A little while back I wrote about God’s sense of irony in bringing me full circle to serve as head of school and help start my second Grace Academy, and how in doing so He reminded me of the importance of grace itself, something He richly provides for me every day.
I also recently wrote about how the 10 year anniversary of September 11 began a time of reflecting about God’s guidance in my life.
And yet still I find myself constantly thinking about God’s grace so much lately that I feel I must share more, as His gifts cannot be contained in one or two posts alone.
God Used Her?! Yes, Yes He Did
A couple of humorous (possibly humiliating!?) examples will help illustrate just who it is that God is working with when He uses His dear little servant…me.
When I wrote Once Upon a Time, it was to show that God cares more for our availability than our ability. Our job is to simply make ourselves available to Him; He does the rest.
The book is chock-full of stories from my life that makes it clear that God is in control. Otherwise, there is no way I would have accomplished anything in my life that I have up to this point. Or anything to come.
At my current Grace Academy, one of the teachers asked if we could use the book for our first faculty Bible Study for the year. At first I chuckled and thought she was kidding. Then I realized she was serious. After praying and pondering, I did turn it into a Bible Study. (The questions from our first week will be posted later this week in case you want to journey with us.)
I’m a mess and living proof that God can use anyone. People are often surprised that I am so transparent. It is because it is not about me, it is all about Jesus. If He can be glorified by using someone like me, wow, now that is amazing!
If you’ve been reading this website Lessons Learned since the beginning, then you already know about such times as when I accidently glued my eyes shut, thinking I had put in eye drops but it was superglue, and still insisted on going to the VBS closing ceremony while faking eyesight rather than go immediately to the hospital.
That story alone should suffice as evidence of God’s control and is worth a re-read. (Although I don’t think I will read it again myself at this moment, thank you very much!).
Another triumphant moment for me was when I married Paul. Women have told me that they wake up their husbands (if they’re reading in bed) laughing hysterically about my wedding day story, which I write about in detail in Once Upon a Time.
Then there was the infamous time I fell into the trash dumpster at my apartment complex because I had accidently thrown away my glasses. I had gone for a chair and was reaching down trying to retrieve them when fell in head first…and then couldn’t get back out…for hours.
My life isn’t always so easy to live, but in retrospect would make a great “I Love Lucy” TV series. Like Kerby Anderson says, “Jody Capehart is the Erma Bombeck of the Christian world.” Enough said.
Modern Day Biblical Characters
Not that I’m equating myself with them, but many characters in the Bible displayed similar propensities for messing up as I have done on so many occasions.
In fact, I believe God could have made the Bible anywhere from a thousand to a billion times longer if He included allthe ways He has helped human beings over the generations (keep that in mind next time you think to yourself, The Bible is too long to read the whole thing).
Most of you can likely recall the mishaps of Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Saul/Paul, and Peter, along with a host of other major figures.
But let’s not forget about Cain, Aaron, Isaac, Jacob, Samson, Elijah, Judas, and yet another host of other minor-to-medium figures.
The Bible is full of characters who experienced, as teenagers today love to say, “epic fails.”
The Bible is a “Happy” Book…How?
And yet, despite all this, the Bible is a happy book.
Not happy in a children’s book sort of way, of course, but in something much deeper and satisfying to the soul. We often call the Bible a love story of redemption, and without a doubt it is that and more.
But the Bible is also a comedy, similar to the Shakespearean sense.
What I mean by this is that at times it looks downright disastrous for these characters. They appear to be beyond saving, beyond redeeming. Yet we know throughout that God is in control. So we don’t panic and trust Him until the end.
In contrast to Shakespeare’s tragedies, this story, this “comedy,” ends well for the ‘good guys’…the ones who put their trust in Him.
Throughout, what eases our heart’s anxiety is this: God’s active role in history and continued examples that He has anticipated everything we have or will ever encounter. He knows, and He has a plan.
I don’t know about you, but that makes this flawed Jody Capehart feel a whole lot better. I just wish I could remember that lesson from minute-to-minute, let alone day-to-day.
I confess, I tend to forget sometimes.
Seeing the Pieces Come Together
But then, even when I forget yet again, God gives me those moments when the pieces He has been moving around, as I looked on in bewilderment, all settle into place, and I can step back in awe of the picture He has formed.
My “return” to Grace provided just such a moment for me recently.
We were on a school-wide field trip to a pumpkin patch. With us that day was my son-in-law, who was graciously running the “Field Day” part of the day, my daughter Angela (holding my newest grandchild, Charlotte Grace), and both their boys (Keagan and Hudson), who are enrolled in the school.
If you are a grandparent, I am sure you can relate to the overwhelming feeling of pure joy I had on this day as I shared this perfect autumn day with my family.
What made it even better was knowing all the many ways God had orchestrated things for this day to occur, from their move from New Jersey to finding a wonderful house near us and the school, not to mention the fact that Grace Academy of North Texas went up faster and with fewer bumps in the road than any school I have ever opened!
Knowing all this, how could I ever again forget that God is in control?
Mankind is Fallen, but God is Risen
The puzzle of my life is still not fully complete yet, but God continues to be in control, putting it together piece by piece by piece.
Recently He closed a door I didn’t expect, but I know that He knows what He’s doing.
That’s His track record. And it’s much better than mine. Infinitely, I would say.
Life is full of uncertainty. God never promises we will know just why everything happens. That kind of certainty is only for Him.
But He still provides a deep sense of security that we can all rest in.
Not too far back in my educational past, I believed that Legacy Christian Academy would be my final education resting place. I used to say, “I’m here until retirement or rapture, whichever comes first.” And I was sincere, although I never thought I would retire…
But my prediction did not come true.
For now it appears as though Grace #2 may most likely be how God bookends my educational career. I only say “most likely” because God has shown me again and again that only He knows the future.
If God has other plans, I will follow them. After all, He’s never led me astray.
If His will is that Grace is my final school, then I will be overjoyed. It is the sweetest, most caring place, one that truly captures and reflects my heart for Christian education in a way I love experiencing every single day.
Plus, it is a place where my grandson can knock on my office door, walk to my desk, and softly say, “Grandma, I made this for you.”
Have I mentioned that I don’t deserve God’s grace? How true it is.
If Nothing Else, Learn this ONE Lesson…
If you are at a place in life when it is difficult to see the full puzzle coming together, take a moment to reflect on past puzzles He has completed. Then walk in faith that He will continue to do so today.
And tomorrow.
And the day after tomorrow.
If you still don’t feel better, remember what He did with and for a woman who glued her eye shut and fell into a dumpster.
If that doesn’t make you feel more at ease, I don’t know what can.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way. Just take that first step, even when you don’t know the way, because He does!
