The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
(Exodus 15:2 ESV)
It is important to look back over our past and see where the Lord has been good to us so we can celebrate! It is easy to get caught up in the many trials of life and not remember what the Lord has saved us from. Therefore, let us praise and exalt him!
What things make you Joyful this week, month, year? Share a comment with us via facebook or our blog on what things make you joyful!
Here’s what makes me joyful:
There is little that makes me feel the fullness of God’s love more than feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays. It reminds me of God’s awesome power, yet consistent faithfulness as he brings light and heat to our world everyday. He promises that he will provide for his children, and he has/does (Matt 6). He has indeed provided his only son, Jesus Christ that we might be saved! That fills me with a joy unlike any other because God in His grace, has given a gift that I did not deserve.
-Ted Cockle Insp. Faith Staff Writer
“In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.” (Alex Haley)
I don’t often think about how I resemble my family members. I suppose sharing similar traits with family is something I take for granted. Until thinking about it for this post, it wasn’t something I’d ever really voiced before. But Scripture tells us that it’s important to remember the past. The past affects the present and the future in ways we short-sighted humans easily forget. So today, I’d like to reflect on some ways I remind myself of my late grandpa (Papa).
Papa was a fierce man. I don’t mean that in a negative way. He wasn’t the type to lose complete control of his temper. (He knowingly gave up his temper, but it was always in a controlled manner.) When Papa had a project to complete or something to fix, his yelling could be heard throughout the house. He expected the fruit of his labor to cooperate with him, and when it didn’t, he fiercely berated whatever he was working on. But as much as Papa could fiercely lose his patience, he fiercely loved. He would do anything for his family and friends. He had intense zeal and passion for life and for everything he put his hand to.
In my own life, I see the same fierceness that Papa displayed. Last week, I put some junk mail through our paper shredder. The shredder got stuck and stopped working. Instead of waiting for my husband to come home and fix it (he has a great deal more patience than I do) or buying a new shredder, I pulled the whole thing apart. Screws and shredded paper littered the floor, and the paper shredder was in pieces in front of me when my husband came home. I had been working on fixing it for an hour, and my patience had run its course. I eventually gave up on fixing the shredder (I will have to buy a new one after all), but the tenacity and fierceness I inherited from Papa pushed me to waste my whole evening working on that “confounded piece of junk.” When I think about the experience as an isolated event, it frustrates me. When I think about it as a piece of a legacy, a little part of my grandpa left in me, I think about it with fondness.
Apart from fixing pesky appliances, my inherited fierceness comes out in other ways. Like Papa, I fiercely love and I’m fiercely loyal. I’ve never been good at quitting – whether it comes to relationships, jobs or school. Fortunately, that tendency has usually turned out for the best. I’m grateful for my ability to throw myself into anything I’m doing, to fully commit to whatever task is at hand.
How do you remind yourself of other family members? How have you seen your own strengths and weaknesses displayed in others in your family? Does thinking through this allow you to have more grace for your faults? Why do you think God designed us to exist in families, passing on our traits from generation to generation?
Several years ago, when I was at a small group meeting, one of the girls in our group was discussing some recent growth she had experienced in the midst of difficult family circumstances.
“I think God blesses us with families so that we learn to be humble and to grow in Him,” she said.
Another girl in the group responded with wry humor, “Or families are a curse from the Fall!”
Photo by SuziJane (flickr.com)
We’ve all experienced rough times with family members. Even those who come from supportive Christian families still have to deal with conflicts, as multiple people with their own ideas and wills have to co-exist daily. While I don’t think families themselves are a part of the Fall (after all, Adam and Eve were put into a family together before the Fall), I do believe that the tensions and frustrations many people associate with “family” are a result of sin and the Fall. Since we are all sinners, we all hurt each other – sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally.
Where friends, co-workers, teachers, and strangers are concerned, we can ignore people we don’t like. We can create distance and remove regular opportunities for conflict. With family members, especially those who live in the same house, distance and escape aren’t as practical. Living in families requires us to face our sinful natures – to struggle with our own sin and to struggle with others’ sins toward us.
And yet, in this broken mess that is often “family,” God is working. He is growing us, shaping us to be more like Jesus. The key is that we have to let Him do it. We can’t resent our family situations so much that we stop listening for His voice. We have to expect God to meet us right where we are and to work on our behalf, even when He doesn’t do it in the time or the manner that we think He should.
Have you ever felt like you were “cursed” with a family, rather than “blessed”? How is God working in and through your family life? Even if you can’t see or think of anything right away, spend at least ten minutes today thinking and praying about the good works that God is doing. Pray until God brings something to mind. Then thank Him for His provision and His strength. Ask Him to sharpen your faith through your family.
Today’s guest post is a testimony from Kimberly. This week as we focus on the importance of healthy communication, I was struck by Kimberly’s focus in her story on keeping open lines of communication in her family in the midst of difficult situations. In tough times, it’s tempting to shut down lines of communication – to withdraw or to lash out in fear and sadness. Kimberly’s insistence on maintaining strong family relationships was a blessing and encouragement to me. May her story bless you as well!
I decided to share the good news about my healing & to help others cope with the recovery process. On February 12th, 2009, I received a new heart valve & on February 16th, I received a pace maker.
Now the journey begins…
Before the procedure on Feb 12th, I contacted my family members, Pastor & Church Family, employer, co-workers, friends, neighbors, etc. My (strong) support system provided prayers, phone calls, flowers, books, beautiful cards, hospital visits, home visits, meals etc. It was important to provide support for my husband & children. We discussed the surgical procedure with our children. It was necessary to continue providing a secure & stable environment. The door is always open anytime for the kids to come to us with any questions or concerns.
The valve replacement surgery was successful, then I developed blockage. The doctors notified my husband that I would need a pace maker to help my heart function. It was unplanned but necessary. The second procedure took place four days after the first procedure. We prayed with the Chaplain before the heart valve procedure. I also received visits from the Chaplains (by my request); throughout the time I was hospitalized: a total of eleven days.
My Faith in God, support from my husband, family, Pastor & Church Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, employer, etc…continues to play a major role in the healing process. I know that God loves me & promised never to leave me alone. He helped me get through this time of testing. Jeremiah 30:17: “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord, because they called thee an Outcast saying, This is Zion, who no man seeketh after.”
Acceptance is crucial during the recovery stage. Not living in denial, but accepting the daily challenges occurring inside my body, coping with breathing issues on a daily basis, living with a pace maker, taking coumadin for the rest of my life, dealing with the discomfort in my chest, etc… Where does my help come from? Believing & trusting God with my life. I know without a doubt that he is a healer. God is also loyal & faithful. Psalm 107: 1 “O Give Thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
My relationship with my husband is even stronger. We were married in 1993 and promised to love each other unconditionally. He continues to provide emotional, physical, mental & spiritual support. While I was recovering he helped the kids with their homework, made daily trips to the grocery store, irons the kid’s clothes, worked hard every day and spent quality time with me. I thank God for my soul mate.
When I returned home from the hospital, my son (age 10), quietly walked in my bedroom and prayed by my side every night. It was very important for him to thank God for healing his mother. When my daughter, (age 7), saw the scar on my chest (incision from heart surgery), it made her very uncomfortable. She thought I was in pain. I spoke to the school counselor about the issue. My daughter touched the scar & saw that I wasn’t in pain. I’m happy to say, my daughter is now comfortable with the scar.
After my surgery, our children asked about the limitations, when I would be able to drive again, how did I feel overall etc. We continue to keep the lines of communication open in our home. It’s very important for our children to express their feelings. I continue to pray for my husband & children. We are determined to face any obstacles together with God’s guidance.
Through FAITH, FAMILY, & FRIENDS, I’m able to face each day & know within my heart that God continues to bless me & my family. Everyday is a GIFT from God.
The LORD is my strength and my song,
