by Aaron Summers | Jul 9, 2013
There I sat with my glass of tea in hand, sunglasses on and music blaring in my ear buds with what seemed to be a dead mower. I had been on the mower for a while trying to catch up. The rain had been wonderful to receive, but the downside is that the grass grows faster than I have time. I had already done the front and side yards and was moving to the back. I knew mowing the backyard was risky because of all the child elements involved, but it had to be done. I was rocking along when the mower just stopped. I moved it to a low spot where I could get a visual on the mower deck. At first glance I couldn’t see anything. However, when I looked closer I could see that a piece of rope had been caught by the blades and wrapped itself up around the shaft. You would think that the blades would just cut the rope and this would have never happened. There seems to be some strange effect when rope is introduced. Instead of just cutting through it, the mower get entangled. Until the rope was cut off and unwrapped there would be no more progress. I was stuck.
Have you ever felt stuck? You have been rocking along in life when you get all tangled up. Maybe it is a relationship, or sex, or pills, or gossip, or something else. Each of us have a “rope” that when we try to mow over it causes us to get stopped. What do we do?
1. Check the yard before you mow. I run into trouble when I skip this step. If I would take the time to make sure where I was going to mow was clear of all problems then I would not be having to crawl under and work on the mower. Everyone of us have our triggers. Begin to see what triggers you. Do your best to avoid those triggers. Clear them out through accountable relationships, better choices, and sometimes simple avoidance.
2. Look ahead not right in front. Sometimes I get to singing along with the music and use the steering wheel as a makeshift drum set. When that happens I forget to keep looking ahead and can run over stuff like a rope, or hose, or wire, etc. I see this happening in our lives constantly. We get so involved in the moment that we forget to keep our eyes ahead and run into trouble.
3. Unwrap the rope. When you do get tangled up prepare to spend time getting unstuck. Because the blades spin at such a high-speed the rope gets wrapped extremely tight. It will take a while to get it cut loose and taken off so that the blade spins properly again. The same is true in your life. We all get stuck at times. For some it is a physical habit while others have an attitude or speech issue. There are still others who deal with items such as sex and pills to cope with life. Whatever is tangling you up needs to be removed as quickly as possible or progress cannot be achieved.
I could still ride the mower all over the yard and act like something is happening but it would be a lie. When we are entangled the only option is to stop and fix the problem. During that process I keep telling myself, “If I want to actually accomplish anything I must prepare ahead by clearing out the yard and staying focused. ” We would be wise to do the same each day.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 6:6-11
by Aaron Summers | Jul 6, 2013
He came in quickly asking about the latest movie that all his friends had seen. “Can we see it?”, he anxiously asked. His eyes had that look of desperation. You could tell that this was something that had been discussed among everyone. The pleading and begging started. Dad answered, “We’ll see.”
She had just run in from a girl’s night and asked if she could get her belly button pierced. The thought crossed her Mom’s mind that at least that wasn’t a nose ring or something worse and responded, “We’ll see.”
I find myself using that statement often these days! With two kids, I am getting a lot of questions that get answered in the same way! Though they might not believe it that statement does not always mean “No.” Sometimes it does. However, many times it depends on the attitude received and actions seen over the next few hours that determines the final outcome. My wife and I have taken the position on extra-curricular activities that we wait to see if the topic is brought up more than once. Our kids come home with notes nearly every day. Sifting through it all and examining the calendar gets difficult. Each will run in and desire to do whatever the note is presenting. Often we never hear of it again. Our answer tends to be, “We’ll see.” The more it comes up in conversation the more consideration it receives. The final decision is not made because of nagging but what is in the best interest of them and fits within the scope and plan of our raising children in a culture set against Christ.
I am currently facing a particular challenge and am waiting on God. I have done all that I can on my end but the answer has not come. I have prayed. I have cried. I have begged. I have pleaded. There is no resolution yet. It is as if God has said, “We’ll see.”
Has God ever given you that answer?
He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist. 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. 19 He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about 100 years old) and also considered the deadness of Sarah’s womb, without weakening in the faith. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:17-21 (HCSB)
Every day, every month, every year, Abraham would go to God and ask if it was time for the promise to be fulfilled. God would say, “We’ll see.” God knew when it would be the right time. God had a plan and would not waver from that plan. Abraham had to settle with waiting.
Are you waiting on God? Have you begged for help? Or healing? Or a child? Do you feel God has responded with “We’ll see.”?
Believe in God. It all starts here. Do we believe in the provision and power of Christ? Do we believe that God can do all that He has promised? Belief is not an automatic action. We must choose to believe and often in the face of extreme challenges. Abraham was getting old and Sarah was barren. Your predicament is a calamity. Your grief is deep. Your unemployment is imminent. Will you believe that God’s plan is best? Will you believe that God’s power is certain? Will you believe?
Do not waver. The imagery Scripture gives here is like tall grass. When grass is short it does not blow in the wind. As time passes, the grass gets taller and will begin to blow with the wind. As time passes on the needs of our lives it becomes easier to be like that tall grass. We can blow with the winds of impatience, infidelity, and faulty instruction. In these moments we must stand firm in the Word of God. Stay focused on Scripture more than societal trends. Talk to the Father more than Facebook.
Give glory to God. Worship is a vital part of sticking with the plan and purpose of God. Corporate and private worship is like finding water in a desert. Waiting creates a parched spirituality unless we give thanks and glory regularly.
Attitude makes all the difference. Will everything work out? Yes. Will it happen just like you desire? We’ll see.
by Aaron Summers | May 29, 2013
In just a 24 hour period Oklahoma experienced record heat, deadly storms, long-tracking tornadoes and an earthquake. In the past month I read the news about the Boston bombings, talked with someone whose parent is dying and discovered another marriage crumbling. How do we cope? How do we handle the stress? To whom do we turn? Too often we turn to the couch of a physician, the doctor’s office for pills, the bed of another, or the bottle to ease the pain. Why wouldn’t we? A friend of mine drove to a local town demolished by a tornado to sift through the rubble that was his office. An entire neighborhood is reduced to twisted metal and splintered wood. Someone planted bombs in a marathon to maim and destroy the lives of hundreds, if not thousands. The one who has nurtured you your whole life lies in a bed waiting, and possibly planning, on dying. The marriage that outwardly seems to be so wonderful is rotting from within. It is no wonder that we pop pills and drink ourselves to that uncaring oblivion. We must find a way to ease this pain we feel. We are determined to replace pain with pleasure, hurt with happiness.
Why hope? It seems to do no good.
I would expect many to feel this way who have never tasted the goodness of God or have been hurt by those who represent God. Trust and hope are tied together in a neat little package that some wish were separated. How can I hope for something where there is no trust? How can I hope the bombings and killings will stop without trust in the government’s ability to handle or control this situation? How can I hope for healing when I cannot trust that God will do what I want? How can there be hope in a marriage where trust left years ago? Is hope fleeting? Is hope failing? Is hope futile and for the simple-minded? We realists live above this unnecessary emotion right? Logic wins in that world, but love loses.
We hope because it raises our vision from today to tomorrow. We hope because the pain of the past is replaced with a promise of a preferred future. We hope because down deep we still know that God is bigger than us. God has our best interests in mind even though our feelings claim fault. We hope because that is all we have. Hope brings warmth. Hope brings vision. Hope raises the spirit. Though all else seems to fail, believe there is hope.
Believe. Hope. Pray. Live.
1 Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish: 2 I called to the Lord in my distress,and He answered me. (Jonah 2)
by Aaron Summers | May 21, 2013
My kids are still young. For several years I have been re-acquainted with Curious George and the man in the yellow hat. The only recurring character in the original adventures, other than George himself, is the Man with the Yellow Hat. It was he who brought George from Africa, and it is in his house that George lives. The Man often facilitates George’s adventures by taking him somewhere, and even more often resolves the tension by appearing just in time to get George out of a tight spot. He is always seen wearing a bright yellow suit and a wide-brimmed yellow hat. The Man is never mentioned by name in the original adventures, or in any subsequent content over more than six decades. He is always called either “the Man” or fully “the Man with the Yellow Hat”. When people speak to George about the Man, they often refer to him as “your friend.” I have enjoyed watching George discover new things and the Man in the yellow hat come behind and pick up the pieces. George destroys the bathroom and he cleans it up. George gets lost and the Man goes and finds him. in one episode, George misunderstood something and decided he would store up food all over the house. The mess was disastrous. The Man in the yellow hat came in and helped George fix everything.
Let me introduce you to another Yellow Hat that is “your friend”. The men and women that serve in Disaster Relief are friends to your community, the state of Oklahoma, our country, and even our world. Disaster Relief acts according to their name. Wherever there is a disaster they go and provide relief. According to their website, this is a portion of what they do.
Feeding
Preparing and serving hot meals is the backbone of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief ministry. With this in mind, every Oklahoma volunteer is trained to work on the feeding team. Specific training is provided in maintenance, warehouse, sanitation, cooking and line serving.
After completing feeding team training, volunteers may train in other areas of Disaster Relief service. Assessment team members must have previous training in our Disaster Relief chain saw and mud-out recovery work.
Damage Assessment
Team members go ahead of chain saw and mud-out teams to evaluate damage and inform follow-up teams on scope of each job, including equipment that will be needed.
Chain-Saw
The chain saw team removes damaged trees and other debris blocking doorways and/or driveways, trees leaning against homes, and limbs broken through roofs or causing a hazard in yards. Experience in operating a chain saw is desirable, but not mandatory.
Mud-Out Removal
Members must be in good physical condition and willing to work in unpleasant, dirty situations. Volunteers need to be conscious of health and safety hazards, taking necessary measures in order to keep themselves and others out of harm’s way.
Showers and Laundry
This team gives aid to relief workers and others who are in need by providing showers and laundry support in the disaster area. The trailers have private shower stalls as well as washing machines, dryers, storage and folding areas. Volunteers receive and assist those requesting their services, do laundry, sanitize showers, empty trash, replace needed supplies, and keep the trailer area neat.
Child Care
Child care volunteers provide a calm atmosphere and competent, loving care for children. Care is provided to give parents the opportunity to salvage remains of belongings, meet with helping agencies and insurance representatives, and take care of other business.
Team members will travel to the disaster site and establish a child care center in temporary space, using books, toys and other resources that they will take to the disaster site. The center is set up in the best available space adjacent to the areas to be serviced. It may be located in a school, church or business that is unaffected by the disaster. Volunteers will care for the children during the day. The center is usually open from 8:30 am to 5:40 pm.
Child care volunteers should love children and have previous experience working with preschoolers and elementary-age children. Team members must consent to a background check before serving.
Water Purification
This group provides clean water after a disaster has occurred. Portable water purification units are used to sanitize available water on location, making it safe for drinking, cooking, bathing and other uses.
If you would like to donate to this beautiful ministry you can do so at http://www.okdisasterhelp.com/donate/
These men and women wear yellow hats recognized around the world and in your backyard. May God be with us all.
