Struck Down..... But Not Destroyed

 (Originally written in July 2008, during the hardest season of life I had ever faced up until that time)

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' 

made his light shine in our hearts 

to give us the light 

of the knowledge of God’s glory 

displayed in the face of Christ.

  But we have this treasure in jars of clay 

to show that this all-surpassing power 

is from God and not from us. 

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; 

perplexed, but not in despair; 

persecuted, but not abandoned; 

struck down, but not destroyed. 

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, 

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 

For we who are alive are always being given over to death 

for Jesus’ sake, so that his life 

may also be revealed in our mortal body."

2 Corinthians 4:6-11

The Lord wants to be glorified in His children's everyday lives.

Many times throughout our lives we encounter hardships and difficulties of all kinds.
There's nothing we can do to change this... we live in a dying, hurting world.
But we can decide how we will respond when trouble hits.

We can let Jesus be magnified through our response, or we can dishonor Him by succumbing to our trials; not letting Him prove His power through us.

To succumb means
to submit to an overpowering force or yield
to an overwhelming desire;
give up or give in. 

Does this honor and glorify and magnify Jesus??

Our Lord is merciful, He doesn't heap trials on us just because He can or wants to; He allows different trails and hardships into our lives for very specific reasons and purposes. We are told to consider it PURE JOY when we face trials (James 1:2). Why?

"Because you know that the testing of your faith developes perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." 

The trials God allows are for our good. He wants to make us mature and complete, not lacking anything! The child of God who says "God doesn't care about me." while going through a trial (or at all!) knows so very little. What an utterly backward thing to say- especially while in the midst of the fire! Does this person not know -does He not understand- that the fire he faces is proof that God cares about Him? Can he not see that God cares so much about him that He is willing to do whatever it takes to make him mature and complete, so that he won't lack anything as a child of God?

Rather, the child of God who is faced with a trial should lift up His hands and praise the Lord with all his being that God has not given up on him and is so wonderfully concerned with working in him until he is made complete.

Complete. Is this not what we all, as His children, desire-
to be made complete?

One morning the truth of all this finally struck home as I considered what happens when I punch my bread dough down after it has risen for an hour. Doesn't this ruin my dough? Why punch it down? Was all that rising time and effort wasted? Absolutely not!

In my eagerness to understand exactly WHY I must punch down my bread dough, and what exactly this does to make my bread better, I did some research (good ol' Google!), and this is what I found:

1) Punching down the dough after it has risen expels some of the carbon dioxide and redistributes the yeast cells evenly throughout the dough for a new source of food. Too much carbon dioxide chokes the yeast, so deflating the dough is actually good for it.

2) When the dough is deflated, the temperature is equalized throughout the dough, so that when it is shaped, the dough can rise evenly.

3) When punched, the gluten in the dough is allowed to relax, making the dough easier to shape in the next step.

4) Finally, punching down the risen dough divides the air pockets, making them smaller and more numerous, which ultimately contributes to the fine texture of the bread.

(a special thank you to all those patient readers who bore with me through that brief overview of bread dough. Ahem.)

So, from what I discovered, bread dough needs not only to rise, but it also needs to be punched back down in order for it to turn out well.

So that it will be complete, not lacking anything.

It is the same way for us in our trials. We NEED to be 'struck down' every once in a while. It is part of the process. This is how we are made complete. But we must not forget the promise that is found directly after the words 'struck down' in 2 Corinthians 4:9 ...

"...but not destroyed."!!!

Praise the Lord! Yes, He brings us low, but it is in love and He does not let it destroy us. He does not give us more than we are able to bear. "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103:13-14). He knows just how much fire we can handle, and when we learn the lessons He has for us through that fire, then He will remove it for a while. Like silver, He is refining us.

But praise God that He never stops working in us- He never gives up on any of us, even the most stubborn, struggling, and resistant of His children.

I will close with this last little story...

The Silversmith
 Some time ago a few ladies met to study the Scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: 
"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
One lady decided to visit a silversmith and report to the others what he said about the subject. She went accordingly and, without telling him the reason for her visit, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes ma'am," replied the silversmith, "I must sit and watch the furnace constantly, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured." God sees it necessary to put His children into the furnace; but His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "How do you know when the process is complete?"

"That's quite simple," replied the silversmith.  
"When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is complete."
 ~ Unknown

So let us praise the Lord when we go through trials and hardships. Let us love Him even more through the hardest and most intense times. Let us sing praises to Him while we suffer. Let us remember that He feels our pain and holds all of our tears... He is the one who walks beside us and holds our hands through it all. He is our Shepherd- let's let Him do the leading, and remember that our part is simply to follow and trust completely. Let us bring glory and honor to His precious name as we walk through the fire.

Let the power of the Lord be the message 

that is shouted to the world by the megaphone of our trials...

 

      ...and may He be magnified in His children as He makes us perfect, mature and complete.

Trusting, Thankfulness .....and Teacups

(Originally written in March 2008)

Lately I have been learning acceptance with joy. 

Acceptance is not the hard part- it's the 'with joy' part that I sometimes find difficult to put into practice. 
It always sounds so much easier than it really is.

But, you know- it's been getting easier.

Praise God!

I have been remembering all day an analogy that a friend of mine used a few months ago.

She reminded us, by holding up a teacup, that God has poured us a cup for every day. He poured in it just what He wants us to have that day.

Not too little, not too much.

   Not too sweet, not too bitter.

It is just exactly what He wants for us that day. My job is to drink it all. 

God wants us to not only drink the cup He has for us each day, but drink it all. It's not enough just to taste it, and then when I decide I don't want it anymore, leave it be. 

My job is to accept everything He brings my way with joy, knowing that if He chose it for me it is best.

It is not my choice what I must drink every day, it is His. 

It is my choice, however, how I choose to drink it.

Even when it's bitter, or hard, or humiliating, or frustrating, or painful.... God poured it in my cup, I get to drink it with a smile and "in everything give thanks" (1 Thes. 5:18).

Praise the Lord that He is a kind and loving Father, and He always makes sure that there is plenty of joy and blessings sprinkled throughout our days, too. Sometimes we don't see them because our eyes are on ourselves- but they are always there.

He loves us so much more than we can fathom.

So I've been thinking a lot about teacups today.

 

  With thankfulness everything is good.

I am so thankful that I can trust the Lord to know just exactly what I need when I need it.

I am so thankful that He fills my cup to overflowing with His grace to handle everything that comes my way every single day.

Giving of Thanks...

Oh, it's such a yummy day! Filled to the brim with sweet gifts, ready for us to drink down with thankfulness.

 

Little gifts are everywhere.... 

Are you looking for them today?

Let me share a few of my recent gifts with with you to whet your appetite....

...liquid love...

...fully enjoying every drop of the present...

...floating marshmallows...

...happy smile (can't you just see him about to break into a wide grin?!)...

...cozy little felt scarves tied tightly around the cocoa mug...

...Catchlights in her eyes...

...licking lips, a sign of enjoyment...

...God loves a cheerful giver!...

...when your cup runneth over... laugh about it!

Are our eyes open?

Look! See the gifts falling like leaves... blanketing our days with goodness and mercy.

Are we remembering to thank the Giver today for the quiet, life-giving gifts He bestows?

Lots of leaves + trampoline = tons of fun!

We call it... ULTIMATE LEAF JUMPING!

Can't help but laugh out loud!

Brothers. Thank you, Father, for brothers.

Squinting eyes . . . him, all buried in crunchy leaves. . .  :)

. . .  bare little toes . . .

 And yes, It is our traditional season of thankfulness but let's not confine thankfulness to a season. Let's make every day Thanksgiving, by choosing thanksliving.

I am asking Father this morning to help me keep my eyes open today for opportunities to be thankful, and for grace to take this day and drink down every drop with thankfulness.

"Lord, You have assigned my portion and my cup; 

You have made my lot secure."  

Psalm 16:5

The Roses

Originally written in April 2008, this story allegorically depicts my heart's desire to see each one of brothers and sisters in Christ choosing to live in patience and purity as we wait for Father to bring us our soul-mates. He does make all things beautiful in His time... but will we choose to patiently wait as He does the beautifying???

 

There was once a father who had three sons.

To each of his sons the father gave a small rosebush which he helped them plant by their windows.

"Be patient," the father told his children "pray that your plant grows strong, care for them tenderly; and one day you will be rewarded for your waiting."

The children each purposed in their hearts to watch and wait, excited at the prospect of a reward.

The seasons passed and the plants grew.

Springtime finally came 'round and the the boys watched their rosebushes in eager expectation.

One morning the youngest of the three boys threw open his window and laid eyes on a tiny rosebud peeking out from under the leaves of his rosebush. Exclaiming in delight, the child reached down and plucked off the bud. He held it up triumphantly in his hands and cried, "Look! Oh, come and see! I waited patiently and now I have my reward! I have a rosebud now!"

The other two boys came running to see the treasure that their brother held. Seeing the new bud, they shook their heads. "Ah," said the second child "you were not patient enough. Had you waited longer you would've had an even greater treasure than you have now." 

The eldest son nodded in agreement. "You should have let it grow and mature." he said sadly "Now all you will ever see of it's beauty is what you see now."

The two older brothers left the youngest son feeling quite disappointed that he had acted in such haste only a short while before. Indeed, he had received his reward, but he would never see the full beauty or enjoy the fragrance that the rose was meant to have.

He would have to be satisfied with the tiny and incomplete rosebud.

Several days passed. 

One morning, bright and early, the second child hurried outside to see if his rosebush had changed overnight. Much to his surprise and delight, he saw a rosebud, reaching up toward the sunlight. "I will not be like my brother," the child decided quickly "I will keep waiting patiently and see my rosebud grow."

He skipped away to play.

A few hours later he returned to gaze at his rosebud. His smile faded when he saw that there was still no visible change. Looking up to heaven, he asked God to make his rose grow big and strong. The child asked God for the rose to grow quickly because he was eager to pick it and have it as his own. When he finished his prayer the child felt happy once again, so he left his rosebud and went inside the house. 

After hardly an hour had passed, the child returned to his rosebush again, expecting to find there a fully-formed rose waiting for him. 

Letting out a little cry, he knelt down beside his bush and observed the rose from every angle.

No change.

Did he not ask God to make it grow, and grow quickly?

Suddenly he had an idea. Maybe his rose needed a little help from him. Carefully, he reached out and touched the rosebud's soft petals. Taking hold of the petals between his fingers, the child began pulling them apart, trying to unfold the rose with his own hands.

But, alas! A rose can only be unfolded by the hands of God.

It didn't take long for the poor child to realize that he had completely ruined his rosebud.

Letting the petals fall to the ground, he let out a sob. Never would he get a chance to even enjoy his rose.

He had done worse than the first child; now he had nothing at all.

Meanwhile, the eldest son watched his rosebush carefully. On it, too, had appeared a rosebud. Every day the child prayed that his rosebush would grow strong and healthy in order to nourish his one and only little rose. He prayed for sunshine, he prayed for rain. When the storms came during the night, the child would awake and go to his window. As he watched the raindrops fall heavily on his rosebush, the child asked God that his rose would not be damaged but rather grow stronger and healthier as the result of the storms. 

Days turned into weeks, and the young but wise child continued to wait patiently. 

His rose began to unfold, slowly- yes- but surely. 

Every day the child thanked God for his rose and for the growth he could see in it. He continued to pray that it would grow until it reached maturity. 

He prayed and he waited, but it was not always easy. There were times when he wanted so badly take it away from its bush.

"How can it get any better than it already is?" the other children would ask, trying to persuade him to pick the growing rosebud.

But the child stood firm. He learned to be patient, and in time he was rewarded.

One morning in mid-Summer the eldest child opened his window and was greeted by a beautiful fragrance. He looked down to see that his rose was no longer a bud. It had finished unfolding its petals during the night and it stood before him now fully opened; radiant; waiting now only to be picked by the child.

The child knew it was now time.

Waiting was over. This was his reward.

He reached down and pulled his rose gently from the bush- his very own rose.

It seemed to be smiling as he held it in his hands.

Throwing his head back, the child laughed.

It was worth it to wait.

The day He brought her right across my path

I tend to get wrapped up and consumed with the little things in this life of mine and forget how close I live to eternity.

I am so thankful for Father's reminders.

Because it really is just a breath away. 

Or, as David says, "... there is only a step between me and death."

Eternity.

I know they say that all the time, but do we really believe it?

Like... really?

I pulled out of the driveway on a recent Friday afternoon, all wrapped up in my self and consumed with some things that really didn't matter in the light of eternity.

My attitude? It stunk.

I was flustered because my hair was greasy and I didn't have time to wash it before I left. I was letting my to-do list pressure me, and worried about the things I left undone in my hurry to get into town. 

All very petty things. Very. Very. Petty.

But the Holy Spirit is so faithful to help us in our weakness... and He began working on me about my heart. As I drove I realized I was wrong and asked for His forgiveness.

I came up over the hill, passed highway W on the left, and after rounding the bend I saw a red truck coming towards me in the opposite lane. Suddenly the driver swerved across the double yellow lines. For a split-second I watched and expected the truck to swerve back into its own lane (like they always do)... but it didn't. It swerved more. 

I jerked the wheel to the right just as the truck was on me -my right tires in the grass off the road-

and heard a crash.

I gasped loud, but my hands stayed firmly on the steering wheel and my car moved smoothly right back into my lane. (That, I'm convinced, was God driving because I'm certain I would have lost control at that point). Little bits of glass had showered my dashboard and my shirt.
I felt dust in my eye.

I looked out my open window to see my rear-view mirror slammed into the side of the car a few inches from me- the mirror itself was lying (a bit shattered) on the floor in front of the passenger seat.

I pulled in the next driveway to survey the damage, and found that the mirror was the only thing hit. I was somewhat baffled (And yes, I guess I should admit; I was a little disappointed. I mean, really? That's IT?? I was expecting to see more than that! Sorry people, but I do love adventure...).

A minute later the red truck pulled in behind me. The driver had turned around and come back to see if I was okay. She apologized over and over, explaining that her little dog had got in between her feet and the pedals so she had reached down while driving to pull it out of the way. That's when she swerved.

I saw a crack in her headlight.

Her HEADLiGHT?!

Her headlight had collided with my little mirror?! You guys, seriously. This mirror doesn't stick out into the road that far. It's a tiny mirror!

There wasn't even the slightest scratch (nothing, that is, that hadn't already been there) anywhere else down the side of either vehicle. Her headlight and my mirror were the only two things that made contact.

Her hair was pink, she smelled of smoke. Within the first five minutes I learn that her husband left her recently for someone else and her dog had been hit by a car that very afternoon.

Her life reflected my mirror.

A bit shattered.

I placed my hand on her arm while she still sat in the driver's seat and I prayed with her. 

Jesus? Will you reach down and capture this shattered soul...?

Tears came to her eyes.

For the next half-hour as we waited for the officer to show up, she shared her life with me.

She has cancer. She was in a wreck twenty-two years ago that sent her best friend into eternity. Her dad just passed away last year. Into eternity....

Eternity.

Oh, I just kept thinking about eternity.

After the sun had sunk lower on the horizon...

After a full report had been written up for insurance purposes...

After the she honked and waved and pulled back between the lines...

After the officer and his lights faded away...

After I was back on my way into town again...

I just couldn't shake the thought.

I guess when someone's headlight passes a few inches from your face at break-neck speed you can't help but wonder about eternity- even for a bit.

I know I am ready for eternity. His life is in me and it's eternal. 

But is she ready for eternity?

Could that be why Father brought her -quite literally- across my path?

Has she found the Healer for her shattered heart? Has she discovered that the way to live is to die?

{Will you pray with me for her?}

 

"All of us must die eventually.
Our lives are like water
spilled out on the ground,
which cannot be gathered up again.
But God does not just sweep life away;
instead, he devises ways to bring us back
when we have been separated from him."
2 Samuel 14:14

We have such a merciful Father! He has made a way to bring us back. He came to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. But how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?

I am absolutely convinced now that Father brought her into my life that day for that very reason. So that I could share with her the hope I have in me.

As I drove through the hills and watched the sun set once again over this yet-revolving earth, I thought about the things that had been consuming my thoughts before I saw that red truck cross the yellow lines. Was any of it really worth being consumed with? 

In the light of eternity, do any of these little things really matter??

Last week a dear friend texted me and asked me to pray for her aunt who just got a bad report about the cancer she is battling.

She tells me her aunt lives each day "as if it was her last"...

And I wonder if that is not what we should all be doing.

"Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. 

What is your life? 

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." 

James 4:14

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Life as I know it now is not guaranteed. 

Am I living each day unto the glory of God?

Am I living each moment filled with thankfulness to a good Father for good gifts?

Am I loving each person in my life unconditionally- as if today is our one last together?

Are the things I'm doing, saying, being, and wanting really worth doing, saying, being, wanting?

Am I walking worthy of the calling with which I was called?

Am I choosing to die daily so that Jesus can live beautifully and powerfully within me?

Am I shining like a star in the sky in this warped and crooked generation- holding out His hope and His truth to those whose paths cross my own?

Am I living in the light of eternity?

Are you?

Taking it personally

Traveling out west a few weeks ago, we stopped off in Anadarko to pick up my brother and for a quick night's rest at the ranch. After having carted our bags and pillows upstairs to the guest bedroom and thanking our hosts for their graciousness, I slipped down the dark hallway and into the bathroom to clean up and brush my teeth before bed.
I noticed some neon-colored index cards taped to the bathroom mirror containing inspiring quotes.

I smiled.

Half-consciously as I brushed my teeth I wondered which child might have written the quotes ...and why.
Who were they meant to encourage? Whose mind were they meant to refresh? I pictured a young follower of Jesus, passionately attempting to renew her mind daily. Taping truth before her eyes.

But I didn't think much more about the words,

(assuming them for someone else . . . simple as they were)

until, wash rag in hand, they quite suddenly slapped me in the face . . . and I took it personally.

"God has a plan. Trust Him!"

Who's to say this wasn't written for me???

Me, Lord? But I already know that.

That simple little phrase is there to remind someone else, right?

God, that's probably there for someone who has a hard time remembering the simple fact that You have a plan. Someone who is still learning to trust.

Not me. I already . . . . . . . .

Or do I?
Do I really already know that?

Is that what I live. . . in the real and hard and crazy times?
Or does it just agree with my intellect . . . when life feels good and I feel like I'm making great headway?

Does my everyday life say "God has a plan. Trust Him!" . . . or are these words confined only to my lips and my head?

Realizing that humility chooses to learn every chance it gets and never boasts too quickly of mastery, I decided that maybe . . .

. . . maybe . . .

Maybe this quote on the little orange card really was for me. To take with me in my heart as I travel this road of life, reminding me that I'm never too educated to simply trust . . .   and I should never be so proud that I assume little reminders are meant for someone else.

How often do I miss opportunities to learn or be more conformed into the image of Jesus simply because I assume it's for someone else?

The scripture on the wall . . .
The quote on the church sign . . .
The spiritual analogy in the situation that just happened . . .
The sermon I just heard . . .
The written reminder . . .

Could it be pride in me that thinks these are there for someone else?
I am willing to admit that.
Could it be that I need to humble myself and choose to take more things personally?
I am willing to do that.

I want to be willing and open to learning all that Father wants me to learn.
I want to quit pointing fingers and start taking things personally.

Having a Messy Morning?

"In everything give thanks..." includes messy mornings when the waffle irons (both) just won't pull thru and batter leaks all over the counter. . . 

And the batter that does stay in the irons STiCKS in the irons and we end up with a pile of flop. . . 

. . . So we pull out the griddle to try for pancakes instead, but then those stick bad and squish into flop also.

Ah, yes; these kinds of mornings are definitely included.

And when we lose one of the eight organic eggs (preciousness around here) down the drain due to a miscalculation on behalf of a beginner chef. . .

and orange juice splashes onto the countertop and dribbles down the cabinets. . .

and little Lou has a cough that won't go away. . .

and everyone has to be extra quiet so Mom can get a little more rest, because she was up half the night. . .

and this was supposed to be a quick and easy deal (that's why we made the batter the night before). . .

. . . this is still the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. 

This morning.

"With thankfulness everything is good."


A friend used to repeat those words to me often, and they've been bouncing off the walls of my mind all morning. I believed it then when I first heard it- but only as words. Only recently have I been able to see how true these words really are.

Everything.

Everything becomes good and sweet when we pour thankfulness over it;

100% Pure Thankfulness to a good Father for good gifts.

When we change our perspective and realize that this- whatever we are facing- is the will of God for us right now, and He has a good purpose in it for us. When in everything we give thanks, what was messy (in our perspective) changes into something good.

Little troopers that they are, the kids took the flop onto their plates this messy morning, poured sweet syrup over it, and ate it all up eagerly. They trusted me to feed them something edible this morning, and when they tasted it they found out that it was good. In the same way, when I trust God to give me no more than I can handle and no less than I need -and thank Him for it- I find out that what He gives me is good.

"I don't think we should call it flop," Willie said, bringing his syrupy plate back for a refill. "It's really good! Thanks!"

He's right, I thought. It's good. And though it looked like a messy flop from far away, when he tasted it with thankfulness he found it to be good. I could learn something valuable from that thought right there. 

Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man that trusts in Him!

God gives me countless opportunities every day to take the things He gives me, pour thankfulness over it and eat it with joy. Trusting Him to provide for me, knowing and acknowledging that He is a good Father... always good.

 

{Always good!} 

Having a messy morning? You might try changing your perspective.... and maybe pouring a big helping of thankfulness over your flop, and looking for His goodness in the mess.

('Cause trust Him- it's there.)