Stephanie’s Solace

I have a friend who is dissatisfied with his job and lets most everyone know it. This got me thinking of how often am I dissatisfied with circumstances in my life (health, relationships, finances, etc.) and do I take it to God in prayer or complain to others of my dissatisfaction. Then I read this in my daily devotional and this was a great help/reminder for me.

How to avoid shipwreck: My life is like a voyage. If I want to avoid shipwreck I need to read and apply the life lessons of Acts 27:12 and notice the following things:

(1) They were dissatisfied with where they were. “Since the harbor was unsuitable…the majority decided that we should sail on.” God doesn’t guide us by dissatisfaction or by opinion polls, He guides us by His Spirit. When things get difficult we’re called to overcome them, not try to escape them.

(2) They were impatient to get where they were going. There’s not a single verse in the Bible that tells us to hurry up or we’ll miss God! In the wilderness Israel learned that when the cloud moves, you move; when the cloud stops, stay where you are and wait on God.

(3) They failed to heed God’s Word. “But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot” (Acts 27:11). Be careful, if you look hard enough you’ll find someone whose opinion confirms what you want to do. And that will get you into trouble.

(4) They looked to the circumstances instead of God to guide them. “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they…sailed. Before long…The ship was caught by the storm” (Act 27:13-15). The idea that circumstances will always line up favorably with God’s guidance is not scriptural. Sometimes God leads you through the wilderness. And He’ll never lead you anywhere that doesn’t require His provision and protection. If you can get there without God - He didn’t send you.

So if I want to avoid shipwreck I need to ask God to show me the right way - which is His way!

“You guide me with Your counsel.” Psalm 73:24a

Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Acts 27:12-13

This year is the first year my family will not be getting together. My sister is headed over to her boyfriend’s parents home and my parents have decided to give to others this year with their time and service. They are going down to a local school to help serve the people who are less fortunate. I thought this was a great idea and would like to have joined them but do to my health and no immune system I decided that was probably not wise.

But even though we may not be together we have a lot to be thankful for: (not in order of importance) Family, friends, shelter, transportation, food, salvation, freedom, God’s Word, health, unconditional love, difficult circumstances that draw me closer to the Lord, security, a good heart, one functioning kidney, wise and caring doctors, “a good mind even when my body is fraying around it’s edges”, God’s creation, sunshine and rain,  I could go on forever…

May you and your family have a BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

But sometimes life just “sucks”.  In the last two weeks, I have had surgery, a birthday and a sinus infection.  Surgery went well but I am still trying to build up my energy.  My birthday was Monday and I went to work and didn’t feel that well and then came home and went to bed because this is when the sinus infection started.  It was a Birthday, just not so happy.
I am tired of being “sick and tired”.  I have even thought about throwing me a “very merry un-birthday to me” when I finally feel somewhat better and my friends aren’t so busy.   Okay I’m done with my “Pity Party” now. lol
Now for a praise!  The results came back from the doctor and I don’t have cancer which was a HUGE blessing.  Praise and thank the Lord!!

I had my pre-op appointment yesterday and I know that the doctor has to tell the patient everything that could happen but I wish they didn’t.  I guess this is where my faith is tested.  There is a possibility that the operation next week, if it doesn’t go as planned and I don’t stop bleeding, could end all possibility of ever bearing children.  This was kind of hard for me to hear.  But I know that God is a good and He has plans for my life to prosper me and not to harm me.  This experience has brought a lot of the Bible alive for me.  I can only imagine what the barren women must have felt and the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and fought through the crowd to touch the edge of Jesus’ cloak.  Being anemic for the last couple of months has just drained me.  I couldn’t imagine it for twelve years!  It must have taken everything she had to fight the crowd and reach out to touch Jesus and have Him heal her.  What persistence and huge faith!

I just went through a mentoring class and one of the things that I took away from the class was asking the question, “I wonder what God is up to” or “I wonder what God it doing/going to do in this circumstance”.  I have been asking these questions often of my circumstances.  He is God and I am not and I need to get my head and heart to agree that no matter what God has planned for my life, it will be nothing that I can’t handle with His love and help.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.

I better stop now because I think I’m rambling now.

I would covet any prayers next week.  Surgery is Tuesday, October 23 at 1 PM.

So it finally happened today. I have been struggling for the last couple of month with feeling very tired and dragging. The doctor found out what was wrong and surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, October 23. I have been holding things together pretty well on the outside but inside a battle was/is going on in my head. I know the truth but the fear of the unknown and the ugly “what if’s” were getting the best of me.

I needed to go and get some lab (blood) work done for my pre-op appointment next week and went today at lunch. Everything was going well the phlebotomist (vampire as I kindly like to call them in my head) got all the tubes and equipment together neatly set out and ready to go to work. Note: I have no veins so they have to do the blood draws out of my hand. The poke went fine and she got the first syringe filled, pinched it off, so she could change syringes and then tried to pull out more blood but… the vein was small and collapsed. So out came that needle and she taped it up and off to the other hand we went. The second had did better but this is when I lost it the blood was coming out of my hand and the tears were coming out of my eyes. I have these moments when I get so tired of being poked, cut, and “not normal” that all I can do is cry because life is not fair. The poor vampire was so apologetic. She tried to comfort me and have me think about “happy thoughts”. Her last statement to me was I am sorry for hurting you and hope you have a nice Birthday. I just smiled and left.
After this was over, I went back to work with both hands rapped up and found comfort when I went to talk to the VP of administration. She first thought I had burned both of my hands. lol But after I explained what was going on in my life at this time, she was the one who could comfort me. She had gone through the surgery that I will be having in a couple of weeks and she said that after I have the D&C I will feel so much better and have more energy. I had thought about how God graciously gave me comfort through her. I also received comfort this morning after BSF leaders meeting as we are studying in Matthew about how Christ is our High Priest who knows exactly what we are going through because He chose to come from heaven and live a human life so He could sympathize with our pain and temptations. Thank you Lord for providing me comfort today and allowing me to find something to be thankful for!

So I was thinking today about people, Christians in general, and asked myself if the Leadership of a church makes a decision that I don’t agree with (granted that it doesn’t have to do with Biblical doctrine) would I leave the church and go attend somewhere else? I know of some that have done just this because the church went one way and they wanted it to go another. And then the voice inside gave me this: If the government/President of the United States made a choice that you didn’t agree with would you leave the country? I am amazed at how self-centered we as believer can be. “It’s my way or the highway”, Yeah that sounds like a humble heart (sarcasm). God has asked us to submit to the authorities not fight against them or run away from them.

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2

This has got me praying for the Leadership of my church and my Country. God has placed these people in the position and it is my job to pray for them. If I am going against them in actuality I am going against God and that is not a battle that I can win so why try.
2) I was in to see another doctor this week and will be heading in for an ultrasound on Tuesday, October 2. My health is one of the many thorns in my flesh but I am bound and determined to not let it rob me of my joy and service to the Lord. Paul was a great example of this.
3) There are a couple of people in my life that I have the hardest time communicating with and today I called a trusted friend and asked him if I communicate well with others because I was at the end of my rope. His comment to me was you communicate well you just don’t speak up enough. I have learned that when I don’t speak up and tell people what I want/think then other more vocal people step in and tell others what I want or more like what they want me to want. Serving is my passion. I have the gift of helps. God has gifted me with talent and abilities and I love serving at the church. I don’t do it for praise from man. I do it to follow the example of Christ. This is actually where I get refueled. There was a time in my life where I was not physically able to serve my Maker and I made a promise to Him that when I could serve Him I would. There might come a time in my life when I won’t be able to serve again because of physical issues but until that day I will serve the Lord my God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind and with all my strength.

People are often unreasonable and self centered: FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motive: BE KIND ANYWAY
If you are honest, people may cheat you: BE HONEST ANYWAY.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous: BE HAPPY ANYWAY.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow: DO GOOD ANYWAY.
We should give the world the best we have, and it may never be enough: GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY.
In the end, it’s between you and God: IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY.

*That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
*That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once and a while and you must forgive them for that.
*That just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
*That true friendship continues to grow, even over long distance. Same goes for true love.
*That it’s taken me a long time to become the person I have become and will take even longer to become the person God wants me to become.
*That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
*That I can keep going, long after I think I can’t.
*That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
*That either you control your attitude or it controls you.
*That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
*That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
*That sometimes when I am angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
*That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
*That it isn’t enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.
*That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
*That just because two people argue and disagree, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
*That two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
*That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
*That the people you care about most in life are taken from you much too soon.
*That life is more precious than money.

These list was sent to me through email and got me thinking that I need to start stating more of things that I believe. So I will be putting my own “I believe…” list throughout my posts.

The last two mornings I have been encouraged and challenged as I read my devotional (out of “on the right note” by KLOVE). I will just state them as is because they did a great job in writing what I needed to hear. Maybe they will encourage and challenge you also.

The Right Company!
Sometimes doing the will of God can make you popular, other times it can get you into trouble; especially with those who like ‘keeping things the way they are.’ (Personal Note: This is huge in working in the HR Dept.) In Acts, Chapter3, Peter and John were used by God to bring healing to a man who’d been unable to walk for 38 years. Then we read, “He went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God” (Acts 3:8 NIV). That day 5000 people were won to Christ, and the religious authorities were in an uproar. They threatened the disciples, ordering them not to mention the name of Jesus in their preaching. So the disciple held a prayer meeting saying, “Grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak they word” (Acts 4:29).

Now pay special attention to verse 23, “And being let go, they went to their own company.” Where did they go? Back to those who were “filled with the Holy Ghost” (See Acts 4:31); to those who were “of one heart and one soul” (See Acts 4:32); to those who were so committed to reaching the world for Christ that they sold all they had and invested it into God’s work (See Acts 4:32). That’s the kind of company you need to be in! The psalmist wrote: “God sets the lonely in families” (Ps. 68:6 NIV). Do you have a spiritual family? Who do you go to for strength? It’s been said that your company determines your conduct, your conduct determines your character, and your character determines your destiny. So ask God to lead you into ‘the right company.’ When you find them you’ll wonder how you ever made it without them.

“And being let go, they went to their own company.” Acts 4:23

Don’t Be a Burden, Be a Burden-Bearer
Everyone is hiding something, and it’s not because they’re deceptive. It’s just that some wounds are too private. When your friend is being insensitive and uncaring the pain can be too deep to discuss. When your friend wounds you with acid words you’re crushed inside but you can’t show it. So you both go off, lick your wounds and try to avoid the comments and questions of others. Is that where you are today, struggling with something too painful to talk about? If so, realize that others are too! Their anger is a symptom. Their aloofness just hides their fear of being known and maybe rejected because they’ve been hurt before. Jesus saw the best in the worst of people and went out of His way to be gracious to them. Do you remember how He treated the woman “caught in the act” of adultery? (See John 8 ). Public exposure! Can you imagine the depth of her shame? Yet Jesus saw someone worth saving, loved her, lifted her and gave her strength to do better. You are called to do that too!

So remind yourself today that others are going through things you don’t know about. They’re crying tears you don’t see and feeling isolated in ways you can’t imagine. Don’t be a burden - be a burden-bearer! Indeed you may be the only one who crosses their path today. And when you help lift their burden - God will lift yours! “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself” (Gal 6:2-3 NLT).

“Share each other’s trouble and problems, and obey the Law of Christ.”   Galatians 6:2

I have been on both sides of this. Being the one with the burden and wanting someone to come along side and help and then also being there when someone had a burden to bear. This is what you do with family and reminds me of an earlier post about “Doing church as a family”.

We started BSF this week and as I recalled how many years I have been given the opportunity to study and lead a group through God’s precious Word I was humbled.  I’m going into my sixth year and have been leading a group for five of those years.   I definitely don’t feel qualified but I know that God qualifies the called and I know that He has called me to this position.  We will be going through the book of Matthew this year and I can’t wait to get to know my Heavenly Father more and also the character of Matthew, the despised tax collector turned disciple.  God doesn’t call the qualified but qualifies the called.
There are other positions that have be entrusted to me at work and church that I don’t feel qualified to do but yet God always gives me what I need to preform the task at hand.  “In my weakness, He is strong” and “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”.