Really?

I’m often humored at the things God will do in my life, just because. Yesterday afternoon I was having an average day, following a typical busy schedule and not really thinking a whole lot about me...... then I saw something that hit me in the eyes.......

I was pulling back into the parking lot at work after lunch. The one thing I consistently ask God for is a close spot to the door. I usually carry a very heavy briefcase, so I do not want to park in the North 40 and carry that bag. Some days God sees fit to give me a close spot and others He allows me to walk. I’ve asked Him a few times for consistency in the close spot, but up to that point He had not granted me my request. Anyway, yesterday I was granted a close spot, one isle from the door. As I was turning off my car, I looked up to see a sign marking a parking spot within 15 feet from the door. The sign simply read, “Reserved, Executive Assistant.” The first words from my mouth was, “Really?” and then I finished it with, “are you kidding me?”.

This year our corporate office announced that the management teams would not get raises in 2009, (the specifics behind it are not crucial, so I will leave those out). I made peace with that decision thinking I was just thankful I had a job in this economy. However, as I was getting out of my car yesterday, after seeing the “reserved” sign, all I could think of was, “so I don’t get a raise, can I have a stinking parking spot?”. I didn’t think much more of it as I walked past the space into the office building.

This morning, as I was getting ready for work that sign flashed into my mind. I shook my head and thought again, “Really?” the Admin has a parking space close to the door and I don’t? I know, your thinking, “its just a parking spot”. Well, to me it was the principal of the matter. I did have a close spot a couple of years ago, then it was taken away to add more visitor parking. The Holy Spirit put me into check quickly to not be envious. Truth be told I wasn’t envious, but just wanted a close parking spot. I decided not to dwell on it any longer and continued about my day.

As I arrived at work this morning, I found a close spot and it immediately put a smile on my face. I whispered a quick “thank you” and continued to my desk. I wasn’t there more than 10 minutes when my director called me. She asked me to stop by her office when I got a chance. She wanted to give me a parking pass so I could park up front. Seriously my first word was, “Really?”. I was surprised. It still makes me giggle when I think about it. I can just see God watching me yesterday. He saw my eyes move over the sign, heard my words of sarcasm, searched my heart for my reaction and said, “Would someone give that girl a close parking space please?”

My mind goes to Jesus’ teaching about “asking” in Matthew 7:7-11. Here Jesus basically says, “Ask and you shall receive” but I like verses 9 - 11, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him”. I had been asking and looking for my close spot daily. Today I got that close spot and then God also let me know that tomorrow I have a close spot, and the next day, and the next.

This may seem small and somewhat trivial, but I just wanted to illustrate how sometimes God chooses to bless us even in the small things. As a parent, I look for ways to bless my children and beam with happiness when they are are pleased. So, I can only imagine that God, with His great love, wants to bless His children even more. Just image how delighted God must be to give us those small things, and there is no budget that limits Him. We only look for the big blessings, but God gives us small blessings daily if we look for them. When we recognize His hand in the ordinary and give Him the thanks, it just makes Him want to give more.

Father in heaven, how I love You. Many times in my busyness, I don’t see the things you lay before me as gifts. Often times I shake them off as coincidences, when you are there the whole time waiting for me to acknowledge You. Your word says, “You have examined my heart and know everything about me.You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Thank you for your hand of blessing upon my head and for always working in my favor and for my good. Keep my feet on the right path, Lord, that leads directly to you. Amen.

CRASH!

There’s nothing like a car crash to wake you up! On Monday morning, at 7:40 a.m., my kids and I were in a car accident.

I was going about my normal routine. We were in the car, on the way to school. I was thinking about my day, all the things I needed to get done. Drop off Preston. Drop off Elliot. Go to school myself. Go pick up Elliot. Feed Elliot. Feed myself. Go pick up Preston. Take the kids to the dentist. I was focused on the road, with my eyes fixed straight ahead. I knew where I was going and my eyes were fixed right on my destination.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see a green blur. It’s a car. It’s coming right at me. I might just get past it before….CRASH! A man had come through a stop sign and crashed right into me. Just for the record, I was not at fault in this accident. I had the right of way.

It wasn’t the way I wanted to start my day, or my week. But it was one of those things that just happen in life. I honestly don’t know if there was anything I could have done to avoid it, but as I replay the events in my mind, I realized I was in tunnel vision state. I had my eyes fixed on the road ahead. I was only concerned about myself, my kids, and where we were going. I didn’t even see the guy until he was almost in the side of my car. At that point, it was too late!

Sometimes in our spiritual life, we are the same way. We are looking to the prize. Our eyes are fixed on ourselves and our relationship with God. We have spiritual tunnel vision. We forget to scan side to side and look for that person that might be passing by.

The danger in spiritual tunnel vision is that we forget that there are other people around us who need what we have. We forget that behind a lot of the smiles that we see everyday are hurting, lost people. They are people who need hope, people who need a Savior. They might not even know it yet.

We are all called to be fishers of men. If you are a believer, you have been called to share the gospel with the lost and dying souls in our world. Jesus said, “Go to all the world. Baptize them. Teach them to observe my teachings. I will go with you as you do this. You won’t be alone.” (a paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20)

So here’s the honest truth about the crash. Had I been scanning side to side as they teach you in drivers’ training, I might have avoided the accident. I might have avoided the hassle of a rental car, repairs, insurance, police reports, not to mention the stress of it all. But I did re-learn to scan as I drive. I learned not to become so focused that I forget to look around. It took a crash to shake me out of my tunnel vision. Thank God for His protection! No one was hurt!

Don’t get to that point. Don’t become so self absorbed in your walk, that you forget that there are others around you who need what you have. Yes, keep your eye on the prize (Philippians 3:14), but don’t forget your call to share your Savior with the world. I hope it doesn’t take a crash to wake you up out of your spiritual tunnel vision.

Father, you have been so good to me. Your hand is on my life, and I am so thankful for Your protection. Forgive me for all the times that I neglect my call to share Your love with the world. Let my heart be obedient to the leading of Your Spirit. Lead me and guide me as I walk towards the prize. Give me Your eyes to see the needs of those who are around me everyday. Give me the boldness to share Your truth with them. I thank you for saving me. Salvation is my greatest treasure and it’s a treasure that I can share with others. I love you Lord.

A Rack Shack Moment

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego (see Daniel chapter 3), has really been laid on my heart lately. Maybe it’s on my heart because I feel like I have been walking through the fire a bit lately. This morning, I pulled out my Bible and began to read again about this wonderful and mighty deliverance. I would like to share some encouraging words with you through this story.

From now on, I shall refer to Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, as Rack, Shack and Benny (compliments of Veggie Tales).

This is a well-known story, but I think the details of this story are often lost. Rack, Shack and Benny were important men. They had been set over the province of Babylon. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, who will be referred to as Ned, had built this huge golden idol and had called all of his officials, which included Rack, Shack and Benny, to come and worship this huge golden idol. They didn’t and according to the Bible, King Ned didn’t even know. It took a tattle tale to come inform Ned.

When Rack, Shack and Benny were brought before King Ned, it is their response that I love so much. They said (I am paraphrasing), “We know that our God, the God we serve, is big enough to bring us out of your furnace and your hand, King Ned.” They went on to say, and this is my favorite part, “Even if God doesn’t deliver us, it’s going to go down in history that we served God, not you King Ned and certainly not your gold statue.” I love that part. Even if God doesn’t deliver us, we want to be known as the people who didn’t follow the crowd. We want to be remembered as the people who stood firm on their faith in the One True God. Even unto death, we stand on God’s side!

King Ned didn’t like this. King Ned was a proud man and he wasn’t going to be embarrassed by these men. So he ordered that the furnace be heated up seven times beyond what it was normally kept at (verse 19). I love this, because Ned had no idea that he was just setting God up to be glorified even more! He was thinking he was going to show them. But God said, “I’ll show you Ned.” When the men took Rack, Shack and Benny up to be thrown in the furnace, the furnace was so hot, it killed the guards (verse 22). That’s one hot fire!

When King Ned saw that Rack, Shack and Benny were in the fire, and they were not alone, he was amazed. You see, Rack, Shack and Benny weren’t just in the fire. They were up, walking around in the fire! They weren’t on the ground, writhing in pain. They were walking through the fire, with God at their side and they weren’t even affected! Isn’t our God amazing?

When Rack, Shack and Benny came out of the fire, they didn’t even smell like fire. Their hair wasn’t singed. Their clothes weren’t burned. It was as though they had never even been in the fire (verse 27)! As a result, Ned glorified God(verse 28-29).

I walked through a furnace this week, but I wasn’t alone. I walked through a fire this week. I had my Rack Shack moment this week! It was hot, and it would have consumed most people. However, my hope is in the name of the Lord. When I woke on Tuesday morning to face the furnace, I woke with this prayer in my heart. “Oh God, you are my hope. You are my strength. You are my defense and my refuge is in you, Oh God (see Psalm 62:6-8).” I am so thankful that I never have to go alone, because I serve the One True God. I serve the same God that brought Rack, Shack and Benny out of that furnace. I serve the same God that brought the Israelites across the Red Sea. God is faithful. He brought me through the fire too!

Sometimes we look at the Bible and we see “stories”. We forget that these “stories” are the Word of God. They are true! They are real! They happened to real people, just like you and me! They aren’t stories. They are real life. They happened! Don’t forget that!

I know we all face the fire. We all face the furnace. But, if you serve the Lord, you don’t have to go alone. I pray that you will face the fires and furnaces this week with the same response that Rack, Shack and Benny had. “I know my God is big enough to deliver me from the fire. I know that He can take the fire out of my way. But even if God doesn’t take this fire out of my way, let it be known that I serve Him. Even if I have to walk through the fire, even if I don’t make it through the fire, I want the world to know that I serve my Lord Jesus!”

In His Hands

The other day, as I was driving home with my children, we began to sing a song. It’s a song that all of you know, but it was such a blessing to me. We sang, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” We must have sung it for a good five minutes at the top of our lungs. We would go another round and put people’s names in the song. “He’s got Elli and Preston, In His hands.” It is such a simple song, and such a simple truth, but we often forget these simple truths that can give us strength to walk on and keep the faith.

It was no coincidence that when I went to my weekly Bible study this week, that same truth was reiterated to me. We studied in Numbers about the twelve spies that went into the land. Ten of those spies came back and gave a report of unbelief and only two believed God was big enough to overcome their enemies and bring them into the Promised Land. Like a disease, the unbelief spread throughout the whole congregation of Israel.

Joshua and Caleb are honored in the Word of God for their unwavering belief. They took God at His word and believed Him for the victory. When they looked at the battle that faced them, they compared their enemy to God and they knew that their enemy was no match for the Almighty Creator. They knew the promises of God and they knew that God has the whole world in His hands.

When we look at our circumstances, it is easy to look in unbelief and think that they are too big for us. Guess what! They are too big for us! But, (I love those buts) we have a BIG GOD on our side. When we compare our circumstances to our God, the God of Jacob, Abraham and Isaac, the God of Joshua and Caleb, we know that our God is much bigger than any circumstance and through His power we can overcome. The person speaking said this, “Gaze at God, glance at circumstances.”

Belief is an action, a decision, it is not a feeling. We choose how we react to our circumstances. We can choose belief or we can choose unbelief. We cannot rely on our feelings to tell us what to do, because feelings change in the blink of an eye. We must rely on what we know about God. God is truth. God’s Word is truth. He will do what He said He would do. He is bigger than anything I can face. All power in heaven and earth belongs to God. Are you choosing to believe His word? Or are your feelings dictating your response? Are you gazing at God and glancing at your circumstances?

I encourage you as you face life’s circumstances this week to start singing “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.” Are you facing illness? He’s got the whole world in His hands. Are you facing marriage problems? He’s got the whole world in His hands. Are you battling depression? He’s got the whole world in His hands. There is not a situation that He is not in control of. There is nothing too big for our BIG and MIGHTY GOD!

God, You are a Big GOD. Forgive me for my unbelief at times. I pray as I walk through life this week that You would constantly remind me that You have the whole world in Your hands. God, I pray that you will give me the strength to respond in belief and not react in unbelief to the circumstances I face. I want my children, my husband and my friends to see Your glory through Your mighty hand in my life. Take my life. Hold it in the palm of Your hand. I trust You Lord. I thank You for Your love and grace in my life. I know that if You can overcome the grave, You can overcome anything. I love you Lord. Amen.

He’s got the whole world, in His hands
He’s got the whole world, in His hands
He’s got the whole world, in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands!

He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands
He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands
He’s got you and me Sister, in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands!