Beautiful Disruptions ~ Take 2 ~ Valerie Ronald

 

This post is a repeat of my first guest post published by InScribe Writers Online, back on October 31, 2019. It so perfectly fits this month's writing prompt that I decided to post it again. 

 

One day on a beach walk with a good friend, I told her about an e-mail I received that morning from a man I did not know. It seems I knew his brother and sister-in-law a long time ago. I watched the waves beat their way to shore, scuffed the sand with my shoe.  

“He asked if it would be alright if we wrote to each other.” When I glanced at my friend, she was smiling. She said, “I have such a strong sense that from this day out, things for you will change for the better. God is up to something.”  

My heart gave a hopeful little leap, then settled back to the cautious beat of one familiar with pain, disappointment and struggle. For several years all I had known was the war zone of a messy divorce and a life-threatening illness. Hope was hard to come by.

But now when I look back I recognize that moment on the beach as one of God’s beautiful disruptions. Sometime later I married the man who e-mailed me and moved on to a whole new life full of love, joy and fulfillment.  

Webster’s dictionary defines disruption as causing something to be unable to continue in the normal way: interrupting the usual progress or activity of something. A disruption is at first stressful because it throws things into disorder, putting us off the course we were used to. But God has a way of disrupting lives that opens up possibilities never imagined, even if at the time the disruption is unwelcome.  

The scriptures are full of beautifully disrupted stories where God suddenly steps in to redirect the current path of someone He wants to use to fulfill His purposes. In Exodus 3, Moses has spent many years tending his father-in-law’s flock on the far side of the desert. God captures Moses’ attention when He speaks from a burning bush. He sends Moses on a mission back to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. As a country herdsman spending days on end with only sheep for company, Moses’ life is beautifully disrupted when he becomes God’s chosen instrument to lead His people to freedom.  

As a lowly shepherd boy on the hills around Bethlehem, David was unlikely to be chosen for any significant role. But God changed David’s life by sending His prophet, Samuel, to anoint him as the future king of Israel. God’s beautiful disruption caused David to become a mighty king, a “man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22 NIV) and a forefather of Jesus, the Messiah.  

In the most glorious disruption of all, a Jewish peasant girl is visited by an angel announcing she is to give birth to the Son of God. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, she becomes the mother of Jesus, God in human flesh, whose life, death and resurrection provides salvation for all who believe in Him.  

Sometimes God reveals Himself to me in subtle ways. To be honest, I would prefer He direct me slowly and gently. But when I think of the mountaintops of my spiritual walk, it is the beautiful disruptions that stand out. Those times when God breaks suddenly into my mundane life speak of a love so great He would do the extraordinary to capture my attention. 

Such beautiful disruptions cause me to exclaim, only God.

Only God could orchestrate so many details to fulfill His purposes.

Only God interrupts by making me breathless with His beauty and majesty.

Only God beautifully disrupted time by stepping down from eternity to live among us. 

Valerie Ronald lives in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. She is a graduate of Vancouver's Langara College journalism program, and has worked as a newspaper reporter, freelance writer, public speaker and bookstore employee. She writes devotionals for her home church bulletins and her online blog. Her current book project chronicles how God's faithfulness saw her through the dark valleys of divorce and cancer. Along with her husband, Valerie enjoys spending time with their blended family and six grandchildren. She is a nature photographer, water colorist, cat lover and Scrabble addict.

More of her devotionals can be read on her blog https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com

Waking Up Your Soul for Lent by Sharon Espeseth

Jesus on the Cross
Unsplash by Christop Schmid

Lenten Goals

Common goals for Lent are to repent, draw near to God and prepare ourselves to celebrate the joy of our salvation at Easter time. How will I, how will you, do that this year? Most of us need to slow ourselves down so we can walk with Jesus in the wilderness. For Jesus, these 40 days were a period of training, testing and preparation for his ministry on earth. Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus rebuked Satan's three notorious temptations. (Matthew 4:1-11)

During this year's Ash Wednesday mass, Pope Francis "summoned Christians to slow down in a fast-paced and often directionless life and fast from the unnecessary things that distract us, to heed Lent that he described as 'wake-up call for the soul'." (See "Pope at Ash Wednesday Mass: 'focus on what is essential.'": article by Linda Bordoni in Vatican News.)

"Waking up our souls" can be accomplished by prayer, fasting and almsgiving. While delving into information on Lent to find something quick and easy to write, I discovered several instructive and inspirational YouTube videos with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Sorry, but this topic isn't quick, easy or brief to write about. For example, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5zL2U4p5SY

Taking Time for Prayer and Devotions

This requires stillness, silence and solitude. I know I can't soul search when I'm rushing about or when the TV is blaring. Mornings work best for me when the house is quiet and there are fewer distractions. Getting up early can be a Lenten offering.

Ash Wednesday
Unsplash - Ahna Ziegler

Prayer and Repentance

Although God called David "a man after his own heart," he wasn't perfect and he couldn't always resist temptation. After David's transgression with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan spoke to him about matters of the soul. Psalm 51 is the Psalmists touching repentance.

Throughout this Psalm, which you may want to read for yourself, David pleads with God for forgiveness, mercy, and cleansing.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love . . . , your abundant mercy,
blot out my transgressions. . . Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me."

David prays for restoration of the joy of salvation and asks God to sustain a willing spirit in him. He prays that the Lord will open his lips, so that his mouth would declare God's praise. This speaks to my efforts in writing, speaking and living. How well and how often do I share the joy of my salvation and declare praise to God's name?

As practicing Christians, salvation is not for us alone. Christ's Great Commission is that we share the Good News with our fellow humans.

What about fasting?

For Catholics and others who observe Lent, fasting is a no feasting day. Canadian Catholics between 14 and 59 are commanded to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent." Fish is allowed. This isn't a huge requirement.

Some Catholics and other Christians do more fasting for the 40 days of Lent in the sense of "giving up" things that are too dear to their hearts. Sacrifice is made in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Sacrifice is also made in memory of the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross for our sins.

To learn more about discerning what we should "give up" for Lent, I recommend Fr. Mike Schmitz's YouTube video, "Picking a Thing for Lent."

Giving up a favourite food can be a start. In his March 3 column in The Catholic Register, Fr. Scott Lewis S.J. writes of how we are inundated and even "assaulted" with words on news media, talk shows, and in social gatherings where gossip is the norm.

Cake with Fruit Topping
Unsplash by Alona Alona

Fr. Lewis concludes his column saying, "Jesus ended His teaching by reaffirming that what comes out of us in the form of words and deeds reflects who we really are within. As Lent approaches, perhaps paying attention to our words and actions each day would be a more useful discipline than giving up candy."

Almsgiving

Whether we are praying, fasting or giving alms, we are to do it secretly. No trumpets please! Our left hand should not know what the right hand is doing. If we do our praying, fasting and praying for others to see, that will be our reward. (Matthew 6:1-6) There are many needy people and worthy causes to support. Sometimes it is good to meet the poor in person and address them by name.

40 Days of Lent
Free Image

Almsgiving can also be a kindness, hospitality, recognition for good deeds, a note of encouragement, or spending time with the ill, the elderly, broken hearted, or lonely. I saw the following words posted on Facebook and it reminded me that is time to give up more of the treasures I hang onto "for where (my) treasure is there will (my) heart be also." (Matthew 6:21)

40 DAYS - 40 ITEMS

Instead of giving up something for Lent this year,
why not try the 40 days - 40 items challenge?

Each day of Lent, remove one item from your house,
which you don't use or wear anymore and place it in a
bag. At the end of Lent, donate these items to a
charity shop or to a homeless shelter.

They'll be shared with those who really need them!

#40Days40Itmes
VoucherCodes.co.uk

Prayer: May we have an awakening of the soul this Lenten Season and prepare ourselves and others, through Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving for a Joyous Easter.