Recently, two brave young women I know had hip replacements with the gifted surgeon, Professor Michael Neil of St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney – the same surgeon who worked his magic on me.  With Christmas only five sleeps away, it seems an appropriate time to reflect on this miracle in my life.    Here are my thoughts from last Christmas:

Over the past decade walking had become an ordeal.   With bilateral dysplasia of my hips, pain was always my companion, accompanying me when I sat, stood, walked, or tried to sleep.   After giving birth to two sons and reaching my forties, time was running out for me to remain mobile.  I had consulted surgeons who considered my condition too complicated to pursue.

One autumn morning about two years ago, I was hanging clothes on the line in my garden when I smelt the eucalyptus of the bushland beckoning me.   I prayed silently, tearfully longing for the days I had enjoyed bushwalking.   Almost immediately I heard a soft voice in reply: “You will be bushwalking again.  Do you think this is too hard for me?”    Momentarily I was alarmed.   Was I now hearing voices?  At the same time a spark of hope ignited within me.   I went straight to the telephone to enquire about surgeons. 

All avenues led me to one surgeon, but to confirm I was on the right track I prayed specifically for certain qualities including compassion, competency, a sense of humour, being of a certain age and, most specifically, that he would look at me and say “I can fix it”.

Can you imagine my joy when I met my surgeon?  He was the right age, he laughed at my jokes, he was kind and, last but not least, he examined my X-rays carefully, turned to meet my gaze and said “Your hips are bad but they are fixable – I can fix them.”   The exact words I had asked for.   I learnt that if I had left the surgery much longer it would have been too late for the operations to be successful.

So 2008 was my year of the hip replacements.  I had my right hip replaced in early March and my left in early July.   I had to face many obstacles during this process.  

Only a week before the first operation I had a call from the hospital telling me I wasn’t fully covered by my health insurance.   We were able to find the money but it was a great disappointment and it was only my hope in God’s plan that kept me going.

I originally planned to wait twelve months between the operations so my health insurance would fully cover the second operation.  However, I suffered the most extreme pain in my un-operated hip, which started to regularly dislocate.   I was baffled to even know what to pray for but three friends stepped in to pray for me at this time, independently of one another.  They each prayed that the operation would be expedited and I would be relieved of the pain.    At the time I thought they were all well-meaning but misguided as we couldn’t afford the further surgery straight away and Chris certainly wouldn’t be able to get more time off work.  A couple of weeks later the surgeon phoned to say he had a cancellation.   Was I interested in an earlier operation?    My heart missed a beat as I recalled the ‘misguided’ prayers of my friends.  My husband’s employer went to great lengths to accommodate his leave and again we found the money.

With sons aged five and six, my mother with a terminal brain tumour, and my father and mother-in- law suffering from dementia, dropping out of life for several months to recuperate was a daunting experience but God’s presence prevailed throughout.   My husband was able to care for me throughout the considerable recovery period and our friends  rallied around making a difficult time seem almost enjoyable.   I must say my husband was the most devoted and helpful nurse any woman could hope for.

I am overwhelmed to be starting 2009 with a body no longer dominated by pain.   I feel like I have been physically re-born and can be the wife, mother and friend I’ve always dreamed of being.  Yet the lessons I’ve learnt about God’s immense love for me and the wisdom of trusting him, even when things looked hopeless, have far outweighed all that I’ve gained on a physical level.    I realise that my physical healing won’t last forever – but the emotional and spiritual healing I’ve received will endure.

During a recent holiday to the South Coast of New South Wales I completed a bushwalk to the top of Minnamurra Falls without any pain.    A year ago I could barely walk to the letterbox and here I was climbing a steep path through a rainforest.   I thought I would burst with gratitude when I reached the waterfall at the top.  God is so faithful to his promises and nothing is too hard for him!

 But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)      

 

“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is not always something we like to do as humans, as a society and as people.  We want things done and now, but there is a bright side to waiting.  That is waiting on the Lord to make things happen as we pray to Him for answers, guidance and direction.  Once we have prayed up, then it is time for action.  Let Him direct your paths with His blessings and strength.

Thank you Father that you never disappoint!  Amen.

A spirit of uncertainty has wafted into our personal space, our nation and our world. It has surprised even the most positive of thinkers, and has made the fearful even more apprehensive. Amid reports of foreclosures, plummeting housing values and unemployment figures, an article in Sunday’s New York Times claims that millions of jobless Americans don’t appear in the official labor statistics. They are the ones who have tried unsuccessfully for months or years to find work, and have given up hope. They’ve stopped saying, “What do I do now?”

Actually, there are a few things they can do that they probably haven’t even tried. The first thing I’d suggest is spending at least one day a week volunteering with an organization whose mission and values reflect their own. Make some little corner of the world better. Like everything we do, helping others cycles back to us through the Law of Attraction/Reciprocity. There is always a payday of fulfillment when we serve others. Fulfillment is a mighty antidote to repeated rejection, self-doubt and hopelessness.

There’s something else that all of us can do to speed us along the path to greater fulfillment: become neutral. I practice being in neutral, not judging circumstances and human beings as one thing or another. Being in neutral allows me to hear the “still small voice” that responds to, “What do I do now?” In neutral, I am open to more possibilities and much greater outcomes than my physical brain can fathom.

Friends frequently remark that no matter what happens, I always land on my feet: The greater the adversity, the more magnificent the rebound. Bring it on! I am so encouraged by the outcomes that I have consistently experienced that I’m trying to adopt neutrality as a lifestyle. My soul appears to be supporting me in this endeavor.

While practicing neutrality this past weekend, I’ve received a daily “Loving Each Day” email that urged neutrality as a means to accomplish much:

“[N]eutrality does not mean inaction. It is putting all of your energy in the proper direction. You can accomplish much in the state of neutrality because you won’t be wasting time fighting yourself.” John-Roger

Hours later, I attended an elegant birthday luncheon for 85-year-young Floncia Sutton,the mother of four of my absolutely fabulous girlfriends. As the program progressed, Mrs. Sutton’s relatives, longtime friends and church members spoke about her grace and strength. Her pastor revealed that he had adopted her as his grandmother, occasionally seeking her wise counsel. Everyone marveled that Mrs. Sutton rarely speaks above a whisper; she commands the attention, respect and obedience of young and old with a look or even a clearing of the throat. They frequently attributed the source of her power to Isaiah 40:31, her favorite Bible verse:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint.”

And there it was again; Isaiah was talking about neutrality: The space where we can calmly and peacefully wait for every challenge to be resolved, every decision to be made, and every hurt to be healed in the most perfect way, at the most perfect time. Neutrality is a spa, a holy place where we enjoy the All-Knowing Benevolent Spirit within our very souls. We come here to melt away stress and anxiety; we find total peace, no matter what drama surrounds us in the physical world. In neutral, we ask for guidance from the God within and we hold only one expectation: The outcome will be divine and on time. In neutral, it’s impossible to be disappointed or rejected, even if the outcome is not what our physical bodies—Ego-Selves—desired. In neutral, we are aware that we are not merely finite bodies; we are infinite souls, invisible spirit, made in the image of our Creator. In neutral, our desire is to fulfill our soul’s mission, and we want to know more about that.

When I’m in neutral, I am sometimes we are guided to do something very specific: call someone, investigate something, or go somewhere. Other times, it appears as if I’m receiving no response at all. While it frustrated me at first, I’ve learned that the silence is an opportunity to practice patience. It simply means, “Be still—and know that I am God.” Over the years, I’ve observed that my challenge was being resolved in the most perfect way and at the most perfect time, with no help required from me. My job is merely to stay in neutral, stay open, ready to receive, and ready to shift into gear when prompted, not a moment earlier.

Surely you’ve noticed that when a car must be in neutral, even if the engine isn’t running, if it is to be pushed or towed to another, usually more suitable location. Neutrality is an active state of readiness. It doesn’t mean that we’ve shut down; we’re idling, not idle. Our arms are wide open, ready to lovingly embrace the guidance or inspiration that comes from within.

We can only receive the benefits of neutrality’s peaceful space when we completely trust God. Neutrality has simplified my prayer in all situations: “I lovingly allow this matter to be resolved for the Highest Good of all concerned, and I await divine direction for any next steps.”

Disappointment is only possible when we allow the Ego-Self to make the decisions and judge the outcomes. That’s when we find ourselves in the “If I woulda, coulda, shoulda” dramas. The Ego wants us to rely on our limited human understanding. It is entertained when we frustrate ourselves, trying to fit square pegs into round holes, trying to bring God into alignment with our physical desires. I’m sure that Soul is looking at our bodies and wondering, “What part of ‘This is not working’ don’t they understand?”

It works when we allow, when we gently sit our Ego Self down and allow ourselves to be divinely led instead of trying to lead the Divine. We experience one victory after another when we relinquish control of our outcomes to our Higher Selves, when we “wait on the Lord,” when we’re able to maintain our integrity when we say, “Thy will be done on Earth.” In neutral, we always get what we want—because we want what God wants. Funny how that works.

Life on Earth provides us plenty of opportunities to practice neutrality. No one on the planet experiences a life without challenges. I call them “growth opportunities” because each offers us the chance to respond differently than we have in the past, and get a different result. The next time you experience disappointment, you’ll know that you aren’t in neutral. When you become angry because something didn’t go the way you wanted, you aren’t in neutral; you’re not open to allowing your soul’s experience on Earth to unfold in the way that it desires.

I have a mantra: “If it’s mine, I’ll get it. If it’s not, I don’t want it.” That frees me to focus on other stuff instead of obsessing over a particular outcome. I totally trust God to resolve everything divinely. I can keep it moving.

Try neutrality next time and notice how utterly peaceful you are as you journey through your many “growth opportunities.” Do it consciously and consistently, and you’ll notice that no matter what happens, no one will be able to rob your peace—no matter how much they clown or how un-Christlike they behave. You’ll be able to climb into the balcony of their drama, and love them anyway. I often find myself feeling sorry for these bad actors “for they know not what they do” to themselves through the Law of Attraction/Reciprocity.

Notice how empowering this is. See its effects on the body.

Floncia Sutton, 85

Take a look at a woman who’s been “waiting on the Lord” longer than many of us have been in these bodies: Head high, shoulders back, standing tall, Mrs. Sutton is fearless, full of power, full of grace, full of joy and unshakably peaceful.

She wasn’t born to privilege, and she’s had her share of “growth experiences.” But she has not accumulated burdens, anger, resentment or regret; she is not broken or bowed. Mrs. Sutton carries herself with the dignity, grace and loving demeanor of someone who knows and trusts God so totally that she is content to wait. She has mastered the art of speeding in neutral.

What would you look like if you seized every opportunity to respond differently to your growth opportunities? How peaceful, how strong would you be if you asked for divine guidance, listened for and accepted the response and followed the directions? Try practicing today, and see if you can learn to speed in neutral from now on.

Love the Loud Mouth LIVE at an Upcoming Event in Chicago!

If you missed the three-day Women’s Conference in June, I have good news: By popular demand, authors Shirley Lawson, Stephanie Wilson-Coleman and I will conduct sessions at “The Women’s Conference Follow-Up” on Saturday, September 19. This time, it’s in Chicago, at Power Circle Center, 9350-64 S. South Chicago Avenue.

This special event is presented by the Training, Development and Networking Team of the Alpha Omega Sisterhood, a ministry of the Power Circle Congregation, the Rev. Joseph E. Hill, founder and senior minister.

For more information and to register for only $40, visit Drama Queen Workshops.

I heard a comment yesterday on the radio.  I admit I was only half-listening at the time.  One of my favorite people, Alistair Begg, said something about, “…Spasms of enthusiasm swallowed up by chronic inertia.”

Bam!!!  My life in an incomplete sentence!  That’s me!  It hasn’t always been me, but as of late it’s a sad but perfect description.  Let me see if I can somehow boil the recent history down to set the scene.

First there was the flood that took our home and possessions seventeen months ago.  Followed by the uncertainty of what are we going to do and where are we going to live? Living in a hotel and out of a suitcase for nearly a month was…interesting.   God had a plan in a young family who owned a condo they were renovating and another one on the market.  They offered a place to live so we could have time to re-group mentally and make a plan for next steps.

Next, my full time grant funded job ended.  I knew that was coming and I really wasn’t worried.  Since re-entering the job market in 1994 I really had not needed to look far to find a job through several unexpected transitions.  These transitions included moving from Virginia back to Indiana to care for my dying father.  Then, we moved from my family’s hometown to rural southern Indiana.  Yet,  I did not expect anything to be different this time.  Besides, I reasoned, I have added more versatile experience and a master’s degree to my resume.  I thought finding a job should be easy.  Wrong!! Fifteen months later here I sit.  Hence my current dilemma.

We own three vehicles and only one is running.  Without a second income we are trying to keep our noses above water and that does not include additional expenses for vehicles or anything else at the moment. We are not destitute by any means, but we are on a tight budget with no real flexibility.  The savings we kept following our Financial Peace University went shortly after the flood and has not been replenished.

Bottom line is my beloved needs the car to go to work.  I have not really established relationships in our new community and not with anyone who lives nearby.  So I am here in a nice condo with lovely views of greenery all day every day.  Just me and Boss, the dog.  Since we live miles from town there’s no place to really walk to where I might engage with other people.

I’m by nature a people person.  I am energized being around other people.  For all those times I wished I just had some ‘down time’ to re-group, relax, and do all those things I never have time to do.  Well I have it now in massive quantity.  Probably the worst discovery is realzing I don’t have that inner discipline, that ‘get up and go’ drive when I am alone all the time.  I become swallowed up in the chronic inertia.

Yet as I reread what I have written, I know, that I know, that I know, God still has a plan in all of this.  He allows everything in my life for my good and His glory.  Yes everything!  So I have to ask, “What am I missing here?”  “What am I not learning?”

Is it: Joshua 1:7-9  

⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation.“Text edition”–Spine. (2nd ed.) (Jos 1:6-9). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

I believe the truth in Isaiah 40:31  

³¹      But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.   Tyndale House Publishers. (2004). Holy Bible : New Living Translation.“Text edition”–Spine. (2nd ed.) (Is 40:31). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

While I wait there remain those few spasms of enthusiasm and too many moments swallowed up by chronic inertia.  But my hope rests in the knowledge that God promised He would never forsake me.  He has a plan for my life in this new season.  His timing is always perfect and my responsibility for now is Psalm 46:10

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God!

When I was little, I don’t know if I had repeat dreams or fantasies about flying like a bird but I have vivid memories of feeling like I was soaring through the air!  I’m guessing this imaginative dream was probably similar to other children’s imaginary friends but the feeling of the wind rushing through my hair and across me was amazing and I remember it vividly.  Perhaps that is why Isaiah 40:31 is such an amazing verse to me.  Because I like it so much, I decided to read it in the Message Bible.  Here is Isaiah 40:27-31

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me, He doesn’t care what happens to me?”  Don’t you know anything?  Haven’t you been listening?  God doesn’t come and go.  God lasts.  He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.  He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.  And he knows everything, inside and out.  He energizes those who  get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.  For even young pepole tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.  But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.  They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.

Today, draw from the imagination of your child hood- go outside and raise your arms against a breeze and draw in that strength that God has for you.  Spread your wings and soak up God today!

Facing this new task in this new ministry feels daunting. I waver between excitement and “oh my goodness – I can’t do this!!!” I find myself constantly saying, “only if you go before me!”

Reading Isaiah 40:31 I realize God has invited me to open up my wings and soar. I feel my feathers quiver in anticipation and slowly begin to unfurl.

Looking at my inadequacies, and reading about Gideon (and so many others), I can see how God loves to show Himself through the impossible.

Oh Lord, l launch myself and soar on the wind of your Holy Spirit. And if I find I can’t, help me remember You can and do!

Prophetic Vision Art
Designs created from vision or dream descriptions
Click on thumbnails to view

Dare to Soar! 10-6-2006	Abide & Shine! 10-27-2008	Abide & Shine! Oil 10-27-2008	Among Lilies 11-10-2008
Pour Forth! 12-27-2008	Waters Break Out 1-9-2009	I AM Watching 1-20-2009	Make Haste! 1-29-2009
Take Heart 1-31-2009	Joyful in Hope 1-31-2009	Desert Heart 1-31-2009	Drip Fatness 2-4-2009
Hosanna 4-4-2009	Fan the Flame 4-4-2009	Beautiful One 4-8-2009	Fragrant Heart 4-13-2009
Song Dove 5-3-2009	His Wings 6-1-2009	Look Up 8-18-2009

]]> http://thejourneyisthelife.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/it-is-well-with-my-soul/ Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:02:14 +0000 bclong1998 http://thejourneyisthelife.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/it-is-well-with-my-soul/

The hymn “It is Well with My Soul” becomes closest to heart for one undergoing grief. Written by a Presbyterian laywer Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888) and composed by Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876), this deeply touching gospel song has long been loved.

The scripture reference is Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Text Author and Hymn-Writer Horatio G. Spafford

Spafford was born on October 20, 1828 in North Troy, New York. He was a successful lawyer in Chicago who maintained a keen interest in Christian activities, deeply spiritual and devoted to the scriptures.

Chicago Fire and a Son’s LossSometime in 1871, a fire in Chicago heavily devastated the city, and months before that , Spafford had invested hugely in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan. The disaster greatly wiped out his holdings. Before the fire, Spafford also experienced the loss of his son.

A Calm and Worst Life Storm

Two years after the fire, Horatio Spafford planned a trip to Europe for him and his family. He wanted a rest for his wife and four daughters, and also to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain. He was not meant to travel with his family. The day in November they were due to depart, Spafford had a last minute business transaction and had to stay behind in Chicago. Nevertheless, he still sent his wife and four daughters to travel as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre, expecting to follow in a few days. On November 22, the ship laden with his wife and daughters was struck by the Lockhearn, an English vessel, and sank in few minutes.

Wife “Saved Alone”

After the survivors were finally landed somewhere at Cardiff, Wales, Spafford’s wife cabled her husband with two simple words, “Saved alone.” Shortly after, Spafford left by ship on his way where his beloved four daughters had drowned, and pen at hand, wrote this most poignant text so significantly descriptive of his own personal grief – “When sorrows like sea billows roll...” The hymn “It is Well with My Soul” was born.

It is Well with My Soul

It is noteworthy that Horatio Spafford did not dwell on the theme of life’s sorrows and trials, instead, focused in the third stanza on the redemptive work of Christ, and in the fourth verse, anticipates His glorious second coming. (Refer below for CyberHymnal’s link)

Composer Philip Bliss

Philip P. Bliss, the hymn composer, was a prolific writer of gospel songs. He was so impressed with the experience and expression of Spafford’s text that he shortly wrote the music for it, first published in one of the praise hymn book, Sankey-Bliss Hymnals, Gospel Hymns No. 2. Shortly after writing ‘It is Well With My Soul,’ Bliss died in a tragic train accident.

On reflection, it is divinely amazing that one could experience such personal tragedies and sorrows as did Horatio Spafford, yet, able to say with such convincing clarity, “It is well with my soul.” It is an enormous challenge to embrace the significance of this hymn.

First Stanza of the Hymn

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

It is Well With My Soul by Brian Doerksen,

Why do I seem to struggle so much with actually living here( It is well with my soul)?  In the midst of the storm, or even in the aftermath of a storm – it seems so hard to just live contently or with my soul at peace.  I long to be in the place the the author of this hymn was in.  I think it  concept of resting really resonates in me on many levels.  It is probably why Isaiah 40 is such a part of my life – I just really struggle with waiting – finding true peace in my soul.

Prophetic Vision Art
Designs created from vision or dream descriptions
Click on thumbnails to view

Dare to Soar! 10-6-2006	Abide & Shine! 10-27-2008	Abide & Shine! Oil 10-27-2008	Among Lilies 11-10-2008
Pour Forth! 12-27-2008	Waters Break Out 1-9-2009	I AM Watching 1-20-2009	Make Haste! 1-29-2009
Take Heart 1-31-2009	Joyful in Hope 1-31-2009	Desert Heart 1-31-2009	Drip Fatness 2-4-2009
Hosanna 4-4-2009	Beautiful One 4-8-2009	Fragrant Heart 4-13-2009	Song Dove 5-3-2009
His Wings 6-1-2009

A few years ago I was talking to a friend of my sister-in-law, who thinks that we have a “Bible” picture to describe us. Now I’m sure you may be confused by what I’m saying, but some people are the lion; others the lamb; another could be the Shepard- we all have a caricature that is fleshed out in the bible. She ask me what mine was- of course – I had NO answer. But I said – if there was one animal or verse I loved in the Bible it was Isaiah 40:31 -

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

I want to be the EAGLE – I want to soar, I want to run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint! That is what I desire.

The past few weeks have been tough for me- I have relied heavily on the promise of this verse. As people sent me words of encouragement – ironically (or divinely as I would like to believe), many of them sited eagle references. Then a friend sent me the following devotional by Chuck Swindoll-it’s a long one but I’m printing it out and keeping it in my Bible. I want to aspire to be the EAGLE! Goodbye parrot! So when you see me sitting alone at the lunch table (one of my worst childhood fears), know it is because I’m giving up to parrot routine and clinging to Jesus – being an EAGLE – souring and resting in hope in the Lord!

April 03, 2009

Of Parrots and Eagles, Part One

by Charles R. Swindoll

Hebrews 6:11-12

We are running shy of eagles, and we’re running over with parrots.

Content to sit safely on our evangelical perches and repeat in rapid-fire falsetto our religious words, we are fast becoming overpopulated with bright-colored birds having soft bellies, big beaks, and little heads. What would help to balance things out would be a lot more keen-eyed, wide-winged creatures willing to soar out and up, exploring the illimitable ranges of the kingdom of God . . . willing to return with a brief report on their findings before they leave the nest again for another fascinating adventure.

Parrot people are much different than eagle thinkers. They like to stay in the same cage, pick over the same pan full of seeds, and listen to the same words over and over again until they can say them with ease. They like company too. Lots of attention, a scratch here, a snuggle there, and they’ll stay for years right on the same perch. You and I can’t remember the last time we saw one fly. Parrots like the predictable, the secure, the strokes they get from their mutual admiration society.

Not eagles. There’s not a predictable pinion in their wings! They think. They love to think. They are driven with this inner urge to search, to discover, to learn. And that means they’re courageous, tough-minded, willing to ask the hard questions as they bypass the routine in vigorous pursuit of the truth. The whole truth. “The deep things of God”—fresh from the Himalayan heights, where the thin air makes thoughts pure and clear—rather than the tired, worn distillations of humanity. And unlike the intellectually impoverished parrot, eagles take risks getting their food because they hate anything that comes from a small dish of picked-over seeds . . . it’s boring, dull, repetitious, and dry.

Although rare, eagles are not completely extinct in the historic skies of the church. Thomas Aquinas was one, as were Augustine and Bunyan, Wycliffe and Huss. So were G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Robert Dick Wilson, J. Gresham Machen, W. R. Nicoll, and A. W. Tozer.

Many of the reformers qualify, as do John Newton, George Whitefield, and a long line of nonconformists—original thinkers whose lives were interwoven through the treasured tapestry of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.

And in our day? We could name some . . . but they are increasingly rarer, as the “Entertain Me” philosophy of the public outshouts those who plead, “Make me think!”

Have you fallen prey to a similar mind-set? Do you find yourself contentedly sitting on your perch, pecking at dry morsels rather than longing for the skies? Think about it.

Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

Posted at 07:00 AM | Permalink

April 04, 2009

Of Parrots and Eagles, Part Two

by Charles R. Swindoll

1 Peter 1:13

Eagle thinkers ask the hard questions, take strategic risks, search hard for the whole truth, and soar high above mediocrity. Parrot people enjoy the predictable, routine, rehearsed words of others.

As we discussed yesterday, the church is overrun with parrots and virtually devoid of eagles. Too harsh? You decide. Who are the eagles today who offer fresh-from-the-mountain insights about world missions, biblical doctrines, evangelism, Christian education, apologetics, and the disciplines of the faith? Who are those who forge out creative ways of communicating the truths of Scripture so that it’s more than a hodge-podge of borrowed thoughts and rehearsals of the obvious which tend to paralyze the critical faculties of active minds?

Eagles are independent thinkers.

It’s not that they abandon the orthodox faith or question the authority of God’s inerrant Word . . . it’s simply that they are weary of being told, “Stay on the perch and repeat after me.” Eagles have built-in perspective, a sensitivity that leaves room for fresh input that hasn’t been glazed by overuse.

The church today is in desperate need of eagles—people who come to their tasks with the abandonment of that keen-minded Jew from Tarsus. If you need an illustration, read Romans. Like a careful midwife, Paul assists in the birth of doctrine, allowing it to breathe and scream, stretch and grow, as God the Creator designed it to do. And he isn’t afraid to say it for the first time, using a whole new vocabulary and style that is as original as it is accurate. There’s not as much as a parrot feather on one page of that one-of-a-kind letter.

So then, which will it be? If you like being a parrot, stay put. But if you’re an eagle at heart, what are you doing on that perch? Do you have any idea how greatly you’re needed to soar and explore? Do you realize how out of place you are inside that cage? Even though others may not tell you, eagles look pretty silly stuck on a perch picking over a tasteless pile of dried seeds.

I’ve never heard anybody ask, “Eagle want a cracker?”

Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

http://insightforliving.typepad.com/dailydevo/

This is a great video….it’s a little long but well worth the time spent watching it!

Today I am just amazed.  Words simply cannot express the joy, comfort, peace, blessing and every other thing in my life.  For several months I have been in a season of life that just did not make sense.  Everyone has times that they go through where things are great or difficult or however you may describe it, different.  I believe that this past week has marked me fully stepping into a season of joy.  In the midst of layoff and poor economy, I can say that I am blessed.

My God is so amazing and he has caused me to better understand Isaiah 40:31.  “Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, They will fly high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint” (NLT).  It is not necessarily about the physical act of achieving these things, but it is the spiritual act of achieving them.  I feel as though I have found new strength after a long battle.  I can truly say that I am flying high like an eagle.  The Lord has given me an indescribable peace and comfort in the middle of what many would think to be a difficulty.   I feel as though a season of difficulty is behind me, and my heart rejoices in the faithfulness and word of the Lord God Almighty.  I do serve an amazing God. 

3 things that I recognize today:

1. I am blessed beyond measure.
2. I choose to be responsibly irresponsible
3. I will chase after God Almighty and run to him with all I have, because without Him I am nothing!

May God bless you!

I have been following the blog of a friend. As I was reading it, I realized that she is currently going through what I went through last year. Life as they say is a cycle, a wheel in revolution; it has its ups and downs. She said this season might as well be her “dip” season. I, on the other hand, think that I am on the upswing. Lately though, I have been fearful that this season of my life might end soon (and I don’t want it to because I am sooo enjoying it)…that my own “dip” would come (and I don’t want it…not too soon). But hey, who says it will not come? Who says I will not be tested and disciplined and broken and molded yet again? And why do I have to be fearful when I have survived everything that has been thrown my way with God’s grace? I have always come out stronger and better.

I couldn’t have survived without the help of friends. To those who nursed the wounded eagle, thank you and I love you more (you know who you are). I am over the wounded-ness and am now back with the serenity I once had. To Pastor Dennis who prayed with me for spiritual revival during the prayer and fasting week, thank you! He told me to be joyful and I feel I am. To Tita Virgie who was instrumental in answering a question I had been struggling with, thank you!

I still am not perfect; I still trip every now and then but more are the nights when I can sleep soundly and wake up with a silly smile on my face. I am soaring. Soar with me!

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

 

Music Therapy

“While I’m Waiting,” courtesy of YouTube:

 

Lyrics:

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve you while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. –Mt 11:28

Set the LORD continually before
Enter His presence with joyful singing     –Ps 100:2
Linger at the feet of Jesus
See His great mercy and love
Taste His goodness, His fullness of joy.    –Ps 16:8, 11
Then your strength will be renewed
With His mercy and love in view you will persevere and not faint
Only at the feet of Jesus, in His presence can you
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘ Therefore I hope in Him!‘ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”  –Lam 3:21-25

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” –Isa 40:31

 Job 6:11   What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?

Romans 12:1   Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship.

It’s only as we enter the Lord’s presence and linger at the feet of Jesus, that we can keep His great mercy and love in view. In the Lord’s presence there are new mercies each morning; there is fullness of joy and hope. Great is His faithfulness!

Lingering at the feet of Jesus, waiting on Him, it’s here that our hope and strength are renewed. It’s only by keeping His mercy and love in view that we can persevere and not faint. Only at the feet of Jesus can we be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.

***

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. –Ps 100:2

This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘ Therefore I hope in Him!‘ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.”  –Lam 3:21-25

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. … You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. –Ps 16:8, 11

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” –Isa 40:31

January 3 – The Way Wide Open

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  Isaiah 40:31

You must be renewed, remade. Christ, Christ, Christ. Everything must rest on Me. Force is born of rest. Only Love is a conquering force. Be not afraid, I will help you.

Be channels both of you. My Spirit shall flow through and My Spirit shall, in flowing through, sweep away all the bitter past.

Take heart. God loves, God helps, God fights, God wins.  You shall see.  You shall know. The way will open. All My Love has ever planned, all My Love has ever thought, you shall see each day unfold. Only be taught. Just like a child. A child never questions plans. It accepts gladly.

Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a 
little child, he shall not enter therein.  Mark 10:15

Sometimes you just need a little James Taylor in your life.  This song never fails to move me…and is helping this week.

Also, kept Isaiah 40:31 as my verse for this week…actually my favorite Bible verse.

In this thing called life we often get caught up in getting some where but we forget to enjoy it. I have been trying to find joy in the here and now rather then wishing it away – thus the motivation for this blog—-the journey is the life!

But in a recent conversation with a friend she point out that when people say “Enjoy every minute the time goes so fast” that is terrible presure to put on oneself. She got me thinking. Yes I want to savor and enjoy moments in life but really there is a lot about my life that I’m not nor think I’ll ever enjoy. I mean is it really fun cleaning out pooped underpants? Does being thrown up on ever become enjoyable? And will I ever find joy in hearing “MOMMY I’m hungry” before 8 o’clock in the morning?

So how do I not wish my life by but be an active participant in it? How do I find joy in the things of this world- with out putting the pressure on myself that I have to ENJOY every moment?  This is a something I’ve been asking myself. I don’t have the answer for it. But I do think it comes back to a verse that has been my motto for the past year or so Isaiah 40:31

Isaiah 40:31 (King James Version)

31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

So now you ask (or I ask) how does this apply? I’m not sure how exactly it looks in life but I think I spend so much time trying to do every thing on my own that I forget to wait – on the LORD.

I want to consider a well-known story of Jesus’ life found in Matthew 14.  Jesus had just heard about the murder of John the Baptist.  Feeling the pain, as any of us would, He went away by Himself in a boat to be in the Presence of His Father while mourning the loss of His beloved friend.  Because He ministered as a man filled with the Holy Spirit, not as God, Jesus understood His need to be refueled and refreshed before continuing to minister all the Father had for Him.  It’s a good thing He did, too, for He was no longer alone when He landed the boat (v. 14).  Many people had followed Him and were waiting there for His return and ministry.  Contrary to what we might have done in similar circumstances, Jesus didn’t ask them to leave Him alone to tend to His personal need.  He had compassion and pity on the people, seeing them through the eyes of His Father.  It was from that place He ministered to them, healing all their sick.

Certainly, this lesson of my Lord’s dying to His fleshly needs challenges me to do likewise, but the impact of what I saw as I continued reading is the main point of this blog post.  Think about the people who have come to Jesus in this place.  From what I can gather, they only followed Him because they wanted a specific thing from Him, a healing.  It appears, though, that they remained with Him even after receiving their healings.  Why?  There was something about being with Jesus that made them willing to remain in His Presence, even after receiving that for which they came.  What was the result of their lingering with Him?  Jesus took the opportunity to give them more than they expected, meeting their physical hunger with a miraculous feast of fish and bread!  As if that weren’t enough, He not only gave them enough merely to stave off their hunger, but they all ate until satisfied, with twelve baskets full to spare!  (v. 20)

Now think about this from Jesus’ perspective.  He came to earth to do the will of His Father, and to do it completely.  (John 4:34)  Even though He came from heaven, He spent much time in the Father’s Presence while here among us.  He needed to seek the Father’s will for each day, and also needed to be re-filled with the Holy Spirit so He would be anointed to do all that the Father’s will required.  If He hadn’t stayed out on that boat alone with the Lord as long as He did, perhaps He wouldn’t have been in position, spiritually and emotionally, to have heard and obeyed every detail of the Father’s plan in this remote place.  He might have sent the people away without the food, and the lesson of God’s abundant provision for those who trust Him!  But He didn’t.  He lingered with His Father, and He received all He needed to give to and for us!

If Jesus found this the only way to live fully the life He was here to live, why do we think we can live any other way?  The people in the wilderness, not even having the benefit of being born again, were willing to stay in the Presence of Jesus beyond making their immediate needs known, and without expecting anything more.  If we’ll only learn to wait, enjoying those precious moments in His presence, how much more of Him will He be able to impart to us!  How much more fully will we know, and be able to do, the will of our heavenly Father – just because we have waited on and with Him!  As those in the wilderness found, so we will find there is a feast that is more than enough for us!    

Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)  “But they that wait upon the Lord  shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”