Monthly Archives: September 2013

Used by God?

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All of us who’ve committed our lives to Christ are daily hoping for his approval. Although the world says we ought never to let ourselves be “used” by others, being “used” by God is a privilege. I know from experience that when I let him do what he wants with me, the results are always good. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.

Always.

As my friend Claudia says, “The Father has a way of taking our griefs and hurts and making them diamonds for the Church’s good.” Losing my husband to pancreatic cancer wasn’t “good.” But what God did, as that “bad” settled over me, was to quietly begin laying a foundation that would bring something good in due time.

I’ve been astonished watching him do this for me repeatedly since Nate died. For example, as I struggled to get used to my new widow-status, he urged me to write out my feelings, which ultimately became a devotional book for other widows. Then, when they read how God had stepped into the places Nate had stepped out of, those grieving without hope understood that God was going to bring them, too, out of sadness and into joy.

Revive Our Hearts.Later, God sent along speaking opportunities and radio interviews, giving me new places to “boast in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17) One set of interviews was with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for her radio broadcast “Revive Our Hearts,” and yesterday I received this exciting information from her office:

Coming up next week on “Revive Our Hearts” broadcast with Nancy Leigh DeMoss: “Hope for an Aching Heart,” with Margaret Nyman

Margaret says widowhood is a beginning. It’s an opportunity to walk with the Lord in new ways, taking on new challenges.

Sept. 16, 2013 – Sept. 20, 2013

On these scheduled airdates, the streaming, download, and podcast audio of this broadcast and a written transcript will appear on our radio page— www.ReviveOurHearts.com/radio/revive-our-hearts/.

On this page you will also find a list of local radio stations that carry the program in your area.

*                 *                 *                 *                 *                 *               *

This email was simultaneously thrilling and threatening. Since our recording sessions took place over a year ago, I’ve forgotten much of what was said in the 5 programs and today became very nervous. Did I contradict myself or say things that might offend listeners? Did I mix up the details or misquote my own book?

Radio interview

As stomach butterflies demoralized me, God tapped me on the shoulder. “Don’t forget,” he said, “these opportunities were my doing, not yours, so I’ll take full responsibility for the results.”

I had two quick responses:

  1. Whew!
  2. Can’t wait to see the results!

To win God’s approval, all we need to do is step squarely into whatever plans he makes for us (no matter how unnerving), expecting him to manage the unknowns. When we do, we’ll realize the highest of callings: to be “used” by him.

“I’m only concerned with your plans for me. I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can’t contain your commands!” (Psalm 119:95-96, The Message)

 

Ok. You lead.

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Aunt Agnes' buldingWhen our Nelson was two years old, he was dynamite, and I wasn’t the best mother for this headstrong, impulsive child, being a first-timer with no experience. For example, I remember one day when the two of us visited my aunt for lunch. She lived in a high-rise building on a busy four-lane street. After lunch, as we walked outside, little Nelson (who loved cars and trucks) saw the whizzing traffic and made a bee-line for the street.

Busy roads.“Nelson!” I shouted. “NELSON!” But he was a boy on a mission, passionate about pursuing his own plan, and didn’t look back. Dropping my bags and racing after him, I could see he was going to get to the street before I could get to him, and I was desperate to stop him.

Nate and I had tried to teach this little boy about the dangers of traffic. We’d done our best to lead him sensibly, counting on him to trust our wisdom over his own. But as all two year olds know, their personal agendas trump parental ones.

But what about us adults? Are we any different in our dealings with God? What does it take for us to set our own plans aside and sincerely say to him, “Ok. You lead.”

It’s very possible God sees us as we see our children. He has the ability to teach us how to live well and lead us one step at a time in that direction. And since he’s God, there’s no question his leadership is superior to ours. Despite that, though, we often choose to do our own thing rather than his.

None of us would argue with the idea that God is a fabulous leader, not just of individuals but also of families, churches, businesses, and governments. We can find a variety of scriptural examples showing us what happens when people follow his lead and what happens when they don’t.

“See those?” he says. “So how ’bout we do it my way?” And yet we still refuse.

It’s not that we doubt him as a leader. We all know he has both the ability and the longing to direct us perfectly. The problem comes with his one prerequisite: surrendering self-management. And even a two year old can tell you, that doesn’t come easy.

When Nelson was dashing pell-mell toward high speed traffic, I was frantic to stop him before he got hit by a car. All I could think to do was shout the only word I knew might stop him:

“CANDY!”

Nelson, ready to runNelson heard it, stopped at curb, and turned in my direction. It was just enough time for me to arrive and grab him, the perfect case of my leadership being superior to his. Surrendering his personal car-truck agenda for my candy-plan gave him the best outcome by far.

Now, if only the rest of us would routinely do the same with the Lord.

“We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do…. so that we will grow up healthy in God.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)

The Correct Analysis

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Nate wasn’t a natural handyman. He didn’t have a work bench in the basement and was mystified by power tools. But as needs arose, he was game to try.

A new toolI remember the day he returned from Home Depot toting a brand new chain saw. Admittedly it was on the small side, but he was determined to participate in cutting up firewood after Bervin and his boys, along with our boys, had cut down a tree. Once Nate got the hang of it, he didn’t stop until all the wood had been transformed into a neat stack of firewood.

That evening as we were getting ready for bed, he began complaining about pressure in his chest and pain down his arm. Thinking “heart attack,” we headed straight for the ER.

After making a thorough analysis of test data, the doctor on duty stood in front of us with his clipboard and said, “We just can’t figure it out. Your heart seems healthy. What’d you do today? Anything unusual?”

Both of us had failed to mention Nate’s afternoon partnership with a chain saw, and when we did, the mystery was solved. He’d worked so hard and long, his chest and arm muscles were having spasms, which then caused pain, which masqueraded as a heart attack. With lots of muscle relaxant and a few pain pills, we headed home, relieved at the simple diagnosis.

How often do we mentally leap to the worst-case-scenario? Sometimes we even do that in our spiritual lives. For example, we make a wrong choice, become overwhelmed with our own sin, and jump to the conclusion of, “Surely God doesn’t love me anymore, after what I’ve done.”

Or we make progress winning over a bad habit only to slip and have to start all over again. “I’m such a poor example of a Christian,” we tell ourselves. “God must be really disappointed in me.”

Or we try to tell someone about our faith and bungle it badly, leaving out important information and landing on the insignificant. Later we beat ourselves up and say, “Surely God sees me as more of a liability than an asset when it comes to sharing his Gospel.”

GraceBut all of those analyses are just as bogus as Nate’s and my diagnosis of a heart attack. These statements of self- condemnation are based on believing lies from the devil rather than truth from the Lord. Scripture tells us our God is a God of grace, and because of that, sin and failure can no longer judge us. (Romans 6:14)

An accurate acronym for the word “grace” is, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense, and because he paid a very dear price, we are allowed to be on the receiving end of those incredible riches.

So, if we’re ever tempted to leap to heart-attack-style conclusions about our spiritual inadequacies, here’s one more acronym: Give Ridiculous Assumptions Clear-cut Endings.

“Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (Romans 5:20)