I had a party yesterday.
I sulked, would not talk to anyone, hid away, did not bathe or get dressed, took a long nap and sighed, "Oh God". Any of you ever have a party like this?
Things were not going the way I wanted, as fast as I wanted. I did not sleep well the night before and blamed everyone in the house for it, including the cat. When you are sleep deprived, everything seems worse. It was a cloudy day, cold, windy and snowing - that did not help. I had thought I would get out to run errands but just did not want to in that messy weather. You notice the smallest issue: the dog is barking at the dog that is barking 4 blocks away, the house is a mess, the doctor did not return my phone call and my husband didn't wring out the dishrag - again. No matter he is busy hanging wallpaper for me, he never wrings out the dishrag.
A few doors were slammed, conversation was ignored and I had a good cry in the bathroom - which all went unnoticed. Which made it worse: nobody cares! I took my car keys and left without a word to anyone about where I was going or when I would be back. I didn't even dress; went out in my "jammy jeans" and house slippers (in the cold snow). When
I left the house, I told myself I would go to my friends and cheer her
up. The
best thing for self pity is to do something for someone
else and take your mind off yourself. That is what I told myself I was going to do. That's what I told myself. I knew she was also in the middle of some personal issues and misery loves company. In my subconscious, I was dying to tell her how the universe was being so unfair to me. Boo hoo! I drove to her house and the two of us had an intimate pity party. We discussed everything wrong in our lives at that moment and ended up laughing about it all. Ain't friends great !?
Today the sun is out, I had a good nights sleep and got in some exercise. Today, it is clear to me that yesterday was a pity party for myself and I even shared it with a friend. Today, I am reminded of Jonah who had a pity party after God made him go to Nineveh to warn people he did not think deserved a second chance. He sat down under a tree, by himself and whined to God who was exercising his graceful mercy to these people. Jonah 4:11
I am also reminded of Elijah (who's name actually means, "Yahweh is Grace"), as he fled the threats of Jezebel in IKings 19. He had a great pity party. Elijah had just killed all the false prophets and torn down idols (a great story in IKings 18). How soon Elijah forgot this all happened by the hand of God. Elijah knew God did this great work through him, but did not consider that God could save him from Jezebel.
A pity party can serve us as a lesson from God. We need to find more faith in the one who created time and space. We have to get going when the going is tough. The sun comes out tomorrow. There is always sun behind the clouds. God is in His heaven and loves us as individuals.
Let us not forget the amazing story of Job. After he got over his pity party, God restored everything to him PLUS.
Let Job be this lesson: when we accept our circumstances, God gets involved. Nothing is accomplished as long as we are partying on our own and whining about our situation. Let's face it, having God involved is much better than not.
A pity party is a total waste of time and effort. It is absolute self absorption and accomplishes nothing. No one wants to come to our party.
It does give the enemy reason to celebrate. He is happy to see us unhappy with, and doubting God. Score one for the enemy of heaven when I have a pity party.
In my defense, I will say it is the first in a long time. Once I shake it off, I usually come back like a warrior; ready to do whatever it takes to be right with God. I have apologized to my Heavenly Father and I can always hope that is the last one - just like the last time I hosted one. We are all a work in progress and God is waiting to forgive us - again. Thanks to God, we get a little better each time.
Amen
A couple of my closest friends and I have fallen into kidnapping.
On one of our birthdays, the other two plan the day and pay all expenses to something special. (Any shopping, is at our own expense.) Lunch and fees are paid by the other two. If we take the "kidnappee" to a museum or movie, we pay for her part of the expense. We also split the expense of her lunch. We pick out the restaurant(s) and activities so it is all a big surprise to her. It happens three times a year so it does not get boring or become too routine. Since we live in a small rural town, we always go to the city or a larger town.
We have great fun: shop, eat, antique stores, museums, historical places, tourist attractions, specialty stores and movies. We always chose restaurants and activities that the birthday girl would like.
We dress up, do our hair, buy silly birthday cards and look forward to these outings.
I have come to see how important friends are. I did not make many friends when in school. I was from the wrong side of the tracks and Kennedy was "busing" us into a "higher class" neighbor to force integration. As a young adult, I was betrayed by a good friend in a way that changed the course of my life. It took 15 years before I met someone that I could trust to be a friend. I have been half way across the country from her for the past 26 years and 40 years later, we can still pick up the phone and talk as though we live next door.
After high school, I "hit the ground running", as I chased after my career. For 60 years I traveled across this country for work. Sometimes I came home just long enough to unpack, do a little new work and repack for the next show. I never knew my neighbors or made friends. My friends were casual and in various states across this country.
Since I "retired" from all my traveling, I have gradually made friends and learned to value the connection that women have. I can still count friends on one hand. You know, the ones that you trust with a secret; the ones that know the most about you and still like you.
In the later part of our lives, we need this connection. We especially need it when family takes on lives apart from ours and/or we lose a spouse. Downsizing or moving into assisted living has got to be a huge transition and makes us face the end of our story in this life.
GOOD NEWS: It ain't over 'til it's over. And, good friends can help each other weather all the transitions. We can share our stories, pictures of our grandkids, a cup of tea, our childhood, Bible study or a cool breeze on the patio in the evening. We have company to the doctor appointment, a trip to the grocery or someone to call when we need an emotional hug.
Make sure you have a friend to relate to and share time. Friendship is a precious thing that I ignored for many years.
The Bible says:
Lk 7:6 A friend will do you a service
Acts 10:24 Peter had many friends
Acts 19:31 Paul had friends who warned him
Acts 27:3 A friend can provide for you in time of need
Pro 17:17 Solomon tells us a friend can be more reliable than family
Pro 27:6 A friend will always tell you the truth
Pro 27: 9 A friend give sincere advice
Pro 27:17 Friends benefit each other
Jesus' disciples were His "inner circle", close friends. They shared food, wine, experiences, stories, difficult times and He loved them and prayed for them.
Prov 18:24 This friend is the Holy Spirit and is a great source of comfort
Lk 12:14 Jesus calls us "friend"; you cannot have a better friend
Since my husband and I will be relocating from this area we presently live in it is going to be a major adjustment to leave my friends. This has never been an issue before and it will be a major life change. Of course, we say we will visit and call but the truth is that Facebook will most likely be the main contact. My friends will find other friends and spend time with grandkids and life will take them ahead on their journey. I will find other friends, hopefully. It's just the way life is.
An old saying comes to mine: "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." This can apply to friends. The friends will be distant but the memories will loom closer than ever. And every time I remember how we laughed when we realized I had kept one footie on after leaving a shoe store and didn't discover it for hours later, I will smile to myself and say a prayer for everyone of the friends I have made on my journey.
Amen !
Ro 11:4 - 6 In this passage, the word "works" is more correctly translated (from original Greek) to "law".
Ro 13:10 Paul tells us love fulfills the law. Love God, love your neighbor. And, the love of Jesus through His sacrifice.
The Ten Commandments are referred to as, "The law written on stone. IICor 3:7 (Ex 24:12) This has to be the law that Paul referred to. Sacrificial laws were done away with because of the blood of Jesus, yes. But, they were not written on stone.
Gal 3:10 This verse explains everyone relying on the law is cursed.
Gal 4:22 - 27 In this passage, we are told that the slave woman gave birth to the son of flesh and the free woman, Sarah, gave birth to a son born of spirit. Sarah's son, Isaac, was an ancestor of Jesus. This references the law vs grace, which was a constant question in the early church. Church leaders were preaching law and Christ had died to bring the grace of God allowing us to live according to the will of God and not to His law. His will is our wellfare.
Eph 2:20 Christ is the living stone (of grace) - replacing the law on cold, dead stone.
Col 2:13 - 15 Our indebtedness, canceled and nailed to the cross. This is grace over law.
Heb 10:8 Here, Paul explains the animal sacrifices offered with the law; not the law itself.
Heb 11, called "The Faith Chapter": All these people named here, lived BEFORE the law (Ten Commandments) were given on Mt. Sanai. They lived by their faith. They were counted righteous - by faith, NOT by their own works through the law written on stone, or sacrificial laws.
Heb 12:15 is a statement of grace (over law).
Heb 12:18 - 24 Paul compares a mountain of fear, Mt. Sinai, to a mountain of joy, Zion. The law of the Ten Commandments was given on Sinai and Jesus died on Zion. He calls Mt Sinai to be feared because the people could not bear what was commanded. He refers to Jesus as mediator of a new covenant (one without laws).
* Since the resurrection, God no longer tells us "Do this", "Don't do that"; which results in our own efforts. He gives us freedom to choose to follow the examples and teaching of Jesus and live through His efforts.
Titus 3:9 & 10 Paul instructs Titus to try twice to help people understand the gospel. If they will not open their minds and listen, avoid them. He called them warped, sinful and self-condemned. Jesus, Himself, instructed His disciples to wipe their feet at the house of those who would not listen and move on to those who wanted to hear. This resulted in Christ taking the gospel to Gentiles, opening up the doors of salvation to everyone.
Laodicea church: In Revelation 3, God tells this church they are neither hot or cold, meaning they do not teach one or the other, just grace or just the law. They were trying to live with both. He goes on to describe His feelings toward this attitude. It's not good.
Quote: WHAT a glorious covenant the second covenant (New Covenant) is! Well might it be called a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Heb 8:6
It is so glorious that the very thought of it is enough to overwhelm the soul, when it discerns the amazing condescension and infinite love of God, in having framed a covenant for such unworthy creatures, for such glorious purposes, with such disinterested motives.
It is better than the other covenant, the "covenant of works", which was made with Adam; or that covenant which is said to have been made with Israel, on the day when they came out of Egypt. It is better, for it is founded upon a better principle. The Old Covenant was founded on the principle of merit; it was serve God and you shall be rewarded for it. If you walk perfectly in the fear of the Lord, God will walk well towards you, and all the blessing of Mount Gerizim shall come upon thee, and you shall be exceedingly blessed in this world, and the world which is to come.
But the covenant fell to the ground, because, although it was just that man should be rewarded for his good works, or punished for his evil ones, yet man being sure to sin, and since the fall infallibly tending towards iniquity, the covenant was not suitable for his happiness, nor could it promote his eternal welfare.
C H Spurgeon
Amen
You know, for the past few days, I have been dealing with medication issues. At 71, I have been so blessed to be on only one prescription drug - blood pressure. It runs rampant in my family. Recently, my prescription no longer works. I hate drugs and for other health reasons need to stay away from as many as I possibly can. I take lots of herbs and vitamins for prevention, exercise, drink lots of water and try to be cautious of what I eat.
I refuse to be that old lady who sits with friends and discusses her doctor appointments, prescription drugs and side effects while waiting for my next meal. Had to make an emergency run to the hospital when my blood pressure went over 200; elevated 30 points in just half an hour.
We decided to make an emergency run to an Emergency Room about 10:00 pm. My husband was concerned about some road construction so we took and alternate route. Just minutes after using our detour, there was a single head light looming on the horizon. As we got closer, Steven slowed down realizing the light was stationary.
In my travels, I have had the opportunity to drive through some harrowing situations and this brought one to mind. A time when going through the Appalacian's, I had to pass through an area where people were putting things in the road (fires, trees, effigy figures) to stop cars for the purpose of robbery. This came to my mind. I was uncomfortable with him stopping and slowing down was giving me concern - just from a past memory. We are in a rural area that has never had such an issue. Funny how our minds work.
As we approached the light, it became obvious that it was one working headlight on a car that was stopped with the entire front looking like a wadded piece of tin foil. There was a young couple in the road behind the car, pacing with a flashlight. We stopped to inquire of the situation. They had no phone, the young woman was in early stages of pregnancy and had blood on her. She was in shock and ranting about a rented car, hitting a cow and what they would do about the car. The young man was pacing with her, scanning her with the flashlight for cuts and she kept saying she was pregnant but that she was "okay". It is only providence of God that I had my phone with me.
My husband's phone is for work use only and he left it on his desk at home. I only turn mine on when away from home so he can reach me. Seldom do I carry it if I am with Steven. I called 911 emergency and reached a town 45 miles away. It took awhile to get reconnected to the correct county, decide what county road we were on, what was the closest EMT, exactly where we were and establish the fact that we were not the victims but rather on our way to the ER for help ourselves. Can you believe this? My husband was getting stressed but I found it to be quite amusing. All I could think was, "Something strange happened on our way to the ER". Soon, other vehicles approached with phones, willingness to help and more knowledge of the area than we had. We were soon back to our personal objective.
Long story short, we spent several hours at the ER with a wonderful nurse and an amazing D.O. who was 75 years old. I love old family doctors. They are the real knowledge - Too few and far between. I am adjusting to new medication while being monitored and feel there was a reason we were on that road at that time on that night. Prayers are sent up for that couple - who did not show up at the hospital we went to.
What was God up to? Others were on that same road with phones. We were the first to arrive - on our own emergency mission. Why did that couple not have a phone? I thought everyone but Steven and I had phones. That exact place and time came together. We will never know their names or see them again. I wonder about the young woman and her unborn baby. My heart goes out; she was in obvious shock. Was it a test for us to stop? Was it a test for someone else on that road that night? We could have been minutes earlier and hit the cow ourselves. We never know but God is always aware and close. He shields and protects His children.
I am confused about His reasoning but God is good.
Amen
P.S. It was a cow - a large one and she was dead.
Let us not forget the amazing story of Job. After he got over his pity party, God restored everything to him PLUS.
