Resting Through The Waves

My prayer for the day: Lord, help us to brave the waves of this life. Whether they are waves due to an earthquake and the resulting tsunami, heartbreaking loss, physical challenges, financial stress or emotional pain, You are the source of our strength, Lord. Without You, we can do nothing.

I'm dealing with a wave myself. Due to multiple neck injuries, I am in constant pain. I sit here with a cervical collar wrapped around my neck. I have very limited use of my left arm. I really shouldn't even be typing. I squirm, scream and cry out when intense pain grips me. I hold my breath when my doctor tells me I really need to breathe. I've tried childbirth breathing techniques without success. Help me to endure, Lord. I am so weak.

How do I make the most of this time? I feel so limited, so helpless. All I know to do is rest in you, Lord. Teach me to rest through the waves....

Ya Gotta Laugh!

Last night I was sitting in our living room, following doctor's orders and behaving myself - a rare thing! My husband accepted the opportunity to clean up the kitchen and do the dishes. While our standards differ, who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Suddenly my Facebook game was being interrupted by a loud, rumbling sound that was not good, not good at all. To give you a little history, in our seventeen years of marriage, we have lived in six houses. Without exception, my dear husband has thought each one of our garbage disposals could perform Herculean feats. Now we've had multiple conversations about this. "You simply cannot put watermelon rinds down the disposal. It just can't handle it." Response: "well, it should be able to..."

In this case, while thoughts of previous conversations are running through my mind, I asked what he had put down the garbage disposal this time. "Pineapple core". Oh no. "That's not good." Next thing I know he is carrying the plunger through the room. "I need your good arm, your right hand specifically." O.K. I set the laptop on the floor and headed into the kitchen where I am instructed to hold down the garbage disposal cap. O.K. 

I thought I was holding it down tight but, on that first plunge, I found myself on the receiving end of a high pressure bath of the watery contents of our garbage disposal. Just picture "water" dripping from my eye lashes, my nose, my ears, my chin, my hair. And I had just taken a shower! Head swivel to the right. Glare. And what do I see? My husband doing everything that was humanly possible to suppress the ripples of laughter bubbling at the surface. "Did I...(smirk)...mention...(snort)...you need to...(lip bite)...hold down...(snicker)...really tight?" Frankly I don't remember my response. I do know it had to do with his laughter at my expense. It was also loud - big surprise!

I am convinced this "incident" would have been prefect for an episode of "I Love Lucy". I also think we need to look into the availability of a Tim Taylor souped-up "manly" garbage disposal...well, maybe not. It seems to me he didn't have much success with any of his modifications.

I assure you, this will not be the last time my hubby will test the garbage disposal. History has proven that particular pattern cannot be broken. 

Ya just gotta laugh! (In case you are wondering, I'm clean again!)

Curve Balls

Life can throw us some wicked curve balls. You're standing at the plate. Bat in hand. Stance is good. You feel good. Relaxed. Ready to take on whatever is pitched your way. And wham! You're hit by a curve ball you didn't even see coming. You hit the ground. Your head is spinning. The wind has been knocked out of you. It takes a while to get your bearings. You look around and things have changed. Maybe no one else notices but things are different. Tilted. Off. Now what?

Been there. Experienced it firsthand. I'll never forget the day my husband walked into my office. I was surprised to see him. The look on his face was not good. He told me "I've been fired". I didn't know how to take it in, how to process it. My husband has always been good at what he does. People tell him that all the time but that darned curve ball....

We've been hit by that same curve ball twice in the past few years. Nothing prepares you for it. 

I look back now and I thank God for both of those curve balls, especially the second one. God has taught us so much. To trust Him more than we ever had before. To lean on Him. His promises began to open up to us. We sought His face and His will for what came next.  And it was good. Scary but good. 

So many things about God and how He does things are confounding for our human minds. Often things seem upside down or even backwards. But the joy of watching Him work - wow! To take your hands off and let Him do it - amazing! There is a joy and a peace and a wonder at letting Him have the reigns (or the steering wheel). 

If you think about it, as a believer, its how we are supposed to do life. But, if you are anything like me, you want to fix things, make them right, do something. Sometimes all He needs us to do is rest and wait.

He has all the information, all the resources, all the wisdom. It seems a little foolish to try to do it ourselves, doesn't it? One of my all-time favorite verses is Proverbs 3:5&6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." It's all there. What we need for life is all there. It really is so simple.....

Faithful

God's faithfulness. 

Apparently this is where He wants me to focus today. It keeps rolling around in my mind.

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations," Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV    

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23 ESV

Wow! He keeps His promises. As I look back on my life, I see His hand. He has always been faithful. 

He has loved me despite my self-hatred. (We're continuing to work on that.)

He has given life to the dead places in my heart. 

He has forgiven me when I was so unworthy of forgiveness. 

He has strengthened me when I was too weak to stand. 

He has cheered and applauded for me. He's my greatest fan.

He has wept with me when I've been hurt and afraid.

He has encouraged me when others didn't see the need. 

He has held me tight when it felt like my world was spinning out of control.

He has provided for me - I am so blessed!

He has protected me. (If I truly knew the extent of this, it would be more than I could handle.)

He has been the source of my strength.

He has comforted me when grief has overwhelmed me. 

He has lifted me to my feet when I have fallen.

He has pushed me to do those things He created me to do.

He has challenged me: my thinking, my understanding, my trust, my faith.

He has stretched me. At times it has hurt but I needed it. 

He always knows what's best for me.

He has lavished me with a love I could not imagine possible.

He has shown me His heart.

He has given me His understanding.

He is my joy! He is my strength! He is my hope! He is my life!

I want more, Lord. More of you and less of me! I long to be more faithful to You. To reflect you in everything I say and do. To be like Christ. May I faithfully pursue you as you have pursued me, Lord. 

Thank you. Thank you for being my rock. Always strong. Always faithful. Always true.

I love you, Lord.