“Help, please.” May 27, 2009

Zachary’s new favorite phrase is “Zachy try it!”.  No matter what it is, “Zachy try it!”.  He doesn’t want help anymore.  He wants to do it on his own.  He wants to try.  So I step back and let him try.  When he does it, he is so excited, but when he can’t do it, he is so frustrated.  I try to help him and he immediately says, “Zachy try!”.  Sometimes he says it with such an expression that I can’t help but smile.  He wants so badly to do it and just doesn’t realize that sometimes and extra hand makes all the difference.  I will let him try, but I will be right there when he turns to me and says, “help, please.”

This morning I was hit with the realization of how much I am like that.  I am not very good at asking for help.  I tend to try to do it all on my own, after all, I know how I want it done so I might as well just do it so it turns out the way I want it to.  Am I the only one who struggles with this?  Today I was reading from Jeremiah 6.  The prophet speaks to the people about the destruction of Jerusalem due to their disobedience and turning away from God.  In the midst of all this destructive talk, there is a verse that struck me.  It is Jeremiah 6:16 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.’”  God continues to plead with his people, trying to get them to hear his call, his word of love and reconciliation, but the people continue to turn away and not listen.  How that passage struck me today.  Lately I feel like it has been all about “Michelle try it!”.  No wonder I am feeling heavy laden these days.  Today was the first time I have opened my Bible in weeks, possibly months.  I have been consumed with every day life and have forgotten about every day faith.  I always want to try things.  I never want to lose my drive, but I also know that I can’t do this life on my own.  I need Jesus.  He is my Savior, my friend, my way, my life.   He is always here, letting me try but ready to pick me up when I finally remember to ask for help. May I always remember that He is my help.

So here I am, opening the Word and hearing God speak to me…”Stand at this crossroads and look; ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your soul.”  Thank you, Lord, thank you!

May He speak those words to you today as well and may you find rest for your soul.

Being Brave May 22, 2009

“Help us be brave with one another, for these are the days.”    What does this prayer mean to you when you first read it?  I read it several times as my mind tried to wrap around it.   It struck me somewhere deep and I couldn’t stop reading the phrase.  To be brave…have courage, boldness, not be scared or worried…   Those were my initial thoughts.  For today has enough worry of it’s own, right?  So be joyful and brave.  God is with you.    Then, I looked it up in the dictionary and what it said really made me think.  Brave; ready to face and endure danger or pain, show courage. Read that again, would you?  I still can’t stop reading it.

I had this picture in my head of Superman or Batman, maybe because I recently watched the movies of these superheroes.  When their person becomes the hero, they are super strong, super courageous, super people…not afraid of anything, not scared, not thinking of themselves…they are brave.  But when the mask and outfit comes off, we see that they are just people.  They love, desire, fear, hurt and feel.  Is it really being a superhero that we desire?  To be strong, courageous, not afraid of anything, always thinking of others first?   Sometimes, I think I do desire that.  I weigh myself down too often with the cares of this world and desire to just let it all go.  “Don’t worry, but happy!”   But this prayer that I read this morning brought me back down to earth.  It’s not just about being ready to face and overcome danger or pain…it’s about being ready to face and endure danger or pain.  It’s about living.  It’s about reconciliation and restoration.  It’s about being willing to go deep within to face and endure the danger and pain in broken relationships, with addictions, with hurts, fears and doubts.  It’s about being vulnerable.  For it is when we allow ourselves to walk through the pain and hurt that we can be restored and renewed. These were words I needed to hear today.  This is a challenge I need to grab hold of in my life.

“Help us be brave with one another, for these are the days.”

Jesus, may we love openly, enter into the deep wounds and scars of our hearts, reach out with compassion and hope in relationships where there is heartache and hurt and experience the healing power of your love and grace.  And may we find humility when others come, trying to brave in their relationship with us.  For these are the days that have been given to us.  This is our time.  May we have courage to be brave with one another today.  Amen

I am reading a new book, Cold Tangerines, by Shanuna Neiquist.  Brian gave it to me for Mother’s Day. and I am loving it.  She writes a collection of short stories, glimpses of life experiences and how they have shaped her.  This prayer was in a chapter I read this morning.

The Merry Month of May! May 5, 2009

Is it really May already?   WOW!   May is a fun month.  My sister’s birthday begins May, my birthday comes in May, mothers are celebrated in May, Spring is in full bloom or at least beginning to bloom, depending upon where you are at.  I love May.  It’s merry for me.  Today is a rainy May day, but a good one.  So just wanted to say, “Happy May!”  to you all.  May you be blessed this Spring with the gift of New Life!