When God Works

I have no clear idea where my thoughts are headed this morning. Let's see where they take us.

My daughter had a tremendous experience this week. She was struggling because she'd only slept three hours. For anyone, this can be difficult because it makes one grumpy and irritable to go without sleep. But for my daughter, it can cause a seizure. The long-term effects of that include not being able to drive for at least 6 months. Believe me, that keeps her focused on getting enough sleep.

She and I talked and I told her I would be praying for her, and I sent an email message to several friends asking for their prayers as well.

Later, she called back, and things had fallen apart for her. In talking, though, I realized that everything she was relating is a point of vulnerability for her. With that realization came the understanding that this was Satan at work. I could speak with conviction that she was under attack and the solution was to rebuke Satan and allow the power of God to take over. I prayed with her right then for that power and for her to accept it and use it to turn around the entire situation for her. I also updated my prayer request.

God worked immediately. As my daughter claimed His power over the doubts and insecurities, He made Himself known in everything she was doing. She slept that night until 4:30 am and then though she woke up, she was able to go back to sleep. That was the answer to one person's specific prayer for her.

When God works, He often does so with a still, small voice; in a quiet and soft way. But sometimes, He works in power with lightning and thunder. Those are the times that never leave us. We will always remember the times when His power was so very evident. It was great fun to see my daughter experience God's Hand in her life. She made up her mind that things were going to be different, and with His help, she embraced that and watched it unfold.

Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow.

Third Time's the Charm

Three times this week, from three different sources, I have heard this truth and I think I need to share it today.

My son posted a "tweet" this week relaying a conversation he'd had with a co-worker this week. My paraphrase goes something like this:

"Friend, you are the only Bible some people will ever read."

"Dude, those people are going to hell!"

Yesterday morning, my pastor preached an overview of the Book of Colossians and reminded us that we are instructed to live out Christ Who is within us.

Last night, my husband's church's youth choir presented their home concert following a week of choir tour. One very eloquent young lady spoke of the challenge of sharing Christ as they worked in and around a children's learning center without being able to openly speak about God, or sing about Jesus, or share a Bible verse. (This is America, land of the free, so we can't do those things in public.)

What do people know about you simply by watching you live your life? Do they see Christ in you?

If you are running late, are you a considerate driver or do you try to make up for lost time by forcing other drivers out of your path and yelling at them as you pass?

If a restaurant makes a mistake with your order, do you calmly request it be corrected or do you berate everyone in sight about things not being right?

If a sales clerk gives you too much change, do you stop and return it, or do you take it and think what a great blessing?

If someone says something unkind to you, do you say something even worse back to them or do you allow that person to have his say and quietly accept it?

If you are given a mundane chore, do you do it grudgingly or as though you were doing that chore for the Lord Himself?

A very long time ago, Charles M. Sheldon published In His Steps, about the life changes in a church's members once they were confronted by a needy man about their lifestyle of talk and no action. He then collapsed on the altar of the church and died. Those folks set about taking their pastor's challenge that was born of that event to apply this question to every action and decision in their lives, "What would Jesus Do?"

We have heard that in recent times, but it has become cliché. Few stop to really apply it, and yet, that is what Believers are called upon to do. We are called to a higher standard. We are called to stand out, but as a living, human vision of the Christ Who is within us. We are to be holy - set apart. Those around us should see something different in us and in our actions.

One of the most disappointing things in life is for a Believer to see the behavior of professing Believers and realize they are no different from anyone else in the world. It has happened with my daughter and her landlords who will sit and openly read their Bibles in the store, but treat her with condescension and sabotage her business. She watches them maneuver other people while pretending to be charming.

Lots of good people are not Believers. Unfortunately, lots of Believers are not good people.

Which are you? Do people read the Bible in you? Do they see Christ in you? Do they hear Him in your language? Do they see Him in your daily activities and work?

That's my challenge this week. To be a mirror to the world, a mirror that reflects Jesus, the Savior Who died in my place and rose to grant me the promise of eternal life in His presence.

One other note from the Home Concert, tears came to my eyes as one young man recalled a concert at Navy Pier in Chicago. It was a patriotic concert presented on July 4, I believe. Some seven or eight sailors and marines stood quietly at attention as the choir sang "God Bless America", then walked on. But in a few minutes, they were back and that time, before they walked away, one of them mouthed "Thank you" and blew them a kiss. They choir members will never forget that moment. They were deeply blessed by the small action of one sailor. He touched them with one small gesture. We can change this nation. We can change the world, beginning with a few small gestures.

A Day of Blessing

I am absolutely exhausted, but as I think back over my day, I realize how very blessed I was all day long.

I got up very early this morning and started right in on laundry. My main motivation was that I thought I'd lost a temporary filling and going back in to have it replaced would take a chunk out of my day I didn't think I could spare. But a couple of phone calls later, I was told by the receptionist at the endodontist's office that temporary fillings frequently "sink". That described exactly what I was looking at, so I concluded all is well and won back part of my day.

I picked up some photos because I've been working on the photo album of my husband's trip to Chicago with the church youth choir. I wasn't able to do any of the pages today, but I only have two days left to do, so I should get those done tomorrow or the next day.

I drove out to the airport to pick him up and although their flight was delayed due to some mechanical problems, they arrived safely. We did have to wait an unusually long time for their luggage, but we still made it out of there and back here before the afternoon traffic went crazy. Believe me, that was a big blessing.

We stopped and had an early supper on our way home because Hubby hadn't eaten since a mid-morning breakfast. After we got back here, he unpacked and I started on laundry again. While that was going, I realized I was so tired and sleepy, I didn't think I could even think about doing any ironing. But as each load dried, I started ironing and before I knew it, it was all done. Meanwhile, Hubby ran over to his office to check out the stacks on his desk.

So, all of my chores are done. My daughter who has been undergoing some acupuncture therapy in an effort to rid herself of several very troublesome allergies will get to make her first trial tomorrow to see if it has worked. We are very hopeful. As soon as I finish this major dental ordeal, I'm going to go, too. I almost can't imagine what it would be like to walk into a restaurant and order whatever I want without having to consider what might be in it that could cause a reaction. It sounds like heaven to me.

So I was blessed many times over today. Hubby is home and things will settle back into a routine very shortly. I'm grateful for God's presence in my life and His Hand on every aspect of it.