Every problem points to a promise ...

It's incredibly hard for some to see the sunshine for the clouds at times. And there are some who are convinced the clouds mean nothing other than a terrible storm. Been there, done both.

I'm doing another 'pass along' today. The following is part of a devotion I received. And I'm not sure about you, but I have needed, know someone who does, or know someone who has - needed each of these promises. I think the paraphrasing of the scriptures is on point as well.  

How about you? Know someone who could benefit? Feel free to share. I did . . .

It sometimes feels as if the fog of doubt and fear of darkness will never lift from our lives. The promises of God seem to get swallowed up by the problems we face. We want to curse our crisis – not praise God in the midst of that crisis. The hurt and pain overwhelm our faith, and we lose sight of the fact that this world is not our home and the troubles we face are only temporary. Lift your eyes. Fix your heart and mind on God – He is with you – and makes every problem point to a promise.

Promise of direction Proverbs 20:30 "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." 

God uses problems to show us the way. We would walk through the wrong door if He didn’t close it. Years ago, I dated a young man I thought I would marry. I began to pray, “Lord, if he is not the one, just close the door.” The very next conversation I had with this young man ended our relationship and resulted in meeting my wonderful, godly husband.

Promise of correction Psalm 119:71-72 "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."

God uses problems to correct us. When our daughter was a toddler, she was fascinated with electrical outlets. Nothing we said or did seemed to deter her … until the day she stuck a safety pin in the outlet. “Ouch!” she cried, holding up her little red finger for me to kiss. She never played with an outlet again.  

Promise of protection Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it keeps you from being hurt by something more serious. I dreaded taking our children to get their immunization shots. I took a healthy child to the doctor and came home with a little one who was fussy, sore and running a low grade temperature. Our pediatrician finally said, “Think of it like this. You are allowing your babies to experience a little hurt in order to prevent them from experiencing a bigger hurt.  A tetanus shot is nothing compared to tetanus itself.”

Promise of perfection   Romans 5:3-4 "We can rejoice when we run into problems ... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady."

Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. Think of this: sweat is good for pearls. It helps them keep their luster. :)

God is at work in and around you.  You may not see His hand, hear His voice or even understand His process, but you can rest assured that you can trust His heart.

Remember, every problem points to a promise.

Until later :)

Just because . . .

I'm happy to report that our empty nest has yet to grow eerily quiet. Oh yeah, I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a fear I'd had. But it's been just the contrary. Instead, we're blessed with regular visits or at least drive-by's, from the Priss and her Prince - often to include the granddog of course. And we're blessed to have a 'grown' granddaughter who actually wants to spend time with her Nana and Papa.

But even with that, it's more often the memories of childhood laughter, running (always the running) and even the occasional sounds of bickering that still fill our home and my heart. They may be physically absent from our house, but they left behind so many sweet and powerful memories.

That being said, I got a call from my son last night. And afterwards I found myself recalling that laughter, running and so many other sounds and memories of his childhood. Those few sweet, short years of a serious case of mommy-itis that had his dad convinced he'd surely be a sissy. The bike wrecks, the bumps, the bruises, the splinters, the annual poison ivy,

the constant - 24/7 - melody of Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama 



and the big brother role he still plays so well.

All of those sweet, sweet memories ...

The fact that he called - not because he had a question, a problem or because he wanted something -but 'just to talk' left this mama's heart singing and her thoughts chocked full of memories all night long. He called because I'm his mama and he loves me. :) 

So when I was still recalling that conversation this morning, I found myself also wondering if this is how God must feel when I 'call' him. Not because I need something or have yet another problem. But just to talk - just because I love him ...

 “Call to me,” says the Lord, “and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know,” (Jeremiah 33:3 NLV).

Until later :)



Accumulated Impact . . .

Have you ever felt as if you experienced a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde moment? You know, like when you're around your friends, co-workers or acquantainces and your behavior closely mimics the well-liked and respectable Dr. Jekyll - only to become the hideous, depraved Mr. Hyde when in the company of those who know and love you more than anyone else in the world? Oh so guilty! (enter shameful face here)

Our small group is actually working thru a study right now by Gary Thomas called Sacred Marriage. AWESOME study, regardless of where you are in your marriage.

So when I received the following email today it brought to mind one of the questions it addressed - 

Are you spending more time asking God how you can love your spouse like he or she has never been or ever will be loved, or are you endlessly repeating your spouse’s failures and presenting God with a laundry list of things you want him to change?

I mean, wow.

It is so easy to continually heap a mountain of expectations onto the shoulders of those we love the most. We just fail to realize that most of the time they are oblivious of the expectations AND the mountain. (Enter - accumulated) That is, until they both come crashing down. (Enter - impact)

The pizza guy held a delivery bag too small for the requested four large ones we had ordered. I opened the door and smiled, “Four large pizzas, right?”

The look on his face told me the many teens in our back yard were about to be really disappointed. He said, “Ummm, well, actually there’s only two. Let me check your ticket … oh, yeah you’re supposed to have four. Give me 20 minutes and I’ll be back with the other two.”

I took the two he had and said, “Oh no problem. The kids can start on these and then have round two when you get back.”

As I walked into the kitchen my husband gave me a funny look, “I thought you ordered four pizzas.”

“Yeah, the delivery guy forgot two of them but will be back in a few minutes. No big deal,” I quipped with a shrug of the shoulder.

My husband tilted his head, “You didn’t even ask for a discount or coupons or anything?”

“Oh honey, I felt bad for the guy. It’s not a big deal for the kids to wait for a few minutes,” I answered with a smile.

Remembering how I had reacted during a little “growth opportunity” we’d had earlier, my husband said, “Wow. I’d like to receive that kind of grace.”

Ouch. His point was well made. I had gotten so aggravated with something he had done and was sure to let him know it. Why is it that I’m so quick to give a gentle answer to a complete stranger - but spew on those whom I love the most?

I think it’s because of accumulated impact.

This was the only time I’d ever seen the pizza guy. Therefore, my emotions toward him were completely neutral. So when he made a mistake, I was able to just simply let it go.

But I have a history with my husband. We do lots of life together. If I let little aggravations collect, my emotions ratchet up creating more and more tension. Then when something happens, I find it much harder to brush it off.

Accumulated Aggravations = Accumulated Impact

Therefore, it’s crucial that I don’t collect aggravations. I’ve heard the verse many times: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger…” (Ephesians 4:26). I know that. But honestly there are times I ignore it. I go to bed mad anyhow. I collect the aggravations because I’m too tired to talk. Or, I don’t want to deal with it. Or, I try to convince myself it’s not a big deal to go to bed mad - just this once.

But when I keep reading one more verse, Ephesians 4:27, I understand why I should deal with little aggravations when they are still little. They might not stay little long. Why? Because verse 27 finishes with a strong warning, “and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

Yikes.

The devil is just waiting for me to give him an opportunity. I picture him looking at me getting mad over the stupidest little things and hissing “Go to bed mad…go to bed mad…oh yes, go to bed mad and just give me an itty-bitty opportunity.” That sends shivers down my spine. As it well should.

I love my man. It's true I get aggravated with my man. But still, I love him. So, I certainly don’t want to open the door of opportunity for the devil to turn small aggravations into big ones.

What I did do was put the pizzas down and kiss my man’s cheek. “Honey, I love you more than anything and I’m sorry I didn’t give you that kind of grace.”

To which he replied with an ear to ear grin, “I still think we should have asked for a discount or coupons.”

Like I said, I love that man!

Think about it.

Accumulate = to gather into a heap, mass, cover, etc.
Impact = to collide with; strike forcefully

Grace = mercy; clemency; pardon
Spouse = a person's partner in marriage

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Until later :)