Now we live with great expectation. 1 Peter 1:3
I like this verse.
In March of 2016 Tim's struggle with Tourette Syndrome deteriorated so that we went homebound for his education. Our school district sent teachers to our home to educate Tim. He hated it, but it was a good solution at the time.
Both the homebound teachers, his classroom teachers and our administration exceeded our expectations and pulled together to get Tim through his freshman year successfully.
In May of 2016 we saw the renown Dr Jankovich, https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/care-centers/parkinsons, a pioneer in the treatment of movement disorders. The summer of 2016 Tim seemed improved and he determined that he wanted to attend school for his sophomore year. We lived in great expectation that success was certain. We bought the supplies, the clothes, attended the back to school nights, and attended the specialized meetings with the school and his teachers. We all expected this to work.
It didn't.
Tim never attended more than 2 days of actual class on campus. Tim's case of Tourettes is severe and it impairs him. He left his engineering program, his robotics team, and had to leave the AP program to go homebound again.
He hates it again, even more because at this time we do not see an end to it. He spends his days alone, away from his friends and this crushed him.
So now what?
I read 1 Peter, that's what. I know God led me to this book for this purpose and this place in our lives. I opened with the 1 Peter and the end of verse 3 Now we live with great expectation...
But for what?
For the rest of the story. For the end of the story, and it is a happy ending.
1 Peter 1:4-5 and we have a priceless inheritance-and inheritance that is kept in Heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
Peter wrote to a struggling, suffering, and persecuted church. I am living in 1 Peter right now and have not read anything else in the Bible. I think God is ok with that. I have read the Bible through 4 times now, but the Bible is a living, breathing book. 1Peter is living and breathing life in my heart and soul that was crushed by watching Tim suffer through something we cannot fix, so I live there.
Maybe I will share what I'm learning, maybe I won't. Sometimes it is just for me. God will tell me when and if to share it.
I know He wants me to share this!
I still live in great expectation because the name and blood of Jesus is greater than any plague, persecution, person, problem, principality...even the prince of the air. They all bow to Him. They have all been destroyed by Him, and He is my Savior, my Friend, my Comfort and my Refuge. So, I live in expectation that every eye will see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, knowing that I bow to Him as my King and confess Him now as my Lord because 1 Peter 1:8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
I love him, and I live in expectation that I will see Him, knowing Him as my Bridegroom and meeting Him as His bride.
I live in expectation because I have seen God hold my loved ones through death and I know they await us on the other side.
This is done. It is complete. Revelation tells us what is coming. All we have to do is keep walking and we will catch up be with Him forever. Even though the roads keep winding and the terrain keeps shifting, the destination is certain, final, eternal and wonderful. Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what awaits.
I believe this. I know this. I trust this. I expect this!
I love Him!
#Tourettes
#Expectation
#Jesus
#Hope
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Monday, October 3, 2016
What Do I Do? How Do I Do it?
What do I do when the darkness swallows up every beam of light?
I know that "Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105" I guess that means on some days we won't see anything more than the next step in front of us.
What if the next step is as dark and scary as the last two I have taken? What if I see that the path ahead still looks like the last two miles I just walked?
I know "We live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7"
It is funny how darkness distorts everything. We sit calmly in our living room, watching a movie. Suddenly the power goes out, the room becomes pitch black, and the familiarity and safeness are forgotten as fear and uneasiness sets in. We turn on the flashlight app on our phones and light every candle we can. In the blackouts we walk from room to room, with flashlight or candle in hand. Suddenly we are afraid of furniture or obstacles that are always there, but are now scary in the absence of light.
Do you know one of my favorite things about Jesus? He never asked anything of us that He wasn't willing to do Himself. Jesus walked the darkest, loneliest road, carrying a cross on His way to death by crucifixion. The roads through and in Jerusalem were familiar but in the darkness and alienation that our sin created we cannot understand the dread or His loneliness as God the Father turned His head.
Jesus defeated the darkness and the loneliness. Because of Jesus, God's Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. And, right now, I am walking one step at a time because I know the road ends in glory, in everlasting light, in land of never ending day.
How do I do that?
"Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."
Brothers and sisters, we fret so much about being God's will. If that is truly our heart's desire, our motivation for the steps we take and choices we make, then we will be, even on roads that look like major detours. All roads lead to glory, to Heaven, to everlasting joy and light for believers. The joy was not in the cross, but what awaited after the cross. The "the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10" The joy of knowing what waits at the end of all roads, dark or light, smooth or bumpy. Joy becomes strength to endure. Endurance increases faith.
Enduring is easier when we remember what awaits. Jesus is a light that cannot be swallowed up. He is a light we see and know. When we hide our Word in our hearts, He is a light that shines within. His Word is leading us to a city where there is no need of sun or moon because He is the light that lights it up.
I keep stumbling on this dark road. Every step reminds me I need a Savior. Every step reminds me I have a Savior. I am glad.
I know that "Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105" I guess that means on some days we won't see anything more than the next step in front of us.
What if the next step is as dark and scary as the last two I have taken? What if I see that the path ahead still looks like the last two miles I just walked?
I know "We live by believing and not by seeing. 2 Corinthians 5:7"
It is funny how darkness distorts everything. We sit calmly in our living room, watching a movie. Suddenly the power goes out, the room becomes pitch black, and the familiarity and safeness are forgotten as fear and uneasiness sets in. We turn on the flashlight app on our phones and light every candle we can. In the blackouts we walk from room to room, with flashlight or candle in hand. Suddenly we are afraid of furniture or obstacles that are always there, but are now scary in the absence of light.
Do you know one of my favorite things about Jesus? He never asked anything of us that He wasn't willing to do Himself. Jesus walked the darkest, loneliest road, carrying a cross on His way to death by crucifixion. The roads through and in Jerusalem were familiar but in the darkness and alienation that our sin created we cannot understand the dread or His loneliness as God the Father turned His head.
Jesus defeated the darkness and the loneliness. Because of Jesus, God's Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. And, right now, I am walking one step at a time because I know the road ends in glory, in everlasting light, in land of never ending day.
How do I do that?
"Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne."
Brothers and sisters, we fret so much about being God's will. If that is truly our heart's desire, our motivation for the steps we take and choices we make, then we will be, even on roads that look like major detours. All roads lead to glory, to Heaven, to everlasting joy and light for believers. The joy was not in the cross, but what awaited after the cross. The "the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10" The joy of knowing what waits at the end of all roads, dark or light, smooth or bumpy. Joy becomes strength to endure. Endurance increases faith.
Enduring is easier when we remember what awaits. Jesus is a light that cannot be swallowed up. He is a light we see and know. When we hide our Word in our hearts, He is a light that shines within. His Word is leading us to a city where there is no need of sun or moon because He is the light that lights it up.
I keep stumbling on this dark road. Every step reminds me I need a Savior. Every step reminds me I have a Savior. I am glad.
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