Tag Archive | stress

Familiar Beauty

May2

by Kathy Stanford

I live in a small town (less than 1,000) and must drive several miles to get to any place with commercial services. As you can imagine, there are roads I’ve traveled so frequently I don’t really see the views any more. But once in a while a change of season will get my attention with a glorious display of God’s creation. When that happens, in that moment, I am freshly aware of the beauty that had become blindingly familiar. That kind of blind familiarity can happen while reading the Bible. I read God’s word every day, but sometimes I realize I’ve just read a whole passage with my eyes, while my mind was really somewhere else. And once in a while I am jolted to fresh awareness by the beauty of a long familiar verse.

I was reading in the book of Isaiah recently when I came to chapter 40. The chapter begins with reference to the end of Jerusalem’s suffering for her sin as it goes on to tell of the Lord’s coming and the glory of the Lord that will be revealed. The main body of the chapter is a glorious praise of God’s greatness and His complete sovereignty over all His creation, including man. It then comes back to the subject of sin and basically mocks our tendency to think we can hide our sin from God and escape due justice. But then God’s love becomes so beautifully evident as we see that even though He knows all about our wrong doing, He still watches over us. And when we realize we can not make it in our own strength we have the tender promise of verse 31.

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.

The Hebrew word translated wait is qavah, a verb meaning “to wait, look for, hope, expect”. I like all of those words – especially together. If I put in the full meaning it says “Yet those who wait, look for, hope and expect the Lord will gain new strength”. Some days I’m just waiting and hoping – “Lord take me outta here!” Other days I’m looking for and expecting – “Jesus I can’t wait to see your face and be with you!” But no matter what my mental state is, He has promised to give me strength. When life has me going at a run and when I’m just putting one foot in front of the other to get through the day, He enables me to rise above the trials and face life’s challenges. Wherever you are today, I hope you you will reach out to God and let Him give you the strength you need for this – and every – day.

“Dear Jesus, I’m so grateful for the power of your Word and the hope in your promises. Please strengthen me today for whatever life brings. Help me to trust you and glorify you in all I say and do.”

If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, or are unsure, click on the tab at the top of the page for more information.

For Chocolate and Much More

Nov5

I’ve a lot to give thanks for, but I’d rather grumble. Ever feel that way?

It’s been one of those weeks.

I’ve been:

  •       ignored
  •       overworked
  •       forced to do what others ought to do
  •       laughed at
  •       and lied to.

I’ve:

  •       listened to excuses
  •       repeated simple answers
  •       felt guilty for spending five extra minutes in the bathroom
  •       overindulged in chocolate
  •       and tomorrow doesn’t look to be much better.

All that in four days, and I’m not even raising teenagers!

All that in four days, and I still have reason to give thanks.

If you read my last two posts (and I hope you have) you know I’ve been thinking about thankfulness. It’s been on my mind again this week, and marrying my thankfulness to obedience has proven to be a challenge. A verse of scripture came to mind, just when I was about to divorce the two. In John 14:15 Jesus reminded me that if I love Him, I’ll keep His commandments. It’s not a stretch to say that if I am thankful for Him and to Him, I’ll be obedient to what he asks of me. Is it?

If Jesus’ words weren’t enough, my own words from last week scolded: “He made obedience to His commandments simple to understand. First: Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and secondly, love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:38-40). We have no excuse. No loopholes. Our obedience and thankfulness are inseparably married. We’re getting it wrong if we obey, yet grumble. We are liars when we offer thanksgiving, yet live comfortably in disobedience.”

So, here I am before you and the God of all creation asking forgiveness for my disobedience, and hoping you will love me the way Jesus said to love your “neighbor.”

Heavenly Father,

Some days it’s not easy to be me. Remind me tonight as I fall asleep how I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Remind me again in the morning when I wake. I have been given the ability to be patient. You help me to listen and understand. You gave me the privilege that comes with my vocation and a voice to speak truth in kindness. Be with me. I am not persecuted. I am barely uncomfortable. Forgive my grumbling attitude. Thank you for payday – the one next Friday, and the forever one. Have I thanked you lately for chocolate? Thanks again for chocolate, and so much more.

Amen.