March Madness equates to basketball out the wazoo! Any good Kentucky girl recognizes March as a time for hoops and hoops and more hoops. Kentucky is a sea of bluegrass and blue Wildcat apparel. It's safe to say we know about religion in the bluegrass - the kind that has you sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, for sure. But maybe just as well or more celebrated is the kind of religion that has you sitting in the nosebleed section of Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY, for any given game if you are ever lucky enough to score tickets to see the beloved CATS. I've told people that it would be easier to get an organ transplant than to get a ticket to a ballgame to see the Kentucky Wildcats. All that to say, if you are from Kentucky, as I am, you know a little bit about basketball and you bleed blue throughout the year, but especially in March. The struggle is real to get our religions in the right order!
All this basketball excitement prompted me to think about a pretty common occurrence in the game of basketball. All basketball games have an offense and a defense. And most all basketball players commit offensive and/or defensive fouls. Some of those fouls lead to an opportunity for the person whom was fouled to take one or more free shots at the basketball goal without any hindrance. Free throws are the game of basketball's way of extending grace. You stand alone, unhindered and unopposed, at the line and aim towards the goal.
As humans, we commit fouls against others and they commit fouls against us. We have all done foul things and had foul things done to us. And we have all been given a chance to take a free throw towards the goal that really counts for eternity. That's a sweet picture. We have a chance to make something good come about from the bad. We get a free shot. Yea, that truly is grace. It's sweet victory.
So, I'll root for my CATS this March and I'll watch a variety of teams take on the excitement of March Madness. I'll see Cinderella teams win games as they win our hearts. Lots of fouls will be committed. Lots of free throws will be awarded. Some will be made and some will be missed. The parallels between the game of basketball and the reality of life will keep us on the edge of our seats.
The take-away from all this is simple. Fouls will occur. Free throws will occur. Some will make their shots. Some will miss their shots. Some will win and some will lose. All I know is that I'm a Kentucky girl who loves her CATS, but loves God even more. I'm grateful for grace and forgiveness. I'm grateful for the free shots I've been given when fouls have occurred. I'm grateful that there is a goal worth shooting for. I'm grateful for heaven. Yes, we may all have fouls in life, but we can also use those fouls to reach victory. Basically, we all get a free shot at some time or another! That's grace,
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Enough
Life is a cornucopia of emotions. Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. It's a day to reflect on whom and what we are grateful for. For some, it's about family and friends. For some, it's about survival. For some, it's about joy. For some, it's about pain. For some, it's about rest. For some, it's about busyness. For some, it's a day of celebration. For some, it's a day of anxiousness and loneliness. For all, it's still another day that we have been given, a day we are not promised. We choose whether that is a curse or a blessing. We choose whether that is enough.
I choose enough. This has been a hard and trying season for me. My emotions have been tested. They have proven to be fragile and I have had to dig deeper to rely on what I know to be true vs. what I feel to be relevant or disappointing. What I know is that God has given me a measure of faith. It is a seed that was planted in the fertile ground of my soul. My soul is nurtured as I feed and water it with the Word of God and His living Water. The Holy Spirit lives within me. He is not characteristic of me and my traits. He is true to His own identity. The Holy Spirit of God is always the same and He does not change according to the person that embodies Him. He relates to and identifies with Himself, not to us as individuals. In short, He speaks truth. That is comforting. That is enough.
I have needed to employ everything I have ever learned and come to know about surrender, forgiveness, truth, grace and contentment in recent months and weeks. It has not been easy, but it has been enough. It has not been a natural response or my first response, but it has been inevitable and it has been enough. I have sinned more than once in my emotions of hurt and rejection, but God's truth and grace brought me to repentance. I have been forgiven by God and I have forgiven others. It has been enough.
There is something about this kickoff season to family holidays that triggers our souls. Whatever is deep down in there, gets a little bit of a tasering during this time of year. We get jolted. If we have areas of hurt, they tend to get stirred up. If we have emptiness, it seems to feel like the hole just gets bigger during these days when everyone else seems to be celebrating. When everyone else is throwing confetti, many feel like burying under the covers and sleeping through it all. Those feelings cannot just be stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey. But they can be evaluated and appropriately dealt with and replaced with truth. We can validate that our feelings are real and that we certainly can't just ditch them. But we can also ask God to remind us of His truth and His faithfulness. We can pray and ask Him to replace doubt, fear, anxiety, loneliness and hurt with truth, love, grace, gratitude, praise and contentment. We can choose to call a friend or loved one and choose community over isolation. We can be with God and be with others. We can fight the urge to be alone in our pity party. Besides, those that have surrendered their hearts and will to Jesus are never alone. Sometimes we just have our backs turned to Him. He lovingly reaches out to us and turns us toward Him again, toward His love and comfort and joy. That is always Enough!
But let's be real. Not all circumstances, not all situations, not all people and families are peachy keen or honky dory. Some of them actually stink. But there is still a deeper more concrete truth. We can choose not to engage in dysfunction. We can choose to forgive as God has forgiven us. We can choose to be forgiven. We can choose grace. We can choose to focus on Who God is and what He has already done. He gave His only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for my sins and yours. If He never did another thing, THAT is enough. The struggle is to remember this truth.
In our pain and self focus, it is easy to forget that it's not all about us. But God is so wise to have put truth into the bible and into our hearts. We are to be thankful in all things and through all circumstances. That kind of thankfulness helps us focus on Enough. Not all things are good. Not even all people are good. But God is always good. He is a good good Father. He has reminded me, that even through things and people that haven't been so good, He can and does still bring good out of it all and through it all for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. He is the LORD of redemption and blessings. He is always Enough.
I choose enough. This has been a hard and trying season for me. My emotions have been tested. They have proven to be fragile and I have had to dig deeper to rely on what I know to be true vs. what I feel to be relevant or disappointing. What I know is that God has given me a measure of faith. It is a seed that was planted in the fertile ground of my soul. My soul is nurtured as I feed and water it with the Word of God and His living Water. The Holy Spirit lives within me. He is not characteristic of me and my traits. He is true to His own identity. The Holy Spirit of God is always the same and He does not change according to the person that embodies Him. He relates to and identifies with Himself, not to us as individuals. In short, He speaks truth. That is comforting. That is enough.
I have needed to employ everything I have ever learned and come to know about surrender, forgiveness, truth, grace and contentment in recent months and weeks. It has not been easy, but it has been enough. It has not been a natural response or my first response, but it has been inevitable and it has been enough. I have sinned more than once in my emotions of hurt and rejection, but God's truth and grace brought me to repentance. I have been forgiven by God and I have forgiven others. It has been enough.
There is something about this kickoff season to family holidays that triggers our souls. Whatever is deep down in there, gets a little bit of a tasering during this time of year. We get jolted. If we have areas of hurt, they tend to get stirred up. If we have emptiness, it seems to feel like the hole just gets bigger during these days when everyone else seems to be celebrating. When everyone else is throwing confetti, many feel like burying under the covers and sleeping through it all. Those feelings cannot just be stuffed like the Thanksgiving turkey. But they can be evaluated and appropriately dealt with and replaced with truth. We can validate that our feelings are real and that we certainly can't just ditch them. But we can also ask God to remind us of His truth and His faithfulness. We can pray and ask Him to replace doubt, fear, anxiety, loneliness and hurt with truth, love, grace, gratitude, praise and contentment. We can choose to call a friend or loved one and choose community over isolation. We can be with God and be with others. We can fight the urge to be alone in our pity party. Besides, those that have surrendered their hearts and will to Jesus are never alone. Sometimes we just have our backs turned to Him. He lovingly reaches out to us and turns us toward Him again, toward His love and comfort and joy. That is always Enough!
But let's be real. Not all circumstances, not all situations, not all people and families are peachy keen or honky dory. Some of them actually stink. But there is still a deeper more concrete truth. We can choose not to engage in dysfunction. We can choose to forgive as God has forgiven us. We can choose to be forgiven. We can choose grace. We can choose to focus on Who God is and what He has already done. He gave His only son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for my sins and yours. If He never did another thing, THAT is enough. The struggle is to remember this truth.
In our pain and self focus, it is easy to forget that it's not all about us. But God is so wise to have put truth into the bible and into our hearts. We are to be thankful in all things and through all circumstances. That kind of thankfulness helps us focus on Enough. Not all things are good. Not even all people are good. But God is always good. He is a good good Father. He has reminded me, that even through things and people that haven't been so good, He can and does still bring good out of it all and through it all for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. He is the LORD of redemption and blessings. He is always Enough.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Morals
If anything beneficial could come out of the distasteful political landscape of late, it may be that it could cause us to confront the lack of morals we, as a country, have espoused in recent years.
Morals. Every body's talking about morals all of a sudden. On any given day in modern society, they are a nuisance to many. Yet, this week, you would think "Leave it to Beaver" is once again the only type of entertainment consumed by the American public and that we all live and behave like the Waltons in our little houses on the prairie. I would love it if that were true, but that ship has long since sailed.
In the real world, I began to question the sincerity of a suddenly puritanical approach to American politics and society, in general. Ponder this, if you dare:
1. How many of the same people outraged over the terrible language Donald Trump uttered on tape some 11 years ago can claim they have always been morally upright in every way? Maybe a few, but probably not many.
2. How many of those who were the first to throw stones, might need to be reminded that God sees their own thoughts, hearts, words and deeds? A few indictments for moral failure may be in order, if we are in a court of honesty and transparency.
3. How many of us use foul language, ourselves? Do we have a potty mouth either in public, or in private? Have we ever had inappropriate sexual behavior that is outside of God's will?
4. How many of us are diligent to guard our eyes, ears, hearts and souls against immorality? Do we keep offensive things from entering our world? Here are some questions to help us answer honestly:
- Have I ever in the past viewed, or am I presently viewing, anything that could be considered pornographic or, at least, sexually promiscuous?
- Do I watch television shows and movies, read books, or consume any kind of content that has bad language, sexual intimacy or lewdness - for example, have I read or watched Fifty Shades of Grey, Magic Mike or the like? Do I ever see sex scenes on the TV shows I watch? Are shows like the Bachelor and the Bachelorette things I watch because the relationships are wholesome? Or am I aware that sex is the norm in that atmosphere?
- Do I listen to music with lyrics that consider sexual conquests an accomplishment? There is sexual innuendo in much of today's popular music genres. Do I consider that offensive? Especially, if the music is fun and I don't really listen to the words they are saying?
- Do I make excuses for any of the above to rationalize that it's different for me and it's somehow okay?
I'm not defending the mistakes of Donald Trump. He has made many. I could not and wouldn't even try. I have even been angered by his words in the past. It's never okay to denigrate others with our words or actions. I hope he has changed, or can change, because I know that no one is exempt from being redeemable, no matter what they have done or said.
But, I started taking an honest look at how hypocritical many of us can be. The point is not to exonerate him, but to show us how shallow our own views and hearts can be. Our own sin looks pretty ugly on someone else, doesn't it? It should, at least.
But then, maybe we're not really looking at ourselves because we think what we do, personally, doesn't really have an effect on anyone else. Especially, since we didn't say what he said! And it's unlikely, even if we did, that it would be broadcast for the whole world to hear.
I contend that many of us have our own vulgarity issues. Pornography, for instance, that can be found in many of the above examples, has an effect on God, ourselves, our families and our relationships. It's not harmless. A large percentage of men, and some women, really have an issue with this. Some of us have never gone there, but too many have.
So, really, many of us are not in a position to throw stones, insults and innuendos, lest they turn into boomerangs. I'm reminded that I should take care of my own shortcomings instead of broadcasting others'. Forgive me, Lord. For I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I don't think I'm alone in that.
Morals. Every body's talking about morals all of a sudden. On any given day in modern society, they are a nuisance to many. Yet, this week, you would think "Leave it to Beaver" is once again the only type of entertainment consumed by the American public and that we all live and behave like the Waltons in our little houses on the prairie. I would love it if that were true, but that ship has long since sailed.
In the real world, I began to question the sincerity of a suddenly puritanical approach to American politics and society, in general. Ponder this, if you dare:
1. How many of the same people outraged over the terrible language Donald Trump uttered on tape some 11 years ago can claim they have always been morally upright in every way? Maybe a few, but probably not many.
2. How many of those who were the first to throw stones, might need to be reminded that God sees their own thoughts, hearts, words and deeds? A few indictments for moral failure may be in order, if we are in a court of honesty and transparency.
3. How many of us use foul language, ourselves? Do we have a potty mouth either in public, or in private? Have we ever had inappropriate sexual behavior that is outside of God's will?
4. How many of us are diligent to guard our eyes, ears, hearts and souls against immorality? Do we keep offensive things from entering our world? Here are some questions to help us answer honestly:
- Have I ever in the past viewed, or am I presently viewing, anything that could be considered pornographic or, at least, sexually promiscuous?
- Do I watch television shows and movies, read books, or consume any kind of content that has bad language, sexual intimacy or lewdness - for example, have I read or watched Fifty Shades of Grey, Magic Mike or the like? Do I ever see sex scenes on the TV shows I watch? Are shows like the Bachelor and the Bachelorette things I watch because the relationships are wholesome? Or am I aware that sex is the norm in that atmosphere?
- Do I listen to music with lyrics that consider sexual conquests an accomplishment? There is sexual innuendo in much of today's popular music genres. Do I consider that offensive? Especially, if the music is fun and I don't really listen to the words they are saying?
- Do I make excuses for any of the above to rationalize that it's different for me and it's somehow okay?
I'm not defending the mistakes of Donald Trump. He has made many. I could not and wouldn't even try. I have even been angered by his words in the past. It's never okay to denigrate others with our words or actions. I hope he has changed, or can change, because I know that no one is exempt from being redeemable, no matter what they have done or said.
But, I started taking an honest look at how hypocritical many of us can be. The point is not to exonerate him, but to show us how shallow our own views and hearts can be. Our own sin looks pretty ugly on someone else, doesn't it? It should, at least.
But then, maybe we're not really looking at ourselves because we think what we do, personally, doesn't really have an effect on anyone else. Especially, since we didn't say what he said! And it's unlikely, even if we did, that it would be broadcast for the whole world to hear.
I contend that many of us have our own vulgarity issues. Pornography, for instance, that can be found in many of the above examples, has an effect on God, ourselves, our families and our relationships. It's not harmless. A large percentage of men, and some women, really have an issue with this. Some of us have never gone there, but too many have.
So, really, many of us are not in a position to throw stones, insults and innuendos, lest they turn into boomerangs. I'm reminded that I should take care of my own shortcomings instead of broadcasting others'. Forgive me, Lord. For I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I don't think I'm alone in that.
We can try to be good. But we are incapable of being good and embracing the morals that would honor God unless we know Him, personally. A Christian worldview is one in which we live and evaluate everything we do through the lens of a Christian perspective. We look at the life of Christ and we attempt to follow Him in obedience, in spirit and in truth. We fall short. It's not an easy path. We are humans and we tend to revert to human behavior which is sinful. We can be disobedient to God's Word and insist on doing things our own way. Or we can try our best to be obedient and rely on the Holy Spirit of God to help us be more like Jesus and carry out good behavior that we can't even begin to carry out in our own power. If we are willing, God is able to help us as an individual, and as a nation, to return to the morals that bring Him glory.
Monday, April 11, 2016
My Fight Song
I had a mammogram today. It's odd how you don't realize you are worried, but you wait a bit tensely for results. I got a good report, so I breathed a deep sigh of relief and a prayer of praise. I've now been a survivor of breast cancer for 6+ years and I'm grateful for each good report. It reminds me where my help comes from. My blessing of being cancer free had nothing to do with my ability to kick cancer's butt. I am convinced that God gave me the grace to survive. I'm even more confident that any healing I have experienced has come from His hand and not my ability to do it on my own.
I guess that is why I always pause when I hear people say, "I/they kicked cancer's butt!". I get where they are coming from. They are excited that they or a loved one has been victorious in the fight against cancer. They are just celebrating that. I cannot blame someone for celebrating the fact that they get to live another day and another season where cancer did not win, where they have survived the diagnosis. I understand and I really do love that song that goes something like, "This is my fight song, take back my life song", because it makes one feel encouraged and empowered.
I just don't happen to feel comfortable saying that I did anything in my own power. I didn't kick cancer's butt; my God did! I prayed. I believed God and He did it all. To say He saved me has layers and layers of truth and dimensions to it. He has saved me in so many ways. He saved my soul. He saved my marriage. He saved my life. Yes, I know Whom has saved me. I know where my help comes from: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth". Psalm 121:2
I do have a fight song. It's a praise song. It is one that goes like this, "Your praise will ever be on my lips"!
"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You— I whom You have delivered."
Psalm 72:23
"I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1
I am grateful today. My God continues to fight my battles and His praise will ever be on my lips!
I guess that is why I always pause when I hear people say, "I/they kicked cancer's butt!". I get where they are coming from. They are excited that they or a loved one has been victorious in the fight against cancer. They are just celebrating that. I cannot blame someone for celebrating the fact that they get to live another day and another season where cancer did not win, where they have survived the diagnosis. I understand and I really do love that song that goes something like, "This is my fight song, take back my life song", because it makes one feel encouraged and empowered.
I just don't happen to feel comfortable saying that I did anything in my own power. I didn't kick cancer's butt; my God did! I prayed. I believed God and He did it all. To say He saved me has layers and layers of truth and dimensions to it. He has saved me in so many ways. He saved my soul. He saved my marriage. He saved my life. Yes, I know Whom has saved me. I know where my help comes from: "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth". Psalm 121:2
I do have a fight song. It's a praise song. It is one that goes like this, "Your praise will ever be on my lips"!
"My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You— I whom You have delivered."
Psalm 72:23
"I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1
I am grateful today. My God continues to fight my battles and His praise will ever be on my lips!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
I Can Do Something!
I saw this quote pop up several times on Facebook today:
"I AM ONLY ONE, BUT I AM ONE.
I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING.
AND I WILL NOT LET WHAT I CANNOT DO INTERFERE WITH WHAT I CAN DO."
--Edward Everett Hale
It comes at a really good time, because my heart has been conflicted about speaking up or staying quite. I am impressed by God that there is always a BEST way of doing something. My heart should be right and I should pray before I post. I haven't always done that in the past. Sometimes I react, before I pray. It's all a part of the mess I am.
I know I'm a mess. I've said it before and I'll say it again. But, I don't say it as shamefully as it sounds. I say it with awareness that God has given me another opportunity to grow closer to Him in my messiness. I can struggle through the unrest in my spirit because I realize I've not allowed His Holy Spirit to go before my own reaction to things. I can be still and know that He is God and that He will give me peace as I keep my eyes on Him and trust Him to work all things out for His Glory. It's in this process that I learn hard lessons. He convicts me; then I surrender and ask for forgiveness. He forgives me and shows me His way.
God has road signs for me to follow His path all throughout His Word. Sometimes I cruise right along and, sometimes, I see a squirrel and do the off-road thing. It's usually only a temporary detour and I am thankful that when I get back on His path for me that He provides rest stops along the way. It's at these rest stops where He replenishes my soul and allows me to rest in His promises. He re-fuels my soul and gives my spirit and heart the boost I need to be as bold as I can be with as much humility as I can muster.
One of my sweet pleasures is to read the Psalms of the bible in the Message version. I don't exactly like every translation it gives in some of the more instructional books of the bible, but I love the prose and the beauty that is brought to life through this version of the Psalms. In Psalm 119 there is a verse that says, "I'm single-minded in pursuit of You; don't let me miss the road signs You've posted. I've banked Your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt". This speaks loudly to me. I'm always tapping into the vault of my heart to remember and live in God's promises. Every time I sin, I'm reminded of the cost. I don't want to continue on that road. I don't want to bankrupt my soul, so I pursue God very purposefully so I can follow His road signs.
I've needed to reconcile my heart and soul with the heart of God. My heart was in accord with His, but my delivery was a detour from His chosen path. As always, I am drawn back to the road to reconciliation. That is one of the things I've grown to love about the Holy Spirit living within me. He points me in the right direction; He points me to the Father, always. And, He is patiently leading me back to the path He has me on.
Recent cultural events have left me distressed in my spirit. My heart wants to rise up in defense of certain things: for what I know to be good and right. My heart aches for the helpless and injustice makes me want to spring into action. Unfortunately, I often use my head and tongue instead of my heart and prayers. I try to rally support and I end up doing and saying things that were all me and less of what God intends. It affects my soul and it affects my spirit. It is a detour to what God intends.
This happened recently as I "liked" and "shared" many things I'm passionate about on Facebook. I cannot even wrap my heart and mind around the concept of the abortion business in this country and in the world. Even when revealing facts came out to expose it, recently, people continued to deny the evil it portrayed, and some even rallied to defend how noble people in this industry were. I thought my head was going to spin around and explode in fury as I read about the rationalizations that people have to defend those in this industry who seem to be immune to the plight of helpless children in the womb. They say the good outweighs the bad. I say that we should dig for truth and examine the evidence. I'm fully aware of "Talking Points" that are in place by communication departments of organizations to be utilized when speaking to the press or public. In cases of publicity crisis, you will see the same rote talking points used as a defense to fend off the crisis. We have seen that with the recent response to the telling videos that came out to expose the practices of Planned Parenthood. What they deem "good" is made to look much better than it is and it is inflated to appear to be a necessity to women's health. There are so many more and better options, but people don't look any further to find out for themselves. They simply believe the talking points manufactured by the organization.
My heart has been, and still is, to speak out for the helpless, but I allowed my flesh to react to the injustice of it all. I should have been driven to intense prayer. Instead, I was driven to intellectually amassing as much information as possible so I could know the truth and defend it. My thought was to make people aware of the injustice. When they saw it, how could they continue to keep their heads in the sand or turn a blind eye to such atrocities? Indeed. I'm not really sure of the human psyche, but I quickly realized that people will ignore you and give you the cold shoulder if you speak out about things that are not politically correct. They will deem you negative to even bring it up. They will judge you for sharing such things on Facebook. Everyone seems to be free to post about whatever cause or issue they deem acceptable on Facebook. I have learned that killing babies for profit and asking people to look for truth in politics are not among the things people find acceptable. I honestly feel ostracized for even voicing an opinion. I'm aware that people didn't ask me to be their educator and I quickly realized I needed to step back and pray more than post.
I don't believe I was wrong to share facts that can educate others, but I do believe my reactions of disgust for these people were not surrendered to God. My heart was not exactly right towards them. That is where I felt my spirit in need of reconciliation. I will always continue to advocate for those that are the least of us. I will always give a voice to those who aren't allowed to ever have one. I will always rally to champion a true and deserving underdog. What I will not do is continue to try to do it in my own strength and in my own way. I am one person and I will continue to do what God gives me the grace and peace to do. I will speak only when I have prayed about it long and hard. The truth remains - somebody has to speak. It may not be me, but, if God allows me, why not me?
I believe I can effect the most change in this world through prayer. That doesn't mean I won't "like" things that spur passion within me or "share" things that can educate people with truth about important issues. It does mean I will have my heart in the right place before I do it and I will pray for God's direction. It means that I will yield to God's direction on this journey I am on. I will look for His road signs and I will purpose to be reconciled to Him and His ways so I can be someone who builds bridges instead of one that puts up road blocks in this Road to Reconciliation to our Savior and His ways.
I know I will never argue anyone over to the way I see things. But with the right heart and attitude, I may just be able to pray them into the Kingdom of God!
"I AM ONLY ONE, BUT I AM ONE.
I CANNOT DO EVERYTHING, BUT I CAN DO SOMETHING.
AND I WILL NOT LET WHAT I CANNOT DO INTERFERE WITH WHAT I CAN DO."
--Edward Everett Hale
It comes at a really good time, because my heart has been conflicted about speaking up or staying quite. I am impressed by God that there is always a BEST way of doing something. My heart should be right and I should pray before I post. I haven't always done that in the past. Sometimes I react, before I pray. It's all a part of the mess I am.
I know I'm a mess. I've said it before and I'll say it again. But, I don't say it as shamefully as it sounds. I say it with awareness that God has given me another opportunity to grow closer to Him in my messiness. I can struggle through the unrest in my spirit because I realize I've not allowed His Holy Spirit to go before my own reaction to things. I can be still and know that He is God and that He will give me peace as I keep my eyes on Him and trust Him to work all things out for His Glory. It's in this process that I learn hard lessons. He convicts me; then I surrender and ask for forgiveness. He forgives me and shows me His way.
God has road signs for me to follow His path all throughout His Word. Sometimes I cruise right along and, sometimes, I see a squirrel and do the off-road thing. It's usually only a temporary detour and I am thankful that when I get back on His path for me that He provides rest stops along the way. It's at these rest stops where He replenishes my soul and allows me to rest in His promises. He re-fuels my soul and gives my spirit and heart the boost I need to be as bold as I can be with as much humility as I can muster.
One of my sweet pleasures is to read the Psalms of the bible in the Message version. I don't exactly like every translation it gives in some of the more instructional books of the bible, but I love the prose and the beauty that is brought to life through this version of the Psalms. In Psalm 119 there is a verse that says, "I'm single-minded in pursuit of You; don't let me miss the road signs You've posted. I've banked Your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt". This speaks loudly to me. I'm always tapping into the vault of my heart to remember and live in God's promises. Every time I sin, I'm reminded of the cost. I don't want to continue on that road. I don't want to bankrupt my soul, so I pursue God very purposefully so I can follow His road signs.
I've needed to reconcile my heart and soul with the heart of God. My heart was in accord with His, but my delivery was a detour from His chosen path. As always, I am drawn back to the road to reconciliation. That is one of the things I've grown to love about the Holy Spirit living within me. He points me in the right direction; He points me to the Father, always. And, He is patiently leading me back to the path He has me on.
Recent cultural events have left me distressed in my spirit. My heart wants to rise up in defense of certain things: for what I know to be good and right. My heart aches for the helpless and injustice makes me want to spring into action. Unfortunately, I often use my head and tongue instead of my heart and prayers. I try to rally support and I end up doing and saying things that were all me and less of what God intends. It affects my soul and it affects my spirit. It is a detour to what God intends.
This happened recently as I "liked" and "shared" many things I'm passionate about on Facebook. I cannot even wrap my heart and mind around the concept of the abortion business in this country and in the world. Even when revealing facts came out to expose it, recently, people continued to deny the evil it portrayed, and some even rallied to defend how noble people in this industry were. I thought my head was going to spin around and explode in fury as I read about the rationalizations that people have to defend those in this industry who seem to be immune to the plight of helpless children in the womb. They say the good outweighs the bad. I say that we should dig for truth and examine the evidence. I'm fully aware of "Talking Points" that are in place by communication departments of organizations to be utilized when speaking to the press or public. In cases of publicity crisis, you will see the same rote talking points used as a defense to fend off the crisis. We have seen that with the recent response to the telling videos that came out to expose the practices of Planned Parenthood. What they deem "good" is made to look much better than it is and it is inflated to appear to be a necessity to women's health. There are so many more and better options, but people don't look any further to find out for themselves. They simply believe the talking points manufactured by the organization.
My heart has been, and still is, to speak out for the helpless, but I allowed my flesh to react to the injustice of it all. I should have been driven to intense prayer. Instead, I was driven to intellectually amassing as much information as possible so I could know the truth and defend it. My thought was to make people aware of the injustice. When they saw it, how could they continue to keep their heads in the sand or turn a blind eye to such atrocities? Indeed. I'm not really sure of the human psyche, but I quickly realized that people will ignore you and give you the cold shoulder if you speak out about things that are not politically correct. They will deem you negative to even bring it up. They will judge you for sharing such things on Facebook. Everyone seems to be free to post about whatever cause or issue they deem acceptable on Facebook. I have learned that killing babies for profit and asking people to look for truth in politics are not among the things people find acceptable. I honestly feel ostracized for even voicing an opinion. I'm aware that people didn't ask me to be their educator and I quickly realized I needed to step back and pray more than post.
I don't believe I was wrong to share facts that can educate others, but I do believe my reactions of disgust for these people were not surrendered to God. My heart was not exactly right towards them. That is where I felt my spirit in need of reconciliation. I will always continue to advocate for those that are the least of us. I will always give a voice to those who aren't allowed to ever have one. I will always rally to champion a true and deserving underdog. What I will not do is continue to try to do it in my own strength and in my own way. I am one person and I will continue to do what God gives me the grace and peace to do. I will speak only when I have prayed about it long and hard. The truth remains - somebody has to speak. It may not be me, but, if God allows me, why not me?
I believe I can effect the most change in this world through prayer. That doesn't mean I won't "like" things that spur passion within me or "share" things that can educate people with truth about important issues. It does mean I will have my heart in the right place before I do it and I will pray for God's direction. It means that I will yield to God's direction on this journey I am on. I will look for His road signs and I will purpose to be reconciled to Him and His ways so I can be someone who builds bridges instead of one that puts up road blocks in this Road to Reconciliation to our Savior and His ways.
I know I will never argue anyone over to the way I see things. But with the right heart and attitude, I may just be able to pray them into the Kingdom of God!
Friday, July 3, 2015
God's Plan for our Supernatural Life
God created the world. Then He created man. He created a woman to compliment the man. He gave these humans free-will to choose to love and worship Him on their own. The humans chose to rebel against God and left us all in a big messy broken world. (Side Note: We could have had it all, but we chose to fall…story of much human history, unfortunately). In concert with this, God created angels in heaven and to minister to people on earth. One angel, Lucifer, got a little greedy and wanted God's job. God threw him and some other rebellious demons out of heaven. Lucifer is also known as Satan and he and his demons create havoc in our world of confused humans, chaos and sin. God gave them permission to do so until He puts an end to it all. Oh what a tangled web we have woven in this fallen world. Sin separates us from God…but He did….and still does….have a Plan to redeem us. That Plan of redemption can translate into pure LOVE.
So, the only way to atone for the sin of the world and its rebellious people was for God to present a sinless sacrifice to pay for the sins of humans. Jesus, the Son of God and the Savior of the world, is God's redemption plan. Jesus is one of God's trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three, yet One. It's complicated, but its a Genius plan to bring about the Divine Supernatural in a limited natural world. Jesus came as the Messiah. He taught the love, grace and truth of God and invited disciples to follow Him. Jesus is the Catalyst for every good change in the world because it is only through Him that we can truly know the Father and be forgiven for our sins. He taught His disciples to follow Him so the world would still know about Him after He left the earth. As part of God's redemption plan, Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins. He rose again in 3 days and proceeded to rally His disciples to be world changers. To help them effect this change, Jesus spent a short time with the disciples and then ascended up into heaven to be with the Father. But He promises to return some day and bring us all to heaven with Him. That is our Hope and Promise. But, God did not leave us alone to figure out how to navigate this fallen world. He left His Word so we could know His heart and His ways and He placed His Holy Spirit within the lives and persons of the disciples and every other person who chooses to put their trust in Jesus Christ and be forgiven for their sins. Again, complicated in a natural sense, but brilliant in a Supernatural sense!
Now, before God sent Jesus to this earth, He used many humans to bring about His plans. God is still in the business of using people to bring about His plans. We read about great heroes of the faith, but we can also be used by God to be great disciples and heroes of the faith. The requirement is saying "Yes" to God, agreeing with Him and following His Son, Jesus Christ. The bonus factor is that His Holy Spirit is still our gift for those who trust Jesus and invite Him to be our LORD and Savior. We are not alone when we become adopted into the family of God. We have the same power within us that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and help us in every way. We are born as part of the natural world, but we are adopted into the Supernatural world of the life of Christ when we choose to live a new life in the forgiveness and power of Christ. Do you think a second birth or being born again is unnatural. Again, it is complicated. It is God's Supernatural way of making us His children. We were children of the world, separated from the life and love of Christ, but He made a Supernatural way for us to be reconciled to Christ and to Himself. Just Brilliant!
One of the great heroes of faith was Moses. In the Old Testament, God recruited this 80 year old man who had floundered his way into the desert of life to be a World Changer. God's people, the Israelites, had been taken into slavery by the cruel Egyptians. Moses was overwhelmed at the prospect of the calling God had on his life. He thought He couldn't do what God was asking, but God gave Him His power to complete the task. It was a hairy ride, but Moses ended up leading the Israelites out of captivity. They were headed to the promised land that God had promised them, but human nature overtook the memories of all the Supernatural miracles that God had demonstrated by delivering His people from bondage. People began to forget the awesomeness of God and look to their own human efforts or to place hope in little false gods to help them on their way. Because of their lack of faith and rebellious attitudes, sin - in short, they wandered around aimlessly in the desert to 40 years. We humans have always made it harder on ourselves than we need to, but we do it because we think we have better ideas than God on how we can get where we need to go. The inner Israelite is alive and well in all of us, still today.
We are bent on thinking we know better than God. Remember that evil little trouble-maker, Satan, and his bothersome little demons? They were the original minions, but not quite as lovable, by any means. Yeah, they are very instrumental in biting at our heels, infecting our minds and influencing our hearts with false dreams and lies. We fall for it all, just like the Israelites did. Because of it, we are in bondage and we keep running around in circles, stuck in our own sin. You would think we could take a history lesson and spiritual inventory to get us on the right track. We could, if we invited the Holy Spirit to have His way in our minds, hearts and lives. Ah yes, that is the rub. We have to surrender our thinking and living into the hands of an Almighty God if we want to be free of sin and reach our promised land. God's people eventually reached their promised land, but Moses messed up and had to turn over the mantle and, consequently and very sadly, never got to see the Promised Land for himself. God used another willing servant to lead His people. Only a few were willing to be led by God. They enacted the promises of God. They chose the Supernatural over the natural. Then, they realized the promises of God.
There are so many other stories in the bible of God using people, all imperfect people, to carry out His plans. Please delve into the pages of life and learn about the goodness of God. Love does win when it is a love that is redeemed through the grace and truth of God. Sometimes it doesn't seem natural, it is difficult to understand and follow, but that is because we are not meant to follow the natural. We are meant to follow the Supernatural.
I leave you with one of my very favorite passages from the bible. Many people quote Jeremiah 29:11 and talk about God's great plan for their lives. They grasp it with both hands and declare that God has a plan for their lives. It is true. God does have a plan for the life of every single person on this earth. That plan is for them to realize the beauty of knowing Him and living their lives for Him. The subsequent verses of Jeremiah 29:12-14 hold the key to the Plan. I love that the Holy Spirit revealed this plan to me. He told me that my own plan did not resemble His plan for me. I think it's safe to say that His plan for us may look way different than our plans for ourselves. Yet, His Plan is a Perfect Plan. His plan is one that brings us out of the bondage of our sin and into beautiful communion with Him. His Plan is that we know Him and walk with Him. His Plan is that we experience the true Joy of the LORD, by surrendering to His Plan and letting Him lead us into the promised land of blessings. There will be sufferings along the way. That is life. But His Plan always includes His Presence. That is more than enough for me. It is also more than enough for you. I pray that we can embrace His Plan and walk in true love and freedom in the wonderful Supernatural life He has for us.
So, the only way to atone for the sin of the world and its rebellious people was for God to present a sinless sacrifice to pay for the sins of humans. Jesus, the Son of God and the Savior of the world, is God's redemption plan. Jesus is one of God's trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three, yet One. It's complicated, but its a Genius plan to bring about the Divine Supernatural in a limited natural world. Jesus came as the Messiah. He taught the love, grace and truth of God and invited disciples to follow Him. Jesus is the Catalyst for every good change in the world because it is only through Him that we can truly know the Father and be forgiven for our sins. He taught His disciples to follow Him so the world would still know about Him after He left the earth. As part of God's redemption plan, Jesus was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins. He rose again in 3 days and proceeded to rally His disciples to be world changers. To help them effect this change, Jesus spent a short time with the disciples and then ascended up into heaven to be with the Father. But He promises to return some day and bring us all to heaven with Him. That is our Hope and Promise. But, God did not leave us alone to figure out how to navigate this fallen world. He left His Word so we could know His heart and His ways and He placed His Holy Spirit within the lives and persons of the disciples and every other person who chooses to put their trust in Jesus Christ and be forgiven for their sins. Again, complicated in a natural sense, but brilliant in a Supernatural sense!
Now, before God sent Jesus to this earth, He used many humans to bring about His plans. God is still in the business of using people to bring about His plans. We read about great heroes of the faith, but we can also be used by God to be great disciples and heroes of the faith. The requirement is saying "Yes" to God, agreeing with Him and following His Son, Jesus Christ. The bonus factor is that His Holy Spirit is still our gift for those who trust Jesus and invite Him to be our LORD and Savior. We are not alone when we become adopted into the family of God. We have the same power within us that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and help us in every way. We are born as part of the natural world, but we are adopted into the Supernatural world of the life of Christ when we choose to live a new life in the forgiveness and power of Christ. Do you think a second birth or being born again is unnatural. Again, it is complicated. It is God's Supernatural way of making us His children. We were children of the world, separated from the life and love of Christ, but He made a Supernatural way for us to be reconciled to Christ and to Himself. Just Brilliant!
One of the great heroes of faith was Moses. In the Old Testament, God recruited this 80 year old man who had floundered his way into the desert of life to be a World Changer. God's people, the Israelites, had been taken into slavery by the cruel Egyptians. Moses was overwhelmed at the prospect of the calling God had on his life. He thought He couldn't do what God was asking, but God gave Him His power to complete the task. It was a hairy ride, but Moses ended up leading the Israelites out of captivity. They were headed to the promised land that God had promised them, but human nature overtook the memories of all the Supernatural miracles that God had demonstrated by delivering His people from bondage. People began to forget the awesomeness of God and look to their own human efforts or to place hope in little false gods to help them on their way. Because of their lack of faith and rebellious attitudes, sin - in short, they wandered around aimlessly in the desert to 40 years. We humans have always made it harder on ourselves than we need to, but we do it because we think we have better ideas than God on how we can get where we need to go. The inner Israelite is alive and well in all of us, still today.
We are bent on thinking we know better than God. Remember that evil little trouble-maker, Satan, and his bothersome little demons? They were the original minions, but not quite as lovable, by any means. Yeah, they are very instrumental in biting at our heels, infecting our minds and influencing our hearts with false dreams and lies. We fall for it all, just like the Israelites did. Because of it, we are in bondage and we keep running around in circles, stuck in our own sin. You would think we could take a history lesson and spiritual inventory to get us on the right track. We could, if we invited the Holy Spirit to have His way in our minds, hearts and lives. Ah yes, that is the rub. We have to surrender our thinking and living into the hands of an Almighty God if we want to be free of sin and reach our promised land. God's people eventually reached their promised land, but Moses messed up and had to turn over the mantle and, consequently and very sadly, never got to see the Promised Land for himself. God used another willing servant to lead His people. Only a few were willing to be led by God. They enacted the promises of God. They chose the Supernatural over the natural. Then, they realized the promises of God.
There are so many other stories in the bible of God using people, all imperfect people, to carry out His plans. Please delve into the pages of life and learn about the goodness of God. Love does win when it is a love that is redeemed through the grace and truth of God. Sometimes it doesn't seem natural, it is difficult to understand and follow, but that is because we are not meant to follow the natural. We are meant to follow the Supernatural.
I leave you with one of my very favorite passages from the bible. Many people quote Jeremiah 29:11 and talk about God's great plan for their lives. They grasp it with both hands and declare that God has a plan for their lives. It is true. God does have a plan for the life of every single person on this earth. That plan is for them to realize the beauty of knowing Him and living their lives for Him. The subsequent verses of Jeremiah 29:12-14 hold the key to the Plan. I love that the Holy Spirit revealed this plan to me. He told me that my own plan did not resemble His plan for me. I think it's safe to say that His plan for us may look way different than our plans for ourselves. Yet, His Plan is a Perfect Plan. His plan is one that brings us out of the bondage of our sin and into beautiful communion with Him. His Plan is that we know Him and walk with Him. His Plan is that we experience the true Joy of the LORD, by surrendering to His Plan and letting Him lead us into the promised land of blessings. There will be sufferings along the way. That is life. But His Plan always includes His Presence. That is more than enough for me. It is also more than enough for you. I pray that we can embrace His Plan and walk in true love and freedom in the wonderful Supernatural life He has for us.
Jeremiah 29:11-14New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Looking at Pride
As a human, I struggle with pride. Truth be told, so do you. Pride is the thing that got Satan thrown out of heaven. It was a pride that led to jealousy and greed. Satan wanted God's power. He wanted to be the boss. He wanted to be God. He failed. He never will be God, but he continues to deceive our human minds and hearts because he knows we have that tendency to do just as he did; he knows we also want to be our own boss and play God. We can try, but we will always fail, just as Satan did.
So what is this inherent struggle with pride? It is a spiritual battle that is bigger than we could ever imagine. It is a daily battle. A healthy dose of pride in things that are good and right can quickly turn into an overdose of entitlement. We can choose to follow our feelings, our intellect and the world, and soon be embedded into the fabric of every emotion that tells us we should be proud to have autonomy in any area of our life that we perceive to make us or others happy. What may have initially been innocent can turn into a power struggle and we want to win at all costs.
In short, pride that is used in the wrong way is like a twin sister to following our own selfish desires, regardless of what God says about the matter. Pride tells us we can make our own rules, because, after all, aren't we the boss of our own life? We do make our own choices, but we have to live out the consequences of those choices. Happiness is not always at the end of this fallacious rainbow that we have concocted. There is seldom a pot of gold in our future as consequences play out in the lives of those of us who try to play God. As a matter of fact, playing God can never end well. It will likely get us thrown out of that which was good and leave us suffering the consequences of our pride. Satan roams the earth looking for those whom he can devour. I can often identify with feeling like I've been his main course for many a meal. It could have been avoided if I had not let pride be my guide. Indeed, my way is often a result of being tempted and devoured by Satan.
In contrast, the bible teaches us that we should boast only in that which glorifies the Lord Jesus. Whatever we do that is good can only be attributed to His grace and the power we have through His Holy Spirit. Daily surrender and dying to our selfish desires means that we can wave the banner of Jesus with the right motives, but we cannot take any credit for what He does in and through us. There is a fine line sometimes, as our human nature struggles with the need to be significant and accepted. We can easily start to feel "accomplished", when we should be careful to put on the armor of God daily, lest we become swallowed up in our own accomplishments. Putting on God's armor, our intentional act of arming ourselves daily with His truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Word, and utilizing prayer to help us resist the temptations of Satan, is key to helping us fight the daily spiritual battle and become victorious in living a life that glorifies Christ.
I am aware that this type of talk sounds mysterious to so many. It is mysterious because it is foreign to those who do not know God or study His Word. I don't say that as a condemnation. I say that as an awareness that God provides wonderful resources and tools for us to resist the temptations of Satan, for us to resist pride and choose humility, for us to die daily to our flesh and put on Christ. That translates into living a life that honors Christ and obeys His teachings, a life that "gets to" follow God - not one that "has to" follow some legalistic rules. It is in that truth that we can learn to resist the lies and temptations that bombard us. We can appropriately utilize pride to boast in Jesus, to be bold in and for Him.
And that leads me to another thing that has been happening to Bill and I for years in ministry. To many onlookers, especially if they don't take time to talk to or know an individual, boldness can be mistaken as pride. My husband will be the first to tell you that he struggles with pride, but he will also be the first to boast only in Jesus and continually pray that God helps him surrender to humility. But, is he bold? You bet your sweet bippy he is! He is a New York Italian - not an excuse, but definitely a revelation! Every place we have been in ministry, we have experienced judgment of his bold personality. If they could only see his family and fellow New Yorkers, they may begin to understand that he is a bit like a church mouse compared to them…lol. Anyway, all that to say that he has been severely mis-characterized for his boldness. It just happened again recently and it was extremely vicious this time. It's not new to us, but it is hurtful. We can only view it as spiritual warfare. He was accused of being prideful, among other serious accusations, but I have watched my husband respond, yet again, with great humility in the face of criticism. Honestly, I wanted to respond in a way that would make my Hatfield ancestors proud of their spirited descendant - but I quickly realized my fleshly reaction was a bit prideful and would be just what the enemy wanted. I resisted the temptation to respond and put this guy in his place. I resisted the temptation to set the matter straight. I surrendered it to God, just as my husband already had, and trust that He will fight for us. Bill took the proper steps to meet with this individual and allow him to direct his criticisms to him in person and aim for reconciliation. That, by the way, is the biblical way to deal with conflict. I don't know what this person's motives were to do and say what he did, but he made sure he did it in a very public way and he has never even talked directly to Bill. I do know one thing. Once anyone takes the time to talk to and know the person who is behind my husband's boldness, they will see Jesus in him, because he boasts about Jesus all day long and starts afresh with each new day. There, I got that off my chest!
I know this has been lengthy, but that's no surprise to anyone who reads what I write and listens to me "talk out loud" through my writings. God put this subject on my heart today and I just wanted to share it. Pride seems to be all over the news these days. Let's make sure it is used appropriately. When Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives, before Jesus was seized for crucifixion, He gave the disciples an instruction to "Pray that you will not fall into temptation". What did they do? They fell asleep. I think Jesus is urging us today to also, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation". I don't want to fall asleep and be oblivious that Jesus wants us to be bold for Him. I don't want to take pride in anything but Jesus Christ. I don't want to be tempted by Satan to follow the crowd. I want to do exactly what Jesus wants me to do. I want to pray and resist temptation. He will show me how to do the rest. He will show us all if we can surrender our own pride and put on the armor of God.
So what is this inherent struggle with pride? It is a spiritual battle that is bigger than we could ever imagine. It is a daily battle. A healthy dose of pride in things that are good and right can quickly turn into an overdose of entitlement. We can choose to follow our feelings, our intellect and the world, and soon be embedded into the fabric of every emotion that tells us we should be proud to have autonomy in any area of our life that we perceive to make us or others happy. What may have initially been innocent can turn into a power struggle and we want to win at all costs.
In short, pride that is used in the wrong way is like a twin sister to following our own selfish desires, regardless of what God says about the matter. Pride tells us we can make our own rules, because, after all, aren't we the boss of our own life? We do make our own choices, but we have to live out the consequences of those choices. Happiness is not always at the end of this fallacious rainbow that we have concocted. There is seldom a pot of gold in our future as consequences play out in the lives of those of us who try to play God. As a matter of fact, playing God can never end well. It will likely get us thrown out of that which was good and leave us suffering the consequences of our pride. Satan roams the earth looking for those whom he can devour. I can often identify with feeling like I've been his main course for many a meal. It could have been avoided if I had not let pride be my guide. Indeed, my way is often a result of being tempted and devoured by Satan.
In contrast, the bible teaches us that we should boast only in that which glorifies the Lord Jesus. Whatever we do that is good can only be attributed to His grace and the power we have through His Holy Spirit. Daily surrender and dying to our selfish desires means that we can wave the banner of Jesus with the right motives, but we cannot take any credit for what He does in and through us. There is a fine line sometimes, as our human nature struggles with the need to be significant and accepted. We can easily start to feel "accomplished", when we should be careful to put on the armor of God daily, lest we become swallowed up in our own accomplishments. Putting on God's armor, our intentional act of arming ourselves daily with His truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and Word, and utilizing prayer to help us resist the temptations of Satan, is key to helping us fight the daily spiritual battle and become victorious in living a life that glorifies Christ.
I am aware that this type of talk sounds mysterious to so many. It is mysterious because it is foreign to those who do not know God or study His Word. I don't say that as a condemnation. I say that as an awareness that God provides wonderful resources and tools for us to resist the temptations of Satan, for us to resist pride and choose humility, for us to die daily to our flesh and put on Christ. That translates into living a life that honors Christ and obeys His teachings, a life that "gets to" follow God - not one that "has to" follow some legalistic rules. It is in that truth that we can learn to resist the lies and temptations that bombard us. We can appropriately utilize pride to boast in Jesus, to be bold in and for Him.
And that leads me to another thing that has been happening to Bill and I for years in ministry. To many onlookers, especially if they don't take time to talk to or know an individual, boldness can be mistaken as pride. My husband will be the first to tell you that he struggles with pride, but he will also be the first to boast only in Jesus and continually pray that God helps him surrender to humility. But, is he bold? You bet your sweet bippy he is! He is a New York Italian - not an excuse, but definitely a revelation! Every place we have been in ministry, we have experienced judgment of his bold personality. If they could only see his family and fellow New Yorkers, they may begin to understand that he is a bit like a church mouse compared to them…lol. Anyway, all that to say that he has been severely mis-characterized for his boldness. It just happened again recently and it was extremely vicious this time. It's not new to us, but it is hurtful. We can only view it as spiritual warfare. He was accused of being prideful, among other serious accusations, but I have watched my husband respond, yet again, with great humility in the face of criticism. Honestly, I wanted to respond in a way that would make my Hatfield ancestors proud of their spirited descendant - but I quickly realized my fleshly reaction was a bit prideful and would be just what the enemy wanted. I resisted the temptation to respond and put this guy in his place. I resisted the temptation to set the matter straight. I surrendered it to God, just as my husband already had, and trust that He will fight for us. Bill took the proper steps to meet with this individual and allow him to direct his criticisms to him in person and aim for reconciliation. That, by the way, is the biblical way to deal with conflict. I don't know what this person's motives were to do and say what he did, but he made sure he did it in a very public way and he has never even talked directly to Bill. I do know one thing. Once anyone takes the time to talk to and know the person who is behind my husband's boldness, they will see Jesus in him, because he boasts about Jesus all day long and starts afresh with each new day. There, I got that off my chest!
I know this has been lengthy, but that's no surprise to anyone who reads what I write and listens to me "talk out loud" through my writings. God put this subject on my heart today and I just wanted to share it. Pride seems to be all over the news these days. Let's make sure it is used appropriately. When Jesus and the disciples went to the Mount of Olives, before Jesus was seized for crucifixion, He gave the disciples an instruction to "Pray that you will not fall into temptation". What did they do? They fell asleep. I think Jesus is urging us today to also, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation". I don't want to fall asleep and be oblivious that Jesus wants us to be bold for Him. I don't want to take pride in anything but Jesus Christ. I don't want to be tempted by Satan to follow the crowd. I want to do exactly what Jesus wants me to do. I want to pray and resist temptation. He will show me how to do the rest. He will show us all if we can surrender our own pride and put on the armor of God.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Hooked on a feeling!
We are a society rooted in feelings. Feelings are real and feelings are important, but feelings can be downright deceiving, also. I cannot tell you how many times I have come to my senses after an emotional crash or outburst and wondered how I ever got so wrapped up in my fleeting emotions. I've had arguments; had my feelings hurt; hurt others; attended one too many pity parties; been sucked into the enemy's lies that my feelings are all that matter - in the moment. Thank God for eventual moments of clarity. And thank God that He reached into my deceived heart and mind and continues to show me that His truth trumps my feelings.
The bible talks about taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Yes, that darned obedience thing! Translated, that means that, whatever I feel, I should stop and ask the Holy Spirit of God to help me weigh it's validity alongside His truth. My feelings are real, but do they reflect truth and do they honor God?
I still struggle with feelings. And I still struggle with sin. God has saved me, not yet perfected me. But He delights in loving me and teaching me His ways. It's how I get to know Him and love Him more. I think of my own struggles and God's grace to make me aware of the devil's plan to destroy me. Satan used my feelings to hurt me and string me along for so many years. He almost did me in. But God!!!
God has shown me a better way. I can listen to His voice and know His truth, instead of being led astray by my feelings. And when my feelings are on point, He affirms me. That's when His Holy Spirit whispers to me and I know the sound of my Savior's voice. If I'm gonna be hooked on a feeling, it's gonna be a feeling of gratitude that my God is in control of my life and I am not.
I'm no better than anyone else who gets sucker-punched by our feelings. I'm compassionate to the havoc left in the wake of an emotional train wreck. But I do know that God gives us all an opportunity to choose His truth over our feelings. It's our option to follow our feelings or to follow our God. It's not always easy, because we often have to deny ourselves in this choice. But it is possible to choose God and His truth. He makes it possible. When He says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, it includes surrender. We can surrender our feelings to God's truth and ways if we choose to do so. Following our feelings can lead to mistakes. Following God's truth can keep us from making mistakes. Choose wisely.
The bible talks about taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Yes, that darned obedience thing! Translated, that means that, whatever I feel, I should stop and ask the Holy Spirit of God to help me weigh it's validity alongside His truth. My feelings are real, but do they reflect truth and do they honor God?
I still struggle with feelings. And I still struggle with sin. God has saved me, not yet perfected me. But He delights in loving me and teaching me His ways. It's how I get to know Him and love Him more. I think of my own struggles and God's grace to make me aware of the devil's plan to destroy me. Satan used my feelings to hurt me and string me along for so many years. He almost did me in. But God!!!
God has shown me a better way. I can listen to His voice and know His truth, instead of being led astray by my feelings. And when my feelings are on point, He affirms me. That's when His Holy Spirit whispers to me and I know the sound of my Savior's voice. If I'm gonna be hooked on a feeling, it's gonna be a feeling of gratitude that my God is in control of my life and I am not.
I'm no better than anyone else who gets sucker-punched by our feelings. I'm compassionate to the havoc left in the wake of an emotional train wreck. But I do know that God gives us all an opportunity to choose His truth over our feelings. It's our option to follow our feelings or to follow our God. It's not always easy, because we often have to deny ourselves in this choice. But it is possible to choose God and His truth. He makes it possible. When He says that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength, it includes surrender. We can surrender our feelings to God's truth and ways if we choose to do so. Following our feelings can lead to mistakes. Following God's truth can keep us from making mistakes. Choose wisely.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
All Creation Sings
Today's personal bible study took me to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 19, where the later verses in the chapter talk about Jesus' triumphant ride down the Mount of Olives and into the temple of Jerusalem. The whole crowd of disciples had begun joyfully praising God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. This upset the Pharisees of the law and they demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples. Jesus' reply to the attempt to silence the praises of His followers is one well worth re-visiting. We could very well apply this scripture to our hearts in view of the attempts from people in the world today who want to silence Christ followers. In verse 40 Jesus said, "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
The works, deeds and person of Jesus will be praised by those who have seen Him and know Him. When we experience His Presence in our lives, we must share the pure love, joy and beauty of how spectacular that is. Hopefully, our lives demonstrate the outward presentation of an inward miracle. Though many may be able to see, others are still blinded. Hence the need to tell others our story of the miracles Jesus has done in our own lives.
Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. He knew that many had been presented with the opportunity of knowing and following Him, yet their eyes were blinded. They did not see. They missed the opportunity. He knew what was coming for Him, what He must do for those who would come to believe in Him and follow Him. And He knew what was coming for these people who had not believed. Jesus' heart breaks when we don't recognize who He is, when we don't follow Him.
Even today, Jesus' heart must be breaking as this world continues to fall into moral, spiritual and complete decline. It's as if we are on a train and we will soon reach our destination. Many of us are shouting praises because we know who the King will be when we reach our final destination. Many are oblivious with their earphones in or their noses into their respective digital devices. Yet others are demanding that the people of God be silenced. Yes, Jesus is sad to watch a world where many still don't recognize Him. He knows many never will, yet He still prompts us to tell our stories of His miracles for those who still may hear and believe. I think He is still saying, "I tell you, if they don't cry out, the stones will cry out."
I won't be surprised some day when all of creation starts to cry out the praises of our King Jesus. I've already heard whispers and, if I look and listen intently enough, I can witness the shouts. I will continue to praise Him aloud and chime in. I will not be guilty of causing the stones and God's creation to cry out by themselves. All creation sings. I will forever sing along!
The works, deeds and person of Jesus will be praised by those who have seen Him and know Him. When we experience His Presence in our lives, we must share the pure love, joy and beauty of how spectacular that is. Hopefully, our lives demonstrate the outward presentation of an inward miracle. Though many may be able to see, others are still blinded. Hence the need to tell others our story of the miracles Jesus has done in our own lives.
Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. He knew that many had been presented with the opportunity of knowing and following Him, yet their eyes were blinded. They did not see. They missed the opportunity. He knew what was coming for Him, what He must do for those who would come to believe in Him and follow Him. And He knew what was coming for these people who had not believed. Jesus' heart breaks when we don't recognize who He is, when we don't follow Him.
Even today, Jesus' heart must be breaking as this world continues to fall into moral, spiritual and complete decline. It's as if we are on a train and we will soon reach our destination. Many of us are shouting praises because we know who the King will be when we reach our final destination. Many are oblivious with their earphones in or their noses into their respective digital devices. Yet others are demanding that the people of God be silenced. Yes, Jesus is sad to watch a world where many still don't recognize Him. He knows many never will, yet He still prompts us to tell our stories of His miracles for those who still may hear and believe. I think He is still saying, "I tell you, if they don't cry out, the stones will cry out."
I won't be surprised some day when all of creation starts to cry out the praises of our King Jesus. I've already heard whispers and, if I look and listen intently enough, I can witness the shouts. I will continue to praise Him aloud and chime in. I will not be guilty of causing the stones and God's creation to cry out by themselves. All creation sings. I will forever sing along!
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Spotlight on Co-dependency
I was grateful to see a spotlight on the issue of "co-dependency" this weekend at church. There were other things, like hope, that were really the highlights, but it is always good to expose the truth about our tendencies to have co-dependent behaviors that threaten to derail our lives on a constant basis. Honestly, some of us have derailed long ago and we are still in denial, or even ignorance, that co-dependency may be at the root of our collision with life that leaves us a perpetual walking, or limping, wreck.
What, you may ask, is co-dependency? Isn't it a thing that only people involved in relationships with people who have drug or alcohol issues deal with? Well, not really. It's complicated. It's that thing that makes us want to fix others; that thing that makes us want to be in control of everyone and everything; that thing that makes our happiness hinge upon what another person thinks of us or what they do or say in relation to us; that thing that keeps us in cycles of insanity because we cannot imagine ourselves outside of our relationships with people we either try to fix or have come to enable; that thing that gives us worth because we want to help others; that thing that ultimately keeps us stuck in an unhealthy place and tends to affect our decisions, our relationships and everything in our lives; that….and so much more.
No wonder people don't understand it. It tends to take us by surprise. It tends to take on a personality of it's own. It tends to morph into character defects that we try to justify. I mean, we are doing all of these things for the right reasons, aren't we? Yeah, right! How's that working for you? It has never worked very well for me. I doubt it does for you either. And, if you think it does, then I suggest that you may still be in denial or you haven't noticed the havoc this silent relationship killer tries to play in all of our lives. Chances are, you are no exception. Co-dependency is not a respecter of persons, just a common issue of most all people - whether they know it or not!
Please allow me to explain my own struggles with the co-dependency demons. Maybe it will help you see where I'm coming from. Maybe you will relate. Maybe your experience with the demons falls in another corner of the vast co-dependency universe. At any rate, let's take a closer look at what my insanity looked like and even a look at what I can still struggle with today when I let co-dependency traits guide my life, instead of giving my will and control over to God. He is so much better than me at handling me, my problems, and everyone else's problems. I'm just slow at getting that memo sometimes, or maybe I just try to ignore it. So, here goes…
My control issues present themselves in my assertiveness with my ideas to and for those I love. After all, I feel that I know what's best for them and I'm only doing it to protect them. Sound familiar? Yeah, it can ruin a relationship really quickly or it can hang around like a chihuahua nipping at the heels of a relationship. It really bites, though! My perfectionism issues come into play when I compare myself to others and feel like I'm not going to measure up or I'm not going to be good enough. What will people think about me if I'm not the very best; if I don't do a great job? Many times, I don't even try out of fear of failure. I cannot risk disappointing people or having them think I'm not good enough at something. Sound familiar? My classic co-dependency is more veiled, or it was for many years early in my marriage. I was conscious that something was lacking in my relationship with my husband. However, I couldn't put my finger on it. We would argue because I was disappointed in the expectations I had put on him. He couldn't live up to them, of course, but he also had no desire to be at my beck and call as I tried to fix us and control a marriage I felt was slipping out of my control. Why wasn't he present for his family? Why did it seem that he always had something to do for his own interests? Why was I so unhappy? My questions did not translate very well as I argued with him and tried to get a handle on why things just weren't right. He would tell me what I wanted to hear, that he loved me, that he was sorry and would do better. He would give me a sob story about his disappointments in life and how he was entitled to a little fun with the guys here and there. I rationalized that his views were reasonable. We would have calm waters in our relationship for a few weeks and then the storm would hit again, as we both soaked in our own disappointments and crashed again after riding the waves of unmet expectations. We crashed about on those waves for years and had the bruises to prove it. Looking back on it, it was an obvious train wreck, a clear cut cycle of insanity. Yet we had no idea when we were living in the spin cycle. It took God getting hold of us many years, and many tears, later to recognize and own our own follies, and to see how co-dependency played such a huge part in it.
I'm so thankful for the healing God has brought to our marriage, our relationship, and to both of us individually. We are blessed to have served in a Celebrate Recovery ministry for several years and gained many truths and tools to identify our pitfalls and learn how to let go and let God. It surprises people that our largest groups are for co-dependency. But, I've learned that codependency and the breakdown of relationships that often occur when we operate in our co-dependent tendencies are often a root cause for the habits or hang-ups that we may have developed over the years. We often get angry, even drink too much or medicate our pain with some drug because we just cannot stand to feel the pain of our feelings. Oh, what a tangled web the demons have woven into the framework of our relationships…and sometimes with our permission. All along we thought we were in control, when all along we were falling into a trap, a pit of epic proportions.
I still wrestle with my human nature, with my feelings that want to take me down a rabbit hole. I wrestle with wanting to control my husband - for his own good - lol. I try to do God's job all the time, but I've gotten better at stopping and recognizing the signs of co-dependency. I've learned how to take my thoughts captive and look for God's truth and weigh it against my real, but fleeting feelings. I always get into trouble when I lead with emotion, but if I can lean into God and ask Him to comfort me and show me His ways and give me His thoughts, I can have peace and let God do His job all by Himself. I've realized He doesn't need my help. I sort of mess things up when I assert my way and my will. I ask Him to help me not to fall prey to perfectionism and fear of what other people think of me. When I look for His affirmation, alone, I'm far less likely to look for that affirmation in people who weren't meant to do that job for me. It's a continual process, but I'm so glad I've learned everything I have learned about giving God the reigns of control in my life.
So, what about you? Does any of this ring familiar? Does it make you feel a little too good to rescue or help others, to be needed by them? Can you go from zero to one hundred emotionally, based solely on what another person in your life thinks or says to you? Do another person's actions dictate your happiness? Do you have relational arguments repeatedly and feel like you are never going to get off the roller coaster of insanity? Or have you even realized that the ride you are on will soon derail or already has? Do you need to start picking up the pieces of your reality?
It's okay. The first step to healing is realizing that we are not God and that our life has become unmanageable. Does it take work to get healthy? Of course! Anything worthwhile takes work. But we must first get off the ride long enough to start walking in freedom. We must realize our own denial and take a good and honest look at how we've been living and who we've been living for. Only one person can ever truly make us happy and He should be the One we look to for our source of joy. That person is Jesus Christ. It's the one relationship that will bring true joy. It's also the one relationship that can help our other relationships. Psychology is great, and there are many things that can explain the mess we may have made of and in our lives, but spiritual healing and a relationship with Jesus will take us the distance when all other answers fall short. Jesus is simply the best answer to our woes. If you want to be dependent upon another person, let it be Him. His faithfulness endures forever and He will never leave nor forsake us. We can find worth, acceptance and significance in a relationship with our Savior.
I hope you allow God to help you search yourself and look at any co-dependent tendencies and relationships in your life. Whatever He reveals, allow Him to heal both you and your relationships. Being dependent upon someone who is really capable of bringing you happiness will be the best choice you could ever make. Giving up your own control to His control will affect everyone and everything in your life. I hope you give it a try and I hope you truly learn to walk in the freedom He offers. Trade co-dependency upon others for dependency upon God. I promise you, it has made all the difference in my life and I think it will do wonders for yours!
What, you may ask, is co-dependency? Isn't it a thing that only people involved in relationships with people who have drug or alcohol issues deal with? Well, not really. It's complicated. It's that thing that makes us want to fix others; that thing that makes us want to be in control of everyone and everything; that thing that makes our happiness hinge upon what another person thinks of us or what they do or say in relation to us; that thing that keeps us in cycles of insanity because we cannot imagine ourselves outside of our relationships with people we either try to fix or have come to enable; that thing that gives us worth because we want to help others; that thing that ultimately keeps us stuck in an unhealthy place and tends to affect our decisions, our relationships and everything in our lives; that….and so much more.
No wonder people don't understand it. It tends to take us by surprise. It tends to take on a personality of it's own. It tends to morph into character defects that we try to justify. I mean, we are doing all of these things for the right reasons, aren't we? Yeah, right! How's that working for you? It has never worked very well for me. I doubt it does for you either. And, if you think it does, then I suggest that you may still be in denial or you haven't noticed the havoc this silent relationship killer tries to play in all of our lives. Chances are, you are no exception. Co-dependency is not a respecter of persons, just a common issue of most all people - whether they know it or not!
Please allow me to explain my own struggles with the co-dependency demons. Maybe it will help you see where I'm coming from. Maybe you will relate. Maybe your experience with the demons falls in another corner of the vast co-dependency universe. At any rate, let's take a closer look at what my insanity looked like and even a look at what I can still struggle with today when I let co-dependency traits guide my life, instead of giving my will and control over to God. He is so much better than me at handling me, my problems, and everyone else's problems. I'm just slow at getting that memo sometimes, or maybe I just try to ignore it. So, here goes…
My control issues present themselves in my assertiveness with my ideas to and for those I love. After all, I feel that I know what's best for them and I'm only doing it to protect them. Sound familiar? Yeah, it can ruin a relationship really quickly or it can hang around like a chihuahua nipping at the heels of a relationship. It really bites, though! My perfectionism issues come into play when I compare myself to others and feel like I'm not going to measure up or I'm not going to be good enough. What will people think about me if I'm not the very best; if I don't do a great job? Many times, I don't even try out of fear of failure. I cannot risk disappointing people or having them think I'm not good enough at something. Sound familiar? My classic co-dependency is more veiled, or it was for many years early in my marriage. I was conscious that something was lacking in my relationship with my husband. However, I couldn't put my finger on it. We would argue because I was disappointed in the expectations I had put on him. He couldn't live up to them, of course, but he also had no desire to be at my beck and call as I tried to fix us and control a marriage I felt was slipping out of my control. Why wasn't he present for his family? Why did it seem that he always had something to do for his own interests? Why was I so unhappy? My questions did not translate very well as I argued with him and tried to get a handle on why things just weren't right. He would tell me what I wanted to hear, that he loved me, that he was sorry and would do better. He would give me a sob story about his disappointments in life and how he was entitled to a little fun with the guys here and there. I rationalized that his views were reasonable. We would have calm waters in our relationship for a few weeks and then the storm would hit again, as we both soaked in our own disappointments and crashed again after riding the waves of unmet expectations. We crashed about on those waves for years and had the bruises to prove it. Looking back on it, it was an obvious train wreck, a clear cut cycle of insanity. Yet we had no idea when we were living in the spin cycle. It took God getting hold of us many years, and many tears, later to recognize and own our own follies, and to see how co-dependency played such a huge part in it.
I'm so thankful for the healing God has brought to our marriage, our relationship, and to both of us individually. We are blessed to have served in a Celebrate Recovery ministry for several years and gained many truths and tools to identify our pitfalls and learn how to let go and let God. It surprises people that our largest groups are for co-dependency. But, I've learned that codependency and the breakdown of relationships that often occur when we operate in our co-dependent tendencies are often a root cause for the habits or hang-ups that we may have developed over the years. We often get angry, even drink too much or medicate our pain with some drug because we just cannot stand to feel the pain of our feelings. Oh, what a tangled web the demons have woven into the framework of our relationships…and sometimes with our permission. All along we thought we were in control, when all along we were falling into a trap, a pit of epic proportions.
I still wrestle with my human nature, with my feelings that want to take me down a rabbit hole. I wrestle with wanting to control my husband - for his own good - lol. I try to do God's job all the time, but I've gotten better at stopping and recognizing the signs of co-dependency. I've learned how to take my thoughts captive and look for God's truth and weigh it against my real, but fleeting feelings. I always get into trouble when I lead with emotion, but if I can lean into God and ask Him to comfort me and show me His ways and give me His thoughts, I can have peace and let God do His job all by Himself. I've realized He doesn't need my help. I sort of mess things up when I assert my way and my will. I ask Him to help me not to fall prey to perfectionism and fear of what other people think of me. When I look for His affirmation, alone, I'm far less likely to look for that affirmation in people who weren't meant to do that job for me. It's a continual process, but I'm so glad I've learned everything I have learned about giving God the reigns of control in my life.
So, what about you? Does any of this ring familiar? Does it make you feel a little too good to rescue or help others, to be needed by them? Can you go from zero to one hundred emotionally, based solely on what another person in your life thinks or says to you? Do another person's actions dictate your happiness? Do you have relational arguments repeatedly and feel like you are never going to get off the roller coaster of insanity? Or have you even realized that the ride you are on will soon derail or already has? Do you need to start picking up the pieces of your reality?
It's okay. The first step to healing is realizing that we are not God and that our life has become unmanageable. Does it take work to get healthy? Of course! Anything worthwhile takes work. But we must first get off the ride long enough to start walking in freedom. We must realize our own denial and take a good and honest look at how we've been living and who we've been living for. Only one person can ever truly make us happy and He should be the One we look to for our source of joy. That person is Jesus Christ. It's the one relationship that will bring true joy. It's also the one relationship that can help our other relationships. Psychology is great, and there are many things that can explain the mess we may have made of and in our lives, but spiritual healing and a relationship with Jesus will take us the distance when all other answers fall short. Jesus is simply the best answer to our woes. If you want to be dependent upon another person, let it be Him. His faithfulness endures forever and He will never leave nor forsake us. We can find worth, acceptance and significance in a relationship with our Savior.
I hope you allow God to help you search yourself and look at any co-dependent tendencies and relationships in your life. Whatever He reveals, allow Him to heal both you and your relationships. Being dependent upon someone who is really capable of bringing you happiness will be the best choice you could ever make. Giving up your own control to His control will affect everyone and everything in your life. I hope you give it a try and I hope you truly learn to walk in the freedom He offers. Trade co-dependency upon others for dependency upon God. I promise you, it has made all the difference in my life and I think it will do wonders for yours!
Thursday, May 14, 2015
What am I Ingesting?
As I read various articles, books and news reports, I'm aware that they all influence me. Most are opinions and some even have an element of truth. Just saying that makes me STOP in my tracks. I am reading and being influenced by the opinions of others and some of what I am influenced by may even lack complete truthfulness. I read everything from leadership principles to political views and religious and cultural trends. I think it's time to do a reality check and look to a more consistent source of truth. There is only one place for that, in my "opinion", but also from my personal experience. My source of truth has always been through God's Word; in scripture. It has what this world and its opinions cannot offer.
In scripture God encourages me; He convicts me; He examines me; He excites me; He humbles me; He teaches me; He loves me. In scripture God comes alive to me. He opens my eyes up to the full context of His truth, His love for me, and His amazing grace and relentless pursuit of me.
Oh, I know it is okay to still ingest a healthy amount of information in and from this world because one needs to keep abreast of the times we are in. Being ignorant is not an option in these days and times. However, today's revelation has re-enforced what I already knew. I must ingest far more of God's Word and truth than the world's information. That is a healthy diet and equation. That is a formula for peace. My inner scale must tip in the favor of knowing God and His truth and allowing Him to help my wade through all the muddy waters of anything else that I may ingest.
If my intake of God's Word is consistent, my knowledge of God will grow and my walk with Him will become consistent. My life and my actions will reflect what I read upon the pages of scripture; my Christian walk will be a testimony of grace, truth and redemption. My outward life will reflect my inward content. I have always known this, but it seems as if I go on unplanned diets every now and then. I don't feed my hunger to know God and His Word in a more intimate way. I don't fully activate God's Spirit within me. My bad! I know where my help comes from. My responsibility is to ingest the meal my Savior has prepared, to partake in the full banquet.
So, today, my observations are simple. Why in the world would I waste my time, energy and efforts reading and ingesting such a large volume of things that bring no eternal benefit? And, why, on the other hand, would I not spend so much more of my time, energy and efforts ingesting the treasure and truth of scripture in God's Word? The answer seems like a no-brainer, but I need help remaining consistent. We all do. Left to our own devices, we tend to drift and become complacent. We start to look more to the world for our answers and inspiration than to God's Word, the source of the best answers and inspiration in the entire Universe. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit of God continually prompts me to eat from His table and feast upon His Word. It will keep me satiated and in perfect peace.
So, today I find myself grateful for the way God reminds me to listen to His small still voice. I'm thankful that His Holy Spirit, who lives within me, draws me to a place of introspection and truth, a place where He can teach me to look to Him and draw my views and my truth only from Him. I'm thankful that He will always help me to sort out the rest. First thing's first….maintain a healthy diet with an over-abundance of God's Word and truth. It always secures His Presence; His best plan for me and my life.
In scripture God encourages me; He convicts me; He examines me; He excites me; He humbles me; He teaches me; He loves me. In scripture God comes alive to me. He opens my eyes up to the full context of His truth, His love for me, and His amazing grace and relentless pursuit of me.
Oh, I know it is okay to still ingest a healthy amount of information in and from this world because one needs to keep abreast of the times we are in. Being ignorant is not an option in these days and times. However, today's revelation has re-enforced what I already knew. I must ingest far more of God's Word and truth than the world's information. That is a healthy diet and equation. That is a formula for peace. My inner scale must tip in the favor of knowing God and His truth and allowing Him to help my wade through all the muddy waters of anything else that I may ingest.
If my intake of God's Word is consistent, my knowledge of God will grow and my walk with Him will become consistent. My life and my actions will reflect what I read upon the pages of scripture; my Christian walk will be a testimony of grace, truth and redemption. My outward life will reflect my inward content. I have always known this, but it seems as if I go on unplanned diets every now and then. I don't feed my hunger to know God and His Word in a more intimate way. I don't fully activate God's Spirit within me. My bad! I know where my help comes from. My responsibility is to ingest the meal my Savior has prepared, to partake in the full banquet.
So, today, my observations are simple. Why in the world would I waste my time, energy and efforts reading and ingesting such a large volume of things that bring no eternal benefit? And, why, on the other hand, would I not spend so much more of my time, energy and efforts ingesting the treasure and truth of scripture in God's Word? The answer seems like a no-brainer, but I need help remaining consistent. We all do. Left to our own devices, we tend to drift and become complacent. We start to look more to the world for our answers and inspiration than to God's Word, the source of the best answers and inspiration in the entire Universe. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit of God continually prompts me to eat from His table and feast upon His Word. It will keep me satiated and in perfect peace.
So, today I find myself grateful for the way God reminds me to listen to His small still voice. I'm thankful that His Holy Spirit, who lives within me, draws me to a place of introspection and truth, a place where He can teach me to look to Him and draw my views and my truth only from Him. I'm thankful that He will always help me to sort out the rest. First thing's first….maintain a healthy diet with an over-abundance of God's Word and truth. It always secures His Presence; His best plan for me and my life.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
A Voice in the Wilderness
I don't like being double-minded. As a matter of fact, the bible speaks against it. So, what does it mean when I feel such a disparaging difference between what I am convicted to say and do and the acceptance or rejection I feel from those who will see or hear my words? I really don't think I'm double-minded to want to put forth an important, yet unpopular, idea. I think what I am feeling is more like insecurity. What will people think of me? What will they say about me? Will they call me religious or legalistic just because I believe what God says and want to live by His standards and help others to see the life-giving benefits of doing the same? Will they roll their eyes because I have conservative values and want to share those same values with people I love and care about? Will they say I'm negative when I share enlightening information, either of a spiritual or political nature, that does not go along with the status quo? Will they judge my outspoken-ness as a critical spirit, saying that my attitude and information will do more harm than good to people who don't happen to see things the same way that I see them?
I really wish I didn't care, but the truth is that I care way too much about what others think or about how I may or may not influence them. It comes from fear of rejection. It comes from wanting to be accepted. It also comes from wanting to encourage people as effectively as possible. It's in that vein, that I believe my struggle lies. I want to encourage people, yet I don't want to fill them with fluff that I feel will just make them feel better momentarily and do nothing to really help them improve their life. I want to encourage them with a good, well-balanced dose of truth, grace, love, information and common sense. I want people to explore truth for themselves and have the power and knowledge to reject lies, half-truths, and ideas that would serve to make them and their lives ineffective and unproductive. I want them to be able to raise their hands and eyes and be lifted up out of the mire that keeps them stuck. I want them to embrace God and learn to stand upright, yet lean into and upon a God that can always be trusted to hold onto them. I want them to know truth and apply it to their lives. I want them to have purpose and peace in their lives. I'm not double-minded about any of that. I am just unsure of my delivery.
Am I praying about what I am convicted to share? Is it being presented in the right way with the right motives? Is it helpful and informative? I would love to say a resounding, "Yes" to those questions. It is something I am more and more conscious of and more and more purposeful to accomplish. My heart and my mind, my ideas and my intent, have to be surrendered to pull that off. I have to be brave and bold enough to say what I feel needs to be said, but humble and pliable enough to let God edit it and be my publisher. Essentially, that is less of me and more of Him. It's difficult to put that forth when I am so very human. It's easier to accomplish when I die to myself and put my head and heart, and all that is filtered through them both, into the hands of my Savior. His words and deeds will shine so much brighter than mine. I have to be careful to listen and obey and not lag behind or run ahead of Him. I have to let Him lead every part of me in a way that is honoring to Him. If I do that, I'm sure I can leave the results to Him.
The Internet and social media outlets are so powerful in putting forth ideas, agenda and efforts. I vow that I will continue to stand by that which God puts on my heart and in my mind to influence others for Him and for good. Please know that I don't take the privilege of my freedom of speech lightly. That is why I want it filtered through the eyes and heart of God before I say or type it. That which He blesses will be far more effective than that which I conjure up and throw out there on my own. With that being said, please know that I am praying to be a voice in the wilderness, to say what is right, when it is right, in the right way. Oh, how I need God to help me and speak through me. He urged us to speak up and teach current and future generations about Him and His ways, so that they may know and remember what is good and right and true. How will they know if we don't use our voices and all relevant means of communication to put forth that view? As much as He gives me ability and wisdom, I'm speaking up and out for the righteousness of the One who has saved me. Any effectiveness in doing so will be credited to Him, because I am as a clanging cymbal, maybe loud - but totally irrelevant and ineffective, without His power to empower me to do and say what He would have me do and say. My prayer is that He would not only speak to me, but speak loudly and clearly through me. Let it be so, LORD!
I really wish I didn't care, but the truth is that I care way too much about what others think or about how I may or may not influence them. It comes from fear of rejection. It comes from wanting to be accepted. It also comes from wanting to encourage people as effectively as possible. It's in that vein, that I believe my struggle lies. I want to encourage people, yet I don't want to fill them with fluff that I feel will just make them feel better momentarily and do nothing to really help them improve their life. I want to encourage them with a good, well-balanced dose of truth, grace, love, information and common sense. I want people to explore truth for themselves and have the power and knowledge to reject lies, half-truths, and ideas that would serve to make them and their lives ineffective and unproductive. I want them to be able to raise their hands and eyes and be lifted up out of the mire that keeps them stuck. I want them to embrace God and learn to stand upright, yet lean into and upon a God that can always be trusted to hold onto them. I want them to know truth and apply it to their lives. I want them to have purpose and peace in their lives. I'm not double-minded about any of that. I am just unsure of my delivery.
Am I praying about what I am convicted to share? Is it being presented in the right way with the right motives? Is it helpful and informative? I would love to say a resounding, "Yes" to those questions. It is something I am more and more conscious of and more and more purposeful to accomplish. My heart and my mind, my ideas and my intent, have to be surrendered to pull that off. I have to be brave and bold enough to say what I feel needs to be said, but humble and pliable enough to let God edit it and be my publisher. Essentially, that is less of me and more of Him. It's difficult to put that forth when I am so very human. It's easier to accomplish when I die to myself and put my head and heart, and all that is filtered through them both, into the hands of my Savior. His words and deeds will shine so much brighter than mine. I have to be careful to listen and obey and not lag behind or run ahead of Him. I have to let Him lead every part of me in a way that is honoring to Him. If I do that, I'm sure I can leave the results to Him.
The Internet and social media outlets are so powerful in putting forth ideas, agenda and efforts. I vow that I will continue to stand by that which God puts on my heart and in my mind to influence others for Him and for good. Please know that I don't take the privilege of my freedom of speech lightly. That is why I want it filtered through the eyes and heart of God before I say or type it. That which He blesses will be far more effective than that which I conjure up and throw out there on my own. With that being said, please know that I am praying to be a voice in the wilderness, to say what is right, when it is right, in the right way. Oh, how I need God to help me and speak through me. He urged us to speak up and teach current and future generations about Him and His ways, so that they may know and remember what is good and right and true. How will they know if we don't use our voices and all relevant means of communication to put forth that view? As much as He gives me ability and wisdom, I'm speaking up and out for the righteousness of the One who has saved me. Any effectiveness in doing so will be credited to Him, because I am as a clanging cymbal, maybe loud - but totally irrelevant and ineffective, without His power to empower me to do and say what He would have me do and say. My prayer is that He would not only speak to me, but speak loudly and clearly through me. Let it be so, LORD!
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Time to Obey God and Leave the Results to Him
I'm only a few days into a New Year, 2015, and I'm thinking about all those things we think about at such a time. I'm thinking about starting over and doing better on some things at which I have not done so well. I'm thinking about becoming more healthy, both physically and spiritually. I'm thinking about a new start. I know I'm not in this mode of thinking on my own. At this time of year, most of us at least think about such things. Fewer actually follow up on our thoughts with appropriate actions. Such is the cycle of insanity wherein many of us find ourselves.
Romans 7:15-24 says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God' law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
I think I could have very well pinned the verses above, instead of the Apostle Paul, for I have the very same struggles within my own mind and body. Can I get a witness?! Yes, we all have such struggles. But then we read on into Romans 8 and get a glimpse of what the Spirit of God living within a Christ follower can accomplish through that earthly vessel. Romans 8:10-11 says, "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."
Hallelujah! My body and mind may not be willing and/or able to do what is good and right, but the Spirit of Christ living within me is more than able to help me stay the course and finish the race He has set before me. I would do well to keep this in mind as I attempt to turn away from that which brings me down or does me harm and to embrace what it takes to be my best for God's glory in 2015. According to scripture, He is ready to help. I just have to give Him the reigns and stop trying to take them back.
So what are some things I want to allow God to do in and through me in 2015? I want Him to massage my heart to beat for Him and the things that are important to Him. I want to obey God and leave the results to Him. I heard Charles Stanley say that long ago. I cannot think of a more effective game plan for my life. I'm camping out in Romans 8 and living by the Spirit. I'll leave the results to Him!
Romans 7:15-24 says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God' law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?"
I think I could have very well pinned the verses above, instead of the Apostle Paul, for I have the very same struggles within my own mind and body. Can I get a witness?! Yes, we all have such struggles. But then we read on into Romans 8 and get a glimpse of what the Spirit of God living within a Christ follower can accomplish through that earthly vessel. Romans 8:10-11 says, "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."
Hallelujah! My body and mind may not be willing and/or able to do what is good and right, but the Spirit of Christ living within me is more than able to help me stay the course and finish the race He has set before me. I would do well to keep this in mind as I attempt to turn away from that which brings me down or does me harm and to embrace what it takes to be my best for God's glory in 2015. According to scripture, He is ready to help. I just have to give Him the reigns and stop trying to take them back.
So what are some things I want to allow God to do in and through me in 2015? I want Him to massage my heart to beat for Him and the things that are important to Him. I want to obey God and leave the results to Him. I heard Charles Stanley say that long ago. I cannot think of a more effective game plan for my life. I'm camping out in Romans 8 and living by the Spirit. I'll leave the results to Him!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Breast Cancer Awareness
By God's grace, I have survived breast cancer for nearly 5 years now. I am blessed and grateful. God's fingerprint identifies me as His own and I never want to take that for granted. Having previously worked for the American Cancer Society and having personal experience as a survivor, gives me valuable insight. Here are just a few things to help you become more knowledgeable about breast cancer:
- Men can also get breast cancer. Everyone should do self-exams and report any suspicious lumps to their doctor.
- Start getting annual mammograms at the recommended age, or if you have an increased chance of breast cancer.
- Don't let any mammography technician give you unclear results. Persist until you get an ultrasound or an MRI to get more clear results.
- Some breast cancers don't exhibit identifiable lumps. Breast cancer can also be present in the form of calcification - which is why yearly mammograms are so important. I had no lumps. A digital mammogram detected my calcification which was already invasive.
- Early detection and treatment can save your life.
- Not everything Pink benefits breast cancer research and/or patients. Research all organizations to really know how their funds are used or where they go. I can vouch for the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. There are other organizations that are far less trustworthy. They play on our sympathies and are making lots of money and giving funds to places like Planned Parenthood under the guise of providing mammograms for under served women. These centers do not even have machines to do mammograms. Don't give money or support every organization or event that sports a pink ribbon. You may be funding something you would not want to fund. Do your research. Think before you Pink!
- Cut sugar from your diet. It feeds cancer.
- Phytonutrients are like kryptonite to cancer cells. Berries and cruciferous vegetables are wonder drugs.
- Stress has a negative effect on health, in general. It does not help in the fight to defeat cancer.
- Jesus is a Healer. He may use doctors and medicine or He may perform a miracle. But have no doubt, He is in control. Trust God and seek His peace and healing.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Seeing Stories
As I'm sitting at my desk in this temporary work assignment I've been doing for a few months, I'm really struggling with my pride. I feel like a peon in a company where no one cares to know me and they don't recognize that I have any worth. Poor pitiful me. My pride argues that I'm probably as smart as many of them - excluding the engineers, lawyers and the CEO - but they don't count! Joking aside, I'm probably much smarter than people give me credit for. I may be blond, and majorly left-brained, but I've been praying for God's wisdom for a long time and, ever so often, I can see glimpses that He is answering my prayers. Others may not be able to see it yet, but maybe they're just slow:-) Like I said, I was struggling with pride.
Anyway, the idea from this post came as I saw an email pop up to company personnel. My temporary assignment is for a global company that helps people who cannot hear have access to hearing through an implant in their head that activates their auditory nerve. It really is wonderful that such products exists and they should be proud of the work that they do. I applaud them. This particular email was entitled "Hearing Stories". It was another story of how one of this company's products has helped someone to accomplish so much in life that never would have been possible without the gift of hearing this product afforded him. It is commendable. It also brought me back to a stark reality. Because, just in that moment, God gave me a "glimpse" of His wisdom as He reminded me that, with His help, I get to help people who were once blind to see!
Well, maybe I'm exaggerating. It is God that really helps people to see, but indulge me as I explain how He brought me from feeling sorry for myself to showing me how He uses me to help people He places in my life. It all goes back to the scriptures and my own story of, "I once was blind, but now I see!" Until God gave me spiritual sight to recognize Him, His grace, and His truth, I had no capacity to really see. I was blind to the things that really mattered - to my need of a Savior. God gave me the gift of seeing and He enables me to encourage others to gain their spiritual sight, as well. I get to work in ministry and I get to witness "Seeing Stories", or testimonies, of changed lives on a regular basis. Stories of how people were once blind, but now they see!
All that, as I was sitting there feeling like a peon. God uses peons, you know! So I humbly ask Him to take my pride and keep reminding me that it doesn't really matter that the people in this company don't know me or treat me with any kind of importance. The Creator of the Universe knows my name and gives me worthy assignments. He helps us all with our "Seeing Stories" and they all have a certain theme to them, "I once was blind, but now I see"!
Anyway, the idea from this post came as I saw an email pop up to company personnel. My temporary assignment is for a global company that helps people who cannot hear have access to hearing through an implant in their head that activates their auditory nerve. It really is wonderful that such products exists and they should be proud of the work that they do. I applaud them. This particular email was entitled "Hearing Stories". It was another story of how one of this company's products has helped someone to accomplish so much in life that never would have been possible without the gift of hearing this product afforded him. It is commendable. It also brought me back to a stark reality. Because, just in that moment, God gave me a "glimpse" of His wisdom as He reminded me that, with His help, I get to help people who were once blind to see!
Well, maybe I'm exaggerating. It is God that really helps people to see, but indulge me as I explain how He brought me from feeling sorry for myself to showing me how He uses me to help people He places in my life. It all goes back to the scriptures and my own story of, "I once was blind, but now I see!" Until God gave me spiritual sight to recognize Him, His grace, and His truth, I had no capacity to really see. I was blind to the things that really mattered - to my need of a Savior. God gave me the gift of seeing and He enables me to encourage others to gain their spiritual sight, as well. I get to work in ministry and I get to witness "Seeing Stories", or testimonies, of changed lives on a regular basis. Stories of how people were once blind, but now they see!
All that, as I was sitting there feeling like a peon. God uses peons, you know! So I humbly ask Him to take my pride and keep reminding me that it doesn't really matter that the people in this company don't know me or treat me with any kind of importance. The Creator of the Universe knows my name and gives me worthy assignments. He helps us all with our "Seeing Stories" and they all have a certain theme to them, "I once was blind, but now I see"!
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Depression - it's personal
With the recent suicidal death of Robin Williams, social media has lit up with discussions and opinions on depression. If nothing else, this outlet allows us to speak our minds. Most often, I am grateful for the freedom but, sometimes, I just shake my head at the opinions. Yet, I'm now adding mine to the mix. I do so with trepidation and prayer. I'm aware that my opinion and my experience is my own. I am unqualified to speak of others' experiences with this issue and, likewise, others are unqualified to speak of mine. With that said, I hope to share my struggles and encourage you with my own experience with feelings of despair.
I'm no expert on this complicated subject, but I know my own family, in particular, has struggled with it gravely for generations. My own sweet mother had very severe struggles with it and I've sought to be an overcomer from my own struggles for much of my adult life. I have many relatives who have struggled with depression. I've even thought of my family's depression as a curse and have been purposeful about breaking that cycle in my own life. I am not ignorant of the enemy's plan to kill, steal, and destroy mankind. If he cannot take our lives, he will certainly try to take our peace and joy and keep us bogged down with despair. My own personal experience is also that my imbalance of hormones has contributed greatly to my physical and mental health. I have attempted to treat that imbalance with physical and spiritual care and God has given me a great measure of peace and freedom as I look to Him for help.
Again, I dare not diagnose anyone else's experience; this reflection is just from my family perspective and experience. I share it, not to make anyone upset or to say I have the market on perspective, but to just give you mine and to, hopefully, encourage someone who may be struggling or at a low point.
The entire book of Psalms reminds me of how my own struggles and those of King David can be paralleled so often. But I can deeply identify with Psalm 18 and often call it a mirror of my own life's journey. It is particularly personal to me. In true Message-style translation, I offer my personal Psalm of Praise.
In my distress I cried to the LORD and He answered by moving heaven and earth to make me know He is for me. He reached down with His own loving hands and drew me out of the deep waters and rescued me. I had/have nowhere else to go, but to the LORD, and He is faithful. It's out of knowing that faithfulness that I keep a vigilant and determined eye towards my God. With a deeply grateful heart, I seek and worship Him and find The Messiah in the mystery of my mess.
It's not a formula or an antidote to depression, but, for me, it has been my life preserver. My focus on my Life Guard pulls me to safety when I am sinking. If you reach out and can't find Him, please keep reaching. I have discovered that He is faithful to reach down with His own Hand or to put many human and/or angelic hands around me to walk with me until His Joy brings me peace and His strength holds me up in and through the despair that threatens to drown me.
I cannot count the number of times, as a child, that I tried to console my mother as she wailed and screamed, while I thought it was my responsibility to keep her alive, to somehow prevent her from having a nervous breakdown. She reached many low points, yet loved God with her whole heart. There was a war going on in our home and it was from the enemy. Whether it was physical, mental, or spiritual - or all of the above - I know not. I just know that it was real and it crippled her and affected our family. It was much later in her life, that she was able to get some kind of mental balance with medical care and God's constant love.
In my 20's, I started struggling with some of the same emotional issues and behaviors my mother had struggled with. It wasn't until I had tried many medications to no avail, and finally came to a crossroads of surrender to my LORD, that I finally began to experience some sort of victory over my struggle. I sat out to study the faithfulness of God, the truth of Who He is, and the wonder of His healing power. I took an honest look at myself and realized that I could choose to rely on myself and my feelings or I could learn to lift my head up and change my focus in my times of despair. With constant discipline and practice, God kept my head and heart lifted higher more often than He allowed me to remain downcast. I realized that, if I followed my emotions and reacted to them as the enemy had tricked me into doing so many times before, he would eat my lunch every time I took the bait. If I allowed all the compassion I felt for others to overcome me, I wouldn't be able to make it out of bed in the mornings. I decided I would praise God - not for - but in and through the way I felt until I looked and listened to Him and His truth more often than I relied upon my limited ability to navigate through my feelings and struggles. God reminded me that there is always hope in Him and that the enemy's deception that I had no choice to overcome my struggles had no power over me. I cannot say I never feel sad - I do - but I can say that my God is the Victor and He is always faithful to help me when I call to Him.
I am, by no means, suggesting that other people don't have enough faith or trust in God to experience freedom. I'm just saying that my experience is that He is faithful and He always extends hope. He has given me hope. He has given me life. He has lifted me out of my despair. I pray He does the same for countless others. Keep calling on Him and never ever give up in a moment, or moments, of despair. Keep looking up and reaching up. I believe God is compelled to reach down when we reach up to Him. My story is that He has been faithful to do so.
My heart hurts for Robin Williams and the pain that led him to suicide. My heart hurts for so many others that struggle day in and day out with depression. Yet God reminds me that He is always bigger than depression. I think of depression with a little "d". I think of God with a Big "D". He is the Divine Deity, the Deliverer, the Difference-Maker! I put all my hope in the Big "D" and come against the little "d" in the Mighty name of Jesus. The little "d" has cheated far too many people for far too long out of peace and joy. The Big "D" is able to offer hope in the face of despair. God cries with those who despair and He wraps His loving arms around us. Oh, how I hope you know His arms are there and you are able to feel the salt of His tears and the strength of His arms.
I'm no expert on this complicated subject, but I know my own family, in particular, has struggled with it gravely for generations. My own sweet mother had very severe struggles with it and I've sought to be an overcomer from my own struggles for much of my adult life. I have many relatives who have struggled with depression. I've even thought of my family's depression as a curse and have been purposeful about breaking that cycle in my own life. I am not ignorant of the enemy's plan to kill, steal, and destroy mankind. If he cannot take our lives, he will certainly try to take our peace and joy and keep us bogged down with despair. My own personal experience is also that my imbalance of hormones has contributed greatly to my physical and mental health. I have attempted to treat that imbalance with physical and spiritual care and God has given me a great measure of peace and freedom as I look to Him for help.
Again, I dare not diagnose anyone else's experience; this reflection is just from my family perspective and experience. I share it, not to make anyone upset or to say I have the market on perspective, but to just give you mine and to, hopefully, encourage someone who may be struggling or at a low point.
The entire book of Psalms reminds me of how my own struggles and those of King David can be paralleled so often. But I can deeply identify with Psalm 18 and often call it a mirror of my own life's journey. It is particularly personal to me. In true Message-style translation, I offer my personal Psalm of Praise.
In my distress I cried to the LORD and He answered by moving heaven and earth to make me know He is for me. He reached down with His own loving hands and drew me out of the deep waters and rescued me. I had/have nowhere else to go, but to the LORD, and He is faithful. It's out of knowing that faithfulness that I keep a vigilant and determined eye towards my God. With a deeply grateful heart, I seek and worship Him and find The Messiah in the mystery of my mess.
It's not a formula or an antidote to depression, but, for me, it has been my life preserver. My focus on my Life Guard pulls me to safety when I am sinking. If you reach out and can't find Him, please keep reaching. I have discovered that He is faithful to reach down with His own Hand or to put many human and/or angelic hands around me to walk with me until His Joy brings me peace and His strength holds me up in and through the despair that threatens to drown me.
I cannot count the number of times, as a child, that I tried to console my mother as she wailed and screamed, while I thought it was my responsibility to keep her alive, to somehow prevent her from having a nervous breakdown. She reached many low points, yet loved God with her whole heart. There was a war going on in our home and it was from the enemy. Whether it was physical, mental, or spiritual - or all of the above - I know not. I just know that it was real and it crippled her and affected our family. It was much later in her life, that she was able to get some kind of mental balance with medical care and God's constant love.
In my 20's, I started struggling with some of the same emotional issues and behaviors my mother had struggled with. It wasn't until I had tried many medications to no avail, and finally came to a crossroads of surrender to my LORD, that I finally began to experience some sort of victory over my struggle. I sat out to study the faithfulness of God, the truth of Who He is, and the wonder of His healing power. I took an honest look at myself and realized that I could choose to rely on myself and my feelings or I could learn to lift my head up and change my focus in my times of despair. With constant discipline and practice, God kept my head and heart lifted higher more often than He allowed me to remain downcast. I realized that, if I followed my emotions and reacted to them as the enemy had tricked me into doing so many times before, he would eat my lunch every time I took the bait. If I allowed all the compassion I felt for others to overcome me, I wouldn't be able to make it out of bed in the mornings. I decided I would praise God - not for - but in and through the way I felt until I looked and listened to Him and His truth more often than I relied upon my limited ability to navigate through my feelings and struggles. God reminded me that there is always hope in Him and that the enemy's deception that I had no choice to overcome my struggles had no power over me. I cannot say I never feel sad - I do - but I can say that my God is the Victor and He is always faithful to help me when I call to Him.
I am, by no means, suggesting that other people don't have enough faith or trust in God to experience freedom. I'm just saying that my experience is that He is faithful and He always extends hope. He has given me hope. He has given me life. He has lifted me out of my despair. I pray He does the same for countless others. Keep calling on Him and never ever give up in a moment, or moments, of despair. Keep looking up and reaching up. I believe God is compelled to reach down when we reach up to Him. My story is that He has been faithful to do so.
My heart hurts for Robin Williams and the pain that led him to suicide. My heart hurts for so many others that struggle day in and day out with depression. Yet God reminds me that He is always bigger than depression. I think of depression with a little "d". I think of God with a Big "D". He is the Divine Deity, the Deliverer, the Difference-Maker! I put all my hope in the Big "D" and come against the little "d" in the Mighty name of Jesus. The little "d" has cheated far too many people for far too long out of peace and joy. The Big "D" is able to offer hope in the face of despair. God cries with those who despair and He wraps His loving arms around us. Oh, how I hope you know His arms are there and you are able to feel the salt of His tears and the strength of His arms.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
#ILoveHashtags
I don't know who invented hashtags, but I'm a big fan. Many people dislike their randomness, but that is just what I embrace. I kind of feel like a hashtag is a way of not worrying about conjugation, grammar or logic and being able to be creative with a little fun or sometimes snarky snippet. I'm sure the geniuses in the social media world (I say that seriously, not as an insult) intended it to be used in a particular way, but my random mind likes to use it in my own random ways. A hashtag gives me license to do just that - to blurt out my randomness without fear of the hashtag, grammar, or perfection police telling me I'm doing it all wrong. Maybe I am, but it doesn't matter. When I hashtag, I usually smile. I hope it becomes infectious and others start to smile. I hope they embrace their own random hashtags.
For a middle-aged person (it's taken me some long, serious honest introspection to admit that at 50-something I am "at least" at middle-age), I realize my admiration for this newer generational phenomena is a bit strange. But I love to be able to express thoughts and ideas in new and engaging ways and, to me, a hashtag is just that - an unusual, but effective, means of expression. All I can say is #MorePowerToIt. One condition I've put on my own hashtags is that of capitalization for the next word. I realize that's not really the way to do it but, #ItMakesItEasierToRead.
All this talk about hashtags made me wonder what kinds of hashtags I would use as a nutshell expression for who I am, for what matters to me. I've utilized the remainder of this post to paint a random picture of just that. I hope it tells a story!
#ILoveJesus
#HeLovesMeMore
#HePaidItAll
#IAMGodsGirl
#MyCupRunnethOver
#MyHusbandIsMyBestFriend
#AManOfGodIsARealMan
#MyDaughterHasMyHeart
#MyGrandsonIsTooCute
#FriendsAndFamilyMakeMeSmile
#OurChurchIsFullOfWonderfulBrokenPeople
#GodsGraceIsSufficient
#HeIsCloseToTheBrokenhearted
#IWorshipGodOutOfGratitude
#ILoveGodsCreation
#MusicMovesMe
#WordsArePowerful
#WordsCanHeal
#WordsHurt
#TheTongueIsAPowerfulInstrumentForBlessingsOrCurses
#IHaveToWatchMyTongue
#EatingACupcakeBeatsEatingACake
#KnowingGodIsMyTreasure
#FollowingGodIsMyBlessing
#LovingOthersPleasesGod
#ObedienceIsNotABadWord
#GraceAndTruthShouldMakeUsSmile
#OneComplimentsTheOther
#IAnalyzeBecauseIAmLeftBrained
#IStillHaveRightBrainedTendencies
#ThatMakesMeComplicated
#SolitudeBringsMePeace
#IShareJesusWithOtherPeeps
#HeToldMeIShould
#SpellcheckIsGonnaLightUpFromAllTheseHashtags
#ImDoneHashtaggingForNow
For a middle-aged person (it's taken me some long, serious honest introspection to admit that at 50-something I am "at least" at middle-age), I realize my admiration for this newer generational phenomena is a bit strange. But I love to be able to express thoughts and ideas in new and engaging ways and, to me, a hashtag is just that - an unusual, but effective, means of expression. All I can say is #MorePowerToIt. One condition I've put on my own hashtags is that of capitalization for the next word. I realize that's not really the way to do it but, #ItMakesItEasierToRead.
All this talk about hashtags made me wonder what kinds of hashtags I would use as a nutshell expression for who I am, for what matters to me. I've utilized the remainder of this post to paint a random picture of just that. I hope it tells a story!
#ILoveJesus
#HeLovesMeMore
#HePaidItAll
#IAMGodsGirl
#MyCupRunnethOver
#MyHusbandIsMyBestFriend
#AManOfGodIsARealMan
#MyDaughterHasMyHeart
#MyGrandsonIsTooCute
#FriendsAndFamilyMakeMeSmile
#OurChurchIsFullOfWonderfulBrokenPeople
#GodsGraceIsSufficient
#HeIsCloseToTheBrokenhearted
#IWorshipGodOutOfGratitude
#ILoveGodsCreation
#MusicMovesMe
#WordsArePowerful
#WordsCanHeal
#WordsHurt
#TheTongueIsAPowerfulInstrumentForBlessingsOrCurses
#IHaveToWatchMyTongue
#EatingACupcakeBeatsEatingACake
#KnowingGodIsMyTreasure
#FollowingGodIsMyBlessing
#LovingOthersPleasesGod
#ObedienceIsNotABadWord
#GraceAndTruthShouldMakeUsSmile
#OneComplimentsTheOther
#IAnalyzeBecauseIAmLeftBrained
#IStillHaveRightBrainedTendencies
#ThatMakesMeComplicated
#SolitudeBringsMePeace
#IShareJesusWithOtherPeeps
#HeToldMeIShould
#SpellcheckIsGonnaLightUpFromAllTheseHashtags
#ImDoneHashtaggingForNow
Friday, July 4, 2014
No Fishing!
God has been teaching me for a while about something I have, all too often, experienced in my life. I've been writing things down as He reveals them to me and sort of keeping them to myself, but I'm sharing now because maybe others can benefit from the valuable lessons He is teaching me. I hope it helps someone. It sure has been life-changing for me, so here goes.
I recently heard a clip where the Christian music artist, Michael W. Smith, said that he prays to never be offended by anyone again. That's a great example of putting on his armor and giving control to God. Satan can't tear us down if we deflect his arrows with God's grace and truth. I've been praying and learning how to better do that very thing.
God transforms my offenses into opportunities of reconciliation and growth when I take them to Him and believe His Word and follow His truths. It's amazing that who and what I believe plays out so clearly in how I act and live. What I believe determines my feelings. I choose to believe that God has a better way for me than to continue going down the dead-end route of taking offense. I'm learning more and more to take it to God to process and follow His biblical route. God's way is for me to attempt to be reconciled, when possible, to the person causing me concern. I'm putting up a "No Fishing" sign. Take that bait elsewhere, satan! I'm not biting anymore!
The best result I am experiencing from God's transformation in me is that He is changing the way I think and that changes the way I feel. Well played, God!
I recently heard a clip where the Christian music artist, Michael W. Smith, said that he prays to never be offended by anyone again. That's a great example of putting on his armor and giving control to God. Satan can't tear us down if we deflect his arrows with God's grace and truth. I've been praying and learning how to better do that very thing.
People ask me how I cannot be offended by the words and actions of others. My answer is simply that Jesus bids me to bring those offenses to Him and surrender them and my thoughts and feelings to Him. As a Christ follower, I could become so offended by this world and its attitude and actions toward people who love and follow God. I would have every reason to cry, both inwardly and outwardly, but I refuse that route. I once read that taking offense at others is the bait of satan. I have learned that that concept is all too accurate. He dangles the carrots of doubt, confusion, lies, and hurt feelings which tend to result in gossip and misunderstandings. It doesn't take long for us unsuspecting souls to take the bait - hook, line, and sinker - only to find our relationships with others and God wrought with division and strife. Satan laughs while we cry and lose valuable friends and family to the havoc he has caused. He goes fishing in our minds and lives and has us for dinner! I see it often; I've fallen for it myself! But I'm so grateful God is renewing my mind and giving me a better, clearer perspective and a healthier, new way to think and respond.
God transforms my offenses into opportunities of reconciliation and growth when I take them to Him and believe His Word and follow His truths. It's amazing that who and what I believe plays out so clearly in how I act and live. What I believe determines my feelings. I choose to believe that God has a better way for me than to continue going down the dead-end route of taking offense. I'm learning more and more to take it to God to process and follow His biblical route. God's way is for me to attempt to be reconciled, when possible, to the person causing me concern. I'm putting up a "No Fishing" sign. Take that bait elsewhere, satan! I'm not biting anymore!
The best result I am experiencing from God's transformation in me is that He is changing the way I think and that changes the way I feel. Well played, God!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
One year ago today, my heart expanded. One year ago today, I became a Nana to Carson. One year ago today, my world changed forever.
I celebrate the birth of my first grandchild today and everyday. He is in my prayers daily and in my heart constantly. My dreams for this child are BIG. Big in the sense that I want him to be as blessed by God as humanly possible and to be the greatest blessing he can possibly be to God and to others in this world.
Carson's parents and grandparents love Jesus. My prayer is that Carson sees Jesus in all of us and falls in love with His creator at a very early age. The choice will be his, but I believe he is chosen to be brave and courageous, to be a leader in all things good. I know he is a little boy, and a busy one, at that, but he is God's boy and I entrust him to the ONE who made him.
I celebrate Carson today and I celebrate the Creator who made him. Make him great for you, LORD, and let that precious smile become a light for Jesus that comes from a heart that knows You and loves You! I love you, sweet Carson, and this post is dedicated to you.
Love,
Nana
I celebrate the birth of my first grandchild today and everyday. He is in my prayers daily and in my heart constantly. My dreams for this child are BIG. Big in the sense that I want him to be as blessed by God as humanly possible and to be the greatest blessing he can possibly be to God and to others in this world.
Carson's parents and grandparents love Jesus. My prayer is that Carson sees Jesus in all of us and falls in love with His creator at a very early age. The choice will be his, but I believe he is chosen to be brave and courageous, to be a leader in all things good. I know he is a little boy, and a busy one, at that, but he is God's boy and I entrust him to the ONE who made him.
I celebrate Carson today and I celebrate the Creator who made him. Make him great for you, LORD, and let that precious smile become a light for Jesus that comes from a heart that knows You and loves You! I love you, sweet Carson, and this post is dedicated to you.
Love,
Nana
Friday, April 11, 2014
Smacking my Head
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:-)
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:-)
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