Category: reflections

Moving woes

Well it only took 8 1/2 hours but Lowes FINALLY delivered our fridge – without a water line for the ice maker.
Yesssss.
We only called four times and were told each time we’d get a call back but only received a call back the last time to tell us they were finally on our way.
Talk about frustrating.
The delivery was scheduled to be here between 1 and 5 p.m. but the truck and fridge didn’t arrive till 9:30 p.m.
The guy at the store tried to go out of his way to make us happy by telling us he’d refund our delivery costs – too bad we already had that as a mail-in rebate. Apparently we’re supposed to go in and talk to a manager tomorrow to see what they can do.
We’ll see.
Arrgh.
Oh and don’t get me started on DirecTV right now.

Two days without blogging?

Wow, it’s almost been two full days without any blogging around here.
What’s going on?! Well we closed on our house yesterday in Red Oak – so that’s been a lot of what’s going on.
We moved some of the essentials yesterday and plan to continue moving over the next several days.
Although – on my way to work, the transmission in my truck decided to start slipping. Joy.
I pulled over as soon as I realized it – having my own share of transmission problems in Kansas several years back.
I waited at a local shop for them to open and when they arrived the mechanic took it out for a spin and said he was pretty certain it was the overdrive in the truck and a gear was not locking as it should be.
“Luckily for me” that only means he has to take the entire transmission apart and put it back together to fix.
Like I said – Joy!
So I left the truck with him and bummed a ride from Ward to get back home.
But I must say – I have some great friends. Ward came and picked me up and my buddy Josh is loaning me his truck for the next day or so so I can get to work tomorrow and do some more moving tonight.
That’s about it on this end. Just lots of moving, unpacking and absolutely freezing because our AC was turned down so low last night.
Now if only the delivery guy will show up with our fridge more moving can get underway.

Proverbs 25

Prov 25:2:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

There’s a very interesting contrast going on there. It is to God’s glory to conceal things and our glory to seek those things God has concealed.
I want to get frustrated when God doesn’t reveal His plans right away. I want to get impatient – but time and time again He has proven that in His time He will reveal the answers.
I continue to pray for patience and direction but you know what – if God revealed to me today what He has planned for me next year – I’d need no faith in Him. I could just simply go through life living it my own way.
But since there are things He’s hidden – I must increase my trust in Him and choose to walk in His footsteps and not my own.

Proverbs 24

I’m not sure why – maybe it’s because of the book I’m reading (“Searching for God Knows What” – Don Miller) but I keep being drawn to passages and stories about treating everyone as equal. Treat everyone fairly. Let’s get over this superficial social hierarchy that we’ve developed.
Proverbs 24 is no different.

Prov 24:1 & 2:
Do not envy wicked men,
do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,
and their lips talk about making trouble.

v. 12:
Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

v. 17-18:
Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
or the LORD will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from him.

I heard today that the city of New York has forbidden the president of Iran to visit Ground Zero during his trip to the city and the UN today. I don’t know why verse 17 & 18 remind me of that story but I wonder what’s going on in everyone’s head. Is the Iranian president truly wanting to pay regards or is he gloating because an enemy fell. I’m sure that’s what Mayor Bloomberg thinks at least.

What should our response as Christians be though? What if someone killed a loved one of mine. Maybe it was intentional. Maybe not. What if after they were prosecuted they wanted to go lay flowers by the grave of my loved one. What should my response be.

Proverbs 24:19 & 29 says:
Do not fret because of evil men
or be envious of the wicked,
for the evil man has no future hope
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

Hmm. Sounds like I shouldn’t let it get to me. Sounds like I should lay my pride aside and let God handle my enemies and others around me.

Finally,

Prov 24:23:
These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judging is not good:

Verse 24 goes on to say that we should not judge a man unfairly because of our preference towards him or against him. I believe this speaks directly to a judge ruling over a trial but I think the same can be directed to each one of us. Don’t show partiality. Believe and live as if every man, woman and child are equal to you – or more better yet – more important than you.

Proverbs 21

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” Prov 21:1

I believe strongly in the sovereignty of the Lord. I believe God works through individual people to achieve His goals and to display His glory. I’d love to think we have some say in the course of our life, but it’s verses like these that make me really stop and wonder – do we really have any freedom in life?
I’m glad to know that whatever freedom we do have – God is still in control of it.
This verse gives me a picture of our life and God like this:
We’re a raging river coming down a mountain side. By nature water will flow towards the area of least resistance. But as that rushing water flows down the mountain side God may see that we’re getting to far off course from His plan. So He may set a huge boulder down right in front of us. Depending on the flow of the river there are several options. We can either slow down and build up enough pressure to push the boulder out of our way. We may slowly chip at it and chip at it till it wears down or falls apart. We may build up enough water to go over the boulder or we may just turn to the left or right and change our course.
I think God knows exactly what boulders we need and where. Luckily as long as we stay in God’s will I don’t believe he punishes us for going through, over or to the left or right of a boulder. He doesn’t punish us for making a right or left decision. But He is keeping His eye on us and is ready to put another dam in or way if necessary to get us back on track.
What do you think? Share your comments and suggestions about this verse. I’d love to hear some more feedback.