One of my favorite personal traditions I end with is curling up under the Christmas tree singing carols. Under a lit christmas tree is one of the most peaceful places. It is sweet time where I can slow down and reflect on the Lord's goodness. Bask in the love of God who sent His Son to earth; flesh to walk among us. It still overwhelms that He left heaven to come to earth. That He did it for me and for you. That His love came in the form of a precious baby.
As I lie under the tree, I am blown away by His grace for me. I'm horribly undeserving of such love, mercy, and grace. As I look up, I realize that like the lights on the tree, we are to be a light to others around us. A light to the world. He is such a light to my life. He gives me hope and so much peace. Under the tree, I pray over hopes, dreams, children, goals, work, friends, and family. I am so very blessed to have so much to be thankful for. But out of all that, the greatest that I settle on is the gift of Jesus. For if we did not have Him, the rest would leave us unfulfilled and begging for something that would never satisfy us. But again this Christmas, I'm so glad He came and that He is my greatest daily gift!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
A great distance away
Ever have those moments with the Lord when He is showing you something so big, so beyond you, that you better remember this moment. You better write it down and set it as a milestone for you to look back to later. I have had many moments like this lately regarding the same request. I just know that as I'm reading my heart feels like it is about to explode because I know in these moments He is already answering me. Amazing. So humbling. Now I just have to wait for the answer to actually come. It scares me to death as it should. It is so far beyond me and what I know I am capable of.
That's the beauty of the Lord. To work something in us SO much bigger than us that it can ONLY be Him. I am finally done with Priscilla Shirer's One-in-a-million. Goodness knows I did not pick that book up by myself. I was led to it. That was a hard call to stop being so scared and start believing now before God gives it to you. I got it. LOUD AND CLEAR!
I wanted to share this excerpt because I think for so many of us, we feel this on a daily basis. We want to give up. We want to stop killing ourselves, pressing so hard, squeezing the life out of ourselves instead of the life out of our day. But the Lord was good to remind me that just when you want to quit and throw in the towel..... Just when you start believing that "everyone is probably right...I am crazy to think that I could do this" it is just the enemy feeding us the ever popular way he always does. With fear.
2 Timothy 1:7- For the Spirt of God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
1 John 4: 18- There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I'll give you a summary. She's lead us through the wilderness with Moses. Moses dies then a new leader leads the people into the Promised Land. Joshua. A fearless, courageous, confident man. A one-in-a-million. The people are led to the banks of the Jordan about to cross over into the Promised Land. They stand with the ark as water slaps the shore. Nothing seems to happen like it did at the Red Sea. The waters did not part like the people saw them part before.
Here's the excerpt. It speaks for itself:
Joshua called the people to consecrate themselves BEFORE the miracle. To be set apart today in anticipation the God would perform tomorrow. It's one thing to change to way you're living AFTER God parts the Jordan. It's another to do it while the waves of your problem are still crashing around your feet as you stand on the shore....
At first it would have appeared as if nothing was happening since the water didn't immediately divide right in front of them. But what the children of Israel didn't know as they craned their necks to the north was that far upstream God was already working His miracle for them. Though the roar of the current continued to drown out conversations, clearly mitigating against a mass river crossing, "the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan" (Joshua 3:16). Adam was 30 miles away. At this place, far out of sight, the Jordan was even then starting to become a dry riverbed. It was going to take a little while for the runoff to spill through at the Israelites' downstream location, but the miracle was already in progress.
From your vantage point you may not be able to see how God is going to work out His purposes in your life, the ones that seem far away and impossible to detect. You've gotten your feet wet....But be convinced that eventhough God may be working "a great distance" away, He is working. He has not forgotten His promises. He has not run into a snag that may prevent Him from following through. Be assured that God will carry out the miraculous plans He has for you.
That's the beauty of the Lord. To work something in us SO much bigger than us that it can ONLY be Him. I am finally done with Priscilla Shirer's One-in-a-million. Goodness knows I did not pick that book up by myself. I was led to it. That was a hard call to stop being so scared and start believing now before God gives it to you. I got it. LOUD AND CLEAR!
I wanted to share this excerpt because I think for so many of us, we feel this on a daily basis. We want to give up. We want to stop killing ourselves, pressing so hard, squeezing the life out of ourselves instead of the life out of our day. But the Lord was good to remind me that just when you want to quit and throw in the towel..... Just when you start believing that "everyone is probably right...I am crazy to think that I could do this" it is just the enemy feeding us the ever popular way he always does. With fear.
2 Timothy 1:7- For the Spirt of God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.
1 John 4: 18- There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I'll give you a summary. She's lead us through the wilderness with Moses. Moses dies then a new leader leads the people into the Promised Land. Joshua. A fearless, courageous, confident man. A one-in-a-million. The people are led to the banks of the Jordan about to cross over into the Promised Land. They stand with the ark as water slaps the shore. Nothing seems to happen like it did at the Red Sea. The waters did not part like the people saw them part before.
Here's the excerpt. It speaks for itself:
Joshua called the people to consecrate themselves BEFORE the miracle. To be set apart today in anticipation the God would perform tomorrow. It's one thing to change to way you're living AFTER God parts the Jordan. It's another to do it while the waves of your problem are still crashing around your feet as you stand on the shore....
At first it would have appeared as if nothing was happening since the water didn't immediately divide right in front of them. But what the children of Israel didn't know as they craned their necks to the north was that far upstream God was already working His miracle for them. Though the roar of the current continued to drown out conversations, clearly mitigating against a mass river crossing, "the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan" (Joshua 3:16). Adam was 30 miles away. At this place, far out of sight, the Jordan was even then starting to become a dry riverbed. It was going to take a little while for the runoff to spill through at the Israelites' downstream location, but the miracle was already in progress.
From your vantage point you may not be able to see how God is going to work out His purposes in your life, the ones that seem far away and impossible to detect. You've gotten your feet wet....But be convinced that eventhough God may be working "a great distance" away, He is working. He has not forgotten His promises. He has not run into a snag that may prevent Him from following through. Be assured that God will carry out the miraculous plans He has for you.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
One Nation
I am not about to start getting on the political bandwagon despite the approaching election. The picture I posted Friday about embassies under siege truly saddened me. It mapped out all the ones under attack right now. It is a stark reminder that our world is far from perfect. It is violent, sick, and down right disturbing. The picture woke me up a bit and for anyone it should.
So hang with me for a minute before you decide to click off this and read what you're looking for. What pleases you....if you will. Isn't that why we log on most of the time. To check our awesome status, to see who liked it or made us feel like we mattered by commenting. I'm not making fun....obviously I am guilty too. But what is our motivation behind this. To take a few brief seconds to see what's going on and who cares enough to notice right?!. Again, referring back to the embassy picture reported by CNN....it was a scary reminder no matter the content of the picture that we are in trouble. We have been for a while. Let's just remember that in the middle of status post and scrolling through articles, yahoo, and going through our day that this little world we create for ourselves, can be torn at any minute. It is worth our time and effort to stop and pray about it. We remembered 9/11 this week. Doesn't seem possible after that day, that we could be sitting where we are still enjoying so much. But with it we are reminded that it all could change in the blink of an eye.
My prayer as we get closer to November is this. That we would be reminded to not be more caught up in the platforms, speeches, parties, promises, and the candidates. If we think for a second that they will solve our problems, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. There is not a party or a person that could pull us out of the mess we are in. As the US or as the world. We desperately need to stop bashing and tearing down, because that is a competitive frustration that will only divide us. We need to look into the root of the REAL problem and realize that God is the only one who knows the outcome, so we need to start asking him how to steer this country and its leaders.
America was not formed without this kind of direction. Take a dollar bill. "In God We Trust." We better. If we have any sense left. We need to look back to the roots and hearts of the people that started this country. I got the honor to visit Mount Vernon (home of George Washington) a few years back. It is beautiful and historic. It is the one place that I want to go back to someday. I've never known such a peaceful place. It is refreshing to walk around the grounds (especially in the fall) and imagine all the decision Washington made that had never been made for us as a nation before. To know that he fretted and stressed and prayed over such decisions. It was down right humbling actually. Standing in his study next to the desk and chair where some of these probably took place, I realized that after all he was just a man. Who needed direction. Needed help. Needed guidance and had everyone's opinion left and right. He was also someone who prayed. Thank God he did because I do believe it made our start and success firm in the beginning. The peace I felt that day was all too familiar to me. It was a place full of past prayers and hopes and vision.
There is no doubt in my mind that we are far from that now. But we are not as far as we think from the change we need if we act on it. Please remember to pray and ask God to guide us as a nation. Pray for our leaders. They are still human and they can be reached be a mighty God.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Fear
Goodness knows that fear can get the best of you if you let it. Fear takes a hard root. It is the driver of anger, regret, worry, rejection, loneliness, bitterness, and well......________________......you fill in the blank. Often I think that I avoid it but the real reality is few of us slow down enough to face it head on.....grab it before it grabs us and takes us over. I read the quote below tonight, but in my nature I rewrote the ending. The first will be the original, then my alternate ending.
Original:
I must not fear.
Fear is a mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain. Frank Herbert
That ending was just far too depressing. So here is mine **:
I must not fear.
Fear is a mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
**But it will not consume me.
I will not be so afraid of fear that I refuse to learn what it has to teach me about myself.
Or rather what God has to teach me about myself through it.
Processing fear is necessary so that it does not limit me, hang me up, or block me from becoming everything that I am supposed to be for the time God has put me here.
Fear will not leave me in the wake, but rather I will wake up to it.
I will be courageous as I have been commanded. (Joshua 1:9)
Face your fear and you will soon realize it was not bigger than your God.
Some other quotes that had some truth to them:
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Bertrand Russell
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt
Right now I am also reading Priscilla Shirer's book One in a Million as well. It beautifully couples lots of echoed thoughts subtly and not so on fear as she talks about our journey through "our wilderness" on the way to the promised land. Lots of times she makes references that reminded me that really we don't do what we are intended to do with our wilderness and rob ourselves of the promised land with distractions and laziness. Ouch!! Thanks Priscilla. Isn't that just fear acting out. Fear that we missed the boat, missed our chance and now out of fear....somehow we have to make up for it. It's like trying to scratch our way up a vertical canyon wall. God's got us and He is going to provide and take care of us. Trust Him in the wilderness periods too.
I figured that if I battle fear this much someone else needed to hear this. The main thing to understand is that everyone deals with it. We might say it is with silence or others with self absorption, but it is there. Anyone who says they don't is lying.....or not going through it right now. Fear is one the ugliest things we battle because it takes so many different forms. Comes at us in disguise of something that looks like jealousy, pride, selfishness, or the like. It is really just fear rearing its ugly head. But again, I would go the step further. While fear of God builds our awe and reverence of Him and is necessary, who else knows where to hit us and exactly how to make us scared and make our skin crawl. You bet. Satan. And he has our "number and address" as Priscilla says. Hmm. Doesn't that make you a bit angry. That our wall can look so awesome with our sayings, and post, and stories and plaques and decor, but Satan sees exactly how he can crack us. And away he goes. Swinging whatever hammer he wants and not caring about the damage.
So my question for me and you is this. Knowing who roots this type of fear and who uses it so lethally against us, starts to shed a little light. It starts to make sense when we fall when we have done nothing to fight to stand. Done nothing but say we are busy and don't have the time to deal with it. Really? Ummm...Satan has time to attack YOU specifically but you can't make time to fight. Well then you better ready for attack when your relationships fall apart, but your facebook account appears intact. DO SOMETHING!!! It makes me want to, as the above states, FACE IT. So that it no longer can be used against me. It makes me want to take the time....regardless of how long it takes......to get rid of it. Stop and give it the look it needs so that it is put back in its proper place and fears are left at the foot of the Lord. Where they belong. It is there we pick up his perspective and hope for us. And learn to manage what the enemy would use against us. It also reminds me to be ready for the battle, because if satan sees "the crack in the wall" and knows where to hit me....I better be ready with my fighting gear. Here's just a few......
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear you ain't got nothing on God. Psst. Hey Satan you lose in the end.
Original:
I must not fear.
Fear is a mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain. Frank Herbert
That ending was just far too depressing. So here is mine **:
I must not fear.
Fear is a mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
**But it will not consume me.
I will not be so afraid of fear that I refuse to learn what it has to teach me about myself.
Or rather what God has to teach me about myself through it.
Processing fear is necessary so that it does not limit me, hang me up, or block me from becoming everything that I am supposed to be for the time God has put me here.
Fear will not leave me in the wake, but rather I will wake up to it.
I will be courageous as I have been commanded. (Joshua 1:9)
Face your fear and you will soon realize it was not bigger than your God.
Some other quotes that had some truth to them:
Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom. Bertrand Russell
You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt
Right now I am also reading Priscilla Shirer's book One in a Million as well. It beautifully couples lots of echoed thoughts subtly and not so on fear as she talks about our journey through "our wilderness" on the way to the promised land. Lots of times she makes references that reminded me that really we don't do what we are intended to do with our wilderness and rob ourselves of the promised land with distractions and laziness. Ouch!! Thanks Priscilla. Isn't that just fear acting out. Fear that we missed the boat, missed our chance and now out of fear....somehow we have to make up for it. It's like trying to scratch our way up a vertical canyon wall. God's got us and He is going to provide and take care of us. Trust Him in the wilderness periods too.
I figured that if I battle fear this much someone else needed to hear this. The main thing to understand is that everyone deals with it. We might say it is with silence or others with self absorption, but it is there. Anyone who says they don't is lying.....or not going through it right now. Fear is one the ugliest things we battle because it takes so many different forms. Comes at us in disguise of something that looks like jealousy, pride, selfishness, or the like. It is really just fear rearing its ugly head. But again, I would go the step further. While fear of God builds our awe and reverence of Him and is necessary, who else knows where to hit us and exactly how to make us scared and make our skin crawl. You bet. Satan. And he has our "number and address" as Priscilla says. Hmm. Doesn't that make you a bit angry. That our wall can look so awesome with our sayings, and post, and stories and plaques and decor, but Satan sees exactly how he can crack us. And away he goes. Swinging whatever hammer he wants and not caring about the damage.
So my question for me and you is this. Knowing who roots this type of fear and who uses it so lethally against us, starts to shed a little light. It starts to make sense when we fall when we have done nothing to fight to stand. Done nothing but say we are busy and don't have the time to deal with it. Really? Ummm...Satan has time to attack YOU specifically but you can't make time to fight. Well then you better ready for attack when your relationships fall apart, but your facebook account appears intact. DO SOMETHING!!! It makes me want to, as the above states, FACE IT. So that it no longer can be used against me. It makes me want to take the time....regardless of how long it takes......to get rid of it. Stop and give it the look it needs so that it is put back in its proper place and fears are left at the foot of the Lord. Where they belong. It is there we pick up his perspective and hope for us. And learn to manage what the enemy would use against us. It also reminds me to be ready for the battle, because if satan sees "the crack in the wall" and knows where to hit me....I better be ready with my fighting gear. Here's just a few......
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Fear you ain't got nothing on God. Psst. Hey Satan you lose in the end.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Be silent, Be still
At the risk of reminding a lots of my Wayland friends of a long retired, easily repeated movie...... here goes! (This ones for you Leigh!)
She's all that.....Rachel Cook walking out on the stage in a skin tight white body suit calming the disturbing scene that just took place. The weird stand up performance....am I recreating it for you yet? If not it is ok. But her line is basically, "Be silent. Be still." I'm so reminded of this today as I have just been lost in thought. So lost at times that it is confusing and you wonder how you got so far down a road of thought and you start backing out and tracking it. As if that works. Usually I wind up more confused or it leads to another fork in the road. The Lord was very faithful to remind me that we are a society so lost in thought sometimes that we cripple ourselves instead of simply doing what we know. Being who we need to be without having to think about it. Sure every one of us probably has had to take some "me time" to think and recall and process certain situations or circumstances. Things that are important enough to think about. The most important thing sometimes is to just be silent though.
I have such great friends, Jody included, who just listen. They let me process or rather just tolerate me sometimes. But for them I am so thankful. In a sense they are helping me figure it out and get back to helping others instead of spending time on me. After all, I think it is funny when I get frustrated with myself for needing this time to process but in reality it is imperative. Some of are most important decision are worth the time. I need to be patient with myself as well. I am willing to do it for others but I do not extend that to myself very often. So for my reminder today I was inspired to write again for something I think is beautifully crucial. You can "Be silent, be still" all you want but I like this ending much better.
Be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD. Psalms 46:10
Yes! That is a place where all the confusion is lost in the "does this really even matter." No it really doesn't. Sometimes in this world of me and self and "I commit to this and that" or facebook and twitter.....we forget....I forget. All of the wrestle is life. It is fun until we start carrying more than we can stand and thinking that it has something to do with us. That breath of "be still and know that I am God" is my reminder that (goodness knows) I can be lighter than I am because I picked up too much and think that it depends on me. Thank goodness. Be still. That is a crucial place and ACTION. Be still and Know. A crucial mindset. Be still and KNOW that I am God. He is so wonderfully patient.
She's all that.....Rachel Cook walking out on the stage in a skin tight white body suit calming the disturbing scene that just took place. The weird stand up performance....am I recreating it for you yet? If not it is ok. But her line is basically, "Be silent. Be still." I'm so reminded of this today as I have just been lost in thought. So lost at times that it is confusing and you wonder how you got so far down a road of thought and you start backing out and tracking it. As if that works. Usually I wind up more confused or it leads to another fork in the road. The Lord was very faithful to remind me that we are a society so lost in thought sometimes that we cripple ourselves instead of simply doing what we know. Being who we need to be without having to think about it. Sure every one of us probably has had to take some "me time" to think and recall and process certain situations or circumstances. Things that are important enough to think about. The most important thing sometimes is to just be silent though.
I have such great friends, Jody included, who just listen. They let me process or rather just tolerate me sometimes. But for them I am so thankful. In a sense they are helping me figure it out and get back to helping others instead of spending time on me. After all, I think it is funny when I get frustrated with myself for needing this time to process but in reality it is imperative. Some of are most important decision are worth the time. I need to be patient with myself as well. I am willing to do it for others but I do not extend that to myself very often. So for my reminder today I was inspired to write again for something I think is beautifully crucial. You can "Be silent, be still" all you want but I like this ending much better.
Be STILL and KNOW that I AM GOD. Psalms 46:10
Yes! That is a place where all the confusion is lost in the "does this really even matter." No it really doesn't. Sometimes in this world of me and self and "I commit to this and that" or facebook and twitter.....we forget....I forget. All of the wrestle is life. It is fun until we start carrying more than we can stand and thinking that it has something to do with us. That breath of "be still and know that I am God" is my reminder that (goodness knows) I can be lighter than I am because I picked up too much and think that it depends on me. Thank goodness. Be still. That is a crucial place and ACTION. Be still and Know. A crucial mindset. Be still and KNOW that I am God. He is so wonderfully patient.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Hard Pressed
I have felt hard pressed lately. Overwhelmed. Sinking. Don't really know why other than I bottle it and try to hold it all together. Sometimes I wonder why the Lord made me such a bleeding heart for people. I love to get someone talking and just listen. The shocker is always when the listening turns to talking that leads to healing for me as well. Frustrating for me to be vulnerable with so many of the great friends I am blessed to have, but so freeing. After today, I'm less overwhelmed and more relieved to be reminded that none of us have it all together. Thankful that people accept me even when I don't. Blessed when others choose to share with me about their life, what they have come through, and where they are now. I'm blessed by the real answers. Not the fake ones we coin and practice to keep the act going. I love when people are real enough to just be themselves and not feel the need to put on a front. I have great friends whether it is from childhood, past or present and I really would not be strong without them. They teach me so much about the beauty of life and friendship. They remind me to be brave but never fake. We were put here to live life together and thankfully I feel like I am getting to do that. I had a sweet friend take me for a long overdue coke run tonight and she will always be special because there's not an ounce of faking happy in her body. She loves pure honesty, raw laughter and the truth. There are so many others that come to my mind right now and I just smile. I'm just blessed by others and hopefully somehow along the way I want to bless them for blessing me. To bring joy and laughter and clarity into their day just like they did for me.....without even knowing it. These are the people who push me and remind me that I have to give more than I take because others need that.
Ephesians 3:20
Ephesians 3:20
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Recent Excerpt from Matt Chandler
This is a very short excerpt from Matt Chandler's The Explicit Gospel that I thought was worth sharing.
"We live through faith, and we die through faith. Everything else is garbage. Even works of righteousness, if not done through faith, are works of self-righteousness and therefore filthy rags. Be very careful about going to church, reading your Bible, saying prayers, doing good deeds, and reading books like this through anything but faith in the living Lord. Because the result of all that is belief in a phony Jesus and inoculation to the gospel. You can end up knowing the jargon and playing pretend. Be very careful. Watch your life and your doctrine closely ( 1 Time 4:16). Some of you are so good that you've deceived yourselves. God help you."
This made me really think again. With the last sentence it better make me think. I am not so hard that I will ever think I don't need work and I definitely don't have it all together. Of course Matt Chandler has a great way of getting your attention with his unapologetic and skillful wording, but even that is God given. He just simply reminded me that especially with the above, that Faith is the only way to please God. Not just faith by itself. Faith in the Living Lord. That is it in a nutshell. Hard for us because it stretches us beyond our comfort. Calls us to let go, which is incredibly hard to do. Then give it to someone we can't even see. Well, as a very wise camp pastor once told me, I will leave you with this.
I don't know exactly how electricity works (and for those of you that do....think of another example that puzzles you.....try anything medical that doesn't work exactly how we expect it to!!) but I'm not standing around in the dark to figure it out! How true. I'm going to the source even though I don't understand everything about Him. He's far too great to us to understand everything about Him. I understand enough to know that He is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do. There's no one who gives me the hope and promise and love that He offers.
Faith? Yes Lord, I pray that I have enough to please you!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Jonah
Jonah 4: 9-11
Considering that last chapter and verses in Jonah, I had a great eye opener this morning. It states that Jonah was more worried about the plant that God sent him to give him shade, withering up and dying. He was throwing a fit over a plant. God then enters and asked him why he had a right to be angry because (in a nutshell) Jonah didn't make the plant or tend to it, so why was he mad about it? God poses the final question like a dagger....shouldn't you care more about Nineveh than a plant? Basically, shouldn't you care more about people than your own comfort.
It was a great reminder that our perspective is usually self-centered and it takes God to open our eyes to that. He wants us to care more about others that our own silly comforts and wants. He wants us to care about others more than all of our stuff. What a funny story to use. I can just picture Jonah sitting under his little plant, totally content with the shade and pitching a fit the next when it died like a 2 year old. Stomping his feet, throwing his arms down to make his argument, then enter GOD. Funny how often God probably shakes his head in love, mercy, and patience over me because it probably looks the same way....but Lord I hope not. I just want to say yes the first time instead of running, getting swallowed up and spit out, then pitching a fit like Jonah. Really when we all read the story of Jonah we find ourselves saying, "Stop. Get off the boat! The fish is coming stupid!" kinda like we might holler at a movie as if we can change the outcome or ending. The Lord was just good to remind me that if I think Jonah looked ridiculous and his running was futile, then why oh why do you think you can do anything beyond my reach? Point taken Lord!
Considering that last chapter and verses in Jonah, I had a great eye opener this morning. It states that Jonah was more worried about the plant that God sent him to give him shade, withering up and dying. He was throwing a fit over a plant. God then enters and asked him why he had a right to be angry because (in a nutshell) Jonah didn't make the plant or tend to it, so why was he mad about it? God poses the final question like a dagger....shouldn't you care more about Nineveh than a plant? Basically, shouldn't you care more about people than your own comfort.
It was a great reminder that our perspective is usually self-centered and it takes God to open our eyes to that. He wants us to care more about others that our own silly comforts and wants. He wants us to care about others more than all of our stuff. What a funny story to use. I can just picture Jonah sitting under his little plant, totally content with the shade and pitching a fit the next when it died like a 2 year old. Stomping his feet, throwing his arms down to make his argument, then enter GOD. Funny how often God probably shakes his head in love, mercy, and patience over me because it probably looks the same way....but Lord I hope not. I just want to say yes the first time instead of running, getting swallowed up and spit out, then pitching a fit like Jonah. Really when we all read the story of Jonah we find ourselves saying, "Stop. Get off the boat! The fish is coming stupid!" kinda like we might holler at a movie as if we can change the outcome or ending. The Lord was just good to remind me that if I think Jonah looked ridiculous and his running was futile, then why oh why do you think you can do anything beyond my reach? Point taken Lord!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Mustering Strength
I found myself sad today as a chapter came to a close. I hate goodbyes and having to step back and evaluate....did I really do a good job and did I give it all I had. I'm exhausted and can say that for me at this new energy level that runs out far before I want to stop, that yes I think I did. Could I have given more? A resounding yes, but I always tried to give my best. I gave each patient all I knew, which sometimes still falls so short. I tried to give my best everyday but again I feel that each patient teaches me far more than I give them. I know that for thoseI help, it is just that feeling you are left with when someone teaches you something great...about them....about yourself.....about life.....and about what walking with the Lord looks life off paper. It leaves you grateful, thankful, and sometimes yes....in tears. I felt that so many times especially today with my patients that were sweet enough to say kind words and a simple heartfelt thank you. It overwhelms me that people still take the time to say that and slow down enough to remember not to forgot after the opportunity is gone. We've all done it, me included. "I'm so glad I met you. I'm so glad our paths crossed.".....but why didn't I say that to their face, we think to ourselves.
So my mustering strength is not physical, but mental and emotional. I'm exhausted. I had so many grateful moments today that left me in awe of the people that were nice enough to stop and just share their thoughts and some their heart. These are the people that give me strength to keep on pressing when others are probably wanting to say to me, "don't you think that's enough. what else now?" It is not what else now, but WHO else now. Who else now can I help if I push a little harder a little longer, more into what I don't know.....to get to know for someone else who needs the help (PT). Yes I will admit I am an info addict because I want to know all I can so I can be more helpful. It is a bit of a bad thing at times, but when you are sitting before someone who needs the help and has not found it other places, that is when it pays off. To be able to offer a service or sometimes just a listening ear, these are the moments that I was made for. Mustering strength is never up to us. All we must do is ask a capable Savior to fill us, make us, mold us, and then pour us out.
Can you tell I love what I do??!!
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
So my mustering strength is not physical, but mental and emotional. I'm exhausted. I had so many grateful moments today that left me in awe of the people that were nice enough to stop and just share their thoughts and some their heart. These are the people that give me strength to keep on pressing when others are probably wanting to say to me, "don't you think that's enough. what else now?" It is not what else now, but WHO else now. Who else now can I help if I push a little harder a little longer, more into what I don't know.....to get to know for someone else who needs the help (PT). Yes I will admit I am an info addict because I want to know all I can so I can be more helpful. It is a bit of a bad thing at times, but when you are sitting before someone who needs the help and has not found it other places, that is when it pays off. To be able to offer a service or sometimes just a listening ear, these are the moments that I was made for. Mustering strength is never up to us. All we must do is ask a capable Savior to fill us, make us, mold us, and then pour us out.
Can you tell I love what I do??!!
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The Genius in ALL of Us
At one of my most recent courses (Foundations with CrunKeyser), they suggested this book to read.....and like the follower and believer in them that I am.....I wrote it down on my suggested readings page in the course binder. These two men that taught the course are unbelievable. Humbling to be in a room of such art and genius, but the humility that they carry is even more challenging.
The Genius in All of Us by David Shenk
I have only just begun but immediately like many of my other readings that they have suggested: Blink, The Tipping Point, Outliers......this book echoed the very training I have received to this point. It encompasses both the passion I have for the bible and for manual therapy. It discusses the purposes that perfect practice and the amount of practice can grow in all of us. I read a few passages to Jody and just gripping the book I felt like my heart would explode just because something could be saying the very things that I have been telling myself over and over again.
It has been a process in me that started when I was very young. Piano by our wonderful local organist in the town where I grew up. She was composed and pretty. And demanded the very best out of a person. Pushed for it. Never settled for less because she saw the untapped potential in each of her students. She saw what we could not and helped us, encouraged us, corrected us as any good teacher would. She was truly great because rather than stopping at good she pressed for us to practice and practice some more. She taught us the art of being disciplined. Through that there were a few of us that grew up together and by the time we were in high school we all went to competitions and excelled and ALL placed at state. That teacher knew the benefits of hard work and practice and taught us how not to quit when things/songs/days were tough but to keep on pressing and perfecting. She was the greatest artist I knew at that age and I cannot thank her enough. Those very things she impressed upon me through countless lessons about piano have far carried over into life. They are precious lessons now. I long for my kids to want to work hard and see the results of hard work and practice. (and not be allergic to it!!) I hope they will love hard work and dedication as much as I do. This is a scary time when it seems that more and more people (kids and adults) are just not willing to tap into their fullest potential. Although this is not a christian book, I apply these principles the same. God deserves are best...not our leftovers. Not my bad attitude. My focus, my hard work....committed only to Him. Let me close in sharing a short passage from the book by David Shenk and hope that it spurs you as much as it did me!
......There is an explanation, a simple and good one, but it implications are radical for family and for society. It is this: some people are training harder----and smarter----than before. (It gives the example of Ted Williams in baseball.) We're better at stuff because we've figured out how to become better. Talent is not a thing....it is a process.
...In recent years, a mountain of scientific evidence has emerged that overwhelmingly suggests a completely different paradigm: not talent scarcity, but latent talent abundance. In this conception, human talent and intelligence are not permanently in short supply like fossil fuel, but potentially plentiful like wind power. The problem isn't our inadequate genetic assests, but our inability, so far, to tap into what we already have.
....But the new science suggests that few of us know our true limits, that the vast majority of us have not even come close to tapping what scientists call our "unactualized potential." It also suggests a profound optimism for the human race. "We have no way of knowing how much unactualized genetic potential exists," writes Cornell University developmental psychologist Stephen Ceci.
This was my FAVORITE:
Our abilities are not set into genetic stone. They are soft and sculptable, far into adulthood. With humility, with hope, and with extraordinary determination, greatness is something to which any kid---any age----can aspire.
Partial Excerpts from David Shenk....The Genius in All of Us
The Genius in All of Us by David Shenk
I have only just begun but immediately like many of my other readings that they have suggested: Blink, The Tipping Point, Outliers......this book echoed the very training I have received to this point. It encompasses both the passion I have for the bible and for manual therapy. It discusses the purposes that perfect practice and the amount of practice can grow in all of us. I read a few passages to Jody and just gripping the book I felt like my heart would explode just because something could be saying the very things that I have been telling myself over and over again.
It has been a process in me that started when I was very young. Piano by our wonderful local organist in the town where I grew up. She was composed and pretty. And demanded the very best out of a person. Pushed for it. Never settled for less because she saw the untapped potential in each of her students. She saw what we could not and helped us, encouraged us, corrected us as any good teacher would. She was truly great because rather than stopping at good she pressed for us to practice and practice some more. She taught us the art of being disciplined. Through that there were a few of us that grew up together and by the time we were in high school we all went to competitions and excelled and ALL placed at state. That teacher knew the benefits of hard work and practice and taught us how not to quit when things/songs/days were tough but to keep on pressing and perfecting. She was the greatest artist I knew at that age and I cannot thank her enough. Those very things she impressed upon me through countless lessons about piano have far carried over into life. They are precious lessons now. I long for my kids to want to work hard and see the results of hard work and practice. (and not be allergic to it!!) I hope they will love hard work and dedication as much as I do. This is a scary time when it seems that more and more people (kids and adults) are just not willing to tap into their fullest potential. Although this is not a christian book, I apply these principles the same. God deserves are best...not our leftovers. Not my bad attitude. My focus, my hard work....committed only to Him. Let me close in sharing a short passage from the book by David Shenk and hope that it spurs you as much as it did me!
......There is an explanation, a simple and good one, but it implications are radical for family and for society. It is this: some people are training harder----and smarter----than before. (It gives the example of Ted Williams in baseball.) We're better at stuff because we've figured out how to become better. Talent is not a thing....it is a process.
...In recent years, a mountain of scientific evidence has emerged that overwhelmingly suggests a completely different paradigm: not talent scarcity, but latent talent abundance. In this conception, human talent and intelligence are not permanently in short supply like fossil fuel, but potentially plentiful like wind power. The problem isn't our inadequate genetic assests, but our inability, so far, to tap into what we already have.
....But the new science suggests that few of us know our true limits, that the vast majority of us have not even come close to tapping what scientists call our "unactualized potential." It also suggests a profound optimism for the human race. "We have no way of knowing how much unactualized genetic potential exists," writes Cornell University developmental psychologist Stephen Ceci.
This was my FAVORITE:
Our abilities are not set into genetic stone. They are soft and sculptable, far into adulthood. With humility, with hope, and with extraordinary determination, greatness is something to which any kid---any age----can aspire.
Partial Excerpts from David Shenk....The Genius in All of Us
Thursday, March 1, 2012
What good is it?
Last week we wrapped up our James study by Beth Moore. There were so many good parts to the study, but the one that keeps standing out to me is her question, "What good is your faith?"
If you are familiar with James then you know that he drills in the point that faith without deeds is dead. Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. Oh to have that faith. Just when I think that my faith has grown, the wave of doubt sweeps me. The wave of questions (that I am all too good at asking) takes control. And I am left in the wake. Wondering.....what good is my faith? Funny how the devil would love to play off that. Not so funny how we crater and let him sometimes.
I was overwhelmed again tonight by returning symptoms, bad labs, and the frustration that I should be over and done with this. I do finally have a new referral after too long....but I am thankful that Monday I get a second opinion. Excited and nervous.
So I will tell you what good my faith is. I know that there are critics and skeptics and the cynical. Sadly I could be any one of those. We probably all could at times. But what wins. Hope. Love. Faith. Yes that is not following the 1 Corinthians order but after the James study I am inclined to say Faith yanks you off your tail, reminds you that there is hope in a Savior, and Love drives you to care. Drives us to remember that though doubt may enter, it will not reside. Doubt and fear are funny cousins. They couple and arrive almost in the same moment. But that is "what good my faith is". When they sweep and leave us overwhelmed. Leave us defeated and afraid to make a move. They tell us that there is no point or whatever lies we have all heard at some point. Interesting. I pictured myself on a beach, waves beating over me and then relenting back. Over and over again. The next part is the best. When I first pictured this I was sitting on the beach in sand, the waves coming again and again for a time, never letting up. But when the water finally retreated, I was left sitting on a rock. The rock of Jesus. That is our Faith. A faith that pulls me up, telling me the point is God's love, God's purpose. A faith that never fails because it is built on the Rock. It reminds me that there is a great cloud of witnesses and I have no excuse to feel alone. My situation is small in comparison. The great have gone before us and are cheering us on. Encouraging us. Counting on us to continue the legacy of great faith. Faith that can be counted as righteousness. Faith that brings hope and expects God to do more than our ability and our circumstances. Expects HIM to show up. What a beautiful thing, this Faith. Faith is the doing it, not talking about it. What good? ALL THE GOOD I say because in those moments God makes me practice it and I know He is growing it!! Oh to have the faith in Hebrews 11. We are so very loved!
This one is for you Crystal.......... God is good, all the time. All the time God is good!!
If you are familiar with James then you know that he drills in the point that faith without deeds is dead. Faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness. Oh to have that faith. Just when I think that my faith has grown, the wave of doubt sweeps me. The wave of questions (that I am all too good at asking) takes control. And I am left in the wake. Wondering.....what good is my faith? Funny how the devil would love to play off that. Not so funny how we crater and let him sometimes.
I was overwhelmed again tonight by returning symptoms, bad labs, and the frustration that I should be over and done with this. I do finally have a new referral after too long....but I am thankful that Monday I get a second opinion. Excited and nervous.
So I will tell you what good my faith is. I know that there are critics and skeptics and the cynical. Sadly I could be any one of those. We probably all could at times. But what wins. Hope. Love. Faith. Yes that is not following the 1 Corinthians order but after the James study I am inclined to say Faith yanks you off your tail, reminds you that there is hope in a Savior, and Love drives you to care. Drives us to remember that though doubt may enter, it will not reside. Doubt and fear are funny cousins. They couple and arrive almost in the same moment. But that is "what good my faith is". When they sweep and leave us overwhelmed. Leave us defeated and afraid to make a move. They tell us that there is no point or whatever lies we have all heard at some point. Interesting. I pictured myself on a beach, waves beating over me and then relenting back. Over and over again. The next part is the best. When I first pictured this I was sitting on the beach in sand, the waves coming again and again for a time, never letting up. But when the water finally retreated, I was left sitting on a rock. The rock of Jesus. That is our Faith. A faith that pulls me up, telling me the point is God's love, God's purpose. A faith that never fails because it is built on the Rock. It reminds me that there is a great cloud of witnesses and I have no excuse to feel alone. My situation is small in comparison. The great have gone before us and are cheering us on. Encouraging us. Counting on us to continue the legacy of great faith. Faith that can be counted as righteousness. Faith that brings hope and expects God to do more than our ability and our circumstances. Expects HIM to show up. What a beautiful thing, this Faith. Faith is the doing it, not talking about it. What good? ALL THE GOOD I say because in those moments God makes me practice it and I know He is growing it!! Oh to have the faith in Hebrews 11. We are so very loved!
This one is for you Crystal.......... God is good, all the time. All the time God is good!!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Teaching and Passing It On
Ugh! Probably the hardest one for me to write yet! I love helpful information. I recently stumbled across another great blog that has me hooked for this reason. As a physical therapist and heavily influenced by IPA, I love information about staying healthy and avoiding foods that feed inflammation. This is what I am saying to each of my patients most of the time....what you are eating could be feeding your pain process. Omega 3's versus omega 6's. Drinking things like concentrated cherry juice or aloe vera can also help reduce these processes. The average american diet is destroying the body slowly and giving pain, cancer and chronic fatigue a place to breed and spread like wildfire. Pain is a complex animal but the first mode of attack starts by watching what YOU allow in your body. Check this blog out it is great!! cucumbersandcocoa.blogspot.com
That's just one of the many topics that FIRE ME UP! (In a good way!) I can single handedly dump information on someone if they are only willing to listen and be taught. And for me likewise.....I love to keep on learning. Through the CFMT process, God made me realize just how much of a passion I have for sharing all this information. Whether it is teaching about God and the bible, physical therapy, IPA, or how to move better, these are my passions. With women's health, He gave me a few opportunities to give small presentations that I quickly fell in love with distributing information in an organized and semi-entertaining way.
The area that hits closest is home. Teaching the kids those little day-to-day tasks, manners, & how to's are fun and challenging. That's where the significance of all of this struck me the most with the importance of teaching. We are all teachers in a sense. I am one patient at a time. My husband is for his classes at school. Moms' are every minute of every day. No matter what you do whether you like it or not, you are a teacher of something. My realization of how much I love sharing information and trying to be as helpful as possible came during isolation time. We can't expect the next generation to understand or know something if we haven't taken the time to share with them. I had special people invest countless hours into me growing up and they still do. It does not happen by accident. It takes planning, time, applying what we know to the people around us. As Malcom Gladwell would say, people gifted in sharing information are called mavens. So here's to being the best maven and teacher I can be. Only with His help of course!
That's just one of the many topics that FIRE ME UP! (In a good way!) I can single handedly dump information on someone if they are only willing to listen and be taught. And for me likewise.....I love to keep on learning. Through the CFMT process, God made me realize just how much of a passion I have for sharing all this information. Whether it is teaching about God and the bible, physical therapy, IPA, or how to move better, these are my passions. With women's health, He gave me a few opportunities to give small presentations that I quickly fell in love with distributing information in an organized and semi-entertaining way.
The area that hits closest is home. Teaching the kids those little day-to-day tasks, manners, & how to's are fun and challenging. That's where the significance of all of this struck me the most with the importance of teaching. We are all teachers in a sense. I am one patient at a time. My husband is for his classes at school. Moms' are every minute of every day. No matter what you do whether you like it or not, you are a teacher of something. My realization of how much I love sharing information and trying to be as helpful as possible came during isolation time. We can't expect the next generation to understand or know something if we haven't taken the time to share with them. I had special people invest countless hours into me growing up and they still do. It does not happen by accident. It takes planning, time, applying what we know to the people around us. As Malcom Gladwell would say, people gifted in sharing information are called mavens. So here's to being the best maven and teacher I can be. Only with His help of course!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Family and the Next Generation
That chokes me up just writing that title. There was a point in time where Jody and I were not sure that would even be possible. Family. We knew that it would be us and that was enough. After a very bad car accident, doctors told him that he would never be able to. Now of course we have 2 beautiful kids that remind us that God FULLY HEALS and FULLY ANSWERS. He does the impossible. Reece and Cale are the light of our lives. Sunshine and joy in the morning. Family is a precious word that I am so thankful for. Family means I don't have to go through this life alone and I get to past fun traditions and stories on to my kids. I also get to teach them about Jesus.....the most important part of my life. A relationship so special that it is unmatched by any other. During my "isolation" time, God showed me how important it is to pass things on to them. To plan for them. Provide for them with His provision. To love and care for them. To detail "the little things" that make life sweeter and make them feel like no one is more important than them. It is a special gift to love your family and your kids with God's love. Unconditional. To teach them that life is beautiful and wonderful. But even more than you can imagine when HE is in your life and HE is your everything.
Beth Moore James study had a great tidbit this week. It talked about how life can sometimes get bitter because of people, situations, circumstances, or you fill in the blank. Jesus makes life sweeter. Exodus 15: 22-26, especially verse 25 says that the Lord showed Moses a piece of wood and he threw it in the water and made it sweet. Of course she draws you through the awesome parallel that the piece of wood that sweetened our life was the cross and what Christ has done for us. Truly awesome! I have chewed on that all day. What a great truth! I want to make their life sweeter because that what He has done for me and for them. I prayed that over my labs this morning that pure sweetness would take anything crazy out that my last set of test showed. Makes me sad that just when I thought I was done, another set commences. His blood can makes anything sweet and that is exactly what I am asking for.
Beth Moore James study had a great tidbit this week. It talked about how life can sometimes get bitter because of people, situations, circumstances, or you fill in the blank. Jesus makes life sweeter. Exodus 15: 22-26, especially verse 25 says that the Lord showed Moses a piece of wood and he threw it in the water and made it sweet. Of course she draws you through the awesome parallel that the piece of wood that sweetened our life was the cross and what Christ has done for us. Truly awesome! I have chewed on that all day. What a great truth! I want to make their life sweeter because that what He has done for me and for them. I prayed that over my labs this morning that pure sweetness would take anything crazy out that my last set of test showed. Makes me sad that just when I thought I was done, another set commences. His blood can makes anything sweet and that is exactly what I am asking for.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
James
The Beth Moore study of James...Mercy Triumphs is great! I must say that tonight kicked my tail. A very good kick I might add. Not one that I have not read several times because this is one of my favorite books. She just explained this verse in such a great way that made it hit the head and the heart at the same time. Yes I know the verse and thought I understood the meaning. But thinking about it, being taught more about it and having someone shed this kind of light is what I needed for it to really transfer. I love grasping a concept deeply. Really basking in the real meaning and not missing important words and messages.
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
This verse has always been a bit of a mystery to me. The words that helped me tonight were ACCEPTS and POLLUTED. Religion that God accepts. That is interesting. This may be what we have always known, grown up with, or been taught. We have lots of ideas about religion and what it looks like, how it should be practiced, what worship is and so on. Reading the above verse again, I have to say that I have been wrong. It is nothing about the things that we make it to be. It is simple so long as we don't let others opinions or the demands of our own lives dictate us actually following through with those things. She takes you through other verses that address: poor, oppressed, fatherless, widows again. It is not our idea of what God will accept but what HE accepts as pure and faultless.
For me the next word was the most powerful. POLLUTED. Setting the lesson down I picture oil spills, litter in parks, dirty streets, filthy environments from old buildings to smog like Beth would ask you to picture. Yuck! My lungs and eyes are burning just at the thought. I cringe and pull back knowing that if I could pick a different street to walk down I would. I picture the dirty, stinky streets in New York that could use a good washing. Pollution is disgusting but our lives are just as messy and hard to clean. In a book I am reading now called The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, he discusses how we are in a world of Information Overload. That could also be considered a pollution. Everything grabs for our attention, fighting to hold it. Issues that really aren't worth our time grab it and fog our thinking and distract us from accomplishing things that might actually have an impact. Pollution keeps us from doing what God called us to do.
Her punch line sentences are always so convicting:
"How do we serve in it without smelling like it? With serious discipline, determination, courage, and deep conviction. You live His religion on purpose. Religion pure and undefiled is GRIT WITHOUT THE GRIME."
I love it! The last sentence was what my heart often feels but I feel like I walk away from circumstances completely covered in grime. She ends the lesson with the best!! "When we sniff ourselves and smell the world, we run to the One who can wash us." How true! I am nothing without Him. It is a relationship that makes religion like that real. What a great translation to a verse that I needed some help with.
Now as James would say....go DO IT! (Lord I pray that I can and that you'll help me!)
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
This verse has always been a bit of a mystery to me. The words that helped me tonight were ACCEPTS and POLLUTED. Religion that God accepts. That is interesting. This may be what we have always known, grown up with, or been taught. We have lots of ideas about religion and what it looks like, how it should be practiced, what worship is and so on. Reading the above verse again, I have to say that I have been wrong. It is nothing about the things that we make it to be. It is simple so long as we don't let others opinions or the demands of our own lives dictate us actually following through with those things. She takes you through other verses that address: poor, oppressed, fatherless, widows again. It is not our idea of what God will accept but what HE accepts as pure and faultless.
For me the next word was the most powerful. POLLUTED. Setting the lesson down I picture oil spills, litter in parks, dirty streets, filthy environments from old buildings to smog like Beth would ask you to picture. Yuck! My lungs and eyes are burning just at the thought. I cringe and pull back knowing that if I could pick a different street to walk down I would. I picture the dirty, stinky streets in New York that could use a good washing. Pollution is disgusting but our lives are just as messy and hard to clean. In a book I am reading now called The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, he discusses how we are in a world of Information Overload. That could also be considered a pollution. Everything grabs for our attention, fighting to hold it. Issues that really aren't worth our time grab it and fog our thinking and distract us from accomplishing things that might actually have an impact. Pollution keeps us from doing what God called us to do.
Her punch line sentences are always so convicting:
"How do we serve in it without smelling like it? With serious discipline, determination, courage, and deep conviction. You live His religion on purpose. Religion pure and undefiled is GRIT WITHOUT THE GRIME."
I love it! The last sentence was what my heart often feels but I feel like I walk away from circumstances completely covered in grime. She ends the lesson with the best!! "When we sniff ourselves and smell the world, we run to the One who can wash us." How true! I am nothing without Him. It is a relationship that makes religion like that real. What a great translation to a verse that I needed some help with.
Now as James would say....go DO IT! (Lord I pray that I can and that you'll help me!)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Living in Righteousness
These post are getting harder to write. Or perhaps this is the hardest. For obvious reasons. RIGHTEOUSNESS. Well I definitely am not on my own or by my own will or effort. Righteousness is unobtainable without Christ. Righteousness is the very qualities and being of Jesus. So if we are trying to "just try harder" or "commit more time to commit better effort" good luck. This is appropriately timed since so far I have procrastinated on the list I promised to post......but I have to say that even in my poor effort I think God will be glorified in this timing. Last night and today as so many, including myself, set NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS I think the best is this. Strive to hand your efforts, commitments, goals, and life over to Christ. Only He holds the future. Your goal should be Him.
James 4: 13-14 tells us that:
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
I set goals every year. Looking back over this last year I can say that I am truly blessed beyond words. I sit too humbled as I make my list of thankfulness: 1. blessed by 2 sweet health kids 2. even more blessed by a sweet, Godly husband who also demonstrates his understanding and helps me around the house even when he is tired and busy 3. blessed by a sweet friend and study partner with CFMT (Kaysi) 4. Passed CFMT 5. Applied for fellowship (don't care the results but GOD got me to the point where I could) 6. Found the small amount of cancer, successfully removed it, and is helping me find my new balance 7. blessed me with people that I've known forever that I am still blessed to have strong friendships or contact with. 8. Continue to be blessed by a 4 day week and a wonderful day to spend with my children. 9. Time to spend in the Word
These are just a few. I could go on and on but God knows them so well. I've already begun to make my list for this year. That's how I operate. I love the thrill of setting goals and meeting them. Not just for the sake of setting goals to say I did. Or to check them off when I meet them. It is the thrill of knowing that when I set a goal it is useless if I do not ask what the Lord would have first. James 4: 15 says: Instead, you ought to say, " If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." I know that I can set goals but it is truly up to Him and what He wants. What is truly amazing is that often He wants us to simply consult Him first. Before we set out and make decisions. Simply ASK. The results are unbelievable when He blesses us to see the results and brings them about. I'm thankful that He knows our greatest desires and grants those. I have also been equally grateful when I have wanted something so bad that it hurts and He doesn't give it to me. I love when He reminds me what I asked for and shows me how He answered that request to give me something greater than I thought to ask for. He's a gracious and giving God.
So how does that tie back to living in righteousness. Well, truthfully at this point God has taught me that if it is not from Him and if it is not what He wants for me, it is not worth having. I pray over my goals again that they may be avenues that bless others, bless my family, and glorify Him FULLY. I pray that these goals will be beyond myself so that His presence may be obvious to others. I pray that self, selfishness, pride, jealousy, hardness of heart, bitterness, or ambition do not enter into these goals today or throughout the year. I pray for His righteousness in my life and in my family. Thank God I know Him and am saved by Him and He covers my imperfections. He is my ultimate goal! He's the reason for setting them. I want them to be His fruit. I pray He teaches me what living in righteousness means & looks like and that I never look to the world to define that for me.
James 4: 13-14 tells us that:
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
I set goals every year. Looking back over this last year I can say that I am truly blessed beyond words. I sit too humbled as I make my list of thankfulness: 1. blessed by 2 sweet health kids 2. even more blessed by a sweet, Godly husband who also demonstrates his understanding and helps me around the house even when he is tired and busy 3. blessed by a sweet friend and study partner with CFMT (Kaysi) 4. Passed CFMT 5. Applied for fellowship (don't care the results but GOD got me to the point where I could) 6. Found the small amount of cancer, successfully removed it, and is helping me find my new balance 7. blessed me with people that I've known forever that I am still blessed to have strong friendships or contact with. 8. Continue to be blessed by a 4 day week and a wonderful day to spend with my children. 9. Time to spend in the Word
These are just a few. I could go on and on but God knows them so well. I've already begun to make my list for this year. That's how I operate. I love the thrill of setting goals and meeting them. Not just for the sake of setting goals to say I did. Or to check them off when I meet them. It is the thrill of knowing that when I set a goal it is useless if I do not ask what the Lord would have first. James 4: 15 says: Instead, you ought to say, " If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." I know that I can set goals but it is truly up to Him and what He wants. What is truly amazing is that often He wants us to simply consult Him first. Before we set out and make decisions. Simply ASK. The results are unbelievable when He blesses us to see the results and brings them about. I'm thankful that He knows our greatest desires and grants those. I have also been equally grateful when I have wanted something so bad that it hurts and He doesn't give it to me. I love when He reminds me what I asked for and shows me how He answered that request to give me something greater than I thought to ask for. He's a gracious and giving God.
So how does that tie back to living in righteousness. Well, truthfully at this point God has taught me that if it is not from Him and if it is not what He wants for me, it is not worth having. I pray over my goals again that they may be avenues that bless others, bless my family, and glorify Him FULLY. I pray that these goals will be beyond myself so that His presence may be obvious to others. I pray that self, selfishness, pride, jealousy, hardness of heart, bitterness, or ambition do not enter into these goals today or throughout the year. I pray for His righteousness in my life and in my family. Thank God I know Him and am saved by Him and He covers my imperfections. He is my ultimate goal! He's the reason for setting them. I want them to be His fruit. I pray He teaches me what living in righteousness means & looks like and that I never look to the world to define that for me.
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