• Murphy’s Week

    ByLauren Uncategorized
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    Originally published on Sept 5, 2011

    “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”  Habakkuk 3:17-18

    The passage above was the emphasis of the sermon I heard at church on Sunday.  It doesn’t matter that we have been in a series on Habakkuk and these verses were next in order, you can’t convince me that God didn’t hand pick these verses for me.  As a family, we had the craziest week.  One of those, can go wrong/ will go wrong kind of things.  I had to check and adjust my attitude many times.  Indulge me as I rewrite the scripture passage with my modern-day equivalent:
    “Though Chuck’s grandmother pass away and we make a 2 day trip to Midland, though we leave on the same day demolition starts on our kitchen remodel, though we return at 9pm to no lights in our house as we ready our children for bed and school the next morning, though Chuck wakes up in the middle of the night with a kidney stone and takes himself to the hospital, though the sewer backs up leaving us without toilets while family is staying with us – causing us to drive to McDonald’s to do our business, though the ceiling leaks from another construction error, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”  Lauren 8/28-9/2
    I wish I could say that exulting and rejoicing were my first reactions.  My entire week was rerouted, leaving me asking God, “Are you kidding me?”  Individually, all these things are so minor compared to Dravet Syndrome and other things we have endured.  And they are definitely minute compared to the tragedies others face every day, but I laughed and cried and threw a little pity party.  I started to feel like we were living in the Tom Hanks movie, “Money Pit” – things falling down around us.  I was put out, inconvenienced, and unnerved.  I like order to my world.  I don’t like to rearrange schedules and cancel appointments.  And I definitely don’t like to drive to McDonald’s to go to the bathroom!  But in all things, God has a way of bringing glory to Himself.  I am learning to serve Him in what I call the “ministry of interruptions”.  I like order so much, that I tend to get bent out of shape by the smallest disruption.  One of my sweet babies is sick so I have to find a substitute for my class and miss a workout.  Someone calls to talk to me when I am in the middle of ironing.  I need to cook and take a meal to someone so I don’t get my grocery shop done.  And God forbid someone should bother me during my quiet time!  I can be so task oriented (doing good things, mind you)- even when my week is normal and not murphey’s – that I miss out on opportunities to serve.  And I miss out on relationship with God and others.  So I’m taking a deep breath, and learning to praise God no matter what my day holds.  I’m thanking God through the touch times, knowing that it brings me to deeper dependence on Him.  And I look for the extra opportunites to minister that such times bring.  And I acknowledge the strength that God raises up in me to meet the challenges.  But if you hear me grumbling, be patient with me, and I’ll do the same for you.  Rejoicing takes practice.  :D

  • Heaven

    ByLauren Uncategorized
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    Originally published Sept 11, 2011

    This morning during the praise portion of our church service, my husband got a call that his grandmother had passed from this life in her sleep.  In Matthew 9:27 Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”  We lost one of those workers today.  If you look up the word “servant” in the dictionary, there might be a picture of Aileen Oakes.  She was the first one to bring a meal (and organize others to do the same) when someone was sick or injured.  She worked tirelessly to raise money for a Christian University close to her heart.  She offered a ride or a helping hand to anyone who needed it.  And the church – whatever was needed, she did.  From teaching Sunday School, to working in the library, to office work and even driving the Joy Bus.  I drove her crazy because I treated her like a guest in my home and tried not to accept her help.  She could not stand to sit idle while others were working.  One of my favorite memories of her is of the first time she visited our home after we married.  She came in with her suitcase and promptly pulled a frozen casserole out of it to contribute to the meals she would be eating.  She had far superior sewing skills to mine, and was so patient helping me create Shelby’s nursery.  And probably most dear to us, she supported Chuck and held him up during the most difficult time in his life.  She had faults just like the rest of us, but I feel certain her crown is full right now.  

    As we continued to sing praises to God this morning, with tears streaming down our cheeks, all I could think of was how different Grandmother Oakes praises were this morning.  My heart went out to my sweet, grieving husband, but the thought in the forefront of my mind was that she was seeing Jesus this morning.  And oh, what a sight that must be!  She must be so happy, and so relieved to shed the body that has given her so much trouble these last few years.  But more than anything, I know her deepest desire was realized when she looked on her Savior’s face.  We love you, Grandmother.  Enjoy your eternal reward.