Sticking with Family

Well, once again it is the wee hours of the morning.  The pain is still there but the attitude is different.  Had a long talk with a friend last night who reminded me that I am a woman of faith.  That might sound like a ‘duh’ statement.  I mean, I have been saved and endeavoring to walk with God for a long time.  But…sometimes, when situations overwhelm us, we need a little reminder of just who we are in Christ. 

That’s where good friends come in and why we need one another so much.  Trying to be an island puts us in a lonely venerable place.  It leaves us open to depression, discouragement and soul gripping loneliness.  Trying to walk out our Christianity alone leaves us open to all kinds of attacks and deception.  That is why the Bible says to not forsake church fellowship, especially in the last days (Hebrews 10:25).

We need good friends who will bear us up, hold up our hands like Aaron and Hur did for Moses in the fight against Amalek (Exodus 17:12).  The kind who will make every step we make like Ruth did for Naomi (Ruth 1:16).  The kind who will sing harmony like Silas did for Paul when neither one of them felt like singing (Acts 1:22-25).   That’s where the church family comes in.

I can hear it now, “But there are so many hypocrites going to that church”.  Maybe, but that doesn’t mean we stop going.  We don’t stop going to the grocery store because there are hypocrites there, do we?  We don’t stop going to work, sporting events or vacations because of hypocrites, do we?  Then why do we think it is a good excuse to skip out on church?

Let me ask this question—are you perfect?  I’m not and every time I walk into my church, I take my imperfections with me.  In my last blog, I said “Have I actually implemented the changes?  Honestly?  Some things, yes; some things, no.”.  Don't the ‘nos’ make me a hypocrite?  

Years ago, Shawn and I were talking about church and he pulled out the hypocrite card.  I ask “Do you think I am a Christian?”  He quickly said “Yes”.  Then I asked “Well, am I perfect?”  He laughed and said “No”.  To which I said, “All those people are just like me.”  I never heard the hypocrite excuse again.

In the church family, we’re all a work in progress.  I need the grace of my church family as I walk out my salvation and they need mine.  I need their encouragement when I hit the rough patches and I need to be encouraging when they are in theirs. 

That’s what families do; we stick together.

Put up or shut up

It’s hard to believe this is my 28^th blog post.  (I know I shouldn’t admit this but) What surprises me most is how much I have enjoyed it.  In my very first blog, I talked about feeling like anything I said would be stupid, who would want to read it…etc.  Now I realize, it doesn’t matter. 

Yes, I would like for my blog to be widely read.  Yes, I would like to receive favorable comments (A big thanks to all who have commented.  They are encouraging).  Yes, I would like for my readers to walk away with something—hope, encouragement, a smile.  But the most important thing is obedience.  I am called to write and blogging is something I should have been doing as soon as I became technologically able. 

Through the years, I have gone from pen and paper to typewriter, word processor and computer.  I have used carbon paper, whiteout and the delete button (a lot).  I’ve gone from snail mail to email to the cloud.  Several things have changed over the years but one thing hasn’t.  I am never more satisfied than when the characters in my head come to life and spill their story out into the world.  It is a bone-deep, soul-hunger satisfaction. 

Do I get frustrated when my characters want to go a different direction than I was planning?  Certainly!  Staring at a blank screen while waiting for them to decide what comes next is never a good place to be (arguing never helps).  Are there times when the business of writing seems overwhelming?  Absolutely.  But none of that alters the satisfaction.

So, where does the put up or shut up come in?  In this blog, I have been chronicling the changes in my life in the last two years.  Most of them lead to an ‘I need to change’ decision. Have I actually implemented the changes?  Honestly?  Some things, yes; some things, no.

These last few weeks, lack of sleep and pain have been my constant companion.  Once again, I was walking the floor at 3:30 a.m. speaking scriptures over myself and God brought to mind some of my blogs.  It was an ah-hah moment.  In the past, when I hit a wall like this I would back down (shut up); not believe I could overcome or was good enough for God to move in my behalf.   

He asked one simple question; ‘This time, are you ready to move on?’ (put up). 

The move is on.

Hope

Hope—a wish or desire accompanied by 

confident expectation of its fulfillment.

Hope is a huge word full of promise.  It has infinite ripple effects in our lives.  When we see a future; a light at the end of the tunnel; that this too shall pass, it gives us the strength to carry on.  Hope is infectious, contagious, always beneficial.  One ray of hope will spread and others will gain strength from it.

Hopelessness is also a huge word but it is devoid of promise.  It, too, has infinite ripple effects in our lives.  It is also infectious and contagious but it is never beneficial.  When all we see is darkness ahead; that nothing will change; a mind numbing never-ending sameness, it saps us of all energy for life.

We cannot control outside forces.  This is a common statement but do we really take it to heart?  Or are we still inclined to blame fate or karma (or God) for our circumstances?

This question has been on my mind lately.  In the past 6 years, my life has changed a lot (a lot, a lot, a lot).  Most of the changes have been good.  I have lost weight, published 2 books, moved into a newer trailer and made a few forever friends. 

Still…past experience has taught me that none of it will last, none of it will matter in the end, all of it will slowly fade along with all my dreams.  Fatalistic, right? and a major downer (see, told you I had drama queen tendencies).  Carole (ex-mother-in-law, good friend) has been fussing at me lately because of it (God’s been on my case about it, too).  In our last conversation I realized that although all of these good things have happened, I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop.  I also realized that trying to encourage others when there is no true hope in me has a hollow ring to it that they can clearly hear.  I’ve heard it myself from others. 

1 Peter 3:15 says, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

I’m sorry to say that no one has asked me that question lately.  It’s time to change that.

Rest

I was going to write on hope this week.  I even started the blog but it is now 3:49 in the morning and plans have changed.  Needless to say, it has been a rough night.  Won’t go into it because that’s not the important part.

God has really been dealing with me about entering into His rest.  About eight years ago, He began dealing with me about fear.  I had no idea that pretty much my whole life was controlled by fear.  At every turn, the Spirit was pointing it out.  I mean at every turn. 

Thought I had dealt with it.  Yes, there are still times the Spirit will ask ‘Why did you make that decision?’  I back up, look at it, correct it and go on.  I really thought I was doing a lot better but…this rest thing is taking me to a whole new level.

As I lay in bed, I started singing the old chorus “What a Healing Jesus”.  Then, sang it while walking the floor.  Finally, sat down at the piano and accompanied myself.  After a while, I pulled out the hymnal and turned to “Wonderful Peace” by Cornell and Cooper. 

Far away in the depths of my spirit tonight rolls a melody sweeter than psalms. 

In celestial like strains it unceasingly falls o’er my soul like an infinite calm.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace coming down from the Father above.

Sweep over my spirit forever I pray, in fathomless billow of love.

Flowed into “Trust in Jesus” by Stead and Kirkpatrick. 

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word,

Just to rest upon His promise, just to know thus saith the Lord

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend

And I know that Thou art with me, will be with me to the end

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er

Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus, oh for grace to trust Him more

I love all types of Christian music but sometimes the old hymns say it best.  The only place of true peace is true rest.  The only place of true rest is true trust.