May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

I love to know that my God is a consistent God. The sun comes up every morning. The moon comes out every night. The stars have their place in the galaxy. Every year spring comes after winter. Winter after fall. Fall after summer. There is a pattern and rhythm. Our God is consistent.

People say that if they can’t see God, they won’t believe. But I see God in the  seasons,  the snow clad Rocky Mountains and the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. I see God in the beautiful eyes of my students. I see God in my husband as he patiently helps this paralyzed body out of my wheelchair each and every night.

Because I truly believe that He exists, there is a joy and peace that has settled in my soul. Do I get tired? Yes. But the peace still resides. When Jesus left earth he left his Holy Spirit to be with each of us. This month, may you begin each day asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to His presence, His beauty. Seek to see three such instances every day and by the end of the month you will have seen close to 100 moments of God’s presence! By doing so, you too will be “abounding in hope” by the end of the month!

I’m in a great place now, but last week I was physically tired and struggling with staying positive. The haunting phrase, “If I had hands that worked, I could…” started worming its way back into my mind. It was not good and certainly not pretty as complaints started frequenting my lips. For many years when this phrase would take hold, I would immediately surrender my frustration to Jesus and then start doing as St. Paul suggests in Philippians 4:8 “whatever is true, noble, right; whatever is pure, lovely, admirable; if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.”

But for some reason last week I couldn’t hold on to it. I was tired of the mental challenge of “thinking about such things” and the victim mentality was taking over. I knew I was in trouble. Rolling into what I call my “prayer space” near the fireplace in our family room, I bowed my head. After sharing my aching heart with the Lord and telling him I was having a hard time reaching for what was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, I took a big breath and quieted my mind. Lord, blow your grace into my heart and my mind this afternoon. I don’t want this worm to create a hardened heart. Your Word has always been my light, my guide. Why can’t I “think about such things” this afternoon as I have before? I’m here to rest in You.

After sitting quietly in His presence, taking several deep, slow breaths, a new sense of calm entered the room. The Holy Spirit flooded into my thoughts. “Be” what Paul says to think about. Be it right now. Don’t only think about it – be it. Be in the middle of such things. At first I didn’t know how to do this. But I simply centered my thoughts to the concept of all things true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable. What beauty came to my mind! What lovely images! Beautiful trees, sky, mountains, ocean, sun, peace, quiet, smiling friends. Your images may be different, but equally lovely when we center ourselves in God’s excellence.

Be.

Be.

Be.

Thank you Jesus for saving me once again from my own mental destruction and thank You for reminding me to come into Your Holy Presence.

Three years ago, Mike and I were trying to figure out how to fit bible study into our schedule. On Wednesday mornings I had been going to Community Bible Study but it was becoming increasingly more difficult to arrive on time. Being quadriplegic, I rely heavily on my morning caregiver to help me get out of bed and if she is new to the position, it’s not fair to push her to move fast in order not to be late. An evening study was an idea, but since I don’t drive and don’t have a caregiver in the evening, I would need to rely on my husband to drive me. Mike  works a high stress corporate job and often doesn’t arrive home until around 7:30 which is too late for a 7:00 study start time at most churches. So that was out.

So what were my other options?

Being paralyzed for 28 years I’ve had lots of experience in solving problems and refiguring how to function. I said to Mike, “Then we need to do a study at home. What if we start a couple’s study here at the house and I’ll go online to find good, reputable studies from name theologians and bible scholars.” He said, “That’s it! I haven’t been able to be in a study because of my job so this is perfect. Let’s do it!”

We’re in our third year and loving it. It’s a win-win because we gather couples in our life with whom we never seem to find enough time to visit AND we get to be in God’s Word. It’s been great.

In our current lesson of First Corinthians I’ve been focused on 1:17-24. Have you ever had God show up in your life in such a way that He is excitingly clear? It’s so cool! So you tell your friend who’s a nonbeliever and he/she looks at you with a blank look of, “Huh?’ And you think, “Nevermind. You’re not understanding what just happened.” Sadly, you change the conversation.

First Corinthians 1:17-24 explains the “huh?” well. You see, Greek culture prized worldly wisdom and rhetorical eloquence. For the writer of the letter to Corinthians, the Cross turnsed this worldly wisdom upside down. Paul is saying the source of Christian wisdom is the Holy Spirit. So if you’re talking with a friend who doesn’t place value in knowing God and hasn’t asked Jesus to take over his/her life, explaining what God did in your life today is going to be met with a blank stare. There really is such a thing as “Holy Spirit wisdom” in the heart of each believer, and conversely, it is absent in a nonbeliever.

Join me today in spending time in scripture asking the Spirit to teach ;you God’s ways. If you’re not in a bible study this summer, look for one nearby. Most churches studies are off during the summer months but will resume in September. If that’s the case in your area, then make plans to join in the fall and while you’re waiting, attend a church where the pastor breaks open the Word during the sermon. Before the mass or service begins, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you something as you hear the readings and during the sermon. Because you ask, I guarantee the Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom to hear something new in His Word!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path. Ps.119:105

Lord, lead me to a church where I can learn Your Word. I’m open and ready.

Sorry I’ve been off the map for a while! A combination of a few things, really. I’ve been
trying to analyze why I’m just not consistent in the world of blogging. It seems it’s always placed on the back burner as other things get pushed to the front. Today I was finally able to analyze where the time goes and much to my “gosh, I guess I really am quadriplegic” dismay, I have to accept the fact that it takes me much longer than the average Jane to get up in the morning. Even though I’m super healthy, the fact is it takes time to do my minor medical care, showering, transferring from my shower chair, have my attendant dress me, then up into power wheelchair I go.

After that my attendant brushes my teeth, puts a little makeup on (a must), dries my hair and into the kitchen we go for breakfast. While nibbling on eggs or whatever, we come up with dinner preparation, open mail, or run an errand or two. By that time it’s 11:00 and I head into our ministry office for meetings. Finally I get time to myself about 1:30.

About 6:00 p.m. my kind, ever-serving mother of 92 yrs. old comes to our home for a visit (she lives next door) and to toss the salad so Mike has to do very little when he walks in the door from work about 7:00. 

I share this with you not to make excuses in any way, but rather exposing the analytics of my mind. So there really is only 1:30-6:00 or approximately 4.5 hours each day to be productive which seems like it should be enough – at least in my mind it does. Yes, there’s speaking prep, responding to email, working on songs, peer counseling and checking in on friends all of which takes every bit of that 4.5. But the fact of the matter is, I’m not a big fan of being in front of the computer all afternoon! If I could chat with you over a cup of coffee in my living room, well, we would visit every day!

Here’s the reality – I am relational. I want to hear your voice, see your eyes, touch your knee, feel your spirit – and see how it’s all joined with the Holy Spirit. That’s how I’m wired. That’s how I communicate. The computer is just too one-dimensional for me.

With all of that said, I will indeed try to fit you all in my living room! It may be a virtual living room, but it is still living! So I recommit myself to you, my friends, and hope to chat with you in this virtual living room again, soon! In the meantime, fast from thoughts that weaken and feast on the promises that strengthen. Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

Amen!

Sorry everyone for not taking the time to blog as often as I should. We’ve been remodeling our kitchen after 25 yrs. of living in our home and well, feeling as though we’ve been camping for a couple months. Why does a discombobulated home rattle my brain? Nonetheless, I’m back and ready to chat. (Hey, that rhymes.) I’m loving that I get to begin by sharing a miracle with you…

Yes! I’m finally 100% again after a big physical battle with a bladder infection that really wanted to be a kidney infection. Allow me to share with you my miracle last Friday…. I had 102.4 temp and the doctor said to get to the ER. I didn’t want to go! I had been hospitalized for 4 days last fall with a kidney infection and was not looking forward to a repeat. I was praying in the car that I wouldn’t have to spend the night. One hour after taking my temp which gave me the 102.4, they took my temperature at the ER and it read 97.6. How in the world did it go down SO FAR in such a short time? Was our thermometer at home wrong? Couldn’t have been because we were using the old-fashioned Mercury style thermometer, not digital which can sometimes give a false reading. My sister who had driven me said, “Let’s blow this joint! You don’t need another ER bill.” Came home, checked my temp with our thermometer – 97.6°. Still don’t know how it could’ve decreased so fast except that God knew the desire of my hear and the estate of our finances.

He knows yours also.

Father, I continue to delight in You – Your creation, Your kindness, and your mighty works that show up when we least expect.