It’s a couple of days before July. I’m writing in the Southeastern United States where it has been, I believe, around 225 degrees for the last month. It doesn’t rain here any more and I really need to get out there and mow my acre of dirt which used to resemble a lawn in days of greater moisture. Yes, it’s summer in Georgia and I’m thinking about something that only becomes visible for a few weeks each year: A winter snow-globe. Riding down the road to the hospital today I thought of something I can learn from the snow-globe. Don’t skip down, but I’ll tell you what I learned at the end of this blog.
Yesterday was a rough day. My children were sad after I had to leave them again. We had spent a solid 24 hours enjoying each other while we had the chance. Laser-tag, bowling, junk food and a visit with mom at the hospital on Tuesday. We felt like a real family for a minute – well, only mommy wasn’t with us on Wednesday. Amy spent yesterday without seeing her family because I had several administrative things to do in preparation for her coming home next week. She enjoyed a visit late in the day from two ladies but I could hear in my wife’s voice the sadness that is an unwelcome loiterer in our lives these days. Deborah was taken off life support and, as I’m typing this, she’s still alive in a local hospice care provider; Amy tweeted how heavily this was weighing on her. We are separated, sad and thoroughly human as we weigh the changes of the next several months coming our way without asking permission. Right now there is a large hospital bed with no sheets sitting in our den at home awaiting Amy’s return home next week. It’s ugly, so very different from the pretty decor that Amy has chosen for the inside of our old house. The bed is so out of place – steel, putty colored frame and a vanilla rubber mattress. My beautiful lady won’t look right upon such an ugly bed. Things just aren’t the same as they were before June 16th.
But my Lord told me something that makes all the shifting sand fall into its place: “For I am the Lord, I change not…Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. “ – Malachi 3:6 & Hebrews 13:8.
That’s good news when you feel like you might be losing your footing. Things change…God can’t.
Have you ever thought that you never really hold the same snow-globe twice? You pick it up and shake it just to watch the little white pieces of glitter fall to the bottom. We experience the picture of a twenty second blizzard and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t enjoy it just a little. When you shake a snow-globe you you rearrange all the components and a pretty little scene emerges from the shaking of it. The snow never lands in the same place twice and the whole experience is one of a jostling change that produces something pretty and new. I’ve felt a little like that lately. The sovereign hand of God has graciously shaken our lives and stirred up all that once lay calm and peaceful. Our world was safe and sweet and easy – not without problems but certainly without tumult. Amy and I have often prayed for greater glory for Christ in our lives. We’ve prayed to know Him more deeply and to know His love for us to a larger degree. We have cried out for a deeper, purified faith. Those seem like sweet and innocent prayers but they required a shaking of our little globe if they were to be affirmed by God. What feels like chaos to us as the pieces of our life are thunderously rearranged is, in all actuality, a beautiful work of God. His perspective is very different than mine and it is only when His eyes become my own that I can find order in the chaos and beauty in the hurt. Forgive me if that sounds preachy but I confess it to be absolutely true. He’s there in your shaking globe and He is not afraid. It makes perfect sense to Him and He is not frustrated that you find it frightening. He’s good and that means that He is doing something good. While all the little flakes of our lives seem tossed into the air – randomly, without meaning, violently – God is impressing upon us that He is a God of order and grace. Faith says that it is good in spite of it feeling so bad. I’m going to trust Him today. How about you?
Oh yeah, here’s the thing that sticks with me about the snow globe. Shake it up and the whole thing seems to be in transition for a bit. There’s one thing that never changes though, no matter how hard and long the flakes are shaken up and stirred. The foundation never, ever changes. Set that snow-globe back down and all the tempest settles and all the parts return to rest upon the foundation where they were before. Rearranged? Of course. Never the same? That’s right, never. Perfectly upheld by a strong foundation?
Yes, we are.
Jeff I do not know you but thru Dannys posts I have found your Blog…I must tell you that My God has impressed me so much thru your writings…Thank You for your use of words and thank you for letting the world share.. I only know Danny thru my husband who worked with him in the heating business some 35 years ago we too live in Dawsonville and had on our way to our littlle church saw him walking on his rode we stopped and talked briefly with him and invited him to come visit us, and then were on our way. We were out of town when Deborah passed so we will see Danny a little later… Just wanted to tell you that my snowglobe is busy all the time and it always surprises me with what My God is doing for me again….Love in God;s holy name Dianne ps I am praying for all of your family we too have endured tradegy and God always takes us thru it….
Your words, “He is not afraid”, so powerfully ministers of his grace! And, I know, that through it all, you will find his grace is enough. As always, I pray and trust.
Kept!!
I just wanted ot let you know I am praying for you and Amy today, Jeff. I read your twitter updates and understand that your time with Deborah is short. May you feel His peace today.
There is an arabic hymn that is translated as such:
Accepting carrying my cross,
I follow my faithful redeamer,
Accepting denying myself,
Bearing shame,
For He is my best portion,
And He is my dear Lord,
If all people forsake me,
He is my closest Friend
We are praying for a successful surgery today on Amy.We trust our Lord Jesus, the great healer.His kind hands healed the cut ear of the soldier who was among those who came to arrest Jesus to be crucified.He is merciful and mighty.He is the Omnipotent Lord of lords and King of kings.Praise be to His Holy Name.
We pray for Deborah, that His will be done and we always accept His will.He is our merciful Father. Jesus said”the cup which My Father Gave me will I not drink?”
Pastor Jeff, the Lord bless you.Your ministry will be much stronger and effective in bringing souls to salvation through accepting Jesus.
We pray for you from the bottom of our hearts and we expect you to pray for us even though you are experiencing this termoil,
Sam & Zack.
We love you, you are a great example and help me daily, lifting your whole family in prayers daily.
I am praying for all of you. I know that the Living Lord, (who never changes) and is always near,
who never leaves or forsakes us is taking good care of all of you. He is our refuge and strenth, a VERY PRESENT HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE.
We love and miss you all so much.
God bless you.
Mary
Always in our prayers, know that there will be a time again that will be called normal, or close as life has ever been for a busy Pastor and his family. Not the same, but better than it is now. God is good and I can’t tell you anything you don’t already know. He will give you grace as grace is needed. Love you and appreciate all you do and stand for.
Jeff, words cannot convey the appreciation I have for you as a brother in Christ. During this time of turmoil, God is using your experience to touch untold numbers of others, many of whom may be struggling with the chaos of their own temporary snowstorm. My faith continues to be strengthened by the way you and Amy have responded to this season in your life. Thank you for being so open, and leading us closer to the Savior.
Praying continually for healing, restoration and God’s timing for Amy’s mom.
Tom
Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.
Jeff you have such a way with words that it has to be the Lord speaking through you in every way. I have learned so much from you in such a short time. We all have had to walk through the valley, but some of us see only the hardship and some of us see the blessing. You always see the blessing. I know that because you are so strong and the head of your household, the family will come out of this stronger in the faith that holds you together and richer in the Love of Jesus Christ. We are praying for each of you and especially for Amy as she must deal with her own set of challenges but also the great possibility of loosing her mother without being able to say good bye. Our hearts and prayers are with you, Jesus will carry each of you thorugh this valley.
May Christ continue to be with each of you and hold you strong in the faith.
Alan
From the book of Spurgeon – ” Beside Still Waters”, the following: p. 78, Psalm 41:3
” The Holy Peace of God`s Suffering Child is one of the finest sermons that can ever be preached. A sick saint is often used by God far more than the most eloquent preacher. When people see how willingly you submit to the divine will, how patiently you endure painful operations, and how God your Maker gives you songs in the night ( Job 35:10) you are greatly used.
Page 79, Psalm 41:4
When your heart throbs and flutters, when yuour swollen limb seems as if it were laid on an anvil and beaten with red hot hammers, when the pain goes through you again and again until you cry out in agony, and when the tears unwillingly fall from your eyes, pray this prayer: “Lord, be merciful to me”. I have found that when medicine fails, or when sleep is chased away, or when pain becomes unbearable, it is good to appeal directly to God, I say ” Lord, I am your child. Will You allow Your child to be tortured with pain? Did You not say: “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him? ( Psalm 103:13). therefore Lord, be merciful to me. I can honestly assert that that I have found immediate relief and remission of extreme pain in answer to a simple appeal to my Father. – Spurgeon
We are praying for all of you and hope to meet you soon.
We’ve been finding out the same thing for the past little while. It is hard and sometimes frightening, but without Him how would we go on? What a wonderful thing to experience His faithfulness. Have you heard of Laura Story? She has a song called “Blessings” that has really touched me. When you know her story it is even more meaningful. I’m praying for Amy’s surgery and for the whole family.
Jeff, You minister to me – even if not in the pulpet or face to face but by these blogs.
My heart is heavy for Amy but I am praying that God will give her peace in all this turmoil.
I pray that for you as well. Our peace can come from no one else as you well know. You expressed with such clarity the pain you have felt yet the comfort that the Lord gives you.
We pray that today’s surgery goes smoothly and that Amy does not suffer more than she has already. I know this waiting in regard to Ms Deborah is excrusiating (sp) for all of you. I too pray for a speedy exit into her eternal wonderful exquisite place of peace and joy. I too pray for Amy’s Dad…this has to be so very difficult for him and all those who love Deborah.
Elmer and I send our love as always.
Ann
Dad…this has to be difficult for him too as well as others in the family,.
What a beautifully written illustration of God’s sovereignty in our lives! He is using your faithfulness to His glory right now, and it is only the beginning of what He’ll do with this trial. Praying today for Amy’s surgery to go well and for the recovery to be smooth. Praying for comfort, peace, and grace for the whole family. We love and miss you all.