Off to the Races!

The other night good friends of ours invited us to the local speedway for a night out. My husband had warned me before of the toothless hillbillies, but I didn’t spot any. However, I did see a swatch of America—from young to old, families and friends and yes, a few good old boys, though my friend spotted a toothless guy. Anyway,I enjoyed myself more than expected— earsplitting engines racing around a dirt track, the smells of summer floated in the air: hotdogs, fried dough, and sausage and peppers, while green, yellow and checkered flags whipped through the air. Modified cars that reminded me of expensive, supped up go carts revved their engines, sped around the track and skidded through turns kicking up a dust bowl like a bunch of wild ponies. While the thin layer of dirt that settled on my white hat and purse were not my favorite remains, a kind of thrill remained in its griminess. I guess the whole atmosphere is what these men and a fourteen year old girl love.

I loved the feeling of summertime, warm nights and riding without doors on my husband’s jeep—the feeling of freedom. I expected the race car drivers experience that same kind of freedom and thrill. I couldn’t help but think of the analogy the apostle Paul made in Corinthians 9 about the athlete who competes in a sport. He does it to win the prize. As Christians we too are in a race, but are we training for it? Are we giving God our best effort, while trusting in Him? These guys put a whole lot of time, energy and money into their cars and they raced with all their might, technical skill and guts—that’s what made it so fun to watch. While your eyes chased around the track with them, the question of who would win danced in your head.

The winner at the end of the night was not who I expected. As we filed out of the track and watched the champion racer slowly climb out of his car, an older gentleman emerged. It surprised me. He still had the fortitude to do that and not crash? Then I realized how much he represented the Christian life. God has many promises of victory for us, even when we may tire of the race. “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired” (Isaiah 40:31 NASB). How can that be true?

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been tired lately as the end of the school year draws near and the kids are restless for summer vacation, but as I rest and wait upon the Lord, He gives me new strength for each day. Just like the driver knew how to handle the racetrack, God gives us wisdom how to handle the course we’re on when we rely on Him. The older driver had experience in his favor. As Christians we can have the experience of the saints who ran the race before us. We can study their lives and learn from them, just like the young drivers I’m sure learn from the more seasoned ones.

The heroes of the Bible had God’s wisdom, and we can too if we ask for it. “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds…” (Luke 11:10). We can have the understanding we need to navigate our course when we seek it. We might not like the particular one we’re on, but God can get us around those tricky turns every time we lean into Him. Are we training in such a way to win or just make it through? God wants us all to be winners in Him. We might not look like winners to the world, yet in God’s eyes we are standing in the winner’s circle when we ride with Him. It doesn’t matter if we’re young or old, fast or slow, pretty or not. With Jesus in the driver’s seat, we’ve already won the race!

Reconnecting--Doing it God's Way

This morning as I sat down to have my quiet time, an insight flashed across my mind like lightning illuminating the night. The incident yesterday with the interview presented itself in a different light. Perhaps the whole ordeal is an analogy for our interaction with our prodigals. We are speaking with them, then all of a sudden something happens to break down our communication. It can be addictions, depression, chemical changes in the brain, and hardness in the heart or any variety of waywardness. We think they still hear us, so we go on speaking, assured that the communication problem will be easily fixed if we just keep talking, talking talking.

That was my problem yesterday. I thought for sure the technical problem would be resolved because I could hear the interviewer and the audience could hear me. I was hesitant to call in again. It flew in the face of my reasoning. Isn’t that how we sometimes treat our prodigals? We believe we raised them properly so they couldn’t be having the problems they’re beginning to manifest. We are in denial because we are sure we can reason or talk them out of it. At least I thought I could.

I didn’t want to hang up and redial because I was afraid we wouldn’t reconnect, even though the interviewer asked me to do that several times. What kept me from following her advice? First overconfidence rose up assuring me this would quickly be resolved and then fear kept me frozen for a minute. I know that happened to me as I dealt with my son. I didn’t listen to professional advice immediately, believing my prodigal would change. When I realized this problem was not going to fix itself, I prayed. It took a little bit of panic, then I finally surrendered—the same way I handled my prodigal except that it was a torturous ordeal with a lot of panic.

After I prayed and put this situation in God’s hands, I broke off the old connection, and called back. At first we were flustered, maddened and annoyed, but after a few minutes we continued smoothly with a few minor bumps, but at least we were hearing each other.

When I surrendered my prodigal to God, a new connection was established. I felt a greater peace and my heart wasn’t in my throat all the time worrying about him. The change in my son wasn’t immediate; he spiraled further down, but I trusted my Savior would rescue him. Since I placed my prodigal in the Almighty’s hands, He has done an amazing work. We have a few minor glitches in communication, but we both know where to go to resolve it. We take it to the Lord in prayer.

It was prayer that helped resolve the technical issue and reconnect us. Once I was willing to step out and do what the interviewer told me to, not what I thought I should do, we could hear each other again. Maybe your prodigal just can’t hear what you’re saying. I know it’s a frustrating experience, but why not reconnect with God?

Radio Interview, R U listening?

Yesterday, I had my much awaited interview on the Prodigal Hope Network. I had typed my notes, reviewed them and prayed, but I wasn’t prepared for the technical glitch. About 5 minutes into the show, the interviewer couldn’t hear me. I could hear her, but she couldn’t hear me and I was talking over her trying to see if she could hear me. She told me to call back, but I was afraid I wouldn’t reach her. Then silence. Dead air…oh well, the worst had happened. It was in God's hands now whether it would contiune or not. I prayed, called back and got reconnected. The interview continued, and I answered the questions from the heart, hoping I was reaching someone who was hurting with a prodigal.

As I thought about what had happened, it occurred to me that it was somewhat like our communication with God. We’re talking or praying to God and we think He can’t hear us, but He’s answering us and we just keep on talking like He hasn’t heard. Communicating with God, commonly known as prayer, is not just a one way street. It takes listening skills also—listening to the Holy Spirit when He talks to us in the Word of God, listening to the still small voice of God when He speaks to us: in our devotion time, in the car, at home or on the job. He talks to us. R U listening? Or like me, are you too busy talking?

Completely Whole Book Launch

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Heading South and Riding the Waves

Two weeks ago my husband and I set out for North Carolina for spring vacation. My husband couldn't wait to get out of NY, but the long drive had him singing another tune. It was definitely a case of the grass looks greener on the other side until you get there. Yet we did have some good times. I enjoyed the beautiful vistas down the Blue Ridge Parkway and he loved white water rafting. It was definitely exciting--class four rapids!
But that was two weeks ago, and now the excitement is over and it's back to work at the most difficult time of years and my emotions are heading south--feeling a little blue.
Eventhough nature is as beautiful as can be,and I enjoy teaching art during this time: magnolia trees, Impressionist artists, clay horses, Mother's Day gifts and all, this feeling creeps up on me. That's emotions for you. When you rely on them, they take you for a ride. So the thing to do is take them for a ride! Get out your surfboard, spiritually speaking, and ride those waves!! What helps me to surf my emotions and not get caught under them? The only reliable surfboard I know is Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Just today I was reading about how the spirit washes us and renews us.I have to believe that even if I don't feel it right now. As I trust that God knows what He's doing, I can see the waves coming and not panic. I can grab hold of my spiritual surfboard, Jesus, and place my feet on Him. If I don't know how to do that, the Holy Spirit can give me the wisdom and show me how to balance my life and emotions so I don't fall over.It might take a few times, all right, quite a number of times,but eventually I'll get the hang of it. So, if your emotions are heading for some tidal waves or rapids, head for your surfboard. Take them for a ride. You might even have fun.