50 Days to 50 - Destiny

Day 14

Courtesy of Sheila Nielsen

I am a firm believer that we all have a purpose and a destiny. Every person on this earth has a reason for being here no matter how long they are here or how very brief, we all have value. We all bring something and we all leave something.

I believe that we have a loving Creator that knows our pain and may not always take us out of our situations but will always offer comfort. The more I get to know Him, the more I trust His heart. These trials, in our eyes seem long but in eternity are just a glimpse. His love for us is so strong that even He himself sacrificed His Only Son so that we could experience eternity in His presence.
Yesterday, I had the honor and privilege to be with a sweet baby boy as he briefly visited this earth. Although his time here was short, his destiny was something much greater than we may ever know. It is doubtful that his family will ever understand why but I pray that the comfort of knowing that their wee one is now cradled in the arms of the God of Love will help those most keenly touched, get through. Our hearts are all heavy and his story is greater than anyone could have imagined. His destiny may have only begun.


Always,




Hope


(NOTE: This is my Jubilee year. Scripture speaks of this year as a time for restoration and debts to be cancelled. I see it as a time to reflect and to count my blessings. Knowing how precious life is and how miraculous it is, I want to write about His goodness.)

In Search of a Miracle

A couple of weeks ago, a very sweet lady was talking to The Coffee Guy at church. As I walked up I heard her end with "I am still praying for her to be healed" referring to The Princess. I smiled and let her know some of the progress that is being made with walking, her health and learning. She was happy to hear it and we headed into the service.
Prayer is a gift that I am all too happy to receive. Sweet saints who want to talk to God in our behalf is a blessing! Can I be completely open here? I think the word "healing" means different things to different people and with that confusion can creep up when we least expect it.
The Princess was born with a rare genetic disorder that caused multiple medical anomalies or birth defects. What could be corrected surgically (that we know of) has been done. The therapies she needs to train her to function to the best of her abilities are being done. It is probable that she will never use words or solve a math problem (which I can relate to). Here is the but, (admit it, you knew it was coming) she isn't sick. Not right now at least. Yes, when she gets sick she become fragile but she isn't sick. She is The Princess who was made different from so many of us.
I have written about the scars I grew up with and how the Doctors thought it was best to change the way I look, presumably so I would fit in with my peers. It didn't work. I never became exactly like my peers and no one should try to conform. What those experiences did was give me compassion, empathy and strength to deal with other things. It must have improved my eyes because I can see beauty in a unique way and that is worth every taunt, every stare and every lonely moment that being different brought.
Want to know what one of the best things is that I see? I see miracles that others miss. I understand the miracle of life and how the tiniest of cells can jumble things up. Knowing how hard it is for a child with ES to develop well enough to be born is knowing I live with a miracle. The abandoned infant rescue center went through 250 files before finding us. Another family had agreed to adopt her until they read her medical records and changed their minds. So many things could have happened to keep us from knowing her but God knew we needed a miracle! There was so much we needed to learn, so many ways we needed to grow and so many lives she has touched. She is the miracle I didn't know I needed.
You see, I think it is much harder for someone to change their heart than it is for a doctor to heal many illnesses. Finding peace in this chaotic life is miraculous to me. To find hope in a hopeless world or friendship among those whose only connection seems to be an extra chromosome in a child, deserves to be called a miracle.

Are you in need of a miracle? Maybe you just need to change your definition of miracle.

Always,

Hope

Stepping Into Ministry-Part II

When I speak of ministry I am referring to all Christ followers. We have all been called to minister in some way or another. We are being equipped daily to reach into the lives of others and to bring light into a very dark world. From the day that we commit our lives to Him and become born again (John 3:7b) we are destined to minister. Just like our physical life, as we grow we gain more ability, as we mature we are given more responsibility, our spiritual growth is much the same. We learn lessons both spoken and through experience. As  children, there were many lessons we learn by being told and simply believing our parents, others had to be learned the hard way.

My dear friend has great examples in her four children. Her oldest had to test daily if the limits were still there. The next one just needed to test every so often but found comfort in boundaries. The third was compliant and faced things on an emotional level and the fourth understands on a logical level. We can sit in church, listen to sermons and act on the principles taught. There are many of us who have to "try it out" first. The beauty is that the Lord knows our learning styles. He knew that allowing me to have a birth mark and subsequent scar on my face would give me compassion for children who are teased  far more than a lesson or lecture would have. As a young woman, I knew in my head that infertility would be a sad thing but until I walked that path for years, I couldn't truly be used to comfort a woman as she grieved the loss. If I had been able to give birth to more children, I most likely wouldn't have pursued the adoption of the Princess, who has taught me more about faith and trust than anyone else in my life.

Whatever trial you have faced or are experiencing at this moment, you can be sure that it won't be discarded but be used to make something beautiful. It may be the catalyst to form a deep relationship, minister to a hurting person or spur on someone giving them hope. Be sure that if you submit it to your Creator, you will be given the freedom to be a blessing to others. On this earth we may never know why but in faith and trust, we can allow it to be used to bless the lives of others. Joseph was used to save his people. How will you be used? Will you allow peace to invade your soul?

Always,

Hope

Stepping Into Ministry

This morning in my Life Journal I was led to Matthew 1-4. I was impressed by the fact that before Jesus went into public ministry He was tempted in the wilderness. He had been baptized by John the Baptist, chapter 4 states He was "led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil" and after a time of fasting and when He rejected the temptations, it says (v11) " Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him." At this point, His earthly ministry begins.
So many of us feel ready for ministry when in our human wisdom we have gone through the steps laid out for us. We feel we have proved ourselves. I have seen many who are discouraged because a pastor hasn't appointed them or they haven't been hired to a position that they are certain they qualify. I myself have been baffled by being overlooked to teach a particular study. Jesus wasn't discouraged or baffled. No one was, has ever been or will ever be as qualified to teach as Jesus was yet He was still tested. Why should we be different?
In our preparation for ministry, we need to remember that everyday holds opportunity to reach into the lives or others. If we are focusing on the One we want to bring to others, He will bring people to us who need Him. He will allow us to confront temptation (with His protection of course), be tested and permitted to grow in areas we didn't know still needed development.
Our current sermon series has been focused on Joseph's life and ministry which can be found in Genesis 37-45. What has stood out to me the most is that Joseph knew early on that the Lord had called him to minister to His people. There had to be some moments where Joseph wondered if God hadn't passed the word on to those who seemed to derail the plans. Instead, Joseph trusted the Lord, continuing to serve Him and wait for the time He would be used. In hindsight we are able to see how Joseph was put in a position to save his people during the famine.
Where are you in your journey? Are you trusting that God has your destiny in His hands? Do you question at times whether or not those around recognize God's plan in your life?
Tomorrow I will get more personal and share some of my journey towards my destiny. Stay tuned...

Always,

Hope