I'm Going to Court for a "Crime" I Didn't Commit

I feel a little bit like Jesus today.  I know that really, there’s no comparison.  My sinfulness.  His sinlessness.  But, I’m going to court today for a crime I didn’t commit.

Have you ever known someone who’s seemingly had a series of unfortunate events?

That’s my son and daughter-n-law right now.  It seems like they can’t catch a break.  The most recent happening was a couple of weeks ago, my son was chopping wood and put an axe through his foot.  Ouch.

Emergency room.  Surgery. Overnight stay in the hospital.  His six month pregnant wife beside him.   Her concern for him.  Physically and emotionally exhausted from the whole ordeal and the lack of sleep you get when you stay overnight in the hospital with someone.

After waiting for his discharge from the hospital, and then waiting some more for his prescriptions to be filled…she then got a speeding ticket on the way home.

Really Lord?  Though other cars were speeding by her, she gets the ticket?  Where’s the mercy?

After that, I began PRAYING that they would catch a break.  That the series of unfortunate events that they’ve had going on in their lives would turn around and that things would begin to go their way.

So, yesterday, my daughter-n-law called me and told me that she had just realized that the speeding ticket that was given to her was written in MY name.  Yes, you read that correctly.  My name is on the speeding ticket.

I was a little upset by this, not at my daughter-n-law, but just by the fact that it happened….

Until…

I went to city hall to check on it.  They told me that I needed to come to court the next morning and talk to the prosecuter, and they hoped that because the officer mistakenly wrote the ticket up incorrectly that they would just drop the charges.

So, today, I’m going to court for a crime I didn’t commit, in hopes that the charges will be dropped completely. 

Reminds me of what Jesus did for each of us.  Mercy.

Would you pray for that with me?  Hoping that this could be the turn around.  The end of their series of unfortunate events, and the beginning of a new season of blessing for Will and Allison.

Visible Reminders of His Faithfulness

I can never get through the Bible in a year, or typically stick with any other reading plan, primarily because the Word speaks to me in a way that causes me to want to ponder it.  Soak on it. Read other translations of the same scripture.

For instance in Psalm 57.  I LOVE the way verse 7 reads in the New Living Translation,

"My heart is confident in You oh God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises!!"

Well hallelujah, right?

When we are CONFIDENT in our God, we sing His praises.

However, we're not always confident.  We don't always trust.  We're not sure what the outcome is gonna be and we can't quite let go and turn it over and trust Him with it.  It's a bit harder to sing His praises when we're in those unsure places.

Which is why I love Psalm 57:10 in The Message,

"EVERY CLOUD IS A FLAG TO YOUR FAITHFULNESS"

Sigh.

I like that because when I see the clouds, they become a tangible reminder to me, THAT HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

Sometimes we need that reminder.

Hold on Dear One.  The God who made you is faithful.  Keep calling on Him. Keep Trusting in Him.

My Heart is confident in You, oh God.  My. Heart. Is. Confident.

Why I set time aside to be with Jesus.

I'm not a job hopper.  I'm not a church hopper.  In fact, I'm so insanely stable that my life could easily be deemed as boring.

Married to the same man for years (thankfully)
lived in the same town my whole life
worked at the same job for 20 years
went to the same church for 20 years

see a pattern here?

I think that's why change has "shaken" me.  Well, shaken is a strong word.  I'm good most days.  But I must say that I find it interesting that the same weekend, last May, God had me resign my job of 20 years at WTHI, and had me resign my worship leading position at First Christian Church in Marshall and moved me to a new job and new church.

We say that our identity is wrapped up in Christ, and in truth, it is.  But quite frankly, let's face it, much of our identity is wrapped up in what we do.

And for me, that all shifted in one weekend.

I realize that my small life change holds no comparison to someone who relocates and starts over, or someone who loses a loved one and is trying to find a new normal.  I get that.  But I suppose because my life had become SO routine, for SO long... nine months into the change, I find myself, every once in a while, still asking this question:

Who am I, and where am I?

That happened last night.  I woke up in the middle of the night and had that thought.  Then I had a very quick conversation with God.  That went something like this,

"why did you change everything the same weekend?  I feel like it messed up my identity..."

I pondered that thought and how my life looked different. Excited about the new church and new job, but also recognizing that it did cause me to struggle a bit with my "perceived identity."  My brain soaked on all of that for a while until I fell back to sleep.

When morning came, I rolled out of bed, got my coffee, and did what I always do...sat down to have some quiet time with Jesus.

My brain was no longer pondering my mid-night emotions, but evidently Jesus wanted to answer my thoughts anyway, for when I picked up my morning devotion from Jesus Calling, this is what I read:

"I am the Risen One who shines upon you always. You worship a living Deity, not some idolatrous, man-made image. Your relationship with Me is meant to be vibrant and challenging, as I invade more and more areas of your life. Do not fear change, for I am making you a new creation, with old things passing away and new things continually on the horizon. When you cling to old ways and sameness, you resist My work within you. I want you to embrace all that I am doing in your life, finding your security in Me alone.It is easy to make an idol of routine, finding security within the boundaries you build around your life. Although each day contains twenty-four hours, every single one presents a unique set of circumstances. Don’t try to force-fit today into yesterday’s mold. Instead, ask Me to open your eyes, so you can find all I have prepared for you in this precious day of Life."

That, my friends, is exactly why I set time aside to be with Jesus.  

To give Him a chance to speak into my life.  To answer my questions.  To ask Him questions. To just be with Him.

Conversation.  Relationship.  Closeness.  Guidance.  Comfort.  Security.  It's all there...and so much more.

If you don't set time aside right now, I so encourage you to do so.  Make time for the one who created you.

There's a book called The Truest Thing About You by David Lomas...if you are struggling with your identity, this could be a good read for you (and me).  Here's a trailer about it

Night of Worship

My heart and flesh cry out for the living God....If yours does too...join us...

How do we "Dwell" with God, when we have jobs and other work to do...

At Maryland Community Church our current series is "Dwell". Abiding in His presence.  But how do we "dwell" with God, when we have jobs to do?  How do I listen to him, and listen to my earthly boss at work?  How do I listen to him and do the dishes?  It's easy to listen to Him when I'm in my quiet time and can give Him my full attention, but what about the rest of the day?

I read the following this morning in A.W. Tozer's book, "The Pursuit of God".  I love that the subject of it, went right along with the subject of our sermon series.  I thought I'd share what Mr. Tozer has to say about "dwelling" with God....

"Lift your heart and let it rest upon Jesus and you are instantly in a sanctuary though it be a Pullman berth or a factory or a kitchen. You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him.

Now, someone may ask, "Is not this of which you speak for special persons such as monks or ministers who have by the nature of their calling more time to devote to quiet meditation? I am a busy worker and have little time to spend alone." I am happy to say that the life I describe is for everyone of God's children regardless of calling. It is, in fact, happily practiced every day by many hard working persons and is beyond the reach of none. Many have found the secret of which I speak and, without giving much thought to what is going on within them, constantly practice this habit of inwardly gazing upon God. They know that something inside their hearts sees God. Even when they are compelled to withdraw their conscious attention in order to engage in earthly affairs there is within them a secret communion always going on. Let their attention but be released for a moment from necessary business and it flies at once to God again. This has been the testimony of many Christians, so many that even as I state it thus I have a feeling that I am quoting, though from whom or from how many I cannot possibly know. 

I do not want to leave the impression that the ordinary means of grace have no value. They most assuredly have. Private prayer should be practiced by every Christian. Long periods of Bible meditation will purify our gaze and direct it; church attendance will enlarge our outlook and increase our love for others. Service and work and activity; all are good and should be engaged in by every Christian. But at the bottom of all these things, giving meaning to them, will be the inward habit of beholding God. A new set of eyes (so to speak) will develop within us enabling us to be looking at God while our outward eyes are seeing the scenes of this passing world."

This week, together, let's practice His presence.