THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

May 27, 2020

LIFE IN THE FOLD:

Most of us have heard the fairytale, "The Little Engine Who Could." The premise is that there was a big train that needed an engine that would pull it over a big hill. The larger engines made excuses why they couldn't do it. Finally, in desperation, the train asked the little engine, who replied, "I think I can!" As they neared the top of the steep incline the little engine slowed down to a crawl, but kept saying, "I think I can.... I think I can..." It made it over the top of the steep hill and said, "I thought I could... I thought I could!" The moral of the story is to be brave and not be afraid to try difficult things that look too hard.

"I can't," is a response often made by individuals for various reasons and has many different meanings. I can't may mean I don't want to; I don't think I can do it; I don't have time; I don't think it's possible; or a flippant response often used when no other reply can be thought of off the top of our head.

For many years, I used the words, "I can't," as an excuse not to have to try new things or due to lack of self-confidence. "I'm overweight, so I can't!" "I'm out of shape, so I can't!" "I don't like heights, so I can't!" "I'm not good speaking in front of people, so I can't!" "Someone else could do it better, so I can't!" "I only have a high school education, so I can't!" "I don't know how, so I can't!" "I wouldn't like it, so I can't!"

I had to work hard to overcome fears of failure or the fear that I would look silly. Slowly, I began trying new things and found that I'm good at things I never thought I would be good at.... I don't enjoy some things that I've tried and some I do.... and that it's okay to look silly once in a while. Not everyone is successful at everything they try, nor do they always like what someone else may enjoy. That's okay! But until we are willing to try, we will never know.

Several years ago, Jon and I went to Singapore for three weeks for a job he was working on. It was the first time either of us had traveled internationally. Before we left, I made up my mind that I was going to try new foods and new experiences, because I didn't want to return home with regrets. I knew that this was a trip in a lifetime and afterwards I didn't want to think, "I wish I had tried that!" We had a great time and did a lot and ate a lot of things that was new to both of us. Jon used to be a lot more adventurous than I, and I didn't want to stifle his adventures by not wanting to leave me sitting on the sidelines. I surprised Jon by being willing to do so many new things. We have so many memories from that trip; some good, some funny, some interesting food experiences, etc.

That trip was what nudged me out of my comfort zone and rut that I had allowed myself to get into. We can always find an excuse when we want to. Sometimes we genuinely may not be able to do something; but don't let the words, "I can't!" become the mantra for your life.

Honestly, I do have some physical restraints. I can't run or do physical exercise that requires a lot of muscle or strength. But there are things that I could begin doing to build up my strength and physical endurance. Perhaps it's often not that we can't, but that we can't do as much as someone else.

For years and years, I said, "I don't like sewing! I can't sew!" It wasn't until my sister kept encouraging me to come sew with her that I found out that I really can sew. I've made well over fifty lap quilts now and enjoy making them. I found that what I didn't like was the kind of sewing that we did in high school home ec class, which was making clothes. Sewing clothes is tedious and there are smaller pieces and it's not something I enjoy, but I do like making quilts. I have a sister that enjoys making doll clothes and dresses for her young granddaughters, and she has never made a quilt. Not everyone has the same enjoyment for doing the same things, and that's okay.

The "I can't" attitude can carry over spiritually. We think we can't tell others about Jesus or can't do anything in the church or can't obey the things that God asks of us. We think we can never be as spiritually strong as someone whom we admire that seems so faith-filled. Perhaps that is only an excuse for being spiritually lazy and justification for not maturing in our relationship with God.

A most familiar scripture is found in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Paul is writing that he knows how to live with a little or a lot. He knows how to live humbly or how to abound. Regardless if he is hungry or is filled, or if he has plenty or is in need, he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.

Regardless of what life brings our way, we can do all things through Christ who will strengthen us. When God asks something of us that we've never done before, we can do it, knowing that He will be with us.

Fear has no place within a child of God. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind. We shouldn't be ruled by insecurities or use the plethora of reasons that we can often come up with for why we can't do something that God wants us to do. We need to learn to say, "Yes!"

In the fairytale of the little engine, he didn't know what he was capable of until he tried. Those bigger and stronger than him used their excuses on why they couldn't help the big train out. The little engine did something that was out of his comfort zone and something that he had never attempted with the attitude, "I think I can!"

Next time you feel God nudging you to do something, instead of making excuses why you can't, step out in faith, knowing that God will be with you and say, "I think I can!" When someone asks you to do something that you've never done before, don't assume you can't or won't like it, but give it a try and you may find something you absolutely love. If not, at least you tried and had a new experience.

Because of the strength that comes from Jesus, we can confidently face the unknown and say, "I can do this!" If we mess up or look silly or don't succeed the first try, so what! We try again! "I think I can... I think I can...I think I can....."

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

I've observed some kids who don't seem to understand the word "can't". One in particular has spina bifida, and has to wear leg braces. She is a climber. She won't stay off ladders. When she was scolded for climbing a ladder, she walked as fast as she could and started climbing scaffolding.

It looks like kids don't understand "can't" until they try and fail. Sometimes, they have to fail again and again before they start to learn "can't". Sometimes that's good. A 2-year-old shouldn't climb scaffolding. And a 3-year-old shouldn't boil water.

But sometimes we learn the lesson too well. Or we learn "If at first I don't succeed, quit before anyone sees." When the real lesson should be "I might not be able to now, but soon, I can."

Today, I can't become an olympic skier. There's no dispute about that. But if I were to work really hard, and train, and exercise, I could do well enough to not totally embarrass myself. And I can't walk across the country tomorrow. I might be able to go to one coast and start out, but I can't finish tomorrow.

My point is that if God leads in a particular direction, we can't expect to skip to the end. We may need to figure out the first step to prepare, or take a step, and trust God to prepare us. Either way, we can only expect to start right away, and finish in the proper time.

ON THE MENEWE:

The Jordo

In a large skillet (cast iron works great) pour enough olive oil to cook vegetables. Get skillet hot; add potatoes and onions. Cook covered until halfway tender. Add remaining ingredients. Continue cooking until potatoes are fully cooked and soft; stirring occasionally to keep from sticking.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

This has been a difficult time for people, for many different reasons. Seniors were unable to finish out their last year of high school and all the fun times and celebrations that brings. Proms and graduations were cancelled. Not all are able to attend college, so high school is the only graduation that many teens get to participate in and look forward to.

There are also those who have worked very hard to get college degrees, and were unable to participate in the traditional graduation ceremony to accept their diploma.

If you have family or friends who are high school or college graduates this year, take the time to let them know that you are proud of them and congratulate them. Do what you can to make them feel special.

I have a great-nephew who was to graduate high school this year. His parents invited the seniors who attend their church to their backyard last weekend and threw a prom for them. The kids dressed up in their fancy clothes. They had a nice table set up for the kids and served them a delicious meal. The kids danced and had a blast. There was a big screen set up in their backyard and the kids watched movies and played games and stayed up all night; in a safe, fun environment. Food and snacks were available for the kids, and breakfast was served in the morning before they all headed home. It was a special evening for the kids.

Sometimes it's not a matter of not getting to do something; but being creative and finding alternatives to the traditional. There are always ways of making individuals to feel special!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

God doesn't predict -- He knows! - Heather Glogau

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org