Turn the Other Cheek

A man took several blows to the eye from a stranger during a road rage confrontation.  This young man's wife and small child were in the car.  What would be the natural reaction to this ridiculous unwarranted attack?  Many a provoked man would strike back, but this man did not return a punch and announced "We're done," and got back in his car to remove his family from the situation.

My friend was telling our mission trip group this true story about a friend during our last meeting.  I announced, half-serious and half-way hoping that I was joking, that you never know what would happen this week--when we might have a "turn the other cheek" moment.  Well, I kind of had mine today.

In Matthew 5:39, Jesus says, "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

I wasn't socked in the eye nor struck on the cheek, but I was confronted by a neighbor.  I had pretended to be a gardener, apartment style, and transferred my zinnias to a smaller pot.  In the process I managed to get potting soil all over my balcony.  I swept the dirt off my second story balcony thinking the wind would carry the dirt off breaking it up and away to the river.  Thirty minutes later, I had a startling knock at my door.

My downstairs neighbor, whom I had never met, confronted me, told me that the dirt had covered his chairs, and asked that I not do that again.  He was bold and assertive in his manner but not rude.  After the fact, I thought about what my human nature wanted to say to him, fuel ignited by assumptions about character previously to this encounter. 

However, in the moment, I responded apologetically and with kindness.  I offered to clean it up which he declined.  I also offered him some extra potting soil which he also declined.  I think the kind response caught him off-guard.  I can only explain my response by the Holy Spirit guiding me to do not what is natural, but what is unnatural.  I feel that is the way Jesus responded, the supernatural.  Perhaps that is what He meant by turning the other cheek.

I certainly have not responded the way I should have more times than I can count, but here is one time I actually did respond in a way that is unnatural, and that is why I wanted to share it. 

Celebrate the Small Stuff

In the midst of graduation parties and Mother's Day and birthdays and...all the fun events and people to celebrate, I was able to have more reasons to give thanks.

On a recent Friday, I arrived at my speech therapy room at work to find a student hovering around my door.  He said, "Come here.  I got something for you."  I was surprised and excited.  "For me?" 

"Yeah, come here. I want to show you."  He led me to my back door to a tiny unused patio where I sometimes let the boys take a shortcut to the playground through the bushes.  He had a little crate of zinnias for me and one for his mother.  I smiled and told him, "You made my day."

He spent the first ten minutes of the school day tracking down our Gardening Instructor and begging her to let him plant the zinnias in pots for his mother and me.  How precious!!

That very day after lunch, I checked my mailbox in the workroom.  There was an anonymous donation of $100.00 to go towards my Haiti trip (see previous blog re: garage sale blues).  I boo-hooed!  I was touched, humbled, and deeply grateful!  I wanted to thank someone but didn't know who to thank.  I told a few co-workers to spread the word of how thankful I was if they knew who contributed (as I teared up again). 

So these may seem like small things to celebrate to some, but to me they were so special!!

He's Able

Well, I was certainly challenged to believe what I wrote in the last blog.  I worked so hard today with two other team members to have a garage sale to raise money for our mission trip to Haiti in July.  I tried hard not to have any expectations of how much we would earn.  I remained positive when other vendors around us were seeing the glass half empty.  We battled last minute advertisement and construction surrounding our site.  We battled complaints from buyers, broken glass, and unfulfilled handshakes.  Still I chose to have a smile and enjoy the nice weather, the shade, and the conversation with new friends.  

Boy was my hope tank deflated when we only made $130.00 which is to be split three ways.  All that work for a small amount.  I certainly was frustrated and had put my trust in circumstances.  I had to return to my previous blog entry as well as take a long nap.  I prayed to handle this with perseverance.  

I recently told the team that you never know how God will provide the money for our trip.  My mentor has told me before "If God has called you, he has also called the funds."  Of course, we will be faithful to contribute and do our part.  

I told my team of my first mission trip to Peru and the lessons I learned in fund raising.  The woman whose house had recently burned to the ground was the very woman who provided the most money towards my mission trip.  I cried, and I will never forget it.  I can only assume that she perhaps felt so blessed by others helping out after her house burned that she wanted to help others.

Music is so important to me and such a lifter to my soul when the song is encouraging.  I listened to "He's Able" by Darwin Hobbs.  It is a song I heard on a gospel channel last year while driving to work.  Later that Spring as I was going through a dark time with a loved one who was in the hospital, the song ministered to me.  As that loved one was being transported by wheelchair in the elevator, the hospital transport randomly belted out that one line of the song, "He's able."  I knew that was from God.  A little message to trust at a time when I couldn't understand what was going on and was tempted to despair.

So once again, I am reminded, 

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  -Ephesians 3:20

Pink Peacock

I took a picture of this peacock and wanted to make him have some funky colors.

The Best Laid Plans...

I hurriedly try to take a shortcut to save time only to realize that there actually isn't an entrance to the highway where I thought there was.

I impatiently try to get in the short line at the grocery store only to wait longer than the line that I was previously in. (You know you watch the line you left behind, too!!)

I unsuccessfully try to make all these plans and envision a glorious outcome for certain events in my life only to be surprised or disappointed.

Well, I was once advised through my readings to take my expectations, write them down, then rip the paper up and let them go.  Expectations are good at times, but I am learning to surrender some I've white-knuckled for too long.

I remember a time when I was at a crossroads in my life, trying to make a big decision.  I attended a women's event at my church.  I do love a lively church ladies' event!  We were told at the end of the dinner to pick a balloon from the scattering of balloons blown up around the room.  We were to pop our chosen balloon to find a verse inside.  I remember that my balloon verse really hit home with me at that time.  I was encouraged to just let go of some of those worries and leave it in His hands. The verse was Proverbs 16: 9-
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."

It's okay to plan.  It's okay to be prepared--you scouts out there.  However, the lesson I feel I am to receive lately is to surrender, let go of my attempt to force things that aren't going to happen.  Life isn't going to be perfect, and it isn't going to happen according to my script.  I need to seek Him and let Him shape my heart and desires.  The Lord will provide the joy for the journey.  When I am consistently disappointed, then I know that I am placing my hope in circumstances and not in the Lord.

Proverbs 3: 5, 6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

By Faith (enter your name here)...

Abraham was told when he was 75 years old when God told Abraham of His promise to bless Abraham's offspring.  Now that's waiting!  And yet, he had to wait more.  He waited 25 more years before Isaac was born

I heard an inspiring sermon this morning on faith.  Our music minister started off the service saying, "How's your faith today?"  I appreciated his transparency when he later said that his faith was low today.  He had been depending on himself and his focus and his faith had not been fixed on the Lord.  

The sermon had so much spiritual meat in it, I am still chewing on it.  I will share with you a small part of it.  Abraham was called to take steps of faith, including leaving the familiar.  He often didn't know the details, but he knew God.  And in Hebrews 11, the Word repeatedly says, "By faith Abraham..."

What does this tell me about Abraham?  He trusted.  He had faith.  He is an example of one who waited on the Lord.  He wasn't perfect, and at one point with persuasion from his wife, tried to take matters into his own hands.  (I'm guilty of this!)

What does this tell me about God?  He wants us to trust Him.  He wants us to have faith.  He provides.  He follows through on His promises.  

What have I been thinking about how this pertains to my life?

-I want to trust and have faith and believe like Abraham did.

-Why is it so much easier to believe for others than to believe for yourself?  I can easily say and believe for others who are waiting, "It's going to happen for you!"  "God has plans for you." 

 Jeremiah 29:11 " 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' "

-I am helping to co-lead a mission trip to Haiti this summer, and this definitely calls for faith and trust with a lot of unknowns.  I enjoyed hearing a team member say that she and a fellow team member were nudging each other during the sermon thinking about the Haiti trip!

So, I don't know quite how to sum all this up but that I am still learning and thinking and processing.  I am so thankful for the Word of God for guidance as well as examples like Abraham.  I also call to mind the father in Mark 9:24 who said, "...help me overcome by unbelief."  This helps me remember that when trust and faith are hard to find, I can pray for them to come.  (hashtag Bebo Norman's song "Borrow Mine", hahaha, I know nothing about hashtags, but I if I did I would use one there).

My Mini Adventure

I was feeling a little restless and in need of an adventure.  I had to explore, see new sites, or find a treasure.  However, I was low on the cash flow and the time.  So, I headed out west--well only two and a half hours west.  I used the web to research four stops west of my starting point that I thought were interesting.

My first stop was a flea market surrounded by green pastures and hills.  The scenery was enough of a prize for me.

I did find a treasure, depending on your definition.  I have my good friend Charlotte in mind for this present.  She will even appreciate the tiny harvest corn inside that was a bonus to my purchase.  This piece is made by Jim Graham from Genesis Pottery.  I tried to find him on the internet, but I couldn't find the man I thought made this piece.  Anywho, I think you did a nice job, Jim.

I continued on for lunch at an old house made into a yummy smelling coffee bistro.  The potato salad was the creamy blanche kind.  

My next stop in my adventure was to take a picture of a beautiful historic bridge in the tiny town of Ozark.

My final destination was the quaint historic downtown district of Van Buren.  It was super cute; however, I only left myself one hour there before I had to return for I had some ballroom dancing to get to!  I enjoyed window shopping in all of the antique stores, and I hope to return to actually go inside them someday.  I treated myself to a large chocolate chip cheesecake slice which came in handy when I got turned around and delayed by a train.

Yay for more adventures and discoveries to be had!