Power Steering

This past weekend I was asked to speak at my congregation's annual ladies' retreat.  I was terrified, having never spoken in public before, but I feel I did pretty well.  Our theme was "Power Surge" and my topic was "Power Steering: Letting God Drive" and I'd like to share it with you all now.

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Several years ago, when I was about 20, my husband and I bought our first car together. We were young and broke so we went to one of those little “buy here – pay here” places. We had two requirements: that it be cheap and easy on gas. We found what we were looking for (and then some) in an adorable little Mercury Capri 5 speed convertible. Not the most practical of cars, but again, we were young (and, as often goes hand in hand with being young, dumb). Having never driven a manual transmission before, the dealer had to teach me how to drive it while on our test drive. It was then that I learned that the car had no power steering. “It's so small, it doesn't need it!” the dealer explained. “Oh, of course”, I said, “that makes sense.” (I told you I was young and dumb right?) SO, long story short, we bought it. Now imagine for a moment that you are completely new to driving a 5 speed and, at the same time, you are having to pull and push and turn this steering wheel with all the might in your left hand. It didn't go well. Getting around on the curvy, hilly terrain where we live was difficult to say the least. But we accepted it, what else could we do? This car just didn't need power steering. After a while it was time for some regular maintenance of some sort and the mechanic said, “You know the car is out of power steering fluid, right?” We were dumbfounded. All this car needed was the addition of this certain red liquid and it became easy to drive. Curves in the road were no problem for the little convertible anymore: Now it had POWER STEERING. Isn't that us? Struggling down life's road until another certain red liquid, the blood of Jesus Christ, make curves in the road easier for us to handle, too.

What is Power Steering in our lives?

Let's start with the steering:

Dictionary.com defines the word “steer” as “to guide the course of something in motion by rudder, helm, wheel, etc.”

Guide the course –

What guides our course on a daily basis? Are we the ones at the wheel, pushing and pulling and turning with all our might? Do we try to control our lives and the direction we're going? Oh, we know what we want and we know the path to get there – and yet we wonder why that path is so littered with obstacles. In Psalm 25:5, David writes “Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God, my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” and later in chapter 48:14 “For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our Guide even to the end.” 

 

In my research, I came across a book called Answered Prayers: Love Letters from the Divine by Julia Cameron. In it, Ms. Cameron attempts to say what God would say to us in answer to our prayers. While I can't say I agree that she's speaking for God, one passage did jump out at me and I can imagine God whispering these words to me.

“You put Me at a distance. You want to run your own life and then you wonder at its emptiness...You imagine you are alone. This is never true. When you wake up, I am there. My hands are ready to hold your day...There is nothing too large or too small for Me. I am ready to hold it all...You fear your future. Why? I will be there. I will lead you step-by-step as I lead you now – when you allow me. Wake with Me in the mornings. Place your days in My care. Allow Me to shepherd you. Permit Me to be your guide. I am with you always.”

In Genesis 28, when Jacob is on the run from his brother Esau, fearing for his life, the Lord comes to him in a dream and assures Jacob that he will be protected. The Lord will provide for him and his descendants. That He has already made the plans for Jacob and his family and will guide him to that future. In verse 15, God says to Jacob in that dream, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Later, as God guided the Israelites – Jacob's descendants – out of slavery in Egypt and into Canaan, He did not leave them to find their own way. He gave them a pillar of clouds to follow in the day and a pillar of fire to follow when it was dark. He provided for their every need with fresh water and quail and manna. He placed Moses and Aaron and then Joshua in positions to lead them. He gave them rules to follow so that they could live as He wanted for them to live. But like so many of us, they often grew impatient and tired and came to think they knew better than God. They repeatedly said they'd rather go back into slavery in Egypt than continue on in God's guidance to the freedom of the promised land. For this, they were lost for years, wandering the dessert. When they tried to do as they pleased and refused to allow God to guide them, the way became more difficult. Like me, driving that car with no power steering – missing something and not even knowing it.

So now, for the Power – The definition of power is “great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force” or “to give power to; to make powerful; to inspire; spur; sustain.”

Who of us has power? I can do some things. I'd even venture to say I am good at a few things. And I am sure you are, too. But would you use the words might, strength or force to describe your abilities? I am sure all of us in this room have made something well. Maybe you can paint a picture, plant a garden, prepare a wonderful meal... But who of us could even imagine creating the world? Who could design the perfection of this earth? I am in awe of His creation every day.

The Bible contains more references to God's power than I can count. He has saved His people from slavery and felled walls of great cities, but His power is not always in the big things. Sometimes it is in the small, everyday moments of our lives that His real power is revealed. How many times has He been there as a comfort when you were sad? How many times has He been there rejoicing with you? Everything in your life and my life and the lives of everyone on this earth matters to the Lord. He is capable of more love and compassion than you or I could fathom. He was even strong enough to send His only son to suffer and die. Who of us could do that? Not me.

Every spring, when my rosebushes bloom, I think of a poem I read in a church bulletin years ago. I was unable to find out who wrote it, but I'd like to share it with you:

It is only a tiny rosebud,
a flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
God opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust in Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

I can't put into words how much this effects me. There have been so many times in my life when I thought I was in control. That I could handle anything this life could throw at me. But, of course, I was wrong. No matter how hard I pull on that steering wheel, it will never be enough. Only God's hand is powerful enough to steady the wheel and keep my life on His path. 

Finally, I want to close with just this one verse: Jeremiah 10:6 says. “No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.”

Life Story

I’ve always loved hearing the stories of other people’s lives.  In fact, when I was in elementary school, each time I went to the school library, I sought out the biographies and joke books.  The joke books are not relevant to this story, but I love that memory.  I had a pretty tight relationship with the librarian (I still resent the fact that she had the nerve to have a baby and miss my 6^th grade year).  She would always point me in the direction of a new joke book or a biography that she thought I’d enjoy.  Even now, as an adult, one of my favorite television shows is “Biography.” 

Recently my husband and I were visiting his parents in the small town where he was raised.  He lived there until college and for a short time after college.  His parents have been there their entire lives.  In fact, they’ve lived in the exact same house the entire 61 years of their marriage.  To say that my husband has roots there would be an understatement.  He loves the place of his birth and childhood in a way that I probably won’t ever completely understand.  I’ve lived in Chattanooga my entire life.  In fact, I’ve lived within a ten mile radius of a particular area of town my entire life.  My parents still live in the house where I spent the majority of my time with them.  I was about 5 years old when they moved there.  There’s something different though about a small town.  My husband was very closely acquainted with the mailman and the school bus driver.  Some of his family members lived literally within walking distance of his house.  The insurance man actually comes to the house to collect the insurance payment.

During this recent visit, my husband, father-in-law and I walked through a couple of local cemeteries that are just up the road from where my mother and father-in-law live.  It seems a bit morbid, but for the same reason that I love biographies, I enjoy a stroll through a cemetery.  It is fascinating to me to think about all the people that have lived their lives, however long or short, and have gone from this life.  I love to ponder over the details of their lives.  Were they happy?  Did they have a good marriage?  How many children did they have?  What type of job did they have?  Where did they live?  How did they die?  Was it sudden and tragic or was it a long time of suffering?  And, more importantly, did they know God?  Did they experience His love and grace?  Were they obedient to Him?

Both my husband and father-in-law knew many of the people buried in these cemeteries.  There are many family members there including my husband’s grandparents, his sister who was stillborn just a little over a year before he was born, and a few aunts, uncles, and cousins.  I got a pretty good education about the family and the town from my father-in-law.  It was so interesting to me to hear him speak about these people that were once a part of his life and my husband’s. 

These are the people that helped to shape my husband into the kind and compassionate man that I married.  That makes them even more interesting to me.  I love knowing more about them because he and I are developing roots together.  Everything about him and his life before we met is now part of my life and vice versa.  All the experiences that we both have had have made us the man and woman, husband and wife that we are today.  They are a chapter in the stories of our lives.

One day when we pass from this life, there may be someone that strolls by our burial place and wonders about the details of our lives.  Those that know us will hopefully know that we were happy and we did have a good marriage.  Mostly though I hope they can say that we really did love God and were obedient to Him. 

What is the story of your life?

       Now all has been heard;
       here is the conclusion of the matter:
       Fear God and keep his commandments,
       for this is the whole duty of man.

                                Ecclesiastes 12:13(NIV)

An Exercise in Faith

Well, it’s my fault. I put it out there and now I should not be surprised that I am getting questions about it. People want to be happy for me. They expect to hear about results and so they ask. Do you want to know how the gym is working for me too? Here goes, since beginning the Juggling Act in January I have been to the gym 4x per week (except for going out-of-town once). Each session lasts approximately two hours. I get 2-4 miles of cardio each time plus three times a week I do circuit training. I’ve been working, sweating, stinking, and cramming this exercise time into my already busy schedule.

Now you want to know my schedule? For starters, I home school two children. This year our subjects include but aren’t limited to composer and orchestral study, art appreciation, poetry, ancient Greece, Bible, supplemental History, cooking, science, Spanish, spelling, sewing, literature, math, reading, and grammar. By the way, I put my own curriculum together. In addition to those responsibilities I am primary laundress, cook, nutritionist, school secretary, counselor, gardener, janitor, event planner, and once a year I’m even the Easter Bunny. Please, don’t tell my kids, they don’t know yet.

Have you noticed that I have still managed to evade the information you seek? According to the scale I have lost no weight...nothing. I have noticed no redistribution. I still have to hold my breath when I zip that freshly washed pair of jeans. But, I do have some good news to report. Firstly, that run-over-by-a-truck feeling that I used to feel the next morning has gone. Secondly, I’ve finally arranged the schedule to better accommodate this lifestyle and now I’m not as stressed as I was. Thirdly, I found the sauna. Lastly, I no longer feel nauseated by the exertion of dips and pull ups. As you can see, I’ve found many blessings to count even if I haven’t noticed the typical weight loss that one expects when exercising faithfully.

I could feel discouraged by not seeing results, but discouragement is not profitable. Since I’m under contract for the next year I’ll go four times per week as much as I’m in town regardless. It doesn’t matter that I’m tired, busy, or that my body isn’t morphing into what it was at age seventeen. You see, I’ve made up my mind. Simply doing what I’ve set out to do gives me the opportunity to exercise spirit as well as the body. It’s called Faithfulness. Faith is not synonymous with belief. It’s not enough to believe that I ought to get exercise four times a week. In order to be faithful I must actually do the exercise. Belief happens in the mind. Faith mostly happens in the body. Faith is a belief that motivates us to action. Faith always causes change. In my personal Bible I have underlined every place in the great chapter of faith where there is an action that was caused by faith. If you are trying to teach subjects and verbs this would be a great chapter to have your student practice on. It’d also be good for math because there’s a bunch of action verbs to count. Frankly, I lost track of them; but, all of the academics that could be learned from Heb. 11 is beside the point. The point is that as Christians we have a rich heritage of faithful people and the things they DID because of that faith.

What are we going to do about it? Heb 12:1 advises we “run with endurance the race that is set before us, laying aside every weight and sin.” The only way we’ll do that is to “look to Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” What are we willing to endure for the joy that is set before us?

I’m willing to faithfully endure the sweat, extra laundry, loss of time, and loss of money that comes from fully participating in the gym. What is the joy set before me? Why am I doing this? I don’t know. I guess I hope that I’ll be somewhat healthier. I put roughly 10 hours of hard labor each week into a vague expectation from all of this exercising. Yet, our true joy as described in the Bible is not vague. It is certain and WONDERFUL. How much more ought I invest in godliness which is not only profitable in this lifetime, but in the next (1 Tim 4:8).

What I Like Best About Our Home School

Morning Bible time
Hearing “Good job Sissy”
Waking up naturally
Hearing young voices sing praises at will any time of the day
Having God included in our subjects
Learning, laughing, working, struggling, and overcoming - all together
Reciting memory verses together
Being able to distribute hugs as necessary
Being able to discipline as necessary
Knowing the heart of my children and their true character
Watching the spontaneous dances that can’t be helped when listening to
composer study and sometimes joining in - shhhhh
Breakfasts like this:

 What do you love about homeschooling?