I Want to Hear “Well Done!”

Posted on September 12, 2012 by jroesler728

How can I be sure that the life I am living will some day allow me to hear “well done” from Jesus? I know that my salvation is all of His grace so I am not concerned about that. I know some people think I have amazing patience and error on the side of grace. I am not confident that their opinion has much validity. I know some people think I error on the side of having no boundaries and let people use me in a way that is of no benefit to them or me. I am not confident that their opinion has much validity either.

My mentor in ministry pointed me to this practice: “Sum up at night what thou hast done by day. And in the morning what thou hast to do. Dress and undress thy soul. Mark the decay and growth of it. ”― George Herbert

But how do I measure decay and growth?

In “Simply Jesus,” N T Wright uses these words when explaining the Passover Meal Jesus celebrated with his disciples before his death “this is how the presence of Jesus is to be known among his followers. Sacrifice and presence.”

What if I were to measure my day by evidence of sacrifice and presence?

I would not get much applause from the crowds and there would be no post cards to send from my vacation.

But would the angels be celebrating? Would Jesus be recognized as our reigning King? Would I have joy simply because the One Who loves me has promised that when I commit my way to Him He will give me the desires of my heart.

I would deeply value your thoughts.

 

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I Want to Be Like Him

Posted on September 10, 2012 by jroesler728

I Want to Be Like Him

I watched two men working together today.

The older man is a weaving of creativity, ingenuity, perseverance and skill. He has driven on some rough roads, hit some pot holes, woken up in a ditch, scratched a path to greener pastures and recognizes the joy of investing in an eager learner.

The younger man watches his mentor’s every move. He listens to instruction. He humbly dismisses praise.  He is quick to laugh because the relationship is safe. He is quick to say “thank you.” He is very aware of being invested in.

When I asked the younger man to tell me about his dream he looked at the older man and said, “I want to be like him.” They both smiled.

I get to watch them again tomorrow. I want to learn from each of them.

I want for someone to someday want to be like me because I choose to invest in him or her. I want to be intentional in my gratitude to Jesus for making it possible for me to become like Him. He is molding me into His image. It’s too amazing to describe, but I get to wait and watch as He works.

We will be like Him when we see Him as He is.

Ask me about my dream. I will tell you I want to be like Him.

-Roselyn

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Like a Weaned Child…

Posted on September 7, 2012 by jroesler728

Silverstrands.org is designed as a place for stories, insights and prayers that reflect on faith through aging eyes. I have been thinking today that, as I grow older, I am seeing that there is a story much bigger than I have ever before grasped and that my part in that story is much smaller than I have recognized.

I don’t’ say that because I feel insignificant in the eyes of God or have a diminished role to play. It is more about realizing that God is in control over the things that are too big for me to imagine and still attentive to the unique design from which He made me. He will fulfill His purposes for me and I will be empowered to be His image bearer when the Holy Spirit so directs.

He is relentless is giving me opportunities to release perceived control over that which I have no control. His love longs for me to be free of the burdens that contribute nothing to the story line.

Is there a sense in which this is like becoming a weaned child?  Is there a trust that knows the mother is there and will provide what is needed when and where? Is there, then, no need to cling or center on self?

Psalm 131 says: Lord, my heart is not proud;
 my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great
 or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
 like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
  Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Have you experienced this as you reflect on faith through aging eyes?

I would love to read your comments.

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Fingerprints of Hope

Posted on September 5, 2012 by jroesler728

I have heard a report of a residential home for cognitively challenged children where they have completely given up trying to keep a picture window free of fingerprints. The children, if not interrupted for activities of daily living, would spend hours each day with their fingers and noses pressed against the glass window. The reason they would give is one, that is so obvious to them that they wonder why anyone would ask. They would say they are watching for Jesus to come back.

In what position will he find my hands when He returns?

-Roselyn

Will they be wrung in despair?

Will they be folded in prayer?

Will they be blistered from service?

Will they be pressed, with expectation of his coming, against whatever glass that hems me in?

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Wait

Posted on September 3, 2012 by jroesler728

What does this word mean to you?

My husband has been known to intercept a long queue (people waiting in line) and ask if he can step in because he doesn’t like to wait. He usually gets a smile but not a place in line.

I am learning that when I am in an emotionally heated conflict, that the causative issue can change dramatically and sometimes even disappear if I, as I do on rare occasions, wait.

The Bible tells us repeatedly that we should wait on the Lord.  It even says that if we do we will renew our strength.

We easily sing, “Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.”

But do our prayers include “to wait” as one of the desires of our heart?

-Roselyn

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Unanswered Prayer

Posted on August 31, 2012 by jroesler728

by Shirlee Vandegrift

When the Director of Senior Adults asked me recently to take the teaching time at our Thursday Prayer Group, I started by asking the Holy Spirit to give me a topic  and give me the words. My thoughts were scattered but I kept coming back to the topic of unanswered prayer.

I’ve learned to listen for the Holy Spirit’s answer when I ask for it. It takes quiet time and a listening ear. Most of the time I accept the answer, even if it isn’t what I asked for, but the rest of the time I hang on to my idea of what the answer should be and wonder why the Spirit is not answering. Am I alone in that?

I am no expert in how to pray. Aided by the Holy Spirit, I write  prayers using this theory:

  • If you are praying in God’s will as you know His will,
  • If you love Jesus so much you can’t hold it in but need to tell Him,
  • If you bring others into your prayers and lay their needs at God’s feet,
  • If you trust in the power of the Holy Spirit and can be a witness to His strength, and
  • If you talk to God about all of it and more,

I think  know how to pray!

On the other hand, I have asked the Holy Spirit for help and heard nothing but silence.

It puzzles me.

 

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The Tree Is Dead

Posted on August 29, 2012 by jroesler728

by Jean Roesler

My husband and I recently went to Massachusetts to visit his sister and her husband. Going outside to their backyard we noted that something was different from our last visit. “You’ve taken down some trees,” I said. My sister-in-law went on to explain how her husband had started with a few the previous year, but had just a few weeks prior taken the rest of the pine trees down. We commented that the area was so open now and that their lot looked so much bigger. They responded that for the first time in years they actually saw the sun in their backyard.

As we continued to talk about the trees, my brother-in-law told us that when the garage was added on to the house by previous owners, tree roots were in the way of the garage footing. Instead of removing the tree, the owners decided to simply cut the tree roots leaving the tree itself abutting the garage. When my in-laws moved in and noticed the close proximity of the tree to the garage they consulted a landscaper about possibly removing the tree. The landscaper simply said, “The tree is dead, it just doesn’t know it yet.”

I have learned from Roselyn that statements made by others can have a spiritual lesson, even though that was not the original intent.

The tree is dead, it just doesn’t know it yet. Are there people we know with this same condition? They are living lives without a relationship with Jesus. They may think their lives are full and rich; but are they dead, and just don’t know it yet?

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The Impact of Unexpected Words

Posted on August 27, 2012 by jroesler728

I have been jolted this past week by words that will have a lasting impact.  I have heard them as I answered my phone with no preparation for what I was about to hear. I will write about three calls, completely unrelated to each other, but all revealing to me deep-seated relational foundations that I am thankful to know so that I can be intentional in nurturing them.

The first was received as I was just setting up my desk for a day of work. My friend’s voice was so weak I could barely hear the words as she said, “I can’t breathe.” The sound of her gasping for breath and the panic in her voice quickly produced panic in my response. But I have a strange way of looking calm when I am not so I doubt that I spread panic anywhere else when I reported to my supervisor that I would be gone for the day. My friend was an hour and ten minutes away. I kept my phone on remote speaker as I drove to be with her. She kept asking where I was, wanting to know how far I had come on the journey to be at her side. She seemed to be aware of something she had not thought of before when she said, “Somehow, I want you to be the last person I talk to here on earth.” (This time she lived to carry on conversations with others but her thoughts as she thought she was dying will live with me.)

The second is a call informing me that a man who walked with me when a childhood friend died a couple of years ago had terminal lung cancer and would himself die in a few days. I didn’t know this man well but we had some intense discussions as we processed the dying wishes of our mutual friend. The lingering memory I have of our conversations is his inability to believe his sins were forgiven even though he had confessed them and asked for forgiveness. He did have a relationship with Our Lord Jesus.  When I called his brother to speak to now this dying man, his brother said he wasn’t able to speak. He was no longer responding in anyway. Knowing that hearing is the last sense we lose I asked his brother to put the phone to his ear. I told him he would be dying soon and reminded him that he was a forgiven sinner. I learned the next day that I was the last person to talk to him before he died. I want to think, though, that there were other unfinished faith conversations and prayer.

The third is a phone call from my sister telling me she had just had a car accident, her car was totaled and she had excruciating chest pain. She is my only genetic sister. Her injuries were minimal, her car is repairable and the damage is mostly to her cash flow but I don’t want to be too busy to talk to her the next time she calls.

-Roselyn

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Is God Enjoying My Vacation?

Posted on August 24, 2012 by jroesler728

The question, in and of itself, prompts many other questions.

It trusts God knows when I sit and when I rise. When I work and when I rest.

It presumes that I can contribute to his joy.

It presumes that we are on this vacation together.

When I work I ask him to drive my decisions and that all I do in ministry be Spirit led.

I think I need to lay my plans aside this weekand ask him what He would like to do.

When I get back to work colleagues will ask me if I had a good vacation.

I will probably tell about the things I enjoyed and skip reporting on the things that were difficult.

In my heart, I will silently transfer the question to God and ask Him if He had a good vacation.

He will wink and say I had a perfect companion and He had a work in progress.

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Dying Slowly

Posted on August 22, 2012 by jroesler728

by Shirlee Vandegrift

The other day I was walking past the turned on television and heard an elderly man being interviewed about his impending death.  He had been sick for a long time and knew he didn’t have a much longer stay on earth.  What stopped me in my tracks was his statement that he was glad that he was dying slowly.  A surprise of a remark, I thought.

So did the interviewer.

This man was well known in his rural community for his friendly nature, his desire to help others and to be a role model for young and old.  Every one knew and loved him.

When it was known that the man’s days were numbered people began to help him.  Not just people from his “neighborhood” but others from the surrounding territory, an amazing return on the man’s “investment.”  Nothing he ever looked for or planned on, just a wonderful well deserved outpouring of affection.

Why was he glad to die slowly?  He said it gave all those people time to show their feelings for him.

The man died before the TV piece was aired.  For a small town the funeral, overflowing with about 700 people in attendance (if you can imagine) was a tribute to a life led to serve.

Don’t you just see the hand of God everywhere in this story?

He gave the man love.

He gave the man a heart to serve.

He gave him people to serve.

He gave him friends and family.

He gave him appreciation.

He gave him trust.

He gave him time to be sick, a true blessing.

He didn’t give him a fear of dying.

He didn’t give him a questioning mind about the end date.

He walked closely with this man who acted like Him.

Thank you for the lessons learned, God.  Thank you for stopping me in my tracks when I heard the man say he was glad to die slowly.   Teach me.

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