by Audrey Wauson
How do you know if you have a good heart? A heart that is running after God? A heart that fully trusts God? My friend Martha wrote something this week in the CaringBridge journal that blew me away. I want to love and trust God like this. I hope this journal entry will bless and encourage your hearts this week.
Charlie Crane is a friend of ours and he’s got a bad heart. He brought kids from the Children’s Home in Portales to Boy’s Camp every year. He and his wife moved to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to wait for a new heart. Although his physical heart is failing him, his spiritual heart, his heart for young boys to know Jesus, is amazingly strong. His wife, Martha, is an incredible woman of faith. Caring for her husband by herself in a strange and different place, God has been faithful to her.
“I know someone (probably more than one person) has been praying for me today. The moving process went very smoothly. I was able to pack and load everything that was left in La Marque in about three hours' time, and I was able to get it all here in just one trip. I still have lots of unloading to do, of course, but I've got the bed made so I can spend the night here in Galveston instead of having to drive back to La Marque. I know I felt the prayers, because every time I would get 'stuck' in the packing and loading process, the Lord would give me a new idea about how to arrange something or pack something or carry something so it was much more efficient. I KNOW none of those ideas came from me. I'm not saying it wasn't hard work; it was. As my mom used to say, 'I'm sore in places I didn't even know I HAD places!'
I look forward to getting the other things into the house and arranged a little more leisurely pace. Tomorrow will be devoted to getting the grab bar installed and the shower seat and bench put together so they are ready for Charlie's arrival. Then after that I'll work on the cleaning, arranging, and decorating stuff.
By the way, if your ever need one of those clothing racks that you put across the seat of your car by hooking either end of it to the already-present clothes hanger, you can find it at WalMart. Be smarter than I was, though. Since this is a travel item, it should be found in the travel department with the suitcases and other travel accessories, right? Nope! Well, maybe since it's about clothing care, it should be found in the clothing care department with the other types of hangers, clothespins, ironing boards and so on, right? Nope! Well, maybe since it goes in the car, it's an automotive accessory and you'll find it the auto department? Right! But as long as you find it, eventually, . . . (I think the Lord is laughing at me again, and gently reminding me that '. . .my thoughts are not His thoughts; my ways are not His ways. . .' )
God is so good to us; and tonight I am exhausted but satisfied to rest in the love of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And it is to this indescribable love that I commend each and every one of you. How we appreciate and depend on your love and support through Him in these days! Love to all, Martha”
Read the latest update now by using this link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charliecrane
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Last Night
by Barbara ChadwickLast night I was disgruntled after praise team practice. My thoughts went:
- maybe somebody else should be playing the piano
- we should go somewhere else and give the new pastor (here one week) a chance to make his place in the church
- and what IS God going to do with us now?
- what IS our future going to be?
I fretted all the way home from Bellvue to Crystal Lakes - an hour and 15 minutes. When we got home Kenneth began to read from our nightly devotional book - a book on hymns - "God of grace and God of glory"
God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power
then the last words of each verse are:
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage
For the facing of this hour, For the facing of this hour.
the second verse says:
Set our feet on lofty places, Gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christlike graces, I the fight to set men free
Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage
That we fail not man nor Thee, That we fail not man nor Thee
The scripture for the evening was Joshua 1:9 "Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! Remember, the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
I just started laughing! What an immediate response to my disgruntledness! Praise God! He cares about how we feel.
Lord, I pray that as I remember Your creation, Your mighty acts of deliverance from the Red Sea to the present, and Your Awesome Being, I will remember that You have the desire to care for us and the power to grant us wisdom and courage for the facing of this hour and into old age. Thank You for Your Love and the grace You put into our lives. Amen
Saturday, August 9, 2008
I Just Wanna Be A Sheep
by Audrey Wauson
I don’ wanna be a Pharisee…
Cuz they’re not fair you see
I just wanna be a sheep, Baa, Baa. (words to a song my boys learned many years ago)
Pharisee: a self-righteous or sanctimonious person
So I met this woman, actually I see her about once a week, and she drives me crazy. I’m not sure I understand why. She’s very personable, quiet, seemingly intelligent. Then she starts talking. Well, the problem is that in our society we always ask, “How are you?” and so she replies, with a soft sigh, “Oh, I’m ok.” So then you have to ask, “Are you sure? You sound kind of tired.” To which she again softly (and admittedly looking to see if you really want to know) “I’m fine, it’s just the MS.” Or “It’s just been a long week.” Anyways, this woman is not ugly, or abrasive, or in your face, but for some reason her answer and her attitude just irks me.
So being the spiritual person that I am, I begin telling God how much she irritates me. It’s like she’s a walking martyr. I feel like she sucks up all the energy in the room by just walking in. And you know, if this was a one-time deal, or a crisis thing,…I don’t know, I just feel like I’d be more patient. The other thing that really bugs me is that she’s always talking about things that God did for her….a long time ago. There’s nothing fresh, just stale ‘ole woe is me stuff. Mind you I’ve never said anything to her because I’m more sensitive than that, I mean she might actually, really be suffering and I’m just a bit dense.
Then the other day Larry and I were out back moving wood chips and dirt, and the wind was blowing a little, and a bunch of it settled in my sinuses. Actually that would’ve been like Monday I think. So, by Tuesday I had a raging headache. By Wednesday I was exhausted from coughing all night. Thursday I was trying all of the garlic and vinegar cures I could think of (which by the way is the day that my youngest son called and suggested I gargle with salt water and drip some salt water down my nose…I wasn’t ready for anyone else’s solution just yet…I started that on Saturday) Friday I was trying to have my regular quiet time and suddenly this woman’s face and demeanor hit me, as did the memory of several phone conversations I’d had over the past several days of my “illness.” People would hear my voice and say in alarm, “Are you alright?” and I’d croak out some woe is me response and try to be interested in what they were saying, when I really just wanted to focus on the pain and suffering that I was enduring…not very well.
Ah, God is so very good. He is always faithful to point out those areas in my life that are less than stellar. (rueful smile) Since then I’ve been reflecting on how little it took to get me to that whiny, woe is me place. This woman has been sick for several years, multiple Dr.s, numerous self-help remedies, to absolutely no avail. I had been sick less than a week and was reduced to a self-centered, focus on me, baby. Gone is the sanctimonious attitude, the Pharisee that longs for everyone to fit into her mold, to conform to her image of what and how a Christian should suffer. Uggghhh! I hate it when I do that (act stuck-up and know-it-all), and He (God) has to do that (get my attention and remind me who is the Judge.) Sheep on the other hand, are not worried so much about what the other sheep are doing. They are happy to be in the group. They are content to be watered, fed, and given a safe place to sleep. I think… “I just wanna be a sheep, baa, baa.”
I was reflecting that the point that I’d like to be at is where, when I’m hurting, ill, suffering, whatever, that I still am grateful that He loved me enough to die for me, that I still am thankful for His love, care, and compassion for me, that I still worship Him. I’m humbled that He will forgive me for being such a Pharisee to one of His daughters, my sister.
Psalm 130
…Lord, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness…I wait for the Lord; I wait, and put my hope in His word…Israel (Audrey) put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in abundance… Thank God!
PS. Salt water is very effective. I’m feeling a lot better. Forgiveness is very effective. I’m feeling a lot better.
I don’ wanna be a Pharisee…
Cuz they’re not fair you see
I just wanna be a sheep, Baa, Baa. (words to a song my boys learned many years ago)
Pharisee: a self-righteous or sanctimonious person
So I met this woman, actually I see her about once a week, and she drives me crazy. I’m not sure I understand why. She’s very personable, quiet, seemingly intelligent. Then she starts talking. Well, the problem is that in our society we always ask, “How are you?” and so she replies, with a soft sigh, “Oh, I’m ok.” So then you have to ask, “Are you sure? You sound kind of tired.” To which she again softly (and admittedly looking to see if you really want to know) “I’m fine, it’s just the MS.” Or “It’s just been a long week.” Anyways, this woman is not ugly, or abrasive, or in your face, but for some reason her answer and her attitude just irks me.
So being the spiritual person that I am, I begin telling God how much she irritates me. It’s like she’s a walking martyr. I feel like she sucks up all the energy in the room by just walking in. And you know, if this was a one-time deal, or a crisis thing,…I don’t know, I just feel like I’d be more patient. The other thing that really bugs me is that she’s always talking about things that God did for her….a long time ago. There’s nothing fresh, just stale ‘ole woe is me stuff. Mind you I’ve never said anything to her because I’m more sensitive than that, I mean she might actually, really be suffering and I’m just a bit dense.
Then the other day Larry and I were out back moving wood chips and dirt, and the wind was blowing a little, and a bunch of it settled in my sinuses. Actually that would’ve been like Monday I think. So, by Tuesday I had a raging headache. By Wednesday I was exhausted from coughing all night. Thursday I was trying all of the garlic and vinegar cures I could think of (which by the way is the day that my youngest son called and suggested I gargle with salt water and drip some salt water down my nose…I wasn’t ready for anyone else’s solution just yet…I started that on Saturday) Friday I was trying to have my regular quiet time and suddenly this woman’s face and demeanor hit me, as did the memory of several phone conversations I’d had over the past several days of my “illness.” People would hear my voice and say in alarm, “Are you alright?” and I’d croak out some woe is me response and try to be interested in what they were saying, when I really just wanted to focus on the pain and suffering that I was enduring…not very well.
Ah, God is so very good. He is always faithful to point out those areas in my life that are less than stellar. (rueful smile) Since then I’ve been reflecting on how little it took to get me to that whiny, woe is me place. This woman has been sick for several years, multiple Dr.s, numerous self-help remedies, to absolutely no avail. I had been sick less than a week and was reduced to a self-centered, focus on me, baby. Gone is the sanctimonious attitude, the Pharisee that longs for everyone to fit into her mold, to conform to her image of what and how a Christian should suffer. Uggghhh! I hate it when I do that (act stuck-up and know-it-all), and He (God) has to do that (get my attention and remind me who is the Judge.) Sheep on the other hand, are not worried so much about what the other sheep are doing. They are happy to be in the group. They are content to be watered, fed, and given a safe place to sleep. I think… “I just wanna be a sheep, baa, baa.”
I was reflecting that the point that I’d like to be at is where, when I’m hurting, ill, suffering, whatever, that I still am grateful that He loved me enough to die for me, that I still am thankful for His love, care, and compassion for me, that I still worship Him. I’m humbled that He will forgive me for being such a Pharisee to one of His daughters, my sister.
Psalm 130
…Lord, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness…I wait for the Lord; I wait, and put my hope in His word…Israel (Audrey) put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in abundance… Thank God!
PS. Salt water is very effective. I’m feeling a lot better. Forgiveness is very effective. I’m feeling a lot better.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Your Life - Beautiful and Significant
by Barbara Chadwick
Women of every age seem to struggle with the question, “Am I beautiful? Is there anyone in the whole world who thinks I matter?” Every woman has a unique beauty. How we use that beauty is what defines us to the world. We are created for God’s pleasure. He is the one who gives us significance. Each woman has a physical side – her body, a spiritual side – her soul; and a mental side – her mind. God has given each one of us a task to do. I cannot accomplish your task and you cannot accomplish mine. Henry Blackaby says, “This life is not about what you can do for Christ but about what Christ can do through you.”
Norma Day, author of Timeless Beauty, says, “The key to having a beautiful life is to be able to say, ‘I glorified my creator.’” Will you live a life of significance using the beauty and gifts God has given you to glorify Him? Or will you be like a speck of dust in the wind, blown here and there and end up on a table only to be wiped into the trash by Pledge?
A life of significance recognizes that you were created by God for His pleasure. Psalms 45:11 says, “The King is enthralled with your beauty.” We don’t have to wonder who we are, or grapple with what we are here for, or question when we’ll achieve significance, or where to look for answers. He becomes our identity. In Ephesians 1:11-12 we read, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.”
In order to praise Him you need a “Divine Heart Transplant” as Ms. Day calls it. You must realize you have need of a Savior and that salvation comes only through Christ (no matter what Oprah says!) The Bible states clearly in Acts 4:12, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” So Jesus becomes our focus.
We must glorify Him in our attitudes and actions. “There is a beauty in forgiveness and humility which builds an elegance of a godly nature into a woman.” Just as Jesus forgave us we must forgive others. Don’t be like Gollum with the ring, holding onto our slights and slams, saying in our hearts, I’ll never let go of this!” This keeps us in bondage.
Another thing that keeps us in bondage is not forgiving ourselves. We must let go of our own past failures or disappointments so that we can become all Christ meant for us to become. We must give to Christ the, “burnt ashes of our lives.” God takes our brokenness and gives us, “renewed beauty in exchange.” Realize that Jesus is your Life Source, your Advocate and your Best Friend.
It is only in Him that we can accomplish anything. He has given each one a task. He asks each of us the question He asked of Moses, “What’s in your hand?” He has already placed in us what we need to accomplish what He put us here to do. Be obedient. Be FAT (faithful, available and teachable) as Billy Hanks, Discipleship educator, teaches. Do completely whatever He puts in front of you to do. You cannot be a Ruth Bell Graham or a Beth Moore. You must be whoever He made you to be; unique and beautiful in His eyes. Matt Redman said in his book, Inside Out Worship, “He is not looking for something brilliant but for something broken: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.’ (Ps 51:17) The exercises of our enlightened minds may deduce God, but only our ignited hearts can delight Him – and in turn experience His desire to delight us!"
Let the Lord gather the dust of your body, mold your mind and guide your spirit. Let Him direct your steps into a life of significance and beauty
I’m grateful to the following authors for inspiring me to live a life of significance. I want to recommend their books to you:Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry & Melvin BlackabyInside Out Worship by Matt RedmanThe 4:8 Principle by Tommy NewberryTimeless Beauty by Norma Day
Women of every age seem to struggle with the question, “Am I beautiful? Is there anyone in the whole world who thinks I matter?” Every woman has a unique beauty. How we use that beauty is what defines us to the world. We are created for God’s pleasure. He is the one who gives us significance. Each woman has a physical side – her body, a spiritual side – her soul; and a mental side – her mind. God has given each one of us a task to do. I cannot accomplish your task and you cannot accomplish mine. Henry Blackaby says, “This life is not about what you can do for Christ but about what Christ can do through you.”
Norma Day, author of Timeless Beauty, says, “The key to having a beautiful life is to be able to say, ‘I glorified my creator.’” Will you live a life of significance using the beauty and gifts God has given you to glorify Him? Or will you be like a speck of dust in the wind, blown here and there and end up on a table only to be wiped into the trash by Pledge?
A life of significance recognizes that you were created by God for His pleasure. Psalms 45:11 says, “The King is enthralled with your beauty.” We don’t have to wonder who we are, or grapple with what we are here for, or question when we’ll achieve significance, or where to look for answers. He becomes our identity. In Ephesians 1:11-12 we read, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.”
In order to praise Him you need a “Divine Heart Transplant” as Ms. Day calls it. You must realize you have need of a Savior and that salvation comes only through Christ (no matter what Oprah says!) The Bible states clearly in Acts 4:12, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” So Jesus becomes our focus.
We must glorify Him in our attitudes and actions. “There is a beauty in forgiveness and humility which builds an elegance of a godly nature into a woman.” Just as Jesus forgave us we must forgive others. Don’t be like Gollum with the ring, holding onto our slights and slams, saying in our hearts, I’ll never let go of this!” This keeps us in bondage.
Another thing that keeps us in bondage is not forgiving ourselves. We must let go of our own past failures or disappointments so that we can become all Christ meant for us to become. We must give to Christ the, “burnt ashes of our lives.” God takes our brokenness and gives us, “renewed beauty in exchange.” Realize that Jesus is your Life Source, your Advocate and your Best Friend.
It is only in Him that we can accomplish anything. He has given each one a task. He asks each of us the question He asked of Moses, “What’s in your hand?” He has already placed in us what we need to accomplish what He put us here to do. Be obedient. Be FAT (faithful, available and teachable) as Billy Hanks, Discipleship educator, teaches. Do completely whatever He puts in front of you to do. You cannot be a Ruth Bell Graham or a Beth Moore. You must be whoever He made you to be; unique and beautiful in His eyes. Matt Redman said in his book, Inside Out Worship, “He is not looking for something brilliant but for something broken: ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.’ (Ps 51:17) The exercises of our enlightened minds may deduce God, but only our ignited hearts can delight Him – and in turn experience His desire to delight us!"
Let the Lord gather the dust of your body, mold your mind and guide your spirit. Let Him direct your steps into a life of significance and beauty
I’m grateful to the following authors for inspiring me to live a life of significance. I want to recommend their books to you:Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry & Melvin BlackabyInside Out Worship by Matt RedmanThe 4:8 Principle by Tommy NewberryTimeless Beauty by Norma Day
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Puddleglum's My Name
by Audrey Wauson
“Puddleglum’s my name. (He’s a Narnia Marshwiggle.) But it doesn’t matter if you forget it. I can always tell you again.” …
“Now,” said Puddleglum. “Those eels will take a mortal long time to cook, and either of you might faint with hunger before they’re done. I knew a little girl – but I’d better not tell you that story. It might lower your spirits, and that’s a thing I never do. So, to keep your minds off your hunger, we may as well talk about our plans.”
“Yes, do let’s,” said Jill. “Can you help us find Prince Rilian?”
The Marshwiggle sucked in his cheeks till they were hollower than you would have thought possible. “Well, I don’t know that you’d call it help,” he said. “I don’t know that anyone could exactly help. It stands to reason we’re not likely to get very far on a journey to the north, not at this time of the year, with the winter coming on soon and all. And an early winter too, by the look of things. But you mustn’t let that make you down-hearted. Very likely, what with enemies, and mountains, and rivers to cross, and losing our way, and next to nothing to eat, and sore feet, we’ll hardly notice the weather. And if we don’t get far enough to do any good, we may get far enough not to get back in a hurry.”
-The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Sounds like me yesterday. Our pianist is out of town for a month and I’m replacing her. Not a good replacement, but nevertheless with the guy on the drums and another guy on the guitar, we got by. And I’m not used to playing for hours on end. I got up early and ran through the songs at the house, then played them again at the church around 7:30am then with the guitar guy around 8am. Then we actually did the service at 8:30am. Then I played for the run-through at 9am then for the actual service at 9:30, then for the communion at 10:30, then for the 11:15 service and then finally for the last communion at 12:00. Good grief, and next Sunday will be worse because it’s just singing and testimonies the whole time all 3 services, which normally I love, because it’s just straight singing which I can do for hours. But piano playing is another thing.
So in between services while the praise team and band were hanging out waiting for our turn on stage, people were complimenting me and telling me how much they appreciated what I was doing. And what was I saying in response? “Wow, I’m so tired. I can’t believe how tired and sore my arms and shoulders are. I don’t know if I can keep on. I’m sure to make all kinds of mistakes. I’m going to need a nap after all of this. Etcetera a nauseaum…. Ugghhhhh!!!!
Here’s the deal, I had been praying and asking God for the opportunity to do some piano playing and He graciously arranged for me to have that opportunity, along with a coach, in the form of the regular pianist playing through all of the songs on a CD so that everyone in the band could practice at the right tempo. Then when I was scared to death of failing, He not only gave me the strength to do the task, He also provided the mental ability to stay focused. And how did I respond? verbally, to those who asked me about it? Did I go on and on about how good God is? About how He’s so awesome to give me the strength to do this task? About how glorious it is to have Him working through me? Noooooooo, I instead focused on all of the negative aspects, I dwelt on all of my struggles and trials. Oh woe is me, a Marsh-wiggle in need of a new mouth and mind!!
Lord Jesus, please give me a new mouth and mind; a mouth and mind that is thankful for everything that you have given me; a mouth and mind that thinks of everything that is true and noble and right; a mouth and mind that trusts and believes that You are the One who will come and save me!!! Please let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You!!!!! You are so awesome and I’m so grateful that You chose me to play this month. Help me to be worthy of this great honor!!!
“Puddleglum’s my name. (He’s a Narnia Marshwiggle.) But it doesn’t matter if you forget it. I can always tell you again.” …
“Now,” said Puddleglum. “Those eels will take a mortal long time to cook, and either of you might faint with hunger before they’re done. I knew a little girl – but I’d better not tell you that story. It might lower your spirits, and that’s a thing I never do. So, to keep your minds off your hunger, we may as well talk about our plans.”
“Yes, do let’s,” said Jill. “Can you help us find Prince Rilian?”
The Marshwiggle sucked in his cheeks till they were hollower than you would have thought possible. “Well, I don’t know that you’d call it help,” he said. “I don’t know that anyone could exactly help. It stands to reason we’re not likely to get very far on a journey to the north, not at this time of the year, with the winter coming on soon and all. And an early winter too, by the look of things. But you mustn’t let that make you down-hearted. Very likely, what with enemies, and mountains, and rivers to cross, and losing our way, and next to nothing to eat, and sore feet, we’ll hardly notice the weather. And if we don’t get far enough to do any good, we may get far enough not to get back in a hurry.”
-The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Sounds like me yesterday. Our pianist is out of town for a month and I’m replacing her. Not a good replacement, but nevertheless with the guy on the drums and another guy on the guitar, we got by. And I’m not used to playing for hours on end. I got up early and ran through the songs at the house, then played them again at the church around 7:30am then with the guitar guy around 8am. Then we actually did the service at 8:30am. Then I played for the run-through at 9am then for the actual service at 9:30, then for the communion at 10:30, then for the 11:15 service and then finally for the last communion at 12:00. Good grief, and next Sunday will be worse because it’s just singing and testimonies the whole time all 3 services, which normally I love, because it’s just straight singing which I can do for hours. But piano playing is another thing.
So in between services while the praise team and band were hanging out waiting for our turn on stage, people were complimenting me and telling me how much they appreciated what I was doing. And what was I saying in response? “Wow, I’m so tired. I can’t believe how tired and sore my arms and shoulders are. I don’t know if I can keep on. I’m sure to make all kinds of mistakes. I’m going to need a nap after all of this. Etcetera a nauseaum…. Ugghhhhh!!!!
Here’s the deal, I had been praying and asking God for the opportunity to do some piano playing and He graciously arranged for me to have that opportunity, along with a coach, in the form of the regular pianist playing through all of the songs on a CD so that everyone in the band could practice at the right tempo. Then when I was scared to death of failing, He not only gave me the strength to do the task, He also provided the mental ability to stay focused. And how did I respond? verbally, to those who asked me about it? Did I go on and on about how good God is? About how He’s so awesome to give me the strength to do this task? About how glorious it is to have Him working through me? Noooooooo, I instead focused on all of the negative aspects, I dwelt on all of my struggles and trials. Oh woe is me, a Marsh-wiggle in need of a new mouth and mind!!
Lord Jesus, please give me a new mouth and mind; a mouth and mind that is thankful for everything that you have given me; a mouth and mind that thinks of everything that is true and noble and right; a mouth and mind that trusts and believes that You are the One who will come and save me!!! Please let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You!!!!! You are so awesome and I’m so grateful that You chose me to play this month. Help me to be worthy of this great honor!!!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
WAIT
by Barbara Chadwick
Psalm 46:10a
"Be still and know that I am God"
February is a cold month in northern Colorado. On this particular Sunday there were patches of snow on the ground. The trees seemed to be hovering, their branches fluttering in the wind, nude. All the wildlife we see in summer were in their holes or dens. It seemed as if all creation was waiting for the breath of spring. We were on our way to church, fifty-three miles away, down the mountain. We began on the dirt road out of our community, progressed to a two lane paved road which dead-ended on the highway leading to town.
We saw a hawk sitting on a top branch of a tree, very still, watching, waiting and listening. God seemed to say, "Look. You need to be like that hawk listening for My voice, waiting for My leading and watching to see what I am going to do in your lives."
At this time the church, where my husband has been serving as interim pastor, is about to call a full-time pastor. We are ready. We have been blessed to be here but now it's time for the next step.
Some days I feel anxious because we don't know yet where God wants us to serve next in our retirement. God brings the hawk to my mind - still - waiting, watching and listening. He seems to say, "You are not at a dead-end but I am about to bless your lives in a wonderful way. Just be still and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10a
"Be still and know that I am God"
February is a cold month in northern Colorado. On this particular Sunday there were patches of snow on the ground. The trees seemed to be hovering, their branches fluttering in the wind, nude. All the wildlife we see in summer were in their holes or dens. It seemed as if all creation was waiting for the breath of spring. We were on our way to church, fifty-three miles away, down the mountain. We began on the dirt road out of our community, progressed to a two lane paved road which dead-ended on the highway leading to town.
We saw a hawk sitting on a top branch of a tree, very still, watching, waiting and listening. God seemed to say, "Look. You need to be like that hawk listening for My voice, waiting for My leading and watching to see what I am going to do in your lives."
At this time the church, where my husband has been serving as interim pastor, is about to call a full-time pastor. We are ready. We have been blessed to be here but now it's time for the next step.
Some days I feel anxious because we don't know yet where God wants us to serve next in our retirement. God brings the hawk to my mind - still - waiting, watching and listening. He seems to say, "You are not at a dead-end but I am about to bless your lives in a wonderful way. Just be still and know that I am God."
Friday, July 4, 2008
Fixing Wrinkles
by Audrey Wauson
Some things don’t need ‘fixing’ as much as they need accepting.
So you know, there’s some things that you shouldn’t worry about ‘fixing.’ Sunday morning I got out this skort, that goes with the Hawaiian shirt that follows the theme of the service (a surfing VBS thing) and the front of the skort is a bit wrinkled. Not a problem, I get out the ironing board and proceed to look for my iron. I can’t find it anywhere. Larry can’t find it anywhere. Okay… I’ll just dampen it and toss it in the drier. Problem is, it’s the only thing in the dryer and it clumps up and comes out wrinkled worse than before. Ugh…. So I dampen it again, (no I do not have several Hawaiian themed outfits in my closet) and use the hairdryer on it. Now it looks somewhat like it looked before I started the whole process of ‘fixing’ the wrinkle.
There’s this verse that says these things happen so that you can encourage others… “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthian 1:4NIV
So Sunday night we had our small group over and we were waiting around for the last couple to show up. (this is the wrinkle) So I think to myself, “I’ll just give them a call to see if they’re coming or not.” Which is cool, but I make the phone call in front of everyone, and since we’re all hungry, everyone’s watching me. When they answer, she says, “Oh, you know we got busy, and there’s other things we’d rather do, so no, we won’t be there tonight.” (at least that’s the way I received what I heard) So now I’m having to do some self-monitoring (a word I’m learning in college;) I’m trying really hard not to be offended and struggling to think of what to say. So my husband calls out from the other room, “Well?” and I say, “Oh they’ve got other things they’d rather do, so let’s go ahead and eat.” But I know that my body language is really struggling to keep everything neutral. The problem is, this isn’t the first time that they’ve had other things to do when our small group met, and not the first time that they couldn’t come to our house for similar reasons. (additional wrinkles) The problem is in trying to ‘fix’ the problem I created many more wrinkles, because the couple is our pastor and his wife. So now, because of my hurt feelings, I’ve created some negative impressions that maybe completely unjustified, and may never get completely ironed out. Ugh!!! Thoughts are NOT neutral. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says we should “….take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.” Here’s the original wrinkle, when I was offended the first time I allowed myself to justify my negative reactions and didn’t really take it to God. Then as other experiences came along they stuck to the original offense. Then when I got caught off guard those ‘wrinkles’ that I had been collecting really showed up, and they showed up in a way that wasn’t flattering to my brother and sister in Christ. Ugh!!!
I believe God would have me to encourage you to not allow little wrinkles to bother you, don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is full of wrinkles and life goes on. You and I can have a wonderful time with our brothers and sisters in Christ if we focus on each other and NOT on the external ‘wrinkles’ that need ironing.
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