Just past the Trees

Sometimes it feels as though there are things almost within my grasp and yet not close enough. It is as if they are just beyond the trees! The moments when I'm standing on my tippy toes and I'm trying to reach but my 5 foot 4 inch body is only so tall and that cabinet that I thought I could reach into is out of bounds! I can't, no matter how much I stretch, reach, wiggle and jump! I just can't seem to reach that object that I want so badly.

Inevitably I need assistance, I need to get a chair, a ladder, or one of those really cool gizmos that you click a button and it is like an arm extender. It reaches in and grabs the object for you. Best invention ever.

These tools enable me to reach where I could never have gone on my own.

In my stubbornness I always try to reach it by myself, but in reality I will never reach anything unless I use these tools. It's the same way in our Christian life, God never intended for us to be all! We were not made to rely on ourselves for anything.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

His tools for us include the power of Jesus, the righteousness of God the Father and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that we have been given everything we need for godliness and yet our human nature says work it out by yourself. Like me stretching and wiggling and reaching and getting frustrated on my own this occurs in our Christian life as well.

We also have the privilege of having another tool alongside of us, The Body of Christ. I know this tool so well! In a few weeks we will be gathering as women to wrestle with the question, If God is real then how does that impact our lives? I am part of a team of women who represent a variety of ages, spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, wisdom, life experiences and varying degrees of humor. What they can do together is indescribable!

God never intended for us to do things alone he meant for us to be in community with himself and with his body.

Today I am thankful, thankful for the power of Jesus, thankful for his authority, thankful that he made us more than conquerors. I'm thankful for righteousness, justice, graciousness and wisdom of God the Father.  I'm grateful for the guidance, direction and the conviction of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And I am filled to overflowing with the joy of being part of the body of Christ who inspires, encourages and exhorts. The body of Christ can do things that I am not capable of  doing by myself because I am not gifted in all areas! Thank you God for giving me women and men to come alongside of me in ministry.

When things seem to be just beyond your grasp and you are struggling, remember that you were not intended to do it by yourself!

What are you trying to do by yourself? Who could you invite to join you in your struggle?

It is Well

What is he doing with his coat unzipped in this kind of weather? There he was, not dressed well for the weather that was way below 20°. On this day it was only 1° There he stood in his snow boots, hat, warm jacket that was completely unzipped with no gloves or mittens on his hands. Staring at him I had so many questions.

Where's your mama? Aren't you cold? Why do you come so unprepared when the weather is so freezing? How is it that for you?

Deeper questions came into my mind as well.  They made me think of moments that I felt cold and alone unable to take care of myself. I felt those feelings recently when I spent time with my mom. Now it requires extra amounts of patience because of her dementia. There are those moments when I feel cold and alone. Not knowing scares me, often terrifies me if I only look at it. It feels like a deep vacuum of not knowing questions.

Not knowing

How long I have with her

How long this stage will last

If there will come a time that she doesn't remember me

Not knowing!

I feel cold as if my jacket is open and I feel so vulnerable.

It is a constant struggle to trust Jesus to completely take care of me. I have issues with control.The truth is that God is faithful and I can rely on the love He has for us. I John 4:16 Because of this fact no mater how cold or alone I feel, I can confidently say, "It is well with my soul".

When do you feel cold, alone and vulnerable?

Prayer

Jesus thank you that you were the one that comes in and zips up my jacket, tells me to be warm in your love and to be comforted by your embrace. I am warmed knowing that you have all things ready. I take comfort in your plans for me.

One of those days

Yes it is true, children say the funniest things!

I am a teacher and that means that in any given day a young student may say something that is politically incorrect for adults but hysterical to hear.

Yesterday with a room full of students one student asked to use the restroom. I gave permission and was working with students when I noticed that the bathroom door was open. Where did he go I wondered. It would not be unusual for this student to leave the room and use the bathroom in the hallway. I asked the class if they knew where he had gone.  Just then a voice rings out from the bathroom, I in here, I go poop!”

I quickly walked over to the door to shut it giggling the whole time!

Today, a little girl in kindergarten asked me what was wrong with my face! “It’s a mole”, I told her. She replied, “did you get it from scratching yourself too hard?”

These are so funny! I love that they say what they think, ask questions when they do not understand and then just move on.  We can learn a lot from these little ones!

Maybe this is why Jesus says for the little children to come to Him! 

Prayer

Father, help us to have childlike eyes to see, simple hearts to receive and questioning minds that ask questions. Help us to just move on after things are over.