December 21, 2018

Choose Happy

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. – Psalm 1:1-2

What does it mean to be blessed? We see that word in the Bible again and again, depending on your Bible translation. It’s a good word. Religious. But what does it mean for us?

Various dictionaries use words such as consecrate or holy, sacred or bringing good fortune. All those things are wonderful things and we long to be worthy. We want to be blessed in sorrow and pain (as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount) just as we want to be blessed in mercy and peace.

But what about happiness? We can be stoic and tell ourselves to remain strong in the Lord as we suffer. We can bear our sorrows and tell ourselves we are blessed to walk with Christ during a difficult time. But do we ever have a chance to be happy? Does God want that for us?

Of course, He does! God didn’t create us to suffer through life. Sure, we’re going to experience pain and heartache but it’s doesn’t have to consume us. It doesn’t have to define who we are.

In her latest book, Lisa Harper digs back into the original Hebrew to discover what this psalm really says. Did you know that the Hebrew word used for blessed is asre, which can be translated into with “happy” or “blessed”?

Go back and reread the Psalm 1:1-2. Now substitute the word “happy” for the word “blessed.” Are you happy when you walk in the ways of the LORD? Are you happy when you meditate on His Word?

Let’s go back to the dictionary. What does “happy” mean? Contentment, pleasure, favored by luck or fortune, delighted, pleased, joyful. Do you associate those things with external enticements, such as new stuff, job, food? Or do you think about happy when it comes to God? That’s a question Lisa posed in her book, The Sacrament of Happy.

Are you happy that next week we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ? Or are you feeling the stress of preparations and gifts and company?

Are you happy that God loves you and me enough to send His Only Son into a broken world to save it? Or are you so focused on your present circumstances that you’ve missed the greatest gift ever given?

Are you happy to fill your heart with songs of joy and praise for the Messiah? Or are you so caught up in the trappings the world insists on that you miss the reason we celebrate Christmas?

Each of us has a choice to make: Are we going to choose to be happy with what’s truly important or are we going to choose stress and disappointment as we follow the world?

I choose happy. What about you?

January 21, 2016

God Cares for Caregivers

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. -- Philippians 4:19

I have several dear friends who are fulltime caregivers. It is a challenging task in the best of circumstances. Coping with a crisis -- whether it is a change in medications or attitude -- sends the caregivers life into turmoil. Again.

One woman spoke of how much she loves her son. I already knew that. She’s given her life to caring for him. He is autistic. An adult who will never live on his own. The doctor wants to slowly decrease one specific medication. It sounds easy. Not really. He’s been following her around for almost two weeks, constantly repeating himself and too anxious to let her out of his sight for very long.

Her blood pressure is up. Her doctor is concerned. What is she to do? She can’t abandon her child. She is a widow with no one who can manage her son for any length of time.

Another friend cares for his wife who has cancer again. A new chemo pill has left her with nausea and diarrhea. It has also helped bring on a deep depression. He does all he can but every day is a challenge as he tries to get her to eat and to get out of bed and move around. The stress is awful for him. He feels powerless to help the wife he adores.

God will meet their needs. He will strengthen them, guide them, comfort them. God understands what they need. He will carry them when they don’t believe they have the strength to last another day.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. -- Philippians 4:13

Some days you just need someone to understand how hard it can be. God does understand. Sometimes you just need someone to really see you. God sees you. And some days you just want to hand it all over to some one else. God is strong enough to carry it. And you. And your loved one. Give it to Him and find rest.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Jesus’ Light Shines In The Details

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. -- 1 Peter 2:9

Sometimes I really get in a tizzy. There’s just no other way to describe it. Things aren’t going as I planned, are likely careening out of control, and I’m a mess.

Deep breath, I tell myself. My mind races to quote Scripture to myself in the midst of frantic thoughts of doomsday. Not THE doomsday, you understand. Nothing that serious. Just my panicked thoughts of what night happen because my plans have gone awry.

It’s been that kind of year. I make plans and other people’s lives change my plans. It’s just how it is. Most of the time I laugh it off. There’s no point in getting upset about something that can’t be helped and, really, I’m blessed and I know it.

And then there are those days. I’m tired. Burnt out. Crabby. I just don’t feel like dealing with the issues other people are throwing at me. But I have to deal with them anyway.

That leaves me with a choice: Do I show them how put out I feel or do I show them that even in irritating circumstances Jesus’ light still shines within me? Because how we react when things aren’t going the way we want is how people truly see Jesus in our lives.

We don’t just belong to Him when things are going great. And we don’t just belong to Him when we’re sick or facing heartache or some other devastating trouble. We’re His in the details of our lives and that’s where others see Him best.

So in the midst of my tizzy, what are others seeing? A frustrated woman who is upset at the world? Or a woman holding tightly to Jesus while the waves of life knock her around?

And what about you? Surely you didn’t think you’d get a pass on this one. Because we all have meltdowns from time to time. We all tend to forget our manners, forget who we belong to, forget that this moment will pass and that it really isn’t important anyway.

And that’s why I’ve learned to laugh. It isn’t always easy but it helps me keep the little things in perspective. Laughter helps me focus on what matters and how blessed I truly am. I’ve walked that other path and, believe me, these small irritations are nothing much to worry about. I just grab hold of Jesus’ hand knowing He can handle anything that comes my way.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Negativity Destroys; God Builds Up

The enemy pursues me,

he crushes me to the ground;

he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead.

-- Psalm 143:3

I ended the day exhausted. There was no reason. Not really. It was a day like any other. And that was the problem.

Why do some people need to put you down to build themselves up? Why do people need to control your every move to feel powerful themselves? And why does every plan I seem to make end up discarded because someone else has made a decision that impacts on me?

Stress is a killer. All the medical experts tell you that. Stress must also zap a person’s energy. Because it is just exhausting to constantly face a barrage of negativity by the people around you.

And before the choir begins telling me to just find new friends, let me clarify that I’m not talking about friends. I could deal with that because, well, I’d choose to not be around them. But some people you must be around, even when they seem determined to destroy you.

Oh, they wouldn’t say that. They’d make excuses for themselves. They’d blame me. They would bluster and say I’m overreacting. And then they’d talk about the negativity of others and how much it grates on their nerves without ever thinking of looking in the mirror.

Some days, most days really, I try to keep a sense of humor about it. Really, it shouldn’t take an entire morning to go to the grocery store but in my world it does. People who are supposed to care about me shouldn’t be jealous and petty when I have an opportunity to work. Snide comments aren’t becoming and remind me that sometimes two-year-olds live in adult bodies.

Do you have someone in your life that always puts you down? Are you struggling to get along with someone who would destroy you if they had the chance? Then you know what I’m facing. And you know what King David faced when he wrote this psalm.

It’s hard to stay upbeat and do what needs to be done when you are criticized at every corner. It is difficult to believe in yourself when others find sport in kicking you down.

But there is One who is always in your corner. God is your biggest cheerleader. He loves you unconditionally. He claims you as His own. He builds you up and defends you. He hears your silent tears and He cares. Turn to God and let Him hold you close and soothe your wounds.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Impossible Is Possible With God

“I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” -- Jeremiah 32:27

Some days are just overwhelming. You’ve heard that old cliché about not knowing whether to laugh or cry. I had one of those days last week and it just about did me in.

Juggling used to be something I was really good at. But somehow juggling business things and personal things are two separate things all together. Probably because one is just dollars and cents and another day at the office. The other is lives and health and people who matter to me.

At times I’m afraid that the stress of it all will draw me toward darkness, even as I cling to the light. How can anyone do it all? How can anyone be all things to all people at all times? The answer is: they can’t. But God can.

The problem comes when I start trying to do it all by myself. Maybe you’ve been there before. The tasks all seem so simple that I don’t want to bother God. And the tasks are simple. But simple task on top of simple task on top of simple task adds up to something that appears overwhelming. And then I’ve got to bother God anyway because I just can’t do it by myself.

I figure He’s up there shaking His mighty head and wondering what took me so long to figure it out. He was there all along, just waiting for me to realize that He cares about the details of my life just as much as the major stuff that happens every now and then.

Other times I can’t see the way. I’m convinced there is no light at the end of the tunnel everyone is telling me about because I just can’t see it happen. I tell myself that there is just no way. How silly? I know better. I do. But still I doubt. I question. I give up without even trying.

Because all I can see is that I can’t do it on my own. I forget about the power behind what I’m called to do. I forget that God has my back. I forget that God will never call me to do something without also giving me and providing me with the power, wisdom and resources to make His will happen.

God can do anything. I know that. I do. He is the God of the universe. The Creator of all things. My LORD. My Savior. My everything. He can do anything. All I’ve got to do is show up.

What has God called you to do today? What have you already given up on without even trying? What has you overwhelmed? Give it to God. Just hand it over and watch what happens. Because there is nothing you can’t do when God has your back.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

God’s Got It Under Control

Give your burdens to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. -- Psalm 55:22

Some days just seem so overwhelming. Everybody wants something. Nobody is satisfied. Financial pressures pound you. What can go wrong does. Need I go on?

Most of life is just stuff that keeps happening. We know that. The laundry never gets completely done because by the time we finish something else is dirty. Same with grocery shopping. It’s one of those tasks that never ends.

Other things aren’t so easy to brush aside. A lingering illness. Financial stress. Job insecurity. Marital discord. Family feuds. These sorts of things rock our very foundation -- unless we are firmly grounded in our LORD.

A dear friend turned down a new job just two months ago because it would have meant a serious pay cut. Now she’s found out she could lose her job to staff cutbacks in May. She’s scared and kicking herself for not taking the other job.

Another woman can give a detailed list of all the jobs she’s applied for. She’s still looking. Her finances are dwindling lower and lower and she’s about to give up hope.

A man struggles with depression as his health fails. He wonders why God brought him this far only to abandon him to an incurable cancer. His wife has gone home and his daughters live far away. He feels so alone.

Sometimes I try to joke that if stress kills, then I’m already dead. Except it isn’t funny. Stress is real and can seem to control us unless we turn it over to God. That sounds a lot easier than it is.

We are taught to take control of our own lives. Except many of us feel we have no control over our days. We are told to toughen up and just deal with whatever is happening. But the endless days make the tough façade harder and harder to hold up.

The good news is that God hears our silent cries. He holds out His arms to life us up and hold us tight. And we can learn to give our cares, our worries, our concerns to Him. One day at a time. Sometimes one moment at a time. Refusing to allow Satan to control our minds.

So tell God you want Him to take over. Give Him everything that seems impossible to fix, to deal with, to accept. Let Him take care of it. God loves you so much. And He is all powerful. Never compare what you can do to what God can do because He can do anything. So relax. God’s got it all under control.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

God Provides Refuge In Trying Times

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. -- Nahum 1:7

Life is what happens while you’re making plans. I’m not sure who said that originally but it sure has proven to be true in my life. It’s almost comical. I make plans and then watch in frustration as life takes over.

Today began like most Sundays. Up early for breakfast and time with God before heading off to early church and Sunday school. My Mother hasn’t been doing well and she and my father stayed home.

I had planned to prepare lunch for them, clean up the kitchen, and then kick back in my recliner to read and relax and do nothing. Totally. Okay. Maybe get caught up with this daily devotional that seems to have lagged since Mother got sick. But nothing else.

What I did was come home, help Mother into the car and head toward the emergency room in a nearby town. And there we stayed for about six hours. The doctors and nurses and other folks were wonderful but the ER was packed with wreck victims, stomach virus ills and strep throat. I tried to be patient and kind, all while I repeatedly lathered my hands with sanitizer.

The good news is that maybe, just maybe, we finally know what’s going on and causing her pain. I’ve asked God for that diagnosis. The down side is that we’ve got other hurdles, such as referrals to a specialist with a long waiting list. But it’s a start and I am grateful.

My Father is a nervous wreck. At 82, he’s ready for a quiet, simple life. He’s got a wife who can’t lift herself from a chair and stand without help. She moans in pain and he can’t fix it. He goes between tears and nervous edginess.

I am in the middle of the two, trying to manage doctors and treatments while caring for him as well. And, did I mention, earning a living in the midst of it all?

I’m not complaining, though it might sound that way. My parents are blessed to have wonderful medical benefits that allow them to get the best of care. I am blessed to have a flexible schedule that allows me to care for them. Those are the blessings.

The downside is the constant stress and mental strain of being a caregiver for people who resent needing one. Few people understand the frustrations and the desperate need for even a few hours free from endless responsibility.

God understands. He is with me. He listens to my complaints and understands. He hears my frustrations and understands. He sees my tears and understands. How grateful and blessed I am to have God, the Creator of the universe, who cares for me during

Monday, March 5, 2012

Make Time To Rest

Then Jesus said, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. -- John 6:31

It feels like I am loosing my mind. I am being pulled in so many different directions. Everybody seems to want something and, frankly, there just isn’t enough of me to go around. You probably know exactly what I mean. Most of us go through this at some point.

I am so thankful that Jesus understands. He tells the apostles to go away with Him and rest for a while. He tells us that too.

It seems difficult to find the time in a day that has no time left. Yet, how can anyone make it through the day without spending time alone with God? Quiet time. Alone time. A time to seek and to hear, to find comfort and strength. Words of wisdom. Words to live by.

Have you ever gone to God too weary and numb to even know what to say? I have. And amazingly He hears everything I can’t seem to say. The Holy Spirit tells Him what I cannot find the words to express.

When did we all get so busy? Has life always been this way? Maybe so. I guess I just kept thinking that one day it would be better. I’d dream about the occasional day off. I’d long for a day when I could sleep in, read fiction and laze in the sun. Dreams for another day, a better day, a day that likely will never come.

Life is always busy and, really, would we have it any other way? Wasn’t it meant to be filled with family and friends, God’s work and earning a living, laughter and nourishment? Aren’t we supposed to fill our moments with life? Of course. Just as we’re also supposed to find time for rest and renewal.

So take a little time for yourself. Find it where you can. One friend had quiet time in her bathroom -- the only place she wouldn’t be interrupted. Another woman found solitude in her walk-in closet. It doesn’t matter because God will meet you where you’re at. Give yourself strength for another day by taking time to rest in the arms of Jesus.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Christ’s Strength Is All We Need

Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. -- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Some days are filled with laughter. My laughter. Because I truly believe if I stopped laughing, I would start crying and never, ever stop. Either that or those guys with the straight-jacket would take me away.

Many people go through seasons where the stress just seems to pile on top of responsibilities that just seem to pile on top of obligations. The juggling act can wear down the strongest among us, of which I am not one.

I do, however, have a special source of strength. Jesus. I just don’t think I could make it without His steady hand through the ongoing storm. I’m not sure how folks who don’t know Him ever survive. I know that I don’t ever want to try.

Sometimes people think that they have no right to be upset or overwhelmed. Life is good. Look around. Everybody is healthy. The bills are paid. There’s a roof over our head and gas in the car’s tank. There’s nothing to complain about. Except maybe the time to enjoy it all.

Because somebody always needs a ride to practice. And the laundry never seems to end. And the boss just added yet another demanding project. Plus there are church commitments and family obligations and, well, you get the picture. Everybody hits this every now and then. There’s just so much to be done and we just can’t do it all alone.

The Apostle Paul had a “thorn in his flesh” that Jesus refused to take away. This man, who, after meeting Jesus, dedicated his life to spreading the gospel, had a problem that Jesus wouldn’t fix. Because if He fixed all our problems, we wouldn’t feel like we needed Him as much as we do.

Christ’s power works best in our weakness. When we rely on His strength, we are strong. When we rely on His wisdom, we follow the right path. When we couldn’t make it through the day without Him, we know who we are and to whom we belong.

Still, I long to be more like Paul. I want to rejoice in the stress that clouds my days. I want to be glad that my weaknesses reflect Christ’s glory to all who might see. And, yes, I want to laugh rather than sink into a mire of depression over things I can neither change nor control.

Some days, some weeks, some seasons of our lives are just hard. It doesn’t have to be for one specific reason. It can just be a accumulation of things. Don’t let those things take away your time with God. Seek His Word. See His guidance. Cry out for His peace. Find joy where

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

God Refocuses Our World

In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. -- Isaiah 33:6

Ever been bounced around like a beach ball? That’s how I feel about now. Too many people, too many responsibilities, and not even enough time to catch my breath. And I’m almost too tired to care.

I know most of you understand exactly what I’m talking about. Life can be so demanding sometimes. Everyone seems to want a piece of you and by the time the day ends there just doesn’t seem to be anything left but scattered pieces of what once was you.

I am so thankful that God understands. And I am so thankful that I can curl up in His lap and rest a while. He is my foundation and He is your foundation too. We can turn to Him when everybody else seems to be turning to us.

Sometimes I just need a healthy dose of wisdom when I’m trying to juggle the needs of everyone, including myself. I need to know what can wait and what has to be done today. I need to learn to delegate and let it go. And I need to smile and find joy in the midst of chaos whirling around me.

I also need knowledge. I need to know how to organize everything and everyone so that nothing and no one gets shortchanged. I feel like a clown juggling too many balls, knowing that sooner or later I’m going to start dropping them. Many of us feel that way these days.

Sometimes the only answer is to sit down in a quiet room and read God’s Word. Or hit your knees and listen for His voice. Yeah. I know. Sometimes quiet is a luxury. I’m reminded of teacher Angela Thomas telling a story about praying in her walk-in closet, her knees on the floor, and her kids climbing on her trying to get her attention. Yeah. Silence is a treasure some days.

But God meets us where we are, whether it’s the carpool line or the commuter train or the wee hours of the morning before anyone else is awake. Whenever we find the time, He’s there. Wherever we show up, He’s there.

He is our foundation. Our stronghold in the storm. Our salvation in the lost world. He readily shares His wisdom and knowledge with us. But we have to ask. And listen. And act on it.

Fatigue. Stress. And an overwhelming sense of inadequacy for the tasks of the day. Those things are common in our increasingly busy world. But we have someone in our corner, cheering us on. We have someone looking out for us. We have someone loving us and caring for us and, well, just being there for us.

Call on God. Let Him calm the stormy weather. Let Him refocus your world so it makes sense again.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Turn To God When You’re Stressed

In the same way, 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. -- Romans 8:26

What do you do when you’re stressing out? Do you yell and take it out on everyone around you? Do you pop a pill? Do you eat? Do you exercise? Do you lie awake all night worrying?

We all have our different ways of coping with stress. And worry. Because worry is such a large part of stress. We just can’t seem to deal with whatever is going on in our lives.

Some of the stuff is awful. Dealing with the death of someone you love. A major illness that threatens everything you know. A child that has taken a wrong path and is headed toward certain destruction.

Some things are minor but they just add up to such a huge burden that it just seems you’ll never make it to the end. Single parents juggling a job, kids, bills, and household chores come immediately to mind. So do couples separated by deployment or caretakers for those who are elderly or sick.

I’ve learned that the best way to calm down is to go somewhere alone and read my Bible. It might only be for five minutes. Sometimes that’s all the time I can grab at that moment. But it calms me. It doesn’t even matter what I’m reading. It’s just that turning to God calms me.

One friend turns to her piano. When she is just so upset that she doesn’t know what to pray, or even how to find the words, she plays out her heart and her frustrations before God. And He hears her and calms His child.

I wonder what would happen if we all turned to God when anxiety takes over. I wonder how our lives would change if we cried out to our Heavenly Father in those moments of stress and worry. I imagine we would all eat less. Get angry less. Showcase our evil tongues less. And we would sleep better knowing that our Creator was taking care of us and those we love.

We are human and we want to handle everything all on our own. But we can’t. There are just too many things we can’t even begin to control. Even those things we think we control, honestly, we don’t. God does.

This doesn’t mean that bad things won’t happen. They do and they will. It’s just part of life in this fallen world. But we don’t have to let those things control us. We can give them to God, along with all our stress and worries.

So next time you’re about to eat a box of chocolate, open your Bible instead. The next time you’re about to lash out at those close to you, open your Bible instead. And the next time you stay awake in the night worrying, get up and open your Bible instead.

God hears. He knows. He cares. Give it to Him and let Him take care of you.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

God's In Charge

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps."

-- Jeremiah 10:23

I've been busily trying to organize my life and the lives of those around me. Not in a bad way. In fact, in a good way. I want to protect those I care about from harm. I want to do what is best for them. I try to keep feelings from being hurt. I bite my tongue again and again. Then, sometimes, I can't hold it in any longer. But that's another story.

Tension headaches have become a daily part of my life. At least, they are, when I'm here trying to handle everything. No one is happy. I am the "bad cop." I am the one who tries to hold it all together, shoulder all the blame, and take care of everyone's needs. It's just too much. I don't mean to whine but I am only one person.

I have officially turned it all over to God. I'm done. I can't do it anymore. It's all beyond me. I can't protect everyone and keep them safe. I can't do everything for everyone and earn a living at the same time. Shocking, isn't it? I actually have to earn a living. Some people don't understand that and I need to let them handle that knowledge and the problem they have with it for themselves.

I don't know what is best to keep everyone safe and healthy. I don't know. But God does. I want Him to handle it however He sees fit. I don't want the responsibility. I just don't. I'm in over my head and drowning quickly. God offered me a life preserver and I'm holding on to it with everything I've got.

My life doesn't belong to me. I know that. But it also doesn't belong to those who take and take and take. My life belongs to God. My purpose is to do His will and to glorify Him with my life. Sometimes that means taking on things I'm not equipped to handle -- like now. But He did promise never to leave me in this place alone. He promised to walk with me. He promised He'd never leave me to handle it on my own. So I'm handing it over. Lock, stock and headache. From now on, God's in charge. I'm just doing His will. I suggest everyone else do the same.

Friday, August 20, 2010

God Helps With All Things

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." -- Psalm 62:5

Life is great! Really. It is. No major worries or complaints. Lots and lots of blessings. I couldn't be happier. I'm sure of it. No problems.

So why am I so stressed out? It's called the abundance trials mixed with a huge dose of guilt. Because I really do feel guilty about being so stressed when things are going so well. Know what I mean?

The down side of abundance is that time becomes scarcer and scarcer. Everybody seems to want something -- right now. It doesn't matter if it's help with a project, preparing for company, a new vehicle or a special piece of furniture. I love doing it all. I'm grateful for the work. Last year I was stressed at the opposite end of the spectrum with no work and the financial pressures that comes with that. I am so, so thankful for this abundance.

So I end up trying to deal with all the hands reaching for me all by myself. I don't want to take it to God. I don't want Him to hear me whining. What if He takes all these blessings away? That is such a scary thought. I am grateful to Him for all He's done for me. He has answered my prayers. It's just that this juggling act is tiring and the well is starting to run a little dry.

Sounds silly, doesn't it? I can almost hear Him saying, "Child, child," as He opens His arms to me. God never intended for me to manage it all by myself. What made me think He did? He's just been patiently waiting for me to ask for His help. It's certainly not like I was hiding anything from Him. He knew my stress level was increasing at a rapid pace.

Isn't that like us so much of the time? We want to do it all by ourselves, whether it's managing a crisis or an abundance. Maybe more so with an abundance. We want to believe the abundance should be something we can manage without bothering God. Except we're never a bother to Him. Never.

I feel His peace settle over me as a write these words. My soul is at rest and my strength starts to return. I feel His Presence as He takes my hand and shows me how to navigate this abundance He has so graciously sent my way.