47

There is a painting at church of Jesus on the cross, with his mother Mary there at the foot.  Mary has gray hair.  If she gave birth to Jesus, say at age 17, then she would have been 47.  Yes, her hair most likely would have been gray. 

I had a season of significant grief at age 47.  It allowed me to appreciate Mary's great love for her Savior Son and to realize her agony of heart as she watched him suffer and faced her own future without him.

Every difficult road we travel broadens our level of compassion for the suffering of others.

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But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. [Lamentations3:3]

Sticking it Out

Day in, day out.  His mercies are new EVERY morning.  A day leads to a week, which leads to a month, to a year, to five years, and so on.   The highest mountain in the whole world is still climbed by taking only one small step at a time, and keeping on going....

TV~ (See May 3, 2013, for the meaning of "TV.")
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. [I Corinthians 10:13]

Betrayal

Jesus knew the meaning of betrayal.

For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonor, for then I could have borne it;
Neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me; for then I would have hid myself from him;

But it was even thou, my companion, my guide, and mine own familiar friend.  We took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends. (Psalm 55:12-15)

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O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, and shall not suffer the righteous to fall forever.  [Psalm 55:23]

A Way God Reaches Out

There is a consistent way, over the years, that God has shown me that He KNOWS and is real.  When going through a time of great duress, a scripture will be dropped in front of me that, due to its perfect timing, is clearly from God.

Now is one of those times.  And there, in my morning prayer reading for October 9 was, " God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed;  God shall help her, and that right early."  (Psalm 46:5)  This verse was one "given" to me by the Lord several years ago.

Then, just today, for October 10, was the Olive Tree chosen verse. "As for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of the Lord.  My trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever."  (Psalm 52:9)

Thank you, Lord.


TV~
I will alway give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done; and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well. [Psalm 53:10]

Three Times

The number three so often is used by God, who is a three-in-one God. 

Interesting that in Psalm 42 and 43, the following words are repeated, in essence, three times:

Why art thou so vexed, O my soul?  and why art thou so disquieted within me?
O put thy trust in God; for I will yet thank him, which is the help of my countenance and my God.

TV~
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding...
[Proverbs 3:5]

Humbled

Today I am eating humble pie, after yesterday's post.  I had a conversation with someone who is facing deep emotional pain, due to a situation similar to my own.

What did I do?  I was a gloss-overer!  I told her the great things about her situation.  It didn't help her.  Upon leaving the room, I realized what I had done.  Why did I respond to her that way?  When I examined my deep inner feelings, I realized that I also was being a judger.  In my opinion, her situation, although similar in nature to mine, was actually much much easier than my own due to its logistics.  Deep inside I was thinking, "It could be worse.  Be thankful."

Forgive me, grieving lady.  I pray sweet moments of comfort for you.

TV~
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 
[Romans 7:15]

Knife-turner or Comforter?

There are seasons of life when we face deep emotional pain.  It feels like we are walking around with an open, bleeding wound.  The response of others to our personal pain can greatly help, or not.  Here is a list of typical responses:

~  Glaze-overer :  Trying to be helpful, but not understanding.  "Look on the bright side...."
~  Judger :  Thinking that we aren't handling the situation as best as we ought. "Things could be so much worse.  You should be thankful."
~  Distancer :  Avoiding contact due to the difficulty of what we are going though.
~  Knife-turner :  Responding in a way with words and/or actions that greatly increases our pain, hence turning the knife in our wound.
~  Comforter :  Compassionately responding to our pain with words and actions that spread a healing balm on our emotional wound.

As I read the above and think of my recent season of great pain, I can see a particular face in each category. Yesterday, I encountered the knife-turner. This verse in today's sermon addressed my strong feelings against this person:

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Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. [Matthew 18:21,22]

I will, by God's help.