Sweet spot

My family is shaping up to be a baseball family. I enjoy baseball. One of the coolest things about baseball is the sound you can feel in your gut when a batter hits the sweet spot of the bat making perfect contact with the pitched ball. You know instantly, "That's outta here!"

There's a sweet spot paragraph in the Bible for me. Romans 4:17-19.

This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!"And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah's womb. - NLT

Maybe you'd have to be a baseball person, or rather, a Christ-hoping person. Cause I really don't think I can explain it. The words, "...believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing..." Sweet spot. Can you feel it? Can you hear it in your inner person?

Faith in THAT God will knock any screw-ball pitch thrown my way in life out of the park!

Nothing. Not even a hundred year old man and woman's body. Not even a two year separation with no end in sight. Not even an addiction I cannot shake. Not even a history of failure I can not deny. Not even the obviousness that I'm not what I was made to be and have no ability to make myself otherwise as much as I try. Not even blood that reminds once again there is no life, no child, no growing family.

Even when there's no reason for hope. Even when all dreams are shattered. Even when logic says, "There's no way!" I believe in a God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

"...and not having been weak in the faith, he did not consider his own body..." Romans 4:19 emphasis added

Here's the secret: Don't consider your own body. Don't decide what you believe based on your circumstances. Consider His body. Decide what you believe based on the One who forgives sinners.

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for sinners. Now most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though some might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners..." - Romans 5:6-8 NLT

And since God would do this for us, and show us how much He loves us by being willing to walk in our shoes, humbly, and be rejected, even to the point of death, just to save us from being condemned, and to make us friends of God again... what circumstance is there that He won't redeem? What death is there that He can't bring life out of? What deep longing for what we were made for can He not quicken to life? This is my God!

Fast balls. Curve balls. Knuckle balls. Gonna-strike-you-out balls. Whatever comes my way... my God works ALL pitches together for good to make me the woman He created me to be. Every one hits the sweet spot because that's just how my God works!

Quieted,

Sheila

A summer for new feet

There is a time and a season for everything. Sometimes it seems its time for the same thing every season. But this summer was different than other summers. I thought it was a season for me to enjoy the fruit of my labors, but it was actually a time for new feet.

This was a summer of getting to know neighbors, piano lessons, waiting on God and seeing His clear provision. It was a summer of discovering hidden dreams in my children and finding new ways to guide them in that direction. It was a summer of re-connecting with loved ones far away. This summer I planted a garden and stuck to a budget. This summer was a summer of planning and dreaming and letting go of what it’s not time for. I was a summer of choosing to do something good while I wait for the One who decides the times and seasons.

I have plans and dreams. I must plan and dream, but I also must yield to the One who created the times and seasons. My times are in His hands. I can build, but if He’s not building the structure will last as long as a tulip planted in the middle of summer. It’s not time. It’s not the season.

Long ago, a guy with a strange name had plans, but it wasn’t time. He saw destruction all around him. Nothing he desired was coming to pass. Yet instead of getting bitter he yielded to the reality that it was altogether a different season than he expected. He had every reason to grow depressed but instead he rejoiced in the One who makes seasons, the One who declares things that aren’t as though they are. This guy thought it was a harvest season, but it was a season of transformation. He thought it was a season for fruit, but it was a season for feet.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. –Habakkuk 3:17-19

Quieted,

Sheila

A cupful of Niagara Falls

I feel like I'm trying to catch the lesson on forgiveness much like a person would feel who's trying to catch a cup of water by holding a mug out under the Niagara Falls.

I know with my head that forgiveness is the crux of Christianity. But its taking me a good two years plus to get a cupful of what it looks like in my life.

I think some of what I'm hearing about forgiveness didn't splash out of the cup today, or bowl me over on my backside. I think I managed to get a handle on a little of it.

Letting it go.
Running to the arms of the only One who really understands and letting go of being owed affection, protection, provision...love. Yes its owed. Yes it hurts. Yes its right. But let it go. The desire to jab back. The desire to expose and embarrass. Even the desire to be the one to convince and convict that a wrong was done.

Washing feet instead.
In place of those desires fill in some minimum wage-like service that isn't deserved or paid. Clean something for them. Cook something for them.

Freeing yourself and the other from the bond of bitterness.
Bitterness may be a wicked bond, nevertheless it does bind two people together like shackles. Letting go of what is owed is the only way to break that bond. Other bonds may have to go with those bitter shackles. Good things. Friendships you wanted. Relationships you desired. Plans you had for the two of you. There may be scars. There may be a lack of closeness. But there can be freedom and peace.

Hold steady now Sheila. Drink in what you've got there. Let it soak in.

Quieted,

Sheila

“Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you're doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.”

So I've set a goal for myself after talking with my writing friend... I'm going to write 300 words a day for the summer, and I'll post a blog once a week.

I want to be a disciplined person, but I'm not.

I made a chart for my sons so they know the things they MUST do before they do the things they want to do everyday. I think I need to make one for myself:

Get coffee
Get dressed
Brush teeth
Write 300 words

Here's to developing my joy of writing.


*Title quote from E.L. Doctorow

Quieted,

Sheila

Receiving

I think maybe at least part of the reason Jesus said, "It's more blessed to give than to receive," is because He knew how we we want to, or think we, deserve what we are given.

He knows we humans have a hard time humbly receiving gifts. We are either calloused and proud and want to make our own way, or, we are self-centered and proud and think we deserve everything. I guess that's part of our fallen nature. But its a God-thing in us when we receive with meekness and honor the giver.

I was given probably the largest, monetary-value gift I've ever received this week. It was hard to receive with grace. I felt like it was so cheap to just say, "Thank you." I didn't know how to show my gratitude. I wanted to jump up and down and dance and scream and run around telling everyone what an amazing gift I was given. So I began thinking a lot about the right way to receive a gift. I'm learning four things you may think I should have already known: It's important to say thank you. Honor the giver by how you use the gift. Remember God is ultimately the source of the gift. And remember the greatest Gift I've been given is Christ!

If I know I didn't earn what I've been given and try to payback the giver in some way, I fail to honor the giver or show thankfulness.

If I think I deserve the gift, that its my "right", then I have no grace or humility and also fail to honor the giver and express thankfulness.

God teaches me to receive gifts from people through how He's taught me to receive His gift.

I think of the story in the Bible of the 10 lepers who Jesus had pity on and healed. Only ONE of the ten came back to say thank you. Jesus marveled that only one person expressed his gratitude. From this story God teaches me that He values expressing thankfulness to the giver.

The other story that comes to mind is the Big Story!

The Bible says God gave us His only Son. When we trust in the Son as our salvation we are given the greatest gift... and more gifts indescribable. And God specifically teaches us that we can't pay Him back... we can never earn this gift. But we can live thankful lives and honor the Giver by how we live.

This teaches me not try to earn a gift I've been given, or pay back the giver, but to use the gift in a way that honors the giver.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above..."

"... it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."

"When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned.But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. "

"Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."

"In everything, give thanks."

"Our Father who is in heaven...Give us this day our daily bread..."

We don't earn gifts. We don't deserve them either. Earning and deserving are what we do to get a paycheck. Gifts are to be received thankfully, and used honorably.

So, if you're reading this, and you played a part in the gracious gift I received this week, I know I said it before, but let me say it again, Thank you! I pray I can honor your generosity and God's goodness by being a giver.

This generous gift also got me thinking about the gift of God. What I've received in Christ is far greater than anything I could ever be given in this life. Have I received what God has given me with such excitement and humility? Do I live a thankful life? Do I honor the Giver by the way I live? Oh Lord let it be!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23

Quieted,

Sheila