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So here we are right on the edge between this year and the next. I love this time every year, but then again, I love living on the edge. I love the hope of the unknown and the sense of adventure that comes with the new year.
Someone once said that there are two things we can be certain of, death and taxes. That guy was a real pessimist, but he sort of has a point. We do know, in this world, the things we know for certain aren’t many and they aren’t always good. It’s the things of the spirit realm that are certain, and the hope of them entering our world that’s exciting.
The edge of the new year has a great view. From here, we can look back over the past year, and whether it’s been a particularly good one or a difficult one, we can see God’s hand in it, and if we look really hard, we can see His outline and direction for the year to come.
So, join me on the edge. Don’t be afraid to look. God is the God of the past and He is the God of the future. He has great adventures for us!
- Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
These are difficult times we live in. Individuals, families, churches and entire communities are experiencing testings and trials and are suffering in various ways. As someone who is no stranger to trials, I empathize with those who are going through difficulties. I’ve noticed that when things get tough, it is human nature to judge and point fingers. I’ve watched over and over in my own life and in the lives of others that people who are suffering are easy targets for judgers and fixers.
The judgers want to tell you why you are in the situation you find yourself in and the fixers want to tell you exactly how to get out. Both are operating in pride, and most of us have been guilty on both counts. When you are on the receiving end of this it brings everything from condemnation to anger, and leaves you with even more to deal with than before!
So with the times we are in becoming more difficult, I thought it was worth re-posting this.
1 Chronicles 21:13
“I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”
The deeper our distress, the more we long to be in the hands of God. Jesus is just so kind. He understands our plight. He is the incarnation of the mercy seat; that place covered by His blood and filled with the presence of God. Oh, to be in that place when we are hurting!
Unfortunately, we have all had times of distress when we have fallen into the hands of men. Sometimes even well meaning humans create even more distress because they unwittingly operate from the position of the judgement seat rather than the mercy seat. This is the difference between having compassion and “feeling sorry”.
True compassion is born out of suffering that has given birth to empathy. Jesus had (and has) compassion for people because He chose to identify with us in humanness and suffering. Those who merely feel sorry for others have distanced themselves from the suffering of others and say with the pharisees, “Thank God I’m not like that!” Sometimes they even take a kind of perverted comfort in the sufferings of others. Other times they are the types who know just what the problem is and have the simple solution that will change your situation. The ten commandments were the simple solution. If everyone just followed them, things would go well. The only problem is, the law was never meant to be the solution.
Jesus came to be the solution. He didn’t come to point out the pain and suffering and sin and sickness. He came to become the pain and suffering and sin and sickness. He became it, to conquer it, so that we could find our life in Him and operate from the mercy seat.
We have to continually humble ourselves in order to receive mercy and give it to others, and we have to guard our hearts so that we do not become like the Pharisees. To identify with Christ means to be intimately aware of our own brokenness and need for Jesus and to identify with the suffering and brokenness of humanity. We can only give as much mercy as we realize we have received. As humans, we really want to have answers for people and their problems. We can’t always give answers, but we can always give mercy.
Hebrews 2 18For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] [c]to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].
The end of the year is always packed for me. My daughter’s birthday is right around (some years on) Thanksgiving. Two weeks after Thanksgiving is my son’s birthday. Two weeks later is my anniversary. Five days later is Christmas, followed by the new year and my husband’s and my birthdays all in the same week!
This year has had even more events and stresses than usual, but one thing I’ve learned to do is to keep living, I mean really experiencing Zoe Life, in the midst of the stressors and busyness. (Even as I write my six year old is screaming for his sister because he decided to hang from the bannister and got scared!) I’ve learned that no matter what is going on around me, I’ve got to find and remain in the secret place with the Lord and just keep doing what He has called me to do.
The apostle Paul likened we as Christ followers to soldiers. He reminded us that soldiers do not entangle themselves in civilian activities. We are here for the purpose of The Kingdom. Everything else is secondary, at best.
This week Ryan and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. Selah.
We went out to eat. Alone. I didn’t want to think about anything else. We finished our meal and Ryan asked if I was ready to go. “No,” I said. “I think God is speaking to me.”
“Tell me,” he said enthusiastically. “It’s not for us. It’s for the man behind me,” I explained. “Oh,” he sounded as nervous as I felt.
I prayed quickly, half hoping the sense I was getting would go away, but it only got stronger. So, I did the only thing left to do. I wheeled over to the stratnger and his wife and proceeded to tell them what the Lord wanted them to hear. They were very gracious. I went back to my table. As Ryan and I left we passed the strangers. It was a little awkward. We got outside and I was really hoping I had done the right thing when the woman came out to thank me and tell me the story behind the word I had gotten for them.
Wow! God is so merciful! I didn’t have to wonder if I had acted out of obebience or on a whim! It was like God’s anniverary gift to us. Twenty years ago, all we asked was that God get glory out of our marriage. It’s all from Him and for Him and He honors our smallest efforts! We just have to remeber what it (life, marriage, everything) is all about, and He makes it happen. So, I’m thankful that God interrupts our lives, in big ways and in small ones, because it helps me remember why I’m here and who is in charge. So whatever your doing and however crazy it gets, expect, look for and welcome God’s interruptions.
I read this yesterday. I love it! I want to live it.
“LIFE ISN’T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO END; IT’S ABOUT LEARNING TO DANCE IN THE RAIN.”
I know it has been a while since I checked in. It’s been even crazier than usual at my house. My six year old has had some problems that were keeping me really busy. He needs occupational and physical therapy, so I’ve dropped out for a while so that he can go. That turned out to be a really good move because right after Thanksgiving I started home schooling my fourteen year old again.
So, my life looks nothing like it did just a few weeks ago! Again, I’m being stretched and challenged in every way. Just when I thought I was at the breaking point, my friend called for prayer. Her friend is dying from complications of paralysis after twenty years. My heart sank. There are more people that we’ve prayed for that die than get well. I felt the little bit of wind that I had left in my sail, flow right out. Praise God for friends who intercede. My friends prayed, and the discouragement lifted and I was finally able to pray again.
Then I read the news about the shootings at YWAM and New Life in Colorado. It hit hard. Maybe it was the reality check that I needed. As followers of Christ, we only live and die to bring God glory. These other things, as difficult as they can be, are very short term.
My heart is broken and that’s OK. God is near to the broken hearted. The seeds of Life take root easily in ground that has been broken open, and they grow as they are watered by the tears of prayer that we pour out. We live in times of much warfare and many sorrows, but these are the kind of times that God can use to draw people to Himself and show Himself mighty.
It is more important than ever that we surround ourselves and each other with prayer and encouragement. It is time to take our places. This is the time we’ve been born for, and the hour to fulfill the destinies that God has given us both individually and corporately. Don’t look back and don’t give up!
Passage Isaiah 50:7:
7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
