Rose Vohwinkel / Next Gen Administrative Assistant and Children's Ministry Worship Coordinator
Sometimes
I am in awe of how incredibly stubborn some people can be before they learn a
lesson, and I am often times one of those people. In my stubbornness, I forget
that He knows better and I am a mere speck in His universe. I know very little,
yet I think I can control so much. And I think we are all like that
sometimes. How long can I be like the Israelites and walk in circles? How
long until I learn the lessons? How long until I get out of my own way,
let God take the lead and humbly follow?
Just
to be clear, I am not this way about all things. I’m really not a total
idiot. But for years I have known that God has been nudging me to take better
care of myself physically. To eat better, exercise more, take time for me
even when I’m so busy that I feel that showering takes too much time in my day.
Just to be clear - I am showering. But God has gently and not so gently,
reminded me that I am fragile and mortal. My time here is a gift. And His not
so gentle reminders of late have caused me to heed His warnings about my
physical body. There are some things I can control and haven’t been.
But
I have also been given some not so gentle nudges about my relationship with
Him. Lessons that showed me who was in control – and it wasn’t me. It’s all a
façade. No amount of planning, scheduling or lists will get in the way of God
reminding us who has it all in the palm of His hands.
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11
I
ignored God for a long time. Even during the tragedies of life. But God
took the opportunity to put me in bed through an accident, with nothing to do
but rethink this life. I was in my mid-thirties at the time. After the
accident I was sometimes walking with a cane and sometimes unable to walk at
all. Humbling indeed. But He will do ANYTHING to get us to pay
attention, so He can show us a better way. That way is to the cross of
Jesus Christ. And it was the best thing that ever happened to me. That
time allowed me to seek and find Him. It was a gift. I would not choose to
re-live my life without that accident if it meant I missed the gift of Jesus
Christ. I’m hoping you are really hearing me right now. Christ is so
powerful that I will keep the complications of the accident and all that goes
with it just to have Him in my life. And my children found Christ too while I
was on that journey. Another gift.
By
opening His Word, I found a place that is always home for me. It is my safe
place to fall no matter the circumstance. And even saying that, I am still
stubborn and do not spend enough time with my Savior, if there is such a thing.
And I am going to work harder at that also, because I need it. But even more
than that, He deserves it. He is deserving of all of me.
That’s
part of my journey. We all have a journey. So did Christ – to experience the
horror of Good Friday so we could have the gift of Easter. It was all planned,
so an undeserving person like me could have an eternity I don’t deserve. The
ultimate gift!
Happy
Easter! Christ is Risen!!