Tranquility

Since I lived half of my life in Colorado, I have always been a mountain girl.  The beauty of the Rockies is breathtaking and I could look at them for hours.  As a teenager I would drive up Turkey Creek Canyon whenever I needed to get "centered" with God.  The mountains ministered to me in ways that a person never could.  The mountains showed me the majesty of God.

Right now I am looking out my hotel window and enjoying the ocean.  I have only seen the ocean a handful of times and I am completely mesmerized by it.  It displays my understanding of God.  Everything was purposely created by God and it was good.  Everything God created has a cycle and an order.  The birds seem to know exactly where they are going and what they are doing and yes, all of their needs are met.

As the waves roll in I am once again "centered" and feel the tranquility God loves for us to enjoy.  There is such power in every wave that rolls in and I know those waves can render tremendous force should the ocean become angry.  God has a gentle and calming side but He also has a side that chastens and disciplines when it is needed.  Every movement of God has a plan and a purpose.

Forgiveness In The Midst of Suffering

In the "Beyond Suffering" course I am taking, I have been exposed to greater detail about the sufferings of those with disabilities during WW II.  It has been heart-breaking to learn that they were considered "worthless eaters" and were involuntarily sterilized and abused and killed.  It is hard for me to fathom the cruelty man can impart on others.

On my recent trip to Oregon, God divinely placed me next to two wonderful sisters on my flight.  I loved them instantly.  During our flight they shared their testimony with me.  Both of them, along with their parents and brothers and sisters, were in concentration camps during WWII.  My heart could not bear the stories they shared with me.  Even though this happened before I was born I feel an obligation to apologize to them for the pain and suffering they endured, simply because I am part of the human race that inflicted these atrocities.

Towards the end of our flight,  I asked one of the sisters how she worked through bitterness and anger and unforgiveness.  She said, "Oh I have to forgive because that is the only way I am free.  Jesus suffered so much more than we did.  I am very grateful."

My friend still suffers from nightmares at times and almost 70 years have gone by.  She has a beautiful heart though full of forgiveness for those that harmed her.  Her love for the Lord was very moving to me.  They both touched me in ways I will never forget.  

Thank you, Lord, for bringing them into my life.  May the sufferings they endured never happen again.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5New International Version (NIV)

Saying, "Yes!"

The last several days have been powerful for me.  Bill and I provided a 6 hour training on Saturday on disability ministry and I was able to partner with a very good friend today and share about ministering to the next generation with a group of pastors.

When I prepare for these talks, I am continually reminded of the incredible journey God has put me on.  Five years ago I would never have imagined God would have me speaking to groups of people about a topic I am so passionate about and all I had to do was say, "Yes."

When I was a little girl I remember wearing a coat to school every day.  I lived in Texas so it was rare that a coat was even needed.  I was painfully shy and struggled with my self-image so much that I hid behind my coat.  I felt more anonymous there.

My youth pastor often teases me that in Jr. High I would sit under the table and not talk to anyone and in high school, I finished up at school as fast as I could so I could get back to the comfort of home.

God has blessed my life in amazing ways since then... all because I said, "yes."  I said yes to Jesus, I said yes to ministry, I said yes to spending a summer at a convent, and 13 years ago, I said yes to doing WHATEVER God asked of me.

When my dad and hero died 13 years ago, I told God I would do whatever He wanted me to do.  As Mark Batterson says in his book, I was "All In," even if it meant public speaking.  At that time I was terrified to have to stand and speak about anything for more than a couple of minutes and now, well, I can speak for several hours and it not even phase me.

I share this because if I had never said yes, I would still be "under the table," hiding and embarrassed.  If I had never said yes, I would have missed out on a whole community of amazing people.  God keeps hinting that He is going to ask something of me that is way out of my comfort zone and He knows it.  To be honest I am quite afraid of saying yes to that one but now more than ever, I know that God has me and will always go ahead of me.

I am pretty amazed by the journey God has put me on and from my perspective, it has been pretty miraculous and definitely an adventure.  My question for you is, What is God asking of you?  What do you need to say "Yes!" to? I love Mark Patterson's quote, "And you are only one decision away from a totally different life." If you say yes to God, I promise you, it will be amazing.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,  Ephesians 3:20 (NIV)

Say yes to God, my friend, and then let me know what happened!