Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus!
Details, details, details
You’ve read this paragraph before. It’s still true. The Lord remains faithful to us and we try to remain faithful to Him. We want to share some everyday life facts with you that have recently become overwhelming.
Details, details, details. What’s most important? Lists of things to do, places to go, people to contact, events to attend, and so on. Things including legal, financial, medical, family, community, church and personal all need attention. Sorting, packing, mailing, storing, selling, and giving things away are necessary. Dusting, washing, scrubbing, and cleaning things. Accepting invitations to breakfasts, lunches, dinners, coffees, for visiting, sharing and caring. Daily life continues with the addition of all these details, details, details. Scheduling becomes a nightmare. What’s most important? How does one accomplish all this?
What is the focus after all? The purpose seems clear. All this preparation is required before we can move onto the next leg of the journey. The focus is obedience. Hearing what the Lord has set forth for us to do as in Ephesians 2:10, feeling the tug on our hearts to do those things He has planned for us in Peru. All this takes time to accomplish and it begins at home in Duluth. After 30 years of marriage and accumulating tangible memorabilia, it comes down to a few suitcases and storage of a bedroom suite and some keepsakes. Why? Because as the old hymn says, “this world is not my (our) home, I’m (we’re) just a passin’ through and my (our) treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.” So all the details that are falling into place may be overwhelming, but they are part of the plan and have an ultimate reason. Being obedient in this portion of the journey, being well prepared, doing the job well, assures that we are will be ready for the next part of the trip.
Whoa! Wait a minute! Hold on! Stop! No! Those are the words that describe the feelings when one more detail is added to the many already facing us. In the midst of the rush to get it all done, some verses of scripture come to mind. “Be still and know that I am God” from Psalms and another one “Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him”, and “The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.” Without looking at these in context as we should do, we claim them as reminders of how to face the details, details, details.
There is absolutely no way, humanly speaking, that one can do all the hundreds of things, literally, that are required under the circumstances we are experiencing, without losing it at one time or another. It is only with the Lord’s help that we can remain sane, controlled, excited, and positive! You see, it’s all part of His plan. (You will read that phrase, time and again, as we know that all things work together to those who love Him……..and we also know that He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper…….
All the details exist because we are responsible adults. But do we handle them as we should? Do we continue to honor the Lord in all that we do and say? Is our task oriented mindset pleasing to Him? Do our deeds indicate we belong to Him? Good people we know do good things and are responsible people. What makes us different?
We need to be still. Be quiet. Settle down. Remain calm. Enjoy silence. Why? So we can know Him and hear Him as He is there for us. At the end of the day, after scurrying about, doing, accomplishing and completing, there is a time for rest and relaxation, to contemplate and ponder, to be still. Throughout the last six months of planning and preparations, the details have far outweighed what we anticipated. In the midst of it all, the quiet times have also been more abundant that ever. The quietness of the night has provided assurance time and again as we recognize how He has walked with us and talked with us and He reminds us we are His own; or when the day starts earlier than usual, because He has awakened us from a sleep, while the dew is still on the roses. (The old hymns so often come back to our mind.)
Without changing your location or vocation, let me encourage you to put aside the details and to be still, wait patiently, and know Him. Spend some time just being quiet. Deal with the details necessary in preparation for what He will have you do next.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Journal Entry #8 - Does God Care About A "Missing" Bedframe"?
Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus!
Does God care about a “missing” bed frame?
You’ve read this paragraph before. More than once, I hope. But it’s true, another leg of the journey is complete! Jesus continues to show Himself to us in new ways. We have many God stories to share. Let me share another one with you.
Being the female God created me to be, I’m a planner, list maker, scheduler, and details matter. It gives me great satisfaction to know that things are under control. Distribution of our household items to family members, or through sales and auctions, and selected items being stored are even scheduled. The plan included leaving the water bed in what we call the guest room for the new residents, Mr. & Mrs. L. and our box spring and mattress on the extra Hollywood bed frame we have in storage. This would enable them to have a place to lay their head the first night they move in. They are relocating with very few items, and appreciated this offer from us. On paper, without a doubt, this plan should work to benefit everyone.
You may have noticed the title of this journal is “Does God care about a ‘missing’ bed frame? Indeed, the bed frame went missing! The auctioneer and his packing team were doing their jobs thoroughly. In fact, they didn’t miss taking a single thing. You get the picture, don’t you? They also took the bed frame. We were not fast enough to know it was on the truck and probably 45 minutes away from home. What now? We decided to move on to Plan C. Yes, Plan C.
We have been donating items to Cheaper By The Dozen, the thrift store operated by New Covenant Creation Ministries, in support of its ministries in Peru. When we dropped off some boxes a day after the auctioneer left our house, we shared our dilemma and asked if they had any bed frames. Believe it or not, they sold one the day before! We were so disappointed. I was particularly concerned with the problem because we promised to leave two beds in place when we left the house. I have to admit, I was not happy about the situation. I needed to fix it. After all, the plan I had put in place was now incomplete. I realized we had a week to find a bed frame.
Did you notice I jumped from Plan A to Plan C? Why? What happened to Plan B? I didn’t recognize it. It’s even in scripture. It’s in the books of Matthew and Mark that “with God all things are possible” and in both the O.T. and N.T. we read that the hairs of our head are numbered and we are more valuable than many sparrows. So what does this have to do with a missing bed frame? HE cares. HE can do all things. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. And, finally, one of the more familiar verses in Philippians says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (chapter 4: 6)
The bed frame wasn’t missing. After all, we knew where it was. It was with the auctioneer’s team. But, you see, it wasn’t the right one God wanted for Mr. & Mrs. L. Plan B (well, really it should have been Plan A!) should have been to pray about the situation. I missed that one completely! We learn as children, and sometimes have to re-learn as adults, that we should take everything to God in prayer. Remember that old hymn? What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER!
Fast forward a day or two. No solution and time is running out. Now that the weekend is over, it’s time to do something and to find a bed frame. I received an email from Joy – another Joy, a dear friend. She and her husband have a queen size, 4 poster bed they want to donate! See what I mean? HE cares about a missing bed frame. He provided one that was bigger and better. This one even has a matching dresser! Isn’t that how He does things? Remember the verse in Ephesians 3 and verse 20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” He provides over and above what we ask or think. Now’s the time to pray again, thanking Him for even caring about a bed frame!
Had I only gone to Plan B when I should have! Have you ever done that? Skipped over the obvious? Let me encourage you to practice what we teach the little ones. Praying is talking to God. When we still have our Dad here on earth with us, we talk to him about all kinds of stuff, so why not talk to our heavenly Father about all things? Our Dad stops to listen, shows he cares and gives us something to think about. How much more our heavenly Father loves and cares for us and His resources are far in abundance!
Does God care about a “missing” bed frame?
You’ve read this paragraph before. More than once, I hope. But it’s true, another leg of the journey is complete! Jesus continues to show Himself to us in new ways. We have many God stories to share. Let me share another one with you.
Being the female God created me to be, I’m a planner, list maker, scheduler, and details matter. It gives me great satisfaction to know that things are under control. Distribution of our household items to family members, or through sales and auctions, and selected items being stored are even scheduled. The plan included leaving the water bed in what we call the guest room for the new residents, Mr. & Mrs. L. and our box spring and mattress on the extra Hollywood bed frame we have in storage. This would enable them to have a place to lay their head the first night they move in. They are relocating with very few items, and appreciated this offer from us. On paper, without a doubt, this plan should work to benefit everyone.
You may have noticed the title of this journal is “Does God care about a ‘missing’ bed frame? Indeed, the bed frame went missing! The auctioneer and his packing team were doing their jobs thoroughly. In fact, they didn’t miss taking a single thing. You get the picture, don’t you? They also took the bed frame. We were not fast enough to know it was on the truck and probably 45 minutes away from home. What now? We decided to move on to Plan C. Yes, Plan C.
We have been donating items to Cheaper By The Dozen, the thrift store operated by New Covenant Creation Ministries, in support of its ministries in Peru. When we dropped off some boxes a day after the auctioneer left our house, we shared our dilemma and asked if they had any bed frames. Believe it or not, they sold one the day before! We were so disappointed. I was particularly concerned with the problem because we promised to leave two beds in place when we left the house. I have to admit, I was not happy about the situation. I needed to fix it. After all, the plan I had put in place was now incomplete. I realized we had a week to find a bed frame.
Did you notice I jumped from Plan A to Plan C? Why? What happened to Plan B? I didn’t recognize it. It’s even in scripture. It’s in the books of Matthew and Mark that “with God all things are possible” and in both the O.T. and N.T. we read that the hairs of our head are numbered and we are more valuable than many sparrows. So what does this have to do with a missing bed frame? HE cares. HE can do all things. In Ephesians 6:18 we are told to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. And, finally, one of the more familiar verses in Philippians says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (chapter 4: 6)
The bed frame wasn’t missing. After all, we knew where it was. It was with the auctioneer’s team. But, you see, it wasn’t the right one God wanted for Mr. & Mrs. L. Plan B (well, really it should have been Plan A!) should have been to pray about the situation. I missed that one completely! We learn as children, and sometimes have to re-learn as adults, that we should take everything to God in prayer. Remember that old hymn? What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry, EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER!
Fast forward a day or two. No solution and time is running out. Now that the weekend is over, it’s time to do something and to find a bed frame. I received an email from Joy – another Joy, a dear friend. She and her husband have a queen size, 4 poster bed they want to donate! See what I mean? HE cares about a missing bed frame. He provided one that was bigger and better. This one even has a matching dresser! Isn’t that how He does things? Remember the verse in Ephesians 3 and verse 20, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” He provides over and above what we ask or think. Now’s the time to pray again, thanking Him for even caring about a bed frame!
Had I only gone to Plan B when I should have! Have you ever done that? Skipped over the obvious? Let me encourage you to practice what we teach the little ones. Praying is talking to God. When we still have our Dad here on earth with us, we talk to him about all kinds of stuff, so why not talk to our heavenly Father about all things? Our Dad stops to listen, shows he cares and gives us something to think about. How much more our heavenly Father loves and cares for us and His resources are far in abundance!
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