LIfe goes on, & on, & on ....

So classes are out for the summer, yet I have so much to do, it seems, justto be prepared for the fall. I’m going to work at the Malden Medical Clinic four days a week: gotta keep on top of my clinical skills. I’m excited about getting back into that aspect of my career. Courtney is getting ready to be gone for a month. I think she is trying to slowly get us used to how it is going to feel when she goes to SAGU in Texas. Her “diddy” is not taking kindly to it either.

So I did a little experiment with my family Memorial Day weekend. I took a verse and broke it into increments & looked up the majority of the words. I then had Jamie, Courtney and I choose the words we felt applied to our life, or our current day circumstances; after all we do not own cattle.  It turned out really interesting. You can find the way I broke up the verse (Isaiah 30: 23) and some of the definitions we considered at the end of our versions. I would love to hear your interpretation. It is neat to see how each revision spoke directly and uniquely to our own life.

The original NIV verse states: He will also (spoke of ‘compassion’ in previous section) send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will graze in broad meadows.

(Jamie’s version) In addition (to the compassion He wants to show me), He will send "refreshness" for the efforts I put into the investments of my life. And the blessings that manifest will be in absolute abundance and ample supply. Ultimately, my possessions will flourish in unrestrained fulfillment.

(Courtney’s version): He will show me compassion and rejuvenate the work I cultivate in this world. And I can expect the result to be successful and blessed. When my work is over blessings will appear in vast abundance.

(My version): He will couple compassion with the opportunities he has for me. For the plans I make and the actions I take will result in an abundance of assets that will proliferate. My needs will be met or supplied in a wide and vast array from a place that has all the resources I need.

I absolutely loved doing this activity. Hope you will try it, too.

So here is the verse broken up in increments. If you take the time to create your own version, please share it with me. Try it with your family, like I did, and see how many different ways God’s word speaks to each individual. You may be as surprised as I was.

He will also [in the previous section, it was stated He wanted to show us compassion; “also” means ‘to add to’ or ‘couple with’]

Send you rain: [make provisions; provide nourishment]

For the seed: [plans, hopes, dreams]

You grow: [increase in size, become larger, stronger, thrive, flourish, cultivate, to produce]

In the ground: [basis on which anything rest; foundation]

And the food; [nourishment, substances that supports life, instructs intellect, excites feelings, molds habits of character]

That comes: [arrives, manifest, appear, and results from progress]

From the land: [point at which action is regarded as beginning]

Will be: [a choice is made]

Rich: [abundance of possessions, wealthy, affluent, copious]

And plentiful: [copious, ample, prolific,  

In that day: [reference to previously mentioned]

Your cattle: [animals, I don’t own cattle so I believe it is in reference to my needs]

Will graze: [feed, supply, be met, furnish]

In broad: [wide, extending far, extensive, vast, enlarged, free, unrestrained]

Meadows: [fields grown with hay, place where needs are met, near a water source, place of resources]

May 22, 2013    Everything is going to be alright.

Well I have been lingering in chapter 30 of Isaiah for a while; but I am learning a lot and that is all that really matters. Let’s look at verses 18 & 19 first. And in case I haven’t mentioned, I am using the NIV translation. Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you. He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for help? As soon as He hears He will answer.

Now this is my interpretation of these verses applied to my life. First, let’s look at the word “yet”. It means “even to a greater extent”. Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually put much thought to these seemingly useless sentence connectors. And of course, I don’t really know if these were the actual words originally written. But it is all I have to work with; so it is what I will use. Anyway, in verses 18 & 19 the Lord begins to show his compassion rather than the judgment previously discussed in verses 16 & 17. He begins by saying “yet” or to an even greater extent –than the judgments I just gave you- more than that….I “long” [want, desire] to be “gracious” [generous, compassionate]to you. That’s right…to me! (Now some may want to argue that these verses are not specifically written about me; I say if I don’t apply them to my life, they have no meaning.)

So, this makes me think of being a parent. How much more do we prefer to bless our children rather than discipline them? We strive so hard to give them the life we didn’t have and to witness their ungratefulness is difficult to take at times. But our goal is not to offer constant judgment; our goal is the desire to be compassionate. And that is our Father’s goal for us. Stop and really think about it. How often are we ungrateful for His efforts of giving us the life He did not have? (Ouch-that’s not very pretty is it?) 

“He rises”? Really? Like, ‘wakes up’…. I didn’t think he slept. Either way, whether He is sleeping or resting, it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that He gets up from whatever it is He is doing “to show or confirm to me (yes me!!!) “compassion,” mercy or understanding. Does anyone in your house rise up just to show you compassion for that day? I mean, how often do you hear, “”Hey baby, let me stop everything I’m doing just to show you a little kindness”? Very often? I didn’t think so. But we do have someone who does stop everything just for us. Why? “For the Lord is a God of justice”! That’s right- he is fair; he deals with me appropriately-not as I deserve but with mercy renewed each morning. How awesome is that? Not only is He just, but if I wait-rest in expectation of His mercy- I will be blessed [favored, fortunate, adored]. When is the last time you rested in expectation of His mercy?

While researching the different meanings of the word weep, I really got tickled and decided to use the word ‘blubbering’. Blubbering, to me, offers the full picture of one of those uncontrollable cries where you can barely catch your breath. Feel free to replace the word ‘blubbering’ with more grown up words such as mourn, sob or cry in agony or maybe just a good-ole Southern bawl. Any way you look at it; the bottom line is -it will stop, when I “cry for help”. To ‘cry’ for help requires some pretty charged up emotions. It involves, shouting, yelling, proclaiming. To cry for help is not to offer  meek, soft-spoken words. It is heartfelt and gut-wrenching. Then that mercy, compassion that He arose and desires to give me is released; but NOT before I ask for it. It requires an action on my part. And when does He do this- as soon as- immediately. When do we respond to a newborn crying? Immediately. When do we respond to our child’s desperate screams for help? Immediately. And how do we respond? With words and a touch that offers reassurance and comfort. We grab them and hold them and tell them everything is going to be alright. That is what our Father wants to do to us. We just have to let him. We just have to stop all the blubbering and shout to the One that will scoop us up, hold us tight and tell us, everything is going to be alright.

  

May 17, 2013

I’m sooooooo enjoying some time off. I love having as much time as I want to dig into God’s Word. Currently I am reading Isaiah and I am on chapter 30. I've gotten some very interesting take "away,s" today. Verse 8 is the reason I keep a journal. It states, “Write it down so that it may be an everlasting witness for days to come”. I hope one day, Courtney is able to go through some of my journals and see all the blessings that have come her way as a result of the prayers I have written and said for her.

Verse 15, “In repentance & rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength." My interpretation of this verse applied to my life: my ability to crease activity (rest) and be remorseful for my actions (repentance) is what delivers me from destruction (salvation). My ability to withstand pressure (strength) comes when I am free from anxiety (quietness) and when I place my confidence in the Lord without fear (trust).

          Anyone that knows me, knows that that are very few times I am able to “cease activity”. Thankfully, God has placed Jamie in my life because he helps me out tremendously in this area. There are very few times I have had true moments of rest that did not include Jamie. With the exception of my morning devotion with God, he has always been a source of rest for me. (Today’s time with God brings not only the musical sounds of the birds singing good-morning but the soothing sound of rain as the backdrop. Love it, love it, love it!!)

When I think of my times of “resting”, I picture us floating down the river, floating on the lake in the pontoon, sitting around the campfire at the cabin or sitting around the fire pit in the backyard. I reflect on the times we walked on the beaches of Destin, Marco Island, and Hilton Head Island listening to the continuous sound of the waves as they wrap around our feet and the salty wind as whips my hair around my head and lands in my mouth. (Okay, I know that last part isn't so “restful” but it’s a part of the scenery nonetheless.) Jamie is definitely my “calm”, my “resting place” here on Earth and I don’t know where I would be without him. (wound up tightly, I'm sure)

The times of deep agony of repentance that I have had and expressed over the years are memories that are just as strong as my times of rest. I am thankful that once I have expressed true repentance, God no longer remembers them. It is up to me to let go and move on. It is up to me to make right what I can out of the mess I created. Luckily God turns my “messes” into a part of his plan. This is what gives me peace in my salvation.

I think the second part of this verse is why I love growing older. It has taken so much hard work and effort for me to learn that act of trusting. Oh, don’t get me wrong; I have yet to fully trust, but I desperately want to and continually try to enhance that characteristic.

Once again, Jamie comes to my mind when I think of trust. We have been together over 18 years (wow….that is unreal to me) and I can honestly say, -up until the past two years-I never really trusted him. I wanted to; I tried; but I never believed he truly loved me- so I couldn't  or maybe I wouldn't  But two years ago, he proved me wrong and showed me, proved to me that he really does love me and I can trust him. No one, besides God, could ever love me the way he does. I am so thankful God has shown me that about Jamie. 

So how does all this relate back to Isaiah 30:15? When I have done wrong and seek forgiveness not only from God but from those who I have hurt I will be received for whom I am not what I have done. I can handle what comes my way when I am not anxious and allow consequences to occur without fear that they will destroy me. 

Just wanted to share...

I mentioned to small group that I began reading the book of Ezra and I wanted to share with you from today’s chapter. In chapter 4, the enemies of Judah ask the Jews if they can help rebuild the temple & the Jews deny their request. The enemies then HIRE people to deliberately frustrate the Jews plans & discourage them. The enemies even write a letter to the King informing him if the Jews are successful in rebuilding that the King’s revenues will decrease. The letter also stated that if the King searched the archives he would see the Jews have a history of rebellion. So the King orders the rebuilding to cease and the Jews are “compelled by force to stop”.

The enemies paid people to mess up the Jews lives. That seems a little extreme, doesn’t it? But we all know it’s real. How often are people paid off to keep people out of power in government? How often are people paid to keep people out certain zoning areas? How often have we made people mad by not allowing them into our plans or our lives and they have deliberately gathered people on “their side” to discourage us and frustrate our plans? Have you ever felt like you were on the right track only to have someone write a letter to your boss telling them to look closer at your faults? How often are we doing something good for God and then all hell breaks loose? How often are plans that we feel are from God halted by actions (or force) from others?

This is why reading the bible is exciting to me. It shows me that I am not facing anything new. Many have faced and overcame the challenges I experience and I can look to see what they do to overcome. I can evaluate their actions by mine and adjust if so be.  (Not that I will always do as they did to overcome, but you know what I mean).

Just wanted to share this with you all.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs...Can't get away from it!

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think nursing is my primary foundation. I know the primary foundation is Christ, not JUST nursing. But Christ is the foundation and the core. He is at level of our being. I’m saying that He put other foundations in our life to shape and lead us during this stay on Earth.

For those who have ever taken a psychology class you will be very familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The pyramid represents Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation and suggests that lower needs must be met before moving to the next level. Self-actualization is the process of developing as a person to achieve individual potential. And for me, my potential is found in nursing. It’s different for everyone. Jamie’s is in trucking; Courtney’s could be in singing. For some it’s being a teacher, pastor, police officer, salesman, for some it’s being the best parent they can be, for other’s it’s doing the best with the choices they have made in life.

Basically, I know that no level of achievement in this Hierarchy of Needs is met without God as the center. But I feel He gives us other foundations to build upon to reach the different levels.

The Roads of My Journey

(I was just looking back over some of my earlier journal entries and liked this one. Thought I’d share it. From Jan 12,2010)

Heb 11:10 HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY WITH FOUNDATIONS, WHOS ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD.      Make decisions not with present security and future retirement in mind but with forever in full view.

I’ve given my life to God. I didn’t completely surrender it until I let go of everything and went to nursing school. It took me until I was 35 to realize holding on tight to the “control” wheel in my life was leading me no where quickly. The past five years of allowing God to have full control were some of the hardest yet best years of my life. How much greater will the remaining years be knowing who’s in the driver seat!

My “city with foundations” that God has given me is nursing. I feel, He built and designed  me with nursing in mind. He called me to nursing when I was 17 volunteering in a special education classe. I can remember it distinctively. I was looking out the window and I felt like it was just whispered in my ear, "You will be a nurse!" I must admit, I didn't believe it. (There are still days, I don't believe it).  I was an average student that struggled with test taking. I don’t know where he’s leading me through this "city" of nursing, but I can say I have enjoyed the ride.  Although the roads leading to this city have not been the smoothest roads to travel.

I have tried to keep my focus no matter what road I am on. When I am on the gravel roads and the pot holes seem to stretch across each side, I readjust, slow down and move intentionally as I ease around them and take care to avoid blowing a tire.  When I am headed up the mountain, I dig in, shift to a lower gear and remain diligent in reaching the top. When I am on the highway cruising along, I feel exhilarated and alive and yet I am not always focused on what the journey has to offer. There are the times I am on the expressway, and I zoom in and out of traffic as if I’m in a race, yet I don’t know what I’m trying to win,  who I am trying to impress or what I have to prove.

So I ask you Lord,  Help me learn to focus on the foundation you have planned and built for me and to learn the lessons I need to learn no matter what “road” I’m on in this journey.

Do you ever wonder about the seemingly random verses in the Bible?

As part of my Beth Moore’s lesson, I read Acts 18:1-18. Everything is flowing nicely when out of the blue, in verse 18 the writer, Luke, mentions that Paul stops for a haircut because of a vow. I thought to myself, “OK, so he got a haircut. What’s the big deal? And what was the vow.”  Beth left me hanging for a day but pulled through eventually and offered some answers.

Numbers 6: 1-8 talks about the Nazarite vow; it is a vow of separation. It was offered to both men and women. To take part in it, one must abstain from anything that comes from the grapevine and not cut their hair as a symbol of separation to God. Act 18:1 tells that Paul was entering Corinth. Corinth was known for its worship of the Goddess Aphrodite who represented love, lust and sexual perversion.

Paul’s example of separating himself to God before entering into strong temptation is one we should all take more often. If he had not taken this vow, had not abstained from the things of the vine, and had tried to enter this city by his own strength, he would not have been able to resist the temptation he surely encountered.

 How often do we consider the temptations we will encounter prior to the actual encounter? I don’t know about you, but I know I don’t often enough. 

I like the seemingly random verses…