Truth and Time Walk Hand in Hand

1 Peter 2:21-23 ~ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.

Following in the footsteps of Christ can seem daunting most days. For me, it's especially difficult when it comes to justice.  Lately, I have experienced the overwhelming urge to set the record straight in a couple of circumstances in my life.  I keep telling myself that I have every right to make certain that the truth (at least according to me) is laid out.  At a minimum, 'those people' would have all of the information to ponder.  Furthermore,  last night I had concocted an eloquent response the would present the facts.  Thank God for a good night's rest!!  This morning I woke to an uneasy feeling that doing this would actually produce more drama than it solved. My desire for justice was fulfilled in the verses of 1 Peter 2.  Jesus set the example for me to follow.  Here was a man who is God in the flesh, sinless, one who could accurately and truthfully present the facts.  A man who didn't deserve the suffering He experienced.  What did He do?  He leaned into His Father.  He understood a saying that I heard just yesterday ~ "Truth and time walk hand in hand."  In other words, the perfect timing of our Heavenly Father has a way of shaking out the truth of a matter.  Jesus knew that His Father was allowing the suffering for His glory and our example. 

So, this present irritation, which pales in comparison to my Savior's suffering, I will endure and lean into my Father.  May He use it to grow me, to make me more like Him, but ultimately, to bring Him glory.

Adventures in Sunday School....

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jen asked me if I would be willing to help her in Sunday School.  Notice the word willing.  You see, Jen knows that I am not big on teaching Sunday School.  I love kids...in small doses and on my time.  Yes, I know how that sounds, and yes, I am not proud of that statement, but I am in the business of trying to be real.  I said yes thinking two things...it's only one Sunday and it's serving with Jen.  I love ministering with Jen.  We have done so many things together for Jesus, made mistakes along the way, have had SOOOOO many laughs, have shed some tears, have been bluntly honest with each other, and have a friendship that defies words to adequately describe.  I could do this.....

Week one turned into two weeks.  There were laughs, there was some frustration for this Type A personality, there were fifteen 3-5 year olds at various levels of development, temperament and attitude and there was masking tape....lots and lots of masking tape!  The first week I walked upstairs after class with masking tape stuck to the bottom of my shoe and the guy behind me making fun of me because of it.  The second week, Jen's husband Chad was back to help, but I decided to stay and help because they could use it...and I am glad I did. At one point, Jen dumped two bags of plastic animals out in two piles and told the kids they could choose what they wanted.  Fifteen kids dove for the coveted toys as my left eye began to twitch in nervousness.  I told Jen that would have played out differently had I been in charge. I can see it now as the kids stand in line while General Carla doles out the booty! As I taped (I am beginning to love masking tape by this point!) lids for 'shaker noise makers', I had four of the kiddies 'biting' me with their animals (Noah's ark theme) and one having her horse eat the 'hay' off of my arm all while I pretended to react from the snake and fish bites.  There were shoes to tie, songs to sing, and lessons to learn, especially by me.

Yep, the assistant teacher got schooled this past week.  I got to see again just how magnificent our church is at ministering to children.  Yes, our VBS is a fantastic event...but our Sunday School is better yet!  It's all about pouring Jesus into a child at every age.  Whether it's changing diapers, tying shoes, wiping runny noses, teaching Bible verses, teaching a lesson on obedience to 3-5 year olds in a way they understand...it's all pointing them to Jesus.  While Mom and Dad are upstairs getting Jesus poured into their lives by our Pastor's teaching, their children are seeing Jesus with skin on downstairs.  These folks LABOR for Christ and do it with a smile and love for the kids and their parents.


So, what did I learn?  That my reluctance to help was merely an excuse because I would rather be upstairs, sitting in a pew, being comfortable.  That there is a great need for help in our children's ministry.  That people who say they don't know where to serve need to talk to Beau and see if this is a fit for you.  That we have incredible servants of Christ doing a wonderful service for the Kingdom!  Thank YOU!

A bit too much drama...

I saw this on Facebook earlier in the week and re-posted it to my page, but have not been able to shake it from my mind.  The past couple of weeks have had some very dicey moments of being misunderstood, having words attributed to me, believed to have been said by me and were never verified by me, being lied to and about.  Basically, the fun stuff of drama...which I hate...or so I thought.  As the week wore on, my mind was constantly barraged with thoughts of the issues du jour.  I was thinking, rethinking, having imaginary conversations with various people, and winning any arguments, by the way! :D  I know, ridiculous.  Then I got laid out with some sort of allergy/cold thing that made me sick enough to have to miss work...which meant being at home...thinking.

During one of my thought fests, it occurred to me that I had become one of the very kind of people who frankly annoy me to no end.  I'd become sucked into the lair of drama.  I had allowed the enemy to not only sneak into my thoughts, but to build a condo with a pool there! And I knew right when it started...it was that first thought of "I can't believe they did that...".  I knew right there to capture that thing and lay it at the foot of the cross.  But no, I decided to let it move to the next realm of, "Do they know how unprofessional/hurtful/wrong that is?" And then the proverbial horse was out of the barn and off it went. Ugh.

Fortunately, I have made it a priority to have some take no prisoner, "I love you too much to let you go there" friends in my circle and was talking to one of them this week. She said something so simple, but it rocked my world... she said, "Maybe they are doing the best they can do with where they are in life".  Whoa.  Someone who doesn't know Christ isn't going to be Christ-like.  I can count on them to live life for themselves. Period.  Someone who does know Christ, like me, maybe needs me to understand that they are learning, trying, endeavoring to be all that He created them to be...like me.  Like when I mess up, or unintentionally hurt someone, or act selfish.  That set me back on my heels and kept weaving through the attempts that the enemy was making to start me up again.  Today, the Lord took me to a precious chapter in Hebrews for some incredible healing.  He knows, He understands, He still forgives, He never gives up on me.

This life with Jesus is not easy.  Sometimes I have to learn to just take it on the chin, offer forgiveness for the hurt and move forward.  Sometimes, He brings things full circle and forgiveness is asked and received by both of us.  Always, it's for His glory and our healing.