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How Can I Pray for You?

12
Apr
2012
Category: Dvora, Scripture Meditations  Tags: , ,  4 Comments

I would be lying if I were to say everything is fine and all is a bed of roses. I realized at last night’s prayer meeting that we so often pray for each other at the surface level.  I was challenged as we read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:16:

…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being…

Strengthened in our inner being… not our flesh, not our intellects, but our inner being, the essence of who we are. But to ask for prayer for that from others admits a certain vulnerability. I have rarely attended a prayer meeting where someone said, “Pray for me, I’m battling an addiction to computer games,” or “Pray for me, I’m still struggling with grief and its so hard for me to function on a daily basis,” or “Pray for me, despite all my friends, I am so lonely…”

To ask for prayer at that level places me at a terrible level of vulnerability. It opens me up to criticism, it opens me up to unwanted advice, it opens me up to Job’s friends. Maybe that is why we never really ask for prayer for what we really need. Yes, we ask for prayer for healing, but we don’t talk about the fears that plague us, the doubts that nag at us, or at the sin that crouches at our heels.

As I have thought and meditated on this, I realize that when I deny my weakness and vulnerability I build a wall that separates me from others and worse, separates me from God. I am ultimately accountable to God, but with no one knowing my struggles and challenges, there is the temptation to act like something I’m not: strong, independent, spiritual.

The truth couldn’t be more different. I am weak. I am dependent. I strive for real spirituality but hide from God at the first hint of my own weakness. As though I will ever be good enough. And so, in hiding from others, I lose sight of my true hope based on the truth of the gospel, which is this: I am hopeless. I am a failure. I am a terrible sinner, and I am a rebel—without Jesus. But my Savior, Jesus, paid the price for me. And my hope and my victory is based in the reality of who HE is and what HE has done, not what I have done. I will never be good enough, but HIS shed blood will always be sufficient. That is the real message of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Easter: Messiah died, Messiah is risen, to deliver us from the Egypt in our souls (And isn’t that what the desert was about? The children of Israel left physical Egypt only to discover that Egypt was enshrined in their souls).

And he says we are to strengthen and encourage each other. So, my dear friends and readers, lets really pray for each other. Because when we are weak, HE is strong, and HIS faithfulness is the basis of the only real hope we have.

Anchored… a New Tag Line

20
Feb
2011
Category: Dvora  Tags: , ,  2 Comments

As my months in Colorado wind to an end, I realize that I’ve been challenged on many levels. Something that has been a great encouragement to me has been weekly meetings with Ladies from the congregation I’ve been attending. They had just started a study on the book of Colossians when I joined them, at which point they began a word study into the use and meaning of the word “hope,” in particular as it is used in the New Testament. Interestingly, the Elders of the congregation were, at the same time, winding up a study in Genesis, and then starting a new study on the Book of Colossians!

I have learned so much… in particular, how important it is to have our hope focused on the right things. And the only way to do that, is to be secure in the Word of God… one of the verses we looked at put it this way…

“Accordingly God also, in His desire to show more convincingly and beyond doubt to those who were to inherit the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose and plan, intervened (mediated) with an oath. This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us]. [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it-a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.”
(Hebrews 6:17-20 Amplified Bible)

This verse is full of so much… but what I have been reminded of over and over these past months, is that my hope in God is based on two things: His promises and His oath (which is based in His character). If I hope in anything that is not founded on who God is and what He has said, then what hope do I have? One that will disappoint me. But if my hope is in HIM, I have an anchor that holds me secure through any storm.

As different situations have arisen, I see so clearly that so much in this world sets out to do one thing. Challenge my hope. When I started this blog, I chose the name “Hope-Challenged” for several reasons.

  • In the beginning, it was with the naive thought that I had overcome; all challenges to my hope had been defeated, and so I wanted to encourage others to hope. The tag-line, back then, was, “From someone who was there…” For God had granted me the deepest desire of my heart, to be married to someone who loved God and loved me. I was not disappointed.
  • But life kept getting in the way. Little things picking at me here and there… and I realized that its hard to be upbeat all the time, because things happen. In other ways, I felt like my hope was being challenged on a deeper level. So, some time before Rich died, I changed the tag-line to: From Someone who IS there.
  • Then Rich had his stroke and went to be with His savior. I didn’t care about tag lines. But I many friends and family members wanted to be kept updated. Some friends were overseas… and so I began sharing what was happening. Through that time, I knew God was carrying me in a way that is beyond explanation. He is still carrying me… but O how I felt it then.
  • With Rich gone, every day of life had and has to be faced. So many issues and situations. And so many decisions. At every angle I turned, my hope was challenged, close to the breaking point it seemed… and then we began the word study on hope, and I began to realize that my hope is not here on this earth, but in heaven, where my savior reigns… and in His word… and so I began to realize that the name of my blog was correct, but the tag line was all wrong. You see, all of us will find our hope challenged at some time or another. Life happens. The question is, how do we handle it? Do we lose hope? Do we refuse to hope (as I once did so many years ago)? Do we try not to hope, but keep on hoping, finding ourselves continually disappointed? Or Do we face the challenge, sink anchor in God’s word and keep on hoping because we KNOW that God is faithful and true, and utterly reliable?

So, as we finished up our study on Hope, I decided to change the tag-line of this blog. Will I still have struggles? Of course, I am after all, only human. But my goal, is that no matter what, that I will face each situation ANCHORED in God’s word, keeping my eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith.

I hope and pray that this new tag-line will be a positive challenge to me and you, to keep my eyes on Him, and when I forget, a reminder to get them back on Him.

P.S. A special thanks to all the ladies in the group who brainstormed with me for the new tag-line.

A Quiet Anniversary

10
Aug
2010
Category: Dvora, Rich  Tags: ,  2 Comments

Today was a quite day. Had a slow start. Was expecting Layla and Jon around noon, but a call from them in the morning. Due to a series of Unfortunate Events (watch the movie it’s a hoot), their plane was overbooked and they will only be landing tonight around midnight. But Rich will still enjoy seeing them, albeit a day late.

Rich was very alert when I got to the hospital. So we had a nice morning/afternoon. I shared memories of our wedding, read to him, and brought my guitar and sang to him. He seemed to enjoy it. We got a call from some friends in Israel. Rich slept in the afternoon. I was going to make some business calls and try to work, but laid on the sofa in his room for a few minutes and promptly fell asleep – woke up two hours later. A friend from church visited and gave us an anniversary card and a sweet stuffed cat for Rich – to keep him company since Guay cat cannot visit…

Some people from speech therapy visited and did an initial evaluation. Apparently, “Speech” Therapy would be better called “Communication” Therapy. They were there to work with him on how to communicate. They felt the first step is what we are already doing, but need to do more intensively – get him to work on a clear yes (eyes up) and no (eyes down) when trying to communicate. We will also make a sheet with most frequent questions about his needs, so that we can try to jump start when he needs something, and pinpoint it quickly.

So now I’m home. I was going to try to do some work, but find myself totally exhausted, so will take a nap before picking up Jon and Layla at the airport tonight.

Please pray for me to figure out how to best balance my day to meet Rich’s needs, and be able to get back into the swing of working. I’ve missed two weeks of work so far, and really can’t miss more. My clients are all willing to wait, but obviously, mundane things like groceries and bills don’t wait. I’ve tried working at the hospital – but their internet connection is not that great, my modem does not work well there, and it is hard to concentrate – too many interruptions, and if Rich is awake, I feel bad not being able to at least sit by his side where he can see and know he is not alone.

Rich, me, and the whole family (the kids and his brothers and sister) all need strength at this time. Rich’s stroke has impacted all of us in so many different ways. Each person is dealing with it differently – one thing we all have in common though – it is very hard to see Rich like this. We see in his eyes how much he wants to communicate and how “locked in” he is. All we can do is keep showing him how much we love him, and do as best we can to communicate and help him express himself. It’s not easy.

I find myself recalling the words to this hymn:

1. In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

Refrain
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He’s the One
This Rock is Jesus, the only One
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

2.
In times like these you need the Bible
In times like these O be not idle
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

3.
In times like these I have a Savior
In times like these I have an anchor
I’m very sure, I’m very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock

Here is the story behind the song – so appropriate.

During the fearful days at the height of World War II, this comforting hymn was written.

In the midst of a busy day as a housewife, Ruth Caye Jones felt a direct inspiration from the Holy Spirit. She stopped her work to quickly put down both words and music,  just as they were given to her by God.

Since that day the hymn has been a blessing to countless Christians at special times of need. It has brought comfort during illness, has been used widely at funerals, has encouraged and challenged Christian workers, and has drawn many to salvation.

Mrs. Jones experienced for herself the consolation the words of the song could bring as she spent time recovering form serious surgery a few years after it was written.

–Kenneth W. Osbeck (http://www.tanbible.com/tol_sng/intimeslikethese.htm)

————————–

I am so thankful for my solid rock – Jesus – Yeshua HaMashiah

Summer May Be Here!

27
May
2010
Category: Life in Michigan  Tags: , ,  2 Comments

Well, yesterday it hit 90 degrees F for the first time this summer. Last summer it barely got into the 80s… so I finally am starting to warm up.

There is much to be thankful for. Some good contracts helping to make ends meet, Rich’s official nomination by the Libertarian Party of Michigan to run for the 2nd Congressional district – elections in November.

I had a blessed visit with my maid of honor at the end of April, and attended a national technical writers conference in May. Been fighting a bad cold since I got back though, finally starting to feel a lot better.

I find what is going on here in the US quite disconcerting. It seems that there is none so blind as those who will not see. Some things trickle in via the news, others, you just have to research and look to figure it all out. Our government has gone mad. Saw a recent news article about an autistic young man who could not receive medical treatment because – he was autistic. Unbelievable!

But the news in other nations is not much better. After a relative period of freedom, the communist government in China is starting to take a harsher stance towards Christians again. In fact, the US is currently considering approving an international rights of children treaty which, if signed, would consider teaching our children to believe in Jesus as a crime of indoctrination that deprives children of their rights!

I should not be surprised. These are all symptoms of the foolishness of this world as it seeks to totally deny God. Yet it is GOD who provides the very air we breathe. Every time the weather refuses to obey the mandates of man, we have proof that we cannot control our world. Those who claim they do not believe in God are threatened by the mute testimony of God’s existence. Otherwise, why try to legislate what we can and cannot teach? Odd how I, as a believer in God have never once tried to force anyone to believe in God, yet political correctness and anti-hate speech tries to legislate what I can and cannot say.

I cannot say homosexuality is a sin. It offends the homosexual.

They don’t want me to talk about creation. It is unscientific.

Yet our world is caught up in the insane worship of climate change, global warming, and offending no one for the sake of making everyone happy.

Many years ago, I remember realizing as I read the book of Revelation that for those things to happen, it would require a dumbed down society of people refusing or unable to think for themselves. I never dreamed I would see that society happening in my lifetime. Yet everyday I watch new things happening in the news and around us in our society, in the US and globally. People are shirking their responsibilities and want the government to completely support them. We have never been closer to a totalitarian society here in the US, than now.

When I watch how crowds respond to our President, my mind flashes back to reruns from Hitler’s Germany. Does no one see it? If I think about these things too much, I can feel quite hopeless.

But then I remember. Jesus IS Lord. He remains on the throne. God has made known the end from the beginning exactly for this purpose, that we NOT give up hope. And perhaps that answers the question as to why the Book of Revelation is so important to believers. Forgetting all the theological arguments, pre-Trib, mid-Trib, post-Trib, millenium or not – the real message is this:

GOD WINS!

You cannot legislate divinity. As the old hymn goes, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and HIS righteousness.”

So let my hope be challenged. There are struggles and they will continue. They most likely will get even more difficult. I will have up and down days, as my body and emotions react to aging and the times. But I’ve read the end of the book. And I am so thankful that the day is coming when I will see God’s victory, final and complete over this sinful and fallen world, and He will indeed make all things new, including me! Amen and Amen.

Musings on Life’s Challlenges

19
Jan
2009
Category: Dvora  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment

When I first set out to write this blog, I had the high ambition of trying to write something every day, focussing on the reason for my hope. Little did I guess that such ambitions come with a price…

I forgot about little things like distractions, not feeling like writing something, or wondering what to write when, at that particular moment in time, I was feeling quite hopeless.

I remember once, one of my Chinese students told me how happy I always seemed. We had a long talk about the difference between happiness and joy. I told them that I was not always happy–but that there was a joy in knowing that God really is in control and loves me, even when I don’t feel it. Hope is like that as well. It is not based on my feelings, and I need to remind myself of that, so how much more others.

If my hope is based on feelings, then I am quite hopeless. For often I feel the pressures of life and this world are a heavy weight trying to smother the breath of life out of me. Often I think I can feel the breath of the little foxes nipping at my heels as I run desperately from their sharp, knawing teeth. Often…

I talked with some friends in Israel today. Their voices sounded like they were in the next room. We had a great talk… basically encouraging each other as we struggle with similar situations. The world and little foxes…

It would be nice if we could see things like Elisha’s servant did. To see with our eyes that there is a very real battle being waged in the heavenlies against all of God’s people, and all who have a part in the fulfillment of His good word. But there is a price for this kind of seeing. We are not told the name of Elisha’s servant in II Kings 6:17, when Elisha prays for God to open his eyes. The servant’s eyes are opened. What an awe-inspiring site.

But Gehazi, Elisha’s prior servant forfeited that privilege. The world and little foxes got in the way. Take the time to reread II Kings 2-6. Gehazi saw a dead child rasied from the dead. He saw Naaman healed of leprosy. But rather than seeing it as opportunity to trust in the God of Israel, he saw it as an opportunity of gain for himself. He thought that he could take for himself the reward that Naaman offered Elisha.

II Kings 5:27 tells us that as a result, Naaman was stricken with leprosy and left the presence of Elisha. He never saw what was really happening. The things of this world got in the way, the little foxes nipped at his heels and he fell. Still, his story is not without hope. In II Kings 8, we get one last glimpse of Gehazi. God has not given up on him. Gehazi is serving “the King”. He is asked to tell the King of all that God did through Elisha.

And as Gehazi was telling the king how [Elisha] had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and land. And Gehazi said, My lord O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life. (II Kings 8:5)

The woman is granted her request of the King, and Gehazi is found to be serving the Lord after all.

Sometimes, I fear that I am a little like Gehazi. I want to serve God, but… o those horrid buts… o those hope-filled buts…

But God… and that is what, in the end, I must learn to rely on. The one true God. He is my hope, and He is my salvation. Perhaps this too is what Gehazi learned, albeit the hard way. He had to leave Elisha’s service, but God was not through with him. May the story of Gehazi bring hope, when we think we have failed our great God. God does not give up on us so easily.  He does discipline us, but for our good.

When I look at the challenges I and others face, there is so much going on. I must learn to resist sin and I must see that there is a battle waged against us. But I must also understand that God allows much of what is happening for my best good as well as His glory. To purify and refine me. To change and mold me.

I find hope in these truths…

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