The Rest of the Story

My niece insisted that I tell you how the snake story played out. I'm a sucker for my kids so here goes. I told you that I did my part to ensure a 'snakeless' night. I cranked the cold air down, put my slippers up high and the light switch in easy reach. I prayed and asked the Lord to leave the snake out and to let me NOT have to go to the bathroom all night so I wouldn't have to get up. Well....within the hour - wouldn't you know it? I had to go. I turned on the light, put my slippers on IN the bed and slowly made my way across the room turning on lights all along the way.

As I sat on the commode with my feet UP, I said, "Lord, I'm so disappointed in you." Some of you are laughing and some of you are aghast but hey! in the middle of the night with a snake hanging around, the room at 50 degrees and no man around to be my hero, I didn't think it was too much to ask of My Beloved who can do all things and with whom nothing is impossible. Besides, He knew what I was thinking. Personally, I think He was laughing (because He already knew the snake wouldn't come in all night).

Ever been there? Have you asked the Lord for something and He didn't come through for you?
Prayed for a beloved child only to have them.....rebel, die, make bad choices?
Prayed for a job and lost out?
Prayed for a job and got laid off/fired/overlooked?
Prayed for health and got worse?
Prayed for a relationship and it ended?

I don't think one of us can't relate to some of the above. I have thought about this so many times since my own son went to heaven. My disappointment did not stem so much from Justin's death as the certainty in my heart that my God could do all things and He allowed this to happen. Disappointment with God is a cold, hard blow to the trusting child.

Back to the snake. God knew what I did not. He didn't have to answer the bathroom prayer because He answered the bigger one - the snake didn't come into my room. I just didn't know it. Could the same be true about my Justin? He didn't answer the safety prayer because He answered the bigger one - that Justin would love and serve God with all His heart? What about you? Did He answer your bigger prayer and you just haven't seen it yet?

Disappointment with God is a reality for those of us who live in this world and seek the one above. It would behoove us to admit our disappointments and allow the God who loves us completely - though we see through a mirror dimly - to bring us to a greater place of trust. I for one will never forget the lessons of the snake.

Wait on God beloved. He will answer in His timing. He will not disappoint. His answers may - but He will not. While He allows your circumstance, He is working out your eternity. Just like that long night worrying about a snake - morning came and showed me that my fears were groundless. So too one day this long night will give way to dawn and we too with unveiled eyes will behold the glory of what He has been working out for our good.

On Retreat, Women, Snakes and God

I just returned from a three day retreat at beautiful Pine Cove in Tyler. The leadership team from the church had prayed and planned for many months and yet their numbers were down. Blame the economy, the time of year or the speaker but nonetheless they continued to pray and plan for those who did come.

Three day retreats are rare and wonderful. No one has the time for them anymore and yet something sacred happens the second night after the women have had the time to really rest in God and His word and take the time to get to know one another spiritually. This retreat was no different. Despite...or maybe perhaps because of their small number these ladies came prepared. From the first night they grasped hold of the concepts that God had for them and planted them down deep in their hearts.

On the second night the leadership team had a communion and foot washing service. They warned us ahead of time in case we were not comfortable and gave us an out. But it was a moving, beautiful and sacred moment. As we quietly sat soaking in the love of God for each of us and the love that outflowed onto our sisters one of the ladies came back in from a quick run to her cabin and told us a large snake was outside my cabin door trying to get in. It was like a dash of cold water but it was also a reminder of where God is doing a work there is an enemy prowling around.

The lady who discovered the snake said she knew this was the time of year that snakes come out and are aggressive so she had been on the lookout all weekend. Had she not been, she would have stepped right on him. Since it was by my cabin that he was discovered, I turned my air conditioner to freezer level, cranked the ceiling fan to high, put my slippers on the bedside table, got the quilts off the extra beds and put them on mine and prayed for the snake to stay out and for me to not have to get up all night to go to the bathroom. Snakes don't like cold and I wanted to make sure he wouldn't like my room AT ALL.

Heads up!!! There is an enemy prowling around. He waits till the dark to slither out and seeks for a crack to sneak in. We need to be alert to his ways and watch for where he tries to gain entrance. Once alerted we need to do whatever we need to do to keep him OUT - ie reading God's word, fellowshipping with like-minded believers, memorizing key scriptures, speaking the truth in love, etc. You see, he doesn't like a mind fixed on God. He doesn't want us surrounded by believers. He wants us alone and vulnerable so he can attack us, frighten us with his lies and deceive us.

I read a pithy little saying that I will close with:

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the ground in the morning the enemy says, "Oh crude, she's up!"