Robin Gilbert Luftig's Blog, page 35

Scars are Reminders of God’s Faithfulness

[image error]I’ve seen been reminded twice today that we need to appreciate our scars.

I don’t think that’s a coincidence. Maybe you may need to hear that, too. Check out Sheila Walsh’s post. Don’t lose hope.

You may feel like you’re done. Like you want to give up. But please know, Jesus is working on your behalf–right now–pleading your case. And remember … your scars are reminders of God’s faithfulness.

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34 NIV

Writing with TBI Challenges

[image error]Writing isn’t as glamorous as it may seem. There are long hours with no promise of success. You sweat. Dream. You claw your way from one page onto another. You pull words and together then delete others. It can be a challenging process.

Now try writing after suffering TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury).

That’s what Martin Johnson does. Read his guest post on Almost an Author, Writing with a Disability. You’ll want to cry. Then cheer. But one way or another, you’ll see the writing process differently. Thanks, Martin for sharing your journey. You can follow Martin on Twitter at @mtjohnson51.

 

 

Life After a Brain Injury

[image error]I’d like to introduce you to an online friend of mine, Michelle Munt. Michelle writes the most interesting blog posts, showing there is life after brain injury.

Michelle also encourages others to share their stories. Check out Leanne Whitehouse’s post from September 6th as she tells of celebrating her thirtieth anniversary of the beginning of healing from brain injury.

Thanks, Michelle, for carrying the torch for others struggling with the slow process of healing.

If you’re not already following Michelle, why not?

Serving Others

[image error]Some blogs are so profound they touch your heart. Other blogs stay with you because of their simplicity and honesty.

Cory Lebovitz’s post falls into the category of the latter when writing about serving others.

Thank you, Cory, for reminding us that service isn’t for the lofty. It’s for us all.

Check out Cory’s post.

 

Today’s Fun Challenge for Bloggers

[image error]Here’s a challenge for all bloggers: Look through your first blog post.

After you finish giggling and rolling your eyes, think about what you just read. Think about the person who wrote it. Think about how life has changed since then. now, congratulate yourself for sticking with it!

For complete transparency, I’ve included my first post from December 2010, and this is what I found:

I am still trying to publish a book—a different one this time, but a book, nonetheless.
While my speaking ministry has progressed, there are times I still question my ability to tell others of God’s great mercy and grace for us.
I still realize I am nothing without Christ. My comfort has nothing to do with how good God is in my life. And the scripture still rings true. His plans are still etched in stone.

~~~~~~~~~~

As 2010 comes to a close, I’ve noticed lots of Top Ten lists to commemorate 2010: Top Ten Words, Top Ten Phrases, Top Ten Most Important People … the list goes on.

[image error]But where is your focus for 2010? Are you concerned with the dark places that showed up? I’ve had dark places in my life over the past year, but I choose to dwell on what’s been good.  Let me list some of the good experiences I choose to think about:

A book I’ve spent over five years writing has been turned down repeatedly for publication more in 2010 than ever
I’ve questioned my ability to be in the ministry Christ has led me in
I’ve dealt with family crises regarding my children
There have been situations with extended family members
I’ve experienced health issues that have changed how I participate in life
Finances, at times, seemed in short supply

You may think I gave you the wrong list, but be assured I did not.  Because of each one of the above-mentioned situations, I realized I was nothing without Christ. I realized my life during 2010 was not about my comfort … it was about obedience to my Heavenly Father.  During each disappointment and heartache, I learned to trust the plans Christ has for me, not what my plans were for Christ.

Was it easy? No, but it wasn’t as difficult as you might think.  Once I got beyond my initial disappointment of not meeting my agenda, I knew I would find solace and peace with God:

[image error]For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Are you feeling frustrated because life’s situations are not meeting your expectations? Has the year 2010 been a disappointment to you? Remember that Life happens:

…He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45

Are you disappointed in where your life is? Take those honest feelings to your Heavenly Father. He loves you more than you will ever know this side of Glory.  Think about how 2010 has given you so many opportunities to praise God. Give it a try.

That’s what I choose to do.

7 Views on Writing

Mitch Teemley writes the best blogs. They’re funny, insightful, thought-provoking or just down-right entertaining. Here’s another post that may have you nodding your head in agreement.

Treat yourself and follow this guy! 

7 Views on Writing

Surviving Great Days

August 1983

The cool air stirred and the long rays of morning sun greeted the three of us as we walked the long driveway. It took everything in me not to start crying.

[image error]“Today’s a great day!” I said, with too much pep in my voice. I wanted to make sure I told him all he needed to know for this special day. “You’ll meet new people and it’ll be terrific!”

We continued to walk, hand in hand as we always had in the past. He stopped, looked up into my eyes, and with a sober voice, “It is a great day, right, Mommy?”

Little Sis skipped along singing Great day, It’s gonna be a great day … She had no idea the somberness of this moment. But how could she? How could she know what it felt like to lose a baby into an Unknown World?

[image error] Soon the bus pulled up and stopped, throwing open its doors. I watched as my son climbed the big steps and entered the bowels of the yellow-orange bus that had been sent to take him away. He found a seat by the window and settled in for the ride. The top of his head was all I could see as the bus wheezed, jerked a bit, and then drove away.

I cried all the way home. Little Sis and I filled our morning with a lot of nothing special, passing the time until Big Brother returned. When we saw the big yellow-orange bus turn the corner and stop, we ran out to greet him. We smothered him with hugs and kisses. He walked differently on the way home–a bit taller, his shoulders back straight. He had faced the giant called Kindigar’n and had stories to tell!

I survived the first day of school.

August 1984

[image error]Once again, the three of us walked down the long driveway. As before, I did everything I could to not start crying. This time, Big Brother held Little Sis’s hand as we strolled along.

“Today’s a great day!” Big Brother told his sister. “I did this last year. You’ll be great.”

This time, Little Sis squared her shoulders when the yellow-orange bus pulled up. Without a look back, she marched up the steps just as Big Brother prepared her to do. She trusted him. They were together and would be fine. But what about me? Who would walk back to the house with me?

All morning I walked from one room to another, trying to fill the emptiness with purpose.

At the end of the day, the yellow-orange bus pulled to our stop. Big Brother and Little Sis came bounding down the steps. My arms ached just a bit for the babies who had grown up so quickly.

I had survived my second first day of school.

August 1994

[image error]My baby … Youngest Boy … and I sat on the front steps of our new home and waited for the yellow-orange bus. Youngest Boy’s older siblings were already arguing about getting the best seats on the bus. But Youngest Boy and I stayed apart, getting a sense of what was in store for each of us.

“Today’s a great day,” I said softly, hoping my peaceful demeanor would give him confidence.

“Really Mommy, a great day?”

“One of the greatest ever!” I hugged Youngest Boy close.

Too soon the yellow-orange bus stopped in front of the house and my three gifts from God rambled up the steps, with Youngest Boy needing a bit of assistance. I wiped tears away as I watched the bus round the corner and drive out of sight. I sighed, went back into the house, and drank my coffee.

I had survived my last first day of school.

Today

[image error]Driving to work this morning I watched from my car as mommies walked their young ones to the different bus stops along my route. I saw them wipe tears away as they did their best to ready their precious babies to meet their own Unknown World. I reflected on my own firsts. Then it hit me: Today I am facing the first day in twenty-nine years when I didn’t have a child experiencing some kind of school. Elementary, middle, high school or college–they were all behind me.

For a fleeting moment, I longed for just one more shopping trip to pick out the perfect backpack, the most awesome outfits, or the most confusing calculator ever. It doesn’t seem all that long ago that I watched a big yellow beast carry my sweet ones into the new season of their lives. I can still envision the top of Big Brother’s head through the bus window, the squared shoulders of Little Sis as she marched into her future and the tenderness of Youngest Boy as he struggled with mastering the bus steps.

I think I’m going to text my three children and let them know that I’m very proud of them. They have met their Unknown World and survived … and I did, too.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens Ecclesiastics 3:1

 

Reposted from August 22, 2012. 

The Truth About Fear

Have you ever just talked with someone and thought, “I want that they have”? That was my experience when I chatted with my guest blogger, Lauren Reeves. You can find her on Facebook or follow the podcast she offers with Tammy Whitehurst (another inspiring friend) at JoyfortheJourneyPodcast, 

[image error]I’m not always as strong as I project to be. Sometimes I shut down. I become emotionally paralyzed and can’t move forward. The what-if’s spiral in my mind and harden my heart, leading me to a complete standstill.

It’s all because of fear.

Here I am, inspirational speaker and author, sharing God’s plans for us, yet I struggle with fear primarily in two areas of my life: 1) believing I am loved, and 2) finding the courage to face my calling.

At times, the fear of not being love feels like a war raging within me. I’d always known logically that I am loved, but phrases like, “They only love you because they don’t know you,” or “You’re just a novelty. Give it time and you’ll see their affection wasn’t real at all,” taunted me, allowing fear to get a foothold on my heart, freezing me in my tracks.

Compound that with the fear of letting God down when He called me into service. That battle brewed from a different type of storm. It was the war between head and heart. I knew He equipped me with abilities and opportunities, but—truth be told—I was afraid I’d fail. And that failure will prove everyone right whoever said, “You don’t have what it takes.”

So … I stayed frozen by fear, making excuses for my reactions. I even offered suggestions as to why someone else would be better equipped for the challenge.

What do these two fears have in common: my focus on myself and my lack of trust in God.[image error]

Ouch.

I realized every fear I gave into reflected what I truly believed about God. My fear of being unlovable was a glimpse into how little I believe God’s word. The fear of stepping out into my calling was a glimpse to how little I trusted God and held He would supply what I needed for His purpose. My payoff—I felt utterly alone and completely miserable.

I had fulfilled my most-feared prophesy. But thank God for His grace, mercy … and patience.

One day, in the pit of my isolation and hiding, I read Romans 8:15:

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

[image error]At that moment, the Spirit revealed to my soul that I had been living within a spirit of slavery—the slavery of Fear. Chains fell off my imprisoned heart as I re-read the passage. I realized I had been more focused on what Fear kept saying and not what God had said all along. It was me who gave Fear its strength and turned away from God’s wooing of my anxious heart, calling it home to a place of trust and love where I could rely on His goodness.

It was a difficult lesson, but I am forever thankful for it.

What about you? If that’s you … pause and listen. He may be speaking to you:

You are MINE, forever. There is no obstacle too great for My love to overcome.

Believe that I am unconditionally good, and I am FOR you.

I would choose you one hundred times again.  Believe it, child.

 

Fear only grows as strong as we allow.

Deeply believing the love and goodness of God is the answer. Choose to trust Him today.

[image error]Lauren Reeves, co-host of JoyfortheJourneyPodcast, is currently finishing an in-depth study on Genesis. She lives in Northeast Texas and is available for speaking engagements.

Celebrate, Not Exasperate

[image error]Acceptance. It’s what we want, but do we offer it? Instead, we tend to exasperate those who see life differently than we do.

We’re all different. It may not seem like it, but none of us share the exact experiences that would make us the same. Some came from a comfortable home life and solid family of origin, while others struggled with empty bellies and absentee parents.

We may look the same, go to the same schools or even read the same books. But a time comes … something happens … then POW out of nowhere, differences appear.

Our feelings get hurt, or we hurt someone else’s feelings. It’s sad, really. Because we are not the same and inevitably, diversity in how we think or see the world appear.

The answer: Celebrate differences! Learn from one another. Because really, who else do we learn from than those who are different than us?

Nothing Means Everything

[image error] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV

Never has a phase brought more comfort.

Try to think of something not included. Fear of not having enough money? Covered.

Upset with what others are saying about you? Don’t let it get between you and your Heavenly Father. That’s covered, too.

Maybe you’re fretting over (yes, I’m going there) the political climate of the day. While it may hurt your heart and make you sad to see people fighting over commentaries on either side of the aisle, know for a fact that all their chest-pounding or fear-mongering does not have the power to separate you from God’s love. So take a deep breath and know  God’s already fought your battle and won!

If you’re not feeling all that confident, drop me a note at robin@robinlufitg.com and let’s talk about it.