My dear daughter-in-law was in a car accident last night. She is going to be okay. Both of those facts were unexpected, a surprise to me but not to God. I've seen photos of the car, and can't believe she walked away with nothing more than a concussion and some bruises. Our families held a vigil at the emergency room, talking and praying and grateful for the comfort of each others presence.
Most of all, today I am grateful for the reminder of God's eternal presence and care in our lives, as described in Psalm 77:23:
"But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. "
More than ever, God is my refuge.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
When Those We Love Are Suffering
My heart has been heavy this week because several people in my life are suffering. In some cases it is directly due to their own or others actions, and in some it is just the random brokenness of this world we live in. Either way, people I care about are hurting, and there isn’t a thing I can do about it. No matter how many tears I shed (and there have been too many) I can’t take away their pain or fix the circumstances. I cannot mend what is broken, or restore what has been lost.
The only thing I can do is pray. When I wake up, when I go to bed, when the night is long and dark, anytime my grief feels like it is going to consume me, I pray. There are probably some reading here who are better at distancing themselves from other’s pain than I am, and if you are one of them be grateful. If that is the case, you may not understand why prayer is so vital in my life. If I didn’t absolutely know beyond any doubt that I can lay all of our burdens at my Father’s feet, and that He is big enough to handle them, my life would be unbearable. Even when my own life is skipping along merrily, which it is these days, the suffering of others pierces me and forces me to my knees.
God hears our cries, and is with us in our suffering. No matter the depths of our grief, he understands, and sustains us and brings healing to our brokenness. Is 53:4 promises us that “Surely He[Christ] has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment],” (Amplified version)
John 16:33 In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
May He who has overcome the world fill us all with His peace, even in the midst of our trials and the trials of those we love. Thank you, Lord, for removing the power of this world to harm us!
The only thing I can do is pray. When I wake up, when I go to bed, when the night is long and dark, anytime my grief feels like it is going to consume me, I pray. There are probably some reading here who are better at distancing themselves from other’s pain than I am, and if you are one of them be grateful. If that is the case, you may not understand why prayer is so vital in my life. If I didn’t absolutely know beyond any doubt that I can lay all of our burdens at my Father’s feet, and that He is big enough to handle them, my life would be unbearable. Even when my own life is skipping along merrily, which it is these days, the suffering of others pierces me and forces me to my knees.
God hears our cries, and is with us in our suffering. No matter the depths of our grief, he understands, and sustains us and brings healing to our brokenness. Is 53:4 promises us that “Surely He[Christ] has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment],” (Amplified version)
John 16:33 In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
May He who has overcome the world fill us all with His peace, even in the midst of our trials and the trials of those we love. Thank you, Lord, for removing the power of this world to harm us!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Winter Trees
Driving around this week I couldn't help but notice the beauty of the barren trees. Even in this cold winter with no snow to make a shiny white wonderland, God's world provides a lovely view. Lord, help me never take for granted your beauty that surrounds me!
Winter Trees
Shades of gray across an arctic sky
Streaked by silver-tinted clouds
As they reflect the winter sun
Now a canvas for nature’s lace
Flowing up from frozen earth
Looking from my grounded place
My eyes are heaven bound
Graceful etchings dark and twisted
Define the middle view
Random branches, stems and seeds
Twist and turn in ways carefree
Not bound by rules or lines
All to form wild tapestries
Across the frigid sky
Winter Trees
Shades of gray across an arctic sky
Streaked by silver-tinted clouds
As they reflect the winter sun
Now a canvas for nature’s lace
Flowing up from frozen earth
Looking from my grounded place
My eyes are heaven bound
Graceful etchings dark and twisted
Define the middle view
Random branches, stems and seeds
Twist and turn in ways carefree
Not bound by rules or lines
All to form wild tapestries
Across the frigid sky
Friday, January 13, 2012
Being Who We Are
How embarrassing.... its been so long since I posted here that I forgot my own password to log on!
My son is now a young man, and is doing work he loves and that allows him to fully express himself. It happens to be in the world of politics, so I pray for his soul, but it got me thinking about what a great gift that is, the opportunity to do what brings him joy.
It also got me thinking about how I have tripped myself up over the years and created stumbling blocks (or excuses) to doing the same for myself. Somehow there always seemed to be a good reason for not doing those things that were really about being who I am.
When I did allow myself that freedom, it felt selfish, or silly. Which is why the book I've been reading lately has been such a huge encouragement to me. It is called Scribbling in the Sand, by Michael Card, and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks about the subject of the book's subtitle: Christ and Creativity. Early in the book he mentions a similar struggle of his own, his doubts about his abilities as a successful musician and writer. I was stunned to read my own thoughts on the page, the same negative lies that fill my head when I sit down to write.
What he figured out, and shares through the book, is that our urge to create is a natural response to our love for our Creator, a way we worship God and respond to His creativity and the beauty all around us.
No matter how much mankind may mess it up, we were made to love and worship. Creative expression matters, because it is an important part of being who we are.
My son is now a young man, and is doing work he loves and that allows him to fully express himself. It happens to be in the world of politics, so I pray for his soul, but it got me thinking about what a great gift that is, the opportunity to do what brings him joy.
It also got me thinking about how I have tripped myself up over the years and created stumbling blocks (or excuses) to doing the same for myself. Somehow there always seemed to be a good reason for not doing those things that were really about being who I am.
When I did allow myself that freedom, it felt selfish, or silly. Which is why the book I've been reading lately has been such a huge encouragement to me. It is called Scribbling in the Sand, by Michael Card, and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks about the subject of the book's subtitle: Christ and Creativity. Early in the book he mentions a similar struggle of his own, his doubts about his abilities as a successful musician and writer. I was stunned to read my own thoughts on the page, the same negative lies that fill my head when I sit down to write.
What he figured out, and shares through the book, is that our urge to create is a natural response to our love for our Creator, a way we worship God and respond to His creativity and the beauty all around us.
No matter how much mankind may mess it up, we were made to love and worship. Creative expression matters, because it is an important part of being who we are.
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