A Life Lived that Leads to Perseverance

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

The author of Hebrews briefly narrates the stories of those that have gone before us and their life of faith in Hebrews 11. And then he states in the beginning of chapter 12, Therefore – since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (those that lived a life of faith as just mentioned) – let us push forward in this race of life and run with perseverance. Perseverance is what we need to keep us going when things get tough, life gets hard and we want to give up.

One of life’s greatest blessings has always been for me to have conversations with those that are older and wiser, those that have gone before me. I have so many fond memories as a child when we would take our annual trip with the senior adults to Galveston each year and spend time with so many amazing women. I just loved listening to their stories. There is so much wisdom to be had from those that have already been in your shoes whether they are five years or eighty years older. There is so much faith to hear about through all that God has brought them through.

I was able to have such a conversation a few weeks ago. Our church organist, Floranell, had been sick and been out for several weeks. She was sitting up on the stage waiting for the service to start so I went to inquire of how she was doing. That question led to a wonderful conversation about life, family, children and her husband. One of the things I walked away from that day was when she was telling me about all these particular things that she did for her husband every day just because he liked them done that way. She said that her children often asked her why she had done it that way all these years, and she said, because that is the way he likes it. As a wife she loved him, and therefore wanted to do what pleased him. What an incredible testimony of what being a faithful wife really means over so many years of marriage as she had shared with her husband.

Shortly after that conversation, she continued to worsen and today I found out that she may be very close to exchanging her earthly residence to a heavenly one. I am grieved and upset but know there is great joy because of what awaits her. She has lived such an incredibly faithful life. She has been faithful to her husband. She has been faithful to her children. She has taught many children how to play the piano so that they are now able to serve the Lord in that way. And she has faithfully served her church as the church organist. What an incredible legacy she has lived. I am so thankful for her sweet testimony that she provided to me that day. She may never know the impact that she had on me that day, but I know that it will forever impact my life. I am so thankful for women who live such an example of biblical womanhood and service to their husbands for others to see. I am thankful for those who live a life of faith that gives me the perseverance to keep on. Floranell – thank you for your life – and thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord.

Lord I pray that I will also live a life that is faithful to you; that will lead others to you by example; that will give others perseverance. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Unconventionality and a Confession

Genesis 24:57-58
"Then they said, “Let’s call the young woman and ask her about it.” So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she said."

The following is a blog that I wrote within just a few weeks of meeting Charles back in January. Many have asked the typical question about how we met - so here's the story ;)

During Southeast Texas’ latest Non-Winter Storm event I found myself curled up on the couch watching the classic Sleepless in Seattle which is of course inspired by the ultimate classic An Affair to Remember, the ultimate girl fairy tale movies full of love, and romance. In the movie Sleepless in Seattle, a young widower, Sam Baldwin, ends up telling his story of losing his wife on a talk radio show that his son had called in to. Instantly thousands of women across the United States begin sending him letters of desire to be with him. Sam, who does not want to read the letters, tells his son, “This is not how it’s done, I’d much rather just see someone I like, get a feeling about them ask them if they want to have a drink...if you like them, you can always ask them to dinner, and if don't, you can just say, well, that was that and go home.” This statement struck a chord with the thoughts that I have struggled with this past week. See, I have a confession to make. I have been on eHarmony. Yes, it is out. It’s embarrassing to me, but true. I guess I am just bored, and just in case, somehow there is a right guy on there for me, I don’t want to miss it. But when it came down to it – and I actually meet someone that I might really like, I want to jump ship because it’s not how I want it to be. Yes, I realize in this day and age many people meet on the Internet, but I don’t want that to be me. I just want to be living my life, and somehow I cross paths with "Mr. Perfect", he notices me, thinks I’m the bomb, asks me out and it’s happy ever after. However, I thought, who cares, it’s a movie right?

Dating and the Internet is of course not in the bible, however, I was quickly reminded of how many love stories woven throughout scripture happened in many unconventional ways, maybe to women who had the same dreams of marrying Mr. Perfect the right way. For example, let’s examine the story of Rebekah. Her story, found in Genesis 24, by no means had any trace of conventional tradition. Abraham, Isaac’s father had sent his servant to his former country to find a wife for his son Isaac. With specific instructions, the servant headed out in obedience to do what had been asked. Once he got there, a beautiful young woman came to fill her jar with water. Just as she had done I’m sure many times before, but little did she know that this time would change the course of her life forever. Because as she did, Abraham’s servant asked for a drink and she not only offered him a drink but water for his camels as well. This was the sign that Abraham’s servant had prayed that God would give him to know that she was the right one. Before she knew it, she was on her way, by her own will, to head to an unknown land to meet her new husband and cousin, Isaac. Talk about unconventional.

There are many more stories of romance and marriage through the unconventional such as Ruth and Boaz, Hosea and Gomer and the list goes on. Sam Baldwin, did end up finding his happy ever after through a woman who had heard him on the radio. And maybe just maybe God's happy ever after for me and and life for you are also not through conventional means. We just need to be open to anything God has for us, knowing that His ways are always best. I’m so thankful that God is patient, and loves us and gives us His best if we submit ourselves to Him despite ourselves. Yes, despite our sinful, horrible, foolish selves that so often gets in the way.

And I am thankful that God was patient. I am thankful that I was willing to listen to the Lord despite what I thought I wanted and despite how I wanted it to happen! Because God's way is way beyond what I could have imagined. God is such a good God!

Transitions

"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

The other night I sat across from my fiance, having a nice quiet dinner together before I headed back to Texas. But instead of enjoying myself, I was crying. Yes, nearly doing the ugly cry right there in the middle of the restaurant. And to make matters even worse, the waitress walked up and said, "Are you crying? Well I sure hope those are happy tears." But as my fiance sat helpless and unsure of what to do for me to ease my "pain", I was enjoying a pity party for myself as I was reflecting upon all of the changes that will be occurring over the next several months. Transition is always hard for me. It's that time of in between and it is so difficult. I find myself here however, quite often. It's hard because the Lord has always been faithful to bring into my life such incredible opportunities to be a part of and people to know and love that impact my life in such a way that it is difficult to leave behind. (I can tell that I am really making a good case for myself as to why a pity part was really necessary ;). But, I have been so blessed by this life that the Lord has given me. He has given me an amazing family, friends, coworkers, ministry opportunities and the list goes on.

This transition seems so much more difficult though. It is a much more permanent transition in a way moving from singleness to marriage and Texas to Tennessee etc. But, there are two things that I know. I know that I love the Lord, and He has always been faithful to carry me through anything that He leads me to. And I know that I love Charles. I can not explain that love and I honestly am not even sure if I even know really where it came from or when it came but I do know that I love him. But even though there are two things that I do know, there are many things I do not know. And I can choose to be fearful of the uncertain future and all that I do not know or I can just choose to trust. Trust, such a simple word for something that is not always easy to do. But I can trust in the One who has led me here. I can trust in the One who has led me for the past 20 years. I can trust in the One who loves me and wants what is best for me. I can trust in the One who not only knows my future but also the future of the entire universe. And I am so thankful that I am not cruising through life on my own. I am so thankful that I have the Lord to trust in. Though I do not fully see His plan, I do know I trust Him even when the journey is uncertain and the future unclear. I trust Him. I am sure there will be more tears and more ugly cries to come. . . but I do know where to turn.

Lord, my prayer is that I truly will place my trust in You; for everything and for every decision and every move that I make. Please continue to guide and direct me in the way that You would have me to go. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.