Ya know who isn’t thinking a bit about contagions, toilet paper shortages and social distancing? That would be this guy, right here! If you haven’t met before, allow me to introduce you to our dog, Boaz, formally known as Boaz Kinsman Redeemer, but his friends just call him Boaz. =) He is fifty pounds of wiggly fluff that hasn’t known a sad day in his life. And when he came to live with us as a puppy-sized ball of wiggly fluff, God knew how badly we needed our own sadness lifted, so he sent us this loving Australian Shepherd that was so full of joy it was impossible not to feel it ourselves. =)  Today, deciding that even in social isolation, fresh air is a must, I took advantage of a break in the rain, snapped a leash on Boaz and we set off on a walk around the block. Did I mention he’s curious? And easily entertained? And excited about every twig and blade of grass?! Since we were literally the only creatures anywhere in sight, I gave him the full length of leash and let him walk ahead of me.  To be honest, sometimes this can turn into more of a pull than a stroll, but today he seemed perfectly content to explore within his limits, only occasionally being reminded where the boundaries were.  And when it started to rain….like, really rain, and we were still several blocks from home, he fell back a bit closer, but never stopped his happy little trot (other than to sniff another stick.) But when the hail started (did I mention we were still several blocks from home?!) he dropped back beside me, only looking up a few times, wondering what was hitting him on the nose…and he stayed close beside me all the way home…

During some of Jesus’ last hours of freedom before being arrested, he seemed to be trying to fill the disciples with as many words of reassurance and instructions as he could….even though they really didn’t understand, he knew they soon would, and wanted them to have these word images to hold onto when the dark days fell. Jesus told them,

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”         (John 15:5)

They had walked with him for three years and knew him best. They knew his love and commitment for them and had also been on the receiving end of rebuke and redirection when they pulled too far away. Jesus knew their only hope of enduring the days ahead would be to stay very close to him….to remain in him, and in so doing, see the gospel grow and continue to change lives, setting people free. He also knew that if they didn’t remember to remain in him, they were likely to wander…to tug at the boundaries….to get distracted and forget all they had learned, and fail to carry on the good news.

I think we ask the wrong questions when the rain and hail take us by surprise and we can’t see our way ahead. Instead of asking what it means, when it will stop and why it started in the first place, maybe we should be asking God to just take our hand….and then stay very close to him as we make our way through it. What do you think?

It’s usually in the very ordinary moments of life – like walking Boaz – that God drops a thought, a truth, something that reveals his heart to us during these devotions during Lent. So here’s a thought…. in the very middle of the strangest, scariest and most uncertain of days, how about we allow ourselves permission to not have all the answers? And what if we are mindful that it’s Jesus’ job to be the vine….and ours is to remain close to him?

He loves us so! And I believe with all my heart, though we don’t have any idea how just yet….God has already made a way for us.

Remaining with Jesus, and also with you,

Shellie ♥

Control (Somehow You Want Me)

Tenth Avenue North

Here I am
All my intentions
All my obsessions
I want to lay them all down

In Your hands
Only Your love is vital
Though I’m not entitled
Still You call me Your child

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To open my hands up
And give You control
I give You control

I’ve had plans
Shattered and broken
Things I have hoped in
Fall through my hands

You have plans
To redeem and restore me
You’re behind and before me
Oh, help me believe

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go, oh

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To open my hands up
And give You control

Oh, You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost it’s grip on me

Oh, You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost it’s grip on me

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go, oh

God You don’t need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To open my hands up
And give You control

I give You control
Oh, give You control
Oh, I want to give You control
I give You control
You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost it’s grip on me

Songwriters: Jason Ingram / Matthew Bronleewe / Michael Donehey
Control (Somehow You Want Me) lyrics © Essential Music Publishing