Even When Things Go Wrong, You Can Have Joy

Our ladies at Calvary have just started a new study using the Wiersbe Bible study series book on Philippians. The alternate title is Even When things go Wrong, You Can Have Joy. I hope to do several posts on things that God teaches me though this book. This post should really have come before the previous post, but I was so excited that I have done them out of order.

We almost didn't do a study this spring since Aimee has a new baby and has returned to work full time and I had surgery. But our hearts are hungry for the Word and for women to share with. The Holy Spirit put this study before Aimee and she obeyed. I have already been blessed and centered and given focus during a turbulent time in my life.

More to come.

Are all struggles gifts?

Read at least Philippians 1:29. The question in my Bible study book reads: "Are all struggles gifts?" My mind immediately started quoting James 1:2-4, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (Thanks to Sunday School and WOL and AWANA.) So my answer is "yes, all struggles are gifts." In our struggles, even those of our own making, we find God to be more than we knew He was or could be. Since I believe this to be true, why do I resist struggles/trials? Why don't I embrace them as proof first, that I need God? and second, that this is an opportunity for growth--to be drawn closer to the heart of God (like the sign in our foyer says)? Dan recently changed the wording to "Let every tension (instead of inconvenience) be an invitation into the heart of God.



Do I want to be close to the heart of God? or do I want to be comfortable, free from pain, happy making this world my home? Sounds like a hard choice...but my heart longs to be close to His heart. Because of the lengths God and His Son went through for me, I am bought...heart, soul, and mind. Sometimes I think that I want to be left alone to prosper here and be carefree, but my heart shows that I am not my own and hungers for a closer relationship with Him. And that relationship means that I will be stretched and feel suffering.

A Lesson From My Mother

Recently, while going over a familiar refrain about Marilyn, Mother remarked that maybe I hear this woman with a biased ear (my words)...maybe she is right.

I have noticed that my Mother seldom complains about anything any more. She never cried about falling and breaking her hip last fall...only chastising herself for missinbg the step and lamenting that she wouldn't be at the funeral to support Aunt Mary. The closest she came to complaining was to tell me how much it hurt to be weighed in the sling contraption (getting in and out was excruciating) and how she would refuse to repeat the process. She came up with an alternative that worked much better. Just a few weeks ago, she said that her 20 days spent at Glenville Care wasn't so bad and she could go there again if need be. I'm sure she could have complained about any number of things along the way--it was a pretty traumatic event from our view as her family.

Is this something that comes with age? Either one turns into a cranky old bear or developes contentment with a positive outlook. Some days I want my Mother to commiserate with me and am disappointed that she doesn't add her two-cents worth. Now in my 50's as I listen to young people spouting off or worrying about something, I sometimes find myself wondering "what is the big deal?"

My mother is 80...so considering the alternative, I'll choose to be content with my Mother's contentment.

Just Cranky or Fighting a Spiritual Battle?

I've been having a great struggle today and remembered my son's blog post from a few days ago. (If you want to read it go to http://danielmarkwhite.blogspot.com, Reflection.) Here is my response to his post.
"Came back to this post because I have been very critical today, wanting to lash out and complain about a lot of things...all the time asking myself why I'm so "cranky" today. The message this morning was fantastic so why didn't that soothe my heart? so kept asking...I think that it is because something very hurtful is happening and I have absolutely no control over it. For application this morning, Pastor asked where we find peace...and pointed us to God's Sovereignty, His Providence, His Infallibility, and His Love. So will I find peace in God or continue to fight? I'm working on surrender, joyous surrender."

Just a few days ago, I was cold to this particular situation, today I'm torn up. The emotional part of the trial has caught up with me again and I am directing my sorrow at other things. The truth is that I am unhappy that the situation is not getting better. And ultimately that means that I am not resting in the truth of God's character. This is the human condition. This is a spiritual battle.

So when you find yourself being "cranky"...angry that a church service was cancelled even though you didn't want to go in the first place, irritable because the store is crowded and you can't find what you want, sulking because your spouse didn't answer your question or when he did answer, his tone wasn't "nice," and I could go on and on... stop and ask yourself what is really going on. Maybe go through the questions Dan posted on his blog.

You are probably in a battle of surrender and nothing short of giving in to the will (agreeing with truth) of God, which is always good and always for your best and the best of those you love, will bring peace. By the way, He is in the battle with us and understands we are dust. He shines in our weakness.

Thinking

What do you think of the new look? Dan helped me with it last month but I still have a long way to go to learn how to add things and change designs. While browsing through backgrounds this one caught my eye right away....why? Because I am a vessel for my Master's use. I'll get back around to talking about vessels and pots at a later date.

While scanning blogs, I have been thinking about this one. What is it's purpose? What do I want to do with it? I know that I don't want to have more than one blog so am wondering if this one can have several faces. I love going through quilting blogs so log into quilterblogs.com/updates/ where many quilting/sewing blogs are brought together. My favorite of this type is Stash Manicure at stashmanicure.blogspot.com. I do my own "stash manicuring" on a regular basis and would like to someday post to this blog. Later, later.

Recently, I have run across several blogs dedicated to mothers or families of addicts. Some have really touched my heart. Our family has lived life loving an addicted daughter for four years and there are times when I have wondered about sharing our story here.

Then there are the epiphanies...the times when the light bulb goes on while studying Scripture and God causes His truth to come alive and my eyes SEE something in a new and real way. So can I blog about all of these things on the same page....I'm going to try. I will be careful to tag each entry so that you may choose which items you would like to read (in case you are interested in one subject over another).

Truth vs. Emotions

I think that we all have to admit that there are times when our emotions have a hard time catching up with the Truth. What do we do when we try to tell ourselves the truth and our emotions refuse to change?

This was where I found myself last Thursday. We had a family situation that went well but was so serious that the next day I was hit with some pretty heavy emotional fallout. It didn't hit until was already at work...I was overtaken by fear and wanted to go back home, crawl into bed and sob all day (not that I could cry all day, but I felt like I could). Right away, I opened my journal and began writing down Truth...sentences that I could claim all day whenever I felt overwhelmed. Among my thoughts was a quote from a friend of mine..."emotions are treacherous advisers." I knew not to trust them, but that didn't change the fact that they were plaguing me and making it hard to get through the day. So what to do? Just do the next thing. Walk through the day doing what is in front of you to do and keep taking those emotions to God. They will lose their power over time.

I took those emotions with me to Bible study that night knowing that I needed more Truth and that I would miss a blessing if I gave in and didn't go. Our study is Lies Women Believe and at a certain point my battle fit right in the study so I gave up my silence and shared. They encouraged me with God's Word and then all gathered around and prayed for my situation and I was released from the grip I'd been in all day. Not only did I need to rehearse the truth and have the truth pointed out to me, I needed the power of those women going into battle and praying the Truth. Their prayers settled around me like a blanket of comfort and I was blessed. "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16)

Thank you ladies!

God Meant It!

In our flock group we are studying the life of Joseph. Do you remember the events of his life? He was Daddy's favorite with caused jealousy with the other brothers. He tattled on them which didn't help the situation. He shared dreams which elevated him further and put down his family. So the brothers got even and sold him (better than murder). Through the years, he is used by God and elevated in Potiphar's house. He is also handsome and well built....and catches the eye of Potiphar's wife who hounds him daily to go to bed with her. He resists continually so she lies and he is sent to prison. God uses him there also and eventually he is remembered, released and saves his family from starvation. The point is Genesis 50:20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." Pastor Brown started listing the things that God Meant in Joseph's life and my heart was seized with the thought, "God doesn't just mop up." I am well aware that God can and does turn our messes around as we choose to serve Him and I have taught women that there is only Plan A. Christ coming to redeem us after Adam and Eve fell was not Plan B...it was Plan A all along. If we truly believe in the Sovereignty of God, then there is only Plan A. God does not cause our sin/failures, but neither does he just "mop up." This may be beyond our feeble minds but these thoughts caused my heart to respond in an overwhelming way. Why had I not connected His redemptive Plan A to specific hurts in my life?

While I am disappointed that my life has to include some particular heart-breaking situations, I am lifted up by the thought that God Means them for good (whether I can see that good or not). The truth of that statement is life changing, heart changing, emotion changing for me. I will choose to believe the Truth rather than my emotions and let it lift me to a better place. I will surrender my plan to His, knowing that it was Plan A all along.