding onto and not allowing the Lord complete control?  Is it your finances?  Your children?  Your marriage?  Your job?  Whatever it is, loosen your grip and give Him full reign so that you can become more like Him.

Monday Morning Memo: No Need to Fear!

As I’m sure you know, yesterday was Mother’s Day and it made me do some reminiscing.  It started after I shared with you last week about our “superman” son, because I received a lot of feedback from that post…parents who are stressed to the max these days and wondering if they and their children will survive.

As a result, I feel led to spend the next three weeks, sharing with you three devotionals from my first book, Image Seeker, in which I wrote about moments with our children as they were growing up.  Moments of time that not only had a part in shaping them, but shaping and teaching me as their mom.  At the end of each devotional, I’ll include a couple of questions to ponder this coming week.  I hope you enjoy!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “they are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

First Day of School

1989.  I remember the year just like it was yesterday.  Our first-born child was heading off to kindergarten and excitement was in the air. I was asked often by friends how I was handling this first milestone in the life of our daughter, and I would always reply that we were all ready.  Erica was a very bright child who carried on wonderful conversations with adults at the age of two, so by five she was ready for the challenge - or so we thought!

                                                                                 

The first day of school arrived and the movie camera was rolling.  A day like this just had to be recorded so that we could relive the happy memories for years to come.  My husband got into position to capture the moment on film as I walked Erica out to meet the big yellow school bus. As we neared the road, her precious little hand squeezed mine with all her might.  I looked down, and her beautiful big eyes told the whole story - the reality of leaving home to enter the big world without her mom and dad was taking its toll.

We approached the bus door and I gave a big smile and wave to the bus driver.  I told Erica goodbye and helped her onto the bus so she could begin her years of education.  Unfortunately, Erica had different plans.  As I backed away from the bus, she jumped back off and ran to me, falling into my arms, crying uncontrollably.  I’m not sure whose heart was hurting worse at that time – hers or mine – but I knew what I had to do.  Once again, I put her back on the bus and yes, once again, off she came.  At that point, fighting back tears myself, I had to enlist the help of the bus driver.  I placed Erica on the bus for the third time and the driver held onto her as she closed the door and drove off.

As hard as it was, I knew that day that I had to make Erica face the unknown.  It would have been so much easier on me to let her stay home under my watchful eye.  But I knew that what seemed easier for me on that day, wouldn’t be the best thing for Erica’s future.  Part of starting school was learning that just like a turtle, we will never make it very far in life unless we learn to stick out our necks!

As I think back to that day, I realize how often I react to the unknown just like Erica did those many years ago.  God wants me to step out of my comfort zone to grow and become more like Him, but I often “jump back off the bus”, running for protection in His arms.  I fail to remember that He knows what is best for me and keeps making me face the unsettling circumstances for my own good. 

We read in Zechariah 13:9, “I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”  The refining process isn’t always easy, but the final product is worth the heat!

Erica began that refining process many years ago as she had to face that first day of kindergarten.  That infamous day was just the beginning of many situations throughout her life that would mold her and shape her into the wonderful young woman that she is today!  I’m praying that I will learn from her example of what God can do in my life if I just “stay on the bus”!

Image Seeker Prayer – “Father, why am I often so fearful of the unknown, wanting to stay in your arms instead of stepping out of my comfort zone?  Help me to realize that even when You want me to ‘stick out my neck’, You will never let go of my hand!” 

  

Questions to ponder this week:  

Is there any situation in your life that is currently causing you to be fearful?  If so, what is keeping you from giving it to the Lord?

What is Christ asking you to do today that will require “sticking out your neck” for Him?  Why not tell Him YES and watch Him work in mighty ways through you!

Monday Morning Memo: "Fun" Times

I was going through a closet this past weekend and came across it once again.  Every time I see it…I wonder why I’m still holding on to it.  But I just can’t discard something that makes me smile.  Just looking at it…takes me back to when a young, blonde haired, blue eyed little boy used to wear it.

"I'm Superman!"

This picture that I am sharing with you today…won’t mean much to anyone else.  To others, it looks like a wrinkled t-shirt and an old towel that, of course, is being held onto the shirt with two yellow diaper pins.  But what looks like something that should be discarded…is actually something very priceless to me.  This, my friends, is a put-together-by-mom Superman cape that our young son wore many times as he “flew” through the house yelling, “I’m Superman!” at the top of his lungs!  

That curious, rambunctious little boy is now a grown man who is married and has two blonde haired, blue eyed little girls of his own.  He is now learning the world of princesses, Minnie Mouse and tea parties.  I’m doubtful that he has very many occasions to don a cape…but I’m guessing those two precious girls still think he is Superman 

Oh, how I love reminiscing about those fun days many years ago, when we were raising our two daughters and one son.   They were (and still are!) such precious gifts from God and I have thanked Him over and over again for allowing us to be their parents.

I find it interesting though, that when I look back at those days…I use the word “fun” to describe the life we had.  If I’m honest…I’m rather doubtful that I would have used that word at the end of every day when I was in the middle of diapers, braces and mounds of laundry.  Parenting was hard…really hard…and there were many days when the highlight of my day was seeing them fast asleep at night so I could have some peace and quiet.  I remember how I hated to go to bed some nights because I knew when I woke up in the morning, I would have to do it all over again.  It was exhausting.  There were days when I probably resorted to counting the seconds until naptime and then bedtime and just hoped they and I would be alive at the end of the day.

We made many mistakes as parents and I often wish we could go back to do things differently, but of course, that is impossible.  But even with all of our faults and failures…all three have grown to be productive, Jesus-serving adults and we are so proud of them.

Why am I sharing about this today?  Well, parents of young children have been on my mind so much during this time of quarantine.  I just can’t imagine how exhausted many of you have to be, trying to be not only your kids’ parent…but now their teacher and lunch lady/man too… all while possibly trying to do your job from home.  I’m confident that your days are long, tiring and seem to have 36 hours instead of 24.  I know that it is easy to become overwhelmed when you are being pulled in so many different directions.  

And, if you are anything like me…I’m guessing some of you may be struggling with some guilt…feeling like you aren’t doing everything that you should be doing.  I want to encourage you.  I want you to know that you WILL get through this time and your children WILL be ok…even if you fall short at times.  God gave you those kids because He knew you could handle them during this season of life with His help…and He is always so gracious to step in and cover our children with His love during those times when we don’t feel like parent of the year.

Believe it or not…the day may come when you will look back on this time and use the word “fun” to describe moments you remember from the pandemic. God has a way of fading some of the bad times from our memory…so that He can bring to mind the blessings from our journey.  God doesn’t expect you to be a perfect parent…He just wants you to be a devoted follower of His and He will so willingly guide you in all other areas. 

I neatly folded up the Superman cape and put it back on the shelf where it has now been for 25 years.  The next time I clean out that closet, I’m sure I will unfold it and smile as I once again, “see” our young son running through the house…desiring to save the world.   Do I long to return to those days of raising three young children?  Probably not.  Because I have now discovered that grandchildren are so much more fun and much easier to spoil and then send home 

“Children are a gift from the Lord;

They are a reward from him.”

Psalm 127:3

Monday Morning Memo: What If?

Because of what we are all currently experiencing in our world, it is so easy to become frustrated and at times…even a little ticked.  I know I’m perturbed that I am unable to worship in my church on Sundays, with my church family.  I’m exasperated that I can’t meet with my small group from church for our time of fellowship, prayer and Bible study.  I’m annoyed that I can’t go to a restaurant and actually eat inside its doors.  I’m frustrated that we can’t get in to see our elderly relatives that are living in facilities that have had to close their doors to visitors to try to keep their residents well.  And I’m really ticked I can’t be as close as I want to be with my children and grandchildren, hugging them and spending precious time with them.

There have been some positives.  Because we can’t go to our church on Sundays, we have been spending that time not only watching our service online…but several others online also.  Life has been at a slower pace which has allowed more time to read, try new recipes, work on that puzzle I wrote about last week and learn how to put together a pick up order at our grocery store (yes, I’m a little behind the times!). 

I was thinking about all of this the other day when I came across this graphic.  It made me start thinking about some other What if’s…

         What if  as a result of this pandemic…families are drawn closer together because their schedules aren’t so crazy running from one sports event or practice to another…

         What if  as a result of this pandemic…families are drawn closer together because their schedules aren’t so crazy and they begin to realize what is really important in life…

         What if  as a result of this pandemic…families are drawn closer together because their schedules aren’t so crazy and they realize what is really important in life, and they find they have more time to tune in to the online church services that are now being offered.

         What if  as a result of this pandemic, families are drawn closer together because their schedules aren’t so crazy and they realize what is really important in life, and they find they have more time to tune in to the online church services that are being offered and as a result, they hear about the hope of the gospel.  And…

         What if  as a result of this pandemic, families are drawn closer together because their schedules aren’t so crazy and they realize what is really important in life, and they find they have more time to tune in to the online church services that are being offered and as a result, they hear about the hope of the gospel, their hearts are softened and they come to know our Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior?

Trust me…this is only one “What if?” scenario I could list here.  I can think of many.  And before you remind me of all of the tragic loss of life, job loss and financial loss there has been as a result of this horrible virus, I want to make sure you know that I understand all of that and I never want to act oblivious to all the pain it has caused.  But I think it is important that we stop and think of the positives that could transpire as a result of the “sacrifices” we are making now.

What if?  Will all of this craziness and quarantining and not being able to go to the restaurant or sporting event that we want to go to or the inability to worship together in our church building…be worth it?  Each person has to answer that question for his or her self.  I just know that we serve a God who is SO powerful and can work miracles even during times of frustration, despair and being ticked off.  He, unlike us, has NO limitations! 

 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. 

He brought me to this position 

so I could save the lives of many people.”

Genesis 50:20

Monday Morning Memo: Puzzled?

I caved.  Even though I know I’m not supposed to…I gave in to peer pressure.  SO many people were posting pictures on Facebook that they were doing it…and I just finally caved. 

Yes, just like so many, I started a puzzle during this time of quarantine.  To be honest…I’m not a puzzle person.  It’s just too much monotony for me.  All the pieces look pretty much the same in my mind and to sit and try to find the exact piece to go into the exact place…is just too much stress.  Everyone else makes it seem so simple…they are posting one trillion-piece puzzle after another and they seem so satisfied and fulfilled in their accomplishment…and instead I just end up with a headache.

Maybe I would have felt better about myself if I would have started with a puzzle with only 25 pieces.  You know…one that was left over from when my kids were young.  At least I could have finished it rather quickly and I could have posted it for everyone to admire.  But then again…a puzzle of Big Bird isn’t a hot commodity right now.

But no…I started with a puzzle with 550 pieces and to have that many little pieces of “cardboard” staring at me is just overwhelming.  Even though the box lid shows me what the finished product is supposed to look like, for some reason, I tend to look at all the individual 550 pieces.  And as strange as it may sound, it’s easy for me to then become rattled and stressed. 

I don’t know about you…but life during this time of quarantine can, at times, feel pretty much the same way.  Yes, we know Who is in control.  Yes, we know Who holds us in His hands.  Yes, we know that He wins in the end and what the final “picture” will be when we are blessed to spend eternity with Him.  But even though we know all that…we tend to look at all the crazy, individual puzzles pieces of life that don’t seem to fit in anywhere and as a result…it is so easy to become rattled and stressed.

Over Easter, we watched the classic movie, The Ten Commandments.  I’ve seen this movie more than once and have read the account in the Bible numerous times.  But something hit me this time that I’m not sure I have ever considered.  In the amazing scene where God parts the Red Sea and the Israelites walk on dry ground to get to the other side…I think I have always focused on the incredible, miraculous fact that He parted the raging waters.  But I never thought about the participants.  What would they have been thinking as they walked across?

I know what I would have been thinking.  Instead of being in awe of what God was doing for me…I’m guessing I would have spent my time wondering if and when the waters would come rushing over me.  I have a feeling I would have walked across with my neck cocked to either the right or left…watching every droplet of those waters, wondering if they would stay back.  Instead of keeping my eyes on where I was going and the glorious “picture” of being on the other side on dry ground…there’s a good chance I would have crossed in overwhelming fear of the water swirling around me and would have surely been rattled and stressed.  I’m afraid I would have missed the magnificence of the miracle, because my focus would have been on the spraying droplets around me.

Ahhhhh…once again…it all comes down to where my focus lies.  When I’m doing the puzzle, if I keep my focus on what the finished picture looks like…it’s easier to take one piece at a time and find its place.  During this time of quarantine, if I keep my focus on the One who already knows what the finished portrait of my life will be, it’s easier to take each individual puzzle piece of life more in stride…knowing it’s all part of His plan.  There really is no reason for me to go through life so “puzzled”.  One day at a time…one piece at a time…always being in awe of the miracles on the journey.

By the way, I’ve decided I’m going to keep working on my puzzle…one stinkin’ piece at a time.  But if I don’t have it done by the time the quarantine is over…I think I might just put it away and go for Big Bird.  Then I can boast that I completed a puzzle during my time at home…and I’ll just pray no one asks me how many pieces it was 

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, 

we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. 

For the things we see now will soon be gone, 

but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

Monday Morning Memo: If Jesus...

I’m guessing I don’t have to tell you that we are living in a different world than we were just a few weeks ago.  It seems like just about everything that used to be in our “normal”, isn’t normal anymore.  Many of us are home way more than we are used to…and when we do go out it seems as if we have entered a third world country.  

I have especially been struck by the difference in people in stores.  Where I used to hear lots of noise as shoppers visited with friends in the grocery store aisles…there is now an eerie silence.  I’ve observed that there isn’t even much eye contact between buyers; most act as if they have blinders on and are extremely focused to put their needed items in the cart as quickly as possible so they can exit the store.  Of course, many have now adorned masks, which just adds to my feeling of being in a different country.

This, of course, is all because of the hidden virus that has invaded our world and is the cause of our “normal” becoming abnormal.  It’s hard to understand how something that is unseen with our human eye can have such a global impact.  Words such as “social distancing” were never uttered before, but because of this virus they are words that control most of our actions.  Because of it we are now warned to stay away from others...wash our hands over and over…and just about bathe in sanitizer.

I think what has troubled me the most as I’ve seen others who have braved public locations, is the fear and anxiousness I see on their faces.  Many look scared.  This virus has put a fear in them that they have never known before or ever thought they would know in the U.S.A.  Something of this nature wasn’t ever supposed to rear its ugly head here in America and bring our daily routine to such a screeching halt.   We weren’t supposed to have our flourishing businesses suddenly be told to put a closed sign on the door, bringing incomes to a standstill.  This type of interruption should only happen in underdeveloped countries…not in such a modern, high-tech country such as ours.

But it has happened here and we have all been forced to deal with its serious consequences.  We can’t just ignore it and hope it goes away.  We have to face it and make the necessary changes in our lifestyle to not only keep ourselves healthy…but keep from infecting those around us.  

It is natural then that fear and anxiousness creep into the recesses of our mind.  Our world has been turned upside down in a relatively short time and it is normal to feel apprehensive about our future.  The question then becomes: How do we control our fear and anxiety so that it doesn’t take over our emotions every second of every day?

So that you know…I wrote this much of my post before yesterday…before Easter Sunday.  And if I’m honest…I didn’t have a clue how I would answer that question…so I stopped writing.  Sure, I knew of scriptures I could share…glib phrases that we all know well that I could list…but nothing I considered seemed “right”.  Then…Easter happened, and I knew the answer to my question.

We just came through probably the most important weekend for Christianity.  This is the weekend we spend time contemplating Jesus dying on the cross for you and for me…and then celebrate the fact that He rose again so we can spend eternity with Him.  As I watched one service after another yesterday, hearing over and over again what has been done for me…it suddenly hit me.  Do I really believe that this happened?  Do I really believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and rose three days later so that I can now serve a King who is alive and well?  If my answer is YES…I DO believe this happened…they why in the world would I let anything that happens on this earth control my emotions and cause me to be anxious and fearful?  Why would you?

💗If Jesus was powerful enough to rise again…He is powerful enough to handle those things that cause us fear.

💗If Jesus was powerful enough to rise again…He is powerful enough to handle our health and the health of our family.

💗If Jesus was powerful enough to rise again…He is powerful enough to handle our loneliness during this time of quarantine.

💗If Jesus was powerful enough to rise again…He is powerful enough to handle our finances and will provide for us what is needed.

💗If Jesus was powerful enough to rise again…He is powerful enough to handle ANYTHING that we will face today and tomorrow!

      

YES…if He was powerful enough to rise again…we don’t have to worry, fret, lose sleep or fall apart, screaming that the sky is falling…because He walks before us, beside us and stands behind us.  He is with us ALWAYS!  HE IS RISEN INDEED…HALLELUJAH! 

Monday Morning Memo: The Leaky Bed

If there is a word that means more than exhausted…that’s the word that would have described me on that particular night.  It had been a long day with three adorable, energetic grandsons, ages 18 months, 3 and 5.  I had finally put them all in bed and I wasn’t sure I even had the energy left to make it down the stairs.  I slowly descended, willing myself to put one foot in front of the other.  I had planned on taking a shower, but that wasn’t going to happen without first sitting down and resting for a while.

I had only been resting in the chair for five to ten minutes when I heard a voice.  My daughter’s home has an opening at the top of the stairs which allows a person to look down into the living room.  I looked up and I saw Elias’ face looking down at me.  In a very hesitant, soft voice he said, “Grandma, my bed is leaking”.  I asked him what he meant by that and he said, “My bed is leaking and it’s all wet.”

As I said, I had just put him to bed, so I knew that whatever he was talking about…wasn’t a result of him wetting the bed…but I had no clue what I was going to find.  The only thing I did know was the fact that I was going to have to now ascend back up the stairs, willing myself to put one foot in front of the other.

I made it up the mile-long staircase and into Elias’ bedroom and he had been correct…his bed was pretty well soaked.  The culprit?  A water bottle whose cap hadn’t been put on securely, causing its contents to saturate a very large area of the sheets and mattress cover.  I was hoping that whatever I found would be able to be dried up easily…but it didn’t take long to figure out that the bed would need to be stripped and remade with dry sheets.

I knew at that moment I had a decision to make.  I could let Elias know that this was the absolute last thing I needed to happen and ask him how in the world he could have let this “tragedy” occur.  Or, I could take a big breath, count to ten, and ask Jesus to give me the strength to get the work done.  Fortunately, in a very rare moment for me, I made the choice to do the latter and just get the work done, without having a yelling scenario play out.

Before long, the bed was put back together and I had re-tucked Elias into his dry, cozy bed.  I picked up the wet sheets and as I was getting ready to walk out his door, I again heard his soft voice say, “Thank you Grandma”.  Do you know what?  After those sweet words…I wasn’t quite as tired 

There are so many occurrences in our day in which we have a choice to make.  A choice to either explode…letting someone else know exactly how upset we are with them…or a choice to take a deep breath and realize that voicing our anger will only hurt more than it helps.  On that particular night…I chose to stay calm…but trust me…that isn’t always the normal for me.  It’s so easy to act and then think…and as a result…relationships can be easily damaged.

This is a stressful time and many people are on their last nerve.  It’s so easy to feel justified in getting upset and lashing out at those around us.  Psalm 37:8 tells us, “Stop being angry!  Turn from your rage!  Do not lose your temper – it only leads to harm.”  This is one of those verses that we know to be true…but so hard to live out in the nitty gritty of life.  But I believe it is possible if our focus and trust is in Jesus, the One who empowers us to look more and more like Him.  When I am exhausted…He is not.  When I am at the end of my rope…He is not.  When I feel all hope is gone…He IS my hope! 

Let’s make a point today to stop for a second before we react to a stressful situation…taking a big breath while asking Jesus to help us respond in the right way.  We need to remember that this may be just another “leaky bed” experience and it isn’t worth saying something that will hurt our relationships.  Who knows...our response just might diffuse a volatile situation and bring some calmness to these very unsettling days.