"So you must also be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." -Matthew 24:44
Early this morning (like before the sun came up kind of early), I had two vivid dreams. The first one thrilled me, and the second one devastated me; both, however, I feel were relating the same message.
(As a disclaimer, I do not believe that all dreams are God's way of revealing things to us. I have had plenty of wackadoo (favorite made-up word of mine) ones that were happy or scary or crazy but meaningless. These, however, had something to say to me.)
In the first dream, a family of eight from another country that was known for its atheism had been convinced to come visit our church. Our pastor was out of town and unable to return due to horrible weather conditions, so it was up to the members of the congregation to lead the service. Person after person who I have never heard speak in public before got up and spoke from their heart to their fellow church members and this visiting family. By the end of the service, all eight family members had given their lives to the Lord and wanted to be baptized that very day. Since our pastor was not there, someone hesitantly asked the congregation if anyone else would be willing to baptize these new Christians, and surprisingly, more church members volunteered than there were people who needed to be baptized! The family was so moved by the church's excitement that some requested to be baptized twice so that all who were willing to baptize them would be able to do so! After the baptism service, we had a church wide celebration filled with rejoicing, thankfulness, and pure Christian unity; it was amazing!
Then came the second dream. In it, a member of our church family, who is just like family to me, passed away. I do not remember if the dream specified what happened to cause this person to die unexpectedly, but I do recall that it was a huge blow to our church and to me personally. My heart broke at the idea of life without this person's friendship, love, witness, and example in it. The thought of not being able to see them often, hug them tightly, talk with them personally, pray with them earnestly was almost too much to bear. Shortly after hearing the tragic news in my dream, my mind raced back to the latest encounters I had with this person. Did I take time to really see, hear, and interact with them? Did I make sure I told them on a regular basis just how much they meant to me? Did I soak up every life lesson they so wisely and generously attempted to pass on to me? Did I learn from their godly example? Did I get that one last hug? Or was I so busy, so wrapped up in my own thoughts, problems, and tasks that I brushed by them with a hurried, "Hey; how are you?", taking no time to wait for the answer?
When I woke up, excited by the first dream and shaken by the second, I could not help but feel that there was a central message to these two very different dreams: BE READY.
1. BE READY to share the gospel. I may not actually have a family of eight atheists at my church this Sunday, but there are people in my life daily, whether in person or reachable by phone, email, or social media, that need the Lord and the good news of the salvation He offers freely to all. Will I be ready and willing when God leads me to reach out to them like He did my church to that family in the dream or will I be so focused on everything in my life that I cannot or will not see what others around me need and what God is calling me to do as His messenger? Even though pastors are absolutely to be respected and valued leaders and role models of the church, they are not the only ones called to witness. Every saved person has a responsibility to seek to lead others to Christ, inside the church and out.
2. BE READY to meet my Savior face to face, whenever He chooses for that to happen. As Christians, sometimes we can be lulled into a comfort zone of "Well, I'm saved. Got that ticket to Heaven. I'm good." While I one hundred percent believe that once we are truly saved, nothing can take that away, I do not want to show up at the pearly gates one day with just a figurative "Admit One" token in my hand and nothing else. My desire and goal is that God and the people around me here on Earth will be able to see that my salvation is more than just a "fire insurance policy" for me. I don't necessarily care about them listing my accomplishments or honors, but just that they can honestly say that they see Jesus at work in and through me. That I love others purely, confess and repent of sin freely, obey God openly, pray to Him frequently, lead others to Him faithfully, read His word consistently, and live it out and love Him wholeheartedly.
3. BE READY to "give people their roses while they're living." I have heard that statement more than once, and it always sticks with me. It is wonderful to send flowers when someone passes away and to make speeches and statements about how much they meant to us and what an impact they made on those around them. Honoring the dead and the family they left behind is a beautiful tradition, but an even more precious one is to make sure the person knows how much they are loved and valued for who they are and what they do while they are still here on Earth to cherish those words. Don't wait until you are standing at someone's graveside to tell them that you love them, that they changed your life for the better, that they possess qualities you admire, that you are a better person for knowing them. Say it now. Show it now. Give them their roses in the form of fragrant words and beautiful displays of love while they're still here to enjoy it.
I will regrettably but honestly admit that I often fail to "be ready" for some of these things. Life is often hard, messy, and full of surprises (both fabulous and horrific), and, if we let it, it can consume and distract us from what we are here to do. Don't get me wrong. I am not asserting that we stop going to school, taking care of those mountains of laundry, clocking in at work, feeding our kids, cleaning up our homes, or the million other tasks we need to carry out on a daily basis. What I am saying is that it is so important to make time in the middle of that unending to-do list to check in with Jesus, to read His word, to remember why we are here, to speak to Him and allow Him to speak to us. When we don't, scratch that, I'll speak for myself and say "when I don't", I can become like the Tasmanian Devil (Google the cartoon if you're too young to remember it ;)), spinning around in a tizzy, destroying things around me, and completely wrapped up in myself. That is no way to try to serve God, love others, or even survive. It is exhausting, trust me. Let's agree to take time amidst our wackadoo (yep, I said it again) schedules to get ready and stay ready. Life is too short and too impossible without God's help, guidance, and blessing not to do so.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us to be ready and to stay ready...ready to meet You face to face, ready to lead others to You, ready to love on others in Your name, and so much more. Thank You that You are our ever present Helper, Guide, Comforter, Keeper, Lover of our souls. You are our all in all. Help us to live for You in all that we do. We love You. In Jesus's name, Amen!
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Burning Bridges
"In your anger do not sin…" -Ephesians 4:26(a)
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." -Romans 12:18
Recently, a house just down the road from where my brother and his family live burned to the ground. Several people discussed how they had driven by the house on their way home from work or school and all appeared completely normal. Minutes later, they received phone calls telling them that there was little more than ashes where the house that had been located there for years once stood. Something that most likely took months, possibly years, to build took only ten minutes to disappear into flames.
Ever sent something up in flames in your life? I sure have. Not literally, mind you. You are not reading a blog written by an arsonist or pyromaniac. I am speaking figuratively here about the moments when we let our emotions run wild in the heat of the moment and find that what took so long to build with a person or place is quickly destroyed with flaming words and actions that cannot be taken back.
They call it "burning bridges" for a reason. We do damage, whether permanent or not, to our connection with someone (friends, spouses, coworkers, family members, children, fellow church members, employers), and, at least for a while, maybe forever, the path you had to that person is gone. What is left is a gaping hole between the two of you and often one within your heart filled with shame, regret, and wishes to turn back the clock to the time before carelessly lit that match and tossed in on an already explosive situation.
Many of you might be ready to interrupt me with, "But you don't know what they did to me!" That is true; I don't. But I do know what has been done to me in the past, and it is plenty enough to justify a big ol' whoppin' sinful reaction…at least in the eyes of man. You see, God tells us that even when we have a valid reason to be angry, we never have an excuse to sin in response. The first part of Ephesians 4:26 tells us, "In your anger do not sin…" God knew that we would get viciously gossiped about, unfairly passed over for promotions and honors, heartbreakingly betrayed, unreasonably judged, and so much more. He knew that actions would be taken against us that would produce a natural response of anger and hurt. Our calling is NOT to NOT experience those understandable reactions, but to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to not allow them to control us and lead us to behave in an ungodly, fiery manner.
Is that easy? Well, goodness no…at least not for people like me. To say that I am easily controlled by emotions at times would be an understatement. I fight tears during Hallmark commercials, scream at the television during the rare football game that I watch, and have set several bridge burning fires (again figuratively, not literally) in my lifetime in situations much more important that commercials or football games. You know that corny slogan that Smokey the Bear says, "Only you can prevent forest fires"? Here's my corny but true relationship version: Only you and Jesus can prevent bridge-burning fires. It has to be a God thing. No matter how much self-control a person has, the devil can and will always find a way for it to go up in smoke unless that self-control is the kind found in Galatians 5:22-23, the only version worth having.
Here are some ways that I have found to help prevent starting a bridge-burning fire:
1. Step away from the situation. Even if it is just going in a different room from the person you have been arguing with or finding a reason to end a phone call that is bordering on explosive. Get some distance, breathe, and let God know that you need Him to help you exercise the fruit of self-control that He planted within you when you were saved.
2. Pray, pray, pray. In addition to asking for His help, be honest with God. Spill your guts, so to speak. He knows what is in your heart anyway, and speaking it to Him before unloading it onto others can prevent a bridge-burning fire as He cools your emotions and speaks peace to your heart. Continuously ask Him for wisdom in handling the situation, self-control in your responses, and the ability to freely pass on His love, forgiveness, and mercy to others.
3. Consider the future ramifications of your actions before you take them. Sure it might feel good to breathe fire at that person now, but what about how you will feel when you see them at church, work, school, or even daily in your home afterward? What about when other people who look up to you hear about how you conducted yourself? What about the friends and family you share with that person who will be wounded whether directly or indirectly by your actions? What about when you will have to face God in prayer, confess that even though that person was wrong, you were too, and ask His forgiveness for hurting Him, the other person/people, and yourself?
4. Know when to cross a bridge away from someone before you end up burning it. There are times when God does call us to end a friendship that is no longer beneficial for either person, quit a job when He leads us on a different path, leave a church when He has another place for us to serve, etc. The key is to recognize this, pray about how to handle it, and walk across the bridge with obedience, honor, and humility. If you are sure (completely apart from emotions that can cloud judgment) that it is God's desire for you to make an exit from a relationship, do so in a way that intentionally harms no one and glorifies Him. Staying somewhere too long after God has said to leave can cause you to feel trapped and ready to set fire to whatever you think is blocking your path of escape. (P.S. I am not talking about marriage. There are biblical reasons for divorce and times when spouses need to leave home for the safety of them and/or their children, but that is not the topic of discussion here.)
From my heart and experience to you and yours, setting relational bridge-burning fires is NEVER worth it, and it always requires much prayer, time, and effort to rebuild, if that is even an option. It is our decision whether or not to destroy, but only God can stir in the hearts of all involved to allow reconstruction to occur. Sadly, there are occasions when, as a result of our sin, those bridges are permanently damaged and the connection between us and that person as it previously existed will never again take place. Thankfully, God also permits seasons of redemption when what was destroyed can be replaced with something new and stronger than ever.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you that You can help us prevent the mistake of setting fire to the bridges in our lives and that You can help us rebuild burnt connections even after we've disobeyed You and done so. Please remind and help us not to cause damage that could be permanent and assist us in reconstructing anything that we've torn down that You wish to see repaired. We love and praise You always. In Jesus's name, Amen.
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." -Romans 12:18
Recently, a house just down the road from where my brother and his family live burned to the ground. Several people discussed how they had driven by the house on their way home from work or school and all appeared completely normal. Minutes later, they received phone calls telling them that there was little more than ashes where the house that had been located there for years once stood. Something that most likely took months, possibly years, to build took only ten minutes to disappear into flames.
Ever sent something up in flames in your life? I sure have. Not literally, mind you. You are not reading a blog written by an arsonist or pyromaniac. I am speaking figuratively here about the moments when we let our emotions run wild in the heat of the moment and find that what took so long to build with a person or place is quickly destroyed with flaming words and actions that cannot be taken back.
They call it "burning bridges" for a reason. We do damage, whether permanent or not, to our connection with someone (friends, spouses, coworkers, family members, children, fellow church members, employers), and, at least for a while, maybe forever, the path you had to that person is gone. What is left is a gaping hole between the two of you and often one within your heart filled with shame, regret, and wishes to turn back the clock to the time before carelessly lit that match and tossed in on an already explosive situation.
Many of you might be ready to interrupt me with, "But you don't know what they did to me!" That is true; I don't. But I do know what has been done to me in the past, and it is plenty enough to justify a big ol' whoppin' sinful reaction…at least in the eyes of man. You see, God tells us that even when we have a valid reason to be angry, we never have an excuse to sin in response. The first part of Ephesians 4:26 tells us, "In your anger do not sin…" God knew that we would get viciously gossiped about, unfairly passed over for promotions and honors, heartbreakingly betrayed, unreasonably judged, and so much more. He knew that actions would be taken against us that would produce a natural response of anger and hurt. Our calling is NOT to NOT experience those understandable reactions, but to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to not allow them to control us and lead us to behave in an ungodly, fiery manner.
Is that easy? Well, goodness no…at least not for people like me. To say that I am easily controlled by emotions at times would be an understatement. I fight tears during Hallmark commercials, scream at the television during the rare football game that I watch, and have set several bridge burning fires (again figuratively, not literally) in my lifetime in situations much more important that commercials or football games. You know that corny slogan that Smokey the Bear says, "Only you can prevent forest fires"? Here's my corny but true relationship version: Only you and Jesus can prevent bridge-burning fires. It has to be a God thing. No matter how much self-control a person has, the devil can and will always find a way for it to go up in smoke unless that self-control is the kind found in Galatians 5:22-23, the only version worth having.
Here are some ways that I have found to help prevent starting a bridge-burning fire:
1. Step away from the situation. Even if it is just going in a different room from the person you have been arguing with or finding a reason to end a phone call that is bordering on explosive. Get some distance, breathe, and let God know that you need Him to help you exercise the fruit of self-control that He planted within you when you were saved.
2. Pray, pray, pray. In addition to asking for His help, be honest with God. Spill your guts, so to speak. He knows what is in your heart anyway, and speaking it to Him before unloading it onto others can prevent a bridge-burning fire as He cools your emotions and speaks peace to your heart. Continuously ask Him for wisdom in handling the situation, self-control in your responses, and the ability to freely pass on His love, forgiveness, and mercy to others.
3. Consider the future ramifications of your actions before you take them. Sure it might feel good to breathe fire at that person now, but what about how you will feel when you see them at church, work, school, or even daily in your home afterward? What about when other people who look up to you hear about how you conducted yourself? What about the friends and family you share with that person who will be wounded whether directly or indirectly by your actions? What about when you will have to face God in prayer, confess that even though that person was wrong, you were too, and ask His forgiveness for hurting Him, the other person/people, and yourself?
4. Know when to cross a bridge away from someone before you end up burning it. There are times when God does call us to end a friendship that is no longer beneficial for either person, quit a job when He leads us on a different path, leave a church when He has another place for us to serve, etc. The key is to recognize this, pray about how to handle it, and walk across the bridge with obedience, honor, and humility. If you are sure (completely apart from emotions that can cloud judgment) that it is God's desire for you to make an exit from a relationship, do so in a way that intentionally harms no one and glorifies Him. Staying somewhere too long after God has said to leave can cause you to feel trapped and ready to set fire to whatever you think is blocking your path of escape. (P.S. I am not talking about marriage. There are biblical reasons for divorce and times when spouses need to leave home for the safety of them and/or their children, but that is not the topic of discussion here.)
From my heart and experience to you and yours, setting relational bridge-burning fires is NEVER worth it, and it always requires much prayer, time, and effort to rebuild, if that is even an option. It is our decision whether or not to destroy, but only God can stir in the hearts of all involved to allow reconstruction to occur. Sadly, there are occasions when, as a result of our sin, those bridges are permanently damaged and the connection between us and that person as it previously existed will never again take place. Thankfully, God also permits seasons of redemption when what was destroyed can be replaced with something new and stronger than ever.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you that You can help us prevent the mistake of setting fire to the bridges in our lives and that You can help us rebuild burnt connections even after we've disobeyed You and done so. Please remind and help us not to cause damage that could be permanent and assist us in reconstructing anything that we've torn down that You wish to see repaired. We love and praise You always. In Jesus's name, Amen.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Like/Unlike
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." -Colossians 3:23-24
Allow me to grab my wordy brush and paint a mental image for you of the torture that I often inflict on my husband whenever I am trying to decide on an outfit to wear….
I will walk into the room sporting my wardrobe choices and say something like, "Hey, Al, what do you think of this outfit?" Let me just say here that I am quite certain his brain begins to wither when he hears those words. What comes out of his mouth next varies. It ranges from "I like it!" to a skeptical look accompanied with something like "Are you supposed to wear those…pants with that???" (<--- true story from a day I wore leggings with a dress) to "Uhhh, not really." Then comes the fun part; no matter what he says, I dissect it. "You just like it? You don't love it? Are you sure this shirt looks okay? What do you mean??? These aren't pants; they are leggings! Everyone wears these! Why don't you like this outfit? What's wrong with it? You have to have a reason!" Yeah, that part can last for a while. It just helps me to have the conversation out loud with him that I would normally have inwardly with myself, but bless his heart, it does not help him a bit. Concern over whether or not people will like what I am wearing makes me a little nutty; know what I mean?
There is no doubt we live in a society that is all about the "likes". Who "liked" the status you posted on Facebook? How many retweets/favorites did your tweet generate? Did many people click that cute little heart on your Instagram pics? How many followers do you have on Twitter and Instagram? How many friends on Facebook? Did anyone tell you that they like your new haircut, stylish outfit, favorite shoes? Were you invited to that party? Do people wildly applaud when you run out on the basketball court or baseball field? Does that guy think you are beautiful? Did everyone gush over your solo at church? And on and on it goes. There are polls online where we can vote on which celeb's hair we like best, whose outfit looked better, whose kid is cuter. It is plain ol' exhausting trying to keep up with being "liked".
I find myself concerned about whether or not people will approve of everything from my jewelry and clothing choices (ones that as long as they are appropriate and not indecent do not matter in the heavenly realm) to the stands I choose to take for Jesus (ones that have to be based on pleasing my Savior and not myself or anyone else). Even though I do not believe God has a preference on whether or not I should wear the blue shirt or the red one (again, provided they are both covering what they need to), I also am convinced that He desires that we have enough confidence in who we are in Him that we do not waste loads of valuable time stressing over the opinions of others on such an inconsequential matter. On the other side of the same coin, God also urges us to value His word, truth, and commands above all when it comes to spiritual matters. When we know our instructions come from Him, no one else has a vote big enough to veto His. Even if those around us do not like what we say, what we do, or even…(gulp)…who we are.
Have you ever prayed for God to make everyone like you? I honestly do not know if I have or not, but I would not have put it past me in junior high or high school to make that desperate plea. I can imagine His response…a gentle chuckle like the one I let out when my daughter asks for something out of the blue that I know is not going to happen, then a lot of grace, then some complete honesty: "My child, why are you asking me for something that even I don't have?" Huh? Oh, yes. If you take even a tiny look around, you will be struck with the realization that not everyone loves, likes, or even believes in our almighty God. When His precious son Jesus came to Earth to save all of us sinners, He was mocked, plotted against, beaten, betrayed, blasphemed, and much more before He was crucified on a cross. That is a whole lot of "unlike"…to put it wildly mildly.
Though that fact helps put things in perspective, as does the reminder that there is not a person on Earth that is liked by everyone else on the planet, it is still tough. Tough to remember that we are here to serve, worship, and love the God we cannot physically see instead of living to please those who are right in front of our faces each day with their own judgements, opinions, and desires. Tough to remember that our confidence has to come from the God within us and Him alone. That confidence takes too much of a beating on a daily basis for anyone other than an omnipotent (all-powerful) God to defend it. Tough to be disliked and not dislike yourself or develop hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness toward the one who dislikes you. Tough to lean on Jesus when the world pushes you around. Tough, no doubt, but impossible? No way.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us to have confidence in our Savior, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Hebrews 4:16 urges us to trust our Sustainer, "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 10:35-36 assures us that God will do what He says, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
Recently, Candace Cameron Bure (actress who formerly starred on "Full House" and who is now an author and Christian speaker as well) has been under fire for writing in her book "Balancing It All" that she is biblically submissive to her husband. Hateful comments, slanderous language, and rude accusations have filled her social media pages over her words. A big ol' mountain of "unlike" is being heaped upon her for stating her beliefs. You know what I love though? She has not backed down. She has not apologized (she has no need to). She has not retaliated. She has stood firm upon the confidence in her God and the life she lives for Him with the support of those around her. Good for you, Candace. I sure do "like" that :)
Prayer
Dear Lord, there is so much pressure for everything from our hairstyle to our parenting style to be liked by others. Help us to remember that what matters is what You like, what You want, what You have commanded us to do. We love you, God, and want to live for you and remain confident in You even when the world around us does not support that decision. Help us to do so, we pray, in Jesus's name, Amen!
Allow me to grab my wordy brush and paint a mental image for you of the torture that I often inflict on my husband whenever I am trying to decide on an outfit to wear….
I will walk into the room sporting my wardrobe choices and say something like, "Hey, Al, what do you think of this outfit?" Let me just say here that I am quite certain his brain begins to wither when he hears those words. What comes out of his mouth next varies. It ranges from "I like it!" to a skeptical look accompanied with something like "Are you supposed to wear those…pants with that???" (<--- true story from a day I wore leggings with a dress) to "Uhhh, not really." Then comes the fun part; no matter what he says, I dissect it. "You just like it? You don't love it? Are you sure this shirt looks okay? What do you mean??? These aren't pants; they are leggings! Everyone wears these! Why don't you like this outfit? What's wrong with it? You have to have a reason!" Yeah, that part can last for a while. It just helps me to have the conversation out loud with him that I would normally have inwardly with myself, but bless his heart, it does not help him a bit. Concern over whether or not people will like what I am wearing makes me a little nutty; know what I mean?
There is no doubt we live in a society that is all about the "likes". Who "liked" the status you posted on Facebook? How many retweets/favorites did your tweet generate? Did many people click that cute little heart on your Instagram pics? How many followers do you have on Twitter and Instagram? How many friends on Facebook? Did anyone tell you that they like your new haircut, stylish outfit, favorite shoes? Were you invited to that party? Do people wildly applaud when you run out on the basketball court or baseball field? Does that guy think you are beautiful? Did everyone gush over your solo at church? And on and on it goes. There are polls online where we can vote on which celeb's hair we like best, whose outfit looked better, whose kid is cuter. It is plain ol' exhausting trying to keep up with being "liked".
I find myself concerned about whether or not people will approve of everything from my jewelry and clothing choices (ones that as long as they are appropriate and not indecent do not matter in the heavenly realm) to the stands I choose to take for Jesus (ones that have to be based on pleasing my Savior and not myself or anyone else). Even though I do not believe God has a preference on whether or not I should wear the blue shirt or the red one (again, provided they are both covering what they need to), I also am convinced that He desires that we have enough confidence in who we are in Him that we do not waste loads of valuable time stressing over the opinions of others on such an inconsequential matter. On the other side of the same coin, God also urges us to value His word, truth, and commands above all when it comes to spiritual matters. When we know our instructions come from Him, no one else has a vote big enough to veto His. Even if those around us do not like what we say, what we do, or even…(gulp)…who we are.
Have you ever prayed for God to make everyone like you? I honestly do not know if I have or not, but I would not have put it past me in junior high or high school to make that desperate plea. I can imagine His response…a gentle chuckle like the one I let out when my daughter asks for something out of the blue that I know is not going to happen, then a lot of grace, then some complete honesty: "My child, why are you asking me for something that even I don't have?" Huh? Oh, yes. If you take even a tiny look around, you will be struck with the realization that not everyone loves, likes, or even believes in our almighty God. When His precious son Jesus came to Earth to save all of us sinners, He was mocked, plotted against, beaten, betrayed, blasphemed, and much more before He was crucified on a cross. That is a whole lot of "unlike"…to put it wildly mildly.
Though that fact helps put things in perspective, as does the reminder that there is not a person on Earth that is liked by everyone else on the planet, it is still tough. Tough to remember that we are here to serve, worship, and love the God we cannot physically see instead of living to please those who are right in front of our faces each day with their own judgements, opinions, and desires. Tough to remember that our confidence has to come from the God within us and Him alone. That confidence takes too much of a beating on a daily basis for anyone other than an omnipotent (all-powerful) God to defend it. Tough to be disliked and not dislike yourself or develop hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness toward the one who dislikes you. Tough to lean on Jesus when the world pushes you around. Tough, no doubt, but impossible? No way.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us to have confidence in our Savior, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Hebrews 4:16 urges us to trust our Sustainer, "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Hebrews 10:35-36 assures us that God will do what He says, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised."
Recently, Candace Cameron Bure (actress who formerly starred on "Full House" and who is now an author and Christian speaker as well) has been under fire for writing in her book "Balancing It All" that she is biblically submissive to her husband. Hateful comments, slanderous language, and rude accusations have filled her social media pages over her words. A big ol' mountain of "unlike" is being heaped upon her for stating her beliefs. You know what I love though? She has not backed down. She has not apologized (she has no need to). She has not retaliated. She has stood firm upon the confidence in her God and the life she lives for Him with the support of those around her. Good for you, Candace. I sure do "like" that :)
Prayer
Dear Lord, there is so much pressure for everything from our hairstyle to our parenting style to be liked by others. Help us to remember that what matters is what You like, what You want, what You have commanded us to do. We love you, God, and want to live for you and remain confident in You even when the world around us does not support that decision. Help us to do so, we pray, in Jesus's name, Amen!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Let Them Be Imperfect
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" -Romans 3:23
"Indeed there is no one on Earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins". -Ecclesiastes 7:20
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." -Philippians 3:12
Since I have been at home full-time with my daughter, I have slacked off significantly on routines like applying makeup daily and taking the time to style my hair. I know that I am not a hideous monster without those things (though sometimes I feel that way) or a supermodel with them (by any means!), but I have become aware of who I feel comfortable being around without my flaws and imperfections concealed, curled, and Cover-Girl'ed. There are some people who look at me like something they scraped off their shoe when I am not "fixed up", some well-meaning folks who ask if I am sick (gotta love that ;)), and some who know and love me well enough to see me the same no matter what my appearance may be.
That last group of people exemplifies how I want to treat others, not only regarding how they look physically, but how they behave spiritually, make me feel emotionally, and their attitude that displays where they are mentally.
Do I allow people to be imperfect…flawed…human?
Do I listen to confessions from others without judging or gossiping?
Do I write off a flippant comment from a friend as the result of a bad day without fuming about it for weeks?
Do I associate with someone with views passionately different from mine without trying to force them into my line of thinking?
Do I shower others with the grace that Jesus showers on me?
Honestly, I believe that often this is an area that I often fail in personally and that the church often fails in as a whole. Not "the church" as in the church that I am a member of, but "the church" as in all of us saved folks out there…Jesus's church. Many unsaved sinners do not come in church buildings because they believe that those inside expect them to be perfect before they do. Many saved sinners find it hard to stay because they feel that others expect them to be perfect since they are there.
Before I run you off, let me clarify a few things. #1: I am not saying that we should allow sin to run rampant in churches. #2: I am not saying that we should not all strive to be perfect like our Savior. Absolutely we should, in His power and according to His instruction. #3: I am not saying that every person or every church has a problem with this.
My point is that though we are seeking to be like Jesus, we need to know just like He does that we are all human. Though we dislike being tempted by Satan, we ALL are. Though we desire not to sin, we ALL will. Your biggest temptation may not be mine. The sin you struggle most with may not be the one that I fight daily and lose to often. That doesn't matter. The fact is that we have a common enemy (the devil) and a common Hero (our Lord, Jesus Christ). Why can't we realize that puts us on the same team? A team that needs to protect one another, lift up the fallen, tend to the wounded, and fight for each and every person on that team. This does not include judgment, gossip, criticism, dirty looks, rolled eyes, or beating someone over the head metaphorically with the Bible.
There are many things that make it difficult for us to allow someone to be imperfect: struggles with our own flaws, hurt feelings, fear of others' opinions, pride, lies of the enemy, snap judgments, the list goes on and on. It can absolutely be a challenge and goes against our fleshly nature in a major way, but it is nothing that we and Jesus cannot take on together. I think about the chant that I have heard sports teams yell out before a game, "Together we stand, divided we fall, together we play, or we don't play at all." Let's start standing together and playing to win against the devil.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You, our perfect Savior, for loving our imperfect selves so much. Help us to love one another with that same grace-giving, mercy-abounding love. May we be a beacon of hope to those around us and be so filled with Your presence that they are drawn to You through us. Help us stand together and play to win against the enemy. Thank You for victory in Jesus. It's in His name I pray, Amen!
"Indeed there is no one on Earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins". -Ecclesiastes 7:20
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." -Philippians 3:12
Since I have been at home full-time with my daughter, I have slacked off significantly on routines like applying makeup daily and taking the time to style my hair. I know that I am not a hideous monster without those things (though sometimes I feel that way) or a supermodel with them (by any means!), but I have become aware of who I feel comfortable being around without my flaws and imperfections concealed, curled, and Cover-Girl'ed. There are some people who look at me like something they scraped off their shoe when I am not "fixed up", some well-meaning folks who ask if I am sick (gotta love that ;)), and some who know and love me well enough to see me the same no matter what my appearance may be.
That last group of people exemplifies how I want to treat others, not only regarding how they look physically, but how they behave spiritually, make me feel emotionally, and their attitude that displays where they are mentally.
Do I allow people to be imperfect…flawed…human?
Do I listen to confessions from others without judging or gossiping?
Do I write off a flippant comment from a friend as the result of a bad day without fuming about it for weeks?
Do I associate with someone with views passionately different from mine without trying to force them into my line of thinking?
Do I shower others with the grace that Jesus showers on me?
Honestly, I believe that often this is an area that I often fail in personally and that the church often fails in as a whole. Not "the church" as in the church that I am a member of, but "the church" as in all of us saved folks out there…Jesus's church. Many unsaved sinners do not come in church buildings because they believe that those inside expect them to be perfect before they do. Many saved sinners find it hard to stay because they feel that others expect them to be perfect since they are there.
Before I run you off, let me clarify a few things. #1: I am not saying that we should allow sin to run rampant in churches. #2: I am not saying that we should not all strive to be perfect like our Savior. Absolutely we should, in His power and according to His instruction. #3: I am not saying that every person or every church has a problem with this.
My point is that though we are seeking to be like Jesus, we need to know just like He does that we are all human. Though we dislike being tempted by Satan, we ALL are. Though we desire not to sin, we ALL will. Your biggest temptation may not be mine. The sin you struggle most with may not be the one that I fight daily and lose to often. That doesn't matter. The fact is that we have a common enemy (the devil) and a common Hero (our Lord, Jesus Christ). Why can't we realize that puts us on the same team? A team that needs to protect one another, lift up the fallen, tend to the wounded, and fight for each and every person on that team. This does not include judgment, gossip, criticism, dirty looks, rolled eyes, or beating someone over the head metaphorically with the Bible.
There are many things that make it difficult for us to allow someone to be imperfect: struggles with our own flaws, hurt feelings, fear of others' opinions, pride, lies of the enemy, snap judgments, the list goes on and on. It can absolutely be a challenge and goes against our fleshly nature in a major way, but it is nothing that we and Jesus cannot take on together. I think about the chant that I have heard sports teams yell out before a game, "Together we stand, divided we fall, together we play, or we don't play at all." Let's start standing together and playing to win against the devil.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You, our perfect Savior, for loving our imperfect selves so much. Help us to love one another with that same grace-giving, mercy-abounding love. May we be a beacon of hope to those around us and be so filled with Your presence that they are drawn to You through us. Help us stand together and play to win against the enemy. Thank You for victory in Jesus. It's in His name I pray, Amen!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Unnoticed at Christmas
"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” -Genesis 16:13
Do you ever feel unnoticed at Christmas...
When you search for hours for a gift for someone that gets opened, glanced at, and tossed aside…never one simple "thank you"?
When you see so many spending quality time with family and you have a family member that you miss with every aching breath?
When you spend days shopping for and cooking a meal that draws complaints because this person wanted this, that person wanted that, and none of "this" or "that" is found on the table?
When everyone around you seems to be crazy with merriment and you feel just plain crazy from the stress of the season and life in general?
When you so desire to feel the "joy to the world", "peace on earth", "goodwill toward men", but there is a situation, maybe many situations, causing you so much heartache that those feelings that the songs describe feel nothing short of impossible?
It is so easy to feel unnoticed, unappreciated, unloved in ways both tiny and enormous at Christmastime …scratch that…at ANY time. Somehow the Christmas season can make those feelings bigger than any crowd at the mall, over-the-top lights display, or tree at Rockefeller Center.
How grateful I am that when humans in their imperfect ways forget or choose not to notice us…our efforts, our triumphs, our failures, our pain…our perfect God never takes His eyes off of His children. He knows all. He sees all. He notices all.
There is no better example of this than that very first Christmas that we have all heard so much about.
God noticed Mary. She most likely was not Prom Queen of Bethlehem High School. Her clothes probably were not the finest money could buy. Though she was extraordinarily beautiful inside, we have no account in scripture of what she looked like. But God noticed her and chose her for a task that would bless her, challenge her, and change her in ways she could never fathom.
God noticed Joseph. You would think God would have chosen an earthly king to be the earthly father of the Prince of Peace. But He noticed Joseph, a carpenter with more faith, obedience, and love than any amount of riches, and chose him for a task that would require more heart and humility than human wealth could buy.
God noticed the shepherds. The hard-working guys, men who were not afraid to get their hands dirty, not wealthy but earning an honest living. God noticed them tending their sheep and sent an angel of the Lord to announce that the Lamb of God had been born.
God noticed the magi. Men who were wealthy and powerful, as well as wise and prayerful. You can be poor with no social standing to speak of, rich with more money and influence than you know what to do with, or anywhere in between, and God can and will use you if you allow Him to do so. These men knew where the true power in the world lay, and they laid their riches at His feet.
God noticed King Herod. What??? You mean that villain of the story who plotted to murder the Savior whose birth we rejoice over? Yep, him. God saw Herod and his evil plan. Jesus was meant to die for our sins, but there was no way it was happening before God divined it to come to pass. God notices us whether we are submitting to His will or scheming to interfere with it.
You know what I love about this? All of these people that God noticed, they noticed Him too. Granted some had angels in their bedrooms and offices at work to help them pay attention, they did not turn away from what was revealed to them. Even Herod, who did not notice God and His plan for the amazing blessing they are and worked against them, realized that there was a monumental power at work around him.
So here are my questions for us all, not only during Christmastime, but then too:
1) Will we remember that our God notices us? That He sees our pain, cares about our efforts, and wants to walk us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of this life?
2) Will we notice Him? Will we praise Him for who He is and all that He does? Will we spend time with Him in prayer, in worship, in the reading of His Word? Will we look into His heart and marvel at the unlimited grace, mercy, strength, wisdom, peace, and love to be found there?
3) Will we notice other people? The ones who are hurting, lonely, unappreciated, looked-over, in need? The ones like us, not like us, the ones we don't like? Will we see them as God sees them and seek to meet their needs however we can?
Let's take notice, friends. Because it is nothing short of amazing how He notices us. Just like He saw the residents of Bethlehem that night so long ago, He still sees us. The poor, the rich, the faithless, the faithful, the world in need of a Savior.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for noticing us. Please help us to remember to notice You this season and every season of life. May we also notice a hurting world around us that is in desperate need of You and be faithful to take You to them however we can. Thank you for Jesus, for the manger, for the cross, for the empty grave, and for His residence in our hearts. We love you, Lord. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen!
Do you ever feel unnoticed at Christmas...
When you search for hours for a gift for someone that gets opened, glanced at, and tossed aside…never one simple "thank you"?
When you see so many spending quality time with family and you have a family member that you miss with every aching breath?
When you spend days shopping for and cooking a meal that draws complaints because this person wanted this, that person wanted that, and none of "this" or "that" is found on the table?
When everyone around you seems to be crazy with merriment and you feel just plain crazy from the stress of the season and life in general?
When you so desire to feel the "joy to the world", "peace on earth", "goodwill toward men", but there is a situation, maybe many situations, causing you so much heartache that those feelings that the songs describe feel nothing short of impossible?
It is so easy to feel unnoticed, unappreciated, unloved in ways both tiny and enormous at Christmastime …scratch that…at ANY time. Somehow the Christmas season can make those feelings bigger than any crowd at the mall, over-the-top lights display, or tree at Rockefeller Center.
How grateful I am that when humans in their imperfect ways forget or choose not to notice us…our efforts, our triumphs, our failures, our pain…our perfect God never takes His eyes off of His children. He knows all. He sees all. He notices all.
There is no better example of this than that very first Christmas that we have all heard so much about.
God noticed Mary. She most likely was not Prom Queen of Bethlehem High School. Her clothes probably were not the finest money could buy. Though she was extraordinarily beautiful inside, we have no account in scripture of what she looked like. But God noticed her and chose her for a task that would bless her, challenge her, and change her in ways she could never fathom.
God noticed Joseph. You would think God would have chosen an earthly king to be the earthly father of the Prince of Peace. But He noticed Joseph, a carpenter with more faith, obedience, and love than any amount of riches, and chose him for a task that would require more heart and humility than human wealth could buy.
God noticed the shepherds. The hard-working guys, men who were not afraid to get their hands dirty, not wealthy but earning an honest living. God noticed them tending their sheep and sent an angel of the Lord to announce that the Lamb of God had been born.
God noticed the magi. Men who were wealthy and powerful, as well as wise and prayerful. You can be poor with no social standing to speak of, rich with more money and influence than you know what to do with, or anywhere in between, and God can and will use you if you allow Him to do so. These men knew where the true power in the world lay, and they laid their riches at His feet.
God noticed King Herod. What??? You mean that villain of the story who plotted to murder the Savior whose birth we rejoice over? Yep, him. God saw Herod and his evil plan. Jesus was meant to die for our sins, but there was no way it was happening before God divined it to come to pass. God notices us whether we are submitting to His will or scheming to interfere with it.
You know what I love about this? All of these people that God noticed, they noticed Him too. Granted some had angels in their bedrooms and offices at work to help them pay attention, they did not turn away from what was revealed to them. Even Herod, who did not notice God and His plan for the amazing blessing they are and worked against them, realized that there was a monumental power at work around him.
So here are my questions for us all, not only during Christmastime, but then too:
1) Will we remember that our God notices us? That He sees our pain, cares about our efforts, and wants to walk us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of this life?
2) Will we notice Him? Will we praise Him for who He is and all that He does? Will we spend time with Him in prayer, in worship, in the reading of His Word? Will we look into His heart and marvel at the unlimited grace, mercy, strength, wisdom, peace, and love to be found there?
3) Will we notice other people? The ones who are hurting, lonely, unappreciated, looked-over, in need? The ones like us, not like us, the ones we don't like? Will we see them as God sees them and seek to meet their needs however we can?
Let's take notice, friends. Because it is nothing short of amazing how He notices us. Just like He saw the residents of Bethlehem that night so long ago, He still sees us. The poor, the rich, the faithless, the faithful, the world in need of a Savior.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for noticing us. Please help us to remember to notice You this season and every season of life. May we also notice a hurting world around us that is in desperate need of You and be faithful to take You to them however we can. Thank you for Jesus, for the manger, for the cross, for the empty grave, and for His residence in our hearts. We love you, Lord. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen!
Monday, December 16, 2013
When You're Sick and Tired of Trying To Do Good…
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." -Galatians 6:9
Some verses in the Bible I read and wonder why God chose to include those words in His magnificent Love Letter/Instruction Manual/Sword/Lamp/Best Book Ever Written a.k.a the Bible. It is not that I doubt His sovereignty or supreme knowledge; I just either do not understand the verse or do not grasp its significance in my life at that time. The above verse is in NO way one of those verses. I do not have to ask the Lord about His reasoning in including this scripture in His Word and await His faithful response. If you are anything like me, you know the answer and do not have to tie up the God-lines with that question either: Galatians 6:9 is there to encourage us not to give up, because it is often monstrously easy to want to do so!
I don't know about you, but I frequently become sick and tired (my version of "weary") of not only doing good, but trying to do good. My intention is not to shock or offend anyone with that statement, but I feel I need to be honest about my struggles in order to grow in Christ myself and hopefully help others to as well. Some of that sick and tired comes from the times we live in, some from lack of spiritual maturity, some from good ol' impatience, some from listening to the devil's Chatty Cathy self too much, some from stressful situations…you get the idea.
Like those times when….
-There is near constant conflict with someone I know despite my best efforts to pray about it, respond to them in a godly way, and tip-toe around the land mines of drama they lay out.
-I get avalanche-style reports of bad news on top of bad news on top of bad news.
-A situation I have prayed about for years seems no closer to being resolved than when I started praying about it.
-Something seems to go wrong with everything I touch in the same 24 hours.
(Disclaimer: I make no claim to being nice all the time, holy half of the time, or perfect anytime. The above examples are simply some of my own personal triggers for weariness. Everyone has their own, and it is quite possible that I am part of someone else's, though I hope not.)
Those are some of the times when I become not only weary, but reach the level red danger zone of giving up. And no one is more excited by that or spurred on by that than Satan himself. So he shows up for a chat…usually when I am at my most tired, my most frustrated…the point where I can almost physically feel my brain bursting with the thoughts that are threatening to head south and out of my mouth. He chimes in with something like, "Why are you wasting your time trying to do good or be good? Where is that getting you? That person still doesn't like you, the bad news is still coming, that situation is still unresolved, and you are still messing up so much. You are not doing any good, and you certainly are not being good. Remember what you said yesterday? Remember what you thought about this situation last night? Would a "good" person say or think that? Why don't you just give up on all that praying, Bible, Jesus stuff? It's so much easier than what you're doing….and it's not like your situation could get much worse anyway."
Oh, he is good at his job alright…LYING. Spinning half-truths into whole lies. "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" gives this explanation of the word "weary" in Galatians 6:9: "to be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by implication) to fail (in heart):--faint, be weary." That is exactly the theme running through my example of a Satan-speech above: "You are weak. You have failed in heart. Give up this doing good business, and be bad for a while…or at least kick back and be lazy."
(Note: Please do not misunderstand my quotations of the verse's words "doing good" or use of my own like "being good". This is not about trying to be a "good little boy or girl" or works of the flesh or any of that jazz apart from Christ that gets us nowhere even when we have nothing but the best intentions about it. This is about seeking to do good for God and His Kingdom through His power, according to His instruction, and with bucket loads of His guidance and help.)
Just when the devil has me almost ready to bench my Bible, retire my praying knees, and sit out every game God calls me to play in, I remember something (by God's reminder, not coincidence). There have been times when I became weary and gave up (however temporarily), times when I did quit trying to do good and did my share of bad. Get this: AND THOSE TIMES WERE NOT EASY. Life did not magically turn into a Kay's Jewelry commercial where problems do not exist and diamonds are the size of your fist. In fact, I was quite miserable without the closeness to God I enjoyed when I was seeking to do His will, however imperfectly, and the blessings and anointing that came from it.
So, there, Satan. Doing good IS tough. It IS something that requires patience, endurance, and Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It IS often easy to want to give up on. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. And God Himself through the words of the apostle Paul says that "…at the proper time we WILL reap a harvest if we do not give up." So, I won't…not permanently. You may succeed in convincing me to momentarily at times, but I have read the Book, and I know Who wins in the end. I am on His side, weary or not.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder in Your Word not to grow weary in doing good, the encouragement not to give up. Thank You for knowing how hard it is to follow that advice and loving us even when we get it wrong. Please strengthen us against growing weary and giving up. Help us to draw close to You for encouragement, refreshment of spirit, endurance to keep on fighting the good fight. Thank You that You supply all of our needs, and we need not worry about how to defeat the devil and his tactics of lies, discouragement, and defeat. You have given us the tools for victory in Jesus; help us to use them, oh, Lord, In Jesus's name I pray, Amen
Some verses in the Bible I read and wonder why God chose to include those words in His magnificent Love Letter/Instruction Manual/Sword/Lamp/Best Book Ever Written a.k.a the Bible. It is not that I doubt His sovereignty or supreme knowledge; I just either do not understand the verse or do not grasp its significance in my life at that time. The above verse is in NO way one of those verses. I do not have to ask the Lord about His reasoning in including this scripture in His Word and await His faithful response. If you are anything like me, you know the answer and do not have to tie up the God-lines with that question either: Galatians 6:9 is there to encourage us not to give up, because it is often monstrously easy to want to do so!
I don't know about you, but I frequently become sick and tired (my version of "weary") of not only doing good, but trying to do good. My intention is not to shock or offend anyone with that statement, but I feel I need to be honest about my struggles in order to grow in Christ myself and hopefully help others to as well. Some of that sick and tired comes from the times we live in, some from lack of spiritual maturity, some from good ol' impatience, some from listening to the devil's Chatty Cathy self too much, some from stressful situations…you get the idea.
Like those times when….
-There is near constant conflict with someone I know despite my best efforts to pray about it, respond to them in a godly way, and tip-toe around the land mines of drama they lay out.
-I get avalanche-style reports of bad news on top of bad news on top of bad news.
-A situation I have prayed about for years seems no closer to being resolved than when I started praying about it.
-Something seems to go wrong with everything I touch in the same 24 hours.
(Disclaimer: I make no claim to being nice all the time, holy half of the time, or perfect anytime. The above examples are simply some of my own personal triggers for weariness. Everyone has their own, and it is quite possible that I am part of someone else's, though I hope not.)
Those are some of the times when I become not only weary, but reach the level red danger zone of giving up. And no one is more excited by that or spurred on by that than Satan himself. So he shows up for a chat…usually when I am at my most tired, my most frustrated…the point where I can almost physically feel my brain bursting with the thoughts that are threatening to head south and out of my mouth. He chimes in with something like, "Why are you wasting your time trying to do good or be good? Where is that getting you? That person still doesn't like you, the bad news is still coming, that situation is still unresolved, and you are still messing up so much. You are not doing any good, and you certainly are not being good. Remember what you said yesterday? Remember what you thought about this situation last night? Would a "good" person say or think that? Why don't you just give up on all that praying, Bible, Jesus stuff? It's so much easier than what you're doing….and it's not like your situation could get much worse anyway."
Oh, he is good at his job alright…LYING. Spinning half-truths into whole lies. "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible" gives this explanation of the word "weary" in Galatians 6:9: "to be (bad or) weak, i.e. (by implication) to fail (in heart):--faint, be weary." That is exactly the theme running through my example of a Satan-speech above: "You are weak. You have failed in heart. Give up this doing good business, and be bad for a while…or at least kick back and be lazy."
(Note: Please do not misunderstand my quotations of the verse's words "doing good" or use of my own like "being good". This is not about trying to be a "good little boy or girl" or works of the flesh or any of that jazz apart from Christ that gets us nowhere even when we have nothing but the best intentions about it. This is about seeking to do good for God and His Kingdom through His power, according to His instruction, and with bucket loads of His guidance and help.)
Just when the devil has me almost ready to bench my Bible, retire my praying knees, and sit out every game God calls me to play in, I remember something (by God's reminder, not coincidence). There have been times when I became weary and gave up (however temporarily), times when I did quit trying to do good and did my share of bad. Get this: AND THOSE TIMES WERE NOT EASY. Life did not magically turn into a Kay's Jewelry commercial where problems do not exist and diamonds are the size of your fist. In fact, I was quite miserable without the closeness to God I enjoyed when I was seeking to do His will, however imperfectly, and the blessings and anointing that came from it.
So, there, Satan. Doing good IS tough. It IS something that requires patience, endurance, and Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It IS often easy to want to give up on. BUT IT IS WORTH IT. And God Himself through the words of the apostle Paul says that "…at the proper time we WILL reap a harvest if we do not give up." So, I won't…not permanently. You may succeed in convincing me to momentarily at times, but I have read the Book, and I know Who wins in the end. I am on His side, weary or not.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for the reminder in Your Word not to grow weary in doing good, the encouragement not to give up. Thank You for knowing how hard it is to follow that advice and loving us even when we get it wrong. Please strengthen us against growing weary and giving up. Help us to draw close to You for encouragement, refreshment of spirit, endurance to keep on fighting the good fight. Thank You that You supply all of our needs, and we need not worry about how to defeat the devil and his tactics of lies, discouragement, and defeat. You have given us the tools for victory in Jesus; help us to use them, oh, Lord, In Jesus's name I pray, Amen
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Stinkin' Awesome
Do you remember experiencing the Christmas season as a child? Barring amnesia, I am quite certain that, like me, you do. It is also reasonable to assume that, with a few exceptions, it was stinkin' awesome (yes, "stinkin'" means something quite different from "stinking"…or at least it does to this Southern gal)! Back then Christmas was an all-consuming season of eager anticipation of presents, joyously belting out Christmas carols and hymns that celebrate Jesus's birth, enduring embarrassing church programs (for me anyway ;)), peacefully sleeping during silent nights (excluding Christmas Eve, of course), accepting gifts freely, and, in general, observing the joy of the season with awe. Stinkin' awesome, right?
Recently, I have been in awe to discover that the mentality of a child at Christmastime mirrors in many ways the manner in which God would have His children approach life. Not life in December…but life every month of the year, every day of the month, every hour of the day, every minute of the hour…LIFE with God. How He desires to mold our lives into something stinkin' awesome for Him, and how often we easily discard the glorious free gifts He offers in favor of expensive lessons that we do not have to buy for ourselves.
Let's break it down line by line…
(Confession in advance-I struggle with each one of these personally, so every "we", "us", "our", etc. most definitely includes me, too)
"eager anticipation of presents"- Do we expect God to come through for us? To help us? To bless us? To carry us across the stormy waters and through the blazing infernos? Or do we dreadfully look ahead to the worst that is "bound to happen"? Do we see the mountain we are facing as too big, too strong, too immovable for our God? What would happen if we chose eager anticipation instead of despair? "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1 (P.S. I would encourage everyone to read Hebrews 11 in its entirety)
"joyously belting out Christmas carols and hymns that celebrate Jesus's birth" -What is our attitude toward worship? Is it a happy time of truly celebrating how great our God is whether we are at home, in our car, or at church? Do we choose to worship willingly, personally, and whole-heartedly? Or is worship something that we go through as mindlessly as washing the dishes, one more task to complete, another check mark to make on our list? Do we pour our heart out to God in worship or hold ourselves back out of fear of what others would say, pain concerning what we are facing in life, or mistaken notions about what worship is "supposed to be"? "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …" -Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV)
"enduring embarrassing church programs" -Okay, here is a humorous break from our otherwise serious discussion. I was not big on participating in church musicals, programs, and plays as a child…and by "not big on", I mean quite a few fits were pitched. For a shy (yes, I was once) young girl who had the singing voice of a bag of cats, they were just not my choice for a rompin' good time. Though I rarely endured them patiently and humbly, I now know it would have been to my benefit to do so. Just as it is to all of our benefit to draw near to God in hard times, to trust in His plan, to wait on His word, rather than run our own path through the maze, work on how we will fix the situation at hand, and, when all else fails, throw a grade A temper tantrum. How I wish that I could honestly state that the best choice as described above is the easiest or that I always make it…or even usually make it, but that is just not true. HOWEVER, I know that victory in Jesus is possible, and He and I are working on it together. I encourage you to as well. "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." -James 1:12 (ESV)
"peacefully sleeping through silent nights" -If the only gift that I received for Christmas was the ability to sleep as peacefully, soundly, and restfully as my two year old daughter does, I can honestly PROMISE that I would be more than thrilled with that one present. Sleep does not come easy for me. Worrying, stressing, going over to-do lists in my head, retrieving problems from the past and borrowing them from the future…none of that makes for a restful night. My desire is to find rest in God's promises (day or night), to entrust my past, present, future into His capable hands, and to not waste time on fretting over problems that only He can fix. Makes my eyelids a little heavy just to type those words. :) "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:8 (ESV)
"accepting gifts freely" -This is a big one, folks! Santa's sleigh can only hold so much, but God's storehouses have boundless gifts in stock for His children: grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, peace, strength, compassion, holiness, power, LOVE, and so much more. BUT, do we receive those presents that are paid for by the blood of Christ freely? Do we reach out for them and clutch them as prized possessions? Do we fight against the devil when he tries to convince us that they are not ours for the taking? Or do we neglect to accept them because we feel unworthy? Even worse do we not allow ourselves to believe they even exist in this corrupt world? Do we treat them like we do childhood myths: too good to be true? Oh, that we would accept what God is offering. It is so much better than what we are settling for. "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)
"observing the joy of the season with awe"- Let's just be honest…it is often difficult to be joyful. There are traffic jams, family feuds, diseases, political pow-wows, and a million other circumstances just waiting to bump our happy. Though I have by no means achieved greatness in this area, I know that any joy I find in the day-to-day grind of life will be (1) found in God and (2) a choice that I make. I could make you a list longer than Santa's "Naughty List" of all of my hundreds of grievances, things that just set my every nerve ablaze, but there are innumerably more reasons in Christ that I can locate and choose joy. May we all pray to observe and celebrate the joy of our Savior daily with awe…even in traffic jams, Lord help us. ;) "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You that You long to make our lives as stinkin' awesome as that of a child at Christmastime. Life is hard, that we know, but we also know that You are good. I ask You to continually remind us of Your goodness, help us to anticipate it, celebrate it, endure hard times because of it, find peace and joy in it, and accept it freely. This world is often wild and crazy, unpredictable and scary, confusing and disheartening, but the abundant life You offer in it is no myth. Never has been; never will be. Don't let us forget it, oh, Lord. We love You and praise You for all that You are and all that You do. In Jesus's name, Amen.
Recently, I have been in awe to discover that the mentality of a child at Christmastime mirrors in many ways the manner in which God would have His children approach life. Not life in December…but life every month of the year, every day of the month, every hour of the day, every minute of the hour…LIFE with God. How He desires to mold our lives into something stinkin' awesome for Him, and how often we easily discard the glorious free gifts He offers in favor of expensive lessons that we do not have to buy for ourselves.
Let's break it down line by line…
(Confession in advance-I struggle with each one of these personally, so every "we", "us", "our", etc. most definitely includes me, too)
"eager anticipation of presents"- Do we expect God to come through for us? To help us? To bless us? To carry us across the stormy waters and through the blazing infernos? Or do we dreadfully look ahead to the worst that is "bound to happen"? Do we see the mountain we are facing as too big, too strong, too immovable for our God? What would happen if we chose eager anticipation instead of despair? "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." -Hebrews 11:1 (P.S. I would encourage everyone to read Hebrews 11 in its entirety)
"joyously belting out Christmas carols and hymns that celebrate Jesus's birth" -What is our attitude toward worship? Is it a happy time of truly celebrating how great our God is whether we are at home, in our car, or at church? Do we choose to worship willingly, personally, and whole-heartedly? Or is worship something that we go through as mindlessly as washing the dishes, one more task to complete, another check mark to make on our list? Do we pour our heart out to God in worship or hold ourselves back out of fear of what others would say, pain concerning what we are facing in life, or mistaken notions about what worship is "supposed to be"? "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! …" -Psalm 150:1-6 (ESV)
"enduring embarrassing church programs" -Okay, here is a humorous break from our otherwise serious discussion. I was not big on participating in church musicals, programs, and plays as a child…and by "not big on", I mean quite a few fits were pitched. For a shy (yes, I was once) young girl who had the singing voice of a bag of cats, they were just not my choice for a rompin' good time. Though I rarely endured them patiently and humbly, I now know it would have been to my benefit to do so. Just as it is to all of our benefit to draw near to God in hard times, to trust in His plan, to wait on His word, rather than run our own path through the maze, work on how we will fix the situation at hand, and, when all else fails, throw a grade A temper tantrum. How I wish that I could honestly state that the best choice as described above is the easiest or that I always make it…or even usually make it, but that is just not true. HOWEVER, I know that victory in Jesus is possible, and He and I are working on it together. I encourage you to as well. "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." -James 1:12 (ESV)
"peacefully sleeping through silent nights" -If the only gift that I received for Christmas was the ability to sleep as peacefully, soundly, and restfully as my two year old daughter does, I can honestly PROMISE that I would be more than thrilled with that one present. Sleep does not come easy for me. Worrying, stressing, going over to-do lists in my head, retrieving problems from the past and borrowing them from the future…none of that makes for a restful night. My desire is to find rest in God's promises (day or night), to entrust my past, present, future into His capable hands, and to not waste time on fretting over problems that only He can fix. Makes my eyelids a little heavy just to type those words. :) "In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." -Psalm 4:8 (ESV)
"accepting gifts freely" -This is a big one, folks! Santa's sleigh can only hold so much, but God's storehouses have boundless gifts in stock for His children: grace, mercy, forgiveness, joy, peace, strength, compassion, holiness, power, LOVE, and so much more. BUT, do we receive those presents that are paid for by the blood of Christ freely? Do we reach out for them and clutch them as prized possessions? Do we fight against the devil when he tries to convince us that they are not ours for the taking? Or do we neglect to accept them because we feel unworthy? Even worse do we not allow ourselves to believe they even exist in this corrupt world? Do we treat them like we do childhood myths: too good to be true? Oh, that we would accept what God is offering. It is so much better than what we are settling for. "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)
"observing the joy of the season with awe"- Let's just be honest…it is often difficult to be joyful. There are traffic jams, family feuds, diseases, political pow-wows, and a million other circumstances just waiting to bump our happy. Though I have by no means achieved greatness in this area, I know that any joy I find in the day-to-day grind of life will be (1) found in God and (2) a choice that I make. I could make you a list longer than Santa's "Naughty List" of all of my hundreds of grievances, things that just set my every nerve ablaze, but there are innumerably more reasons in Christ that I can locate and choose joy. May we all pray to observe and celebrate the joy of our Savior daily with awe…even in traffic jams, Lord help us. ;) "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You that You long to make our lives as stinkin' awesome as that of a child at Christmastime. Life is hard, that we know, but we also know that You are good. I ask You to continually remind us of Your goodness, help us to anticipate it, celebrate it, endure hard times because of it, find peace and joy in it, and accept it freely. This world is often wild and crazy, unpredictable and scary, confusing and disheartening, but the abundant life You offer in it is no myth. Never has been; never will be. Don't let us forget it, oh, Lord. We love You and praise You for all that You are and all that You do. In Jesus's name, Amen.
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