High Places of Responsibility

Habakkuk 3:19 AMP – The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

As a homeschool teacher, then in my second year of educating my sons at home, I had chosen this verse for my “students” to learn as the school year began.  I didn’t know why I had chosen it, and didn’t fully understand the high places of responsibility part.  I just knew I was drawn to this verse, so the boys and I learned it together.

Only a few short weeks later, it became obvious that I had been drawn by Holy Spirit to this verse because He knew what was coming into my life, and He knew I would need to be reminded of His amazing strength.  My world changed suddenly and dramatically when NOW was the time for moving my father from his long-time home more than 300 miles away to a new home in my city; when his mind was no longer what it had been, and would only get worse; when the diagnosis was made – Alzheimer’s disease.

In the ensuing days, weeks, months, and years, I understood what high places of responsibility were.  In those times I was totally overwhelmed with decisions, situations, and life in general, His Word came back, reminding me that He is my Strength, and He makes me to walk, even making spiritual progress on these high places of responsibility.  I am a walking testimony today that what He promised in this verse, He performed in me!

What are your high places of trouble, suffering, or responsibility as you minister today to the people God put in your heart and then put you in their midst?  Instead of being overwhelmed with it all, declare this verse aloud and be strengthened by His Spirit each time you do!

His Grace is Sufficient

Have you ever had a really hard time with someone you are around on a regular basis – a family member, student in your class, co-worker, co-student, etc.?  When you’ve done nothing wrong – really, you haven’t – yet this person gets downright mean toward you, thoughts of more time with them leave you less than happy, to say the least.

After experiencing this myself, I awoke to the anticipation of more of the same antagonistic words and actions.  I prepared myself to “be nice” in my own strength, while dwelling on what had already been done.  How thankful I am that the Lord interrupted my thoughts (vain imaginations) to remind me, instead, of His Word:

Philippians 3:13 Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

Of course, Kay!  Leave the past in the past.  God’s grace was sufficient in the past.  Even if I am treated the same way the next time, God’s grace will be sufficient for me then, as well.  I will be able to walk in His love, not receiving the offense – no matter how many next times there are – as long as I draw on His grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP  But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

Even to leave the past behind and forget what has been done to me requires me to walk in His grace.  From there, I can lean on Holy Spirit to guide me through whatever comes, also in His grace, so the light of Jesus’ love will keep shining through me – even towards the most difficult individuals.

Leaving the past behind and pressing forward in His grace with you, my sisters!

It is for Freedom!

Since my last post had a similar theme, you can easily figure out where I am in my own life right now.  I guess it could be summed up as practical living in the every day details of life, with Christ at the center.

The latest lesson came as I prepared to clean our tub.  My normal routine is to clean only the tub portion one week, while doing both the tub and shower walls the next.  I used to do it all every time, realized it isn’t needed that often, and gave myself the privilege of an easier week every other week.

When I’m going on a trip, I like to make sure the house is cleaned just before I leave so it will be clean when I return, and I won’t have to add that into my schedule.  Since we are preparing for a trip next week, this was on my mind as I debated whether to clean the walls today or just before we leave.  Then it hit me, and I spoke out loud to myself, “Kay, you don’t have to do it either time, if you don’t want to!”  What a revelation!

Of all things, I have made this a law for myself.  But God doesn’t care if I let it go for weeks at a time, especially if doing the “big” job will steal my peace when I have a tight schedule.  He’s all about my living in peace, you know – and certainly not into my losing it to a less than sparkling shower wall!  I hope you’re laughing at me by now, because I’m sure laughing along with you.

There are bound to be things in your own life routine (no matter how chaotic that “routine” might seem) that really aren’t as important as you’ve made them.  Somehow, they’ve become a law for you.  When you don’t do them, you feel guilty, like you’re just not measuring up . . . to what???  I give you permission today to say out loud that you don’t have to (fill in the blank), and it is perfectly fine with Jesus.  If you get slack, He is well able to point it out – without the guilt and condemnation.  After all:

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. NIV

Freedom for you, my sisters on the mission field!  Let me hear what “shower walls” have been in your own life.

Practical

Still moving forward in this clarified direction from the Lord, I find it so easy to be distracted – pulled back into the old ways of daily living.  But I am determined to live a more disciplined lifestyle!

The latest opportunity came when I answered a call from Meals-on-Wheels, asking me to switch my normal Thursday delivery to later this particular morning.  After a quick mental back-n-forth, I said no.  My main reason was due to this being the first week I would really be able to get into my new routine without interference.  If I changed my whole schedule around on the very first day, when would I ever get started?

I needed some help here.  No matter how much writing, planning, or praying I need to do, I do know that people – real, flesh-and-blood people – are the whole purpose.  I don’t want to get caught up doing my thing and miss those people moments the Lord wants for me (see It’s About the People).  At the same time, I also know the devil would like to distract me by offering non-stop people moments.  I asked the Lord how to know which were from Him and which were distractions.

His answer was so simple and practical.  He reminded me of what He spoke to my heart at the writers’ conference.  “Use the answering machine.”

We don’t have caller ID on our home phone, so I don’t know who is calling unless I answer or let the answering machine pick it up.  When the machine answers the calls, I can decide if I’m to take the call right now, have a God-directed change in plans for the day, or return the call at a more convenient time for me.  With this simple machine, I have time to pray and discern His direction more clearly, without the pressure of the moment possibly steering me off course.

What simple thing would remove a continual stress-inducer from your daily life, my busy sister?  Could it be as practical as letting voice mail or an answering machine take your calls so you can handle them in God’s chosen time for you?  I’d love to hear what He shows you.

My Company

I apologize to you wonderful women on the mission field for not posting last week.  I spent most of 5 days at my first-ever writers’ conference, and I am chock full of information I didn’t even know I needed to know!  On top of all the wonderful classes and seminars, with much room for the Lord to speak personally as the teachers taught, the fellowship with around 400 other Christian writers and faculty was absolutely life-changing!

The main eye-opener happened on the third evening as a very effective author/speaker ministered with humor about all of us being weird.  She was right – at least to those who haven’t been called to write!  I stepped into such freedom with that simple statement, finally understanding why I’m so word-oriented and wanting to write about everything.  It’s in my God-given spiritual DNA.  Freedom!

The conversations in every venue – class, walking to and from buildings, in elevators and the dining room – only emphasized the reality of what had been ministered.  I was among my own company in a part of my life in which connections had never been made before.  Now I have a bond with others who can relate to me in one of the Lord’s life calls for me, and I can soar – despite my ignorance of publishing, marketing, and everything else I heard about. 

I never saw my need for this company until I was immersed with them in all things writing, though I had long-since seen your need for your own company of other women on the mission field.  That’s why I started this blog – so you could relate to your company, even when not in physical contact with them.  This is a place you can begin to connect with your sisters in similar service to Christ on foreign fields – the ones who really understand what you’re talking about, questioning, and dealing with.  After all, you missionaries have some pretty weird traits of your own , but they are necessary for the call of God in your life to be fulfilled.

Let me know how I can help you connect with others of like-DNA so you, too, can soar!