Eyes Looking For Ears

---

My husband was well into the second day of cleaning the pool and ridding it of all the winter algae. He loves the pool and his favorite swim is the impulsive kind. It was while he was adding another dose of chemicals, that I heard the ker plunk splash sound. I smiled knowing it was no accident. Stripped down to his undies, there he was delighting in his bravery to just jump in before it was clear, chemically balanced or warmed to a decent temperature. He made his way back to the deep end for another dive while I watched him go for it again. As he came up the second time he gasped and said, “Oh no! Please tell me I didn’t have my hearing aides in my ears!”

Oh, Yes He Did!

Twenty five hundred dollars worth of “do not get wet” hearing aides are now somewhere below. Sick to his stomach, he immediately began to scold himself. Feeling quite foolish, the search began. I joined in but the interesting thing was we could barely see the bottom of the pool. We both were bent over creeping along the edge l trying to spot the now submerged aids. Our eyes could not see his ears!

I strained my eyes and prayed that we could spot them, retrieve them, dry them and of course we were asking for a miracle hearing. Straining our eyes to see his ears, we finally caught a glimpse of them in the deep end. With net in hand, we retrieved one, but again lost sight of the other one. Several hours later, we finally gave up with hopes that his son would bring his younger eyes to the pool the next day.

Within five minutes the following morning it was spotted. To young sharp eyes, it was easy to find. After drying with the hair dryer, they now rest in the bowl of rice waiting for the ear doctor to return home from vacation.

In the mean time we are spending a lot of time yelling, repeating and apologizing. I’m praying for patience and my love is praying for insurance to cover new ears.

Eyes and ears are extremely important and seem to be even more important when you start to lose them a bit. But our spiritual ears and eyes are equally as important. The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing. Our eyes may not see, but we can believe what we hear God say. If we stare at what we see in the natural we will be filled with fear and perhaps despair. But if we listen for His voice, we can trust without seeing.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance

about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Rom. 10:17

Eyes cannot always see what ears can hear. Trust His voice.

The book of Job gives us a treasure on this subject. After Job went through much tragedy, enduring hours of friend’s bad counsel and wishing he had never been born, God began to counsel him. When it was all finished, Job’s response was beautiful.

“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.”

Job 42:5

There is a difference in hearing about God and even believing in Him, and seeing Him with your own eyes. It is often through difficult seasons that we seem to see Him the best. In difficulty, we strain our eyes to see what is hidden. When we see Him and hear Him it is worth far more than the cost of new hearing aids.

“Lord, open our eyes to see you and open our ears to hear you. We need you. Guard our ears from listening to the lies of the enemy and don’t let us miss what is right there in front of us.”

It's Too Heavy

---

“Share one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law.”

Galatians 6:2

We needed sand for the summer decorating project at Touching Hearts, so off I went to purchase. Without a buggy in tow, I headed to the back of the store to simply grab a bag. I immediately knew that this little bag of sand was heavier than I thought. Instead of asking for help, I retrieved a nearby buggy and struggled to get it lowered within. As I made my way to the car, I strategized how I would lift the bag from the bottom of the buggy. My self-talk said just muster every ounce of strength and get it done. Others are waiting on the needed sand.

Can I tell you it would have been a great funniest home video? As I pulled on the bag, the corners ripped, the buggy began to topple over and the bag was still hanging on for dear life. I briefly scanned the parking lot for nearby help and even though I spotted a possible load lifter, I determined, “I can do this by myself”. After much struggle and now an aching back, with sand resting in back corner of my SUV, I made my way back to the decorating crew.

Did I ask for help when I arrived? Of course not!

I grabbed a container and a cup to scoop a little at a time to enable me to carry it inside. Little by little I refilled the container until the inside project was complete.

I have lived much of my life carrying the heavy loads and fighting with much too heavy sand bags. There is a self-strength within that says, “I can do it. I don’t need help.” I think God calls it pride and self-confidence.

As I ponder the events of our first summer session, the story continues to unfold. As the ladies gathered around beautifully decorated tables, no one knew the weight of the sand that filled the flower filled vases. All that was showing was beauty. Delight. Joy. But how did it get that way?

The music began, the words came and the tears began to flow.

“What a friend I’ve found.

Closer than a brother.

Jesus, Jesus, a friend like none other.”

She had taken her place with microphone in hand; ready to sing to the Lord. It had been many months since she was in her worship leading spot, but there stood a changed woman. Worn and beaten by the heavy trials and tribulations of her life right now, yet there was a refreshing softness to her. The sand is pounding hard and etching her soul with new beauty.

Her closing words were a little shocking.

“Jesus has always been enough for me. He has always supplied and satisfied

everything I need, but I am in the hardest season of my life and He is not enough anymore.”

Pause. Quiet filled the room.

What did she mean? How could she stand and make such a declaration?

But then came the explanation:

“I need the body of Christ. I need you. I need you to help carry this burden. I need to give you my burden to help me carry it.”

Sometimes you just need to say, “It’s too heavy. Will you help me?”

Oh, what strength and courage she held! Unplanned, she was a visual of our new study on friendship. We were never intended to live life alone. We are called to be the united body of Christ. God made us a body and when we function doing it all alone, we rob others the joy of being his container holding the heavy.

Much of life is a weightier than a bag of sand. We struggle and strive to do it on our own. We often don’t want to entrust our pain with another or we don’t want to acknowledge we are needy of a burden-bearing brother or sister. God made us to love one another, encourage one another, help one another, forgive one another, and share one another’s burdens. This is how God connects our lives and glues us together in the spirit. He uses us as vessels of His provision. The many “one another” verses in scripture are beautiful assignments and privileges.

Will you dare to fulfill the command? Will you let someone in today? Will you let someone help you lift the load?

“Lord, make us brave to ask for help. Give us courage to let someone share the heaviest loads. Help us to accept that as we lean into one another, the church really is allowed to fulfill your God ordained purpose."

Sinking Sand - Part 2

---

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Last week, I began a long story that holds many treasures. You can read Part 1 here. Now…for the return walk. How was I going to pass through this same fearful spot to get back to my condo?

What I haven’t told you is my husband had this experience about 5 years ago. I had watched him sink in this same spot. Every walk I had taken since then, held the knowledge that this was possible. Even with that etched into my memory, I had chosen to continue walking knowing that if it happened to me, there would be a way out. The other option would have been to let fear win, keeping me from enjoying many walks on the beach.

As I continued walking and processing, my thoughts were super focused on the how. After meandering around the pier, I finally turned to make the return trip. I passed many cheerful walkers and assumed that they had made it through with no difficulty. Self-talk was boosting my confidence and taking hold of God’s hand, I knew the next lesson was all about fear.

Fear will paralyze you and interfere with much adventure in life. It brought back memories of the years I struggled through panic attacks. I was well acquainted with fear knocking on my door telling me everything I should not or could not do. I was conversing with the Lord about fear on this morning and felt that I needed to pass through the waters instead of finding a detour around it.

You see, I not only wanted this for me; I wanted it for you. I wanted to write about fear from a real fear story. It is one thing to have the positive encouraging words for others, but it is totally different when you have been there and done that.

This sinkhole called fear is where the waters meet. Fear swirls and twirls and creates a force that will pull you down; but right there at the edge of the water is the entrance into the majestic, powerful, overwhelming ocean of God’s love and power.

Fear is a living death that steals our destiny.

The power of God within to overcome fear is more powerful than the mighty ocean.

Fear will keep you from making the phone call. Taking the walk. Joining the class. Speaking out. Filling out the application. Volunteering. Connecting. Changing jobs. Writing a blog. The list goes on and on forever.

This enemy called fear lurks to take you down. I used the adrenalin produced within my body, which enabled me to climb out. There is a power within every Christian called resurrection power that enables us to overcome fear. It is not the strengthening of muscles, boosting self-confidence or self-talk that will get you through the sinkhole. It is the power of the Holy Spirit enabling you to do what you cannot do on your own.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20

Hesitating at the edge of the little swirling river, I stood in fear, but determined to face it. I considered asking the young guy setting up umbrellas to watch me cross over, but I giggled at the picture of this thin little 18 year old boy pulling me from the sinking sand. I considered making my way up to the street to bypass it completely, but that held another set of fear possibilities. Which would I do?

Like many other times in life, I chose to face fear and do it afraid. I did it knowing that bad things really can happen, but God is in control of everything.

As the man walking my way came closer and closer, I knew I was to watch him and follow. When he was about eight steps into the stream, I was filled with courage to quickly follow him. With my heart racing, I made quick deep steps placing my foot directly into his footprint. I was doing some serious praying. You know the kind. “Help me Jesus. Help me Jesus. You’ve got me. I trust you Jesus. Phew, we did it. “

I crossed through by following someone else who had no fear. As my feet were swallowed up into the man’s big footprints, so was my fear swallowed up in God’s amazing power. I passed through the waters; they did not overtake me nor did the fear win. My weakness and fear met with someone else’s strength and faith. It mimicked the mingling of salt and fresh water creating powerful movement and beauty.

Fear will keep you from trusting other people and letting someone else help you. Fear will puff you up with pride convincing you that you don’t need anyone else. Fear will explode you in anger and torment.

It is all a lie!

His mighty power will release you and set you free!

I was filled with relief and much emotion as I finished the walk. The Lord sent a stranger to lead me across without his ever knowing. Sometimes you just have to do it afraid and trust whom God puts in front of you.

But other times, you are the stranger that someone else is watching. As they see you do the faith walk, courage rises within them and they actually place their foot right inside of your footprint.

Let’s go face some fears.

Let’s shut up the enemy’s lying voice!

Let’s fulfill our destiny!

Let’s go make some footprints in the sand!