Living Our Faith

 

           In our travels across the country, one place  that stands out is the Devil’s Tower Monument in Wyoming.  It’s a massive natural igneous rock (created from cooling and solidification of lava) rising into the air, inviting visitors to walk around the huge structure and also to catch a glimpse of those brave souls who choose to scale the nearly upright sides.  

            The climbers look like tiny specks against the mammoth rock, as they hang tenuously, tethered to the ropes and other equipment, that holds them close to the sides as they make their climb.  They completely trust their ability through a training process, and the ropes that hold them securely.  I would not be so trusting!  In fact, the very idea terrifies me!

 

            Ice climbing is another area where trust in the specific tools of their trade is necessary. They, like the mountaineers who choose to scale the side of Devil’s Tower, are those who choose to scale the sides of frozen waterfalls or glaciers.  While both kinds of climbing are dangerous, ice climbing has a greater risk given the continually changing ice, which causes different grading patterns, requiring changing routes during the climb.  This also, while amazing to watch, requires absolute trust in the equipment used, and trained skills to reach the summit.

 

            There are days in our lives, when circumstances make us wonder what we even want trust in!  Our world is spinning with all kinds of negativity.  The COVID Pandemic, weather related disasters and fire tragedies, among the regular day to day living, can upend us.  We feel like the rope we are supposed to hang on to, to steady us, and hold us firm, is nothing but a thin piece of thread, which at any moment could snap!

 

            It’s times like these where, as Believers reach for the constant rope, we call faith, to cling to, enabling us to take a breath and know we are sustained through Christ. Even when we have faith, it seems we are continually finding ways to overcome the challenges we face.  

 

            The Bible tells us faith overcomes defeat and demonstrates this idea through Moses and others.  Moses died and did not make it into the Promised Land, as he had planned. Even though he was God’s chosen leader for the Israelites, there were instances where he wasn’t faithful and obedient to what God asked of him, so God would only let him see the Promised Land before his death.

 

            Joshua, another great man of God, also had a faith issue from time to time.  Once he sent a small group of men into Ai believing the threat didn’t require a larger one, feeling confident they had this battle won!  But Joshua forgot to pray first to get God’s direction, and did not win his battle.  At first he blamed God because he believed God didn’t send enough help for the fight and then learned there was ‘sin in the camp,’ furthering a weakened ‘rope.’

 

            Yet, once Joshua dealt with the sin in the camp, and turned his focus back on God, he discovered he had the right tools through faith, to continue with his God given talents and purpose.  His faith was back on track and the quality of life and love grew exponentially! 

 

            This can be the same in our life too.  We can scale those rock mountains and ice sculptures that seem way too intimidating, when we tether ourselves in God’s grace, and tie the knots of faith in our ropes, as we climb higher and higher, up and above those massive negatives that threaten to plummet us to the ground!

 

            God wants us to live life positively, through trust and faith in Him.  When put this belief into practice, we can see changes all around us, and scale the mountains with confidence! 

It's The Small Changes

             

          Changes!  There have been so many changes over the past year!  2020 has proven to be challenging for most every person on the planet!  There have been devastating fires, earthquakes, damaging flooding, catastrophic hurricanes, ravaging tornadoes, wrecking hail storms and even huge snow storms that have rocked our world.  On top of this, we have a disastrous Pandemic which is a huge game changer.   And we have a stressful election, which again, tends to unsettle one side or the other!

            Regardless of where our lives fit in the equation, there have been changes.  Some have had to rebuild or move, others have had to replace vehicles (hail), restore businesses, lost everything, dealing with broken relationships, and some have lost lives.  These, from my perspective are large changes.  

But what about the seemingly smaller ones?  Replacing a roof or windshield, replanting a landscaped yard, wearing a mask every time we venture out, our shopping norms or educational routines or even our workplace routines?  And I’m sure you could name a whole lot more!

When negative changes come, our stress levels rise, health issues increase, and our emotional state is often rocked.  Sometimes even our spiritual health is shaken.  We tend to say “When is it going to stop, Lord?”  Or “Why does my family have to deal with this loss?”  “I can’t handle any more, God.  Where are you?”

Our days feel dark and lonely without a sliver of sunshine to see us through.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel; just this grey cloud suffocating the life out of us!

But when we look closely, we can see God creating small changes in our lives, that are for his good.  Sometimes it causes us to muster up courage to break out of our comfort zone and try something new.  Other times it requires us looking for the tiny shoots of green, beneath the snow that are peeking their tiny heads up looking for the warmth of the sunshine that is sure to come.  While still more often, as Believers, we are drawn to His Word to search out the golden nuggets found there, that will give us His strength and wisdom to carry on.

When we look inside ourselves we can see tiny grains of growth, regardless of the pain and difficulty we’ve suffered.  Spring is coming, even within our souls.  We’ve just got to look for the small changes that God gives us every day.  These small gifts allow us to grow in love and understanding when our hearts are open.  It may require taking a risk of some kind, but within the confines of God’s love we can’t possibly go wrong.  He’s always with us!  

As Thanksgiving is this week, I’d like to wish each of you an amazing day!  The COVID changes have altered our lives, and many of those changes aren’t necessarily small!  Take heart!  God is with us regardless of our circumstances, and I pray you are each safe as you may or may not be gathering with your family, as you normally would.  We still have much for which to be thankful and I am thankful for YOU!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Upside Down World

 

          Most of us had high hopes when this year started out, but our world changed radically in mid-March when our world was described as being in a Pandemic.  Many of us have been upended in our work environment, which has always been face-to-face, to zoom meetings with our work computer set up in our homes, or even settling for telephone conversations.  Even doctor’s appointments have been relegated to meetings in our living room via computer chats.  Education had taken a hard right as classes came to a screeching halt, until computers could again become the medium for which teaching could be accomplished.

            The dynamics of visiting with family and friends has also been changed.  We have been encouraged to not come together in each other’s homes at all or at best, limit the meetings and if it was necessary to come in one place together, to keep a six foot distance and by all means absolutely no touching!  Even Thanksgiving is being threatened as a ‘non-connected’ event, while traveling has been discouraged and even many airlines have shut down.

 

            Marriages—even apparently strong ones--- have been strained as couples who both work outside the home, have allowed the pandemic to pry them apart, to the extent of sleeping in different bedrooms to eliminate the need to touch each other.  Some will tell you the effort of staying ‘strong’ has instead left them emotionally drained and mentally exhausted.  

 

            When we are brave enough to venture into the outdoors to do some necessary shopping, we are forced to place a mask across our face, smothering air intake, weighing heavier and heavier with each breath we take.  Churches are faced with social-distancing; and worship through song, in some congregations is denied; and instead of sitting near a favorite friend, we have to have a pew in between us.

 

            Lay-offs have happened and people are on the verge of losing everything they own and fear creeps in, as the threat of job loss loom.  Between health care problems, as well as shopping changes, and life style changes in general, each of us at different levels have felt those fears niggle at the back of our neck.  There is so much uncertainty.  How are we to move on, to even move forward in small increments?  It seems an impossibility given the current political arena.  There is corruption, deceit, and manipulation it seems, in all sectors.  

            

The passions of many regarding the election, have caused friends, family and colleagues, to be torn apart.  The racist card has multiplied the emotion and storm that swirls around us, no matter where we are physically.  Many of us grit our teeth, even when we hear something with which we entirely disagree; yet we are intimidated by the evil force that seems to be sweeping our nation and squelch the urge to voice our opinion.

 

David, as the Psalmist, knew fear, anguish, abandonment, exhaustion and vulnerability. Yet he knew he could call on the Lord, and he did, repeatedly, to give him the peace and understanding he desperately needed.  He expected the Lord to deliver him and God did.  Shouldn’t we be driven, like David, to call upon the Lord when life closes in and suffocates us with rules and regulations we don’t understand, changes in our lifestyle, the brokenness of relationships that leave our hearts split in two?

 

Sadly, the roughest days are still ahead of us.  It’s going to be a long journey.  As Believers, we need to unite in prayer that God’s will is done throughout the land, even if we don’t understand or agree, and pray for his imminent return.  It will be at that time, we will be able to say, “I ran the race and fought the good fight.  I’m going home!” 

Where To Lord?

 

              I read about a seventy-four-year-old widowed, woman who decided, after much prayer and nudging from God to move from her home in Pennsylvania to Texas due to an invitation from her daughter.  The woman was horribly nervous about the move.  She’d lived in Pennsylvania half her life, married and raised her children there, and couldn’t imagine herself uprooting all she’d known for such a drastic move.  She was comfortable in her church family, her town and friends, and held back in fear of making a big mistake.

            Praying about the situation she asked herself, “Is there a valid reason to even consider the move?”  She said she heard the most distinct whisper, ‘to flourish.’  Yet the ‘ghost of fear’ invaded her thoughts, feeding her mind with doubts and nagging questions with a vice grip.

            Still she remained in prayer, asking God to lead her. The whisper of the words, ‘to flourish’ continued to also creep in and ultimately would override the negative vibrations haunting her. Matthew 19:26 also planted itself in her mind, “With God, all things are possible.” She felt her fears melt away, and also recognized how many other blessings she might have missed over the years, because fear kept her one step away from doing the ‘unlikely!’

            Fear has a way of crippling and tripping us up on those decisions we aren’t sure we should make, when we look at the picture we can see.  Our vision is narrow.  We can’t see the whole painting. I can recall times in my own life where fear kept me from moving forward.  There is the fear of failure --- or success, the fear of disappointing those who counted on me, the fear of rejection, of being inadequate and just not good enough, of being judged unfairly, embarrassment or being shamed, and even the fear of expressing my true opinions.  

            That’s a lot of fear right there!  It’s easy to see why people hesitate to start a new career, change jobs, start relationships and even do something which simply brings them joy—like taking a long hike by themselves, painting or playing music (or singing in the choir!).  There are so many ways we hamper our God given gifts and tie our hands behind our backs in a defeatist attitude!  I’m guilty!  I have done this!  

Is it not sinful to allow this to happen?  If you don’t want to go so far as to call it a sin, isn’t it sad that we’ve allowed fear to cause us to miss so many blessings, had we just tried and allowed God to manifest himself in us so we could touch another person’s life in a very positive way?

            What, then, are we to do? Some would say confronting our fears is the first thing to fight the battle.  While I agree that’s important, I believe claiming God’s promises should be first and giving these fears to God, much like the widow spoken of above.  The Bible is filled with them!  As we claim these promises, we will find our faith growing.

            In our growth, we will likely see, we are able to reach out to others in need.  This ‘look beyond ourselves’ is a way to be an ambassador of God’s love and generates a balm for misery of almost any kind!  This ‘touch’ of ministry can grow us into where God wants us to be!  What a gift! 

            I urge you to call of the Creator of the Universe to help you turn your fears into victories and watch the unlikely places God will take you.  Enjoy the journey!

I Am A Child Of God

             

            I know I am a wife, mom, grandmother, friend, student, quilter, writer and what seems like twenty other hats I wear.  I have no problem identifying my very human characteristics which define me.  Yet to say, “I am a child of God” seems surreal.  It is something so profound when I say it, it doesn’t seem possible, especially when I consider the cost Christ had to give to make this happen. 

            There are scriptures, which I’ve tried to memorize, which validates this truth because long ago I accepted Christ as my Savior.  It’s something I’ve believed for as long as I can remember, yet the idea that God calls me as one of his, and specifically his child, is amazing. 

 

            I reflect on my human parents.  My mom took care of me as an infant and my dad was wonderful in situations where my mom wasn’t strong.  My siblings and I were close while we were children, and I’m grateful.  It isn’t much different with my Heavenly Father.  God absolutely takes care of me, Jesus gave his life, that, that might become truth for me.  The Holy Spirit is always also close by for comfort and direction.  Each member of the Trinity ‘grows' me like my earthly family.  And add to this my ‘church family’ and other Believers, I have a huge family on which to rely and take counsel from, should I need it---and ask for it!

 

Once this reality totally sinks in, I can acknowledge God cares about my tears, my questions and frustrations.  He finds joy in my successes and will reprimand me when I sin, through conviction.  His gentle arms surround me when I need a hug and his heart breaks when mine does.  He knows my weaknesses and my strengths and knows how to use my flaws for his good.  He cares about the little things just as much as he cares about the big ones. 

 

He teaches me through his Word, through experiences, and other Believers.  He not only cares about my questions, but will lead me to the answer if I’m willing to look for it.   God cares about the coronavirus.  God cares about our economic status, death, disease and sin, and yes, even me.

 

Even knowing all this, as I face days that seem overwhelming in their struggles, I cower.  I want to escape and just hide.  How self-centered of me!  I should instead be standing strong and face my struggles like Paul did when he was imprisoned.  He would sing!  I often can’t sing when I’m sad!  Songs seem to accentuate the element or level of my despondency and I literally just cry. 

 

Still, when I physically pick up His Word or cry out to him, I am overcome with a calmness that is almost indescribable.  I feel washed in His Stillness.  Then I am able to rest, physically and emotionally; and more than that, accept all the spiritual rest that His comfort brings.

 

As humans, we sometimes find it difficult to rely on the comfort of a God we cannot see with our eyes.  Yet, when we look around at all his provisions every day, even moment by moment, we can accept this truth for what it is, because we can 'see' Him.  We are a family and I am a child of God, and one day I will be with him in Paradise.

God Is Faithful

             

          My husband and I just made a return trip to the East, from South Dakota.  We have an older motor home, which several years ago, on the way out West, about an hour from our destination, konked out and we had to be towed.  There it sat for the next two years, while Charles fiddled with it and got it working again!

            This past Friday morning we headed back in that same motor home, towing my little car.  It was wonderful.  It ran fine, smoothly and gave us great traveling access to our own bed for sleeping, kitchen and meals.  Life was good!  

 

            Just before we reached the other side of South Dakota, the motor home stopped running.  Literally!  After a few moments, it started up again and we went the remaining mile to the next exit and re-fueled.  Again, it had issues, but it finally started and we were off!  The goal at this point, was to get to Sioux Falls and find an auto store for what Charles now thought might be wrong with it, given the code to his ‘auto tester’ he now carries.

 

            Without any problems, we made it to Sioux Falls, and the Auto Zone and got the part, but of course by now, it’s dark.  But we take off again and drive all the way to Waterloo, Iowa.  In the morning, after re-fueling we again, leave; the motor home purring like a kitten!  Then we reach the end of Route 380 getting ready to get on 80 East.  Just before we did (literally on the exit ramp) the rig again konks out! After a few moments, we again get going, until just before we enter the highway.   This time, the RV refused to start.  

 

            I had been praying about this, from the time the rig first gave us a warning it was going to be difficult.  God provided the means for us to go a bit farther toward our destination; without leaving us completely stranded.  As we sat on the shoulder of Route 80 I’m asking the Lord for another miracle, but also praying that He would send someone to help and give Charles the ability to fix whatever the problem is.  

 

            Recognizing he had the part that was likely giving us the issue (a crank shaft sensor- I know nothing more than that!  I am not auto literate!)  his biggest concern at this time, is being out on an Interstate, under the rig, with vehicles passing by (not all can or will get over as they near us) at 70 miles an hour!  

 

            Within moments an Iowa DOT truck pulled up behind us.  After having conversation with the driver, it was determined he would put out cones (forcing traffic over) so Charles could replace the part.  He commented on the fact that if this had to happen, this was the best place for it to occur, given the shoulder of Route 80 for many miles ahead!  So, true to Charles’ nature, under the rig he went and replaced the sensor, in less than fifteen minutes!  The Iowa DOT stayed with us until he finished, with lights flashing warning, to other drivers.

 

            When Charles came back into the cab of the RV, he turned the key and it started perfectly, and really was ‘purring like a contented kitten’ – much better than before!  Thanking the DOT for his help, we drove away and continued all the way back to Maryland!

 

            I share this story, because God is truly faithful.  As silly as it may sound, I became hugely emotional after all this happened.  God literally answered my prayers each time I asked.  Do my prayers always get answered in this fashion?  No, probably not, but God knows what I need and when I need it!  This was a clear demonstration of God’s provision for our lives and I am beyond grateful!  

 

            I serve a living God, and during this time of political tension, I know that God will be with me, regardless of what goes on around me.  And that gives me a peace which passes all understanding, and for that, I will praise Him!

Finding Solitude

 

          

          My husband and I travel a lot, and most often our destination, when away from the east coast, places us in the mountains. I am overjoyed when I can bask in the beauty of the Ponderosa Pines in South Dakota, or among all the deciduous trees in the Great Smoky Mountains.  There is something powerful in watching the sunrise over the peak of a mountain in the distance, and I stand in awe. 

 

            A discussion between friends recently went to early morning alone time, with God.  Jesus found it necessary to leave the busy-ness of the city, go to a lonely, quiet place to pray.  His prayer was all about communing with the Father. They must have had amazing conversations and helped keep them connected in thought and deed.  

 

            Jesus was a man but he was also God.  He had a unique bond with the Father.  Yet as humans, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with God, much like Jesus and God must have had when Jesus was on the Earth. 

 

            Doesn’t that very thought make your heart race?  To have a conversation with the Creator of the Universe is an amazing blessing.  We have the opportunity to pour out our hearts, question where we are going and what we should do, offer thanks for aid received or answered prayers, and ask for help in upcoming events!  

 

            If Jesus, who was/is uniquely connected to the Father felt the need to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, doesn’t it just make good sense that we as humans, would also need to find a quiet place and take the time to commune with the Father?

 

            During our conversation, some said they met with the Lord first thing in the morning, either on their bed or even at their table.  The table idea makes me think of a Southern Gospel song that has a line, “there was church in the kitchen!”  Other people found their renewal would take them to the desert, during a morning run, their backyard listening to the birds serenading them, or resting on a rock during a climb up a mountain.

 

            Regardless of where we choose to meet with God, the point is, that we do indeed meet!  It is the place to become recharged, restored and renewed in the our spirit, body and our mind.  But that said, the COVID pandemic has thrown a new perspective in meeting with The Father.  We have been forced to ‘stay in place’ for many weeks.  Even as the opening of the country continues, there are still restrictions.  Due to the inability to ‘go to our favorite places’ in the busy-ness of life, we are afforded a unique opportunity to meet with God.

 

            What will happen when life does go back to ‘normal’?  Will those who began a daily time with God, because they were unable to ‘go out,’ but can now, remain dedicated to spending time with God every day?  Life has a way of turning our good intentions into something else, or stealing our intentions completely.

 

            As our lives become increasingly busy again, I suggest it’s vital to our Christian growth, to spend time with the Lord every day.  It’s in this place we will receive blessings that will enable us to follow the call and directives of God day by day.