God is With Us

 I’m embarrassed I don’t have a better story for a freak accident. I’ve never fallen off my horse. I’ve not been in a serious car accident. No, I just tripped. That’s it. We had just returned from Rodeo Houston and were heading to another horse show in Dripping Springs. I was rolling my large tack box toward the barn and my long spurs got caught in the box all at once. Down I went.

The injury report includes a left wrist hairline fracture, a left elbow break, and a right elbow break. Things have gotten complicated for this left-handed,  can’t-sit-still, never-a-dull-moment gal. Consider not being able to do normal things like putting a scrunchie in your hair or earrings on your ears or carrying a ½ gallon of milk. Life can change so quickly.

I typically write these blogs for the purpose of sharing how God shows up in everyday life. With this difficulty, I’d rather hide and not share. But I can’t. God shows up in this as well and I want to lean into Him to walk through it.

One of my goals is “To be a peaceful and loving presence where I live, work, and play.” I’ve been thinking about this a lot. I can’t be a peaceful and loving presence without the nearness of God. I find this verse exactly what I need. Maybe it hits you as well:

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.’” Isaiah 43:2-3

In this verse, we see the reason why God’s children do not need to fear. No matter what situation or circumstance comes our way, we will not be overcome by them. Why? Because God is with us!  Every situation, every fear, every frightening bit of news, every hardship you have, EVERYTHING. He is a God who will strengthen, help, and uphold us. He is personal and attends to the concerns of our hearts. For example, God knows exactly what concerns me in this crisis. He knows my desire to get back on my horse. He knows my love for cooking and tending to our home. He knows how this lefty loves to journal and write out my prayers. He knows my sadness that I can’t do these things.

Can we ask God to carry us through our difficulties with a peaceful, joyful spirit? Yes, indeed, and that is my goal! He has created us and redeemed us. God has given us a new name “mine.” That’s our personal God. The God of the universe has called your name. You and I belong to Him.  

Trials are not evidence that God is against you and me. They instead, are a reminder that even in the hardest of times, God will never us and is walking with us each moment. I’m gonna hold tight to Him and learn all I can.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Reach Out and Touch

We took my horse to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this past week. It was pretty cool to show there! Since it was Spring Break, many people were strolling through the barn. Often, they stopped and asked about Daisy.

I will never forget one family. Daisy was standing in the aisle, and we were just getting ready to saddle her. We were busy getting her ready for a class, but I sensed this family was experiencing something special and needed time for them. They were excited about meeting Daisy but scared to touch her. I found out they were from Afghanistan and had never touched a horse. The woman wanted me to help her reach her hand and touch Daisy. The joy on her face when she did touch her! I’m not sure I’ll forget that moment.

Sometimes, touching something for the first time feels magical. I imagine when the women hemorrhaging most of her life touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, it was an amazing feeling. The story is told in Mark 5:21-34. It also appears in Matthew and Luke. A woman had been bleeding for 12 years, heard about Jesus, and believed that touching his robe would heal her. So, she came behind Jesus in a crowd and touched the fringe of his robe. Jesus immediately turned and said “Who touched me?” The woman was afraid, yet came forward and told Jesus it was her. Jesus said to her “Your faith has made you well.” The woman was healed immediately.

Jesus saw in this woman so much more than others saw. He saw her faith to reach out to Him even despite her unclean condition. It required strength and courage to reach out to Jesus. If someone recognized her as unclean, it would be all over! He knew the woman took a huge risk to get close enough to Him to experience healing. The woman was in a desperate situation. She must have been so lonely and tired of trying to find healing. She was determined to find healing. Jesus healed her and then called her daughter. She was no longer an outcast!

The woman was healed because of her faith. It was a risk. Sometimes, we need to trust enough and risk like the woman in the Bible. Take the risk. Reach out. Touch him. Trust Him.

Going back to the Afghan family. As a lover of horses, I hope this woman, after touching Daisy, might help her love horses, but all the animals she sees at the rodeo. Even more, I pray that each of us might reach out and touch Jesus. May we find the faith we need to reach out and touch the Lord so that we might find help where we need help and healing where we need healing. Jesus is willing.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Treasures in Heaven

In one week, I encountered not one, not two, but three angry drivers. As I reflected on each one, I had to make sure I wasn’t in the wrong. In all three scenarios, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. One person tried to run me off the road as I wasn’t fast enough for him. (Most people don’t use the words “not fast enough” to describe my driving.) Another person, because I honked at his bad behavior, decided to start to pass me and stay parallel with me. I just minded my own business and didn’t even look at him. Who wants someone’s finger to brighten their day?

As I reflected today about the near misses I encountered on the roads, I recognized how grateful I was that God protected me from an accident. I realized my need for peace when I reflected on the close calls. This verse in Luke 12:32-24 came to mind:

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”

There are so many times I need the calming voice of Jesus and His presence to walk me through a trying situation. Here in this verse, I see that this “little flock”, is God’s flock. What safer place can we be than near Jesus? He is our Good Shepherd.

Like this verse, I find that I can seek out the wrong treasure when I'm vulnerable. I may look to people for safety, approval, or stability. I may look to things to satisfy. I may try to replay something in my mind over and over to make it true. I may even scroll through social media to find something that resembles something to satisfy me. When I choose anyone or anything outside Jesus, it never goes well.

I’m so grateful to be a part of Jesus’ little flock. This image is of a flock of sheep small enough that the shepherd knows each one personally and intimately. He knows us by name and our personalities, idiosyncrasies, and what each person faces. He knows our hurts, pains, and fears. He knows what brings us joy! It is Jesus’ pleasure to take care of His flock. He finds great delight in watching over his flock. He is always present, loving each of us perfectly. Why wouldn’t we want to know Him?

Let’s seek the treasure that will never fail. Our Good Shepherd wants us to loosen our grip on the things of this world and seek His Kingdom. It’s hard to follow Jesus in a very broken world. Everything seems to be shaking around us. Life will not be easy. Jesus invites us to reduce the things we treasure in this world and focus instead on treasures from heaven.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

This Too Shall Pass?

There’s a difference between the person who has never had a kidney stone and the person who has. When you haven’t had a kidney stone, you say something like this: “Wow, that sounds bad! I hear those are painful!” The person who has had a kidney stone is more specific about their reality: “I thought I was going to die. The pain was mind-blowing.”

This last week, I experienced a kidney stone while swimming. I thought I pulled a muscle and after massaging the muscle, it seemed better. Things went downhill in the next few hours. I was alone at home and all at once, overcome by so much pain, I could hardly breathe. The pain was excruciating. I called a friend when I couldn’t get my husband. Thankful for both, I was able to get to urgent care and subsequently the hospital emergency room. After a long day there, I got released, armed with meds to sustain me.

Who doesn’t want out of their pain? All I could think of was “Help me with my pain! I can’t take it!” It’s only normal to want to be well. We want to be over what is bothering us. That’s only normal. There’s a great quote on Pinterest: “This too shall pass. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.” I guess it sounds like a good saying to post in your office, but I need a bit more encouragement than that. It sounds like massive pain is involved in that quote.

The phrase “this too shall pass” isn’t directly found in the Bible. However, this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 seems appropriate for dealing with any time of pain, burden, or suffering we carry: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

For the believer in Christ, this verse says that temporary hardships will eventually pass and be replaced by something greater; essentially conveying the idea that “this too shall pass.” When we look at what is seen, all we see is the light troubles, even though it doesn’t seem very light! But when we look at the things not seen, then we can see and appreciate an eternal glory.

In our short time of distress and pain, the result will be God’s richest blessing upon us. Being human, we just want out of our pain as soon as possible. What if God is allowing the pain for a purpose? Not to just get through it, but to gain more of God in it?

Will all things pass? Things do not always get better. The Bible never suggests that life will get better if you wait things out. It says that “the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 had hope. He knew that every day he was being made more like Christ. He knew he had to see his situation considering eternity. He looked at what he couldn’t see. We would be wise to do the same.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Shame

What is shame? Have you experienced shame? If so, where does shame show up in your mind and heart?

Shame often signifies a deep feeling of unworthiness or inadequacy related to one’s spiritual self. It frequently stems from the perception that one has fallen short somehow. It is usually a voice in our minds that whispers lies to us. Spiritual shame makes us feel like we don’t quite measure up. We feel like we’re not good enough. Shame is a deep-seated sense of unworthiness. You may feel like you’re not valuable and that people don’t like you.

Let’s look at Luke 5:12-15 to get a look at a man who experienced shame:

“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’ Yet the news about him spread all the more so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.”

I can’t imagine what it must have been like to have leprosy! It sounded beyond awful! Can you imagine the shame? Can you imagine living in a place where when people saw you, they moved away from you, keeping their distance? People with leprosy were treated as outcasts and shunned by society. They were excluded from their families and communities. They lived on the outskirts of town as beggars. They were required to warn others not to come near them.

I love when the leper saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (5:12) The leper didn’t ask if he could heal him, but if He was willing to heal him. Jesus gave this leper the divine gift of compassion and healing. Kristi McLelland writes “Jesus moved toward him, reached for him, spoke to him, healed him, and sent him to the priests to fulfill Levitical law.”

It's Jesus who made the man clean. It’s Jesus who makes us clean, by inviting Jesus inviting into our hearts and experiencing His salvation. Don’t be ashamed of Jesus; He’s not ashamed of you! Jesus is the healer of wounded and shame-filled souls. Psalm 147:3 says “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

You are a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made. Your worth and value come from God alone, not from what others say about you or do to you. You are who God says You are. 

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Who's Safe?

You may have had your head in the sand last week if you missed the blockbuster trade with the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Luka Doncic was traded to LA for Anthony Davis, along with some other players. Luka was probably one of the most popular players in the history of Dallas sports. Dallas fans were not happy.

The Dallas Maverick franchise was built on loyalty, and respect, and treated players and fans as if they were part of a family. But Mark Cuban gave up his General Manager duties to a shoe salesman who was the one who traded Luka to LA. Fans were shocked, furious, and literally in disbelief. Luka seemed in shock as well. He thought he would spend the rest of his years playing basketball in Dallas.

Anthony Edwards, a player in the NBA, said “I’m scared…yeah, yeah, I’m scared. If my owner is gonna trade me let me know. When Luka got traded anybody can get traded at this point.” Nikola Jokic, another player, said “Seems like nobody’s safe, and probably should be that way, you know.” Devin Booker said “It’s crazy man. I really don’t know what to say about it. You just can’t predict it, it’s a business. They’re always having a conversation about you, so don’t think you’re safe at any point.”

I guess we should not be shedding too many tears for these guys getting traded. They’re super rich and can pretty much do what they want. However, wait. They're STILL human beings with feelings, friends, hopes, and dreams and a place they call home.

The truth is we can all struggle with feeling safe. Whether it’s feeling safe in our jobs, safe with our health, or safe with our education, deep down, we struggle too. We could be doing a half marathon one day and the next day experience a serious injury.

How do we find a sense of security and protection from the craziness of circumstances around us? No matter what life throws our way, we can find safety in Christ’s love. You and I are always cherished and loved by God. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we enjoy a personal relationship with Him. Jesus' love is unconditional. He will never trade you, leave you, reject you, or betray you. When we get that our identity and well-being are rooted in God’s love (not our exceptional work, title, skills, or popularity) we find a sure and safe haven in God’s love despite the external circumstances.

I love the words of Tabitha Panariso “We can be led into this life, not in fear of rejection, but in the safety of Christ’s love. We can live at peace with ourselves even when someone turns their back on us. We can come without our weapons to those who accuse us and reject us, fully believing that the Lord’s voice and authority forms, guides, and protects us.”(Loyal in His Love)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Life is a Vapor

One thing we’ve learned from the recent California fires and the airplane crashes is the stark reminder that life is fragile. I still can’t fathom that my friend and her husband lost everything in the California fires. It was grievous to see the pictures of the young skaters and adults who lost their lives in the DC crash.

How do we deal with the brevity of life? Look at these verses in The Message:

“And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, ‘Today- at the latest, tomorrow- we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.’ You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, ‘If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.’”  (James: 14-15 The Message)

It's so easy to think that life will just go the way we want and we will miss the problems and tragedies. Yet this verse in James tells us that life is a vapor that appears for a short time and then disappears.

Did those people boarding the plane wake up that morning and even consider that this might be their last day alive? I wonder if my friends from Altadena at the beginning of the year considered they might lose their home very soon. Not at all!

Why do we think we can boast about our future plans? Do we plan our lives realizing we can’t predict the future? Do we comprehend the fragility of our existence? If anything we’ve learned this week is of the uncertainty of life.

But wait! This verse also speaks about the importance of humility and dependence on God. By saying “if the Lord wills” we are acknowledging that our plans on totally contingent on God’s will. We can’t rely on our abilities.

Finally, are we aware of our need for God? This verse addresses people who are super confident in their own power and future. They think they know best. What would it look like if you daily demonstrated a humble reliance on God’s guidance?

Does this mean that we quit planning? Not at all! Instead, we practice gratitude for each day we’ve been given on this earth. We plan with prayer, asking God for wisdom and the Holy Spirit to guide us to know what to do in His timing. As we partner with God, He truly wants to guide us all the days of our lives.

Prayer: “Father, there’s no safer place to be in life or in death- than in Christ. Because you’ve hidden our lives in Jesus, not a hair can fall from our heads, not a breath can be taken from our lungs, and not a beat can be missed by our hearts apart from your sovereign purposes and pleasure. And should I die in the next hour, my heart will forever proclaim, ‘My God has done all things well.’ I pray with great gratitude in Jesus’ most worthy name. Amen.” (Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.