Out of Left Field

Shock!  Disbelief !
The thoughts seemed to pour through my sister's confused mind. She let out a huge sigh as she struggled to come to grips with what had just happened at work along with a number of other activities over the last few days. Staring at me, she let out what seemed to be the only expression she could muster and said, "This one came right  out of left field."

My mind travels back to the shock the world experienced when news of the death of renown basketball player Kobe Bryant and his daughter stunned us all. That really came out of left field and even though there were millions who had never met Bryant in person, his prowess on the basketball court had earned him fans globally.

Life has those moments and many of us have been there. We experience the suddenness of events such as unexpected deaths, false accusations, sudden illnesses, job loss  or some crisis that really  disrupt the normal flow of things or proverbially 'rock the boat'. We use expressions such as, "I can't believe"  or "I must be dreaming" to give voice to our feelings. Emotions in those situations can push us over the edge if we are not careful, and an ill-timed or knee jerk reaction may not necessarily work for our good. Hence, in those 'out of left field' moments the need to exercise self control or restraint is vital.

The value of support, a listening ear, some means of managing your response is needed. Sometimes we may want a time of solitude to regain our composure or settle our emotions.  In the Bible there is the account of Job who encountered a tsunami of 'balls' out of left field. He lost family, health and  possessions. Friends accused him and passed judgement, but Job echoed these words that many of us have quoted in our difficult times, He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as pure gold. Job 23:10

Friends, in God there is no left field. Nothing catches Him off guard so we can always cast our cares and concerns on Him. His eyes run to and fro throughout the earth on the behalf of those that fear Him and He delivers them, 2 Chronicles 6:9. Don’t be swamped! If you react inappropriately, or become depressed and overwhelmed, seek to lift yourself and regain strength and composure. Share with a trusted friend, and above all hold on to the promises of God's word. God is not surprised or shocked because He knows the plans He has for you, Jeremiah 29:11.  Rest in that assurance, and allow that to strengthen you when those 'balls' come at you from left field.

Dee's 💜 Heart

Out of the "ASHES"

The celebration of the Easter season in the Christian Church ends with euphoric worship on Resurrection Sunday, eclipsing the pain usually associated with Good Friday. I woke on that day of victory, singing and reflecting on the lyrics of the song from Elevation Worship, Resurrecting. The bridge echoes these lines:

By Your spirit I will rise

From the ashes of defeat

The resurrected king is resurrecting me

In Your name I come alive

To declare your victory

The resurrected king is resurrecting me

It created in my mind a powerful reminder and personal challenge that resurrection power is not only divine but personal, because of the concept of resurgence that it suggests. As I meditated on the phrase ... By your Spirit I will rise from the ashes of defeat, I began to think about the defeats in my life. There were those moments that were shrouded in frustration, the pain of things going awry, poor decision making resulting in inner pain, and just those chaotic experiences that left me feeling entombed in defeat. There were also those moments that I felt defeat because of what was thrown at me, that left me feeling hurt.

But, through the power of His Spirit, I have experienced time and again, the victory of rising from the ashes of defeat. The story of the phoenix in classical mythology, illustrates this concept, as it is reported to have burnt itself to ashes every five hundred years, then rising from the ashes renewed and empowered to go through another life cycle. The proverbial 'rise like a phoenix from the ashes' holds true for me. It is by no means a 500 year cycle but an emergence that strengthens me to face life again, ready for the next battle. We can all identify with the feeling of release that comes from rising out of tough experiences.

The writer of the epistle to the Corinthian church knows this feeling. This is the  power of the work of the Spirit that we can embrace as Christian believers. We are able to lift our heads and testify of  fresh anointing and strength. The Message Bible translation encapsulates this beautifully:

                                             2 Corinthians 4:7 -12 The Message (MSG)

              If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious
             Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent 

             anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much 

             chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been 

             surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what 

             to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but 

            God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they 

            did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did 

            among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, 

            which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the 

            worst, you’re getting in on the best!

I am sure you want to say Hallelujah! From my heart to yours, I want to remind you that resurrection power, resurgence, rising from the ashes of defeat is always ours. The times of defeat will come time and time again, but the war is always there to be won, despite losing some battle. I say, RISE FROM THE ASHES OF DEFEAT! Live in resurrection power!

                                                             

                                                                   Dee's💜 Heart

After These Things ...

After...
After this...
After these things...
There will be glory after this...

I am sure that these phrases have formed part of our conversation at some point in our lives. We have no doubt engaged in discussions or forward planning in light of the proverbial phrase, 'before and after'.

As long as life lasts there will always be 'after seasons'. After sickness, there is either healing (whether restoration or death). After failures, there are lessons to learn. After the Biblical record of the flood, there was the symbolic rainbow of promise. After Egypt, there was the wilderness wanderings and after the wilderness wanderings there was Canaan. After these things...

This present COVID-19 pandemic, catastrophized with death of loved ones, broken hearts in families, fear and anxiety, looming financial uncertainties and the daily growing figures of death and confirmed cases, will have an after ... After COVID-19. There will no doubt be the need for support for health workers who may in some cases suffer from PTSD and panic attacks. There will be those who  relive various traumatic experiences and anxious moments. There are others who will be emotionally torn, experiencing anger and bitterness in struggling to experience closure due to the loss of loved ones. There may be even broken families who could not survive the seasons of lock-down/quarantine, because the family was already growing apart. What will your COVID-19 after season be like?

The reality is that our after seasons may not necessarily be pleasant. There can be serious challenges. After a season of dedication and hard work, you may experience job loss. Commitment to a spouse after doing everything to make a marriage work, could also result in a divorce. Genesis 22:1 tells us that after these things, God did tempt Abraham... I Kings 17:17 states ... after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. There will always be the season of 'after these things.'

The things that you are now experiencing will have an after season. God knows what lies ahead in that 'after season', that is why faith and hope in what He has said in His Word are what will carry us on and through. At the end of the all encompassing thought, 'after this life', how do you want it to end? The old Gospel song After All This Life is Over comes to my mind. It ends with the prayer, "Give me Grace that I can make it after all. Make it where or make it how, is worth some serious reflection.

Consider ... after these things!

My prayer, my desire is that we will so live that after the season of this life, eternity in Jesus Christ is something we can be sure of.