I don’t know if you remember when roundabouts first came to be. According to Wikipedia, the very first was in 1907. I don’t remember back that far, but I do remember that when one arrived in the small town I grew up in, people were surprised and not necessarily happy about it. What was even more confusing, apparently, was the etiquette one should use when using a roundabout.

Complaints About Roundabouts

Fast forward many years and they are much more commonplace. In fact, my route from the highway to my current home has four to maneuver. They are a pain but do work the way they should-most of the time. It’s common to see complaints on our town’s community/group boards of people not using them well or not making the best choices. We’ve all experienced people zipping around them without looking or yielding. Sometimes large trucks are a hassle (and slow tractors). And within the cars, I’ve literally seen people become nervous when approaching a roundabout- like it’s a thousand feet rope bridge strung over a cavern that they must tiptoe over without shoes. Some approach the pause area cautiously and then look back-and-forth, back-and-forth.

Yes, both directions.

Signal When Exiting Roundabout

It never dawned on me to use a turn signal when exiting a roundabout until I saw the suggestion on our community Facebook board. It made a lot of sense and it seemed to me, might help address the main issues. Now, I’m not recommending that you rely on someone else’s turn signal 100% of the time. I suspect we’ve all had that experience and were sorry that we did. But when someone signals within a roundabout that they are exiting and THEN also turn their wheels that way, it appears pretty safe to assume their exit.

I like to lead by example and about twenty percent of the time, it’s made an impact. I’ve had several cases where the car in front of me or behind me does not signal at first even though they are taking the same turn off that I am. But I DID signal and then one of them (and one time both of them) began signaling for future roundabout turnoffs.

John 13:15-16

In John 13:15-16, our humble Lord Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. He served them by this act of hospitality and humility. He told them, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

There are many more examples of leading by example in the Bible. Here is an example of a faith so well-lived that words were not always necessary. “Paul knew of a church that set a wonderful example for the other churches when he was writing about the Thessalonians ‘And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not say anything.’ (1 Thess 1:6-8)”

Am I being the best example outside of the roundabouts? To my children, family, and even to my neighbors? I think I could do better at this. What about you?

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in Me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

I was always the first to sigh when a church leader started talking about tithing or giving. I knew it was necessary for operations, of course, but wasn’t there a way to be more subtle? To not outright ASK and make it uncomfortable? The longer their talk, the more I squirmed. I wondered how I could leave without it looking strange to everyone else.

God wants us to give. But He wants this to be a natural reflection of what is in our hearts, versus something we do because we “have to”.

There was a Rich Man mentioned in three different Gospels of the New Testament. When he asked Jesus what he must do to go to heaven, Jesus gave him a list. It included avoiding sins that we’ve all committed-lying, dishonoring our parents, etc. The Rich Man quickly said that he had avoided all of those already and what else? So Jesus gave him the finale: “get rid of all you have, give it to the poor and come follow me.” The Rich Man was upset, and he turned down the opportunity for eternal life.

His treasure was his priority. Sadly, he refused to give it up.

I’m quite sure his treasure is no longer important to him.

First Fruits

God also asks us to give the first ten percent of what we earn back to him via tithing. When I obey this, I remember clearly whose money it truly is. It isn’t mine. It never was. With this act of humility, I am:

• acknowledging that I wouldn’t have the money if it wasn’t for Him in the first place
• returning some to Him what is already (and always was) His
• showing my gratefulness that He provides for my needs
• helping a cause that I care about and helping people and programs continue to grow
• being obedient

If we are obedient, God provides for our needs. I’ve heard many examples of people who have not tithed and struggled with making ends meet and when they begin to tithe, God provides what they need and, on some occasions, more than what they need.

He blesses obedience.

I no longer sigh when someone at the pulpit teaches about giving. I listen with an open heart, knowing that needs are being presented. And I thank God for the reminder of one of the ways that I am to show my love to Him and to others.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land. -Isaiah 1:19, NIV

For I am commanding you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and increase, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. – Deuteronomy 30:16, NIV

In Daniel chapter 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to an idol provided by King Nebuchadnezzar. In his wrath, the king orders the furnace to be turned up seven times hotter than usual. His helpers bind the legs, feet and hands of the men and toss them into it. The two guards that carry them to the fire both die from the heat.

The three Christ-followers surely would burn to a crisp.

There have been a lot of fires in our world. Are you walking through one now? Are you sick of COVID, sick of wearing a mask (me!), discouraged and maybe a bit angry? Perhaps the election went backwards for you and on top of that, you are having family, relationship or job issues.

We all get discouraged. And sometimes, in a year like 2020, that discouragement goes painfully deep.

Let me tell you about Dina. She fled from an abusive marriage, the courts mandated that the kids have to stay with their father, and she has been living in her car on the streets of Portland for two months while she works the programs she needs and also works her regular job. She cannot go to a homeless shelter-they require her to be unemployed and absorb herself into the programs there. As much as she needs a roof over her head, it seemed backward to her to give up her employment to do so. She will need the income to help support her kids.

Dina is on the waiting list for some other shelters but nothing has opened up. She has met with numerous people, completed mounds of paperwork, all to no avail. Every waking moment that she is not working at her jobs and programs, she is looking for resources. Winter will soon be here and in a weekly group we hold, I’ve been praying for Dina for about four weeks that God will intervene and provide her with a safe place before the cold weather hits.

Nothing happened. For a long time. And then something happened last week. I saw a breakthrough in Dina. She admitted her defeat, she put aside her pride, she opened up more and she started working on herself. As we again prayed for God’s relief in this situation, a brilliant light appeared. As long as I provide a reference and Dina continues to work on what she needs to do, a nonprofit organization in Portland will pay for her apartment deposit, and three months of rent. She will be off the streets by Thanksgiving and her children will get to come live with her.

In Daniel 3, King Neb was shocked to see that not only were the three men walking around within the fire free from the ties that had bound them only minutes before, but that Jesus stood in the flames with them. Calling them truly the “servants of God”, he then called them out of the fire.

They walked out untouched. Not a hair was singed. And unlike those of us who survived Oregon Burning, they didn’t even smell like smoke.

Sometimes God seems a bit quiet in all the racket of 2020. Sometimes, we might even wonder if He is there. Sometimes it takes all our faith muscles to BELIEVE that He is with us in our fire. And we wonder “well can’t you make it more obvious, like you did in the fiery furnace?”

Did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego know that Jesus was in the fire with them? Although I have seen illustrations that imply that the four men visited with each other in that hot fire, the scriptures are not clear on this fact. They do not say that the men in the furnace saw Jesus. They say only that King Neb did. Perhaps before they realized they weren’t burning to death, the three men grew terrified, wondering where God was now.

I can’t imagine the panic of being bound and thrown into a fire. Can you? And yet Jesus met them there, just like he meets you and me when the fires of life grow unbearable and we cry out in pain, seeking mercy and relief. When we wonder where He is, we can be assured that He IS there. For He has assured us, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Jesus is with you in your fire. Do you choose to see him? Open your eyes, admit your need for Him and seek Him fully (bear fruit). He will answer you.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

John 15:16

Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Waiting is a gift. At times it doesn’t feel like a gift. It feels like a much like we are pinned down or behind a fence at the zoo. But as we wait, things are happening behind the scenes. They will be revealed in God’s time, in His manner, with His ultimate wisdom.

During this time of waiting, I have consciously chosen two thought processes that permeate my thoughts, my decisions and my actions.

1. I choose to trust. Yes, it is a choice. It isn’t always easy to trust, especially when we cannot see or touch God. But this is not the end of our books. In spite of hardship, job changes, social distancing and the grieving of how life was, this is only a middle. Our stories are still being revealed and I trust God in not only writing mine, but managing it as well.
2. I choose to look for what He wants me to learn during this time. How is He asking me to draw closer to Him? What opportunities is He giving me and what surprises does He have for me? One of these for me has been the gift of more time-time to read His words and more time to pray. Another has been the opportunity to mentor several ladies through some tough times in their lives and another who is a new believer and wants to grow. Thirdly, because our churches are virtual, there are wonderful opportunities to immerse myself in more messages pointing me to Christ. Anytime of day or night. These messages have been a huge encouragement and draw me closer to my Savior.

We have our Lord’s assurance that He will never leave or forsake us. I believe that during this time of waiting, He wants us to draw closer, to depend on Him more and to make that daily (sometimes hourly) choice to trust Him.

I can’t wait to hear what He is teaching you.

The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25