A New Perspective~

My dearest brothers and sisters, Thank you for your patience these past few weeks while I have been away. I was busy as a bee preparing for Rachel's wedding, but it was truly a beautiful and sacred experience. I will share pictures soon. But for now, let's re-focus on what is most important: Our relationship with Christ. That is the only thing that lasts forever, and it deserves our loving care and attention. And even though I haven't written in a while, I did take many notes for DEVO topics, and I am eager to share these insights with you. Today's DEVO was inspired by Joni Tada. I have never met this amazing woman, but you all have heard about her before because she is one of my faith heroes. The morning of Rachel's wedding, amidst all the controlled chaos, I took a moment to read an email she sent, and it changed my perspective forever. These are her words... Suppose you're walking down a street when suddenly you're forced to carry a huge and heavy basket on your back. You're ordered to walk three blocks, turn left, go two blocks, turn right, then proceed straight on. Staggering under the weight, you stumble on, bewildered and angry. The whole thing is meaningless and crazy. When you are halfway down the third block, you finally scream, "What gives?!" The truth is then revealed. The burden you are carrying is your child, injured and unconscious. "Whaaaaat?" On top of all that, you discover you are not walking aimlessly around, but you are actually taking the most direct route to a hospital emergency room. Immediately you straighten up. Adrenaline and fresh energy quicken your pace and you move forward with a new attitude. Why the change? The suffering you're going through involves a relationship. Not just any relationship, but one with your child. Your relationship gives your burden meaning. Even your twisted path makes sense. You know where you are going. Your journey has a positive end -- the hospital -- and this instills hope. Suffering has no meaning in itself. Left to its own, it is a frustrating and bewildering burden. But given the context of relationship, suffering suddenly has meaning. ___________________________________ Right now, dear one, that "burden" you have been carrying can either weigh you down, or you can give it purpose by carrying it toward the Lord in prayer. You can allow yourself to become crushed under the weight of it, or you can purposely aim in the direction of where the healing is and find new meaning. Every single time we pray we are taking a step in the right direction. Every prayer brings us and the one we are carrying in prayer closer to the place of healing and hope. We may not always know or understand the route we are on, but if we can focus on that finish line, we will be renewed. I have a new appreciation for this verse: Isaiah 40:31 "But those who wait for the Lord--who expect, look for, and hope in Him--shall renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." PRAYER: Dear Lord, We are the kind of folks who hope in You. We look to You to renew our strength. Thank You that our suffering and our burdens have meaning and purpose, and thank You that as we pray, those we pray for as well we ourselves get closer to You. In Jesus' name, AMEN~