Big Stuff from Short Stuff

I had a lesson in faith today at church. Actually, there were several distinct things. I will just briefly share one. Perhaps, more later.

Lydia is a very petite little girl. I think that she might be 5 or so. Yes, 5-year-olds come in small packages. But even for a 5-year-old, she is tiny with big eyes and long blond hair.

God was speaking to me in several ways this morning. In the end, the tears won out. As I was trying to pull myself together, Lydia walked up to me. (I know her but not well.) When I bent down, she said, "I need you to pray for me. I've got a really bad cough. I don't feel good."

So, I wrapped my arms around her and prayed that the Good Doctor would come and take away her cough, make her feel better, and give her good rest. I promised on would pray for her this week.

I've been very introspective lately, God is working on me in some areas. But God used Lydia to remind me that it's okay to ask for prayers and to do so totally anticipating an answer.

Will you pray for me? I'm hearing God in many ways right now. Some ways are quite difficult, but I am trying to listen and respond appropriately. Pray that I will be quick to listen and obey the promptings I hear.

The Edge

So, were you wondering if I'd fallen off the edge of the universe? Nope. I'm still kicking but I am on the edge of exhaustion. I think it is a number of things.

• I'm working two jobs. This isn't new, but with the holiday season it got crazy. Because people are spending their gift cards, we're still pretty busy.
• I got a bit of a promotion at my other job, so I'm trying to learn my new role. It's a management thing and there are always 10 things going on at once.
• Between the two, I'm averaging about 60 hours a week. Some days I get up at 5:30 and I'm home for all of 30 minutes until I'm back out the door and gone until 10:30 or 11:00 PM.
• I have this iron issue. My body doesn't absorb it for some reason. It's low again which makes me tired. I have to get it via IV. Fun stuff.

So, I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends with not much sensible to say. But I do miss blogging and hopefully will get a real post out in a couple days and visit some of my bloggy friends.

At the moment, I'm on the edge of sleep. Good night all!

God's Work In Progress

I dread the signs that tell me road work is in progress. Yes, it is for my own good and those working that slow down and take a look at what is going on. However, it usually slows me from getting to my intended destination

The last month or so, I've been pondering these road signs in my Christian life. There have probably been signs before this but none that got my attention the way the last few have. Perhaps, if I had been as sensitive to those spiritual road signs as I am cautious about physical road work signs I wouldn't be in the spot I'm in right now.

I'm posting today at the Internet Cafe. Click here to finish reading this post.

What I Want for the New Year

It's hard to believe that 2008 has come and gone. I went to a friend's house for a bit and then came home around 10:30. I slept my way into the New Year. But all day yesterday and today I have been pondering what I want for the New Year.

Hope. I still want to focus on hope. I've learned a lot about it this past year, but I think that there is more to learn. But rather than just hope I also want to learn about peace.

I want peace in the Middle East.

I want peace in the United States. What could be accomplished if the Democrats and Republicans actually worked together?

I want fewer homocides.

I want peace in the world. No more genocides.

I want peace for every child.

I want peace in my relationships.

I want to be a peace maker rather than a peace taker.

More than that, I want to have the peace that passeth all understanding.

Towards the end of John, Jesus has had the last supper with the disciples. He has told them what is to come, but none of them fully understand it.

In many ways, I think peace was Jesus parting gift to the disciples. John 14:23-27 says this:

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."

"All this I have spoken while with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives you. Do not not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Peace is more than the absence of conflict and strife. It is something that comes from the Father. It is something that God has given even in the midst of the hard ugly stuff in the world. I look at my list of things I want peace for. I do want peace for each of those things. But I want to be marked as a person of peace even in the midst of the hard things of life. I want the peace that passeth all understanding.

That is a big prayer. My life so far has been marked by anxiety and depression. When something isn't right, when I am in the midst of a conflict or hard situation, I obsess about it. But that is not what God wants me to do. Should I give it my time and thoughts to help remedy the situation? Yes, but more than that I should be able to hand it to Him and rest in knowing that He is in control.

I think of the disciples in the midst of a storm with Jesus asleep in the boat. They were panic stricken and almost with indignation woke Jesus and cried, "Don't you care if we drown?" My life so far has echoed that cry. "God, don't you care that I'm drowning down here?" But Jesus does care. When they wake him Jesus says, "Quiet! Be still!" In that moment the wind and waves completely die down. But then he almost rebukes the disciples. "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:35-41)

I want to be one who can be at peace in the midst of the storm. That is not to say I want the storms. But I know that they are part of life. I want the hope and peace that comes from knowing Jesus to be evident to everyone in my life and be a testimony to Him.

I came across this anonymous quote:

Peace. It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of these things and have a calm heart.

May God grant us all calm hearts that hope in Him this New Year.