sheila dougal- a woman found

It's easy to miss

Tonight I caught myself moping.

I was comparing my problems to others and thinking they had nothing to complain about. Boy is that a slippery slope! It's a fast ride down to the pool of depression. But thank the Lord I caught myself. Actually He caught me and said, "Thank Me for the grace I give to help you in your time of need."

I was naturally inclined to ignore that thought and keep moping. Sliding quickly down. Down. Down. But I didn't. Instead I opened my mouth and said, "Thank You Lord that you've given me the grace to go through this. And thank you that you've provided others in my life the grace to go through what they go through."

It was as though I was on some weird Willy Wonka chocolate factory ride. Suddenly there was no mad, out of control spin of depressing thoughts. There was just a peace that put all that to rest. My circumstances didn't change. I still hate it that I have to go through this. But everyone has to go through stuff.

In this world there's trouble. Period. Some go through their storms with the One whom the wind and the waves obey (even though at times it may feel like He's taking a nap while you're about to sink). Some try to muscle through. Others jump ship. But for any of us who would simply thank God for the grace He provides- not just to grin and bear it, but to grow in it, be made more beautiful by it, become stronger through it, and come out as gold when its over- for us there is a sweetness which is easy to miss in this bitter life.

It's gonna take some clinging. Its gonna take some trusting. Its gonna take remembering who our God is. He understands. He knows us. We're gonna have to be bold so we can find, and not miss, the grace He so generously gives when we need it.

That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. - Hebrews 4:14-16

Quieted,

Sheila

Our Epic

I really like epic movies. You know, good battles evil enduring much suffering and even death to overcome and ultimately triumph for the rescue of many. Its a thread of truth which seems to run through so many of our imaginings in movies and books.

In none of these tales do the heroes or heroins set out to suffer for sufferings sake. No, they are guided by a fixed right which is opposed. It isn't as though they set out to prove they are right, they just set out to do right. In the process they are tempted, tried and often tormented physically and or emotionally.

I recently watched Legend of the Guardians. It was right up my alley of enjoyable movies. In the story, Ezylryb, an old, raggedy looking owl in the "good" camp is the legendary character from a once-thought mythical tale told by the the believing main character. Turns out Ezylryb is not a myth. In fact he's so real he's somewhat of a disappointment to the owls who've discovered him. He has this great line in the movie where he points to his scars and mangled feathers and says something like, ...there is nothing glorious in being a warrior; it’s simply doing what’s right, over and over again. Even if it leaves you like this!

I LOVE that line! It reminds me of life as a Christian. Its not that we should set out for persecution and martyrdom... there's nothing glorious in suffering. Rather we are made more than conquerors by letting the love of Christ compel us as His Holy Spirit lives in us to do what is right over and over again. Even if it leaves us scarred and mangled.

I think this is kind of what Paul was saying when he reminded us what really matters as we live following Christ our Hero:

If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. -1 Corinthians 13:3

Love. Christ-like love is the right we are to set out to do over and over again even if it leaves us bruised and broken.

Christ-like love is not pampering or mushiness or even sentimentalism. Christ-like love sets out to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our Almighty Father God. It doesn't set out to make everyone like you. It doesn't set out to even fulfill one's own greatest potential. It lays down its life for others.

We who follow Christ get to live out (by His mercy and grace) the greatest epic our lives could ever play a role in. Our epic is Christ's love.

May we love, over and over, even if in this life it leaves us like a beat-up old owl.

What is important is faith expressing itself in love. -Galatians 5:6

Quieted,

Sheila

I believe

I believe that there is one God, Creator of all things, who made people the crown of His creation. Living works of art in His own image. Loved, and therefore given the freedom to choose, we chose our own way and everything went terribly wrong.

I believe all of history is really HIS-STORY, the story of God redeeming with His own humbled, and sacrificed life, all that we destroyed- including ourselves.

I believe God was made into flesh and walked a mile in our shoes. I believe He knows us better than we know ourselves. For His awareness was not clouded by the poison of choosing wrongly. He experienced the fallen-ness of the mess we've made and loved us in the midst of it.

I believe He is the Savior of the world. I believe He is life and there is no other life. I believe one day He will make all things new.

I believe He loves me personally, knows me intimately, and will use all the messes I and others have made in my life for good to show His-story. For I believe I was made for Him. I am not my own, I am His masterpiece, His work of art, for His pleasure and by His great love and kindness I am a vessel by which He may shine.

I believe all my tears are precious to Him and He would have come just for me.

I believe all your tears are precious to Him too and He would have come just for you!

I believe no message is more vital to our children's souls than the message of Christ and His great love which He has for them!

I believe that even my believing is a gracious gift from God.

I trust you Lord! Have Your way in me! Thank You King of all kings for coming to the most humble of places and enduring such opposition just to redeem me!

I am not ashamed to believe in such a wonderful God as You!

Those who believe Him discover that God is true.- John 3:33

Quieted,

Sheila

Telling them the Old, Old Story

Tonight we hung our stockings, put up some lights, had hot cocoa and hung up our Jesse Tree. Along side it a string of red and green rings, each with a different Bible verse on it to begin an Advent calendar come December first.

I sat my sons down and we talked about what the Jesse tree and string of red and green is for. I told them briefly about Isaiah, David, Jesse, God's promise and all the people who waited throughout history for the Savior God would send.

It was a struggle I'll tell ya. Getting my 5 and 7 year old to sit still long enough to listen to anything for 5 minutes is a highly tuned skill we're working on! But even through the redirection, correction, and frequent interruptions I found myself thinking determinedly, "I WILL tell my sons Your story God! I won't stop telling them about their Savior!"

After we finished I thought of a section from Psalm 78. Asaph wrote:

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past- stories we have heard and known... We will not hide these truths from our children, we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders... He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, so the next generation might know them- even the children not yet born- and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. (from verses 2-7, New Living Translation)

I love this time of year for many reasons, but topping them all is the opportunity to daily tell my kids of my God and HIStory.

Quieted,

Sheila