Mamas*Little*Treasures

"In Other Words" - Dark Shadows and God's Grace

“Your worst days are never so bad
that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.
And your best days are never so good
          that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”  

 

 ~Jerry Bridges

And yet our memories are so short. In the midst of the joyous, peaceful times of rest and confidence, we may not consciously proclaim that we do not need God's grace . . . . but how often do we live as if that is true? Then, when we walk through the darkest days of pain, grief, and brokenness, we can frequently still articulate our belief in God's grace, and yet we continue to live as if it were not so. We carry that heavy burden alone, when we really could seek God's face, knowing that He is there to guide us through those valleys and shadows. He does not promise that we will not face trials and hardships, but His Word promises that He will walk with us in the midst of those dark places.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." Psalm 23: 4

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man to to me?'" Hebrews 13: 5-6

And then we are reminded, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

No matter how devastated, destitute, broken, angry, helpless, or hopeless we might feel, He is there. You only have to live long enough and you will encounter struggles. No one is exempt. Frequently the obstacles that we encounter are thrown into our pathway by other people. But we need to remember: "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Well, in reality, there is a LOT that other people can do to us . . . . that is not the point of this statement. It is that, because the Lord is my helper, I don't need to be afraid of what others can do to us. They'll still do it, make no mistake about that! But with God's grace, we can rise above all of the ugliness that other people can send our way.

But what about those things that just seem to "happen" in life? Accidents, natural disasters, broken health, death . . . . are they beyond the grace of God? "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil . . . . " God will carry us through even those moments of tragedy and terror. It is easy for us all to sit in judgment of others who are suffering, and piously pronounce God's grace - we must be wise and cautious, because in this life, we will all experience pain. And so, as one who has walked through a few valleys, perhaps not the same valleys that you have walked through, but nevertheless some very dark valleys, I can assure you that you will come out the other side of that lonely place and realize you were really never alone at all. And in the brightly shining sunshine of God's love, you will again blossom and flourish beneath the blessing of His grace.

But when those days of peace and tranquility return, let us all remember the shadows. Let us all walk in humility, sharing the truth of His grace with those who all around us who are in the midst of their own valley. And let us never be so arrogant as to think that we will never stumble and fall into a place of despair. Life is difficult, but God is big enough to hold us close through the very deepest, darkest places, even if we try to hide from Him. Keep walking, seeking His face, and you WILL find the light. You WILL know His peace again. I promise.

PS That is one of the blessings of getting older  ;o) Once we've survived the brokenness, and God has taken the ashes of our devastation and turned it into something that shines so much brighter than we could have ever imagined, we now have the privilege of walking with someone else who might be struggling. This, too, is true, I promise.

Join us today for In "Other" Words.  Share your thoughts on the quote on your own blog, then visit Jennifer on her blog at Scraps and Snippets  where you can leave a direct link to your post for today. Please visit the other IOW participants to read their thoughts, as well.

He Surrounds Us With the Light of His Love

“Remember this. When people choose to withdraw far from a fire, the fire continues to give warmth, but they grow cold. When people choose to withdraw far from light, the light continues to be bright in itself but they are in darkness. This is also the case when people withdraw from God.”

~Augustine~

The reality of this truth is so evident in each of our lives, that it is a wonder that we need to be reminded! How many times have we all exerienced this truth . . . . and what a wonder and miracle of grace it is when we turn around, return to the warmth and light of His love, and discover that He has been there all along. And yet we so frequently DO forget this truth, as we rush about taking care of our daily responsibilities. Finding the balance between being responsible and being mindful of God's presence seems to be difficult for most of us to discover, much less maintain.

We are so frequently reminded of the story of Mary and Martha, and the words of Jesus that Mary had "chosen the better part" by sitting at His feet and worshipping Him. Would that we all could take the time away from all of our other responsibilities to simply sit and worship the Lord! And, of course, Martha was chastised for bustling about, serving her guests, and taking care of their needs. Hmmm . . . . . seems like we should be able to sit close to our Lord and worship Him AND be able to take care of those for whom we are called to care for. So, it seems that because of the mixed messages we sometimes hear, especially for women, we get confused, and find ourselves moving closer to that fire of God's presence and then being pulled away repeatedly by the demands of those around us.

And in all of this coming and going, we miss the truth that He is there . .  . everywhere . . . . even when we are not able to sit quietly and worship. When we can do that, it is truly a treasure. But for many women, it is a continual struggle to find time - especially "quiet" time - to stop long enough even to think about all of this! On the one hand, we are reminded that it is our job to minister in our home, to our family, in our church, in our community, to our neighbors, to our parents, and be a loving and gentle helpmate to our husbands. And then when we collapse from sheer exhaustion, or frequently break-down under the pressure of meeting all of those needs, we feel guilty. But that's not all that we feel guilty about - we suddenly are reminded that we haven't been taking enough time to sit quietly and worship at the feet of Jesus.

Fortunately, I don't think God looks at it that way! God honors our commitment and our ministry as women, as mothers, as wives, daughters, sisters, friend and He knows that we are caring for others as an act of worshipping Him. So in the midst of finding that balance, searching for that place where we remain in His presence and in the warmth and light of His love, let us not forget that He does not place the same demands on us that we frequently place on ourselves, usually at the prompting of those around us. We can worship Him everywhere, any time, every minute of every day, and we can remain in His presence even while we are living in obedience and ministering to those whom He has placed in our care. Don't miss that light and that place of His warm and gentle love because you are waiting for that elusive "quiet time."

If you would like to participate this week with the other "In Other Words" participants, please visit Kathryn at her blog, Expectant Hearts, where you can find links to the other posts. Then, if you choose to write on this quote, you can leave your link, too, so we can come and visit you and your blog! Have a blessed week . . . . and stay warm in the light of His love!

 ~~ Nina ~~

Where are the Bread and Circuses?

"The littleness of Christians of this age results from the littleness of their consecration to Christ."
C. H. Spurgeon
Samson Conquered, sermon from November 21, 1858

 

How does this observation make me feel? We've all seen it, experienced it, and often are guilty of it. It reminds us that when we are confronted with truth, we have a couple of options: we can make excuses and blame someone else, we can just ignore it and go about our daily business, or we can face it boldly, courageously and own our part of this reality and make a determination to address it. The problem is, that this is a reality that needs to be addressed every day, probably every hour and every minute of our lives, because we live in a world that bombards us with so many distractions that it is very difficult to stay focused. Even if you are truly committed to following Christ in every area of life.

 

We live in a part of the country that has numerous Amish communities nearby. Just a few houses down from us, there is a house that is a "summer cottage" for an Amish family. They come out to the cottage sometimes on a Friday and Saturday, set up their lawn games and picnic table in their front yard, go swimming and boating, and cook out on their charcoal grill. How do they get there, I wonder? I've never seen a horse and buggy out front or in the garage, and yet there they are, most weekends in the summer, wearing their distinctive "plain" garments, their windows thrown wide open even on the most oppressively hot days when I've got my AC running full blast. What's up with that?

 

I don't know, and it really doesn't matter, except that I find it interesting and curious . . . . . because somehow, whether we agree with all of their theology or not, the Amish people have established a culture of being "separate" from modern society that allows them the peacefulness, the quiet, the structure and the routine that helps people devote themselves to their faith. I admire them for that. The Amish communities that I have observed express a deep, consistent, and enduring determination to live a life that expresses the "largeness" of their consecration to Christ. Of course, they are just people like the rest of us, with a variety of real-life struggles, relationship and parenting concerns, and community conflicts. But the overall approach to life that I've observed among the Amish people here in our area offers the kind of environment in which a person can more readily develop a life that is wholly devoted to God.

 

Now, the next question logically follows: Does one HAVE to live a life of complete separation from the modern world to achieve the kind of complete devotion and dedication to our faith that we are seeking here? And the answer, you know, is of course not. But there are definitely some advantages to living a life of simplicity, peacefulness, and order that provides more opportunities for achieving that goal. So how do we address the reality of the "littleness" of our consecration to Christ in the midst of a world that constantly is screaming at us? How can we escape the incessant noise that surrounds us, calling us to this distraction and that excitement, telling us that we "deserve" to be entertained every hour of every day?

 

Perhaps it is a choice. When we look at ancient history, there was a culture that had become the greatest in all of humanity to that time. And yet, that culture was destroyed from the inside, not by the barbarians clamouring at their borders . . . . when they had become convinced that they had a "right" to their "bread and circuses." Just entertain us and feed us. Maybe we DO need to take a look at our consecration to Christ; at our determination to become people of honor, justice, devotion and commitment to becoming all that God would have us be. Sometimes I wonder if we might have to follow the example of the Amish communities, just so we can find a place where it is quiet enough to think about all of this!

 

Please visit Miriam Pauline's blog today, Miriam Pauline's Monologue, to find the links to the other blogs of this week's IOW participants. And, of course, leave a link back to YOUR blog so we can come and visit you! Have a great Tuesday  ;o) 

 

 

You are just not that important!

Remember Eeyore from the "Winnie-the-Pooh" books? If the sun was shining, Eeyore was quite convinced that it was going to rain any second, especially right where he was standing . . . . and sulking. If Piglet was planning a party, Eeyore was certain that everyone was going to be invited except him, even as his party invitation was drifting silently into the bog where he had simply missed seeing it. And when Tigger was jumping for joy because Pooh had found the Hunny Pot, Eeyore was mumbling something about being sure that there wouldn't be enough hunny for him to have any. No matter what was going on around Eeyore, he seemd to believe that it was all about leaving him out. In his world, he thought that everyone was determined to make his life miserable. The sun was always shining somewhere else, but never on Eeyore!

Sometimes we get bogged down in that kind of thinking, too. It is easy to interpret the actions of other people as somehow being a statement about our worth or value as a human being. But let me tell you a secret: you are just not that important! What I mean by that, is to say that usually people around us are caught up in their own momentary concerns. When someone walks by me and doesn't seem to notice me, even if it is someone that I know quite well, I try to remind myself that there is probably something going on in his or her life that is occupying their thoughts at the moment. And that their behavior has absolutely nothing to do with me. This can happen in our online relationships, too. If someone sends you a message that seems rather abrupt, maybe it is because they have a lot of other stuff going on in life, and their reaction isn't about you at all.

Now that is not to excuse rude behavior! It is simply to say that your value is not dependent on the reactions of other people. If you understand that everyone around you, and even everyone you encounter in cyberspace, has so much going on around them, then you can put it all in perspective. And then when you encounter those few people in the world who are genuinely unkind, you will be able to tell the difference. Just remember . . . . you are truly a treasure, your worth is beyond compare, and your value is unmeasureable - in the eyes of God and in reality. Just because in the rough and tumble world of interpersonal communication that message isn't always spoken loud and clear does not mean it is not true - try to look beyond what is right in front of you, into the heart of the person you are talking to, and remember that their words and actions are usually not about you at all. You just aren't that important . . . . in that particular situation!

Am I whining or winning?

“Sufferers want to be ministered to by people who have suffered. They are suspicious of people who appear to live lives of ease. He (God) has given a role to messy, wimpy people like me. He has made us His ambassadors of reconciliation, and suffering gives us credibility with a hurting world and demonstrates God’s sufficiency to meet our needs.”

by Stephen F. Saint in his essay,
“Sovereignty, Suffering, and the Work of Missions”

Could this be true? Is it possible that those people who are part of my little world really don't expect me to be perfect? Then why do we so often seem to shy away from people whose lives are marked by pain and suffering? My experience has been that many of us are really confused about this aspect of life as we know it.

So frequently we want to look up to people who appear to be "all put together," with everything in their life still "intact." We want to hope that it is possible to have it all, all in one place, all at the same time. Hope is a good thing . . . . but my observation has been, over the years, that when all we are allowed to see of another person is their victories, their success, and their cheerful, smiling faces, we lose hope. Because we know that our lives are NOT like that, and they never will be.

So, should we go around whining and complaining about all of our struggles? Should we constantly bemoan the pain that we have experienced? That would make for a pretty miserable world! So what is the balance? It is found in one word: Honesty. There is a huge difference between constantly complaining about our very real experiences of pain and suffering, and living a life that honestly expresses our brokenness. After all, our very salvation is a gift that was purchased at great price through the broken body of our Lord. We can be no less humble.

The gift of honesty offers the balance where God can use our lives to reveal His joy, His grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, and His presence IN THE MIDST of the pain, suffering, and brokenness. It doesn not need to be one or the other . . . . we are not doomed to an existence of either the "messy and wimpy" alone, or the cheerful, pretend life of hypocrisy. It is only when we discover that God gives joy and peace in spite of the messiness of life that we can then share that truth with other people who are hurting.

Even if it makes a few people uncomfortable for a minute, remember that the message of God's grace is so much more powerful when you hear it in the words of one who has experienced His grace because they needed it - not because their lives have never been touched by tragedy and they can only speak of God's grace in an academic context. His grace is real, and we need to be real, too, so that the world knows how real is His love, mercy, and truth. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." The shackles that imprison so many of us in that dark place of pretense will be broken and you will, indeed, be free from the bondage of hypocrisy.

 

I hope you will take a minute to visit our hostess this week for In Other Words, Kathryn at her blog, Expectant Hearts. There you will find links to the other posts by this week's participants, and you can leave your link so we can visit your blog, too!

 

Washing Windows on a Sunny Spring Day

I've never been able to explain it . . . . but there is just something about the sunshine, a fresh spring breeze, and the beauty of creation on a day like today that always makes me want to wash windows.  It just somehow makes me feel hopeful, optimistic, and generally peaceful to see freshly washed windows sparkling in the sunshine.  The problem is, that I then begin to see all of the OTHER projects that need my attention, and if I'm not careful, I will spend my whole day washing everything in sight.  Including the kids (and the dog, if we had one!). 

 

It suddenly becomes so obvious that the deck needs to be washed down, the flower beds need to be raked, the cob webs and other junk that has accumulated up under the eaves . . . . all need to be taken care of.  And since I've always believed that I am, in fact, Wonder Woman, I once again become delusional and think that I can get it all done - today.  You would think that at my age, I would have come to the realization that I am NOT Wonder Woman, and it probably will take me more than one afternoon to get all of this taken care of.  But I can dream, can't I?  Except that''s not particularly productive, so instead of thinking about all of the things I SHOULD be doing, I decided to take a break, get another cup of coffee and make a list.  I know, I know . . . . I always put way too many things on my list, and then when I get everything on the list accomplished except for that one, last thing, I am disappointed.  I feel like I wasted a perfectly gorgeous spring day because I didn't get that one thing finished. 

I think I've already told you that I'm neurotic, but so is everyone else in one way or another . . . . so maybe you don't wash windows in the sunshine, but I'll bet there is something else that you do that never even crosses my mind.  That's OK, because at least we aren't psychotic, at least that's what the therapist always said  ;o)   So, now I have my list and I have to talk to myself quite sternly about getting discouraged because the list is so long.  Let's divide that list up and see if I can spread those tasks out over the next few weeks.  You know, painting and planting a garden actually do take more than a few minutes, even for the real Wonder Woman. 

This is such a joyful time of year!  Easter has always been my favorite holiday . . . . . without all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday, I can actually focus on the real significance of this celebration.  Remembering the gift of salvation that is free for everyone who simply accepts that gift.  And the overwhelming sense of gratitude for God's mercy, grace, and forgiveness makes every day a celebration of lfe.  Even during the tough times of struggle.  That's why I'm working on a Gratitude Journal - it is a tangible expression of my heart-felt thankfulness for everything . . . . everything . . . . including the dark and difficult times.  Because I have lived long enough to see how God can take the most painful, wasted, and damaged years of my life and make something truly beautiful of it all for His glory. 

So this time the journal will be all about the brokenness, the shattered dreams, the confusion, the hopelessness, and the dark places that we usually don't discuss, even in our personal journals.  This is my Journal Through the Darkness.  So that I can remember to be thankful, even for the pain and heartbreak.  Want to join me?  I'll be posting pictures here of my progress, and I would love to hear from you if you want to take this journey together.  Have a great Wednesday, Nina

Of tunnels, a journey, and roller skates

“I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known.
My confidence will rest in You;
Your love endures; Your ways are good.
When I am weary with the cost,
I see the triumph of the cross;
So in its shadow I shall run
Till He completes the work begun.”

~ When Trials Come
by Keith and Kristyn Getty

Do you ever feel so exhausted that you wonder how you are ever going to keep putting one foot in front of the other?  The pathway seems so dark and rough, and the journey seems so long . . . . what you really want to do is just lay down and take a nap.  Well, sometimes that might be just what the dr. ordered.  But there are other times when you are weary, completely worn out, and you want to give up, but if you just take one more step, and then another, one at a time, eventually you will realize that you are beginning to see the light.  You know, the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel," but in this case it is NOT a train coming straight at you!  This Light is the gift of God's love, mercy, and grace shining brightly in the distance of our journey.  He is there, just waiting for you to take that next step. 

When we lived in Colorado, there were several tunnels that we would drive through when we went down the mountain to Denver, and there was a really LONG tunnel we had to drive through if we decided to go up, over the top of the mountain to our west.  That one was kind of scary, for me because I can be kind of claustrophobic.  The shorter ones didn't bother me because I could see the other end when we entered.  But that long one . . . .  there were several turns (not exactly switchbacks, but winding) making it impossible to see how far it was until we got to the other end and the relief of seeing the sky again.  I remember thinking, "What would happen if there was a crash in here and a fire or explosion?"  Well, I guess I could figure out what would happen if there was an explosion . . . . but what if there was a crash, or what if part of the "roof" of the tunnel fell in?  And I couldn't get out? 

That actually felt more frightening to me than the thought of a crash.  If I couldn't get out of the enclosed space, and it was dark, and my babies were terrified - what would I do?  I have no clue, and fortunately I never had to figure it out.  At least, not yet.  But it reminded me of all the times that we are in that "dark place' of fear and uncertainty.  When we are completely exhausted from doing all that we know to do, all that we believe God would have us do, or even when we are weary from going the wrong way through the tunnel of life. . . . what can we do?  Give up.  That's one option. 

But probably not a very good one, because if you ever hope to get out the other side of that tunnel, you really do just have to keep moving.  It is kind of like riding a bike.  When a kid is just learning to ride a bike, it is a tricky balancing act to keep the bike moving and not tip over.  But the truth is that a bike is much easier to steer, and get it to go in the right direction (such as away from running head-long into a tree) if it is moving.  We have to keep moving, BUT we also have to keep our eyes on the goal.  We have to stay focused on the Source of our strength that will enable us to "just keep moving."

We've been taking the girls roller skating, and they are really doing great.  But Annie still tends to turn that left foot in, tip it down (which helps her stop, and that's a good thing!), and then she ends up tripping herself when she tries to move her other foot forward.  Now I know that is because of her CP, which only affects her left side, but it is rather frustrating to her when the other kids are beginning to cruise around the skating rink without holding on to the side rail.  So the other day, we worked on that annoying little problem.

I took her by the arm, and walking along side of her, I kept saying, "Chin up!  Look straight ahead!  Keep moving!  One foot in front of the other! Don't tip that left foot down!"   I know, I am a rather naggy, persistent mother, but I guess that's her lot in life    ;o)    And we would go down the practice lane, from the trash can to the end of the railing, and then turn around and go back.  "Chin up!  Shoulders back!  Keep moving!  Look down there!  One foot in front of the other!" 

Occasionally she would trip both of us, or smoosh my foot, or lean too far back and her skates would go whoosh! out from under her and down she would go.  Eventually, I started stepping away from her, and walk backwards with my hands out to her but not touching her.  She would reach out her hands towards me, and I kept saying, "Look at me!  Keep your eyes right on Mama!"  Before long, she was skating all by herself, tentatively and timidly to be sure, with that left hand reaching out for me.  Occasionally that left foot would still drop and turn in, and she would wobble back and forth for a second, but she was beginning to correct her balance when she started to tip over.  We can't wait to go back to the skating rink on Saturday afternoon! 

That's how life is sometimes . . . . I just have to keep my eyes focused straight ahead, on the Cross, and know that I am never alone.  He is always there reminding me to keep my chin up, keep moving and put one foot in front of the other.  Every day I am getting better at keeping my balance and maneuvering those obstacles that might tip me over.  Just like Annie is going to be amazing at roller skating!  Just keep moving, and you'll be just fine, even though you might be in a dark place right now . . . . it is the shadow of the Cross.

Please visit Jennifer at "Scraps and Snippets" to find the links to the other "In Other Words" participants this week.  Then, leave a comment and a link back to you blog so we can read your perspective on this week's quote. 

"This Little Prayer of Mine"

I recently discovered Anthony DeStefano one day as I was working here in my little corner office with a view   ;o)  and I was so impressed with his beautiful little book on prayer for children.  As we emailed back and forth a few times, I asked him if I could share his book with my readers . . . . and so, I have two of his books to GIVE AWAY!  One will be given-away here on my personal blog, and one will be given away on the Ruby for Women blog. 

All you have to do to participate in the give-away is leave comments here on this blog as well as on the Ruby for Women blog.  In celebration of lots of things, the give-away will run for the entire month of March, so of course the more comments you leave here and there, the better will be your chances of winning!  So, before I give you a bit more information about Anthony's wonderfully written and illustrated book that you might be receiving, let me tell you what we're celebrating   ;o)   First of all, it is almost SPRING!  That is definitely something to be celebrated this year, for sure, with all of the snow we've had around here.  We are all very ready for the delightful, sweet-smelling, warm breezes of spring.  Secondly, we are celebrating Anthony's new book!  This is his first children's book and that is certainly something to celebrate. 

And finally, (well, just for today "finally") we are celebrating my new job as Editor-in-Chief of Ruby for Women.  Although this is currently a small online Christian women's magazine, the previous editor, Karen, and all of the writers have already produced an absolutely wonderful magazine!  I am honored to have this opportunity to work with such a great team of writers!  Our goal is to expand our audience of readers by continuing to offer many of the same great articles that have previously been part of Ruby for Women, and we are hoping to expand the topics included in each issue to provide something of interest to all women in all stages of life.  But for now, here's a bit about Anthony DeStefano and his recently published book, This Little Prayer of Mine:

"This Little Prayer of Mine - my very first children's book - will be on book shelves February 16th.  My own little prayer right now is that children and their parents will respond to it the same way adult readers did to my first two books, "A Travel Guide to Heaven," and "Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To."  In those books, I tried to distill complex theological subjects and make them as simple and easy-to-understand as possible, without in any way compromising Christian theology.  That's basically the same thing I did in This Little Prayer of Mine.  Adults who read this book might recognize the foundational tenets of faith, like placing trust in God in all things, being grateful for blessings, being generous to those who are in need.  In simple language and rhyme, children can absorb those lessons, too, while also learning how easy and natural prayer can be.  After all, when you come down to it, prayer is just a simple, heartfelt conversation with God. 

I firmly believe the greatest gift you can give a child is the gift of prayer.  As children grow up and learn about loss and grief and pain, the ones who knowthey can turn to God in prayer at any time will always get through the suffering of course, but it will give them hope.  That's the difference between believers and non-believers.  Believers suffer, too - but they suffer with hope.  And that's exactly what you give children when you teach them to pray early - the gift of hope.  For this book, I teamed up with the incredible illustrator Mark Elliott, whose work can be seen in the "Princess Tales" series.  I wanted art work that was a little bit reminiscent of Norman Rockwell.  I think children will identify with the pictures - especially the funny ones.  I'm very fortunate to have received some high-level praise for the book in advance of publication.  For instance, the book has already been officially endorsed by the National Day of Prayer; and Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Corretta Scott Kind has that the book is a springboard for helping children establish a relationship with God."

This is truly a beautiful book, and it would make a perfect gift for your child or grandchild.  Especially as we celebrate springtime and all of the joy, wonder, and blessing that is the Resurrection, teaching our children to pray to our Heavenly Father is truly a gift that will last for eternity.  If you would like more information about This Little Prayer of Mine, visit Anthony's blog or find the book at Amazon.com.  Have a blessed day, and remember you could win a copy of this book just by commenting here on my blog or the Ruby for Women blog (or both!) between now and the end of March.  The more the merrier!   ;o)  

 

 

 

"Be afraid . . . be VERY afraid!" (I'm not listening!)

I remember hearing this saying a few years ago, and I have no idea where it came from.  But I do remember thinking that it was kind of silly and cute . . . . and said perhaps as a satirical response to something that was "supposed to be" frightening, but actually was just a Paper Tiger   ;o)   (or was that a Paper Monster?)  Because in reality there are many situations that we face every day that appear much larger and more terrifying than they really are.  And unfortunately we often don't stop and think about it to realize the truth. 

But even so, whether something that we are facing in the future or in the midst of at the minute is REALLY scary doesn't ultimately matter.  Because we have all of the resources to be victorious no matter what "monster" we will encounter on life's journey.  There are so many difficult situations that I have not (yet) confronted; but there are other frightening circumstances which I have encountered, perhaps, that are different from the obstacles and fears which you have conquered.  The most important truth that we need to hold on to, however, is that we are NEVER walking through the darkness alone.  Jesus has told us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  And if I believe His Word and trust Him, even when I can't see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel," I must always remember that He is there. 

When all around me is silent and I am searching for an answer, a word, even a touch in that silence . . . . and all I experience is more darkness and more silence . . . . trust is my ultimate source of comfort.  We all have a variety of circumstances that frighten us in varying degrees.  Some of us have a fear of speaking in front of a group of people; some of us are afraid of the future with potential and probably financial struggles; perhaps some of us are fearful for our marriage or our children; others are worried about their health or that of an aging parent.  There are so many obstacles that we encounter on our pathway through life, but each one is so very real when we are in the midst of each particular difficult day.  And that is why it is so important for us to KNOW, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that He is absolutely, totally, eternally trustworthy. 

He is here, right now, and He cares about your fear, your sadness, your confusion, your heartache . . . . and I know that because, no matter what anyone else says about not being able to "prove" that God exists (well, of course not.  Then it would no longer be "faith") - I do KNOW what He has done in my life, and that can not be taken from me by the mere scoffing of unbelievers.  There have been times when the darkness was very deep and the pain was almost unbearable.  You've had those days, too, so don't pretend   ;o)   (and if you haven't it is because you haven't lived long enough to experience the struggles that come with this thing called "life").  But I can now look back on those days and remember how, EVERY SINGLE TIME, at just the right moment, in a perfect way that showed me truly, He cared for me and my family. 

We all need to be reminded, even if we've been down this road before, when the next mountain (or monster) looms in the shadows just around the next bend in the road, we are not alone.  You are not alone.  I am not alone.  Fear is paralyzing, it cripples us as we attempt to travel our personal journey through life.  Even in the midst of terror, we must remember that we are not alone.  We are not alone. 

PS.  One day I will share with you all our story of bringing Annie home from China.  It is a story of one unbelievable event after another, starting with "finding" her through an agency website where she was in her final hours of being available for adoption . . . . to the fact that she is now a happy, healthy first grader.  If nothing else had ever happened in my life, that story alone proves to me that He does care for all of us, even a tiny little girl alone in a Chinese orphanage. 

Please take a minute and visit the other "In Other Words" participants this week.  Debbie is our hostess this week at Heart Choices.  Stop by and say "Hi" - you'll be glad you did!   ~~ Nina

 

 

 

"When you can't see His hand, trust His heart"

“When the trials of life unravel
the fabric of our plans.
When we face the deep confusion
of painful circumstance.
When our feeble strength is broken,
and we stand with empty hands.
That’s when the Father whispers
‘Trust the pattern I have planned.’ ”

~ Lyrics from song, "The Weaver"

 

There are many different kinds of pain, brokenness, and "empty hands" that are potentially just around the corner on this journey called Life.  Sometimes that pain is caused by our own choices . . . . that is one thing that I have been trying to stress to our daughters as we talk about choices and consequences.  Because choices always do have consequences, and often-times in life if we make unhealthy, dangerous, or foolish choices we will experience unpleasant consequences.  And it is not uncommon of us to experience positive consequences when we make helpful choices.  This conversation frequently takes place in the context of being safe, and the wisdom of keeping our family protected.  Sometimes little girls (and boys, too) worry about that kind of thing, so we try to help them know that the safest place for them to be, especially at their ages, is with their family.

 

However, there are those inexplicable times in our lives when we confront tragedy through no particular choice of our own.  Or, perhaps it IS a result of choices that we have made at one time in our lives that we THOUGHT were the right choice.  Being brought face-to-face with a broken dream when all along we really did believe that we were doing all the right things.  But even here, there are many different kinds trials that cause life to unravel right before our eyes.  And no matter how hard we try to "fix it" or make it better, we find that "our feeble strength is broken, and we stand with empty hands." 

 

But here is the part that I have found to be a very perplexing aspect of all of this:  there are some painful experiences that we can talk about and there are others that simply seem to be inapproppriate to talk about.  And I sometimes wonder why, because in the end, no matter what the tragedy we encounter, tragedy is tragedy, and brokenness is brokenness, and empty hands are empty hands. 

 

As a life-long seamstress and quilter, the imagery of "fabric" and "pattern" resonates with my heart.  I love the process of discovering (or creating) a pattern that I can envision, completed into a beautiful garment or craft project, in just the perfect fabric.  Of course, including all of the trims, buttons, lace, ribbons, and whatever else my imagination can dream up!  But anyone who has EVER tried to sew will tell you that there are those times when it just doesn't turn out the way you had envisioned it. 

 

I remember one time, many years ago, when I was working on a sweet little outfit for my oldest daughter.  She was very little at the time (meaning I was very young!), and I had never attempted to put the kind of snaps onto a garment that you need that pliers-type thing to attach the snaps.  So, I got all four of the little snaps attached to this cute top, and I suddenly discovered that one of the snaps was in the wrong place.  I don't remember . . . . too close to one of the other snaps, too close to the edge of the fabric, or something like that . . . . and I attempted to take it out and "fix" it.  Of course, that only made the problem worse, because in the process of trying to remove the problem snap, I ended up creating a small hole in the top that I had just spent many hours sewing.  I was devastated!  It was just that, after all of that hard work, doing everything pretty close to "right," the final result was definitely anything but "right." 

 

And that's the way life can be.  But the difference is that, when we run head-on into a disaster in life, even though we are emotionally and spiritually crushed, we can know in our heart and mind that God STILL has a plan and a pattern for what's going on.  When I can't see that anything good could actually come out of my circumstances, I can hold tightly to the promise that He knows, He cares, and ultimately He is in control.  We need to be reminded of that frequently as we stumble and fall on your way through the darkness that sometimes surrounds us.  

 

The words of a song that always comes to mind when I think about this is:  "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart."  I have no idea who wrote it, who sings it, or even where I heard it, but it so succintly says exactly what we need to remember in our times of brokenness.  And maybe someday we will all have the courage to speak, and the compassion to hear, about the "empty hands" that are all around us, no matter how difficult the words of that broken heart might be.  But for now . . . . we must listen for His whisper.

 

Please visit Loni today at Writing Canvas to find the links to the other IOW participants this week.