Gift of Thirst

When you have multiple broken bones, it doesn’t take long to learn that you’re somewhat limited. Your mind says one thing, and the body says another:  Oh, I have time to bake some sourdough bread. Nope, I can’t do that. Maybe I could go to the barn and catch a quick ride on Daisy. No, that’s not an option. Well, it’s spring cleaning time, and I could do a massive reorg. Highly unlikely without help. I think I’ll blow dry my hair for going out tonight. Nope, can’t do that.  The things I long to do, I can’t.

Where does my striving come from? Why is it so hard to rest and be still? In my forced rest, the Lord is reminding me of his steadfast love. Consider this beautiful portion of Psalm 63:1-3:

“O God, you are my God: earnestly I seek you.
My soul thirsts for you.
My flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So, I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
Beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
My lips will praise you.
So, I will bless you as long as I live.
In your name I will lift up my hands.”

David is in a desolate, hot place as he writes this Psalm. He is probably fleeing from Saul. I think most of us couldn’t possibly comprehend his situation, but suffice it to say, it was incredibly tough. But notice this. It’s when David was in this difficult position, it drove him to a deep yearning for God. He longed for His presence and provision.

Perhaps God allows our thirst to draw us to Him. When we’re in a difficult position and can’t turn to the things we THINK should satisfy, God shows us what truly does satisfy.

This has me thinking about the gift of thirst. David had that longing. He compared his strong desire to seek God to thirsting for water in a desert. Why was David so motivated to pursue God? It's because the loving-kindness of God was better than life itself.

The Lord has stopped me in my tracks. I want the gift of thirst. I pray that through this difficult season, God will renew and intensify my thirst for Him. I want my ultimate satisfaction in nothing else but Him. May we seek God with the same intense thirst David had.

Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BhTAJ49MQ0

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

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.