California Dreaming

Hi Everyone!
I just got back from a week in California where the average temperature was 75-80 degrees.

Jealous?

Wow, I thought St. Louis drivers had a death wish.  Drivers in LA must do the 'bumper car' method of navigation: just keep going until you 'bump' into something.

Of course, that something could be a trash can, pedestrian, or another car.  It's all the same to them.

Fearless, that's what they are.  Or clueless.  Or just so self-absorbed and distracted they don't even know that their lives just passed before their eyes.

But I knew! It was amazing how many drivers tried to get into the same small place on the freeway.  Then I discovered that my braking foot was less cramped when I spent the ride either looking at the houses built high up or by staring at my knees.I cleaned my purse several times, too.  And checked my cell phone.

Don and I went to CA to visit dear daughter Kari and her hubby Gareth.  Plus our two grand-kitties.  We drove around locally in Sherman Oaks and went to the Santa Monica Pier.  There Kari and I watched both Don and Gareth take surfing lessons.  Poor Don was the oldest student on the beach and he worked so hard to keep up with everyone (personally, I thought he did great; I don't think I'd have even survived donning the wet suit...).

Of note was all the quality time I spent with my baby girl.  We shopped ourselves to death and I even tried on jeans (now THAT'S love!).  We talked and talked and caught up on life.  I bet we shopped everyday for at least 3 hours, more on other days.  Normally I would start whining about 2 hours into a shopping trip but this time I had the stamina of 10 men (or a mom with a preschooler).

It got me to thinking about situations we get ourselves into and how difficult the journey can be.  We feel isolated, exhausted and hopeless crawling through the challenges.  Sometimes even having 'encouragers' along doesn't help much, especially those who spout platitudes about how we need to trust and pray more.

But put us with someone who is meaningful in our lives, someone who knows us and is willing to travel with us and we can find that extra ounce of strength and courage to keep going. Those friends/relatives are few and far between but well worth hanging on to.  I hope you have such a person in your life.

Even to trying on jeans.

Pushing Through Our Faith

It's one thing to talk about what we believe. Many of us are true scholars when it comes to the tenets of our beliefs.

In Bible college, many of my classmates were downright smug that they could recite the kings of the Old Testament in order and describe the history of the ancient prophets.

Me, I still had to look up the location of Hezekiah in the index when pressured.

I've become aware of what a challenge it is to actually act on what we say we believe, especially when hard times hit.

Then, along with the rest of us (even those who have to 'cheat' by looking in the Concordance) most biblical scholars find themselves shaking in their boots at the prospect of believing it.

Lately, I've found myself really having to lean heavily on the words I nag my clients about:

God is Sovereign;He knows what's going on,
If God is God He will guide and protect,
Scripture says He knows your heart and He will provide your needs,

And the big one:
It has nothing to do with who you are, and everything to do with Who He is.

I've had to sit tight in situations that would normally make me run off and hide.

Lately it seems like all the encouraging words (the things I really believe) are being replayed in my mind despite my personal misgivings.

I've had to invoke the relationship God has promised me through His Word, especially the part about not having the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7). I've had to release my grasp on my opinions and emotions, fold my arms and allow God to show me what He can and plans to do in my life.

That last statement is funny, really. I wish I was as 'hands on' with housework, paperwork, and other tasks I'd rather not do as I am with wanting to have involvement in what goes on in my own life.

So, the challenge is not for God to prove that He can do what He says He can do.

The challenge is for me to let Him.

Share the Buffet!

With the onset of Fall and the transition we must make to bring our activities indoors, I find myself bringing my thoughts inward as well.

I'm such a word picture girl. Why make a simple statement when a long drawn-out story will do?
It's been brought to my attention lately how much time we spend in dead-end relationships or jobs. Or how we settle into our lives, not quite unhappy but not thrilled to get up in the morning either.

It makes me think of buffet lines. You know, the places where you grab a plate at one end and need a crane to help you take your laden dishes to your table?

Everything looks good, has potential. I may not really like slabs of ham or sides of beef but it's my right to take some of everything.

Then after I've nibbled here and there, most of it is left for the overworked server to haul away and discard.

What a waste!

It makes me think of the times I've glanced over at someone elses' dish to see what they chose, noting that the food is something I've always wanted but could never find.
I'm intrigued, so I take myself up to the buffet table again to find that delectable dish to sample myself.

Only it's gone, emptied out of the serving tray.

None for me, who would have enjoyed it immensely. Left to be tossed to the trash because someone got there ahead of me and wasted it.

Do I sound extra emotional about food?

I'm relating it to relationships, really.

How many times do we see couples in this situation? One of the individuals isn't sure, doesn't know, doesn't want to commit, doesn't want to invest.

But he/she doesn't want to be alone either. Or really, they don't want to free the other person, to share, if you will.

I refer to it as taking someone 'off the market.' Hoarding them so no one else gets the joy and benefit of a meaningful relationship. Then by the time one or both of them is fed up (deliberate pun) years have passed and possibilities are limited.

I think we need to get over the 'this will do' mentality.

Have the strength of character and the sensitivity to make wise choices. Don't grab the buffet food just cuz it's there and don't hoard people's hearts just because you can.

Soul Strength

These last few weeks have left me exhausted. Not so much physically; if you could see me at this moment I look downright serene!

But from the neck up and behind my furrowed brow there's a veritable tornado swirling around me as I review these last few days.

I have to do this almost every weekend as I release the stresses and frustration and allow the joys and blessings to seep back in.

It's a real lifesaver for me.

God uses the storms and pressures to strengthen me in ways I could never imagine. I also would never willingly choose some of these experiences.

Yet when I have my 'review weekends' I'm brought to one major conclusion:
God always provides a strength of soul to endure our trials.

How many times have you had an emergency, stress, or major conflict and you handled it?
Somehow, someway, you automatically endured, aided, soothed, cared for someone else.
No thoughts of yourself (at least not too many) and you were only in the moment to do what you had to do.

Then afterward when you can really process the experience, you realize you did...fine. You managed, coped, participated in a meaningful way.

That's soul strength.

Soul strength is a confirmation that you have become stronger than you ever thought you could.

Or that was ever possible for you.

Soul strength says that what God has said all along about Him being your strength and shield applied to you too. Not just the 'other guy' but YOU.

So rest along with me, my friends. Process this last week and acknowledge the times when you handled something well. Recharge, renew, and go into next week knowing that whatever you encounter God will give you the soul strength to handle it.