Tag: reminder

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

It’s on your calendar

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 13.

I have my AC company come out and tune up my system twice a year. I called them up to schedule the service and wrote it on my calendar. As soon as I ended the call, I got a text message confirming the appointment. I also got an email.

The day before they were scheduled to arrive, I got another text message, an email, and a voicemail, reminding me of the service call.

The morning of the schedule service, I got a text and a voicemail reminding me they were coming. I then got a text when the tech was on his way and then another when he was in my neighborhood.

The final text message informed me that he had arrived at my house.

Clearly, someone wants me to remember this very important appointment!

I get similar attention from my dentist, doctors, and the veterinarian. It must be a sign of the times. Patients and clients don’t remember, don’t put it on their calendar, and don’t show up for an appointment.

This is not a new phenomenon. A long time ago, so that the people wouldn’t forget what God did for them, he instructed them to put it on their calendar. “Remember this day in which you departed from Egypt…you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year” (Exodus 13:3,10).

Now maybe you’re thinking, “How could God’s people ever forget how he got them out of Egypt with displays of his power?” And yet, you’re doubts, fears, guilt, and shame make you forget the salvation won for you by Christ on the cross.

So God puts it on your calendar. A birthday to remind you of your creator. A Sunday to remind you of your Savior (He is not here; he is risen!) A doctor’s appointment to remind you of God’s healing power. Lunch with a friend to remind us we weren’t created to be alone. A funeral to remind you there’s so much life yet to come.

Any and all of these can get lost in the busyness and distractions of life. So God sneaks all these days into your calendar!

Posted in Ministry

I forgot.

Posted on by William Douthwaite

anne-zwagers-336058
Photo by Anne Zwagers on Unsplash

I forgot.

I just totally, completely forgot. The next morning, I glanced at my calendar and realized I was a no-show for an appointment I made with one of my homebound members several weeks ago. I made the appointment. I wrote it on my calendar. I was aware of it on Monday when I looked over my week. I was also aware of it on Friday when I realized I hadn’t gone.

I never do that. I never miss an appointment. I never skip out on a commitment. Never. What in the world is going on? Here are some possibilities.

  • I’m getting old. Starting to forget things. Do I have to go there? No, this is my blog. I’ll write about that when I’m ready. Unless I forget.
  • I got too busy. I wasn’t home binging on Netflix. I went to a rehab center to visit two members and then on to a hospital to visit another who had just had surgery. I needed to be there, too. Not a great excuse. Just an excuse.
  • I got sloppy. I didn’t set an alert on my calendar. I didn’t write myself a not the night before. I didn’t check my calendar that day. I just kind of slid into the day without checking in with myself.
  • I got distracted. By Advent. Christmas. Helping some guy I didn’t even know get a hotel room. Facebook. Twitter. Reddit. YouTube. Facebook.
  • I’m human. Oh no, I don’t like that one. I aspire to walk on water, turn water into wine, cast out demons and shut down the devil. Only problem is, I strike out over and over. And I don’t like that one bit.

Not long after I looked at my calendar and realized I had blown it, I got an email from the family. They apologized to me for not confirming the appointment. O not you don’t. This was my fault. I apologized to them. They graciously forgave and rescheduled. We’ll get 2018 off to a good start. With a clean slate, a clean conscience, and an overdue visit. And I set three alerts for that appointment!

God’s grace is indeed amazing. But sometimes, yours is pretty amazing, too. Thank you.

Posted in dying, Life, Ministry

You need to hear it again.

Posted on by William Douthwaite

silvestri-matteo-176500The call came pretty late last night, about 10:45. I was driving, and felt my phone buzz in my pocked, but didn’t listen to the message until after I got home. “She said she thinks he’s dying.” I only live about a mile away and I didn’t want them to be alone, so I headed over to the apartment.

When I arrived, it was and it wasn’t what I expected. I’ve been with many people in hospice care for the last days and hours of their lives. I’m familiar with the shallow, irregular, rattling breathing. I just didn’t think it would happen this soon. Just hours earlier, he had been awake, conversant, signing his own documents and deciding to come home from the hospital. Hospice hadn’t even been to the house yet, and it looked like he’d be gone before they even arrived. He wasn’t conscious, but he also didn’t seem uncomfortable, which was a blessing.

A few more people arrived. All we could do was wait. Wait for a call back from hospice. Wait and wonder whether it was a wise choice to come home. Wait and pray, commending him to the Lord’s care.

With her encouragement, we left about 12:30 pm. She knew who to call if anything got out of hand. When I called back this morning, I learned he had died about an hour after we all left. Her words to me on the phone were, “I know he’s with the Lord. I just hope God accepts him.”

Without hesitation, I replied, “I have no doubt! He had faith in Christ. We just talked about that the other day when I brought him communion, He was forgiven. You don’t have to worry about that at all.”

“Thank you so much. That’s just what I needed to hear.”

If you know me at all, you know I talk about that all the time. Maybe when you’re sitting there on a Sunday and life is pretty good and you don’t have too many worries, it doesn’t register. But when the breathing stops, you feel all alone, and reality kicks in, it suddenly becomes an issue. So, you need to hear it again. If I can, I’ll be there to make sure you do.

Lately it seems like I’ve been spending a lot of time with people who get hit with stuff over and over again. What do you do for someone when the cancer keeps coming back? Or the headaches? Or the strokes? Or the flooding? I’m humbled knowing I don’t have a whole lot of answers. But I get to bring Christ, and he gives more than we ask or imagine.