Beyond Our Comprehension

As we do not know how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, we cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things.    Ecclesiastes 11:5

The verse above really jumped right off the page as I read them this morning.  Of course having recently learned of Kristen’s pregnancy played a huge role in those words having a fresh and new meaning to me!  That is one (of many!) things that makes the Bible a book set apart from all others.  The words take on new meaning as situations change in our lives and it is always fresh and vibrant and alive for us.  What would have been a passage we overlooked or perhaps skimmed over one day will leap off the page the next time….and so it was with this verse!

I can go to the internet and look up pictures of the various stages of pregnancy.  There are thanks to modern technology very clear and graphic pictures of each stage of pregnancy…far more than even when I was pregnant 25 years ago!  These show the stages of pregnancy…you can find books dealing with it that describes it….but there is no one, no professional even, who cay EXPLAIN the miracle of birth!  No one can explain how God can create that new little person within the mother’s womb!  They can explain the way the changes take place and the scientific and medical terms for them…..but no one knows just how God forms that new life!  However, it does not make it any less real and any less of a miracle!

We cannot always explain God’s ways.  We cannot explain why bad things happen.  We cannot explain the majesty and glory of the Lord.  In short, we cannot explain God and His ways….but that does not mean that He doesn’t exist…or that His works are not real.  It also does not make us less of a Christian or have less faith because we cannot explain God’s ways.  If we could explain God and His ways, He would be on our level…and not the omnipotent being that He is!  There are just things that we have to take on faith and faith alone….as they go beyond our comprehension and ability to describe and understand.

Sometimes we feel inadequate to spread God’s word because we do not know all the answers.  That should never stop us from sharing God’s love.  There is nothing wrong with admitting we do not know an answer.  We can try and find an answer if there is one to be found….and if there isn’t, there is nothing wrong with just admitting, “I don’t know.  That is not for us to know in this lifetime!” 

God is so powerful and on omnipotent that we will never be able to fully comprehend His ways, His actions, and His miracles.  These are just things that we must take on faith and faith alone.  We have to believe….even though we cannot see and cannot orally express these happenings.  We must believe that God is God….we are human and that there just things that only God can make happen….accept it and move forward. 

The beautiful autumn leaves, sunsets and sunrises….the first flowers of spring, a miraculous healing and the birth of a child are but a few of the countless things that only God can make happen…..and for that I am thankful. I take them for what they are…God’s gifts.  I will never be able to explain them all….but I know that whatever happens, it is because God has ordained it.

PRAYER:  Lord, when I am at a loss for words to explain something, grant me wisdom and strength to accept it as Your will. Thank You for all blessings. May I, Lord, be able to accept the trials and tragedies as well as the joys and blessings as all being part of Your plan even when they cannot be understood or explained. Amen

Strength From God

And now, O God, strengthen my hands. Nehemiah 6:9

Sometimes I feel inadequate for a task that is before me.  It may be because the task takes me from my comfort zone or it may be that I am tired physically and/or emotionally and do not feel that I have the strength and/or wisdom to complete the task before me.  And this is very true….I don’t!! But it isn’t just on those days when the tasks seems overwhelming….it is everyday….and every task.  No, it is not that I am totally weak and cannot handle anything….it is just that I know from where my strength comes…and without this strength, I can do NOTHING!   My strength comes from the Lord!

When I begin to doubt my abilities to do something or when I feel emotionally drained, I know that my help and my strength come from the Lord. When Nehemiah began to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem the task seemed daunting and overwhelming…and adding to it was the daunting they received from outsiders!  But they did not let that keep them from achieving their goal.  The reason they were successful?  God’s hand was upon them and guided them through the trials they faced, through being taunted, through the opposition.  And that is exactly what He does with each of us, each and every day. 

There are often in our lives times when we do not feel equal to the task.  Perhaps we feel that we don’t have enough time, don’t have the ability, don’t have the desire, or even don’t have the physical strength to accomplish what is before us.  If God has led us to it, He will lead us through it.  He will give us the strength, wisdom and direction we need to complete the tasks.  He will strengthen our hands.

The days ahead for Kristen and Adam will certainly be filled with challenges on all sides.  They will be faced with financial challenges, challenges to accomplish all that needs done before and after the baby is born…challenges on their time, the patience.  They will face challenges when making decisions…decisions that they have never had to face before.  I have placed all of their needs before the Lord.  I pray daily that they will turn to the Lord and ask for His strength…to strengthen their hands…as well as their minds, bodies and emotions.  I pray for the strength that I need to make the right decisions in life and to have the physical strength and wisdom to carry out all tasks before me.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  [Philippians 4:13]

PRAYER:  Lord, today and everyday, I turn my thoughts to You and I place before You the tasks of the day…..I can do all things through You who strengthens me. Amen

Out of My Comfort Zone

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.   Ephesians 2:10

I love to write.  I usually write at least one meditation a day.  It is something that I feel God has called me to do.  He “prepared in advance” for me to do this work for Him!  I also lead an online prayer group and write prayer responses for people requesting prayers.  All of this, I believe that God had prepared in advance for me and that they are my calling. 

Recently, I was asked by my pastor to be pulpit supply one Sunday when she was going to be on vacation.  Now that took me somewhat out of my comfort zone, but not entirely as I have been writing for quite some time so preparing  the sermon would not be too much of a challenge. Additionally, I had served as liturgist in the past, so preaching would actually be just enlarging on liturgist.  However, it was somewhat of a challenge but I knew that God would be with me and He was and it went well!

Yesterday however was a whole other ballgame!  I went to a Newborns in Need meeting where many projects were in various stages of completion.  The items being made will go to the neonatal intensive care unit of the local children’s hospital for the premature babies.  There is a variety of items being created and in various “mediums”…..from sewing to crocheting to knitting.  When I got there, I helped set up tables for the volunteers to work at.  Talk about being overwhelmed and really feeling out of my comfort zone! I was “introduced” to a “self healing” cutting mat, a rotary cutter, and a serger…all of which I had never seen before!  I saw samples and items being made and, had I not come with another couple, I would have probably at this point turned around and gone back home…but seeing as how home is about a 20-25 minute drive away….I stayed! However, I sure did not feel that I had much to contribute!

As the day wore on, I was taught how the cutting mat “self heals” and that I did not need to fear making cutting marks on it.  I learned how to use a rotary cutter and to cut pieces for newborn outfits.  I learned what that strange looking sewing machine called the serger did! While I am not adept at sewing in any form, in knitting or crocheting, I was given work to do that I could handle…..and I did learn a few new things as well.  Granted, I will never be a Martha Stewart and I will not be able to whip up a new dress to wear in fifteen minutes after having sewn new draperies, table cloth with matching napkins, and napkin holders that coordinate so well with the newly created centerpiece!  However, even though I was taken out of my comfort zone, God did have some good works for me to do…..that He created in advance. He led me to this and He did indeed lead me through it! 

There are times when we will be asked to leave our comfort zone. Some things are more than we can handle…..and I do believe that God would never lead us to anything above our abilities. However, we must be willing to give God a chance to work in our lives and to expand our horizons!  I enjoyed my day working on parts of projects for the premature newborns.  While most all of my work was of the mundane, run of the mill variety, I am thankful that I was patiently taught what needed to be done so that those who have been gifted with sewing talents would be able to complete the work.  I am thankful that I God has prepared in advance work for me to do….and I look forward to the next challenge that He will lead me to….because if He leads me to it…He will certainly lead me through it!

PRAYER: Lord grant me strength and courage to leave my comfort zone and to do the work that You have prepared in advance for me to do. Amen

Condoning?

A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.   Proverbs 25:11

I have been pondering the condoning concept for a couple of weeks now.  It is not an easy concept to internalize or completely understand…..I am finding out.  At one point I thought it was a cut and dry concept….either you approved of something or you didn’t…and if you didn’t approve of something, you certainly wouldn’t condone it.  However, condoning or not condoning is not that simple.

When my son and his girlfriend came to me and told me that she is pregnant, a thousand and one emotions swept over me.  I need not list them here, I am sure they are all quite evident.  I then had to sort out my feelings.  Then came one of my biggest challenges….the very issue of condoning…..and how I handle the future as word gets out and as I inform people.  By mentioning it, am I condoning their actions?  If I don’t mention it, am I being cold and not supporting them?  Those and a cart load of other emotions and thoughts filled my mind.  To be honest, I am still sorting them out as other challenges enter the picture.   However, condoning is something that has really taken a lot of my thought time recently and I have spent a great deal of time in prayer as a result.

When I was first told of the news, I told Kristen and Adam that I was disappointed in their actions.  I told them that while I love them both dearly and I will love the baby, I did not approve of them “putting the cart before the horse”.  I told them we would be emotionally supportive of them and I can and will separate the deed from the people involved! (That was my mother’s lifestyle!)  In that way, I felt that I was being supportive of them and at the same time not condoning what had transpired.

When we fail to express our views and our stance on something we can easily come across as condoning behavior that is not in accordance with God’s will.  However, when we express our views, it is essential to do so in love and not in a threatening or belittling way.  Love the sinner….hate the sin!

We can condone actions simply by failing to speak out and express our true feelings. Sometimes this is done so as not to create “hard feelings” or “upset the apple cart”.  While it may temporarily keep feelings from being hurt, in truth it is a form of lying.  It is not expressing true feelings and being totally honest with one another.  If we go through life not taking a stand on our Christian morals and beliefs, we might as well not have them.  This does not mean that we must shout from the street corner day and night.  However, when we encounter a situation that goes counter to our beliefs and our morals, we need to gently and with love speak the truth.  “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold…”  It could be what would make a whole world of difference in someone’s life…perhaps (not always by any means!).…getting them back on the right path in life.  To forgive means to ignore, close eyes to, overlook.  When we do that when something is wrong, we are in essence saying, by NOT saying anything….that it is fine.  Yes, there are indiscretions that we need to overlook…..and not make a big deal out of.  That goes in the name of peace and harmony.  However, we do need to be truthful and sometimes not speaking is in essence lying! 

Speak the truth in love at all times and the truth will set you free!

PRAYER:  Lord, open my mouth to speak the words of truth in love and in accordance with Your direction.  Amen