Confidence has its Rewards

According to my journal, today is the 37th day of quarantine. How time flies when we’re having so much fun! Even though there are many still in “crisis” mode because of the effects of the virus on their bodies, so many in financial straits, and others exhausted as front-liners, the end is actually in sight!

I felt it yesterday when I walked by my community’s golf course that has been closed because of the pandemic. The golfers were out in abundance. We can get our hope up – our expectors expecting! Soon we’ll be back in the routines of daily go – go! Workers will go to work. Graduates will get to have their graduation. Huggers will get to hug again. Campaigners will campaign again. Restaurants will be open for business. Parks will be full. Sports arenas and fields and entertainment parks will resume. “Open for Business” will be the norm again. But, we will never forget the pandemic of 2020.

These weeks of mandatory separation from others has given me plenty of time for spring cleaning and organizing. But, it has also been a time of reflection for me and my thoughts. Like many others, I never thought I would see anything like this in my country. I believe this will go down in history as a time the Church stood strong and saw the salvation of the Lord! We didn’t waver in our faith and belief that God is alive and well and He is still in control. We continued to pray. We continued to watch on-line church and I think the Sabbath day became what God really modeled for us in creation. That it is the Sabbath day to be kept holy as a day of rest. We have stood strong and together in unity!

I became extremely nostalgic when I was looking through my large bin of photos. The bin tipped over from the vulnerable place where I sat it. Those photos scattered all over my garage floor. I am convinced it was God’s way of having me look back at all the blessings and joys of family and friends over the years. It was my incentive to organize all those photos (hundreds, maybe thousands) and put them in organized boxes for my children and me.

This scripture came to me "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which will be greatly rewarded...” (Hebrews 10:35) Those photos reminded me of some of the “wins” we had after struggles. And, that’s what God shows us in His Word. That "confidence" scripture comes just before a long list of heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. I am always encouraged when I read about those great women and men of faith. They endured, and were rewarded. And that’s how God wants us to live – not in the past of regret and remorse, but scriptures, photos and memories that illustrate confidence, endurance AND wins!

These last few weeks have definitely been a tester of our faith. God loves us so much and He has our best interests at heart. If His power was enough to defeat sin and raise His Son from the dead, surely, He is delivering us. We have learned so many lessons about trust during these times. We placed our lives in hands. We’ve trusted Him and we will continue to trust Him in whatever and wherever our faith journey takes us. Just think about the faith muscles we’ve acquired during this time. We’ve not only endured the season – we are making it through it. Our endurance has paid off because of our genuine faith and trust in our unfailing God.

We’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel but we might be struggling with the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Oh, but, no fear, we know what lies ahead for us because our future is guaranteed by the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Did God Put His Kids in Time Out?

I watched Andrea Pacelli’s awe-inspiring Easter concert online on Sunday from the Cathedral of Milan. As magnifico as it was, I couldn’t help but think about the thousands who would usually attend one of his concerts. But this day, the Cathedral was empty, save Andrea and the organist. I noticed the empty streets in that bustling city where crowds come to visit the magnificent architecture and art everywhere. My husband and I were among the thousands there, entralled by this city's beauty, on our 40th anniversary cruise.

A couple of weeks ago, right in the middle of this shelter-in-place, I went to a doctor appointment and noticed how empty the streets were here. I thought to myself “It seems like a Sunday when so many folks stay home.” Then I started thinking about the Sabbath day that God specifically called for in the Ten Commandments #4 to be exact: “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." Have we kept this day holy? My musings continued: "What if God allowed this pandemic to get us shaped up and back to the main thing of being His devoted and consecrated people?" Like any good parent who loves their kids too much to let them keep on disobeying, maybe He was put out with our disobedience and slack in our observance of the Ten Commandments. And, He called for a “time-out” for us to reconsider our ways.

So, let’s just say that’s a truth – then what do good kids do while they’re in time out? I remember my daughter put her kids in time out, with an added-on discipline of writing a scripture verse at least ten times that represented their “infraction”. I also remember the necessity of apologizing to the one (usually her brother and vice versa) who had been the recipient of the naughtiness.

So what are we doing in this time-out? Especially, if we sensed in any way, that our Heavenly Father might be disciplining His kids? Proverbs 3:11-12 says “My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the LORD reproves Him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”

I'm sure God wants us to get along better. Maybe He wants us to “lie down in green pastures so He could restore our souls” (Psalm 23:4). Maybe He wants us to use our minds for creativity and ingenuity. Maybe He wants us to seek Him more. And so many of us have done that – we’ve been on daily prayer regimens, been a part of encouragement to others via Zoom-type meetings, and not missing a beat on attending church because we’ve watched on-line church.

As parents, we want our kids to learn from their mistakes, and when they do, there are so many rewards for those kiddos. I really think God nudged St. Paul’s writings with these words: “ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28) Our good, good Father knows best. He IS working out these times for our good. I just know it.

I’m doing my best to be my most faith-filled daughter to Him during my time out! I want to make my Father proud that I’ve learned my lessons well. How about you?

An Honest Day’s Pay for an Honest Day’s Work

Yesterday I remembered this quote after I saw two men that my son hired to help us. They moved heavy furniture from one room to another; they tore down boxes; they carried heavy boxes up to the attic; and they repositioned heavy rocks that had fallen. My son hired them at a “standard” spot, Home Depot parking lot in East Austin. It’s known as “the spot” to find men who desire an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. And, work these two men did. We accomplished so much with their help. They desperately wanted and needed to work and it felt so good to know we were able to be a blessing to him, while he was being a blessing to us.

I picked up my 11-year old grandson from school and he asked about our day and I told him about the men. We talked about how some folks stand on a street corner and they hold up a sign that says “Please help me” or “Please give me anything”, but not too often do we see them saying “Please let me help you" or "Please give me work.” I'm not judging them because I know every person has their own set of circumstances, but isn’t it encouraging to see someone who is willing to work and do whatever it takes to make a living?

God was the first worker and He sure did a good job in showing us what a meaningful day of work was all about. He “worked” for six days creating the world until He chose to rest and appreciate what He had accomplished. God’s example is “an honest day’s work”.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 says "If anyone doesn't want to work, he shouldn't eat." The Proverbs are filled with warnings to the lazy. Laziness is a major headache to employers, and more importantly, it must displease God. For example, Proverbs 6:10-11 “"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."

When my husband and I first married (at ages 17 & 18), I worked as a file clerk making $1.25 an hour. I was so happy at the end of the week when I was able to contribute to our budget. And my sweetheart was not only attending college, but he had a full time job, and on top of it, we were able to bring in a little more income by cleaning the church his dad pastored. Not a showy job to brag about except we did say “We’re getting to clean the porcelain thrones (the toilets)!” We would remember the scripture that said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I want to be on the side of pleasing God in everything I do – especially when I have the opportunity to be a “chip off God's block” -- work hard, and then sit back and be appreciative for the ability He gave me, as well as what that work produced.