Reading and meditating on the parable of the Sower in Luke 8. It's deep, but oh so simple. It reminds me of the ministry of growing people up in spiritual maturity so they can live victorious, free lives.
I always have to ask God to check my heart because I become frustrated when people seem to accept Christ, then just don't appreciate His grace or want His truth; they really don't experience the joy God has for them. They go back to the old nature and I fight the urge to judge their behaviors (my human sinful reaction) as I smack my head in wonderment. How could they miss this?! God often reminds me to stay in my lane and do my job and allow Him to do His....duly noted!
The parable explains it like this: Not everyone who sees and hears, may actually see and understand. When the seed (The Word of God) is scattered along the path, those along that path may hear, but just as the birds came and scarfed down the seeds from the path, so the devil comes and takes away the Word from people's hearts so they may not believe and be saved.
Continuing with the parable, the seed that falls upon the rocks can not grow for lack of moisture, lack of a healthy growing atmosphere. Likewise, people who receive the Word become excited at first, but they have no root in which to grow and thrive. They believe for a while, but when the harsh conditions hit, their faith is challenged and withers away.
Moving along, the seed that fell among the thorns was literally overtaken and choked out by the overpowering nature of the thorns. People who hear the Word and continue in their own paths are similarly choked by the thorns of life as they are bogged down with worry, chase after fame and fortune, and seek human pleasure over Godly wisdom and growth.
Lastly, there is yet fertile ground! Some people along the path embrace the new nature God affords them with good and noble hearts. They want to soak in the goodness of God and meditate on, and grow in, grace and truth. They retain the magnitude of God's presence through persevering and bearing good fruit. This is a picture of the seed falling upon good soil - and souls. It yields so much benefit and blossoms abundantly.
So, soil can also be equated to dirt. We can all identify with having dirt in our lives. What kind of dirt is God's Word falling upon as you hear and see it. Will you let the dirt just remain a dry clump or a muddy mess? Or will you let the Word change your dirt into a fertile field of blessings? I've heard people say that a little dirt never hurt anyone. I guess that depends upon your dirt! I'd much rather my patch of dirt yield a beautiful crop that feeds many, as opposed to just becoming a desert or a mud puddle. Allow God's Word to reach down deep into the roots of your soul so that you may yield an abundant crop of blessings.
P.S. And save me from smacking my head:-)
Friday, April 11, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Here's Your Sign!
One bible verse has been my consistent "go-to" for times of stress and confusion. Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" I woke up thinking of that verse in the middle of the night last night, as I often do, and a picture of the now-famous "Keep Calm" posters and signs came to mind. I thought, if there were ever an appropriate phrase to put on such a sign, it would be, "Keep Calm and Trust God!" I decided to find out more about the history of the little catchy "Keep Calm" phrases.
It just so happens that the original term, "Keep Calm and Carry On" was something the British government came up with in 1939 as a motivational poster intended to raise the morale of the public in the aftermath of widely predicted mass air attacks on major cities several months prior to the Second World War. It wasn't well distributed or publicly displayed back then, but the phrase was resurrected in the year 2000 and has become quite popular now a days (thanks, Wikipedia, for info on almost anything that can be googled!). I think some private companies sell products with such phrases and we see them ever so often on social media sites like Face Book and Pinterest. Yes, the "Stay Calm and _____" phrases have become popular and motivational indeed - so many years after the original posters were created and for different reasons, altogether. I say, if we can motivate people towards good things, then, Carry On!
Now back to my version, or vision, of the poster. I also googled my inspired phrase, and, as I expected, I'm not the first to have thought of it. I was even able to download a picture. It's interesting to me that there is a crown on the top of the sign. I realize why, after reading the history of the poster and discovering that it originated via the British government that is led by royalty. Oh so appropriate in how I envision the sign, also! God, Christ, is the Godhead, the royalty, that is represented at the top of a, "Keep Calm and Trust God" sign. That kind of royalty and the truth of God's Word and His character, which backs up His promise to keep us in perfect peace as we trust in Him and keep our thoughts fixed on Him, is such a powerful WORD picture!
May God's Word be so frequently consumed by us that it motivates our thoughts and actions. May it be written on our hearts and minds and may He remind us that His Lordship is our ever-present companion - even in times of stress and confusion - and beyond. I think we would bode well to remember what God says in His Word. It can motivate us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and not to let our concerns consume us. My pseudo-Message version can be translated, "Keep Calm and Trust God!" Now, there's your sign! It originated from the KING.
It just so happens that the original term, "Keep Calm and Carry On" was something the British government came up with in 1939 as a motivational poster intended to raise the morale of the public in the aftermath of widely predicted mass air attacks on major cities several months prior to the Second World War. It wasn't well distributed or publicly displayed back then, but the phrase was resurrected in the year 2000 and has become quite popular now a days (thanks, Wikipedia, for info on almost anything that can be googled!). I think some private companies sell products with such phrases and we see them ever so often on social media sites like Face Book and Pinterest. Yes, the "Stay Calm and _____" phrases have become popular and motivational indeed - so many years after the original posters were created and for different reasons, altogether. I say, if we can motivate people towards good things, then, Carry On!
Now back to my version, or vision, of the poster. I also googled my inspired phrase, and, as I expected, I'm not the first to have thought of it. I was even able to download a picture. It's interesting to me that there is a crown on the top of the sign. I realize why, after reading the history of the poster and discovering that it originated via the British government that is led by royalty. Oh so appropriate in how I envision the sign, also! God, Christ, is the Godhead, the royalty, that is represented at the top of a, "Keep Calm and Trust God" sign. That kind of royalty and the truth of God's Word and His character, which backs up His promise to keep us in perfect peace as we trust in Him and keep our thoughts fixed on Him, is such a powerful WORD picture!
May God's Word be so frequently consumed by us that it motivates our thoughts and actions. May it be written on our hearts and minds and may He remind us that His Lordship is our ever-present companion - even in times of stress and confusion - and beyond. I think we would bode well to remember what God says in His Word. It can motivate us to keep our eyes fixed on Him and not to let our concerns consume us. My pseudo-Message version can be translated, "Keep Calm and Trust God!" Now, there's your sign! It originated from the KING.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Route 68 - A Happy Crossroads
I just spent a nostalgic week in my old Lexington, Kentucky, home. The highlight was, by far, grand baby time, but a few other things left me so aware of God's blessings in my life. About 21 days ago I took on the challenge to post pictures, for 100 days (#100happydays), of things that make me happy. Needless to say, I've been snapping pictures left and right, east and west, from California beaches to Kentucky hills. It has been a fun exercise and I guess that is the point - to make one happy with happy things! Here is the story of one such happy snapshot that made me literally recall a real life snapshot and why this picture is symbolic of a time when I was at a turning point of change; a time when I was at a crossroads and I could have gone either way. I am so happy I chose the right path.
My snapshot was of a highway sign in Kentucky on Route 68 - in front of an old building that houses a restaurant that is a regional favorite of many in the Lexington, KY, area. The restaurant is named Ramsey's and the spot on Route 68 right, in front of Ramsey's, is a spot that will forever live in infamy for me. History says that Route 68 travels through many battleground areas from the Civil War. It was hilly and treacherous terrain back then. One day in 1998 my life was in treacherous terrain as a spiritual, psychological and physical war was raging for the life of my marriage. I had gone to my church to consult with a pastor and ask for prayer. He had prayed that God would give me peace that passes understanding. As I headed home to talk about a possible divorce with my husband, I yearned for God's peace and leading. I cried out to Him to help me forgive the unforgivable. It was on that spot on Rt. 68, in front of Ramsey's Restaurant, in Lexington, KY, that God answered my prayer. He reminded me that He had forgiven me - He had forgiven the unforgivable - could I not do likewise?! He swept into my car like a peaceful river, washing away any bitterness and unforgiveness that remained. The war had been waged, He had fought the battle for me, and He won as I surrendered everything to Him. As I continued to drive home and speak to my husband that night, it was with renewed grace and forgiveness. God did the rest. That was 14 years into our, then, tumultuous marriage. Now we have been married almost 30 years and the years since then have been a pathway to joy and peace only because Jesus is in the center of it all.
Route 68 was indeed a crossroads for me. I chose the right path, God's road to forgiveness and healing. I never drive past that spot without remembering what God did that day and every day since then. His love won the battle. That really makes me happy! #Route68
My snapshot was of a highway sign in Kentucky on Route 68 - in front of an old building that houses a restaurant that is a regional favorite of many in the Lexington, KY, area. The restaurant is named Ramsey's and the spot on Route 68 right, in front of Ramsey's, is a spot that will forever live in infamy for me. History says that Route 68 travels through many battleground areas from the Civil War. It was hilly and treacherous terrain back then. One day in 1998 my life was in treacherous terrain as a spiritual, psychological and physical war was raging for the life of my marriage. I had gone to my church to consult with a pastor and ask for prayer. He had prayed that God would give me peace that passes understanding. As I headed home to talk about a possible divorce with my husband, I yearned for God's peace and leading. I cried out to Him to help me forgive the unforgivable. It was on that spot on Rt. 68, in front of Ramsey's Restaurant, in Lexington, KY, that God answered my prayer. He reminded me that He had forgiven me - He had forgiven the unforgivable - could I not do likewise?! He swept into my car like a peaceful river, washing away any bitterness and unforgiveness that remained. The war had been waged, He had fought the battle for me, and He won as I surrendered everything to Him. As I continued to drive home and speak to my husband that night, it was with renewed grace and forgiveness. God did the rest. That was 14 years into our, then, tumultuous marriage. Now we have been married almost 30 years and the years since then have been a pathway to joy and peace only because Jesus is in the center of it all.
Route 68 was indeed a crossroads for me. I chose the right path, God's road to forgiveness and healing. I never drive past that spot without remembering what God did that day and every day since then. His love won the battle. That really makes me happy! #Route68
Saturday, February 22, 2014
The Evolution toward Fifty-Something
It's February and that means I've been blessed enough to reach another earthly birthday. I'm not twenty-something. I'm not thirty-something. I'm not forty-something. A few years ago I reached what I hope to be about the half-way mile marker, so when birthdays come these days, I am just very grateful to be "something" at all. So, if the truth be known, I am fifty-something in a couple of days. If I may, I'm going to unpack a little evolution of decades that portray my journey to this momentous place. Thanks in advance for your indulgence. Everything herein is referring to me and what I experienced in each decade. I am by no means degrading another age group, because I know things change and each person is different as individuals. That being said, there will be some things that some of recognize as general to our age groups. Jump on board for the journey. We're about to evolve!
In my twenties I remember being that person who was starry-eyed and bushy-tailed and excited to take on the adventure of life. I had graduated from college, married my sweetheart, moved to NYC and had our daughter - all by the end of the decade. It was an active decade, and if you asked me then, I would have told you I had the world by the horns and I was maneuvering my ride through life pretty well. I look back on it now and I can say, while it seemed fun and exciting at the time, I would have done so much so differently. While I'm a bit scatterbrained, I've also always known that I have a higher than average IQ. I don't say that pridefully, but I say it to accentuate that, back then, I was prideful about it. I thought I knew everything and I tried to play God with my own life. I made unwise choices and rarely ever consulted God. I claimed to know Him, but you would never really have known it, except for a "help-me" prayer every now and again when I was in a tight spot. I thought the world was grand; I thought my life was grand; I thought I had arrived. In all reality, I was a snotty-nosed immature know-it-all! Ugh...I wasn't very good at playing God, after all.
Then came my thirties. I tell everyone that I think a light bulb finally gets turned on in our thirties. I became aware that I had been quiet naive in the previous decade and that maybe I wasn't as smart as I had perceived myself to be. More maturity and a bit more wisdom had started to shed some light onto life for me. My daughter was young and God started drawing me back into relationship with Him. I knew I wanted that for both myself and my child. Instinctively, I just knew that it wasn't all about me anymore and that there was a Great Designer who had a better plan for my life and this precious little girl I was now responsible for. Great, I thought I would tell my husband and he would be on board, but he wanted nothing of the kind. He secretly wanted to jump ship and scoffed at the idea that we needed God to become a strong happy family. We grew further apart and my soul started longing for my old Kentucky home. I convinced him to move and we headed for the hills. The Bluegrass became our new home, but something was still missing. My heart took me on a search and I realized I had become really lousy at playing God in my own life and the lives of my family. I recommitted my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and invited Him to be the LORD of my life for the very first time. It was the turning point in my life in so many ways. My husband drug his feet for a long time, but in the later part of our thirties decade, my prayer life for him and our marriage had intensified and he invited Jesus Christ into his own heart. THAT was the real turning point for us. We were a hot mess and we had come to Jesus just as we were - with so much gunk and garbage. He invited us in and started cleaning up the trash. Wow, I was beginning to see where real wisdom comes from. It is not inherent, but is imparted from the LORD as He is sought. What a revelation - yet again! So we set out on a new journey - a journey of faith this time - and we buckled our seat belts because when God is in the driver's seat it is both wild and adventurous...never a dull moment.
In our forties, we thought we had finally settled down into some semblance of normal life. We owned our dream house, we had an active social life with friends and were heavily involved in church activities. We both had good jobs and were finally secure - well, for a while, at least. Then I got laid off and eventually my husband - who was a master salesman that won every sales contest imaginable and took us on many great company-paid vacations, started hitting a brick wall in his career efforts. What in the world was going on? We were strong in our walk with the LORD, and all of a sudden we were really struggling financially. It wasn't the first time. In our twenties we had made dumb financial mistakes, but now we should have been better stewards with our resources. Yet, the well was drying up. Towards the last part of the decade we realized that it was God's plan to take us out of corporate America and use us in full-time ministry. My husband became a pastor and we moved from Kentucky to Colorado. After a few years we moved from Colorado to Illinois. Yes, this ministry thing was indeed a journey that was driven by God. We learned that this journey often included bumps in the road and unexpected detours. At the age of 48, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a faith journey, for sure, and my God proved faithful, once again. I am so thankful that He has kept me and that I am now 4 years cancer-free. He opened my eyes to priorities once again and gave me just a little bit more wisdom as I hung onto His grace and sought His truth. I began to learn that obedience is a blessing and the presence of God was what I needed more than breath. He gave me both.
That brings me to the present decade. We moved to California nearly a year ago and my husband is a pastor who loves his job of helping people see their need for freedom and recovery as they surrender their lives to Jesus. He loves to tell our story of grace, forgiveness and redemption wherever and whenever God allows him to do so. He is a modern day evangelist and his passion for the LORD and for our family is an amazing blessing. I am in awe of how God transforms willing broken vessels. An awareness of His presence is at the center of our lives and marriage and we hang on for dear life with every new adventure He takes us on. We became grandparents this past year with our first grandchild, a precious little boy. Now, that, is a definite life-changer! Just when I think I've arrived and that I've finally matured enough to really start understanding life, God throws in a grandchild and we become like little children ourselves - quiet giddy - as we become bonkers over this little one who brings an entirely new dimension of love into our lives.
We have started to have a few maintenance issues with these earthly tents. Our models were created over half a century ago, but we are trusting that God will continue to give us the fuel and the upgrades we need to keep them well-maintained and functional on the road of this journey on which He has us. The teeth and the knees could use definite upgrades; our mental hard drives could use a re-boot every now and then; covering up grey hairs has become all too frequent and expensive and our propensity to sing jingles from too many commercials aired on the news channel that plays at least 50% of the time in our house has caused us to pause and realize we are not spring chickens any longer. But with all the stuff that makes us realize we are in the second half of this ballgame, we are more excited than ever to know that we will finish strong in this game of life. I hope I have at least 3 or 4 more decades to blog about before it's all over. And I'm sure God has so much more to teach me for every decade of "something" with which He graces me. But that's up to Him. He is the driver and He, alone, can navigate the twists and turns of my journey. I'm thankful He allows me to be along for the ride and that my journey is ever evolving until I reach my heavenly destination. That's where I will dance and sing even more boldly to the LORD and you could be privy to a new "Evolution of Dance" if you're up there with me. I hope you are!
From Psalm 71 - NLT: O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
17
In my twenties I remember being that person who was starry-eyed and bushy-tailed and excited to take on the adventure of life. I had graduated from college, married my sweetheart, moved to NYC and had our daughter - all by the end of the decade. It was an active decade, and if you asked me then, I would have told you I had the world by the horns and I was maneuvering my ride through life pretty well. I look back on it now and I can say, while it seemed fun and exciting at the time, I would have done so much so differently. While I'm a bit scatterbrained, I've also always known that I have a higher than average IQ. I don't say that pridefully, but I say it to accentuate that, back then, I was prideful about it. I thought I knew everything and I tried to play God with my own life. I made unwise choices and rarely ever consulted God. I claimed to know Him, but you would never really have known it, except for a "help-me" prayer every now and again when I was in a tight spot. I thought the world was grand; I thought my life was grand; I thought I had arrived. In all reality, I was a snotty-nosed immature know-it-all! Ugh...I wasn't very good at playing God, after all.
Then came my thirties. I tell everyone that I think a light bulb finally gets turned on in our thirties. I became aware that I had been quiet naive in the previous decade and that maybe I wasn't as smart as I had perceived myself to be. More maturity and a bit more wisdom had started to shed some light onto life for me. My daughter was young and God started drawing me back into relationship with Him. I knew I wanted that for both myself and my child. Instinctively, I just knew that it wasn't all about me anymore and that there was a Great Designer who had a better plan for my life and this precious little girl I was now responsible for. Great, I thought I would tell my husband and he would be on board, but he wanted nothing of the kind. He secretly wanted to jump ship and scoffed at the idea that we needed God to become a strong happy family. We grew further apart and my soul started longing for my old Kentucky home. I convinced him to move and we headed for the hills. The Bluegrass became our new home, but something was still missing. My heart took me on a search and I realized I had become really lousy at playing God in my own life and the lives of my family. I recommitted my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and invited Him to be the LORD of my life for the very first time. It was the turning point in my life in so many ways. My husband drug his feet for a long time, but in the later part of our thirties decade, my prayer life for him and our marriage had intensified and he invited Jesus Christ into his own heart. THAT was the real turning point for us. We were a hot mess and we had come to Jesus just as we were - with so much gunk and garbage. He invited us in and started cleaning up the trash. Wow, I was beginning to see where real wisdom comes from. It is not inherent, but is imparted from the LORD as He is sought. What a revelation - yet again! So we set out on a new journey - a journey of faith this time - and we buckled our seat belts because when God is in the driver's seat it is both wild and adventurous...never a dull moment.
In our forties, we thought we had finally settled down into some semblance of normal life. We owned our dream house, we had an active social life with friends and were heavily involved in church activities. We both had good jobs and were finally secure - well, for a while, at least. Then I got laid off and eventually my husband - who was a master salesman that won every sales contest imaginable and took us on many great company-paid vacations, started hitting a brick wall in his career efforts. What in the world was going on? We were strong in our walk with the LORD, and all of a sudden we were really struggling financially. It wasn't the first time. In our twenties we had made dumb financial mistakes, but now we should have been better stewards with our resources. Yet, the well was drying up. Towards the last part of the decade we realized that it was God's plan to take us out of corporate America and use us in full-time ministry. My husband became a pastor and we moved from Kentucky to Colorado. After a few years we moved from Colorado to Illinois. Yes, this ministry thing was indeed a journey that was driven by God. We learned that this journey often included bumps in the road and unexpected detours. At the age of 48, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a faith journey, for sure, and my God proved faithful, once again. I am so thankful that He has kept me and that I am now 4 years cancer-free. He opened my eyes to priorities once again and gave me just a little bit more wisdom as I hung onto His grace and sought His truth. I began to learn that obedience is a blessing and the presence of God was what I needed more than breath. He gave me both.
That brings me to the present decade. We moved to California nearly a year ago and my husband is a pastor who loves his job of helping people see their need for freedom and recovery as they surrender their lives to Jesus. He loves to tell our story of grace, forgiveness and redemption wherever and whenever God allows him to do so. He is a modern day evangelist and his passion for the LORD and for our family is an amazing blessing. I am in awe of how God transforms willing broken vessels. An awareness of His presence is at the center of our lives and marriage and we hang on for dear life with every new adventure He takes us on. We became grandparents this past year with our first grandchild, a precious little boy. Now, that, is a definite life-changer! Just when I think I've arrived and that I've finally matured enough to really start understanding life, God throws in a grandchild and we become like little children ourselves - quiet giddy - as we become bonkers over this little one who brings an entirely new dimension of love into our lives.
We have started to have a few maintenance issues with these earthly tents. Our models were created over half a century ago, but we are trusting that God will continue to give us the fuel and the upgrades we need to keep them well-maintained and functional on the road of this journey on which He has us. The teeth and the knees could use definite upgrades; our mental hard drives could use a re-boot every now and then; covering up grey hairs has become all too frequent and expensive and our propensity to sing jingles from too many commercials aired on the news channel that plays at least 50% of the time in our house has caused us to pause and realize we are not spring chickens any longer. But with all the stuff that makes us realize we are in the second half of this ballgame, we are more excited than ever to know that we will finish strong in this game of life. I hope I have at least 3 or 4 more decades to blog about before it's all over. And I'm sure God has so much more to teach me for every decade of "something" with which He graces me. But that's up to Him. He is the driver and He, alone, can navigate the twists and turns of my journey. I'm thankful He allows me to be along for the ride and that my journey is ever evolving until I reach my heavenly destination. That's where I will dance and sing even more boldly to the LORD and you could be privy to a new "Evolution of Dance" if you're up there with me. I hope you are!
From Psalm 71 - NLT: O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
17
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)