THE GIFT OF HEARING

     The ability to hear...what a gift that I often take for granted.  Until recently.  Our youngest has had some minor issues with his ears, and though it looks like it will resolve itself in the near future, it has brought a new outlook to life lately.

     "Did you put away your toys?" demands responses like, "What boys?"

     "Did you finish your Math?" comes back with, "I don't want a bath."

     The worst, though, is certainly when my questions are followed by nothing. Silence.  Not because of being ignored but simply an inability for him to hear at all.

     It's caused me to ponder something on a deeper level -- how often does God speak to me and find a similar experience?


     He speaks to my heart and shows me someone who has a need and I respond with going to the store and buying something for myself.


     Maybe He prompts my heart to call someone on the phone and I click on my email to see if there are any messages.


     Or worse, He waits for me to take time with Him and I rush through my busy day never stopping to acknowledge Him at all.


     God has made each of us for relationship -- not just with those around us that we can see and touch, but with HIM!   He speaks to our hearts and wants to tell us that we are loved.  He offers important tasks that He wants us to carry out on His behalf, but we sail on by missing the opportunity altogether.


     How can we clear our ears to "hear" what God has to say to us?


     Often it's by pausing and simply remembering to listen.  It's also in taking time in His Word and asking Him to speak to us.  And just being willing to follow that still, small voice when you know you're being encouraged to take a step.


     May our ears be open and our hearts be ready to hear from our God.

"Listen and HEAR my voice;

pay attention and HEAR

what I say."

Isaiah 28:23

Last Times

     Lori's chubby knees flew across the floor, as peels of laughter bubbled up from inside . . . she was such a fast baby.  Her mother watched from nearby and wished these days could last, but she knew in her heart it wasn't possible.  Her little Lori was pulling up on furniture daily and testing her little legs to see if they would carry her better than her calloused, experienced knees. 

     How could her mother know this would be the LAST time she would crawl?  If she'd known, she would have reached for the camera to capture it just one more time. 

     Tomorrow baby Lori would discover the inevitable truth -- legs are faster than knees, and this stage would be gone forever!  The LAST time.

     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Mike's briefcase was in hand and his coat zipped up tight . . . a late night meeting demanded he miss another night at home.  His lips brushed against his wife's forehead and he whispered his goodbyes.  His wife, Nancy, knew she would be asleep long before her husband was home  -- she responded with a brief farewell, although she still fought the frustration that simmered under the surface. 

     How could she know this would be the LAST time she would kiss her husband goodbye?  If she'd known, she would've let go of those trivial issues and fully embraced the moment.

     This night a drunk driver would take Nancy's husband from her, and he would be gone to eternity!  The LAST time.

     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     Two examples of LASTS -- one ends in healthy development and one in tragedy, but neither was anticipated.  That is often the way it is with LASTS. 

     We spend our lifetimes waiting for FIRSTS, don't we?

• the first breath
• the first smile
• the first tooth
• the first step
• the first word
• then later... the first time behind a wheel
• the first date

     But how aware are we of LASTS?

• the last time they will crawl
• the last time they will nurse
• the last time they will fit in the sink for a bath
• the last time they will need us to tie their shoes
• then later... last time they will hold our hand
• the last time they will live under our roof

     David asked the Lord in Psalm 39:4 to, "Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life." 

     David cried out for the balance that comes from knowing each day is a gift of its own.

     God doesn't purpose for any of us to live in fear that tragedy will strike, but neither does He want us to take life for granted.  The people God has strategically placed in our lives -- spouses, children, relatives, friends -- need to be treasured for each moment we are given with them. 

     Let go of the petty frustrations.

     Embrace the celebrations of the day.

     God, show us how temporary our life on earth is and how we can make the most of the minutes we have with those we love!  Bring the perspective that we must have to live each day to the fullest of what You intend for us!

"Now, Lord, what do I look for?

My hope is in You."

Psalm 39:7

Strength

Strength - something we all need to accomplish our daily requirements, but not always something that is easy to come by. As I have been reading through verses that talk about strength and where it should come from, I have been encouraged in my own life and want to share it with you. Whether it is for a middle of the night feeding with a crying infant or another question from a toddler, the sudden death of a loved one or a task that seems more than we can manage alone - there is strength available. In fact, the more tired or overwhelmed we feel, it seems the more ready we are to receive that strength.

Hebrews 11 talks about weakness being turned into strength, and one of my favourite passages about the promise for strength as a mother, comes from Isaiah 40:29-31 where it says, "He (God) gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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." That scripture paints a beautiful picture of how I want to feel - I don't want to live my life always tired and exhausted, but full of life and strength.

Yes, there are times when the strength we will receive as we are asking, seems only just enough for the task at hand - but that is when we realize we have all we need. In II Corinthians 12, the Lord tells Paul that His power is made perfect in weakness, and then Paul shares in verse 10, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." It is a strength that does not come from 10 hours of sleep a night and a perfectly balanced life (although I believe we still have to be wise with our time and choices) but it is a strength that lifts us above all the natural circumstances and helps us to SOAR. God knows us and our situations more perfectly than even we can understand them, and He has promised to give what is required IF we ask.

How do we ask? It is simply pausing in the moments of our day and saying, "God, I am _______(tired, overwhelmed, frustrated,...) and I don't feel I can go on. You have said in Your Word that when I am weak, You will be strong and that is what I need right now. I confess I cannot ___________(listening to whining, deal with a screaming infant, love my family well) without You. Please come into my moment, my day, my life and fill me with You. I want to do this in Your strength, not my weakness."

Be strengthened - God is our very present help in times of trouble!

Reminding God

What on earth might we need to remind God of? Is He not God and therefore knows everything? ABSOLUTELY! But this is where I am going with my thoughts - although God knows everything there is to know about each one of us, He is very clear that we are to bring our needs to Him. If we are not doing that, then it is not very realistic to expect Him to be answering if we are not asking.

It is always dangerous to try to draw an illustration of who God is from our role as parents, but I will try ~ Let's say my eight year old has told me that she does not have a dress that fits her anymore and she would like to get a new one. In fact, I had already looked in her closet and knew she would be needing a new one soon. Therefore it is a fair request on her behalf and I promise her that I will get her a dress at some point. But what if I go about my week with all that I need to do and don't take time to get her a dress? What will happen? She will remind me that I need to take her to get one. But if I have a very full week it is possible I might not get to the store. What if we go into the next week and I completely forget that she even needs one? Is she more likely to get a dress by saying nothing or by petitioning me regularly and reminding me of what I promised her? Obviously by reminding me of my promise to her.

This is where I am going ~ God is all-knowing and the Bible says He knows what we need before we even ask. Therefore it is not a matter of Him not knowing or forgetting what we need, but for us to know how to approach Him. There is a wonderful parable that Jesus tells in order that we might understand how to pray and it follows immediately after Jesus has taught the Lord's Prayer.

The parable is found in Luke 11 and says this, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me and I have nothing to set before him.' Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's BOLDNESS he will get up and give him as much as he needs."

There are many applications that can be made from those verses, but what I want to encourage is this: When we approach our Heavenly Father with boldness of what we have need for, we do not offend Him - we put into action His operating system. Not only are we assured that He will provide what we need but that He will go to work quickly on our behalf. We know that God's timing is still not ours and we must "be still and know that He is God". But as we are doing that, may we be boldly going to His throne and "reminding Him" of His promises to us. Whether it is for the salvation of your children, the provision of finances or the healing of a friend - God is able and ready, but allows us the privilege of partnering through prayer.

God's Amazing Creation

Do you ever get excited about all that God has made? I mean, really excited - fully in awe of our God and His amazing creation? I do, and sometimes I feel almost childish for the thrill I feel when I see birds, animals or or the scenery, but I can't help it. Creation connects with something that is very deep inside and I think God wants it to be that way.

I was recently blessed to have a time of solitude in a quiet place outdoors and I came away so refreshed. It was an intentional time, set aside to be quiet with God, enjoy His Creation and reflect on His Word. I know that time spent that way restores me in ways much deeper than a 'spa getaway' ever could. Oswald Chambers said, "If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms and every leaf that fades." That is exactly what I feel like I have been learning - God reaches to us through all these things He has made.

In Genesis 1 we read that, "God created the heavens and the earth." Then in Psalms 24:1 it says, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." Later on in the Psalms, it tells us, "The whole earth is full of His glory." And in Isaiah, the earth is described as God's footstool. All these verses remind me that God has given us a very special gift in all that we are surrounded by, but it is our responsibility to take time and enjoy Him in it.

We cannot enjoy what we cannot see, and we cannot grow in relationships we do not invest in. If we want to be close to the Creator of our incredible earth, who happens to be our Heavenly Father, then it is going to take a real investment of effort and time ~ it will not happen automatically. But there is good news, we will always get back more than we could ever give out.

Experience your Creator and linger in His glory - He made it with you in mind!