Walk and Not Faint

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

The word faint means to be weary, to tire (as if from wearisome flight).  Have you ever been there?   Have you ever been physically exhausted?  Have you ever been emotionally weary?  There is nothing so draining as emotional weariness.  When you find yourself physically tired sleep can restore your body; but emotional weariness drains one to the very soul.  Perhaps there is nothing quite as difficult as getting yourself out of bed when you are emotional weary.

Have you been there?

Have you ever lost heart? Perhaps it was the news that the cancer was back – just when it appeared life was getting back to normal.  Perhaps a friend that was disloyal and turned on you in ways you never expected.   A wayward child for whom you pray for day after day; yet you never see any evidence that God has heard your prayer.   Financial struggles that seem to never let up can cause discouragement.   Life situations give us plenty of opportunities to become discouraged.  Discouragement is a part of life.  Perhaps the easiest place to encounter discouragement is in the mundane, day to day situations encountered in life.  Walking thru life can cause us to become weary.    John Claypool adequately describes this phrase: ‘walk and not faint’:

“Some people feel the sequence of this Isaiah passage is all turned around and that the highest form of God’s help ought to be the soaring of ecstasy.  They say it should read, “First you walk, then you run, and finally you mount up with wings as an eagle.”  But I think the writer knew what he was doing when he set down the promises as he did, for in the dark stretches of life, the most difficult discipline of all is not that of soaring or even of running.  It consists of “keeping on keeping on” when events have slowed you to a walk, when it seems that in spite of everything you are going to crumple under the load and faint away.’  (From the book Tracks of a Fellow Struggler – How to Handle Grief)

Sometimes it is hard just to get up and do it all over again.  Have you been there?  I know I have.  How we handle discouragement will determine if the hard situations in life will derail us or develop us.  Discouragement will come.  How do we handle these times when we are emotionally weary?

1.  Reacquaint Yourself with the Savior

If we are saved, we know the Lord as our Savior.  We have a relationship with Him.  We know He died on the cross to pay for our sins and we have put our dependence in what He did on Calvary as our only hope for redemption.  We know Christ. However, sometimes we forget Him in times of discouragement and hardship.

I love what the writer of Hebrews has to say about being weary. “For consider Him (Christ)… lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”  I have written in the margin of my Bible next to this verse:  “Solution to depression”.  When we feel weary and discouraged that is when we need to reacquaint ourselves with our Savior.  He endured so much for us!  He was perfect – yet HE became sin for us.  He left Heaven for you.  If you were the ONLY person in the world for whom He needed to die in order to redeem you – He would have endured it all just to save your soul!  That is amazing. 

When I see all that the Savior endured for me, I find in His example strength to walk and not faint. 

2.  Review God’s Goodness to You

I love the words of the Psalmist:  “I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”  It’s pretty amazing that the Psalmist made an affirmative that he WOULD have lost of heart – become completely discouraged - if he had not seen God’s goodness.

The ‘goodness of the Lord’ are all the way he has showed His loving kindness to us.   So, the Psalmist said he reviewed all the ways He could see God’s kindness to him as a person.  Our God is a very loving God – He is so kind to us.  In fact in Psalm 33:5 it says,  “the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”  In times of discouragement it is easy to forget all the ways that we have been blessed by the kindness of our loving God. 

I was challenged years ago after our daughter died to daily write down all the things for which I was thankful.  All the ways God had blessed me.  It was imperative that I not forget in the midst of suffering and grief that my God was still good.  Everywhere we look we see the kindness of God.  From the beauty of creation to the salvation of our souls we are constantly reminded that God loves us and has been so loving and kind to us.  Sometimes, we just have to look for it – rest assured you will not need to look far. 

3.  Be Renewed

If you wanted to find someone who had reason to be discouraged and depressed in the Bible you would find it in the apostle Paul.  His life was far from easy after he became a Christian.  He was imprisoned, beaten, betrayed by others (unsaved and saved alike), and yet we see Paul singing praises to God amidst terrible situations.  He gives explains to his readers how he was able to avoid discouragement during difficult times in his letter to the Corinthian church.

“For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”   II Corinthians 4: 15 (Emphasis mine)

How could Paul say that his inward man was renewed day by day and what does that mean?  The word renewed means to renovate.  The inward man (Paul’s soul) was being renovated (made over / new) through the various trials that Paul was facing!  The trials were bringing him further on in his sanctification!  This is exciting.  The trails you and I encounter in our lives will cause us to be more Christlike and will prepare us for eternity with Christ.  They have a purpose!  It’s not the cheap cliché, “Life is hard – and then you die”.  No, the trials in life will have eternal value when we allow God to use them in our lives. 

It is clear in the text that this renewal in Paul’s soul took place with two different exercises. 

* First of all, Paul realized that the hardships in life will end. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment…”  II Corinthians 4:17.   When difficulties came he reviewed this truth in his mind – this will not last forever!  In my mind I wonder how many times Paul reminded himself of this truth.  As he was feeling the blows of a beating did he repeat this fact in his head?  Did his mouth whisper the words, ‘but for a moment’ as his ankles swelled in the stocks?    

*Secondly,when Paul encountered hard times he choose to focus on eternity. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal eight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  When we realize that the things of this life will not last – but what God is doing in our hearts to conform us to Him will last for eternity we find the strength to walk and not faint.

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Are you discouraged right now?  I challenge you to spend time reacquainting yourself with Jesus Christ, look for all the blessings you have in your life right now; and allow the Spirit of God to conform you to sanctify your through the trials you encounter.  

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Thanks for stopping by – I am so glad you did.

Blessings,

~Martie

Family Game Night

I think one of the best ways to teach kids lessons that they will never forget is when you make life your classroom and the kids are not even aware that class in in session.   Years ago when we had just little kids running through the house we were challenged with this principle:   Use life situations to teach the life values your children will need as adults.  As much as we possibly can, we set aside one night out of the week as a family night.  It is an awesome bonus to us as a family that we can have fun together - and to be following this advice of teaching our kids life values at the same time. 

One avenue I have found very effective in teaching life lessons to our children is in playing games together.  It is amazing how many things can be taught while you are engaged in a family game together.  Sitting down as a family to play a game requires a little more effort (and sometimes a lot more patience) than say, just watching a movie together as a family.  However, there are SO MANY more opportunities to teach values as we interact together playing a game than when we just sit on the couch watching a movie. 

Here are some lessons that can be taught in almost every game night that we have as a family.

1. Putting others before yourself
 It seems no matter what game you choose - this lesson can be taught over and over again.  Whether you have two children who want to be the iron piece in Monopoly, or coaching the children how to figure out which person will go first in a mean game of UNO - opportunities abound for your children to see how they can treat someone the way they would want to be treated.

2.  Good Sportsmanship
 No one likes to loose; but  in every game there is a looser.  If your child is the winner of the game he/she can be guided on how to be a gracious winner.  I don't think there is any child around who has not needed to be guided and helped through the emotions that come with loosing or coming in last.  I can't think that every child would benefit from having a parent walk through the emotions they experience and help teach proper attitudes and actions that accompany disappointments.

3.  Playing Fair 
I'm sure all of us have come across adults in life that did not know how to 'play fair' in life.  Whether it is learning to wait patiently in a line that is long at the grocery store, or steeping aside and letting someone go through a doorway first. As adults we are constantly needing to 'play fair' in life.  I'm almost certain that no matter what game you choose to play with your kids you will find an opportunity to show and teach your children to be fair.

4. Being Honest
There is not a person alive who has not told a lie or been tempted to cheat.  There is not a child alive that has not tried to turn the odds in their favor to win a game.  Opportunities abound for us to confront our children's disposition to be dishonest or deceitful while engaged in playing games.  Even if we do not see our children trying to cheat - there is dialogue that can take place while you are playing to elevate honesty and warn against the dangers the come with dishonesty.

5.  Patience
Have you tried to play a simple card game with a four year old?  I have; and it seemed every few seconds I was saying the same phrase, "No, not yet.  It's not your turn."   A four year old seems to think that it is his turn every time someone finishes their turn.  It is so good for our children to learn to 'wait'.  Waiting is a life skill that all adults are going to have to practice sometime in their 'grown-up' years.    Games are a wonderful and fun way for children to learn to wait.

6. Deductive Reasoning
Games are wonderful ways for children to learn to process information and to learn to plan. Young children can learn from easy games like "Old Maid" where they have to figure out how they can get someone to pick the Old Maid from out of their hand.  Older kids have various strategy games to choose from to help deductive reasoning skills. It has been said that reasoning is the last skill to develop in a child / teen.  Engaging in a 'thinking game' with your teen is giving him/her opportunities to continue to build this invaluable skill that they will desperately need as an adult.   Children need multiple ways for them to have to engage their brain and think.  Playing various games is a way for them to have practice developing reasoning skills and not even realize how much their brains are working.

If you pass by our house on a designated 'Family Night',  you might here Zak screaming "UNO" or hear us laughing with the older kids as they try to get us to guess the category in a game of Guestures.  Hopefully, there will be so much more happening then just what can be heard from an open window.  We will play and have fun; and hope that when we tuck the kids into bed (just a little later than normal because it *is* family night!) that our children will have been given yet another opportunity to be exposed to values that will shape their lives.

What are your family's favorite games to play together?

I trust you have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm so glad you did.
Blessings,
~Martie

How to Get the Most (as a Mom) from Corporate Worship

On any given Sunday morning you will find our entire house a buzz with activity as the family get around for church.  There are farm chores that have to be done (even on Sunday chickens still need to be fed, the calf still needs his bottle and the beta fish is jumping around in her tank saying, “don’t forget me!).  There is a husband that needs breakfast and five kids that seem to think they need to eat too before we leave for church.  

The dynamic in our home is a bit different because we have seven people getting ready to leave at the exact same time with only one bathroom!  I have a special needs child that I am trying to encourage to get ready for church independent of Mom or Dad – and usually takes 3-4 attempts to get it all right.  (“No, Zak that does not match – go put on what I laid out for you last night, and comb your hair, and make your bed and don’t forget to zip up your pants…. Did you brush your teeth?)  

Zak all ready for church - before Mom saw him. 

All of this can leave this Momma just a little exhausted by the time we all get into the van and heading down the road for church.   Throw in a few squabbles to have to referee and you pretty much have what my Sunday morning looks like.  It is easy to get side tracked and even wonder if it’s worth all the work to get the family to church every single Sunday morning.  

Call me old fashioned, but I honestly feel that the most important day of the week is Sunday.  This is the day out of the week that we have set aside as a family to stop our normal routine and spend time reflecting on God and His Word.  It is easy in the middle of getting everyone around and out the door to forget how important the day really is.  It is easy to get frustrated and to not be under the control of the Holy Spirit as I interact with my family as we get ready for church.  When that happens it is very difficult for me to get everything I can out of the church service.  (It’s kind of hard to sing “I Love to Tell the Story”, and not feel like a hypocrite when my words were filled with anger as I told the kids to stop fighting and just get out in the van an hour before).  

Have you been there?  Have you sat through a church service dazed ?  I want to get everything I can out of corporate worship.  I want to come to church ready to hear what God has for me and leave filled with the knowledge of God’s will for my life and my upcoming week.  How can I do this when my life is so busy?   

Here are some things that have helped me get the most out of Sundays.

1.  Start the Night Before

Nothing can slow down forward motion like having to stop everything to find a child’s missing church shoe.  Notice I said, shoe – singular.  Church shoes never seem to go missing in pairs.  (Unless you have a boy that decided he did not like his church shoes and threw them in the trash – only to inform you of this fact on the Sunday morning of the church Christmas program. In which case, I am here to tell you that a Pastor’s son can stand in front of the church, in December, in Wisconsin, with only socks on his feet and say his lines in the Christmas program.  Yes, I was embarrassed to the point of tears; but lived to tell about it – and eventually laughed about it.)  But I digress…  Having clothes laid out the night before, from hair bows to church shoes, has helped our Sunday morning go a little smoother.

Another way we try to prepare for Sunday the night before is by making Saturday nights free from activities and having the day end sooner than a normal night out of the week.  Sure, there are times when there is a youth activity or a church activity planned at our church.  We would not keep them from a planned church activity;  but as much as we are able, we have the whole family home on Saturday evening and spend the night in quiet activities like reading or playing quiet games.  We all try to get to bed earlier also.  I have one son (the same one who discarded church shoes) who has great difficulty staying awake in church if he got to bed late the night before.  As much as we can, we try to make Saturday nights as uneventful as possible and a night to wrap up early and get a good night's rest.  

2.  Go to Church Ready to Participate

God never intended for us to be spectators when we go to church.  He wants us to be participants.  Participation in church helps you get a lot out of the church service. 

One way we can participate in church is interacting and engaging in fellowship with others before and after the church service.  God can use a simple conversation with someone at church to encourage your heart; and God can use you talking to someone to encourage their heart.  We have a lady at church that is always smiling.  Always.  I watch as she participates in greeting others.  She always has a kind word for those whom she passes.  Kids go up to her just to have her say hello to them and give them a hug.  I am positive she leaves church filled with joy because of all of the people who came and talked to her;  and those whom she greeted were encouraged also.  She has a way of making every person she is around feel special. 

Another way to participate in church is to be engaged in the song service.  Sings the hymns and pay attention to the words you are singing.  God has designed music to prepare our hearts for the message from His Word. There have been times when I have had to catch my breath as I sang these meaningful hymns as the truths of the words ministered truth to my heart.      Many times there has been a paradigm shift in my thinking as my mind shifts from having an earthly focus to a spiritual focus - and the preaching has not even started!   

3.  Come Ready to Listen and Learn

When our pastor begins to preach and open God’s Word – I must engage my brain.   For me, taking notes helps me stay focused on the preaching.  I will jot down a thought I have about something our Pastor has said; or I write down the outline from the message as he preaches it.  My husband says that when he takes notes he gets distracted and looses focus on what the Pastor is preaching.  Both of us listen intently in two different ways.  Whatever you need to do to stay focused on the message, I would challenge you to do it!  God uses His Word to speak to our heart, to convict of sin and to draw us to Himself.  Being an active listener allows us to get a lot out of the corporate worship.

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4.  Talk During Church

I'm sure your reading this and saying, "What! Talk during church??!!"  Talking in church is like an unwritten rule – never to be broken in any church denomination.  It might surprise you to know that I believe you should carry on a conversation the entire time the Word of God is being preached.  (I know your shocked, right?)   You should be in a constant state of conversation with God.    Ask God if what you're hearing is for you.  The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to speak to our hearts.  Interact with Him as He is working in your heart.  When He points out an area of your life that is not right with Him – agree with Him -  confess your sin right there in your heart during the message!  As a teenager, I remember the challenge my Youth Pastor gave to us repeatedly:  "Respond to God as soon as He speaks".  God can listen to my heart cry, my confession, and my burdens as I commune with Him  - even during the message!

5.  Be ready to Respond

While we can (and I believe should) respond to God during the message – there are times when God prompts our hearts to actively respond at the end of a message. Whether that action be kneeling down in prayer, seeking counsel from someone or making a public declaration of God's leading in your life. There are times I have responded to God during the message, and at the end of the message knew that all was settled between me and God; but there have been other times that I knew I needed to actively respond in some way at the close of the message.    Be ready and willing to respond to God however He speaks to you.  Perhaps God has revealed someone to whom you need to apologize and make things right.  RESPOND! 

Recently, God brought deep conviction to my heart of an area He had spoken to me about for years, that I, in unbelief,  had discredited as “not that big of a deal”.  Great was the conviction as I was listening to the preaching!  I knew if I left that church service without accountability I would fall back into unbelief and be defeated.  God prompted my heart to talk with Rob and leaned over and asked him if he would pray with me.  I told him how God had dealt with me.  There was a freedom in my heart as I responded to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and made things right.  

However, by Tuesday I was starting to doubt that perhaps I had made a big deal out of nothing and was being too oversensitive to the Spirit’s leading.  (I was falling back into unbelief).  In my doubt on Tuesday I asked Rob if he thought I had been foolish on Sunday by thinking God had dealt with me about such a "little" thing. My husband looked me straight in the eye and said, “God spoke to your heart on Sunday, Martie – just obey Him!”  I'm so thankful I obeyed God and asked my husband to pray with me about this matter.  Such freedom I have found in the past weeks in walking obedience to Christ and not falling back into unbelief.

Corporate Worship can be difficult when you have little ones in your home. I cannot imagine going to all of the work it takes to go to church as a family, to simply to be a spectator in a meaningless religious exercise!  No, when I go to church on Sunday I want to get all I can from the gift God has given me in corporate worship. I want to experience all that God has for me on every single Sunday morning.  These things have helped me through the years. What a blessing it has been in watching our children learn about God and worshiping together as a family. Corporate worship has been a blessing from God to me - it is an invaluable part of my life.  I trust it is in yours also.   

Thanks for stopping by.  I’m so glad you did! 

Blessings,

~Martie