Last week I posted the story of help that came my way after a hefty snow storm. I was worn out from shoveling and thoroughly enjoyed the help. However, what happens when it feels like (or is really true) that help is not close at hand? We are looking at more snow tonight and after 52″ total snowfall in February, we are weary.
I have been praying the last few days knowing that more snow was coming. The prediction, of course, changes as we get closer to the storm (meteorologists don’t know what God will do, they simply look at weather patterns and make educated guesses). I am tired of shoveling and still getting everything else in life done. Complaining can come all too easily. However, God is still good and will use this time to perfect me. So I go back to praying. I need God’s help to keep up with life. Both the normal aspects of life as well as the storms. In this case it is another snowstorm.
So friend, whatever storm is in your life or will be coming – just keep praying. God will give strength and hope as you seek Him.
Today I want to tell a story from this past week. Minnesota has hit records for snowfall this past month. Not just snow for February, but snow for any month. Most of us are exhausted from the shoveling, bad roads, and other winter hazards. A week ago we had another blizzard. I knew there would be a lot of snow to shovel, so I prepared myself. I shoveled about 4 inches Saturday night before I went to bed. It was a bit heavier so I was glad to get it done before the worst hit. Sunday morning I woke up to bare spots on one side of my driveway and 3-4 foot drifts on the other side. I started shoveling knowing I had the whole day. My church chose to cancel the services to allow people to stay home during the horrible weather.
After 3 different tries of shoveling for 30-45 minutes each, I decided to call for help. A family in my church helped a few weeks ago and offered future help if I needed it. After a few text messages and phone calls, I knew someone would be at my house in 45 minutes. I wasn’t sure who would show up, but I enjoyed seeing the red van and 3 guys getting out. A father and his 20 something son as well as a teen from another family were armed with shovels and a little snow thrower. Before you mock the little snow thrower – it did the job! We broke up the chunks at the end of the driveway while the dad got his snow thrower ready (it is the kind that needs to be plugged in). About 30 minutes later (maybe even less, I had the rest of the driveway and sidewalks clear and one of the “mountains” at the side of my driveway leveled. Alone that job was a 1-2 hour job. With 4 of us – well, we know the saying, “many hands make light work”.
This group from my church are my brothers in Christ. They are also desirous of serving the Lord in various ways. Not many of us want to keep clearing the snow, but these 3 chose to serve the Lord by helping me. Thank you, friends! You made my week.
Below are before and after pictures. They aren’t the best (one is taken from inside my house), but I think they give the idea.
How does this fit with my theme of prayer? I prayed about taking on the task alone. I prayed about getting help. Then I praised the Lord for the help He sent.
Friends, how often do we truly seek God’s way? How often do we seek our own? I can assure you, God’s way is the best. His way gives the most satisfaction, joy, comfort, security and every other positive that can be had in this life.
When Jesus came to earth, he experienced both joy and sorrow. He was willing for our sake to endure the horrors of the cross. He has sent ahead of us a “cloud of witnesses” – others who have lived through joys and sorrows of their own.
As we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can enjoy more of the joys and live stronger through the sorrows. Many have done it before, and more will continue. God has made it possible.
Life is full of various challenges. We face the trial of living in a sin cursed earth which includes our own sin nature as well as that of others. I find as I wade through the muck and mire of difficulties that I can feel weighed down with negativity. As God teaches me to pray, He sends many hugs. The hugs don’t get rid of the effects of sin, but they help me through.
One hug God has sent me this summer is through hummingbirds. I have a hummingbird feeder on my deck. I don’t often see them, although the sugar water levels have consistently gone down. A few times in the evenings and on the weekend I have seen a hummingbird come up to the feeder and take a drink. One night the hummingbird even flew towards my back door where I was standing and watching. It was amazing.
God often sends blessings through people. One such blessing came from friends of mine. I was chatting with a couple of friends while one member of the household was working on a car. When he brought in an old license plate from one car, I joked about the Vikings license plate cover on my car. I wanted to remove it, but hadn’t gotten to it. I’m not into football and I didn’t want to look like I was a Vikings fan. About 5 minutes after the conversation, he comes back into the house with the Vikings license plate cover. This is one of those “little things” that may seem silly, but is still fun. I like my car much better without the Viking logo on it.
Friends, I know life can weigh us down and blessings seem few and far between. However, the more I watch for blessings the more I believe God shows me. If I am willing to receive as God chooses to give (knowing what is best for me), I will gain more. I pray you see the many blessings (hugs) that God sends.
Have you ever had a bad day? A bad week? Or a time of life when you consistently feel low? We all have. Did someone reach out to you? A friend of mine calls it “being God with skin on”.
Friends, we all have dark times. We all need help sometime. God commands us to reach out (Galatians 6:2). So please be aware – there may be someone near you that needs your help. Ronald Reagan used to say, “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” Are you ready? God will show you who needs your help and He will show you how to help them.
Friends who are hoping for someone to reach out to you: look to God. He is the first point of contact for help in all situations. Too often we want a person to fix things instead of allowing God to work in our lives. So talk to Him. God will send the person you need.
Who is ready to reach out? It doesn’t necessarily take much. A text message, a hello on Facebook, a smile – simple is often best. You might be the ray of sunshine someone needs.
On Mother’s Day, I introduced the title of Mother Sister Daughter, based on my relationships with many sisters in Christ. Now that Father’s Day is here, I want to talk about my spiritual brothers.
In order to keep relationships appropriate (a concept that can be lost by misuse of Christian liberty), I have to approach this differently. The Father concept is pretty easy. I have “dads” in my church. If you read back through some of my blog stories, you will see fatherly care (this could also be considered brotherly love). I have been blessed many times where guys in my church have helped me out – from mowing the lawn, to car care, clearing snow, roofing, relighting the pilot on my hot water heater (amidst jokes about blowing up my house), installing dead bolt locks, installing carpet, etc. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about serving; each member has different strengths. I can use tools, but there is a point where home-ownership projects overwhelm me. I am thankful for godly men who are willing to help me with projects that fit their strengths.
My stories about the help I have received can easily fall under the father and brother category. Now for the son portion – I have a mama bear personality. With the guys in my church I have to show it in a different way. As I have learned more about prayer, I am finding more ways to show appropriate Biblical love. Ultimately, God takes care of those things any way. I am simply His tool to use in the lives of those around me.
So on this Father’s Day, I want to thank the Father Brother Sons in my life. We don’t tend to verbalize thanks as much with the guys, but they like appreciation, too. So thank you – I appreciate your work and investment in my life.
The tulip in this picture is called the Marilyn tulip. I’m not sure which Marilyn anyone had in mind when naming this variety, but we will think of my mom’s sister. I shared a couple of weeks ago that my family was grieving the loss of my aunt. While there is sadness, we take comfort in the knowledge that she is with Jesus.
Her memorial service was last weekend – right at the tail end of tulip time in Holland, MI. Some of my family took time to enjoy the beautiful flowers. My mom’s brother took this photo of the Marilyn tulip.
Psalm 62 became special to my aunt as she started realizing that her mind was succumbing to dementia. Many forms of dementia come on gradually and the person has awareness of what is happening to them. This can be a frightening time. However, God is still good and provides protection and aid in our time of need. Whatever that need may be.
So friend, wherever you are in life – whatever God is asking of you; He has a plan to take care of you.
My family had a tough week, but God is still good. After a battle with dementia, my aunt died on Wednesday. While we will miss her, she is rejoicing with her Savior. My aunt had placed her trust in Jesus Christ. Those of us who trust Christ will have the same blessing when our earthly life is done.
Friend, if you do not know the joy of trusting Christ do not hesitate. He is waiting for you with open arms.
Pleading in Prayer 