So Incredibly Blessed

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” [Jas 1:12 NLT]

 

Much of life is not “what if” but “when”.  We worry about too much of “what if” challenges.  More of life is dependable.  As humans we share in common loss-- loss of a loved one, stability of life or a healthy body.

 

My earthly journey has taught that worrying about “what if” is a waste of time.  Rather I should be prepared for “when” and patiently endure the “when” when it happens.

 

Earlier this month I celebrated twenty years as a breast cancer survivor.  My mom was one of my mentor’s as the challenge of the Big C became a part of my life experience.  She modeled a positive outlook as she faced the disease the first time.  “Why me?” did not formulate her response.  Instead “Why not me?” was her guiding principle.

 

During her 16 years as a survivor she taught me to enjoy life.  She adored being a grandmother and gave herself fully to those kids.  She could get them to do anything!  Perhaps her secret was sharing a single piece of chewing gum with them.  I’m hoping it was giving all she thought was right for them, sitting on the floor playing with them, and in their presence making them feel important.

 

Worry about “What if” is pointless and robs us of valuable time because we all will end this earthly life.  We don’t know the “when” but it’s a guarantee that life on earth is temporary.

 

I distinctly remember a decision I made a few weeks into my treatment for cancer.  I embraced the fact that “I had cancer.” (That “had” is emphatic past tense.) It was in the past.  I realized that with endless doctor appointments, preventative measures, and tests, wasting a valuable minute on worry was robbing me of joy in the present. 

 

I am incredibly blessed.  My life is full, full of life, joy and just a little bit of obstacle. Poignant moments of life, like family holidays, holding my grandchild for the first time, meeting another’s need, makes me “just glad to be here.”

 

Cherish each moment.  Reject worry about “what if”.  Not all “what ifs” happen.  Life is like an athletic endeavor.  Practice prepares us for the race.  Each day presents enough challenge to give us practice for looking the “big ones” in the eye!

 

 

I am blessed! My friends wore pink to celebrate!

It’s about We

 

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” [Jas 1:9-11 ESV]

 

“You’re supposed to be sick, so act like it!”  My mother hollered up the steps.  My brother and I were jumping on his beds.  We were home sick from school with the measles but neither of us had a serious case.

 

Society expects certain behavior for our station or circumstance.  I was once told that I was not acting like I needed financial assistance.  Hmmm.  Is there a behavior that is appropriate to our lot in life?

 

I read James 1:9-11 on the hottest day of the year so far. “Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower…as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers.”  (The Message)  Fortunately, my little pot of wildflowers didn’t read The Message that day because they bloomed like crazy that day.

 

Rather than complying with expected behavior perhaps we are to rejoice in what God has given us, all of us, in the moment.  It’s not about the separation of groups.  Life is about community. Witness is about “We.”

 

My granddaughter has a collection of cooperative board games.  My husband and I were raised in the competitive gaming model.  We didn’t enjoy these games until we read the instructions well.  The goal of the game was to get the chickens into the safety of the coop before all the sun cards were played.  This meant the three players, two old competitors and a future world changer, discussed the strategy for each of us to play to get those chicks in the nest before sundown.

 

Perhaps this game should be a model for Life.  We should cheer for everyone who makes a difference in the world, regardless of how small.

 

The game of Life is about We.  We all succeed or really there is no success.  Success as the world defines it, prosperity, is fleeting.  Heat, cold, evil can end the prosperity.  God’s plans are eternal and for all.

 

How does that thought lead us to behave?  Our circumstance should not dictate our response or behavior.  Rather, our trust in God’s control and care.  Our wildflowers are survivors amidst the record breaking heat because occasional rain has blessed them and the caretaker, me, has a dependable schedule for watering.

 

In spite of the scorching environment, bloom where planted, we, like the wildflowers, need to stick together.  I think the wildflowers flourished under the excessive heat because they would not alone! Together we rejoice in God, His provision, His love, His faithfulness.

 

Presumptuous we are

 

“For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;” [Jas 1:7 ESV]

“he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. “[Jas 1:8 ESV]

 

I walked into my kitchen to find my dinner guest cleaning and rearranging my cupboards.  I was at a loss on how to react. We didn’t know each other well. In my mind, she was presumptuous. There must be a right of privacy of cupboard.    She accepted my hospitality only to invade my privacy.

 

When I read James 1: 7-8 I felt uncomfortable.  The first note in my journal was “it takes gall to ask the one you rejected for help. We are presumptuous.  We ignore God’s offer of relationship and then blame Him when life goes awry!”  

 

We ask God to be in our lives. Yet, when it comes to “cleaning our spiritual cupboards” we consider God to be the intruder.  We are quick to accept God’s forgiveness and blessings.  Yet, when a single circumstance displaces our happiness or comfort, we are even quicker to blame God.  Too often we demand that God fix the situation, even when we made the mess.  That seems presumptuous! Perhaps that is being double-minded.

 

Have you noticed how many in our society have a self-absorbed world view with little regard for the impact their actions have on others?  They want more than what they have, address their personal needs first, create drama to get their way and play the victim card often.

 

When my plan for life is interrupted with an unwelcome event or condition, I choose my response. The options are trust in God or devise my own scheme to alleviate the problem.

 

I learned a valuable life lesson from my mom when she had cancer the first time. A very close family member was venting frustration with Mother’s situation exclaiming “WHY?  Why you?”  Mother calmly replied, “Why not me?  Who am I that I should receive special treatment?”

 

My mother’s perspective on her situation has been a life lesson to me.  My response to similar situations has been, at least my goal, is not to presume God loves me more than others nor does He promise me a “rose garden” easy life.  Rather, God is with me always, yes, always, and He is in control of the entire situation.

 

The Greek word translated double-minded is “dipsychos”.  It means two spirited and vacillating in opinion or purpose.  It is used only twice in the New Testament, in verse 1:8 and again in James 4:8.

 

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. “[Jas 4:8 ESV]

 

This verse reminds me of the cure for my double-mindedness.  

o   First, draw near to God. Go to God and tell Him about the situation and how you feel. Listen to what He says in response.

o   Cleanse my hands.  Just as Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the crowds’ clamor for Jesus’ death, I need to wash my thoughts and actions from viewing my life circumstances the way the entitled worldly do.

o   Purify my heart.  Review my motive for my choice of view of life circumstance.  Am I only thinking of myself and how this interruption will affect me, and only me? Or am I trusting God’s sovereignty and plan for my life and those I affect?

 

Let’s engage:

§  Do you have a cupboard that needs to be cleaned?

§  Have you ever felt like you were entitled and did not receive what you sought?

§  Have you ever felt the effect of someone else’s thirst for entitlement?

 

 

Affirmation

I approached the basket, as instructed, and choose the paper star on the top of the pile. Immediately I turned it over to read my Star word. The speaker had introduced the practice of selecting a word to guide the year on Epiphany, the day tradition recognizes the visit of the Magi visiting the Christ Child. 

“Affirmation” was my Star word. I smiled and knew it was significant. 

I’ve wrestled with my calling for several months. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, to be published. My mom instilled the idea when she acknowledged my potential. Her qualifications to judge were she was an avid reader, and she was my mom! 

In 2013 I started a blog and wrote three to four times a week. I was an early riser and used the quiet morning to read, study and ponder the book of Deuteronomy. I had two puppies at the time who served as my alarm and accountability partners. My husband was working out of town. 

Years later, in full retirement, I should have been able to keep up writing. I should have four or five books completed. I’ve had thoughts and ideas. I’ve outlined and dreamed. But laziness and doubt have held me hostage. I’ve contributed to writing challenges several times but never been selected for publishing. 

Doubt is a formidable opponent. Wallowing in doubt will erode self-confidence, focus and sense of accomplishment. (There’s nothing that rewards me more than the ability to “check the completed box”.)

Last year I resolved to start blogging again. I chose the book of James and returned to make pattern of reading a verse or two, considering what the verse said to me in my day and penning a meditation. Then James 1:6 and my pondering on doubt sucked the “wind out of my sails”! 

I was confronted with my “church-lady” sounding simplistic ruminations of doubt and how to handle it. I’ve been stuck in neutral ever side. I’m too legalistic to skip the verses. I’m too fearful to admit my vulnerability. Perhaps my dream is past, over and/or not achievable. Yet I could not “Elsa it” (let it go). 

Now I have this star shaped slip of paper with this word glaring at me, pricking my heart. I smiled because I knew it was the compass needle pointing me to the answer. I checked an online dictionary for the definition of affirmation. One of the definitions: nod head. God has nodded His head at me and is waiting for me to nod in return. 

While doing my daily lesson for my online bible study group, I faced the question “Is God really calling me or is this something I want to do?” (Before the Throne, p. 76) 

The video testimony at the women’s conference included Habbakuk 2:2. My heart felt that prick again. This verse in The Message encouraged me(emphasis added): 

• Write This 

• Write what you see 

• Write it out in BIG BLOCK LETTERS 

• So it can be read on the run 

• This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. 

The Habbakuk verse gave me these instructions: 

o BLOG. For now, I should be blogging. I rarely read anything on the internet that is more than 500 words, so I don’t need to be more verbose than 500 words; 

o SIMPLE. K.I.S.S. – Keep It Simple Servant- I’m not a theologian. 

o APPLICABLE. Share usable thoughts for everyday life, not drastic circumstances. 

o SOW. Use that degree in Botany! Sow into others seeds of encouragement 

One of my most recent acrostics: 

T he 

R eason 

I 

B log is 

E ngage, Encouragement, Excitement, Enthusiasm 

“Every word of the Bible can speak to you on any day and in many ways.” Jan Sipe’s “Any, Many Principle.

So I resolve, again, to let the words of the Bible speak and to share what I hear to encourage, excite and enthuse others.  

Feel free to join my Facebook group- Sunset Jan's Blog (Jan Sipe) or email me at Jansipe2013@gmail.com.  The group gives us a measure of intimacy so we can apply our learnings together.

Stuck at a Crossroad?

 “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” [Jas 1:6 NIV]

Why would one ask for something from a source that is questionable?  Before one asks, wouldn't one have faith in the ability of the giver to deliver?  Sounds like an exercise in philosophy.  I'm not much for such deep thinking.  

Asking and doubt often appear together in life.

I like to keep it simple.  I start with a reliable dictionary definition for doubt.  Somewhere in my wanderings in the online dictionaries and encyclopedias, I discover that the Latin source of the word for doubt means to be of two minds, double minded, to stand at the crossroad.

Life challenges (those times that may not go the way you wish or go in a surprising direction) are like standing at a crossroad with at least 2 paths or options. Simply put, I have the choice to believe God has the best plan for me OR I can choose following my skewed human logic.

Perhaps it's human nature to want the cake and eat it too. Reason tells me that having cake and eating it are incompatible since once I eat the cake, I no longer have it.  There it is again, philosophy creeping into my pondering. 

When considering a decision or pausing at a crossroad of choice, in the face of another life challenge, I'll be tossed in both directions (because I can't have my cake and eat it too) until I'm "seasick" (then cake isn't appealing at all!).  Seasickness, car sickness and air sickness are conditions I have a lifetime of experience Motion sickness tablets are a staple in my travel kit.  I enjoy adventures so much more with the security of those little tablets.  They very rarely fail me.

I have faith in those motion sickness tablets because of my past experience.  Likewise, I have faith in God's love and care reflected in the plan He has for me because of the times He has provided, delivered and held my hand.  My mom's advice for seasickness was not to look down at the waves but look up to the horizon.  

The horizon gives stability.  When in doubt, look up!

Doubt, to me, means I need to make a choice.  To choose faith in God or faith in myself.  Unfortunately, due to the influence of worldly desires, selfishness and often laziness, I stand at that crossroad of choice for far too long. I’ve stood at a crossroad of obedience for many months.  I’ve been reminded that researching how to “have it both ways” mean I’m standing at the crossroad going nowhere.  

I’ve wavered for months with posting this musing.  It’s harder to choose the path than I make it sound. (Frankly, I need a motion sickness tablet!) God’s path is stability and the choice for me.  

These months have taught me to choose, and stop my wavering. Choose God’s path because He loves you and me. Choosing God’s path will be the spiritual motion sickness tablet—the seas of life will be calm. 

Let's engage:

What is your favorite cake?

Is doubt a bad thing?

When have you chosen God’s path in a time of doubt?