The women's Bible study this morning was wonderful. We did an overview of John's letters to the 7 churches, then looked at the letter to Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) specifically. The homework for the coming week is to name each church, and write down each letter's commendations, warnings, and promises to over-comers. Of course, we also have to write about which letter spoke to us the most, and what we gained from it.
If I am honest about it, I like commendations. I don't especially like warnings, but will listen to them. AND, I don't like facing trials, betrayals, hurts or hardships. I want to live in the proverbial "ivory tower" where all is hunky-dory. One of Beth Moore's comments today really put somethings back into perspective for me. She said, "If we have nothing to overcome, we will not be over-comers or conquerors." In other words, how can we experience the blessings of overcoming if we never have anything to overcome?
It will be interesting, now, to examine each letter John wrote to see what the churches faced, how they over-came, and Christ's promise to them. But even more interesting and important is how Christ will reveal himself to me as the week progresses.
DISCOVER JESUS MOMENT #5
This Discover Jesus Moment is another of those "after the fact" moments. I will not share any details, but I think you will understand the experience. After going to bed the other night, I couldn't fall asleep. That is unusual for me. I usually fall asleep within 5 minutes.
I couldn't fall asleep because I had something come to mind from the previous day that just wouldn't go away. The more I processed the conversation I had had with a friend whose daughter had been molested, the more I couldn't sleep. It seemed that certain harmless, well-intentioned, loving pats from a family member caused very real problems for the child as unpleasant memories were stirred up. She had been silent about all this because she didn't want to hurt his feelings and make him angry about the molestation all over again.
As I tossed, turned, and hurt for the child and my friend, the Lord hit me over the head with this. As long as the family member's behavior continues, no matter how innocent and loving it is, it is not harmless because it makes the child a victim each time it happens!
That was my Discover Jesus Moment, but I didn't recognize it at the time. It was then I knew I had to have another talk with my friend. I had to tell her that the family member had to be told about the situation. He would never want to do anything to harm the little girl. It was absolutely necessary he knew what was going on.
Then peace of mind came, and I fell asleep.
So, I talked to my friend yesterday. She sincerely thanked me, gave me a big hug and a "Thank You", and will have that conversation.
After today's Bible study, I further discovered and realized that a loving Father who deeply wants a little girl to overcome unimaginable obstacles will do whatever is necessary to make it happen, even if it means keeping some of us awake at night. Thank you, Lord.
I wonder what he will reveal about himself tomorrow as I look at John's letter to Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) Why not join me.
Jan
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunshine!
Wow, my windows are really dirty. I know. I know. That is no way to start off this blog. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. The sun is finally shining, and here I am complaining. Well, I'm not complaining, really. I am just stating the obvious condition of my windows. They are really dirty. That fact doesn't come to light until there is some light shining on the panes. Now, that is a real pain.
Since the sun is supposed to stay around until the end of the week, maybe I can get some window washing done sometime over the next few days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It is hard to wash windows with crossed fingers, but I'll try.
I also want to get some yard work done. Because I am a fair weather gardener there is a lot of work to do. If it is raining, drizzling, blowing, or freezing, I will stay inside. The gardening can wait. I am also one of those people who takes to heart what I read. If the experts say not to remove leaves from bulbous plants until after the tops die down, I don't do it. That means I don't remove the leaves from the crocosmia in the fall--the tops are still green. After an extremely wet, gray winter, the leaves are now brown, waterlogged, beaten down, rotting, and ugly. They are hindering the plants under them from fully coming to life. They have to go. So yesterday, with the sun out, I got the flowerbed under the magnolia tree cleaned up. It looks great, and I feel good.
I could now sermonize about not seeing the sin in my life unless I let the SON shine on me. I could sermonize about how I can slow down new, God-driven life by not recognize or removing the rotten junk I have in my private storerooms. I could, but I won't--not today.
Today, I will celebrate the sun. Wow! I love it.
Thank you, Lord, for such a beautiful day to live in your grace and love,
Jan
Since the sun is supposed to stay around until the end of the week, maybe I can get some window washing done sometime over the next few days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It is hard to wash windows with crossed fingers, but I'll try.
I also want to get some yard work done. Because I am a fair weather gardener there is a lot of work to do. If it is raining, drizzling, blowing, or freezing, I will stay inside. The gardening can wait. I am also one of those people who takes to heart what I read. If the experts say not to remove leaves from bulbous plants until after the tops die down, I don't do it. That means I don't remove the leaves from the crocosmia in the fall--the tops are still green. After an extremely wet, gray winter, the leaves are now brown, waterlogged, beaten down, rotting, and ugly. They are hindering the plants under them from fully coming to life. They have to go. So yesterday, with the sun out, I got the flowerbed under the magnolia tree cleaned up. It looks great, and I feel good.
I could now sermonize about not seeing the sin in my life unless I let the SON shine on me. I could sermonize about how I can slow down new, God-driven life by not recognize or removing the rotten junk I have in my private storerooms. I could, but I won't--not today.
Today, I will celebrate the sun. Wow! I love it.
Thank you, Lord, for such a beautiful day to live in your grace and love,
Jan
Saturday, March 2, 2013
I'm Sad
There are some things I just don't understand. Being Mrs. Logical-Don't-Let-Emotions-Get-In-The-Way, I sometimes have to admit defeat and finally ask myself if is it necessary to understand everything. Maybe it is better not to understand. But is coping with what one doesn't understand good? Here's where I am coming from. Today has been a very sad day for me. Well, the day isn't sad. I am sad, and I am having a difficult time understanding why.
I've been on the verge of tears since I got up this morning. On the verge is where I have remained; and it is almost 6 P.M. I will say that cooking oatmeal, washing dishes, doing laundry, and making soup aren't the most exciting things in life, but they certainly aren't anything to be sad about. So, why am I sad? I don't understand.
Today is another gray, rainy, windy day just like any other spring day in the Pacific Northwest. That is our normal weather around here. We live with it, and grow to love it.
My magnolia tree is forming buds, the crocus are about through blooming, the daffodils will be blooming soon, and the deer still graze their way through my yard several times a week. That is springtime at my place. I live here, and I love it.
For the most part, life is good. Why am I sad then?
Since I had no reason to be sad, I tried playing a computer game to occupy an hour or two. I hoped my verge of tears might disappear. I finished the game, wasted two hours, but was still sad and on the verge. I then watched a couple TV shows on my lap top to cheer myself up. That didn't work. Folding clothes, then trying to nap didn't do anything either. Instead of falling asleep, my mind decided to visit all sorts of places I hadn't been in a long time. As a result, my sadness increased. Surprisingly, my understanding did, too. So now I write.
I write about remembering the times my husband would take one of his granddaughters to town with him to run errands because I chose to stay home for that hour or so. I have no guilt in the molestation of the girls, but I still carry a great sense of guilt. Those old "what ifs" and "if onlys" still raise their ugly heads. They can succeed in making me very sad.
I write about my excitement for the coming track season, and the great year the grand kids will have. There will be meets spent huddled under blankets while it gusts, rains, and hails, but there will also be meets in the warmth and glare of the sun while wearing shorts and sunglasses. There is a good chance at least two and maybe three of the kids will make it to state competition. There is also a chance they will break more records. Who knows what the season holds for them, but my husband, because of his poor choices and decisions, will remain behind bars and miss it all. It is not my fault he's there where he belongs, but it makes me very sad he will miss it all.
I write about the Sports Award Event at the high school where two grand children received Athlete Scholar Awards as well as Basketball Letters. I attended, but I my husband missed it all. It is not my fault he's in prison where he belongs, but it makes me very sad he missed it all.
I write about my granddaughters as they begin entering that time in their lives when they will have to deal with boys, and dances, and dates, and friends, and parents... They have to deal with all that teenage stuff while also dealing with whatever emotional baggage their molestation may bring their way. That makes me very sad.
These thoughts are nothing new. They have been around since the beginning of this journey, five years ago in fact. They just don't come around very often any more. But when they do, sadness is still attached to them. That makes me sad, too.
Just having this talk with all of you has helped me see that today wasn't the start of something new, but just emotions being exacerbated by Monday's first track practice and Thursday's Sports Award Event. Now that it all begins to make sense, I feel better. I feel joy and peace rising up.
For those wondering, no, I didn't pray about my situation. I didn't pray for understanding or anything else for that matter. I didn't even think about it. He knows, though, The Lord knows. I may have been sad, but deep down inside, somewhere, was the joy of Lord. That is my strength. Thank you Jesus
Thank you, too, family and friends, for listening.
Jan
I've been on the verge of tears since I got up this morning. On the verge is where I have remained; and it is almost 6 P.M. I will say that cooking oatmeal, washing dishes, doing laundry, and making soup aren't the most exciting things in life, but they certainly aren't anything to be sad about. So, why am I sad? I don't understand.
Today is another gray, rainy, windy day just like any other spring day in the Pacific Northwest. That is our normal weather around here. We live with it, and grow to love it.
My magnolia tree is forming buds, the crocus are about through blooming, the daffodils will be blooming soon, and the deer still graze their way through my yard several times a week. That is springtime at my place. I live here, and I love it.
For the most part, life is good. Why am I sad then?
Since I had no reason to be sad, I tried playing a computer game to occupy an hour or two. I hoped my verge of tears might disappear. I finished the game, wasted two hours, but was still sad and on the verge. I then watched a couple TV shows on my lap top to cheer myself up. That didn't work. Folding clothes, then trying to nap didn't do anything either. Instead of falling asleep, my mind decided to visit all sorts of places I hadn't been in a long time. As a result, my sadness increased. Surprisingly, my understanding did, too. So now I write.
I write about remembering the times my husband would take one of his granddaughters to town with him to run errands because I chose to stay home for that hour or so. I have no guilt in the molestation of the girls, but I still carry a great sense of guilt. Those old "what ifs" and "if onlys" still raise their ugly heads. They can succeed in making me very sad.
I write about my excitement for the coming track season, and the great year the grand kids will have. There will be meets spent huddled under blankets while it gusts, rains, and hails, but there will also be meets in the warmth and glare of the sun while wearing shorts and sunglasses. There is a good chance at least two and maybe three of the kids will make it to state competition. There is also a chance they will break more records. Who knows what the season holds for them, but my husband, because of his poor choices and decisions, will remain behind bars and miss it all. It is not my fault he's there where he belongs, but it makes me very sad he will miss it all.
I write about the Sports Award Event at the high school where two grand children received Athlete Scholar Awards as well as Basketball Letters. I attended, but I my husband missed it all. It is not my fault he's in prison where he belongs, but it makes me very sad he missed it all.
I write about my granddaughters as they begin entering that time in their lives when they will have to deal with boys, and dances, and dates, and friends, and parents... They have to deal with all that teenage stuff while also dealing with whatever emotional baggage their molestation may bring their way. That makes me very sad.
These thoughts are nothing new. They have been around since the beginning of this journey, five years ago in fact. They just don't come around very often any more. But when they do, sadness is still attached to them. That makes me sad, too.
Just having this talk with all of you has helped me see that today wasn't the start of something new, but just emotions being exacerbated by Monday's first track practice and Thursday's Sports Award Event. Now that it all begins to make sense, I feel better. I feel joy and peace rising up.
For those wondering, no, I didn't pray about my situation. I didn't pray for understanding or anything else for that matter. I didn't even think about it. He knows, though, The Lord knows. I may have been sad, but deep down inside, somewhere, was the joy of Lord. That is my strength. Thank you Jesus
Thank you, too, family and friends, for listening.
Jan
Friday, March 1, 2013
Discover Jesus Moment #4 and More
I will try this again. For the past two days I have logged on, then sat in front of the blank screen trying to figure what to write. After a half hour or so I log off, my mind a blank.
Blank isn't really accurate, I have all sorts of stuff I have thought about, but nothing seems inspired enough, inspirational enough, or interesting enough to put on cyber paper. Maybe that is why I make such a good loner most of the time. I feel like I really don't have anything to say. I don't want to take part in a conversation of any sort, and that is what a blog is--a one sided conversation. I talk, you listen and maybe talk back to your monitor. I don't know what happens once this is floating through the ether of cyber world.
So, now I will try talking. Let's talk about my Wednesday Bible Study on Revelation and the week's assignment that I did yesterday. The Apostle John was in exile on the Isle of Patmos. He was not surrounded by any of the other disciples. They were all dead, most of them martyred. He was not in the midst of a body of believers. He was in exile, away from the Christian community which was under persecution. He was a believer living in a heathen place, yet worshiping on the Sabbath, and caught up in the Spirit.
Here is the question we, as fellow believers, need to ask our selves. If we were living in a totally pagan culture, and completely cut off from the Christian community; if we had no small groups in which to share our joys and our sorrows, or minister to others as well as be ministered to; if we had no places to worship or hear the Word proclaimed, if our closest friends had been tortured and/or killed for their faith, how long would we still worship on the Sabbath? How long would we worship at all if there was no one to keep us accountable, to encourage us, to pray with and for us? How long?
My answer to that question probably explains why I have never experienced any extraordinary, blow-my-mind revelations of Christ. If I can skip church because I'm too lazy to get out of my PJs on a given Sunday, how trustworthy am I in my worship of the one who is my only reason for being? Not very.
OK, now that I've gotten that off my chest, here is something else. I went to the high school last night for the Sports' Award Event. They called it a dinner, but it was really an opportunity to eat sugar-filled, store bought cookies and cake. I did my part by eating a red velvet cupcake. That should fill my year's quota of red dye.
In a way, my Discover Jesus Moment presented itself at the Girls' Basketball Awards portion. As the coach called up each one of the players individually, and talked of her attributes and contribution to the team, these thoughts and questions went through my now sugar laden-dye filled brain. Please bear with me.
I pictured an awards banquet in heaven (there just might be one). When The Greatest Coach of all times finally calls me up before the gathering of saints, will he say any of these things about me?
Blank isn't really accurate, I have all sorts of stuff I have thought about, but nothing seems inspired enough, inspirational enough, or interesting enough to put on cyber paper. Maybe that is why I make such a good loner most of the time. I feel like I really don't have anything to say. I don't want to take part in a conversation of any sort, and that is what a blog is--a one sided conversation. I talk, you listen and maybe talk back to your monitor. I don't know what happens once this is floating through the ether of cyber world.
So, now I will try talking. Let's talk about my Wednesday Bible Study on Revelation and the week's assignment that I did yesterday. The Apostle John was in exile on the Isle of Patmos. He was not surrounded by any of the other disciples. They were all dead, most of them martyred. He was not in the midst of a body of believers. He was in exile, away from the Christian community which was under persecution. He was a believer living in a heathen place, yet worshiping on the Sabbath, and caught up in the Spirit.
Here is the question we, as fellow believers, need to ask our selves. If we were living in a totally pagan culture, and completely cut off from the Christian community; if we had no small groups in which to share our joys and our sorrows, or minister to others as well as be ministered to; if we had no places to worship or hear the Word proclaimed, if our closest friends had been tortured and/or killed for their faith, how long would we still worship on the Sabbath? How long would we worship at all if there was no one to keep us accountable, to encourage us, to pray with and for us? How long?
My answer to that question probably explains why I have never experienced any extraordinary, blow-my-mind revelations of Christ. If I can skip church because I'm too lazy to get out of my PJs on a given Sunday, how trustworthy am I in my worship of the one who is my only reason for being? Not very.
OK, now that I've gotten that off my chest, here is something else. I went to the high school last night for the Sports' Award Event. They called it a dinner, but it was really an opportunity to eat sugar-filled, store bought cookies and cake. I did my part by eating a red velvet cupcake. That should fill my year's quota of red dye.
In a way, my Discover Jesus Moment presented itself at the Girls' Basketball Awards portion. As the coach called up each one of the players individually, and talked of her attributes and contribution to the team, these thoughts and questions went through my now sugar laden-dye filled brain. Please bear with me.
I pictured an awards banquet in heaven (there just might be one). When The Greatest Coach of all times finally calls me up before the gathering of saints, will he say any of these things about me?
- She is extremely coach-able. She listens to what I want and what I expect, then tries her best to do it.
- She is a sacrificial player and gives it her all.
- She is a specialist. She might sit on the bench a lot, but when I need her talent and skills, she is ready to get in the game. She gets her job done.
- She sparks the team on with her enthusiasm and willingness to work.
- She is a joy to have on the team. Her smile and positive spirit can not be dampened.
- She is growing by leaps and bounds. Each practice is better than the last.
- When a full court press is on, I can depend on her to get the ball past the mid-court line and out of enemy territory.
- She is an unselfish player, always looking for an open player and making the assist.
- She is a total team player.
Just wondering.
So there you have it, a peek at some mental images and silent conversations I had with myself the past few days. Now I have shared them. What kind of silent conversations do they stir up in you?
Alright, I will share one more thing. As I continually discover more and more of Jesus, I discover more and more about myself. As long as I continue tor ask, "Am I doing what he wants?" or "How can I remain strong and faithful?" I am seeking him and will continue to grow. When I ask instead, "Am I good enough?" the answer will always be a resounding "NO!" because I am now depending on myself alone, and not Him. I am looking at myself alone, and not at Him. Only He was, is, and will ever be enough. That is what he wanted me to discover, AGAIN. Only He is enough.
Are my thoughts filled with praise and thanksgiving? No, not filled, but praise and thanksgiving are often there. Is His praise continually in my mouth? No, not continually, but it is often there. In spite of all my failures, questions and doubts, I know that I am coach-able and I am growing. I also know I am a member of the strongest, most winning team in the world.
We're Number One.
I'm off to practice. See you there. Go Team Jesus.
Jan
???????On one of my proof-reads I noticed a mistake, but didn't correct it. Now I can't find it again. Where, oh where is it?
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Today's Discover Jesus Moment #3
Today's Discover Jesus Moment came when I realized he showed himself after Bible study last Wednesday. Yes, I have to admit I am a little slow at times, but almost a week slow? Wake up girl.
Most people had left the church and I was sitting alone at my table waiting for a friend to bring me some books from her car. Next thing I knew a lady came over, sat down, and said, "Hi." We know each other as acquaintances. We used to attend the same church before she changed. We didn't see each other for years, that is until I changed churches; and we discovered we are now in the same congregation again. She is a wonderful mother (and foster mother) who has an unbelievable family. I have always liked her.
"How is your husband doing?" she asked. Of course I answered her as best I could, all the time wondering why she was interested. It didn't take long to discover that her family had a similar experience with a young man living in their home. Thankfully he was discovered before any actual molestation had taken place. She talked about the disbelief, the pain, the fear, the concern, and more. I listened. She, too, understands that the Lord can use this experience for his good, the family's good, and hopefully for the young man's good.
I hurt for her and her family. I felt helpless. I told her I was so sorry she had to go through all the upheaval and pain. I prayed with her. I told her she could talk to me any time. After fifteen to twenty minutes we parted ways.
Well, this morning I watched a movie, The Fifth Quarter, with my sick granddaughter. It tells the story of a family coping with the loss of a teenage son in a tragic car accident. As I watched the agony of the movie family, I began thinking about how I still have rough times even though I experienced no physical death of a loved one. One thought turned into another until I began wondering what, why, how all over again. Then came the question I've asked myself for years, "How will God ever use me, use it, use my family?
That is when the Discover Jesus Moment occurred. Here it is, almost a week after my Bible study experience, and I just now begin to realize the conversation last week was no accident. My sister in Christ needed someone to talk to, someone who understood her pain, someone who would not judge. Jesus knew her needs because he is in the knowing business. Wednesday he chose me to help meet her needs. That is how he works. How cool is that.
Jesus knows our needs, our hearts, our prayers. He knows how to handle them all. He might choose to use you, me, someone, or something else. But this is certain, he will choose whomever he pleases. If you are anything like me, you might not even know it until much later--if ever.
Oh he is good.
Jan
Most people had left the church and I was sitting alone at my table waiting for a friend to bring me some books from her car. Next thing I knew a lady came over, sat down, and said, "Hi." We know each other as acquaintances. We used to attend the same church before she changed. We didn't see each other for years, that is until I changed churches; and we discovered we are now in the same congregation again. She is a wonderful mother (and foster mother) who has an unbelievable family. I have always liked her.
"How is your husband doing?" she asked. Of course I answered her as best I could, all the time wondering why she was interested. It didn't take long to discover that her family had a similar experience with a young man living in their home. Thankfully he was discovered before any actual molestation had taken place. She talked about the disbelief, the pain, the fear, the concern, and more. I listened. She, too, understands that the Lord can use this experience for his good, the family's good, and hopefully for the young man's good.
I hurt for her and her family. I felt helpless. I told her I was so sorry she had to go through all the upheaval and pain. I prayed with her. I told her she could talk to me any time. After fifteen to twenty minutes we parted ways.
Well, this morning I watched a movie, The Fifth Quarter, with my sick granddaughter. It tells the story of a family coping with the loss of a teenage son in a tragic car accident. As I watched the agony of the movie family, I began thinking about how I still have rough times even though I experienced no physical death of a loved one. One thought turned into another until I began wondering what, why, how all over again. Then came the question I've asked myself for years, "How will God ever use me, use it, use my family?
That is when the Discover Jesus Moment occurred. Here it is, almost a week after my Bible study experience, and I just now begin to realize the conversation last week was no accident. My sister in Christ needed someone to talk to, someone who understood her pain, someone who would not judge. Jesus knew her needs because he is in the knowing business. Wednesday he chose me to help meet her needs. That is how he works. How cool is that.
Jesus knows our needs, our hearts, our prayers. He knows how to handle them all. He might choose to use you, me, someone, or something else. But this is certain, he will choose whomever he pleases. If you are anything like me, you might not even know it until much later--if ever.
Oh he is good.
Jan
Monday, February 25, 2013
Today's Discover Jesus Moment #2
This was another crazy day. Good crazy, not bad crazy.
I left for town fairly early this morning, had to stop for gas because I was almost running on fumes, then checked in for my yearly doctor visit which I haven't had for over 4 years. I guess that means it hasn't been yearly. Oh well.
I was excited with the results of the blood work I had done last week. Other than my vitamin D level being a low normal, everything else was perfect. In fact, the Dr. said she hasn't seen blood work this good in 20 years. Yeah. Thank you, Lord.
Then, instead of coming home, I went to my daughter's house to sit with my granddaughter for awhile. She has been sick since last week--high fever, sore throat. My daughter, a teacher, needed to go to her school since it was picture day. The teacher probably should be in the class picture.
She returned within half an hour, so we sat and visited for a bit. She was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. She had clothes to fold, papers to grade, lesson plans to develop, worship schedule to make, dinner to fix, a kitchen floor to sweep, dusty furniture staring her in the face, and a sick daughter who needed her attention.
What she really wanted to do was keep her daughter company and do nothing else. I can certainly identify with that.
Well, after we talked, I headed down the sidewalk to hop into my car and drive home. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I got home, but it would probably be something fairly nonproductive. I had almost reached my car when I practically fell on my face as I suddenly came to an abrupt and complete halt. There was no heavenly voice thundering from the rain clouds overhead that tripped me up. There was just that still, small, Holy Spirit voice inside me that said, "Really? You think this day is all about you? This isn't about you. This is about your daughter."
This was my Discover Jesus moment of the day.
I had no sooner stopped than I found myself turning around and walking back into my daughters house. Without knocking, I barged right in and exclaimed, "Well, I have nothing going on this afternoon, so show me your dust cloth and let me get started." And that is exactly what happened.
While she swept, I dusted. While she brought in firewood, I straightened stuff up. She fixed lunch. We both ate. Then we both sat on the living room floor folding clothes and sorting socks. By 2:30 we were done. I came home. She had the rest of the afternoon to do whatever she decided to do, but the house was straightened up, kitchen swept, and the clothes folded. She could take a big breath and relax a little.
Jesus is so good. He blessed us both with a rare afternoon together--an afternoon that eased my daughter's stress, and filled my hours with delight.
So, that is where and how Jesus revealed himself to me today. How about you.
Looking forward to what tomorrowmay will bring. It will probably be a sick teenager for the day.
Jan
I left for town fairly early this morning, had to stop for gas because I was almost running on fumes, then checked in for my yearly doctor visit which I haven't had for over 4 years. I guess that means it hasn't been yearly. Oh well.
I was excited with the results of the blood work I had done last week. Other than my vitamin D level being a low normal, everything else was perfect. In fact, the Dr. said she hasn't seen blood work this good in 20 years. Yeah. Thank you, Lord.
Then, instead of coming home, I went to my daughter's house to sit with my granddaughter for awhile. She has been sick since last week--high fever, sore throat. My daughter, a teacher, needed to go to her school since it was picture day. The teacher probably should be in the class picture.
She returned within half an hour, so we sat and visited for a bit. She was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. She had clothes to fold, papers to grade, lesson plans to develop, worship schedule to make, dinner to fix, a kitchen floor to sweep, dusty furniture staring her in the face, and a sick daughter who needed her attention.
What she really wanted to do was keep her daughter company and do nothing else. I can certainly identify with that.
Well, after we talked, I headed down the sidewalk to hop into my car and drive home. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I got home, but it would probably be something fairly nonproductive. I had almost reached my car when I practically fell on my face as I suddenly came to an abrupt and complete halt. There was no heavenly voice thundering from the rain clouds overhead that tripped me up. There was just that still, small, Holy Spirit voice inside me that said, "Really? You think this day is all about you? This isn't about you. This is about your daughter."
This was my Discover Jesus moment of the day.
I had no sooner stopped than I found myself turning around and walking back into my daughters house. Without knocking, I barged right in and exclaimed, "Well, I have nothing going on this afternoon, so show me your dust cloth and let me get started." And that is exactly what happened.
While she swept, I dusted. While she brought in firewood, I straightened stuff up. She fixed lunch. We both ate. Then we both sat on the living room floor folding clothes and sorting socks. By 2:30 we were done. I came home. She had the rest of the afternoon to do whatever she decided to do, but the house was straightened up, kitchen swept, and the clothes folded. She could take a big breath and relax a little.
Jesus is so good. He blessed us both with a rare afternoon together--an afternoon that eased my daughter's stress, and filled my hours with delight.
So, that is where and how Jesus revealed himself to me today. How about you.
Looking forward to what tomorrow
Jan
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Today's Discover Jesus Moment #1
How did the Lord reveal himself to me yesterday? I have been asking myself that question off and on since yesterday afternoon. There were a couple things I saw and heard that could answer that question.
I met some friends yesterday for our annual February birthday bash (luncheon).Of the six that usually attend, there were only five yesterday. At one time we all attended the same church, but now we attend and are active in four different churches. One friend still has small children at home (a second family of beautiful adopted sisters) as well as adult children with families, two have children in both college and high school. One has adult children. Then there is me with adult children who have families.
From job situations to home remodeling, from child rearing to college educations to mission trips, from retirement to quilting to fishing, from health to aging, the conversation jumped back and forth. Although the topics changed often and rapidly, one thing remained constant. We knew without any doubt that God is in control therefore the future is in his control too. Amen.
As we got caught up with what was happening in our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren, two things came through loudly and clearly to me.
1. We may be wives. We may be mothers and grandmothers. We may be gifted women, but first and foremost we are blessed women of faith.
2. The Lord is faithful.
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3
That is how Jesus revealed himself to me yesterday.
Now to be aware of his presence today.
Keeping watch,
Jan
I met some friends yesterday for our annual February birthday bash (luncheon).Of the six that usually attend, there were only five yesterday. At one time we all attended the same church, but now we attend and are active in four different churches. One friend still has small children at home (a second family of beautiful adopted sisters) as well as adult children with families, two have children in both college and high school. One has adult children. Then there is me with adult children who have families.
From job situations to home remodeling, from child rearing to college educations to mission trips, from retirement to quilting to fishing, from health to aging, the conversation jumped back and forth. Although the topics changed often and rapidly, one thing remained constant. We knew without any doubt that God is in control therefore the future is in his control too. Amen.
As we got caught up with what was happening in our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren, two things came through loudly and clearly to me.
1. We may be wives. We may be mothers and grandmothers. We may be gifted women, but first and foremost we are blessed women of faith.
2. The Lord is faithful.
"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation 1:3
That is how Jesus revealed himself to me yesterday.
Now to be aware of his presence today.
Keeping watch,
Jan
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