I was Born Again in 2013~What's YOUR theme for 2013?

My Roadshow pass to see Skillet in 2014!

This was the best year of my life…

Can anyone say that as the year comes to a close?  I don’t think so. Each year of my life has provided me with growth and change.  Some of it has felt awful, and some of it has felt wonderful.  The year 2013, if summed up with one word for me, with one theme, it would be REBIRTHING.

It may seem lame; a little bit like a music tape that a teen would have put together back in the 1980’s…but the song Rebirthing off of Skillet’s album Comatose describes me as I went through the end of 2011-2012.  It was a death to my “self”, and a rebirthing of who I am in Christ.  Considering that I was technically born-again in 1981, I am living-proof of how a person’s relationship with Christ changes throughout her life. 

I lie here paralytic, inside this soul
Screaming for you till my throat is numb
I wanna break out I need a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating

Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died

Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Right now
Right now

I lie here lifeless in this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause I'm ready to
I wanna break out, I found a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating

Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died

Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when I'm gonna breathe you in
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'm gonna feel alive

Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when this fear will end
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'll feel alive

Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Rebirthing now
I wanna live my life, wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow

Right now
(I come alive somehow)
Right now
(I come alive somehow)

Songwriters
Howes, Brian / Cooper, John

Published by
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

                                                   Read more: Skillet - Rebirthing Lyrics | MetroLyrics.com

God tells us that he can make all things new, and that certainly seems to be true for me.  His mercy and forgiveness are new for me each day, as they are for everyone who believes in him. 

The “rebirthing”, as with any renovation, was messy and uncomfortable at times; but in the end the new creation far exceeds any expectations that I may have had.  My cup is full; my cup is lifted…Cheers, God, thanks for a great year.

What would identify as your theme for the year 2013?

What is the REAL Problem?

Wouldn't you know it?  We get the tree up, get it all decorated and ready to go, and suddenly we realize there's a string of lights that's not working.  With all the technological advances in the world, haven't we figured out by now how to get a series circuit to stay lit even when one bulb burns out?  

The answer is "yes".  We have figured out how to keep a series circuit of tree lights lit when one bulb burns out, BUT the series circuit cannot stay lit if a bulb is REMOVED.  So, the REAL problem is the loss of a bulb; the whole string will go out. 

http://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays/christmas-lights1.htm

 

The same thing happens with our spirit.  If we are feeling uninspired, or like we have a spiritual drought going on in our life, we need to look at the series circuit which runs our electrical current.  Something is missing, something has been removed in order for the current to be broken.  It's not just that a bulb has burned out; we have strong enough spirit to jump that bulb; but there is a complete removal of a critical piece of the spiritual circuit. 

What has been removed from our life in order to do this?  

Picture this, if you will.  Let's say that WE are each a string of bulbs.  God is the plug which connects us~sometimes he connects us to other people, sometimes he connects us directly into an outlet. God is the one who is equipped to radiate light, because the fuse is encased with him, within the plug.  Without the plug, we, the string of lights are completely useless.

The Holy Spirit runs within us; within the string of bulbs.  It is the current of energy that will flow throughout the entire string, and may even flow to others through inspiration if God has attached the strings to one another.  The Holy Spirit will supply the direction, power and energy to the individual bulbs, thereby radiating that light of God. 

The bulbs are Jesus Christ.  Without the bulbs, the Holy Spirit cannot flow through the string.  If a bulb is missing, if Jesus Christ is not a part of us, the entire string will go out because there is not a connection through which the circuit can run.  

Are you missing a bulb on your string of lights this season?  The only remedy is to replace your bulb that has been removed.  Jesus Christ is the "reason for the season," so without him we have nothing~no current, no series circuit, no light.  Prayer and daily inspiration through the Bible is the best way to replace the missing bulb.  Jesus will come to you when you call on him. 

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  John 1:5

Third verse better than the first...



I wish it were summer, I want to be warm again.

I think some of the best verses from Christmas carols are most often the ones that are omitted to save time!  (Or, in the secular world, to gloss over the true meaning; but that's a topic for another day.) In  order to pay due respect to many of these verses, I'm going to share them tonight.  Here we go, some of my favorite "mystery" verses from some of my favorite Christmas carols. Pay attention to the last one.  It's a DOOZY!

O' Holy Night

Led by the light of Faith
Serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts
By His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus
In lowly manger,
In all our trials
Born to be our Friend!
He knows our need,
To our weakness no stranger;
Behold your King!
Before the lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King!

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.carols.org.uk/ba32-o-holy-night.htm

 

Silent Night

 

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://gcarlmoore.com/2013/12/06/loves-pure-light/


Joy to the World

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.  

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.carols.org.uk/ba27-joy-to-the-world.htm

 

 

What Child is This?

 

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me and you:
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/andrea+bocelli/what+child+is+this_20893161.html

 

 

Good Christian Men, Rejoice!

 

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave:
                (Peace! Peace!)
Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one, and calls you all,
To gain His everlasting hall:
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

 

accessed on 12/11/13 at http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/good_christian_men_rejoice.htm

Hark, the Herald Angels Sing!

 

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

 

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

 

 accessed on 12/11/13  http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/h/a/hhangels.htm

 

I mean, come on...how awesome are those two verses from "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing?"  Those lines are straight out of Genesis and Romans.  I was overwhelmed when I found them, and wish so much that we included them more in our typical and contemporary "renditions".  The Word of God is so powerful, that if we sang it more frequently, it would have life-altering power. 

 

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thine image in its place~second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love. 

 

Yes, Lord, yes.

Not My Ways...

Once upon a time, humanity had no pain, had no fear and had no shame.  But that all changed with a simple exchange that took place in a beautiful garden with flowing rivers, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5; and the woman decided to try to become like God.  Humanity lost it's innocence when the desire to play God was acted upon, and suddenly we knew pain, fear and shame.

Evie with her White Cane

 The curse of that first defiant act of sin was death.  The sin that was acted upon became the sin of generation, upon generation, upon generation.  We are born into sinful flesh and have a sin nature.  Each one of us comes into this world ready to go our own way, to play God.  Consider the selfishness of babies, for example.  People want to say that babies are innocent because, let's face it, they are adorable.  However, they aren't looking for ways to help their parents get a good night sleep.  They want to be changed, fed, and kept warm.  This demonstrates the selfish, sinful nature of humanity.  We come out of the womb and are thinking only of ourselves.  

I'm just wondering how many people realize that even the greatest leaders in the Bible are also flawed and sinful characters.  It's so common today for us to not want to recognize the sin in ourselves and in others.  But in order for us to understand our NEED for salvation, we must understand that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23.  This includes Abraham, Noah, Moses, Aaron, David, and on, and on, and on.  So, when people get uncomfortable because they want to say we (as Christians) are being judgmental or over-critical by acknowledging sin; those people need to realize that the TRUE Christian must recognize that everyone is a sinner.

That being said, if the "wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23, then the most important thing we need in our lives is salvation from our sins.  The apostle Paul writes, "Sin killed me" (Romans 7:11), "I do what I hate" (Romans 7:15) and "Nothing good dwells in me" (7:18).  Paul, especially, is testimony to the redeeming nature of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for us.  Paul, prior to converting to Christianity, was one of the most feared persecutors of Christians!  He murdered the people who believed in Jesus.  I don't know if there's a more dramatic example of a transformation from an old, sinful self into a newly redeemed, passionate soul on a mission to help others find the same redemption.  

Paul says that Christ's death and triumph over the grave has cleared all of the charges against our souls brought on by our sins.  He says that there is "no condemnation" for those who believe in Christ and profess it with our mouths.  (Romans 8:1)

Where am I going with this?  What does this have to do with the fact that Evie

Cancer diagnosis

is blind, that she's suffered through cancer, that we have to always be on guard and monitoring her blood pressure and kidney functions?  

Yesterday I wrote about the splendor of God's creation, the vastness of the Universe, and that fact that he shows his power and wonder in all that he spoke into existence.  And then I posed the question:  if God can do that, then why can't he heal Evie?  

Fact:  He can.
Fact:  He will.

But not.just.yet.

How else will people learn about God if it's not through seeing his ability to bring beauty from pain?  How else with we get softer souls if we don't fall flat on our faces and realize that we can't play God, because we are NOT God?  How else will we be able to praise the Creator if not by praising Him when we are in the midst of a storm?

Anyone can rejoice when things are going well, but it takes true faith to rejoice in the midst of suffering.  Anyone can do something nice for a friend, but it takes true faith to love someone simply because God loves him.  Anyone can learn to be a doctor or scientist and work to cure cancer, heal the blind, or save a kidney from a donor and transplant it to another patient, but only God can rescue their soul from the grip of Hell.  

"God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8

While we were yet sinners.  So Christ died for me even before I chose Him.  I don't deserve salvation, I haven't earned eternal life in Heaven, but God is going to give it to me anyway, because I've accepted the gift of life through Jesus.

If I had it my way, we wouldn't have to see Evie struggle with so many challenges.  It's painful; it's terribly painful.  But sin has continued to curse the human race since the fall of man back in that beautiful garden with flowing rivers.  If I had it my way, I could read a newspaper and my stomach wouldn't turn because I read about someone burning a body in a fire pit in his yard.  If I had it my way, those who murder would be murdered; those who tease would get teased; and those who steal would be stolen from.  But, thankfully, God's way are not my ways.  I can't get inside the brain of God because he is so huge that he holds the Universe in the palm of his hand.  What can my little, teeny tiny brain understand of him and his ways?

Nothing.

And that's where faith steps in... 

The Truth about Teeny Tiny People on a Spinning Ball

The Spiral Galaxy, hubblesite.org

The Universe is enormous.  This is probably not new information to anyone reading this.  I have always been interested in astronomy; the sun, the moon, the planets.  The celestial skies have been a source of awe and wonder for me.  But, yesterday, as I sat in adult education hour at my church, I was flat out overwhelmed by just how enormous,and limitless the Universe around me is. 

Here are just a few statistics I pulled up off the internet:

• If the Milky Way Galaxy were the size of the North American continent, the Solar System in which we live would be so small in comparison that it would fit into a coffee cup.  (www.kidzworld.com; Basics of Our Solar System)



hubblesite.org

• Scientists can "see" billions of galaxies, but they know there are still others that are unseen. (www.csep10.phys.utk.edu)
• The sun could hold 1.3 milion Earths. (www.csep10.phys.utk.edu)
• Half a billionth of the energy released by the sun reaches Earth.  (www.astronomyforbeginners.com)

Now, considering these are all things that are "relatively" close to us; things with which we are familiar, like the sun and our solar system; and considering the fact that the Milky Way Galaxy is 100, 000 billion light years in diameter, and how many additional planetary systems it holds; then considering the fact that I noted above~that there are billions of galaxies that scientists can see, but others that remain unseen; all of this considered means:


The Universe is unfathomably HUGE!  

Star Forming Region 106, hubblesite.org

Which makes us indisputably teeny-tiny...we are miniscule.  Our planet is small, our solar system is small, our galaxy is one in a billion.  So, how on "earth" can we feel important at all?  What is the POINT of all of this?

First of all, looking around, at our planet, at our sun and our moon, at stars and galaxies; one gets the feeling that there was and is a Master Creator.  Something this beautifully intricate cannot just come to be.  Gravity in and of itself tells me that God created the earth for us to live on it.  He set the sun just so far away as to enable us not to be burned up, but to have seasons.  He set the world in motion in a perfect way so as to keep us from flying off into space.

I can't help but agree with the Psalmist who wrote "Let the Heavens praise your wonders." Psalm 89:5 and, "The Heaven's declare his righteousness." Psalm 50:6.  The beauty of the Universe is absolutely flowing from an endless river of extraordinary mercy and love. 

But, so what?  It's gorgeous out there; it's vast, and limitless, and mysterious.  But, so what?

Here's what's so amazing~ "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him." Psalm 103:11.  Really...as insignificant and puny as we might feel, God's love for us is bigger than this grand Universe.  

The Helix Nebula, hubblesite.org

But wait, there's more..."as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."  Psalm 103:12.  Really...as far as the east from the west...if we are talking about the "heavens" still, then that is a pretty significant distance for him to cast our sins away from us. 

So, God made all of this~spoke it into being right in the very opening events of Genesis.  He gave the earth to us; to care for it and dwell on it.  Yet, we continue to deny his existence, we continue to deny his authority, we continue to deny his sovereignty and ask why he does things the way he does.  It doesn't seem that we are reciprocating the "vast" love that he has shown for us.

Now, if any of us treated one another the way we often treat GOD; like a non-existent inconvenience, I'm pretty certain we would have walked away a long time ago and said, "To Hell with you."  But guess what he did?  He said, "There is a person alive who does not sin.  There isn't a person alive who can live with me for eternity because they are not holy enough.  I need to solve this once and for all."  So, rather than walk away from us, he came to earth to live among us. 

We like this image, don't we?  The boss going out and working the sales floor; the CEO making the cold calls?  But think about this...really think about it.  The lashes, the mocking, being spit upon, and ultimately nailed to a cross...and we aren't talking about "the boss," we're talking about the God who made the Universe.  

Why would he do that?  In the book of Isaiah 55:9, God says that "...as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  We can't get inside the mind of God. We can't understand his ways.  But he's given us the world, he's given us life, and he's given us his own righteousness through his death, suffering and resurrection from the dead.

Earth, hubblesite.org

In one of my favorite songs on the Newsboys album Restart, they say, "Seven billion people on a spinning ball, and they all mean the world to you..." (Fishers of Men).   Thank you, God, for loving me so much.  What an incomprehensible God you are. 

Wait...there is a question here begging to be answered...quite a few, actually...

If God could create this sea of celestial beauty, spin the world into orbit with a word, and knows every star and every hair on our heads (Psalm 139), then why is my daughter blind, why do people get cancer, and how on earth can a person who murders another person be just as worthy of redemption as I am?

I guess we'll just have to put our "patient pants" on and see how I'm going to tackle these questions tomorrow....

My Heart Condition

What a difference a week makes.  Last week at this time, I was feeling:

overwhelmed, under-inspired, on automatic pilot, and I just going through the motions.  But, thanks to my study of Romans 12, that has completely changed.  I have a brand new heart condition, thanks to the Holy Spirit.  

The homework that I did for my Romans study of chapter 12 focused on spiritual gifts.  That was just fine; it helped me to realize that God has given to me gifts and talents according to HIS measure, so I need to not feel so overwhelmed by my schedule, because I do what I do with God's strength, NOT mine.  So, that study was quite timely.

HOWEVER, my heart condition didn't just change from that!  On Friday morning, during out Bible Study time at church we listened to Dr. Wayne Barber lecture on Romans 12; but he focused on what are NOT fruits of the spirit.  The piece of information which has changed my attitude around is that my relationship with God (meaning, my ability to communicate with God) is dependent on my heart's condition.  Dr. Barber said that if I am not feeling in sync with God, then there is something wrong with my relationship with him; most likely un-confessed sin, or bitterness.  

Ding-ding-ding!  We have a winner!

Bitterness.  I was flat out bitter.  I was feeling under appreciated, and over used.  I, I, I, I, I...I was tired, and it ticked-me-off. 

I couldn't believe I had fallen victim to bitterness.  That's usually NOT my issue.  I had studied Romans 12 relentlessly as a teenager to help me not grow bitter from the teasing and bullying that I experienced at school.  I still can't believe that I so gradually created this Bitter Wall around my heart that was growing and over-taking my spirit.  

I decided that the buck was going to stop with me.  I needed God to renew my heart and the only way to do that was by humbly approaching him and asking forgiveness for my bitterness, bullheadedness, and self-righteousness. 

God immediately lifted the heavy yoke that I had been feeling across my shoulders.  I suddenly saw the beauty of the Christmas season around me.  I had renewed energy, and excitement for each day.  And now he's blowing my mind with ideas about this season, this universe, this planet which spins around each day in the perfect orbit in which God set it into motion.  

Evie's ornament;  made today!

Tonight I volunteered at my church's Christmas Musical Lightshow.  I'm only saying this as my justification for not writing what I INTENDED to write tonight~which is going to knock EVERYONE'S socks off.  I'll write about that tomorrow instead.  But allow me to wrap up this post by imploring each person reading this to talk to God tonight; confess any sins that have gone unconfessed between you and God.  He already knows, he sees all, he knows you; so be honest with him and ask him to come into your heart, to cleanse it, to renew it, and to give you a NEW heart condition.  He will eagerly enter into you heart and start the renovation. 

And tomorrow?  Oh, tomorrow holds so many promises.  I am praying that God helps me organize my thoughts, and my emotions, so I can create in everyone who reads this the sense of wonder and awe that I had this morning while sitting in church. 

My heart condition is radically new, and that has given me a clearer vision of who God is, what the Universe tells us about Him, and how truly indescribable is his love for the world.

To Think and Act Like Winnie-the-Pooh

In the story "Eeyore Loses a Tail", Winnie-the-Pooh (our favorite Chubby Little Cubby all Stuffed with Fluff) discovers Eeyore's tail is missing.  As Pooh and Eeyore discuss the missing appendage, the author notes that "Pooh felt that he ought to say something helpful about it, but didn't quite know what.  So he decided to do something helpful instead." (p. 46, Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne).  Wouldn't our world be so much more friendly and caring if, rather than concentrating on the right thing to say; we DID the right thing?

I recall seeing a friend of mine post on Facebook that her friend's daughter had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and that she wanted to help her friend in some way but didn't know how.  A well-meaning person had responded saying, "Just be there for her.  When she needs something she'll let you know."  I privately messaged my friend and said, "I totally disagree with that person.  Here are some things you can do." 

When Evie was sick with cancer, a person could say, "Call me anytime" and it would go in one ear and out the other for me.  I was sleep deprived, medicated for migraines, and utterly exhausted physically and emotionally.  For me to even TRY to consider delegating tasks that people could help with was too much for me.  I was busy making sure we made it to appointments, we were giving the right medications at the right times, and we were still trying to maintain our sanity.  Calling people to ask them to do something was not part of my daily activities. 

So what can we do to help people who are sick, or who are caregivers for the sick, or people who are mourning the loss of a loved one?  I'll answer that by writing what people did for us that was so helpful when Evie was sick.

• On a couple of occasions our sidewalk and driveway were shoveled clear of snow before we even knew it had happened. 
• On a couple of occasions, people would call me and say, "I'm bringing food over; will you be home at (this) time?" 
• My mother-in-law had secretly had a photographer take pictures of Evie and then had them printed, framed and wrapped for Christmas presents, even including my side of the family.  Considering I was taking care of an infant with cancer while still working fulltime, that was a tremendous relief.
• We received gift cards for the local grocery store in the mail; along with gas cards. 

We didn't have any additional children, but I imagine that a neighbor, friend or relative who calls and says, "I'm taking your kids to ....today" would be welcomed and wonderful blessing.  Siblings can have a hard time when a parent is busy being a caregiver. 

In our case, with just one child, it's helpful to have someone offer to stay with that child too.  For example, I wanted to do the routine things; that's what helped keep me sane.  So I wanted people to say, "Can I stay with Evie while you go get your haircut?" or "I'll watch Evie while you run to Target."  That sort of "regular" stuff becomes hard to do when busy caring for a sick person; but it's also some of the most relaxing times because it's a reminder of life "before" and hopefully a similar life "after". 

Now, when I'm considering friends and acquaintances who are struggling through difficult times, rather than praying solely for a restoration of health or for their difficult situation to be resolved, I'll also pray for God to show me clearly how best I can help them.  Is it a card with some scripture, or a coffee date, or a gift card for a great restaurant?  Is it visiting the sick person so the caregiver and do some laundry or wash some dishes?  Is it raking, mowing or shoveling without being sought out and asked? 

"Eeyore," he [Pooh] said solemnly, "I, Winnie-the-Pooh, will find your tail for you." 

Precious Heavenly Father, Please help ME find Eeyore's tail for someone in my life today...

Coulds and Woulds ~ A silly Friday night, gotta write, sitting at home poem...

If I could jump over a rainbow,

And land in Oz,

I'd do it in a second,

Just because.

If I could watch every X-Files,

In just one day,

I'd watch them all in order,

I'd start with "Billy Mays."

If I could build a stack of pancakes,

That reached up to the moon,

I'd have miles of syrup rivers,

Flooding all my rooms.

If I could star in a musical,

One with Kelly and Astaire,

I would be the luckiest girl I know,

I'd dance on gilded stairs.

If I could sing just like an angel,
Never flat and never sharp,
Then I'd never stop my singing,
Cause music's always in my heart.

If I could ride into the ocean,
On a swimming dolphin dream,
I'd watch The Goonies on my iPhone,
With a hotspot Netflix stream.

I believe my "Coulds" and "Woulds" 
As weird and wacky as they seem,

Cannot happen here tonight,

Because I'm not Shel Silverstein.

Give Kids the World in Orlando, FL.

Pain

The best way out is always through.

Robert Frost

Our normal reaction to pain is to try and avoid it.  But, as Robert Frost pointed out, one will usually find that the best way to get out of an unpleasant state is to go through it.  Many of my life lessons have taught me this.  And the Bible certainly tells us that we have to go through it in order to get out of it. 

The best way out is always through.

Robert Frost

That kind of reminds me of what getting a tattoo is like.  The pain CAN become quite intense at times, so I would almost psychologically lean into the pain.  When the pain becomes hot and searing, I focus intently on the pain and imagine my whole body enveloping the pain and absorbing it.

The best way out is always through.

Robert Frost 

I reflect back on those really stressful nights in college and grad school when I just wanted to go to bed because I was mentally exhausted from worrying about a big paper or test that was coming up.  Rather than giving up and going to bed, I would gun it!  I would decide that rather than fall asleep at all, I would just sit down and pound out that paper on the keyboard, or make flashcards to help me study for the test.  Who needs sleep?  Just go for it!

The best way out is always through.

Robert Frost

I think about the passages of the Bible that tell us we will go through hard times.  God doesn't tell us we won't have pain, or we won't have heart ache.  God just promises to prepare us for those times and never to leave us during those times. 

"Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

 

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones, not one of them is broken.” (Psalm 34:19)

I was just speaking to the kids at AWANA (a church program for children where they learn about God, the Bible and memorize some key verses) last night about the parting of the Red Sea.  It's a fabulously exciting story to read.  The Israelites are terrified because the Egyptians are hot on their trail.  They come to what appears to be a dead end; the Red Sea. Horrified, the Israelites start crying out to Moses.  Moses quickly calms them by saying,  

 

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14: 13, 14)

Once the Israelites were calm, and quiet, Moses extends his hand over the sea and God sends a remarkable wind; at just the right intensity for the just right amount of time to force the waters apart so the Israelites can safely walk across the entire Red Sea (THROUGH IT), to get to the other side, away from their enemy.  Then, in another twist, the waves come crashing down on the Egyptians and left them dead in the sea.   

God didn't say, "Okay, I'll make the Egyptians go back."  Nor did he say, "Okay, I won't harden their hearts this time."  God tells Moses specifically that he's doing it this way in order to show his glory so everyone, including the Egyptians will KNOW he is God.  The Israelites had to go THROUGH it in order to demonstrate the power and glory of God.  They were scared, hungry and tired, but God got them through it.

I remember back when Evie had cancer, I saw the sign on the highway that said, "To Chicago".  Oh, how I longed to runaway and get "out" of the bondage of cancer.  But I knew I worshiped a big God; a God bigger than cancer, bigger than death.  I had to go through it...that was the only way out.

When Jesus knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "Father, take this cup..." because he knew that his death was eminent; he knew what the answer would be.  "You must go through it..."

 

How often are we in the midst of pain, and we just want to find a way out?  How often does God answer our prayers, not with an escape plan; rather an attack plan?  If I choose to follow his plan, I will be victorious; I will win the battle.  If I choose to run away, I run away-not from the problem, but I run away from God.. because that's where he is...right there in the middle of my desperate hour, just waiting for me to come through. 

The Cat on my Lap

I'm seriously reconsidering my original plan to workout.  I made the mistake of sitting down to drink some Crystal Light and eat a Honeycrisp Apple.   About two seconds after sitting down, I got a cat on my lap.  This puts things into an entirely different perspective.  (Cat-Lovers know what I'm talking about.)

I guess I need to weigh my options; I'll list them as the pros and cons of working out.

Pro:  I should workout because I'm still getting back on track from a long Thanksgiving weekend. 

Con:  I should stay in the chair with Jinxy; it's snuggle time.

Pro:  I'm dressed for my workout; that's usually half the work!

Con:  Jinxy's purring and has that quiet, peaceful, cat-sleeping face right now.

Pro:  I've got X-Files on Netflix; that could make the workout go pretty fast.

Con:  It's Jinxy!  He's on my lap!  How can I just walk away from that?

Pro:  I had my calories calculated for the day as if I DID workout; so I ate as though I 'd workout.

Con:  Jinxy's so warm!  He doesn't even care that I'm typing on a laptop that's resting on the arm of my chair.  He's sound asleep.  He has total trust and security in where he's at...I shouldn't ruin that!

I think it would be easier to have someone drive by in a large vehicle and startle Jinxy off my lap.  Yes, definitely easier.  

Postscript:  Upon publishing this blog post, Jinxy got up off my lap and out of the chair.  I shall now workout.