Tag Archives: Spirituality

TRUST

27 Apr

Hands and World

By Linda J. Humes

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5 – 6 KJV

Trust. An interesting concept. What is trust? Trust is traveling down a highway at 65 MPH with another vehicle bearing down on you from the opposite direction at the same speed – knowing that they won’t cross the double yellow line that separates you. Trust is running 75 MPH up a mountain grade, zipping past the big rigs struggling at 30 MPH to make the grade and knowing they aren’t going to cross that dotted white line and pull in front of you.

Every day we stand on that trust, even though we’ve seen the evidence of betrayed trust along the way – figure eight skid-marks, pieces of vehicles and flares along the road, even one retaining wall in Phoenix which had been scrapped black from an impact and someone had painted a red cross in the center. Momentary diversions. If we dwell on the betrayed trust we wouldn’t be able to function in transportation – fear would overwhelm us and we would remain paralyzed. We MUST remain in trust.

If I can trust completely in strangers in my everyday travels – why do I struggle in trusting that God will honor His word?

Recently our family had gone through critical medical and financial crisis. I knew in my heart that God could provide for our needs – for healing – for the medical expenses – for our food and shelter. But in my mind it was too big. How could I help make it happen – ever been there??

I looked around for extra work, there wasn’t any. I tried putting things out in front of our home to sell – a car hit the items and they were ruined. We called everywhere we could think of for assistance – we didn’t qualify. Every door closed around us – God wanted us to know that He was in control. He WAS! Healing came. Food boxes and grocery gift cards came. Every bill has been paid to date. Praise God! I don’t know how He did it; I only know that He did. I trust that he will continue until this crisis has ended.

Trust. Interesting concept. What is it? It’s knowing that if I walk humbly and faithfully in His ways, He will be there to meet my needs. It’s knowing that no matter how much I try, I can’t. It’s knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me more than I could ever fathom and wants His perfect plan for my life. It’s knowing that all I have to do is call His Name and He will be there beside me.

In that I trust.

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CHRYSALIS

27 Apr

Chrysalis

By Linda J. Humes

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Matthew 6:30 (KJV)

I made a new friend the other day. He wasn’t attractive – didn’t have a “big” name – wasn’t famous; in fact, he didn’t have anything to do with the church! Yet, Jesus, he taught me more – about you – than the most eloquent, the most learned, person I’ve heard.

My little friend – short and plump – rested briefly on a tomato stem, preparing to consume yet another leaf. This little caterpillar – subject daily to the mercies of his environment – was bound to the earth by those areas where he could climb.

He was so perfectly made – just like you – just like me. Every curve, every stout little leg, every perfect oval marking, balanced and ordered by a meticulous God.

He pressed forward, eating intently, knowing that soon he must die, and resting in the faith, that in his death he will be born again. He will soon take his earth-bound body, wrap it carefully in instinctive faith, and wait for the day when he will soar with a new freedom – as a beautiful, delicate butterfly.

We, too, can make the decision to wrap up our earth-bound lives and dispose of the old self, allowing the freeing release of the Holy Spirit, giving us wings to soar into the Presence of God.

The caterpillar, in his instinctive faith, never wastes a moment wondering “if” – he is drawn to the freedom he KNOWS will come. Oh, that we could have the faith to shed all that binds us to the ground. That we might wrap ourselves completely in the chrysalis of the Word of God, pulled tight by the power of the Spirit that transforms us. That we would desire to be drawn to that freedom – unafraid of the heights that we could soar to – through the rebirth from our old self to Christ.

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SHRINE

27 Apr

Shrine

By Linda J. Humes

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

It breaks my heart. Every time I pass by a part of me rips. It drives me to an urgency of prayer. Shrines – ornate piles of mementos placed along the side of a road at a point where a life was lost. Not a simple white cross, but a memorial of treasures, family pictures, candles, flowers, trees, elaborate crosses, balloons, clothing, even a whiskey bottle decorates one near my home. Paths to the shrine are kept raked and clean, a row of rocks line each side of the path. Someone spends hours of time showing their love for one lost. This is only one example of many that are scattered throughout the community.

It is difficult to know much about the one being memorialized, but the ones left behind are the ones I grieve for. Do they believe the “ghost” of the loved one lingers there to enjoy the birthday banners, Christmas trees, stuffed Easter Bunny, or the framed photos that are changed every few months? Do they think a disembodied soul floats about, mourning and waiting for the living to remember them at holidays?

I pray continually that God would send someone to the keepers of the shrine, to let them know the peace of letting go. To let them know that there is more to life than animate mementos of life. To let them know about Jesus. To show them His great love. To give them the security of knowing that to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of God. That our peace after death is completely dependent upon our relationship with Christ, not on those who have stayed behind.

I don’t know who tends the shrines, but I know my God. I know that every prayer I utter meets the ears of my Creator, and I know that He can bring the right person, with the right words, at the right time, to touch their hearts and direct their souls.

Jesus, if that person is me – show me the way.

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