Words to Grow On

Archive Devotions

April 25, 2005

Who I Am and Who He Is

by:

Dr. Susan Burton

Because of the profession I am in I am the person that everyone seems to hate. I always hear " I hate dentists-but no offense " or " I hate needles " . You know I have never had anyone come into my office that says they love needles! Everyday we as dentists hear this and we have to shrug our shoulders and not take it personally because people just don ' t like going to the dentist. We still have to do what we need to do to help people not develop severe dental problems that can be really painful.

Most of us struggle and get hurt when we find that people don ' t like us or don ' t like what we do. Some of us allow that to cripple our lives. What is most important is what the Lord thinks about us. We need to realize that God is working and doing something interesting in our lives everyday if we just choose to see it. He loves us.

There is no question in my mind that He loves me. When I think of all He has tolerated in His watch over me I know it has to be love. He takes me through the troubled waters of pain both physically and emotionally. He has found my car keys-in fact He has done that a lot. He has found parking places for me, and even helped me shop. That may seem trivial to some, but when you are always in a hurry it is not.

For those of you that do not know who I am I work as the Director of Dentistry for a hospital, in addition to my dental practice and I have a school for dental assisting. I am also a mom to my wonderful girls-Kirsten, Michelle, and Rachel DuFour

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I was saved about 21 years ago at the Salvation Army in Lexington , Ky . I had been going to a Methodist church for several years and never heard of an altar call or really the message of salvation. My life hasn't been the same since. But once we get saved it does not mean that our life is on the mountain top continuously. I honestly feel that one of the greatest benefits to receiving Salvation is having fellowship with the Lord on a daily or sometimes hourly basis. He is a friend you can always talk to and He is interested in you. I have taken the fact that "Jesus would have died just for me" very seriously. If someone would die just for me then He would have to really love me and be very interested in everything I do.

I love the verses in Psalms 91. Verses 14-16 say that because I have set my love upon Him, therefore He will deliver me. I shall call upon Him and He will answer me. He will be with me in trouble to deliver me and to honor me.

Two of these phrases caught my attention. One is "Because I have set my love upon Him". I need to love the Lord with all my heart and want His will for my life without reservation. I need to love Him so much that I am able to totally surrender to Him and that is something that I must pray for daily. I am a strong willed person that likes to take charge. Totally surrendered to Him is not easy. The other verse that gives me encouragement is that He will be with me in times of trouble. He didn't say He would keep me out of trouble, but He would be with me. I might rather have Him keep me out of trouble, but God in His wisdom knows what is best. He will hurt and cry with me. He will comfort me. He has comforted me through the struggles of my past.

I need to stop asking "why" things happen and just ask Him to help me through the tough times. My hope is in Him. It is not in what He can do but who He is. Because I know who He is and express my love to Him He is ever present to deliver me. What a secure and comforting feeling of assurance. So MY LORD is with me in the morning as I pray in the car going to work. He is with me as I eat, and I prepare for my patients, I request His help in doing dentistry. I have seen the Lord literally 'pop out' wisdom teeth so that I barely had to do much to get them out. When I am rushing to get things done or expect a crazy day I make sure I don't forget to ask the Lord to order my daily schedule. I have even asked Him to take over my appointment book at the office. Jesus is VERY REAL to me. He is active in my life all the time not just on Sundays or at grace before meals.

Even though you may not care for dentists remember it is vital to your relationship with Jesus to express throughout the day that you love Him. He will answer. He will be with you in trouble and He will deliver.