Touched Near the Tendon
Posted by Sarah on Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 1:59pm
All week I’ve been preparing for a devotion for the Stone Croft Leadership Summit that I am attending on this weekend. The theme is “Every Leader has a Dream.” The topics include: How to determine what dream you were designed to live, from dream to reality, beating the dream busters and more with life coaches in attendance. My regional director asked me to address the question, “How do dreamers pray?” For the last few weeks I’ve been praying over the question and through my reading God has lead me to some great thoughts. I can’t share it all until after I get back…or I’ll spill the beans too early, but my readings in scripture have become amazingly personal. As I wrestled with what to share in a ten minute devotion, I discovered there is so much I could share from the life of Joseph, Isaiah, Ananias, and Paul – just to mention a few dreamers in the Bible. But I couldn’t find in scripture where Joseph actually prayed for a dream. But I did discover Jacob, his father, wrestled with God and asked for a blessing. God in His graciousness could have granted a generational blessing to Joseph which is promised often throughout scripture. Just to review, Joseph was 17 years old, a shepherd boy, and favored by his father Jacob. Joseph had a dream that there were stalks of grain in the field, and one stood erect and all the others bowed down. The interpretation of the dream was that Joseph’s brothers would bow down to him. You can imagine this seemingly prideful dream ticked off his brothers. The brothers threw him in a cistern, where later he was found and sold as a slave to Pharaoh. For 20 years he stayed in the prison ward, and years later he found favor when he humbly interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams preparing the nation for a time of harvest and famine. Due to this he was placed 2nd in command to that of Pharaoh. Twenty-seven years later, his dream was fulfilled when his brothers came to ask for grain during the famine, they bowed before him. Then the thought occurred to me, 15 years ago, God planted a dream within my heart…and this week the fulfillment of my dream is scheduled to land on my doorstep; I have plenty of prayers I can share as a dreamer! (I’ll have to post these next week…to be continued!) But I would like to share a real dream that inspired me with hope that one of my prayer partners had over a year ago, and I was in it. My friend and our worship leader from church were also in the dream. We were in a home, and the worship leader arrived and he was carrying lanterns. In the background, my friend repeatedly heard the words “Sons of Peniel, sons of Peniel.” As we researched the meaning of Peniel, we found that it comes from the story in the Bible when Jacob wrestles with God during the night…begging for God’s blessing. Peniel means “face of God.” Jacob named it this for this was the location that he saw the face of God and lived. I continued to read the passage and Jacob did not want to let go until the man blessed him. Because he had struggled with God and with men and had overcome, God blessed him there. The next morning, Jacob was limping because of his hip “The socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon” deep within. After reading this passage, I recalled the dream and now to read about Jacob’s pain in his hip…The correlation stirred in my heart, “I too have wrestled with God and man to reach my dream.” Now I will pray the words the man requested, “Let me go…for it is daybreak.” Let me go – free with healing, ready to serve with strength and with your blessing. Bless me, O LORD, indeed – that our faces would reflect the face of God – for your glory. Okay, you might be saying along with Joseph’s brothers, “’Here comes that dreamer!’ She’s lost it!” I do believe God still communicates through dreams. Dreams give us hope, a vision of the future. As I studied Joseph’s dream, I thought he too was crazy for sharing it with his brothers who “hated him all the more.” But Psalm 105:19 says, “(God) sent a man before them…sold as a slave…till what he foretold came to pass, to prove the word of the Lord true!” We see that Joseph telling his dream was not a mistake. God fulfilled his dream and proved himself faithful…as The Dream Keeper! At the time when Joseph shared his dream, the dream seemed unbelievable! But at the proper time, the dream became practical… “Feed my sheep.” For me, the dream of publishing seemed unreal. Met with lots of uncertainty and difficulty, but God was faithful to keep his promises. I encourage you through prayer to delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires (dreams) of your heart. Commit your way to him, trust him. He will do this, (he will fulfill them) (Psa. 37:4-5). When we think of dreams we think of puffy white clouds with the backdrop of a baby blue sky.Though we are given dreams, we are not immune to the difficulties along the way. Don’t be surprised if you are deeply touched “near the tendon” with a suffering. The hardships we encounter may very likely be the most critical part of our journey – to fulfill our dream. God works all things for good – God’s purpose for our dreams mixed with storm clouds is to know Him and make him known. And then, in the dark storm clouds, God strews across the sky a glimpse of a beautiful rainbow for his glory, giving us hope – to let us know he is with us.
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Steam Room Mentality
Posted by Sarah on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 6:13am
Today I arrived at the YMCA for a swim, and as I walked in the door I read a sign, “Pool closed until Sunday, Feb. 28th”. Slightly aggravated, I ran into my new swimming buddy, Jeff, the fifty year old was in a car accident, has some disabilities, and has a great way of renewing my perspective. He told me some kid pooped in the pool and we couldn’t swim, which brought a good laugh to me. But it actually was time for the pool’s bi-annual cleaning. I had just met a friend for a bagel with loads of cream cheese. Anticipating that I was going to work off my bagel later, I enjoyed every bite. My friend and I talked about our similar back, hip, and leg pains. We compared notes of what we could and couldn’t do as far as our activities were concerned. Her restrictions from her doctor really made common sense. As I listened to her doctor’s cautions for her to walk shorter walks twice a day, no vacuuming or toilet washing, I wondered if I have not healed as quickly because I’ve been so adamant about working out and spring cleaning before the books arrived. I have not slowed down to heal completely. I had not been choosing to restrain myself from doing all that I really wanted to do. As we talked, I shared that I had this list that I wanted to accomplish before the books release, which we are told may be mid-March. Literally, here it comes - March madness!! Realizing that this time of being injured might be God’s provision for me to “be still and know” – know that “all is well” – know that God’s timing is perfect – know that this time is to be “a time of refreshing” before I hit the road to share the message. I realized after talking with my friend today that I needed to cease striving and rest in the fact that my body is not physically ready for the strain of spring cleaning, or even running again. I need to let my agenda go – to grasp God’s. So, since I couldn’t swim and I had driven to the Y, I decided to walk my mile, do my core exercises, and then sit in the steam room. I am a rare woman, I actually like to sweat. I think it makes me feel like I got a good workout. Now that I am swimming I just don’t sweat, so I’ve resolved to sit in the heat until I do. “Burr-cheee,” the steam quickly filled the tiny white room like fog. The warmth enveloped my body and immediately I felt relaxed. I happened to be alone and spent a few minutes in prayer. As I sat in the steam, it occurred to me that the steam is such a great visual aid of the Holy Spirit. Like the Israelites in the desert, the LORD led them, with a “cloud by day and fire by night.” There sure are times in my life I wish God’s leading was clearer. I wish we could see the Spirit all around us, leading us. But I guess that’s where our faith comes into play. We must walk by faith not by sight; fixing our eyes on the unseen.” (2 Cor. 5:7, 2 Cor. 4:18) There are times we sense the Spirit’s warmth, or are so moved we might even break out into a sweat! These occasions might be rare, but our spirit identifies with His Spirit…and we just know His presence is with us. Take with you today the steam room mentality – His Spirit is in you, His loving presence surrounds you, He holds you with is righteous right hand. Believe in the unseen. Let it calm your soul and know that “all is well.” Trust. God is leading. I’m adopting my friend’s common sense restrictions for awhile, and God’s agenda to wait on the spring cleaning to do list. I’m thankful for a husband who vacuums. If I could just get him to clean the toilets.
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What's Your POV?
Posted by Sarah on Friday, February 19, 2010 at 3:08pm
Our family enjoys watching most any sport, but we hunker down every night to catch sight of the Olympic Games. I suppose we enjoy these events because they are uncommon to see on a regular basis - downhill skiing, the luge, speed skating, and curling. This year has been especially eventful to see the USA women’s team win the gold in our first downhill skiing event. One night this week the announcers mentioned that each skier had a POV…point of view…of the slope below. This POV was how they would conquer the challenging downhill slopes the fastest for the victory. Unfortunately, some athletes POV overlooked the simple strides of a steady start, while others in the past celebrated too early and lost the gold. The lesson observed here…the whole race counts! But concentration is needed at the beginning, middle, and end. No moment allows for slackness in effort or focus until the finish line is crossed. This principle was honed in to my heart this morning when I read “Remember, it is the last few yards that tell.” I immediately thought of a football game – to score the touchdown sometimes the greatest efforts are made by the offence – and defense on the one yard line! The devotion continued to the effect of looking at our prayer life and then actions. How many of our prayers have gone unanswered because those of us who prayed did not endure to the end? Then the words “Can you endure to the end?” brought a resolve within me. I must finish this race God’s way, utilizing his strength to stay strong to the end. As a daily reminder, I have kept by my computer one of my daughter’s handwritten verses from Acts 20:24, “If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” I have had a few times when God has led me to scriptures that refer to Jesus’ last hours proclaiming “It is finished” in reference to his work on the cross. I realize the writing of my book and journal is finished – complete. I spent five years, especially the last two, seriously sacrificing time, money, and relationships to finish. I had to make hard choices…right where God wanted me to be, depending on him in my weak area of decision making. I had to choose whether to write or attend a local Bible Study, edit my manuscript or go to lunch with friends. Those other things are good things, but there are times when we must block everything out so we can focus and finish. When I think about the Olympic athletes, they too, have spent years training for these two or three events in hope to fulfill their dream. They have sacrificed hours of good things for the best thing – their dream! How disheartening to see one fall, no matter what country they represent, and then be disqualified for the award. The neat and hopeful principle when running a race with God is that if he is in it you will finish, and finish strong. The requirement to compete with God is not on your ability, but on your availability, and trust in his enabling power. God takes people like me who are available and willing, who have no clue what they are doing, and he gives them a commission. “Go, write. Go, speak.” The first few steps for me were a little wobbly coming out of the gate. Then I too was met with hills to zoom down faster than I have ever gone, sharp turns, harden ice to make it across …which all present their own challenges. Then God sent friends to cheer me on, with reminders along the way that He is with me, stay focused to your goal, and finish the work. What is your POV? Does the circumstance in your life have you standing at the bottom of the mountain of impossibility? Or do you thank God for the mountain and ask for his strength and grace to conquer it trusting that he will guide you each step of the way? I remember getting my first copy made of my manuscript for a few to see. Three men came into the store and asked for copies of a song while I was waiting by the check-out counter. The clerk threw a copy of their song right down in front of me. Amazingly, it was a hymn, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” Three men and a hymn…this wasn’t a coincidence. The blessing was just beginning as I took the step to get my manuscript ready. Little did I know then, that the invitation to climb must be accomplished with praise and thanksgiving. Both of these disciplines take us to God’s POV. He is bigger than our mountains and more able than our fears…He who began a good work in you – will complete it. For me this week, holding my first hard copy of my book in my hands to approve it for the final print was an exhilarating thrill; it was almost surreal. To think that I’m on the last few yards for the finish…with God all things are possible…and this is just the beginning. We aren’t celebrating all out yet…but we are planning a big book signing party and you ALL are welcome to come! As if the book wasn’t enough for me, I was treated to another thrill this week as I had the opportunity to speak to 92 ladies in Lexington’s Christian Women’s Club. The room was filled with the flare and flame of love for Valentines. The women were so gracious and hospitable, but the sweet gift for me was having one lady take the step of faith through the eternal doorway of no regrets – acknowledging her need for Jesus in her life. God’s POV…Are you persevering in the things of eternal value that will not fade away or are you satisfied with the measly crumbs from this life? Are you enduring to the end trusting in his strength? The Olympians go into strict training to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25) God's presence
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The Mighty Winds
Posted by Sarah on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 6:00am
One morning while I was taking my daughter to the bus stop while it was still dark, we pulled out of the garage to meet a huge branch lying across the driveway. I reluctantly got out of the car to remove our obstacle and the wind about carried me away! For the remainder of the day the winds blew anywhere from 25-50 miles an hour. It hadn’t been too long ago that my neighbor asked me if I knew why we always seemed to have dead branches lying in our front yards. I didn’t give it much thought – other than the branch died and fell off. The thought did not occur to me then, until this morning when I heard the mighty winds of winter blow, and I witnessed the snapping of branches strewn across my yard – God has his own way of pruning nature. He sends the winds to cut and strips bare the unfruitful growth. Usually I think of God gently pruning, but this fierce wind had no mercy. Psalm 135:5 says, “I know the LORD is great, that our God is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases him in the heavens and on the earth…he brings out the wind from his storehouses.” When I think of things stored up…like in my grandma’s freezer, things that are “stored up” can effusively gush out. As we have witnessed with hurricanes, there are times God just lets lose the wind and stirs up nature, matter, and anything in its’ path. He stirs up the forest so the trees roar commanding our attention. In my neighborhood, between our homes lined up horizontally to the woods in the back, it forms a tunnel, and the wind’s force creates the sound of a freight train passing through. God not only prunes physically in nature, but scripture tells us he prunes us spiritually. I was reminded by another author this week to remember that I was in the hands of the Master Gardener. He makes no mistakes about the methods of his pruning. I realized I need to expect the pruning as I would a blessing, for it is in disguise. For my life to bear more fruit, I needed to receive the pruning and let God have his way – however painful. When we yield to the season of pruning it is a natural, spiritual cycle that promises to bud, blossom, and bring forth a harvest of righteousness. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain on the vine…apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned….But this is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:1-8). Are you ready for when the violent winds come your way to yield to God’s perfecting work? Whether by a fierce wind or unknowingly by a gentle stirring, bend and sway, with a thankful heart and let him break the branches that no longer bear fruit. You might be wondering what in your life needs to be pruned. God seems to cut out the things we do that are no longer giving him much glory. God often uses change to bring his pruning to help us see what is really important in this life and to show us what has eternal value.For some of us it’s the things we are dependent on for our security. Often they are our “crutches” like a wooden stick we find on a walk to lean on….the temporary things of this world that we hold so tightly…like money. From our pruning, we are learning to be better stewards of God’s money. We had tons of branches to pick up, but I was thankful for these tiny pruning’s instead of one big tree! To say the least, 2010 has been a very eventful winter and a challenging year in our lives. And as I speak with my friends, we are all ready for spring to arrive. And with the promise of spring, silently with the warmth of the sun the spirit-life sap comes forth with new life, leaves, buds, blossoms, and abundant fruit – more than we know. Oh – we can’t wait to see what God will bring forth.
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Thumbs Up!
Posted by Sarah on Friday, February 5, 2010 at 7:59am
What a great morning to write! My kids are out of school and still tucked cozily in their beds. I woke up to a glorious view – a winter wonder land. The snow has gracefully landed on every limb of every branch in the woods. It’s as if the trees are holding their arms up to heaven and they speak together “GLORY!” I just happened to open my Bible this morning and Psalm 8:1-3 “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers…what is man that you are mindful of him,… that you care for him? But you made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.” To believe that God created us with more glory than the covering of the freshly fallen snow; I’m still trying to grasp this truth. The weather forecasters’ triple threat of rain, sleet, and snow hit North Carolina last weekend, leaving this entire week to be an interesting one. My kids were out of school every day except Thursday this week. The kids were able to get some sledding in with their dad. However, I stayed back; I was scolded by my doctor for shoveling a little snow off my back deck, so I assumed sledding was out of the question! During our “free” time, my youngest daughter had a few extra days to finish her 5th grade science project. Her title was “Thumbs Up! Are Fingerprints Inherited?” After doing a little research, we were amazed to learn more about our unique epidermis. We discovered during a woman’s pregnancy, weeks 10 through 12 of gestation ridges are formed on the fingertips of the epidermis, which is your outer layer of skin. This pattern of ridges is your unique, static fingerprint. There is none other like yours on earth! The pattern never changes other than in proportion to the body’s growth. Therefore, the fingerprint is a consistent form of identification. Police use fingerprints to discover if a particular individual has been at a crime scene. We learned there are three general categories of fingerprints – the loop, whorl, and arch; although the exact number, shape, and spacing of the ridges can vary from person to person. The loop pattern has ridges that enter from either side, re-curve and exit out the same or other side. (This is what I have). The whorl pattern has ridges that are usually circular. And the arch pattern has ridges that enter one side, make a rise in the center, and exit on the opposite side. My daughter compared fingerprints from siblings and their parents, versus pairs of unrelated individuals to figure out whether fingerprint patterns are genetic or random. Since our bodies are made up of DNA and we do inherit traits like eye-color, hair color, right or left hand domination, my daughter concluded “Yes” that we are more likely to share the same genetic patterns. When my kids were toddlers, well, actually I still say it to my rowdy teens, “Hands are for helping, not hurting.” If we take a moment and think about Jesus’ hands – his fingerprints, I am reminded of the story of the woman caught in adultery. After the Pharisees caught her in the act of adultery, they brought her to Jesus and told him the consequences for such an act was stoning to death. “But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.” People have speculated that Jesus was writing the personal sins of the Pharisees in the dust, but no one knows for sure. As the men slowly started to walk away, Jesus continues to write on the dust. Jesus’ actions removed their judgment like the very dust and sins written caught by the wind. There was no one left to condemn her, and neither did Jesus. He exhorted her to go and leave her life of sin. We see the fingertip of God being used to set this sinful woman free – free from physical and spiritual death. Yesterday, I read a newsletter. It happened to say, “Fingerprints. Take a minute to think of those who have left their mark on your life.” Who has left their fingerprints on your life? Perhaps the fingerprint of your parents who sacrificed their time and energy to raise you, work, and put you through college. Or maybe you had a teacher or a coach who believed in your potential and pushed you to be more than you thought you could be. Or maybe the imprints in your life are from a friend who stood beside you through a hard divorce – or a pastor who came to pray for you in the hospital. Think back through your life of all the fingerprint impressions God has used to encourage you, love, build you up, and protect you in Him. May we in-turn leave the imprints of Jesus on everyone we meet. The fingerprints of Jesus have been impressed upon me through your love, support, notes, prayers, and calls – thank you! There have been many times during this “winter wait” that I wonder if it will ever end. But then I think of all of you praying – some of you I have never met face to face, some of you ever so briefly. But the comfort comes knowing so many loved ones are praying for us – praying us through this time of testing, and I am touched by the hand of God. We live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). My daughter’s hypothesis was correct. Her project concluded that our fingerprint patterns are genetic and closely resemble those of our own family. Do your prints show your true id? Are you leaving the imprints of a child of God on those around you? You may never know the impressions you left on someone – a handshake with a smile on someone else’s bad day, or a card written with love and received in the darkness of soul, a gentle touch on the shoulder to affirm a friendship, or a listening ear over some coffee. All you have to do is open your heart and your hands, and ask God to use you to bless others and He will. And someone might notice the fingertip of God through you.
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