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I read a blog recently that asked “Does God answer questions?” Well, today, I certainly say YES! The daily devotional once again hit its mark. I’m going through some stormy times. I’ve not been thrown in jail, stoned, or martyred… only difficult interpersonal relations with some key people in my life that hold great power over me (aka the bosses) – yes plural and my house sale falling through today. It’s hard to feel justified in lamenting to God when I have food to eat, clothes to wear, a beautiful child to love, and a church family that is beyond amazing. So, knowing that there is purpose behind all that God does comes to a relief to me. I hope that these current days of tribulation will be a learning experience for me to be an even better Christian. Hey, it’s Friday night! I could really go for a beer at the pub, but even better, a superhero movie at the dollar theater with my daughter. Keeping my chin up!
I just read the daily devotional on healing and really liked what it said, so want to talk about it here. The basis of the devotional was about healing and divorce. It is really terrible when two people that have committed to each other end up going separate ways. I’ve been divorced from my beautiful little girl’s daddy for a long time now and have gone through many stages of healing. I believe we are excellent parents and raising her very well even though we live in separate homes. It’s not ideal, but works for us. If anyone reads this and is going through a divorce, these are my after-the-fact suggestions to help get through.
-Read Mark 5:25-34
-Take naps to rest.
-Never argue in front of children or talk badly about the other parent.
-Don’t numb yourself with anything. God gave us tear ducts for a reason.
-Never get violent – walk away.
-Have grace
-Take time (this can mean YEARS) to heal
-Trust in God
After 8 years, I think I’ve finally got this healing thing under control. I told someone recently that the only way I can do everything I do is because of regular attendance at church. I think I cried through my first year of Sunday services and several one-on-one sessions with the pastor. Now, I have shifted my attention from “me, me, me” to the larger picture. This has opened up an entirely new relationship with God and the world to me.
Please take this with with you. . . . . “Peace be with you.”
“In God We Trust” This is the title of the children’s lesson I’m teaching in the morning. I’ll have the kids do the fall back into another kids arms and will trust that they will catch each other! They are all very smart kids, so I never know what they are going to come up with. They keep me on my toes. Link to the lesson of Abraham and Isaac. We’ll go do chalk drawing of the trek they took up the mountain.
One of the reasons I teach Sunday School is because I want to understand better myself. Here is a list I found on the Internet of John Wesley’s Holy Club questions. A lot of these have to do with trust.
- Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
- Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
- Can I be trusted?
- Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
- Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
- Did the Bible live in me today?
- Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
- Am I enjoying prayer?
- When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation starter questions ]
- Do I pray about the money I spend?
- Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
- Do I disobey God in anything?
- Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
- Am I defeated in any part of my life?
- Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
- How do I spend my spare time?
- Am I proud?
- Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
- Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
- Do I grumble or complain constantly?
- Is Christ real to me?
… let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Please also visit “It is Well with My Soul“ based on (Psalm 146:1). A powerful story and song in praise of the Holy Spirit. This song has been remade by Jars of Clay on their “Redemption” cd.
Monday morning. I look out the windows at the clouds in the sky. They look like a beautiful painting. The most perfect, fluffy little white clouds all lined up horizontally across the baby blue sky. I’m not sure if I was thinking Alfred Steiglitz then, but he would be in awe of these clouds. Or, maybe they deserved a good referral to Andy Warhol?
My daughter and her friend that stayed over wake up and start talking and playing with legos. I rush around to feed the animals, and then start on our waffles and sausages. I guessed the answer to the radio “what is that sound” contest. BUT, I couldn’t get through to be the 20th caller. She won $14,000 from the BEE 98.7 FM here in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Kids dispersed, and off to feed the animals at a friends. Their chickies and pet rat were happy to see me. Mash, lettuce, carrots, bean sprouts all around make for a good start to their day too.
I spent the day at work on the computer as I do every day. A couple cups of coffee, an apple as a snack, a yogurt later. Not, bad. I forgot something important though – water. It’s that stuff that makes up about 80% of us! Well, it seems I have a little virus that caught up with me and was so dehydrated that I ended up in the ER. My co-workers took me and stayed with me all night.
I was very scared and said a lot of prayers through my tears. A full moon night in an ER is busy. Lots of other folks much sicker than me, were there. They let me lay on the ER waiting room floor until I got in. I was touched by probably 6 different people that cared for me.
My daughter, Sam, and her daddy came later when I was almost ready to go home. I felt much better by then. Sam and I shared a bed while waiting for final labs and discharge. We had a good time watching the Simpsons. There is nothing like the hug of a child to make you feel better too.
The next morning. We are starting off a little slower. There is a young man with autism lost out in the mountains and a large volunteer search is starting. I pray that he is found quickly.
(PS He was found! We are witnesses to miracles every day. I think we just forget to pay attention. Thanks be to God.)
I never ever thought I would be considering a “blog!” My life is filled with activity from sun-up to sun-down and beyond. However, a very large part of my life is my church: my relationship with God and my brothers and sisters through baptism. It is in this calling to be a disciple for Christ that I created this blog.
I am currently a member of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Salt Lake City. We have an extraordinary amount of activity happening at the church and some of the most amazing people I’ve ever known. I am praying that the congregation will flourish in it’s 2nd century of life here in Utah.
Last Sunday, we started the liturgical calendar over again with Genesis 1. Maybe this will be the year that I read the bible cover to cover? I always get stuck at the begat, begat, begat part, so maybe some “skimming” will come in handy there? My daughter was really not enjoying the deceiving serpent in the garden of eden the other night during our bedtime story time.
From the previous Sunday lesson, I still need to put my house in order! But, I hope this will be a good start to share the glory of God, the Father – the Son – and the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you,
