The Bullfrog Amen

 

Proverbs 3:5-8 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.“

I’d memorized the first 2 verses of this scripture verse as a teenager, but now coming it across it again while I was researching scripture promises to pray over my bones, I discovered verses 7 & 8.

My latest bone scan, at 70 years of age, showed decreasing bone density, borderline osteoporosis. My doctor told me I needed to take active steps toward increasing my bone density, or I would be full blown osteoporosis by my next scan. She told me to increase calcium rich foods – that the body absorbs more calcium through foods than with supplements, and to increase my weight bearing exercise. Like walking, she said. Well I already walk a mile and a half nearly every morning before work.

I left the doctor’s office with some other ideas for saving my bones. I decided to research scripture verses to pray over my bones, and to ask a group of my closest friends to pray those verses with me over our bones.

This morning as I walked the Lord reminded me again of Proverbs 3:5-8. “Worry rots the bones”, he told me. “But trusting me in everything nourishes your bones.”

Then he asked, “Are you ready to trust me?”

“Repeat after me.”

He was giving me a walking Sozo!

“I choose.”

I choose, I repeated.

“To trust you.”

To trust you.

“Even when I cannot see the path in front of me.”

Even when I cannot see the path in front of me.

Just then I heard the bullfrog sing out in the drainage pond as I walked by.

“That was the ‘amen’!”

I smiled and echoed what the bullfrog was croaking, Amen!

4:32

 

I woke up while it was still dark and turned to glance at the clock as I often do when I awaken during the night. The digital clock read 4:32 a.m. Immediately I heard "Ephesians 4:32", a scripture verse I had memorized with my children when they were little. I had also composed a little melody that we would sing together: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you, Ephesians Four Thirty Two.”

So I lay there, half asleep singing the little song in my head, but the last phrase of the song, “just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” stood out to me. What does that mean? God does not forgive me for my sake? My repentance, or regret over my sin is not the basis of my forgiveness?

I thought of the phrase “for my sake”, and could picture me asking a favor on behalf of a friend.

“Would you please give my friend a place at your table?”

“What? I don’t even know her! Why would I have her over to dinner?”

“I know, I know, but would you please do it for my sake?”

“Oh, ok. I don’t know this lady, and don’t need another person at my table, but because I love you, and would love to have you at my table, I will give your friend a place at my table. For your sake.”

So the devil might complain to God about why he would forgive me, kind of like when he accused God’s servant, Job. “Why would you bless him? He’s nothing special. He only loves you because you have blessed him. Remove the blessing and he’ll curse you to your face!” the devil challenged.

And that’s what the devil does. He is the accuser, laying guilt on us, sending his spirits of discouragement, depression and doubt to cause us to hide our faces from God because we don’t deserve his forgiveness.

So Father God highlighted to me that little phrase this morning to remind me that he forgave me for every sin, every doubt, every way I’ve hurt his heart, not because I deserve it, or have made up for it with good deeds or penance, but for the sake of his son, Jesus. Because he came home to his Father on May 9, 1966 and asked him, “Would you please give Taffy Tucker a seat at your table?”

And Father God smiled and asked, “What has she done to deserve a place at my table, Son?”

That’s when Jesus said, “She’s with me.”