LOOKING BEYOND OURSELVES

 There are times in life we have to think beyond our own personal pain or anger.  There are times we have to consider everyone affected by a situation.  It is human nature to become consumed by the pain we are enduring.  If something hurts, it is really a struggle to think beyond our pain.  We forget others are also hurting.

Most of us have endured pain in our life.  The actions of others can cause us pain.  We get so wrapped up in our own feelings, that we forget there are others who are also suffering.  We develop tunnel vision and fail to see others  are also enduring the same pain.  The ripple effects or consequences can be far reaching when someone or something has caused us pain.

God gives us hearts filled with empathy and compassion to sustain us in the darkest of days.  When we all unite to support the innocent who are caught in the darkness of the pain, we are allowing God to teach us.  As Jesus hung on the cross, He looked past His own pain and felt pity for those at the foot of the cross.  He asked for others to rally round and help with the pain they were enduring.  He thought beyond His own personal pain and recognized others were also hurting.

I am praying we can all rally round when the time comes and embrace everyone affected by the pain we are enduring---especially the innocent .  God can use us--even in our greatest pain.

He helps us in all our troubles,

 so that we are able to help others who have all kinds of troubles,

 using the same help that we ourselves have received from God.

II Corinthians 1:4

ENDURING PAIN

On my recent whirlwind tour of Texas for two of the grands' birthdays, it was announced by both set of parents that it was time to go for a checkup and get a few inoculations (that's medical mumbo jumbo for shots/needles).  Neither the 11 year old, nor the one year old will be happy with the job those needles perform.

With that discussion and all the hoop a rah in the media lately about vaccinations (NO--I DO NOT want to discuss this with you), I was taken back to my own childhood and my fear which morphed into phobia about the pain caused by needles.  Sickly until I was a teenager, my rear end felt the sting and pain caused by many a penicillin shot.  Until my adult years, I had a dread and almost panic over anyone coming near me with a needle.  Fast forward---a few surgeries, a few cyst drains (you should SEE the size of that needle!), many shots later, I do not even blink an eye when that needle is headed my way.  I have learned to bear the pain and know it is only temporary.  While a child, I had not endured a lot of pain and the pain those needles  terrified me.  As an adult, I have endured a great deal of pain--physically and emotionally.  I now know from experience, I will survive that discomfort.  I went to the dentist yesterday for a butterfly (what I prefer calling a root canal--you have to agree the term root canal itself is enough to send you running for the door).  They now put something on your gums to numb them somewhat and lessen the injection pain.  By the time he finished injecting, I was the fat lipped lady singing "No more pain".  I have become accustomed to pain and though I do not like it, I accept it happens.

As a sweet innocent baby, we are born into a fallen world where pain is present.  It is not a question of if we will endure pain, but when that pain will come.  You do not get out of this life without enduring some form of pain at some point.  Do we build tolerance for pain the more we experience it?  I would say ~ it depends upon the individual and their personality.  I certainly have built a tolerance for injections---emotional pain though has caused me to still shy away from the possibility of enduring any more of that type of pain.

When I am in pain or suffering, I endeavor to remember Jesus ~ Himself endured not only pain but great suffering ~ to the point of sweating blood.  Our trials of pain and suffering are all part of the road to sanctification.  How can we learn to endure the pain and discomfort of any form of pain or suffering?  We look to our example ~ Jesus.  We have not suffered anything which He does not understand.  God Himself allowed Jesus to suffer and I take great comfort in this scripture which explains why we will endure---the answer is always JESUS.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 

4 who comforts us in all our troubles, 

so that we can comfort those in any trouble 

with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,

 so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 

6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; 

if we are comforted, it is for your comfort,

 which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

 7 And our hope for you is firm,

 because we know that just as you share in our sufferings,

 so also you share in our comfort. 

II Corinthians 1:3-7

FOUR BOXES AT A TIME

My career as a mover began in 2001 when #1 Daughter moved to Waco to attend Baylor.  Fortunately I was able to begin relatively small with two cars jam packed to move into a dorm.  Everything had to be moved home that summer.  The next year she began living in houses with other coeds---moving each year with a growing accumulation with each new year.  The year after graduation found her living in a small home with a friend away from the campus while teaching.  The next year--she was married and while she and new hubby honeymooned, we unpacked all the wedding gifts and made their little nest in the same house--now filled with his and her stuff.


View Driving Directions in a larger map
 
NOT the way I drove, but you get the general idea.

  The next year began my REAL initiation into moving--everything was packed and put in a U Haul.  I drove the packed car and she and hubby drove the U Haul pulling their other car ALL THE WAY to Erie, PA.  At this point I got a four year break--with only trips north to decorate nurseries and subsequent playrooms.  After four years, packing AGAIN--this time FIL & hubby drove the U Haul and vehicle and MIL & I flew with daughter and TWO babies to new home back in TX.  Unpacking and moving them into a small home near TCU--six months later---they buy a house.  Daughter takes a trip to visit friends and I pack and unpack them ONCE AGAIN while she is gone.  Happy to say they have stayed put for now.


View Driving Directions in a larger map


I sorted through, discarded, divided, and packed 30 years of accumulation in MY OWN first move over three years ago now----I moved every box myself to the cute little home in the French Quarter and a group of men from my church moved all the furniture.  This time since I only had a short distance to drive--I moved four boxes at a time.  Packed them--moved them--unloaded them--REPEAT--until everything was cleaned out. 

Wire Road House

  Sold that house and I then packed AGAIN and moved 300 miles to Fort Worth to an apartment.  This requires EVERYTHING to be packed and moved across country--U Haul, truck, and my vehicle were packed to the bursting point.  I will forever be grateful to my fireman and his dad for their help.  Moving again now---HOPEFULLY my last move!  I am once again moving four boxes at a time since I am only moving a short distance.  As I go each day to paint, I load four boxes and take them with me---unload them--put it away and REPEAT the next day.  My preferred method of moving a little bit at a time.

Esplanade House

Newest Destination

Perhaps we could handle the obstacles we incur in life in a similar manner.  Instead of being over-whelmed by the enormity of a struggle--sin habit--illness--grief--any HUGE seemingly insurmountable roadblock, we break it down into small pieces.  Don't try to conquer all the sin in your life that keeps you from enjoying Him---take one at a time---with His help win the battle and then move on to the next.  Illness has you struggling and overwhelmed--break it down to the specifics of each ailment or pain---begin the healing process--with that which can be overcome easiest and then move on.  Concentrate on today's compliant/pain/problem and focus on what can be done about it.  Pain and struggle which comes from grief-heartbreak-disappointment---take it one day at a time---or better yet---one moment at a time.  Get through the moment before you in the best manner possible and then move on to the next.  My book title says it so well---Do the next right thing--and then move forward.

I leave you with this---when possible---in life's struggles--take four boxes at time.  You eventually will look up and realize--I made the move---I survived the struggle---by taking small bits and moving forward--I climbed the mountain--four boxes at a time.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? 

Tell the Israelites to move on.

Exodus 14:15

ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING--

I recently reread Hinds' Feet On High Places and last night clear as a bell, God pointed me to the prophet Habakkuk.  Early this morning, I reread the book Habakkuk and marveled at God touching me with revelation.  Lately I have turned over and over in my mind all that are in pain, suffering, lost, lonely--subjected to the consequences of our fallen world.  My prayer list grows and grows each and every day knowing each of you desperately need and desire to be prayed for.  It leads back to the age old question~WHY?~





Habakkuk and Job both questioned, "Where are you God?".  HE IS HERE!  He is also reminding us, "The righteous will live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4). I wrote a friend this very week and reminded her, "Yes, our lives do not look anything like we thought they would, but that is where trust must come in."  I trust that all things happen for a reason and the end result of all that reason is to ultimately glorify God.

You know what has caused you to suffer pain, despair, desperation, or perhaps all-God knows you are suffering too.  The Psalmist promises us God counts our tears and in Hinds'Feet we are reminded-

"The heart knoweth its own sorrow and there are times when, like David, it is comforting to think that our tears are put in a bottle and not one of them forgotten by the one who leads us in paths of sorrow.” 

When my heart begins to doubt--when my soul cries out--I am always led back to the quote, "ALL things work for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to HIS purpose."  It is all for HIS PURPOSE.  GRAB on to TRUST--hold on for dear life--remember the words as ordained by Him--LONG AGO

"Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails,

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

YET I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is MY strength;

he make my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on to the heights"

Habakkuk 3:17-19

My trust is in Him---there is a reason and a purpose---but for now--he gives me and YOU- Hinds' Feet to take us to the high places-----and REJOICE in HIM!