Author: Susan Collins

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the
Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7

This week, I’ve been reading devotions titled “The Role of the Church in Cultural Clashes.” It ties in with studying Luke the past couple of weeks and with the focus of The Summit.

How can we be disciples who grow disciples in our community? Jeremiah 29:7 was part of the scripture reading on a day that focused on the “church” being the body of people, not the building where we congregate.
Jeremiah addressed the nation of Israel, which had been conquered and physically moved to an unfamiliar location by its captors. As a US citizen, I have never experienced that type of exile. I’ve never been forced by political powers to live in a hostile and unfamiliar place.

How can I apply this scripture to my life in 2022??
I moved several times while growing up and had little input on the decision to move. I had to learn new school routines, make friends, learn how to navigate a new neighborhood, and adjust to the availability of different types of fresh fruit and vegetables. These are some of the challenges the Israelites experienced in exile. Though I have not experienced political exile, I have walked through seasons where I felt entirely unanchored by everything around me. I have been in a room full of other people and experienced profound loneliness.

There is so much truth to the phrase “misery loves company.” As humans, we have the desire to want people around us to feel like we do. When we are excited and happy, we want to share that feeling. When we are down in the dumps, we want others to sit with us.
As I meditated on this scripture, I began to think of trials in life as being exiled. What would happen if I chose to pray for trials to bring me blessings? What if I looked at loneliness or despair as the wrapping paper for a fantastic gift from God that I didn’t even know I wanted or needed?

The destruction of my marriage is one of the most painful seasons in my life. I have struggled with multiple situations and feelings that seemed incomprehensible. There were numerous times I just wanted to feel better. God put people in my life who reminded me to focus on the gift in that pain. They encouraged me to focus on where God had carried me through difficult times and to claim that same provision in my current situation. In other words, to pray for the city that I had been carried to, for prosperity in that situation would bring prosperity to me.
I look back on difficult times and see where Jesus blessed me through people I thought were adversaries. I was open to finding a gift in an unlikely wrapper. By changing my prayer from “God, carry me through this” to “God, help me see the gift in this situation,” my attitude changed. I felt confident in His provision, especially when I had no idea how it would appear.

Whatever you are walking through, look for the gift. It’s there. Please don’t leave until you find it.

“And on the Sabbath day, we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.”

Acts 16:13

Definition: a day of rest.

I recently took a week off from work and traveled to spend a week with a close friend. We both needed some time away from daily duties, so we found a cabin instead of staying at her home. We grocery shopped, packed the car, and traveled to this cabin. It was away from towns, had spotty cell service, and was along a waterway filled with wildlife. 

We prepared, we planned, then we rested. 

We turned off alarms, ate when we wanted, and talked about everything and nothing. We read, watched movies, sat on the deck, and listened to the sounds of nature around us. 

God commands us in Exodus 20:8 to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Taking an entire 24 hours to be unproductive can be difficult to get comfortable with. It can be challenging in times of constant connectivity and endless chores. So what can you do?

Start small!

Find an hour to disconnect for yourself (or 15 minutes or 5 minutes). Start where you can and find a quiet place to sit, and turn off the “to-do” list running through your head. 

I have a meditation app that I use. Find what works for you!

It will be uncomfortable at first, and you may feel some guilt. Keep doing it. Get the body going, and the mind will catch up. 

After a week, you’ll start to look forward to that time. 

After a month, you’ll likely start craving it. That’s when you know it’s time to expand your sabbath time. 

We live in a world that ties our worth to being productive. That is a lie! Your worth is in being a daughter of the King!

I have found that when I am intentional about sabbath time. When I observe it regularly, I am likelier to be the BEST version of myself (Mom, friend, employee, spouse, etc.) 

How are you doing observing the Sabbath?

“Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith”
Colossians 4:6

I’m not exactly sure what God is speaking to me right now. There definitely is a theme to the message, though. 

• Sunday morning, Matt preached about Love 401. 
• My devotions this week have been about Cori Ten Boon and Rosa Parks. 
• Today’s scripture is quoted above. 

So, what is this theme: Love your enemies.

I’ve searched and do not find any current relationships that hold this struggle. The only confusion I can come to is that there must be something in my path that I will need this for. 

I’ve been walking with Jesus throughout my adult life. There are no words to describe the comfort that a relationship with Jesus brings in times of struggle or the sense of community in times of celebration. Through it all, God is good. 

I remember when I first came across the concept of praying for those who hurt me. I had a laundry list of reasons my feelings and behavior were justifiable. I struggled with low self-worth, repressed trauma, and self-sabotage. I was also miserable. I was absolutely sick and tired of being sick and tired. I didn’t even know HOW to start praying for people I had deep-seated animosity toward. 

These are the steps I took:

• Pray for the willingness to pray for that person
• Pray for God to help me see that person through His eyes
• Pray for blessings for that person

I must start with asking God to make me willing to pray for people who have hurt me. I begin by laying my wounds at His feet. He knows my pain and honors that wound. Once I have let God have complete possession of my pain, I can see past it. This doesn’t happen all at one time. It’s a process that may take several days, weeks, or months. 

Everyone is walking around with baggage they don’t share. Once I am willing to pray for the person, I start asking God to help me see them through His eyes. To change the lens of my glasses to “Son” shades. Praying to see others through God’s eyes helps me develop empathy and compassion, regardless of the situation. 

Now I can set my flesh aside and ask God to bless that person with all He has for them. 

I want to tell you this is a simple process, but it is NOT easy or quick. It does not guarantee that anything will change in the person I see as my enemy. It also does not require that you reconcile an unhealthy or abusive relationship. 

This process heals ME. It empties the poison of pain and resentment from my soul. It allows me to grow closer to Jesus and show His love to those around me. 

Galatians 6:2 tells us to carry one another’s burdens.

I’ve been meditating on this idea heavily.

I’m coming up on almost one year since my youngest child graduated from high school. Soon after that, both of my young adult children left for college, and my nest was empty for the first time.

For many people, this is a complex and intensely emotional transition.

Life was a bit hectic just before college move-in for my youngest. The first couple of weeks were difficult for her, but I stayed pretty even. I have been pondering why my experience was not what I had imagined.

I have concluded that relationships are what held me up. I have a few deep friendships that see me through EVERYTHING. I am so thankful for those women who know me so intimately that we can just sit in the same room, be still and quiet, and the Holy Spirit does all of the talking. If you have 1-3 people in your life that fit that description, you are blessed beyond measure.

I also have friends who walk with me through the regular day-to-day life. We share prayer requests and stories about family, jobs, and church. They are consistent, and my life is rich because they are part of it. Journey and Discipleship groups are great places to start or nurture those relationships. 

Pastor Matt has reminded us that relationships are everything through the stories of the man with leprosy and the paralyzed man. We are created to be in a relationship with Jesus and each other. When those relationships are unhealthy or severed, we become spiritually sick. The pandemic forced us to separate from each other physically. This was difficult and traumatic for everyone, especially those who did not already have deep connections with other people.

I thought about the beginning of the pandemic when Pastor Matt talked about how people with leprosy were treated and expected to act. They are forced to live outside of the community’s physical safety and daily support. You’re going through life working, raising a family, tending to personal tasks, and suddenly being cut off from society.

Marrian-Webster defines trauma as “a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury.” 

Trauma has a way of manifesting in our bodies and being stored in places that are triggered by simple everyday events. A specific smell, sound, or sight sends the person back into the event. I cannot even imagine how a person with leprosy would have continually relived when the priest declared them unclean and banished them from society.

How does a person move forward after a traumatic event? Through relationships. The relationships with professionals who guide them through the psychological and clinical obstacles. Relationships with friends and family who are supportive and caring. Relationship with Jesus to experience His healing. I believe that all three of these are necessary for healing.

How did I not experience a profound and challenging transition when my nest emptied? I was grounded in relationships. I was never alone. When I felt alone, I would get a text or a phone call from someone saying, “you’re on my mind, and I wanted to check in on you.” That was the Holy Spirit reaching out to my community when I could not do it for myself.

Jesus is in the details.

Where have you seen Him lately?

Today is a sacred day on the Liturgical Calendar.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

In case you are not familiar with these terms, I’ll give you a brief definition. The Liturgical Calendar commemorates the main happenings throughout the life of Jesus.  It begins four weeks prior to Christmas with the season of Advent (preparing for the birth of Jesus). Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays) through the Thursday prior to Easter (the day that commemorates the Last Supper). Advent and Lent are both seasons of preparation. Times when we are called to examine our own hearts, draw closer to Jesus, and mend relationships.

This practice is often associated with “rules” as set forth by the Catholic Church.

The practice goes back further though to the early Christian churches.

I used to get bogged down in the “rules” of the seasons. I wanted to make sure I did it “right.” As I have grown in maturity as a Christian, I have also learned that the purpose of these seasons is to draw me closer to Jesus, rest in His peace, and nourish my relationship with Him.  What a relief! There is no “right” way to practice Lent because there is also no “wrong” way to do it either.

I have come to a place where I see the practice of the liturgical cycles as a way of being intentional about my relationship with Jesus. It’s a time to check in with myself and see what I’m doing to nurture that relationship.

The following photo was in a social media post:

One reason the resonated clearly with me is that the list not only suggests what to leave behind but also what to put in its place.

Lord, help me fast from the behaviors that do not glorify You and to engage in behaviors that draw others closer to You.

Last week, Liz wrote about January and resolving to do things differently. It’s a new year, and I’m going to create a new me.

I’ve had a couple of thoughts knocking around in my head. (I know, that’s a dangerous neighborhood; I shouldn’t be there alone. SO thankful that the Holy Spirit is always with me!)

• People Must Know (From the pilot episode of The Chosen)
• Do I believe IN God, or do I BELIEVE God?
• January is the beginning of the calendar, but it’s winter when we rest and prepare for renewal in the spring.

In 2021, the sermon series challenged us all to look at the Saints who came before us (Hebrews 11, By Faith), the obstacles that stand between us and God (Hebrews 12-13, Run Free), and what we are called to as disciples of Jesus (2 Timothy, Entrusted). 

When I attended the viewing of Christmas with The Chosen, the shepherd’s words from the pilot episode struck a chord within me. “People must know.” They must know that the savior of the world came to live among us. He grew, laughed, struggled, was happy, angry, sad, and frustrated at times. That God The Son experienced every aspect of being human. Including separation from God the Father due to sin and rebellion. His life, death, and resurrection provide a path to salvation, peace, and healing. 

People must know the story of Jesus in MY life. He carried me through the death of my father. How he rejoiced at my salvation. Led me through the desert of divorce and into the green pastures of healing. He has pruned the dead branches and the “suckers” from the tree of my life that steal joy and contentment. How my spiritual and emotional health has been restored and strengthened through that pruning. 

I’ve been meditating on what I am doing to tell that story. It’s still in process. I’ll let you know when it becomes more evident. 

As for BELIEVING God….whoa! That one really hit me several years ago, and it continues to cycle through my head periodically. While working through a Beth Moore study by that title, I was challenged to focus on the promises of scripture. Specifically, whether I was giving them lip service or had embedded those promises in my heart. I continue to pray scripture over people in my life. I have a verse for each of my kids (young adults now) that I pray using their names and personalizing. My personal verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.” My prayer often sounds like this, “Lord, I know that Your plans are good, that they will never harm me, and will always give me hope and a future. I don’t understand what is happening now. Help me to see your light and your plan.” OR “Lord, you have promised me life with hope and prosperity. I give this victory to You, for I know it is part of Your plan.” I often pray scripture when I simply don’t have the words to express my feelings or struggle with acceptance or understanding. Scripture shifts my focus from right now to eternity. 

Finally, while listening to an outdoors podcast, the guest talked about January being more of a transition time than a beginning. She spoke of the cold, barren character of winter. How animals hibernate and trees go dormant as a time of replenishing. This started me thinking about the Christin Liturgical calendar. The “new year” begins with Lent, an 8-week time of preparation before Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. How would my life look different if I take this “rest” time to reflect on my life and set my “new me” goals starting in the spring with the resurrection and the rebirth of life? The gym would definitely not be as busy! 

This is another area that I am still simmering on. Look for more thoughts in future postings. 

Let me know what you are meditating on. 

How are you telling your story? Are you starting new in January or resting until spring?