Detours

I often think about those that wandered in the desert for 40 years.

I have done my fair share of wandering.

I ask for sustenance and then whine about it. I get impatient with God’s timing and make my own idols to worship.

I can’t poke fun at them because I am them!

Some of my detours are short and some are, sadly, a bit long.

Sometimes I get derailed when life throws me a curveball. Other times I willfully run into the briars or tumble down a ravine. And then I have some bumps and bruises and scars.

God knows my tendencies. And He gives me warnings — if only I had ears to hear.

Thankfully, He never slumbers nor sleeps. I probably am a full time job. And I am thankful I am on His mind and heart and He pursues me. God wants me connected to Him and on a fruitful path. And, thankfully, He can bear fruit from the more challenging decisions in my life’s journey.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me in and through my detours and for Your steadfastness!

Switching Seats

Have you ever been in a moment of deep frustration over how communication is going with someone?

I sure have! And, thankfully, I have a couple of people I can go to to share my relational dilemmas. I hope you have a few people like that in your life!

Recently, one of my people (Person A) was sharing one of their dilemmas. I have no connection to the person whose actions she was trying to understand (Person B). I think that helps. I am not neutral by any means, but I didn’t have a negative or positive idea about Person B.

As she described the scenario I was trying to think of a word picture to better understand the situation. I came up with one and shared it. As a verbal processor I couldn’t help myself. And, while my idea didn’t hit the mark, sharing it helped. Then I thought a little more about the situation — and really tried to “sit in the seat” of this other person and understand their actions.

Depending on our mood or how deeply we are intwined with a situation we might be able to “switch seats” and look at some potential perspectives of the “offending” party. But, sometimes we might benefit from some help from someone who is a little more neutral and can take a step back and try to look at the dynamics and come up with some possible scenarios. Sometimes “switching seats” will diffuse the situation enough that a calm conversation can happen.

As always, ask God to shed His light, perspective, and discernment on a difficult situation. If it is a very complex one you can also check in with a 3rd party who can be relatively neutral. And sometimes you will need a completely neutral 3rd party. You won’t go wrong if you seek to understand.

Slow Down

I have a friend who I really enjoy but don’t get to chat with very often because we both have busy schedules and we live in different states. I often text her a quick greeting or a quick question and, if she can, she calls me back for a few minutes. The other day I sent a short message and she responded with a phone call.

But, this time was different.

We got through all the “official business” we needed to get through and then she said, “How are you and Don doing?” I explained we had been ill for several weeks and a few other things.

It is so easy to get caught up in our own drama.

Then I was prompted to ask, “How are you guys?” I do believe God nudged me to do that. It isn’t that I don’t care. Sometimes I try not to take too much of someone’s time and I cut short my natural inclinations of care and concern to not be a bother. But I am so glad I asked.

I had absolutely no idea, but she is going through some challenges on several fronts and I listened and asked a few questions. We weren’t in quick text mode — it was the share-your-heart conversation mode. She is in the middle of a lot. It’s not what one expects as you get close to all kids being launched. But then, not all launches go perfectly. And then with aging parents on the other side, well, you get the picture. Sometimes life gets messy.

She didn’t expect me to solve any of her situations. She simply shared her heart. And I am so thankful she trusted me with the less-than-glamorous parts of her life. I have been praying for her and her sweet family ever since.

I could have easily tried to “respect her time” and not ask how she was doing. She was intentional about asking me the question first. And I am thankful I asked the question of her.

Of course, there are times when things are hectic. But, by and large, it is important to slow down and check in with your people. Ask how they are doing and get ready to listen to the answers. You’ll be strengthening your friendship as well as deepening your prayer life as you intercede for them.

What is to come

Sometimes we want to know how “it” is going to happen. Or when “it” will happen. But, mostly, it seems, we don’t get the heads up. Things happen and we are either ready for it or we are not and we need to switch gears.

Sometimes the anticipation is more anxiety producing than the event we are expecting or dreading.

God is there. He is here, now. And He is there, in our next steps. And He will carry us through in ways we mY not be able to put into words.

Some of our “to comes” are things we are dreading…things we don’t want to walk through, witness, or endure.

Even as we think about Jesus’ betrayal, suffering, and death — not something to look forward to experiencing. Yet, in that ugliness God gave us an unimaginable gift.

May we view our uncertainties and difficulties knowing that Jesus understands our pain and will lead us through them. God’s unimaginable gift is for us each and every day.

Heavenly Father — Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice. It allows us the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

I love my own way

I love to make a plan and follow it when it suits me.

I know God gives us a heart and a mind and gives us inclinations and all that. But that doesn’t mean all my intentions are good, proper, godly, or pure.

There may not even be a problem with the way I want to go — so much in life is pretty open ended. I can choose this or that and it doesn’t matter. But when I have invested my time and energy on a certain path and it is clear it is not the way to go, well, sometimes I don’t want to give it up. I want my own way.

Instead of behaving like a two year old in the midst of a tantrum, I try to hand over to God that thing I am holding onto so tightly. Insisting on my own way may not be in my best interest.

I can trust God with my dreams, hopes, and fears. After all, He is the Creator. He knows my needs and provides for me!

Darkness

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5

Those things that are hidden in the darkness can cause a lot of problems. They might be tucked away in a corner and it might feel as though it has been forgotten but satan loves to use it as a piece of “I told you so,” or “You’ll never change,” or “That was unforgivable.”

Those lies … they fester in the dark …. they linger and take root like a weed. And, worst of all, they seem to multiply and become more and more oppressive. When we insist there is no right or wrong — no Light or dark — then we find that we have to defend our position.

Even when we are dead wrong…

The way to fix any of it is to allow the Light of the world to flood in and bring His Love and Life — the forgiveness, the perspective, the peace that can only come from Jesus. It takes humility as well as knowing our place in the Universe. This allowing comes when we recognize that God is God and we are not.

May God’s love and light flood every corner of our lives and bring forth forgiveness and restoration.

In the beginning…

Let’s back it up to the beginning and take a look at what was. How it all began.

The Word. The Light. The Life.

And let’s focus on the Light. To be honest, I am feeling the darkness, and it is a bit overwhelming. So, I need to make sure The Light is around me.

The Light helps my perspective…. it helps my vision….. it helps my processing. It helps me see what is true and good. And it is so amazing what a little bit of light can do in a dark place!

I am holding onto this promise:

“And the darkness has not overcome it.”

All the plans…

This pandemic was a surprise to me, but it was not a surprise to God.

This has been a year of making plans and readjusting them about 97 times. I am ever hopeful that there will be a new normal that looks somewhat similar to the old normal. But, I confess, I am a little discouraged.

Why even bother to make plans?

I am thankful that I have been relatively calm through this season of unknowns, but I attribute it to my natural tendency to be flexible. I don’t feel the need to be in charge of a lot of things. I also have watched God work out even the yucky things in my life, so I trust His “long run” plan, even though I don’t know all the pieces and parts. And, honestly, I am pretty sure I won’t love all what is coming. But I will try to rest in His grace and mercy, trust Him to right the wrongs, trust Him to comfort me, and be with me as I move forward.

We have today, my friend. Hold your plans loosely and love generously!

For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 New English Translation

Tools

Do you have projects in mind and the tools to accomplish them but never get around to the project? My guess is that project never really moved up high enough on the priority list because even if we don’t have the right tools, we can figure out how to get a job done.

Of course, life happens and things we hadn’t even imagined can propel up the priority list in the blink of an eye. Life and circumstances are always changing and something that actually may be a priority gets pushed aside until “later” but sometimes later doesn’t come. We don’t always get to do the things we want to do.

I have come to believe that having the tools isn’t the key. Using the tools is the key. We all know of the guy who has all the big, cool tools. At first glance, you might even be envious. But if he has no time to use them, then it just seems sad. What is the point of having “all the stuff” if you can’t enjoy it?

I will admit, in certain areas of my life

(A): I have the tools;

(B): I have the knowledge of how to use them;

(C): But, I don’t have the gumption/time/energy/ability/___________ to use them, therefore

(D): I don’t have the results I want!

Owning the tools is not enough. Having the knowledge is not enough. Making the effort, etc. is not enough. It seems like there is a need for all three to even work towards the goal and even then there is no guarantee the project will be successful!

Feeling like you can’t move forward because you don’t have the tools?
Stuck in some phase of a project?
Suspect you don’t know enough to move forward?
Lack the time or motivation to tackle the situation?

Let’s not blame it on the tools.

If you are feeling stuck in a place where you don’t have “progress”, think about why that is. Pray about what might be holding you back — it may be that this area you think is “progress” isn’t a good idea.

Sometimes our priorities have changed.

Sometimes our life direction has changed.

Sometimes it is fear of failure.

Sometimes the goal is outside our ability and so it hurts our brain to even think about tackling the job.

By taking an honest look at our priorities and our abilities we can re-evaluate them. Still stuck? Have a conversation with a trusted friend, counselor, or pastor.

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. [Romans 12:3-8, NIV]

God’s peace as you prioritize!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: COMPLAINING

In the queue

Waiting for church w — **Waiting for church to start in Transylvania**

Sometimes I look at my phone to pass the time when I am in line and not interested in engaging with the world around me. I can get impatient when I am waiting.

Who am I to think I don’t have to wait for things? When I look at Scripture, there is so much waiting – years and years of it. Check out Psalm 5, Psalm 27, Psalm 33, and Psalm 37 and pretty much all of Scripture. There is a lot of waiting.

Waiting is a part of life.

And sometimes there is even a purpose in waiting. The “delay” allows other pieces to fall into place. Sometimes the delay prepares us for the next step. Waiting is natural and there is no point in complaining about it. I have found that I can increase my impatience just being so caught up in the frustration of the waiting. That’s ridiculous. I am not above waiting.

What are you waiting for?

While I am waiting I can still live my life. I don’t want to let waiting steal my joy. Whatever it is I am waiting for, I can be sure that God is working on my heart while I wait.

On the way,

Liz