3 Rs OF OUR HEARRRT!

Renewed. Revived. Refreshed.

Great inner man descriptors both physical and or spiritual.

Even as one ages Lord, allow us to daily depend on you for strength, grace and courage to endure until we meet you face to face as Betsy so beautifully writes!

Renew. Revive. Refresh............our hearts until the end. 

PEACEFUL PONDERINGS

Lysa TerKeurst has faced the realities of suffering in her life, from physical to emotional betrayal. She expresses these in seeing beautiful again. 

It's not always an easy read, but she weaves hope and peace in her entries.

• In the midst of struggles, others watch our reactions. (CONVICTION, mine) Responding in gentleness is a better reminder. (Philippians 4:5) (p. 48) Responding in peace is always preferable.
• When  something moves our focus from right to wrong....a slight and seemingly innocent amount of skewed thought can take root. (p.50) Skewed thoughts will rob us of our peace. (DAL)
• Your hurt will not be wasted. (p.56)
• Though others hurt you deeply, allow peace to flood your heart. "Peace that allows you to live like you are loved." (p. 62) God's word reminds us of that in Zephaniah 3:17.
• "Fear, pain, and insecurities can really do a number on our hearts." (p. 64) As Jesus said to the disciples,  "My peace I give you." (John 14:27b) As His present day disciples, we have access to this peace as well.
• THERE IS A PLACE TO ATTACH OUR HOPE, BUT IT'S NOT TO OUR DESIRE FOR CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES, Mark 14:36.... ends with strongest statement of trusting God that I can find in the whole Bible: Yet, not what I will but what you will. (p. 70)
• When TerKheurst wrote of her emergency colon surgery she learned that, God loved her through the life-saving pain. God's silence was part of the rescue. Psalm 145:18. (p. 75-76) Relief is a peaceful response.
• "His words are a lifeline to me. A whisper from my God. A personal note. A treasure......More important than just reading (just, my addition) His words, we must choose to receive them and live them! (p. 77, 80)  (emphasis, mine)

May these words and scriptures bring you peace and comfort this weekend.

Adversi-TEA

But in our trouble God has comforted us—and this, too, to help you: to show you from our personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.

(2 Corinthians 1:6-7, TLB)

Some cuppas in life, no matter how needful, are hard to take or ingest. So, the question is, "Why so many cuppas in life----which we had rather not sip?" 

Today's Streams in the Desert entry answered that question. Needful cups of adversi-TEA, often overflowing with suffering, prepare our hearts to share with others when they go through similar trials. A new cancer diagnosis can turn one toward a cancer survivor friend for understanding comfort. Being on the same side of the suffering adds validity to her words.

"They have watched the lamp of life's silver cord slowly unravel. They have seen the golden bowl of joy smashed at their feet, and its contents spilled.

So suffering is rough and hard to bear; but it hides beneath it----discipline, education, and possibilities, which not only leave us nobler, but perfect us to help others. Do not fret, or set your teeth, or wait doggedly for the suffering to pass; but get out of it all you can, both for yourself and for your service to your generation,......" (Streams, December 10)

And His grace will be sufficient,

When your heart is pierced with pain.

Will you live to bless His loved ones,

Tho’ your life be bruised and torn,

Like the bird that sang so sweetly,

With its heart against a thorn? (Ibid, p.460)

May one's cuppa adversi-TEA go down a little easier as one considers all the possibilities of benefit to others.

SUFFERING....interrupting my plans

12/11/12 Suffering that's physical, but temporary---so what's the BIG deal, Dotsy? Too tired and weak to get out of bed. Too miserable to sleep.  Fever. Chills. Head ache. Sore throat. Cough. Yet, I know that in the scheme of things, my malady is minor.  But… right now it feels like MINOR in all caps! It’s interrupting my plans. Plans to be with friends in celebration and plans to be with other friends in the midst of their suffering. “Worthy plans,”are they not?

I have just had a fun, refreshing Austin, TX, trip with chums---it's our 23rd annual, and that was followed by a glorious visit to Doris' farm, not a sweeter place on earth for soul restoration. So, truly I should have NO complaints. Get over yourself, Dots!

One of my blog readers has chronic, severe headaches and she continues to find God's grace in every aspect of her 3-year search for answers.  This year I even had the privilege of transporting a “spiritual giant” to chemo and I NEVER hear her complain though I'm sure chemo was not originally her plan.

Another dear friend just emailed encouraging words because she, too, is now going to have the privilege of being there for a neighbor/friend as she starts her chemo journey. She’s where I want to be once again. Tonight I learned that sweet J.H.’s lymph node results were not what we had all hoped for. We had prayed “God’s best” for her. So….this must be part of His plan. But….my plan is to be there for her. His plan is that I will wait until I am healthy. I just need to trust His plan.

In fellow cancer sojourner, Michèle Phoenix’s, song, “You Are” (about her MAC cancer journey) she wrote,

"That this journey I follow with its joy and its sorrow,

is a gift I embrace 'cause it flows from Your grace.

I will trust in Your goodness in my season of weakness 

'cause it is what it is---but I know that You are who You are!"

 I have learned these last few years that it is in the classroom of suffering, (whether spiritual or physical---with ranges from minor to terminal), that the Lord teaches us life lessons. Lessons that build trust. Trust in Him, not self.

We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. -CS Lewis

So, my plan tonight, in my semi-drug-induced state, is to head to bed with Romans 12:12 in my heart and on my lips and to pray for the aforementioned folks in the midst of their “hard place,” that they might be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer.” Maybe I need to add myself to that plan!

GRACE INDEED

7/31/12 “Suffering is inevitable but misery is optional.” Old adage. Still true. Easier to read about than to practice. But God…..has given His grace to aid us in this choosing. I witnessed such grace last week on the way to Florida. I met Carolyn---Carolyn who has all the physical reasons to complain---3 years of undiagnosed severe headache-type pain. Chronic comes to mind. Persistent, continual, unending pain. No relief in sight. 

Recently doctors in Birmingham said her issues were “beyond them”---a phrase I am very familiar with. So in 3 weeks she heads to the Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor for evaluation and 7-10 days in the hospital for testing. Diminished pain, resolution and relief---my prayer for her. She prays for the Lord to be glorified.

Use it to shine through every moment of every situation.  Use it so that others will know that You are God and there is no other.  Use it, Lord, use it all... and, by Your grace, Lord, use me as Your instrument amidst it all. (By His Grace, 7/29/12)

She suffers. But she chooses grace, not misery. Others complain, but God……has been her all sufficient One. She lives day-by-day trusting in His goodness. She lives a grace-filled life. The title of her blog says it all, “By His Grace.” 

Grace, indeed. His grace.

THIS BLOG’S FOR YOU!

6/5/12 Yes, blogs are a cheap form of self-publishing. Yes, most blogs are read by the bloggers themselves. Yes, most of my blogs are God’s way of teaching me as I separate and simplify His truths. But, today this blog’s for you----a blog that might turn you on your ear. Just hope you can still “hear”. Actually this blog has been  “just for me” these last few days so I can now share the  Lord's truths which I gleaned.

Psalm 5 is David’s individual lament; 

• Asking God to hear his prayer, 
• Acknowledging God’s hatred of sin and evil people, 
• Requesting guidance, 
• Securing God’s protection and blessing. 

Not exactly a “sweet” read with my morning cuppa. But God….used it to show me an appropriate response to suffering.

Suffering is everywhere. It’s easy to spot. Globally, it makes the evening news as it beams across one's flat screens. Individually, it takes the sparkling beam out of one’s eyes. In this psalm, the arrogant ones, the ones who are living a life of lies and deceit appear to cause David’s suffering. Suffering can come when one trusts in mankind. Yet, all too often a man’s words cannot be trusted because words are an overflow of the heart and a man’s heart is filled with destruction. (v.9) David further describes the wicked ones who are causing the suffering as dangerous, with deceit and flattery on their tongues, saying what they think one wants to hear to attain their own goals ----all signs of rebelliousness against God. David even prays that the intrigues of the wicked will be their downfall and they will be caught in their own traps. How intense must have been David’s suffering to bring such petitions before the Lord.

Now that I’ve “rained on your life’s parade”, don’t stop reading here & don’t do as I did and eat 3 large slices of fresh baked pull-apart cheese bread slathered in real butter (is there any other kind) We all assuage pain and suffering in different ways. Some medicate or take to “drink”, I take to “butter” even if my suffering is mainly over someone else’s pain. As warm and comforting and distracting as “butter” (or your choice of poison) appears to be, that’s NOT the answer. Rather reread verses 1-3.

These first three verses include David’s response to suffering. Even in the midst of suffering, He still seeks to be led by the Lord’s righteousness. He approaches the Lord in a worshipful way, with mind and heart engaged, asking Him to pay attention/ to consider his (David’s) sighing/lament/groaning/meditation. (all words offered in parallel versions of verse 1)

Resolve to spend time in the word with the Lord as David did. That’s a needed discipline, which David alluded to twice, (“in the morning”, v.3) as the time when he articulates His condition. My words, v 1. Voice of my cry, v 2. My voice, v 3.  Then, David waited expectantly. Eagerly watching and waiting to see what the Lord would do on His behalf.

Ah, that one would follow David’s method: 

• Disciplined time in the Lord’s Presence,
• Willingness to articulate again and again his needs as he/she suffers, 
• Expectancy of the Lord’s answer whether it’s relief or assurance of God’s Presence, 
• Acceptance of God as the only Refuge who will be both a protector and a defense

David sums up well for us as he finds rejoicing and singing of joy for those who love the name of the Lord---for the LORD will bless the godly and surround them with His love even in the midst of suffering.

If this blog is for you…..blessed are you when you take refuge in the Lord and allow Him to surround you with His love. (v.12)