Expect the Unexpected

     Life happens.  We have all heard that and experienced it.  At times, however, it can be discouraging especially when you have plans for a special day.  This past Sunday, my husband and I were headed for a wonderful day of celebrating his birthday with our son and his family.  We were also going to attend a production of "Mary Poppins" in which our grandson had a major role.  All seemed well as we headed down the highway when I started to experience some chest pain.  This is the second time this has happened to me in the last couple of years so I was concerned.  I told my husband about it, and we had to abort our plans.  I ended up in the hospital for two days for testing but thankfully, everything turned out okay.

Our grandson Aiden

     At first, all I could think about was how I had spoiled my husband's birthday and disappointed my grandson, but as my husband reminded me, I had to take care of my health.  Certainly, we cannot predict when something is going to happen especially in the time in which we live.  No one plans to be sick, have an accident or lose their job.  Life in this fallen world is anything but perfect.  Yet God works through every circumstance we find ourselves in and in the end, brings good out of what Satan means for evil.  Romans 8:28 says:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to His purpose."   So how did God work things together for good in this situation?
     First, I had several opportunities to pray with different people in the hospital.  A nurse on duty at night was in terrible pain and was trying to work until her relief nurse came.  She kept telling me how sorry she was that she was in pain.  I looked at her and asked if she would like to pray.  She agreed and we had precious time with the Lord.  I had a chance to pray with my husband, my son and another nurse.  Talk about a prayer meeting!  It is easy to see God's hand in all things if we will just pay attention.
     Looking back, I remember my Great Aunt Mildred Eitzman going around our local hospital cheering other patients up and praying with them even as she battled breast cancer.  She always had a smile on her face.  It was a lesson in courage and commitment despite her circumstances.  God used her till the end of her journey here.  In each of our lives, I am certain we know someone who has faced a giant and won the battle through Christ.  This is what we must recall when the unexpected happens.
     Because we face these events in life, we need to lean into the arms of the Lord and trust in His sovereignty.  He has us in His grip and He will never change or let go.  This morning I read in Psalm 32:7:  "You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance."  This is an example of David's trust in God.  When trouble came into his life, he ran to the Lord not away from Him.  We need to do the same.
     Another verse that gives us confidence in the grace and mercy of the Lord is found in Jeremiah 29:11:  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."  Before we are even born, God knows us intimately and formed us for His purpose and plan.  As we walk each day, we need to remember this truth.  All those little detours in our life can be an opportunity to serve and live for Him.
     If we live expecting the unexpected, we will not be surprised when something comes at us "out of the blue".  Our comfort and strength can be found in the Lord who helps us walk through those times when things do not go as planned.  Remember that it is God who supplies us with all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  Trust in Him who is able to do far more for us than we are able to do for ourselves.  Selah!


   
     

Don't Forget to Remember

     As Mother's Day approaches, I have so many fond remembrances of my mother who left this earth many years ago.  Her teaching and encouragement have often served as my port in the storms of life especially her love of the Psalms.  She taught me early in life to turn to the Psalms and pray them as she did.  She found comfort in their words and read them every evening.  In addition, she also closed every note, card or letter with the blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 ("The Lord bless you and keep you...").  Of course, at the time, I did not think much of the way she ended her writing as I was not a committed Christian, but now I cherish this memory.  My mother planted so many seeds of faith in my life that God has brought to full flower as I have walked with Him.  For these and so many things, I am grateful.
     I also remember, with a chuckle, the many "Mom-isms" my mother gave me when I was growing up.  Things like:  "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" (translation:  Be nice to others not unkind); "Be careful to put on clean underwear without holes in them in case you are in an accident" (I never did get that one as they generally cut clothes off of you if you are in serious shape);
"Never let the sun go down on your wrath" (translation:  don't go to bed angry as you will not sleep...make peace with others); "If you are too sick to go to school, you are too sick to play outside" (self-explanatory); "Don't jump on that roll-away bed.  It is meant for sleeping not jumping" (said to me moments before I jumped on the roll-away bed, fell and cut open my head resulting in stitches).  Of course, there were many others that I found myself repeating to my own children.  It is good to remember the words our mothers have passed on to us for they were said out of love.

Mother's Day flowers from our children!

     In the same way, we ought to meditate daily on all that God has done for us throughout our lives.  Wouldn't it be a blessing to sit down and make a list of His blessings during the day instead of thinking about the things that went wrong?  Looking at Scripture, we find in Psalm 106 the words of praise but also the words of confession and repentance.  The Psalmist started by praising God:  "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 106:1)  Then the author goes on to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to the Lord and their covenant with Him.  Recounting and thinking about our sins is a good thing for us to remember.  When we see what a great sinner we have been, we can truly appreciate the wonderful salvation of our Lord.  Likewise, we need to recall God's commandments and direction to us in the way that we live.  Repetition is good for us as it was for the Israelites who tended to quickly forget all God had done for them.  This is why we need to teach our children and grandchildren the truths of walking with Christ.  If we do not teach them truth, the world will certainly instruct them on how to follow their fleshly desires.
     One of the surest ways to remember the instruction of the Lord is to read His Word daily and spend time in prayer.  Each time we pick up the Bible, we find in its pages an encounter with God.  Psalm 119:11 tells us to hide God's Word in our heart so we might not sin against Him.  The more we know His character and understand His precepts the more we will be able to follow Him in obedience.  Looking back on our lives gives us perspective as we see how God has worked in our behalf
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     Just as I often sit and think about my mother and all the good things she taught me, it is also good to meditate on God's Word, His blessings, who we are in Christ and what God has done in our lives.  This gives us a reality check.  Psalm 106 did that for the people of Israel.  They needed to remember their sin and God's mercy upon them.  Revival begins when our heart is tuned to the Lord's heart.  Let us never forget to remember all He has done for us and is doing in us!  Selah!

P.S.  Happy Mother's Day!