Author: Beth Morrison

“The moment you began praying, a command was given.”  Daniel 9:23a
This was in my Bible reading today.  Daniel is praying for his people.  He was praying and confessing his sin, as well as the sin of the people.  That’s when Gabriel, whom I like to think of as Gabe, showed up with this message.  As I read it, it struck me at how utterly amazing it is to think about.

The minute Daniel started praying a command was given.  What if the minute I start praying, the command is given?

The minute I pray and confess to God my sins the command is given to be forgiven.  The minute I ask God for help, a command is given.  When I cry to Him for direction, a command is given.  He already has a plan, He’s just waiting for me to turn to Him.  When I do, a command is given.

I’ve been praying for years for about a dream God gave me a long time ago.  I’ve always dreamed of writing more than anything else in my life.  I really didn’t dream about the husband, not like I dreamed about writing.  Over the last few years and months God has opened doors which have given me the opportunity to write.  Recently, He opened up an entire new door for me to go back for my Masters and learn to write better.  To be able to write more.  It’s a dream come true for me.

All of those little prayers I prayed over the years had commands attached to them.  Commands which have directed me to this new journey.  My life, by times can fill like a pinball machine.  I’m the ball getting pinged from one thing to the next.  I used to take more time to try and understand why my life has taken an unexpected turn.  I’ve learned, as I’ve grown older, the majority of things which happen here on earth, I will never get the answers I’m trying to find.  Every now and then I do, but for the most part, there are no answers.

As a result,  I’ve surrendered.  I’ve just given my life to God.  Each morning I confess my sins.  I thank Him for all He’s done.  Sometimes I spend all morning praising Him.  Other times I might have a bone to pick with Him about something I don’t agree with Him about.  He always wins those conversations.  There are times where I just sit with Him and cry because my heart hurts so much.  Always, always at the end of our chats, I get on my knees and say, “I’m yours.  Do with me as You will.”

I’m tired of fighting.  I’m tired of trying to make life about what I want.  My way is definitely not the right way.  But His is.  He’s the commander.  When I start the prayer, He starts the command!

“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

Over the summer, my husband and I did a couples study called “Five Dates” by Mike and Jennifer Foster.  It was phenomenal for our marriage.  Recommended to us by our lead pastor’s wife.  Very little work involved for my husband or I.  It took about 10 minutes to read through some information individually.  Then you would go on a date and answer a few seemingly insignificant questions together.  We had the best conversations from these “dates” we’ve ever had.  It was and is amazing how it has impacted our marriage.

For instance, one date the objective was to learn more about each other’s past.  When you’ve been alive 49 years, only married six of them, there is a lot of past behind you to share.  The question which started the whole thing went something like, “Name two events growing up that impacted your life?”

My husband’s were both sports related.  Mine revolved around my Dad’s death when I was 16.  This conversation evolved from there to my husband telling me I had a chip on my shoulder.  He said it was unfair of me to think because he hadn’t gone through what I had he couldn’t understand my pain.  Also, and more importantly, it did not make me queen of suffering.  Other people suffer too.  It may not be the same way I have suffered, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t suffering.

It’s easy to assign points to suffering.  We do it based on our own life experience.  My Dad dying versus running the wrong way up the field in a football game.  Obviously, my Dad dying gets a 10, where his is a 2 if I was using a scale from 1-10.  10 obviously being hardest to go through, 1 being easiest.  That was his point.  It’s not up to us to determine who has suffered more or less.  We don’t actually know.  We have no idea how much someone has suffered and we shouldn’t assume we do.

This was not the most amicable conversation my husband and I ever had.  It took days for us to work through this together.  It was a very hard truth for me to learn about myself.  Definitely not something to be proud of having done to someone.  Especially if that someone was my husband who I love more than anyone else in the world.
My husband illuminated a blind spot in my life for me that evening.  We all have them in our lives.  Areas that are blatantly obvious to someone else but we can’t see at all.  In my car, I actually have “Blind Spot Monitors” on my mirrors.  It starts blinking when someone is beside me in the one particular spot where I can’t see them if I look in the mirror.  A blind spot.

I depend on my Blind Spot Monitors (BSM) so much, a couple of weeks ago I didn’t realize it had been accidentally turned off.  I was on I-64 in rush hour traffic.  I checked my mirrors, didn’t see the BSM going off and started to move into the next lane, right in front of a jeep I couldn’t see in my mirror.  Gratefully it was being driven by a young guy with quick reflexes who maneuvered around me.   That incident made me realize my BSM’s were off AND how much I had come to depend on them.

The conversation with my husband was a BSM going off in my life.  He was alerting me to something I couldn’t see in myself.  I needed someone to tell me what I can not see.  I needed them to do it in love.  No one has spoken truth in love into my life as well as my husband has.  He has helped me see things about myself I just could not see.
Before him, it was my friends who helped me identify my blind spots.  They were and still are active BSM’s in my life.  I depend on them to help me see what I cannot see.  I depend on them to keep me in the right lane.  To help me keep my path straight.  I can’t do life without them.  I am heavily dependent on them.

Everyone needs BSM’s in their lives. They need to be someone who loves you.  Who is looking out for what is best for you.  Who can see things you can’t see.  People you trust and love.  I developed mine in my life.  My BSM’s at this point are all people I’ve known for 10 years or longer, with the exception of my husband.  Trust me when I say, all of my BSM’s approved of him when we met.  I’m thankful they steered me towards him.   They could see how perfect he was for me, even before I did.
There are friends who stick closer than a brother.  You know exactly who they are.  If you don’t have BSM’s in your life, you know where to start.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”  Psalm 32:8

God recently changed the direction of my life, very unexpectedly.  Clearly an answer to a prayer, I’d been praying for months about the situation.  His direction change wasn’t what I thought.  Gut punch is the best description of the event.

I’ve lived life with God long enough, I know when He does things like this there is a definite purpose.  I know He wants me in a new direction, even if I don’t know which way it is.  It might hurt for awhile.  My heart has some areas it needs to heal in, but I know through all of it He has a plan.  It is a good plan.  And I want to be where He wants me to be.  Always.

Life with God is so much better than life any other way.

I am embracing it completely.  I admit, I was shocked at first.  It knocked me to my knees and took my breath away.  I didn’t get right back up, in fact, I’m still in the process of getting back on my feet.  One thing is for sure, I am loving this journey He has me on completely.

The emotions I’ve worked through over the past few weeks. The lessons He has taught me, it’s amazing.  The conversations I’ve had I would never have had any way else.  They have been so rich, so deep, so full of life.  The messages I’ve heard as a result of this have been particularly interesting.  I’m looking so closely for where God is leading me it’s been invigorating.  I mean it is on the edge of your seat kind of stuff.

I can’t talk about  where I think I’m heading.  Not yet. There hasn’t been enough time.  I’m not completely sure it’s what He wants.  The first thing He has instructed me to do is slow down.  I have learned slowing down doesn’t mean what I thought it meant.

Slowing down simply means taking the time to enjoy life.  Smelling the roses.  Reading the book.  Taking the walk.  All things we do for ourselves, but also for our relationship with God.  When I do these things, I’m trusting not everything has to be done today.  I’m learning I don’t have to be the one who does everything. I’m deepening my trust in Him as I wait for His leading.  I’ve learned I’m actually doing others a disservice when I’m doing all the work.  I’m not giving them the opportunity to learn and grow.

I’m having so much fun learning these lessons I can’t even put it into words.

I just started a new book this morning.  Lisa Harper’s “Overxtended…and loving most of it!”  The title of this book is exactly how I would describe how I feel most days.  Overxtended…and loving most of it!  I’m a chapter in and I have found a new life motto:

“You know, I think this is what we’re supposed to look like when we stand before Jesus.  I don’t think we’re supposed to show up in glory with time to spare,  a fresh manicure, and perfect hair.  I think if we’re really living the gospel, we’re going to fall at His feet exhausted and messy, with mismatched socks, just plum worn out from loving people as hard as we can!”

Oh my gosh, I want to be that woman.  I want to fall at Jesus feet with mismatched Crocs on my feet, hair going wild, no make-up and a few pounds over weight.  Being perfect is not for me.  I just heard about this “illness” in elderly women who are striving all of the time to be a size 0.  The amount of stress you put on your body to do that as you age causes severe health issues.  I do not, in anyway want to be that!  Women naturally gain weight as they get older.  Their bellies aren’t so flat anymore.  Their hips widen.  It’s the way God created us.  Embrace it.  I don’t want to be something God didn’t create me to be.

I do however want to be healthy.  I love when I go to the Dr. for my yearly physical and she tells me my blood work is better than last year.  I love being able to run all day long from one thing to the next.  I love playing tennis and walking dogs.  I am grateful for the good health the Lord has blessed me with, but I also need to take care of it.
Therefore I try to stay healthy.  I do not try to be a size 0.  Still takes work.

Lord, thank You for the epiphany.  Can’t wait to see what You’re going to teach me next!

 ^“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  Matthew 18:20
Reminiscing about my hometown of Tidal, PA tonight.  Particularly the women of Tidal.  Specifically, my Mom and her friends.  Which, when you live in a village the size of Tidal, everyone is your friend.  I was watching a documentary on Serena Williams.  She talked about how where you’re from makes you who you are.  I am so glad I’m from Tidal.  I have learned more from my friends in that village than I have anywhere else in the world.  So grateful for them.
I started thinking about them because I was helping a friend clean her house after a hectic holiday weekend.  We hadn’t seen each other in a week.  It was a fun way to catch up.   As I was cleaning I started thinking how many times I had seen friendship modeled for me this way.
I think of Neet taking me into her house after I fell and scraped my knee running to catch the school bus.  Helping my Mom make sure I got to school on time.  I think of everyone gathering together to can food for the winter or make apple butter at the church.  I think of Mary rallying the troops to help give my Mom the most amazing birthday.  It had been over 30 years since our family lived there.  I have never seen a better spread than the one the women of Tidal prepared for my Mom that day.
As I reflected on this from a mid-life perspective I began to understand how incredibly special this is.  It’s not something you find just anywhere.  People don’t help people like that anymore.  I barely know my neighbors.  I have met and do know all of their names.  However our schedules are so different, I rarely see them.  None of them come and borrow a cup of sugar.   It’s just not the same.  It’s not bad, it’s just different.
The Tidal women, they are all still a part of my life.  Mary and her husband bought my childhood home.  Just a couple of years ago she sent me the writings I did on the walls of the attic.  My favorite retreat.  Neet still lives in the house beside her at the bottom of the hill, across from Vivian.  Charlotte’s grand daughter now lives in her house.  They have never stopped being my friend.  They never let distance get in the way.  If I need them, I know they are there.
I shared this with my friend tonight.  She made the comment, “It feels good to accomplish something together.”  I immediately agreed, then realized it’s how we accomplish anything, together.  That’s how we accomplish life, together.
We were never meant to do this life alone.  God always intended for us to do it together.  The key is paying attention to who needs help.  People are not going to ask.  Pride gets in the way.  I’m guilty of this myself.  I explained to my friend tonight about the beauty of living in Tidal.  Because it’s so small.  Because everyone knows everyone.  No one needs to ask for help.  They know because they see it.
They saw it when my Dad was taken to the hospital and my Mom needed someone to take care of the kids.  They saw it when my sister battled cancer and needed someone to sit with her at chemo.  They saw it when my Dad died and my Mom lost the love of her life.  They saw it.  They knew we needed help then.  No one had to tell them.
In my life today, people don’t see it.  I don’t know if it’s because they are too busy.  I don’t know if it’s because we live in such a densely populated area it’s easy to hide.  I don’t know why.  Probably because it’s hard to ask for help.  But if there is one thing I’ve learned in my 49 years of life, everyone needs help.  It’s just a matter of finding out what kind of help they need.
I learned that from the women of Tidal.  Women, I’m grateful to call my role models.

“Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. ” Colossians 3:2
Been doing a lot of thinking about perspective.  How we are all on a journey.  Each of our journey’s are unique.  Each has it’s own perspective.  What I’ve realized over the last couple of weeks is our perspective depends on how we are traveling.  How fast or slow we are going.
For instance, we spent the weekend in Texas.  We traveled over 800 miles in car.  We flew even further in the plane which took us there.  When we were on our way home, we had a tailwind.  The captain told us we were traveling at 600 miles per hour.  When we were driving in the car we averaged 75 miles per hour (which by the way is the speed limit in Texas).  Compare those to the 3 mile per hour stroll we took after dinner Friday night and you have three different perspectives.
Flying at 600 mph at 30,000 feet I didn’t see much.  It was dark, on occasion we could see sprinkles of lights on the earth.  Driving at 75 mph I saw so much more.  I saw the cattle grazing by the side of the road.  I saw them so well I was able to identify different types of breeds.  I saw Texas Longhorns for the first time.  I saw Black Angus and Red Angus cattle.  I could see oil wells and wind mills.  I saw so much more detail at 75 mph than I did at 600 mph.
When we strolled along the River Walk in San Antonio after dinner at barely 3 mph I saw even more.  I saw couples enjoying an evening meal together.  I could hear their laughter and the low murmur of conversation swirling around me.  I saw the ripples in the water as it flowed past me.  I saw the muddy brown caused by the recent rain.  I could smell the different aromas coming from the restaurants.  I saw the vivid colors of the shimmering lights.  Walking at 3 mph was like looking through a microscope compared to flying at 600 mph.
The slower we go, the more we notice.  The better our perspective becomes.  The more clearer our paths are ahead of us.  We rush through life so quickly it’s like we’re flying at 600 mph all of the time.  We don’t notice the people around us, the scenery, the smells.  We are so focused on our “agendas” we miss what is right in front of us.
Lately, God has been speaking to me.  I didn’t realize until today what He has been saying.  In fact, as I’ve written this blog I’ve gained clarity.  I’ve listened to so many messages lately on purpose.  I’ve been so focused on what I’m supposed to be doing I’ve missed what God is saying.  His message to me is simple, yet so hard for me to do:
“Slow down”
God wants me to slow down.  He wants me to stop flying at 600 mph and start strolling at 3.  Not everything has to be done today.  Not everything has to be done tomorrow.  When God tells us in John 10:10 Jesus came so we can have life and have it to the fullest, He meant it.
If we’re going too fast we’ll miss it.  We’ll miss the beauty of the falling leaves as they meander their way to the earth.  We’ll miss the vibrant colors of life all around us.  We’ll miss the warm smile of a stranger because we’re going to fast to notice.  We’ll miss the peace of a fall afternoon or the feel of the gentle breeze as it passes over us.  If we’re going to fast we’ll miss spending time with the ones we love.
I’ve been going too fast.  I’ve missed some things I will never get back.  God has been trying to tell me to slow down, but I haven’t been listening.  I’m grateful He hasn’t given up on me as I’ve been zooming through my days.  Instead, He created an opportunity for me to slow down.  Through it, He has shown me all I’ve been missing.  He’s been trying to tell me I don’t have to do it all.  I just have to do what He calls me to do.  Right now, what He is calling me to do is slow down.
God will give me enough time to do everything He has intended for me to do.  If I don’t slow down, I might miss it.  I won’t hear His still small voice directing my path if I’m going too fast.  I won’t see the signs He’s giving me if I fly right by them.  I won’t be able to follow His lead if I’m too busy following mine.  I had no idea how fast I’ve been going until God slowed me down.   When He did, He changed my perspective.
How fast have you been going lately?  Are you flying at 600 mph, driving at 75 or strolling at 3?  Maybe I’m not the only one God is telling to slow down.  If you’re going too fast, you won’t get the message.   I know I didn’t.
 
 
 
 

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1
One of the things I love most about traveling is visiting different churches around the country.  I truly hope and pray the good Lord above keeps me traveling, keeps me visiting, keeps me worshiping with believers all over the country, even the world.
Today’s experience was, what I believe a divine appointment.  Simply because of how we found it.  I’m not sure why yet, but I know I was meant to be there.
Yesterday, my husband and I were driving to Harlingen, TX for the memorial of his beloved Aunt Nancy.  A wonderful woman who we still can’t believe is gone.  We were traveling from San Antonio along I-35 when we missed our exit.  As a result we went one mile further and had to turn around.  The one mile led us to Journey Church.  As my husband was making a u-turn, I was googling service times.  I knew we would be passing by the next day on our way back to Houston to catch our flight home.  That is how we ended up at Journey Church this morning.  We woke up early, I asked my husband if he wanted to go.  Off we went.
When we arrived, it felt very much like our home church.  It’s located in an old bowling alley.  They’ve been there 8 years.  I know this because as soon as the lead pastor’s wife spotted us she immediately introduced herself and welcomed us to their church.  The gentleman who greeted us at the door greeted us with God’s blessings.  It was a very welcoming and warm church.
The pastor’s wife told us they had a guest speaker.  A missionary serving in Africa, originally from West Virginia.  I have to be honest, we weren’t enthusiastic.  We were bummed we weren’t going to hear the lead pastor.
God however knew exactly what He was doing.  As He always does.
The missionary was enthralling.  The service lasted two hours yet it seemed like only minutes.  His passion for God, his story was unscripted and real.  From his four years in high school when he led a “two faced” life.  In church on Sundays and parties on Saturday.  His eventual wife who all through those years kept steering him back to God.  Kept challenging him and encouraging him to serve only one God, not two.
I found myself leaning forward on the edge of my seat as he shared how they ended up in Africa six weeks after their wedding.   They were put in charge of 54 orphans, one of whom still lives with them and their three kids to this day.  He was 22 years old, fresh out of college managing a 10,000 acre farm with a new wife and 54 orphans.
He talked about his six hour ride one way on a dirt bike into the bush of Africa every week.  A backpack with water and a tent in it as his only supplies, to minister to a forgotten people.  To introduce them to Jesus.
He talked about being thrown in a Conga jail.  Being released because of an African Emporer who had been praying for four years for someone to come and minister to these people.  The first thing they did when he arrived was throw him in jail.  The Emporer was not pleased.
He is 36 years old as of this writing.  He’s on a three month break, traveling the country to build support for their mission before he returns to this land he has come to love.
His challenge to us was simple.  He didn’t want money.  He wanted us to follow God’s call on our lives.  To say yes to whatever God has in store for us.  He talked about how saying a simple yes to God has led him and his entire family on an adventure of a lifetime.
It was a beautiful testimony to a life well lived for the Lord.  It left us speechless as we walked out the doors today.  The spirit of the Lord was so evident in his life.  In the life of this church.  It was truly breathtaking.
I don’t know why God wanted us there.  I do know He did.  I know that because of how we found it.  What I thought would just be another encouraging opportunity to worship with people from a different community has a deeper meaning.  I’m not to fear what lies ahead.  I’m just to say yes and wait for the Lord’s direction.
Easier said than done.  Easier said than done!

 “We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”  Proverbs 16:33
It is a day of delays.  I’m struggling with things not going according to plan.  I find it humorous, because my prayer for this weekend is to not take offense.  No matter what anyone does, I don’t want to take offense.  I just want to love well.
Unfortunately, I’m offended.  I’m offended at United Airlines because our 6:15 a.m. flight was and is delayed until 12:07 p.m.  It has completely derailed our plans for today.
Our plan for today was to spend it in San Antonio.  We were going to explore the Alamo.  We were going to stroll along the infamous San Antonio Riverfront.  Shopping, eating, drinking, relaxing in each other’s company.
United Airlines, however, had different plans.  God willing, we will still enjoy the riverfront this evening for dinner.  I’m grateful no matter where we are we can relax in each other’s company.  The Alamo might have to wait until Sunday.  In all fairness, we did receive a text at 10:00 p.m. last night the flight was delayed.  The problem was we rolled out of bed at 4:00 this morning, jumped in the shower and were heading out the door before we received it.  Gratefully, we weren’t at the airport.  However we were wide awake with no place to go too.
I’m offended at the airline.  I knew when I began praying about not taking offense to anything, I would start being offended.  It’s like praying for patience.  I tell people, don’t pray for patience.  If you do, God will give you lots of reasons to PRACTICE patience.
Yet, really, aren’t we always offended?  Don’t we get offended too easily?
I’m absolutely sure the lady who took forever paying for her groceries in front of me woke up thinking about offending me.  Because she did.  I could not believe how slow she was.  I was absolutely sure it was deliberate.  Yet she doesn’t even know me.
Or how about the young man I cut off the other day on I-64.  Do you think he was offended when I pulled in front of him without seeing him?  Does he think I deliberately tried to crash into him?  Of course not.  I just didn’t see him.  He may however have been offended, I don’t know.
The point is, when we get offended, we’re making it about us.  We aren’t thinking about the other person or what is going on with them.  We’re just thinking about our inconvenience.
United Airlines isn’t trying to offend me.  They are trying to take care of me by making sure the plane we travel on is safe.  The woman in line in front of me wasn’t trying to offend me, she was buying her groceries.  Doing absolutely nothing wrong.  And me, I definitely wasn’t trying to offend the young man I pulled in front of Wednesday.  I didn’t even see him.  I’m just grateful he had quick reflexes and maneuvered around me without issue.
Praying to not take offense isn’t like praying for patience.  Praying to not take offense is simply taking the focus off of you and praying for the other person (or company).  I am a firm believer no one ever intends to cause you pain.  They really don’t mean to offend you.
I have begun to realize, when we feel offended it’s a good time for self examination.  Whatever offends us is probably what we need help with in our lives.  For instance, United delaying our flight is helping me identify my control issues.  It’s helping me remember we make our plans but God guides our path.  The lady in front of me at the grocery store reminded me I don’t have to rush.  I can actually enjoy the moment.  That beautiful young man in the jeep reminded me to be flexible.
Whenever I feel offended, I know I have some soul searching to do.  I have some learning to do.  God is shining His light on an area of my life I haven’t turned over to Him.  He wants all of us, not just the parts we’re willing to give up.  He wants the parts we don’t even know we have to give up.
Maybe, getting offended isn’t the worst thing in the world.  The key is searching our hearts for why we’re offended.  Then, we begin to meet God in the work He’s trying to do in us.
I don’t want to take offense, I just want to love well.  In order to love well, I have to examine my offenses so I can deal with heart issues, which in the end, will help me love well.
It’s a lot of work.  It’s worth it.  It always, always draws me closer to God.  There is nothing better than feeling His approval as you let Him in a little bit more.
Inch by inch life is a cinch.  Yard by yard life is hard.  I learned that phrase from my roommate when I was a flight attendant.  One of the wisest things I’ve ever heard.
Life is easy when we take it inch by inch.  When we try to take it yard by yard it gets out of control.  Unexpected delays in life are opportunities to do a little soul searching.  They give us a chance to realize, it’s not really about me.  It’s not about us.  It’s just life.  Life isn’t meant to be controlled, it’s meant to be lived.
Here’s to living today.  Fully and completely!

 ^“When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.” Luke 8:33
God has been speaking clearly to me about one thing: PURPOSE.
Sunday was my nephew’s birthday.  He went to be with Jesus four years ago.  I went to the church where he met Jesus for his birthday.  I wanted to thank the people who had helped me introduce Cody to Jesus.  That is where God first started talking.
The message was on PURPOSE.  The guest speaker talked about how living for the approval of people keeps you from the purposes of God.  A great example of this is Moses in Hebrews 11:24-26.  He chose God, not people.
He also explained the POWER of PURPOSE.  When we know our purpose it diminishes the distractions in life.  We’re so focused on our purpose, we don’t notice anything else.  Purpose pushes through the pain.  I loved his example of a mother giving birth.  She endures the pain of childbirth because she knows its purpose.  She will have a child.  Lastly, purpose empowers us to please God.  When you have identified what God’s purpose for you is, it makes it easy to please God.
I’ve known for a long time what my general PURPOSE is.  I’m to love God and love others.  Mark 12:30-31.  No matter where I’m at or what I’m doing. I’m to be loving God and loving people.  I know that.
But I’m beginning to believe God has a CALLING for me as well.
The second time God brought the conversation of purpose up was yesterday, in my group.  Our topic for the evening was PURPOSE.  From our group discussion, our leader derived purpose and calling are the same thing.  As our conversation evolved we debated purpose versus calling.  Calling won.
When God gives you a PURPOSE it’s a CALLING.
Then this morning God had me pondering Luke 8:33:
“When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”
Specifically, I was focused on the pig farmer.  The owner of the pigs had just lost a significant amount of income.  What about him?  What is his PURPOSE in the story?  I haven’t discovered the answer to it yet.  But I will not take the pig farmer for granted anymore.  I will always recognize him in the story.  I’ve never done that before.  I’ve only thought of Jesus and the demon possessed man.   I never cared about the pigs.  Now I do.
And just an hour ago I had a conversation with my husband I want to always remember.  For the first time in our married lives, we were both studying the same scripture at the same time, but didn’t know it.  It’s an incredible feeling to realize God is that closely connected to you in your marriage.
He had a different perspective though.  He was realizing how the man, once cured of the demons wanted to follow Jesus.  He wanted to go where Jesus went and be a disciple.  Jesus said no.  He couldn’t come.  His PURPOSE was to go into the city and tell the people what He had done for him.
My husband brought up the point how devastating that must have been for him.  After the miraculous healing, wouldn’t he naturally be the best disciple?  Yet Jesus says no.  It was probably heartbreaking for this man not to be able to go with Jesus.
Here’s the beautiful nuance though.  Just a few verses later, when Jesus returns a crowd welcomed him.  “for they were all expecting him.” Luke 8:40 Why were they expecting him?  Because the demon possessed man had done his PURPOSE.  He had told the townspeople what Jesus had done.  His CALLING was to go tell the people about Jesus.  He did it.  He fulfilled his calling.  I can’t imagine there is anything more fulfilling than that.
It hasn’t been three full days and I’ve had PURPOSE brought up to me in all of these different ways.  I think God is talking to me.  I need to take time to listen to what He is saying.
I’m just curious what will be next!
 
 
 

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8
You could easily say this has been one of those weeks.  Not only in my life, but in the lives of friends I love very dearly.  In family members lives who are struggling through some hard stuff right now.  Tomorrow is Cody’s birthday.  I always miss him more this time of year.
But I just had the coolest thing happen.  I know you’re going to think I’m crazy.  I’ve shed a lot of tears in my lifetime.  Most of us have.  I rely on Psalm 56:8 every time I shed one.  I think of God capturing my tears.  Recording my hurts.  It always makes me feel better.
I just sat down to start session four of Lisa Harper’s study on Job.  I love listening to Lisa Harper.  I like the sound of her voice.  I love the slight grittiness to it.  I love the southern accent.  Her voice soothes me when I hear it.
I started the session.  There is this music at the beginning.  Every time I hear it start, my heart quickens.  I know I’m about to learn something good.  I get so excited.
Today, as my heart quickened, tears started to roll silently down my cheek.  It’s the first time I’ve ever started a study in tears.  It’s the first time I think I have experienced joy and sorrow simultaneously.
I thought to myself, “If I’m crying when I start this, it’s going to be even better than I think.”
Life is so hard.  But that doesn’t mean it’s bad.  It doesn’t mean you’re alone.  It doesn’t mean God doesn’t care.  It simply means it’s hard.
I love this quote from Bob Goff’s book, “Everybody Always”:
“We can bring all the game we’ve got, but only Jesus has the power to call out of us the kind of courage it takes to live the life He talked about.”
That is truth in its best sense.  Life is hard but it’s worth it.
On to session four!
(Today’s picture was taken on the streets of NYC when I was there in August.  Hope in the middle of the city!)