A SURRENDERED HEART IS NEVER DISAPPOINTED

“Bampa’s taking us to “Red Robster,” 3-year old Maicie excitedly informed everyone as we walked out of church headed for Sunday Dinner with the grandkids.  Is Red Lobster her favorite restaurant in the whole world?  Probably not, but she is 3 so everything and every place is an exciting adventure.  When Maicie is with Grandpa and Grandma she has complete faith in our love, our desire to do whatever is best for her and she knows we have special little surprise blessings just waiting to be bestowed upon her.  Maicie has completely surrendered her will to Grandpa and Grandma, so it doesn’t matter if it is Red Lobster or McDonalds, having her favorite book read to her or snuggling on Grandma’s bed watching a video, going to the Reptile Zoo or making valentines at the kitchen table; A SURRENDERED HEART IS NEVER DISAPPOINTED.

As I meditated, during morning devotions, my mind went back over all the many blessings in my life and the few disappointments.  God whispered sweetly to my spirit, “A surrendered Heart is NEVER disappointed.”  I began to examine each one of those disappointments and realized once again, God was right.  Every disappointment I have faced has been due to following my hopes and dreams instead of God’s plan, imagining the outcome I wanted instead of understanding God’s work in my life, or having expectations all for my benefit rather than furthering the Kingdom of God.  On the other hand every blessing I have received as a result of a Surrendered Heart has been lasting and never disappointing.  Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Lord, help me to have the Surrendered Heart of a 3-year old.  Every morning help me to awake with the excited expectation of the new adventures You have prepared.  I want to have complete faith in Your love and Your desire to do whatever is best for me; knowing that YOU are working all things for my good.  Whether it is “Red Lobster or McDonalds,” I want to feast at Your table; whether it is reading your Word or resting quietly in Your arms, I want to linger in Your presence.  If you want to show me the “Reptile Zoo” or have me share the Gospel at my kitchen table, I am available.   I desire Your will to replace my will and Your hopes and dreams for me to come to fruition.  Most of all, remind me that A SURRENDERED HEART IS NEVER DISAPPOINTED.

WE'RE BROTHERS; SOMETIMES WE HURT EACH OTHER

Having raised two boys, it is no surprise to see 6-year old Caleb and 4-year old Nathan sword fighting, wrestling or playing “Superhero” in my living room; that’s what boys do!  I also remember how quickly “play” can escalate to the next level and become “fighting;” that’s what boys do!  Loudly, firmly and with authority, I said, “BOYS!!! That’s enough!  Someone is going to get hurt!”  Nathan paused just long enough to inform me, “It’s ok Grandma, we’re brothers, and sometimes we hurt each other.”  BOOOOMMMM!!!  He connects with the ball and Grandma gets it right between the eyes!  It always amazes me how your kids and grandkids can hit you with some truths using just a few simple words.

One of the things I have learned over the years is, the only people that can truly hurt you are the people you care about and have given that power over you.  It is the people to which you are the closest and most vulnerable; the ones you share your heart with or your innermost feelings.  These are the people whose opinions matter; your family, closest friends, your “brothers and sisters.”  A stranger can call me “fat, stupid and ugly and give me an obscene gesture, as I get out of my car and by the time I get from the parking lot to the store, I say, “whatevah" and forget about it.  Not so, if it comes from someone whose opinion I value.  The wounds and the scars can last a lifetime.

Stop a minute and look at the reverse side.  I know there have been many times that I have carelessly thrown a barbed dart while thinking, “its ok we’re sisters/brothers and sometimes we hurt each other.”  Then continued merrily along my way, never considering the damage my actions have caused.  IT’S NOT OK!!!  Listen to the words of Jesus in John 13:34-36 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵ By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  How will men know we are disciples of Jesus if we are constantly sword fighting, backbiting or wrestling for position and attention?  Are we trying to destroy those we love?  Picking and finding fault with each other and fighting with our words and deeds will eventually destroy relationships and prevent the blessing of God in your life.   Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I may think it is cute for a 4 and 6 year old to stick their tongues out at each other; to wrestle and sword fight but there comes a time when we have to GROW UP!  Thankfully, my 34 and 36 year old sons don’t wrestle each other to the living room floor every time they get together.  The superhero capes and swords have been passed along to their children.  They can actually sit and have a civil conversation…most times.  It is time that we mature in our behavior toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is time to put the swords down and STOP biting and devouring each other. 

 Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  I want a good and pleasant life, don’t you?  One of the best ways to have unity is to pray for your brother or sister.  When you are truly seeking the blessing of God for your brother or sister, you see them through a different lens and the desire for strife ceases.  Be DELIBERATELY ENCOURAGING.  If saying encouraging words to others does not come to you naturally, plan for it.  Pick the one person you seem to have the most difficulty loving and think of all the lovely, encouraging things you can say (even if you don’t want to); then SAY THEM!  The most important thing is when you are around others, SMILE!  A genuinely, warm smile can “mend a lot of fences” especially if it accompanies an “I’m sorry.”  I know it would bring a smile to God’s heart if just once He could hear his children say, “It’s ok God, we’re brothers and we LOVE each other.”

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

The Niswonger Grandkid’s Camp – 2013 was exciting and full of activities.  One of the most highly anticipated activities was painting the fort that Grandpa and the Grandkids were building.  Holding 4-year old Anabel’s hand as we walked toward the garage, I listened to her chatter excitedly about painting her panels.  I told her I had bought pink paint especially for her and I also had green, blue, white, yellow and orange.  Suddenly, Anabel looked up at me with her sparkling blue eyes and said, “I love pink, it is my favorite but if I had orange that would be a great opportunity.”

Most of the time we are so focused on what we don’t have, what is missing, or what is happening that we ignore the “great opportunities” around us each day.    God provides us with the pink paint and when he includes the orange, just because He’s God, we throw up our hands in frustration and ask, “What am I supposed to do with this?”  Or maybe it just isn't the combination you wanted.  I am sure Joseph was all excited about his future when God gave him dreams but the excitement waned when he realized God had thrown a little “orange” in the mix.  A foreign land, slavery and prison were not a combination he wanted in his dream.  Joseph would have spent the rest of his years rotting in prison; full of self-pity if he had not recognized the “great opportunity” God was sending his way.  The “pink” and “orange” were a God-given ticket to the palace.

As you reflect on your dreams and goals, perhaps all of the “orange” is overpowering the small smear of “pink” on your masterpiece.  It wasn’t the combination you had envisioned and it seems you will never accomplish anything with the colors you’ve been given.  Remember, God has always had a plan for your life and He will never give you a color that He can’t work with.  He wants to show you the “great opportunity” that He is providing.  Dip your brush in the paint and allow God to guide you into your future.

I WANT TO BE OLDER OR PRETTIER OR ............

Our cottage at Higgins Lake in Northern Michigan is such a peaceful place, usually, but this week the peacefulness was interrupted by squeals and peals of laughter and children’s voices; it was Grandkid’s Camp 2013.  I was sitting at the picnic table enjoying a cup of coffee, when 4-year old Nathan walked up, looking sad and forlorn.  “Grandma,” he said, “I want to be older.  I’ll never get to be older.”  Putting my arms around him, I asked, “How old would you like to be, Nathan?”  Without hesitation, Nathan replied, “10, I want to be 10.”  Now when you consider that his oldest cousin, Mackenzie, will be 9 years old in a few days, of course he wants to be 10; he wants to be “older.”  Pulling him on my lap, I explained to Nathan that God and Grandma thinks he is perfect exactly as he is now and that God needs him to be 4 years old so that he can learn and grow.  After a few more minutes of cuddling, he climbed off my lap and happily ran off to join a lively game of make-believe.

How many minutes, days and years of my life have been spent wishing I was something other than the person God wanted me to be?  As a 4 year old, I wanted to be 10, until I reached the age of 10, then it was 12, 16, 18, or 21.  From the age of 2, I loved to sing and perform for anyone who would listen.  At 12, I was so excited to sing solo for the Camp Choir in front of about 500 people.  Oh, I had dreams and my greatest joy was being asked to “perform” a song in church.  Finally, I realized that God hadn’t created me to “perform” but to worship and worship didn’t involve being in front singing at the top of my lungs but it involved standing in a pew, lifting my hands to Heaven, allowing the tears to flow as my voice directed the praise to Him.  I had other aspirations, I wanted to be the soft-spoken, sweet lady that everyone loved, confided in and admired.  Unfortunately, I saw things a little too clearly, had solutions instead of patience and could be a little intimidating; so I moved on.  Over the years, there have been so many things I wanted to be different in my life; I wanted to be thinner, prettier, live on the ocean, be creative, and the list goes on and on and on.

The beauty of “being older,” Nathan, is that I finally accepted that I am the “ME” that God created and loves with an everlasting love.  He created me for a special purpose and endowed me with the gifts and talents to be used to fulfill that purpose.  I may not sit and cry with you for hours but if we talk long enough, we may find a solution for your problem.  I won’t be the soloist with the microphone but if you listen closely, you will hear my voice lifted in worship to my God.  I won’t be the fashionista and my shoes won’t be the latest designer style but if you are barefoot, I’ll give them to you.  I won’t have a national ministry and be asked to travel the country speaking at Ladies Conferences but you might find me hosting a group of ladies in my home or leading devotions at the Rescue Mission.  I probably won’t write a “Best Seller” but I can send an email of encouragement, post a scripture on face book or write an inspirational blog.

Before we were born, God had a purpose and a plan in mind for each one of us.  We can only be complete in Him when we embrace and surrender our will to His plan.  Rest in His arms, cuddle for a while and accept that in Him you are perfect, then get up, shout for joy and go join in the game; enjoy being “FOUR.”