Faith and God’s Yes’s and No’s

July 6, 2017July 6, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

(I did not post a blog last week because I was on a cruise to Alaska…more about that in an upcoming blog!)

Acts 16 tells the story of some of God’s travels. He and his friends felt it was time to go. It was the second of his missionary journeys and I am sure he was eager to see what God was going to do.

Matthew 28:19 instructs us to go into all the world and make disciples of all the nations. I assume Paul and Silas knew of these instructions, so how do you think they felt when they passed through Phrygia and Galatia the Holy Spirit forbid them to proclaim the Word in Asia? (Acts 16:6), Then they tried to go into Bithynia and again they weren’t permitted to go. If it were me, I probably would have either been frustrated or excited! If these were the “no’s”, what are God’s “yeses” going to be? So passing Mysia, they went down to Troas. There a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man from Macedonia stood pleading with him and saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us! And when he had seen the vision, we, including Luke, at once endeavored to go on to Macedonia. So off they went.

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Faith and Loneliness

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017 Martha Rodman4 Comments

Walking the widow road at times I admit is often lonely and filled with potholes of opportunities to feel very lonely. I do know that widows and widowers are not the only lonely people in the world. In fact it is a true fact that no matter your state in life we all can experience loneliness.

Loneliness, while difficult, can cause some very positive changes in our life if we will embrace it with faith–neither fear nor self-pity. Last week I talked about the critical inner voice–or the hostile judgmental adviser that we all carry in our heads that seeks to confront our faith and keep us smaller than God intends. This voice shouts–“you are alone and lonely because you are unlovable”. I have had to fight against this voice many times. The Voice likes to talk in generalities–“everyone else…; or No one else…and of course we are never included in either!

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Faith and Living Loved

June 16, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

My last blog declared God’s goodness in supplying needs and the joy of bathroom fixes, mold removal and watching God bring a team together to encourage and bless me. I admit I felt very selfish, and my friend Bill reminded me that I need to learn how to accept blessings. It does take faith to receive help.

As I said good bye to Bill Hinckley last week, I headed for Grants Pass, Oregon and the Spring Women’s Conference at All the World Christian Center. As I drove the 400 plus miles from Rosanna’s house to the church, it gave me time to reflect on God’s goodness. The theme for the conference was “Living Loved”. I felt loved and so cared for!

It is my heart that all of us learn to “Live Loved”. God would love it if we always remembered this great gift He bestows on us…as I steal a phrase from my friend, Jim Stephens, God loves me, not because I am good, but because He is good!
What a joy to remind these precious daughters that there is freedom from the critical inner voice (or the hostile judgmental advisor) that seeks to rob us of God’s peace, encouragement and words of Life.

The critical inner voice is that internal voice begun in our childhood that discourages us from understanding that we are accepted by God because of what He has done, not by any thing we have done. Mental assent of God’s love is quite different from the actual believing of it in a way that allows us to live loved. Living loved allows us to walk in confident courage that as we follow Jesus and His Heart–our lives will touch others with His compassion.

Living loved helps us see our selfishness, jealousy, anger and other works of the flesh found in Galatians 5 for what they are…living less than God’s best for us. Living loved helps us move past the pain of rejection and insecurities and really understand we are accepted and adopted into the family of God.

Living Loved allows us to experience the shalom of God. Shalom means so much more than peace–or the absence of hostility. It encompasses a sense of wholeness, completeness and a sense of well-being. It is the place where we can truly say, “it is well with my soul”. This is not always easy to understand or experience. Father, I ask you help us learn about your gift of living loved and the shalom your work on the cross purchased for each of us. I thank you for reminding us by your Spirit when we find ourselves living unloved. In Jesus Name, amen

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Faith, Needs and Gratitude

June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

I have been praying about some maintenance needs at my home for quite a while. I seem to be comfortable living in the land of denial for longer than I should, but when you don’t see a way to do something. You just put up with it.

My prayers seem to evolve in stages. First it they are, “Lord, I think there is a problem. I don’t know what to do.” Is there a problem? Is it just my imagination? Surely it will be OK. Please, Lord make it OK. Continue reading “Faith, Needs and Gratitude” →

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Faith and Mess-ups!

June 1, 2017June 12, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

This past week has been difficult in many ways. Due to stress and my own emotional lack of control I over-reacted during a meeting and admittedly my frustration led to me letting my feelings get the better of me. I communicated my feelings to the leaders with some distinct facial and body language exhibited during a leadership meeting. I have since offered my apologies the best I can for any communicated dis-respect of them. I can’t really excuse my behavior, for it was wrong, even though there were a pile up of situations that l could point to, I didn’t let the peace of God and my trust in Him lead me. That was wrong. When I apologized to one person he wasn’t even aware of my actions! But God knew, didn’t He? The others have all accepted my apology.

So now what? As I repented to the Lord and asked forgiveness of those involved I must choose to accept His forgiveness and trust that the others are as gracious as He is. His forgiveness is instantaneous, while others must process their response. I have really never been in this position quite before. I have been frustrated but usually vented it in the privacy of my own prayer closet, with the Lord…praying for His solution. I know I am learning to lessons on how/when to communicate my feelings/thoughts etc. In fact, I was a bit surprised by my actions!

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Faith and the Middle

May 25, 2017May 25, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

My bathroom project continues. Everything old is out, except for the toilet. The old vanity is sitting in my bedroom. The new tub is set in its new position, but of course not quite lining up as we thought. I now have to do new flooring, because the old floor doesn’t match the new tub’s position. I walked in there yesterday and prayed, “Lord, I thank you for having solutions for the known and unknown problems.” Part of me just wants it done. I don’t want to have to make more decisions. However, most of the decisions are having to be made by my friend who is doing the work. Some of the problems I see as major, he sees as minor. We are obviously too far to quit. I know and have faith that we will finish it. It is going to be different already than I imagined, but I trust it will be a wonderful blessed room. We need to keep going, not quit in the middle! Continue reading “Faith and the Middle” →

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Faith is needed in and for the “new”

May 18, 2017May 27, 2017 Martha Rodman1 Comment

I’ve been discovering lately, that although I enjoy many “new” things, others come with a bit of apprehension. I wonder if the Israelite’s felt the same joyful anticipation but also a bit of dread when they entered the Promised Land? For forty years they lived in the wilderness as nomads. Following a pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night; they experienced a type of security in their routine. But then things began to change. Joshua replaced Moses as their leader. They were finished with the wandering season and about ready to do the “new” thing God had promised so many years before. Continue reading “Faith is needed in and for the “new”” →

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Faith Needs Celebrations

May 11, 2017May 15, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

Faith and Celebrations!

When you think of the Christian life do see it as a steady battle, or at least a series of battles that seem never ending? Sometimes it can feel like that. We can feel like Elisha’s servant who when faced with enemies all around felt hopeless and defeated. Elisha prayed, “Lord open his eyes” and he saw the angels of the Lord surrounding them. Victory came to them that day, and I am sure the servant was never the same. Do you think they took time to celebrate? I imagine they did. Continue reading “Faith Needs Celebrations” →

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Faith and the Why Question

May 4, 2017May 15, 2017 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

How do we grapple with the questions that arise in our life? The difficult circumstances of life often provoke some of the most difficult questions that can disrupt, disturb or disconnect our relationship with God or amazingly they can cause us to draw closer to Him.

Last week I received news that an old friends young grandson (he graduated from high school in 2015) passed away in his sleep. As of now, I don’t know if they even have a medical reason. He just went to sleep and did not wake to another day on this earth. Reading his obituary it sounds like he touched many lives on his abbreviated life for which I am sure his family are so thankful. However, I am sure as they navigate life with a hole they are struggling with the ”why” question. Continue reading “Faith and the Why Question” →

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Faith and Your Joy Level

April 27, 2017June 4, 2026 Martha RodmanLeave a comment

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11 ESV

The other day my check the oil light came on. My car gives me a low oil light warning by showing me a wrench and “oil, 15%”. I thought, I’m still ok. I can drive it a few miles without any danger to the engine. But every time I started the car the little wrench light was there warning me. I knew I had to respond to that little light. Yesterday I got the oil changed and it was comforting to see the oil level was marked 100%. It was reassuring to see that number.

I wish we had a clearly marked “warning, joy level down” marker in our own soul. In John 15 we find Jesus speaking clearly from his heart to his disciples–us included. Everything he taught them from John 14 to 17 are things he shared so “our joy may be full.” John 15:11. If we find our joy level dropping it may be because we have forgotten to pay attention to these instructions. We find the words: abide, obedience and trouble (or tribulation). To walk in the fullness of joy we must surrender to His will. As we surrender, by faith, to His will we can do it grudgingly or joyfully. Our choice is do we dutifully go about our tasks because we know it’s the ”right thing to do”, or do we choose to serve with joy? I would love to say I always serve with joy, but alas it is not true. We are often surrounded by “joy stealers”, and if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves as depressed, depleted and discouraged believers. Not really the abundant life our Lord has planned for us.

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