"proximi-TEA" : a Re-Brew

Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3, NLT)

Still pondering those times of proximity to the Lord, I realized that often I am drawn to Him during times of trial. Hard times. Heavy heart times. 

Suffering or sharing in someone else's suffering pulls me to my knees and lifts my head and heart to Him. It's not my favorite way to seek Him but it is one of the surest and swiftest----pain, especially of others, tugs at my heart and in turn I tug at the Lord's heart. 

Physical pain. Emotional pain. Chronic pain. Seemingly hopeless situations. Without God's grace, both they and I can grow weary, lose heart and sink into despair. 

I prefer to enter into His Presence through praise and singing---sadness and sorrow is just too wearying. But God....showed me thru Crickett's H2H lesson on Psalm 66, that the way into the Lord's Presence is the same...whether I come with a heavy heart or a light heart. It's through WORSHIP. Worship starts with praise and thanksgiving, regardless of how one feels. 

"A heavy heart lifts on the wings of praise. " (J. Roberson McQuilkin) 

Dr. McQuilkin speaks our of his own pain as he shared in his book, A Promise Kept, about leaving the presidency of Columbia International University to care for his wife, who was suffering from a physical and mentally debilitating illness----Alzheimer's. He concludes that "in acceptance there is peace."

I sense the darkness and hopelessness in situations of loved ones. I "feel" their pain, but only as a sideliner. How long before relief comes? Does acceptance come first? How do I help? What do I pray? 

Proximi-TEA---a big cuppa is needed---Tea for Two. Shared verses as reminders of the Lord's nearness. Shared prayers. Shared joy from being in His Presence with the same purpose.

Prayer: Oh, Lord may we start with praise for all the treasures you give-----treasures You can give that are hidden in this darkness, this hard dark place. Grant secret riches from your hand as "we" wait on You. Thank You for the life lessons of patience and trust which can be learned as we draw near to Thee.

Thank You, Father God, that You are close, You call us by name, and You keep us hidden in the shadow of Your hand until this great darkness is lifted. Praises for Your grace that can keep us from growing weary and losing heart as you strengthen us by the power of your might that we all might have patience and endurance during this hard time....'til we might joyfully give thanks. May our hearts be lifted on wings of praise as we pray in Jesus' name.

(Isa. 45:3, 49:2 and Colossians 1: 11)

difficul-TEA

I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. (Isaiah 45:3, NKJV)            

Have you ever felt like a lone sheep?  As if wolves in the distance were waiting to devour you? Especially in the dark of night. Isn't that when fear is greatest? During the night watch.

You're not alone---even though you might feel alone. 

Pain is unavoidable in life. Yet, we try everything to keep it at bay. Pain avoidance is common in our culture. We run from it. Both ease and convenience are promoted. There's even a credit card that will "pay" for it. Difficul-TEA is a fact of life, regardless of what the ad-men say. Even money can't always "buy" your way out of it.

So what does one do with the unwanted, sometimes unwarranted, pain of struggle?

The Psalmist David tells us in Psalm 23, that our Shepherd is with us in the shadow of death. Not just death, but any dark ravine of pain through which life leads us. Those detours of darkness. 

We need to seek the face of the One whose face gives light during those days---and nights. According to the words of Isaiah the prophet, God can use those dark times and actually give them to us as treasures. Life lessons of struggle learned with the One who calls us by our name---just like the psalmist's shepherd.

Some of life's best lessons are taught in the most difficult times. 

A cuppa difficul-TEA might not be our choice....But God.....can use it for our good. Just knowing that, soothes my heart.