Expectations

I was sitting in church yesterday, listening to Pastor Tom talk about who Jesus is.  I was thinking about the different expectations different people had for Jesus.

Jesus' family and neighbors expected Him to live a quiet life and continue to be a carpenter's son.  The Pharisee's expected Him to follow the rules and not make waves.  The Zealots expected a war from Rome to gain their freedom.  The people wanted Him to continue to heal the sick, some asked Him to stay with them (see Luke 4:42-44).  All of Israel expected a Messiah, not a broken man hanging on the Cross.  

Jesus knew who He was to be and who He was not to be.  He didn't allow anyone deter Him from what He came to do.  He didn't allow needs to change His direction.  I'm sure His heart ached for the needs and hopelessness He saw.  He didn't allow leaders to put Him in a box of piety, being respectable and acceptable in their eyes.  I love how He made the whip and then went into Temple to clean house.   (John 2:14-16)  It was not a moment of emotion, it was pre-meditated and intentional.  

I could go with what others expected or how He stood against it, but you get the picture and can add to the list.

What about us?  I know for me, when I am unsure who I am or what I am to be doing, it is easy to get too swayed by someone else.  Their need for me to be controllable, so they know what to expect and can be comfortable.  Our parents, husbands, friends, children, church, work and society all have expectations on how we should be.  

We know first and foremost we are made in the image of God and are His children.  We need to accept that the expectations with that are non-negotiable.  We are to act, speak and walk out this crazy life in a way that brings our Father Glory.  

God has called each of us to love Him, worship Him and follow Him.  Life is crazy and throws curve balls at us all the time.  We need to be able to know who we are so we can stand against well-meaning people who have it all figured out for us.  

Jesus was connected to God in a way that He knew when something was pulling Him away.  I need that same connection, so when I look to my Father with that "What the heck do I do now" look, I can see His face.  I am reassured that He really is in control and has a plan, even though it might not feel like it.  

I pray that you and I will know who we are in God so we can stand in confidence with the people in our lives and be intentional with the circumstances in our lives.  If you are at the place where you feel lost and overwhelmed, go to your Living, Loving God ~ He is waiting.  I also pray that you will find someone to walk through this time with you, allowing you to figure it out.  

May God richly bless you on this Memorial Day as we enjoy the freedom that so many have sacrificed for us to have.

Hugs and Love ~

Jodi   xoxo

God is Gracious!

My kids call him their "brother from another mother".  His name is Emalin and he lives in the Dominican Republic.  We sponsor him through World Vision.  As sponsors, we get a magazine that shares what they are doing throughout the world.  It is awesome and overwhelming at the same time.  In this month's magazine there was an article about the Typhoon in the Philippines.  
(I had the honor of visiting both countries and fell in love with the people)


I would like to share what Crislyn Felisilda wrote  (she is a World Vision communications specialist):
"Typhoon Washi hit northern Mindanao, my home.  It struck in the dead of night while many were sleeping.  I can't believe what I 've seen.  As a humanitarian worker, I know I should keep going, I've seen enough other disasters.  But this time, I experienced the rawness of it all.  I saw a father squatting and cradling his muddied baby, limp and lifeless.  There were no tears in his eyes, no words from his lips, but on his mouth was a frozen scream.  I heard the cries of children searching for their loved ones.  The most heart-rending scenes were the dead bodies being pulled out, one after another, from the flood waters.  Nevertheless, I see God working graciously in the midst of suffering.  There's more work to be done."


"God working graciously in the midst of suffering."  We have all seen suffering.  I have seen a brother and sister left at an orphanage in Mexico walking hand-in-hand crying out for their parents; I have cried with orphans in Ukraine wanting a mom; I have knelt beside a brave young woman anguishing over placing her baby in another woman's arms.  


We have all been through suffering that hits us or our families and brings us to our knees.


The suffering we go through, directly or indirectly impacts us, changing us forever.  Just like how water changed the face of the Grand Canyon, these things we walk through change us.  We might become softer in some areas or harder in others.  We are no longer who we once were before the suffering.  


BUT GOD!  He moves graciously.  He is there when all we can do is read about it or watch it on TV.  He is there when we are alone with our fear.  He is gracious and gentle and holds us until we are steady again.


"There is more work to be done."  Until suffering is gone, there is more work to be done, by God, by us.


Suffering can be so overwhelming we can be paralyzed by it.  God asks us to join Him in moving graciously through suffering.


May God's graciousness be with you in your time of suffering or may you be part of God's graciousness for another.


Have a fab day!
Jodi xo


Love and hugs xoxo
~ Jodi