The Ultimate Gift

November 25, 2014

Never Late, Never Early

I have been giving a good bit of thought to the subject of timing lately. I believe it all started when my nephew’s wife went into labor 8 weeks earlier than expected. The doctors were trying to do whatever they could to buy the baby more time inside his mother’s womb so he could continue to develop. Though they were only able to hold him off for one more day, he arrived at God’s appointed time. We were expecting him to win the prize for the first baby born in 2015, but God had a different plan. The prize turned into a 2014 tax deduction instead! All kidding aside, he is making good progress and is expected to go home in the coming week, an extra special reason for his family to give thanks this Thanksgiving.

According to the calendar the baby was early, but isn’t God’s timing always perfect? What about His timing when you’ve prayed the same prayer day after day, year after year, waiting for an answer that hasn’t yet come? His timing doesn’t seem so perfect then either, does it? So how do we know God’s timing is perfect? I want to simply say, “because He is God,” but I went searching for some reinforcement for that answer in the Bible. I landed in a not so familiar book—Habakkuk.

The prophet Habakkuk laid out his complaints to the Lord in the first chapter of the book. It was a time of fear, oppression, persecution, lawlessness and immorality in Judah and Habakkuk didn’t understand why God was allowing this to go on. God planned to use the mighty Babylonians to punish His people and that led to more questioning from Habakkuk. Why the increasingly powerful and evil Babylonians? God assured him that He would also punish the Babylonians after they had fulfilled His purpose. In his time of struggle and doubt, Habakkuk received this response from God found in the second chapter of the book:

“But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB)

In this verse we find hope to replace our doubts. God is sovereign. He can do whatever He wants, whenever He wants. As I often say, “He’s got this!” He has a purpose and a plan for your life and mine and He will carry it out at just the right time. Rest in that assurance today and keep the faith!

Celebrate God’s goodness this Thanksgiving and throughout the coming year—Happy Thanksgiving!

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014

A Second Chance

If you know me, then I’m sure you know what’s on my mind today—it’s Buctober!! My favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, is playing in the NL Wildcard game tonight. For the second straight year they are hosting the do-or-die Wildcard game. If they win, they advance to the NLDS, but if they lose, their season is over. There is no do over. This one game determines the fate of their season.

My small group is currently studying the book of Jonah. I am always amazed at how much the authors of the various Bible studies I’ve done can glean from just one verse of Scripture. Take Jonah 3:1 for instance—

Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time:

I breezed right through that without even a second thought. Did you? As it turns out, that short and simple verse is quite meaningful. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

It is helpful to know what precedes that verse in Jonah. The prophet, Jonah, received clear instruction from God and chose to run far and fast in the opposite direction. The result was one wicked storm, his being thrown overboard by Pagan sailors, and landing inside a giant fish. After three days the fish spit him out on land. That’s my own short version of the story anyhow. Follow that up with Jonah 3:1 and you see a God of second chances. God could have just let Jonah drown in his disobedience. He could have washed His hands of Jonah and written him off. But He didn’t. Why? Because God is merciFULL! When Jonah repented of his sin and cried out to God, God’s response was laced with grace. As children of God we, too, get a second chance, and a third, and a fourth, and a….fill in any number you want when we come to Him and acknowledge our sin. Doesn’t that make your day? Unlike the Pittsburgh Pirates, we can have another chance if we don’t play well today.

With that being said, I certainly hope the Buccos come up big and win the game tonight. I am thrilled beyond belief to be able to be there in person. My favorite doctor would say that I’m wound tighter than a $2 toaster!

August 16, 2014

A Time for Everything

The day we’ve been working towards for the past 18+ years has arrived. Today my husband and I are moving our baby girl to college. Even though helping to shape her into an independent adult has been the goal all along, I will admit I feel a bit unprepared for the other side now that we are staring that goal right in the face.

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

Today marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, not only for Hillary, but for the whole family. We are entering a new season. It’s time, yet change can be scary. Lately, the range of emotions at my house has covered quite a bit of territory—anywhere from total dread to pure excitement, sometimes all at the same time!

We will encounter various seasons over the course of our lives, and our calling, or activity, will be a bit different in each one. For instance, when my daughter was born with significant health issues, I was called to leave my teaching job behind to stay at home with her. It was quite a transition. Are you currently moving from one season into another? Perhaps you have just come out on the other side of a life-altering transition. No matter your story I am confident that you can relate to this idea of changing seasons. It can be hard, sometimes even downright scary, to let go of the comfortable and enter into the unknown. I have good news—we have company!! We are not alone. Heed these words from God to the prophet Isaiah and take comfort:

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10 NLT)

These words are for you and me too. Go ahead and acknowledge that life may never be the same. Let’s not allow fear to paralyze us though. Rather, let’s walk boldly into the future knowing that God is with us each step of the way and will see us through to victory. As a good friend frequently tells me, “I read the end of the book—we win!”

Best wishes to the college freshmen and their families as they embark on that next chapter. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Go get’em Hillary!

July 31, 2014July 31, 2014

No-Trade Clause

I’ve been meaning to write for quite some time, but I have been busy teaching for the past 5 1/2 weeks and couldn’t seem to find the time or the energy. I learned a valuable lesson in the process—taking or teaching a college course in 5 1/2 weeks is a tall order. WAY too intense—just ask my students!

Today is the last day of the semester, the last day of the month and also the MLB trading deadline. Yes, I know I tend to write about baseball frequently. It’s what I know! Back on the first of this month my husband and I marked our 25th wedding anniversary. What I wanted to write about back then seems to fit perfectly today so I will proceed. Lots of Major League Baseball players will be traded by this afternoon’s deadline. Some of them will leave the only major league team that they’ve ever known. Others seem to move from one team to another on a regular basis. Some will be happy about being traded. Others won’t. Some have to approve the trade because they have a no-trade clause in their contract. Others have no say in the matter. Back in the day many players stayed on the same team throughout their career. These days it is a rare occurrence.

I believe many of these same ideas apply to marriage. When the going gets tough, and it will, it is hard to honor our commitment. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:36 NLT) It seems easier to give up and walk away, or in the case of baseball, change teams. We look around and see what we think are surely better options. The grass looks greener over there. The words that I’ve heard a number of times in response to that statement in recent years is that the grass is greener where you water it. Whether we’re talking about marriage or baseball, to persevere through the tough times requires effort and commitment from all parties involved. After suffering through 20 losing seasons as a loyal fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I found it especially sweet when they broke the streak last year. The reward for my loyalty was a long time in coming, but it was worth the wait. If you are going through a rough patch in your marriage, I want to encourage you and your spouse to invoke your own “no-trade clause” and honor your wedding vows (unless it is a matter of safety). Pray, water the grass, and endure. The rewards will follow.

We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. (James 5:11 NLT)