Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Victory Dance...

I've been watching a lot of sports lately. For those of you who know me best, that will come as a big surprise. While I know that a homerun is in baseball and a touchdown is in football, I do often get the sports teams all mixed up. It's just not my thing. My husband and son are big sports fans, however, and they find the games exciting. Frankly, I just enjoy watching them watch the game together. 


As I spent time reading the Bible this morning I was drawn to Romans 8:37. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (ESV) I tried to continue reading but my heart was drawn back to the phrase "more than conquerors" and I couldn't get it out of my mind. As I turned that verse over in my mind, I felt God ask me Where's your victory dance? My mind immediately went to the end zone dances that I've seen in Sunday football games. After beating out the other players and scoring a touchdown, some of these men literally danced for joy. They visibly celebrated their victory. 


I've been given the gift of eternal life. A gift inarguably better than a touchdown. So, where is my victory dance? As I've mulled over that verse and God's question, I realized that while I've claimed victory, I've been allowing myself to get bogged down lately in things that just don't matter and in the process,  I've lost my victory dance. I've been maxxed out in frustration, forgetting that I am more than a conqueror of my circumstances. 


I've got my victory dance back now and I'm thankful for the opportunity to reclaim it.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

At a loss for words...

Sometimes there are no words. I'm a very verbal person and so it is rare that I find myself with nothing to say. Lately, however, I have come across many situations for which I have no words. At first it made me very uncomfortable - awkward silence is not my cup of tea - but now I'm coming to grips with the fact that sometimes there just aren't any words to say, and perhaps more importantly, my words are unnecessary.

My sick friend doesn't need me to tell her how sorry I am. She needs me to listen while she talks, to hold her hand and stroke her hair when the pain is bad. She doesn't need my words; she needs my presence and the love that I can show her without saying a word.

My friend was horribly betrayed by someone she loves. Again, she doesn't need my words. She needs me to hold her while she cries, to listen as she speaks, to laugh at her thin attempts at humor, to be there for her when the bottom dropped out of her world.

My words alone cannot fix anything.  Maybe it's not so much that my words aren't correct, but that they aren't enough. Saying "I'm so sorry" seems empty at best. Maybe it's not about saying "I love you", but about demonstrating love, being the hands and feet of Christ. My words are only truly powerful when I'm on my knees praying for my friends.

There is a time to speak and a time to listen. There is a time for words and a time to act. I pray that God will help me to discern what is needed, and also help me to keep quiet so He can speak through me.

Followers