One Word 2014: Assured

While every year is filled with unknowns, 2014 is a fresh new chapter for my life.  Much like the calendar hanging on our pantry door, this year is full of blanks, yet to be decided.

I start a new job next Monday, after spending most of my adult life in the same career.  With so many years of knowing what to expect, I'm much like a nervous girl on the first day of school.  The humor here is that I'll be working at a local college. 

And while I enjoy change, there are uncertainties, which make this planner girl a bit apprehensive.  There's changes in budgets and insurance and everything I've grown accustomed to the past decade or so.  The unknown can be exciting, but it can also be nerve-racking.

Tim's year has started a bit unsure as well.  Being injured on Christmas day is surely not the way we'd planned to spend our holidays.  And we've quickly discovered it is about the worst possible time to need a doctor!  As of this point, nearly two weeks after, we still have no answers on his foot.  His doctor doesn't return from vacation until Monday and, with the approaching winter storm, we're looking a few more days before he knows his next step.

For now, his steps are still painful.  This morning his pain was about at the level of the initial injury.  Add to that his frustration with being still and not being able to do, help, or move around, has clouded his new year.  I know he'll be glad to just have clarity of what the future holds.

Don't we all wish for that?  As we approach a new year, don't we wish for a sneak peek of what it holds?  Or some assurance that the months to be hold promise, hope, and even joy?

If the year before was less than perfect, maybe we find ourselves hoping for a better 2014.  Stress free, no storms, sunshiny days.  Wouldn't that just be grand?

Last year, I chose to submit, and selected submission as my word for the year.  It's become clear the theme for this new year is to worry not.  Message after message, God is telling me loud and clear that He's got this and not worry about tomorrow.  Whatever is in store, no matter the storms (or sun), He's by my side.

Sounds easy, but even with all the life lessons I've endured, I still worry.  And I can almost imagine God shaking his head as he sends me another reminder.  This week alone, I've seen Luke 12:27-28 as a reminder to have faith.  And Psalm 31:3 to remember he is my rock and will guide me.  Or, Jeremiah 29:11, which I just happened to put on our family calendar for January. And today, another perfect reflection of keeping my eyes on him even in the midst of a storm.

Excerpt from "Whispers of Hope" by Beth Moore devotional -

Matthew 14:22-33 We can be smack in the center of God's will and still go through terrible storms. Christ loved his disciples with all his heart but still "made" them get into the boat when He knew a storm was coming. They were exactly where they were supposed to be and still experienced frightening turbulence.

Can you relate to the disciples? Have you experienced a time when you knew you where God wanted you to be, but the storms were overwhelming?

Christ calls us to walk by faith through our storms. It seems like a big requirement until we realize Christ does far more than that--He walks on water during our storms. God has placed all things under Christ's feet--including the waves that break relentlessly against us. .....We want Christ to hurry and calm the storm. He wants us to find him in the midst of it first.

Again and again, God is whispering - and sometimes even shouting to not worry about tomorrow...to rest assured.  And so it is only fitting that be my word to focus on this year be - Assurance.

 

Looking ahead to 2014 with assurance,

 in He who holds my future!

 

 

Faithful Friday: Blind Faith

I've been scared twice this week.  Both have been by things I couldn't see.

I was pulling into the house the other night and a strange beeping comes across my phone.  On it was a message, "I see you." Unlike typical texts, it showed no number.  I'll admit I was a tad weirded out.

Sitting there - and glancing over my shoulders for a hidden stalker - I tried to figure out who and what this was.  And then he came bouncing out of the house, bowled over in laughter.

Mr. "App Man," I should've guessed it came from Noah.  He'd found a tracker app that, because he knows my user ID and password, he can spy on my location.  Even though he's my son (and I totally plan to use it for him), it still felt a little odd.  To think someone is watching and can "see" me at any point is a feeling I'm not quite comfortable with.

It's eerily correct, as if he's a member of a special CIA unit involved in a surveillance on me.  He'll randomly call or text me now and say, "Are you on 18th street?" or "You're almost home!"  This also totally takes away my plan to surprise them this summer and see if they're doing the flight-of-the-bumble-bee cleaning sweep right before I get home.

However, it makes Noah happy.  For one, he likes to pick on me.  More than anything, he probably enjoys seeing where I am, and most importantly, knowing when I'm close to home.

Last night on the way back from youth, Noah is rambling on about church and the fun they had.  In the midst of his scattered sentences he says, "Oh yeah, and I think I broke my finger!"  Like his mom, he can sway a bit on the dramatic side so I really thought nothing of it. 

He's a boy.  He plays basketball usually before and after any service at church.  He mentioned it again and it's purple shading so I glanced over.  It looked jammed to me.

Once home, Tim investigated.  He agreed.  We basically patted him on the head, told him to "man up," and sent him to bed. 

This morning, we sent him off to school, both still fairly certain it was just a jam.  When a call from the nurse came in a few hours later, I answered with a worry in my gut.  She agreed it was probably also a jam, but the swelling had increased and the purple color was intensifying. 

Now, my momma worry meter was full.

I stared at the finger as he walked into the office, looked at it on the way to the doctor and prayed over it while waiting for them to call us back.  It couldn't be broken.  It didn't look broken.

After inspection, much to everyone's surprise (including doc), the news was in.  It was broken!  Not a serious, make a trip to an orthopedic specialist, but a break just the same.  A small, hairline fracture that only can be seen through the magic of x-ray.

The outcome was probably the best though, especially for my sports loving, double athlete.  He can keep playing baseball and it shouldn't hinder the start of football season.  He was happy.  And in good enough spirits to remind me, "And Mom....you said to 'man up' it's just a jam!"

As I reflected on the week, though a humorous spin, this scripture seemed fitting for Faithful Friday.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

So often in this life, we are afraid or uncertain of what we cannot see.  If we cannot control it, we are unsure of the outcome.  I couldn't see Noah, but he could see me.  I couldn't see the break in his finger, but it was there. 

It is only through faith that we can rest assured of our future. Just because we can't see something, doesn't mean it isn't there.  I can face today because of my hope for tomorrow's Home.  And while I can't see God, I know he's always, always there.