First a tree fell on her house. Next when the plumber was fixing the bathroom that had been messed up by the fallen tree and he failed to hook up the toilet correctly so the basement flooded. Then last week the air conditioner at her business caught on fire. How much stress can one person take?
Knowing all she'd been through I didn't expect her to be smiling. "Are you alright?", I asked. I was surprised by her positive attitude. When she told me about the things that had happen she told it all from a perspective of God's protection and provision. As I listened I thought about Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine.
The other part of the verse says,"but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." My friend could have responded either way. Her cheerful heart was a result of her relationship with a Sovereign God.When someone carries a burden to heavy for them they are crushed.
The crushing load began in the garden when Satan introduced the idea that man needed to be his own god. Satan told Eve that she couldn't really trust God to have her best interest's at heart. In Isaiah nine we have the remedy. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
We have been given a Savior and the government of our lives is on His shoulders to understand this is to have a cheerful heart to understand this is to be governed by the Prince of Peace.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The Covenant
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join this Man and this Woman in holy matrimony." Forty one years ago today I entered into a covenant with God and my husband. It wasn't an agreement, it wasn't a contract, it was a covenant.
When I entered into this covenant with God and my husband I made promises to him and he made promises to me. We promised to,"live together for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to each other as long as we live." I was twenty one he was twenty three when we made this life time covenant.
I took a magic marker on our wedding trip. Steve had cancer and was taking radiation treatment. Every time we went swimming together I had to redraw the lines where he needed radiation. On our first anniversary he had completed his chemo-therapy. I worked during the day and took care of him at night. The stress and lack of sleep caused me to have a nervous breakdown. He took care of me until I recovered. Our next anniversary was spent working at Yellowstone National Park. "I will live together with you ... in sickness and in health."
Steve was with me for the birth of our four children. We shared the miracle of life and I watched him as he tenderly held his children. We both wept as he dug the grave for Belle Marie here on the farm. I remember his words of comfort as we placed her little coffin in the ground."Time doesn't heal all wounds but God will" He comforted me during the loss of two more children. "I will live together with you for better or worse."
If the covenant I made so many years ago had only been with Steve I don't know if it would have survived. I have failed him often. Our humanity and selfishness has caused us to hurt each other in many ways. However, this covenant was made with God as well. "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong ,for the Lord upholds his hand." Psalm 37 23-24
Forty one years ago today I was asked,"Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him to be your wedded husband....as long as you both shall live?" I whispered, "I do", but it was loud enough for Steve and God to hear.
When I entered into this covenant with God and my husband I made promises to him and he made promises to me. We promised to,"live together for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to each other as long as we live." I was twenty one he was twenty three when we made this life time covenant.
I took a magic marker on our wedding trip. Steve had cancer and was taking radiation treatment. Every time we went swimming together I had to redraw the lines where he needed radiation. On our first anniversary he had completed his chemo-therapy. I worked during the day and took care of him at night. The stress and lack of sleep caused me to have a nervous breakdown. He took care of me until I recovered. Our next anniversary was spent working at Yellowstone National Park. "I will live together with you ... in sickness and in health."
Steve was with me for the birth of our four children. We shared the miracle of life and I watched him as he tenderly held his children. We both wept as he dug the grave for Belle Marie here on the farm. I remember his words of comfort as we placed her little coffin in the ground."Time doesn't heal all wounds but God will" He comforted me during the loss of two more children. "I will live together with you for better or worse."
If the covenant I made so many years ago had only been with Steve I don't know if it would have survived. I have failed him often. Our humanity and selfishness has caused us to hurt each other in many ways. However, this covenant was made with God as well. "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong ,for the Lord upholds his hand." Psalm 37 23-24
Forty one years ago today I was asked,"Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him to be your wedded husband....as long as you both shall live?" I whispered, "I do", but it was loud enough for Steve and God to hear.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
What's the difference between being used by the Lord and just being used?
I decided to write a Bible study based on the question,"What is the difference between being used by the Lord and just being used?" I did not decide to write this study because I knew the answer but because I needed to know the answer.
The book of James tells us that if we are lacking in wisdom that we can ask God and He will give it to us. So I decided to ask God my question and then tell others what I found out. What follows is God's answer to my prayer.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ...each will have to bear his own load." Galatians 6:2-5 This scripture became the bases for my study. It also became a subject of prayer because I could not figure out what it meant. Because I believed God would answer my prayer for wisdom I continued to study and pray until finally I understood.
When I bear another persons burden with the aim of fulfilling the law of Christ it means I love them sacrificially. It means I deny myself and place another persons welfare above my own. It does NOT mean that I take some one's responsibility away them. To take away some one's responsibility is to take away their dignity and elevate myself above them.Therefore,"each will have to bear his own load".
I have done it wrong so many times and the results are always the same. When I take some one's responsibly away from them I end up resenting them. I feel taken advantage of, crippled because I'm doing their responsibility instead of my own. But I'm not the only one who feels resentful, the person I'm "helping" feels resentment as well. I end up crippling the person I wanted to help because God given loads strengthen us. When I try to take that load from someone I am being arrogant not loving.
Yesterday I saw a man do it right and the memory of it has stayed with me like a sweet perfume. I was standing in a check out line behind a man with his disabled daughter. Her gait was stumbling her arms seemed to fly about uncontrollably and her eyes rolled back into their sockets. The father's tone was kind as he asked for her opinion about what she wanted to buy. He gently lifted her burden but let her carry her own load. What I observed was a man who was fulfilling the law of Christ.
So what's the difference between being used by the Lord and just being used? I think to know the answer to that I need to ask myself this question," Is my goal to fulfill the law of Christ or to be some one's savior?" Fulfilling the law of Christ involves deep humility. When I think I can be someones savior it is a picture of pride.
Lord Jesus I come to You again for wisdom. My life is stained by this type of arrogant pride. Please give me the wisdom to fulfill the law of Christ and become the sweet fragrance of You in my world just like the man I saw yesterday.
The book of James tells us that if we are lacking in wisdom that we can ask God and He will give it to us. So I decided to ask God my question and then tell others what I found out. What follows is God's answer to my prayer.
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ...each will have to bear his own load." Galatians 6:2-5 This scripture became the bases for my study. It also became a subject of prayer because I could not figure out what it meant. Because I believed God would answer my prayer for wisdom I continued to study and pray until finally I understood.
When I bear another persons burden with the aim of fulfilling the law of Christ it means I love them sacrificially. It means I deny myself and place another persons welfare above my own. It does NOT mean that I take some one's responsibility away them. To take away some one's responsibility is to take away their dignity and elevate myself above them.Therefore,"each will have to bear his own load".
I have done it wrong so many times and the results are always the same. When I take some one's responsibly away from them I end up resenting them. I feel taken advantage of, crippled because I'm doing their responsibility instead of my own. But I'm not the only one who feels resentful, the person I'm "helping" feels resentment as well. I end up crippling the person I wanted to help because God given loads strengthen us. When I try to take that load from someone I am being arrogant not loving.
Yesterday I saw a man do it right and the memory of it has stayed with me like a sweet perfume. I was standing in a check out line behind a man with his disabled daughter. Her gait was stumbling her arms seemed to fly about uncontrollably and her eyes rolled back into their sockets. The father's tone was kind as he asked for her opinion about what she wanted to buy. He gently lifted her burden but let her carry her own load. What I observed was a man who was fulfilling the law of Christ.
So what's the difference between being used by the Lord and just being used? I think to know the answer to that I need to ask myself this question," Is my goal to fulfill the law of Christ or to be some one's savior?" Fulfilling the law of Christ involves deep humility. When I think I can be someones savior it is a picture of pride.
Lord Jesus I come to You again for wisdom. My life is stained by this type of arrogant pride. Please give me the wisdom to fulfill the law of Christ and become the sweet fragrance of You in my world just like the man I saw yesterday.
Monday, June 6, 2011
If there was one thing you could change about yourself what would it be?
If there was one thing you could change about yourself what would it be? I don't really have to think about this question to hard before I come up with not one but a long list of things. Many of the problems that come to mind have been with me most of my conscious life.
I struggle with my weight, I always have. It never mattered what I looked like on the outside I was still struggling on the inside. I am one of nine children, I think I have eight of the smartest and most successful people in the world as my siblings. I on the other hand used to sit in class and wonder what it would be like to understand exactly what the teacher was talking about, particularly in Latin class. Last but not least I have fought depression off and on since I was a small child.
In the ninth chapter of John Jesus' disciples ask him,"Whose fault was it that this man was born blind?"" Jesus answered,"It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Could this be true for me as well?
The first miracle done in Jesus' name after His resurrection was done for a man who was over forty and been been crippled since birth. Acts three tells us in the name of Jesus he was healed. This place in his life that had always caused him grief now was the source of amazing joy. Could this be true for me?
Could it be that these weakness' in my life could become places where God's work could be displayed in me?
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I can't seem to heal myself even though I've tried really hard. I bring to You my inadequacies. Shine Your light on me, shine You light in me, shine Your light through me. Let the broken places in my life become the places other people see Your glory!
I struggle with my weight, I always have. It never mattered what I looked like on the outside I was still struggling on the inside. I am one of nine children, I think I have eight of the smartest and most successful people in the world as my siblings. I on the other hand used to sit in class and wonder what it would be like to understand exactly what the teacher was talking about, particularly in Latin class. Last but not least I have fought depression off and on since I was a small child.
In the ninth chapter of John Jesus' disciples ask him,"Whose fault was it that this man was born blind?"" Jesus answered,"It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." Could this be true for me as well?
The first miracle done in Jesus' name after His resurrection was done for a man who was over forty and been been crippled since birth. Acts three tells us in the name of Jesus he was healed. This place in his life that had always caused him grief now was the source of amazing joy. Could this be true for me?
Could it be that these weakness' in my life could become places where God's work could be displayed in me?
Lord Jesus, I come to You just as I am. I can't seem to heal myself even though I've tried really hard. I bring to You my inadequacies. Shine Your light on me, shine You light in me, shine Your light through me. Let the broken places in my life become the places other people see Your glory!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Well placed fear produces great courage
I have been looking over the different things I been writing about and I see a common thread. It's not just a common thread in my writing it is also a major theme of my life. Day after day situation after situation I keep coming back to this question,"God, how do I do this? How am I supposed to live out what I believe?"
I think about the verse in Philippians chapter two that says,"...work out you salvation with fear and trembling" I have had this on my mind a lot lately and so I looked it up to see what the context is because my question is,"How do I work out my salvation with fear and trembling?"
"...work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and do his good pleasure."Philippians 2:12b-13 I did research on the word fear and found that it meant to be in awe of God to respect and reverence Him. If I have an awe of God and believe that He is at work in my life then I don't have to be afraid of the situations I find myself in.
As I meditate on what my life would look like if I really lived this way I think of a man whose name was Tom Jackson. Tom was a quiet man a man with a deep reverence for God. The reason for Tom's calm was his belief in the sovereignty of God. He believed that if you had a true fear of God you didn't need to be afraid of anything else.
Tom's faith was tested in battle. It was at the battle of Bull Run. Shells and bullets were flying all around him, Jackson stayed on his horse calm and collected as if nothing was going on. Brigadier General Bernard Bee saw this and told the troops,"There stands Jackson like a stone wall lets determine to die here with him."
Lord Jesus, thank you that I don't have to be anxious about "getting it right". Thank you that You are working in my life to will and do Your good pleasure. Help me to be strong courageous and faithful.
I think about the verse in Philippians chapter two that says,"...work out you salvation with fear and trembling" I have had this on my mind a lot lately and so I looked it up to see what the context is because my question is,"How do I work out my salvation with fear and trembling?"
"...work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and do his good pleasure."Philippians 2:12b-13 I did research on the word fear and found that it meant to be in awe of God to respect and reverence Him. If I have an awe of God and believe that He is at work in my life then I don't have to be afraid of the situations I find myself in.
As I meditate on what my life would look like if I really lived this way I think of a man whose name was Tom Jackson. Tom was a quiet man a man with a deep reverence for God. The reason for Tom's calm was his belief in the sovereignty of God. He believed that if you had a true fear of God you didn't need to be afraid of anything else.
Tom's faith was tested in battle. It was at the battle of Bull Run. Shells and bullets were flying all around him, Jackson stayed on his horse calm and collected as if nothing was going on. Brigadier General Bernard Bee saw this and told the troops,"There stands Jackson like a stone wall lets determine to die here with him."
Lord Jesus, thank you that I don't have to be anxious about "getting it right". Thank you that You are working in my life to will and do Your good pleasure. Help me to be strong courageous and faithful.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Intimacy in the Wilderness
This is a link to the talk I gave at the CFO Annual Meeting on May 31.
http://www.cfoannual.org/node/67
http://www.cfoannual.org/node/67
It's His responsibility not mine
My husband and I were sitting on the porch swing in the cool of the evening visiting. I began talking about how anxious I feel sometimes when I read the story of Eli the priest. He didn't correct his sons and the results were disastrous. We rocked silently a few moments then my husband spoke,"Sarah, consider this. In the book of 1 Samuel you have Eli's sons, Samuel's sons, King Saul's son, King David's sons. Which one was the most godly?"
Jonathan the son of King Saul was the answer. Three chapters before I read about David and Goliath there is a similar story of Jonathan and the Philistines. In order to reach the Philistine outpost Jonathan and his armor-bearer had to climb a cliff using hands and feet. His armor-bearer was behind him. The Philistines were above him mocking,"The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." Jonathan's initial response to the situation shows his faith in God."Come, let's go over to the out-post of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving,whether by many or by few." Just like with David Jonathan's bravery caused the whole army to take courage and have a victory over the Philistines.
When I really see the heart of Jonathan is when David is hiding from King Saul who is trying to take his life. Jonathan finds him and encourages him with these words,"Don't be afraid. My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you..." Usually the son of the king is next in line for the position.
What made Jonathan the courageous godly man he was? I think it was because he anchored his plans in the purposes of God. Jonathan had a good grasp of God's faithfulness. He had a zeal for God's glory not his own.
As I meditate on these things it brings me back to my anxiety. Why do I feel anxious? I think it's because I have become more focused on my efforts and less focused on God's faithfulness. I often seek my own glory my agenda my success and forget God has a bigger plan.
Lord Jesus, You alone are the author and finisher of my salvation. You alone are the author and finisher of the salvation of those I love. Help me by faith to be courageous and to leave the results to You.
Jonathan the son of King Saul was the answer. Three chapters before I read about David and Goliath there is a similar story of Jonathan and the Philistines. In order to reach the Philistine outpost Jonathan and his armor-bearer had to climb a cliff using hands and feet. His armor-bearer was behind him. The Philistines were above him mocking,"The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." Jonathan's initial response to the situation shows his faith in God."Come, let's go over to the out-post of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving,whether by many or by few." Just like with David Jonathan's bravery caused the whole army to take courage and have a victory over the Philistines.
When I really see the heart of Jonathan is when David is hiding from King Saul who is trying to take his life. Jonathan finds him and encourages him with these words,"Don't be afraid. My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you..." Usually the son of the king is next in line for the position.
What made Jonathan the courageous godly man he was? I think it was because he anchored his plans in the purposes of God. Jonathan had a good grasp of God's faithfulness. He had a zeal for God's glory not his own.
As I meditate on these things it brings me back to my anxiety. Why do I feel anxious? I think it's because I have become more focused on my efforts and less focused on God's faithfulness. I often seek my own glory my agenda my success and forget God has a bigger plan.
Lord Jesus, You alone are the author and finisher of my salvation. You alone are the author and finisher of the salvation of those I love. Help me by faith to be courageous and to leave the results to You.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)