Out of the Ring, Fighting My Own Fight

"But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your Hands."

Psalm 31:14-15a

On the way to school this morning, Nick and I were talking about how much easier it is to stand up for someone else than it is to stand up for yourself. Praying's like that for me. The issues seem crystal clear when it comes to praying for other people - unless they're my children - extensions of me.   

I just received a text from a friend who understands what I mean. Her son is being rushed to the hospital with chest pains and she's asking for prayer. 

Julie and Addy

So am I. Our daughter, Julie, had five additional moles removed after an initial one tested mildly atypical.  Now two of the new ones have been tested "mild" and "severe" - and they'll be removed May 1. There's no melanoma - just the assurance that if nothing's done, danger is certain, in time. Praise God, again, that she went to the doctor.  This is my child, my daughter who's facing serious issues as she turns 25.   I'm praying urgently, with purpose and passion, for her healing and that they scoop out every abnormal cell so she never has to deal with this threat again. 

Four generations of mamas and daughters.

Praying Addy walks in her mama's steps of faith.

Why can't we be allowed to tag team with our children, jumping in the ring to handle the tough stuff for them? Because they, too, are learning to say "But I trust in You, LORD; I say, 'You are my God. My times are in Your Hands."  As a parent I must resist every urge to obstruct my children's spiritual growth by trying to have faith for them.  My job is to stand by them, to fight my own worry, to work out my own faith, and to pray for them as they learn to trust the Someone Bigger and Stronger Who never leaves them to take their hits alone in the ring.   

Lord, God, our lives - moments, trials, victories -are in Your hands.  Help us pray, not worry; remember You love our kids more than we do (??); know You're constantly refining them to bring out their best; and believe You have a purpose for everything You allow into their lives just as You do in ours.  Help us demonstrate a faith in You that will matter to them, encourage them, lead them, but never come between them and You. Mamas want to fix things and Daddies want to provide.  You are both to our children and we trust You.
In the Name of Jesus, Who wanted to gather Jerusalem under His wing like a mother hen. 

For My Music Director, My Husband

"For the director of music. A song of the Sons of Korah. For alamoth.

God is our place of safety. He gives us strength.

He is always there to help us in times of trouble."  Psalm 46:1

 

Friday night Tom and I sat in the holding area of a restaurant waiting for lights, sounds and vibrations to erupt from our handheld device announcing a table was ready for us. We heard two young couples to our left discussing adventures in parenting young children. To our right a senior adult man and his wife, wearing an oxygen tube, shared an ottoman and waited quietly to be called.  Appropriately, we sat between them,  parents of a teenager, enjoying our status as new grandparents, and seasoned in marriage. While I was entertained by humorous tales of childhood mischief coming from the left, Tom spoke with the gentleman to our right. They discussed their favorite restaurants and where to get the best meal deals. Soon, Tom discovered the man and his wife were celebrating their wedding anniversary, too. He said, "Congratulations, we're celebrating thirty years! How about you?"

"Sixty-one," said the man smiling. "And she deserves the congratulations for putting up with me all these years."

Sixty-one years together and still "putting up" with each other. In spite of fading health, they were up and out, celebrating each other and togetherness. God used this sweet couple to provide a new goal for us "seasoned spouses."  They became a carrot in our run to keep us going, to stay the course, to stick together and sing together for thirty more years, for better or worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health. May God use Tom and me one day as the carrot to spur other couples to stay in the race.

Below is my prayer for my Music Director, husband, and best friend:

"May the God who gives hope fill you with great joy.

May you have perfect peace as you trust in Him.

May the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope." 
Romans 15:13

A cool carrot: my parents celebrated 55 years of marriage
on Christmas Eve, 2012.

There's some ham in this carrot:
Tom's folks, married 56 years.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011 - The Chill and Thrill

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

    God started my morning by proving He means what He says. I woke up with a neck ache, stressed because of all the to-do's yet to be done before the Kids' Choir leader training Prep Rally tomorrow night. You've been there. Your mind shoots out in a million directions making mental notes to make written notes to take care of this important detail or to have that imperative conversation. As a result, I approached my desk to write just minutes ago with a deeply concerned look on my face (Let's just call it what it was: a faithless, sinful, worried look.) only to find God waiting for me, ready to help. 

    I opened Live Loved, by Max Lucado, to today's entry and saw at the top of the page:

"Being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 1:6

     I sighed a smile and a "Thank you, Father," and picked up my Bible by the binding. It immediately fell open to the same verse. God was saying: "Again I say: "He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." Others might call it a double coincidence (the perfect passage plus the exact page), but I know better. It's the chill and thrill of God speaking to my specific need. It's His personal promise to me that it's going to be a good day of good work with His good help, His refreshing inspiration, and His endless creativity. With "the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the LORD, Who remains faithful forever" helping me, how can I be less than confident?

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--

the LORD, Who remains faithful forever."

Psalm 146:5-6

Lord, God, Maker of heaven and earth, I love it when You thrill me with Your Presence! Your promises are for all who believe in You and rely on You and I praise You for the personal reminder that Your Promises include me. We get harried and overwhelmed in the middle of Your good work in us if we forget Your promise says You began the work and You'll complete it. Help us trust You and obey. Keep us calm and our hearts open to Your creative inspiration. You can't be deterred or detoured, and with Your help neither will we. Thank You that on the other side we'll see all the miraculous ways You worked in us and through us. Thank You and we love You for pouring Yourself into and through weak and cracked vessels!

In the Name of Jesus Whose faith allowed God to complete the greatest work for humankind!

Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado

Photo from Google images