Beauty for Ashes

This morning after receiving very sad news from my dearest friend I was numb. Literally, I had no emotion that I could put my finger on. For a few minutes I thought maybe it was shock, which to some degree is true, but I really did not feel. There is a part of me that is ashamed to admit this. But, then as I began to process this lack of emotion I realized that I truly did not know what was the appropriate response to the enormous pain of someone I loved so much and had no way of even beginning to understand. Does that make me a bad friend? I hope not. We say we hurt with someone. And there have been times I have hurt for others. I have never experienced that kind of loss. I have nothing to say, nothing to contribute.

She and I had been discussing just yesterday how things that we perceive as pain are always good for us in God's eyes. Those words are easy to roll off our lips but take years to truly believe, and even longer to live in that truth.

So, I walked outside for fresh breath and instead a fresh perspective is what I found. God has a way of reminding me time and again that just because I don't always understand something certainly does not negate its unfailing truth! As I looked around at birds, trees & flowers trying to hear the heart of my heavenly Father I saw scattered rose petals across my yard. At first I barely noticed, but as I felt the sharpness of the wind I realized they were everywhere. I spun quickly to examine my rose bush I had recently been so proud of with its overflowing blooms. This rose bush had been almost dead last year and I pruned it, cared for it and this spring had been a marvelous payoff. Even my husband, a man mind you, had commented on the number of roses it had produced. My fear was that I would see all of the branches stripped of their color. But instead the dear bush looked no worse for wear. And in addition my entire front yard had been littered with gorgeous red petals. The way you would see the isle preceding a bride, or a romantic bath drawn on Valentine’s Day.  And then I saw the lesson as clear as day. In God's economy subtraction sometimes equals addition. What I would have thought would destroy my beautiful rose bush actually added to the beauty all around it. And, even though I would never have chosen to do that to the roses, it sure was a glorious site when God did it. I wonder how many times in my life I have failed to even look for what God may be creating with what I saw as pain? I'm trying Lord. Truly I am trying to see the view from Your thrown, through Your eyes. Please help me Father. Help my dear friend, who I love, to know that you intend to scatter beauty in her life because of her pain.

In Isaiah 61:3 The Lord gives us a sweet picture of this process...

"To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

No Expectations

Isn't disappointment one of the most awful feelings to have? We anticipate an event to occur and it doesn't or a person’s response differs from our expectations. Man, that just tends to have an adverse effect on my disposition. (I tend to get ticked off!) I can feel anything from mild irritation to deeply depressed, all because things didn't pan out as I thought they would, or even worse as I thought they should. What if our level of expectation changed? What if we decided not to have any expectations at all? What a foreign concept!

Recently the Lord dealt with me about how much I let my expectations of people and situations steal my joy and at times seriously disturb my walk with Him. He promptly told me how I need to let go of the constraints I have put on so many relationships in my life simply through the expectations I created. This causes a cycle of discontent and disobedience. Not to mention how it can cause one to become a downright unpleasant person to be around. You know what I mean. Don’t we love those who “go with the flow” and avoid the people who live by the “my way or the highway” mantra?

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried , whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said , Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said , Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk . 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up : and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength . 8 And he leaping up stood , and walked , and entered with them into the temple, walking , and leaping , and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God”      Acts 3:1-9

Notice how the lame man in verse 5 paid attention to Peter and John because he expected to receive something.  He didn’t receive the monetary gift he expected to get from them. Doesn’t it make you wonder in that moment in verse 6 when Peter said he didn’t have any money to give, if the man was disappointed? But instead he received something way better than what he expected …healing! Sometimes expectation clouds our ability to appreciate what the reality turns out to be. Now I’m not saying that there aren’t times when what you get is certainly worthy of disappointment. Life is a difficult journey with bumps along the way. But if our attitude is sculpted by the events that surround us, we cannot allow God to speak. When I desire my husband to respond to me in a particular way and he doesn’t, for whatever reason, I have the choice to accept that graciously, forgiving immediately, or to choose to be resentful. This can give way to various other emotions and actions that displease or disobey God. Many times what we want for ourselves is not what is best for us. And we may miss it altogether if we are busy focusing on what we didn’t get. God always has our best in mind! According to Jeremiah 29:11 He tells us he has plans to prosper us and not harm us. And as the lame man learned quickly, God did have a better plan than what he was expecting. So for me, I choose to say each time I feel that twinge of letdown, “I will have no expectations, Lord, except that Your will be done!”

 

Life’s Purpose?= Glorify God

        I often wonder how different my life could have been had I invested as much time and effort in searching the Scriptures as I have in so many other fruitless activities each day. How much greater would my influence for God have been on my children, friends and neighbor's? It seems a lifetime ago I was a mommy to three little ones. Oh, how my heart aches for that season to return. Sadly during that season of my life I ached for relief of what seemed overwhelming and unending responsibilities. What tools did I lack then that I somehow feel better equipped with now? I had the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in my heart…I had the power of the Holy Spirit as my strength…I had the Word of God in multiple volumes…I had God’s grace bestowed infinitely. Unfortunately my personal relationship with Jesus wasn’t as deep as it could have been.

“But Jesus said to him, “No one having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”” Luke 9:62 (NKJV)

Our focus should be on moving forward. Learning, growing; it’s a lifetime process. I’m thankful the Lord does not look back on my sin. And I’m thankful for the wisdom and knowledge He continually reveals to me. How can I be a greater steward of what He has entrusted me with in this season of my life? Share the truth…in love.

“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)

So, the purpose in my life…Glorify God in all I do. As I ponder what that purpose means in action I am reminded to answer according to the Word of God. My very existence was brought about to be a helper.

“And the Lord God said, “It is not good that a man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”” Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) 

How grateful to God I am to have been given such a task.  Oh, what a task it is at times! And, how fulfilling to be living your true purpose. God is so gracious to allow us to grow-as-we-go. There was no entrance exam or job interview to be a helper. I was born for the assignment…literally! As the responsibilities unfolded there were new discoveries around each corner. I am still on the potters wheel trying to be as pliable as wet clay. And as this journey unfolds, I will bless Your Holy name Lord! Abba Father, I adore You. Thank you for being a Great and Awesome God Who is Mighty to save and Faithful to forgive.

“But sanctify the Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evil doers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV)

 

Join me in the journey???

For Such a Time as This

The words of Mordecai the Jew in the book of Esther often ring in my ear..."Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Each and every stage of our life, all of the struggles we may face with a new day, the triumphs that were long awaited; how do we know if those moments, the contributions we make in this life of loving those around us, caring for those in need, encouraging, teaching, anything of value or worth that flows through us...how do we know these are not the moments we were created for? Live a life on purpose, deliberate in each choice. Knowing that what you do may matter in a larger way than you recognize.