For Ladies Only Glimpse

Now look, I don't know how many of you got smirks on your face wondering about my title. By the time you get done reading this post I'll bet they will turn into full-fledged, knowing smiles and/or giggles. How can I be confident to make such a claim? Well, that's what's happened every time I've shared it with ladies around here, i.e. Bible Study, Moms Retreat. Read on and enjoy.

I was struggling one day with an appointment that I figured was going to be pretty difficult. I wanted to be sure that I approached it in ways that would glorify my Father. Lately I've been seeking the Lord to build His Word into me in such a way that it will be the first thing I consider in any situation. He's been very gracious in answering that request even for a mature adult such as myself. [You can read that, "an old bird like me," if you like.] So in preparation I was led to the passage that begins at Colossians 3:12.

I was sharing the excellent advice offered in these verses with a friend. She encouraged me to consider reading through the passage even as I got dressed the morning of my appointment. She suggested that I actually put on the attributes mentioned as I was putting on my clothes. The idea was intriguing to me. It reminded me of the Ephesians 6 passage that directs God's people to stand firm and put on the armor of God. So the next morning I opened my Bible to Colossians 3 and laid it out on the bed along with all my clothes.

12a Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, . . .
I stopped to soak in those basic truths. Before the directions to get dressed, God begins by telling me who I am. He chose me to be His own, not because of the way I look or for anything I've done, not even because I love and trust Him as I seek to follow His precepts. He chose me before the foundation of the world because HE loves ME. As a matter of fact, I only love Him because He first loved me. 1 John 4:19 Not only am I chosen, but God calls me holy and reminds me that I am dearly loved. These truths are based on who He is and what He has done. Hallelujah, it has nothing to do with me. I've been chosen and made holy by Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 I am this chosen, holy, dearly-loved person that is being addressed and directed in a special way. I need to pay attention.

12b clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Okay, God is telling me to put on compassion. Once again I'm reminded of the belt, breastplate, helmet, etc. from Ephesians. The verse does say to clothe myself so which of these articles of clothing would best represent compassion? To put on compassion means to choose to take in the other person's position, to think about what they might be thinking or how they might be feeling. It would mean that I would need to really consider the inner, private part of the other person's life. My most private parts are covered up by my underpants so I'm going to put them on as a symbol of the compassion I'm asking the Lord to give me. I prayed as I slipped on my underpants that the Lord would help me see and understand the other person's position from His viewpoint. Oh yes, Lord I'm beginning to see the wisdom of this process.

Next God tells me to put on kindness. What article of clothing would illustrate kindness? To put on kindness means to choose to have a positive, outgoing attitude of service. It would mean that I would need to be uplifting and perky, not down in the mouth and negative. The article of clothing that I find most uplifting is my bra so I'm going to put that on as a symbol of the kindness I'm asking the Lord to give me. I giggled a little and then prayed as I put on my bra that God would fill me with the kindness He offers me when I sit in His presence. Thank you, Father, for the leading of your Holy Spirit that includes a good dose of humor.

Clothe myself with humility is the next direction. What article of clothing could that possibly be? To put on humility means to choose to set aside all of my own accomplishments as well as any self-elevating thoughts that might cause me to think more highly of myself than I ought. It would mean that I would need to be meek and lowly, with no sense of pride. The Lord has been doing a serious work in me on humility and I praise Him for all His progress. Humility is a hard thing to put on when you've lived a lot of years and learned a lot of things, but it's also hard to take off once the Lord has shown you yourself. The article of clothing that I find the hardest to put on and not so easy to take off is my panty hose so I'm going to put them on as a symbol of the humility I'm asking God to give me. I prayed as I struggled to pull on my panty hose that the Lord would apply as much effort as was needed to keep my humility in place and not let it bag or sag or even run. Thank you, Father, for the practical way you direct my prayer life.

The Lord says I should clothe myself with gentleness next. What article of clothing could that possibly be? To put on gentleness means to choose to be mild, moderate, non-confrontational as I go through my days. It would mean that I would need to be responsive to and flow with the needs of the people around me. The article of clothing that I find most gentle and flowy is my slip so I'm going to put that on as a symbol of the gentleness I'm asking God to give me. I prayed as I adjusted my slip that God would allow me to apply the gentleness He uses when He calls me to account in a sensitive area. Thank you, Lord, for showing me how you bless me out of your infinite storehouses.

Patience is another piece the Lord wants me to put on. What article of clothing could that possibly be? To put on patience means to choose to persevere in the face of opposition, for the long haul. It would mean that I would need to be committed to walk the path the Lord lays out for me, no matter what, until He says I'm done. The article of clothing that I find stays with me on long, hard paths is my shoes so I'm going to put them on as a symbol of the patience I'm asking God to give me. I prayed as I stepped into my pumps that God would fill me with the patience He has been showing me in this new phase of growth. Thank you, God, for continuing to keep me close to your heart.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
The Lord wants me to put on forgiveness. What article of clothing could that possibly be? To put on forgiveness means to choose to release another person from the debt they owe for sinning against me. It would mean that I would need to give up any "right" to compensation or opportunity for retaliation. This is a big one. True forgiveness cuts or softens the affects of sin and shortcomings, the ugly parts of my life. The article of clothing that I find softens my shortcomings and ugly parts is my dress so I'm going to put it on as a symbol of the forgiveness I'm asking God to give me. I prayed as I pulled my dress over my head and smoothed it into place that the Lord would remind me of His great forgiveness to me and empower me to heed His call to grant the same forgiveness to others. Thank you, Lord, for the way you smooth out my bumps and bulges by your grace.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
The final item the Lord encourages His chosen, holy and dearly-loved people to cloth themselves with is love. What article of clothing could that possibly be? To put on love means to choose to view other people the way God sees them and brings all of the attributes together in unity. It would mean that I would need to emphasize love as the overarching tone of my life. The article of clothing that I find joins everything together is the sweater that coordinates my outfit so I'm going to put it on as a symbol of the love I'm asking God to give me. I prayed as I put on my sweater that the Lord would warm me with His love that I might share it with others and thereby warm their souls. Thank you, God, for the love you lavish on me.

It might have sounded far-fetched at the outset, but God has taught me some rich lessons through this passage. He went with me to my appointment and granted all my requests by His grace. Not only that, but I can now list all of the attributes in this passage in order just by going through the articles of clothing. :-) I continue to look to Him to keep me dressed appropriately, as befits a chosen, holy and dearly-loved daughter. He is faithful!

So don't believe the folks who say that old dogs can't learn new tricks. God is The Trainer, Redeemer, Reconciler, Renewer, Rebuilder. He takes broken lives and worn out old believers like me and breathes new life into them. He teaches us more about Himself and how to remain in His presence, day after day, in spite of any distractions the world or the annoyer can throw at us. Hallelujah, praise God for who He is. Glorify His Name and enjoy Him now and forever! Amen

Sandra Glimpse

You know, I'm becoming more and more convinced that God can and does speak to us just about everywhere and/or in the midst of anything. It might be hard to imagine that our heavenly Father gave me a glimpse of Himself through the Subject line of my email program, but it's true.

For a long time I've used SANDRA in all caps as the Subject line of my email opener with a dash and the topic afterward. I did that because I like to know who's sending emails to me so I can decide if I want to open them or not. (Sorry folks.) I figured if other people saw SANDRA in all caps they'd know it had to be me and not just anybody with that name - and bring excitement about reading my message. It seems to have worked for the last several years, well, ever since I learned how to use email.

Lately I've been getting the sense that SANDRA may be a little strong for some people to take. (Was that sentence a Freudian slip?) ;-) For some reason the Holy Spirit has been drawing my attention to SANDRA in my Subject line. In the past, I have had people make snide remarks about it, but this is something different. (Isn't it amazing the things people can find to complain about?) I'm sure you know how impossible it is to ignore the Holy Spirit when He piques your interest in something. So I began to consider whether or not I wanted to make a change, and what I might want to change it to. After a bit of thought I decided I would switch to all lower case letters because that speaks to me of a gentle and gracious spirit. The Lord's been giving me some real growth toward my goal in those areas and it felt like it might be a good way to reflect that change by using sandra in my Subject line.

Today I started typing sandra at the top of my emails. I was feeling pretty good about the step I'd taken. After all, our local church recently changed its name to reflect the new life the Lord is bringing to His body here. When we were discussing the concept we talked about the various times in Scripture that God changed names to reflect new life or purpose. It makes a powerful statement and that's what I wanted to do. Well, after a few emails, the Lord spoke to me. No, not audibly, ;-) but clearly - in my spirit one might say.

"This is a good idea. You're right, sandra is much less bombastic, but those small letters make you appear a little insignificant."

I responded, "Oh, yes, Lord. That's all right. Before you I am insignificant. I want people to see You and not me."

I got a response I was not ready for. "Sandra, you are significant."

I have to confess that I couldn't accept it at first. Then I began to remember all the lessons the Lord has made real to me through Scripture, especially Isaiah 43. It was as if God were telling me, "I made you. You are mine. I love you. You are finite before Me, your infinite holy God and Father, but you are precious to Me. I chose you to be mine before I made any part of the world. I have kept you and will continue to watch over you all the days of your life until I bring you home to live with me for all eternity. I want you to understand that in a very real sense I show Myself through you. As my Daughter and fellow heir with my Son Jesus, you are my ambassador, a living letter to those I bring to you."

I was bowled over! I know that God cannot lie and His Word is true. I drank in what He was showing me with humility and as confirmation. You see, over these last months God has been revealing Himself to me in very personal ways. I've been a believer for almost 40 years. I know and have seen God's loving watchcare over me. The truth is though that it's always easier to pray for others and then praise God for His detailed answers to them. I'm definitely not a Paul- or Esther-size saint and it's not always easy to shed burdens from the past. This was a glimpse that took my breath away.

When my emotions calmed down and the tears stopped falling, I looked at the sandra that was typed out in front of me. It did look a little plain and insignificant.

"Okay, God. What should I do to let people know who I am?"

I looked at the poor little sandra and thought of the SANDRA and decided neither one fit. I added a capital S at the beginning and took another look. Yup, that looked pretty good. The S is the first thing people will see, just as I want it to be in my life. The first thing I want people to see about me is the image of God. It's the most important thing about me and the best they will ever know. God is sovereign and I want my capital S to illustrate that truth. (I'm sorry for all you other people who have names that begin with different letters.) ;-) The rest of the letters of my name can remain lower case. God has made a lot of progress in my life, but there is still a lot of work to do. Besides, a capital at the front of a word means that it is a proper noun, the name of a particular person, place or thing. I'm not just particular - some might say peculiar - I'm unique. It isn't always easy being me, but it's who God made me to be and He's teaching me by His grace to accept, enjoy and even revel in that truth. Hallelujah!

It's not a great event in the history of the world. Most people will never even notice the change. The fact that I've decided to go back to the common spelling of my name on the Subject line of my emails won't make a mosquito blink. Nevertheless, it is undertaken with a deeper understanding of who God is and who I am before Him. The capital S at the front of my name is no longer just a convention of grammar. Every time I type it I will be making a statement before God and man, the seen and the unseen world, of all that I've just expressed. Who would have thought God would grant such a powerful glimpse through the Subject line of an email?

Keep your eyes open! You never know where God will show Himself. Love, Sandra :-)

Parable of the Knee, Glimpse #8

The appointment for my second opinion was an exciting event. Curt came with me to make sure I said everything I needed to say and understood everything I was told. Dr. Ouelette listened while I explained the original injury and the following months. I did my best to relay the details of what had taken place with the first orthopedist without denigrating his opinion. It wasn't easy.

Then Dr. O took over with his examination. He poked and prodded both of my legs in a variety of positions. In the final evaluation he took hold of my hands and had me do a deep knee bend on my right leg. While all my weight was on my involved knee he moved left to right in an arc in front of me. I was fully expecting to collapse in pain, but nothing happened. I was amazed!

Then we sat down to talk and Dr. O let me know right away that there wasn’t anything wrong with my meniscus. He pointed out that the original diagnosis was a “bruised meniscus” and stated that he didn’t even know what that was. He’d never heard of it. As Dr. O went through the ideas he had, he suggested we take another set of x-rays so he could check out the bone. The earlier set was not available to us. The office staff was kind and efficient as they undertook this last minute process.

After Dr. O studied the x-rays he pointed out a small dark spot on the top of the lower leg bone, on the inside edge. It corresponded exactly with the area where I kept having topical discomfort. He said that it showed a cyst in that area and suggested that I had bruised the cyst when I fell. Then, as time went on, it would go through phases of healing and re-injury. Hah, who’d ever heard of a cyst on a bone before? I sure hadn’t. However, the diagnosis fit with everything I’d been experiencing. It all made sense and I was elated.

Of course, now I needed to know what, if anything, could be done about it. My first thought was to just go in and take it out surgically. But Dr. O was much more conservative. He talked about the cyst having been there for a long time without pain. He suggested that I continue with the exercises since I was making progress. He felt that giving the area another three months to return to an asymptomatic state was reasonable given the normal healing time for a bone cyst. To tell the truth, he also talked about the whole situation being part of the development of arthritis. I can’t imagine how he could have been off about that one part. I'm sure I'm not old enough to have any arthritic symptoms. ;-)

As Curt and I walked out of the office I couldn’t help but think about the major difference a perspective can make. I’d thought I was a hopeless cripple, but now I had a specific situation to overcome. As a sinner I can view myself as a hopeless cripple, but it is a saint (sinner saved by grace) I have a situation I can overcome. When I sin I can come to God and ask forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 proclaims the truth that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

There was another aspect of this appointment that brought me full-circle. An “expert” told me what was wrong with my knee, but I was the one experiencing the problem. When his explanation didn’t fit the situation and things were not improving, I’d gone further to find a resolution. If I’d settled for the first doctor’s opinion, I would have suffered much longer on many levels. Instead, with the new information I have a clearer understanding. I see a brighter future as I am more able to address the problem. I am thankful!

This brings me back to the early stages of this parable. Numbers of people were happy to tell me that the problem with my knee was God telling me I needed to slow down, but I was the one experiencing the problem. Their explanation didn’t fit the situation and certainly wouldn’t have improved what was happening. I had to go further to find a resolution. If I’d settled for their opinion, I would have missed so much on so many levels. Instead, with fresh awareness of the loving touch of my Heavenly Father I have a clearer understanding of His personal interest in my life. I see an amazing future as I am more able to address not only my involved knee, but the plethora of issues that I face, with the many truths He has been revealing to me. I am monumentally thankful to God for teaching me to love and trust him, to follow Him and watch Him work.

What a loving Father we have:

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11

May you also learn to love and trust, follow and watch with all your heart.

Interruption Glimpse

I've been content lately - not just happy on the surface, content deep down. I suppose there could be any number of reasons for it. After all, the hole in the roof got patched which means the damage to our bedroom ceiling won't get any worse. :-) Then again, maybe that's not the reason because now we have to get a new roof and replace the bedroom ceiling. :-( No matter what positive things happen in my life, there always seem to be a certain amount of negative things to balance them out. Life in this fallen world is like that. This time the Lord showed me the source of my contentment and that's made it all the sweeter and longer-lasting. Hallelujah!

I've been a Christian for a long time, almost 40 years. I've had my share of ups and downs in the spiritual department as well as the various other departments of my life. This "up phase" is centered fully on the Gospel of Jesus Christ - not simply the miracle of His virgin birth; nor the powerful testimony of His life; nor the truth of His substitutionary death, redeeming shed blood, and bodily resurrection; not even His current position as advocate to the Father and future role as judge of the world. These and countless other facts pour from the word of God to flood my brain and sustain my soul. I sit in the presence of my Heavenly Father seeking to know Him better through His reflection in His Son.

John 14:6 tells me that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. The verses that follow help me to understand that by getting to know God the Son, I am also getting to know God the Father. In verse 10 Jesus asks, "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" He goes on to explain that the words He says are not just his own and that the Father is living in Him and doing His work. Hm. Remember Acts 17:28 tells us that we too "live and move and have our being [in God]." The very next verse reminds us that we are "God's offspring" and confirms the truth of Ephesians 3:6 where we are called heirs with Christ. My mind is racing.

Further on in John 14, at verse 11, Jesus repeats, "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." Two distinct persons yet "in" each other. I can neither fully comprehend nor appreciate the impact of the unity and diversity of the Godhead. Nevertheless, from time to time I am given a glimpse such as this that engages every aspect of my senses. Roof? What roof? I've written a few words, but I cannot begin to articulate the amazing awarenesses that are passing through my brain. I'm so wrapped up in the awesomeness of God that rooves, leaky or otherwise, are not even on my radar screen. Unpaid bills, hurtful comments, heavy responsibilities, unfinished projects, . . . no longer weigh on me. They simply fade into the background as I marvel at the infinite God who loves me.

The next step for me will be to try to figure out how to incorporate these truths into my daily life - to make them part of who I am and share them with others. At the moment, this is only a vague hope built on trust in my Father that He reveals these things to me for a purpose. I'm sure you can see how this process will be another episode of losing myself in His presence. :-) When He allows me to make more sense of them I will share with you here. In the meantime I can't help but feel that these glimpses are tiny tastes of heaven where we will live in God's presence, content for all eternity.

The real purpose of this glimpse though is a conversation I had with a dear friend last week. We were sharing about these times of deep contentment when we are swallowed up in who God is. She was having trouble dealing with some struggles and was wishing that she could live every moment in the serenity of the contentment described above. I encouraged her to remember that we live in a fallen world. I did my best to remind her that Jesus Himself struggled when He lived among us. John 11:35 was the one example I could offer at the time. This verse is known as the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept." I said that Jesus was obviously saddened and upset at the death of Lazarus. Then our conversation got interrupted and we had to say good-bye. My heart wouldn't settle on the topic. I have since done a brief study that I will share with her here. Please feel free to look over my/her shoulder.

My first stop is John 11:35, but I can never read just one verse. Reading through the context I notice that verse 33 says that Jesus was "deeply moved in spirit and troubled." Jesus is faced with the very real consequences of living in a world affected by Genesis 3 sin - death and separation. The Bible says that Jesus was troubled and wept.

In John 13 Jesus is with His disciples at the Passover meal in Jerusalem. He has washed His disciples' feet and encouraged them to do the same for one another. Then Jesus explained that one of the twelve would betray Him. Verse 21 tells us, "Jesus was troubled in spirit."

The word "troubled" isn't used in either the Mark or Luke account of Christ clearing the money changers out of the temple in Jerusalem. Nevertheless, I think it's fair to say that Jesus wasn't peacefully content at that moment. Jesus was affected by and reacting to the sin displayed in the outer courts.

Mark 14:33 tells us that Jesus was "deeply distressed and troubled" as he entered Gethsemane for prayer. Jesus told His disciples, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." As a matter of fact, Jesus was so upset that in verse 36 He called out, "Abba [Daddy], Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me."

Finally, though the word "troubled" isn't used, can there be any doubt about the agony Jesus felt in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 when He called out to His Father from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Thank you, Father, again for the truth and power, grace and peace we find in your Word.

God promises us over and over again that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We never have to face the trials and struggles, hurdles and heartaches of this fallen world alone.

Hebrews 4:15 is full of reassurance for those of us who find ourselves confronted by the difficulties of this life. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Jesus was fully God and fully man. Jesus recognized the sin in our fallen world and He was affected by it just as we are - spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, physically. God tells us that Jesus was deeply moved, distressed and troubled at times. Jesus hurt and wept and cried out to His Father. Hallelujah, Jesus understands what we face!

Yet, Jesus was without sin. That means that realizing, feeling and admitting the impact of the sinfulness around us is not sin. Jesus is our perfect, sinless example so expressing our emotions is not sin. Jesus also did something about it whenever He could, in appropriate ways. The difference is that no matter what was happening, no matter how Jesus felt, no matter what His senses were telling Him, no matter what the cost, Jesus continued to love, trust and submit to the will of God His and our Father. The words recorded in Mark 14:36 as the closing words of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane are "Yet not what I will, but what you will." Jesus' final act on the cross is expressed in Luke 23:46, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

Listen, my Friend. Jesus walked this sinful earth and overcame every temptation. Jesus was perfectly faithful and now sits at God's right hand as our advocate. We are not perfect, but Jesus has made a way for us. Every moment cannot be spent in full contentment in this life. We can look forward to heaven for that joy. In the meantime, let us drink in the encouragement of Hebrews 4:16 and "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace" so that no matter what the trials are, no matter how they affect us, no matter what our senses tell us, God will enable us to continue to love and trust Him as we submit to His will in obedience and bring glory to His Name. Amen Roof? What roof?