I am presently experiencing many states in life:

• learning to be a first-time grandmother to twin boys
• the realm of being retired (don’t hate; you time will soon come)
• learning to declutter stuff I haven’t used in years; disposing what I haven’t used

Recently I visited my grandsons Josiah and Elijah, spending time feeding and caring for them. Being a few weeks old, I was fearful I would harm them (not picking them up properly for example). But eventually I got more comfortable with them, and feeding them became natural. They live with their parents in another city, and when I am home I miss them terribly. But I hope I will continue to learn my role as their Mimi grandmom, and I find myself looking at other toddlers, being excited to see the boys reach that age. The state of a new role is quite interesting.

The following month I retired from my job after over 30 years of service. Once the paperwork was submitted months ago, it seemed like time sped up, and before I knew it, I was having lunch with friends one last time before I carried my box of stuff from clearing my office space, driving away with a big smile on my face. The state of happiness was being experienced.

Once home, I began making a list of projects I now had the time to complete. Rearranging furniture in the living room and getting rid of two old bookcases, purchasing a new one and putting books I had for years in boxes for donation. Next was the kitchen, clearing out cabinet space which meant throwing out old plastic containers. These containers I have wanted to dispose of for months, because they were so old they were turning yellow! I have these containers for decades, and knew I needed to throw them out and get new ones. What a sense of accomplishment I felt when I started taking out bags of plastic clutter! What a lovely state I found myself in.

State comes from the Middle English stat , the Anglo-French estat, and the Lating word status.  This is further explained as a way of living or existing; the things that affect the way you think or feel. Paul wrote in the fourth chapter of Philippians that having gone through different situations in his life, he had learned to be content. Life is full of whatever states; it is up to us to accept or reject.

If we reject, chances are life will seem to be a not so pleasant experience. It may be full of angst and frustration, trying to make things work, and the more you try to figure it out and solve it, the worse it gets. Your status of life, the way you think and feel will put the prefix  dis  in front of content; life will be experienced as one of discontentment, full of negativity.  But this is what Paul experienced. He wrote that whatever is happening in his life, he learned to be content, and Paul’s life was full of great times (preaching the gospel), and hard, challenging times (being shipwrecked, thrown in prison, badly beaten and left for dead, to name a few). It was in all of these instances that Paul could surmise in the fourth chapter of Philippians that he learned how to be content in what I call state whatevers.

So for me, I am still a process in the making, so I continue to live life learning how to live the contented life, regardless of what happens: whether my finances are strong or need some tightening up, learning to be a grandmother, discovering the joy of being free from daily working, and enjoying what it is like to have time to explore and learn more about life.

So whatever your state may be, learn from it and be content while in it.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  Philippians 4:11

Be strenthenized…

For years I participated in music ministry, singing, directing choirs, teaching music and the like. After many years, I was worn out while at the same time, I needed something new. I felt there had to be something more to life than what I was then doing.

So I left music. Fast forward about ten years, where I was at a new church (literally, it was a church plant), and the desire, which if I am honest never left, came alive again. I wanted to be a part. But that was full of frustration. Going for auditions and not sounding great at all. I am grateful for volunteering at a church for their Sunday evening service and I will be so thankful that they welcomed me in. I became interested in music again. Tony their music director became like my  big brother, another person I am blessed to have met.

But back to the new church. I auditioned and was finally accepted to the music group. I actually thought I could pick up where I left off years ago. When the time came for me to lead a song, well, let’s say what I thought would happen…didn’t in my opinion. I just fell flat, full of nerves, and I didn’t fare well. I had asked about leading (after all, if you don’t ask how will they know?), thinking if I let them know I wanted to do it, it would happen. It did, but I think the timing was a bit off; I wasn’t ready to take on such a task. I felt really bad about it and just went to God in prayer and apologized for being so bad. The I realized something: it had been a while since I had done that, and why did I think all would be well? I had not prepared for it, hadn’t been getting my voice ready for example. I needed to wait for God’s timing for before that happened again.

And so I was actually content with staying in the background, a place that had previously frustrated me in the past. And then something occurred this past Sunday that I had never anticipated would happen: I surprisingly got a chance to do it again.

As is usually the case, rehearsal occurred, and everything seemed to be going well with the music, I knew what I needed to sing, and then one of group who usually sings leads to the songs couldn’t sing. I think he got overwhelmed with the words to the song (which is a beautiful song called Build My Life.  Though he tried, he couldn’t begin. Miraculously, I began to sing the song. This time there were no nerves, there was no hesitation, it just kind of happened.  I even signaled the musicians as to where the song was going next. Eventually the leader got back into singing the rest of the song, the whole while I was thinking, God, I wasn’t expecting that to happen. 

But given time, and the right moment, it did. Lots to learn here.

Patience is key.  Trying to make it happen at times works. Oftentimes it doesn’t, and the outcome one hopes to achieve, doesn’t quite work out as mentally planned.

Give your cares to the Lord, and leave it there. God encourages us to give burdens to him, casting our cares upon him, because he cares for us.

It may take some time, but wait for God’s timing, and expect great things from him, particularly the unexpected ones.  It is in those times when much is learned in the wait, as hope for God’s timing is anticipated.

“My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,”  1 Peter 5:6

Be strengthenized…

It was past time to leave work and go home, and I heard rain coming down fiercely. I quickly got my things and left the office. Once in my car, I heard thunder and saw lightning, and the rain was a downpour, mixed with hail! I as well as the other drivers were cautious in driving, and I had to gas up my vehicle before continuing. Once there, I noticed a calm come over me, and then I realized the rain had stopped. I thought that then was the time to get to the bridge and make my way home, hoping I would get away from the storm.

I was right. I made it through the storm. Once to the bridge, the sky was blue, not much by way of clouds, and the sun was shining; even the roads were dry. I felt as if God was sending me a message that all was well. I made it home and went to my mailbox to retrieve the mail.

I opened the nursing home bill for my mother expecting to see the usual numbers. I was surprised to see there was an $1100 monthly increase. Focusing on the amount, I panicked, wondering how that could be, and knowing neither she nor I could foot the increase.

As is usually the case, I tried to ‘fix it’, thinking of ways to obtain funds to pay this.   I went in prayer, and asked others to do the same. I realized I couldn’t  resolve this, but this was a situation only God could fix. I remembered the message of the previous day by Pastor Marcus England who spoke at my church (if you want to hear it go to westparkchurch.cc Drop the Mic series) regarding us asking ourselves that there must be more to living life, not settling and being passive, but being active by getting up, picking up and walking. All that stems from wanting more, not only surviving, but thriving. And getting the more involves us trusting God more. That message made me think of doing something Jesus is recorded as saying to many. Whether in the form of a question (“Do you believe I can do this?”), to a very succinct statement: “Just believe”, or as recorded in Mark 9:23: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

I watched the message of Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church talk about having baby faith, and if one has the faith of a grain of a small mustard seed, one can command any mountain to be moved, and it will.

The next day presented itself, and my plan was to take my mother’s bill and go to the nursing home and talk to someone in the business office. But an idea came to my brain to call the main office in Texas first. As I was talking to that person it was as if God dropped something in me: gross.  I pulled the annual statement that showed the amount my mother received for the year, divided it by 12, and that is how the larger figure was computed, the gross pension amount. When I told the person that, I asked her if the medical insurance that is deducted from her pension was considered. When she reviewed her files, she stated it wasn’t, and it needed to be. That was the difference. I had my answer to bring to the attention of the business office at the nursing home. So off I went.

Once there, I did not get a chance to bring up the issue of the health insurance, as they noticed the error. They went into their files, found the information I had given them months earlier, made the correction and the discrepancy was resolved. While the monthly bill increased, my mother’s monthly check covered the fee. All was well.

Actually all was well before I received the bill. I just experienced going through a storm, but coming out on the other side free of rain and having dry roads and sunshine. God was giving me signals not to be concerned, He had it under control.

Now if I can only apply this to other areas of my life, I can continue to experience the  grandeur of faith, no matter how small my faith seems to be…be strengthenized.

I was determined to go to my Tuesday evening zumba class, knowing I would get not only a sweating workout, but have fun in the process. My plan was to leave work on time for a change, quickly change into my workout gear, cook a meal that would put fuel in my tank, and make it to the gym. This worked out perfectly.

Though I thought about taking the next class, I was pleased that I endured a good sweaty workout, and decided to go home. Since the body got exercise, the spirit must get the same, I thought. So for the remainder of the evening I thought to read some scripture and do some writing before going to bed.

As I got in my car to head home, my mind seemed to immediately gravitate to thinking about food, and started to give me some ideas of what to eat, and dare I say they were not healthy food choices. Fried chicken (or anything fried for that matter) was the suggestion, and my mind continued to wander into the world of getting something to eat. The good side of me mentally gave all of me a resounding NO!  to the request, and  I made it home without going somewhere to get s tasty snack full of unwanted calories. Why waste all that movement I did in class to consume something I didn’t need?

After parking my car once I got home, I thought about what had just happened.  I could have followed my mind as I have done numerous times, (the reason for my overabundance of fat I carry in my body), but this time I decided to do as scripture says:

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 (NIV)

“Sow a thought, and you reap an act;
Sow an act, and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit, and you reap a character;
Sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”
― Samuel Smiles, Happy Homes and the Hearts That Make Them

I entered my cluttered home: everywhere I looked there were piles of stuff.

• my desk was cluttered to the point I couldn’t see the keyboard, let alone the computer
• the dining room table had stuff on it, things that needed to be put away
• piles of shoes on the floor that needed to be in a space I created just for shoes
• the bedroom chair I couldn’t sit in because it possessed a pile of clothes
• I don’t even want to describe the kitchen or the bathroom

The more piles of clutter I saw, the more discontent I became. Why do I stare at this stuff day after day, I asked myself. Why can’t I just have a goal in mind of doing the cleaning, even if I break it down that goal and do it a step at a time?

As I thought on this, it was as if God pulled back the curtains of reality and invited me into the spiritual realm to tell me something:

“Perhaps the reason for the clutter is the unwillingness to go through the process of getting clean.” 

Really? Must we go there? Apparently, God thought the need to bring this to my attention, so let’s take this a step further.

The mind, they say, is a terrible thing to waste. That waste can be in the form of allowing things to clutter it. Like the piles of stuff around my home that need to be dealt with, we allow our minds to be consumed with piles of worry, piles of ‘what ifs’ that may never come into fruition, all the while recognizing the overwhelming need to go through the process of de-cluttering. Imagine entering into a space where things are in order, what needs to be in a drawer and not on the floor, what needs to be on a hanger and not in a chair, what needs to be wiped down and smelling fresh and clean.

Imagine not taking worries to bed with you, not dreaming about problems, not waking up during the night, but rather awakening in the morning refreshed and ready to take on the day. How can all this take place?

The process of being clean enables peace to enter in. If allowed, peace can do a mental cleansing of the mind, ridding it of the cares of this world. If we go to God, in faith believing that He will take care of the ‘piles’ that clutter our lives, He will ensure that He will care for the stuff that leave us stymied, enabling us to go forward in an uncluttered way. That is when the process is needed.

• the process of letting go of what so easily entangles and besets us
• the process of being patient when we want things to happen immediately
• the process of being still and letting God handle the stuff of life

So one evening I came home and went to my bedroom and tackled the chair pile, and I was sure the chair was happy when it was empty. Next, I uncovered my dresser, putting  clothes to their proper drawers and being able to see all had been cleared away. More to do, but happy the process started.

Just my thought, but I think when your home is cluttered, perhaps it may represent what is mentally happening. And the problems that develops into piles in your mind transfers to piles of stuff you see in your home, so perhaps when this happens it is a signal that you need to mentally check yourself, and consider what it would be like to be clutter-less. When your mind is devoid of problems, you are willing to keep your living environment de-cluttered of stuff.

Could this be you? If so, consider being clutter-less, and be strengthenized.

Let the process begin…

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4: 6,7

Work – an activity involving mental and/or physical effort done in order to achieve a result; task(s) to be undertaken; the result of an action

Faith – complete trust in something or someone; a strongly held belief

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2: 17,18

What happens when you believe you have all the faith in the world about a dream, that it will happen, but don’t do anything regarding it? It is almost like daydreaming, you know? What happens when you daydream? It is a lovely feeling in the mind, thinking of how that dream would work for you, but at the same time sitting in your comfy chair or lying in bed, not jotting it down, not looking into it further about how it can move from the realms of the mind to the openness of reality, where it blossoms through the work. When this occurs, it is there where one has made the decision to move at the realization of faith.

For many (me included), this can be challenging to say the least. Moving past the fear, the atmosphere of the unknown, and just venturing out can seem like a difficult task. Faith is needed, this is true. But if that is all you have, your faith is dead, as said in the second chapter of James. It is like faith in and of itself is feeling lonely, needing a partner to blossom into an atmosphere of optimum speed to become exceptionally magnificent.

• The book of Nehemiah tells of how one man led a group of people to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He came up with a plan of what he needed, talked to the king about it who gave him what was needed in letters and supplies to get the task done and let many to get the task completed: faith paired with works.
• In the ninth chapter of Matthew faith enabled the woman with the issue of blood to imagine the possibility of being healed; that, coupled with her movement to get to Jesus at all costs to touch the hem of his garment and immediately be made whole. Faith and works came together and the outcome was magnificent.
• Faith enabled a desperate father to bring his son to Jesus in the ninth chapter of Mark; the movement was he not only considered it, but got his son to Jesus (works). The outcome was total healing, and the father’s faith was increased.

Have you coupled your faith with works? Are the two working together, or separate, with your dream not becoming reality? Have you ventured out by researching and finding out how your dream can become reality, having faith that God will bring it to pass while at the same time being willing to do what it takes to actually realize what you know God has input in you to do?

It is great you have the faith: now work it, and be strengthenized through the process.

Earlier in the day I read a post from another friend:

“Sometimes it can be EXTREMELY overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin with all the Lord has put in you, in addition to dealing with all that life brings you!”

I responded with many comments:

“and trying to discover the balance between the two! Just know you are not alone in this battle! Many (including me) are going through this…Then you get all these great ideas, and you think now how am I going to do THAT! Then comes the thought, God must be giving me these ideas because He believes I can do it. My question is HOW? I haven’t finished the other ideas given me! So I truly understand.”

I had been asking God for His direction on a myriad of issues, from health concerns to starting a business, to writing (which by the way had come to a screeching halt on my part). I knew this weekend would be full of attending two friends’ events: one yesterday, and one today. I didn’t feel my best yesterday, but knew I wanted to attend both events. Saturday evening’s event was inspirational on many fronts. I got to hear many points from three presenters that really got my attention:

• one spoke of leaving Chicago, moving to LA with not much financially, and though it took a few months, he realized his musical dreams, which included starting a business, and working in the entertainment field with top talents and realizing another dream of traveling the world while on tour. He encouraged all who attended to not only believe the dream can be done, but to invest in yourself, even if that means leaving the familiar and venturing out into the unknown.
• the next person was also in the musical field, but left her good paying job in one field moved to another city for an intern job (no money), and discovering yet another field of helping others increase their finances through investments. She had no idea where her journey would take her, but was willing to get out of the familiar and realize her dream of no longer being broke while helping others in the process. Now her clients are nationwide and beyond.
• the host, a talented singer/musician, discovered her dream of creating this event of giving to others, and said “don’t bring your million dollar vision to penny minded people.” Therefore, one has to chose to be surrounded by those who are encouraging (rightful connections), not by ones who are not motivating. Dreams need to be written down (as recorded in Habakkuk 2:2), keep watch over what you say in the atmosphere, and the most important one I think: just do it.

As I sat in the back listening (sitting in the back was on purpose: I was the oldest one there), I thought of how often I have come up with ideas – and by the way, God keeps giving me even more – and I am not doing the equivalent of the Nike commercial: Just Do It. Awe, but there’s more.

This afternoon I attended another friend’s event that launched her latest book entitled Pursuing Purpose: 5 Keys to Fulfilling Your God-Given Purpose. This book is right on point, meeting me where I presently am. It was a joyous occasion, and one I hope to experience of my own by the end of this year hopefully. This same person has also launched her own business of being a publisher; just what I need – a right connection.

Everything I saw and heard was very informative this weekend. I got to see two women forging ahead, trusting God by coupling their faith with their works of realizing their goals.

This morning I sent my friend (the one I first mentioned) another message:

“I went to an event last night of a friend. I wish you were there. If you only knew what she talked about! It was on the … comments of yesterday. I am so encouraged. I started not to go. Just be encouraged that God will see to it that he will tell you he is for you, and will send a word to you through others to tell you to follow what he has deposited in you. Be encouraged to strive and continue….”

“And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  Habakkuk 2: 2,3

This weekend which was full of confirmation of what I already know, and has shown me I need to be the next spokesperson for the Nike commercial…stay tuned while being strenthenized.

How do you pray to God?  Does it contain thoughts about what is wrong in your life and how you want God to change it? Is the reason for the prayer more about you than about God? Do you ask for things to be given you to fit your agenda in place of asking for God’s will to be done?

Pastor Marc Poland of West Park Church spoke on these and other thoughts in his most recent message, part 3 of the Teach Us to Pray Series. It had many who listened thinking about the content of our prayers to God. Then he presented the contents of the Jabez prayer, found in I Chronicles 4: 9, 10:

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.  And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.”

Here’s the breakdown:

• Goes to his source of blessings, who is God
• Requests that his territory or span of influence be enlarged
• That God’s hand of protection would be with him, and
• That God would keep him from any evil that would cause him pain

Jabez’s mother named him based on the pain she endured while he was being born. Imagine having a name that means pain! Nevertheless, Jabez was described as more honorable than those around him.

Pastor Marc stated that this prayer did not give detail on life’s despair, and further did not (in a round about way) demand that his will be done. How many times have we asked for God to do something to fit our agenda? What if we modeled our prayers as kingdom prayers, shifting the focus on God’s will be done instead of our own? On the surface it appears the prayer of Jabez was attempting to get things from God. At closer review, Jabez was asking for help to enlarge his spiritual territory, that through Jabez the kingdom would be expanded! It is similar to some of the elements of the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13):

• Acknowledging who God is (verse 9)
• that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven (verse 10)
• to be delivered from evil (verse 13)

So what would happen if we prayed in this manner? It only took one verse to record the prayer of Jabez, and God responded in a positive way; as Jabez honored God, God returned the favor, honoring Jabez his prayer request.

We don’t have to tell God the details of what is going on in life; He already knows, and He knew before the foundation of the world the details of the present situation. However, when our prayers recognize the God of the universe, requesting God’s will to flow through all we do, God not only recognizes the prayer but honors it with all he does. And that is yours for the asking.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think…” Ephesians 3:20

These are challenging times you see, for it’s difficult to see

If you will be taken care of or disposed of, thrown away like a ragged doll

Like a ship crashed against a rugged terrain with not much left to retain

What can be done,  all seems lost, you say, bills are piling up with no greenbacks to pay

And speakin’ of pay where is it?

Locked up like a hostage in jail, with me feelin’ financially frail,

My plight is real, not imagined, but complicated

As two sides of leadership pit one against the other in this riddle

There’s a third side: me and others like me caught in the middle

And as week three continues with no concrete answer

I offer a solution of spiritual evolution, and the direction is N.U.H.T.I.A.

When all is crazy, bundle up the fear and the frustration, the anger coupled with

Impatience, and give it all to Him:

Now Unto Him, Ephesians 3:20 starts, That Is Able, the next phrase imparts

God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think

According to the power that works in us, The us is the one who lives by faith

Despite what’s currently happening, stand on what God provides

Never leaving nor forsaking you, gifting you with His endless supply

And when your mind gets cluttered with fear and frustration

Allow Him to overtake it, giving your heart and mind a peaceful revelation

To get you through this time of furlough, an answer awaits your plateau:

NUHTIA…

” Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”   Ephesians 3: 20

Situation: the way in which something is placed in relation to its surroundings; all the facts, conditions and events that affect someone at a particular time and in a particular place.

Sitiation:  a critical, trying, or unusual state of affairs; an important or sudden problem; an obstacle that has elevated to another level – it was a situation, but is now a sitiation.

Whatever level of your predicament, either can be stressful. It can cause one to lose sleep, suffer from pain and worry, to mention a few. Usually in the middle of this event in life is an obstacle through one’s efforts appear to be insurmountable, something that can’t be overcome. It is probably the way the woman recorded in II Kings 4 felt in her situation…

Can you imagine how this woman must have felt, being bombarded with calls from her creditors to pay up or we’re taking your sons? Can you think of how distraught she must have been, all the stress and worry as time went on, wondering what she was going to do to solve her dilemma? As she poured her heart to Elisha, the prophet listened to the widow woman regarding her plight. She was in debt and could not pay her creditors, and was told they were coming for her two sons, to put them to slavery as payment for her bills. Elisha asked what he could do to help, but at the time, the woman said she had nothing in her house…except for some oil. The bible records that Elisha told her to get flasks from her neighbors, the oil was poured into as many containers as she could obtain, and with the selling of that oil, was not only able to pay her creditors and keep her sons from being thrown into slavery, but have oil left over, to use to sustain her and her sons.

What do you do when your situation elevates to a sitiation? Many are in a similar plight, as they are enduring not being paid as a federal government employees (me included). As of this writing, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either going to work daily or being forced to stay home without receiving their pay checks, all the while dealing with their creditors, some of whom understand, and many who don’t, demanding the bills be paid. As saying goes, you can’t get blood from a stone, but this is a critical, trying and unusual state of affairs, an obstacle that appears to be insurmountable. Now this could be handled in a myriad of ways:

• worrying about it won’t solve the problem
• allowing the issue to invade your body with pain and stress won’t solve the issue
• But if you are a believer, being steadfast in faith, make your obstacle an opportunity

In his message Masked,  Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church spoke this:

“Obstacles and opportunities are almost the same, depending on who’s on your side.”

“So when God is on your side…When debt is in front of you, God says don’t retreat, step towards it, I’m Jehovah-jireh, your provider, I’ll meet every one of your needs…because your obstacle is no longer an obstacle, because if God be for you, who can be against you? “

So how do you view your problem when is becomes a situation and gets elevated to a sitiation? I vow to believe God will supply all my needs according to his riches in glory. I vow to make the shift from what appears to be an obstacle to a God-opportunity.

And I hope you will come back for Part II of this issue, but in the meantime, be strengthenized…