Category Archives: Loss

Posted on

God Doesn’t Do It Our Way

The Spiritual Journey is Not What You Think

Life has many markers, decision points, and some of them are spiritual. Either they are markers that record your journey towards God or they mark your distancing away from God. You come to a “Y” in the road and a decision will be made. God is always calling you, but you can turn your back to him. You will make a choice. One cannot go back via the way you came. You may stall–camp there and consider your options–and then make a choice.

Each choice will instruct your future and determine your path. Many voices compete for your attention–some good, some bad, some self-centered, some indifferent, and some spiritual. You know, it’s true. It pays to be wise. By now you’ve probably made some good choices and a few bad ones. Haven’t we all? Some are embarrassing to think about. You wish you hadn’t gone there, done that.

Beware of what side-steps you away from God’s will for you. You can really try hard to do everything right in your own best interest without including any thoughts of God and, consequently, repress the spiritual side of you until God’s voice is almost silenced. Why not do the opposite? I encourage you to listen for the still, small voice of God. Do you hear him? He is there when you consciously look for him, if you’re intent on seeing him. God works in each person’s life in a unique way according to who you are and how you think. I do know he hears the cry of your heart, even when you don’t know you have a “cry” in your heart that needs to be met.

You need God in your life. Seriously, you do. More than because he forgives your sins, more than because he gives meaning to life, and more than because of his helpfulness and care. Everyone needs God. God is your anchor in stormy seas. God is the great controller of all things. God is the most sensible of all in this crazed, upside-down world. He is a stabilizing force we can count on.

God REALLY is an anchor in the turbulent sea of life. But it is up to us to access him as our mainstay. Some miss this. For example, some make radically wrong choices. Suicide is one of them. In 2017 my son got out of the military. He returned to civilian life and is now established in a job. In the short time since, three from his command have taken their own lives. Heartbreaking.

What gives? That is a hard one to answer. There are clues, but they don’t tell the whole story. They needed help, hope, a reason to live. Life was too much and too hard. I hope they knew Jesus. Belief in God is the best reason for living. Spiritual belief is not dependent on circumstances, people, money, health, success, good looks, relational health, achievement or popularity.

God is always there for you. Truly, it doesn’t matter whether you’re on top of the world or down in the dumps, he is there. Respect him. Learn his ways. Don’t try to manipulate God by praying your will instead of God’s will.

I want to share with you four distinct spiritual markers.  Each of these helped me become “anchored” in God and came about as the result of things in life. My spiritual life began when I asked Jesus into my heart as a child. The evening news was scary after the Bay of Pigs invasion. Mother shared that Jesus would take care of us. I’m sure the Spirit of the living God was drawing me as I came to my first Y in the road.

My Most Important “Y” Markers

  1. Salvation. I realized my need of a Savior. I believed in Christ as my Savior and accepted his gift of salvation for my soul. My mother guided this process by explaining how Jesus loved me, died on the cross, rose again, and lives. My brother and I both prayed by the side of the bed that night. I was seven.
  2. Dedication. I gave my life to God when I was sixteen. The Spirit of God flooded my spirit. I was emotional as I drew near to God. I decided to follow him and never looked back.
  3. Surrender. We sing “All to Jesus, I surrender, all to him I freely give.” That’s exactly what happened to me when I quit trying so hard. I was at a crossroads and knew I couldn’t go on as I was–on empty, depleted.  I gave it up and turned to God with my heart, mind, and soul.  Best decision I ever made!
  4. Consecration. My life now is one of consecration to God. I desire to honor God with my life. This is an on-going process, one of sanctification. I allow God to “Mold me and make me, after thy will,” like the potter with the clay, where God molds his children into the shape he wants them to be.

An awakening process of renewal and transformation comes with this pursuit. This initiates healing and freeing. For me, this relaxes my rigidity and opens me in the Lord’s service as a vessel that pours out from its inner abundance.

You and I are either drawing closer to God or slipping further away from him. God promises that if you seek him you will find him, period, in spite of the struggles in life–your relationship issues, financial woes, health crises, loss and heartaches. These will bombard you and make you want to quit.

You also may not believe a word I’ve written, but that’s okay.

It is choice time, again. You’re at another Y. Why not turn to God, he loves you so very much. He is the giver of hope and a future.

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 can be your dearest friend. He makes life worth living, and he also makes it beautiful. Don’t regret the hard times. Let them go or give them to God. Trust God and find him as your “enough.” “God, I need you. I want to know you. Please help me. Show me who you are.” I believe God will do that for you.

I would be remiss to not say a word to whoever doesn’t believe God exists. Give him a chance. Allow yourself to be vulnerable by asking God to reveal himself to you. Then wait expectantly. The wait may be hours, days, or months. I am positive he will answer your request if you are willing to reach out to him and are sincere in heart. God is a gentleman and will not force his way into your life. I caution you. No dares and no games. They dishonor and displease God. He is holy.

And to anyone who is mad at God. You got upset with God when he let you down or didn’t do what you wanted him to do … when you wanted him to do it. Maybe you were mistreated and it seems unfair of God to have allowed it. In all honesty I say this to you, you have to let it go because it is wrong-minded. God is not a dispenser that gives you everything you want, pray, and ask for. It simply doesn’t work that way.

Another Y in the road. Now you have a choice to make. Instead of being angry with God, you are given an opportunity to turn to him. He takes it from there.

God does it his way. You will receive when you turn to him and believe on him. Then things start happening. God feeds your soul, gives you peace, helps you discern, guides your thoughts, mends your brokenness, and changes your life for the better good. It all takes time, of course.

When you are in-tune with God, the more you are able to accept and become okay with the way life plays out. You are not living in your own strength. God is with you, sustaining and keeping you. This becomes possible when God is part of your life in an active way.

Try it, you’ll like it!

Tweet this.

The more we are in-tune with God the more we are able to accept and become okay with the way life plays out.
Click To Tweet

Next Week:  What you can do when you’re worried about your unbelieving Millennial.

Stay tuned!

 

Posted on

When God says “Trust Me”

Last week I received a piece of discouraging news. My book proposal was turned down by the agent I’d picked from an agency I was hoping to interest. I was grateful to hear back so soon. Now I know and can make appropriate decisions. After reading the polite standard rejection letter (not what we’re looking for at this time) the most amazing thing happened. Even though it was discouraging and painful, my response was different than my usual reaction. I didn’t cry or tear up or feel sorry for myself. I chose to not moan about it to others. Instead, I prayerfully whispered to God, “What’s next?”

I am not surprised, though. God has to go before me with this one. I know my book will be a hard sell. Yet it is my hope that it will sing on its own merits and its message will reverberate with clarity.

God answered my “What’s next?” as soon as the thought became a prayer. I understood his answering message loud and clear, I’d heard this one many times before. “Trust Me,” he said. How familiar the words sounded. For a period of five years God’s answer to me on almost everything was always “Trust Me.” God didn’t elaborate on my next steps, he just asked me to trust him to take care of whatever. This process took me to the place of “further still.” I learned to listen for him and to trust him for basic things common to existence like employment and financial concerns and for miracles of healing and faith.

 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, 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  NIV

Trust does not come easy, but I do trust in the One who asks me to trust. He is a good Father. A good father does not give a stone to his children rather than bread. Father God doesn’t tell us how he is going to do what we trust him to help us with or what he is going to do for us, or who he is going to tap on the shoulder to assist us, or how many years it is going to take. “Trust Me” is open ended, just like “Show me” is open ended or “What’s next?”

We learn to wait while we trust, and with an expectation to receive. This is an active waiting. My mind anticipates what God is going to do, but I’m rarely close. I draw strength in knowing God does only what is good.

 

On April 4th I began praying over my completed book proposal and will do so for forty days. As I pray I acknowledge how God is the author and finisher of our faith, and I ask him to lead and guide in all aspects of my book. I will send my proposal and queries wherever God shows me or nudges me.

Early in January I asked God to show me which of my manuscripts I should finish first (I have several) and the answer was, “the monastery book.” I wanted to protest, “no, not that one,” though I didn’t. The monastery book is my most controversial book. I draw a line in the sand about something I have come to believe with my whole heart. I can’t say I wanted to do this book first, because it puts the fat in the fire and will draw criticism.

I believe it will also open eyes where they need to be opened. From the get-go I have felt this book has a message for the Church at large and that the world also needs to hear. I share the message of Christ’s gift of salvation, Christ’s love for all people and Christ’s Church. I cross over traditional boundaries to anchor my statements. Christians are to love one another and follow Christ as the head of the Church.

What now? I truly don’t know, but I do have a plan. For one year I will seek traditional publishing  and if not successful I will self-publish. I don’t know who will take an interest in it, but I know the One who knows the agent, agency, editor, and publisher. “Lead on, O King Eternal.”

Lead on, O King eternal,
we follow, not with fears,
for gladness breaks like morning
where’er thy face appears.
Thy cross is lifted o’er us,
we journey in its light;
the crown awaits the conquest;
lead on, O God of might.

–Verse 3.  Lyrics by Earnest Shurleff

Please pray for me. Thank you so very much. God is in control. To God be the Glory.