I met someone last week who is the personification of the song “In Better Hands” by Natalie Grant and its powerful lyrics. His name is Harold and he serves breakfast at the restaurant in the Nashville Hilton.
Harold is from the southern part of Louisiana. A few days before Hurricane Katrina hit, he and his family decided to leave the area for safety’s sake. Harold, his wife and their 2 children packed up a few changes of clothes and other necessities. Concerned about possible flooding, Harold wrapped up pictures, valuables and other irreplaceable items and tucked them away in his attic between the rafters. They then traveled a few hundred miles away by car to get out of the path of the storm.
Thankfully he and his family escaped injury. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of their home. They returned to find their house destroyed. All their belongings, including the pictures and valuables tucked away in the attic were now buried somewhere under the 5 feet of putrid sludge that filled what was left of their home. The worst part of all, however, was losing his Mother and Mother-in-Law who both died as a result of the storm.
Harold said that his insurance company, you know, the one that says that you’re in good hands when you’re insured by them, found a technicality in the fine print of his policy allowing them to refuse to cover his losses.
I asked Harold how he held together through it all. He simply pointed heavenward. He said that he had to be strong for his kids and his wife during it all and that strength came from God. Several churches pulled together to help provide his family with the necessities until they could get back on their feet. And, now, three years later, thanks be to God, his life is finally starting to return to a new state of normal.
So, whose hands hold your life? There is only one set of hands prepared to carry you through the difficult times we are all eventually bound to face. Natalie’s song says it well, “I am strong all because of you. I stand in awe of every mountain that you move. I am changed, yesterday is gone. I am safe from this moment on. There’s no fear when the night comes round, I’m in better hands now”
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Emptying the Bank
As anyone with multiple kids knows, children spawned from the same exact set of parents often live on completely opposite ends of the personality spectrum. This is true for my kids…especially when it comes to money. One of my kids has gotten his impulse spending under control and has managed to accumulate quite a savings account. Another child is just beginning to understand money management, but she knows that it’s a good thing to have!
And, then there’s our Middle Child, who, at the ripe old age of 9, seems to understand the joy of giving. At Christmas, she often empties out the “spending” portion of her bank, goes to the dollar store, and spends all of her hard earned money on gifts for family, friends and teachers.
Here’s what she doesn’t know. Whenever I find loose change while I’m picking up around the house or doing the laundry, I put it in Carley’s bank. I don’t do it because I love her more than our other children (although they’d accuse me of that if they knew what I was up to). I do it because I want to quietly reward her generosity. Besides, I know she will be a good steward of the money I give her.
It occurred to me recently that God blesses us financially in much the same way. When we have a generous heart, giving freely to others, He freely gives to us. When we’re good stewards of our resources, he knows He can trust us with more. And, when we tithe, even though doing so will “empty our bank”, He is always faithful in providing us with what we need.
Look at this verse from Corinthians: 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Take time today to thank God for His assurance that we can trust you with everything, including our money. Ask Him to give you the faith to be generous in giving, even when there is risk involved
And, then there’s our Middle Child, who, at the ripe old age of 9, seems to understand the joy of giving. At Christmas, she often empties out the “spending” portion of her bank, goes to the dollar store, and spends all of her hard earned money on gifts for family, friends and teachers.
Here’s what she doesn’t know. Whenever I find loose change while I’m picking up around the house or doing the laundry, I put it in Carley’s bank. I don’t do it because I love her more than our other children (although they’d accuse me of that if they knew what I was up to). I do it because I want to quietly reward her generosity. Besides, I know she will be a good steward of the money I give her.
It occurred to me recently that God blesses us financially in much the same way. When we have a generous heart, giving freely to others, He freely gives to us. When we’re good stewards of our resources, he knows He can trust us with more. And, when we tithe, even though doing so will “empty our bank”, He is always faithful in providing us with what we need.
Look at this verse from Corinthians: 2 Corinthians 9:7-8
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Take time today to thank God for His assurance that we can trust you with everything, including our money. Ask Him to give you the faith to be generous in giving, even when there is risk involved
Friday, April 30, 2010
A Gut Feeling
A friend recently told me about a problem she was having. There was one possible solution to her dilemma, but she said that she did not feel “at peace” with that option.
Like my friend, there are many who allow gut feelings to guide their decision making. For people who are usually clear minded and especially discerning, one’s gut may be a fairly reliable guide. However, the friend I was listening to struggles big time with anxiety issues. When she told me she didn’t feel at peace with this idea, I thought to myself, “she’s never at peace with anything.”
I have faced many decisions where none of the choices seemed perfect. However, a decision still had to be made. How do we handle these type of dilemmas?
The first and most important step is prayer. We have to ask God for direction and then listen to his answer. Secondly, we need to seek advice from other, trustworthy people. Also, it helps to make a list of our choices and the pros and cons for each option. We then need to carefully weigh possible solutions to see how they align with God’s word. Finally, we need to make actually make a decision and follow through with it…even when we are not initially at peace with it.
When Jesus prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane before his arrest he was clearly not “at peace” with the path he was preparing to follow. Mark tells us that Jesus was “deeply distressed and troubled” He said to the disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," (Mark 14 33-34) But, Jesus understood that his crucifixion was within God’s will and necessary to provide salvation to his children. So, Jesus allowed the events leading to his death to unfold.
Life is full of decisions and the big ones can be tough to make. Be careful to not allow your emotions to get in the way of making smart choices.
Like my friend, there are many who allow gut feelings to guide their decision making. For people who are usually clear minded and especially discerning, one’s gut may be a fairly reliable guide. However, the friend I was listening to struggles big time with anxiety issues. When she told me she didn’t feel at peace with this idea, I thought to myself, “she’s never at peace with anything.”
I have faced many decisions where none of the choices seemed perfect. However, a decision still had to be made. How do we handle these type of dilemmas?
The first and most important step is prayer. We have to ask God for direction and then listen to his answer. Secondly, we need to seek advice from other, trustworthy people. Also, it helps to make a list of our choices and the pros and cons for each option. We then need to carefully weigh possible solutions to see how they align with God’s word. Finally, we need to make actually make a decision and follow through with it…even when we are not initially at peace with it.
When Jesus prayed in the Garden at Gethsemane before his arrest he was clearly not “at peace” with the path he was preparing to follow. Mark tells us that Jesus was “deeply distressed and troubled” He said to the disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," (Mark 14 33-34) But, Jesus understood that his crucifixion was within God’s will and necessary to provide salvation to his children. So, Jesus allowed the events leading to his death to unfold.
Life is full of decisions and the big ones can be tough to make. Be careful to not allow your emotions to get in the way of making smart choices.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Counting the Cost
If you build it, they will come. But you have to finish building it first.
The city of Winston-Salem has found itself at the center of a controversy surrounding construction of a new baseball stadium for the city’s minor league baseball team. Apparently, the company building the stadium discovered about ¾ of the way into construction that they don’t have enough money to complete the project, which is going to cost $18 million dollars more than originally thought. They have asked city leaders for a loan to help them finish the stadium. However, some Winston-Salem residents aren’t too crazy about the idea of the city loaning this private enterprise money for a stadium, especially in these difficult economic times.
This situation reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 14: 28-30 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
When we read the whole chapter of Luke 14, we realize that Jesus is using this parable to teach potential disciples that we need to calculate the cost before we begin following Him. The cost of discipleship is everything! I’ve known more than a few people who started walking with Christ, but didn’t finish the journey because they just couldn’t put Him in first place. Jesus says each one of us has to carry our own cross in order to follow him, meaning we must choose to lay down our old lives and place Him first on our list of priorities, over everything else.
However, the irony and beauty of it all, is that once we have carefully counted the cost and chosen, still, to lay everything at His feet, we realize that the walk gets much easier. Sure, there will still be challenges along the way, but as followers of Jesus, we never have to face these difficulties alone. He’s right by our side, helping us finish the race.
The city of Winston-Salem has found itself at the center of a controversy surrounding construction of a new baseball stadium for the city’s minor league baseball team. Apparently, the company building the stadium discovered about ¾ of the way into construction that they don’t have enough money to complete the project, which is going to cost $18 million dollars more than originally thought. They have asked city leaders for a loan to help them finish the stadium. However, some Winston-Salem residents aren’t too crazy about the idea of the city loaning this private enterprise money for a stadium, especially in these difficult economic times.
This situation reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 14: 28-30 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
When we read the whole chapter of Luke 14, we realize that Jesus is using this parable to teach potential disciples that we need to calculate the cost before we begin following Him. The cost of discipleship is everything! I’ve known more than a few people who started walking with Christ, but didn’t finish the journey because they just couldn’t put Him in first place. Jesus says each one of us has to carry our own cross in order to follow him, meaning we must choose to lay down our old lives and place Him first on our list of priorities, over everything else.
However, the irony and beauty of it all, is that once we have carefully counted the cost and chosen, still, to lay everything at His feet, we realize that the walk gets much easier. Sure, there will still be challenges along the way, but as followers of Jesus, we never have to face these difficulties alone. He’s right by our side, helping us finish the race.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
What Do Yo Expect?
Each year, one week before Easter, Christians observe Palm Sunday, also known as the Triumphal Entry. The Bible describes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as an event filled with excitement, singing and praises from crowds of people who had finally recognized Jesus as their promised Messiah. In the Gospel of Mark the event is described this way: “Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:7-10)
So, what happened? Within just a few days the jubilant blessings of “Hosanna” had turned to blood-seeking cries of “Crucify Him”. We find this same Jesus… once celebrated and revered by large crowds, now hanging on a cross, with only his mother and a few close followers there on his behalf. Where did every body go?
I’m sure that most of his closest followers were in hiding, afraid to share Jesus’ cruel punishment. But, I suspect that others who were one time followers of Jesus had turned away because he did not meet their expectations. You see, the Jews knew the scriptures and prophesy well…and were anticipating a messiah who was an earthly king, like King David, who would come restore the temple and rescue them from Roman oppression. Jesus was indeed there to do those things, just not in the way they expected. The heavenly Kingdom Jesus came to deliver was far greater than they would ever have imagined. And, Since Jesus, did not match their narrow definition of the Messiah, they missed out on him entirely.
My friend, please do not let this happen to you. So many people become Christians with the expectation that once they do, their lives will be free from problems. They see Jesus as a sort of cosmic genie, granting wishes in the form of answered prayers. Then, when life gets hard they get frustrated and decide that Jesus must not be the real thing because he’s not jumping in to rescue them.
But, the truth is that our Heavenly Father sometimes allows us short term suffering to accomplish His long-term goals for our lives. He’s concerned with our spiritual needs far more than our physical ones. What is most important to him is our eternity and where we will choose to spend it.
Understand this and your expectations will be met, allowing you to see Jesus for the everlasting savior he longs to be in your life.
So, what happened? Within just a few days the jubilant blessings of “Hosanna” had turned to blood-seeking cries of “Crucify Him”. We find this same Jesus… once celebrated and revered by large crowds, now hanging on a cross, with only his mother and a few close followers there on his behalf. Where did every body go?
I’m sure that most of his closest followers were in hiding, afraid to share Jesus’ cruel punishment. But, I suspect that others who were one time followers of Jesus had turned away because he did not meet their expectations. You see, the Jews knew the scriptures and prophesy well…and were anticipating a messiah who was an earthly king, like King David, who would come restore the temple and rescue them from Roman oppression. Jesus was indeed there to do those things, just not in the way they expected. The heavenly Kingdom Jesus came to deliver was far greater than they would ever have imagined. And, Since Jesus, did not match their narrow definition of the Messiah, they missed out on him entirely.
My friend, please do not let this happen to you. So many people become Christians with the expectation that once they do, their lives will be free from problems. They see Jesus as a sort of cosmic genie, granting wishes in the form of answered prayers. Then, when life gets hard they get frustrated and decide that Jesus must not be the real thing because he’s not jumping in to rescue them.
But, the truth is that our Heavenly Father sometimes allows us short term suffering to accomplish His long-term goals for our lives. He’s concerned with our spiritual needs far more than our physical ones. What is most important to him is our eternity and where we will choose to spend it.
Understand this and your expectations will be met, allowing you to see Jesus for the everlasting savior he longs to be in your life.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Ladybug Justice
The other day while visiting Pilot Mountain, my youngest daughter noticed a ladybug who had found himself ensnared in the sticky threads of a spider web. The poor thing was still alive, and I hated to think about it’s 8-legged fate that was certain to unfold later that evening. So, I carefully removed the bug from his sticky situation and watched him crawl away.
I was feeling pretty good about myself, the super hero who saved one innocent lady bug’s day. But when I told my husband about my good deed, he quickly took the wind out of my sails, saying, “But, what about the spider?”
He was right! As much as I hated to see the poor ladybug suffer, wasn’t I causing the spider to suffer, too, by taking away his dinner? Worse yet, maybe it was a mommy spider who needed the nutrients to feed her babies. So, instead of feeling good about the ladybug, now I had a whole family of arachnids tugging on my conscience.
This whole situation reminded me once again, that the things I see are only a small part of a much bigger plan. It’s easy to look at the suffering, injustice and evil around us and shake our fist at the sky, wondering why a loving God would allow such treachery in the world he created. We do this because we cannot possibly see or understand the complexity or magnitude of God’s sovereign plans for this world. When we experience things that we ourselves have deemed bad or evil we cannot comprehend how these things can fit into God’s good plans, or the plans of God who is good.
However, we cannot rely on the way we perceive things as our standard for God’s righteousness! Remember these words from Isaiah 55: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Since we cannot comprehend His thoughts and His ways, we have to trust Him. And He is certainly worthy of that trust.
I was feeling pretty good about myself, the super hero who saved one innocent lady bug’s day. But when I told my husband about my good deed, he quickly took the wind out of my sails, saying, “But, what about the spider?”
He was right! As much as I hated to see the poor ladybug suffer, wasn’t I causing the spider to suffer, too, by taking away his dinner? Worse yet, maybe it was a mommy spider who needed the nutrients to feed her babies. So, instead of feeling good about the ladybug, now I had a whole family of arachnids tugging on my conscience.
This whole situation reminded me once again, that the things I see are only a small part of a much bigger plan. It’s easy to look at the suffering, injustice and evil around us and shake our fist at the sky, wondering why a loving God would allow such treachery in the world he created. We do this because we cannot possibly see or understand the complexity or magnitude of God’s sovereign plans for this world. When we experience things that we ourselves have deemed bad or evil we cannot comprehend how these things can fit into God’s good plans, or the plans of God who is good.
However, we cannot rely on the way we perceive things as our standard for God’s righteousness! Remember these words from Isaiah 55: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Since we cannot comprehend His thoughts and His ways, we have to trust Him. And He is certainly worthy of that trust.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Shalom in My Home
Being a mother of three school-aged kids who also has a full-time job is not easy. Most days I feel like one of those plate spinners that you see at the circus, running around wildly from one twirling dish to another, trying to keep them all in motion. This stressful routine often leaves me on my knees praying for peace, asking God for some “Shalom in my home”!
I realized the other day that I may be praying for the wrong thing. That’s because, when I pray for peace, I am usually really asking God to change the things outside of me that are causing me stress. But, a stress-free life is really just a fantasy isn’t it? There will always be bills to pay, missing school work, sick kids, broken cars, aging parents, deadlines at work, world crises, and arguments with spouses to deal with. It’s these things that cause us to long for heaven.
Instead, when I pray for peace, I should be asking for peace within. In the Gospels, Jesus often used the Hebrew greeting, “shalom aleichem (shah-lohm a-LAY-khem)”, which translates to “Peace be unto you” or “Peace be with you”. Now, certainly Jesus knew that the folks he spoke to would face lots of tough times down the road. So, I must believe that the kind of peace he was talking about was the peace that resides in our hearts and is available to us no matter what’s happening in our world.
The verses that always come to mind when I think about that kind of serenity are these from Philippians 4, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
You’ll notice those verses do not say God will answer your requests by giving you whatever you ask for. However, we are promised a gift that will serve us much better in the long run, the gift of peace. The kind of peace that endures the weather and protects us from whatever comes our way.
I realized the other day that I may be praying for the wrong thing. That’s because, when I pray for peace, I am usually really asking God to change the things outside of me that are causing me stress. But, a stress-free life is really just a fantasy isn’t it? There will always be bills to pay, missing school work, sick kids, broken cars, aging parents, deadlines at work, world crises, and arguments with spouses to deal with. It’s these things that cause us to long for heaven.
Instead, when I pray for peace, I should be asking for peace within. In the Gospels, Jesus often used the Hebrew greeting, “shalom aleichem (shah-lohm a-LAY-khem)”, which translates to “Peace be unto you” or “Peace be with you”. Now, certainly Jesus knew that the folks he spoke to would face lots of tough times down the road. So, I must believe that the kind of peace he was talking about was the peace that resides in our hearts and is available to us no matter what’s happening in our world.
The verses that always come to mind when I think about that kind of serenity are these from Philippians 4, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
You’ll notice those verses do not say God will answer your requests by giving you whatever you ask for. However, we are promised a gift that will serve us much better in the long run, the gift of peace. The kind of peace that endures the weather and protects us from whatever comes our way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)