Wednesday, August 24, 2011

HIGHWAY SIGN, PART TWO

Monday I told you how God was a comedian.

Today I'm going to tell you how He has a heart of gold.

The last 24 hours (I'm writing this on Monday) have been chock-full of bad news…

First of all, my only aunt died. I was very close to her. It was quite a blow – especially when the news came from my father. He wouldn't let my mom tell me, because it was his brother's wife. Now I love my dad, but *sensitive delivery* is not his forte. Therefore, this difficult message came in the form of a one-sided conversation – all business – with few details – and a quick hang-up. Oh well.

Good news is that my aunt was a strong believer, and I know that I'll see her again someday.

Then, my sons' truck developed all sorts of problemsall of a sudden – and that meant $$$ - and an inconvenient overnight stay at the mechanic.

And finally, my dearest grandbeagle Marty started acting weird – skittish and tentative. And he would yelp at the most ordinary movements. Well, one trip to the vet's office determined that he has a back injury. Oh, dear. I think he's going to be OK – but it's something that we'll have to keep our eye on. (Sidenote: Would you please keep him in your prayers?)

All of this news is hitting me after a very long summer of health issues and concerns, car troubles, two different debit card numbers stolen, random family stuff, financial demands, and a seemingly never-ending onslaught of anxiety-producing shots of adrenalin.

Let me tell you, I don't handle regular life too well most of the time (!!) – and this has all been a bit (a lot) overwhelming for me.

So, I had just finished talking with my sons as "The Hub" and I were driving home from our out-of-town trip on Monday. I had just found out the bad news about Marty and the truck.

I hung up, and started to cry.

It was JUST. TOO. MUCH.

"Lord, where are You? I feel so alone right now. I feel so nervous and confused. I feel so overwhelmed. I don't know what to do."

And then, I saw it – The Sign.

Nailed to a random telephone pole in the middle of nowhere was a small orange poster with these words on it:

TRUST JESUS.

Yes, it was – right there, right then.

I'm not kidding – I saw God smile.

He did.

And I realized something…

Sometimes I focus so much on my problems that I forget to remember The Answer. Sometimes I get so nervous that I forget to rely on The Prince of Peace. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the tide of my struggles that I forget that The Master of the Storm is the One who stands beside me.

Once He calmed the sea, and once He walked on water.

And that's what He's going to do with me. He will either calm the storm of *stuff* that's been hitting my personal "fan" lately, or He will walk on water in the middle of the storm and invite me to walk with Him through the waves.

Either way, He's there.

TRUST.

JESUS.

There's the secret.

Trust, don't fret. Trust, don't worry.

Jesus, not yourself. Jesus, not circumstances.

You see, He's got a heart of gold. And lately, He's been showing it to me in the most unexpected ways.

In a butterfly, on a poster –

I may not have seen a burning bush – but I tell you what, I've been fortunate to find smoldering shrubs all over the place!


Thank you, Lord – You are always there, and ever near.


How has the Lord made His presence known to you lately?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

13 comments:

  1. Hi Sharon -

    My condolences to you and your family, Sharon.
    How wonderful that your aunt will be joined by you...

    It has happened yet again!

    Today I did a post and mentioned peace, and I posted a photo of a butterfly. And then I came here and read your piece and observed that you mentioned peace and a butterfly!

    I especially love this that you expressed, Sharon:

    "...The Master of the Storm is the One who stands beside me."

    Hallelujah and Amen to that!

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  2. I am so sorry for your loss...but thoughts of heavenly reunions do bring comfort...

    A prayer for the grandpup and continuing grace for the overwhelming moments...

    "Sometimes I focus so much on my problems that I forget to remember The Answer. "...that is so true...

    In the middle of my own "active" summer...God placed the image in my mind and heart of His "big enough" hand carrying my troubles and worries...and how my problems shrink to the size of a grain of sand in the massiveness of that hand...I have clung to this assurance...

    The past few weeks have been very challenging...at times I have lost focus...last night, I cried out for some small sign or "heavenly hug" to know that the Lord was still listening...(I know...she of little faith)...

    This morning, one of the first devotionals I read began with this line...

    "Know this. From the moment you placed all in My Hands and sought no other aid, I have taken the quickest way possible to work out your salvation."...

    A mighty hug from my awesome God....

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  3. Oh Sharon,
    Sending you big hugs. This is a lovely blog, but I am sorry you are having to suffer so much sorrow. It seems Our Lord, is making himself know in many ways to many of us. Sometimes it wounds, we cry, he bottles our tears and bandages our wounds.

    You have and will be in my thoughts and prayers.

    God Bless - Nita

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  4. I'm so sorry for this time... and for all the heart pulls that hut, but I love your own asnwer to yourself...

    Sometimes I focus so much on my problems that I forget to remember The Answer.

    Isn't that just what we do? And then God gave you the special little reminder today that shifts the whole thing back into perspective.

    Special prayers and hugs tonight.

    xo

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  5. As I finished this, I thought of the number of times that I have said something along the lines of,"God, if you would just give me a sign." Sometimes I say it seriously. More often, it's just a dramatic little bit of comic relief.

    The truth is, He is in a perpetual state of sign giving. They are out there, I think, in every mile of minutia. It's not the giving that's the problem; it's the noticing.

    In two consecutive posts, you have reminded me that God can and DOES meet us in the road and hold up his signs. No matter whose human hands hold the paint brush or hammer and nails, it's all from Him.

    That little sign nailed to the pole is beautiful reflection of the One who nailed it. It was personal to YOU at that specific moment it time, and yet it was nailed for the world,

    for whosoever believeth...

    I am so sorry for the loss of your aunt. I had an aunt whom I loved like a mother. I remember what it was like to lose her. I'm also sorry that Marty is the latest to be "standing in the need of prayer". You and ALL that surrounds you continue to be in mine.

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  6. I am sending your prayers and hugs - I am so glad she was a Christian - but death of any loved one is hard! Love, sandie

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  7. Hugs and so sorry...and prayers right now. We have had a summer like that also, even the physical heat has been unbearable, but He is still here, He is still in control and He is fully aware of the storms coming our way...so I send you prayers and hugs as you lean on Him.

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  8. Such hard things. Sometimes trusting seems like an easy answer for heart pains. Aren't you happy we do have someone to trust in? What would we ever do without our trustworthy God?

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  9. Sharon, I am sorry for your loss, but thankful you can take comfort in knowing you will see her again.

    I am often guilty of focusing more on my circumstances than upon Jesus...but when we fix our eyes upon Him, our problems seem miniscule.

    Blessings to you and your family...

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  10. Blessings Sharon... More SIGNS and a heart of gold! Yet first, I must say how sorry I am for the loss of your dear aunt, but you can rejoice with the comfort of knowing she and you will be reunited. She will live on in your memories and your heart of gold...

    Multitudes of situations that could overwhelm us and in fact do, but since we have the assurance Jesus won this victory, we have hope and know that God will carry the burdens we give to Him, if we let Him.

    Now as to our beloved beagle Marty, I will continue to pray for relief for him from this back injury and pain. This saddens me, and you knew it would (or God did) so even my internet being down was a chance for me to pray and His grace to hold you through these heavy trials.
    I certainly understand the release of tears...
    (sigh)

    I do love how you walked us through this difficult time and gave us a way through with the Prince of Peace that we can TRUST and be assured that your 'burning bush'es are divine signs of His love for you. You know you are in my prayers and thoughts(Marty and the truck too)

    Songs help me through times like these just
    look at this 2nd one and allow God to continue speaking or maybe He has some more SIGNS to reveal how special you are.

    Love, hugs and prayers,
    Peggy

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  11. I appreciate so much your kind words. Yes, it's been a roller-coaster summer, and I've been stretched in new ways. But God is faithful - and He has given me some very encouraging blog friends to come alongside me. Thank you.

    I loved what all of you had to say. Karen, your image was so powerful - and I just teared up at the way that God confirmed it for you. He does indeed have loving hands that often reach all the way down from Heaven to us in the smallest and most intimate ways.

    God is always giving signs - (thanks, Debbie - you're so right) - and we just need to have our hearts attuned to Him all the time to be able to notice them.

    He lives, and He speaks - oh, what would we do without His love?

    Keep looking, dear ones - He is showing Himself faithful every day.

    GOD BLESS!

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  12. I am so sorry to hear of your loss and many other problems in your life. I know to well how you feel and so much can build up that you just think you can't take it anymore. I am such a worry wart about everything. I am always having to tell myself to just take a deep breath and let it out slowing. All the worry in the world or dwelling on problems don't change them. Ok I am good at given advice that I have a hard time taking myself. Try and remember when you were a child and your parents took care of everything and did all the worrying for you. Now as a grown-up you must think of God as your as your parent and he will take care of all this for you. Yes we must learn to give up ourselves to him.

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  13. Thank you for those wonderful words! Yes, I can remember that feeling when I was in total and trusting reliance on my parents for everything. It was a very calm and secure place to be. And yes, the Lord is even more trustworthy than they were - for He never changes, never disappoints.

    Glad I'm not the only worrywart out there. But, I'm with you, learning all the time how to rely on God, and draw strength from the fact that He sits on His throne, and knows all about me and my life.

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)