Tag: un(Lent)

un(flinching): staying strong and determined even when things are difficult

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.     (2 Corintians 4:10 NLT)

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“Lord, help us to see in your Crucifixion and Resurrection an example of how to endure and seemingly die in the agony and conflict of daily life, so that we may live more fully and creatively.” (Mother Teresa)

I wish I could say that my life is marked by unflinching faith and unshaken devotion to God’s will. But then I would be telling an untruth. It is my goal to stay strong and determined during difficult times, but honest reflection shows me that my heart is often unyielding. I just want to push through the hard stuff to alleviate my pain.

This weekend, we celebrated my father-in-law’s life. He was a steady man. And a faithful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He modeled love and servant-hood to his four sons, and they in turn love and serve their families and others with the same unflinching compassion of their father.

I want to be more like each of them, because frankly each one of them is a lot like the Good Shepherd that led their father. They embrace the suffering of daily life with pragmatism and creativity. And I appreciate this about the Rohlf clan.

My husband and I took a walk on Saturday to enjoy the spring like weather, to pause before an evening of being with family, reminiscing and preparing for the memorial service on Sunday. His foot slipped and the next thing we knew he was on his back. He lie there unflinching, checking his own elbow; stabilizing it on his own. In the meantime, I frantically left him with a kind stranger, so I could get our car to transport him to urgent care.

He has been enduring the pain with much decorum and some pain medicine, but he is the epitome of this “un” word. Oh, he gets frustrated and says bad words, just like me, but overall, he steadily trusts God.

And he helps me to look for the calm in the midst of life’s storms. Jesus shines through the dark clouds of our difficulty as the ray of  my husband’s familiar smile greets me, as we moved from appointment to appointment today to prepare for elbow repair surgery. Through Les’ suffering, Jesus’ life radiates through him. I am grateful to be a recipient of this unflinching love.

 

Linking with Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood

Posted on by kelrohlf 10

un(ending): never ending; endless

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Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

(Hebrews 13:5-6 The Message)

Unconditional love
Never leaves me
Empty,
Nor forsakes me.
Deep love of
Immanuel
Now
Graces me and always will.

Linking with The Sunday Community, Still Saturday and Sunday Stillness
Posted on by kelrohlf 2

un(tangle): to loose from entanglements; to separate

“. . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” (Hebrews 12:1)

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Where do you turn when you need to untangle confusing thoughts, uncontrollable emotions, untethered desires or unruly doubts?

I turn to my journal. So today, I am joining with Dawn and Susie as we dive into a random journal and share what was unfolding in our lives at that time. I like to do this because it reminds me of the importance of dialoguing with God about life and its tangled mess. Also when I reread an entry, I recall His faithfulness and the value of keeping a journal.

Today, I closed my eyes and picked a journal from the shelf.

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Then randomly opened the page to an entry from Tuesday, May 12, 2009:

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Here’s what I was musing about on that day, about five years ago:

Ten years ago I wrote out where we would be in ten years. And here we are [ten years later] B. graduating from high school- K. looking for his path- Will he be a preacher man or a salesman or a worker man? A godly man is my greatest desire. A man who loves and pursues You with all his heart. Who takes risks for You and lives by faith. And B, too.

[Then I made a chart with our ages then and ten years out and where we might be…]

Interestingly enough, I had myself pursuing a Masters degree…something to pray about! Not there yet 🙂

On the opposite page, my prayer for the boys transitions into praise and affirmation of God:

God- You are faithful and deserve my full trust. You are the director of our paths. You do direct me and continue to lead me on paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. I want to stay on the path of making you known-that your love and reputation would be renown the world over. [Then I made a list of God’s names]

Charter of the Course, Designer of the Dream, Renewer of Promises, Faithful One–Help me to be your faithful follower.

This random entry really encourages me today, and untangles some doubts I have been entertaining about God’s direction for my life currently and it assures me that I do want to be a faithful follower of God!

By the way, the ten year outlook exercise can be sobering, but also gives direction to the path. I am glad God prompted me to make the list in order to see that He alone directs our path. We are on His path, and I am glad to report that both of our sons are growing into faithful followers of God. Thanks be to God! ( I can’t believe we’ve come halfway from this journal entry…where will we be in five years? God only knows and for that I am grateful.)

Happy Journaling! Random Journal Day Link-Up

Posted on by kelrohlf 7

un(paralleled): having no equal or match; unique

God’s Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
(Psalm 19:10 The Message)

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Do you ever rummage through the fridge or pantry looking for something to satisfy an undefined hunger? Have you ever been so thirsty, nothing seems to quench the thirst? Do you ever wander around a store looking for just the right thing to make you feel happy?

If you’re like me, unmet desires lurk in your heart. A restlessness that longs for rest. I used to fight against my hunger, desires, wants and longings. But I am learning that God created us with hunger, thirsts and desires to be fulfilled. He is the ultimate one who satisfies me. And His word is full of soul nourishing food.

God offers us unparalleled, life giving food through relationship with Him, but I often want a quick fix. A piece of pie and ice cream. A shopping spree. A date with Netflix. (I am not saying that we can’t enjoy pie, shopping or a good movie, but that these activities still leave me hungering for more.)

God stirs these unfulfilled longings, so that we can experience His unmatched love and presence.

What are you hungering for as we journey through this season of Lent? What keeps you from believing God can uniquely satisfy?

Posted on by kelrohlf 1

un(flappable): calm in a crisis

He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:29 NIV)

IMG_1947Linking with The Sunday Community, Still Saturday and Sunday Stillness.

Posted on by kelrohlf 2