I love to watch birds soaring and diving, especially when there are
two who appear to be carried away with the mere pleasure of racing up
towards the heavens and tumbling back down over one another and then
spreading their wings wide and gliding.
I had the thrill of gliding once. We were towed behind a noisy little
single engine plane to just the right soaring height. I sat in the
front with a skywide view through the canopy. The pilot sat behind me.
I was unprepared for the sudden loud bang of the tow line being
released from the plane and snapping back to the fuselage of our
glider. But I was even less prepared for the amazing sense of
stillness, an almost palpable peace in the weightlessness. The pilot
gently dipped a wing setting us into a lazy spin giving a real
birdseye view of the rolling golden California hills beneath us. He
took us through a few more maneuvers expertly riding the air currents
feeling the wind lifting our wings. It was amazing! Then he told me
the controls were all mine. It turns out I was better at diving than
soaring and my 30 minute ride was cut to 15 as I gladly gave up
control and relied on the proficiency of my pilot to glide us in
safely.
It's amusing to some that my stint as a flight attendant a few years
left me afraid to fly. It was a 30,000 foot high ride over a tornado
that scared the wits out of me.
I often reference my favorite devotional 'Streams in the Desert'.
This day's encouragement is especially poignant for me so I pray it
will bless you as well:
"They will soar on wings like eagles." Isaiah 40:31 "There is a fable
about the way birds first got their wings. The story goes that
initially they were made without them. Then God made the wings, set
them down before the wingless birds, and said to them, 'Take up these
burdens and carry them'.
The birds had sweet voices for singing and lovely voices that
glistened in the sunshine but they could not soar in the air. When
asked tot take up the burdens that lay at their feet, they hesitated
at first. Yet soon they obeyed, picked up the wings with their beaks,
and set them on their shoulders to carry them. For a short time the load
seemed heavy and difficult to bear, but
soon, as they continued to carry the burden and to fold the wings over
their hearts, the wings grew attached to their little bodies.
They quickly discovered how to use them and were lifted by the wings
high into the air. The weights had become wings.
This is a parable for us. We are the wingless birds, and our
duties and tasks are the wings God uses to lift us up and carry us
heavenward. We look at our burdens and heavy loads, and try to run
from them, but if we will carry them and tie them to our hearts, they
will become wings. And on them we can then rise and soar to God.
There is no burden so heavy that when lifted cheerfully with love
in our hearts will not become a blessing to us. God intends for our
tasks to be our helpers; to refuse to bend our shoulders to carry a
load is to miss a new opportunity for growth." J. R. Miller "No matter
how overwhelming, any burden God has lovingly placed with His own
hands on our shoulders is a blessing" Frederick William Faber
----end quote---
When I was a child I was consumed with the desire to fly. My knees now
attest to the many times I jumped from low roofs and high swings in my
desire to capture that sense of flying.
This month I find myself faced with a set of wings before me . I tried
to run as I said "Lord, this set of wings is too big for me, and I
heard Him answer "Of course they are but you are not going to be
flying alone. I will there with you every beat."
Contrary to the popular bumper sticker, God is not my co-pilot. But I
aspire to be His. He's sure to overcome my fear of flying!
July 10, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Crisis
In the counseling training manual I am studying for my work at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, there is a depiction of two characters making up the word for "crisis" in Chinese. The first represents "danger" and the second "opportunity", literally translated "Opportunity Riding On A Dangerous Wind."
Presently there are two crises facing me, one more threatening than the other, both beyond my control. Mulling them over, I came across a devotional discussing the bible passage in Matthew 14 where Peter steps out of his boat responding to Jesus' command to "come". Rather than reaching for Jesus’ hand, he looks at the wind and begins to sink.
"You will not prevail by measuring the waves or grow strong by gauging the wind". (Streams in the Desert)
I can see I have been assessing the dangers rather than seeing the opportunities they present. And I am realizing that the only way to seize an opportunity in one hand is to have Jesus holding my other hand.
As my pastor reminded me, "Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries." Psalm 108:13
Presently there are two crises facing me, one more threatening than the other, both beyond my control. Mulling them over, I came across a devotional discussing the bible passage in Matthew 14 where Peter steps out of his boat responding to Jesus' command to "come". Rather than reaching for Jesus’ hand, he looks at the wind and begins to sink.
"You will not prevail by measuring the waves or grow strong by gauging the wind". (Streams in the Desert)
I can see I have been assessing the dangers rather than seeing the opportunities they present. And I am realizing that the only way to seize an opportunity in one hand is to have Jesus holding my other hand.
As my pastor reminded me, "Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries." Psalm 108:13
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Pray Believing - It's a Matter of Faith
Matthew 7:7-11 (NKJ)
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
A week ago, I was feeling the need to fast and pray for business. We’d had no new business in 6 weeks. In other words there was nothing in the bank. I didn’t believe God wanted me to close up shop. Many livelihoods were being affected. One of my team mates shared a dream she’d had. She’d seen our sales sheet with more sales than there were lines for sales.
The five members of my team gathered to pray. We met early-in-the-morning, turned some praise music on low, turned out the lights and knelt down on our faces. We beseeched God to provide the much needed sales and then spent the remainder of that hour in joyful praise and tearful worship lifting Him up. We committed ourselves individually to fast and pray throughout the day. When we walked back into the office, the phone started to ring. God was calling with our first sale.
Five days later, we put our 12th sale under contract. That's more sales than lines for sales. There is a place on our sales tracking sheet that asks for the source of the sale e.g. advertising, referral etc. We’ve written: God, Jehovah-Jirah, El Shaddai, Eloim.
My cup runneth over. Whatever the world may see, the five of us know – God heard our prayers and answered. We are overwhelmed by his over-and-above provision.
I was reminded of one of my favorite missionary stories about a women’s prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines during WWII. The story is: this one woman was in an isolated cell with bare minimum provisions. There was a little window high up on her wall and if she pulled her bed under the window and used her fingertips on the ledge to pull herself up, she could see her fellow prisoners in the compound. One day as she looked out, she saw a villager sneaking a bunch of bananas through the fence to a prisoner. She delighted for her friends but began to crave bananas. She prayed that somehow God might sneak her a banana. Soon thereafter, her cell door opened and a guard entered with a gift for her – a huge bunch of 92 bananas!
I never cease to be amazed at the super-natural God we serve. There is nothing He cannot do. Our God is powerful beyond understanding.
"All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matt. 5:22
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”
A week ago, I was feeling the need to fast and pray for business. We’d had no new business in 6 weeks. In other words there was nothing in the bank. I didn’t believe God wanted me to close up shop. Many livelihoods were being affected. One of my team mates shared a dream she’d had. She’d seen our sales sheet with more sales than there were lines for sales.
The five members of my team gathered to pray. We met early-in-the-morning, turned some praise music on low, turned out the lights and knelt down on our faces. We beseeched God to provide the much needed sales and then spent the remainder of that hour in joyful praise and tearful worship lifting Him up. We committed ourselves individually to fast and pray throughout the day. When we walked back into the office, the phone started to ring. God was calling with our first sale.
Five days later, we put our 12th sale under contract. That's more sales than lines for sales. There is a place on our sales tracking sheet that asks for the source of the sale e.g. advertising, referral etc. We’ve written: God, Jehovah-Jirah, El Shaddai, Eloim.
My cup runneth over. Whatever the world may see, the five of us know – God heard our prayers and answered. We are overwhelmed by his over-and-above provision.
I was reminded of one of my favorite missionary stories about a women’s prisoner-of-war camp in the Philippines during WWII. The story is: this one woman was in an isolated cell with bare minimum provisions. There was a little window high up on her wall and if she pulled her bed under the window and used her fingertips on the ledge to pull herself up, she could see her fellow prisoners in the compound. One day as she looked out, she saw a villager sneaking a bunch of bananas through the fence to a prisoner. She delighted for her friends but began to crave bananas. She prayed that somehow God might sneak her a banana. Soon thereafter, her cell door opened and a guard entered with a gift for her – a huge bunch of 92 bananas!
I never cease to be amazed at the super-natural God we serve. There is nothing He cannot do. Our God is powerful beyond understanding.
"All things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." Matt. 5:22
Monday, March 10, 2008
People Patience
"For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God" 1 Peter 2:19-20
There are two kinds of patience. Patience with circumstances and patience with people. I don't have to tell you which is the more difficult test.
What of those who always seem to bring out the worst in us? A new thought was presented to me - they are supposed to! When my worst comes out- it is me who is humbled. I see the ugly response in my mind(and sometimes my words) and am busted! Conviction leads to repentence and repentence to trust and trust to patience. Who am I to judge?
There are some who have caused me much pain. (I bet you have such a someone in your life). But God uses these individuals to work on me. Instead of reacting in the flesh as is common to man, He prompts me to pray for that person and in the process, my eyes are opened to considering the plight of that individual and I am changed by compassion.
When we recognize that someone is bringing out the worst in us, think about this - God WANTS the worst of us to get out and make room for His best for us!
There are two kinds of patience. Patience with circumstances and patience with people. I don't have to tell you which is the more difficult test.
What of those who always seem to bring out the worst in us? A new thought was presented to me - they are supposed to! When my worst comes out- it is me who is humbled. I see the ugly response in my mind(and sometimes my words) and am busted! Conviction leads to repentence and repentence to trust and trust to patience. Who am I to judge?
There are some who have caused me much pain. (I bet you have such a someone in your life). But God uses these individuals to work on me. Instead of reacting in the flesh as is common to man, He prompts me to pray for that person and in the process, my eyes are opened to considering the plight of that individual and I am changed by compassion.
When we recognize that someone is bringing out the worst in us, think about this - God WANTS the worst of us to get out and make room for His best for us!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
A Heavenly Lullaby
“He will quiet you with His love.” Zephaniah 3:17
When I was 9 or 10 years old, I used to try to frighten my little brother so he would let me hold and comfort him. The flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz were particularly scary to him. I would just mention that they were coming for him and he’d jump right into my arms. That’s not how he remembers it but I swear it’s the absolute truth. Fortunately, that’s not how God the Father operates. But He is ready when our fears get the best of us.
It is the picture of a nurturing parent and a fretful child. When we can’t see the path ahead and begin to imagine what it might look like, can’t you just picture our Great Heavenly Father shushing us with words of comfort and affirmation? All is well. We are in His arms. He is protecting us now and will provide for us hence. After all, He knows what’s coming just as He knew what has passed before we did. If you keep your eyes upon Him, not upon your circumstances, you can climb into His lap and let Him “quiet you with His love”.
When I was 9 or 10 years old, I used to try to frighten my little brother so he would let me hold and comfort him. The flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz were particularly scary to him. I would just mention that they were coming for him and he’d jump right into my arms. That’s not how he remembers it but I swear it’s the absolute truth. Fortunately, that’s not how God the Father operates. But He is ready when our fears get the best of us.
It is the picture of a nurturing parent and a fretful child. When we can’t see the path ahead and begin to imagine what it might look like, can’t you just picture our Great Heavenly Father shushing us with words of comfort and affirmation? All is well. We are in His arms. He is protecting us now and will provide for us hence. After all, He knows what’s coming just as He knew what has passed before we did. If you keep your eyes upon Him, not upon your circumstances, you can climb into His lap and let Him “quiet you with His love”.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Testing
"Although I have afflicted you,.....I will afflict you no more." Nahum 1:12
I have just experienced a period of testing. "Sorrows like sea billows rolled". I felt overwhelmed with the seemingly endless trials crashing over me in waves.
I remembered a time my husband almost drowned while we vacationed in Cancun. An excellent swimmer, he dove into the ocean waves and with a few confident strokes found himself caught in the convergence of two wave patterns crashing over him. Unable to catch his breath between waves, he would have drowned but for an alert life guard who rescued him.
My circumstances found me deeply humbled as familiar waters turned violent. I barely caught my breath before another trial overtook me.
As I studied the scripture 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the "Love" chapter, God showed me areas in my life needing pruning(for who He loves, He prunes)and I glimpsed His purpose in my suffering. Once I was able to submit to His shears, I sensed a new freedom. He'd cut away a few dead and useless branches I was carrying and the fruit of hope and joy sprang forth.(John 15).
"There is a limit to our affliction. God sends it and then removes it...........who knows how soon these raging waves will give way to a sea of glass"(Streams in the Desert) ................or when God our Lifeguard will pluck us from our circumstances. But we can know that it will be once we've glorified God and given Him all praise and honor.
I have just experienced a period of testing. "Sorrows like sea billows rolled". I felt overwhelmed with the seemingly endless trials crashing over me in waves.
I remembered a time my husband almost drowned while we vacationed in Cancun. An excellent swimmer, he dove into the ocean waves and with a few confident strokes found himself caught in the convergence of two wave patterns crashing over him. Unable to catch his breath between waves, he would have drowned but for an alert life guard who rescued him.
My circumstances found me deeply humbled as familiar waters turned violent. I barely caught my breath before another trial overtook me.
As I studied the scripture 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, the "Love" chapter, God showed me areas in my life needing pruning(for who He loves, He prunes)and I glimpsed His purpose in my suffering. Once I was able to submit to His shears, I sensed a new freedom. He'd cut away a few dead and useless branches I was carrying and the fruit of hope and joy sprang forth.(John 15).
"There is a limit to our affliction. God sends it and then removes it...........who knows how soon these raging waves will give way to a sea of glass"(Streams in the Desert) ................or when God our Lifeguard will pluck us from our circumstances. But we can know that it will be once we've glorified God and given Him all praise and honor.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Bad News
The news was bad. The decision was against us. Not what we'd hoped for.
"He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord"(Psalm 112:7). That is what comforted me through the waiting.
So now I understand. Whether the news is what I'd hoped for or not, I can trust God. His ways are not my ways. Good thing for I would surely mess it up. I am assured of His plans to give me a hope and a future. This "setback" is insignificant on the journey He has for me. I'm excited to see how He will use it.
"He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord"(Psalm 112:7). That is what comforted me through the waiting.
So now I understand. Whether the news is what I'd hoped for or not, I can trust God. His ways are not my ways. Good thing for I would surely mess it up. I am assured of His plans to give me a hope and a future. This "setback" is insignificant on the journey He has for me. I'm excited to see how He will use it.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Waiting
Is there something you are awaiting news on? A job? Test results? Word about a loved one?
Today I will learn the outcome of a particular trial. I've awaited the decision for 6 months. I opened my devotional this morning, after asking God to "Open my eyes that I may behold the wonderful things from your Word" (Psalm 119:18), and was comforted by these jewels:
"He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:7
"For I know the plans I have for you,...plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"He that believeth shall not make haste(Hebrew word meaning put to shame)"
Isaiah 28:16
If we will trust Him, no matter the outcome, we will have peace in the waiting. He walks with us.
Today I will learn the outcome of a particular trial. I've awaited the decision for 6 months. I opened my devotional this morning, after asking God to "Open my eyes that I may behold the wonderful things from your Word" (Psalm 119:18), and was comforted by these jewels:
"He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:7
"For I know the plans I have for you,...plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
"He that believeth shall not make haste(Hebrew word meaning put to shame)"
Isaiah 28:16
If we will trust Him, no matter the outcome, we will have peace in the waiting. He walks with us.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Comfort and the Great Physician
"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" Isaiah 40:1
My heart is broken. I've lost a friend, a sister very dear to me. This morning I rose up early to meet with my Lord. I sought solace and wondered with expectation what Words He would have for me.
I have a page in my prayer journal I often look at where I have written many of His names. As I began calling on Him - I realized the names Comforter and Great Physician were not yet on this already full page. I added them.
Then, before going on in my prayer time, I opened my devotional - Streams in the Desert - and read this verse - "Comfort, comfort my people says your God." Tears sprang to my eyes and I smiled as I realized that this was indeed His word for me today. And as I wondered ..........my eyes moved down the page devouring the passage.......I came to the name Great Physician. I stopped, amazed at how close God really is to the hurting, the seeking. The very two names I'd recorded moments before jumped from the page! He is our Comforter and Great Physician indeed!
"They tell me love must bleed,
And friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep."
We suffer and learn His healing ways so we may comfort those we meet along this journey..........His people.
"Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it." Col 4:17
My heart is broken. I've lost a friend, a sister very dear to me. This morning I rose up early to meet with my Lord. I sought solace and wondered with expectation what Words He would have for me.
I have a page in my prayer journal I often look at where I have written many of His names. As I began calling on Him - I realized the names Comforter and Great Physician were not yet on this already full page. I added them.
Then, before going on in my prayer time, I opened my devotional - Streams in the Desert - and read this verse - "Comfort, comfort my people says your God." Tears sprang to my eyes and I smiled as I realized that this was indeed His word for me today. And as I wondered ..........my eyes moved down the page devouring the passage.......I came to the name Great Physician. I stopped, amazed at how close God really is to the hurting, the seeking. The very two names I'd recorded moments before jumped from the page! He is our Comforter and Great Physician indeed!
"They tell me love must bleed,
And friendship weep,
Ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep."
We suffer and learn His healing ways so we may comfort those we meet along this journey..........His people.
"Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it." Col 4:17
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