Archive for the ‘Faith’ Tag
A clean sheet of paper
January 1, 2010.
First one awake…but not for long.
Nine joins me for “Juice and Coffee”.
I explain to her that today is like receiving a clean sheet of paper.
Carefully think about what you will write on it because there are no do-overs for 365 days.
It’s like when we ask God to forgive us for something we’ve done wrong.
If we are really sorry then we get a do-over.
Psalm 103:12: “He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west.” (NLT)
I’m glad we get a do-over.
I’m looking forward to my clean sheet of paper.
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Hearing problems
Different meaning depending on how you pronounce the phrase.
I think I need to have my hearing checked.
I’ve been hearing a lot of problems this year.
Things like one friend said, “Sorry I can’t meet you for lunch…we’re out of money and we may have to sell our home.”
Or “The doctor said my retina is detached and I must have surgery right away.” (not me friends)
And, “Since you don’t have insurance we can work out a payment plan.”
And, “Thanks for applying for this position, unfortunately, you are overqualified.”
Or “I’ve applied for more than 100 jobs and none of them appeal to me and I apparently don’t appeal to them.”
You get the idea.
I guess my hearing is OK…its just what I’m hearing that is the problem.
Whoever said “I never promised you a rose garden” wasn’t kidding.
These are the times that try men’s souls.
The opening words of series of pamphlets written by Thomas Paine in 1776 titled The American Crisis.
Who said history doesn’t repeat itself.
So how can we feel about this?
How should I feel about this?
This is the time when James 1:2-4 must be real for us.
It wasn’t put in the bible by mistake.
God knew there would be times like this (and 1776).
Read these words from the New Living Translation: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Raise you hand if you want to be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
I guess it is not my hearing that’s the problem…just my thinking.
Learning to be content whatever the circumstances
In Philippians 4:11 Paul said, “…I’m learning to be content whatever the circumstances.” (NIV)
And this was from a guy who was beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and yet he was learning to be content, whatever the circumstances.
I’ll have whatever he is having for breakfast!
And yet, I feel like I can slowly, shakily at first, say those words.
I’m scared. What if God says, “OK, you ain’t seen nothin yet!”
And what if He does?
There comes a time in everyone’s life when we have to cut the crap and grow up. Grow up to what we have been called to be.
Plato said it best, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life, is when men are afraid of the light.”
He knows her name
Filed under: God, Reflection, Uncategorized | Tags: Faith, God, Hope
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Lucy is in the hospital again.
The fifth time this year.
Eleven days and counting.
It seems pretty bleak.
They sang a song today in church that made me think of her situation – our situation (because she is not in this alone). The chorus went, “He knows my name!” over and over again. The “He” being God.
I was comforted.
Hope for the hopeless.
Comfort for the afflicted.
After all, He knit her together in her mother’s womb. She IS fearfully and wonderfully made. And isn’t it great that God is never constrained by the circumstances of this world or our sin.
Mother Theresa said, “I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.”
We have faith that Lucy’s pain and suffering will end soon and that we will see her again in the presence of our God. At the end of the day, isn’t this all we have anyway? Hope rooted in faith.
