Monday Morning Memo: Go Ahead...ASK!

I remember the day well.  We, along with the employees of our catering service, were at a lake here in Indiana.  We were feeding approximately 1200 people who were the employees and their families of an area business. 

It takes experience to know how much food to prepare when that many hungry people start through the line.  At this particular event, they often begin lining up an hour before serving time because they are so anxious to be fed.  Once the designated time rolls around, the stream of customers doesn’t end for a very long time and it is our job to make sure that the last person in line gets just as much to eat as the first.

We have the privilege of serving this group every year for their company picnic, and those in charge have requested a variety of items for their menu.  For that year, they had asked for Au Gratin potatoes to be included.  Since we serve outside, a hot dish such as this is somewhat of a challenge, making sure that everything is kept piping hot for the entire time we serve.

It really was a sight to behold as 14 roasters were lined up on tables beside our unit.  As each roaster was emptied, it was taken off the serving line and a fresh one was put in its place.

The problem arose when we realized that people were taking much larger servings than we expected.  We have been in this business for many years and my husband has a knack for knowing, on an average, how much people will eat.  But this group must have been hungrier than the average group and the potatoes were quickly disappearing.  As each roaster emptied, our stomachs churned just a little more as we began to fear that we would run out.  The last thing we want to happen at any event is to have to tell people that something on the line-up of food is not available.

All of a sudden, the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish came to mind.  At that moment, I knew how the disciples must have felt as they faced hungry people and not enough food to satisfy their appetite.  Just as there wasn’t a store right there for the disciples to purchase additional supplies, we also had no place at this lake to buy anything and we didn’t have enough time to cook it if there had been.

So all I knew to do was to begin praying.  I stopped right where I was and prayed something like this, “Lord you know the predicament that we are in.  There is no way that we have enough potatoes to feed the number of people that have yet to go through the line.  If you could multiply the five loaves and two fish, you surely can multiply these potatoes.  I’m not asking for an over abundance…we just need enough to get everyone fed.”

We then waited.  People continued to file past and potatoes continued to disappear.  But when the last person was through and everyone was satisfied, I couldn’t believe my eyes.  Thirteen and 9/10 of the 14 roasters were empty…and there were just a handful of potatoes left.  We didn’t have 12 baskets leftover as they did in Biblical days, but we had just enough.  We had what I had asked for.

I don’t know if the Lord actually multiplied the potatoes or if He diminished the appetite of the people who were left to go through the line, but I believe He heard my prayer that day and blessed us with His intervention.  Was this a dire situation that was a matter of life or death?  No.  I think it was a moment where the Lord just wanted to show us, once again, that He cares about every area of our life and is still in the miracle business of answering prayers.

Are you facing something today that is completely out of your control?  Have you prayed about it or do you think you shouldn’t bother the Lord with it because it isn’t a matter of life and death?  Go ahead.  Tell Him every detail.  He cares about every aspect of your life and wants to do mighty things even in the mundane events of your day. 

Did you know that every miracle in the Bible started with a problem? The same is true today and your problems just may be the avenue through which the Lord wants to use to show you His mighty hand.  Remember, He is able to do much more than you can even imagine and He might just be waiting for you to ask.  What are you waiting for?

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Matthew 7:7

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Ephesians 3:20

Monday Morning Memo: Pleasing Him

Today isn’t just any Monday.  Today is a ‘back to reality” Monday.  For the past week we have had the privilege of enjoying the beauty of Arizona, but today all that comes to an end and once our plane lands on the tarmac, we are back to reality.

I feel very blessed to have had a week of rest and relaxation.  No set schedule and no outside demands on my time.  Just a week with my husband without all the normal daily responsibilities.

It always amazes me how I can feel so relaxed after a vacation…but within a very short time of returning home the stress of life begins to consume me again.  In fact, there have been times when my stomach starts to knot up before I ever manage to walk through the front door of our home.  My mind begins to work overtime and I can feel overwhelmed, even before I face my day-to-day responsibilities.  When I think about this logically…I realize that my actions and thoughts are pretty ridiculous.

If I had to take a guess…I have a feeling that I’m not alone in acting this way.  It is so easy to let our daily tasks affect our demeanor, even before they happen.  Many of us spend way to much time putting a deposit in our “worry bank” before we even know if it will be needed.  I think this is a time when we often let the what-ifs of life take control, and instead of living with God’s peace in our life, we live with unnecessary turmoil.

I wonder if this often happens because we forget Who we are supposed to please in this world.  I think we spend way too much of our time trying to please those around us each day, instead of making our decisions based on what makes God happy.  I have a hard time believing that His will for us would ever include having our stomach tied in knots and our blood pressure sky high.  I wonder how often He looks at us and just shakes His head…wishing that we would begin to understand how much better His will is for our lives than the self-made will that we follow.

I’ve had people ask me how they can know what God’s will is for their life.  I believe that the best way to know is just to begin making sure that your will to please Him is greater than your will to please others.  None of us know what tomorrow will bring, let alone today.  But God does.  He knows our today and our tomorrows and nothing that comes our way will be a surprise to Him.  So as long as our hearts desire is to please Him, there will be no need to get stressed out and frazzled.

Today is a new day and the beginning of a new week.  Let’s face the moments ahead totally focused on pleasing God.  I’m guessing that the decisions we face will be easier to make when we keep our eyes on Him!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Jeremiah 29:11

“Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be the Messiah's servant.”

Galatians 1:10

Regardless of Your Decision

Once again…I’ve got a word rambling in my head.  This happens every once in a while.  I see a sign or hear someone mention a word in conversation or as it happened this time…read a graphic. 

The word?  Resolution.  It’s not a word that we hear as much in October.  It’s a word that is more apt to be said or thought at the beginning of the year when many of us make one or more New Year resolutions that are often broken before the calendar is turned to February.

The dictionary says that a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.  Another dictionary said that it’s when you are firmly determined about something. You make up your mind that you will not waver and you will not accept less that what you have resolved to do.  You resolve that you are going to eat healthier and exercise.  You make a promise to yourself that you are going to read God’s Word every day and spend time with God in prayer.  You make up your mind that you will control your spending and not go on shopping sprees where you spend money that you don’t have.  All of those things are great resolutions to make, but the problem is that they are much easier to talk about…than to do.

So why is it that even with the best intentions, we often fall short of keeping our resolutions?  We usually don’t make our promise, expecting to break it.  We make it fully intending to be strong enough to see it to fruition.  We believe in whatever we resolve to do and have faith in ourselves to see it through. 

It wasn’t until I saw this graphic that I had a light bulb go on in my head concerning why our resolutions often fail.   

I think one of the biggest reasons our resolutions fail is because we often make our promises alone.  We make a decision to do or not do something, but it isn’t long until we realize that those around us haven’t made that same resolution.  We are determined to eat healthier and exercise on a consistent basis…but the rest of our family has no intention to give up their Twinkies.

We promise God that reading His Word and spending time in prayer will be our top priority.  The problem arises when those around us don’t see this as a daily task that is important and so when their schedules begin to affect ours, we soon lose track of time and it isn’t long until our quiet time is filled with noise.

We make up our mind to control our spending, but then we see that our friends and neighbors have toys that we don’t have and we begin to feel “less” than them.  To be able to keep up with the “Joneses” we soon determine that we are going to have to overextend our finances once again; otherwise we won’t be included in the in crowd.

I think that is where we often fall short.  Our resolutions are only applicable as long as everyone around us is making the same resolutions.  As long as they are in total agreement with our thoughts, we have the stamina to keep our promises.  But when they don’t have the same convictions that we have, it doesn’t take long for us to crumble.

I believe God is asking for more than a flippant resolution that changes with the wind.  He is asking for us to make a solemn vow to Him that we will do His will each and every day, even if everyone around us isn’t.  Even if we are the only one who He is calling to do or not do something, He expects our resolution to not be a mere sentiment, but a steadfast determination that is fueled by His strength.

I get excited when I think about what might happen in our families, our communities and in our world if each of us would make this resolution to live completely sold out to God, even if no one else does.  What a difference could be made in these dark days that we are living in, if each of us would resolve to let our light shine for Him, no matter the cost. 

Are you in?  I hope so.  But I know that I can’t wait to see what your choices are before I make my decision.  I need to resolve today to do His will…regardless of your decision.

“For this reason, since the day we heard about this, we have not stopped praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the full knowledge of God’s will with respect to all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might live in a manner worthy of the Lord and be fully pleasing to him as you bear fruit while doing all kinds of good things and growing in the full knowledge of God.”

Colossians 1:9-10

Monday Morning Memo: If Jesus Was On Facebook

I, like so many of you, are on Facebook.  As I wrote at the first of this year in “Above All Else”, this avenue of social media can easily take control of our lives and we need to be diligent to make sure that our focus is more on Christ than on Facebook statuses.

Monday Morning Memo: Experiencing God

I have wanted to write about this for a couple weeks, but I just couldn’t find the words.  Finally this past weekend, the Lord began to put my thoughts together so I could share them with you.

On Sunday September 20th, we met our daughter, son-in-law and grandson for lunch after church.  When we left the restaurant, my husband and I talked about whether we would go home or go to the hospital to see a friend of ours, Ray, who was facing a serious surgery.

To be honest, I wanted to go home.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see him, but I was tired and really just wanted to go home and vegetate.  It had been a long week and I desperately needed a nap.  I also was concerned that since it was a Sunday afternoon, he would have lots of visitors and it would be too much for him.  We went back and forth trying to decide what to do and finally came to the conclusion that we should head for the hospital.

We entered his room and were surprised to find him all alone.  Some of his family had just left and so he seemed happy to see us walk in.  We greeted him and told him that we were sorry that he had to go through this.  His immediate response was, “Really, it’s ok.  The One who created me knows all about me and I know I’m in His hands.  I have peace about this and I’m just trusting Him.”

Wow.  It’s so much easier to say that we would have peace if we were faced with difficult situations when things are going well, but to hear someone say those words when he is in the middle of scary circumstances, really spoke to me.  What followed was an inspiring visit as he shared more details of his life with us and we left so thankful that we had decided to visit him.

Little did we know that just a few days later, on September 25th, Ray would meet his Creator face to face.  When we received word of his passing, all I could think of were his words of peace the Sunday before.  He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that his God was bigger than anything he would face and that all he had to do was put his trust in Him.

Fast forward to this past weekend when I was reading in a book that a friend had recommended.  The writer, a woman who was brutally raped at the age of 15 shared these words, “Although I knew God, a tragedy like this made me experience God.  In Job 42:5, Job said, ‘I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You.’” 

My thoughts immediately went to Ray.  He didn’t just know his God when difficult times came…he experienced his God.  He felt Him…He heard Him…He trusted Him and again, he experienced Him.  This didn’t just happen after the health issue arose, it began during the good times when Ray walked with His God day in and day out.  Because of this when trouble did arise, he was already in step with his Creator and could rest in His care.

What an awesome reminder this has been for me to make sure that I am always seeking a closer relationship with the One who created me.  Every minute of every day, I need to walk in step with my God and be solely focused on Him.  That way, when trials and temptations come, it will be completely natural for me to trust Him.

We went to the hospital that day thinking we were going to bless Ray and walked out realizing we were the ones who had been blessed.  That’s what happens when you are in the presence of a true follower of God.  May each of us seek to be that kind of a light to the dark world in which we live. 

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

but now my eye sees You.” 

Job 42:5