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

February 1, 2023

LIFE IN THE FOLD

Have you ever thought something was a sure thing, then it didn't happen? On the flip side, you were sure that something wasn't going to happen, then it did? I'm sure we've all experienced that!

A simple example is that last week the forecast had shown that we had 100% of 3-4 inches of snow. I was excited! I love watching big fluffy snowflakes falling!! Then the percentage kept going down.... and down... and further out time-wise. Everyone around us was getting snow, but not us! We were in the middle of a snow donut where everyone around us got snow, but we got nothing.

Three of my sisters, who all live in Arkansas, were sending pictures and talking about how pretty the snow was.... and it was so pretty coming down with the huge flakes. I didn't see a single snowflake at our house!

Fast forward to this past Sunday evening. I stayed with my nephew's kids while he and his wife went out to dinner and a play at the Tulsa PAC. They arrived back home around 8:30. They told me that they had ice on their windshield when they had left to head home; it was drizzling out. I looked at my phone the percentage of it doing anything was 1%. Yes, one percent!

I went out to head home and it was still drizzling and I, also, had ice on my windshield. I started the car and turned the defroster on, then scraped the ice off. I had to leave the defroster running on high and keep my windshield wipers on all the way home, or else the drizzle would freeze when it hit the glass. I was driving carefully, but honestly, it never even crossed my mind that it would be freezing on the streets. About 3 miles into my drive home, I put on my brakes to stop at a red light, and my car just kept sliding and wouldn't stop! I was about halfway through the intersection before it stopped. Thankfully, no other cars were coming! It was then that I knew that there was ice on the streets and I needed to use extra caution.

As most of you know, the drizzle changed into sleet and we have ended up with icy streets this week. I would have rathered have had the pretty snow from last week!

I expected snow last week, because the forecast predicted it and we had a high percentage of receiving it. It seemed like a sure thing! Sunday evening, I did not expect freezing drizzle and slick streets, because the forecast showed nothing on the radar and the percentage was only at 1%. I wasn't expecting the ice on my windshield or the slick streets. It was a surprised to me!

There have been prayers that I've prayed that I was just sure that God was going to answer the way that I expected. I had faith, I believed, I thought it would happen as I desired! But then it didn't.... and that's hard to accept, at times. It's in those moments when I have to choose to hold fast to my faith in God and trust Him; or to be disappointed and feel as if God failed me, and lose heart.

The first time that I really remember that happening is when Mama passed away. We had prayed for her healing! When she went into a coma, I lost hope and knew that she was going to die. We expected her to go at any time, for a couple days or so. But then one evening, she woke up and said, "I thought everyone would be praying!" Then she started singing, "I need, Thee, oh I need Thee; every hour I need Thee......" Hope rose up in my spirit and I just knew that this was a sign from God that she was going to be healed! No one expected her to wake up from the coma, but when she did, I took that as a sign that a miracle was going to happen and she would live. But that's not what happened. A couple of days later, she passed from this life to begin eternity where she has everlasting life.

I was devastated! At 15 years old, my faith was shaken and I struggled. I woke up early the morning of Mama's funeral. I was sleeping on the couch and was in the living room by myself. That was a pivotal moment in my life. I remember thinking, "I either have to choose to believe in God and trust Him, or I lose faith and walk away. I know that Mama is with Jesus in heaven, and if I choose to walk away, then I will never see her again." I had my Bible there by me and let it fall open. It opened to Matthew chapters 6 and 7 and I read both chapters. They were what I needed at that time to get me through and make that determination to choose to hold fast to God.

When Jon's cousin, Luke, was dealing with cancer, I truly believed that he would be completely healed. So many people were praying for him and his faith was so strong! He blogged throughout his entire journey and was funny and encouraging and shared his heart -- on both the good and bad days. But that, also, didn't happen as I thought it would. Luke passed away, and although we know that he is enjoying heaven, it was not what we were expecting.

A few weeks ago, I read a scripture that settled the issue of godly people dying in my heart. We hope and pray and believe and have faith; but sometimes God chooses to take them "home" to be with Him. We are saddened and grieve, even though we know that they are enjoying something so much better than anything we could ever imagine or dream of. It is life-changing to have a loved one die; and many times our tears and sorrow is for ourselves and the one that we no longer have with us. It's not for them, because we know that they are with Jesus and have begun their eternal life and are experiencing something that our minds cannot truly comprehend.

Isaiah 57:1-2 says, "Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die." (NLT)

I also like what Psalms 116:15 says, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants (saints)." NIV

There will come a time when each of us will die. No matter how much we desire it or fight against it, when God's timing has come and the number of days that He sets before us is fulfilled, we will each die.

For those who know God and have put our hope in Him, it is our ultimate goal. But it still leaves a void in the lives of family and friends. I don't think any of us are ever truly ready to say the earthly goodbye.

Mama was 48 years old when she died and Daddy was 78. I mourned for each of them when they passed away and I miss them.

On the flip side of this is a story of my stepmother, June. We all honestly thought she would die long before my dad did! She had Parkinson's and her health had seemingly gone downhill and she wasn't functioning very well. She could still walk and talk and cook and go about her daily life; but there were things that Daddy had to do for her that she just couldn't do for herself anymore. Her mind seemed really foggy a lot of the time. When he suddenly died, it was a shock, because it was so unexpected!

Soon thereafter, June was placed in a geriatric hospital. They had to wean her off all of her meds, then put her on only the ones that she truly needed. Her medications had got messed up and were interacting adversely with one another and causing her to have symptoms where she had a hard time thinking clearly or functioning. She later told me that she doesn't remember the week that Daddy died and what all happened, due to her mind being in such a fog. When she came out of the hospital, she was like a new woman! She still had Parkinson's, but her mind was clear and she was more like her old self than she had been in a few years. She was able to get around and do things for herself and function for several years, before having to finally go into a nursing home. She lived for 13 years after my dad passed away! That was not what we were expecting in 2007, when Daddy died.

Life doesn't always go as we hope or expect. God doesn't always answer our prayers as we desire. Death, sickness, disease, disasters, divorce, accidents, and all kinds of devastating things can happen. It's during those times that our faith can be shaken. We have to decide in those moments whether we are going to steadfastly cling to our faith and trust in God, or if we're willing to risk eternity by losing faith and turning away from God. Let me just tell you, that no matter what happens, no matter how heart-breaking or devastating it may feel, it is not worth losing your salvation over. Our minds can't truly comprehend eternity and how it will never, ever end. It's too important to play around with! Let's determine that we will never lose faith and keep our focus on God -- always!!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

It is a very difficult subject talking about prayers that don't get answered. We are told over and over that if we truly believe, whatever we ask will be given to us. And yet, when we ask, sometimes we don't receive. The quick answer is that we must not have believed enough.

But the truth isn't quite that simple. Matthew 7:7-8 is a common example. Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened." He didn't say we would receive whatever we wanted. He had just been talking about looking into yourselves to find and fix your own flaws before you pick on others. In that context, "seek and you will find" means something completely different.

Matthew 6:33 says "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." These things aren't whatever we wish for, they are food and clothing. But it is commonly used by people seeking their own needs first, and offended that they don't get it.

If we truly have a heart for God, and if we seek His will, His kingdom, and His righteousness above all else, then our hearts desire would change, too. It was very painful for Loretta to lose her mother. All of her nature was to want her to stay. But God had something much better for her in heaven. Clinging to that thought can ease the pain, even if it doesn't take it away.

It wasn't quite as painful for me losing my dad. I was grown, and he had enjoyed a good long life. But my nature was to want him to be healed and stick around for longer. But I knew the heart of God was to bring him into heaven and give him so much more than this world could offer. It still wasn't easy, but it was peaceful.

I've written this before, but I'll repeat it. I can't explain every case of God overriding our desires, but I have faith that He understands and has good reasons.

ON THE MENEWE:

Peanut Butter Bars

Mix the first four ingredients into a creamy mixture and press into a nonstick or sprayed 9x13 pan.

Melt 1 package of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spread over the peanut butter mixture.

Chill. Cut into 1-2 inch squares. Store in an airtight container.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

Recently, a good friend shared this funny story with me and a group of other friends. For many years she wondered why "Tequila Mockingbird" was required reading for a lot of high school students. She couldn't figure out why this would be a classic book. Was it about a drunk bird?? She finally found out that the title of the book was "To Kill a Mockingbird"!

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Worry is a squatter living rent free in my mind and destroying my house of faith. -Kris Vallotton

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org