Heavenly Windows

   It was a beautiful day on the beach. Well, what the mid-westerners consider a beach that is, cold Lake Michigan.  The lake was so calming and stunning. I could tell that this was going to be one of the last summer days before fall permanently settled in. The beach is such a good place to rest and think. I was so excited to make this trip and to be able to take a day off to read and pray.

  As the sun began to set a big group of thick grey clouds settled in and blocked the sunset. I was so disappointed. I was really looking forward to seeing the sun set over the lake. The chilly wind was starting to gently blow. I wrapped myself in my beach towel and dug my feet deeper into the sand. The sand was also getting colder and it softly tickled my feet. It was still beautiful even though I could not see the actual sun set. The clouds started to turn a soft pink, which beautifully contrasted with the grey sky. I was just enjoying being at the lake; feeling the sand between my toes, the chilly wind tangling my hair and the relaxing sound of the waves was a lullaby for my heart. I looked up and all the sudden some of the clouds moved. It was like God was opening a window into the clouds so I could just see a little of the sunset. It was beautiful. I could see just enough of the sunset to enjoy it. Wow! Our God is such a creative God. In that moment the Lord spoke to me in such a wonderful way. He said my daughter this is a heavenly window. If you look for them in your life you will find them. So many times He just gives me a glace into his Kingdome. He does not reveal His whole plan just enough for today.

  I have been thinking a lot about what heavenly windows looks like in a day-to-day basis. What if we would add hope to the equation. What if we would hope and activity look for heavenly windows daily? I think that it would really change my outlook on life and on difficult situations if I would hope for God to reveal himself through these “heavenly windows”. May I encourage you to look for heavenly windows in your day-to-day life. Would the Lord fill you with hope as you seek His Kingdome thought the heavenly windows He has placed in your life today.

New North

Many times in life I have an idea just “pop” into my head. Sometime they are super random like how I can mix and match and make a new outfit using cloths that I have used for years, or how I could change a recipe so it is faster to make, or how I can arrange my schedule so I can accomplish “all” the things on my to-do list. But sometime theses ideas have a more spiritual nature. Recently, I was having my teatime with Jesus (i.e. Morning Devotion – however now that I am a night nurse often this takes place at 5 pm after trying to sleep during the day) and I had a really simple idea pop into my head after reading Genesis 12. But first let me give you some of the history of why this simple truth was so good for me to be reminded of.

Before going to college I had many people say and write to me that college was going to be the season of my life where God was going to revel “The Land” that He was calling me to. Many people encouraged me with the story of Abraham and how Abraham left the land he was living in to go to a new land (Genesis 12). Part of me could really identify with this as I was leaving the country I had loved and grown up in for a new country I had not lived in. So, naturally I thought that this meant that by the end of college I was going to know what physical location God was calling me to.

 However, during college whenever I would pray, ponder or ask God where “my land” was going to be I always felt like He said WAIT.  This was really hard because I thought that the whole reason for college was to prepare me for “the Land” not to just WAIT for it!

How can I wait? I need to do! That is who I am. I do! I do not like to wait! But over and over again I felt like I needed to surrender my plans and just wait. Of course I needed to still write my papers, study and be diligent in the academic side of life, but it was in the spiritual side of my life that I had to learn to wait and to be ok with waiting. I had to find peace and joy in waiting.

I learned so much during this season and truly grew closer to the heart of the Lord. But sooner than I wanted I was walking across the stage wearing a cap and gown and cute red high heals with poked-dot black tights. I was given a piece of paper that said I had finished college. Most people use their diploma as part of their map to direct them to their next route. However, when I walked off that stage even thought I had a big smile in my face I still did not know where I was going let alone which way was North on my map.

So after lots of prayer I moved in with my Aunt and her wonderful family. My big plan was for this to be only a very temporary placement. I thought to myself 3 months tops! By then I will have a job and I will know where my “new land” will be.

Well, 3 months turned into 11 months. I was still asking the Lord to show me “the land” He had for me and to prepare my heart for it. I was earnestly looking and seeking with all my heart and mind to do His will and to find “my land” where He would use me.

 As time passed I was getting discouraged because I was not finding a job. I had believe that I would live the simple American dream formula: job + hard work = purpose (i.e.  “my land”).  Even though discouragement set in at the same time I somehow felt alive. I grew so much in my dependence on the Lord because I was not finding a job. I thought that a job would be my compass when really I had to just really on Jesus. I needed to wait for him to give me my map coordinates. I had to re-evaluate why I was putting my worth in a job when really my value needs to be simply in the Lord.

I then had a friend reach out to me and tell me that her hospital was hiring. I applied out of a sense of obligation and responsibility more than anything else. This hospital was out of state and I did not think that it was going to work out.  So many doors would have to open for this to even be a possibility. Well, the Lord specializes in impossible!  Here I am in a new state with that new job and loving it.

So, I know that by this time you are probably asking, “Maribeth, What was your big revelation at teatime?” Well, it was simply this. I was looking too hard for “the land”. When really something bigger was there the whole time. As a Christian I will be in “my land” when I am at my ultimate destination. However, that will not happen until I am in heaven. For now I am on this wonderful journey. But I must confess that I accidently stumbled onto this much more valuable treasure. On this journey I am to actively be a part of a community, wherever the Lord directs me. I am to love the other travelers that I meet along the way. It is not some big revelation or calling it is just a “new” way of seeing my reality and using my compass. I need to find ways to serve and enjoy the route that the Lord has given me today. While letting Him be my TRUE NORTH and trusting that He will reveal the map coordinates that He wants for my life in His perfect timing until I reach “my land” which is in reality “His land”. So for now I am just enjoying the journey.