Patricia Cameron

Live humbly, receive grace

by Patricia Cameron | Jul 21, 2022 | Grace, Humility, Obedience

When I was 16, my then-boyfriend told me that if I couldn’t ride a skateboard, I’d never learn to slalom. (That’s water-skiing language for skiing on one ski.)

I thought, “I’ll show him.” And I did – that same day – with sheer determination and my dad’s 50 horsepower bass boat.

Not a picture of humility, I know.

However, learning to slalom began my love for skiing. We would even get creative with it. One summer at my uncle’s camp on Bayou LaFourche, we found an old piece of plywood and a rope. Hardly a skiing body of water, we skied the length of that stump-filled section of the bayou.

What does humility look like?

Taken captive by the King of Babylon, Manasseh was in distress. Granted, he brought this on himself. He was the son of Hezekiah, a good king who did right in the eyes of the Lord. But Manasseh was far from the king his father had been.

He did much evil, practicing sorcery, divination and witchcraft. He sacrificed his two sons in fire, plus much more, leading the people of Jerusalem astray.

God brought the army of the King of Assyria against him, who put a hook in his nose, bound him with shackles and carted him off to Babylon.

Do you ever think that God’s not listening?

We can be in distress for different reasons. It doesn’t have to be the result of sin, as it was in Manasseh’s case. Even in this evil man, the Lord was moved by his appeal and listened to his plea.

In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. And when he prayed to him, the LORD was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God. 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (NIV)

Not only did God listen, but He also restored Manasseh’s kingdom.

A change of heart

What made the difference? A humble heart. Manasseh had committed terrible sins. But when he cried out to God, God knew his heart.

There are others who acted humbly, and God provided restoration.

God had declared disaster on King Ahab. The Bible describes him as someone who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. Once Ahab humbled himself, God decided he would not bring disaster on Ahab in his day. (1 Kings 21:25-26)
Hezekiah cried out to the Lord when he learned that God had said he was going to die. Because of his prayer and tears, God extended his life by 15 years. (2 Kings 20)
Manasseh’s grandson, King Josiah, was only 26 when Hilkiah, the high priest, found the Book of the Law that had been handed down from Moses. Josiah’s heart was responsive to the words he read in the book and he humbled himself before God. (2 Chronicles 34:27)

God sees us and He listens. He knows our hearts and responds accordingly.

What is the cry of your heart today? Do you need to turn away from sin or seek the Lord in humility? Does sadness or disappointment hold you captive? Does the pressure you face keep you from living a life pleasing to the Lord? Take time today to humble your heart and hear from God.

When we respond in humility, God responds in grace.

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All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 4:5 (NIV)

Loosen your hold

by Patricia Cameron | Jul 14, 2022 | Blessing, Joy, Trust

Fear limits

It was late May at the beach. He was two and he had a death grip on me.

I remember that trip vividly. It was two months before I delivered our youngest child into the world. Garrett loved the wet, packed sand near the water. But he would not let his tiny feet touch the coarse, dry sand that covered most of the beach.

Big and pregnant, I carried him on my hip every day the length of sandy shores to the boardwalk that led to our condo. He would not budge, holding on as if his life depended on it.

The scene reminds me of those clip-on koala bear toys. Once he was attached to my hip, he was there to stay.

I don’t know what fear kept him from walking – fear that kept him from truly enjoying the beach – but I waddle-walked him through the loose sand.

Blessings Abound

God has blessings He wants to give us. What father doesn’t want to give his children gifts that will bless them and help them succeed? And we desperately want the blessings he has for us. However, many of us have such a tight grip on earthly treasures, we have no hand left to accept them. God holds out His hand in love, but we miss the blessing.

Do we need to loosen our hold on some of the things in this world? Could it be an object or person, or even a care or worry we can’t seem to let go of?

Remember the Lord is the giver of good gifts. Let’s loosen our hold and live with joy and in the blessings God wants to give us.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 (ESV)

Let go and enjoy the journey

by Patricia Cameron | Jul 7, 2022 | God, Joy, Trust

Lately, God has been speaking to me about letting go and giving my “stuff,” (my worries or fears or decisions) to Him.

This week His message came through loud and clear in a game of fetch with our puppy, Winston Duke, who I call annoying most of the time.

We play the game almost every day, the puppy and me. He has his squeaky toy. I throw it across the room so he can chase it. The problem lies in that he won’t give it back. No, he doesn’t settle for the usual game of fetch, dropping it at my feet so I can throw it again. He wants me to take it from him. He’ll get within reach but will run or turn his head away so I can’t grab the toy.

Sometimes he gets really close so I can take it from him. But I have to sneak it from his mouth, then throw it to give him the thrill of the game.

We’re like that too. We have some problem or worry or decision we want God to take from us. Until we drop it at his feet, we’re not actually releasing it to Him. And we miss the thrill or joy of what God has next for us.

Finish what you start

by Patricia Cameron | Jun 30, 2022 | Determination, God

Unfinished Business

Completion. How many times have I started something only to leave it unfinished? Baby books, photo albums, workout programs, diets (I usually bail around week 2 of a diet), etc.

One day, I’m going to finish them.

I can work cleaning one room of the house, leave it to take something to another room, just to get distracted and never make it back to complete the task I had originally started.

Not so for Solomon. The Lord gave Solomon the task to build a temple for Him. David wanted to build it, but God said he wasn’t the person to do it. God appointed Solomon.

“All this,” David said, “I have in writing from the hand of the Lord upon me, and he gave me the understanding in all the details of the plan.”

David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord, my God is with you. I Chronicles 28:19

These words ring true today as in the days of Solomon. I need to hear them because I don’t feel strong and courageous most of the time. But these verses remind us to stay strong, to have courage and to finish what we start.

They remind us that the Lord is with us. We can put our fear aside, along with the discouragement, and live with purpose. We can live with a determination to complete the work.

Complete the task

It took 20 years, but Solomon built the temple of the Lord and his own palace, as well as rebuilt many villages and cities in his kingdom. I’m sure there were difficult days, setbacks and maybe a few distractions, but Solomon completed the work.

All Solomon’s work was carried out, from the day the foundation of the temple of the Lord and was laid until its completion. So the temple of the Lord was finished. 2 Chronicles 8:16.

Others completed their work as well.

Noah finished the ark.

Moses got the Israelites to the promised land.

Jonah delivered his message to the Ninevites (although he learned a lesson along the way).

Ruth stayed with Naomi.

Paul finished his race.

John completed the task of writing the last chapters in the Bible.

Would you pray with me?

For months, I have written and re-written thoughts to include in a book I believe God has called me to write and share with others.

I hope that I am close to doing just that. At times, I have listened to my own negativity, tempted to quit. But I am committed to finishing the task, hoping to help someone else along their journey.

Would you pray with me in that? I would be grateful if you would walk alongside me until the work is complete.

Is there something you need to complete today? I pray that today is your day of completion too.

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Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man. Colossians 4:23

Adventure calls

by Patricia Cameron | Jun 23, 2022 | Joy, Moments

Summertime ushers in thoughts of trips and adventures. Our family has already attended a weekend festival, an out-of-town wedding, three camps, a high school reunion, plus taken trips to the beach and to see a friend. All within one month.

I’ve always craved adventure . Some of my earliest memories consist of climbing trees and swinging from the rafters of dad’s shop. I once got my leg stuck on the prong of a chain link fence. My neighbor found me hanging upside down and freed me from my predicament.

I also talked my younger sister into jumping from the roof of our house to a picnic table in the yard. I loved the thrill of it. Her, not so much. She sprained her ankle on that jump. Who knew she had weak ankles!

Adventure comes in different forms

On some days, adventure means getting out of bed and dressing for the day. Or it could simply be a moment of getting out of our comfort zone.

After my husband Matthew died, I tried to make life as normal as possible for our family, even though the family unit didn’t come close to resembling what we once had. I decided the boys and I needed an adventure and planned our first ski trip over Christmas break.

We traveled to New Mexico, with a stop in Oklahoma City to visit family.

It was an adventure alright, beginning with sleet as we left Oklahoma. Then we drove through white-out conditions in Texas, ending up in a small town in New Mexico with one gas station – the only resemblance of snacks in the area.

I spent half the first ski day in a medical tent, experiencing altitude sickness for the first time. The second day wasn’t much better. We got separated and my youngest cried he never wanted to ski again.

But the boys learned to ski and snowboard and we made it home in one piece. It has since become an annual tradition.

Some of our greatest adventures are unplanned

I think David had a sense of adventure too. As a young boy, he tackled a lion and bear. He didn’t know he was going to fight a giant one day, but when the time came, David forged ahead with confidence. He also became an accomplished musician and wrote many songs.

When he brought the Ark of the Lord back home, David sang and danced in the streets. He knew how to live a full life, not letting doubt and fear steal his peace and joy.

Let go and live

Do you need an adventure today? What would your adventure look like? Is it a drive in the countryside or going on a boat ride? Taking your grandchild for a sno-cone or settling down with a good book? Maybe it’s slowing down to watch the sunset or taking that long-anticipated trip.

Can you let go of the stress and strain of your day to live the life you’ve always wanted? There will likely be bumps along the way, but don’t lose heart. The thrill of the journey is worth it in the end.