I had the great privilege this week to meet a man whose sight has been taken from him. He has also had a heart transplant, has malfunctioning kidneys, a wife who nearly lost her life several months ago, a son who was killed suddenly in a tragic accident, and the list goes on.
He did not share stories from his life as one might imagine; to gain sympathy or to complain. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, yet there remained an unexplainable joy brimming from his countenance and a tenderness in his voice void of bitterness or anger.
Although I was in his home for business purposes, that was quickly forgotten as we sat together with his lovely wife who served us cookies and hot tea.
He was unaware of the great need I had to hear his stories; as a matter of fact, I was unaware of the great need until I met him. Without realizing it, I had been allowing my own life circumstances to blind me. As he explained that he couldn’t see past his own outstretched hand, I realized that neither could I.
I watched with my own seeing eyes, listened with my ears and felt with my heart the deep pain of a man who has wrestled with God many times and many times has surrendered himself to the hand of his Creator a changed man.
My mind takes me back to Jacob who wrestled with God till daybreak, “When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” ….then he blessed him there.” (Genesis 32:25-29)
When was the last time you wrestled with God? Oftentimes we approach life with a passivity that lacks urgency. Just as Jacob faced the darkness of the night, wrestling with his Maker, so must we. The darkness of our circumstances lacks the power to blind us to the truth of our existence. We have been created to worship God and to bring glory to His name. It is in the blackness of night that our faith is tested; we must wrestle and hold tightly to the One who knows our name.
Is your name “Doubt,” then wrestle until you are given a new name, “Faith.” Is your name “Weary,” then hold on until daybreak when you will be given the new name, “Warrior.” God is waiting to meet you and bless you when it seems all has been stripped away.
My new friend made a comment near the end of our time together that I will never forget, “I have seen clearly through my own blind eyes the goodness of my God.”
Oh say can you see?
Stay the Course...
Sheila Cote
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Remember
As we reflect back through the course of history, there is one glaring truth that jumps out—we are a very forgetful people.
Moses reminds the Israelites, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.” (Deut. 4:9) Moses goes on to remind them in greater detail that which should not be forgotten: “But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” (Deut. 4:20)
I imagine at the words of Moses, the Israelite's sense of smell took them immediately back to the iron-smelting furnace; a reminder of their captivity under Pharaoh’s hand in Egypt.
God parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross on dry ground while Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea and the waters were brought over them and not one survived. Three days later as the Israelites were traveling through the desert of Shur without finding water, they grumbled and became angry.
A couple months later the Israelites grumbled again and said, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3)
How quickly the Israelites forgot the truth of their time spent in Egypt! Because they were hungry, they forgot that they had been slaves to the Egyptians; instead, they only remembered that they had had full stomachs.
As I gaze upon the face that stares back at me in the mirror, I must admit that I, too, am forgetful.
God opens doors that no man can open and speaks to my heart in ways that are clear and powerful-- three days later I forget.
Thankfully, God is well aware of our forgetfulness. When God gave the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, He emphasized the importance of remembering when he said, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:6-9)
How do we remember God’s promises and the truth of His Word? Although in the Old Testament the words of the covenant were written on tablets of stone, we are told in Hebrews (8:10)“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”
Remember, we were slaves to sin just as the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. God has rescued us from the hands of Satan and has given us His inheritance-- His promises are as unchanging as His character.
A criminal hung on a cross on either side of Jesus, one hurled insults while the other knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:42-43)
Our past can be forgiven, our future can be redeemed, and our present is filled with purpose as we remember the One who will never forget us.
Stay the Course...
Sheila Cote'
Moses reminds the Israelites, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.” (Deut. 4:9) Moses goes on to remind them in greater detail that which should not be forgotten: “But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.” (Deut. 4:20)
I imagine at the words of Moses, the Israelite's sense of smell took them immediately back to the iron-smelting furnace; a reminder of their captivity under Pharaoh’s hand in Egypt.
God parted the waters of the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross on dry ground while Pharaoh’s horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea and the waters were brought over them and not one survived. Three days later as the Israelites were traveling through the desert of Shur without finding water, they grumbled and became angry.
A couple months later the Israelites grumbled again and said, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (Exodus 16:3)
How quickly the Israelites forgot the truth of their time spent in Egypt! Because they were hungry, they forgot that they had been slaves to the Egyptians; instead, they only remembered that they had had full stomachs.
As I gaze upon the face that stares back at me in the mirror, I must admit that I, too, am forgetful.
God opens doors that no man can open and speaks to my heart in ways that are clear and powerful-- three days later I forget.
Thankfully, God is well aware of our forgetfulness. When God gave the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, He emphasized the importance of remembering when he said, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deut. 6:6-9)
How do we remember God’s promises and the truth of His Word? Although in the Old Testament the words of the covenant were written on tablets of stone, we are told in Hebrews (8:10)“I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.”
Remember, we were slaves to sin just as the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians. God has rescued us from the hands of Satan and has given us His inheritance-- His promises are as unchanging as His character.
A criminal hung on a cross on either side of Jesus, one hurled insults while the other knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong. Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Lk. 23:42-43)
Our past can be forgiven, our future can be redeemed, and our present is filled with purpose as we remember the One who will never forget us.
Stay the Course...
Sheila Cote'
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