Sitting Down and Being Still

I am home much less often now because of work, and Hanes, the wise cat in residence, thus has been having very limited human contact and options to decide when to play or cuddle the way she used to. Nonetheless, she has been teaching me yet another good lesson.

In the mornings when I am getting ready for work, I rarely sit down. One time, however, I sat on the couch to put on my socks. In those five seconds, Hanes jumped on my lap and began purring right away. I, while wanting to get going, could not move without interrupting her. So there I was, sitting on the couch for about five minutes with the cat, enjoying a few minutes of stillness.

This past Monday night, I was home for about an hour and a half between work and tennis. When I got home, Hanes was at the door to greet me. I acknowledged her at the door and literally one second later, I went straight to the kitchen to cook and do other housework I did not finish over the weekend when I was mostly wonderfully preoccupied with Operation Christmas Child (more on that later!). After doing a few things and changing clothes, I sat down to eat. With no lapse of time in between, Hanes was on my lap.

Then I realized it was the first time I sat down in an hour and actually be still for more than a second. With Hanes firmly planting herself on my lap as soon as I sat down, I had to stay where I was. I could not even reach my mail to read while eating, or do anything else at the same time.

Then I looked at Hanes. She was perfectly still and happy, purring away. While I was doing various things earlier, she never whined the way she would in the mornings when she tries to wake us up. She had simply been waiting, waiting for the moment for me to be still and be with her.

She waited for an hour.

I wonder if this is how God waits for me with such incredible patience like this every day. Sure, I have my quiet time in the mornings, but how often am I being still to listen to Him rather than just trying to get my Bible study lessons done? How still and focused am I during prayer time? I am thankful for my God who is ever patient, even more so than the little wise cat. She is on my lap right now, so I'd better go and be still for a while.

Premature Patience

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1: 2-4, NIV

James’s exhortation was part of the Scripture I read one morning six weeks ago. A big part of my problem in the past weeks before that day had been not letting go completely to let God lead in the road ahead, career-wise. Thankfully, I received my MA in August but I had been unsure about whether to pursue a career in academe (PhD and beyond) or in other fields. I had my ideas, my desires, my timing, and thus, unfortunately, my worries. After the lessons I learned through Hanes a while back, I slowly came to my senses and decided it would be much better to be still and wait for Him. Stiff-necked I had been.

When I read the verse that morning, I was still unsure about what I should be doing. But I could not forget verse 4 which said “perseverance (patience) must finish its work.” Later on, I read Psalm 27 about “waiting in hope.” This hopeful, positive kind of waiting had been lacking in me. Undoubtedly, I was waiting, but I was “waiting in worry.” So God reminded me that I needed an attitude adjustment.

Shortly afterwards, I received my fourth reject letter (actually, email), but I was not dejected. Quite remarkably, I was perfectly fine with it. I was thinking about the verse all morning. I looked up various versions of James 1: 4 and found the Message translation very encouraging and uplifting -

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

“So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely” - had I not been doing just the opposite? I had been trying to get out of waiting. How foolish.

When the time matured and the waiting was through, God moved so swiftly that it could only be Him. Two days after reading this verse, I went to a job interview at the university. A few days later, I was offered the position to coordinate a graduate program. This position incorporated both my previous experience in administration and as a graduate student. I have been working for almost a month now and I enjoy my job very much (this new endeavor has kept me busy the past few weeks, thus the lack of posts recently :).

I am still praying to discern whether pursuing a PhD is God’s plan for me in the future. Yet, I know I am where I am supposed to be right now. I have peace and I will remember that I should not get out of anything prematurely, for patience must finish its work.

Peace and Unity

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

It has been a week since the election. Afterwards, my friend Pat linked two blog posts regarding the results and I thought I would share them here, because in a time such as this, it is so easy to feel discouraged, uncertain, and divided. Beth Moore, well-known speaker and Bible teacher with the Living Proof Ministries, calls for prayers for our President-elect and his family, and for the unity of the Body of Christ. Great reminder indeed.

If you would like a more convicting message, read the post from Lysa TerKeust of the Proverbs 31 Ministries. It is time to leave our comfort zone and wholeheartedly follow Jesus and be His hands and feet like never before.

And we can choose to look up to Him who alone holds the future.

From Empty Shoeboxes to Christmas Blessings......

I stumbled upon Operation Christmas Child - the "shoebox project" - about five or six years ago. I remember packing toys, school supplies and basic hygiene items in the empty, ordinary shoeboxes that year. Knowing that the shoeboxes would go to children who might have never received a gift in their young lives, and who had never heard the Good News and the true meaning of Christmas, made this project very special to me. Since that year, I have been packing shoeboxes every November. Some years, I did it only with hubby; some years, I had friends who came alongside the project. This year, several Sunday School and Bible study classes, and the missions committee at my church are supporting the project, and my neighbors and a local shoe store have donated dozens of empty shoeboxes!

I would like to invite you to participate too. If you have empty shoeboxes that you no longer need, you can easily turn them into Christmas blessings to children around the world. All you have to do is to fill the shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and hygiene items. You could also include a picture of your family and a letter before dropping off the shoeboxes to the collection centers around the nation during National Collection Week, November 17-24. Through these shoebox gifts, children will not only receive presents, they will also get to hear the Gospel and learn about the love of Jesus Christ.

If you are interested in participating in Operation Christmas Child, you can find more information online and also by watching the video below. Packing shoeboxes is easy and a fun family project that young children can participate. You are also welcome to make a monetary donation online to help offset shipping costs if you prefer to do so. If you have shoeboxes or filler items you would like to donate, please let me know and I would of course be more than happy to pack the boxes!

Blessings!

Vote

I voted for the next President of the United States for the first time in my life on Friday. I remember four years ago, when I could not vote, I was anxious about the election. It was not a great feeling to be living in a nation that cherished liberty and sitting on the sideline at the same time. So when I applied for citizenship last year, I prayed that I would become a citizen before this year's election. God graciously answered my prayer and there I was on Friday, standing in line to particpate in this year's election.

I preferred not to wait, but since I could not make it to early voting until Friday, and after counsel with hubby, I waited in line. I then realized the wait time was perhaps the best time to pray for this election and the country, and so I did. A short thirty minutes later, I cast my vote.

I could not predict the results on Tuesday, but as I stepped out of the voting booth, I knew I had done my part as a citizen of this great nation. Voting is not a duty, or "one more thing to do," or even a right, but a privilege. Where I am from, we have never had the opportunity to vote for our head leaders, so the ability to vote cannot be taken for granted. If you have not voted, please do so on Tuesday. You have to go out of your way, and the line might be long, but your vote is going to decide the direction to which our nation is going.