New friend, New Hero

Yesterday I met a new friend. We only had conversation for a total time of 35 minutes, but in that small amount of minutes and seconds, she has changed my outlook on life. She came to the volleyball game and found herself, not having had the time to get to an ATM, without the means to enter. She had never been to the gym we use and didn't realize those necessities were not available. My husband, the fixer, noticed that she was sitting outside and went to question. She told him her plight and he fixed it. They began to converse. I arrived late, and came to greet him. He introduced me, said, "Listen to her story" and went inside.

And I listened in silence. She is a teacher. She was in her elementary classroom on that tragic 9/11 in New York City, one and a half blocks from the Twin Towers. She began telling me what it was like to hear the initial explosion. The building rocked, windows were blown, children and adults were terrorized.  The horror, the smell and the sounds, parents who worked all over the city arriving in 20 minutes screaming for their children while the world outside their classroom was marked and changed forever.  Even 11 years later she was overcome with emotion as she talked and graciously answered my "20 questions". I was struck with the fear, and yet such resolve in her words. She gave God all the credit for her escape that day. She, herself, had to wait until all the children were with their families, then tried her best to get to hers. 

Her memories and recollections are forever etched in my mind. I can't get over some things she told me. As she talked, I realized that in a very real way this was an actual hero of one of the most horrific days our nation has ever experienced, watched and read about.  And I was honored to be in her presence. Her sense of God on that day was what got her through.

Now, she is a teacher.  Now, she still has some fear. Her family moved out of the city very soon after that.  She told me she still hasn't been able to bring herself to go back and visit the memorial site. She would like to...just hasn't yet. It's still so real.  She says that every morning when her students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance that you can bet they are standing straight and tall and honoring this great country. She has no patience with anyone that downplays and degrades our military, police officers and firemen. You see, she saw them in action, coming to get her. As the ash blew down the streets like a wave of smoke, she watched them go into the towers, and she watched them picking up the wounded on the streets. She was a first hand witness to the greatness of what our country stands for...and she doesn't tolerate criticism of them.  She is still so overcome when Memorial Day, Veterans Day and the 9/11 Anniversary comes around that she "falls apart"..as she says.


From my new friends testimony and life story I have learned and been reminded of this:

*God is in control in the chaos of our lives.
*Even on the darkest of days, we can praise Him.
*Even when we don't feel like it or don't want to, we can praise Him.
*Our Heavenly Father can make something precious from devastation.
*God wins, every time.


With the election coming up, I was reminded of this verse:

Let every individual be obedient to those who rule over him; for no one is a ruler except by God's permission, and our present rulers have had their rank and power assigned to them by Him.

Romans 13:1


We don't need to get ourselves worked up about what is going to happen. God already knows. In fact, He has ordained it. Are we willing to suffer through whatever it takes to bring revival to our land? God is to be praised in every moment, good and bad in our lives. That's how we show Him to our world. He is worthy. He is worthy. He is worthy.

Sitting on a bench outside, a true hero of the faith reminded me that God is worth everything we go through. We are here to make Him known.

It's His story, not ours.

 



For Love of the Stuff

I love coffee. I'm not someone who grew up drinking coffee, though. Actually, when my mom would drink it, I thought it smelled bad and wanted nothing to do with it. My love affair with the java began in Bible study..as God intended (grin).  We were studying II Timothy 4..with GW, my favorite.. that cold evening in January. The discussion began with what Paul would have been going through in that dark, damp jail cell and the conditions he was forced to endure. We got to the passage that begins in verses 11-13:

"Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come---and the BOOKS (my emphasis), especially the parchments."

With the phrase, "bring the cloak" I began to envision the temperature and I found myself getting cold. I went into the kitchen where only coffee was available. Because of being cold, I gave in to need for something warm and fixed my very first cup of coffee. It was loaded with cream and sugar and warmed my soul. I was hooked. I felt like a grown-up as I left church that evening. And so began my obsession with the dark brew that makes everything better for me. Ever since that day, I can't do Bible study without coffee right beside me. Rustling pages and the aroma of the coffee pot just go together.



I say all that to say this: It has been 14 days since my last cup of coffee. Our HS Girls Bible classes are participating in the 40 Day Challenge that goes along with See You at the Pole.  It's quite involved with different activities for the duration of the 40 days. And as good teachers, we are participating also. One of the things we were asked to do was fast from something in the time period.  We were to pray and ask God what it would be and declare it at the commissioning service.  I prayed, God answered, I prayed again, God didn't say anything, I begged, I pleaded, and still God didn't answer. He reminded me He had already given the answer. I threw myself on the altar and begged for mercy as I gave in to His desire. One of the things I believed I couldn't do without, God asked me to give up...for 40 days.

I also asked , "Lord, do You know it's October and Pumpkin Spice Latte time?"

And again...Holy silence.

So, now I drink water in the mornings and evenings. Now I make the coffee for our women's Bible study and don't drink it. Now I only smell it in the kitchen at work. And it's ok...God is growing me in ways I never been through before. His still small voice is heard a little more clearly.  He is showing me that what I think I need, I don't. I only need Him. He is sufficient for all my wants, needs and desires.

I still love the stuff. It comforts me.

But I love God more.


"Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable."      Psalm 145:2-3



A Prayer to Finish Well

The Bible says:

   * Do not be anxious about anything...Philiipians 4

   * He gives strength to the weary and increases the power
      of the weak...Isaiah 40

  * No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.   Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace...Hebrews 12

   * All athletes are disciplined in their training....So I run with purpose in every step.  I am not just shadow boxing...
      I Corinthians 9


I am counting on all of these truths and more. This weekend I will be running in a local 5K. It's a first for me and today my mind is saying, "What were you thinking?".  I'm really just a "wanna be" runner. I admire the ones who can run like the wind, as some would say. The Olympics seemed to spur on my desire to participate in this area of the sports world, and frankly, I just wanted to give it a shot.

I live within a family that lives and breathes the sports arena.  If they don't play, they watch it. If they don't watch it, they still can converse about it from the almighty ESPN viewpoint. And when the sports world becomes their occupation, that puts everything on another level. This has been the only time I have been able to consider myself a "part of their world".

In getting ready for this day, I've learned a few things:

1. My respect for those who are true athletes has risen.
2. I have discovered that I am undisciplined .
3. It doesn't take long for my body to cry out in pain.
4. When I run I can totally zone out for a while.
5. I hear Jeff Galloway's voice in my sleep.
                        and
6. I have the desire to give this everything I have.

I have been waiting for that Eric Liddell moment...you know the one, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure." It hasn't happened yet. Maybe it never will. Maybe I will get that sense when I have to run up the hill tomorrow. Or not. I don't really know what will happen. George Halas once said,                " Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it."

I want to give my best. I want to finish well,,,or really, just finish. I want to think like Paul, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.." Whatever happens tomorrow, I want to honor God.

My prayer and promise:

But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings as eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Dear Lord, please don't let me faint. :)