"Prayer pulls the rope down below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give only an occasional jerk at the rope. But he who communicates with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously with all his might." -- Charles H. Spurgeon
What powerful words from this great preacher of days gone by! As the old hymn says, "oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."
Have you pulled the rope today?
"Evening, morning, and at noon will I pray." (Psalm 55:17)
"Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Focused or Distracted?
One of the first tasks today, as it is every day, was to take the dog outside to do her "business". This morning, as we do every morning, we went out, not for exercise or playtime, but with that sole purpose in mind.
This morning the task was accomplished with great efficiency. Yesterday, not so much! Yesterday there was a distraction. We have a neighborhood bunny who spends a great deal of time in the vacant lot across the street. The same vacant lot Molly heads for every morning. As soon as Molly saw that bunny, any thought of our original purpose was lost. Fortunately (for the bunny), the bunny wasn't tethered by a leash and was able to run full throttle into the underbrush. Eventually Molly gave up looking for the bunny and returned to the task at hand. Accomplishing that task took much longer than it needed to, all because she was distracted.
If I'm really honest with myself, I would have to admit that this is very much an illustration of my life. Perhaps you could say the same. We get up and begin our day with a purpose, with tasks to be accomplished, with goals for our day, maybe even with a list. But then something happens, and we are distracted. Maybe the distractions are even worthwhile and/or necessary tasks. Often the distractions are not worthwhile endeavors, just time-wasters. But at the end of the day, the result is the same: the original purpose, the list, remains undone.
I think this may be even more true in the spiritual realm than in the realm of our daily to-do list. We are committed to staying on track spiritually, to living a focused life, to having quality time with the Lord, to reading and memorizing Scripture. We set goals to be accomplished. We commit to a certain time in prayer or to a specific Scripture to be studied and/or memorized, as examples. And then "life" happens and we are distracted. The result is, at the end of the day, we still have not done what we set out to do.
What's the solution? We certainly can't go through life as automated robots, "performing" only the tasks on "the list". We must be flexible to respond to life as it happens.......to the child who is suddenly running an unexplained fever, to the phone call from a friend or family member with a need, to fatigue, to any number of things as they happen. But how do we maintain our focus, our purpose, in spite of this? How do we handle the so-called tyranny of the urgent?
So often my life is more like "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19)
But what I want it to be is "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The answer to our dilemma is found there in that verse in Hebrews. We must "fix our eyes on Jesus." We simply are unable to live out the Christian life in our own strength. It is only because of His strength, through His Spirit living within us. We can stay focused when we allow His Spirit to guide us. When our attention is fixed on Him.
The next time you find yourself getting distracted, why not take a minute to refocus. To fix your eyes on Jesus.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
This morning the task was accomplished with great efficiency. Yesterday, not so much! Yesterday there was a distraction. We have a neighborhood bunny who spends a great deal of time in the vacant lot across the street. The same vacant lot Molly heads for every morning. As soon as Molly saw that bunny, any thought of our original purpose was lost. Fortunately (for the bunny), the bunny wasn't tethered by a leash and was able to run full throttle into the underbrush. Eventually Molly gave up looking for the bunny and returned to the task at hand. Accomplishing that task took much longer than it needed to, all because she was distracted.
If I'm really honest with myself, I would have to admit that this is very much an illustration of my life. Perhaps you could say the same. We get up and begin our day with a purpose, with tasks to be accomplished, with goals for our day, maybe even with a list. But then something happens, and we are distracted. Maybe the distractions are even worthwhile and/or necessary tasks. Often the distractions are not worthwhile endeavors, just time-wasters. But at the end of the day, the result is the same: the original purpose, the list, remains undone.
I think this may be even more true in the spiritual realm than in the realm of our daily to-do list. We are committed to staying on track spiritually, to living a focused life, to having quality time with the Lord, to reading and memorizing Scripture. We set goals to be accomplished. We commit to a certain time in prayer or to a specific Scripture to be studied and/or memorized, as examples. And then "life" happens and we are distracted. The result is, at the end of the day, we still have not done what we set out to do.
What's the solution? We certainly can't go through life as automated robots, "performing" only the tasks on "the list". We must be flexible to respond to life as it happens.......to the child who is suddenly running an unexplained fever, to the phone call from a friend or family member with a need, to fatigue, to any number of things as they happen. But how do we maintain our focus, our purpose, in spite of this? How do we handle the so-called tyranny of the urgent?
So often my life is more like "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19)
But what I want it to be is "let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The answer to our dilemma is found there in that verse in Hebrews. We must "fix our eyes on Jesus." We simply are unable to live out the Christian life in our own strength. It is only because of His strength, through His Spirit living within us. We can stay focused when we allow His Spirit to guide us. When our attention is fixed on Him.
The next time you find yourself getting distracted, why not take a minute to refocus. To fix your eyes on Jesus.
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Remember - Part II
Yesterday was Memorial Day.
Yesterday we remembered those who had died in service to this country. Who had died for us. For you and for me.
There is a sense in which every day is a Memorial Day. Every day we have reason to remember. Every day we need to stay focused on the truth that there is One who died for us. There is One who gave His life that we might be free. There is One who died for us that we might have a relationship with God through Him.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)
We must never forget that Somebody died for us.
Christ died for you. Christ died for me.
And because He died for us, we now live.
We now live in freedom. Not a political freedom, but a spiritual freedom. Christ has set us free from the slavery of sin. He has set us free to live for Him.
We need to remember that!
Remember.
And live for the One who died for us.
"So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.........Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless principles of the world........For freedom Christ has set you free; stand firm therefore." (Galatians 4:7, 9; 5:1 ESV)
Listen here: Somebody Died for Me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfe7ztT8R70)
Yesterday we remembered those who had died in service to this country. Who had died for us. For you and for me.
There is a sense in which every day is a Memorial Day. Every day we have reason to remember. Every day we need to stay focused on the truth that there is One who died for us. There is One who gave His life that we might be free. There is One who died for us that we might have a relationship with God through Him.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order to bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)
We must never forget that Somebody died for us.
Christ died for you. Christ died for me.
And because He died for us, we now live.
We now live in freedom. Not a political freedom, but a spiritual freedom. Christ has set us free from the slavery of sin. He has set us free to live for Him.
We need to remember that!
Remember.
And live for the One who died for us.
"So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.........Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless principles of the world........For freedom Christ has set you free; stand firm therefore." (Galatians 4:7, 9; 5:1 ESV)
Listen here: Somebody Died for Me (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfe7ztT8R70)
Monday, May 25, 2015
Remember
This day, Memorial Day, is a day set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country. To remember that freedom isn't free. To remember that all those who went off to war didn't come home. This is a day to remember.
In places like Gettysburg and Vicksburg. At Bull Run and Bunker Hill. In faraway places like Normandy and Argonne. Baghdad and Mosul. Kabul and Kandahar.
In all these places and many more, somebody died for you. Today is a day to remember that. Somebody died for you.
As you're celebrating Memorial Day with family and friends, remember.
Today, while you're enjoying your day off from work, or your day at the beach, or your barbecue, or your ball game, take time to remember.
Freedom isn't free.
Remember.
Somebody paid the ultimate price so you can enjoy all these things.
Remember.
Somebody died for you.
Remember.
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13 ESV)
Friday, May 22, 2015
It's Official
Yesterday we made our trip to the DMV and became "official" residents of South Carolina. Again. We are now the proud possessors of South Carolina drivers licenses, and my car has a South Carolina tag on it.
The DMV wasn't crowded when we got there, so I was hopeful this could all be taken care of quickly. I should have known better. It was, after all, the DMV. And too many other details of this moving experience have been less than ideal, so I really shouldn't have been surprised that we got off to a rocky start at the DMV.
However, after a trip back home to pick up some extra documentation, a stop at the tax office to pay taxes on the car, and a stop at the insurance agent's office to pick up paperwork that says we are insured in South Carolina now, rather than in North Carolina (even though it's the same company), we headed back to the DMV. We properly completed all the paperwork, had our vision tested, and were awarded with South Carolina licenses and car tag.
It's official now. We are legal residents of South Carolina. We belong here. We carry identifying documents to prove it!
We carry no such identifying documents to prove we belong to Christ. We don't have a "Christian license"; we haven't been given a "registration card" to show our identity in Him.
We are identified as His in other ways, among them the fruit of His Spirit in our lives.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22 NASB)
These fruit in our lives give evidence that we belong to Christ. They are, in a sense, our "identifying documents".
In the same way, the passage in Galatians gives us the identifiers of those who are living "in the flesh": "The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." (Galatians 5:20-21 NASB)
So the question is, which of these is our identity? If we belong to Christ, is it evident in our lives that we are His? Are our lives reflecting the fruit of the Spirit or the deeds of the flesh?
Something to think about.
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25 NASB)
The DMV wasn't crowded when we got there, so I was hopeful this could all be taken care of quickly. I should have known better. It was, after all, the DMV. And too many other details of this moving experience have been less than ideal, so I really shouldn't have been surprised that we got off to a rocky start at the DMV.
However, after a trip back home to pick up some extra documentation, a stop at the tax office to pay taxes on the car, and a stop at the insurance agent's office to pick up paperwork that says we are insured in South Carolina now, rather than in North Carolina (even though it's the same company), we headed back to the DMV. We properly completed all the paperwork, had our vision tested, and were awarded with South Carolina licenses and car tag.
It's official now. We are legal residents of South Carolina. We belong here. We carry identifying documents to prove it!
We carry no such identifying documents to prove we belong to Christ. We don't have a "Christian license"; we haven't been given a "registration card" to show our identity in Him.
We are identified as His in other ways, among them the fruit of His Spirit in our lives.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22 NASB)
These fruit in our lives give evidence that we belong to Christ. They are, in a sense, our "identifying documents".
In the same way, the passage in Galatians gives us the identifiers of those who are living "in the flesh": "The deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." (Galatians 5:20-21 NASB)
So the question is, which of these is our identity? If we belong to Christ, is it evident in our lives that we are His? Are our lives reflecting the fruit of the Spirit or the deeds of the flesh?
Something to think about.
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25 NASB)
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Like Walking the Dog
Living in the city again has changed the way we do a lot of things, one of those things being walking the dog. We didn't actually walk the dog in the traditional sense when we lived in the mountains; we opened the door, let her out, and she barked when she was ready to come back in.
But life in the city means we now put Molly on a leash when she needs to go out, and we take her out, on a leash, for exercise as well. If you have ever walked a dog, then you realize just how little actual exercise the human gets in that endeavor. Walking the dog is a start and stop, stroll a bit/sniff a bit endeavor, and actually involves more standing around and waiting than walking.
As Molly and I were out having our walk yesterday, which was something like walk five steps, stop and sniff, walk two more steps, stop and look around, walk a little more, then just stand there, it occurred to me that walking the dog has much in common with the Christian life.
When Molly and I go out the door, we (at least I) have a definite purpose in mind. A goal, if you will. A plan to walk in a certain direction, take care of business along the way, and then return home, all within a definite time frame. There is no plan to stop numerous times along the route, or to be distracted by other dogs, or by birds or rabbits, or by cars driving by, or by any of the numerous other distractions along the way.
We begin our Christian walk in much the same way. Once we have committed our lives to Christ, we set about learning to live for Him for as long as we are in this life, until we reach our ultimate heavenly home. It is never our intent for our spiritual growth to be sporadic, or stalled, or that we go off course. But that's what often happens, isn't it?
The Christian life is very often three steps forward, four steps backward. It is sometimes very focused, but there are often distractions that hinder our forward progress.
Even though our expectation may be steady forward progress throughout our lives, reality is more often a series of starts and stops and twists and turns. Does that mean we aren't really Christian? No, it more likely means we are just human. Not perfect, even though we might like to be.
The good news is that the Christian life is about our relationship with Christ, not about our performance.
And even though we might find ourselves more often than not in a "walking the dog" mode, there is help for us. The solution to dealing with these distractions is focus. That's why the writer of Hebrews tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2)
Walking Molly is filled with starts and stops because she is so easily distracted. The same is true for us in our Christian walk. The starts and stops and stutter steps come because we are distracted.
The solution is focus. And discipline.
Something to think about today.
"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7b NASB)
But life in the city means we now put Molly on a leash when she needs to go out, and we take her out, on a leash, for exercise as well. If you have ever walked a dog, then you realize just how little actual exercise the human gets in that endeavor. Walking the dog is a start and stop, stroll a bit/sniff a bit endeavor, and actually involves more standing around and waiting than walking.
As Molly and I were out having our walk yesterday, which was something like walk five steps, stop and sniff, walk two more steps, stop and look around, walk a little more, then just stand there, it occurred to me that walking the dog has much in common with the Christian life.
When Molly and I go out the door, we (at least I) have a definite purpose in mind. A goal, if you will. A plan to walk in a certain direction, take care of business along the way, and then return home, all within a definite time frame. There is no plan to stop numerous times along the route, or to be distracted by other dogs, or by birds or rabbits, or by cars driving by, or by any of the numerous other distractions along the way.
We begin our Christian walk in much the same way. Once we have committed our lives to Christ, we set about learning to live for Him for as long as we are in this life, until we reach our ultimate heavenly home. It is never our intent for our spiritual growth to be sporadic, or stalled, or that we go off course. But that's what often happens, isn't it?
The Christian life is very often three steps forward, four steps backward. It is sometimes very focused, but there are often distractions that hinder our forward progress.
Even though our expectation may be steady forward progress throughout our lives, reality is more often a series of starts and stops and twists and turns. Does that mean we aren't really Christian? No, it more likely means we are just human. Not perfect, even though we might like to be.
The good news is that the Christian life is about our relationship with Christ, not about our performance.
And even though we might find ourselves more often than not in a "walking the dog" mode, there is help for us. The solution to dealing with these distractions is focus. That's why the writer of Hebrews tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2)
Walking Molly is filled with starts and stops because she is so easily distracted. The same is true for us in our Christian walk. The starts and stops and stutter steps come because we are distracted.
The solution is focus. And discipline.
Something to think about today.
"Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness." (1 Timothy 4:7b NASB)
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Thankful!
Yesterday I went back to the mountains. We had left some frozen food in the refrigerator in Al's parents' vacation house, and the primary purpose of my trip was to get the food.
It was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains. Not too hot and not too cool. Just right. What a blessing! I'm so thankful for that.
I made a stop along the way at the Asheville Outlet Mall, which had opened just a couple of days after we moved to South Carolina. A little retail therapy after these weeks of packing and unpacking, and of being surrounded by boxes, brought a touch of normal to my life. Thankful.
In addition to retrieving the food, I got a much-needed haircut, manicure, and pedicure, which makes me feel more like myself again. More "normal" added back into my life. Thankful.
The rhododendron were blooming, so I was able to enjoy some of that beauty. Thankful.
Also yesterday, my son and daughter-in-love purchased a new car after many months of being a one-vehicle family. They had waited and they had prayed, and many of us had prayed with them, for the right vehicle at the right price. And now God has blessed them with a car that meets their needs, at a price that fits their budget. Thankful.
This has been a week full of reasons for thanksgiving. Friends with health issues who are doing well. An unexpected financial blessing. Answers to prayers. Beautiful weather. Some much-needed rain. And, on Monday evening, the bonus of a double rainbow!
My heart overflows. So thankful!
"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting." (Psalm 106:1 NASB)
It was a beautiful sunny day in the mountains. Not too hot and not too cool. Just right. What a blessing! I'm so thankful for that.
I made a stop along the way at the Asheville Outlet Mall, which had opened just a couple of days after we moved to South Carolina. A little retail therapy after these weeks of packing and unpacking, and of being surrounded by boxes, brought a touch of normal to my life. Thankful.
In addition to retrieving the food, I got a much-needed haircut, manicure, and pedicure, which makes me feel more like myself again. More "normal" added back into my life. Thankful.
The rhododendron were blooming, so I was able to enjoy some of that beauty. Thankful.
Also yesterday, my son and daughter-in-love purchased a new car after many months of being a one-vehicle family. They had waited and they had prayed, and many of us had prayed with them, for the right vehicle at the right price. And now God has blessed them with a car that meets their needs, at a price that fits their budget. Thankful.
This has been a week full of reasons for thanksgiving. Friends with health issues who are doing well. An unexpected financial blessing. Answers to prayers. Beautiful weather. Some much-needed rain. And, on Monday evening, the bonus of a double rainbow!
My heart overflows. So thankful!
"Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting." (Psalm 106:1 NASB)
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Every Careless Word
"Every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment."
Jesus spoke those words.
Every careless word. Oh my.
Every careless word. Not some careless words. Not just the words I meant to say. But every careless word. Including the ones that just slipped out of my mouth. The ones that caused me then to say,"Did I really just say that?".
Every careless word. Not just the kind, thoughtful, loving words. But every word. Including the ones uttered in frustration or in bad temper or in anger.
As I have been thinking about these words of Jesus, I wonder how many careless words I have spoken already today. Or how many I spoke yesterday.
How many careless words have I spoken this week?
Or this month?
And I realize that I can't even begin to keep up! How sad that is.....
Every careless word. That's a lot of words. And it's a reminder that we really do need to think before we speak.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36 NASB, emphasis mine)
Jesus spoke those words.
Every careless word. Oh my.
Every careless word. Not some careless words. Not just the words I meant to say. But every careless word. Including the ones that just slipped out of my mouth. The ones that caused me then to say,"Did I really just say that?".
Every careless word. Not just the kind, thoughtful, loving words. But every word. Including the ones uttered in frustration or in bad temper or in anger.
As I have been thinking about these words of Jesus, I wonder how many careless words I have spoken already today. Or how many I spoke yesterday.
How many careless words have I spoken this week?
Or this month?
And I realize that I can't even begin to keep up! How sad that is.....
Every careless word. That's a lot of words. And it's a reminder that we really do need to think before we speak.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36 NASB, emphasis mine)
Monday, May 18, 2015
That Word Again
Yesterday morning in church we sang one of my most favorite of all my favorite hymns, Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. That hymn contains one of my most favorite of all my favorite hymn lines: Ponder anew what the Almighty can do. I have written about this hymn and this hymn line before. It always stirs something within me. And yesterday, there it was again. That hymn. That line. That word.
Ponder. Ponder anew. Singing that hymn yesterday morning led to some pondering throughout the day. Not just pondering what the Almighty can do, but pondering what He has done, and what He has been doing over the past several months.
Yesterday I had my first official Sunday afternoon nap in our new home. Yesterday I also realized that it has only been just over two weeks since this house became ours. (Ours and the bank's!) This house feels so much like "home" that it's hard to realize that we have only had furniture here and have only been living in this house for just over a week.
As I began to think about that, I realized that only slightly more than two months have passed since this moving adventure began. It seems like much longer, In fact, it's beginning to feel like we have been surrounded by boxes forever!
We put our house on the market in spring of 2014, and the waiting began. Waiting for showings. Waiting for some interest. Waiting for an offer. Throughout that process I often became frustrated and impatient. Yet throughout that process I learned a lot about trust. And about faith. And about waiting on God.
During those months, as we waited, I was often asked how things were going. I was asked if I was getting impatient. To that question, I tried to maintain a positive attitude, but I often wanted to scream! Of course I was getting impatient!
From the beginning, it had been our prayer that God would bring the right buyer at the right time, in such a way that He would receive the glory. And to that prayer, my husband added the caveat that this would be a cash sale. I confess that I thought he was pushing things a little to be praying for that. But I was wrong.
As people asked about the results of our showings and how things were going and if we had any news, my response became a variation of the same theme. The house will sell in God's time. And probably when we least expect it.
In the second week of March of this year, just two short months ago, I got a call from our realtor setting a showing for Friday, March 13. We tidied up the house, and went out for a few hours. I was hopeful, but not overly optimistic. What I considered an ideal outcome was that the buyers would like the house and would schedule a second showing.
Late that Friday afternoon, the realtor called and said "I have an offer for you." My response was something like "You have a what?"
We did receive an offer that day, and after a counteroffer on our part, we agreed to a price and a closing date. April 30. Just 45 days away. And, by the way, it was a cash sale!
The days since then have been a whirlwind. Finding our home here in Spartanburg. Inspections. Shopping for carpet and appliances and some new furniture. Boxes, boxes, boxes. Packing. And now unpacking.
It has all been a bit overwhelming. Certainly it has been physically and mentally exhausting. But it has been spiritually exhilarating and uplifting.
That brings me back to that word. Ponder. It is almost impossible to believe all that has happened since March 13. In just over two months, nine short weeks, we have uprooted from one place and are in process of putting down roots in another. When I ponder the events of these last two months, it seems nearly impossible that all this has happened in such a short space of time. I have no words to adequately describe how this just blows my mind!
And so I continue to ponder. To be amazed at what the Almighty can do. To be amazed at what He has done.
This has been His plan. In His time. And His plan and His timing are always perfect.
That's a thought worth pondering!
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.....He hath made everything beautiful in His time." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 KJV, emphasis mine)
Ponder. Ponder anew. Singing that hymn yesterday morning led to some pondering throughout the day. Not just pondering what the Almighty can do, but pondering what He has done, and what He has been doing over the past several months.
Yesterday I had my first official Sunday afternoon nap in our new home. Yesterday I also realized that it has only been just over two weeks since this house became ours. (Ours and the bank's!) This house feels so much like "home" that it's hard to realize that we have only had furniture here and have only been living in this house for just over a week.
As I began to think about that, I realized that only slightly more than two months have passed since this moving adventure began. It seems like much longer, In fact, it's beginning to feel like we have been surrounded by boxes forever!
We put our house on the market in spring of 2014, and the waiting began. Waiting for showings. Waiting for some interest. Waiting for an offer. Throughout that process I often became frustrated and impatient. Yet throughout that process I learned a lot about trust. And about faith. And about waiting on God.
During those months, as we waited, I was often asked how things were going. I was asked if I was getting impatient. To that question, I tried to maintain a positive attitude, but I often wanted to scream! Of course I was getting impatient!
From the beginning, it had been our prayer that God would bring the right buyer at the right time, in such a way that He would receive the glory. And to that prayer, my husband added the caveat that this would be a cash sale. I confess that I thought he was pushing things a little to be praying for that. But I was wrong.
As people asked about the results of our showings and how things were going and if we had any news, my response became a variation of the same theme. The house will sell in God's time. And probably when we least expect it.
In the second week of March of this year, just two short months ago, I got a call from our realtor setting a showing for Friday, March 13. We tidied up the house, and went out for a few hours. I was hopeful, but not overly optimistic. What I considered an ideal outcome was that the buyers would like the house and would schedule a second showing.
Late that Friday afternoon, the realtor called and said "I have an offer for you." My response was something like "You have a what?"
We did receive an offer that day, and after a counteroffer on our part, we agreed to a price and a closing date. April 30. Just 45 days away. And, by the way, it was a cash sale!
The days since then have been a whirlwind. Finding our home here in Spartanburg. Inspections. Shopping for carpet and appliances and some new furniture. Boxes, boxes, boxes. Packing. And now unpacking.
It has all been a bit overwhelming. Certainly it has been physically and mentally exhausting. But it has been spiritually exhilarating and uplifting.
That brings me back to that word. Ponder. It is almost impossible to believe all that has happened since March 13. In just over two months, nine short weeks, we have uprooted from one place and are in process of putting down roots in another. When I ponder the events of these last two months, it seems nearly impossible that all this has happened in such a short space of time. I have no words to adequately describe how this just blows my mind!
And so I continue to ponder. To be amazed at what the Almighty can do. To be amazed at what He has done.
This has been His plan. In His time. And His plan and His timing are always perfect.
That's a thought worth pondering!
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.....He hath made everything beautiful in His time." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11 KJV, emphasis mine)
Thursday, May 14, 2015
What a Difference!
Last night I went to bed earlier than I have in a while, and I slept later this morning than I have in a while. It was wonderful! All this moving, the packing and the unpacking and all the associated stress, has left me exhausted. This morning I feel refreshed and ready to take on the day's tasks. What a difference a good night's sleep makes!
Our bedroom carpets were [finally] installed yesterday. Maybe that's why I slept so well! It's a relief to have that behind us. All that's left is to install carpet on the stairs. Molly, and I, will be much happier with carpeted stairs. She has done a bit of slipping and sliding as she has tried to maneuver the stairs. So far, that hasn't happened to me. And that's a good thing. The carpet installation means the last of the "to do" list is done. New front step, new paint, new appliances, new toilets, new carpet. It's all done. What a difference in my attitude now that all that is behind us.
There are still boxes to unpack and dishes to be put away. There is furniture to properly place and there are pictures to hang. There is still much to be done. But these are things that I can control. These are things that I can decide when or where or if. No more being stuck waiting for someone else to do what they said they would do. No more wondering if this installer or that delivery person will actually show up. And what a difference that makes!
Now the delays are my own, either because I'm tired or because I just decide to take a break. If all this happens quickly, or if it takes a long time, it's up to me. I am now in control of my schedule, and that makes a big difference.
Have you noticed how seldom these days people actually do what they say they will do? Have you noticed how few people are people of their word?
Aren't you glad God isn't like that?
Aren't you glad that God keeps His Word? Aren't you glad that God always keeps His promises? That He always shows up on time! That He is dependable. And trustworthy!
Isn't it wonderful to know that He means what He says!
What a difference that makes for daily living!
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)
Our bedroom carpets were [finally] installed yesterday. Maybe that's why I slept so well! It's a relief to have that behind us. All that's left is to install carpet on the stairs. Molly, and I, will be much happier with carpeted stairs. She has done a bit of slipping and sliding as she has tried to maneuver the stairs. So far, that hasn't happened to me. And that's a good thing. The carpet installation means the last of the "to do" list is done. New front step, new paint, new appliances, new toilets, new carpet. It's all done. What a difference in my attitude now that all that is behind us.
There are still boxes to unpack and dishes to be put away. There is furniture to properly place and there are pictures to hang. There is still much to be done. But these are things that I can control. These are things that I can decide when or where or if. No more being stuck waiting for someone else to do what they said they would do. No more wondering if this installer or that delivery person will actually show up. And what a difference that makes!
Now the delays are my own, either because I'm tired or because I just decide to take a break. If all this happens quickly, or if it takes a long time, it's up to me. I am now in control of my schedule, and that makes a big difference.
Have you noticed how seldom these days people actually do what they say they will do? Have you noticed how few people are people of their word?
Aren't you glad God isn't like that?
Aren't you glad that God keeps His Word? Aren't you glad that God always keeps His promises? That He always shows up on time! That He is dependable. And trustworthy!
Isn't it wonderful to know that He means what He says!
What a difference that makes for daily living!
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Morning Prayer
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8 NIV)
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Missing the Point
Yesterday's post was about some of the things that have gone wrong during our recent move. It would be easy to focus on all those frustrations and disappointments, and to let them define this experience. It would be easy to continue the tale and to add to the "what went wrong" list. But that would miss the point.
You see, in spite of the numbers of things that are not exactly as we had intended them to be, this has been a wonderful experience. Focusing on the negatives blurs that from view. I said to Al, on the morning after the refrigerator fiasco, that I could just cry. At first he thought it was because of my frustration about appliances, until I explained that, in spite of the frustrations, I am overwhelmed with joy.
I love our new home. Even with the chaos and the boxes and everything out of its proper place, I love our home.
I love our new neighborhood. We have not yet met all our neighbors, but the ones we have met are absolutely delightful. An added bonus is that this is a quiet neighborhood, which is a good thing after our having spent the past nine years living in such a remote location.
I can see the morning sun peeking through the trees behind our house each morning. There's a creek running along our back property line. And there's even rooster somewhere not too far away. I hear him crowing from time to time!
I love being closer to our church. I love the convenience of restaurants and shopping. I love that when we went to Columbia on Saturday to visit Al's parents, it was a much shorter trip than what we've dealt with for the last nine years.
Perhaps the greatest of the blessings of this move is friendship. Friends who opened their hearts and home while all those other details weren't going according to plan. Friends who call and say put your eating clothes on....we'll pick you up in 30 minutes.
Friends who help put tile down on the floor. Friends to go out to lunch with. Friends who stop by with flowers. Or for no reason at all. Friends ready with an encouraging word. Or a smile. Or a hug.
To focus on all that has gone wrong with this move - and it's quite a long list - misses the point.
When I think about all that has been right about this move, I am overwhelmed!
We truly are so blessed. Far beyond what we deserve.
And I am so very grateful.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1)
You see, in spite of the numbers of things that are not exactly as we had intended them to be, this has been a wonderful experience. Focusing on the negatives blurs that from view. I said to Al, on the morning after the refrigerator fiasco, that I could just cry. At first he thought it was because of my frustration about appliances, until I explained that, in spite of the frustrations, I am overwhelmed with joy.
I love our new home. Even with the chaos and the boxes and everything out of its proper place, I love our home.
I love our new neighborhood. We have not yet met all our neighbors, but the ones we have met are absolutely delightful. An added bonus is that this is a quiet neighborhood, which is a good thing after our having spent the past nine years living in such a remote location.
I can see the morning sun peeking through the trees behind our house each morning. There's a creek running along our back property line. And there's even rooster somewhere not too far away. I hear him crowing from time to time!
I love being closer to our church. I love the convenience of restaurants and shopping. I love that when we went to Columbia on Saturday to visit Al's parents, it was a much shorter trip than what we've dealt with for the last nine years.
Perhaps the greatest of the blessings of this move is friendship. Friends who opened their hearts and home while all those other details weren't going according to plan. Friends who call and say put your eating clothes on....we'll pick you up in 30 minutes.
Friends who help put tile down on the floor. Friends to go out to lunch with. Friends who stop by with flowers. Or for no reason at all. Friends ready with an encouraging word. Or a smile. Or a hug.
To focus on all that has gone wrong with this move - and it's quite a long list - misses the point.
When I think about all that has been right about this move, I am overwhelmed!
We truly are so blessed. Far beyond what we deserve.
And I am so very grateful.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1)
Monday, May 11, 2015
A Comedy of Errors
"The best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry." So wrote my oft-quoted favorite Scottish poet Robert Burns.
He could have been writing about our moving adventure!
After several weeks of living out of suitcases and surrounded by boxes, movers came to our mountain home to load our furniture. The moving company sent two trucks, as previously arranged. For some reason, they sent one of their own company trucks and a Penske rental truck. That turned out to be a good thing, since the company truck was just a wee bit too tall to fit through the gate house on our mountain road. So, the guys brought the Penske truck up to our house, loaded it, drove it back down to where the other truck was parked, and off-loaded the Penske truck onto the company truck, then came back to load the last truck. And because of that, the entire process took much, much longer that it should have.
That happened on a Tuesday. On Wednesday, we closed on the sale of our mountain house. On Thursday, we closed on the sale of our house here in Spartanburg.
We had arranged for our furniture to be delivered here on the following Wednesday so that there would be time for some painting and other work to be done here before the furniture was put in place. I had a very carefully organized schedule so that none of the workers would get in each other's way. All this had been confirmed with all the parties involved. Or so I thought!
On Friday, the painters did show up and did an excellent job with the two rooms that needed painting. However, the brick mason who was supposed to fix the front step didn't show up. He eventually got here a few days later.
Monday was the day for the plumbers to install new toilets. It was also the day for a gas line to be run for the new gas range, and for the new dishwasher to be installed. The appliances were not a problem. However, only the bases for the toilets had come in; we had no toilet tanks. Therefore, no toilets were installed! That happened a couple of days later.
On Monday, we got a confirmation call that the remaining appliances, including a refrigerator, would be delivered Tuesday, and that the new microwave, which is an "install" and not a "delivery", would also be coming. However, that night Al got a call that they didn't have the refrigerator. The same refrigerator they had just confirmed they would deliver was now suddenly nowhere to be found.
We spent more than two hours in the appliance store on Tuesday morning trying to resolve the refrigerator issue. The store manager was less than helpful. He just stared at his I-phone as though a solution would magically jump off the screen. Finally, Al suggested to him that we would take the floor model as long as it would be covered by the same warranty as the appliance we had already paid for. But, the floor model had a very large hole in the back of it! To make a long story short, we did eventually get a refrigerator. And a giant headache!
The carpet that was also supposed to be installed on Tuesday, while the rooms were still empty, was not installed. Still hasn't been installed. For some reason, unknown to me, it didn't get shipped up from the factory in Atlanta. And when carpet was actually shipped, it was the wrong carpet! We're still waiting for that situation to be resolved!
Meanwhile, the movers showed up on Wednesday with our furniture, although they were two hours late and didn't bother to call to say they would be late. Maybe they got lost somewhere between Greenville and Spartanburg!
In any event, despite all the challenges of the last week we are living in our new home. Still surrounded by boxes, which will likely be the case for several more days. Or weeks.
These have been frustrating times for us. But there's a lesson to be learned here.
Life isn't always as we would like it to be. There are challenges to be dealt with. People don't always do what they say they will do. Carpet isn't installed on time. The refrigerator isn't delivered. The brick mason forgets to show up.
Life isn't about what happens to us. Or about what doesn't happen. It's about how we respond to it. It's about knowing that God is in control. Of the big things and the little things. And He is working all these things together for our good and for His glory.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-3 NASB)
He could have been writing about our moving adventure!
After several weeks of living out of suitcases and surrounded by boxes, movers came to our mountain home to load our furniture. The moving company sent two trucks, as previously arranged. For some reason, they sent one of their own company trucks and a Penske rental truck. That turned out to be a good thing, since the company truck was just a wee bit too tall to fit through the gate house on our mountain road. So, the guys brought the Penske truck up to our house, loaded it, drove it back down to where the other truck was parked, and off-loaded the Penske truck onto the company truck, then came back to load the last truck. And because of that, the entire process took much, much longer that it should have.
That happened on a Tuesday. On Wednesday, we closed on the sale of our mountain house. On Thursday, we closed on the sale of our house here in Spartanburg.
We had arranged for our furniture to be delivered here on the following Wednesday so that there would be time for some painting and other work to be done here before the furniture was put in place. I had a very carefully organized schedule so that none of the workers would get in each other's way. All this had been confirmed with all the parties involved. Or so I thought!
On Friday, the painters did show up and did an excellent job with the two rooms that needed painting. However, the brick mason who was supposed to fix the front step didn't show up. He eventually got here a few days later.
Monday was the day for the plumbers to install new toilets. It was also the day for a gas line to be run for the new gas range, and for the new dishwasher to be installed. The appliances were not a problem. However, only the bases for the toilets had come in; we had no toilet tanks. Therefore, no toilets were installed! That happened a couple of days later.
On Monday, we got a confirmation call that the remaining appliances, including a refrigerator, would be delivered Tuesday, and that the new microwave, which is an "install" and not a "delivery", would also be coming. However, that night Al got a call that they didn't have the refrigerator. The same refrigerator they had just confirmed they would deliver was now suddenly nowhere to be found.
We spent more than two hours in the appliance store on Tuesday morning trying to resolve the refrigerator issue. The store manager was less than helpful. He just stared at his I-phone as though a solution would magically jump off the screen. Finally, Al suggested to him that we would take the floor model as long as it would be covered by the same warranty as the appliance we had already paid for. But, the floor model had a very large hole in the back of it! To make a long story short, we did eventually get a refrigerator. And a giant headache!
The carpet that was also supposed to be installed on Tuesday, while the rooms were still empty, was not installed. Still hasn't been installed. For some reason, unknown to me, it didn't get shipped up from the factory in Atlanta. And when carpet was actually shipped, it was the wrong carpet! We're still waiting for that situation to be resolved!
Meanwhile, the movers showed up on Wednesday with our furniture, although they were two hours late and didn't bother to call to say they would be late. Maybe they got lost somewhere between Greenville and Spartanburg!
In any event, despite all the challenges of the last week we are living in our new home. Still surrounded by boxes, which will likely be the case for several more days. Or weeks.
These have been frustrating times for us. But there's a lesson to be learned here.
Life isn't always as we would like it to be. There are challenges to be dealt with. People don't always do what they say they will do. Carpet isn't installed on time. The refrigerator isn't delivered. The brick mason forgets to show up.
Life isn't about what happens to us. Or about what doesn't happen. It's about how we respond to it. It's about knowing that God is in control. Of the big things and the little things. And He is working all these things together for our good and for His glory.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-3 NASB)
Friday, May 8, 2015
Full Circle
I was born in Spartanburg, SC, in what was then known as Spartanburg General Hospital. (It's known as Spartanburg Regional Medical Center these days.) This photo was taken long before I was born, but the hospital still looked much like this when I came along.
I grew up in Spartanburg County, in a little town called Landrum. Except for the first two years of my life when we lived in the house next door, I spent my growing up years in a white house on South Lyles Avenue.
I grew up. I graduated from high school and then from college. I got married. We began our married life in a little stone house in "the avenues" of West Columbia, South Carolina.
After our sons were born, we moved to a larger house a few miles away. We fully expected to live out our lives there in the Midlands of South Carolina. But God had other plans for us, and in 1988 we left South Carolina and moved to Colorado. We have moved a number of times since then, and have lived in many other homes. And now we have moved again.
This move brings me full circle. Back to Spartanburg. Back to the city where I began my life journey.
I have loved my life's adventures. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would live in so many places. That I would have so many opportunities to travel. That I would meet so many people in so many cities and countries around the world. It has been an amazing journey!
And now that I've come full circle, back to the place where it all began, I'm looking forward to settling in here and seeing what other adventures God has planned for me!
"Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8 NLT)
I grew up in Spartanburg County, in a little town called Landrum. Except for the first two years of my life when we lived in the house next door, I spent my growing up years in a white house on South Lyles Avenue.
I grew up. I graduated from high school and then from college. I got married. We began our married life in a little stone house in "the avenues" of West Columbia, South Carolina.
After our sons were born, we moved to a larger house a few miles away. We fully expected to live out our lives there in the Midlands of South Carolina. But God had other plans for us, and in 1988 we left South Carolina and moved to Colorado. We have moved a number of times since then, and have lived in many other homes. And now we have moved again.
This move brings me full circle. Back to Spartanburg. Back to the city where I began my life journey.
I have loved my life's adventures. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would live in so many places. That I would have so many opportunities to travel. That I would meet so many people in so many cities and countries around the world. It has been an amazing journey!
And now that I've come full circle, back to the place where it all began, I'm looking forward to settling in here and seeing what other adventures God has planned for me!
"Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8 NLT)
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