Boomerang
From the heart is where my best writing comes from. So every week when I am considering what I am going to write about I just look at what has been occupying space in my heart or room in my mind in order to pen the message I am most connected with. For the past 2 weeks it seems that was has been laying heavy on me is something you might find most unusual; a Boomerang. You know the type; the wooden tool that when thrown is designed to return to the thrower. It is also known as a weapon used by the indigenous Australians for hunting. They would throw the boomerang over the tall grass to scare birds into flight and then into the nets that awaited.
Today it’s mostly used for recreation.
So although the tool itself is pretty cool what really gets my attention is the concept behind it. You throw it and it comes back.
A couple of weeks ago The Jensing and I were in Puerto Rico and we got to spend time with some wonderful people that he gets to work with. Our time there was to celebrate the top people in the company who were the top producers and as you can imagine it was one alpha male after another. All gloating over their achievements, rightfully so, as they worked very hard for what they had accomplished. Now one thing I noticed about these guys was that they didn’t mind celebrating each other but as they spoke about their day to day affairs it was evident that they weren’t about sharing their secrets to success. Except for one guy. There’s always one in the bunch right?
Harold.
Now Harold wasn’t about hiding his sales tactics. As a matter of fact he was excited to share what he claimed was his only sales tactic with anyone who was curious enough to ask.
And that’s when I saw the picture of the boomerang in my head.
You see Harold is an expert hunter. He takes the Word of God and in prayer throws it at his target and doesn’t doubt for an instance that the prayer will return to him having conquered his request.
It sounds too good to be true and because of this most of his coworkers brush it off as just a story he tells to hide his real sales secrets. I mean who is going to believe that praying for sales is going to bring sales? That would just be too simple right?
Well, I’ll tell you who…the one who tries it.
If only they knew that this indeed is the golden rule… Not just for sales but for life.
If you read Isaiah 55:11 it says:
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Harold isn’t only good at what he does, he is number 1 in the company as far as sales are concerned . There’s no doubt that he probably has a great sales pitch but his success is really all because he understands the power of prayer. Just like in hunting when the boomerang is thrown and it scares the birds into the nets, our prayer goes out grabs a hold of the blessing and brings it right back to where it was initiated …into our hands and into our lives.
So since that time in Puerto Rico I have bought myself the Boomerang you see in the picture to be reminded daily that what I put out in prayer is what’s going to return!
I’m praying today that you would capture the simplicity of that.
What prayers are you sending out?
The 13th Disciple
Twelve. That’s the number of disciples we are used to hearing about. But what if I told you there was a 13th disciple. One that isn’t spoken of much, but is just as important as the rest. Would you believe me?
For many of you, we would first have to get passed the suspicion surrounding the Number 13. Considered by many to be a number symbolic of bad luck you would assume no good could be associated with such a position.
The odd number, the one that doesn’t seem to fit in with the rest, the one that everyone rejects!
Defined as One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another, all disciples share one thing in common and that is that they are all hand selected. Despite popular belief, it is the teacher who chooses His followers. Though many may express an interest, only a few have what it takes.
Criteria isn’t very complicated. In fact when Jesus considered who He would select as part of His core group He didn’t seek out the perfect. On the contrary, He searched for the broken whom would allow themselves to be made whole! He searched for the number 13’s.
This weekend I watched a movie that tells the story of a number 13. If you haven’t seen Risen, I recommend that you do. It is a tale of one who met the criteria for the position of 13th Disciple quite easily. He was the odd one out, he didn’t fit in with the rest of the group that followed Jesus, and he was rejected and feared by many. He was the absolute perfect number 13! Of course what made him perfect wasn’t his flaws but the fact that his life was changed by love and his desire to tell others of G-d’s acceptance.
Jesus’ original 12 disciples came from all walks of life. Included in the group were fishermen, tax collectors, political activists, common people and what were considered uncommon leaders. Some were rich, some were poor, some were educated and some were not. Yet, they all had one thing in common…they were spreading the Word and testifying of the acceptance of all!
This evening as I sit here and write this blog, I can’t help but think of myself as a number 13. My past qualifies me for the position…least likely, odd number out, fragmented etc. But what makes me absolutely perfect for the position is when I look in the mirror and see my flaws covered by His love and grace. It is then that I am reminded that I was hand selected by Him.
What do you see in the mirror today? A 13th Disciple?
Wrestling Faith
Some people are wrestlers by nature and others are not. I, like most people, fall into the second category and can tell you that every move I have learnt has taken great effort and practice in order to be able to exercise. Now before you go thinking that what I speak of are body slams and headlocks let me clarify that what I am referring to is a different type of wrestling; one you may or may not have heard of. Let me explain…
Just this week, I read an article whose title called my attention immediately because it reminded me of my youngest daughter.
“Defiant children destined to succeed, according to a 40 year study”
Now, although defiant is not the word I would use to describe my strong-willed little ladybug, Rain, she definitely has more fight in her than your average 8 year old. I read the article and it confirmed what I already knew, that people with such independence and determination are lined up for success because of their refusal to quit; what I call natural born wrestlers.
You may be familiar with the type. The one that isn’t afraid to demand and fight for their rights. I myself have never been one to grumble much, but I have observed time and time again how
The squeaky wheel gets the oil
As a competitive sport, wrestling dates back to the ancient Greeks but in reality, it has been around for much longer than that.
The first recorded wrestler is a man you perhaps have heard of by the name of Jacob. Now although not your traditional wrestler, Jacob had been wrestling since the day he was born. He came into the world displaying what would be his character by holding on to the heel of his twin brother. And we can see this same character throughout the transcript of his life.
Yet, his greatest and most notable wrestling match is told in Genesis 32:22-31 where he struggles with the angel of G-d.
Jacob was in need of the blessing of G-d and he refused to let the angel go until he blessed him.
The story goes on to tell us that after wrestling all night and right before daybreak the angel blessed Jacob.
If you’re like me, then maybe you’ve read this story before and wondered how Jacob could hold back the angel of G-d. Was it with his human strength? I submit to you that what bound the angel and caused him to release the blessing wasn’t Jacob’s strength but rather Jacob’s faith.
A faith so strong that it refused to let go until that which it longed for had been satisfied.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much
Persevering, relentless, squeaky, importunate kind of faith. The type that can be confused as defiant and can even seem violent at times.
…the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force – Matthew 11:12
I’m not sure about you, but this is the type of wrestler I want to be. One who refuses to give up and understands that the blessing is attached to the struggle.
Don’t give up on your blessing today…get into a struggle and pray it into existence!
What I Learned from the 8th Grade President
-How do you spell Manipulate? D–O–U–B–T–
The presidential race fever began early in my house; around October last year to be exact. Although I’m not referring to the candidates whose faces have been all over TV recently, the race was just as critical; at least around The Jensing household.
The ladybug you see in the picture is my daughter, Sky, who decided she wanted to run for 8th grade president.
From advertisements to slogans, Sky’s campaign was being carefully developed by the best campaign manager I know; The Jensing. Part of the process involved in qualifying as a candidate called for a written essay expressing why she would be the best person for the position, along with each teacher signing off that Sky was excelling in both academics as well as conduct.
If you know any politicians, than you understand that all politicians are good talkers; Sky is no exception. Every teacher signed off that her grades were proficient except Mr. Roberts (Note: all names have been changed in order to protect their identity) who gave Sky a less than ideal grade in conduct stating that she was a talker.
If you allow me to put my mommy hat on right now, I can tell you that I was livid. All this hard work and it was about to go down the drain because Mr. Roberts couldn’t see the political genius in my daughters personality!! (Tongue in cheek people, Tongue in cheek)
Sky had already turned in her essay and all that was left to do now was for her to turn in the teacher sign-offs. Of course we all knew that this would probably mean the end of her campaign trail.
The night before it was due, Sky had yet to turn in this missing piece. She went to bed that night but not before having a heart to heart talk with G-d about how she really wanted this and asked for Him to make a way.
So what exactly did I learn from Ms. President (notice I said Ms. President)? <Gloating>
Yes!!! Sky won that election and was voted in by her peers as 8th grade president. She never turned in the form that day and simply believed that her prayers had been answered that evening the moment she brought it to the Lord.
I on the other hand, wasn’t as trustful. In fact, just like many of the presidential candidates we see today, I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure she made it all the way through; even if that meant manipulating the situation here and there. I had gone as far as suggesting to Sky that when she was asked for the missing form she should tell them that she had already turned it in.
If you have never been in the situation, having your child correct you is not fun. Here I was encouraging my daughter to twist the truth when she stopped me dead in my tracks and said “Momma, I’m not going to do that”. Sky had resolved to trust G-d for what she had asked. In spite of her hard work, she accepted that this could mean the end for her but in her heart believed that G-d would make a way.
He did!
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord – Luke 1:45
She was never asked for the form and moved forward in the process to the voting.
Many times making a way is exactly what He wants to do, that is until we intervene. And just like I wanted to, we manipulate the situation because G-d of course needs all the help He can get!!! If you don’t believe me, just ask Abraham and Sarah…
So what did I learn from the 8th grade president??… How to spell manipulate…D–O–U–B–T.
Are you doubting today? Don’t take the situation into your own hands, give it up to G-d instead.