Weathering the Storm Part-3

Matt 26:41 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is

willing, but the flesh is weak.

Life is a journey in which we progress in our daily walk. Sometimes it is in the form of baby steps, a jog, a fast run, a crawl and often times we stand still. The day we close our eyes forever becomes the day we reach our eternal destination.

It is difficult to watch a storm outside when there is lightening. Even in our daily lives it is difficult to stand in the midst of the storm However, I am fortunate to stand underneath the shelter of His wing. The storm of cancer, a loss of a marriage, job changes, and other events that have all hit me within a 9 month period this year and I feel like Job.  

True patience is the key in this situation and learning to hear His voice through this storm is very difficult. I have been taught that I should be still and listen to Him throughout the storms of life. I believe this is not accurate nor reality based.  Let’s take a reality check.  Is that really what we focus on?  Listening to God?  It is easier said than done and often rarely followed. 

When we are doing something, do we pay attention to our spouse, children or friends when they are talking to us?  Do we hear them but not listen to their words?  Do we obtain eye contact or even glance in their direction?  The same is true in watching for God in the storm rather than listening.  The storm makes noise and can often be confused with God's voice.  If we watch for Him in the actions of our storm, we will see the results and gain the faith He gives in calming the storm.

How often do we move into panic mode because we can’t hear His voice, or doubt Him, or claim that He doesn’t hear our request or even answer us?  Doubts may assail. Some will say it is lack of faith while others will say that God doesn’t exist or even that He has caused the storm.

Life storms can hit devastating blows like Job was dealt.  But Job did not sin against God and kept his faithfulness. How can I learn from Job?  Why do people tell me to listen to God’s voice in the storm? It is near impossible to listen when the human aspect of fight or flight kicks in. We believe it is the human need to survive, control, subdue the threat, or a combination of the three.  Even if we run and flee, we are still in control of our actions, even when the storm is still chasing.

When we are in the midst of a raging storm, do we not focus on self-preservation and not necessarily the problem?  If so, how can we really listen?  To listen is to sit still and wait for a response.  When we are frantically trying to prepare, shut down, or clean up, our focus is on the storm or damage from the storm and usually not on God or spiritual matters.

Through this journey of my storm, I am learning it is about watching, not listening. I have to watch for His cues and His direction, to keep my focus on His promises and not the storms. When my focus is on the storm then my fears increase and I do not watch nor listen because I want to control. When I have the faith and watch for Him, then the storm will become still because He is walking me through.

When Peter walked on the water and sank, Jesus asked, “Why do you doubt?”  Peter did not lose faith in Christ. He did not doubt Christ’s ability to make him walk.  Peter walked as long as his eyes were fixed on Christ.  He only doubted in his ability to continue walking toward Jesus when he looked away from his Savior’s eyes and heard the wind.  In desperation he cried out to be lifted.  When we are spent from cleaning up our messes, running from the storm, or have sunk rock bottom, we will finally cry out to Him in desperation, “Lord, save me,” as Peter did (Matthew 14:22-33).

What is difficult to watch is what is going on during the storm. Why?  Because it is painful to watch. I am learning to watch for God in the storms and see where He will lead me.  I will believe on His promises that He will lead me.

What do I watch for during the storm?  I watch for what He is doing to change me. Storms change the paths they encounter. Maybe it is patience He is teaching me. I watch what He is doing in other’s lives; how my actions impact others.  I watch for the transformation of my attitude. Is my attitude one of contentment and thankfulness, like that of a victor? Or is it one of discontent, grumbling, and the disheartening attitude of a victim?  God wants us to watch what He can do more in the storm than listening to what He says.

When our focus is on Him, then what do we have to fear when we watch for Him?  Focus denotes clear visual definition. It is adapting the level of light and being able to see clearly. It is paying particular attention to something.  This is not about listening for God’s voice to speak to us.  When we watch, when we see, when we seek God, we are looking for that clear definition of the path He has for us.  It is about watching for the paths He opens for us to follow. Therefore, devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Col 4:2).

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him

 

 

 

Weathering the Storm - Part 2

Luke 21:36  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man

When I was a child, I remember living in San Antonio and did not like the tornadic storms that would come roaring through.  Thunder scared me the most because of the loud booming sounds. I don’t remember who in my family told me that thunder was the angels in heaven enjoying their bowling league games.  Sometimes the looming sound would scare me because I thought it could be the voice of God talking.

As my father was in the Air Force, we moved periodically, and one move was to South Dakota. If it wasn’t thunderstorms, it was the threat of and the real-time blizzards that made me afraid for fear of lack of food, water and electricity for being snowed in.  Those who live in blizzard prone areas are well familiar with storm preparations.  The first year we were in Rapid City, the blizzards made it very difficult to see the roads and made driving near impossible. Snow drifts could be as high as 10 feet tall, well covering the front door.  We would have to go out the back door in order for us to dig the snow away from the front door.  Stocking up on food and water was imperative because the snow storms could last for days and then recovery and road openings would take additional days. My father was often stranded at the missile silos for a week because of the snow covered roads, making travel impossible.

Storms come in different varieties, but so do tragedies. Moving to Japan there were storms too, but even more frightening were the earthquakes.  My first earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude on May 25, 1983, in Misawa, Japan. The ground looked like an ocean wave rolling in front of my eyes and that is if I could stand still.  We do not prepare for earthquakes as there is little or no notice, only clean up after the fact. What took years to build, takes only seconds to destroy.

My focus in anticipation of the storms was to listen to the news, receiving updates as to the location and progression of the storm, praying it would miss me. Other times my focus was on prepping for an oncoming storm. And at other times, my focus was on cleaning up the aftermath of the damage left behind an earth shattering event.

No matter where we are in life and no matter what stage of life we are in, storms and tragedies will happen. Many times there is no control over them; they are what they are.  We may have had time to prepare; we may have been taken unaware.  A death in the family, an accident, a life-altering event. Each one produces a different reaction.  We may choose to flee and run, but only for a time as it may eventually catch up to us, sometimes worse than if we stood strong from the onset. We may be fearful of what we do not understand.  We may try to prepare for the worst case scenario or become stuck in focusing on cleaning up the aftermath.

God does not cause the storm. This is a myth that some wish to believe because they want to blame Him for the calamity that falls upon them.  A life storm may have been caused by a poor choice made and it is the circumstances that have caused the earthquake that shook us up.  James 1:17 reminded me that good gifts come from Him. He doesn’t want to see His children hurt.

What are we doing in the midst of the storm? We prepare for the worst of the storm in order to lessen the damage and survival.  Windows are boarded up to protect the interior of the home.  When life storms hit, some people shut down emotionally and fall prey to depression, suicide, or withdrawal from others. Their life is boarded up, creating an impenetrable shell, to protect them from the onslaught of forces bearing down against them.

God wants us to be active during our storms. Not being still and listening. Jonathan and his armor bearer prayed, fought and won the battle against the Philistines. It was a storm that Jonathan watched for God’s actions in the battle. Saul sat and tried to listen to God for an answer and received no word. This is why I believe in the midst of life’s storms we watch for what He is doing. Not what we are doing or what the storm is doing.

Watch the eagle. When the storm comes, the eagle positions its wings, so that the wind will pick him up and lift him above the storm. While the storm rages beneath, this inventive eagle soars above it. It does not evade the storm, but simply uses the elements to elevate it to safety. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1. Sometimes, like a blizzard, when the storm is too rough to see, there is faith (the assurance of things not seen - Hebrews 12:1) and the reliance upon Him to lead us safely through the storm.

My grandmother would sing the following to me during the time of storms to comfort me:

 

“Standing on the promises that cannot fail,

when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,

by the living Word of God I shall prevail,

standing on the promises of God.”

 

Watch for part 2 of this blog next week.

 

By Faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him).

Weathering the Storm part 1

I may have an idea of what you are thinking right now. What motivated you to pick this up and start reading? Sometimes I do not know why there is an urge or a compelling notion to do something until after the fact. It is my prayer you stay with me and read my miracle in progress as you continue to read additional parts.

This journey may seem like an everyday life struggle, but for me it impacted me so deeply I had to share this story with you. Whether you have a belief in God or not, there is a human element to change thought patterns in order to survive. A submissive will to change brought about being transported through the fire in a course of five to six months. It is my prayer you look for more insight from this blog within the next couple of weeks for the continuation of this story.

First, a little background information to help put this into perspective and, hopefully, God will be glorified in the process. After all, He is the potter and I am the clay. However, in this instance, I was dull raw iron that was placed in the fire and forged on his anvil of grace. It was the hammer pounding life events into me, to be wielded and fashioned in providing this testimony to you.

May I first offer an apology if you have ever been offended by a Christian. Being a Christian is a growth process of adapting, learning and changing who I am as a person. In reality, we are to be Christ like. Our job is not to judge or condemn others, but to assist people in their life journey, love them and teach them about a God whose love is greater than any man in wanting the best for mankind.

Learning to read the bible for myself assisted me to a better understanding. Surely, I could practice and even had good intentions. However, it was not good enough and the storms came. There are events that came to a head in July, 2013, that began to push me to a level I just could not handle and I wanted to give up. I was tired of living.

In the course of these five months, loosing family, job and in October a diagnoses of bladder cancer, I was devastated. One of the ‘causes’ of bladder cancer is smoking, and I never smoked. How could this be possible? Keep reading and see the story unfold. The storm still rages, but having a faith in God is a life altering experience.

The rain of fire within my life began to destroy who I was as a person. Why did I have cancer? Why were these events taking place? The problem was the questions and no answers. The focus was on the storm and not what God was doing in my life. Sure, it is human nature to tend to go that route and just become the victim to my circumstances, but in a moment things changed.

My concept of God changed. Does He exist? Do I blame Him and become an atheist? How does this story unfold? This event was life changing and I want to share this journey with you, so stay tuned for next week’s Part 2 of the story.

Nine Innings of Life

My favorite time of the year is finally here. Yes, it is fall, but more than that, the World Series! It is

especially fun knowing your team is on the way once again. I was able to go to the St Louis Cardinals World Series game in 2011, Game 2. What a wow factor to be in the stands cheering on your team in a sea of red. In Game 7 they won the 2011 World Series.
Can you imagine if you were in the middle of the field and the entire stadium was cheering for you? I wonder if life would be easy having all those cheers encouraging you and motivating you to do your best. However, amongst all the cheering, there is likely also one shouting “boo,” especially when something goes wrong and or someone dislikes you and wants to let you know.

How is baseball like life?

 

First, there are rules. Outs are defined by a list of criteria. Hits are determined by the parameters of the ball diamond. Nine innings constitute a full game, but there is no time limit and not knowing when the game will end. On rare occasions those innings are expanded. Like the game for St Louis against the LA Dodgers on October 11, 2013, playing until the 13th inning.  Sometimes rules are boundaries. In every relationship healthy boundaries are mandatory. Boundaries are established to ensure the safety of each person that enters into the relationship. Crossing boundaries may violate the other person; the rule was broken. Someone may be an enabler to an alcoholic, providing the drink, and before you know it the ninth inning is here, the final pitch thrown and the game is over with the final out. Someone may have lost their life to substance abuse; the other enabled by supporting the habit and did not do anything by calling a time-out for help. Know your boundaries and stick to them. Be open in your relationship about your boundaries and respect the other person’s boundaries as well.

 Second, a group of players makes up the team: pitchers, catchers, basemen, out-fielders, etc.  Together, they become the team, individual players that work together to win the game. They fight together through the last inning of the game, hoping for victory against their opponent. A team can be a group of people or a select few in your life that are your cheerleaders: family members, co-workers, your work-out buddy or even your minister. Whoever it may be, your close circle of supporters, it is necessary to have that one who will help you know when to steal a base, to take that chance and to hold you accountable. It is also important to have those team members to help you to know when to stay on base or slide when in danger. A team comes together and cheers you on. However, the coach’s job is to play fair and to give you that extra advice needed to play the best game.

Third, there are “umpires” or enforcers to keep you on the straight and narrow path. It is interesting how the umpire calls strikes, balls, outs, and tosses unruly players and spectators out of the game. Umpires are those people in our life that helps our conscious be safe. In life, you may run across people similar to an umpire that makes a ruling or a judgment call that is not satisfactory to you. If you are an umpire in someone’s life be very careful. If you happen to judge someone by what others say, how will you truly understand who they really are? If you think you know everything about that person before giving them an opportunity to show you otherwise, you are selling yourself and the other person short. It is always best to examine your own character first and think about how you are going to approach that person, giving them the benefit, before judging them.

Fourth, there are judgment calls. Umpires have to train and make judging calls against a foul, a strike, safe, out, ball or a time out call. They call it as they see it and are sometimes wrong. There is nothing worse than an umpire making a quick determination and later finding out he was wrong. A spectator may think he saw the opposite of the umpire’s call and “boo” out to the field, but a replay of action will either correct the spectator or the umpire. Think carefully before making a judgment call. It is a challenge to contain our thoughts. Therefore, do not judge others by your own thoughts. Everyone is living a different life than you are. What you feel is right for you may not be right for them. Life’s curveballs, right or wrong, can be the best hit for another person. Sometimes we have to allow others to make their own mistakes and own decisions. Sometimes our mistakes can be a blessing for them. 

Fifth, there are mistakes made during a ball game. Baseball players make mistakes. Whether they decide to throw to first base, when the easy out was at second can be a costly mistake. What do we remember? The mistake or the game they won? We all make mistakes, however, do not harbor the mistakes of another person. Those thoughts are cancerous and can consume you. One negative may destroy a mountain of positives. I learned from a mentor a long time ago the following saying: “If you look at the bad in a person, there is enough to hate them. If you look at the good in a person, there is enough to love them.” If people are truly trying to play the game fairly, then allow the memory of the fun times to remain and expulse the mistake. Often a team member decides to move on. It is a difficult choice of letting go of someone you truly admire. Capture those moments in life and remember the good about them.

Sixth, there are always disrupters during a game. What do you do with the squirrels on the outfield or the streakers, both which disrupt the games? Granted they can create bad memories, but if you understand the bad, which happens in your life, and release it through forgiveness, you can enjoy the rest of the game. One can play the victim and complain they were taken advantage of or become the victor and look at it all as part of the game and focus on the positive moments, like when your team won. Even when you lose a game, it becomes part of who you are because of the experience.

Seventh, there are sacrifices made for the benefit of the team. Often times our team member sacrifices themselves to get a runner home. In life, our sacrifices are similar. Parents sacrifice for their children. Spouses should sacrifice for each other. Sacrificing is putting aside your intentions for that moment to yield for another person to live in their intention for that moment.  This creates a team; it causes a bond.

Eighth, stealing bases is encouraged in baseball. A player has to leave first base and steal second, or gamble leaving third base for home plate to score. Stealing bases takes risks in a chance to advance to the next base. In life, opportunities come along and you need to decide if you are going to “steal ahead” to move forward in your life, taking a chance you are making the right decision. It is a gamble that requires careful thought and maybe sacrifice.  Sometimes ‘stealing to get ahead’ is discouraged.  Stealing a base or “taking a risk” allows you to advance your faith. Peter took that chance of ‘stealing the chance’ to walk on water. His faith grew because he took the chance to walk, where no human had been able to in the past. Don’t forget there are signs in baseball, from coaches and other team members, who point and give you the go ahead to advance. Watch for what God is doing in your life, so that you can advance.

Ninth, there are strikes and there are outs. Baseball players are real on the field. There isn’t anywhere to hide, but in the dugout.  The most valuable endowment we can give those closest to us is honesty. Yet we often suppress our true selves from friends, dreading we won't be acknowledged or loved if we let them see the real us. Often, we show parts of ourselves that conceal who we really are. If we hide too much behind false images, we run the risk of losing track of what is real and what is false. We become actors instead of real people, trying to please others. Sometimes we strike out in people’s lives. Sometimes when we get caught not being who we are to be, then we could be out of that person’s life.

When we overpower our fear of letting others in, we are able to see ourselves honestly. To know and accept you is to be a person of value. Life is too short to be lived in hiding. Accept yourself for who you are and embrace the freedom and live life being honest to yourself and others. You are one of life’s Most Valuable Players.  Be known as a MVP in life! Now, let’s get out there and play ball. The inning has just begun and in the end of our life the World Series begins!

By faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)

By faith (Forging Attitude In Trusting Him)



Slow down, lest we forget our Purpose

It can be a busy day; often times there are more busy days than the lack of them.  The busyness twirls the mind around like a fair ride that can leave you dizzy and wondering why you got on the ride in the first place. Life can be like that ride and depending on what you make of it will determine if you desire to enjoy the fun or decide to never to get on the scary ride again.

Or you leave one room for another room with a set purpose in mind. Once you get to your destination, there you become side-tracked and forget your purpose for going there in the first place. You become frustrated because you knew you had to do something, but now cannot quite put the finger on it. No matter how many reminders you might have, no matter how many times you try to remember, it eludes you like a wild animal breaking free from your grip.

Our attitudes may define who we are if we are not careful. It is easy to adapt and to relax and become the situation. Almost like a frog in a cold kettle set over a fire that slowly becomes accustomed to the heating water, until it is boiled. How often do we forget our purpose in life? How often do we forget our role in our marriage? How often do we forget who we are as an individual? Many have said that they ‘lost their identity’ and that they are now ‘finding themselves.’

When we lose sight of our main focus we tend to forget. We forget who we are. We lose that identify and purpose for our life. Oftentimes it is like chasing the wind as it carries a piece of paper, our life.  That paper is a written note proclaiming who we are and where we are to go with an intent purpose in mind.

For some people, they seek definition of who they are through their friends. They seek others for approval of their relationships.  They seek others for happiness. They seek their life in this or in that, yet end up empty each and every time. They feel if they tried harder, focused harder, the answer they sought would be found.

 One passage in the bible has always intrigued me. Jesus knew the hearts of men. Just like the night of his betrayal and before it even happened, Jesus explained to Peter that he would deny Him three times and as a reminder of what He told Peter, a rooster would crow after the third denial. This was so that Peter would believe and remind him of what his heart did. Yet, that is not the passage I had in mind.

The passage begins in John 5.  John writes about a man who came to the healing pool daily. He had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. He came to the pool to be healed because angels would come down and stir the water and who entered the pool first would be healed. Jesus knows the hearts of men, but today was different than any other day. Jesus approached the man and He asked the man, “Do you want to be healed?” Why? If I have a purpose of going somewhere then I know why I am there. The man wanted to be healed. Jesus knew it. Why did Jesus notice the man with this question and not heal him like he did countless others?

Jesus wanted to awaken the purpose. We forget who we are and what we are to become when we become busy in our life, or when we tell our self lies, listen to others. While our intent of our purpose is the desire to be healed, we forgot what to do. Misplaced keys, misplaced cell phone because we became intense on the side attractions and so busy we forget to create a memory of where we put our item so that we can retrieve it later.  Have you forgotten the purpose of why you came to Christ and have forgotten how to live? Maybe religion has suffocated you and snatched the true freedom you were called to be in. Maybe it was a marriage that suffocated you in not reaching your full potential. It might even be selfish thoughts, which have prevented you from obtaining your full potential. Sometimes it can be the distraction or the self-defeat thoughts we tell ourselves that we are never good enough. I will never reach my goal, so what is the use. The invalid man in John 5 told Jesus that he couldn’t roll into the pool and that no one would ever help him, and thus, that he would never be healed. He lost sight of his purpose.

What is your purpose in life? Do you want to be healed? Find that inner voice deep and focus on Christ that will give you the power and the energy to walk and to be healed. The question to ask is, “Are you willing to take the first step that might seem so unnatural at first?” We have to rid ourselves of the past in order to walk the past. To rid the past is through forgiveness of us and others. To be healed is to understand that the power is not in the water. The power is in our determination to focus on Christ and doing what He commands us to do. The next time you feel misplaced, look up and pray and stay in constant communication with Him. He is reminding us every day our intentions and purpose of walking with Him. Others may say too fast to soon, not to do this, not to do that, but is it the will on man’s voice or the will of the Father that knows best? Be still and focus on Him and listen to his voice and you will find that purpose He has placed into your heart.

Will you be courageous enough to take the first step and walk?

The next time life deals you with a blow and you feel paralyzed, do not forget your intent and purpose of where you are going. When we walk with Him, he will guide us into the paths of righteousness. Are you willing to have the faith that Forges Attitude In Trusting Him?