Hope Even When You Are Weak . . . . . . .

Jesus told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Matthew 26:38-47 NLT

Over a decade ago, my husband found himself facing the challenging reality that he would need to seek different employment after 28 years with the same business. It was heart-wrenching for him because he loved the work and the people he served in the community. Often one thinks the decision itself is the most difficult obstacle, but what followed was a test of keeping faith that God would provide hope even in some of the darkest hours that lie embedded in the days and months to come.

For over two years, the resumes went out, the interviews took place, and the hope that maybe "this will be the day" continued on. We devoted ourselves to praying for God's will to be done to help our situation. Those two years were two of the most difficult ones we ever faced as serious health issues arose and financial obstacles lined up one by one. We continued to pray even as our hopes and bodies were becoming weaker in believing that anything was going to change in our lives. We lived on a fraction of the income we had once enjoyed, but somehow survived even with two children in college. It didn't seem possible or logical that we were making ends meet, but somehow we were. Our life long commitment to not live on credit was a blessing.

My husband needed me to believe in him and to keep moving forward with hope. I was his personal secretary writing cover letters and tweaking that resume for each perspective employer. Toward the end of the two years, I will have to be honest in saying, my prayers were beginning to denote disappointment and perhaps even a touch of anger at God. After all, was God listening. We needed help of some kind. Was He sleeping on the job?

I read an ad one day about a job for my husband and briefly told him about it. He asked if I would send a cover letter and resume. I  told him that I would, but honestly, I didn't. I felt it was a waste of time and energy. I had lost hope in the situation. Fortunately, my husband still had hope. The next week he asked if I had sent it, and I replied that I hadn't done that, but I would. I'm sure you can guess how this all turned out. This was the job with the phone call that led us out of those two dark years and into a better future. 

As Jesus faced a torturous death, He knew that Peter would need to stay strong in spirit because the body is weak and gives in to sin. Jesus knew he could not escape the truth that would lie ahead. He was taking on all our sins in a way that we as humans cannot comprehend. Fortunately for all of us, Jesus knows our human weaknesses. It is because of this that we have hope in all circumstances. Even when we may feel He is sleeping on the job, we know in our hearts that He knows the excruciating pain of suffering and won't leave us to suffer alone. 

So, never give up on hope. Hang on to it even in the darkest days. But, in the moments when the body is weak, remember the Spirit is strong inside of us and will continue to give us the strength we need to move on to what lies ahead. The Spirit is filled with hope for you and for me.

Dearest Jesus,

The dark days we face are not a mystery to You. You suffered a torturous death that ended with eternal life at the right hand of the Father. Remind us that the Spirit within us will never leave us. If our bodies lose hope, we trust that the Spirit will hope for us.

Amen 

I'm Going to Love You Whether You Like it or Not!

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."~I Corinthians 13:7 NLT

Have you ever known someone that for whatever reason doesn't see or feel worth? Did this verse from I Corinthians that says to never give up on love somehow become just another line in a book that is placed on the shelf? How can a person not feel worthy of being loved? It happens more than one may think. The reasons are endless in this society filled with expectations and stamps of "pass and fail" throughout life. Did they at some point give up the hope of ever being loved? 

I Corinthians 13 is often used in wedding readings because it focuses on the importance of faith, love, and hope for the relationship to thrive and endure life's challenges. It's a chapter that is a "feel good" chapter of the Bible. And, what could be a better scripture reading for a wedding? Don't we hope and pray that all newlyweds will celebrate one anniversary after another filled with smiles?  

Parents also know the depth of this chapter of the Bible. When a child is born, they find within themselves strengths to do things they never thought possible. They will stand up and advocate for their child in all circumstances. Nothing is out of the question to solve a problem. Love is a powerful tool! 

In those dark moments when turmoil erupts in relationships it's easy to edge back to the negative and forget all about I Corinthians 13. We want to reflect back to wars of the Old Testament and share our own reasoning for the battle we are facing and the battlefield we have entrenched. But, Jesus came to teach us a new way to solve problems. In my own understanding, paraphrasing I could almost hear Jesus say, "I'm going to love you whether you like it or not! And, I want you to do the same to others."

Each day we make the "decision to love", whether the person likes it or not. Because of this decision that we have control over, our heart grows larger, our souls are fed, and walls of discord come down one brick at a time. It's not an easy task because the mortar between the bricks hangs on. And let's face the reality that some people are very difficult to love. Let's stand up and be advocates for I Corinthians 13 and never give up on faith, hope, and love. If we truly want to follow Jesus, maybe our job is to love others whether they like it or not.  And maybe, just maybe, Jesus will look deep inside us, and say, "Today you got it right. Good job!"

Let us pray . . .

Heavenly Father,

Help us each day to choose faith, hope, and love. Give us the strength to calm our tempers, misguided thoughts, judgments, and inappropriate conclusions. Fill our hearts with a love that reflects your love for each of us as we love others whether they like it or not.

Amen.

Win or Lose: the Holy Spirit IS with You

"When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 'I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.'" John 14:26-27 NLT

As I write this, a young boy is laying in a hospital bed fighting for his life; a friend is fighting the effects of chemo in her fight against breast cancer; a wife is donating organs from her husband who is the father of their two young children; a young couple battles the disappointments of infertility; and another family continues to grieve the suicide of their son this past summer. Unfortunately, life isn't always filled with those moments that always turn out "right."  Did they not pray enough; were they not faithful enough; or were they somehow forgotten by God? I don't think so.

Often times we forget that in reality, God is with those that win the battles as well as those that lose the battles in life. Regardless of the human understanding of the pain, if we believe that the Father sends the Holy Spirit to teach us everything, it may mean there is something to learn in all situations. Perhaps as the verse so boldly promises, that "the gift is peace of mind and heart" regardless of the outcome. It's something "the world cannot give." Now, that doesn't sound near as soothing as having every circumstance turn out the way we yearn for, but woven deep in this promise is a loving spirit of gratefulness. Within all tragedies and heartaches, springs of gratitude emerge that generate this gift of peace of mind and heart. The community of the young boy fighting for his life have come together in unity to pray and support the entire family in a multitude of ways; the woman fighting breast cancer has found support in friends and a new church family; many people will live due to the sacrifice of the organs of this young father; the couple facing infertility has made friends with another couple that personally know their struggle who have a deep faith and understanding that God's answers aren't always what we expect; and the family that lost their son are finding ways to reach out to others to bring a social awareness of suicide so that maybe another son or daughter might be saved.

Whether we win or lose the battle, faith will provide an overwhelming response of gifts to the mind and heart. We only need to trust God and leave our minds and hearts open to Him. He will fill us with gratitude even when our hearts are broken. I have no doubt that we will all cry tears of disappointment and sorrow in our lives; it's inevitable. If within the tears we can see God at work in the people that touch our lives, isn't the promise truly fulfilled? Doesn't God provide what we need to survive all circumstances? Isn't God with those that survive as well as those that did not? 

Let us pray . . . 

Heavenly Father,

Help us to face the disappointments and heartaches in this earthly journey. Thank you for bringing others into our lives to help bring comfort and peace of mind and heart when we feel like we can't go on. May your Holy Spirit remind us that we are never alone. And whether we win or lose the battle, we trust that you are always with us.

Amen.

Fruits of the Spirit; All-In-One Package?

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against these things. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

The Bible verses above from Galatians sound so beautiful when I read about the gifts we have been given. The verses remind me that the Holy Spirit produces all these attributes that make life such an amazing place for me to dwell. However, often others don't read the verses before and the verses after these verses that focus on the sin in our lives. The list goes on and on and on . . . Yes, those sins are mighty enticing. In reality it's much easier said than done to act with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. No wonder there is no law against these things as stated in verse 23; God has given us an ever flowing supply through the Holy Spirit because He has hope that we will choose this kind of fruit to nourish our lives. That's where that darn freewill gets us in trouble; when we are making choices without His guidance.

The last few weeks have been challenging. It started with a mammogram that revealed something lurking behind the scenes, and the journey continues with many unknowns ahead. My daughter and her family became very ill after returning from a trip that kept them all home for over a week. Work had new challenges and difficult days. Other family members are also facing painful realities that I can't fix, even with all the love in the world for them. (I have a tendency to want to "fix" things.) As everything piled on, I noticed that my patience wasn't what it should be in many areas of my life. I wanted answers and resolution now; not tomorrow. Anxiousness was replacing patience. Anxiousness is not one of those fruits that the Holy Spirit has flowing into me. It's a result of not tapping into those fruits.

The interesting thing I have learned through the challenges is that if one fruit becomes a little rotten, it can affect all the fruit. If the patience starts to go, it can affect love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. I think I've learned that these fruits of the Spirit are actually an all-in-one package. You can't pick and choose which ones you want to act upon. They go together like a banana split with all the fixings. It's really not a banana split without the ice cream, banana, and all the toppings. It becomes something different when you take something away. It changes everything. (And please don't forget the whip cream and nuts on top!)

So, I have a new way of thinking after this challenging experience I've been going through and continue to navigate. The fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control should all be treasured. Each needs special care and attention. After all you wouldn't leave your grapes out on the counter with your bananas; would you? If I find one of the fruits from the Holy Spirit is out of balance in my life, I need to do whatever it takes to protect all the fruits. In reality they are an all-in-one package, that the Holy Spirit will supply if only I choose to ask and receive the gift. So, I move forward a little more balanced because I realize the nourishment to handle everything was flowing within me all the time. 

Let us pray,

Holy Spirit,

Thank you for the never ending flow of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control you supply within me. Help me take with gratitude and grace these gifts and use them daily in all areas of my life.

Amen 

Carry "Isaiah 41:13" Everywhere You Go!

For I hold you by your right hand—    I, the Lord your God.And I say to you,    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)

All through the Bible, God's right hand is woven through scripture. The right hand is always at work, yet it is a place of comfort and peace in the midst of turmoil. Jesus also sits at the right hand of God the Father. The right hand conjures up positive images and feelings. This verse reminds us that God also holds our right hand. 

One of the strengths of this verse is applying it to our daily lives. It's one of those verses that you want to carry around with you wherever you go. Don't leave home without it. The Holy Spirit is at work in your right hand.

Working as a director in a child care environment, I observe a full range of emotions on a daily basis. I can see joy turn into tears in a moment's notice. I can see those tears mutate into a smile just as quickly. As children learn self-regulation they begin to build a resilience to the things that happen that they least expect. One child may work patiently on a block project only to see another friend come along and in one swoop take all that work and turn the masterpiece to rubble. 

The heartbreak pours out of the heart of that three year old that worked so diligently to accomplish their project. Some children become angry and want to fight back, while other children just sit and cry looking at what once was and wonder if they could ever rebuild their masterpiece the way it was originally designed. The teacher then has to make swift decisions as to how to handle both children and their particular emotions. What worked with two other children the day before, may not be what these two children need to get through this crisis today. What lessons need to be taught to each child? Their needs are individual and need specific responses that help children learn that self-regulation is a part of learning about dealing with life's uncertainty.

Maybe those early years of learning to deal with disappointment and joy are truly just the beginning of understanding God's intense love for us throughout our lives. Are we really different than than the 3 and 4 year old children that play together? Sometimes we work so faithfully toward a goal and even when we feel we've reached it, something comes along and takes the joy away. And then there's that sinful part of us. Sometimes we play a role in taking the joy away from others, and we have to work through that painful reality and seek forgiveness. Even if we eat right, exercise, sleep well, and do everything we can to make our lives run smoothly, something like disease, an accident, a financial tragedy, infidelity, etc., can turn our masterpieces into rubble within a moment's notice. 

If we carry Isaiah 41:13 in our pocket everywhere we go, we carry around this unique combination of knowing that God will provide strength, comfort, and guidance in and through all things our lives encounter. He can provide so much more than that preschool teacher in the classroom, because He is all knowing. He created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He will help us self-regulate to the circumstances that sometimes blow into our lives like a gentle breeze and yet at other times blast like a tornado when we least expect it. We just need to remember that when we turn to Him, He assures us that He is with us and will help us to not be afraid.

So, write down Isaiah 41:13, and put it in a precious spot in your wallet or purse. Or better yet, find a way to write it deep inside your heart. You are never alone and God is holding YOUR right hand. You are being led and comforted through this life. You have specific needs that God will fulfill to help you endure life's circumstances. So rest assured that you are in good hands.

Let us pray . . .

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for taking our right hand and leading us through the joys and storms of this life. May we rest assured and without doubt that your Holy Spirit will bring us comfort and guidance on our journey.

Amen

God Meets Us In The Darkness

"Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns."~Anne Lamott

Over the past year in Florida, there have been instances of sinkholes opening up and devouring anything in their path. Human life, structures, plants, and animals were shown no mercy as the earth seemed to swallow in a beastly and selfish manner. The sinkholes haven't proven to be prejudice to particular neighborhoods either. Whether it be a theme park hotel, a home, a beautiful beachfront, or a road along the way, the sinkholes were more than willing to swallow with no attached guilt. Sinkholes are something we as humans have no control over. We never know when the earth below could buckle and send our lives spiraling into deep and dark places. 

Life is full of mysteries that continue to puzzle the human mind. Illnesses, accidents, and life altering events continue to leave us wondering why some are taken hostage by the depth of darkness while others seem to escape the clutches of murkiness in their everyday lives. One may never know this answer, but it's important to know that survival is rooted in hope. We are creations with a built in "hope mode" that seeks light in darkness. Hope is at the heart of every survival skill that we come to learn and use in this journey through life. Even if hoped can't be sensed, it's there to tap into at anytime.

The sinkholes of the earth remind me of the invasion of depression in the body. Many people suffering from mental illness might agree that like sinkholes, one doesn't expect mental illness to entrench their life. While everything surrounding those that suffer may in reality be somewhat normal, churning inside the human brain lurks a destructive enemy looking for every opportunity to rob the brain of its normal processing. Dark-colored glasses view the reality of life in a cloudy and unrealistic way. Retreating to a safe place is often a place of isolation where the victim can avoid interaction with others. It's easier not to face others than deal with the illness's side effects that have worked overtime to convince the mind that it is not worthy to dwell with others in the human race. It's a mystery as to how and why this happens, but like the sinkholes, mental illness knows no prejudice. Any mind can become captive to this debilitating disease. 

Most lives encounter some type of dark hole in one way or another. Recognizing the darkness is the first step in battling it. Having faith that God will travel with you through the darkness is what leads to the belief and hope that somehow, some form of light, will glimmer through or overcome the darkness. Anne Lamott may have put it best when she said, "Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and darkness, and letting it be there until some light returns."  The dark holes exist, and they cannot be wished away. Fortunately, our God is in the business of meeting us in the dark holes even if we've sought isolation. He refuses to let us struggle alone. He's there to comfort and lead us as we wander in blindness through the dark valleys. Our job when we encounter the dark places is to count on Him in and through all circumstances. Sometimes, we just have to let the darkness run its course and go into "hope mode."

Let us pray . . . 

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the gift of Light that can glimmer through and even overcome the darkness we travel through in this life here on earth. We give thanks that we are never alone regardless of how alone we may feel.

Amen.

Everyone Needs A Coach

     "When Simon Peter saw this (the large number of fish caught in the nets), he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,  and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

     Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him."Luke 5:8-11 NIV

     Running has become a very important part of my life. I know that running helps keep me healthy and strengthens my mind, body, and soul in many different ways. The past few years, I've entered and ran several 5K (3.1 miles) races. This spring however, I set my sights on the Quad Cities Times Bix 7. It is a seven mile world renown road race. The course is very difficult and challenging. It's not for the weak at heart.

     My son is an elite runner, and he is also my personal coach. Some of the things he told me I had to accept, if I decided to run the race included: increasing my mileage during my workouts, increasing the number of miles I ran each week, concentrating on the run rather than the pace, and practicing at the Bix at 6's that are held on four of the Thursdays before the race in the hot summer heat. I also had to listen to directions from my coach. He was adamant that I start walking 5 minutes and then running 5 minutes as I started the transition into gaining more mileage each week. These were the basic training rules he set for me and assured me if I followed them I would be able to run the Bix 7 course. 

     I agreed to follow the preliminary training rules and the journey began. After the first few nights of running 5 minutes and then walking 5 minutes, I began to believe that I knew better than he that I was ready to run faster and longer. As I added the miles, yet not listening to his advice, I found myself exhausted and  wondering how I would ever build up to the 7 mile run. I quickly learned that when I followed and trusted his coaching that he was right. It was amazing how much better I felt and how much stronger I was becoming.
     Everything seemed like it was going perfect until the fall. By the end of May, I had 5 mile run/walks on my weekly calendar. I was increasing my 5 and 5's to 6 and 4's that my coach had approved. I was so excited because I was heading out for my longest run. I was one mile into the run, and then it happened; I fell face first into the rocks and there I lay bleeding from my knees, hands, and shoulder. I was stunned and unable to get up. One knee bled profusely as my husband and I hobbled back the mile to our car. I remember thinking I'm never going to be able to run the Bix 7 now that this has happened.
     The doctor kept me off my deeply cut knee for three weeks. I wanted to give up, but I was in constant prayer about this goal I wanted to reach. Should I just hope that maybe next year I can make this goal, or should I continue you on? Well, with the encouragement of my entire family, I headed back out running a little earlier than the doctor released me to run. I felt like I had lost time and strength. I was humbled and disappointed. However, I refused to give up on the goal
     Well, I stayed the course, followed all the directions from the coach, and on July 27, 2013, I ran all but one minute of the 7 mile challenging course in 83 minutes and 26 seconds. I finished 179th of the 375 women in my age group. It was an overwhelming feeling of joy that words cannot express. My family was there to cheer me on and give those all so important hugs!
     You may ask what does this have to do with this story of Simon Peter and his lack of faith that fish would be caught even as Jesus told him not to give up? I think inside I'm often a lot like Simon Peter. I have a difficult time believing that if I just stay the course that somehow everything will work out in a way that I can understand. I even think Jesus should give up on me. I am sometimes to quick to jump in believing that the obstacles and roadblocks that come my way are there telling me it's time to give up rather than looking at these as challenges that I need to work through or find every way possible to conquer. I also feel like Simon Peter when I find myself on my knees wondering why I didn't trust more in someone who loves me so much. 
     The interesting part of the story is that even when Simon Peter is on his knees, Jesus is there to give him a second chance at something completely different. He tells him that his life is changing course. So, sometimes even when one thing doesn't work out the way we think it will, it may lead to something bigger and even more fulfilling in life. 
     As you start your week, have faith that God will be with  you in every goal you set in your life. He will be our coach guiding us along the way. Sometimes, you will beat the challenges and reach the goal. Sometimes, you may find the challenges are more than you can bear. The most important thing to remember is that in all goals there is a purpose; a way to grow closer to God. Have faith that He is there to help you reach those goals and grace you with second chances in this journey on earth. Everyone needs a coach!

Gracious Heavenly Father,

     Thank you for the gift of determination and goals that help us grow closer to you. May your wisdom be our guide and when we fall, may we fall gently into your arms of grace.

Amen.