Dancing in the Light

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

Name:
Location: North Platte, Nebraska, United States

I am a christian wife, mother and grandmother. I am a licensed Social worker and a licensed Christian counselor. I am most proud of the relationships I have with God, my family and friends all over the world. I have been blessed beyond my dreams.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Bothered

I looked up the word "bother" in the dictionary only to find that one definition is "to concern oneself". The very definition made me think of the verse in Psalms 8 that says, "what is man that you are mindful of him?". What is man that God would even bother with us? God created a species for His own, He made man and knew that this creature of His needed a helpmate. All of the animals paraded before God and Adam, none were suitable. This bothered God--He found it worthy of His concern, and so God created woman. The relationship between man and woman would be one unequaled by any other relationship, surpassed only by their relationship with Deity. While God desired His creation to love Him, worship Him and glorify Him, He knew they would fail, they would fall prey to sin. This bothered Him and so before His creation had even embraced life, God planned a plan to redeem them.
We know what happened next---man, as in mankind, became so enamored with sin and the self-gratification that comes with it,that they supressed the nature of God inside them, desiring rather to please themselves than please the Creator. Again, this bothered God. He sent prophet after prophet, telling the people chosen by Him, to repent, to return to Him and His ways. He sent plagues and conquerors to enslave and carry away His very own people, taking them away from His place of worship, from His other people, from the very land He had chosen for them, promised them and indeed given them. And repent they did, if only temporarily. Once again, the pull of sin and selfishness pulled them away from the Savior.
Sin was powerful and its hold unrelenting but God still concerned Himself with His people, loving them more than ever, He sent His only Son to redeem the sinful man. This Messiah, sharing the Father's love, being one with Him, willingly stepped away from the glories of heaven to become like man, so that He might somehow cause man to love God again. This would most certainly require blood. But Deity was so bothered by our lostness that They (He) willingly laid down His life. Our sinful condition continues to bother God and He continues to work in our lives.
I once worked with a man who mocked my faith on a daily basis. He taunted me with phrases like, "I suppose you are going to go talk to your God about this." and "Do you really think faith makes sense?" "I think anyone who believes in God really needs medication and long term therapy." "You Christians are so busy fussing about all the God-stuff that you don't take time to live your life." Everyday for several years, he threw barbs at me. And every so often he made the comment that he could not be "bothered" by religion. Until one day, he didn't show up for work. He called in to say his wife had collapsed while they were on a day outing and she was in a hospital in a neighboring town. He asked to speak to me and the call was transferred to my office. I picked up the phone, not knowing what to expect. I heard a sob filled, choked voice, asking me to please pray for his wife, "if it wouldn't be too much of a bother". I assured him it was worthy of my concern and together we prayed over the phone.
I continued to pray for them as his wife made a full recovery and he returned to work a few weeks later. He never spoke of that day again, but the barbs stopped, the insults ceased and occasionally he smiled at me. I do not know what happened to this man. His family moved away a short time later, moving closer to family. I pray he grew to know that God is concerned for him and it is God's love that keeps Him bothered.
What is man that God is mindful of (bothered by) him? He is God's creation, the object of His affection, the man of His choosing. Everyday I am grateful that God is bothered by me, bothered by the sin in my life and that He continues to work to bring me closer to Him. I also pray that He instills in me a heart of compassion, a sense of eternity that keeps me "bothered" by the frailties and sinfulness of those around me, enough so that I may share His message and minister to those in need.

Peace
Neva

23 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am also grateful that God is "bothered" by me.

Good post, Neva. I really like this one

Rachel

10:47 AM  
Blogger Liz Moore said...

I agree great post. Despite criticism you continued to show God to this man. Sometimes that's all we can do. Because of your faith and love for God, you were able to be Jesus with skin on to this man in a time of crisis. He will be forever changed. And hopefully, through the power of God, his soul will be bothered and realize that God is bothered with him. May God continue to bless you as you shine His light to those around you.

11:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I remember your emails about this man. While I was sorry you had to endure that day after day I am glad you got to minister to him. Only God really knows of the impact on his life. I agree with Liz, I am praying his soul will be bothered and he will search for God.
Blessings.
Pat

11:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
I know you are still keeping your little grandchildren and still concerned about your son and daughter in law. Are you still working, too? I worry that you are not taking care of yourself. I am praying for you.
Love
Jean
PS--how do you even find time to blog?
:)

11:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am so grateful that God is so bothered by me that He gave me His Son for my salvation.

I personally feel His love for me daily and mourn for those who don't bask in His never ceasing concern. Like a child I know He watches over me personally just like the Father He is!

Neva thanks for this one it hit me and filled me with gratitude.
madalyn

12:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva,
This is great! With your permission I would like to use if for my devo Sunday night?

Dan

2:35 PM  
Blogger Monalea said...

Thank you for reminding me of how important that I am to God. I needed it today!

Monalea

2:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very good thoughts, Neva.
I had never thought about God being bothered by us. I am glad you defined the word first and I am very glad you made sure that you emphasized that God already knew we would sin and had already planned the plan. That makes the post scriptural.

Interested Bystander

3:22 PM  
Blogger jel said...

very good indeed! :)

me too glad!

3:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is very good--can you imagine that as great and powerful as God is and as many people as there are now and have ever been, he is bothered with little ole me? The concept boggles the mind.

Kel

4:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very good post. Thanks.
Paula

4:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are so right, we should be bothered in a godly way by the sins and frailties of others. We have become calloused and hard hearted.

Good post today neva
Corinne

5:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are right, our sin does bother God.

Carlos

5:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

this is a great reminder of God's constant love for us.


Yvonne

7:32 PM  
Blogger Live, Love, Laugh said...

what an awesome job you have to be able to counsel others in the light of God's word and presence. Recently I sought some counseling in a matter and found it to be quite helpful and really I never really thought it would help as much as it did, so I just want to say God Bless YOU!!!!

7:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes!


Lyndsay

8:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

God + bothered + prepositions

God bothered in His loneliness to create us.
God bothered about us gave
companionship.
God bothered by our sin gave His Son.
God bothered with others sends us to them with Good News.
God bothered for us has waiting a Heavenly home with Him.

Great concepts, Neva!!

You are so gifted. Bless you for sharing your gift with us!!

9:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Neva

That last anonymous was lil ol' me. I can't seem to sign in under my Google account for some reason or other. Sorry.

Kathy
In but not of Texas

9:15 PM  
Blogger Neva said...

Thank you all for your kind remarks. The grandkids have been great. We are having lots of fun and blogging usually happens before they wake up or after they go to bed.
Thank you for visiting here. Yall make blogging worthwhile.
Peace
Neva

9:42 PM  
Blogger Kathy said...

Neva dear,

Just trying to see if a comment will go through with my sig. and link to my blog. Thanks for your email and I truly hope to hear from that dear family.

Bless you, dear friend!!

Kathy

10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Life truly is one 'bothersome' thing after another.

10:50 PM  
Blogger The Preacher's Household: said...

Thanks for bothering...
:)
Kathy

11:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mornin

7:28 AM  

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