Tag: faith

God’s future work

We’ve been talking about being thankful for the day. And thankful for things that happened long ago. And, I hope you found at least one thing from you past that you could identify where God was working in and through it all. Since we know God does all kinds of things and weaves them all together in a very personal way,

So, let’s offer up thanksgiving for the work God will be doing. Think 5, 10, 20, 40 years into the future. It could be in our lives but it can also be in the lives of our family and others we hold dear — friends, children, nieces/nephews, cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I call this “Praying Forward” and it is a great opportunity to think in a bit bigger way.

We know God is working now. We know He has been working through the years of our life. And we know He will continue working through our lives. But, we also know that all of what God is doing is much bigger than us and God has always been working — through the generations. And, He will continue to do that.

I pray you look forward and trust God with your future. There surely will be difficult times because this is life on Earth. But may you trust God as He weaves it all together.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to this time. I entrust my future to You. And I entrust my people to You. Help my steps today reflect that trust. Help me “Pray Forward” even though I don’t know the details of the future. What I do know is that You are there!

Taking a look back

Sometimes our thankfulness has us in the present, which is great, But, for today, I encourage you to also reach back and consider those people and circumstances you can give thanks for in your earlier years.

I will tell you a one of mine:

My mom was pretty frustrated with church politics so there were a number of years when we weren’t in a regular, healthy, Christian congregation. My brother was an organist and started working at a Lutheran church. He needed some more singers for the choir and he invited me to come and help. I was about 12 years old at the time. I joined the youth group and confirmation classes and became a very active member of the church. My mom supported me, but she did not regularly attend. I was never shamed or questioned about my mom’s lack of involvement. And, when my brother took another organist job somewhere else, I stayed at that church and found my way there for almost every service. That church welcomed, embraced, supported, and loved my awkward teenage self. And, believe me, I was sorting through lots of things during that time. That congregation held onto me, steady as ever.

I have come to realize that not many congregations are like that. What a blessing to have been in that place at that time. How God orchestrated all that, I will never know. Why I even mattered that much to Him still amazes me. And for all of that, I am thankful. God provided for me in some amazing ways and I hold onto that, knowing His love and care for me has not lessened.

I pray that you have at least one powerful example of God’s love, care, protection, or provision in your life. It is worth remembering those times because they remind us what God does over time. Sometimes we are so used to immediate solutions that we don’t remember that God works over time.

May you be comforted and encouraged by God’s provision in your younger days and look to Him with anticipation for your future.

Heavy

2024 seems to be a challenge year for a lot of people.

Back in early January I asked a friend how things were going in her world and she answered, “Heavy.” Yesterday, I was visiting with a neighbor who is feeling the weight of several situations.

The burdens are all around us!

I think it is important to acknowledge the challenges we are facing. We don’t need to pretend things are all hippy skippy. But, when things are heavy, it weighs us down. And that makes slogging through the day more difficult.

Recognizing my limitations is so helpful during these times. God does not expect me to be a hero. He doesn’t expect me to “save” all the situations. But He does ask me to bring all these burdens and difficulties to him. He wants me to share my heart. He wants to share the load. And He wants us to trust that He is working things out.

Yes, we know people can make choices that will damage others and as we watch those decisions play out it is painful. We might be living with or ministering to the person who is left living with the challenging situation. How can we bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted?

We cannot. Only the Lord can.

He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 NIV

There are many brokenhearted all around us. And sometimes we are the ones who are crushed in spirit. Ask God to refresh and renew your perspective today. Ask Him to send some respite and relief. Thank Him for anything you can muster up the energy to be thankful for.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 NIV

As you move through your day, keep an eye open for those who are struggling. Pray for them. Offer to pray with them. Consider lending a hand to help them move through their circumstance with a loving friend. We can only pour into others what has been poured into us. Ask Jesus to fill you so you can be available for others.

Adjusting

Have you ever had your life turn upside down with little warning?

Honestly, having a warning doesn’t really seem to help anyway. It’s all hard. It could be a death, a debilitating illness, a job loss, a change in schools, a new boss or _________________________ (fill in the blank.)

How we adjust to what is in front of us is important. And we cannot expect to always do it with finesse.

How do you typically respond to a big change that isn’t welcome? In my younger years, I was quite reactionary. I dwelled, I stewed, and I was very verbal about all of my processing. As time has marched forward and I have encountered more difficult situations, I have learned how to pace my response. It doesn’t mean I don’t feel my feelings (anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness, etc.) I do. But I have learned to pause. I don’t have to have an answer or solution immediately unless it is a 911 emergency. I can take the time to regroup. For me, the most essential way to adjust and calm my system down is to take time with God — not only at that time, but ahead of that time. The work before really paves the difficult roads to be a little calmer.

This isn’t to say there aren’t difficult days or the “Why God?” questions. Of course, there are. But I know God can handle all of those. And He knows that I want to see His work in difficult situations. I want to see the hope that He can show and the glimpses of good and beauty that can arise from dark days.

Loss is difficult — when we lose our place, our people, or our health it takes time to adjust. But there is no better place for me to go than to God to have my perspective adjusted. He always sees and knows the bigger picture. And as I try to sort out the incomprehensible things in my brain, He doesn’t expect me to understand it all. He simply asks that I lay these disappointments at His feet and that I follow Him for my next steps.

As I wake up each day, I ask God to be with me as I move through the day. Yes, I have a general plan, but I know that is just a plan. God is the one who really knows how the day will unfold and I trust Him to walk beside me every step of the way as I adjust to the situations that come my way.

We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go. Proverbs 16:9 CEV

Respecting Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV

Do you find yourself feeling guilty about resting? I find that my mind has been trained to think that rest is for the weak. I don’t always notice my own subtle thoughts along those lines but sometimes I hear them in conversations with others: “I slept in and was lazy today.” or “I feel lazy when I sit for just a few moments.”

Those with busier personalities may have a harder time with sitting still. And others of us may do a good job resting and recovering as they prepare for the next thing. Do you allow time for physical and emotional rest?

Not all situations are demanding physically. Some circumstances require heart and soul work, but they each use our energy. I am just thinking about regular life here — you know, when things seem to be ok. We are working and doing life and day-by-day things are going smoothly. But throw in something that is demanding either short term or long term and we will find we need even more rest.

If we are living and breathing life on this Earth, we will all experience something that is demanding and maybe even soul crushing. I pray that you are in regular communication with God before that happens. Or that you start resting in Him now. When we are weary and burdened He will give us rest. As we seek God’s will and wisdom for our circumstances, He will give us the rest we are desperate for.

Sit a while and consider His offer for rest. Rise refreshed with renewed strength for your day. Let Him carry you through your circumstances.

Dear Lord…

Today I am praying for all of the people I am related to by blood or law. It’s such a long list. I am not sure how often some of these folks pray — for themselves or others — because everyone is in a different place in their relationship with God and it is my privilege to pray for them! I love them each and so I pray for :

their relationship with God, May they grow in their knowledge of His love for them and their need for a Savior.

perseverance through trials

physical health

mental and emotional health

good relationships with the people they love and care about

their jobs and studies

I typically start with my husband, our children, and the grandchildren. Then I move on to my siblings and their spouses and their children. Then my husband’s siblings and spouses and children and grandchildren. Then the living aunts and uncles on both sides and then all the cousins and their families. Then I move onto the next round of second and third cousins on my side and then to those on Don’s side. I don’t necessarily list everyone’s names the further down the line I go because I actually don’t know or remember all the kids of all the cousins but I typically will say the head of the family and ask God to bless those who fall under that family line. Honestly, it all depends on the time I have that day. And it may not always be a formal prayer time. If they cross my mind during a day, I might just ask God to bless their day and their situation. Formal prayer time is great, but I would rather think of my day as one long conversation with God.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h!

If I haven’t done the work, I won’t be ready.

Don’t worry, I don’t think my salvation depends on the things I do. It absolutely does not. But, since I am in a relationship with God, communication is important. Stepping out in faith is a part of the package and sometimes it is a s-t-r-e-t-c-h!

Stretching helps me be ready for what is next.

Recently, I tried to do something I have done many times before. This time, however, it took a lot more effort than I care to admit. What happened in the time between when I last did this activity and now? Plenty of nothing.

And just like that, I wasn’t ready for what I wanted to do.

It was discouraging and maddening. And a not-so-gentle reminder of how abilities can disintegrate when not used on a regular basis. It feels like I am starting over.

Of course, life is about starting over — a lot!

And it seems like faith works the same way. I have my core faith. My baptism promise. My confidence in God’s ongoing work in my heart and life. And when I abide in Him, my roots stretch and grow. When I don’t, I can’t expect to have a rich relationship. God always meets me where I am and patiently waits for me. But life will always put demands on me. I would much rather be stretched and molded into God’s perspective so I can choose to respond in a Godly way to the circumstances around me. I want to be sensitive to His guidance and leading and ready to do the next thing. If I always have to stop and start from square one, I won’t be in spiritual shape for what is next.

Naturally, God is there, ready for me. It doesn’t matter if I am two steps forward or ten steps behind. My story is His-story so He uses all of it and redeems it all.

His love brings about my response. Allowing Him to grow my faith and trust is a part of the process!

Even though Paul wrote this to the Thessalonians, it reminds us that growing in faith increases or capacity for other things.

We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 NIV

God’s blessings on your week!
Liz

Mighty power to save

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, Come, Oh, Come Emmanuel
Translated: John Neal, 1818-66

Heavenly Father,

My heart is heavy knowing so many who do not trust in Your mighty power to save. I cling to the knowledge that You do care for the unbelievers — that you seek those lost sheep. I pray for hearts to be open to hearing Your call. May the barriers to faith be removed. May there be a growing self-awareness of the need for Your Son, the Savior. Thank You for providing The Way, The Truth, and The Life in Jesus!

3 … he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. [Luke 15:3-7, ESV]

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

The Essentials

I have been traveling quite a bit the last few years and I love exploring and learning about the world around me. But that also means I have to pack and unpack a lot. Unfortunately, sometimes I forget the “essentials”.

My essentials change from time to time. That seems weird to say but, depending on my hair situation, I either need mousse or gel. And, recently, I have taken to wearing a hat when I plan to shower a little later in the day. I guess you can say that some of my essentials are seasonal, at least for traveling.

But my core essentials — the things that make me me — continue to make their presence known. These are the elements of me that are difficult for me to suppress. Try as I might, they sort of erupt and are undeniable. It’s almost as if God said, “These are the foundational elements to Liz and watch me as I grow them and use them through the course of her life!”

Writing has always been, and continues to be, an important part of my life. While I still like the physical act of putting pen to paper, these days I do most of my writing on the computer. How I write as well as how consistently I write has changed and adapted with the tools available to me. I even utilize old envelopes and scribble all kinds of ideas on them! That will never change.

Listening to others is a part of my core. I even considered being a counselor at one point. Most often, people just need to know they have been heard. I have a lot to learn from others — and they don’t always share it verbally!

Encouraging others is also important me. I think providing consolation, comfort, and inspiration is sorely lacking in today’s world. The way people can talk to one another, especially when they are not face-to-face, astounds me. I make every effort to love people where the are, give them encouragement for forward progress if that is what they are looking for, and I pray for them. I can’t be the one to do what they need to do but I can pray for them as they take the next step.

Sharing my faith is one of those things that I cannot, nor do I want, to squelch. I certainly consider the receptivity of those around me and am open to where and how the conversation goes. I am called to share my faith. But this faith stuff is entirely God’s business. God’s work in my life is amazing. The details He has covered before I even knew they needed to be addressed, the opportunities He has created out of ugly situations, the gift of Jesus, the comfort and conviction of the Holy Spirit, and the forgiveness of my sins — my ugly and selfish sins. Sharing my faith is about what God has done for me but also what He has done for the sea of humanity. The sharing of my faith isn’t always through words.

What are your essentials — those core elements God has been developing in you over the course of your life?

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz