Today I pulled out my planner for the first time since COVID-19 abruptly interrupted all of our lives.  As I turned its pages, I drew line after line through what I thought would be the events of my days for the next couple of months.  I'm not going to pretend there was no disappointment.  Besides the Good Friday holiday break, the entire calendar has a line through it!  

I keep hearing about the things we will all do "once this is over,"  but I can't help thinking that we really don't know when it will be over and we can't pretend that June through August won't be affected by what happens March through May.  Even though deep down we all know that life is uncertain, this year has shown us that those words are not just a catchy phrase.  So many things we typically take for granted are now completely out of our control.  

My paternal grandmother, who asked to be affectionately called "Granny" after my first child was born, had a favorite song that she requested frequently.  If you knew her, you can probably quickly and accurately guess the title.  Granny passed away in 2012, but every time I'm at the piano playing this gospel hymn, I understand a little more why it was one of her favorites.  

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant his blood, support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

As we reluctantly put a line through our best laid plans, there is one event for which we should be daily preparing, and it can be found in the fourth stanza:

When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found!
Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

[My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less - Edward Mote (1834)]

In relation to our current economic and health crisis, none of us really knows what will happen.  We can't be sure who all will end up unemployed or ill, or whether it will end in two weeks or six months.  But one thing we know for certain is that God is in control, and if our lives are planted firmly upon Him, we will stand.  

Yes, my planner looks a lot different today than it did two weeks ago, but God is unchanged, and I can be sure, He is working all this for my good.

Strength Through Submission

More than a few times in the last twenty years, I have had a student say, "Why do I have to learn this?  I'll never use it!"  I used to give them a sympathetic smile and say, "You never know where life will lead you, and this may prove useful someday."  Of course, those words did little to change their mind or their attitude toward the difficult concept they were struggling to learn.

One day, a student looked at me and said, "Why do I have to learn this?  I'll never use it!"  And I shrugged my shoulders and said, "You may be right right.  You may never use it.  But you know what?  The purpose of learning this concept is to help you develop the ability to think on a higher level."  That answer seemed to be satisfactory, and I continue to use it.  When one disciplines himself to stay engaged and follow through to the solution of tough academic challenges, the process itself changes him.  He not only gains ability, he also gains the confidence to face the next challenge.  His perspective broadens, his arsenal of knowledge increases, and he builds the intellectual muscle to propel him to the next cognitive level.

Several years ago, I broke my ankle.  After surgery and nearly two months of being in a cast, I was ready to begin therapy.  I pushed through my first session, and was a little puzzled by many of the routines.  Walking backward the length of the room?  Side leg lifts? What in the world did that have to do with the joint in my ankle?

Over the course of eighteen sessions, I learned that the purpose of therapy was to exercise and strengthen many of the muscles in my leg, not just the ankle area, and to help me develop a greater sense of balance. Participating in physical therapy was the best decision I could have made, and not just because it made all the difference in my being able to regain mobility in the injured joint.  My experiences there actually initiated an internal dialogue and ultimately led me to begin a life-changing weight loss journey just five months later.

Sometimes we don't understand the circumstances God allows us to encounter.  We can't connect the dots, so we are tempted to say, "Why?"  And I think God is ok with us asking.  He knows we can't see the end from the beginning.  He knows our perspective is limited.  And He knows we are unaware of what He is preparing us for in our next level of experience and influence.  But after we ask Him why, a next good step is to say, "What would You have me learn from this?"  Whether or not the pain is self-inflicted, God uses it to our benefit.  His lessons are never wasted.  The question is whether or not we will allow Him to grow and strengthen us while we walk the difficult road.

As I reflect back to my years as an undergraduate student, it makes me smile to think that one of my most effective professors was also the most demanding.  She would lose a fraction of the class after handing out the syllabus, leaving her with only those of us who were serious about earning the credit.  Although I was often disheartened and fearful when first seeing her expectations, I determined to persevere and give it my best.  I knew she had my best interest (and the interest of my future students) at heart, and I trusted that the rigors of her classroom were beneficial to me.

Isn't it beautiful that we can trust our Creator to know what is best for us?  To allow Him to shape and craft us as He chooses?  You and I may be surprised by what opportunity may be waiting just around the corner as we submit to His instruction.

For additional encouragement, read Hebrews 12:5-11.  Verse 11 is especially applicable, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

My Point Of View...

Had I written this post two and a half weeks ago, it would have been nothing like what you’ll read today.  My world was changed simply by one tiny misstep.  I remember my exact thoughts the moment before I stepped on the broken concrete, and I’ve recounted them many times since.  When we plan and our thoughts run through our mind like the current of a strong river, we rarely pause to consider that our very next move could completely alter the course of our days and bring with it a host of complications for which no one would wish.  Although my accident and struggles following are nothing in light of what some face daily, this time of injury and subsequent pain and healing is teaching me lessons.  I’m going to share some of those here. You’ll find these posts titled:

FROM MY POINT OF VIEW

I know my life has drastically changed when something as small as getting the wheelchair from the kitchen to the hardwood floor in the living room gives a huge sense of freedom.  There’s something empowering about being able to get quickly from one end of that room to the other in a relatively short amount of time - comparatively speaking, of course! The trek by walker from my bed to my bathroom seems like an eternity, even though the two rooms are adjacent to one another.

When I began to mentally plan my summer, I didn’t account for the time it would take to get from one room to another.  I didn’t figure in the fact that I wouldn’t be able to drive, wear my right shoe, ride my bike, or take a shower with all of me actually in the shower.  I certainly didn’t plan to be using my grandmother’s wheelchair or my great-grandfather’s walker!  But that’s how life is - unpredictable at best. 

 As I write, my mind goes back to the emergency room in Adrian, MI.  After my leg/ankle was stabilized and I had been given a little pain relief, Greg left the room for a few minutes.  Different medical personnel were coming into my little bedside area, and there were other patients with attending family members on either side of the curtain.  My mind was whirling…our kids were at home in school (except for Allison who was spending the day with a friend), my parents were at a conference in Indiana, and we were in a town where we knew no one and in a hospital of which I had never heard.  I couldn’t even tell you the name of it right now. 

 

As the medics, the student observers, the doctor, and the nurses came in and discussed my situation, my responses must have been positive.  Within a few minutes, a lady that was with a patient next door came over and said, “Boy, if I were in your situation, I don’t know that I could be as optimistic as you are.”  She caught me off guard because I didn’t know that anyone else had been listening to my conversations, but I felt compelled to share with her that my optimism wasn’t a result of my own feelings or circumstances.  I had hope for my future – however different it would be from what I had planned – because I have a Source of strength that is far greater that anything humanly possible.  I began to cry as I responded to her something like this, “Oh, how could I complain?  God has been so good to me!”  We shared a few more words, and she seemed a little uncomfortable as she went back to her loved one.  I don’t know what all she was going through, but I do know that in the days previous to my injury God had been doing a work in my heart.  He was helping me to develop an inward attitude of praise and thanksgiving that was different than anything previous.  I was grateful for the opportunity to celebrate another birthday, and I was savoring every moment like the gift from God that it was.  Honestly, I think that’s what helped me hold it together that day. 

I'm thinking now about a little chorus we used to sing in Good News Club that goes something like this, “With Christ in the vessel, I’ll smile at the storm…”  Although I wasn’t thrilled about my circumstances, the overarching knowledge that God is in control and that He is good gave me the assurance that I could face the uncertainty of my condition and the abrupt change of all of my best laid plans. 

Within a couple of hours of talking with that lady, I encountered the most painful moments of my life.  It sounds crazy, but I didn’t know pain could hurt like that and I begged God for relief.  Did the God that I had been praising just a short time before reach down and remove the suffering?  No, He allowed me to endure it even though I thought I couldn’t bear it another moment.  There were lessons in that, as well.  But for now... 

From my point of view, we are best prepared to face the crises moments when we have

developed an attitude of praise that totally permeates our spirit and splashes onto

those who are eavesdropping on our lives.

Snow Daze...

{credit}

I love snow days.  Not because I hate my job, but because I love the opportunity to catch up on household stuff and pretend to be normal!  Last night we had the "perfect storm."  It was perfect because it came on the heels of a overwhelmingly busy but very blessed week of special services at church.  God is so good, and He provided our family with health and the ability to be in a place where we could be a sponge for practical, soul-searching truths that will benefit us for months and years to come. 

Back in February, Greg was scheduled to take a business trip.  The company he was supposed to visit didn't end up being ready to implement the program he was helping to represent, so the trip was put on hold.  When it was rescheduled, it was right smack in the middle of our revival week.  He would miss Wednesday through Friday.  I was sick about it, but we knew that it was something that was out of our hands. We both began to pray that God would work His will, but I'll have to be honest and say that my faith was pretty weak.  The plane tickets had been purchased, and hotel reservations made. 
In spite of my waning faith, God showed me something pretty special. He again let me know that He always has our best interest at heart, and He knows exactly what we need.  About ten days before the trip was supposed to happen, Greg was notified that it had been put on hold again.  That was only the first of several "miracles" that I specifically witnessed last week, and I'm smiling as I think about how the presence of God was so near and strong, especially in our Sunday morning service.  It was everything we had prayed for, yet so much more than we even realized was possible!   The lyrics to Gaither's We Are So Blessed come to mind, "When we're empty You fill us till we overflow..."    And that's exactly what happened.  Back to the snow day...

God gave us good weather right up until the end of our week of services, then He dumped about 8 inches of snow in our driveway and tucked us in for an extra day.  Although I'm as ready for spring as anyone, the beauty of a snow storm still has me somewhat enamored, and throughout the night and most of today I've been able to catch glimpses of it while cleaning, organizing, and surfing the web. 

{credit}

If today is the last snow day of the year (who knows...we are in Ohio!), I'll be able to say that I did it justice.  Now it's time to blow out the candles, turn off the coffee pot, and secure a night of rest. 

Today I'm thankful for:

• A warm, comfortable home
• Pumpkin/vanilla candles from Swan Creek Candle Co.
• A God who loves us more than we can even comprehend
• Grace that is greater than sin
• A husband who is sensitive to God's will in his life and career
• Children who are growing, learning, achieving, and recognizing the voice of God
• Snowflakes that multiply times a trillion and give us snow days  :-) 

01.01.13

The house is silent, except for the gentle roar of the dishwasher.  The kids are sleeping soundly in preparation for their first day back to school.  Their excitement is fueled by the fact that tomorrow is their Christmas party, which had to be canceled earlier due to a winter storm.  I have been reminded of how quickly they are growing, how short our time really is, and how much I must make the most of each moment we have together. 

My husband is sleeping in preparation for another workday.  I'm thankful he was able to spend the holiday at home with us.  He usually finds something important to do even on his days off, and today was no different; he spent this morning installing and trimming out an oak door for our basement.  How I love this man I married!  I can honestly say he loves me just like the Bible tells him to.  I don't take that for granted.  Not for one second.

And then there is me.  Sitting up way too late, clicking away at the keyboard.  The festive, lively atmosphere created by the guests of our New Year's Eve party just 24 short hours ago has been replaced by a quiet, purposefully reflective serenity that begs me to evaluate where I am and where I want to be at the close of 2013, which we all know will be here much too quickly.

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions.  Maybe it's because I don't know that I will have the resolve to lose 50 pounds like my husband has, organize my house from top to bottom like some of the bloggers I envy, or even move my photos to a storage device like any smart person who knows that the inevitable always happens. 

But in the quiet of my mind, it seems that God is directing me to Ecclesiastes 9:10.  It's a verse that most of us learned as children:

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;

for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,

in the grave, whither thou goest." 

 

As I stand here at the brink of a new year, I don't find myself awash with new responsibilities or new opportunities.  My assignments could be seen by many as boring or repetitive.  However, they are mine.  And I want to do them better.  I want to do them with all of my might, knowing that exercising my will toward the will of my Master in turn strengthens me for greater responsibilities and greater opportunities. 

 

Three of my goals for this year:

• LOVE - my husband as perfectly as possible
• NURTURE - my children and the children that are entrusted to me in the classroom
• SERVE - those who need me most, in my family, my church, and my community

The words love, nurture, and serve sound short and sweet, and even easy.  But I know the depth of meaning they contain.  When we put our heart and our hands behind these words, there will likely be pain and sacrifice involved.  That is part of being better.  Being willing to lay aside our hurts, our comforts, our ambitions if necessary, to fulfill His Will.  

 

Happy New Year!



I've Found My Closet!

image

And I'm not talking about the one that has been stacked high with boxes, bags, or piles of random stuff that didn't have another home! 

All of my life I've heard spiritual people talk about the importance of a 'prayer closet,' which is in essence a 'place' that I consistently spend time alone with God.  All of my life I've been confused about whether this was mandatory or even possible.  Every time I would hear someone mention a 'prayer closet,' my mind would begin to spin again, thinking about a place that I could possibly designate as my 'closet.'  It always seemed that it would have to be a place that only I would go, and that there would need to be some sacredness about it.  Needless to say, I just continued to pray here, there, and everywhere. 

The night before we moved, I was in the shower, thinking about my last time in different areas of the house: our last meal in the dining room, my last night to tuck the girls in their bed in the only room Allison has ever known, etc., and the weirdest thing hit me.  I realized that for months and years, that shower had been my prayer closet!  I began to cry as I thought about all of the times that my soul had cried out to God in that very place.  Sometimes my shower prayers consisted of praying for a specific burden, sometimes they were me pouring out grief, pain, and questions.  And then there were those wonderful times where God's presence poured out upon my soul  just like the water from the shower poured onto my body. 

Now, you might be thinking that it's just a little odd to have such a prayer closet, but I can give you five good reasons why it's a great place:

1. The door has a lock.
2. Between the fan and the running water, you can count on being able to talk to God without everyone hearing your conversation
3. Showering is consistent, so that makes praying consistent.
4. Multitasking is smart.
5. A warm (scalding hot for me) shower is a relaxing experience which typically allows one to release the cares of the day.  It is much easier to focus in prayer and hear God's voice when the mind is clear, the body is relaxed, and the spirit feels refreshed. 

Although every person in my house uses the shower, and it's definitely not what most would consider "holy ground," it's a place where I meet God and He meets me. 

How 'bout you?  Where is your favorite place to pray?

Moving Forward...Backward

Have you ever been at a point in life where you just thought you couldn't go on?  Maybe you were discouraged, overwhelmed, burned out...whatever you want to call it, you didn't think you could take another step. 

I've been there.  In fact, I was there earlier this week.  Let me share.  There's a place in northern Michigan known as Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.  Many of you have been there.  In fact, you're probably laughing as you realize where this is going.  :-)

On Tuesday, I made my first visit to "The Dunes."  My husband and I were on a bit of an anniversary get-away, and I asked him to take me to several destinations in Michigan that I hadn't seen.  This was one of them.  After a nice, filling lunch at Olive Garden in Traverse City (mistake #1), we made our way to the dunes, kicked off our shoes (mistake #2), and began to climb (mistake #3). 

Let me just say that I underestimated this whole climb thing. I am extremely out of shape, and had intended to do some walking/biking before this trip because I knew I would be walking up to 10 miles and biking about 8 miles on Mackinac Island.  My husband has been biking 5 miles about every other day, and has lost some weight in the past few weeks, so he was feeling pretty good (not to mention his already enormous and toned muscles working in his favor).  I didn't want to be left in the dust.  :-) 

Anyway, the time came and I was not exactly physically ready.  I did great with walking and biking, but nothing prepared me for the climb.  About ten steps into it, my legs were burning like fire.  Ten more steps, and I was wishing I hadn't eaten lunch.  Ten more steps, I was kicking myself for not bringing my water bottle.  Greg was at the top of the hill within seconds (or so it seemed).  Other women were trucking past me like I was standing still (maybe I was).  My feet were hot from the scorched sand. I was out of breath, sweating like a pig, and waving Greg on.  I didn't want him to feel obligated to act like he knew me. 

Finally, I was at the point where I knew I couldn't take another step.  I was so upset at myself that I wanted to cry.  Really.  So, I turned around.  I didn't want to give up.  I argued with myself for a minute...or two.  I could see treetops, and the change of position made my aching muscles relax a bit.  I took a step backward (forward), then another, and a few more.  I could see my footprints in the sand, the parking lot was getting further away, and the view was getting more beautiful with each upward, backward motion.  Once I could see above the trees, I pulled out my phone and snapped this:

And then a few more steps backward, yet forward.  My spirits were lifting, I was focused on how far I had come rather than how far I had yet to climb, and the refreshment that came with the view was quite motivating! It didn't even bother me that I was the only person who was literally walking my way up the hill...backwards. 

About that time, a small voice began speaking to me.  He gave me some encouragement relative to life's difficult places, specifically those paths that seem to take it all out of me.  He showed me that when it's too overwhelming to look forward, I can look back.  Back to the place where I started, back across the footprints that mark the distance I've come, back to the promises He's kept, back at the dangers from which He guarded me, and back through each and every experience that has led me to where I am today.  Looking back is sometimes just what we need to keep us moving forward. 

As I progressed slowly up the dune, I caught a glimpse of a large shadow headed my way.  My husband had been to the top, explored everything there was to see, and said, "Let's head back...the view from up there isn't much different than this."  I'll have to admit, there wasn't a bit of argument in me.  :-)

Maybe your journey is taking you through one of

"those" places. 

A place that makes you groan and sweat,

a place that seems dark and never-ending,

a place for which you weren't prepared.

Don't give up...simply turn around and look back.

Look how far you've traveled.

See the obstacles you've overcome.

You can keep moving forward...even if you do it

walking backward!



Bring On The Rain!

As I walked from the house to the mailbox today, I heard a sound that was strange and not at all comfortable.  It was the crunch of grass beneath my feet.  Our lawn has become a dry, prickly sea of brown stick like blades that threaten the comfort of anyone who dares cross them without shoes.  :-)

Of even more consequence, though, is the drought that is choking out our summer crops.  Here in northwest Ohio, corn is drying up and tasseling out before the ears mature.  Bean fields lack their usual robust fullness.  The earth's surface is cracking and separating from lack of moisture.  These signs spell trouble for farmers this year, and for food prices for the general public as early as 2013.  We need rain. 

As much as our earth (and our bodies) crave moisture and produce poorly without it, I'm reminded of another drought...one that threatens to suffocate our souls.  Just as nature has its seasons, our spiritual walk has cycles.  Some are rich in blessing and growth, others are like my grass...dry and withered.  Acts of prayerlessness, doubt, negativity, and elusiveness, along with a myriad of other sin can lead us into drought before backsliding or reconciliation occurs, but more often than not, busyness and misplaced priorities are the hindrances that keep us from soaking up the presence of God. Sometimes these periods of dryness come upon us seemingly out of nowhere.  If you've been a Christian for any length of time, you can probably relate to the spiritual drought of which I speak. 

Recently, I was made aware of my soul's thirsty condition, and I drew near to God, asking Him to again pour out His Spirit on my desperate heart. It wasn't long before He did exactly as I had asked, and it seemed that He was so near that His garment could be touched.   Just as our earth has experienced periods of brief showers in recent days, when we sense His presence we cry, "Send more! We aren't satisfied with sporadic droplets, bring on the rain!" 

In direct proportion to our desperation, He responds in great measure.  He visited my church on Wednesday night, showing Himself strong to two ladies, and raining on the rest of us through their exhuberant testimonies of praise.  It was as if buckets of blessings were released and those of us that were thirsty and waiting could have as much as we could soak in!  He has used those spontaneous praise notes to bless me over and over throughout the last couple of days, and my faith is strengthened. God is at work!  He is convicting, He is rescuing, He is changing destinies, and He is refreshing the hearts of those who have fixed their focus on their Creator.

How beautiful are the moments when we feel Heaven's rain!

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill.

I will send down showers in season;

 there will be showers of blessing.


     Ezekiel 34:26