Impromptu

I'm a planner. Not an anal-retentive, obsessive type (in my opinion, anyway), but a planner nonetheless. I tend to plan out my wardrobe for the week. I plan menus. I plan out my packing lists and shopping lists and Christmas lists.

Nonetheless, I do enjoy spontaneity and surprises (of the good sort). I'm trying to enjoy them more. Once again this week, I've been reminded of the brevity of life and how the things that I plan to do may not always be what God has in store for me.

Unfortunately, many times when something comes up that has the potential to interfere with my plans, I see it as an interruption or distraction, when instead God may intend it to be an opportunity--for growth, for developing new friendships, for learning, for encouragement. That is not to say that we should not plans at all, but I need to be more flexible with those plans and allow God to direct my day rather than stubbornly stick to my agenda.

I'd originally planned on spending today indoors, doing some cleaning and getting rid of some of the clutter that has accumulated from the holidays. However, it's such a beautiful sunny day that I decided to put my cleaning on hold and go to a park for a walk. I also called a friend out of the blue and she invited me to dinner at her house tonight. How thankful I am for these impromptu acts. The dust and clutter can wait. Spending time outdoors today, and with friends tonight, is much more rewarding.

Jesus is the perfect example of someone whose life was in total balance. Even when He was in the midst of plans, He still took time for impromptu encounters with those who needed Him. Let us learn from His example and make the most of every opportunity that God gives us.

What Really Matters

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (II Corinithians 4:16-18)

Peace, Perfect Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6,7)

Last night I was contemplating the concept of peace, the "peace that passes all understanding". I've always thought of that passage in terms of the peace being illogical by the world's view. In other words, we can have peace despite the troubles we encounter, which is a concept that those without Christ find hard to grasp.

However, last night I saw this passage from another angle. Perhaps this also means that the importance of having peace will transcend or pass that of having understanding. This was one of those "A ha!" moments for me because I pray much more often for answers and understanding than I do for peace.

I enjoy watching TV shows and movies that deal with mysteries, and reading mystery novels as well. I like trying to solve the mystery myself before the show or book come to an end, playing my own version of Sherlock Holmes. But when it comes to dealing with the mysteries of my own life, that often leads to frustration rather than entertainment. Those mysteries aren't neatly wrapped up in an hour's time or within 300 pages. I can't count the number of times I've prayed for insight and understanding and clarity about certain matters. Sometimes God has given them, and many times He's still keeping things a mystery. But I'm beginning to let go of the need to know so much and value peace more.

I may have answers and know what's going to happen, but that doesn't assure me that I'll be at peace about it. (Indeed, it may be one of God's greatest mercies that He withholds knowledge at times from us.) I'm seeing that peace is a greater gift than knowledge of what's happening or going to happen in our lives.

Perspective

On the whole, today was a pretty good day, but the workday ended on somewhat of a down note. I got some potentially bad news about one of my projects, which is not my favorite way to wind up a Monday.

However, on my way home I was praying about it and concluded that, in the grand scheme of things, it really won't matter if this project continues as planned or not. Much of the actual work I do won't mean a hill of beans five or ten or fifty years from now. What does matter is how I treat our members and my co-workers and the other people that God brings into my life.

I'd much rather be a failure in business than a failure at loving others. Unfortunately, some days I feel like I spend way more time focusing on the business side rather than the loving side. Granted, that is sometimes the nature of life--we put our relationships aside to tackle the urgency of work. Too often, I neglect the most important people in my life because I assume that they'll still be there and love me when I have time to get back to them. Sometimes work does have to take precedence, at least for a little while--but not all the time.

Since I've gotten home tonight, I've heard news of one friend who lost a parent, and another who has a seriously ill family member. Once again I'm quickly reminded of what really matters. And that work project doesn't seem quite so important at all now.

"Whatever You're Doing"

I'm loving the lyrics to this song by Sanctus Real:

"Whatever You're Doing"

It's time for healing time to move on
It's time to fix what's been broken too long
Time make right what has been wrong
It's time to find my way to where I belong
There's a wave that's crashing over me
And all I can do is surrender

(Chorus)
Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but somehow there's peace
It's hard to surrender to what I can't see
but I'm giving in to something Heavenly

Time for a milestone
Time to begin again
Reevaluate who I really am
Am I doing everything to follow Your will
Or just climbing aimlessly over these hills
So show me what it is You want from me
I give everything I surrender...
To...

(Chorus)

Time to face up
Clean this old house
Time to breathe in and let everything out
That I've wanted to say for so many years
Time to release all my held back tears

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but I believe
You're up to something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly

Whatever You're doing inside of me
It feels like chaos but now I can see
This something bigger than me
Larger than life something Heavenly
Something Heavenly

It's time to face up
Clean this old house
Time breathe in and let everything out

In Case You Need a Reminder...

As I mentioned the other day, I feel called to up the ante of my prayers and make 2009 a year of bold, faith-filled praying. Already, God is working to confirm through some special reminders.

Last year I used a daily Bible (with passages from OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs) for my quiet time. On December 31 I naturally finished it and wasn't sure whether to start from the beginning again or to do a more in-depth study of one particular book of the Bible. When I woke up on January 1 I felt compelled, for some unknown reason, to read Luke 1. Luke 1 describes the angel Gabriel's visits to Zechariah and to Mary, foretelling the births of John the Baptist and Jesus.

After telling Mary that not only will she, a virgin, bear a son, but her cousin Elizabeth, who is old and barren, will also bear a son, Gabriel ends his message by saying, "For nothing is impossible with God." (v. 37)

As I read that verse, I realized that God was using this passage to remind that, just as He did the seemingly impossible 2,000-plus years ago, He is perfectly capable of doing so in my own life today. I was so thankful that He had put that verse in front of me that morning. Little did I know that that verse would be a recurring theme over the weekend.

Last night as I was channel-surfing, I came across "Facing the Giants". For those of you unfamiliar with the movie, it's the story of a high school football coach who faces great challenges with his team and with his marriage. Little by little, God brings about changes at work and at home, some so improbable that the phrase "Nothing is impossible for my God" is uttered over and over throughout the movie. Once again, God was reminding me of that message.

This morning on my way to church, I prayed that I'd hear something at church that would further reinforce the belief that nothing is impossible for God. I couldn't help but laugh to myself when someone in Sunday school used that very phrase. How wonderful God is to keep reminding me that I can have the faith to dream big dreams and pray big prayers, knowing that He has the power to do ALL things.

I wonder how many more reminders I'll get this week...I'm definitely keeping my eyes and ears open for them!

The Doubters

One of the things I most appreciate about the Bible is that, in addition to depicting men and women of great faith to serve as examples to live by, it also includes the doubters, those men and women who wrestled with their faith in perhaps a more public way than others.

The other day I was reading Luke 1, and I was strangely struck by a sense of gratitude for the inclusion of Zechariah's response to the angel's announcement that, after years of barrenness, he and his wife would become parents.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him [Zechariah], standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." (Luke 1:11-18)

I think I identify so well with Zechariah because I too, have prayed for one thing or another, and then questioned God when it appeared that my prayers were being answered. I've wrestled with doubt over whether or not what God said would happen would actually happen. I suppose that's natural for everyone.

Even Abraham, lauded in Hebrews 11 for his great faith, showed doubt several times as he waited on God to fulfill the promise to make him the father of many nations. From withholding the truth about Sarah being his wife (twice) to fathering a child with Sarah's maidservant, Abraham's journey of faith included a few missteps along the way. I imagine that Abraham might cringe at knowing that his missteps would be recorded for all to see someday, but I am thankful that God makes no attempt to gloss over the less than faith-filled moments, even of the great Biblical heroes.

And so in an odd way, stories like Zechariah's and Abraham's and others' are refreshing reminders that we ALL are human and struggle with our faith at various times, no matter how close our relationship is with God. Sometimes it's good to know that you're not the only doubter around.