Mark 11:23-24
ESV
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and
thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what
he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you,
whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be
yours.
Often, during readings, I will ask
people, "OK, but what are you saying?"
Then it's smacked me right in the face
with my own events (of late).
Digressing for a moment, I remember
talking to a church member, about this very topic. She was going through things
with her kids. I often would hear her remark "Give me a break!" One
day while shopping at the mall with her kids, she stated (emphatically)
"Give me a break!" as she was stomping her foot. At that precise
moment, she broke her foot.
What we confess (for good or for ill)
will certainly (in some form or fashion) come to fruition.
For a year, I confessed that I wanted
to clean out our two-car garage. Well, circumstances have occurred so that the
garage had to be sorted and cleared.
I have been praying for someone to whom
I could gift my mother's sewing machine After putting it on the curb, our
neighbor from across the street asked if she could have it. She was (formerly)
a seamstress.
What brings this into focus now,
though, is my friend Nella. We've known each other since the early '80's. I
read for her at Starlight (when it was off of Strawbridge). Coincidentally, she
is now in her 80's. She's had a condominium in Indian Harbour Beach, since we
met.
She is a dear woman, who "kept to
herself" most of the time. I think it was 5 years before I actually
visited her at home.
Walt and I have looked after her for
these years (during Hurricanes and the like).
But for 2 years, I have been praying
for a way to be helpful to her in a substantial way. I've become aware of the
error in my thinking here (more about that later).
In so-doing, praying, confessing, I was
creating a "contract". Agreeing that I am available to be used as an
instrument for this specific purpose, by God.
I've lived up to more difficult contracts,
however I was younger, and thinner and (I think) more naive to how much work I
was agreeing to undertake.
The error in my thinking, in this, was in not
considering that someone else could help Nella. Although, I don't know if that
is truly possible, because she trusts so few people. But the contract I made,
I'm living now. cleaning the walls of her condo; cleaning the carpets,
undressing her walls, seeing to repairs for her, replacing appliances for her.
I don't regret helping her. But frankly, the up and down the stairs is waring
on me.
Even the most casual of
"contracts" can (and I've found WILL) be honored by God and spirit.
Several months ago, on facebook, there was a picture of a cabin. A question was
proffered: "You will have everything you need. No cable, no internet.
Could you live here for a month". I remember responding "I could live
without cable, but don't think I could live without internet."
As it happens, here at Nella's condo,
We can have internet (provided via the phone lines) but we can't have a dish,
so our At&T programming is null and
void.
In the light of this, there are new contracts
to which I am giving voice.
We will find a beautiful home in the Melbourne
area. There will be newer appliances (glass-top stove). The kitchen will be
large enough for Walt and I to be in at the same time, creating meals and
delights.
The house will be a "4/2" of
sorts, preferably with a MIL suite (of sorts) that can be my art studio,
reading and classroom.
We will have a yard in which to display
our holiday joy.
It will be within a specific budget
range for us. We will be approved by the mortgage lenders. It will be ready for
us to move into at the end of closing.
The electrical panel accommodates 200
ampage. New roof, sound plumbing, sound foundation.
Yes there's even more.
Be aware, though, of the "random
thoughts" as well. In our search for a new home, a manufactured home
caught my attention. Not that that is a bad thing. What I really liked was the
mortgage payment. Extremely low, even with the absorbent insurance. Also, the community had a pool, and I really
liked that idea.
The condo where we're staying, the rent
we will pay, exact same as the mortgage payment on the manufactured home, and
the condo community has a pool.
Access the contracts one is making most
carefully.
We need to start staying what we mean;
Meaning what we say.
Until next time, Eat something nutritious
and live a life worth loving.
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