Believing the Wrong Promise

I confess. I've done it. More than once I've done it. I believed. I believed with all of my heart. I was sure things would be as I envisioned, as I believed. The problem is, I was believing the wrong promise.

Why is it that we seem to think tough things shouldn't come our way? Why do we think we should be protected, shielded, untouched? Where did this belief come from? How is it that we latch on to this as the promise to cling to?

There are many verses that lead us to see otherwise. "In this world you will have troubles". (Jn. 16:33 ) "When you pass through the waters... When you pass through the rivers... When you walk through the fire... " ( Is. 43:2) "We are hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down." (II Cor. 4: 8-9)

I don't notice a maybe, perhaps, if, possibly.... no... instead I see words like will, are and when. I've had it wrong so many times. I've wanted the promise to be that it would not, could not, happen. I was believing the wrong promise.

II Cor. 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

In his book "It's Not About Me", Max Lucado says the following:

"The words 'weight of glory' conjure up images of the ancient pan scale. Remember, two pans, one on either side of the needle. The weight of a purchase would be determined by placing weights on one side and the purchase on the other.

God does the same with your struggles. On one side he stacks all your burdens. Stack them up, and watch one side of the pan scale plummet.

Now witness God's response. Does he remove them? Eliminate the burdens? No, rather than take them, he offsets them. He places an eternal weight of glory on the other side. Endless joy. Measureless peace. An eternity of him. Watch what happens as he sets eternity on your scale.

Everything changes! The burdens lift. The heavy becomes light when weighed against eternity."

If you look back at those previous verses, he offsets each situation with Himself. "You will have peace. Take heart! I have overcome the world."(Jn 16:33) "I will be with you. The rivers will not sweep over you. You will not be burned." (Is. 43:2) "We are not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, not destroyed." (II Cor. 4: 8-9) These are just a sampling of the promises found throughout Scripture.

We are not promised a life of ease and comfort. We are not promised escape, rescue, tearless, pain-free living. We are guaranteed quite the opposite. BUT, we are promised, beyond the shadow of a doubt, God's presence, peace, joy... His very self through it all. We are promised the heavy will become light when weighed against eternity.

So often I find myself believing the wrong promise. As Natalie Grant has so well stated, "The promise was... when everything fell...we'd be held".

That is the promise. It is one worth clinging to. That is the promise to clasp for dear life. The promise that when everything feels as if it is crashing around you, that you will not survive, that it so very dark and more than you can take... you will be held. Held in the very palm of the Heavenly Father's hand. Now that is a promise worth believing!

Friend, what promise are you believing today? Are you believing the wrong promise? Or are you believing, in the midst of it all, that you are being held? Are you believing that regardless of what is yet to come, you will be held...

Heavy Heart... Trusting Heart

I've been sitting at this keyboard for quite some time trying to find words to share today. An event has taken place over the weekend that has deeply saddened and touched our hearts.

It has us discussing topics with our children such as grieving and being a sensitive, supportive and loving friend during moments of extreme loss. It is leading to discussion about believing the heart and sovereignty of God in the midst of unbelievable life circumstances. It is forcing our children, particularly our 8th grade son, to face life and death at it's very core.

Privacy for all involved keeps me from sharing details. Let me just strongly urge you to slow your schedule today to love and hug your children, your spouse, your family and all that you love. Be reminded that life is but a breath. None of us are guaranteed the next moment.

Also asking, as you think of it, to pray for the family that lost their teenage son over the weekend due to injuries.

Sometimes...

* Life doesn't seem fair.
* Life is hard.
* It doesn't make sense.
* Hearts are heavy.

Hearts are being driven to trust, even deeper, the very heart of God.

Requesting Your Perspective

Seeing as how typing is still quite a challenge for me given I still can't use my finger, I thought I'd ask you to do most of the talking today.

I am working on a presentation that I will be giving in a couple of weeks. The main theme is God speaking and us listening. I am wondering if you would be so generous as to answer a few questions for me. Please answer honestly and not what you think I want to hear or what you think is the right answer.

I would so appreciate and value "real life" perspective of where people are with this as I head into it. If you don't feel comfortable giving your answers in the comment section, please e-mail me. You can find that address in the "contact" tab at the top.

So, here we go:

1. Do you believe God speaks today?
2. Do you believe God speaks in more than just our crisis moments?
3. Do you believe God has ever spoken to you?
4. How does God speak to you? What does it look like?
5. How do you know it is God speaking to you?
6. Do you believe we have any responsibility in whether God will speak to us personally or not? If so, what?
7. If you could ask any question regarding God speaking and us listening what would it/ they be?

** Any other thoughts, comments or perspective you'd like to offer on this topic?

Thanks again for giving your thoughts! I greatly appreciate it!!

Turning Point

It is now one week after my injury and I finally feel like maybe I have reached a turning point.

Yesterday was the first day that I could leave it down for any length of time without it beginning to throb. I was able to prepare a small meal for my family. I was able to sweep and wipe down the bathrooms. Not to the extent that I would have liked but some nonetheless.

I still can not use the finger at all and touching it or bumping it still sends me writhing in pain. However, I can now bend it and extend it fully straight. I have a splint that I wear when doing things to help protect it from being bumped. I have a feeling that the time to full recovery and use of that finger is still some time away. *sigh*

However, life continues forward and so I jump in doing what I can as much as possible being cautious not to involve my finger in the tasks that are before me.

Thank you to each one of you for your words of well wishes and prayers! Although the pain kept me from immediately responding, it meant more than you know!

Now that I can have it below heart level without throbbing pain immediately taking over my thoughts, I hope to get back into the swing of things again... including time here. I have missed our chats together...

OUCH is an Understatement

In case you were wondering... a metal garage door and the pointer finger of a left hand do not go well together. I'm just saying...

I'm not meaning to be unsociable or rude with my lack of presence here or comments at your place since my blog break. It's just that my finger got caught in our garage door Wednesday afternoon. The slat closed completely before I could stop the momentum and get it open to get my finger out. A finger looks quite odd flat...

Since then I have been in unbelievable pain keeping it elevated as much as possible and periodically applying ice.


I'm thinking I may have an underlying fracture. Debating when and if to see a doctor...

Needless to say I have not been sleeping well and daily tasks such as changing, dressing and caring for a toddler have become quite awkward, painful and dreaded. The family is helping out amazingly when they are here!

I will return here as soon as I can get the throbbing and pains that radiate through my hand and up through my shoulder with having it down for any length of time under control.

Of course, It wouldn't bother me one bit if you could say a prayer as you think of it.

For now it's back to the ice pack, elevation and ibuprofen...

How I Spent My Break

Hello. Please come on in. I have much to share with you today.

I'm hoping you're up for hanging out a bit and enjoying a moment with me. I have missed our visits and time together!

I was only planning on being gone one week, but then I realized... who was I kidding?

This is how I spent my blogging break during the last two weeks:

* got the kids started in school for 2 days
* gathered school work for the next 3 days as the kids would miss school for family vacation
* packed to spend 5 days/ 4 nights at the Oregon Coast
* returned late evening Labor Day with kids returning to school the next day (Including homeschooling my daughter)

My thoughts and intentions were that I would be completely on task ready for the rest of life to also return to it's normally scheduled programming, including blogging. NOT!

Obviously it has taken me an extra week to get back on top of things. To be honest, I'm not even completely back on track, but if you don't mind the few scattered pieces of luggage still lingering around waiting to be unpacked then I won't. I'm just glad to be sitting here with you again!

I thought we might spend some time today looking in my photo album for a glimpse into the wonderful vacation we had at the Oregon Coast. It was a full day's drive there and back but so worth it!

Sit back and enjoy...


The View

Quiet Time: On the nice days I spent time on the deck with the view pictured above. On the rainy mornings I found myself on the couch pictured below. The ocean could be seen just above the bushes.


The Animals


Jellyfish


Spouting Whales


Sea Lions


Sea Gull right on the deck




The Pacific Ocean






The Sand


On the day we built the sandcastle above, it was a bit windy. Had we been gone from our things much longer we may not have even found them as they were quickly being buried as seen below. You can't even see the little guys pants and jacket already covered.



The Lighthouse




The Family

Enjoying the animals, Pacific Ocean, sand, and each other...

My son on the beach. My husband on the rock to the left.






My daughter and I




It was our first time staying in a beach house. It was our first family overnight trip to the coast. Needless to say we had an absolutely wonderful time!

How have you spent the last couple of weeks?