The Difference Page 39 Made

A few weeks ago, I stopped in a Christian bookstore, and before paying for my purchase decided to look at the sale table.  Actually, after you read this blog, in retrospect, you will see that it had to be God that caused me to check out the sales before I left the store.  My extra “sale purchase” was a small, pocket-size devotional book, compiled and written by Chuck Swindoll, Wisdom for the Way, Wise Words for Busy People, The “busy people” part certainly fits me so I began reading the book during my brief lunch periods each day at school.  Unsuspecting, about one week ago, I sat in the quiet storage area behind my classroom, reading that little devotion as I nibbled my lunch. Little did I know what a profound impact that page 39 that would have on my Christian walk in the 30-seconds that it took me to read it.  I share it with you below:

Wow!  If you are reading this, I’m sure you are thinking about the many unfair blows that life has dealt you. I hope that as you read, really read, these words, it will all make sense and you will feel the sense of relief and release as I felt when I said, “okay, Lord, I cannot see how it was good for me, and it doesn’t seem You will ever explain it to me or tell me why, but I accept your will in my life, absolutely, even if I never know why or understand what you expect to accomplish in me through this thing.”

Maybe you have some terrible hurts and things that have happened to you that you, too, have buried and even though you try not to think about it, something will trigger that feeling, that thought and pain and rage begin a battle in your mind as the question, “why?” causes a flood of emotions that you have tried to hide, and, the majority of the time, you have been very successful just as I have been.

Some of the blows dealt to me in my life have been so painful and I have buried them so deeply within that no one would ever know; emotional cuts and hurts so deep that no one knows and no one will probably ever know or understand.  Why was I left as a young teenager and a friend taken in a needless, untimely accident?  Why, being left, have I had to endure daily pain and multiple surgeries to keep my “framework” together just to manage normal daily activities?  Why was I denied the privilege of having children of my own? Why did I miscarry an only pregnancy never to have the privilege of carrying another child?  Why was I made a literal scapegoat for someone else, someone who hurt children, a liar, a thief? Why did it take so long for others to believe the truth?  Why could such a thing happen to totally cause me to walk away from ministry and to angrily and secretly carry the desire for revenge?  Why does death rob us of precious time? Why?  Why God did you allow those things to happen to me?  I don’t understand.  I was faithful, I was loyal, I was doing what You called me to do; it was You, God, I just wanted to honor you and give you the glory. . .How could you possibly get glory from any of this., God?

At times I felt I should just rip Romans 8:28 right out of my Bible.  “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  There were years that I chose not to believe that verse and no one knew.  My inner person screamed inside, “why?”

Some of you reading this blog have lost loved ones to untimely deaths – children that your arms long to embrace but you are forced to wait for eternity – and you question why?  Some of you have suffered cancer and have thus far, beaten it, but you question, why?  Some of you have had children who have suffered disease, debilitating illnesses, cancer, why? There is much emotion in this and you continue to question, why? Why are children raped and murdered?  Why do bad things happen to good people?

But God, after reading page 39 in this little devotional, through His Holy Spirit spoke so clearly within me, I looked around to see if there was someone there – in reality there was. I took a great big sigh.  It was relieving.  It was so comforting. . .but, first, I felt ashamed and so guilty for not trusting God.  Oh, I could trust God for you – for anyone – but not for me.  It didn’t work that way. No one knew.

Then, it was just like a veil lifted from in front of me and I understood that each of those unfair circumstances, each wrong and unexplained experience that I endured were another opportunity for me to unconditionally accept that God truly did know “me”.  My responsibility was simply to accept, from His hand, that which He had given me, in absolute trust realizing that the confinement of the hedge I was in was good and for His glory. I believe I more fully understand the scripture in I Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known”.

No, I haven’t arrived yet.  I don’t have all the answers  - I never will.  I just understand that some things I must accept whether or not I ever know why.  It is my responsibility as a follower of Christ, to place my ultimate trust in the One, who may not always tell me why, but who holds me in the palm of His hand.  “See, I will not forget you, behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands. . .” Isaiah 49:15b-16a

The 11 Rules of Life. . .A New Twist

A while ago, I read the 11 Rules of Life that were quoted from Charles Sykes, Dumbing Down Our Kids. Bill Gates was once credited for authoring this, however, he was simply quoting Sykes during a college commencement at which he [Bill Gates] had spoken.  While it is very true and poignant, I insured on the first day of school this year that every one of my students received a copy of it to read and hopefully they will ponder it.  As I was praying, I felt that I would set it out those same rules here -  just with a different twist.  I hope you enjoy it and that it blesses you.

Rule 1:

Life is not fair, get used to it. 

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:19

Rule 2:

The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.  "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Rule 3:

You will not make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice president with a car phone until you earn both.  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Rule 4:

If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. He doesn't have tenure.  "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." II Timothy 2:15

Rule 5:

Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity."Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" Colossians 3:23  "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Rule 6:

If you screw up, it's not your parents' fault so don't whine about your mistakes. Learn from them.

“For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”  Proverbs 24:16

Rule 7:

Before you were born your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way paying bills, cleaning your room, and listening to you tell them how idealistic you are.  So before you save the rain forest from the blood-sucking parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.  “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:4-6

Rule 8:

Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools they have abolished failing grades, they'll give you as many times as you want to get the right answer.  This, of course, bears not the slightest resemblance to anything in real life. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3

Rule 9:

Life is not divided into semesters.  You don't get summers off, and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself.  Do that on your own time.  “There is a time for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heavens; He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

Rule 10:

Television is not real life.  In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

Rule 11:

Be nice to nerds.  Chances are you'll end up working for one... “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7

Remember:  Jesus loves you as no other.  He cares for you and He is waiting to hear from you.  Just whisper his name - that sweet, blessed, calming, restorative, trusted name!