Whatcha Listening To?

 I often need to revisit my slightly embarrassing lesson of “Whatcha listening too?” Although I’m pretty sure it isn’t a lesson just for special needs parents.  Like many others, I am susceptible to passively allowing things to enter my mind.  In fact, it is the basis for a popular game with Emily, our daughter, and Star, our niece.  They start a song and without thinking twice I chime in.  I don’t even realize that I’ve fallen into their sneaky little trap until I hear the giggles.  By then it is too late and it can take hours or days to get that thing back out of my head.

Though I didn’t realize it, the “Whatcha Listening To?” lesson started early one day while at the water park. Of course they play catchy upbeat music because they want you upbeat so that you continue to return to the park.  When we returned home everyone was getting their showers and I started cleaning the kitchen.  As I’m standing at the sink lip synching and bopping to the song in my head, I hear Emily, then 12, giggle and ask, “Whatcha listening to?”  Not only wasn’t it a praise song of adoration to our amazing God, it was a song that would have brought even greater embarrassment had it been audibly coming out of my mouth.

While my mind was completely boggled at the song I had chosen to pay homage to, God, of course, turned it into a life lesson.  I had been in the habit of entertaining some other thoughts that were equally embarrassing.  All of my doubts, fears, and what-ifs were a glaring assault on either God’s abilities or His intentions.  Insulting either way, so He began to show me that I couldn’t afford to passively let Satan plant thoughts of his choosing in my mind, much like I allow Emily and Star to plant songs.

“But God I don’t intentionally go searching for negativity to focus on.  It just kind of happens.” He reminded me of a sermon I had heard on “taking captive” the thoughts that go against His Word and how it was an act of aggression.  2 Corinthians 10:5 certainly paints it as anything but passive.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge

 of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Of course, God in His infinite wisdom picked the most appropriate song to bring about this lesson, “Oops, I Did I Again” by Brittney Spears.   Now as I find myself entertaining thoughts of insecurity, worry, anger, and the million special needs “what-ifs,” all He really has to say is, “Oops!!”  I just love God’s sense of humor.  I suspect that if you review your thought life you would also be able to say, “I’m not that innocent.”  ; )

Spoiler Alert

  Isaiah 46:10

I made known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. 

I say, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 

 I am not one for suspense.  If Wes and I are watching a movie with the least bit of suspense in it, I have to know that the star survives the stressful scenes or I’m not watching it.  I don’t want to be riveted or on the edge of my seat.  I want to sit back, relax, and wait on the happy ending.  I’m even less of a suspense fan when it comes to the outcome of my family.  I want to know that their faith will survive the emotional bumps and bruises along the way.

Four years ago our then 15 year-old daughter, Emily, was in the middle of a 14 month battle with constant migraines.  Her young heart had already endured 4 years of missed milestones with the little brother she prayed into the world.  She had already heard, “I’m sorry Em, we can’t.” far more times that I would have liked.  I couldn’t imagine how her young faith could recover, especially since my own faith was wavering.  I wish I could have skipped forward to 2012 to see how God would work it all out. 

Today she is a freshman at a Christian University where she is double majoring in Bible and Communications.  I often get calls from her saying, “Hey Mama, Can I share what God is showing me?” Here is what she called to share last month:

Evangelism and Discipleship Spoken Testimony

                God’s promises for us are so vast and so incredible but the promise of Mephibosheth’s story has perhaps been one of the most personal and exciting for my life. Mephibosheth. An interesting name, a small character in the bible, but a man with radical transformation. Grandson of Saul, Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s crippled son. When Mephibosheth entered the king’s presence he bowed down before him. Can you imagine all that it must have taken his weak and frail body to get down onto his hands and knees? It would have taken all he had. Crippled people during biblical times were often considered shameful and disgusting but one of the coolest twists to this story is that the name Mephibosheth means “shame destroyer” and “image breaker.” When he fell down before the king, David invited him in to be one of his sons to eat with him at his table.The fact that he was accepted by the King with a name that meant “shame destroyer” shows God’s mighty hand at work.

                God grabbed my heart as I was reading this story. I have an adorable little eight year old brother named Ryan who has cerebral palsy. He had a stroke before he was born and now endures painful therapy, seizures, and monthly treatments. There is great promise that he will grow and improve in strength; however, this very minute Ryan would be considered crippled. I began to think about Ryan and God showed my heart that all Ryan has to do is use every bit of energy he has to fall before God, like Mephibosheth fell before the king, and he will recognize him as his son and give him the strength to stand again. While people with special needs in today’s times aren’t considered as shameful as they used to be, Ryan is still treated differently. People often underestimate him and refuse to see his capabilities. Ryan’s name means bright-eyed, able, and strength. God is sovereign over the smallest detail like a name.

                Through the story of Mephibosheth, God allowed me to be encouraged but taught me that we are all like Mephibosheth. At some point or another we have to use all that we have within us, to fall before the lord. We may endure humiliation and we may endure season of trial after trial, but when we come to God, our King, and acknowledge our weak and crippled state apart from him, he empowers us through his spirit to stand. I was once like Mephibosheth, broken and hopeless before the King. And now, I stand up again. Not resting in my own strength, but in the Father who created me. While I don’t have a nifty ironic name meaning like my brother or Mephibosheth, part of my name means “emulating” which is to imitate or reflect the character of another. That presents me with the challenge to emulate or reflect the one who made me. The story of Mephibosheth encouraged me in hope for my brother, challenged me to reflect the right things, and reminded me that we’ve all been broken before the Lord. I hope his story encourages you too.

         
From the beginning, God knew the end result of all that Emily would go through.  Emily is right, there is no irony in her name; however, she failed to look up the meaning of her middle name, Michelle – godly woman and that she is, thanks to His plan.

As you look at today's struggles, just know that at some point in the future you will grasp the end result that He has been working on from the beginning!!  You will see the Jeremiah 29:11 plan come together!!

God Bless!!!!