I recently had a chance to write on the topic “confidence” in a weekly writing challenge and my first inclination was to approach the topic on a positive note. You know, you are confident and want to do what is right or you attempt to overcome your inhibitions to do something that may scare you. It may simply be a difficult situation that tests your endurance. Everyone wants to be confident about something in life. The problem is how to be confident but not overly confident. How do we gain confidence? And where does that confidence come from?
Our family made several moves from state to state and it wasn’t easy. Trying to be confident that we were making the right decision and then following through and learning to make new friends took some time. It was hard to leave the comfort of the area where we lived and we certainly missed all our friends, but more than once the move was necessary. Eventually, after we moved and settled in, we adapted and our confidence increased as we learned to navigate throughout the new area.
Overcoming a fear such as the fear of heights is an area where our confidence may at one time have been shaken. There is a choice: always be afraid of heights or try to work through the problem and gain new confidence as you overcome the fear. I, for one, am not fond of heights and it was something that started when I was a young child. Once I was married and having children I tried to work through the fear. It took several baby steps at first and a lot of jittery feelings inside whenever I looked down, but I gradually learned to overcome my fear. Once I overcame my fear, I can handle most things such as climbing to the top of a mountain on a hike, relaxing while on an airplane trip, and being able to feel comfortable with greater heights. I can feel myself tense up inside when the height is too great and at that time I usually move to a place that seems safe.
In our Christian life we can be confident that our life in Jesus is secure if we have fully committed our life to Him. When things get bumpy along the pathway, we can place our trust in God. He can guide us to make good decisions about churches, questions about right or wrong issues with family life/morality and he can calm our fears when we face uncertain times. For me, this is probably the one area where I have the most confidence. I may make mistakes but when I falter I know that God will pick me up and set my feet on the right path. If He weren’t there for me, I don’t actually don’t know what I would do. I need someone to talk to when things get rough and knowing that He is there calms my inner spirit and gives me the confidence to go forward.
But what about the times that we are confident but actually wrong in our process of thinking? We don’t like to think about those moments but we all have them. Perhaps the one area I can relate to was when I was growing up. Say the word “test” and most students give a long groan. It is a necessary evil in learning material in school and it always meant a lot of studying for me. I usually didn’t have too much trouble coming up with the right answer. But there were times when I answered a question and was 100% certain that I was right only to find out that I was completely wrong. My confidence was slightly shaken and I learned an important lesson. You can be confident in what you are doing or trying to do but you CAN be totally wrong.
The one thing that I think everyone can associate with is the proverbial shortcut while driving from one point to another. If we are honest, we all have made the mistake of making a wrong turn or taken the scenic route and gotten lost along the way. Ever discover a “detour” sign and decide that there wasn’t really a detour there after all? Yes, if you decided to tempt fate you probably discovered that the sign was there for a reason. All the time you expected to save by ignoring the sign was lost when you had to turn around and follow the actual detour.
Everyone has probably found themselves in a traffic jam while coming home from work or driving to work in the morning. When you either left work or home, you knew pretty much how long it took to get from one place to the next. But an accident, road construction, or a closed lane can change the timing. I don’t know about you, but for me it was always at the time when I had to be somewhere at a specific time. Music lessons, dental exams, play rehearsals, and sports practices are all different after school activities and with each obligation, you are expected to be there on time or within a reasonable time after the appointment (probably 5 minutes or less). I know what I should have done but I felt that I could “control” everything so that I wouldn’t be late. Overly confident but wrong in my evaluation of the situation at hand.
On another occasion I was waiting at a stop sign so that I could move across the intersection. I had several cars behind me but when the highway was clear I began to accelerate only to discover that my car was in reverse rather than in drive. I forgot that I had decided to move back just a little when another car seemed too close while driving past. I was confident that I knew exactly what to do but I was totally wrong. If I hadn’t caught my mistake I could have ended up causing an accident and facing an upset driver who would never have really understood why my car was in reverse.
I could elaborate more but I think the message is clear. Being overly confident can be totally unpredictable and give me a result I never expected. Placing my confidence in Christ and letting him guide me is the only way to, shall I say, stay out of trouble.
Proverbs14:16 "A wise man fears and departs from evil but a fool rages and is self-confident"
(NKJV)
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Comfort in God's Arms
On a trip to the city of Shreveport, we had the opportunity to have some much deserved time as husband and wife. It always seemed that things were so busy at home that we never got any peace, hence the out-of town trip. We had been able to enjoy the evening so much that the time had gotten away from us. It wasn’t until 1:00 AM that we realized we had missed dinner. We found a restaurant near the hotel lobby and waited our turn for a table.
While we were waiting there was time to look at the surroundings. On a large wall of the hotel there was a complete exhibit of African cichlids swimming in an environment much like the natural habitat of Lake Malawi. It was peaceful to just watch the movement of the fish and to look for the baby fish hiding in the rocks and crevices. Since we have a tank of African cichlids at home I enjoyed the view even more.
In a separate area near the restaurant was a band. The guitar, bass guitar and drums resonated in the hallways. The lead singer was a young girl about twenty-four. Three young men played on the instruments. Several people were mingling and appeared to be having fun, butt for me, it was just too loud and noisy. I simply wanted to find a spot away from the night life that attracted so many people.
In the area to the right of the restaurant were a series of boutique shops that lined the hallway to the elevator that opened out to the parking garage. I turned my head to my immediate right and noticed a table of young people. The boys were wearing white tuxedos and the girls had a palette of spring color prom dresses. Everyone was laughing and enjoying the evening. What caught my attention and left a memory in my mind was the couple sitting near the back of the table. The young man looked very stylish and debonair in his white tuxedo and his date was wearing a burgundy gown with a beaded top. What I noticed most about this young lady was that she had her head resting on her date’s shoulder and her eyes were closed. I’m sure that she must have had a busy evening and a wonderful time, or at least I would like to think so, but now there was a peaceful look on her face, a look of contentment and happiness.
The scene kept my attention. It made me think of God and the way I need to rest in Him. I’m usually going in so many directions that I seldom take time to rest and let God take all the cares and worries of this world on His shoulder. This was particularly true of the time period when my children were in school. I taught in a Christian school and had four boys at home all of which had homework and wanted to be in sports. Eventually I burned out and had to take a break to rest and renew my physical body. I was trying too hard to be a super mom rather than let God have complete control of my life and its direction. If I give Him control of my life, then I can rest peacefully in his arms. I have no reason to fear or be anxious.
For some people it is easy to think of God wrapping His arms around us and holding us protectively against the problems of our world. For me it wasn’t so easy since the home environment was one that didn’t openly show love and affection. I seldom saw love expressed with a hug or kiss and at times I lived in fear of an angry parent punishing me
John 3:16 is a key verse that I need to remember. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s gift to the world was His son. No one can really experience the pain that God must have felt while he watched His son take the sins of the world upon His shoulders, but a love like that only comes once in a lifetime. Since He gave so much I should trust Him completely. When I give Him complete control of my life, I can rest my head on His shoulders, take comfort in His arms and be at peace. I don’t have to run around feverishly trying to accomplish something. I won’t feel exhausted and worn out but I will be at peace with God knowing that He cares for me.
While we were waiting there was time to look at the surroundings. On a large wall of the hotel there was a complete exhibit of African cichlids swimming in an environment much like the natural habitat of Lake Malawi. It was peaceful to just watch the movement of the fish and to look for the baby fish hiding in the rocks and crevices. Since we have a tank of African cichlids at home I enjoyed the view even more.
In a separate area near the restaurant was a band. The guitar, bass guitar and drums resonated in the hallways. The lead singer was a young girl about twenty-four. Three young men played on the instruments. Several people were mingling and appeared to be having fun, butt for me, it was just too loud and noisy. I simply wanted to find a spot away from the night life that attracted so many people.
In the area to the right of the restaurant were a series of boutique shops that lined the hallway to the elevator that opened out to the parking garage. I turned my head to my immediate right and noticed a table of young people. The boys were wearing white tuxedos and the girls had a palette of spring color prom dresses. Everyone was laughing and enjoying the evening. What caught my attention and left a memory in my mind was the couple sitting near the back of the table. The young man looked very stylish and debonair in his white tuxedo and his date was wearing a burgundy gown with a beaded top. What I noticed most about this young lady was that she had her head resting on her date’s shoulder and her eyes were closed. I’m sure that she must have had a busy evening and a wonderful time, or at least I would like to think so, but now there was a peaceful look on her face, a look of contentment and happiness.
The scene kept my attention. It made me think of God and the way I need to rest in Him. I’m usually going in so many directions that I seldom take time to rest and let God take all the cares and worries of this world on His shoulder. This was particularly true of the time period when my children were in school. I taught in a Christian school and had four boys at home all of which had homework and wanted to be in sports. Eventually I burned out and had to take a break to rest and renew my physical body. I was trying too hard to be a super mom rather than let God have complete control of my life and its direction. If I give Him control of my life, then I can rest peacefully in his arms. I have no reason to fear or be anxious.
For some people it is easy to think of God wrapping His arms around us and holding us protectively against the problems of our world. For me it wasn’t so easy since the home environment was one that didn’t openly show love and affection. I seldom saw love expressed with a hug or kiss and at times I lived in fear of an angry parent punishing me
John 3:16 is a key verse that I need to remember. “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s gift to the world was His son. No one can really experience the pain that God must have felt while he watched His son take the sins of the world upon His shoulders, but a love like that only comes once in a lifetime. Since He gave so much I should trust Him completely. When I give Him complete control of my life, I can rest my head on His shoulders, take comfort in His arms and be at peace. I don’t have to run around feverishly trying to accomplish something. I won’t feel exhausted and worn out but I will be at peace with God knowing that He cares for me.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Burdens or Blessings
Q. How do you handle life's problems? Are events blessings or burdens and how that does that relate to how others see you? Do you try to witness to others during this time?
My one aim in life is to have others see Christ in me. This means being consistent in everything I do and willing to apologize to others if I slip up and do something that is not Christ-like. I have to realize that my life is a microscope that others are watching even when I don’t know about it.
Blessings and burdens are part of our Christian life. The blessings are the wonderful ways that God answers our prayers. Often they come after a period of trials that have tested my ability to put all things into the control of Christ. Receiving money to pay bills that are due, having a family member recover from a serious sickness, and safety on the highway during long trips are just a few of the ways that God shows me His face.
For me, during the really rough times I seek out someone who is a sincere Christian so that I can talk through things. The person I choose has to be someone who can keep confidences and will pray with me while the problem exists. Others may notice that I am quieter during these times and wonder what is going on. If I can keep a calm outward look even though I am struggling inwardly others will notice and realize that there is a difference in my life. When that happens, I can share Christ with them. To say that I always turn my problems over to the Lord is to deny that I am human. I make mistakes but problem-solving is in God’s hands.
Whether my life is going through a period when I am struggling with problems or a time when I am receiving blessings, I should be assured that Christ is always by my side. That needs to be my one constant part of life, security in Christ. Hopefully others will see Him in me through both the bad and good times.
My one aim in life is to have others see Christ in me. This means being consistent in everything I do and willing to apologize to others if I slip up and do something that is not Christ-like. I have to realize that my life is a microscope that others are watching even when I don’t know about it.
Blessings and burdens are part of our Christian life. The blessings are the wonderful ways that God answers our prayers. Often they come after a period of trials that have tested my ability to put all things into the control of Christ. Receiving money to pay bills that are due, having a family member recover from a serious sickness, and safety on the highway during long trips are just a few of the ways that God shows me His face.
For me, during the really rough times I seek out someone who is a sincere Christian so that I can talk through things. The person I choose has to be someone who can keep confidences and will pray with me while the problem exists. Others may notice that I am quieter during these times and wonder what is going on. If I can keep a calm outward look even though I am struggling inwardly others will notice and realize that there is a difference in my life. When that happens, I can share Christ with them. To say that I always turn my problems over to the Lord is to deny that I am human. I make mistakes but problem-solving is in God’s hands.
Whether my life is going through a period when I am struggling with problems or a time when I am receiving blessings, I should be assured that Christ is always by my side. That needs to be my one constant part of life, security in Christ. Hopefully others will see Him in me through both the bad and good times.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
No Room for Gloom
The sky was dark and ominous and it was so black that it was hard to see anything outlined in the world outside. Thunder resonated noisily in the air and the sound seemed like a huge bass drum rumbling near the finale of a piece of music. Wide streaks of blinding white lightning zigzagged across the sky piercing the vast darkness into two distinct vertical blocks. Heavy drops of rain poured down in sheets on the window panes in Beth’s bedroom. The only source of light in the room came from the various sized candles which gave off a soft luminescent yellow glow. The electricity had been off for an hour.
Beth gave a long exaggerated sigh and wondered if the gloomy weather would ever change. It had been raining for over two weeks. It wasn’t so frustrating at first but as the days turned into weeks it became more of a hassle. Mentally she was worn out and a thick cloud of depression set in. Beth knew there was no conceivable way to control the weather but she certainly wished that the sun would move away from its hiding place behind the clouds and shine its bright yellow rays downward. Normally she could keep the depressive feelings beneath the surface but this time the hopeless despondency felt like nothing would ever be the same. All the joy and fun of living seemed to dissipate into thin air. It felt like happiness was a million miles away. Would there ever be a time when she would feel joy? Not just a superficial emotion but a joy that carried way down to the depths of her soul. Where did I go wrong?
Daughter, listen to my voice! I hear your cry for happiness.
When had the happy moments vanished? I had been busy for so long that just trying to sit down and relax was a problem. The sound of four active enthusiastic boys in the home were silenced as they one by one moved away and finished college. Empty nest is what everyone calls this season of my life but at times I feel lost without all the activity. God, show me the path I need to take now.
My child, trust me and I will show you new opportunities for service.
Wait! That’s the difference. I’ve tried to handle things my own way over the past few weeks. I always used to get up early in the morning to read my Bible and pray. I have started my day in a rush without even a minute of thanks. God, I have left you patiently waiting for me each morning, expectantly hoping I would take just a few minutes with you. Please forgive me for pushing you into the background.
Beth, forgiveness is only a prayer away.
That night I opened my Bible and talked to God. The heavy burden I had been carrying was lifted and the following morning I set aside quiet time for just God and me. The day had a new focus and although I felt sad at times, I began to see the positive things that were hiding in each day. A simple smile or “Thank you” helped others to feel special. Time spent outdoors opened my eyes to new and wonderful moments of peace and admiration for God’s creation. All the little things seemed more precious that day. A pink rose in full bloom, the chirp of a bird, and the shades of green in the landscape were all part of the Maker’s portrait. I began to see His hand in everything. Hearing His voice beside me gave me assurance and quieted my restless moments.
Daughter, I love you and will give you the joy that you desire. Cherish each day and let me show you the way
I have discovered happiness lies within me. When God is a part of my daily life, my soul can soar with Him and the depression leaves. When I take my Heavy heart to God with an Apologetic attitude offering a Penitent prayer I can have Perfect Peace. The Yoke of bondage falls off my shoulders and Christ’s face illuminates the dark recesses of my mind. Even if the sun fails to shine each day, when the Son shines in my heart I can be happy.
Psalm 68:3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (NIV)
Beth gave a long exaggerated sigh and wondered if the gloomy weather would ever change. It had been raining for over two weeks. It wasn’t so frustrating at first but as the days turned into weeks it became more of a hassle. Mentally she was worn out and a thick cloud of depression set in. Beth knew there was no conceivable way to control the weather but she certainly wished that the sun would move away from its hiding place behind the clouds and shine its bright yellow rays downward. Normally she could keep the depressive feelings beneath the surface but this time the hopeless despondency felt like nothing would ever be the same. All the joy and fun of living seemed to dissipate into thin air. It felt like happiness was a million miles away. Would there ever be a time when she would feel joy? Not just a superficial emotion but a joy that carried way down to the depths of her soul. Where did I go wrong?
Daughter, listen to my voice! I hear your cry for happiness.
When had the happy moments vanished? I had been busy for so long that just trying to sit down and relax was a problem. The sound of four active enthusiastic boys in the home were silenced as they one by one moved away and finished college. Empty nest is what everyone calls this season of my life but at times I feel lost without all the activity. God, show me the path I need to take now.
My child, trust me and I will show you new opportunities for service.
Wait! That’s the difference. I’ve tried to handle things my own way over the past few weeks. I always used to get up early in the morning to read my Bible and pray. I have started my day in a rush without even a minute of thanks. God, I have left you patiently waiting for me each morning, expectantly hoping I would take just a few minutes with you. Please forgive me for pushing you into the background.
Beth, forgiveness is only a prayer away.
That night I opened my Bible and talked to God. The heavy burden I had been carrying was lifted and the following morning I set aside quiet time for just God and me. The day had a new focus and although I felt sad at times, I began to see the positive things that were hiding in each day. A simple smile or “Thank you” helped others to feel special. Time spent outdoors opened my eyes to new and wonderful moments of peace and admiration for God’s creation. All the little things seemed more precious that day. A pink rose in full bloom, the chirp of a bird, and the shades of green in the landscape were all part of the Maker’s portrait. I began to see His hand in everything. Hearing His voice beside me gave me assurance and quieted my restless moments.
Daughter, I love you and will give you the joy that you desire. Cherish each day and let me show you the way
I have discovered happiness lies within me. When God is a part of my daily life, my soul can soar with Him and the depression leaves. When I take my Heavy heart to God with an Apologetic attitude offering a Penitent prayer I can have Perfect Peace. The Yoke of bondage falls off my shoulders and Christ’s face illuminates the dark recesses of my mind. Even if the sun fails to shine each day, when the Son shines in my heart I can be happy.
Psalm 68:3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. (NIV)
I'm back and writing again...
Hi Everyone! For those of you who are regular readers, I have been taking a couple of months off and have been writing for a Christian website. The site has a weekly challenge and the topic changes from things like "happy", "embarrassed", "confident", or other emotions. Topics like music, children's stories, shopping, adventure or teacher are also part fo the challenge topics. It tests my ability to write on a specific topic and has a word count restriction. It has been a real learning experience.
As for other things that have kept me busy, I have made two trips to Atlanta and will be going there again this week. It's always fun to take some time to spoil my grandchildren. We have taken long weekends to visit our other boys. We haven't seen Jason yet but we are looking forward to seeing him over Labor Day weekend.
My goal for now is to try to spend more time on this blog and hopefully my brain can give me some new thoughts or stories.
As for other things that have kept me busy, I have made two trips to Atlanta and will be going there again this week. It's always fun to take some time to spoil my grandchildren. We have taken long weekends to visit our other boys. We haven't seen Jason yet but we are looking forward to seeing him over Labor Day weekend.
My goal for now is to try to spend more time on this blog and hopefully my brain can give me some new thoughts or stories.
Friday, May 11, 2007
WHERE'S MY DUCKY?
There it was at my feet. A blue “fishing pole” with a knit ducky attached to the end by a string. The fishing pole came moving forward towards me and then fell at my feet. There it was waiting for me to pick it up. It was the first thing I did every morning. My Bengal cat was ready to play and his favorite toy since he was four months old was the ducky. It was his favorite thing to do and whenever he was ready to play, he let me know by bringing the ducky from wherever it was in the house.
The game was rather simple. Use the “fishing pole” to hide ducky under the bed while Beau waited for the right time to pounce on the toy. Sometimes he liked to hide under the bed ruffle and wait for the ducky to swing by. Then at times he liked to have ducky up on the bed where it could hide under the covers or fly up in the air. That trick meant that Beau had to catch his prey in the air and bring it down to his level where he could show ducky that he was the king. The game fascinated him and it was played more than once through the day. Each time he brought the toy to me and begged to play.
Cats are known for their independence and usually when I want to spend some time with him in my lap, he could seem to care less. He will jump down and walk away. Then when I am really busy he becomes very insistent that he wants my attention. He will crawl over the computer desk, sit down on the bed while I am trying to fold clothes, or sit on the back of the rocker and put his paws in my hair. For some reason that satisfies him but the resulting hairdo is much less than perfect. But then that is why I like cats. I appreciate their personality and rather than make them behave I have to “read” their facial expressions or body language. I have the challenge of meeting them on their own terms.
There is a wonderful comparison between my cat and his antics and my relationship to God. Unlike my cat, I don’t have to get God’s attention. He is always there and hears me whenever I call upon Him. I can call upon Him and don’t have to wave anything back and forth to get His attention. He always has time for me and even when I have lost my way He still is there beside me. He knows my emotions and doesn’t have to play a guessing game to see if He can find me. Isn’t it great to know that God cares enough so that I always have His attention!
The game was rather simple. Use the “fishing pole” to hide ducky under the bed while Beau waited for the right time to pounce on the toy. Sometimes he liked to hide under the bed ruffle and wait for the ducky to swing by. Then at times he liked to have ducky up on the bed where it could hide under the covers or fly up in the air. That trick meant that Beau had to catch his prey in the air and bring it down to his level where he could show ducky that he was the king. The game fascinated him and it was played more than once through the day. Each time he brought the toy to me and begged to play.
Cats are known for their independence and usually when I want to spend some time with him in my lap, he could seem to care less. He will jump down and walk away. Then when I am really busy he becomes very insistent that he wants my attention. He will crawl over the computer desk, sit down on the bed while I am trying to fold clothes, or sit on the back of the rocker and put his paws in my hair. For some reason that satisfies him but the resulting hairdo is much less than perfect. But then that is why I like cats. I appreciate their personality and rather than make them behave I have to “read” their facial expressions or body language. I have the challenge of meeting them on their own terms.
There is a wonderful comparison between my cat and his antics and my relationship to God. Unlike my cat, I don’t have to get God’s attention. He is always there and hears me whenever I call upon Him. I can call upon Him and don’t have to wave anything back and forth to get His attention. He always has time for me and even when I have lost my way He still is there beside me. He knows my emotions and doesn’t have to play a guessing game to see if He can find me. Isn’t it great to know that God cares enough so that I always have His attention!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
FINDING THE BEST SHORTCUT
Saving time. It's something we all try to do. It no longer seems like a day is a full twenty-four hours. There are committments to keep, jobs around the home that need attention, and children who need help in getting to a sports activity, doing homework or just need some special time or advice from a parent. It's so much to keep up with. That's why shortcuts are used so often.
Perhaps one of the most obvious things we all do is take a shortcut when we are around the house. I may need a hammer to hit something but rather than find the hammer, I use a block of wood or other flat object that looks like it will do the trick. Eventually I realize that only a hammer will work and I go on a hunt for the tool that I should have used in the first place.
The shortcut I take more than anything else is using a substitute for a ladder or step stool. I am about 5 feet tall and it always seems that everything is just out of my reach. I know I need a ladder but I try to stand on the closest thing nearby that I think will support my weight. Things may come down from the shelf but they don’t come down safely. I may stand on a chair or on the bed to change a light bulb rather than take the time to use a short step stool. The other area where I use shortcuts is when I am in the garage. Since our garage does not look like the neat and tidy ones on the home improvement shows, I usually have trouble finding what I want. That’s when I try to reach across a box or behind an object and hope to latch onto it so I can avoid moving all the clutter to get to what I needed. Usually that is when something falls down and I have a worse situation not than when I started. The quick fix caused more trouble that if I would have done things right the first time.
Our family is not mechanically inclined. We depend on an auto shop for repairs and maintenance for our cars. But at times we may have to wait to get something fixed/ That is when we usually take some type of shortcut so we can have a little more time to get the money we need to pay for repairs. On one of our visits to Pennsylvania we had a problem with our car. We would be driving along and from time to time we could not get the car started. We took it in to a mechanic where we were vacationing and he told us how much it would cost to fix it properly. The cost seemed high and we really wanted to have it serviced at home. The mechanic then showed us how to get safely home with a "little fix". There was a little cog that had been broken off and whenever that broken part came up to the top where the belt was, the car would not start. Here's the way we ended up and drove home. We started the car and if the engine wouldn’t turn over, we lifted up the hood and took a hammer and hit in the area where the missing cog was. With a little ingenuity we could start the car and continue on our way. We traveled over 350 miles like that!
Another shortcut I remember was also on vacation. We were within a couple of hours from our destination when we cane across a road closed sigh. If we took the time to turn around and go back to the nearest town we would lose 30 minutes of our time. My husband and his parents had constructed the cabin in the ‘60’s where we were going. Since he was very familiar with the area and claimed that he knew a shortcut, I put my trust in him. He was very familiar with the area and we were tired and wanted to just get to the cabin where we could rest. After several minutes passed I began to question whether or not he had missed a turn. He reassured me that he knew what he was doing and it wouldn’t be much longer until we reached the road. After almost an hour of driving we ended up back at our starting point. Trying to save time and take the shortcut took a large amount of time that we could have saved if we had followed the sign in the first place.
I know of an elderly lady who is living by herself. She does not have a lot of resources of money to get everything fixed. She has been having trouble with her washing machine for years. Rather than buy another one she takes a stick of wood and places it inside the washer, gives it a couple of whacks and the washer starts the cycle again. Not the best way to solve a problem and definitely there is a risk of getting hurt in the process, but it is a quick fix solution and apparently works.
I have a friend who is single and decided to clean and update part of her home. She decided to work on the floors in the kitchen and dining room and together we scrubbed off the old dirt and polished the floor so it was clean and shiny. She had dining room table set on the floor with a rug under it. Rather than move the table and clean the floor underneath, she simply ignored it because no one could see it. On another occasion she decided to paint the walls in her front hall and living room. She worked hard to lighten up the dark colors and the room looked brighter and more inviting. But she had heavy furniture and a large aquarium that was set up. Rather than move the furniture or even try to move the aquarium, she painted only the portion of the wall that she could reach. So, in several areas the wall was the original color, you just couldn’t see it. Another homeowner who purchased the home would see the problem because it would be visible.
As humans we try to find quick fixes for solutions in life. We spend money that we don’t have to help us feel better. We go on vacations that we can’t afford. We may binge eat or not eat at all to help us deal with the emotions of hurt, anger, and loneliness. We work hard at covering up problem areas in our life rather than face the situation “head-on”.
What is the one stabilizing force in our life that can help us? For Christians and others who look to us for answers the only to have the strength to work through the difficult times of life is to take our problems to the Lord. There is no “quick fix” for healing our minds and getting us focused on actually solving the problem. There is no shortcut to salvation. The steps are simple and all we have to do is to put our trust in the Lord. There are no quick solutions here. You must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that through Him We don’t have the answers to many things in life and without Him we can do nothing. Once we have accepted His sovereignty, confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness we put Him in control of our life. When we move through life with Him at our side we can find peace and happiness. The result of letting Him into our life is the “best fix” for everything.
Perhaps one of the most obvious things we all do is take a shortcut when we are around the house. I may need a hammer to hit something but rather than find the hammer, I use a block of wood or other flat object that looks like it will do the trick. Eventually I realize that only a hammer will work and I go on a hunt for the tool that I should have used in the first place.
The shortcut I take more than anything else is using a substitute for a ladder or step stool. I am about 5 feet tall and it always seems that everything is just out of my reach. I know I need a ladder but I try to stand on the closest thing nearby that I think will support my weight. Things may come down from the shelf but they don’t come down safely. I may stand on a chair or on the bed to change a light bulb rather than take the time to use a short step stool. The other area where I use shortcuts is when I am in the garage. Since our garage does not look like the neat and tidy ones on the home improvement shows, I usually have trouble finding what I want. That’s when I try to reach across a box or behind an object and hope to latch onto it so I can avoid moving all the clutter to get to what I needed. Usually that is when something falls down and I have a worse situation not than when I started. The quick fix caused more trouble that if I would have done things right the first time.
Our family is not mechanically inclined. We depend on an auto shop for repairs and maintenance for our cars. But at times we may have to wait to get something fixed/ That is when we usually take some type of shortcut so we can have a little more time to get the money we need to pay for repairs. On one of our visits to Pennsylvania we had a problem with our car. We would be driving along and from time to time we could not get the car started. We took it in to a mechanic where we were vacationing and he told us how much it would cost to fix it properly. The cost seemed high and we really wanted to have it serviced at home. The mechanic then showed us how to get safely home with a "little fix". There was a little cog that had been broken off and whenever that broken part came up to the top where the belt was, the car would not start. Here's the way we ended up and drove home. We started the car and if the engine wouldn’t turn over, we lifted up the hood and took a hammer and hit in the area where the missing cog was. With a little ingenuity we could start the car and continue on our way. We traveled over 350 miles like that!
Another shortcut I remember was also on vacation. We were within a couple of hours from our destination when we cane across a road closed sigh. If we took the time to turn around and go back to the nearest town we would lose 30 minutes of our time. My husband and his parents had constructed the cabin in the ‘60’s where we were going. Since he was very familiar with the area and claimed that he knew a shortcut, I put my trust in him. He was very familiar with the area and we were tired and wanted to just get to the cabin where we could rest. After several minutes passed I began to question whether or not he had missed a turn. He reassured me that he knew what he was doing and it wouldn’t be much longer until we reached the road. After almost an hour of driving we ended up back at our starting point. Trying to save time and take the shortcut took a large amount of time that we could have saved if we had followed the sign in the first place.
I know of an elderly lady who is living by herself. She does not have a lot of resources of money to get everything fixed. She has been having trouble with her washing machine for years. Rather than buy another one she takes a stick of wood and places it inside the washer, gives it a couple of whacks and the washer starts the cycle again. Not the best way to solve a problem and definitely there is a risk of getting hurt in the process, but it is a quick fix solution and apparently works.
I have a friend who is single and decided to clean and update part of her home. She decided to work on the floors in the kitchen and dining room and together we scrubbed off the old dirt and polished the floor so it was clean and shiny. She had dining room table set on the floor with a rug under it. Rather than move the table and clean the floor underneath, she simply ignored it because no one could see it. On another occasion she decided to paint the walls in her front hall and living room. She worked hard to lighten up the dark colors and the room looked brighter and more inviting. But she had heavy furniture and a large aquarium that was set up. Rather than move the furniture or even try to move the aquarium, she painted only the portion of the wall that she could reach. So, in several areas the wall was the original color, you just couldn’t see it. Another homeowner who purchased the home would see the problem because it would be visible.
As humans we try to find quick fixes for solutions in life. We spend money that we don’t have to help us feel better. We go on vacations that we can’t afford. We may binge eat or not eat at all to help us deal with the emotions of hurt, anger, and loneliness. We work hard at covering up problem areas in our life rather than face the situation “head-on”.
What is the one stabilizing force in our life that can help us? For Christians and others who look to us for answers the only to have the strength to work through the difficult times of life is to take our problems to the Lord. There is no “quick fix” for healing our minds and getting us focused on actually solving the problem. There is no shortcut to salvation. The steps are simple and all we have to do is to put our trust in the Lord. There are no quick solutions here. You must first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that through Him We don’t have the answers to many things in life and without Him we can do nothing. Once we have accepted His sovereignty, confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness we put Him in control of our life. When we move through life with Him at our side we can find peace and happiness. The result of letting Him into our life is the “best fix” for everything.
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