Simple Faith

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

On our return trip from Tennessee, Southwest decided to take the milk route—Nashville to Los Angeles to Tucson. It had been a busy week and I planned to finish up my Bible study, When Godly People Do Ungodly Things (by Beth Moore) on the way home, so I had my study guide and Bible on my lap.

As the plane filled, I hoped that we could keep the seat empty between us but after a few minutes as the plane began to fill, a young man asked to join our row. I scooted over to the middle seat and gave him the window. He was surprised at his good fortune and glanced down at my books as he sat down and commented, "Heavy reading."

"Uh huh," I replied. I hoped it would discourage this guy so I could finish up and get to my novel.

He pulled out his laptop and typed away. After a few minutes, he said, "Are you taking a test on this?"

"No, I'm part of a group of ladies and we will all share what we have learned." I didn't want to encourage any further questions.

I gathered he was reading over my shoulder when he made another comment about the book of Romans that I had open.

"OK, Lord, I guess you want me to talk to this guy."

I put down my Bible, sent up a quick prayer, and started talking to him. I discovered that he had been very active in a church in the East that had disbanded. His fiancee had chosen a life in a religious community and broken off the engagement. He was heartbroken and very disillusioned about the church and his faith. A job change moved him across the country and now he was trying to pick up the pieces of his abandoned faith.

He is a very well read man. In addition to a vast Bible knowledge, he liked to read early Christian fathers. He encouraged me to read these guys but I told him that I had enough to do to read the Bible and understand it.

But, as we talked, I detected some doubt yet dogmatism. He really threw me a curve when he said, "Grace is highly overrated."

We had a lengthy discussion about salvation, grace, and faith. He made it all so complicated and more than once, I told him that, for me, it was a simple faith. It was all about grace but he just couldn't accept it.

I thought of the rich young ruler and his encounter with Jesus. Although he kept all the rules, giving up his wealth was one big stumbling block for him and he walked away very sad. My young friend allows the past to trip him up, resulting in confusion and doubt.

We had a break in the conversation and I finally finished my lesson. The study ended with the story of the prodigal son. How appropriate! That boy was welcomed as if he had never left home with all the rights and privileges of a son. His dad never even asked him where he had been—he just threw a great big party.

As we neared LAX, I encouraged him to find a church where the Word is preached. He is lonely. What better place to find friends? I pray that he will listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit and accept the grace, love, and forgiveness from the Father.

It really is just that simple.



Control

 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.

Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

 

Being flexible is not one of my greatest virtues because I like to be in control. However, in recent years, God yanked the reigns of control right out of my fingers with the promise to never let me go.

 

From Mark's heart attack, nine days before the wedding, to the phone call this week announcing impending surgery for his brother's second detached retina, it's apparent that planning too far in advance is a waste of time and energy. Even the possibility of future kidney dialysis for Dad is but a grain of sand sifting through the tiny hole of the hourglass of time.

 

Our lives seem enormous to us but from God's perspective, we are just a dot in that timeline. Every appointment on my calendar must be held loosely, otherwise I'm likely to get my undies in a knot when confronted with interruptions or a change of plans.

 

So how do we let go of our schedule, worries, demands, and fears? Let me answer that with another question. Do you believe that God is in control or not? If you believe that He is, then you have just described faith. That faith allows you to trust Him, rest assured that life's interruptions are divine, and go with it. Since the only person you can control is yourself, ease up and let Him run the show. He won't fail you.

Convinced

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

We are headed to Los Angeles this weekend to see Dad. Normally, we spend Easter with him but this year we had commitments at home and didn't make it. He will turn 88 this summer and the family realizes how important it is to make time to see him. It is especially fitting that we go over the Memorial Day weekend as a way to honor Dad for his 20 years of service in the Navy.

Mark says, "Gettin' old ain't no place for sissies." As I watch Dad struggle with vision loss, kidney failure, and loneliness since the death of my mother, I admire his will and determination to live. He is limited in what he can do but we all call him when we're in a tight spot because we know we can count him to be our prayer warrior. He always wants to hear stories about the girlies. He keeps me up on politics and sports. Our visits give him something to look forward to when life gets so daily. And anything is better than eating in the dining room of his retirement community.

Dad showers his love on all of us—young or old, son or daughter, in-law or out-law. In God's scheme, his life on earth is just a dash with that ending date unknown. But we know, in due time, he will head Home, his vision clear, looking into the face of his Savior.

My Heavenly Father loves me even more than my dad. Even when life spins out of control, I'm convinced that nothing will ever separate me from that love—even when war threatens in the Middle East, oil spills unchecked in the Gulf, politicians wrangle for control, and evil rampages through our city streets. Satan, the great liar and thief, may think he is the ruler of this earth but he is so wrong.

Remember ... nothing.



A Glimpse

This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

Last night at choir rehearsal, I was putting my music in order when a friend plopped down beside me and asked, "What do you do when you don't know what to do?" Then she stopped talking and just looked at me. I wasn't completely in the dark about what is going on her life so I responded to her that we trust God and take it one step at a time.

"But what do you do when it is hard and others are involved?"

Memories flooded my mind as I thought back to the last few months. There were times when I cried out, asking God why? And the words of Job echoed, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you." We don't know why the trials hit but we do know the source of our strength. God is sovereign and that is enough for me.

As we talked, I reminded her that the only person we can control is ourselves. It doesn't do any good to try and manipulate the situation, whine or complain, or even stamp our feet. God is in control and we're never alone in the whirlwind. He promises new mercies every morning, a relief to both of us since we sure can use them up fast.

As the rehearsal progressed, we practiced Bow the Knee. While singing the beautiful melody and lyrics, I noticed that the message of the song captured the heart of our earlier conversation:

There are moments on our journey following the Lord Where God illumines ev’ry step we take.

There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,

As we try to understand each move He makes.

When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him.



Bow the knee;

Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.

Bow the knee;

Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.

And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,

In the presence of the King, bow the knee.



There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,

The cold and lonely winds won’t cease to blow.

And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;

We are tempted to believe God does not know.

When the storms arise, don’t forget we live by faith and not by sight.

After rehearsal, I hurried over to my friend and asked her if she, too, had noticed the message of the song.

"Yes, and I didn't want to catch your eye or I knew I would lose it." We gave each other a knowing look as we headed out to the parking lot.

I love it when I get a glimpse of the puzzle that God is putting together. It is going to be a glorious picture.

Right Answer

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

I met Mark on the Internet and during those first days of getting to know each other, we spent a great deal of time online, chatting back and forth, sending emails and text messages. However, the first "real" conversations occurred a few weeks into our relationship when I flew up to take care of my grandgirlies for a few days. I didn't have time to spend chatting online because of my responsibilities to the girls, but after I put them to bed at night, we would talk on the phone. This was new and added a different dimension to our conversations. I was able to ask questions and get immediate responses with accompanying voice inflection, pauses, laughter, and tears. The amazing part was Mark's answers reflected exactly what I was thinking. I don't remember how many times I replied with "right answer."

I recently had one of those days when the sun was shining outside, but it was cloudy in my soul. Nothing was going like I wanted it to and there didn't appear to be any change in the near future. Ready to give in to my own personal pity party, I decided to spend some time with my Father knowing that any hope for change would have to come from Him.

I sat down to read two different devotionals and would you believe they both had the same theme? One read, "Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials." The other began with with, "Thank me for your problems." The author, Sarah Young, didn't write these words just for me but God did. So, instead of whining, I asked God to give me a thankful heart. I knew that this was His day, He had taken care of me in the past, and I needed to quit worrying. But I had to choose to lay the burdens down at His feet. Soon the clouds lifted and His light shone in my heart.

Don't be afraid to approach your Father with your worries, cares, or doubts. He will always have the "right answer."

Mama

He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.Psalm 91:4

After living in Arizona for a few months, Mark commented that he had never seen so many birds that would rather walk than fly. Whether it is a roadrunner or a family of quail, we constantly dodge them as we drive around our neighborhood. We have affectionately named all roadrunners, "Jake." It's easier. They are busy birds, always seem to be in a hurry, and, much to my surprise, are meat eaters.

The quail are beautiful and I love it when the babies hatch and they scurry in a line across the street—Mom in the front and Dad bringing up the rear. The gardener brought to my attention a nest secreted away in a pot by my front door. Geraniums make a perfect cover. A couple of weeks ago, I did notice Daddy quail strutting on sentry duty on the casita roof but didn't realize he was watching over his new little family. Mama is now patiently sitting on her eggs. Since she is so well hidden, she has scared me a couple of times as she flew out of nowhere when I was out snipping off the spent blooms. Now I peek through the leaves and try not to disturb her. Mark says he talks to her as he goes back and forth.

Quail babies make perfect snacks for roadrunners. Danger hovers around them until they are grown and can take care of themselves. God, in His infinite wisdom and design, created this family unit with two parents to nurture and protect them until they are able to outwit their enemy. He has done the same for us.

We celebrate mothers on Sunday. Whether your relationship with your mom is one that brings you joy or maybe some sorrow, the fact remains that without her, you would not be here today. Be sure and let her know how much she means to you.

Danger lurks in the bushes for us, too, but God provides the cover that we need in a world that is often scary and out of control. His wings and feathers weather the storms of our lives and His promises offer protection for our hearts and minds. We are not alone. He will be both our front and rear guard.

Remember...YOU are loved.

Take Heart

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NIV)

I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to the ladies of my church last Saturday at the annual Spring Tea. All the tables sparkled with the hostess' finest place settings and table decor, each unique and special. My friend decorated our table with the china, Old Country Roses, a favorite of mine. A neighbor let her raid her rose garden for a bouquet that matched the pattern perfectly, with extra petals dotting the tablecloth; silver and crystal sparkled. It was lovely. All over the room, women chatted and oohed and ahhed as they walked among the tables, enjoying the creativity of each one.

As I told my story, I watched as women nodded, smiled, and cried. Many pulled me aside afterward and confided that they knew what I was talking about. We are sisters in the challenges of life.

Yet, I was driving with a friend to the movies and as we talked, she mentioned that her life right now couldn't be better. She is happy in her marriage, her home, has a new granddaughter…all is well. I rejoiced with her as she talked and encouraged her to enjoy this time.

But I also know that life has a way of turning the corner to reveal heartbreak and tragedy when we least expect it.

We know of a family whose 13-year-old son fell from a tree and is in Children's Hospital with severe brain trauma. Another family has just gone through the valley with a five-year-old daughter who now has a new kidney but struggled each step of the way. Heart attacks, falls, depression, death. We never know what trouble is ahead of us but take heart. Jesus is alive! He overcame death so that we can have life…now and forever.

Tiny Faith

It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches. Luke 13: 19 (NLT)

I have a couple of devotionals that I like to read by Sarah Young. They are short but always seem to hit the mark about whatever is going on in my life. And I'm surprised. How often do go to God with a request or need, usually as a last resort, but really don't expect an answer? We think we have to "help" God. As I reflect on the process that my kids experienced during this time of transition and moving, trusting God was an act of faith because the outcome was so out of their control. Yet, He ultimately provided a home that is far better than anything we could have imagined. Jesus trudged all over Israel with his disciples. He listened to them complain, watched how they handled problems, noticed their responses to different people. He spent months in their presence and sometimes they got it but sometimes, their didn't. Remember the little boy with five loaves and two fish? They were ready to head off to town and try and buy food—an impossible task. Jesus was so patient with his followers, as He is with us. As the Son of God, He could have spoken to them in lofty treatises but instead He told them stories…stories they could understand and pass on. He even explained some of the hard parts to them. When life appears tough or grim, all we need is a tiny bit of faith…one step at a time. Don't worry about the end result; rather go to Him expecting great things. He won't fail you.

God is Good

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13 (NIV)

Good news—the kids have a place to live. Although at times it felt like God was silent as we prayed for this particular need, He was working in the background so that they would have what was best for their family. Hindsight is always 20/20 and as we look back at what might have been, we are thankful for God's mercy and the circumstances that brought us to this day. It is so much better than any manipulation that we might have done in the midst of our panic. I like to be in control and relinquishing that role to God is a daily task for me. When I push and pull, take the reigns, or engineer the outcome rather than letting God take over, I am basically saying, "God, I don't trust you with this situation. I think I can do it better." If we truly believe that God loves us and wants the very best for us, then the act of waiting is also an act of trust. God never forces us to act. If, however, we continue on our own way, we will suffer the consequences of our stubbornness and doubt: it takes longer, results are second best, and we are robbed of joy and peace. I didn't say it was easy and sometimes, I have to hand those reigns back to Him several times during the course of a day. But, in the end, it is best. Today's verse is one of my Mel's favorites and with confidence we can all say—God is good.

Faith Journey

But if we look forward to something we don’t have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25 (NLT)

The last two weeks have been BUSY. We drove to California the day after Easter to help our kids pack up their home and place it all in storage. Life's twists and turns had dealt them some unexpected blows and it became apparent that the only way to solve some of the problems was a move. God was good and the house sold in a week – and that's in the Bay Area market. But, that same market makes rentals golden and my kids are at the mercy of landlords. They don't have a place yet and are staying with friends. So, we are all waiting. Again. Ben Patterson writes in Waiting; Finding Hope When God Seems Silent:

To wait is to journey in faith toward the things God has promised. Like all journeys, it has its past, present, and future, and requires a definite attitude toward each of these time dimensions. The past--God says, "Leave it." The present--God says, "Go." The future--God says, "I will show you." Hope makes patience possible because it gives us the confidence that our wait is not in vain. No matter how things look to us, God is the complete master of the situation.

I ache for them knowing that the unknown is scary. Without faith and confidence in God, it would all seem like such a waste. But I believe in the sovereignty of God and know that He alone has the grand perspective. He loves my little family more than I do and will bring them through it – just at the right time.