Category: Life

“Do you realize what you’ve done?”, I asked my son Jonathan. His History class had just ended and we were on our way home talking about the class lesson. He shared with me that the students had been studying about religious persecution of the Jews throughout history; jealousy of the Jews because they could read and write, envy because they were financially successful. Some throughout history blame the Jews for Christ’s crucifixion even though the Romans were the ones who nailed and speared Him through. The class had been discussing who was actually to blame for Christ’s death. “We are all responsible for His death on the cross”, Jonathan spoke up. “Since Christ died for all sinners, all are responsible.”

“You just shared the Gospel with the whole class!”, I said.  The look on his face was priceless. He was amazed. He was simply taking part in the discussion sharing what he knew to be true through the Scriptures.

It doesn’t take a “professional soul winner” to share the Gospel.

It doesn’t take a seasoned “door knocker” or  Gospel tract distributor to give a testimony.

There were about sixteen others in the class that day who heard the Gospel in a few sentences. And within seconds, seeds were either planted or watered in veterans, teenagers, young adults, and a professor.

I call it the ‘Dandelion Effect’. I think of it when I share posts on my Facebook page and here on the blog. I compare it to blowing the seeds of a dandelion which the wind carries off in all directions and lands only who-knows-where. Anything and anywhere we share of the Gospel, of Christ’s love and forgiveness, is like God’s breath blowing the seeds to only-He-knows-where.

It was just a comment in class, but praise God, He can and will give the increase.

I. Corinthians 3:6-8, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

“It hurts because the muscle is still weak,” the physician’s assistant said to my dad. We were together for a follow-up appointment to review my dad’s physical therapy progress after his shoulder surgery. The first thing he did when the PA asked him how he was doing was to show off the movement he had on his arm. Up, down, behind, to the side he moved his left arm. I found it comical because I knew what he was doing. He was trying to escape more therapy, more hard work, more discomfort. He has been in physical therapy for a few months now and is weary. Three days a week is hard on the body as exercises get more intense. I saw the look on my dad’s face as it was recommended that he continue just a little bit longer. Disappointment. He was told if he doesn’t strengthen that arm, he could lose all movement of it. He took the advice and made it to the physical therapy office to hand in the doctor’s request.  Albeit reluctantly.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the PA’s words. A spiritual application came to mind as I thought about my recent thoughts/posts on thankfulness, faith, trust, confidence. When I lose faith and it hurts and I become deeply discouraged, my confidence-in-God’s-plan muscle needs a bit more work. When I feel continually disgruntled and dissatisfied and I hurt, my feeling-thankful-muscle requires more practice. I must put to use my faith when things seem unhinged. I must focus my heart to look for the good and the glory of what God is doing. I can tell God I’m fine and show off my strength with a brave face. Until the next test. That’s when I know just how much a specific muscle has weakened or strengthened.

God is actively working for our good even through the pain of it. We cannot let hope, faith, and thanksgiving die while there is still breath in us. My dad took the PA’s advice because he knew he would not be disciplined at home enough to do the necessary hard work because it’s tough, and it hurts. And he is deeply afraid of losing his arm’s movement. He knew he needed the aid of one more experienced to help him along this journey.

We are not alone in this pilgrimage. And when we feel we are, it is a lie from Satan because he is out to destroy and bury any hope we have in Christ. Christ says to the weary and burdened to come to Him. With experience and skill, He will aid and strengthen so that our walk with Him will be alive, effective, and capable.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5

Last week, I was posting on Facebook on the topic of ‘worry’ and I am sharing the thoughts, Bible verses, and quotes here as I hope they may be of benefit. I will say that by the end of the week and the reading/studying I had done, I felt a bit more relieved of my need to worry over things. A few points to consider when tempted to worry:

Look for God’s steady hand:

 When I fix my sights on trials we are going through, I tend to become insecure, anxious, worried. When Jonathan was little and would become restless, sometimes all it would take was for me to place a steady hand on his to calm him. A few verses to meditate on when we are feeling disheartened and needing a calm touch:
~ “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him..” Psalm 37:7a
~ “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
~ “For I the LORD thy GOD will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Isaiah 41:13

When I am tempted to let insecurity, anxiety, and worries rule my thoughts, I will look for God’s steady, calming hand and let the peace of God keep my heart and mind at ease.  Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…and be ye thankful”.

Drag your thoughts away from your troubles:

“You’re a little upset by your troubles, and that’s natural enough, but don’t let your mind run on them any more than you can help; drag your thoughts away from your troubles—by the ears, by the heels, or any other way, so you manage it; it’s the healthiest thing a body can do; dwelling on troubles is deadly, just deadly—and that’s the softest name there is for it. You must keep your mind amused—you must, indeed.”

~Mark Twain, The American Claimant, 1891

Move from worry’s shadow: 

Move over from worry’s shadow to the place of peace… under His wings. Psalm 63:7, “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.”

 

Instead of going to bed tonight with all the things that could possibly go wrong, what if I imagined all the things that God could possibly make right? Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

 

 

 

This study and these posts have helped in keeping my mind on God’s peace more than on my problems. Worry robs of joy, time, and energy. It can shadow thoughts and even conversations. When I ‘roll up my sleeves’ and choose faith, choose to trust God’s guidance, my hands are too busy to be wringing with worry. I want to go into this week stronger, confident, trusting. I want to rest words and whirling thoughts to listen when He invites the weary to rest, to let Him take the load of care. Let my words reflect that God is my strength. Let my thoughts echo the Redeemer when He says His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Psalm 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”

 

 

 

Last year, I had set out to post once a week about the topic, “Think On These Things” based on Philippians 4:8. I had started this on my A Record of Graces Facebook page and had a good response. It was a great way to write a more personal post on good things that had happened during the week, and people always like to read positive posts. When I go by this ‘format’ of Philippians 4:8 to write about blessings, it does take some time and thinking to write specific praises with these specific six words. I only wrote a few posts last year this way, but I would like to get back into it as it helps me reflect on the week in a good light. This week’s “whatsoever things” were:

✔️ TRUE– There are people out there in place all over the world who shine a light on someone’s day. Monday evening, while my husband was in the ER waiting for answers, one of the nurses said to him, “God loves you!”. The other day while at a Dr appointment with my dad, Dr. L said, “God loves you!”. There are good people out there making a difference simply by sharing those three words.

✔️ HONEST – The sincerity in my son this week as he helped me take care of his dad fetching water and medication, washing blankets, and helping with meals. My husband is recovering from a thyroidectomy this week and has had a fever for several days. After a visit to the ER and some new antibiotics, he is starting to feel better.

✔️ JUST – We live in an unjust society and some days it is overwhelming the evil that seems to be taking over the world. But God is always just and someday all will be well and perfect and whole.

✔️ PURE – Friendship from those who personally sent messages on Facebook and e-mails asking how my husband was doing. They were asking if there was anything they could do to help even from thousands of miles away.

✔️ LOVELY– The compassionate messages and heartfelt prayers on our behalf from everyone who knew about my husband’s surgery and fever afterwards.

✔️ OF GOOD REPORT – We received a “NO CANCER” report for my husband today.

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”