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He Will Carry You, March 8, 2014
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46: 4
Sometimes it’s just amazing to me what we can learn about life from others! Recently I took my former neighbor and dear friend, Betty, to visit her beloved Aunt Annie, who lives a couple of hours away. I was anxious to meet this sweet little lady I had heard so much about, and I knew how much Betty was longing to see her. It was such a blessing for me to do so. To see those two precious little women – Betty, who is 87, and her aunt, who is 103 – embrace each other with such love and joy was so heartwarming. It was as if they held on to each other and then “took each other in” as they memorized every feature on each other’s face. For you could see in their eyes that they knew time and distance was not on their side, and these visits might be few in the future. But at that moment, on this day, they were going to enjoy every minute they had together and they did. And they let me be a part of it, and that was such a gift.
Aunt Annie, who she has endearingly come to be known to me, is an absolute wonder and joy. After just being discharged from the hospital a few days before, she was amazingly resilient, able to be up and about, and her spirit was simply incredible. I just sat in complete awe of her as I listened. She made me smile and I loved hearing her stories. She said she had decided not to worry about dieting anymore and she thought she would just focus on enjoying life. (How cute is that at 103, and if you could see her, she is tiny!) She said now as she is starting to feel better, she just wants to “burst out” and live again. And she was all ready to do so and go out to lunch with us, but her therapist came by for a workout so she had to stay. She made us laugh as she said her appetite had not been as good lately, so if we would just bring her a Wendy’s hamburger, that would be great. Her wit, charm, and memory were unbelievable and her enthusiasm for life so uplifting.
We spoke of many things and listening to her tell of her early years as a telephone operator in the 1920’s was fascinating, as she told with excitement of being promoted from a local operator to a long distance one. As I listened to her so intently, I couldn’t help but notice how flawless her skin was. Her age is quite deceiving for she is beautiful and vivacious. We asked what would she attribute the secret of her longevity and beauty. She immediately smiled and responded that it was totally due to her lifelong use of Estee Lauder, (although she did admit that she has recently changed to Pond’s). But I knew from our conversations that it was much more. She has such a joyful spirit, and her unshakable and unwavering faith in God is quite obvious. There was evidence of her deep faith in her loving God throughout her small apartment in the assisted living facility where she lives. She spoke of Him as a lifelong, devoted, personal friend and One she has counted on to be with her throughout every day of her life.
The only time she spoke with any hint of sadness was when she told us of the passing of her “special friend” a few weeks earlier. He and she had spent much time together, enjoyed each other’s company, and he had always come to her room each night to watch TV with her. Just as in so many friendships, age was not a factor – she was 103, and he, a mere 82, and they cared deeply about each other. But in speaking of him, she quickly added that he had had some serious health problems, and she couldn’t be sad because he was in heaven now, and she was so happy for him. Incredibly, she spoke not of upcoming death in the future for herself, but she was focused on life and living it to the fullest. It must run in the family, for Betty certainly has her beautiful spirit.
Later in the afternoon, I felt these two needed some special time together before they parted, and I went outside to walk. thought of Aunt Annie’s sweetness, her enthusiasm for life, and of God’s abiding presence with her. What a beautiful life she has lived, and He has indeed carried her, sustained her, and rescued her with His love and grace over and over again. And He will lovingly rescue her one last time when she becomes weary and worn and ready to leave this world and enter the next. What an example she is for all of us to follow – from this moment on, and throughout our old age and gray hair.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the special people in our lives that teach us more and more about the loving grace you have to give. May we learn from this precious little woman’s example of how to live each day to the fullest – with hope and anticipation, but especially with gratitude for your presence. Thank you for sustaining us and carrying us through, no matter what our age. In your most holy name, Amen
Sometimes it’s just amazing to me what we can learn about life from others! Recently I took my former neighbor and dear friend, Betty, to visit her beloved Aunt Annie, who lives a couple of hours away. I was anxious to meet this sweet little lady I had heard so much about, and I knew how much Betty was longing to see her. It was such a blessing for me to do so. To see those two precious little women – Betty, who is 87, and her aunt, who is 103 – embrace each other with such love and joy was so heartwarming. It was as if they held on to each other and then “took each other in” as they memorized every feature on each other’s face. For you could see in their eyes that they knew time and distance was not on their side, and these visits might be few in the future. But at that moment, on this day, they were going to enjoy every minute they had together and they did. And they let me be a part of it, and that was such a gift.
Aunt Annie, who she has endearingly come to be known to me, is an absolute wonder and joy. After just being discharged from the hospital a few days before, she was amazingly resilient, able to be up and about, and her spirit was simply incredible. I just sat in complete awe of her as I listened. She made me smile and I loved hearing her stories. She said she had decided not to worry about dieting anymore and she thought she would just focus on enjoying life. (How cute is that at 103, and if you could see her, she is tiny!) She said now as she is starting to feel better, she just wants to “burst out” and live again. And she was all ready to do so and go out to lunch with us, but her therapist came by for a workout so she had to stay. She made us laugh as she said her appetite had not been as good lately, so if we would just bring her a Wendy’s hamburger, that would be great. Her wit, charm, and memory were unbelievable and her enthusiasm for life so uplifting.
We spoke of many things and listening to her tell of her early years as a telephone operator in the 1920’s was fascinating, as she told with excitement of being promoted from a local operator to a long distance one. As I listened to her so intently, I couldn’t help but notice how flawless her skin was. Her age is quite deceiving for she is beautiful and vivacious. We asked what would she attribute the secret of her longevity and beauty. She immediately smiled and responded that it was totally due to her lifelong use of Estee Lauder, (although she did admit that she has recently changed to Pond’s). But I knew from our conversations that it was much more. She has such a joyful spirit, and her unshakable and unwavering faith in God is quite obvious. There was evidence of her deep faith in her loving God throughout her small apartment in the assisted living facility where she lives. She spoke of Him as a lifelong, devoted, personal friend and One she has counted on to be with her throughout every day of her life.
The only time she spoke with any hint of sadness was when she told us of the passing of her “special friend” a few weeks earlier. He and she had spent much time together, enjoyed each other’s company, and he had always come to her room each night to watch TV with her. Just as in so many friendships, age was not a factor – she was 103, and he, a mere 82, and they cared deeply about each other. But in speaking of him, she quickly added that he had had some serious health problems, and she couldn’t be sad because he was in heaven now, and she was so happy for him. Incredibly, she spoke not of upcoming death in the future for herself, but she was focused on life and living it to the fullest. It must run in the family, for Betty certainly has her beautiful spirit.
Later in the afternoon, I felt these two needed some special time together before they parted, and I went outside to walk. thought of Aunt Annie’s sweetness, her enthusiasm for life, and of God’s abiding presence with her. What a beautiful life she has lived, and He has indeed carried her, sustained her, and rescued her with His love and grace over and over again. And He will lovingly rescue her one last time when she becomes weary and worn and ready to leave this world and enter the next. What an example she is for all of us to follow – from this moment on, and throughout our old age and gray hair.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the special people in our lives that teach us more and more about the loving grace you have to give. May we learn from this precious little woman’s example of how to live each day to the fullest – with hope and anticipation, but especially with gratitude for your presence. Thank you for sustaining us and carrying us through, no matter what our age. In your most holy name, Amen
It's Not All About Me, March 14, 2014
"Now then, listen, you wanton creature, lounging in your security and saying to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.'" Isaiah 47: 8
Have you by any chance seen the movie, Grace Unplugged? It was in theaters last fall, so it should be available on DVD. Surprisingly, it is a good, clean, family movie – which is rare - and it has a great message. I don’t want to give too many details, but it’s about a family whose daughter seems to be moving away from the values she has been taught growing up. It has a really great line when the father says to her: “You always said you wanted to have a life centered on God, but I have been hearing an awful lot lately about ‘What I want, what I need, and Me, Me, Me.’ ”
What a “me generation” we are! It’s easy to think that the world revolves around “me”, and it’s all about me and nothing else! In fact, I recently read a Time Magazine article (May 20, 2013), which was written about this very topic, entitled, “Me! Me! Me.” The author wrote about “what a self-absorbed, lazy, entitled, narcissistic, overindulged, materialistic, and shallow people we have become.” One of the most disturbing statements I read was that our teenagers and young adults have become so convinced of their own greatness that the National Study of Youth and Religion found that the guiding morality for 60% of those surveyed was that they would know what to do in any given situation just “by feeling what is right.” They have no need or desire for parental or spiritual guidance. Many of them exhibit a complete lack of empathy of the kind that allows them to feel any sort of compassion for others. Many disrespect authority and choose to do what they think is right.
It’s obvious as we look around us, that the vast majority of people in the world seem to only care about their own needs, and not about those who are truly “in need”. Our culture has taught us to love ourselves and put our own needs and wishes above all else. We believe that nothing is more important than what we feel, think, like, or desire. We have become obsessed with appearance, intellect, power, money, position, and social media. (We even get overly anxious if we feel as if we are missing out on something and have to constantly check “to keep up”. How much time we waste doing so, which could be spent on real relationships and more worthwhile endeavors!) Our greatest purpose in life seems to be to glorify and satisfy ourselves. This question says it well, “Why worship God when you can be one yourself?” Or this one, “If Satan can’t get people to worship him, he will convince them to worship themselves.” What “wanton, selfish creatures” we are!
This is not what God desires or commands of us. We are told in Scripture that we are to first and foremost love Him and then love our neighbors. God’s love is selfless and unconditional and He desires us to love in the same way. Our lives are to be focused on Him and on helping others. How we disrespect and dishonor Him when we think only of ourselves. If we will center our lives on God and serving Him, we will find our problems, issues, needs, and desires seem to fade away, and we will have more purpose and meaning in life. God wants us to have more, to have the best of what He has to offer us, and if we will look to Him, He will fill our lives with the blessings that truly matter.
We have become ingrained in this world to have a self-absorbed mindset. It will take strength to develop a deep resolve in our hearts to focus on what is truly important in this life, and that is to live one that is in every way pleasing to Him and will bring Him honor and glory. May we always remember, “It’s not all about me.” Nor is it about me at all! It’s about Him, our Creator and Sustainer of life, the One who gives us life and longs to give us more. He doesn’t want just a part of us part of the time. He wants all of us!
Prayer
Our most kind and gracious God, forgive us for thinking so much about ourselves and what we want. Thank you for loving us and blessing us with your goodness, even when we don’t deserve it. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and may we honor you by showing our love to others. Amen.
Have you by any chance seen the movie, Grace Unplugged? It was in theaters last fall, so it should be available on DVD. Surprisingly, it is a good, clean, family movie – which is rare - and it has a great message. I don’t want to give too many details, but it’s about a family whose daughter seems to be moving away from the values she has been taught growing up. It has a really great line when the father says to her: “You always said you wanted to have a life centered on God, but I have been hearing an awful lot lately about ‘What I want, what I need, and Me, Me, Me.’ ”
What a “me generation” we are! It’s easy to think that the world revolves around “me”, and it’s all about me and nothing else! In fact, I recently read a Time Magazine article (May 20, 2013), which was written about this very topic, entitled, “Me! Me! Me.” The author wrote about “what a self-absorbed, lazy, entitled, narcissistic, overindulged, materialistic, and shallow people we have become.” One of the most disturbing statements I read was that our teenagers and young adults have become so convinced of their own greatness that the National Study of Youth and Religion found that the guiding morality for 60% of those surveyed was that they would know what to do in any given situation just “by feeling what is right.” They have no need or desire for parental or spiritual guidance. Many of them exhibit a complete lack of empathy of the kind that allows them to feel any sort of compassion for others. Many disrespect authority and choose to do what they think is right.
It’s obvious as we look around us, that the vast majority of people in the world seem to only care about their own needs, and not about those who are truly “in need”. Our culture has taught us to love ourselves and put our own needs and wishes above all else. We believe that nothing is more important than what we feel, think, like, or desire. We have become obsessed with appearance, intellect, power, money, position, and social media. (We even get overly anxious if we feel as if we are missing out on something and have to constantly check “to keep up”. How much time we waste doing so, which could be spent on real relationships and more worthwhile endeavors!) Our greatest purpose in life seems to be to glorify and satisfy ourselves. This question says it well, “Why worship God when you can be one yourself?” Or this one, “If Satan can’t get people to worship him, he will convince them to worship themselves.” What “wanton, selfish creatures” we are!
This is not what God desires or commands of us. We are told in Scripture that we are to first and foremost love Him and then love our neighbors. God’s love is selfless and unconditional and He desires us to love in the same way. Our lives are to be focused on Him and on helping others. How we disrespect and dishonor Him when we think only of ourselves. If we will center our lives on God and serving Him, we will find our problems, issues, needs, and desires seem to fade away, and we will have more purpose and meaning in life. God wants us to have more, to have the best of what He has to offer us, and if we will look to Him, He will fill our lives with the blessings that truly matter.
We have become ingrained in this world to have a self-absorbed mindset. It will take strength to develop a deep resolve in our hearts to focus on what is truly important in this life, and that is to live one that is in every way pleasing to Him and will bring Him honor and glory. May we always remember, “It’s not all about me.” Nor is it about me at all! It’s about Him, our Creator and Sustainer of life, the One who gives us life and longs to give us more. He doesn’t want just a part of us part of the time. He wants all of us!
Prayer
Our most kind and gracious God, forgive us for thinking so much about ourselves and what we want. Thank you for loving us and blessing us with your goodness, even when we don’t deserve it. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and may we honor you by showing our love to others. Amen.
Serving the Lord, March 22, 2014
"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12: 9 – 13
I know very little about U2. If I heard one of their songs, I would probably recognize it, but I can’t name one. I have heard Bob speak of them and especially their lead singer, known as Bono, from time to time, and know him to be a great humanitarian and global activist. Bob has mentioned how much He admires him for his work with President George W. Bush and other world leaders to fight poverty around the world, in part because of his deep faith.
In searching for an article I wanted to read, I came across one about Bono doing “a fascinating radio interview” with FOCUS on the Family (FOF), a Christian organization. Because of what Bob had told me, it grabbed my attention, I read the article, and listened to the 30 minute interview. I was astounded by the words of this famed musician, his passion for helping the poor, but I was especially moved and impressed by his intense faith in Jesus Christ. His knowledge of Scripture was incredible. He quoted many passages and gave examples of faith, love, and service from His Word. These are a few of his most profound statements from the interview:
“It’s very annoying following this person of Christ around because He’s very demanding of your life.”
”It’s important to be honest with God. He is more interested in who you are rather than who you want to be.”
”Go about doing God’s work. Don’t just speak about it. Do it! Believe in Him to help you make a difference.”
”Jesus didn’t have many manners or try to be polite. He spoke directly to the people about justice and what needs to be done by His followers.”
”You have to decide whether to embrace this Christ, the Son of God, or believe He is a total nut case. It is necessary to choose one or the other, and if you choose the first, you must live the life of love He teaches.”
”Beyond accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the 2nd most important thing to do is to bring love and grace together in 1 cup of justice. We must take care of the people in poverty and need.”
”Jesus will not let you off the hook. Scripture won’t let you off the hook. We are expected to help others.”
”Jesus, the Word of life, appeared, as written in 1 John 1:1. You don’t have to be a PHD to understand His Gospel. Believe with your heart.”
”If you and your life are in alignment with Christ, special things will start happening in your life.”
What a lesson for all of us and what an influence Bono has been and can be on the world stage – especially among young people who like his music and know of his fame. For the past 25 years he has worked tirelessly to make a difference in young people’s lives. It was stated that over 7000 kids live every day because of the collective efforts he pushed to fight AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. 51 million children in Africa go to school because of his work and vision to get government allotted funds available for them. He especially wanted to give credit to the American people who have given generous gifts to His cause to save 9 million lives with AIDS. He spoke of how we all have our philosophical disagreements, our different theological beliefs, and our opposite political positions, but this is one thing we can come together on – our belief that we can change lives and love others in the name of Christ.
The above verse speaks to how all of us should be devoted to each other in brotherly love and in service to Him. Bono is definitely a testament to that! I know nothing of his life outside of what I read and saw in this interview, but his love seems sincere, and he appears to always be “clinging to what is good.” He is devoted to helping his fellow human beings around the world, and he honors and values life. His zeal and passion for the broken-hearted is obvious as he seeks to serve the Son of God with love and compassion. I think I like this man! I might have to check out his music! And what a Savior! I am in awe of the many ways He uses individuals we would never expect to carry His message of love to others!
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for such a man who is willing to use his platform to glorify you and to help those in need. We pray many hearts will be opened to you through his life and service. May we all serve and honor you with the same love, zeal, and compassion. Thank you for your presence with us and your saving grace. Amen
I know very little about U2. If I heard one of their songs, I would probably recognize it, but I can’t name one. I have heard Bob speak of them and especially their lead singer, known as Bono, from time to time, and know him to be a great humanitarian and global activist. Bob has mentioned how much He admires him for his work with President George W. Bush and other world leaders to fight poverty around the world, in part because of his deep faith.
In searching for an article I wanted to read, I came across one about Bono doing “a fascinating radio interview” with FOCUS on the Family (FOF), a Christian organization. Because of what Bob had told me, it grabbed my attention, I read the article, and listened to the 30 minute interview. I was astounded by the words of this famed musician, his passion for helping the poor, but I was especially moved and impressed by his intense faith in Jesus Christ. His knowledge of Scripture was incredible. He quoted many passages and gave examples of faith, love, and service from His Word. These are a few of his most profound statements from the interview:
“It’s very annoying following this person of Christ around because He’s very demanding of your life.”
”It’s important to be honest with God. He is more interested in who you are rather than who you want to be.”
”Go about doing God’s work. Don’t just speak about it. Do it! Believe in Him to help you make a difference.”
”Jesus didn’t have many manners or try to be polite. He spoke directly to the people about justice and what needs to be done by His followers.”
”You have to decide whether to embrace this Christ, the Son of God, or believe He is a total nut case. It is necessary to choose one or the other, and if you choose the first, you must live the life of love He teaches.”
”Beyond accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the 2nd most important thing to do is to bring love and grace together in 1 cup of justice. We must take care of the people in poverty and need.”
”Jesus will not let you off the hook. Scripture won’t let you off the hook. We are expected to help others.”
”Jesus, the Word of life, appeared, as written in 1 John 1:1. You don’t have to be a PHD to understand His Gospel. Believe with your heart.”
”If you and your life are in alignment with Christ, special things will start happening in your life.”
What a lesson for all of us and what an influence Bono has been and can be on the world stage – especially among young people who like his music and know of his fame. For the past 25 years he has worked tirelessly to make a difference in young people’s lives. It was stated that over 7000 kids live every day because of the collective efforts he pushed to fight AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. 51 million children in Africa go to school because of his work and vision to get government allotted funds available for them. He especially wanted to give credit to the American people who have given generous gifts to His cause to save 9 million lives with AIDS. He spoke of how we all have our philosophical disagreements, our different theological beliefs, and our opposite political positions, but this is one thing we can come together on – our belief that we can change lives and love others in the name of Christ.
The above verse speaks to how all of us should be devoted to each other in brotherly love and in service to Him. Bono is definitely a testament to that! I know nothing of his life outside of what I read and saw in this interview, but his love seems sincere, and he appears to always be “clinging to what is good.” He is devoted to helping his fellow human beings around the world, and he honors and values life. His zeal and passion for the broken-hearted is obvious as he seeks to serve the Son of God with love and compassion. I think I like this man! I might have to check out his music! And what a Savior! I am in awe of the many ways He uses individuals we would never expect to carry His message of love to others!
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for such a man who is willing to use his platform to glorify you and to help those in need. We pray many hearts will be opened to you through his life and service. May we all serve and honor you with the same love, zeal, and compassion. Thank you for your presence with us and your saving grace. Amen
The Secret of Being Content, March 28, 2014
"I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. . . I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4: 10 – 13
Where do you think you would rate yourself on a “Satisfaction/Contentment in Life” scale of 1 – 10? Do you find that you are usually a happy, contented, grateful person who enjoys life and all it has to offer, and you would give yourself a pretty high score? Or would you describe yourself more dissatisfied, disillusioned, and disappointed with life in general, and you would rate yourself much lower?
When I was teaching, some of my middle school students could get in some pretty “unpleasant moods” over some incident that had happened at home or at school, or over something that was going on in their lives at the time. In my little “pep talk” to help them deal with the situation and their emotions, I would listen and tell them that I understood what they were feeling. But I also reminded them that sometimes they really did have a choice. They could choose to be happy, or they could choose to be miserable. I would remind them that yes, sometimes circumstances can make us sad, upset, and unhappy, but it is how we choose to handle them that makes a difference.
And often, we even let those feelings carry over long after the situation has passed, and then it matters even more how we deal with them. Do we dwell on the situation and see only the negative and make ourselves miserable and in turn make everyone around us miserable, or do we pick ourselves up, go on, and not miss out on the good things to come? Obviously some situations are much more difficult and painful “to get over," and I tried to be sensitive to their circumstances, but I truly wanted them to think through how their mood was affecting their actions. It often came out as anger or frustration towards others. This might be true of us as adults, as well. Maybe we should examine our attitudes and actions, and realize that sometimes we really do have a choice. Being content is a state of mind, an attitude, and a conscious effort to see the best in ourselves and in others, instead of the worst.
Our emotions can sometimes get the best of us. At times we may just need to know that someone is listening or cares. And who better to tell our feelings to than to our loving God Himself. He longs to know what is on our hearts. We can tell Him about every need we have. But as for real need – very few of us have experienced it. Most of us have all our needs, wants, and desires met beyond anything people in underprivileged homes and countries could ever imagine. For the most part, we know plenty – maybe not in terms of what others might have and what true monetary wealth could bring us. But plenty we have, and not just money, but wealth of family, friends, warmth, food, protection, and God’s love for us. And even with all those wonderful blessings, we sometimes don’t know how to find true contentment. We can fret over the most inconsequential things and never seem really satisfied with our lives. Maybe we need a new attitude!
This verse from Philippians was written by Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome to thank the church of Philippi for their love and concern. Sick, weakened, and in prison after suffering much pain and persecution, he knows what it is to be in need, and he has also known what it is to have plenty from his earlier years. But having riches or power, poverty or illness – having much or little was of little concern to him. He had learned what enabled him to do powerful things for God and to walk through the pains and miseries of life with a heart of gratitude and joy. He teaches that it all comes down to attitude. It’s not about putting on a brave face, or simply trying to convince ourselves to move boldly forward through the hardships of life. It’s about trusting in God and letting Him give us strength. It’s about making a conscious effort to depend on Him to give us the ability to rise above our circumstances and to make the choice to live in contentment and joy with Christ. It’s about truly believing that “I can do everything through Him.” Only then can we live the life God desires for us to have. Only then can we ever hope to score a perfect 10.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings of life and for your presence in it. Help us to know that if we look to you, we can have the strength, peace, and contentment that you can give us no matter what situations we may face. But especially may we realize that we can do all things through you. Amen
Where do you think you would rate yourself on a “Satisfaction/Contentment in Life” scale of 1 – 10? Do you find that you are usually a happy, contented, grateful person who enjoys life and all it has to offer, and you would give yourself a pretty high score? Or would you describe yourself more dissatisfied, disillusioned, and disappointed with life in general, and you would rate yourself much lower?
When I was teaching, some of my middle school students could get in some pretty “unpleasant moods” over some incident that had happened at home or at school, or over something that was going on in their lives at the time. In my little “pep talk” to help them deal with the situation and their emotions, I would listen and tell them that I understood what they were feeling. But I also reminded them that sometimes they really did have a choice. They could choose to be happy, or they could choose to be miserable. I would remind them that yes, sometimes circumstances can make us sad, upset, and unhappy, but it is how we choose to handle them that makes a difference.
And often, we even let those feelings carry over long after the situation has passed, and then it matters even more how we deal with them. Do we dwell on the situation and see only the negative and make ourselves miserable and in turn make everyone around us miserable, or do we pick ourselves up, go on, and not miss out on the good things to come? Obviously some situations are much more difficult and painful “to get over," and I tried to be sensitive to their circumstances, but I truly wanted them to think through how their mood was affecting their actions. It often came out as anger or frustration towards others. This might be true of us as adults, as well. Maybe we should examine our attitudes and actions, and realize that sometimes we really do have a choice. Being content is a state of mind, an attitude, and a conscious effort to see the best in ourselves and in others, instead of the worst.
Our emotions can sometimes get the best of us. At times we may just need to know that someone is listening or cares. And who better to tell our feelings to than to our loving God Himself. He longs to know what is on our hearts. We can tell Him about every need we have. But as for real need – very few of us have experienced it. Most of us have all our needs, wants, and desires met beyond anything people in underprivileged homes and countries could ever imagine. For the most part, we know plenty – maybe not in terms of what others might have and what true monetary wealth could bring us. But plenty we have, and not just money, but wealth of family, friends, warmth, food, protection, and God’s love for us. And even with all those wonderful blessings, we sometimes don’t know how to find true contentment. We can fret over the most inconsequential things and never seem really satisfied with our lives. Maybe we need a new attitude!
This verse from Philippians was written by Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome to thank the church of Philippi for their love and concern. Sick, weakened, and in prison after suffering much pain and persecution, he knows what it is to be in need, and he has also known what it is to have plenty from his earlier years. But having riches or power, poverty or illness – having much or little was of little concern to him. He had learned what enabled him to do powerful things for God and to walk through the pains and miseries of life with a heart of gratitude and joy. He teaches that it all comes down to attitude. It’s not about putting on a brave face, or simply trying to convince ourselves to move boldly forward through the hardships of life. It’s about trusting in God and letting Him give us strength. It’s about making a conscious effort to depend on Him to give us the ability to rise above our circumstances and to make the choice to live in contentment and joy with Christ. It’s about truly believing that “I can do everything through Him.” Only then can we live the life God desires for us to have. Only then can we ever hope to score a perfect 10.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings of life and for your presence in it. Help us to know that if we look to you, we can have the strength, peace, and contentment that you can give us no matter what situations we may face. But especially may we realize that we can do all things through you. Amen
Use Your Gifts Wisely, April 3, 2014
"Each of us should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10
When I retired about 10 years ago, I had a mental list of all the things I wanted to do that I had never had the time nor opportunity to do. One of those was that I wanted to take an oil painting class. I had gone to a couple of classes years ago, but had never pursued it further. My sister-in-law, Carol, who constantly inspires me with the amazing portraits and works of art she does, encouraged me to give it another try in a class she attends on occasion. It is held at an area church where the couple who sponsor the class attend. They chose years ago to offer the classes in memory of their handicapped son as a way to honor his life by helping others find the joy in painting that he did. Various professional artists come each month to teach, and the sponsors provide all the materials at a minimal cost. Devotions are given before each class and it is a wonderful way to fellowship with others who enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
I was really looking forward to trying to master the technique and learn all I needed to know. I had no visions of grandeur or excellence, but I just hoped it would be something that I could do well. But as much as I wanted it to be, I realized pretty quickly that it was not a gift God has given me. Even so, I will return to the remaining classes and give it my best. Carol got me here! If nothing else, I can watch her and be in total awe of her talent!
Our class was made up of about 20 people, and most had been painting for years. Everyone was so encouraging and helpful and I really enjoyed our time together. There was such a calmness and serenity in the room as I saw these blank canvases become magnificent works of art with just a few deliberate strokes of a brush. Their creations were filled with intricate detail, vibrant colors, and incredible eye appeal. I thought of how much satisfaction their talent must give these individuals and how much joy they must bring to others. How humbling it must be, to be given the gift of recreating God’s handiwork in all its beauty.
I recently read that most of us have never tapped into the potential God has given us. We may recognize our talents, but most of us don’t use them to the extent we could or should for the purpose God intended. And some may think they haven’t be given any, but when God looks at us, He sees us as individuals who are beautifully and wonderfully created and gifted. He gives each of us our own unique talents and gifts that make us who we are and that set us apart from others. He has given some individuals more than others, and some talents are much more profound. It’s amazing to realize that He gave us differing abilities in order to complement each other and that when we bring them all together, we can accomplish wonderful things for Him. He wants us to discover things about ourselves that we may not even know we are capable of doing. Or He may help us rediscover a gift that we have taken for granted and seldom use, thinking it is not particularly beneficial, when it fact He intended for us to use it to serve Him. He wants us to look for opportunities to do things that may stretch us beyond what is comfortable or natural for us and when we do, He will make it possible for us to do more than we ever imagined.
Whatever talents we have been given, it is His desire that we use them in a way that would be pleasing to Him. We are the manager of those gifts and whether they are large or small, we need to value them, for how we use them matters to God. When He made us, He gave us a “trust” and made an investment in us, and He expects us to return that investment in a loving, unselfish way by using our gifts. What a deep sense of satisfaction we will have when we serve His purpose with the talents and abilities He has given us. And if we use them wisely, God will bless our faithfulness to Him.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the talents and abilities you have entrusted us with, and help us discover those we aren’t even aware of. Guide us in using them wisely to glorify and honor you. Amen
When I retired about 10 years ago, I had a mental list of all the things I wanted to do that I had never had the time nor opportunity to do. One of those was that I wanted to take an oil painting class. I had gone to a couple of classes years ago, but had never pursued it further. My sister-in-law, Carol, who constantly inspires me with the amazing portraits and works of art she does, encouraged me to give it another try in a class she attends on occasion. It is held at an area church where the couple who sponsor the class attend. They chose years ago to offer the classes in memory of their handicapped son as a way to honor his life by helping others find the joy in painting that he did. Various professional artists come each month to teach, and the sponsors provide all the materials at a minimal cost. Devotions are given before each class and it is a wonderful way to fellowship with others who enjoy the quiet, peaceful atmosphere.
I was really looking forward to trying to master the technique and learn all I needed to know. I had no visions of grandeur or excellence, but I just hoped it would be something that I could do well. But as much as I wanted it to be, I realized pretty quickly that it was not a gift God has given me. Even so, I will return to the remaining classes and give it my best. Carol got me here! If nothing else, I can watch her and be in total awe of her talent!
Our class was made up of about 20 people, and most had been painting for years. Everyone was so encouraging and helpful and I really enjoyed our time together. There was such a calmness and serenity in the room as I saw these blank canvases become magnificent works of art with just a few deliberate strokes of a brush. Their creations were filled with intricate detail, vibrant colors, and incredible eye appeal. I thought of how much satisfaction their talent must give these individuals and how much joy they must bring to others. How humbling it must be, to be given the gift of recreating God’s handiwork in all its beauty.
I recently read that most of us have never tapped into the potential God has given us. We may recognize our talents, but most of us don’t use them to the extent we could or should for the purpose God intended. And some may think they haven’t be given any, but when God looks at us, He sees us as individuals who are beautifully and wonderfully created and gifted. He gives each of us our own unique talents and gifts that make us who we are and that set us apart from others. He has given some individuals more than others, and some talents are much more profound. It’s amazing to realize that He gave us differing abilities in order to complement each other and that when we bring them all together, we can accomplish wonderful things for Him. He wants us to discover things about ourselves that we may not even know we are capable of doing. Or He may help us rediscover a gift that we have taken for granted and seldom use, thinking it is not particularly beneficial, when it fact He intended for us to use it to serve Him. He wants us to look for opportunities to do things that may stretch us beyond what is comfortable or natural for us and when we do, He will make it possible for us to do more than we ever imagined.
Whatever talents we have been given, it is His desire that we use them in a way that would be pleasing to Him. We are the manager of those gifts and whether they are large or small, we need to value them, for how we use them matters to God. When He made us, He gave us a “trust” and made an investment in us, and He expects us to return that investment in a loving, unselfish way by using our gifts. What a deep sense of satisfaction we will have when we serve His purpose with the talents and abilities He has given us. And if we use them wisely, God will bless our faithfulness to Him.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the talents and abilities you have entrusted us with, and help us discover those we aren’t even aware of. Guide us in using them wisely to glorify and honor you. Amen
Encourage One Another, April 20, 2014
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10: 24 – 25
Can you think of a time when someone’s words to you were exactly what you needed to hear at the time? A time when their words were so powerful and so encouraging that it honestly made you look at yourself or your situation differently and you were able to move on with confidence?
I remember an incident at the beginning of my 5th grade year when I had been separated from all my friends and I was feeling disappointed and quite sad. My teacher, Mrs. Carson, held up a paper before the class that I had written and said, “Look at this nice handwriting! Look how neat this is! Now this is the way I want you to do your assignments!” Whoa! Here I was – this shy, insecure, young girl, who felt like I was never noticed (except for my wild, curly, bright red hair which earned me the nickname “Firetruck”), and suddenly I saw myself differently. I was worthy of her attention and I knew right then, friends or not, it was going to be a great year. What simple words of encouragement, but what a difference it made in my attitude. There have been many other experiences through the years when the words of a family member, a friend, or even a complete stranger have “spurred” me on and given me the courage to move on, try harder, and believe in myself. I am sure many of you can remember similar instances when someone’s reassuring words strengthened your heart. We all need words of encouragement more than we sometimes even realize.
I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give is the one of supporting and encouraging each other. What other gift could be more meaningful and more appreciated, but yet require so little of our time, effort, and resources. It seems like such a simple thing to do, but it doesn’t come naturally or easily for some. Lifting each other’s spirits doesn’t just happen by chance. In fact, God must have known we would need instructions on how to do so. Paul teaches us that it is an act of love that needs to be intentional, and that over time, we can offer it more easily as we begin to focus more on loving others than thinking about ourselves. Encouragement is more than just paying someone a passing compliment, or saying something to make an individual feel better about himself. It’s about encouraging others on to something greater as we lift their spirits with our love and compassion.
The Hebrew term that is used in Scripture for “encourage” means “to call to one’s side, to comfort, to console, to strengthen, to give courage.” With all the many issues we deal with in life such as illnesses, pain, discouragement, weariness, despair, fear, loneliness, confusion, insecurity, and hopelessness, we need each other to help us through the difficult times. And even when life is good, we still need to know others care enough about us to urge us on. When encouraging others, we may need to give an understanding ear, a gentle touch or hug, a note, a phone call, a word of appreciation, or some act of kindness to let them know that we value them, we have confidence in them, and that we are pulling for them and cheering them on. When we strengthen others with our love, we are showing that we care about what they are experiencing or feeling, and we are trying to give them what they need at the time they need it most. Encouraging others is a gracious and powerful way to minister to their needs. We are called to lovingly encourage one another, to strengthen, console, and touch each other’s lives.
Nowhere else is this gift needed more than in our walk of faith. We need to spur each other on to stand firm for Christ in a world that rejects and denies Him. We, as believers are often ridiculed for our faith and called naive and lacking in intelligence and wisdom. We are often seen as intolerant and narrow-minded. When confronted with such attacks, we may even begin to question our beliefs, especially when those who make such claims are being treated by the rest of the world with such respect and high regard. Jesus, the Son of God, was rejected and despised. He understood that the day would come when we too would be rejected because of Him, and He knew we would need the love and support of fellow believers. Scripture tells us that those times will increase as the “Day” for His return nears. We need to remind each other, our children, our grandchildren, and to pass down our heritage of faith to future generations, to stand firm in faith and not let the contempt of godless men and women lessen our beliefs in God – the One whose love gives us hope and assurance for all eternity.
Prayer
Dear God, help us to be more sensitive and caring to those around us who may need encouragement. May we be that voice that can help lift their spirits and spur them on. May we encourage our fellow believers, who may become discouraged, to trust in you for strength, hope, and peace. Thank you for your presence and your grace in our lives. Amen
Can you think of a time when someone’s words to you were exactly what you needed to hear at the time? A time when their words were so powerful and so encouraging that it honestly made you look at yourself or your situation differently and you were able to move on with confidence?
I remember an incident at the beginning of my 5th grade year when I had been separated from all my friends and I was feeling disappointed and quite sad. My teacher, Mrs. Carson, held up a paper before the class that I had written and said, “Look at this nice handwriting! Look how neat this is! Now this is the way I want you to do your assignments!” Whoa! Here I was – this shy, insecure, young girl, who felt like I was never noticed (except for my wild, curly, bright red hair which earned me the nickname “Firetruck”), and suddenly I saw myself differently. I was worthy of her attention and I knew right then, friends or not, it was going to be a great year. What simple words of encouragement, but what a difference it made in my attitude. There have been many other experiences through the years when the words of a family member, a friend, or even a complete stranger have “spurred” me on and given me the courage to move on, try harder, and believe in myself. I am sure many of you can remember similar instances when someone’s reassuring words strengthened your heart. We all need words of encouragement more than we sometimes even realize.
I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give is the one of supporting and encouraging each other. What other gift could be more meaningful and more appreciated, but yet require so little of our time, effort, and resources. It seems like such a simple thing to do, but it doesn’t come naturally or easily for some. Lifting each other’s spirits doesn’t just happen by chance. In fact, God must have known we would need instructions on how to do so. Paul teaches us that it is an act of love that needs to be intentional, and that over time, we can offer it more easily as we begin to focus more on loving others than thinking about ourselves. Encouragement is more than just paying someone a passing compliment, or saying something to make an individual feel better about himself. It’s about encouraging others on to something greater as we lift their spirits with our love and compassion.
The Hebrew term that is used in Scripture for “encourage” means “to call to one’s side, to comfort, to console, to strengthen, to give courage.” With all the many issues we deal with in life such as illnesses, pain, discouragement, weariness, despair, fear, loneliness, confusion, insecurity, and hopelessness, we need each other to help us through the difficult times. And even when life is good, we still need to know others care enough about us to urge us on. When encouraging others, we may need to give an understanding ear, a gentle touch or hug, a note, a phone call, a word of appreciation, or some act of kindness to let them know that we value them, we have confidence in them, and that we are pulling for them and cheering them on. When we strengthen others with our love, we are showing that we care about what they are experiencing or feeling, and we are trying to give them what they need at the time they need it most. Encouraging others is a gracious and powerful way to minister to their needs. We are called to lovingly encourage one another, to strengthen, console, and touch each other’s lives.
Nowhere else is this gift needed more than in our walk of faith. We need to spur each other on to stand firm for Christ in a world that rejects and denies Him. We, as believers are often ridiculed for our faith and called naive and lacking in intelligence and wisdom. We are often seen as intolerant and narrow-minded. When confronted with such attacks, we may even begin to question our beliefs, especially when those who make such claims are being treated by the rest of the world with such respect and high regard. Jesus, the Son of God, was rejected and despised. He understood that the day would come when we too would be rejected because of Him, and He knew we would need the love and support of fellow believers. Scripture tells us that those times will increase as the “Day” for His return nears. We need to remind each other, our children, our grandchildren, and to pass down our heritage of faith to future generations, to stand firm in faith and not let the contempt of godless men and women lessen our beliefs in God – the One whose love gives us hope and assurance for all eternity.
Prayer
Dear God, help us to be more sensitive and caring to those around us who may need encouragement. May we be that voice that can help lift their spirits and spur them on. May we encourage our fellow believers, who may become discouraged, to trust in you for strength, hope, and peace. Thank you for your presence and your grace in our lives. Amen
Running the Race, May 2014
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9: 24 – 25
Kel recently sent the cutest picture of Miles and his friends, Matthew, on their bikes, Stephanie on her scooter, and Cole on his big wheel. Instead of the Tour de France, they decided to name it the Tour de Falgar (from the name of their street), and Cole said he was the pace car and would get the race started! They looked as if they were having so much fun! And we all know how everyone loves a good race!
When Paul wrote the above verse in his letter to the church in Corinth, he knew the analogy of a race was something his readers could relate to, as the Olympic Games were founded in Greece and the Isthmian Games were held in Corinth every 2 years. He knew they would understand the concept behind the purpose of a race – to do your best to win the prize! To accomplish this goal, they would know that a participant would need to become more disciplined by practicing their skill and undergoing strict training. They would need the strong desire to win, and they would especially need the motivation to work hard and keep their eyes on the prize.
In this verse, he is using this analogy to remind these early believers and all the ones to follow, that just as these athletes must do, we must become committed to following Jesus Christ throughout our lives. In order to do so, he knew we would need strong spiritual training, the deep desire to follow Him with all our hearts, and the motivation to live out our Christian principles. To be more disciplined, he knew we would need to stay connected to God and strive to be more Christlike. In order to do so, we must pray, read His Word, and spend time with Him. We must fellowship with other believers to encourage each other and to seek ways to serve others. He knew that just as an athlete must have a desire to win, we must have the desire to know that we are living our lives in a way that would be pleasing to God, to have a relationship with Him, and to share His love and grace with others. We too must work hard and keep our eyes on the “prize”. We must have the motivation to be the best we can be. We can’t settle for just being in the “race” by proclaiming ourselves to be a Christian. We must do more than just showing up. We must know Him, learn His Word, and live His truths, and we must seek to help others to become committed followers of Christ. If we do so, then we will be victorious, and the “prize” and “crown” will be ours – the gift of eternal life with Him.
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, thank you for making your Word so simple for us to understand. You desire only one thing, and that is, that our hearts be fully committed to loving and serving you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and the prize before us. We thank you for your saving grace and for the gift of eternal life. Amen
Kel recently sent the cutest picture of Miles and his friends, Matthew, on their bikes, Stephanie on her scooter, and Cole on his big wheel. Instead of the Tour de France, they decided to name it the Tour de Falgar (from the name of their street), and Cole said he was the pace car and would get the race started! They looked as if they were having so much fun! And we all know how everyone loves a good race!
When Paul wrote the above verse in his letter to the church in Corinth, he knew the analogy of a race was something his readers could relate to, as the Olympic Games were founded in Greece and the Isthmian Games were held in Corinth every 2 years. He knew they would understand the concept behind the purpose of a race – to do your best to win the prize! To accomplish this goal, they would know that a participant would need to become more disciplined by practicing their skill and undergoing strict training. They would need the strong desire to win, and they would especially need the motivation to work hard and keep their eyes on the prize.
In this verse, he is using this analogy to remind these early believers and all the ones to follow, that just as these athletes must do, we must become committed to following Jesus Christ throughout our lives. In order to do so, he knew we would need strong spiritual training, the deep desire to follow Him with all our hearts, and the motivation to live out our Christian principles. To be more disciplined, he knew we would need to stay connected to God and strive to be more Christlike. In order to do so, we must pray, read His Word, and spend time with Him. We must fellowship with other believers to encourage each other and to seek ways to serve others. He knew that just as an athlete must have a desire to win, we must have the desire to know that we are living our lives in a way that would be pleasing to God, to have a relationship with Him, and to share His love and grace with others. We too must work hard and keep our eyes on the “prize”. We must have the motivation to be the best we can be. We can’t settle for just being in the “race” by proclaiming ourselves to be a Christian. We must do more than just showing up. We must know Him, learn His Word, and live His truths, and we must seek to help others to become committed followers of Christ. If we do so, then we will be victorious, and the “prize” and “crown” will be ours – the gift of eternal life with Him.
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, thank you for making your Word so simple for us to understand. You desire only one thing, and that is, that our hearts be fully committed to loving and serving you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and the prize before us. We thank you for your saving grace and for the gift of eternal life. Amen
Let Us Continually Praise Him
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name." Hebrews 13:15
“Precious Memories, how they linger. How they ever flood my soul!” Remember those words from the beautiful old hymn? Last night my son Scott called on his way home from the eye doctor. He had been for one of his weekly treatments to help train his eyes and improve his eyesight. Those memories of years ago came rushing back – a time when deep sadness turned to gratitude and joy. I remembered all the happiness that surrounded his birth and then all the other different emotions that soon followed. It has been quite awhile since I have actually taken the time to stop and remember those days and to give God all my heartfelt praise once again for the gift of His love and grace.
It is a personal story, but one I think is worthy of sharing.
Bob and I were so excited to have a son, Robert Scott Frans, to add to our family. He was born to us and our 5 year old daughter, Kelly, on September 8, 1981. He was such a healthy, beautiful, blonde-headed little boy and he stole our hearts from the very beginning. But in the weeks that followed, there was this gradual uneasiness that something was not as it should be. I remember how he would never look directly at us and it especially concerned me that he never smiled or noticed objects when we placed them before him. I think I had known that something was wrong, but I just didn’t want to accept it until one night, when he was about 2 and a half months old, I read in his baby book that he should be smiling at us by 2 months of age.
I tried desperately not to panic, but I was so scared. I didn’t sleep much that night, and we were at the pediatrician’s office early the next morning. The doctor, too, was concerned and immediately sent us to see an eye surgeon. I can still see his face. His name was Dr. White, and I remember the moments after he examined him, and he looked me right in the eyes and said, “He’s blind, there is just no connection there, no light going through. Surgery will not help, and there is nothing we can do. You are just going to have to accept it.” I will never forget how insensitive and cruel I thought that was.
Our lives turned upside down that night as our minds and hearts tried to deal with this devastating news. Here we thought everything was perfect – an adorable little girl, a sweet baby boy, a nice home, and a loving marriage. And it was – but still there was shock and pain that I can remember to this day. We cried out to God in such despair, and I knew it was going to take all the strength He could give us and His grace to be able to accept this news and move on. I mourned the loss of the normal life I wanted for this child, and I grieved for our family.
How could I even begin to explain to Kelly at her young age that this little baby brother she adored and had wanted for so long would not be able to see. And Scott, this little innocent child, how could I protect him from the unknown challenges that lay ahead. I remember thinking of all the things he would never see, and I was devastated that he would never see my face smiling at him, or the love I had in my eyes for him. I thought of the silliest things like he would never get to see the sparkling lights on a Christmas tree or the ocean waves at the beach. I thought of him never getting to drive a car, or throw a ball with his dad, or read a book with his big sister.
That night was one of the longest and most difficult of our lives.
We knew blindness occurs in many babies, teenagers, and adults, and they are able to live happy, normal lives with their families. And we knew there were many, many things that people go through that are so much worse than this. But we couldn’t escape the sadness that we felt. Like every mother does when faced with even the smallest problem with her newborn, I questioned everything I had done before and after he was conceived, trying to discover if there was something I might have done to cause harm to this precious child. My heart was broken and I was so frightened for what lay ahead for him – and for us.
In the days that followed, news traveled fast. So many people called to say that they were praying for us, and our church and many others put Scott and our family on their prayer list. We felt their love and prayers, and they gave us strength. I even had a teacher in our school system, who had a blind daughter, knock on our door one day and ask if she could talk to me. She told me about sending her daughter to the School for the Blind in Raleigh at a very young age, and how she had flourished and done so well under their care during the years that followed. I sat and listened to her in disbelief.
I appreciated her concerns and I understood she came to give me comfort and hope, but to me, this was even more heartbreaking. I had just brought this child into our lives and the thought of sending him away was more than I could bear. I remember thinking that maybe her visit was a blessing in disguise for it was during those moments that I tried to accept the devastating news for the first time, dried my tears, and resolved to do whatever I needed to do.
I was his mother, the one who would love him, protect him, and take care of him and make sure he had what he needed. I would help him live as normal a life as possible. I would learn what I needed to know to teach him – in our home, with our family. I would teach him “to see” the world through my eyes.
But, even with this renewed determination and acceptance, these were really difficult days as we tried to come to grips with the reality of what lay ahead. My husband Bob, however, was not as accepting and ready to give up. He was determined that we should see other doctors, and we saw two the following week. The last one gave us hopeful news we didn’t expect. He thought perhaps there was a really small chance that Scott’s eyes had not developed fully and when they did, maybe, just maybe, he might be able to see. That was the only glimmer of hope we had until . . .
One Saturday morning, a few weeks afterwards, Bob was upstairs with Scott in his room, and I was downstairs cleaning. (How can I remember all these insignificant details over 30 years later!) I remember I heard him call out for me in almost a cry, and I went running. Scott was lying on his back in his crib and Bob was holding Cookie Monster and bringing him back and forth in front of him.
Scott was smiling. He was looking directly at the bear and smiling the sweetest smile you could ever imagine! He would look at us and then at the bear! The tears were flowing down Bob’s face and we cried together, and we laughed with Scott, and we called everybody we knew to give them the news. It was one of the happiest days of our lives. I had never been so thankful in my life nor have I ever been since. Our child could see!
To me, it will always be God’s answer to all the prayers that were being said for him. To me, it will always be a miracle He gave to Scott, and to us. Perhaps it was because his eyes weren’t developed yet and it took time – even though he wasn’t premature, and I had never heard of this occurring in a child before or since – but I will always know that however it evolved, God gave our little one his sight.
Yes, problems remained. He has had problems with his vision all his life, and it took years for me to understand, and possibly he too, that he was seeing out of one eye only, and then, sometimes the other one. We were told from an early age that he did not see normally with both eyes working together to form an image that can be clearly seen. It caused his eye muscles to pull, creating a sort of lazy eye that got progressively worse over time as he got older. When he was in high school, we saw a specialist from Duke who offered to do surgery, but warned us of how difficult it would be as an adult. We left the decision with Scott and he decided to forgo the procedure.
It hasn’t been easy for him. Even now, he is working with a doctor to train his eyes to work together to send the brain one image both eyes can see, and he is wearing prism glasses that hopefully will help him learn to do so. It has been painful for him to deal with and something he has felt self-conscious of his entire life. It was always heartbreaking when he would come home from school and be in tears because kids had been making fun of him. I tried to reassure him, as I fought back my own tears, that it wasn’t that big of a deal, and it was the person he was that mattered, but I knew those words meant little to a 12 year old boy whose perception of himself and the world was seen through the eyes of his friends.
But he had his sight, as difficult as it was for him to see normally; and I held on to that and was so grateful for it. It is just one of those things we will never understand, but Scott learned to handle it with such maturity and acceptance, and we have always been so proud of him.
As I write this, I realize once again how grateful I am for the gift of God’s presence with us during this time. I sometimes forget the faith it took us to get through that difficult time and the strength and love He gave us to do so. I know this experience changed me.
It was the beginning of my true trust and faith in Him.
I knew from that moment on that I would never be the same. God opened my heart to Him in a way I could never have imagined, and I knew I could never doubt His love and trust ever again. I don’t think we appreciate enough what a miracle this experience was in so many ways. How different life could have been for Scott and for us. I have no doubt God would have gotten us through it, and that life would have been just as joyous and happy as it has been, even if it had not turned out as it did. But with the most grateful heart, I am so thankful we didn’t have to face those challenges he would have had.
What a reminder to give God the praise and the glory for this blessing and all the many others He has given us. As difficult as it has been for Scott to deal with all these years, he realizes what could have been and he is so grateful for his gift of sight. May we honor and praise His name always. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of Scott’s eyesight and for all the wonderful things he has been able to do because of it. We thank you for his life and what he means to us and to so many others. May we never forget from where these blessings come. But most of all, dear God, we thank you for the reminder that we don’t have to go through life’s painful circumstances alone. How grateful we were and are for your presence with us and for the strength and comfort you give us. We give you all honor, praise and glory. Amen
“Precious Memories, how they linger. How they ever flood my soul!” Remember those words from the beautiful old hymn? Last night my son Scott called on his way home from the eye doctor. He had been for one of his weekly treatments to help train his eyes and improve his eyesight. Those memories of years ago came rushing back – a time when deep sadness turned to gratitude and joy. I remembered all the happiness that surrounded his birth and then all the other different emotions that soon followed. It has been quite awhile since I have actually taken the time to stop and remember those days and to give God all my heartfelt praise once again for the gift of His love and grace.
It is a personal story, but one I think is worthy of sharing.
Bob and I were so excited to have a son, Robert Scott Frans, to add to our family. He was born to us and our 5 year old daughter, Kelly, on September 8, 1981. He was such a healthy, beautiful, blonde-headed little boy and he stole our hearts from the very beginning. But in the weeks that followed, there was this gradual uneasiness that something was not as it should be. I remember how he would never look directly at us and it especially concerned me that he never smiled or noticed objects when we placed them before him. I think I had known that something was wrong, but I just didn’t want to accept it until one night, when he was about 2 and a half months old, I read in his baby book that he should be smiling at us by 2 months of age.
I tried desperately not to panic, but I was so scared. I didn’t sleep much that night, and we were at the pediatrician’s office early the next morning. The doctor, too, was concerned and immediately sent us to see an eye surgeon. I can still see his face. His name was Dr. White, and I remember the moments after he examined him, and he looked me right in the eyes and said, “He’s blind, there is just no connection there, no light going through. Surgery will not help, and there is nothing we can do. You are just going to have to accept it.” I will never forget how insensitive and cruel I thought that was.
Our lives turned upside down that night as our minds and hearts tried to deal with this devastating news. Here we thought everything was perfect – an adorable little girl, a sweet baby boy, a nice home, and a loving marriage. And it was – but still there was shock and pain that I can remember to this day. We cried out to God in such despair, and I knew it was going to take all the strength He could give us and His grace to be able to accept this news and move on. I mourned the loss of the normal life I wanted for this child, and I grieved for our family.
How could I even begin to explain to Kelly at her young age that this little baby brother she adored and had wanted for so long would not be able to see. And Scott, this little innocent child, how could I protect him from the unknown challenges that lay ahead. I remember thinking of all the things he would never see, and I was devastated that he would never see my face smiling at him, or the love I had in my eyes for him. I thought of the silliest things like he would never get to see the sparkling lights on a Christmas tree or the ocean waves at the beach. I thought of him never getting to drive a car, or throw a ball with his dad, or read a book with his big sister.
That night was one of the longest and most difficult of our lives.
We knew blindness occurs in many babies, teenagers, and adults, and they are able to live happy, normal lives with their families. And we knew there were many, many things that people go through that are so much worse than this. But we couldn’t escape the sadness that we felt. Like every mother does when faced with even the smallest problem with her newborn, I questioned everything I had done before and after he was conceived, trying to discover if there was something I might have done to cause harm to this precious child. My heart was broken and I was so frightened for what lay ahead for him – and for us.
In the days that followed, news traveled fast. So many people called to say that they were praying for us, and our church and many others put Scott and our family on their prayer list. We felt their love and prayers, and they gave us strength. I even had a teacher in our school system, who had a blind daughter, knock on our door one day and ask if she could talk to me. She told me about sending her daughter to the School for the Blind in Raleigh at a very young age, and how she had flourished and done so well under their care during the years that followed. I sat and listened to her in disbelief.
I appreciated her concerns and I understood she came to give me comfort and hope, but to me, this was even more heartbreaking. I had just brought this child into our lives and the thought of sending him away was more than I could bear. I remember thinking that maybe her visit was a blessing in disguise for it was during those moments that I tried to accept the devastating news for the first time, dried my tears, and resolved to do whatever I needed to do.
I was his mother, the one who would love him, protect him, and take care of him and make sure he had what he needed. I would help him live as normal a life as possible. I would learn what I needed to know to teach him – in our home, with our family. I would teach him “to see” the world through my eyes.
But, even with this renewed determination and acceptance, these were really difficult days as we tried to come to grips with the reality of what lay ahead. My husband Bob, however, was not as accepting and ready to give up. He was determined that we should see other doctors, and we saw two the following week. The last one gave us hopeful news we didn’t expect. He thought perhaps there was a really small chance that Scott’s eyes had not developed fully and when they did, maybe, just maybe, he might be able to see. That was the only glimmer of hope we had until . . .
One Saturday morning, a few weeks afterwards, Bob was upstairs with Scott in his room, and I was downstairs cleaning. (How can I remember all these insignificant details over 30 years later!) I remember I heard him call out for me in almost a cry, and I went running. Scott was lying on his back in his crib and Bob was holding Cookie Monster and bringing him back and forth in front of him.
Scott was smiling. He was looking directly at the bear and smiling the sweetest smile you could ever imagine! He would look at us and then at the bear! The tears were flowing down Bob’s face and we cried together, and we laughed with Scott, and we called everybody we knew to give them the news. It was one of the happiest days of our lives. I had never been so thankful in my life nor have I ever been since. Our child could see!
To me, it will always be God’s answer to all the prayers that were being said for him. To me, it will always be a miracle He gave to Scott, and to us. Perhaps it was because his eyes weren’t developed yet and it took time – even though he wasn’t premature, and I had never heard of this occurring in a child before or since – but I will always know that however it evolved, God gave our little one his sight.
Yes, problems remained. He has had problems with his vision all his life, and it took years for me to understand, and possibly he too, that he was seeing out of one eye only, and then, sometimes the other one. We were told from an early age that he did not see normally with both eyes working together to form an image that can be clearly seen. It caused his eye muscles to pull, creating a sort of lazy eye that got progressively worse over time as he got older. When he was in high school, we saw a specialist from Duke who offered to do surgery, but warned us of how difficult it would be as an adult. We left the decision with Scott and he decided to forgo the procedure.
It hasn’t been easy for him. Even now, he is working with a doctor to train his eyes to work together to send the brain one image both eyes can see, and he is wearing prism glasses that hopefully will help him learn to do so. It has been painful for him to deal with and something he has felt self-conscious of his entire life. It was always heartbreaking when he would come home from school and be in tears because kids had been making fun of him. I tried to reassure him, as I fought back my own tears, that it wasn’t that big of a deal, and it was the person he was that mattered, but I knew those words meant little to a 12 year old boy whose perception of himself and the world was seen through the eyes of his friends.
But he had his sight, as difficult as it was for him to see normally; and I held on to that and was so grateful for it. It is just one of those things we will never understand, but Scott learned to handle it with such maturity and acceptance, and we have always been so proud of him.
As I write this, I realize once again how grateful I am for the gift of God’s presence with us during this time. I sometimes forget the faith it took us to get through that difficult time and the strength and love He gave us to do so. I know this experience changed me.
It was the beginning of my true trust and faith in Him.
I knew from that moment on that I would never be the same. God opened my heart to Him in a way I could never have imagined, and I knew I could never doubt His love and trust ever again. I don’t think we appreciate enough what a miracle this experience was in so many ways. How different life could have been for Scott and for us. I have no doubt God would have gotten us through it, and that life would have been just as joyous and happy as it has been, even if it had not turned out as it did. But with the most grateful heart, I am so thankful we didn’t have to face those challenges he would have had.
What a reminder to give God the praise and the glory for this blessing and all the many others He has given us. As difficult as it has been for Scott to deal with all these years, he realizes what could have been and he is so grateful for his gift of sight. May we honor and praise His name always. "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of Scott’s eyesight and for all the wonderful things he has been able to do because of it. We thank you for his life and what he means to us and to so many others. May we never forget from where these blessings come. But most of all, dear God, we thank you for the reminder that we don’t have to go through life’s painful circumstances alone. How grateful we were and are for your presence with us and for the strength and comfort you give us. We give you all honor, praise and glory. Amen
July 2014, Show Mercy to Others
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6: 36
God in His wisdom has given us so many Scripture passages that can make us look deep into our hearts and reflect on what we see. This is certainly one of those! I do so want to show more mercy to others, and how I need and desire more mercy from those around me.
We often hear about God’s mercy and grace, but do we truly think about what these words mean? I found it defined this way: ” Grace is the goodness or love of God given to those who have done nothing to deserve it. Mercy is the judgement or wrath of God withheld from those who do deserve it.” In other words, God is always being faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to Him. He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. He doesn’t withhold His blessings and love, but He “holds in” His disappointment and anger. No matter who we are or what we have done, we each receive His mercy in abundance. He loves us, forgives us, and accepts us! But then, look at US – with all our judgments, flaws, and insecurities. How can we expect Him to give us His mercy and grace when we refuse to give it to others? What a humbling thought!
“Be merciful.” To show “mercy” as used in this passage means we are to show love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to those we may think are not worthy or deserving of us doing so. It means accepting people for who they are, even if we think they are not who they should be. It means to set things right between us and others, and to reach out to them with love and grace. In essence, we are not to judge them or hold them accountable for past words or actions; we are to give them another chance to show us who they can be.
We hear so much about the need to love each other, but along with that love, we could surely use more mercy in our relationships with others. Amazingly, in today’s culture, it’s not even a quality we aspire to have. We don’t want to be seen as a “doormat” or as being disrespected, and we certainly have to always be “politically and socially correct”. We seem to have such little tolerance or acceptance for other people’s opinions or viewpoints. If they don’t think or believe as we do, we have no use for them and often ridicule or condemn their thinking. If words, actions, or even appearances are not what we think they should be, we tend to give individuals the cold shoulder or remove ourselves from them completely. And amazingly, we don’t even have to be a witness to it ourselves! If we hear of some “little perceived indiscretion” we don’t like, we may immediately make a conscious decision to hold that person in judgement. We may simply refuse to love and accept him/her from that moment on, and decide that we will never give them another chance to show us who they really are and who they can be.
This is not how God desires us to treat others. Jesus Christ showed mercy to everyone and so should we. We are to love our neighbors and show kindness. Yet, showing mercy doesn’t come naturally. It takes a heartfelt commitment and effort on each of our parts to show forgiveness and compassion to those who have hurt us or to show love to those whom we feel are undeserving. We need His Spirit within us to guide our thinking and help us to offer this grace to others. By doing so, we are honoring God and His command to love. May we see others through the same merciful eyes as our loving God and embrace the responsibility He has given us to show compassion and mercy to a hurting world.
Prayer
Our most merciful God, we thank you for your kindness and forgiveness, your love and your grace. Thank you for your faithfulness to us even when we are so unworthy. May we show the same mercy to those around us and honor you with our lives. Amen
God in His wisdom has given us so many Scripture passages that can make us look deep into our hearts and reflect on what we see. This is certainly one of those! I do so want to show more mercy to others, and how I need and desire more mercy from those around me.
We often hear about God’s mercy and grace, but do we truly think about what these words mean? I found it defined this way: ” Grace is the goodness or love of God given to those who have done nothing to deserve it. Mercy is the judgement or wrath of God withheld from those who do deserve it.” In other words, God is always being faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to Him. He doesn’t treat us as we deserve. He doesn’t withhold His blessings and love, but He “holds in” His disappointment and anger. No matter who we are or what we have done, we each receive His mercy in abundance. He loves us, forgives us, and accepts us! But then, look at US – with all our judgments, flaws, and insecurities. How can we expect Him to give us His mercy and grace when we refuse to give it to others? What a humbling thought!
“Be merciful.” To show “mercy” as used in this passage means we are to show love, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to those we may think are not worthy or deserving of us doing so. It means accepting people for who they are, even if we think they are not who they should be. It means to set things right between us and others, and to reach out to them with love and grace. In essence, we are not to judge them or hold them accountable for past words or actions; we are to give them another chance to show us who they can be.
We hear so much about the need to love each other, but along with that love, we could surely use more mercy in our relationships with others. Amazingly, in today’s culture, it’s not even a quality we aspire to have. We don’t want to be seen as a “doormat” or as being disrespected, and we certainly have to always be “politically and socially correct”. We seem to have such little tolerance or acceptance for other people’s opinions or viewpoints. If they don’t think or believe as we do, we have no use for them and often ridicule or condemn their thinking. If words, actions, or even appearances are not what we think they should be, we tend to give individuals the cold shoulder or remove ourselves from them completely. And amazingly, we don’t even have to be a witness to it ourselves! If we hear of some “little perceived indiscretion” we don’t like, we may immediately make a conscious decision to hold that person in judgement. We may simply refuse to love and accept him/her from that moment on, and decide that we will never give them another chance to show us who they really are and who they can be.
This is not how God desires us to treat others. Jesus Christ showed mercy to everyone and so should we. We are to love our neighbors and show kindness. Yet, showing mercy doesn’t come naturally. It takes a heartfelt commitment and effort on each of our parts to show forgiveness and compassion to those who have hurt us or to show love to those whom we feel are undeserving. We need His Spirit within us to guide our thinking and help us to offer this grace to others. By doing so, we are honoring God and His command to love. May we see others through the same merciful eyes as our loving God and embrace the responsibility He has given us to show compassion and mercy to a hurting world.
Prayer
Our most merciful God, we thank you for your kindness and forgiveness, your love and your grace. Thank you for your faithfulness to us even when we are so unworthy. May we show the same mercy to those around us and honor you with our lives. Amen