In the Desert But Not Alone

Are there ever times when you wonder if God is listening to you?  Are there times when you wonder if God really cares about you or if He has perhaps forgotten about you? 

Matthew 3:16, 17; 4:1

Picture this…Jesus has just been baptized.  A holy dove descends on Him to proclaim Him as the Son of God.  Folks are in awe of what just happened.  They are stunned, amazed.  The Messiah they have been waiting for has been announced.  Jesus is ready to begin his ministry.

But wait – what does God do?  God just said, “This is my Son whom I love.  With Him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17  And then…He sends Jesus into the wilderness to undergo, loneliness, hunger, hardship and to top it off, temptation.  Don’t you find it interesting that the way the Father chose to show love to His Son at the beginning of His ministry was to put him in the desert?  Why did He do that? I think it was so that at the critical beginning of this most important time in history, Jesus would learn to depend on the Father; the Father alone.  And I don't believe for a moment that God was not there with His Son the whole time.

Perhaps one of the reasons God places each of us into a desert of some kind now and then is so that we will learn to depend on Him in new ways.  So that we will learn to depend on Him and Him only. So that we will turn to Him for answers, guidance, comfort or strength because we have no place else to turn.

Deserts come in different forms - sadness, loneliness, depression, financial...an on and on.   

When you are in the desert, and we all are there sometimes, be assured, God is there too.  He is listening.  He has not forgotten you.  He does care about you, for He says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”  Isaiah 49:16  Jesus nail pierced hands are symbolized here.  Jesus and what He did at the cross is proof of God's love and care.  I heard somewhere that God says “I will be with you” 365 times in the Bible.  I don't know this for a fact, but if it's true, isn’t it so like God that He would speak those words one time for each day of the year.

Here’s one - no two -  for this day found in Isaiah 43: 1-5a.

"But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for your life.  Do not be afraid, for I am with you;..."

Here's an idea to help you remember that even when you are in the desert you are engraved in the palm of His holy hands and you are not alone.  This idea may sound silly, (you can do it when no one is around) but oftentimes a visual reminder goes a long way toward making something unforgettable.  Here's all you need - just 3 easy things:

1. A piece of paper - any kind 

2. A writing implement - any kind 

3. Scissors 

Here's what you are going to do: Trace your hand on the piece of paper, cut out your hand shape, then write your name in the palm of the hand cut out.  Keep that hand in a spot where you see it often. 

You can write the references on it too, if you want - Isaiah 49:16 and Isaiah 43: 1 - 5a.

When you look at the hand you can know that this is a promise of God's to us His chosen people -His loved ones - 

   "in the desert - I will be with you."   

When I had a preschool class, every year we did a Kissing Hand project based on the book titled The Kissing Hand written by Audrey Penn.  I would have the parents trace and cut out their hand and send it in to me with a handwritten note to their child and a family photo.  I laminated all the sheets and made a Kissing Hand book.  When a child was having a particularly hard day missing mom or dad, I would pull out the book, read the parents note to the child while they placed their hand on top of mom or dad's paper hand.  Some days students kept their hand there for a very long time, but it never failed to help them through the day. 

Children have deserts too - scary dreams, monsters in the closet, fears of all kinds.  This idea can help a struggling child as well.  After talking through the idea behind the hand cut out and actually making the project with your child, tuck that hand under his or her pillow at night.  They can tuck their own hand under the pillow as well and perhaps they will feel better resting their hand in God's hand.

Everyone - big people and little people - spend some time in the desert now and then.  It's good to know we are not there alone.  

Tom - "The Father-in-Law"

Families are made up of so many different personalities.  God made us all different - which is a good thing - and sometimes we favor one relative over another because they are funnier or because they understand us the most.  For whatever reason, we are partial to them and find a closeness - a bond - if you will, that makes that person dear to our heart.

My father-in-law was that person for me.  He passed away several years ago, but his memory lingers on in my heart.  I treasure the paintings he left behind because they are a piece of him.  He saw beauty though he rarely spoke of it.  He felt deep feelings though he didn't show it.  I don't know if anyone else in the family saw it, but I did.

When I think of my father-in-law a couple stories come to mind immediately.

My  husband and I got married when we were very young…very young…naïve, unworldly and… young.  Our first apartment was in the heart of the south side of Chicago as was our second apartment.  I like to think that Tom and Helen really didn’t want their new baby grandson raised in that kind of environment so they helped us buy our first home in Oak Forest, Illinois.  The house had character to say the least.   It was originally a barn and someone turned it into a residence. We made it a home.  I made simple yellow curtains for the kitchen windows, we had second hand furnishings and a barber chair.   Tom and his young son, my husband, spent a day or more reworking the pipes in the little mini basement.  When we bought the house the pipes looked like a game of mousetrap with all the twists and turns and elbow pipes all mushed into one little area near the water heater.  Little did we know that “mousetrap” was soon to be a key word in this little house of ours.  One sunny morning I walked into the kitchen to find a couple mice crawling along the counter, I stopped dead in my tracks, just then a few more appeared on the floor then more on the counter, now I am trying to shoo them away and they start crawling up the yellow curtains, I am shaking the curtains to try and get them off – and shouting “Go away!!”  What do I do – there are mice everywhere…of course I do what any young, naïve, girl would do - I crawl up on the kitchen table and call my father-in-law.  I can just imagine him rolling his eyes at the call – “Help me we are being over run with mice!!” “I’ve got a baby!!”  I cry into the phone.  Calmly he says – “I’ll be right there.”  I’ll just bet he laughed all the way out to Oak Forest.  By the time he arrived most of the mice were gone – probably running for cover from the crazy lady.  He set out mousetraps, which I heard going off all day and each time I heard the 'snap' I felt bad that I called in the “big guns” – the “Father-In-Law”. 

Not only was the “father-in-law” the mouse-hero, but he was also on at least one occasion the bearer of news that needed to be delivered with a tender calm understanding touch.  Same house – same young girl – another sunny morning. The phone rings.  I answer in a cheery voice – “Hello”.  It’s Tom. “Rox, Steve’s been in a car accident.”  “He was turning onto 159^th street and was hit.”  In shock and with a million scenarios running through my mind, I ask, “How bad is the car?”   Not “is Steve okay?”  In my twisted way of thinking if the car wasn’t too bad, then Steve was fine.  Tom obviously understands “my twisted way of thinking” and he replies “Steve is a little banged up but okay. “  My father-in-law says everything is OK, so I'm good.  

I always had the impression that Tom was not raised in a family that did a lot of hugging - he just didn't seem like the huggy type.  My family hugs.  For years I wavered - to hug or not to hug - that is the question!  It took quite a while for me to feel comfortable enough to give hugs to my father-in-law.  Finally, one time after a holiday gathering, I just dove in and did it!  I hugged my father-in-law.  To my delight he accepted the hug and even reciprocated.  After many such hugging experiences, I began whispering in his ear “I love you” as we hugged.  Each time, he would smile his big toothy smile, I would see a very special twinkle in his eye and he’d say, “Aw, Rox.”   I can hear that “Aw, Rox” in my head each time I think of it.  It is a fond remembrance of something special shared between father-in-law and daughter-in-law.  That “Aw, Rox” said so much more than just those two little words.  It said, “I love you, too!”  And I knew he did.

Family is a funny thing!  We don't get to pick our family, but I think God does a really great job of matching people up in families. He places family members in our lives to help us and encourage us, to challenge us and support us.  Our family, is our family.  We git who we git and there's no point in throwing a fit!  as my preschoolers were taught.  I have been blessed with an amazing family - immediate and extended.  They have all influenced my life in many ways but Tom - my Father-In-Law, was special.  We had a different kind of relationship - subtle, sweet and endearing.

"Aw, Tom"  I loved you then. I love you still!


To my family:  "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers."  Philemon :4

   



  

Perfect Peace

A conversation with Jesus:

"Good Morning, Jesus," I say to Him, "You, Jesus, are peace.  I can imagine You walking through the streets talking to people.  Not rushed and truly interested.  You are the same today.  I can imagine You sitting across from me on the couch, right now, attentive to my concerns.  Your soft loving eyes looking into my very soul with complete understanding.  And I feel at peace.  At peace knowing You are on my side, You care, You are for me. I am safe with You."  And then He calls me child --

"Child," He says, "Do not be afraid. Trust Me fully. I will never let you down.  You are mine and I will never leave you."

And I believe Him.

The sense of peace that overtakes me cannot be described adequately.  Perfect Peace that can only come from focusing on the Savior.  Trusting that all my cares are in the most capable of hands - His. Knowing that my life is built on the Rock of Jehovah - solid and strong.

"Yes, child," He says to me, "I am for you. I am your solid Rock, your Safe Harbor.  I am your Perfect Peace."

Ever so quietly, almost in a whisper, I reply, "Yes, Jesus, You are my Perfect Peace. Help me stay focused on You instead of the storms, instead of the troubles, instead of the pain.  Focusing on You brings Perfect Peace."

"My Jesus, I love You." I tell Him.

"And I love you, child."  He says.


"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord is the Rock eternal."  Isaiah 26: 3 & 4 

Checking Account

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Eccl 3:1

There is a time for everything - but, is there time for everything?  No one ever seems to have enough time to accomplish all they want to do in a day, a week, a month, yet we have all the time there is in each day, week and month.  The amount of time we have is what it is.  We can't extend it.  We can't carry it over.  We can't multiply it.  This looks like math...and that is sort of what time is.

Each day, we are gifted 24 hours - no more - no less.  It is as if those 24 hours were deposited into our checking account.  As we use the time allotted us each day it is as if we are writing a check against that 24 hours.  The one difference is that at the end of the day, whatever has not been used is lost. Our days are a use it or lose it proposition.  Which brings me to the next thought...doesn't that make HOW we use our time all that much more important?

The other night, I went upstairs to turn off my computer.  I sat down and feeling not really tired enough to go to bed decided to check email, my social media and the latest recommended pins for me for "just a quick minute".  I know you know where this is going.  I also know that you have probably done this same thing.  Before I knew it, I looked at the clock and it was 2:00 a.m.  Seriously!!  What a waste of time.  Now don't get me wrong, I love keeping up with what is going on in my friends lives. But I shouldn't be doing it at 2:00 in the morning.  That's just not good for my body and if truth be told, if I am going to be up till 2:00 in the morning, I would much rather it have been doing something creative, like sewing or writing or even reading a good book.

Since retiring, with only a few weekly commitments, I have my days free for the most part.  The Holy Spirit has really convicted me that I should be using this time much more wisely.  God deposits 24 hours into my time checking account every day as a gift.  Each check I write against it needs to be intentional and purposeful.  Wasting that gift is being ungrateful.  The Bible speaks to us about this in Ephesians 5: 15 & 16 when Paul writes: "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."  I think perhaps we could use the word moment in place of the word opportunity to fully grasp what God is admonishing us to do here.  If we fail to make the most of every moment our days will be wasted, i.e. evil. Yikes!! That's pretty serious.

Is there time for everything?  I think the answer to that depends on how we write checks against our Time Checking Account. I am going to be a much better financial steward of my time.
How about you?


Benjamin Franklin said, "Doust thou love life?  Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.  Lost time is never found again."

Willy Wonka on time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvOO1Whi_Gc

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