Seveneth Wheel in a Six Wheel Ride

I've been in a wheelchair for almost twenty years.  In 1993, my family and I were in a head-on collision.  Thanks be to God, no one was killed and I was the only one left with a permanent disability, quadriplegia. (My motorized chair has two large wheels and four small ones and goes fast!). Can I just say that my fellowship with God would NEVER have been what it is today had I not experienced being in a wheelchair?  Personal adversity can propel us into finding comfort in the only One Who can provide lasting peace or it can lead to us running away thinking the adversity is not fair!  Even with me experiencing His perfect peace through the years, small things can still draw my eyes away from the One provider of true peace.

I recently went to a college football game with six others. There were over 30,000 people at this game...so there were people EVERYWHERE. In fact, the seven of us had a hard time keeping up with each other and wound up getting separated. When all was said and done, the rest of my group ended up   sitting together elsewhere in the stadium. After the first quarter, pity had settled in pretty good leaving me wanting to leave. The problem with me leaving is that we parked nearly a half mile down the road from the stadium and my battery was running low. I was forced to stay..."by myself".

It was during the third quarter that I realized the last time I was seated in this same spot at a football game many years ago. I remember sharing with my pastor all those years ago that it doesn't matter where I am; I can talk with Him. My perspective began to change. I turned my eyes from thinking about how my wheelchair was separating me from my group and realized it was providing me a new opportunity. God had placed an entirely different group around me that were in similar circumstances.

As a single person, I think we can get our eyes on the wrong thing, especially if we are with a group of couples.  It is not always the fact that we don't have a "mate" to go places with, but that we do not have anyone to go places with us.

Watching the game from my wheelchair, I began to talk to those God had placed in my "path". Many of those sitting there were in the same situation as I. Some of the them had companions, but regardless, we were a "group" of people sitting together!  I thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the game with my new "company".  During the first half, I watched the game with my eyes on myself. The second half of the game I enjoyed cheering my team and discussing different plays and just being myself. It was a chance to share Christ with would-be strangers by the way I handled myself.  Isn't that what we are called to do?  Be relational?  Be real?

No, I did not share the ABC's of salvation with anyone sitting nearby but I did experience His peace when I took my eyes off the "seventh wheel" syndrome.  Single people out number married people, so whether  you are "Living La Vida Single" at an event or the third, fifth or seventh...wheel ANYWHERE, just remember this:

19 "Therefore when you go, you must now make disciples of all the heathens, 20 teaching them to keep all the things that I have been commanding you: and behold I AM with you all the days until the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 (The One New Man Bible translation).

Our highest calling is "when we go" to love our neighbors as ourselves, thereby loving Him.  Singleness provides us with opportunities that couples do not have and we should be about "redeeming the time".  Colossians 4:4-6 tells us to always be ready to share the mystery of the gospel, to walk in wisdom and for our message to always be in grace, seasoned with salt that we will know how to give an answer.  I almost missed an opportunity to live out these words just because of my focus was on me and not others. So, I'm thankful for my six wheels, being placed in situations where I'm alone, and for all four quarters in a football game!

           

I've always liked this song but during that football game, God did something inside that brought the words to an even deeper meaning. Listen to this classic hymn and see if it doesn't move you as well:

The Brightest Sky

 ¹ In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrew 1:1-4


If you've every watched a sunrise when the fog was thick or there were a few clouds hazing up the sky, you know exactly where the sun is by virtue of the brightest area in the sky. I love that He speaks through His creation. I love that He has provided us with His Word to confirm the life-lessons He speaks to our hearts.

As I was enjoying my time with Him this day and being very thankful for the many ways He chooses to reveal Himself to us, I couldn't see the sun, but I could see where the sun was coming up at because it was brightest in that area. That got me to thinking...(see I have MBA...Measurable Brain Activity that early)..."It's always brightest right around the sun." No brainer, right?

If I were to look at Bible studies like Anne Graham Lotz "Just Give Me Jesus" or "Pursuing More of Jesus", I think I would see that she "got it." I mean the closer we get to Jesus the more we shine His light. When Jesus said in John 8:12 "¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" That's pretty self-explanatory. He tells us in John 15:4-5 that if we abide in Him, He will abide in us and apart from Him we can do nothing. Staying close to Jesus keeps our light bright in a darkened, fallen, and sinful world.


So, today I encourage you to enjoy the Sonshine! Thanksgiving is a great time to be thankful for His presence in the form of His Holy Spirit. Can you imagine our world without His presence? Let's not take Him for granted. We are His light, so let's be the brightest "sky" that we can!

**Edited and transferred

Birds of a Feather...

17 As iron sharpens iron,

   so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

I love getting up early to watch the sunrise.  It has to be the most miraculous part of my day.  I especially like to see the sun come up when there are sporadic clouds on the horizon, because the sun plays against the clouds and creates colors that only God can create.  Sometimes the reflections are like silver linings and others are deep purple's.  I often say to myself that there is not an artist in the world that can re-create that kind of beauty that transforms right before my eyes.

On this particular morning, it was rather cool out and is often the case; blackbirds appeared by the thousands. I have a pecan orchard and the birds were landing in the tops of the trees making quite a racket. Suddenly, birds by the thousands began moving in lines and swirls with the cadence of chirping that would make an orchestra conductor envious.  At that moment, I saw God.  No, not literally, but in his creation.  I also saw the equivalent of our human nature.

God created all things great and small.  He created the sunrise for me to enjoy and reflect on His Majesty.  God allowed me to witness the Symphony of black birds this morning to reflect on the natural behavior of something as small as a bird.  Since God created us in his image and creation is a reflection of His glory, I recognized that humans are not much different than the flock of black birds.

In Proverbs 27:17, Solomon tells us that iron sharpens iron.  We're told to not for sake the assembling of ourselves together. I think in Galatians 5 Paul explains how we are stronger together. In verse 7, he asked the people in Galatia "Who cut in on them?" He goes on to state that a little yeast leavens the  whole dough.  Theologically, the book of Galatians is jam-packed with information about the law and grace, but in these few verses Paul realized that someone was preaching a different gospel other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, and ascended.  If iron sharpens iron and it is our nature that "birds of a feather flock together", Christian singles that fellowship together are stronger together.

The Christmas season is here and it is a time of potential loneliness for single adults and especially for those whose children will be with the "other" parent or for those whose spouse has gone on to be with the Lord. Let's be extra sensitive during this season to realize that though it is the most joyous time of the year, there are those that will battle depression and loneliness. The enemy has come to steal our joy, kill our ministry, and destroy our witness...let's be warriors for each other (and to the least of these) and "flock" to their sides!

*Edited and tranferred 11-5-18

"Bear Necessity"

¹⁷ This I command you, that you love one another. John 15:17

I attended a national conference for singles at Ridgecrest, NC. We had an incredible time connecting with the Lord, His Word and other singles. There's just nothing like being in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When we arrived at the conference center, we were told to be wary of bears, especially at night. I, personally, had never encountered one, but someone from our group had a couple of years before. You can certainly rest assured that kept I started keeping one eye on the lookout for bears at all times.

The conference typically lasted from Friday evening until Monday morning; however, some of the attendees chose to leave on Sunday night after worship. I had never considered the implications of driving alone on long-distance trips because being disabled I never travel alone. But I was reminded on Sunday night of the conference of the hazards, especially for women, who travel alone.   
       

We were busy playing Minute To Win when the campus security guard came asking for the whereabouts of the conference coordinator. We could tell it was something serious so we called the coordinator. Someone had encountered a bear. No, not face-to-face. Yes, with her vehicle. No, not on campus. Yes, on the interstate. What?! On the interstate?! We were all shocked that a bear would be on the interstate.

Much to our surprise, she wasn't 10 minutes away, 20 minutes away, or even 30 minutes away. She was well over an hour away. Apparently, the vehicle in front of her hit the bear first. Then, she hit the bear. And then, the vehicle behind her hit the bear. No one was injured, saving the bear. There wasn't much left of him. When she called the conference center for help, we discovered that she was actually closer to family than to the conference center.

We aren't sure why she may have called the conference center rather than family, but the fact is; she did. How reassured she must've felt knowing there were a group of people willing to help her.

The point of this story is to indicate how much singles rely on other singles. In our Singles' ministry, we have a ministry called "Singles Helping Singles". It's a weekend that we take to serve each other. We are often busy about serving others, but rarely do we designate a time committed to serving our own. I am often encouraged by the tremendous turnout of our single men and women who give their time, money, and efforts.

I'd like to encourage you if you are single to find an active singles' ministry. If there is not one close to you, prayerfully consider starting one. The single population is now greater than the married population (51%). If our congregations reflect those statistics, can you imagine that many people coming together for the cause of Christ? All it takes is someone with a heart for singles and issues they face. That truly is the "bear necessity".

"Make Your Move"

Recently, I went to a Christian concert to see Trevor Morgan, Tenth Avenue North, and Third Day. The name of the concert and Third Day's newest album is "Make Your Move". The Singles' group from my church went and we had an absolutely wonderful time...in the end. We all bought tickets at different times, but we were able to sit fairly close together. My friends and I were able to get there early and "pick" our seats and so we did...front and center! Being in a wheelchair, my visual lines are often limited and so during the "meet and greet" time with the guys in the bands, we opted  to grab our seats. and in my case, move a chair because...I bring my own!

It wasn't long before the coliseum began filling up and so we were glad we had decided to get our seats early...until we were told to move. What?! By this time, all the other seats had been taken and the one's we were in were reserved for the Third Day fan club, "Wired". I said, "I'm a fan!" The lady said, "Oh? You're Wired?" I said, "No..." then she proceeded to escort us down to the end of the outside section. I was almost instantly reminded of "8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place." Luke 14:8-9 (ESV)

I said to myself, "I hear You loud and clear, Lord." Was I embarrassed? Oh yeah! Did I feel the sting of the Word? Definitely! I had been rebuked and I was perfectly fine to sit where I had been moved, but one of my friends was not. She went to one of our friends that was a "somebody" at the concert and started asking questions. Seems "asking" where to sit works better than just choosing where to sit.

The issue, at this point, had nothing to do with where I sat, but it had everything to do with the Lord teaching me a lesson. In fact, when the concert was over, I thought how I really wish I had been able to give my tickets to someone that didn't know Him. Tenth Avenue North's lead singer, Mike Donehey, did an incredible job of presenting the gospel in such a way that anyone could "get it". Most Christian concerts that I have attended have been "churchy", but not this one though it was still Christ-centered!

Sharon Bridges, Kathy LaCaze, & I at the "Make Your Move Tour"

The concert was GREAT and I did end up getting seated in an awesome seat (there had been a mix-up...yeah right! God knew exactly what He was doing). Seems the "Make Your Move" theme applied to me as well. I was moved, both physically and spiritually.

*Transferred

Commit?

25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:25 (ESV)

A few years ago, a friend stopped by for a few minutes. We were celebrating my mother’s 73rd birthday by eating one of her favorite foods…CRAWFISH! Oh yeah! And, they were some more good, yeah! Hot and spicy. The corn and potatoes had soaked up all those good seasonings. Whew! My mouth is watering, even now! My friend couldn’t stay long so we just continued eating and she grabbed a couple for herself. That’s just how we roll down in the deep-south. We are comfortable at our friends’ home and our friends’ friend’s homes, as well!

We attend the same church, but we never see each other there. We attend a church with three services and two worship centers and a kicking Singles’ ministry! She began questioning me about the Singles’ ministry at our church as she is single “again”. I told her about the many opportunities we offer to get connected and ministry opportunities where she could serve. It wasn’t a volley of conversation, but rather it was me bombarding her with information. And then it came…the statement that I could not keep from repeating over and over…she laughed at herself, but she HAD said it…”Well, I’m gonna commit to try to maybe come to Life Group soon.” Really? And she was SERIOUS! She was ready! Well, to try...maybe.

Sad thing is she said herself that she “knows” what she needs to do. Before I committed or COULD commit, I had to be brought to a place that I recognized my need for Him to be LORD of my life and not just my Savior. Oh, I trusted Him as my Savior, but when I realized that I was nothing without Him in my everyday “walk” of life is when my life really began! I was an energetic young mother, wife, and student with aspirations and dreams of medical school. I thought I was living! It was after I lost MY dreams and aspirations by praying for God to teach me how to love Him that I began to know what real life was about. When Jesus says to you to lay down your life that you might live, He means it! I never knew excitement, joy, peace, love…in the world. My old life dulls in comparison to the life I have now.

You know the Word is clear about being straddled across a fence. This was a great word picture to show us just how uncomfortable we can be when we don’t fully commit to Him. When part of your life is lived doing exactly as you want to live it and a small part is left to live for the Lord, you can experience the pain in the seat just as if there were a fence post riding there! So I would say to, you (my friend), hop off that fence and fully commit to the One that fully committed to you on the Cross.

So, are you committing to try to maybe make Him the most important part of your life? Maybe, if you stop trying and just realize YOU can’t, then you finally will!
*Transferred and edited

Angry at God

Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6 (KJV)

Are you struggling through a nasty divorce or custody battle? Maybe your's is not "nasty" and I hope that is the case. Not so with me. My divorces were so painful. I could not understand why the God of all creation would not "fix" my marriages.

I was angry...

Angry at my husband for not being the man of God that I thought he was.

Angry at God for not fixing my marriages.

I did not want a divorce! Because I was not getting my way, I was angry.

However, But, Nonetheless (all three words are my favorites when they pertain to God's hand), God has allowed each situation to show me my mistakes and character flaws! I sure could not live with me then. There is some major reconstruction happening at my "house" and since He is the carpenter, I'm trying to trust Him.

Allow the architect of creation to be builder of Whose YOU are and recognize that His hand IS in your circumstances if you are in His will (Matt 22:37-39). You may be looking at the other person like they are Judas Iscariot, but had it not been for Judas; we would not have had the glorious cross. God uses ALL circumstances, pleasant and difficult, to His marvelous and ultimate glory. "Do", not just read, Phil 4:8. Meditate on God's Word for as long as it takes for your attitude to take on that of Christ. It may not last long, but if you can do that everyday, you may just find that your new attitude lasts longer than just getting out the front door every morning!