Tag: jesus

How Can I Forget That?

Published on by VickieLeave a comment
Photo by Lukas on Pexels.com

I was at an event last weekend when my memory failed me. It wasn’t the first time, but I think it’s the first time it’s lasted, and I’ve pretty much given up remembering her name. She had such a kind face, and I recognized her right away, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember her name. And it scared me. She recognized me and remembered who I was as she took the initiative and started a conversation. Apparently, she was a former employee of mine. Someone I had trained and invested time and resources in and entrusted clients to, and I can’t remember her name? As we carried on the conversation, awkwardly on my part, I kept hoping her name would come to my mind, but it never did, when I could have saved face. But it didn’t, and it hasn’t yet.

Usually I will have an “aha” moment in the middle of the night or the next day but not this time. I wish I could understand why. I can remember some of the most insignificant things from decades ago. I can remember all the names of my elementary school teachers. First through 8th grade. Not that they are not significant, but believe me, that was a very long time ago! I remember which day of the week we had cinnamon rolls and chili from the school cafeteria. Wednesdays. The color of my first Troll doll’s hair; apricot. And how she smelled like new plastic. How significant is that?

This leads me to worry about my memory of important things, like my faith and all I’ve learned from the Bible about Jesus and all the things God has blessed me with and what to say when someone asks me why I believe what I believe. But, thankfully, I was reminded of a verse in the Bible, John 14:26:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said to you.

So, as I reflected on that experience last weekend, I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to learn an important lesson. I should have swallowed my pride and told her that her name escaped my mind and apologetically asked her for it. I should have enjoyed her reaching out and connected like any grown up should do. Here again, I got distracted by my inability to remember. I repented and hope to do better next time.

Dear friend, it is bound to happen, forgetfulness and regret. What is so telling is that John 14 is a chapter I committed to memory a few years back. I couldn’t recite it today but I did remember that the verse about remembrance was there. Maybe that is what Jesus meant. We can’t even hope to remember something we have not read and meditated on or at least made a conscious effort to notice. What Jesus has said to us in His word is certainly worth paying close attention to so He can bring it to our minds when we need it.

There’s a popular gospel song getting a lot of play this year, called “Still Waters” which can attest to this. It is by Leanna Crawford, and I hope you give it a listen.

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=f7a6058318a4f26b3094688bec4854a48aaac86202911c990965b5c4151ea064JmltdHM9MTc2MTQzNjgwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=0c821e72-e43b-6ce1-19b5-0e27e5596d7e&psq=lyrics+to+still+waters+by+leanna+crawford&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1HS0d1X2U3WU1yQQ

Let’s all follow “Aunt Maurine’s” advice. I know if we do our part, the Holy Spirit will do His.

Use Your Words

Published on by Vickie2 Comments

I witnessed a really heartwarming moment during an evening of VBS this summer. This little fella was just wailing when he ran into the church building. As he cried, he ran to find his mama, pointing to the outside where he had just been playing with a group of kids, when something went terribly wrong at his game station. He was absolutely distraught about something that had just happened out there and came to the home of his mother’s arms for comfort and help. I was so impressed by this loving mom who, stooped down to his eye level, held him close and calmly kept repeating in his ear “Use your words, tell me what’s wrong, use your words.” After a few moments and after he had told her what happened, and received her wise suggestions, he was calm and ready to go back out there and rejoin the fun.

Wouldn’t it be a much better world if we would all just use our words, and take the advice of wise counsel and rejoin, with new insight, the situations that cause us such upset? But where do we turn when we aren’t kids anymore and we just want to run to someone and empty out all the hurt and the rage that overwhelms us? I don’t have all the answers, but I know a Person to bring your questions to. A Friend that never condemns you or betrays your confidences.

In the Bible, we are taught that we have a Savior that cares for us and that wants us to bring all our cares to Him. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties upon him, because He cares for you.” Not just some anxieties or things that crush your spirit, but ALL of them. Whatever you’ve experienced in your past, whatever you’re going through right now and even those things the future holds. You are His child, and just like that mother whispering in her young child’s ear, Christ invites you to use your words to tell Him everything that concerns you. In fact, He delights in it because He delights in you.

Sometimes we don’t know the words to pray. Or we open our mouth and all that comes out are groans and sobs. Have you been there? The Bible tells us in Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” He’s got you covered even when you can’t use your words. He has searched your heart and knows what you so desperately need from Him and prays that prayer for you. It’s like having a soul translator communicating on your behalf. That is the Holy Spirit and He is for you! He is your greatest Advocate and Comfort.

The next verse assures us that our answer will be perfect because it is in the will of God. Romans 8:27 goes on to say, “And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” There is that “will of God” clause. That’s where the 1st Peter verses shed some light. To choose God’s will over our own requires us to humble ourselves. God loves humility. Jesus embodied it. In the Garden of Gethsemane, when the emotional pain was so great that he sweat blood, He remained committed to His Father’s will, not His own. He used His words and surrendered to God’s will till His dying breath.

I believe God answers every prayer according to His timing and the ultimate outcome of His will. To deny that would be to deny the sovereignty of God. He is in control. Sometimes the answers to my prayers look just like I wanted them to. Sometimes they do not and sometimes I don’t see the answer at all, yet. But I know if I use my words and pray the “will of God clause,” and mean it, I have done the most important thing and all that is left to do is to trust Him. And He has more than earned that trust.

The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to “Pray without ceasing.” I believe this means that we are to remain in a constant attitude of communication with our Savior. It can be done, no getting on your knees required. Words, from your mind, directed to our God. A song to hum, a verse to meditate on, or a Christian podcast preaching into your ear pods while you do housework or gardening. Taking seriously what is taught in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” That means the mundane as well as the great. Asking ourselves how the manner in which we conduct our lives pleases God, just like His Son did. This would be using our words for God’s glory. And isn’t that the ultimate goal on this journey? Giving Him glory.

I look back with regret to the times when my words were so poorly chosen. Thinking I had to fill a silence, I’d just say something whether it was appropriate or not. Thank goodness I serve a forgiving God and had forgiving friends and family that were on the receiving end. Words can hurt and there is no shortcut to always knowing the right things to say, plus even if we think we are saying the right things, we have no control over how others receive our comments. Words can hurt, cause people to run away from us, or worst of all, think badly of our Lord since the hearers know we are supposed to be His followers. Be quick to apologize and forgive when the words spoken land wrong in the ears and hearts of the hearers.

Ultimately, we should be using our words in a way that reflects how we use God’s Word to transform us into the godly women we long to be. Listen as others use their words and humbly pray for grace to always speak the truth in love. And with that calmed heart, let’s go back out there and enjoy the blessings of our days.

Retirement Fog

Published on by Vickie2 Comments

It’s been three years since I retired from my nursing career, and the fog is starting to lift.

At my desk as I write I glance up at the wall that holds my retirement plaque with all the best wishes from the amazing women I worked with at the “end.” All the kind words about the best yet to come and all the adventures that lie ahead. Congratulations and Happy Retirement sentiments. But can I just say that even though there’s lots of hopeful meanings in the messages, I’ve struggled a bit to realize them? This is my attempt to reflect on why.

On a very foggy winter evening, I was driving my husband and I home from an event when I became so disoriented that the route I’ve driven over decades of my life was unrecognizable to me. I had to stop the car to try to figure out where I was before I could go any further. Before I was allowed to figure it all out, he took the wheel, and we eventually made it home safely. This analogy helps me clear some of the fog that has been closing in on me to see a clearer path forward. The path where God is at the wheel.

One question I grew to dread post-retirement was, “How are you enjoying your retirement?” Of course, I loved being available for my family more and spending more time with grandkids and not having to try to trade hours or make sure I had vacation to cover an absence. But still something was nagging my soul. I know that I am not discovering anything new here, the decision fog of what to do with your time when you are the one appropriating it. But it was new to me. When every day is potentially a day off, and you get to decide how to spend it. I had never truly been there before and you, my dear reader, may have this ahead of you, be in the fog right now, or are gloriously living beyond it. It is my prayer that this helps you not to dread that kind and caring question.

There are purposes and plans for us that may not be tied to our careers, or age, and we do not have to have a productive day to verify our worth or prove to the world that we are worthy to take up space. God is allowing each breath we take and will never fail to continually shower us with blessings as we seek Him. I have seen this in my own life and want to encourage you to reflect on all the good things He allows in your days. Give gratitude to Him and become more joyful, stronger in faith, and peace filled. This is our ultimate purpose. Living in God’s will is the plan.

Ask God what the next assignment is. Then listen and watch as He speaks into your heart with a clear direction. Then follow it. That’s obedience and He loves it. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment for God will never ask you to do anything that is contrary to His Word. That is why Bible Study is so important if we want to live a clear, godly purpose in this world. This doesn’t mean it will be easy, in fact, it may be truly difficult to stand for truth and speak the truth in love. But there is no greater joy than to know that Jesus is with us; I have experienced the sweetest times in His presence when the pain I was experiencing could not be relieved by what this world had to offer.

So, the fog is clearing, with God at the wheel, I can navigate new-to-me territory, and the view is amazing. I wish I could say that I’ve made the best use of my “free” time, but that would not be the truth. I wish I would have spent less time wringing my hands and wondering what to do and more time seeking, asking and receiving. But some lessons take a while to learn and there’s always forgiveness, restoration and redeeming of “lost” time. That’s what only God can do, if we let Him.

Let Him.

Pray that His Holy Spirit will guide you to do the things, speak the words and live your days for His glory. If you have trouble finding the words, borrow some from King David. After 13 verses of praising God for His creation, His Word and expressing his longing to be using his time and energy and all he is in ways that please His God, David says in Psalm 19:4, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

And for those of us regretting the time spent in the fog of indecisiveness, let’s take heart in the promise of God that we find in Joel 2:25, “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”

Just the thought of these consuming critters sends chills up my spine. But they remind me of how if we live fearful of stepping out of our comfort zone, or are preoccupied with what the world thinks, those fears can eat away at our resolve and before we know it, the great gift of time that God gives us to live for His glory and serve Him for His glory can slip away. Don’t let it.

For His glory, I believe I have my answer ready the next time someone asks, “How are you enjoying retirement?” I can honestly say, “It’s a good journey and I truly am happy to be on it.” As the fog clears.