Father of Compassion

I stumble. I fall. I do those things I wish I would not do yet again.

Even though I get frustrated with myself, I have never once imagined God ready to pull His hair out because I am not “getting it.”

Instead, I see His mercy and grace and compassion.

It isn’t that the wrath of God does not exist. But the Bible illustrates many situations where God showed compassion: Jesus feeding the crowds, Jesus meeting the woman at the well, Jesus healing the many, many people He healed.

Maybe all of those different scenarios are for us to see ourselves in them.

God does not tire of hearing from us. When we are coming to Him it is usually out of our own need or we are coming on the behalf of others.

Even if we aren’t coming to Him with pure intentions He can take and shape our prayers to become “His will.”

As humans, we can get tired of repeated situations with the humans around us. Our fuses are sometimes short for our siblings, co-workers, neighbors, spouse, children, or grandchildren.

He is the Father of Compassion.

My prayer is that I respond as one who is frequently shown compassion, mercy, and grace. I hope to reflect my Father’s heart.

Full circle

I trust that God is doing the things He says He will.

I have to admit, I feel like full circle really means “in my lifetime.”‘

But, it doesn’t.

God works in and through generations for resolution and healing. Life isn’t just neatly tied up in a bow while I am living. And, when I am no longer alive, I can trust that God’s work continues on.

Some things do come full circle within my life but I don’t think that is the standard.

Here is a non-spiritual full circle moment that struck me the other day: My dad never visited Hungary even though he spoke Hungarian fluently and was a champion of all things Hungarian. He died when he was 40 and with 4 young children, I am sure it was on his bucket list of things to do some day but you have to feed the kids and pay the bills with a young family.

My mom took my brothers and I to Hungary within 3 years of my dad’s death. Maybe the two of them talked about her doing that when it was evident he was not going to survive. It was an incredibly brave thing to do as a single parent. Our ages at the time were 5, 8, 12, and 16.

Fast forward to 2012 when Don and I took our 4 kids to Hungary. We had hoped to go with my mom but she just wasn’t feeling up to the travel as she was ill. After she passed away, we knew we were in a golden moment before the kids had adult commitments that we wanted them to go to Hungary.

And, as a bonus, we even met some of my dad’s relatives that we didn’t even know existed before 2011!

In 1957 my paternal grandmother apparently wrote a letter to her relatives stating that she was hoping that she would travel to Hungary at some point. “So, we will leave this for the future when travel is allowed to all countries, and then we will also visit you in Tiszakeszi—by the will and grace of the Lord.”

She didn’t get there. My father didn’t get there. But I was able to get there. And, I even met the cousin she was writing in this letter! Incidentally, upon meeting us, that cousin said, “Now I can die.”

Wow! I mean, truly, she waited 55 years from that letter to meet a U.S. relative. And through the many years of correspondence there were probably even earlier references to someday meeting face-to-face so I am quite sure she waited longer than 55 years.

I think that was a full circle kind of thing. And if God can orchestrate something like that, I think I ought to leave Him to do His thing in my life and in the life of my family.

The timing may not be what I have planned and the way may not look the way I think it ought to, but, I need to trust Him in how He pulls it together.

Have you noticed something come to completion in your lifetime that was started a generation or two before you?

God is trustworthy to bring things full circle!

It was not by your sword or your bow…Joshua 24:12a

So often we think we did the conquering. But, as I am reading through Joshua, I am reminded that God is doing the work.

Sometimes I look for that magic formula for success. Or I am sure that what I said made the difference.

Maybe it is less about me.

And maybe it is more about what God is doing in the hearts of others.

Maybe my sword and bow isn’t a part of the success.

Whatever it is that needs to be conquered or overcome may need some action on my part but really is more about what God is doing.

Every day I relinquish things to God and then scoop them back up to fret about and try to control.

In truth, my best offense and defense is God!

The things we cannot change

There are so many things that are done and cannot be undone.

Sometimes, it is heartbreaking to realize that. But it is reality.

A word that has been spoken.

A deed that has been done.

Of course, there are times we can change course and somehow “fix” it. And while that may be helpful and useful and healing, the original wholeness that was messed with won’t probably ever be whole again.

There is a wound. A scar.

The memory of what was done or left undone.

But, there is always God and what He can do.

We just need to recognize that the power rests with Him.

We cannot “man handle” someone else’s response. No “sweet talking” our way in or out of things.

Accepting a reality doesn’t mean we have to like it. But, acknowledging it is a step in the right direction.

Knowing that God goes before me and behind me and hems me in makes the difficult parts of life’s journey more acceptable. It isn’t always fun, but there is joy in the journey.

Lord, help me to trust You to redeem those hard things that cannot be changed. Give me wisdom to know when things are out of my control and trust that You will work out the details.

Intentions

I generally set goals for each day.

Sometimes I am overly ambitious and don’t get to everything. Sometimes there is an emergency or at least something that gets inserted that is urgent and it takes a chunk of time to work through leaving the rest of my list unchecked.

There is tomorrow, after all.

At least I assume there will be.

Now that the days, months, and years are flying by, I need to make sure my bigger goals are being tended to. I have generally been working on them all along, but who really knows how much time there is left to accomplish them.

Of course, God knows.

But on this matter, I am in the dark. I need to keep plugging away. And making sure that He is leading the way. Often, when something is heavy on my heart, that is God nudging — and sometimes pressing — me to make a move.

Setting goals or intentions is only part of the challenge. Then there is the the actions that make them happen. And then the re-evaluation mid-stream.

Is this really the direction I want to go?

Sometimes we set off on a path with every intention of doing that thing and over time it becomes apparent that it isn’t going to happen, no matter how hard we try.

Our effort is not the only factor at play.

Sometimes it is nice to start the day with a blank page. Maybe there are a few anchor tasks here and there but, overall, the day is open to where you are lead. In this case, of course, you want to look to who you want to lead the day. What are those things pressing on you? What adjustments do you need to make on your expectations of yourself and others.

What is God doing in your day, today?

Getting worked up

In the end, I don’t think we have as much control as we think we have or as much as we think we want. We can, however, control our reaction to things.

What is getting your goat today?

Is someone acting differently than normal and you are confused?

Is someone behaving as they normally would and you are just wishing they didn’t act like that?

Are you afraid?

Are there circumstances that you can take some personal action on but the whole situation feels so big and unmanageable?

Where can you start?

My encouragement is to start by giving the situation to God.

When I find myself in this type of situation I take a walk and talk to God.

Out loud.

I talk through it. I as Him to work on the situation. And show me what He wants me to do. And if there is some way I should be involved to bridge the gap, I ask Him to point that out to me.

I may have a role in the solution beyond my prayers. And it might not be easy. I can offer my part but that doesn’t guarantee the response from the other parties.

But, giving it to God is my first step. And trusting He is working on a resolution is my second step.

What do you need to hand over to God today?

Ruts and Roads

When traveling, your state of mind is everything.

Where are you headed?

Why?

Who will you see when you get there?

Who are you traveling with?

Sometimes it starts as one type of journey and morphs into another. If you are open to travel then you must be open to adventure. If you like things very predictable and just the way you like them, then don’t bother leaving your circle.

When I feel like I am in a rut, I like to get on the road. I am not too wild, but I try to be flexible and open to new foods and new experiences.

None of this may seem very spiritual, but it can be.

God can bring a sense to our journey — even if it seems haphazard and more like a 40 year wandering.

Lessons were learned in the desert.

Are you curious and open to learning what God is shaping in you today?

Offense or defense?

What is your prayer posture?

For me, it all depends.

Sometimes there is an immediate need or situation I am praying for: healing from illness or injury, peace in the midst of a difficult circumstance, or protection when I know someone is in peril.

Other times, I am just praying much more generally for someone — in advance of any need I know about, but will surely come their way. In terms of my kids or grandkids it might be things that occur in their lives after I am no longer on this Earth.

It is easy to see that praying for others can take quite a bit of time. As we get older and spend less time doing and more time being, we may more easily find the time to pray.

But, we can also start today!

Do you have someone you can pray for through all of their upcoming life stages? I have my grandkids in mind. We have two 5 year olds and a 3 year old. They have a lot of life coming up and I am praying for them and all their upcoming life experiences.

Whose life are you covering in prayer?

Sometimes it starts with seeing a need

Who do you pray for?

I have a typical list of people I pray for. And then I have the people I pray for by circumstance and situation — it’s more like a blanket prayer.

And then there are people I pray for that for some inexplicable reason they are on my heart. Of course, I can explain it. It isn’t inexplicable, it’s just that God put them on my heart for some reason.

I often know precious little about them or their situation. And, as I mentioned before, I don’t need to know the situation. I don’t even need to know them. My prayer isn’t a cop out for not physically doing something for them. It is doing something.

It isn’t a last resort, it’s a first resort.

In my opinion, praying for someone is a high honor. Saying their name before God and asking Him to protect them or provide for them in their need is important.

Who do you know that may not have anyone praying for them? In addition to your regular prayers, add them to your list. If you have a perspective to see their need — even if you are wrong about that — if you are moved to pray for them, do it!

This doesn’t mean you won’t ever take other action on behalf of that person or others. But, I believe that in the praying not only are you interceding for them, God is using your responsiveness to make you more aware of the needs of others. Who knows? He may be growing something inside of you that is an angle that He would like you to pursue.

Sometimes it starts with seeing a need.

Measuring Progress

Yesterday was about measuring success.

Today let’s talk about Measuring Progress.

Two steps forward and one step back is progress. Over time, you will still get to where you are going. Sometimes it doesn’t happen as quickly as you want.

You might regress a bit, revert to a previous state, or return to spot while still, in the big picture, be making progress.

I read a book a couple of years ago “Start More Than You Can Finish” by Becky Blades https://www.beckyblades.com/

and it really shifted my perception….

of myself!

I sometimes start things and don’t finish them and can beat myself up over it. I can certainly learn something from making a commitment and following through. But, not everything I try is for me.

Maybe that is why I didn’t keep up with baton twirling when I was in elementary school. I took a class at the YWCA. I had fun and learned how to move the baton through my fingers — I still can!!!! But, that was the beginning and the end of my interest.

I thought I wanted to be a lifeguard and so I started working toward that in high school but then I just didn’t love the water that much. I still don’t. I like a jacuzzi. I am happy to hang out in a lake or ocean and go snorkeling but I am not a swimmer for swimming’s sake.

Sometimes a new project reminds me of an old project and I find my way back to it. Sometimes things just need a bit more incubation time before they are ready to be fully explored. Sometimes it is just a season of life.

You didn’t mean to set down that book your started to read or write but something interrupted you and you never got back to it. Life can be like that!

I want to encourage you to take some big steps back when you are measuring progress. Don’t get so focused on the immediate results that you can’t see the bigger picture.

One thing that strikes me about God is that He is the God of generations. He is the Creator. We each have our own bents and inclinations and He works in and through those. I am far harder on myself than He is on me. He knows my flaws so well and, yes, He wants me to leave sin behind. But, He also knows that I am a sinful human operating in a world filled with sin.

He loves me. And, He loves you!

Your progress is imperfect. Your life’s journey might be bungled with mistakes — I am sure that is the case for everyone. But the love God has for you is extensive and true. Rest in His grace. Keep moving forward in love — for yourself and for those around you.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. [Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV]