Brenda’s Blog – August 13, 2019

“This trucking company was built on the vision of a blind man.”

Ormsby Trucking Company travels with this painted on the back of their vehicles. It grabs you, doesn’t it? As I rode along behind the 18 wheeler it made me think about other irregular visions.

The Menninger brothers established a medical clinic on the Kansas plains, far from the major schools, populations, and technology. The Mayo brothers created a world-renown diagnostic facility in Rochester, Minnesota. Who would ever create a strategic plan for medical institutions placing them in these remote areas? Yet, the vision of “blooming where they are planted” belies the advice of most consultants.

The names of successful companies on the “it can’t be done here” list always get my attention. A common element is a man or woman who had an idea and built on it, like Mr. Ormsby. Undoubtedly they all faced great challenges and probably questioned themselves at times. But the vision motivated, disciplined, and drove the activity needed for realization.

So much is written about passion as the engine for accomplishment. Great bursts of energy without conduits to direct them lead to “blowing off steam.” Vision is the structure.

As Christians our operating vision is the transforming work of God which continually changes us into the image of Jesus. This is the vision in the mind of God – we are His workmanship, the outworking of His vision. Even though we cannot even imagine what the outcome will be, we can be scripturally attune to many of the elements in this process. We know His changing us from self-directed to Spirit-led is indeed in His “vision statement.”

Our lives can be visionary adventures. We can exult in the unexpected experiences He presents. Trucks roll on the vision of a blind man; we move on the impeccable vision of Him whose sees all.

Brenda’s Blog – July 30, 2019

“No wonder you can’t download that app. You have used up all your memory. Let’s see – hmmmm you have texts going back to 2015. Don’t you ever delete them? And pictures – you have thousands. You need to go home and start cleaning all this up.”

The young woman was kind, but she also looked at me like a troglodyte who just rolled out of the cave. I honestly didn’t know to delete text messages. And yes, I knew there were hundreds of unwanted pictures which “someday” I was going to erase.

“You don’t want to buy a new phone and transfer all that. Come back when you have cleaned it up.”

Shamed, but thankful, I walked out of the store. Have you ever tried to delete 4 years of text messages? It is not only tiring, but totally unrewarding. I know I could clean it with one fell swoop by a single “delete all,” but it is like cleaning out a drawer, or a closet – throw it all away and absolutely you will eliminate the very thing you need someday, right?

This became a “that’ll preach” for me. I started thinking about my gratitude for my Savior. When I was definitely piled up with years of undeleted mess, He gave His life in obedience to the Father who planned before time to save me from my sin. At Calvary He did delete all. Jesus paid it all.

And our great triune God promised me a new life without demanding I clean up the current one. The Bible doesn’t tell me to get rid of the junk and then come to Him – no, the Bible says there is no way I could ever get it together in order to be acceptable enough. He came to me because there was nothing I could do on my own.

My plan is to get the new phone on Friday. Between now and then I am going to drive myself crazy pushing delete, but then every once in a while I will stop and say thanks to God for reminding I am His – junk and all!

Brenda’s Blog – July 16, 2019

“I’m going to make it.”

The words were spoken with a matter-of-fact tone. There were no high fives, just quiet resolve.

The second attempt at parole seemed within reach. The first one lasted 45 days with a return to prison. This 90 day stint is down to 25. “I’m done unless I do something stupid and get a charge.”

Crossing the finish line isn’t always easy, especially for some personality types. Those motivated by ideas and new beginnings often lag in the last quarter, leaving projects incomplete. Having another come alongside to provide execution allows ideas to become reality.
I once heard a story about John Lennon. He was one filled with ideas, but less adept at implementation. He and Yoko Ono were an ideal pair – he created and she executed. The story goes on to say during a 14 month separation his creative juices totally dried up. When they were reconciled his ideas flowed until he was killed.

I am an idea person who needs a Yoko for major endeavors. I am most grateful for the provision of those who sees the end and runs with me when I falter. Crossing he line together is great joy?

Have you ever taken on a project and struggled to get the last page, task, mile completed? Or, do you have the skills to make a dream into a reality? Each of you needs the “other half” to make it all it can be.

My young friend’s hope came in seeing that this time he would not leave the task incomplete; he would cross that finish line knowing the satisfaction of completion. He had the help of friends and family, a supportive employer, and a parole officer who believes in him.
His hope in the accomplishment gives him energy and purpose. His opportunity to experience success may be a step toward a favorable outcome.

Brenda’s Blog – July 2, 2019

“The noise of battle all around you is unnerving.” Colonel Richard Goldsmith sat with an interviewer from the Madison County (AL) Hall of Heroes as an inductee answering his questions. They discussed his Army service in the Vietnam era. This comment made me stop and think.

We, too, are surrounded by the noise of battle. And, yes, it is unnerving. We are in the midst of clashing values which distract and discourage. How are we to know who to follow? What should be our answer to pressing problems?

Scripture says, “Be still and know that I am God.” How difficult that is in a world which shouts at us, over us, and around us. Turning down the volume as much as possible is a good option. Silence is a requirement for mental health. But even putting “sabbath rest” into our schedule is temporary. We must eventually return to the fray.

We turn on the news and the panelists see who can out bully the others with bold gestures and shrill voices. No stillness to be found!
As Christians we are called to put on the armor of God. The underlying assumption is constant warfare. We are not living in a safe space, but are battered by the conflict of God’s will versus that of “the power of this world.” It is noisy — it is unnerving.

But Jesus promises peace, doesn’t He? Not “spa day” peace, but peace which passes ordinary understanding because it exists in the tumult. It is quiet which is found in the rancor of arguments and the crushing pain of brokenness.

But we are not alone in this battle. The Holy Spirit gives us strength, comfort, and direction. The furor may swirl around us, but we have the hope of His courage. We may hear the world’s effort to drown out the small, still voice of God, but He breaks through calming us. The noise of battle can be unnerving, but when we walk with Jesus we know the victory has been won!