Prison songs

This verse is not the beautiful, flowing, inspiring type of verse that you normally post in a picture online. 

 But did you really look at it? 

 They were in the dungeon, in stocks, after being beaten without a trial.

 And yet....

 They were singing and praying and encouraging those around them. Paul and Silas were in prison without trial or reason, but it doesn’t say why those around them were there. Perhaps they “deserved” to be there, perhaps they didn’t. Not for us to say. Paul and Silas definitely didn’t “deserve” it, but they were using their time there for good. They were encouraging the other prisoners, praising their Savior, lifting their concerns to Him. 

 Where are you right now my friend? 

 Feel like you “deserve” to be there? 

 That part doesn’t really matter. It isn’t the point. 

 What you do right now- around midnight, after being beaten, without a trial.

 Wherever you are - in a dungeon, far from home, surrounded by people who disagree with you or perhaps even hate you.

 Sing those hymns.

 Lift up your prayers (and then perhaps let them go?). 

 Encourage those around you- co-workers, fellow patients and the doctors who surround you, enemies, toddlers who exhaust you- whomever they are. 

 The story turns out well for Paul and Silas at this point. But later prison is the end for Paul. We don’t know where we end, or how, or when. But we do know that they were singing right that minute. 

 I want to sing too. 

 Join me! 

 Be blessed my friends, no matter where you are today. Sing! 

More than enough

“‘All we have here are five loaves and two fish.’ they replied.” 

Matthew 14:17

“All we have here”...

 I suppose most of us know this story. People had come to hear Jesus teach, out in the countryside. They had been out there all day, listening to Him share truth and being excited about someone who spoke love and forgiveness.
 But the daylight was fading and the people had realized it was time to eat. Past time.
Jesus told his disciples, the people who followed Him non-stop, that they should feed the crowd. And their response was “all we have here” is not enough. We can’t. It is impossible. How could You even suggest that?

 How often do I do that? How often do I suggest that perhaps I know better than He does? I know more, surely, because “all I have” could not possibly be enough.

 Five loaves and two fish was enough to feed the crowd. Thousands of people satisfied, with leftovers to take home. It was not just enough, it was MORE than enough.

 More than enough.

 Be blessed my friends as you celebrate that. All that you have to offer is more than enough. You just have to offer it.

An army of knights

"Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good." 

Romans 12:21 HCSB

 When I hear words like "conquer" I think of knights in shining armor. Someone strong, and powerful and ready to fight. Someone brave. 

 Conquer seems such a powerful word. 

 It sounds so much bigger then just "beat"...but really, that is all that it is. 

 "Beat". 

 How do we beat evil? With the opposite of evil - kind and gentle and good and patient. 

 It sounds easy when you say it that way. Why are we as humans such failures at beating evil, at conquering the bad all around us? 

 I think it is often because we want to do it by ourselves, without help. That sin, of being self-centric even in matters of good, is the sin that destroys so much. Alone makes us weak.

 My challenge today is for you to share. Conquer evil with good by allowing someone else to carry some of the burden. Beat evil with kindness by simply listening, then sharing, then listening and sharing again.  

 Please, don't be a knight alone. Be brave and join an army of knights, working together. 

Every single thread

Sovereign God, let the dark threads of my life be interwoven with the tapestry of Your eternal purpose." 

Henry Gariepy, Portraits of Perseverance

 We all know what a tapestry is.  

 "A piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving colored weft threads or by embroidering on canvas, used as a wall hanging or furniture covering." 

 Got it. 

But, have you ever paid much attention to a tapestry? Truly looked at one and seen the detail? 

 Each thread has its own color, its own placement, its own purpose. 

 Light or dark. Plain or elegant. Strong or delicate. Each one different. Each one necessary. Each one beautiful, in the grand scheme of the tapestry. 

 I read that prayer this morning and was reminded that it is true in my life. 

 Every dark thread is interwoven with the others, creating something awe inspiring. 

 Every thread is necessary. 

Interwoven is such a beautiful word. 

 Our Father is always making things work together. I want to have faith to remember that when I can only see one thread. I want to see the interwoven beauty around me, behind me, and ahead of me. 

 And that tapestry? It is insulation against the cold. That useful piece of art is made from lots and lots of different small things working together to make a bigger, stronger, complete thing with a purpose and a job. 

 UAB called yesterday. I am moving to the next phase of this journey. Sometime soon, but not scheduled yet, I will be having an intracranial EEG. Monitoring of my seizures from electrodes placed inside my brain. That test will help identify exactly where I am seizing, and whether the surgery or the pacemaker is the better option. But they are fairly confident that one of those options will be helpful for my future. 

 So, even though this dark thread is slightly terrifying, it is also full of hope. 

 Maybe, maybe, maybe I can be done with seizures? 

 That is a thread worth following. I am confident that my tapestry will be interwoven with dark and light, strong and fragile, plain and elegant. But it will be beautiful, and I will trust my Savior with each thread along the way. 

What do you see?

"Your inner attitudes do not have to reflect your outward circumstances." Carol McLeod 

So, what do you see in that picture? 

Cheerful flowers?

A tangled mess? 

Pollen that will make you sneeze?

Passion and beauty and creativity and new life? 

Now, what do you see in this one? 

A trap leading to death?

The source of food, and thus life, for one of God's creatures?

Stickiness?

The breath-taking reflection of diamonds as dew catches the rays of the sun as it peeks into a new day?

What do you see?

 That opening quote spoke to me about a month ago. I wrote a FB post about it, if you want to read it. I have been reminded, over and over again recently, that what I choose to see is what I will see. 

 I spent the beginning of last week on the phone, a lot. One problem after another with insurance and medical clearance and communication. I have a wonderful primary care doc here in Troy, an amazing team of docs at UAB and, actually, a really great insurance company through the military. Yet, multiple times in a row it just kept getting messed up. Over and over. Phone call after phone call. Wednesday morning when I showed up at UAB for the last test I needed for the next step in this seizure surgery process, boom - it had gone through incorrectly and had me approved for anesthesia. Getting put to sleep was not part of the day...and the test was supposed to start right that minute. 

 For just a split second I thought about quitting. 

 Yet...I couldn't. So, I got on the phone again. They passed my cell phone around the office for about 30 minutes. Then, boom (again)- it was fixed. 

 Does that question come up in your world? When are we supposed to quit? When are we supposed to keep fighting? When is God calling us to let go and when is satan trying to keep us from getting to where we are supposed to be? 

 I don't know the answer to that. There is no easy answer to that. Every single time I have to just stop and ask for THAT time. I have to stop and consider quitting. I have to stop and consider going forward. I cling to Psalm 119:15 "I study your instructions; I examine your teachings." GNB 

 Every single time, my Savior lets me know. 

 We kept going. The testing was done. I had a follow up on Friday. I am approved for the "next step", which is to be placed before "the board" - a group of Neurologists and Neuro surgeons who will all discuss my case. They will all talk about where exactly my brain is mis-firing, and what damage those seizures are causing. They will discuss the risks of surgery, the risks of the "pacemaker" for the brain, the risks of waiting and doing nothing. 

 That "board" happens on Thursday. I assume they will contact me next Monday and tell me what they decided. There will be more tests and more discussions. They will tell me all of the risks and rewards and I get to have the final say, obviously. 

 But right this minute I choose to see that the test went through. I choose to see that step was done. I choose to see that there are several options being discussed. I choose to see more, not less. 

 Choose carefully, my friends, what you will see. 

 Be blessed, as you keep your eyes and your heart open!