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Airline Mishap

John 16:33 (AMP) I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

I just spent the week traveling with my husband. We celebrated our 25h anniversary with a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada. We had not had such a smooth traveling experience in such a long time. Usually, TSA takes a very long time. This line we were in just kept moving. Then when we were looking for our gate, it was right in front of us as we exited TSA. All flights were on time. Coming and going we had connecting flights, and out pilot had to divert the route a little to go around a storm on the way there. It was amazing. When we got to the room, it was perfect. We even had a beautiful view of the Las Vegas Strip.

As we were unpacking our bags is when we hit a little snag in our trip. All of my husband toiletry bags were not in his suitcase. Did I forget to pack them? They were the last things that I remember putting in his bags before we left, but did I really do that? It was his deodorant, his colognes, his toothbrush and toothpaste, his hair product, our sunscreen and all of our medications. Did I leave then at home (did the perimenopause brain make an oops)? A frantic call to our youngest son, who I knew would be sleeping in our bed, and he did not see them. I did not leave them in the bathroom. I remembered packing them. So where were they? Our bags had been opened after we checked them in Atlanta. All we can think is they saw something in one of those bags and wanted them.

Our next step was to call the airline right away and tell them what happened. I was exhausted at that point. My brain was in overdrive from keeping up with everything for the trip and then I was going to have to explain to someone in my deep southern accent (because that is how I talk when I am either excited or exhausted) what happened. Thankfully, my husband took over and handled that part. My husband looked at me and said, we are not going to let this ruin our trip. We went to sleep.

The next day I made a call to family medicine group back home; the nurse was able to send the request to a pharmacy close to where we were staying. Great, we can pick it up after some time sight-seeing. It was not ready. Another two hour wait in Target, exhausted, and trying to hold it together as my husband’s head is throbbing. The last thing our seventeen-year-old said was, “don’t bring back another one of me.” So, I really needed to be my birth control filled, even if I had to pay extra, which I let them know.

James 1:2-4 (AMP) Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

The trip was amazing! We explored and went on tours. We got to see the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam (even the inside). It was a trip that we will be talking about for years. We are foodies and there were too many places and not big enough stomachs. We spoke each other’s love languages and just enjoyed being with each other. We have become the best of friends over the years and that is all because we have allowed each other to grow. Everything we lost could be replaced. None of this would have happed without learning to find the joy, to allow peace to be what we hold onto, and nothing is worth getting angry about. It was not always like that. It is possible though. It was not getting each other to change; it was about each of us deciding to submit to the One who makes the change. We grow at different speeds and that is okay. The airline denied all responsibility, what can you do? We are responsible for how we respond. We count it all joy. We are not lacking in anything. That is my prayer for you too.

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Emotional Healing or Emotional Leading?

James 1:2-3 (AMP) Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].

What happens when the saints start serving their emotions and are led by them? This was my question yesterday during prayer. Then I thought about this ad that came across my social media thread. It was regarding the benefits of somatic yoga, that they would help you release pent up emotions. I do stretches because I lift weights and exercise. I believe in emotional healing. So a couple of months ago I thought I would look up a You Tube video and give it a try. I had a deep grievance in my spirit and turned it off immediately. Why? God does not need my help in my emotional healing, He just needs my surrender. I believe sometimes we need a good cry and/or a good laugh. There is both godly sorrow and the joy of the Lord. You can walk in both and at the same time. I might hit on that in another blog.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (AMP) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen.

I have been in ministry for over two decades now. Although, I have had only one senior pastor, there have been many other leaders that I have had to submit to. I remember that I had someone tell me that I had a look that could bite a car in half. I laugh at it now, because although it hurt in the moment (and they could have used a little more grace in the correction) I did not use it as an excuse to hide. It does not matter that they may still use the same presentation and that they never saw the error in how they speak to people, it matters what I do. I have a choice in how I feel. No one can make me a feel a certain way unless I allow them to. I have a choice on how I correct after that. I have a choice to forgive.

A lot of the New Testament epistles are about our character development. I am not talking about a character in a story that we want to root for. They are talking about the change within to die to ourselves. We are still living beings and we have to make choices every moment of every day. One of the biggest choices is whether we are out for self preservation or willing to surrender to Christ. Our hearts have to be aligned with His.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What happens when our emotions become our god? We use terms like “God said” or the “the Lord told me to” quite loosely. I say that because we do not understand the reverence behind doing what God tells us to. It changes day to day, because we make different choices. I can talk to someone about something that God told them to do, and when they did not show up they tell me God told them to do something else. In reality they have been led by their emotions. However, I cannot say that to them because who I am I to question what God says. I do know His character and nature. If I was not stable in my relationship with Christ, and notice that it is their own immaturity, it could make me waiver in my faith. That is why it is so important that we have reverence in saying “God told me.” It reminded me of the prophet, Jeremiah (read Jeremiah and Lamentations). The King was wanting a favorable prophecy for the nation, other prophets would give it to him, all but Jeremiah. He was steadfast regarding the word of the Lord and it cost him physically and emotionally. We are given so many choices, what choice will you make.

Joshua 24:15 (AMP) If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In our deep need for wholeness, let us not forget that Christ paid the price for it all. It is in Him that we are rooted and grounded. There is a work that needs to be done within us. There is a character development that He wants us to go through. He wants us to imitate Him as He imitates the Father. It takes time and it takes patience. We are not going to get it right all of the time. It matters that we are growing and we appreciate the growing moments. The roots have to grow deep in Christ. Abide in Him (John 15). We are going to make it through. He cares deeply for us.

Abba, our Father and our Creator, we honor You today with our thanksgiving and praise. You are a full of Mercy and Loving Kindness. You are Holy. Thank You for Your Son to bring us back to You. Jesus redeemed us to Your Presence. Thank You for the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and our Teacher. We are sorry for the times we have made self preservation our goal. We repent for keeping the focus on ourselves and allowing our emotions to dictate our choices. We want to abide in You. We want nothing else but You. We know that trials are a part of our growth. You are developing us, not that we were not made perfect, but that we are being renewed in our thinking. You are Holy, and you desire us to be holy. We surrender to who You are. We choose forgiveness today. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.