Sufficient Courage

^{Lately I have struggled with some dark days.  Maybe you are in a hard place right now. Philippians chapter one has been salve to an aching soul for me today and as I read through it-}

^{I began to dissect it piece by piece for the reality of which it is. Paul’s letter from prison has much to offer a suffering confused and frightened soul. I offer you the insight God showed me as an encouragement to anyone who finds themselves imprisoned today and is looking for the door.}

^{Black lettering is scripture with aqua highlighted passages that I write what God encouraged me with.  (It’s a little choppy in places-sorry)}

^{Paul’s letter to Philippi}

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear”

What many would consider bad or unfortunate (here Paul’s imprisonment) actually advances the good – it advances the gospel THE TRUTH- 

And it encourages other believers to proclaim  without fear

We see that what was meant for evil, pain and punishment only spurs on the good, the truth and increases faith.

But the cool thing here to is that is banishes fear

WITHOUT FEAR- the boldness has to  come

“The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.”

Paul not only has physical torment he gets social torment as well form outside the prison.  And he blows it off and focuses on Jesus.  Jesus is preached and this is awesome but   he doesn’t sling into neutral like “Oh, Oh- so good okay. God you got this, I need a nap now”

- No he moves forward with it and chooses to REJOICE.

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage”

He makes a decision “Yes” I will continue (keep on) rejoicing.

Paul knows that prayer makes a difference and that God is providing His Spirit no matter the circumstances he is in.

God is there and He isn’t holding back!!

How often my circumstances are so minimal compared to Paul’s and yet I can’t find an ounce of joy.  You may be going through something horrible. Something I’m not and maybe even something close to Paul’s situation-

Pastor Saeed is and his wife is also suffering so much.

Your brothers and sisters, around the world or around the corner are suffering for and with Christ.

 The enemy is exactly that -your enemy; he is not for you he is against you- so don’t be shocked by your plight. 

Don’t guilt yourself or condemn yourself or feel sorry for yourself. And try, try hard to not figure out why- because the answer to why may be simply because your ARE GODS-

 But do not be shocked.

For YOU ARE GODS!

You can take hope in this truth that your God is exactly that:

 YOUR GOD-

And He takes all things

ALL things and uses them for the good of those that love Him according to His purpose.

You know that purpose: the one where HE loves you the most- the one where He gave all He had so HE could be with  you.

Paul goes on to say “expect and hope”-

He is not dreading, pleading, fretting or –

here we go -“worrying”.

That would be my personal pet right there

Worrying.  I mean 90 % of what I worry about does not happen so it must be working right?  (Someone throat punch me here)

No, he expects- he is ready

 and he hopes-he is longing and counting on

 – even if he does not see.

And here is the part that gives me hope--

no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage

He is not going to have regret,

 Or feel stupid or be ashamed about anything he trusts God for -

On the contrary

He states that He will have sufficient courage.

Not a drop mixed with panic and fear but

Sufficient – enough

Enough trouble?

Enough fear?  Not even in the equation.

ENOUGH COURAGE.

Where is he going to get that?  Where am I going to get that?

I try to work a little pattern like this:

• Not going to be shocked- Going to remember whose I AM.

(and I am not throwing a pity party as if I am the only one with such horrible trouble)

• Going to choose to rejoice-

Even when I see no reason-even when I don’t feel like it-

In fact some days through my dark times I just have to say “screw it” I’m going to be happy just to be spiteful in the face of depression.

The law of contrary behavior sometimes works for me here- act the opposite of what you feel and eventually your feelings catch on

• ASK ASK ASK

Ask God to give you His Spirit

 Ask for prayer from your brothers and sisters

The maintenance plan:

• Continue

Don’t stop rejoicing, don’t stop trusting,

Be like shampoo:  rejoice-trust- repeat

Paul states:

“If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. 

Sometimes this is the only prayer available when we are suffering:

To have fruitful labor.

  NO WASTED PAIN-

Let it bring forth what you desire God and accomplish what You will – do not let it be for nothing- do not let me get in the way.

Let me learn, let my days be filled with fruitful labor for you

Let not a single tear, fear, pain or sorrow or sin go unattended by your sweet grace. Let your Spirit transform all my moments into monuments for you.

Paul continues

“I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,”

He knows that this suffering is NOT in vain. He is willing to be poured out for others, just as Christ was.  He realizes and trusts that God is using his present circumstances for His kingdom, for His children

For progress and joy in God Himself.

He then states:

“Your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”

The glory to God and the relationship with Jesus prospers on account of this time in his life. 

The world is watching, your children are watching.  Will I trust God to grant me His sufficient courage to continue fruitful labor for His purpose?

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

 I want to say this is what happened with my life.

I’ve failed many times but I want to be prepared, to be determined from here on out to conduct myself in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.

 To make that choice and to trust God's provision of courage for me.

^“ Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit,^[e] striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has beengranted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that and now hear that I still have.’

Paul reminds the courage-less once again to not be frightened – in any way.

 That it is so powerful to NOT fear that it is a sign of destruction to your enemy and a proclamation of your salvation!!

That is a powerful reason to give courage your best.

Finally Paul sums up by saying that it has been granted, given, to you not only to believe Christ for all things but to suffer for him as well.

Now this sounds like we want an "opt out" button here- but it’s not about signing up for this suffering or that blessing.

It’s about suffering and blessing being in all lives-

Believers and unbelievers alike.

But the believer has a privileged choice.

To take suffering as a granted privilege to bear fruit for His God.

To be a vessel of hope and courage for others.

 It’s a way to encourage and to love others because you are letting  His sufficiency into you.

The last part I highlighted remind us that Paul is writing this while still in chains, not a year after when the memories are weaker or life has gotten back on track- but in his now- his right this second  now-

While he was attending the 62 A.D. Suxfest.

It gives me hope and intent to persevere when I read and seriously study this encouraging letter.

 Some days just need more than others and this helps.

 I do not know what specifically you are going through but I do know the One who has granted you this season has also granted you sufficient courage for fruitful labor.

Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power.

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!”

Psalms 31:24

Find your Sisters

The world can be a disturbing place.  There is currently so much turmoil going on, especially in Egypt.

The tension between Muslims and Christians and whatever force is in charge right now (it is hard to keep up) has turned violent.
 There are now up to 58 Christian churches, orphanages and community centers that have been destroyed, along with Christian businesses.

Catholic Nuns have been paraded through the streets and mistreated.

This is bad news, not just for the Christian but for all.

Whenever mankind seeks to conquer each other - it is always bad news.

I am a follower of JesusChrist.
These are my brother and sisters that are being persecuted.

There are people of other religions that are persecuted for having a different faith than their tormentors.
These are my brother and sisters as well.

This morning as I woke up in America I began my day in freedom.
Freedom to do what was on my list.
Laid Back Jane has a Eastern Shore  Leadership retreat at the Delta this morning.
They will be out in all the Alabama humidity , canoeing alongside the state bird: the mosquito and trying to avoid the gators.

Have I mentioned how overjoyed she is about this?

Anyway at the parent orientation we took our place at a table.
Soon the room began to fill up and a small woman in a  long flowing outfit and white scarf draped over her hair and swirled around her neck sat next to me.

I smiled. She smiled.
My mind began thinking about world tensions.
I thought "I wonder if she is Muslim?"

I suppose one could say "Why must I state the obvious" but I have met people from all over the world that keep a culture but not a religion. Or keep a religion but not the culture.

I once worked with  woman who was  Catholic but had an arranged marriage according to her culture. It was so fascinating to hear her story.

So I began wondering about this woman.

Where was she from,?
Did she speak English,?
What is her faith?  

and a few superficial thoughts as well

Isn't she hot all the time in that outfit?

I wonder if she likes lattes? (hey it was drizzly outside , I was thinking Starbucks)

and a few other thoughts creeped out as well

If she is Muslim does she hate Christians?


So as I sat there  allowing my mind to run a gamut of 20 questions.

I decided if I really wanted to know anything about  this woman I should just talk with her.
(INSERT BLONDE MOMENT HERE)


I am not one for loss of words- so I got this.

Me: " There is a really good turn out today"

She: " Yes, it looks like there are many participants"

She has a slight accent, but it isn't a southern, cajun or British. My deciphering skills end there.

As I am playing dialect detective , she speaks again

She: " I hope there are some other children from my sons school that are attending."

Me: " Where does your son go to school?"

** as a side note I am discovering that she must also be highly educated because she is speaking my native language far more beautifully than me.

She: "Bayside Academy"

WHAT??  UM  US TOO!!

Me: " We also attend Bayside. My middle daughter is a Junior ."

I am slowing down my speech and using fancier words at this point , I know I know

She: "Oh I am so glad there is someone else here form Bayside. Which child is your daughter?"


The kids are all congregating at another table .
She and I exchange information on our children and point out who they are, talk about our school, ask how many children we have, how long have you lived on the eastern shore and other inquiries.

Lots of good ole hen talk = like any two women

So here's the skinny:

I find she is from India, her parents have past but her husband's parents are still living in India.
 She has been in the states for 30 years now.
 She has one brother in the mIddle East, one in France and a sister in Oregon.
They only get back to India about every 5 years due to the expense.
The last time they went with the whole family for a wedding and is was lovely.
Her husband is in agriculture, she has 4 children: one pursuing a PHD, one in college two in high school. She has a Masters Degree.

We exchange names and both have to ask the other to repeat it twice so we pronounce it correctly!


She was kind.      She was friendly.      She was easy to talk to.

She is proud of her children.     She is close to her family.

She is married . She values education.  She honors her upbringing.

We are really not that different.
We value many of the same things
We both love our family.


I never had any preconceived ideas or suspicions toward her.
  I just wondered about her and about the world and how we view,  treat  and trust each other.

 And how in the world can 2 women,
 one a world traveler in Indian dress with a covered head possessing a Masters degree
 and
one in Gator shorts and bright orange T shirt with a slightly sassy southern accent and  dollar store readers
can sit next to each other in a kind and peaceful conversation when half way around the world humiliation, cruelty and violence reign?

The article I referenced above listed the unacceptable atrocities of mankind but it ended with this bit of information :

"A Muslim woman who once taught at the school spotted Manal and the two other nuns as they walked past her home, attracting a crowd of curious onlookers.

"I remembered her, her name is Saadiyah. She offered to take us in and said she can protect us since her son-in-law was a policeman. We accepted her offer," she said.

This is how 2 different women of life sit together and get closer to unity .

We  find our sisters. 

We extend our hands.

 We accept the offer.

This is how is has been done for me:

Jesus found me 

Jesus extended His hand

I accepted it.

This is how I want to and am called to do for others.

I think that maybe nun helping Muslim woman was at the 5 rivers Delta this morning.

I don't know, I  never found out her religion.  It just didn't seem to matter .

Buy A Mix

Today I am a bit inspired, thanks to a post from Simple Mom , that talked about creativity and not fearing failure, to share a story from when I was a new mom back in the day that taught me about both..

And coincidentally it is Thursday , so we will go with at Throwback!

When I was a new mom I had the "Syndrome".
 Not  postpartum-- much worse

I had the "I -am -going-to-be -the-best-mother-ever,
never-grow-tired-or-weary,
and always-be-in-love-with everything-I-do-for -my child! Syndrome

Veteran Mothers:  please feel free to gag when necessary.
Newbie: The best teacher is not experience , it is other peoples experiences. Take heed

This story is about 17 years old but it is fresh in my memory
and serves as a great reminder to
"never go there again"
when my judgement spins off.

I was so locked into the Syndrome that I couldn't even
see the headlights of the train wreck up ahead
 that was my inevitable meltdown.

My daughter Happy Mouth was in the 18-24 month old Mother's Day Out on T/TH.

It was the Spring Party and my first outside of the house event in weeks.
 (Adults I need adults)
The sign up sheet was decorated beautifully with hearts and roses and a cheery greeting of
"What can I bring?"  followed by suggestive items and a place to fill in your name.

The normal items were listed such as cheese blocks, cut up grapes, paper plates etc etc
and then at the bottom in all its shining glory I saw:

Volunteer ( I should have turned tail right here)
 to
Bring Your Best!!!
(any dish you wish!!!)

and you will never believe this ....
it was BLANK!!

How lucky could I be?
 I grabbed that purple gel pen hanging on the string and signed
my name proudly to the coveted empty space.

It was like I won the preschool volunteer lottery!!
 I wish at this point someone had just slapped me.

I need to mention that I never considered why the space was blank
or why I didn't actually have to elbow someone like
it was Black Friday at Tiffanys.
But  remember one of the symptoms of the Syndrome is Obliviousness.

So I kissed Happy Mouth goodbye and went off in exploration
of the finest confectionery concoction this side of the Mason Dixon.

Now hindsight is 20/20 because the foresight was a whopping 0/0.
At this point in life I have basically made eggs, a crockpot roast and....a cosmo.
Not necessarily in that order.

So whatever propelled me forward and took hold of my faculties in order to
 convince me that I could bake and decorate the
 Southern Living Award Winner of 19something or other
Baby Block Cake is still unknown to this day.

 But it took hold of me and it took me fiercely.


This is not the exact image ( I guess Google doesn't have images from before the everything you see can be uploaded era,) bu it's close .

Close to what it is supposed to look like, that is.

I bought the ingredients .
The ingredients that were way out of our budget.

Man- working- retail- while -putting- out resumes-
+ SAHM -saving- for- a- washing machine
  does not =
Let's buy Marzipan and real cocoa.

Oh well I like rice,
its what's for dinner (all week).

The next Thursday was the Spring Party.
 I was going to drop Happy Mouth off at MDO and dash ,
because that's what perky organized moms do -they dash,
 home to whip up this gorgeous cake.*

Now I have included an * here on purpose ,and I have a few *  moments to tell
(but that's another story).

The * here is to note that at this point I am no longer in focus
of a mama's true purpose.
 
Every woman at one time or another in her life subscribed to the BS
that being super mom or a better mom than so and so translates to successful mom.
 
It is  like getting flowers at home vs the office .
 Why would you bother to get them unless other women see them
and you get your bragging  rights of "My husband loves me so much"  moment?

You may think this shallow and you would be correct.
But every woman , aware or not, has been here at one time.
 If your one of those non-existent  rare women, we will never be friends then congratulations.

But this is a huge deceptive thinking and will rob you of immense joy and relaxation
as I am about to demonstrate.

Ahh humm where was I?

Oh yes.

  Impossible Recipe .

 Expensive Ingredients. 

Time Shortage

Now MDO is 9-2 ,but the party is at 12.
So I have less than 3 hours to bake, make and deliver this cake in all its glory.

WARNING: The following story may be unsuitable for well.....
                                just about anyone with a bladder.

STEP 1: CAKE 
I make the cake from scratch (Danger Will Robinson Danger!!)
There is so much measuring involved.
Teaspoon , Tablespoon   yeah  yeah yeah
 you say tomato-  I say tomato

STEP 2: FLAVORING
I add the flavoring to the cake.
Oh I bet just a little more will be even better!!
Did I mention I have never actually baked - just licked the spoons?

STEP 3:BAKE
Okay into the oven it goes.
Our dial is a little messed up.
 It keeps slipping off but we usually just pull out needle nose pliers.
Improvising is the key to life!!!
Okay cake in.

STEP 4: FROSTING
Frosting time!!
Butter,
Powdered sugar,
Food coloring-
What could go wrong?

Mixing with one beater (thank you garbage disposal)
A few extra drops of red for fun
and
WaaLaaa!!!

 I have hands that could star in a Friday the 13th movie.
Dang- oh well a quick bleach wash.

STEP 5: DECORATE
Marzipan time!
Molding,  shaping,  flattening and hand cutting out letters by hand.
Sounded reasonable at the time

STEP: 6 MINOR ER
All the suddenly hands are like
itchy and  ummm
on fire?

Could I be allergic to marzipan?
or could it be the bleach soaking i just took?

Okay hydro cortisone cream.
check
The timer rings.

STEP 7: WHY ARE THERE SO MANY STEPS!!!
I open the oven door to ..........
a cold dark space with a pan of raw cake batter.

My hands are still itching and my left eye has a twitch in it.
I grab my pliers and switch that bitch to 450!!
"100 more degrees for lost minutes" I shout triumphantly!!
I am sure Martha has done that 1,000 times.

STEP 8: ABANDON ALL HOPE
I have forgotten to breath until the phone rings and startles me.
I spin around knocking over food coloring bowl #3: New Grass Green

"Damn!!! "  I snatch the phone: "Hell" (no I did not forget the o)
"Oh hey baby it's me (husband) you okay?"

Now I realize that he has no idea what I am doing but that
"Are you okay" question just sort of rubbed me the wrong way.

 It could have been the friction in my hands from constant rubbing pain
 but I went with- it was him.

STEP 9: PULL OUT IRRATIONAL ANONYMOUS CARD
"AM_-I- OKAY?"

"Yeah I was just seeing what you were doing?"

"WELL I AM BAKING FOR YOUR DAUGHTER"

"Oh that's right isn't the Spring thingy today?'

"THE SPRING THINGY?  WHY YES SWEETIE IT IS TODAY!"

"Hey its 11:00 when do you have to be there?

"ELeven ?? already  - I am slowly melting like the wicked witch of the west.

I cradle the phone in my hands , rocking back and forth, back and forth
back and forth.........

"Babe, are you there?"

"Yes" I stammer through quivering lips "I am still here - why  oh why am I ?"

"Honey - what time is Happy Mouth expecting you?"

STEP 10: GET YOUR POOP IN A GROUP
This jolts me into reality.
Happy Mouth is expecting  me
 cake or no cake.

I straighten remembering
that  I  cannot be conquered by mere  cake.

I come back to earth and answer
"Yeah you're right. Sweetie I need to let you go and get ready. Thanks"

The phone clicks.

I race to the bathroom brushing out as  much  flour from my hair as possible,
switch into a fresh shirt and brush my teeth.
I put Tupperware lids on the frosting,
 kick the jolly green one in the pantry
and pull out a slighlty burnted cooked warm cake.

Load it all in a laundry basket along with 2 spoons and a knife

and I dash  race like I'm at Daytona to MDO.

I arrive at 12:01  .
I take out the cake,  cut it in small chunks blocks ,
drizzle slap 3 different colors of frosting on it and bolt up the stairs.

I am not the first mom there but I'm
THE MOM Happy Mouth takes into her arms and flat out steals my whole heart.

We sing, We pray We eat.

I uncover my concoction, which basically looks like unicorn poop.
Happy Mouth and her preschool minions do they ""oooh"" "ahhh"

I'm smiling inside and out and I watch with delight as the kids dig into it
dyeing their lips and teeth dark shades of red, blue and orange.
 Much to th chagrin of a few I cant be friends with you  perfect mother types.

This also makes me put my head back and laugh.

The kids look beautiful and happy eating the unicorn poop cake!!!

I finally sit in a chair and my body unwinds as I laugh .

Two moms who are not threatened by my culinary skills sit near me.
  I share my crazy story with them.

They laugh with me and I
I ask them  "What did y'all bring?

One says " Napkins."
The other says " A bag of Chips"

We all stare at each other for a bit and then burst into fits of laughter.

The soft spoken kind one , who would later become my best friend, offers me this advice.

"I have 3 words for you if you ever feel the need to try to impress again " she says with authority

"Buy-A-Mix."

and so I have.......
























Extra thanks to a post at Simple Mom entitled Life After Art. So worth the read

3rd Time's a Charm

Today I have  taken my sweet middle child, Laid Back Jane to the airport for round 3 of Africa. 

 This will be her second time to go . Happy Mouth has too many responsibilities to head there this year.(AKA- get a little more of my payroll)  I know its hard for her.  She is taking 12 hours of summer school to get ahead on her sciences. She has decided to apply for nursing school , I am so very proud of her and  excited that she has a focus of her life.  God is good 

So today I drop Jane off at the airport again. 

Again I am not going nor have I  had the call to go. 

 I am still learning to not be a control freak and still learning to trust in God.

It is soo wonderful this great journey God has taken me through and I wish I had paid attention sooner but hey what can I say

The Lord loves a late bloomer!!

My part is here. Not just for Dig Deep Give Well , but for learning to trust and release my children into His hands ,where they belong.  I can't control everything that happens there. I can't control it even if I was there, but I would try and  I do believe that I would be a hinderance to the relationship

 of her and God. At least at this moment in time.

Now I am her mama and I should be a leader for her to God, right?  And I have been.

 In ways purposeful , in good ways , in not so good ways.

 But God has been faithful in all ways.

I have struggled  with fear for a long time. Some with reason and rationality and some unfounded and imagined.

But God has always answers with love.

Love and guidance when I obeyed and trusted and love when I flat out rejected, disobeyed, closed my eyes and blew it in the greatest sense.

He still answered with love.

I have finally come to a point where I accept my growth path.

I don't compare it

I don't regret it

I just embrace it, because God id  the guider.

He never leaves the position of leader and  Shepard even when His little ADD mama sheep takes a detour

I simply do not want to fear anymore.

I can choose. 

I can choose over my feelings, over my automated responses, over the responses of those around me and most importantly

over the voices of fear either from within or without.

I can choose.

And here is the weird thing ,I used to joke and  half heartedly believe that 

"90 percent of what you worry about never happens , so it must be working."

I laughed at a quote I  heard recently form a show called The Middle. The mom stated after her husband told her worrying didn't actually "do" anything to the situation, that " Yes yes it does . It shows God you are paying attention."

This would be a conversation that Mr Rodgers and I could have had a few times. But when I stop laughing and realize  I do not live in a sitcom (although some days we could have the top ratings)

  

I live in a fallen world with a soul sold out to God. 

I can not stand on a bridge over a chasm between fear and faith.

 That is a dying spot and a slow death at that.

Not only do I not want to be afraid anymore. I want  faith and love  as replacement.

I want to be perfectly loved.

 Perfect love drives out fear.  

God is the only perfect love and to not fear I need to understand that -

 and even if I don't I need to accept this perfect love He has for me.

  Then and only then will be made fearless. 

So it has come to a halt here and now.

God asked me do you want to be afraid? 

Now doesn't that seem like a silly question ?

Who would choose to be afraid? And yet I have . We all have.

 It may be a choice by default  but it is a choice none the less.

Now I  must have some where wanted to be fearful,  as if it  was insurance against bad things happening or could prevent something.

   Ridiculous and also it gives power to the  force of fear.

This realization is quite shocking  but true. 

I do not want to feed that beast, and and I do not want to feed from it

So I pray  for perfect love the love that comes down form God alone Who is the giver of all good gifts.  And isn't that what He wants to do - love us ? 

 I am going to receive perfect love and it is going to drive out fear. 

Because will not God surely give me the love He longs to give when I ask for it?

He will not give me perfection or a perfect life. 

I will have trouble.

 I will have challenges, pain, and hard days. 

In fact I may have more of such simply because I am His.

 No  He didn't promise perfection. 

Only He is that.

 He promises to never leave nor forsake me. to guide me all of my days.

 He and only He has perfect love. 

 No spouse, no child only He and He alone loves perfectly.

 I want that perfect love-- I want to be loved perfectly 

I have to be loved  perfectly if I am to love anyone well.

 I choose to accept this perfect love and  fear is simply not His plan for me .

 Does it mean that I now instantly don't fear? 

 Baahhaaaa yeah okay. 

Put down the hallucinogenics . 

 It means that His plan for me is to love me perfectly and that love drives out  fear. 

Who am I to argue with God?

When I fear I can ask and I will receive His perfect love

 and He will work on me and my fear because He loves me. 

 I choose to believe this and I hope you will too because it is a Perfect set up,

 Choose His perfect love over choosing fear --

 see what happens 

 Now that is a perfect plan.

HOPE

I live in a small town in southern Alabama. 
North of us about 4 hours is another small town,it has a population of about 2,300.
 And by now many of you have heard of it because as you will hear it had a tragedy.

A young boy named Ethan was taken hostage by an evil mad man
and held in an underground bunker for 7 days,

Yes this is the news- the media you will hear.

But that small town , those faithful FBI,
sheriff, and police and
one trusting brave mama heard something else.

                                


One news source reported "She knew there was but one option for the way this would end."
A sheriff remarked "How very brave she was and never thought her little boy wouldn't be okay"

How can this women manage that? I think I would have to be medicated heavily.

How do negotiators stay calm?
How do towns people kneel fervently in prayer hour after hour?

How do scores and scores of meals get prepared and offered with open hands to strangers?

How do men stay awake day after day and function?

How does a little boy rest outside the arms of his mother?

Hope upon Hope

.

 This  is how.



In my wrestling with this horrible thing,
I wondered how that mama wrestled.
How I would want to take my child place
Offer myself up for the ransom
Make the trade
Release my child
I will take whatever you dish out... pay whatever price you require

Only release my child.

in my anxiety over this situation, me a stranger to this town , this family
my anxiety minuscule compared to theirs
I am restless
           I yearn
                  I plead for
                                God  to intervene

I am lead to this verse in Isaiah 49:25

For this is what the Lord says:
"Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken, and the prey of the tyrant delivered; I will contend with those who contend with you , and I will save your children."

I have been brought to this verse 2 other very intentional times in my life by God.
Once many, many years ago before I even had children.

For  a man named Mike Durant.
I remember his name because it its written in my Bible.
I never met him, spoke to him, wrote to him....nothing.

He was a young soldier captured during the Gulf War and made a sport of by his captors.
Tortured,
           humiliated
                     intimidated.

My soul was so distraught for this young man (probably close to my age at the time)

I came across Isaiah49:24

 "Can plunder be taken from the warriors or captives rescued from the fierce?"

Doesn't this question run through our minds?
I wondered it for Mike Durant at the time.
Didn't Ethan's mama ponder this in her heart?

We all wonder and question. And God know this

Thisverse in the  form of question is for us.

 But it is not left unattended

He answers :
For this is what the LORD says:

YES
Captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved form the fierce;

Does he not he let us know it is HE who answers?
and then comes His answer :YES
Yes they can.

And then He gives us more to our aching hearts and questioning minds:

"I will contend with those who contend with you
and your children I will save."

Now that is a "I  got your back" statement , if there ever was.


We are assured
of His care
of His ability
of HIM.

I prayed these scriptures over Mike Durant and others as situations arose and the Holy Spirit prompted me.

I was reminded of these verses of Hope when I heard about Ethan.

Are they a guarantee?
 They are--but not of my will and plans
but of His.
Sometime this side of eternity it doesn't work out the way we want or pray for it.
We are but one sid eof the tapestry of our lives.

So I continue to Hope
and
I am wholly convinced of this:

That nothing is withheld from God's hand that is His.
His children are not captives - they are free and clear His.
HE paid that price
HE took that ransom
HE exchanged Himself
for our release.

His ways are always more and further and deeper than I can know in  this life

So what if things don't always go our way.
If we do not see earthly release as in Mike Durant and Ethan's case?

Do we give up , doubt , throw away our hope?

We might want to
Most likely feel like it.

To throw away Hope is to kill ones own soul by ones own choice.

Can a mother ever stop hoping for her child?
For their release?
From a physical captor
or drugs
or abuse
or depression
or pain
or sin?

The ultimate parent never gives up Hope-ever.

And their is only one most incredible ultimate parent-

Your Father

Place All Hope Always in Him

His Hope is always there--
demonstrative on the cross and wooing you minute by minute to take the great exchange.

Never forcing
                  but offering
                                    for He never cease to Hope for you.