31 Aug Layout Out the Pieces of Your Life

I woke up especially tired on Thursday. Really wanted to reset my alarm, but I pressed through and headed downstairs with the Queen (aka Gigi) tucked under my arm. Yes, she’s spoiled. And after her playful shenanigans and potty break, I was wide awake. Too late to turn back now.

I pushed through a few exercises to get my blood going, made a cuppa, and sat down in my chair to nestle into my Breathing Room with the Lord. Words came slow. That’s OK, because I know He hears my heart. Probably even prefers that most days.

I wrote a couple of lines in my journal that were more prayers of lament than praise. I realize that it’s my heart and my mind that are tired… kinda like I feel dry and overwhelmed at the same time. And didn’t I just get back from 2 restful weeks at the beach? Funny how quickly that rest seems to have been sucked out of me. I wonder to myself if I’ve over committed, or if I’ve under-trusted God with the details of my life. Is He ordering my steps, or am I? My lament droned on, all about me stuff—not feeling like I measure up in the way I have been following Him lately, wondering if I’m even hearing Him, or paying attention, or if I’m doing one lick of earthly good for His glory. I know God hears my prayers. I know He cares. So, I continue laying out the pieces of my life to Him…

King-God, I need your help. Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.

—Psalm 5:1-3, The Message

Then, a thought comes to my mind—the Lord reminds me of this verse: 

Guide me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You, and only You, I wait expectantly all day long.

—Psalm 25:5

I make that my prayer. 

Grabbing my Bible, I open it up to breathe, read, and listen to God who always guides me in His truth and teaches me. I’m getting ready to teach 1 & 2 Thessalonians to a small group of young’uns, so that’s where I head to continue reading. This is what grabbed me:

So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.

—1 Thessalonians 1:6a, 7

I speak to God, and ask: 

Lord, thank you for your Word. I’m going to receive it with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of how crummy I’m feeling and how pitiful I’m acting right now. I know you’ve given me this day to live my life as an example of Christ to others. And I just might be the only “Bible” somebody reads today. Help me, Jesus, help me!

I’m off to work out, then home to get myself ready for the day. I’ve got a 10:30 eye doctor appointment before work, and I’m going to have to bust it to get there on time. I’m already trying not to get anxious about the ton of work yet to do today… and while I love this specialist (she’s a sister in Christ, a strong believer, and we can have some great, deep, long talks) I don’t really have time for a lengthy visit today. Alas, I sense the Spirit telling me—It’s ok. I’ve got this. I’m guiding you and ordering your steps. You asked me…now trust me.

The specialist comes in and the conversation takes off—and I love it! We encourage one another in how we can live in light of Christ’s return, in the day and time in which he’s purposed for us to live. We end on: Stay the course, keep the faith, love and encourage one another, and point people to the hope of Jesus Christ.

When we hug goodbye with one last “keep the faith” parting word, the receptionist listens in. “Keep the faith,” she says. “I like that. I needed to hear that today. I’m going to remember that.” As I was leaving, I looked at her knowingly and said, “Without that, we’ve got nothing and no hope. But with that…with faith in Christ, we have everything!”

The receptionist stopped for a moment, looked up and quietly said, “I have just been diagnosed with breast cancer.”

That stopped me in my tracks. I told her how sorry I was to hear about her diagnosis, and that 15 years ago I was in that same battle. I was able to share my story—God’s story—with this sweet woman. I gave her my contact information as well as the contact information for my beloved doctor and surgeon. At this point she was crying, obviously shaken. Then she said, “God is so good. I needed this today!” I came around to her chair, bent down and hugged her tight. She stood up, hugged me back, and I prayed over her the words the Holy Spirit guided me to speak— of comfort, peace, grace, and his palpable presence.

Something to Think About

This woman needed a hug from God, not from me. Y’all, let me be clear—I’m not writing any of this to toot my own horn. Sometimes on a day—an ordinary day—in spite of feeling tired, worthless, purposeless, disorganized, overwhelmed (or however you feel) God will show up in and through your life to get His work accomplished. Ya just gotta let Him lead.

One More Thing

This is one of my very favorite hymns. I learned it decades ago back in my home church, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, in Orlando, Florida. Our wonderful choir director, Andrew Walker, taught us a collection of beautiful Anglican hymns, and this one became a sort of anthem for our church. It touches my heart so; I cannot sing it without crying. It’s been God’s call to me and to many…and I share it with you to think about and reflect on your own life, following after the One who summons you.

The Summons
John Bell (Iona Community, Scotland)

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my Name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoner free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen?
And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘You’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show,
thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me?

Until next week— don’t forget that you are greatly and dearly loved by The King! And let’s live our beautiful, ordinary lives like women who believe it!

I love you!

xo – P❤️