LAA 2014 Mission Trip: Tuesday

LAA 2014 Mission Trip: Tuesday: I asked the kids what they wanted me to put in the post tonight and as I was flooded with all of their answers I realized that I had opened ...

The Desire to Simplify

My husband and I recently took a trip to Walla Walla, Washington.  This is a small farming community with a large population of seventh day Adventists.  My husband works in the auto sales industry which requires long hours away from home and constant pressure to produce.  He is a fast-paced person who rarely takes time to relax.  

Something interesting happened during that trip to Walla Walla.  The area is very quiet, and the people are very friendly.  Life is simple there.  Something struck a chord in my husband’s spirit.  He realized that although he makes a lot of money working like he does, he is not content.  The simple things are the things that are most important to him.  He spoke of a desire to downsize, reduce living expenses, work less hours in a different industry, and spend more time with me.  

I too had been caught up in the game of chasing the almighty dollar.  I worked ten-hour days as a paralegal and even brought work home just to try to stay afloat with a heavy workload.  I was recently laid off.  And although I was very distraught at the loss of my job, I found the greatest blessing in being home during the day.  After the initial shock of losing my job and the emotional pain that such a loss brings, I found myself experiencing joy as I cleaned my house.  I never had the time to clean it well.  I started cooking again.  I had no stress!  My husband remarked that he loved having me home and being able to come home to a clean house and food cooking on the stove.  I realized that I am happiest when I can be focused on my household.

During the trip to Walla Walla, my husband and I started to dream together.  We dreamed of a simple life.  A life where we could live modestly and without the high level of stress that we were accustomed to.  We dreamed of waking up together in the mornings, taking walks together, drinking coffee together, and just spending time together.  

Of course there is the reality of the bills needing to get paid.  We talked about reducing our living expenses in such a way that we could both work part time and have more time to spend together while we are young and healthy.  We also tossed around the idea of starting a small business together.  We talked about how we are happiest when we are together and keeping up with the Joneses is not what makes us happy.  We live in a time when it is common for both husband and wife to work all the time, forfeiting happiness that can be enjoyed now in order to delay gratification for that “someday”.  Why not simplify in order to make it possible to enjoy the simple things now?

This is actually a great time to start downsizing as both of our children will soon be leaving the nest.  We have a desire to declutter, to get rid of things that we do not need, to fix up the kids’ bedrooms and make them guest rooms.  

I have a desire to simplify my meal planning.  No longer do I want to stress over meals that require  a lot of ingredients that are difficult to find.  I want to cook simply using fresh produce.  I want to go back to the basics.  

I want to do things that truly make me happy.  I love to write, and I put that on the back burner in order to pursue my paralegal career.  Why not do what God has created me to do?

Am I going through a mid-life crisis?  Maybe.  But apparently I am not alone, because there are books and blogs and online communities of people who desire to simplify their lives.  What about you?  Do you ever find yourself wanting to simplify your life? 

The Shadow of His Wings

 “Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings will I rejoice.” (AKJV)

  

     “Finally.  The last tray,” I thought as I scrubbed the last bakery tray for the day.  I glanced at the clock with relief that my shift would soon be over.  I found it very difficult to concentrate on my job when thoughts of my mother’s dementia continued to flood my mind.

     “She is getting so forgetful.  She needs me to be home more.  Dad cannot take care of her by himself.  What am I going to do?” I thought.  I prepared to go home, and left the store.  

     As I drove home, I attempted to clear my head by listening to some jazz.  I took a deep breath as the sound of the relaxed tempos filled the car.  As I drove along the two-lane highway, I rolled down my window.  The fresh air felt good on my face.  I thought about making myself a nice sandwich as soon as I got home.  

     As I looked at the oncoming traffic, it looked like the car in the opposing lane was in my lane coming straight at me.  I figured the driver was passing another car and would get back over in the other lane.  But as the car approached, I realized that it was staying in my lane and going even faster than it was before.  My body filled with the shock of panic as I quickly considered what I should do.

     “I can’t pull over on either side or I will go into the ditch!  I’m going 55.  I can’t slam on my brakes because there is a big truck behind me!”

     I gently pressed the brakes in hopes of softening the blow, but in that split second, I was aware that I was about to be in a head-on collision.  I thought I was about to die.

     “Jesus, help me!” was all I could scream as I braced myself and gripped the steering wheel tightly.  Suddenly, the windshield was covered with what looked like a pure white sheet.  I could no longer see out the window, and as I looked closer, I saw the fine lines of where the feathers pressed against the glass.  I knew in my spirit that an angel was embracing the vehicle, and I could see the shape of the wing against the windshield.  I could not see the angel’s face for it was above the windshield.  All I could see was a little part of the angel’s chest and the wings that spanned the whole width of the windshield.    

     When the impact occurred, my car spun around two or three times and about twenty images of my childhood flashed through my mind in color.  Then it was gone and everything was still.

     I looked around and saw the other car and the truck that was behind me.  A man was walking toward me from the truck.  I was still in shock as I tried to process mentally what had just occurred.  I decided to go check on the other person, and I started to get out of my car.  The man that was walking toward me stopped me.  

     “You can’t go over there,” he said, gently leading me back into my car.  I sensed by the look on his face that the other driver was probably dead.

     The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics asked me a series of questions.

     “Where do you feel pain, ma’am?”   

     “The only thing that hurts me is my foot.”

      I was transported to the hospital for some diagnostic testing.  When the MRI results came back, the doctor gave me the news:

     “The bad news is that you will need surgery immediately because your foot was crushed.  But the good news is that you have no internal injuries whatsoever.  You should feel very lucky that you walked away from a head-on collision at such a high speed with nothing more than a foot injury.”

     I know why I survived that accident, and luck had nothing to do with it.  After the initial recovery period, I was unable to return to work.  However, I was able to receive disability compensation.  This gave me the opportunity to be available to care for my parents full time at the end of their lives.  I am very grateful to be alive, and I cherish the time that I was able to spend caring for my parents.  I will never forget what I saw in that split second before the impact.  Every time I think about it, I am reminded of God’s great love for us, and my heart is filled with awe because I know where my help comes from.  

    

Author: Carolyn Pregana

Acknowledgment: I want to thank my daughter-in-law Jaylin Palacio for writing this story for me. 

Commitment

Commitment is a very important quality of leadership. Jesus is the ultimate picture of commitment. He went all the way to the cross for you and me. He is committed to us in that He will never leave us nor forsake us. And it’s usually in the midst of a trial when we learn just how faithful He is to us. People have a propensity to let us down. That is their nature. But God is faithful. That is His character. And we can trust Him completely. That brings stability to our lives.

In the book of Psalms, chapter one, we see just how having a relationship with the Lord brings stability to our lives which results in prosperity: “They delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” It’s the level of one’s commitment that pulls him or her through when adversity hits. A person’s religious commitment will keep him or her going when times get tough. People follow people who are committed because people who are committed are stable. Solid life values bring stability. Ephesians 4 points out that when we are mature in the Lord, we will no longer be immature like children. “We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Obstacles and opposition inevitably confront all of us, but it is our level of commitment that will propel us forward.

Another thing about commitment is that the level of one’s commitment can only be shown by his or her actions. James, chapter 2, discusses how one’s faith is shown by his or her good deeds. “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?...we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[d] so also faith is dead without good works.”

Our actions over time show how committed we are, whether to a cause or to another person. Once we show by our actions that we are committed, trust begins to be established. James 5:12 instructs us to "[l]et your 'Yes' be your yes and your 'No,' no, or you will be condemned." People who keep their word by following up their words with consistent behavior are people of integrity. Trust is built when one follows through on their words with action.

The God Kind of Love

I listened to a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith today called “Wasted Love.” I found it really interesting to look at the way God loves us. Remember that God has foreknowledge, so He knows who is going to serve Him and who is not. He knows who is going to let him down. Yet in all cases, He healed everyone who was afflicted. He did not consider whether it was worth His time to heal them, He just did it. What a picture of true, unconditional, agape love. That is the God kind of love that we are supposed to have for each other. But do we love each other like that in reality? Or do we ask ourselves if the other person “deserves” it?

In the scriptures there is a recurring theme of Jesus including everyone. He challenged a culture that excluded women, sinners, adulterers. As I was listening to this sermon, I thought about just how amazing and unconditional God’s love is for us. It’s not based on our performance, our worthiness, our potential. Regardless of what we do, He…just…loves…us. As Christians, we are called to love others in the same way. God doesn’t inflict our past on us. He simply loves us today. Right now.  

A popular portion of scripture that encapsulates God’s love is 1 Corinthians 13. It is often quoted at weddings when it is so easy to love because the infatuation of a new relationship makes it easy. The real test comes after years of marriage. When we look at 1 Corinthians 13 and compare it to our relationships, it seems almost impossible to love like this: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance…three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”  

We live in a culture that loves those who deserve it. We love those who are good to us. When we are hurt deeply by those we trusted, we find ourselves unable to forgive. We hold onto the hurt and justify our anger. When someone mistreats us, we don’t give them another chance. They don’t deserve our love. Is this the extravagant, limitless love of God?  

I understand the extreme pain and deep hurt of betrayal. But I also understand the tremendous healing power of God’s love. The power of forgiveness is amazing. We cannot forgive on our own, but God gives us the ability to forgive when we have been deeply hurt. This is the only way to truly be healed and release the poison of the circumstance. We don’t know how to love until we understand God’s love. When you see people through the eyes of God, you can’t help but to love them no matter what. This is a deeper love than I have ever known. It never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. There is tremendous power and strength in that.

Life is full of disappointment, betrayal, hurt, severed relationships. But God’s love still works. Once we understand the depth of love that God has for us, we are empowered to love others like that. This kind of love is amazing. It is unconquerable. Once you experience this type of love, you will never be the same. When you love someone with God’s love, it is never wasted. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Peter 4:8: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

Does God Hear My Prayers?

I have heard people say that they pray, but they feel unheard.  They feel like there is a disconnection somewhere.  I understand that feeling.  But I have come to realize that whether God hears is not a matter of our feeling or perception.  It is the truth of God’s Word that there is tremendous power in prayer, whether we feel it or not.  Here are some good Bible verses to take to the Lord in prayer.  When we feel unheard, we need to ask God for the wisdom and the discernment to know how God wants us to pray. 

Psalm 107:28-30 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

Matthew 7:7  Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.

Mark 9:29  And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Mark 11:24  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

I went through the worst trial of my life in 2010.  My husband of 20 years left me to be with another woman.  I had previously never experienced such extreme feelings.  I was on an emotional roller coaster.  I don’t know if you have ever been betrayed by someone you completely trusted, but it is an extremely painful experience.  And I felt that there was nothing I could do about it.  Jay wanted to be with this woman.  She wanted to be with him.  I felt powerless.  All I could do is sit by and watch evil appear to prevail.  The thought of him being giddy with infatuation and spending all his time with her while I deal with the stress of raising the kids and paying the bills killed me inside.  Deep inside of every one of us is a desire to see people get what they deserve.  I am reminded of all the movies we watch and how good it makes us feel when someone who has been wronged gets justice.  But you know what I learned during that period of my life?  I learned to be still and know that I serve a just God, and that He makes everything right in due time.  Even though I had no tangible evidence that God was hearing my prayers (things remained the same), I realized that my job is to simply believe Him with childlike faith.  Every time I was attacked with thoughts of betrayal and I felt that intense emotional pain, I would cast my cares upon Him for I know He cares for me.  I didn’t always feel His presence, and I would sometimes wonder if He even heard me, but I was comforted by the words of Psalm 66: 19-20: “But God did listen!   He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.”

Faith, Hope, and Love

I am learning not to dwell on mistakes and faults of the past. That is a difficult thing to do. The pain of betrayal creeps up every now and then with painful memories of the past. And it is tempting to dwell there and feel the pain. But it does me no good.

We run this race called life, and in this race, we stumble...we fall. But if we stop to examine the spot where we fell for too long, we will lose the race. We must get up, dust ourselves off, and continue to move forward, pressing on to the goal. Paul says it best in Phil 3:13 "No, dearbrothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing:Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." No looking back. We can learn from the past, but we must give ourselves a fresh start. If we dwell on the sins and failures of ourselves and others, it brings a current of disappointment, like a current that would hinder a swimmer.

In order to move forward, we must throw out all the hindrances, the past imperfections of others, the sense of failure. Hebrews 12:1 says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Let's travel light...with a light heart filled with the pure love that only comes from abiding in Christ. It's a love that keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It rejoices whenever the truth wins out. It never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Faith, Hope, and Love—and the greatest of these is Love.