Oh my, His works are so wondrous! I’m unfailingly amazed at the way He makes
things happen. I’ll share this story in
hopes it will speak to you.
This Lenten season, I’ve been trying to focus on the
sacrifice of Christ and what that means to me and my family. I truly wanted to be renewed, which is really
what Lent is all about. So many times I
have viewed Lent as a time of solace and suffering in order to earn my right to
sit at the Lord’s table. Oh, go on and
laugh, I know how ridiculous that is – now.
I didn’t always get it though.
When you say sacrifice, you think of giving something up. Taking away something you enjoy. Doing without something you like. It really gives such a direct message,
doesn’t it? Put away something
pleasurable, endure a hardship, sacrifice.
As a mom, I know a few things about sacrifice. How many of us have opted out of exchanging
Christmas gifts with our spouse so that we might make sure our kids get that
special something they were hoping for?
I watched my parents do stuff for me and my brother all the time, while
they sacrificed their own little niceties.
Only now, as a parent, could I really
understand how much joy it brings me to give to my kids – even if it means I do
without. I imagine God gives like that –
out of love – taking joy in our joy.
So, back to Lent…
This Lent the message has hit me differently. I have heard over and over stories from the
bible where people did as they were asked and it changed them. The Samaritan woman at the well who met Jesus
and drew him water. The lame man at the
pool of Bethesda who picked up his mat and walked. I’ve been encouraged this season to sacrifice
my time, to act in faith and obedience, but to look at it all as a way of
changing who I am – that I may become closer to Jesus. That my relationship might be made more than
what it is now, more than it has ever been.
Uh, yeah I want that! My Lenten
offering is to read the bible daily and to really reflect on what I read and
share it in this blog as often as possible.
It’s harder than you might think to sit down and not get distracted
while you meditate on the word. I mean,
it’s like a feast – you need to take proper time to sit at the table, be served
a meal that will fill you up, eat every bite, enjoy visiting with your host and
digest what you’ve just eaten. This
takes time. I’m doing okay on the
readings, not perfect, but the reflection is rougher and the blogging is just
flat hard. I’ve noticed the part about
visiting with my host has become a luxury that I tend to rush through and the
part about writing and sharing just gets left off altogether. So this morning I told Him that I missed our
visits and I asked Him to speak to me to give me a message to share. In return He said, “read the book. I will always speak to you there.” Of course my day got hectic and I rushed
right through without stopping to read the word. Later in the afternoon, I felt a feeling of
unease that I haven’t felt in several weeks.
I’ve been so grateful for the noticeable difference in my days and
nights, but why was it creeping in now?
Sweaty, mind racing, anticipatory… I thought to redirect my focus and
pray. But I just couldn’t speak, when it
crossed my mind to listen. I pulled out
my bible app and dug in. The message was
fitting and encouraged me to trudge through the difficult moments. But, like the doting and loving Dad He is,
He did me one better. You see I was
closing my phone when up popped a FB message from a friend I hadn’t seen or
spoken to in quite some time. Her
message was about this blog! A message
of encouragement and support and she told me about her neighbor who was
suffering from anxiety and panic attacks too.
She planned to share this blog with her neighbor.
Oh Jesus! That I
might be able to help someone right now just by being faithful and doing what you
ask. I was instantly assured and
renewed. Yes, how you work amazes me
every day. Your love is the best love
story, you never fail to surprise me and make me feel like a million bucks!
And for the neighbor or anyone else that feels like you’re
lost at sea… He walks on water!
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