God's Grace

(I never know who it is I am writing to or writing for, and I don't get much feedback, but I realize I miss you anyway!  On November 29, I had surgery for a hernia, but I didn't realize it would stop part of my life!  I am mending, although not nearly fast enough for me, but enough to have hours off pain medications so I could find my head again. Thank you for your prayers.)

I am continually amazed how God meets our needs, including needs we didn't even know we needed.  I recently read a commentary on John 21:15-17 where Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?"  Jesus repeats the question three times, even though Peter answered "Yes" to the first two questions.  Peter didn't understand why Jesus repeated the question three times.  However, remember Matthew 26, where Peter fulfilled the words of Jesus, "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."  Jesus remembered, and gave Peter three chances to redeem himself!  Jesus was truly the living, earthly example of God's grace.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9, we are reminded that Jesus said,  "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Grace has been abundant to me in the past few weeks, and today again I am reminded to stop wishing and whining, and just rest in Jesus.  His grace is sufficient for right now and always.

Thanks-living

My inclination for writing has diminished in the past few weeks as the priorities of life have become more complicated, but I would feel foolish if I did not stop to acknowledge the opportunity we have had to celebrate Thanksgiving.  The emphasis on shopping, Black Friday, and stores that did not even close on Thanksgiving Day have saddened me, as it seems the theme is more on "getting" than "giving".  Yet, an even more important thought has enveloped me today.  Our church website used the term "thanks-living", and I believe that idea is even more important than celebrating thanks on just one day of the year.  No matter our situation, we can always find something for which to be thankful.  We will even make ourselves feel better when we count our blessings.

"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving." Psalms 95:2

It's as simple (and important) as that!

My Way

Frank Sinatra famously sung "I did it my way", but he wasn't the only one who lived that way.  Even though I know better, I find myself asking God for help or wisdom only after I've started messing things up by myself.  Although I'd more likely describe myself as humble rather than proud, I realize that it must be pride to act like my way is better than God's way.  The result is not pretty.

Oh Lord, I fail so easily, but You never do.  Forgive me please, and make me a vessel of your beauty, strength, and usefulness.

Simple Pleasures

The challenges of my days lately have served only to make me appreciate what I have more.  A few days have ended with so much more fatigue than I care to endure; I have a very comfortable bed, pillows, and blankets that take away any complaint I might register.  The weather is getting so much colder; I don't appreciate that, but I have plenty of warm clothes, and a house that I can heat to a comfort zone.  I've gotten hungry a few times; I have many choices of food in my kitchen, a refrigerator to keep things cold and fresh, and a stove, microwave, and toaster oven plus a variety of appliances to help prepare food.  I have dirty dishes every day, but I can wash them easily.  That it, usually I can wash them easily.  We have had a leaky pipe, on a week-end when replacement parts were not available, so we've had to turn off the main water supply.  All the blessings in my life make it impossible for me to grumble about that.  Also, now I can say, I don't have to wash dishes!

Somewhere I heard that it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown.  Remember then, to smile is taking the easy way out!

True Values

To most of our country, today is a much-loved holiday, Halloween.  It has never meant much to me, at least nothing good, and it means even less this year.  My value is in a different occasion.  You see, tomorrow is the day another group of our military men and women, United States Marines, fly to Afghanistan, and my son is one of them.  There is nothing a mother can do to change that.

This mother intends to spend much time in prayer.  The only problem I find is that I don't know what to pray.  I want my boy to be safe, but I want all our troops to be safe.  Safe is not a condition of war.  Do I want my son to come home unharmed, yet another mother's son to die or return with a missing limb, or a damaged mind?  Never!  Yet, how do I pray?

I'm so thankful that I have a copy of God's word.  In fact, I have many copies in my home, and some don't get used.  I used one tonight, however, and found an answer.

In Romans 8:26, I read these words: ". . . the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

Tonight I do indeed feel the weakness of my own body and spirit.  But there is help; I'll take it.

KINGDOM COMMITMENT

I've been continuing to read in Charles Swindoll's book, Livng Above the Level of Mediocrity.  Living an exceptional life seems to me to be an awesome goal, but doesn't seem obtainable to the average person, like me.  Yet, Swindoll makes the point that the main requirement is to make a choice.  It is true that just trying won't make it.  That is why he speaks of the Kingdom, the Kingdom of God.  When a king sets the standards for a life, and offers his full-time help as well, there is a possibility for the average to become above average.  Swindoll talks about the average person wanting to fit in to a crowd, or a family, or a particular group, as if fitting in were something worth attaining, and Swindoll says it is not.  If you fit in, you are not living an exceptional life, but are settling for mediocrity.  I don't know yet how much of this concept is sinking in, for me to make a change in my life, but I can say that it is interesting and intriguing.   Since I have never felt that I particularly fit in to any group, and I've been told often that I am not living up to my potential, I think it is time to take a serious look at this "above mediocrity" concept and see how I can adapt my life to fit in to the  "above average".  If we were evaluating a meal, or an article of clothing, or a painting, and judged it to be mediocre, we probably wouldn't want it.  Thus, why do we settle for a mediocre life?  I'm going to be thinking about that this week.  Join me if you will.

Above Mediocrity

My son, the U.S. Marine Captain, spent a few hours with me last week; it still amazes me how he can be my son, once my baby. The discipline and call to excellence that he has gone through in the military has chiseled his body and his character. 

Was it a coincidence that just a few days after he was here, I picked up a copy of the book by Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity?  In his introduction, Swindoll referred to his years in the Marine Corp, specifically boot camp where he was quickly convinced of the need for the severe discipline and difficult training.  He said, "The rigors of warfare would blow us away unless our minds and bodies were tough enough to withstand the demands made upon us."

My mind jumped quickly to a Bible passage which speaks of spiritual warfare.  "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood . . ."

Am I, are you strong in the Lord?  Are we ready for whatever battle we come upon?  A life of mediocrity will likely lose battles as often as win.  This is a challenge to me, and perhaps to you also.  Are you ready to live above the level of mediocrity?