This may seem like an odd title for a blog entry but it is very representative of my past few weeks. My body is physically tired from the stress of my job and the mental work that seems to surround every day. God has been faithful to provide a job for me. The job allows me to have a place to live, food to eat, and stuff I want. I have allowed the physical tiredness to distract me from the provision of God. Tonight, I was corrected.
Yes, God is faithful to give me what I need in the form of physical things. He is also faithful to give me what I need spiritually and mentally even when that means correcting me. Our church has a visiting evangelist this week. Tonights lesson was for me. It was all about being a mature Christian. 1. Mature Christians do not gossip. There is always an encouraging, uplifting, building message from a mature Christian. God showed me that I have some growing up to do. 2. Mature Christians see the blessings of burdens. God has been faithful to call to remembrance how the trials and burdens I've been through have been for His purpose. He's been working with me on this for some time. 3. Mature Christians know that to live IS Christ and to die is gain. God has much for me to learn here though He only gives me what I can handle each time.
(Lord God, forgive me for my loose lips, for the hurtful things I've said, for the negative tone about my church, for each time I have fallen short. Thank you for bridging the gulf between us so that I can know You. I cannot do this under my power, You alone are the power needed. I pray for that power to be evident through my life. Thank you for the salvation You have given to me. In Jesus name, I pray.)
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, August 22, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Life Writing: Life as Usual
Now, the way I hear it told, for me everything began sometime in the summer of 1966. A young couple in rural woods of Oklahoma found that they were going to have a new addition to their family. The doctor said to expect this new family member sometime around March 23 of next year. So in order to pass the time, R and D went about life as usual - though they could hardly wait.
At this time, the green house on the hill by the road was home to them and the two rambunctious members of the family- 3 year old A and 1 year old T. Grandpa G and Grandma E lived just a mile or so up the road and across the creek on the old homestead land. Grandpa and Grandma H lived on the south side of town on Memorial Road. Various other family members- aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandparents, and in-laws- were located in the vicinity as well.
As summer began to wind down, A’s 4th birthday came and went. Autumn was in full swing when T’s 2nd birthday came and went. Thanksgiving soon flew by and Christmas was just around the corner. R took a job working on off-shore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast. It was still life as usual.
Winter ushered in Christmas and the New Year. R celebrated his birthday. Then, unexpectedly, almost a week later, D started experiencing contractions. A quick trip to the doctor to make sure everything was all right was in order and then it would be back to life as usual. So, off she went. Soon, R was notified that D was in labor and should probably try to come home. She spent 24 hours in uncomfortable but not highly painful labor. He made it back to Broken Bow in record time.
Then, at 10:05 AM on a Wednesday, I breathed my first independent breath. I was a fuzzy red bundle weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs and 2 oz while measuring 19 ½ inches long. I was a little more than seven weeks early but overall, I was in great health. There appeared to be a minor issue with my left eye as it was swollen shut. And, with that being the worst, the doctor sent me home with my experienced Mom after only a couple of days at the hospital.
I was honored with a given name that means maiden. My middle name means, well, faith. You know, the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will. It also is defined as confident belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing thereby producing trust, loyalty and allegiance. I am aware there is power in what you name a child. You may not realize it at the time but it will make a difference in their life. Mom decided as a little girl that if she ever had a little girl, her name would be Faith and so it was. And, then, there was a certain song which provided my given name. I refuse to share it here.
There was joy and celebration everywhere (music begins…). The world was singing my song (music swells…). My birth was announced from the highest rooftops and proclaimed throughout the lands (music crescendo…). It would never again be “life as usual” (music crash). Okay, so it wasn’t really such a big deal after all and life did go on as usual; but, I am telling or, um, re-telling this story.
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| Somewhere in the rural woods. |
As summer began to wind down, A’s 4th birthday came and went. Autumn was in full swing when T’s 2nd birthday came and went. Thanksgiving soon flew by and Christmas was just around the corner. R took a job working on off-shore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast. It was still life as usual.
Winter ushered in Christmas and the New Year. R celebrated his birthday. Then, unexpectedly, almost a week later, D started experiencing contractions. A quick trip to the doctor to make sure everything was all right was in order and then it would be back to life as usual. So, off she went. Soon, R was notified that D was in labor and should probably try to come home. She spent 24 hours in uncomfortable but not highly painful labor. He made it back to Broken Bow in record time.
Then, at 10:05 AM on a Wednesday, I breathed my first independent breath. I was a fuzzy red bundle weighing in at a whopping 5 lbs and 2 oz while measuring 19 ½ inches long. I was a little more than seven weeks early but overall, I was in great health. There appeared to be a minor issue with my left eye as it was swollen shut. And, with that being the worst, the doctor sent me home with my experienced Mom after only a couple of days at the hospital.
I was honored with a given name that means maiden. My middle name means, well, faith. You know, the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will. It also is defined as confident belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing thereby producing trust, loyalty and allegiance. I am aware there is power in what you name a child. You may not realize it at the time but it will make a difference in their life. Mom decided as a little girl that if she ever had a little girl, her name would be Faith and so it was. And, then, there was a certain song which provided my given name. I refuse to share it here.
There was joy and celebration everywhere (music begins…). The world was singing my song (music swells…). My birth was announced from the highest rooftops and proclaimed throughout the lands (music crescendo…). It would never again be “life as usual” (music crash). Okay, so it wasn’t really such a big deal after all and life did go on as usual; but, I am telling or, um, re-telling this story.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Faith and Bella
Bella followed us blackberry picking from Granny's deep woods house. She loved all the smells and was having a wonderful time. She walked nearly a mile with us and then we decided to drive to another location for berries - wild berries. Upon arrival, we parked and went a little way into the woods and Bella was nose to the ground checking every smell.
Then, she saw the rabbit. She barked and started after the bunny. We attempted to call her off for just a moment. I told the berry pickers she'd be fine. After all, she's a Bassett, they love to hunt.
Well, she found that rabbit again and off she went, barking and chasing. She probably ran that poor rabbit for half a mile through the woods. She was baying the whole time. I told the berry pickers she'd be fine. As long as we could hear her, she wasn't too far away. I had faith. After all, she's a Bassett hound.
Time passed and my faith evaporated. When tried by time, my faith dissipated like a morning fog. Poof! Gone. Vanished. I started to worry. I didn't want her to be lost. I had to go looking for her. I called. She answered. I called. She answered. Time and again, I called and she answered. But, she was still deep in the woods. Eventually, she grew quiet and I went back and forth looking for her.
Finally, I decided to head back to where she started chasing the rabbit in hopes that my faith had promise. Just as we began down the trail to the spot, she came loping along. Her tongue was hanging as low as her ears but she was a content doggy. Yes, she did just what a good Bassett hound was to do. I, on the other hand, learned just how weak my faith is.
(Father God, help me to have faith rooted deeply and strongly in you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
 |
| Bella |
Well, she found that rabbit again and off she went, barking and chasing. She probably ran that poor rabbit for half a mile through the woods. She was baying the whole time. I told the berry pickers she'd be fine. As long as we could hear her, she wasn't too far away. I had faith. After all, she's a Bassett hound.
Time passed and my faith evaporated. When tried by time, my faith dissipated like a morning fog. Poof! Gone. Vanished. I started to worry. I didn't want her to be lost. I had to go looking for her. I called. She answered. I called. She answered. Time and again, I called and she answered. But, she was still deep in the woods. Eventually, she grew quiet and I went back and forth looking for her.
Finally, I decided to head back to where she started chasing the rabbit in hopes that my faith had promise. Just as we began down the trail to the spot, she came loping along. Her tongue was hanging as low as her ears but she was a content doggy. Yes, she did just what a good Bassett hound was to do. I, on the other hand, learned just how weak my faith is.
(Father God, help me to have faith rooted deeply and strongly in you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
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