Finding Faith in the Mess
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not …
I’ve read many blog posts and articles about how we as a society “chase busy.” I’ve also read posts that tell us how we need to start “chasing slow.” We talk about balance and how we need it, but know it’s unattainable. My husband often …
Holiness in Human Hands
Water to wine
Raising Lazarus from the dead
Fed 5,000 with five loaves & two fish
Walked on water
Healed the soldiers ear
Jesus did many miracles. He is known for many things; especially the miracles he did while here on earth. When people think of Jesus, they think of His miracles. They bring hope to a sometimes hopeless time.
What we don’t hear a lot about is Jesus’ every day. What did He do as He lived out His 33 years. We are so easily gripped by the spotlight moment, even in our own lives, that we miss the miracle of the every day.
Jesus was a child who had to learn to walk, talk, and be a sibling and friend. He was a preteen trying to figure out all the weird stuff. He became a teenager coming into His manhood and His calling. The early 20s came along and He was well on His way in His ministry. He met a group of buddies and did life with them.
Can you imagine?
You are Matthew laughing until your stomach hurt because of something Jesus said and then, all of a sudden, you realize the God of the universe made you laugh. The one who created so much joy in you that the overflow is laughter is the one who told the joke. Holiness in human hands.
You are Thomas and you are frustrated. You are just having one of those days. Jesus comes along and brings you lunch. He sits and eats with you knowing you needed your tribe. You feel comforted by your friend. You forget that He is holiness in human hands.
Imagine the banter along the roads as these men traveled together. Can you picture their laughter and jarring each other? These men were friends. They were each others’ people. They did life together. They laid under the stars at night talking about the day before them only to realizing they were debriefing with the one who made the stars. Holiness in human hands.
It’s easy to equate Jesus with holiness; especially when you think of all the miracles He performed. What is even more extraordinary to me is His holiness in the every day. Holiness in human hands.
Jesus becomes even more exquisite when I think about the holiness that came from His human hands. When I think about how He worked with His hands as a stone mason building things and getting dirty I think about how those are the same hands that created the heavens and the earth. Holiness in human hands.
“May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works — He who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains , and they smoke.” Psalm 104:31-32
Love & Blessings,
Meg
I saw a post that contained some awful news. It was one of those things where you want to shake your fist at God so angry at how unfair the news is. It didn’t make sense and it didn’t seem right. Inexplicable. When I read …
I was listening to a podcast the other day and the girl was sharing her life story. Her story was one of redemption. If someone looked at her life today, they would assume she was living the good life. What they wouldn’t see is the mountains she had to climb to get to this place.
Her story, like many of us, included a dark season. There was a moment in her life when she made the decision to have an abortion. Don’t stop reading. This isn’t a pro-life vs. pro-choice debate blog. This is a story of how we can love better.
In order to enter the abortion clinic, she had to walk past protesters. People lined the sidewalk in front of the clinic spewing all kinds of hate and nasty comments. They even attacked her car as she drove in. The protesters did not deter her from walking into the clinic and following through with the abortion. If anything, they pushed her deeper into that decision than changed her mind. Their hate-filled speech even propelled her roommate who drove her to the clinic to apply for a job there. She didn’t want other women to feel the way her friend did so she decided getting a job there would allow her to be a source of peace and comfort in such a tumultuous time.
I am all for protesting. We all have a voice and we all have a right to share that voice. But, I wonder how many of us are using our voice for good; for the betterment of others. I can’t believe shouting horrific things at another human being would do anything to change their mind. I often tell my boys: God gave us emotions. He wants us to feel. It is how we react to and express those emotions that matter. Same with our speech. We can either help or hinder the situation. The choice is ours.
I am studying the book of Ephesians. Paul is talking to the Ephesians about Jesus. In chapter 2, Paul talks about the division between the Jews and Gentiles (non-believers). These two people groups had a huge wall built between them. They did not mingle. They did not hang out. They did not like each other. They were vastly different. Then Jesus came onto the scene.
Jesus unified two people groups that never thought they’d cross the border onto each others’ sides. He unified those that were once divided. He brought peace and reconciliation where it never seemed possible. He took up their quarrels and brought them to an end.
When I think about this one girl’s story and read about how Jesus reconciled the Jews and the Gentiles to one another, I wonder why we are doing it so wrong. Why do we think shouting hate will change someone’s mind? Why we think our platform resides in hurtful messages.
I honestly believe that if Jesus were standing outside the abortion clinic, He would have walked up to this beautiful girl and given her a hug. I also believe that He would have walked her to her car after she went through with it. He didn’t come to divide and shout hateful messages. He came to love and give grace. We should, too.
For he himself is our peace; who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier. The dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:14
Love & Blessings,
Meg
FLASHBACK FRIDAY:
This post popped up on my Time Hop this week. What incredible timing! Isn’t it amazing how God does things like this? You are going through something hard and He shows you He is near. I may not be sick (knock on wood), but I am exhausted. Exhausted from the busy and the stress; stressing about unnecessary things. The last paragraph still speaks great truth: Sometimes God knows what will heal us so He allows some hardships in order for us to get there. I still need to learn how to rest and let go and trust Him with everything and in all circumstances. Life is a journey, not a destination. I will get there one day.
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“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:19
What do I do? Too much. And what is the result? Exhaustion.
I went to kids camp with our church a week ago. I had the best time hanging with these kids watching them gain their independence away from mom and dad and grow in their faith. There is nothing like the sight of children raising their hands praising the Lord in worship. I also got to spend time with some incredible people. Time I wouldn’t have gotten in our everyday lives. I enjoyed every second.
We woke up early and excited each day eagerly anticipating the day before us. We jumped from meals, to chapel, to activities, to more meals, and chapel again. We spent most of our days outside in the steaming Oklahoma sun. Once the kids were in bed, the grown-ups met up to play a mean game of Spoons. And by “mean game” I mean, you haven’t seen competition until you play Spoons with a bunch of church leaders. I’ll leave it at that.
Up early. To bed too late. Rinse and repeat. For six days.
On the drive home I became very ill. I had an uneasy feeling the moment I walked on the bus. I had a headache, was tired, and a little queasy. I had a feeling this ride wasn’t going to be smooth. I didn’t think, however, that I would get as sick as I did.
My illness didn’t end in the bus. I came home that evening and crashed. I woke up the next day and had to tap out. My body couldn’t do any more things. Monday and Tuesday rolled around and I felt a little better but not totally back to normal. Wednesday was a good day and then Thursday hit. Me-oh-my. Thursday about did me in. By Friday, I had had it. I don’t get sick very often. And when I do, give me 24 hours and I am usually better. This sick for a week thing was doing me in in a bad way. I needed to get well and knew I needed to go to the doctor but didn’t want to. I get myself worked into a frenzy sometimes and worried that I may have gotten a brain eating amoeba from the lake we swam in. What can I say? Exhaustion makes my mind go mad.
My mind. It races to far off lands sometimes. I can make up the most bizarre scenarios in my head and they are totally believable to me. Others think I am nuts, but in my mind it all makes sense.
Here’s the deal, I don’t listen to exhaustion. Maybe I feel above the tired and like I can accomplish just one more thing or participate in one more activity when, I should have let go and rested instead.
The last morning at camp I got up and ready earlier than normal. I decided to sit on the back patio that overlooked the lake. The sun was showing off in a beautiful display rising over the lake. I was listening to my favorite worship music reading Proverbs and praying. I broke in that moment. Before I even felt an inkling of being sick, I knew I messed up. I knew I should’ve taken advantage of time and not overdone it at camp. I should have gone to bed earlier so I could have awakened and seen the beautiful masterpiece painted by the Master as sun rose over the lake. I should have let myself miss an activity with the kids to go lay down and give my body the rest and reprieve that it needed. Instead, I chose to go, go, go and I paid the price. I had a choice to make: slow down and be still or continue on the path of busyness. Both were good. Letting our bodies have rest is imperative to good physical and mental health. Spending time with the kids at camp making connections and showing love is also good. But I couldn’t have both. I had to choose and I chose too much.
I ended up in the ER on Friday hooked to an IV to get meds and fluids. They ran tests and thankfully I did not have an amoeba. I was suffering from exhaustion. Too much heat. Too much on-the-go.
I suffered this week because I didn’t listen. I didn’t listen to my body and I didn’t listen to that still small voice inside that told me I needed to slow down that week. I ignored all the signs and paid the piper.
Because I was so sick and exhausted this past week, I had to overcome feeling defeated. I prayed, searched Scripture, and asked for prayer from others. One verse that resonated all week is found in Zephaniah 3:19. I needed to be reminded that He is with me even when I don’t make the best choices. He saves me: from myself sometimes. He delights in me. Ah. This part of the verse I had to speak over myself continuously. Sometimes when you are hurting, frustrated, scared, and don’t feel good, you need to remind yourself that He delights in you. He quiets me with his love. This is another part of the verse I had on repeat in my mind. When I don’t feel good. When things feel out of my control, I need him to quiet my weary spirit because I can get myself in quite a tizzy. I love the last part of the verse: he rejoices over me. Me? God rejoices over me? Absolutely he does. I gain so much confidence in myself and so much peace knowing that the God of the universe rejoices over me.
Our pastor spoke on Jonah this morning. He said something that spoke to my spirit: Sometimes God may send the storm to grab your attention. God absolutely allowed me time to be sick this past week. He knew I needed a body reset. He knew I needed to refocus my attention on him instead of the busy. He knew I needed to be inundated with His Word. He knew I needed to get back to fully relying on him instead of myself. He knew so he allowed.
I am learning the value of rest. It may take me awhile, but I am learning. I am also learning to trust more. Too often, I close my fist thinking I know better or if I give up control it may hurt too much. God is too good for that nonsense and I am learning to believe that.
He is with me
He is mighty to save
He delights in me
He quiets me with his love
He rejoices over me
…and you!
Love & Blessings,
Meg
