Job

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I hope everyone is having a better year than mine.  I emailed a friend earlier today that faith and fear are warring inside me; I feel like that much put-upon Bible figure, Job.  No, I haven't lost everything, thank God, but several major calamities have struck since last week, and I've felt completely overloaded.  The least of the issues is that my computer croaked.  I'm typing this at my parents' house. 

Thanks so much to everyone who has read my posts, indulging me in my flights of fancy, my delusions of being in possession of something that may be of use to someone.  I hope someone besides me has gotten something from my blogging experience.

I may not post for a couple weeks, but God willing, I will be back.

Until then, be blessed, dear readers.

Watching and Waiting

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I know several people who are seeking God's guidance in how to handle some serious issues.  We've all been there at one time or another (if we try to follow God, that is.)  We've all heard the advice as to what to do during the waiting period, and we've all given the advice to others.

The truth is that the only thing we mere mortals can do is try to be open to what we believe God says and trust that He will answer if we ask.  Then we have to muster the faith to do it, no matter how strange it may sound or how it may not match up with our ideas of the "best" way to handle a situation.  It's easier said than done, but with God's help, it's possible.  We watch, we wait, and we (hopefully) praise.  Just like one of my favorite hymns, "Blessed Assurance," by Frances J. Crosby:

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
   
   • Refrain:
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long;
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels, descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest,
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Happy New Year

Never give up; you never know until you try.

2013 is hours away here.  I hope everyone has a safe holiday celebration and that 2013 is prosperous and joyful.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas! 

Listen!

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I know I've written about this before, but I think we all probably need a refresher in this.  I certainly do.  Lately, I think God has been emphasizing to me the importance of listening.  I've noticed several interactions between others, and been in a few myself, wherein one party didn't really "listen" to the other.  When that happens, it creates and frustration.  We all want to be "heard" and understood--or at least accepted.

Psychologists and communication professionals tout the benefits of "active listening." Using "I" statements and paraphrasing can go a long way to avoiding miscommunication, but we must be willing to really hear what the other is saying.  We must also be willing to be honest with them (and ourselves) about what we think and feel, or we'll still be far from the outcome we desire.

Several times in Scripture, we find words to the effect that if we have ears to hear, we need to listen to what is being said. The issue is our willingness to really receive what the speaker is saying and do something about it and not just gloss over it or ignore it altogether.  As a friend pointed out recently, sometimes the speaker we don't hear (because of internal or external noise,) or that we ignore (from fear or prejudice) is our own voice.  It's our "gut" talking to us.  It's God's Holy Spirit guiding us.  If we allow the message to get lost in the clutter or if we ignore it, we do so at our own peril.

As I've told countless students, "Go with your gut!"

The Mask

Never give up; you never know until you try.

This poem, by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, was published in1896.

"We Wear the Mask"

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, -
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but O Great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask.

 

I see it every day.  So does God.  Take heart, dear ones.  So does God, and He cares.  I'm so glad I don't have to wear the mask with Him.

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Preparation

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Thanksgiving Day is November 22 here in the U.S.  Many of us are planning big gatherings with family and friends.  Others are going away for a break from it all.  Some are facing just another day of poverty and loneliness and feel as if they have little to be thankful for.

It's easy to get caught up in our own lives and overlook those around us who need help.  Regardless of our situations, we have a lot to be grateful for; there are people all around who are much worse off than we are.  I hope we'll all remember those suffering ones, often "invisible" and suffering in silence, and do what we can to alleviate their suffering.  It doesn't have to be a grand gesture or require a lot of money.  It can be as simple as inviting someone to join us for a meal or taking them a plate of food or even just checking in with them by phone to let them know we care.

God has been good to us all.  Please pass that goodness on this Thanksgiving.  Henry Van Dyke said, "Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received.  Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling.  Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."