Do I Rest or Risk?

Posted on March 22, 2013 by jroesler728

I am wanting my body to be strong. I want the physical ability to do the things my heart longs to do. I don’t want to hurt myself every time I lift something. I don’t want to fall and break a bone.

Yesterday I met with a personal trainer. She assessed my strength. I couldn’t even do one push up. My body doesn’t have enough joints to follow the patterns she demonstrated for my test.

As I struggled she wrote many notes. I asked her if she had ever worked with anyone in such bad shape. She said my strength level was quite typical for someone in “my age group.” She assured me that I will do well as she personalizes a torture chamber for me (the word “torture” is my term, not hers).

My body is telling me this morning that it would be happier if I would just let it rest. My heart is surging with a passion to push through the pain.

Do I rest or risk?

My body and my heart are in an intense competitive place. At the moment, I will either succeed in this training challenge or die trying.

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When My Heart Is Too Heavy

Posted on March 20, 2013 by jroesler728

I’m giving my imagination freedom to stage some potential scenes.

Tonight I am picturing a waiting room of people who are bringing their stories to Jesus. His office is not a closed-door room but rather a type of stage that enables me to see and hear his interactions with those who have registered ahead of me.

I watch as a mother glowingly tells Him that even though her daughter has lost a leg to cancer their faith has been strengthened and their love for Him has deepened.

I listen as a man tells of the return of his son. Tears flow down his face as he recounts the joy of a restored relationship.

I will be next.

I know the story I was hoping to bring. I know the story I was expecting to bring. But, the real story is not what I have hoped or expected. I don’t know how to reconcile my shattered dreams with what I know of the character of Jesus. I have to decide if I take my turn and walk into His Presence with my fear and confusion or if I just leave and let someone else go next.

My heart is too heavy to make a decision. I sleep for a while and when I awake I look to the stage again. I can’t tell what Jesus is doing. He doesn’t look like he is paying attention.

The thought crosses my mind that maybe my story is so agonizing because I have misunderstood my assignment. Did I pick up the wrong homework? Have I spent the majority of my life on a project I have crafted for myself?

When my hopes began to fade did I create in my own mind a “calling” that I have attributed to Him and therefore spiritualized my suffering? I know a jury of peers would look with critical pity on my story and scold me for my unwillingness to recognize my relentless pursuit of a failing endeavor.

I wonder if Jesus will do the same?

I glance at the magazine table beside me. I see the cover page “Has God really said?” The article questions the promises of God. I try to see who has authored this but cannot as the name is smudged.

I look again at the stage and see Jesus writing something. He hands the note to a messenger who gives it to me. I read, “The enemy is threshing you, but I am praying for you that your faith does not fail.”

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Scared?

Posted on March 18, 2013 by jroesler728

by Shirlee Vandegrift

The word ‘scared’ should not have a place in the mind or mouth of a believer, should it?  Nor should the words “why,” “why me,” “why them” or any other words that indicate unbelief.

I have been struggling with a few of those words recently as I witness a friend with unremitting pain that has not been diagnosed well enough for proper treatment.  If you have been in this situation you know that pain can change you.  You know that it can become all consuming.  You can’t sleep or get comfortable or concentrate.  A normally sunny disposition can get lost in the dark clouds of the hurt.  Sometimes family and friends get hurt from the fallout.  At times we are scared.  What can we do?

In a desire to help my friend I do the only thing I can do.  I pray.

I say,

Gentle God,

When I am not experiencing discomfort give me sensitivity to those who are.  Help me not to judge the hurting.  If they begin to wonder where You are give me words that will assure them that You haven’t moved away from their side, nor have I.  If Ibegin to wonder where You are forgive me.  If it is Your will to be quiet for a time give us the patience to wait for Your answer.  If there is no answer now, give us trust.  And Father, You can take away the pain.  We would like that.  For Your glory. Amen

 

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I Want to Be Like That

Posted on March 15, 2013 by jroesler728

We have three services on a Sunday morning. Those who attend generally choose the same hour each week. So much so that the services have a personality of their own.

This past weekend one of our senior ladies came in at the very end of the first hour. She got settled in her usual pew just as our senior pastor stood up to close in prayer.

This lady who had just arrived was directly in my line of vision. I watched as she realized what had happened and as she tried to control her laughter.  Her whole body was laughing out loud but she was trying to do it quietly in respect for the benediction.

I knew she had forgotten to spring back her alarm for daylight saving time.

She didn’t know she was teaching me to laugh at myself. To burst into laughter at what could have been a reason for embarrassment confirmed that she takes God very seriously but she does not take herself very seriously.

Is this a blueprint for finishing well?

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Bent but Not Broken!

Posted on March 13, 2013 by jroesler728

Our back yard has attracted my attention these past days by a big branch that has lowered itself from its usual inconspicuous spot and curved down with its tip actually resting in the snow. Today I don’t see it at all. I wondered what had happened. I knew no one had cut it down. Then I realized that the weight of the snow and ice had weighed it down causing it to form an arch extending several feet into the yard.

I wonder why that branch was not able to support the weight of the snow when all the other branches could. How is it that it is now in its usual place? Of course, the temperature is warmer and the sun in shining.

This is particularly interesting to me, as I have set the morning aside to seek God’s help in releasing grief and emotional burden to Him. How can I learn from the restored branch?

  • Is there something in me that takes on more weight than I can support?
  • Do I cling to it too long before releasing it to Jesus?
  • Do I welcome angel wings to come and brush the burden away?
  • Do I trust the God of consuming fire to melt my grief without destroying me?
  • Will I invite the breath of the Holy Spirit to set me free?
  • Do I trust that I am secure in the trunk of the tree and, therefore, will be restored?

Yes, because I am only bent, not broken!

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What Happened to Real News?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by jroesler728

What happened to real news? I mean when you turned on the news you heard about what had happened in your neighborhood, your state, your nation and your world. You just heard it one time and then, if you were so inclined, you could discuss it with people who shared an interest.

Today our “news” men and women talk about the same thing for weeks. And then, when they take a break, there is a panel that comments on the exhausted subject presuming the listener cares what they think about it.

Who chooses the topics that will be talked about incessantly?

What is wrong when you can predict what a commentator will say based simply on his political affiliation? Why not just print out possible responses and choose what you want to hear much like choosing a flavor of soda from a vending machine.

Oh, but, I must admit there was an interesting bit of news this morning. A research study was done that studied longevity.  They reported conditions that would help predict how long a person is expected to live. The first finding was that the group that has the highest risk of dying in the next ten years is eighty-five years old now.

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Do Not Forget

Posted on March 8, 2013 by jroesler728

As we age forgetting becomes a dreaded experience. Does it mean the arrival of an intrusive and intractable enemy that will eventually wipe all memory and leave me a stranger to myself and others? We know there is pathology that will do just that. For this we rest in the grace of God, knowing He does not forget.

But for today, while we have the power to control our memory, let’s think about Deuteronomy 4:9. “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

What have you seen of God at work in your life that you want to remember?

When has His Presence been so powerful that the story could be of encouragement to those just starting out on the journey of faith?

I welcome both your memories and what you are doing to keep them.

I will watch for your comments.

Thank you.

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Blue Velvet and Lace

Posted on March 6, 2013 by jroesler728
This is the doll my mother made from an old dress of mine and her own wedding dress.

This is the doll my mother made from an old dress of mine and her own wedding dress.

I have been trying to simplify our house. This means that I am going through things and either giving away or tossing things that we will never need. (If you were to walk though our house today you would not believe that this is my goal because I really haven’t made a dent.)

Just take this doll, for example. Who would ever want it? It is actually hand-sewn fabric over an old plastic milk bottle. BUT, the blue velvet is from the only “good” dress I had as a little girl. My sister had one just like it and when she grew out of hers she had to wear mine for a few years!!! We knew when we got to wear this dress with our black patent leather shoes it was a special day, such as at Christmas time.

Then, the lace is from my mother’s wedding dress.

I will never forget the joy on my parents’ face when, after we had walked in adulthood for many years, they presented my sister and me with these gifts. This is mine with blond hair. My sister’s is just like it with brown hair.

I have considered what to do with it but my arm does not seem long enough to take it off the shelf where it sits. It really doesn’t take up much space, except in my heart.

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My Name Is On the List

Posted on March 4, 2013 by jroesler728

As I scanned the news this morning I noticed that the President had pardoned a list of people. The commentator noted that none of the people were well known and there was no explanation given as to why these particular people were granted a pardon from their prescribed punishment.

As I turned my attention to Our Lord Jesus Christ I was reminded that He had pardoned a list of people. I am thankful for the season of Lent that prepares me to be freshly impacted by His work on the cross.

I pictured the list of those who had been pardoned, for what warranted punishment by death, and I found my name on the list.

The reason was written in blood and read GRACE.

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Remembering God’s Story

Posted on March 1, 2013 by jroesler728

I had the privilege today of being asked to tell the story of developing a ministry for senior adults. It was a joy to track God’s faithfulness and recount the things He taught me through those who have walked with Him for a long time.

I remembered that this might be the first time in the history of the church that large numbers of people more than 80 years old have both health and resources for ministry. If this is true, we are making footprints in unmarked sand. Are these footprints leading the next generations to Jesus?

I remembered that power is made perfect in weakness, even if the weakness is due to aging. Our spirit does not get old and sick. Because God has set eternity in our hearts chronological age does not limit our spiritual potential. In fact, the next decade can be the most effective one so far, for reflecting the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I remembered that the 90-year-old mother anguishes over her 65-year-old son in the same way as a 30 year old mother anguishes over her 5-year-old son. The heart of a parent beats on!

I remembered that a third grade student prayed, as this ministry was launched, that I would have fun with the grandma’s and grandpa’s. God has heard and answered this prayer.

I remembered that, in this culture, where we tend to check with other churches and together determine best practices that the best practice is still to ask God what He wants this ministry in this place to be at this time. This concept was labeled a prayeradigm!!!

What memories of working with senior adults surface for you?

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