Do Your Reason

It's been a while. I know. And I apologize. Life (as we like to call it) has overwhelmed me lately and while I have known that I need to be on here sharing and encouraging, I've found myself at the end of every day with really no words to share.

Before you fall out of your chair laughing, "Nancy?!? NO words?!?" - it's true.

I want to encourage. I want to uplift and be a light. A voice for faith.

I've simply been just overwhelmed. However, to re-adopt my two-year-old motto: "No Excuses" - I apologize.

A good friend said to me this week, "God put you here for a reason. Do your reason."

That being said...here goes.

To begin: a confession. To follow-up: a turn-around.

Confession: I've felt so worn out and weary and completely spent lately that I have not given myself and my spirit what it needs. I've been consumed with the needs and demands of those around me that I have neglected my own very real, very necessary, needs; both physically and spiritually. That's about to change; at least for a couple of soul-demanding weeks. I'll not lament what those needs are as they will sound like whines and I left that part of my past just there - in the past. I beat it, kicked it, dragged it out of town and shot it in the head and am determined that it shall not resurrect itself. I'll just end this by reminding some of you (who really need to remember) that it is ok - no, better yet, it is Godly - to take care of yourself physically and spiritually. In fact, if you don't, you find yourself with nothing left to give. And that, my friends, is where I am dangerously close to edging upon.

Turn-around: It's time for some blessing counting.

• At the end of the day, I truly am blessed to be surrounded by so many people who desire my company and assistance and trust me with their needs as much as they do. There are times when my desire is not to be needed quite so much, yet it is a privilege to be counted worthy of walking alongside my friends, family, brothers and sisters, shouldering a portion of their burdens.
• My family has a new (to us) vehicle. And, in reality, it is a better quality van than the one that was just totaled. We definitely came out on the winning end of that drama and I am grateful to God every time I get in it and start the engine.
• I learned today that my blog has been read in 12 countries. Humbling.
• New friends I have made on this journey have opened my eyes more clearly to the world around me and how touched by the hand of God I have been. He loves to challenge me daily to see others as He sees them and it is truly a gift for which I cannot thank Him enough.
• Our family has a new member: Ngutse lives in Rwanda and we have adopted him through Compassion International. My children pray for him and his family every day and we are falling more and more in love with him.

I've spent a week pondering and meditating; knowing I am not following my calling to share and minister and walk this life as transparently as I can in order to encourage others. And I've ended each day with no words. Today, my eyes were opened to the connection between my weary heart and my calling; my needs and the needs of those around me.

So, today, I will get over myself and my (sinful) worries and my childish whines and I will do what God put me here to do.

I will do my reason.

Who Do You Think You Are?

Or a better question: Who do I think I am?

This is not a post with answers.

These are questions. Musings. Ponderings.

As I massage my terribly wounded toes.

These last few days have been overflowing with reminders of: Forgiveness.

Second Chances. (And third. And fourth.)

'Faith and love work together. Faith is energized by love, and we cannot expect our prayers to be answered if we are angry at someone or have unforgiveness in our heart.' -Joyce Meyer (Mark 11:24-26)

Ouch. Don't like that one.

'Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent free in your head.' - Facebook post

Ouch. Don't like that one either.

Think God is trying to tell me something?

Or how about this one?

'Forgive, and you will be forgiven.. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.' -Luke 6

I like that one the least.

Because the measure I have used has been poor indeed. Small.

Sitting in a school assembly this past week with people across the auditorium with whom I really desire to be angry was so. very. hard.

But, as I have said before, right now God is calling me to let go.

At first I thought it was a 'letting go' of the past so I can move on with my life. A calling to benefit me. Then I've begun to realize that is only part of the calling. To let go - fully - also means to let go of my pain. Of the wrongs. Of the lies. Of the abandonment. Of the things that just are not 'right' in my eyes.

Deep down, in the now and in my forever future, that is also for my benefit.

God tells me in His love letters to me that He will right the wrongs.

Do I trust that that may not mean exactly what I want it to?

Am I ready to really...let go?

I was asked this week, as I lamented my worries over my children and their happiness and their adjustments and learning: "Who do you think you are, Nancy, to think that you determine your children's future? Your children are God's. They were never yours to begin with. He has them well taken care of. You are not the one to make things happen for them. Let God do that. You just parent the way God would have you - parent to please Him."

I'm going to take it a step further:

"Who do you think you are, Nancy, to not forgive the wrongs against you in your life? How much more has God already forgiven from you?"

Ouch.

'I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway

I am Judas’ kiss

But You love me anyway' - Sidewalk Prophets

Lord, please forgive me.

And teach me to forgive as you do.

"I am Judas' kiss" - that line gets me every time...

Police, Propane and Providence

Friday, September 17, 2011:

Driving north into town to run a few errands, an elderly woman pulled out of a parking lot to my right and, in spite of my best efforts to avoid her, slammed heavily into the passenger side of my van. The impact sent me careening across the southbound lanes of the highway and my van did not come to a stop until I was in a parking lot of a local propane dealer.

As I stood outside of my vehicle, examining damage and trying to stop the shaking, I quickly could see God's fingerprints all over this event.

1. My children were not with me in the car. Had they been, more than likely they would not have been injured, but I know the impact would have been terrifying for them; especially my son who sits in the passenger seat and whose door took the brunt of the force.

2. A policeman was sitting in the parking lot adjacent to the one the woman exited and witnessed the entire event. This was an enormous blessing because a stranger immediately approached him and told him that the accident was my fault. The policeman calmly stated, "I don't know who you are or what you think you saw, but you are wrong."

3. Did you read the sentence above which stated that I sailed across the opposite lanes of the highway? Now, I know Fayetteville is not a large town, but at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon, any area of that stretch of highway is constantly filled with traffic flow. And in that instant that I was hit, there was NO ONE COMING down that stretch of road.

4. Neither the woman who hit me nor I were injured in the accident.

5. And, my good (and hilarious) friend and coworker, pointed out the blessing that came from the place where my van finally stopped. Thank God I did not continue to fly into a propane tank!!

*Can't you just hear the talk? "What was that explosion? OH! That's little old speech teacher Nancy careening into a propane tank on Huntsville Highway!"

God was all over it. He saw it coming (long before the point of impact). He was at the ready. He's not finished with me. And He has a plan.

Many questions now remain and are consistently tossed my way on a daily basis:

Will your van be totaled?

If so, how much money will you get?

Will the insurance company try to railroad you?

What will you do in the meantime?

All good and legitimate questions. But, I knew then and I know still today, God has that all figured out. Already. He had it figured out before the accident occurred. And His will WILL be done. Because God is God and that's enough for me. Really. It is.

The past week has consisted of almost immediate arrangement of a borrowed car until I could get a loaner, laughter over my deep-seeded need to be the center of attention, splitting headache and stiffness, phone calls, unsolicited advice from well-meaning friends, and the momentary breakdown that occured as all of the hullabaloo settled down.

I thank my Great Love for the blessings listed above and for so many others unmentioned. I am certain there are many other blessings of which I am even unaware.

I shared my experience once again last night at work, and my wonderful (and hilarious) co-worker, upon hearing my list of blessings, stated:

"OK, that's it. You ARE indeed the favorite."

:-)

Victims

Ever notice how COMFORTABLE we are on this subject?

Victims: Some of us are very comfortable being victims. We are very accustomed to blaming others or circumstances, deflecting responsibility, wallowing in our 'feel-sorries'. It seems so easy at times to be self-pitying and sad - takes the weight of responsibility for our joy off of our own shoulders.

"You don't understand what I'm going through."

"Just wait till you face what I'm facing."

Victims: Others of us are very comfortable placing others in this category.

"Bless their hearts."

"If it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all."

It doesn't matter how much others strive for victory, we strive (even UNintentionally) to keep them in their 'victim-hood' for whatever reason. Maybe we desire to rescue them. Maybe they draw us in with their victim mentalities. Or maybe we're jealous of their victory. And it's easier to push them back into their victim-ness in order to make us feel comfortable.

It's all about our comfort zone.

Ever notice people's reaction when someone faces a trial or a tragedy with grace and faith and peace? We praise them. We sit in awe of them. We applaud their faith.

Why?

We are surprised by it. In awe of it. Because it is not 'natural.' We look at others facing difficult times with trust in their Father as if they are aliens.

Which, in all actuality, they are.

I was recently told by a close friend who is facing similar challenges to mine, "You are so positive that I just want to choke you." (In Christian love of course).

And, sure enough, there was someone following close behind at the ready to point out all the times when I am not positive.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

This life: NOT. ABOUT. ME. It's not about you either.

So, I strive to let go. Move forward. Forge ahead.

And there are those cheering me on. And those so undeniably uncomfortable with that.

I am moving from Survivor to Victor. I am not be there yet. But, I am steadily and unwaveringly on my way.

I urge you to do the same.

A Love Song

There is a magic in the evening sky.

Deep, midnight blue backdrop hosting tufts of cloud amidst a bounteous sprinkling of stars. I gaze toward it believing for a brief moment that I can, indeed, touch them.

There is a resonance in the night sounds.

Creation sounding in melody all around me. I close my eyes and my heart joins in the chorus of celebration encircling me.

As the world where I stand comes to rest for a brief instant, I am captivated by the masterpiece surrounding me. I am in awe of the gift I have been given to catch a glimpse of the landscape around me.

And my heart is overcome at the way He can cause me to perceive that it was all...for...me...

Test Fail

Shipwreck.

Prison.

Beatings.

Snakebite.

Prison.

Shipwreck.

Starvation.

Beating.

I look at this list and think to myself, "Hmm...my life seems pretty peachy-keen."

When did you ever hear the apostle Paul complain to God? When did we ever read of him whine about "All I'm trying to do is teach people about you, God! Why can't you keep these things from happening to me?!?"

Nope. He knew all along that the reason all these terrible events happened to him was because the adversary knew what Paul was doing. If the adversary didn't stop Paul, the word of the Messiah would spread all - over - the - world. He HAD to be stopped!

So, we can read of all the catastrophes that happened to Paul as a list of horrendous situations. Or we can look at those events as a long list of some of satan's greatest failures.

Glass half empty or half full?

"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." I Peter 1:6-8

Recently I've been tested. And, I will confess, more than once I desired to admit defeat, give up, lie down and be done. I knew in my heart God was calling me to be a witness. But, I did not want that calling. I was tired. I said it over and over: "I'm exhausted." And I was surrounded by a variety of people: some encouraging me to stay strong, many encouraging me to give in. (FYI - the folks you surround yourself with during a time of crisis are critical to your being able to declare victory or defeat).

This past week, in my journey along this latest path, I've realized that I failed my latest test. God allowed the experience to refine my faith-that it may be proved entirely genuine. I stumbled. I crumbled. I pulled the covers over my head for a while and begged God to take me out of the battle.

This past week - terribly humbled.

Yet, I know that means another test will come. That's one of the greatest aspects of being in love with God - do overs.

I desire not to be afraid and filled with dread. Instead, I will take this time to "armor up" and ready myself for the next round to come. God NEEDS my faith proven genuine. And I know that I'm going to keep stumbling along the same path over and over until I learn what I need to learn and allow my faith to lead.

So, satan, bring it.

God, allow it.

And I'll prayerfully get prepared.

Illumination

Sound, dreamy sleep.

Alarm.

Yawn.

Stretch.

Stumble.

Fumble.

Tripping, sluggish feet on the cold bathroom floor.

Flip switch.

OUCH!

Light.

Hurts! Squint. Hand-covered face.

Grumbly mumbles over morning coming too early.

Yawn.

Proceed.

You know, light shined brightly - and suddenly - into a dark place is not fun. It can be painful. It can reveal things you didn't know were there. (Ever turn on a light only to see a creepy bug in the room?) It is startling. Jolting. Awakening.

"He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light." Job 12:22

"Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you." Ps 139:12

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart." I Cor. 4:5

Ever wonder why God shines His light into our hearts? Is it because He's a control freak and insists on having things His way? I think not and I propose a theory: Since God cannot be where darkness is; God IS light; in Him there can be no darkness - so, control freak? Or relentless lover of his creation? If He cannot be where there is darkness, the darkness has to be removed for Him to be even closer to us. I believe when He shines His light to reveal darkness in my life, He is in actuality revealing Himself to me in a more intimate way by showing me how desperately He desires to be closer to me. My darkness may be sin, deception, buried truths, or unhealed pain. Whatever my darkness is, my Great Love wants it gone simply for the purpose of being closer to me.

And God, in His unfathomable wisdom, has a way with timing. He is never late. He is always on time.

I am a sucker for a good story. And over the past few weeks, I have watched three families be thrown into chaos. And over those weeks, God has drawn each story together; lives intertwined and connected in a tapestry of divine providence and direction. Each life shaken; devastated. Each life illuminated; revealed. Each life softened; drawn closer to the heart of the One who created it.

I have lived a little bit of light-shining here recently. Realizing that my heart is still hurting from my past is unnerving and difficult. Yet never have I felt more loved by the Love of my life as He has shown me that His shining the light of Himself into the darkest recesses of my heart is simply one more way He has demonstrated a passionate pursuit of ALL of me.