Fine Tuning

-
December 10
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. 2 Corinthians 13:5 9 (MSG)

"Stop messing with me," was the flash thought I lifted up to the Lord after a little lack of immediate obedience from me yesterday. Just as quickly as those thoughts from emotional exhaustion came to me, so did the words I've often heard my coach husband say to players. "You should be glad I am on your case, because when a coach stops getting on you that means he has given up on you." I figure as long as the Lord keeps disciplining us He has a purpose for us!

The entanglement began as I sat in the examination room of a doctor's office yesterday. While waiting for the doctor to come in I took the time to quiet myself and pray. That's when the unexpected occurred. The Lord said, "Ask the doctor what God has taught her this past year." "Could I just get her email and do it that way?" I inquired. She entered and began looking over my chart. Interrupting her, I stated there was something I needed to do before she went any futher. With knees practically knocking and tears coming to my eyes, I began with excuses...not quite the effect the Lord had intended..but I didn't know this woman well and was nervous. "God has put on my heart to ask you what you have learned from him this past year." Instantaneously I explained that this really was probably just a test of my obedience and she didn't have to answer. (Further flub and lack of trust.) While I was still babbling, she was very moved by the question and began to explain it had been a banner year for she and the Lord. I sat listening while she shared she has come to realize that her worth is not in who she is as mother, a wife, even a doctor, but in who she is as God's daughter. A WOW moment occurred.
Driving home I was so embarrassed I hadn't trusted the Lord with what He was up to. Confessing my short comings to Him (I also had a little fib from the day before which had been told trying to protect the feelings of someone, but it could have gone without being said) God explained more about the necessity of this process for me. "I can't take you where I want you to go next, until we fine tune your obedience in situations like today." What's next? I have no clue, but I obviously have to look a lot more like Jesus to get there.

Let's turn what John Lloyd Ogilvie has written so eloquently into our prayer for today...
"Oh God, I am fully accountable to You. Remind me that when I speak or make a commitment, Your name is at stake as well as mine. Help me to take my intentions and vows seriously, and to make them cautiously. And when I move to fulfill what I have committed to do, may I do it not in my human frailty, but in Your divine power." In Jesus' Name, Amen

Popular posts from this blog

She Fought the Good Fight

-
Image
February 27 Bible Gateway's verse yesterday was: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him . 1 John 4:9 A fitting verse for the day my everyday friend, soul sister, monster of the faith and mischievous partner in crime, Kaye, left this world behind and headed to her heavenly home. My husband was able to be by her bedside and said he knew she heard the words of our faith that he shared. Her sweet daughter held the phone up to her ear so I could say good-bye and the brightest single star you have ever seen shown through my bedroom window as she exited this earth! Yesterday, my heart literally ached so badly that I told the Lord, "Take me too!" Wouldn't she have been surprised if I had snuck up on her in heaven and said, "Thought you were going somewhere without me, did ya." When we received the call she was ready to go, I called out to the Lord for comfort and He led me to the Bible Gat
Read more

Toe Sucking

-
Image
June 13 If I keep my eyes on God, I won't trip over my own feet. Psalm 25:12 …or allow them to be sucked off by carp!  For as long as I've been on this lake (49 years) we've gone to feed the carp at various marinas.   I have a bag of old bread waiting to be tossed to the carp tomorrow by our grandchildren!   There's a new adventure at a couple of the marinas.  Toe sucking!   For 25 cents you can buy a small scoop of peanut butter to go on your toes. Then the carp suck it off!   I just got a pedicure, so I have an excuse not to participate! What we do need to participate in is keeping our feet on the paths the Lord sets before us. Give careful though to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26 
Read more

Remember Your Story

-
Image
Our oldest granddaughter made this bouquet and hand painted card for me.💖 Nothing touches our lives that God doesn't allow.  He has a plan and a purpose, sometimes far into the future, that can be used for His glory. (Jeremiah 29:11) Flash back 40 years and I approached life's downs with an "I can't believe this is happening." and truth be told "How can I fix it?" attitude.   Now that I am older and wiser I see that God truly works all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28) I thank God for the stroke 8 years ago and how it mellowed me out (okay some of you are laughing, but it really did). And honestly,  I like getting old. Sure, there are regrets, but there is also value in being able to pass along the wisdom learned from those regrets. God CAN use everything for His good. Mentoring moments are what I feel called to at this stage of life.  Working on a talk for a women's retreat weekend, I came ac
Read more