Lessons from the Storm

You would have to be living under a rock these days to not have heard about the destruction in the south. On Wednesday alone- in our area we were under pretty much constant tornado warnings for over 12 hours. My house had two rounds of hailstorms and pretty intense thunder, lightning, and torrential rain. However, this was nothing compared to this:

4-27-11 Tornado Tuscaloosa, Al from Crimson Tide Productions on Vimeo.

So, this weekend I was driving to Ohio to visit my sister (and family of course) for the weekend and had 6 hours of drive time to think about what I learned from the storm.

1) What appears to be a good thing- may in fact, be the thing that can bring about great destruction. You see, earlier on Wednesday we had a torrential rain and then the sun came out, dried it all up and made it nice and warm. You would think that was just what was needed- but our weathermen mentioned several times that night (in the 8 straight hours of coverage) that really- that was bad. That set up the atmosphere for the perfect conditions for the storms that took place. How often do I look at something and think it's a good thing- maybe even a "God-thing" and realize later that it has brought great destruction?

2) One may think that the effects were localized for each place- but numerous reports have come out about documents, papers, items, photos, etc. being found over a hundred miles from where they started- got me thinking about what I have that could be blown over 100 miles- would it be something I would be proud of? Or ashamed?

3.) What appears to be "small" can cause great damage. The hail that I had was pea-marble sized hail. However, about 15 minutes away I had friends who had dented houses, piles (some 8 inch high) of hail, hail that were the size of baseballs, broken windows, holes in convertible tops, etc. I liken this to words- a comment made in passing, words spoken in "truth" or trying to be "helpful" can cause a tremendous amount of pain. There's a reason why in James it talks about bridling the tongue- we could all (myself included) take those verses to heart a bit more.

4) The past few weeks there have been numerous tornado watches, thunderstorm warnings, tornadic (yes, that is a word- I heard it several times the other night) activity and yet, I am sure there were people caught unaware- people who may have thought- that won't happen to me. Sometimes, I wonder if we have become so desensitized to what we hear that we quit paying attention when someone is trying to help us (kind of like in the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf). The application is an easy one here- I can't help but think of how often (especially lately) we have heard about Jesus coming back. I am not here to debate the ins and outs and theological viewpoints (quite honestly it's something I need to study more) but the real point- am I ready? Am I helping others be ready? Am I sharing the truths that they need to hear? Am I aware?


Not all of my thoughts by any means- and as I gather some more I will continue to share them but I will leave you with this (and I know this has been long but I hope you have hung in there!)

Focus and a Hard Reality

This post is a hard post to write- it's been a long time since I have been where I am today. Honestly, I am struggling- and that's a hard thing for me to admit- I don't like that I don't have it all figured out (but then neither did the disciples for a LONG time). I have been struggling for a while and it's been something I can't pinpoint. I have had no motivation, no passion, no "nothing" to do anything beyond the necessary parts of living. I LOVE my job and that's been an area where I haven't struggled. People have asked me how I was doing and I respond with a "fine" but in reality- that's not where I am. Some days, I am literally just going through the motions and other days- I don't even feel like I am doing that.

I don't know how long I'll be in this "funk" or what it will take to get me out of it but I knew it was time to be real- especially when I heard this song earlier today...

A Journey...

My attention was directed to Jess' blog by my sweet friend Julie from Come Have a Peace. Jess is the wife of one of our student pastors at church and while I have only spent a little bit of time with her- her heart is one that truly desires to bring glory to God- I truly enjoy listening to her share her heart. This post here is the one that grabbed my attention and I started thinking of my vision/my purpose statement. I'm not married but realized that I didn't need to wait on a spouse to create one- in fact, by doing so may help me in the long run define the kind of man that I should be waiting on. So, I combined my two blogs (my card blog and this one) for my vision statement: The Journey of a Life Desiring to Delight in Him. Then I started thinking of what that meant and like Jess decided to break it down:

The Journey- journey used as a transitive verb means: to travel over or through. I have been on many journeys- from the family vacations to the mission trips to a journey right down the street, to the difficulties of health challenges, to loss of a physical object/person or a dream. Journeys take you places and you are never the same after it's over. In my life I have been on 6 mission trips and each of the 6 were completely different and yet- each of them changed/impacted my life in some way. I found this quote that sums it up:

"The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination." Don Williams, Jr.

And they said to him, "Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed." And the priest said to them, "Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD." Judges 18:5-6 (ESV)

That verse spoke volumes- my journey is under God's watchful eyes! WOW!

of a Life- there were several definitions for life: a specific phase of earthly existence; the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something; and (my personal favorite) an opportunity for continued viability. I have heard the little story about living in the dash- you have a birth date and a death date on your tombstone but in the middle is a dash. That dash represents your life and I want to be remembered (or leave a legacy) in my dash. Life was never promised to be easy BUT we were promised that HE would never leave us nor forsake us in that life.

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives." William Wallace

This verse tells me all I need to know- I WILL get tired, I WILL get weary BUT (so glad there's a but) He gives me the strength I need exactly when I need it.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

Desiring to- this word carries so many connotations. M-W defines desiring as: to long or hope for; exhibit or feel desire for. We desire many things (or people). A spouse (for most single people), your spouse (for those married people), a new job, or even a physical object. So often, we rush ahead and act on our desires instead of waiting and seeking the Lord in our quest. When that happens- it's usually not a good thing- it usually ends up leading us off our straight path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

"You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." Charles Spurgeon

and

"When your will is God's will, you will have your will." Charles Spurgeon

One of my favorite verses: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV)

I think the last part says it all- SEEK HIM and FIND HIM but we HAVE to seek with ALL of our heart!

Delight in Him!- I have heard over and over the truth found in Psalm 37:4-5. Sometimes that's easier said than done. However, if this is what I truly desire- then this where my heart can be found. Delighting in Him! Delighting very simply means: to take great pleasure in. If I am spending my time with that which is of Him then I will be delighting in Him. But the flipside of that- he also takes delight in me (he even tells me so!) and rejoices over me! How can I not return that?

"Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him?" John Piper

When I read that quote- it caused me to stop and re-evaluate- I want to enjoy making much of Him- that's what I am called to do...

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

This is one of those verses that I never tire of reading- each time I read it- or sing the song that is based on this passage- I am just overwhelmed by his grace. Do I fail? Yes, no doubt about it- but he is mighty to save- and that means even from my failures.

Praying for Awakening

If I didn't work on Mondays- I would be there- so since I can't I will be praying during my lunch time.

Knoxville is a growing city- and it's also a city that has come to mean a lot to me as I have lived here for 16 of the last 18 years (wow- that's a long time). I have recently become involved with a ministry through KARM (Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries) and every time I go I am struck by the hunger the women have for the Word and for Christ. I am also a teacher in urban Knoxville- I come into contact with needs- physical and spiritual on a daily basis and try to live as a light through my job.

I would like to invite you (if you are local) to join us at:
Prayer for Awakening in Knoxville, Monday, Feb. 28th, noon to 1 pm at Northstar Church. If you are not local- Knoxville could still use your prayers so please pray for an awakening here in Knoxville and for people to step out and step up.

Chad Sparks (and HERE is his blog) is the pastor of Providence Church and has some excellent thoughts behind this Praying for Awakening. You can find more info at the Pray for Awakening site HERE

Would love to hear your thoughts- and how you are praying for awakening....

Faith vs. Fear

Fear: to be afraid or apprehensive

Faith: firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust

If you are human then you have faced the first one - probably more than once. It can come in many forms- circumstances, our perceptions, or even just other people. My most recent "bout" with fear is one that comes to mind between November and February since November 2008. That's when my life turned upside down. In January of 2009 I was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. It's not life-threatening, it's not anything harmful except that I make kidney stones all the time. It all started in November of 2008 and then in December of 2008 I underwent a CT scan where my doctor informed me that I could lose one or both of my kidneys, but she wasn't a specialist so she was going to send me to one. All of this happened a week before Christmas so I went through this all over the Christmas holiday. I was very fearful- and struggled with what to feel. Then I had- what can only be described as- an encounter with God. I really felt a sense of peace about what was going to happen- did that alleviate my anxiety- NOPE but it was a bit different. For the past two years since I am apprehensive going into my follow up visits. This week was that visit. On Monday I had to go in for an x-ray and Thursday was the actual visit. What it came down to was simple- God is still working. Basically my stones are way too small to be seen on an x-ray and the only way they would be seen is through a CT scan- my doctor sees no need for one of those at this point in time. This is GREAT news- they are not growing in size or quantity so what I am doing food wise is working- so I just have to keep plugging away. I still have the belief that if God wanted to completely heal me of this he would but if He chooses not to- I am okay with that because His plan is bigger than mine.

I am choosing faith over fear!

Beautiful by Mercy Me

I don't have much to say about this- the lyrics say it all. The cross makes everyone beautiful!



LOVE the part- where it says- "you're the one He madly loves enough to die..."

Have Patience

I came home today from a weekend in Indiana celebrating my mom's birthday (unlike my dad I WON'T tell her age) :) . On my way home I listened to this song several times

My favorite part of the song is where she sings:
"So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what
You're doing It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use."

Then I was reading in Psalm 130:5: "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope..." (ESV)

My thought on this is simply this: Patience is not one of those virtues that I can wrap my arms around easily. There are things/times when I am patient but then I start to wonder what God is up to and want it to happen NOW. It's like the lyrics to the song I posted above: ...And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing It might not be what I would choose But this is the stuff You use."

He knows exactly what He is doing- and that's all I need to know.

(As a little side note- the title of this reminds me of The Music Machine and the song Have Patience
Have patience, have patience
Don't be in such a hurry
When you get impatient, you only start to worry
Remember, remember that God is patient, too
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you

So, as I wait "patiently" I will use that time to grow and develop that trust in Him!