JUST BE PATIENT

I am writing this January 13 because on January 28, I should be in the middle of the process of being dismissed from the hospital.  A new knee will be accompanying me home.  The old knee has served me well, but should have been replaced a few years back.  I kept putting it off until our daughter insisted I go have it looked at. 

THE PROCESS

First Surgeon:  The Physician’s Assistant took one look at my x-rays and said, “Mary you need to have that knee replaced.”  Then he introduced himself.  After discussing the amount of arthritis and previous problems during surgeries, he suggested I have the surgery in a hospital 40 miles away.  I decided to try a closer option. 

Second Surgeon:  This orthopedic surgeon is in a local hospital and has operated on our grandsons.  He took one look at the x-rays and said, “Mary we could try injections.”  My goodness!  A surgeon who suggested an alternative to surgery is quite a find.  I asked if that was the best option.  He took another look at the x-ray and said, “No.  You need a knee replacement, but we can try the injections first if you want.”  That was November 15.

The Process:  The nurse returned and we began the discussion on the process.  Blood work, an EKG, and approval for surgery will be required.  This all should take about a month.  In my mind, I am thinking that makes surgery the middle of December and off I went to get the ole arm stuck and the heart listened to.  Then I received a call on meeting with the doctor that would approve the surgery.

Process hiccup #1:  The approval doctor did not have an appointment until December 23!  What?  Really?  Now we are looking at surgery sometime in January.

Process hiccup #2:  December 7, I tested positive for Covid and the December 23 appointment was moved to December 30.  Surgery was getting pushed further and further away.

Process hiccup #3:  January 10, the doctor approved the surgery but the first available time was March 1.  What?  Really?  What happened to this should take about a month?  I hung up and opened my daily devotional.

January 10 devotional:  YOUR DESTINY

January 10 devotional scripture:  HABAKKUK 2:3

These things I plan won’t happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, do not despair for these things will surely come to pass.  Just be patient!  They will not be overdue a single day.

As I read that scripture, I took a breath and calmly offered this prayer:  God, you have this.  It will happen when the time is right.  I will just be patient.  Amen

Process surprise:  About three hours after the call saying the surgery will be March 1, the phone rang.  I was informed there was a cancellation on January 25 and they wondered if I would take that appointment.  OF COURSE.

And the process works in God’s time not mine.  Now, if there were no more hiccups, I should be on my way home.  And my hubby will love me right through recovery and therapy.  Will he be patient?  He will be very patient with me, but if he gets impatient with the process, I will hand him Habakkuk 2:3 personalized just for him.

Mary’s recovery won’t happen right away.  She will improve slowly, steadily, surely, and the vision of her healed will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, I will not despair for it will surely come to pass.  I will just be patient!  God’s plan will not be overdue and will be on the exact day He has it planned.

 

 WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?  WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

NOTE:  The Bible does NOT say Eve ate an apple.  It says she ate fruit.  The fruit being an apple came about during a translation of the Bible and artists needing something to put in paintings and stained glass windows.  Besides, using the apple keeps little kids from asking, “Which fruit did Eve eat?  Was it a grape?  Or a lemon?”  Think how many Sunday School teachers are glad they do not have to pick a fruit.  I will go with tradition and use apple.

 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.  “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Genesis 3:1-6 NIV

It doesn’t say the snake led her to the tree, so I think Eve was standing by the tree when the snake spoke to her.  I wonder what Eve was thinking as she stood there?  Was she admiring the color of the fruit?  Was she enjoying the shape of the tree?  Was she comparing the tree to the others in the Garden?  Was she thinking about all God had told Adam and her?  Was she wondering what the forbidden fruit tasted like?

Was the crafty serpent waiting to see what Eve would do?  Had the snake been around Eve before so that Eve was not shocked when it approached?  Did Eve take one step closer to the tree?  Did the snake see a moment ..  a split second ..  of doubt in Eve? 

We do not know their interaction prior to the snake asking Eve, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  He listened to Eve and then said quietly that she would not die.  Instead, the snake informed her that eating the fruit would make her like God.  The snake changed Eve’s focus from God to sin.  The snake changed the fate of humans and it was so easy.  All it took was a lie that seemed like the truth. 

WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?

Of course you would not believe a snake!  Hate to tell you but snakes come in all sizes and shapes.  The snake can be a family member or a friend or a stranger.  The snake can be a beautiful woman or an ugly hag.  It can be a strong man or a sleazy man in a back street alley.  Snakes are not strong because of how they look.  They are strong because their lies are sweet to our ears and offer us what we think we need.

WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

Just as the snake comes in many shapes and sizes, the apple comes in many forms.  The snake can offer alcohol or drugs or sex.  The snake can make excessive shopping seem like fun or ignoring family to watch every game on TV a reward for your hard work.  The snake can make young kids think they do not fit in and if they do this or that, they will be accepted.  The snake can make us feel inadequate or better than everyone else.  The snake uses lies to confuse us and then offers us a way out.  What apple would the snake lead you to?

WHO IS YOUR SNAKE?  WHAT IS YOUR APPLE?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could say, “I am strong enough to resist a snake, no matter what form it takes.  I would never turn to sin over God.”  The truth is we are all susceptible.  The snake can lead us by using phrases like everyone is doing it, it is a small compromise, you deserve this, or once will not hurt.  And with each word that comes out of the snake’s mouth, it is dangling a carrot in front of you.  That carrot could be success, health, prosperity, or a way to stop reality. 

So I ask, “Who is your snake?  What is your apple?”  Where will you find the strength to turn away?

 WHAT SOUND DOES THE CHURCH MAKE?

Who can hear us?

Pastor Larry Wade, Urbana Yoke Parish (UYP), Urbana, Indiana, is making The Opening Door the theme for 2022.  This got me to thinking about the sounds our church makes. 

Our church has a bell.  How many people can hear it?  Does the bell proclaim the beginning of Sunday worship?  Or does the bell hang there quietly as if it is just another day?

UYP is very noisy before and after church.  The congregation enjoys each other and they chatter and chatter and chatter right up to the time church starts.  They resume this fellowship at the close of service.  How far does that sound carry?  Can neighbors hear the joy of being part of a church family?  Or do closed doors muffle the sound of fellowship?

Microphones carry the sound of the message to all attending church.  Those in the back and far corner can hear and ponder God’s word.  If a person was standing outside, could they hear?  Or do closed doors stop the message from entering their heart?

The service is recorded and posted on our website and watching the video is wonderful for those who cannot attend.  They can see and hear the service.  Can their neighbors hear the Good News?  Or do the home’s walls and closed doors confine the sound, the joy, and the message?

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What would happen if others could hear the sounds a church makes?

What would happen if someone walking by heard the bell?  Would they be reminded it is time to worship?

What would happen if the doors were open and others could see the fellowship?  Would they want to discover what makes those people chatter like that?

What would happen if the doors were open?  Would a neighbor or someone going by come in and listen to the music, the prayers, and the Word of God?

What would happen if the doors were open?  What would happen if we — you, me, us, them — did not allow the walls and doors of the church to confine our worship to Sunday morning?  What would happen if we — you, me, us, them — took the joy, the fellowship, and God’s Word right out the door with us and allowed all we meet to see Jesus come alive in us?

What would happen?  Souls would be saved!

 WHAT DID I DO?

I have had this pin for years and love it.  What did I ever do to deserve this seems to be a question I ask – a lot of people ask – when things are not going …

“When things are not going how, Mary?”

Happy New Year God. 

“Don’t try to change the subject.  When things are not going how?  Going your way, maybe?”

My goodness, you do seem to be listening at all the wrong times.

“I am listening all the time.”

I know …

“Said with more than a bit of sarcasm.  My child are you having a bad day?”

No.  Actually things have been super, what with Covid and people being afraid instead of living and increased crime and inflation and no one wanting to work and people staying home instead of coming to church and …

“You do not do sarcasm well.  Sounds more like complaining.  Let’s go back to your pin.  The person on the pin is asking God what they did to deserve this.  Do you want me to give you a list?”

Yes!  I want to know what I did to deserve ..

“Mary, there is only one word on the list.”

One word?

“The word is nothing.”

Nothing?  That makes no sense.  I think you do not understand.  I want to know what I did to deserve all the hard times in life. 

“I understand perfectly.  I think you are looking at the question incorrectly.  You have done nothing to deserve all of this.”

All of what?

“Look around.  Everything you see is a gift.  The sky and the grass.  The trees and the roses.  The very air you breathe.  These were all created for you.”

For me?  But why?  If I have done nothing to deserve it, why did you create all this for me? 

“Because I love you.”

Wow. 

“And, Mary, don’t mess it up.”

Oh, I probably will.

“Yes, you probably will.  Sometimes more than once a day.”

Is that sarcasm I hear in your voice?

“No.”

Happy New Year God.

“Happy New Year Mary.”

+  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +  +

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” 

 

Then God said, “I give you

 

Genesis 1:27-first part of 29

I give you

The air you breathe

The ground you walk on

The food you eat

The water you drink

These are gifts from a loving God.  Gifts we have done nothing to deserve.  Gifts we so take for granted. 

I give you

My Son

This is a gift from a loving Father to us, his children.  A gift we have done nothing to deserve.  A gift we only have to accept