"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men." Matthew 6:5
I heard the cutest story the other day. There was this little boy talking with his busy mother one morning. He watched her carefully, making an observation. "Mom, you sure do have a lot of white hairs in your head. How come?", he asked. "Well", she said, "Everytime you're bad I get a new one. So, I guess you could say you put them there." "Oh", the child replied. Then he sat there for a minute, very deep in thought. Then, he looked at his mother and said, "You know, Mom, you must have been very, very bad when you were a little girl cause Grandma's hair is all white!!"
From the mouths of babes, huh? Yet there's a lot to be gleaned from that. Children are honest-- sometimes brutally so! They'll point out stuff in your teeth in a room full of people or tell embarassing stories on you. If you want to know the truth about something, all you have to do is ask a child! While they haven't learned the social graces, we usuallly find them refreshing.
I think a neat lesson we can learn from children is how to be ourselves. Rather than trying to be what we think others want or expect us to be we can just rest in being the people God so carefully knit together. He took great care in fashioning us. We're precious to Him. Our personalities are unique to His design.
One thing that plays out in my mind as a good example of how we put on a front for others from personal experience is the Sunday morning routine in my household. On Saturday night, clothes are picked out and ready to go. However, it never fails that on Sunday morning my children will come downstairs wearing something entirely different. "Honey, you cannot wear that. Those are Easter shoes and this is October. It doesn't match", I say. "But Mom, I like the shoes. They look better with this outfit," my daughter says. "About that outfit... That's not the one we picked out last night. You can't wear that pink plaid summer skirt with that brown fuzzy sweater. Honey, let's go up and see what we can find even though I haven't finished getting ready and we're already late," I moan. This type of thing goes on until we walk out the door at which point I ask if everyone remembered to brush teeth. What response do you think I get to that when we're already ten minutes late? Then, we pile into the car and we start to hear, "Could you tell him to give me back my pencil? She's touching me. Tell her to stop." Then my husband chimes in, "Let's listen to some praise music and actually PREPARE our hearts for worship, why don't we?" We arrive and are scrambling out of the car to make it into the church on time. We walk through the doors and....... BLING! We put on the award winning smiles. Someone walks up to us and asks how we are and we respond with an automated response, "Fine". Sometimes, I'd love to ask someone that question and have them respond, "I feel like I've completely lost my mind but by God's grace I'm here! Just don't look at my wrinkled clothes, okay?"
Maybe we should trust God a little more and let down our guard a little. Maybe we shouldn't worry so much about what others would think if they knew the real us. We are who we are. To be honest, I feel much more at ease around people who aren't afraid to be themselves. I don't feel like I have to walk on eggshells. So trust God with who you are. Focus on pleasing Him. If you're doing that, the rest fades into the background. Like Christian comedian Ken Davis says, "Lighten up and live!"
Father, thank You for knitting me together according to Your grand design. There is no other like me. You have a purpose for me which is unique to that of everyone else. May I rest in that. I pray the same over my sisters in Christ. So often, women worry over what others will think or say. Lord, redirect our focus to pleasing You. It's all that matters. Also, Father, I praise You for the blessings You give us. Thank You for the joy You bring. I praise You and thank You in the name of Your Son, Amen.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Explanation of Previous Post
I have had a gnawing feeling over the past couple of weeks about a previous post concerning salvation. When I went back and read it, I understood why. Though no one has said anything or asked about it and two people actually mentioned how they found it convicting, I think the Holy Spirit has been tugging at my heart about my approach on the subject. As I went back and read my wording on the post about "small gifts" I realized it sounded like I was minimizing what Christ did for us and His free gift. All I could do was pray that the Lord would not have others perceive it that way. I prayed about what to do and I felt it bast to just come back and clarify.
When God calls us to Himself, we respond. The point is, it's God's doing. There's nothing we can do ourselves. It's a free gift(that was the intent of my post). He sacrificed all for us. We can't or won't do anything that repays that debt. It was covered in full by His shed blood--- period. You can't work your way to heaven. No amount of service will make up for our sin nature. It's why He made the sacrifice in the first place!
Now, the point in my previous post was this: over the years, I've heard several people confess that they were in youth group situations or group situations where lots of people were going forward and making public professions of faith. They made the choice to go forward because it seemed like the thing to do at the time even though they didn't feel called. Then years later they would sit in church and get a conviction to go forward in faith but faced confusion because of the the previous experience. As a matter of fact, I remember a friend's brother saying he had many "white knuckle moments". He said he'd sit in the pew Sunday after Sunday. His dad was a deacon, his mom sang in choir, they were very active members. Yet he sat each Sunday full of confusion. He'd never really felt close to God. He'd never felt led to do much in the church. He said he felt like it was all for show. He said he felt like he was going through the motions. He felt this stirring in his spirit that he couldn't shake and didn't know what to do with it. Then, he finally realized that the Lord was prompting him to surrender. He knew that it wasn't out of peer pressure but because the Lord was calling him and he had to reply. He came to a point where he didn't care if others saw it as weird that he hadn't done it sooner. It was what God was calling him to do. So he surrendered. After that point, he knew it was the real deal.
So my original point was, there may be some having the same struggle. You may be grown and having gone through the motions before and you now find yourself in a place of confusion. You may have never really felt the Holy Spirit stirriing your soul but you feel it now and you don't know what to do with it. You sit in the pew each Sunday wondering what others would think. You sit wondering why you've never really had a relationship with God and why you've never felt conviction to live for Him. It's time to let go of your fears. That step of faith, that surrender of trusting Him with your life is it. He'll guide you the rest of the way. The rest will come as you grow in Him. He'll draw you to HIimself. That stirring in your spirit is there because He placed it there. That's what conviction is. So, release your grip and respond realizing that it's nothing you're doing but rather a surrender to His will. He just wants you to come to Him. Let go.
Now the other part to that is, if you're saved and you feel conviction in different areas of your life whether it's breaking a bad habit, coming out of your comfort zone to do something for Him, missions, forgiveness, etc... and you've been ignoring that call, stop. Trust and obey. I know, personally, I've lived many moments of my life in a spirit of fear. I ignored the Holy Spirit's calling out of fear. I then realized what fear was-- the opposite of faith! While it's okay to feel afraid, it's not okay to allow fear to keep us in bondage. I'm finding that when I do trust and let go of the fear I receive a bigger blessing than anyone. Unfortunately, for me, it's an ongoing struggle. Satan has seen that area of weakness and likes to attack there. So I'm finding it's something that I have to continually lay at the feet of my Lord.
Like the old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."
Lord, thank you for conviction. Thank you for the stirrings in my spirit. Father, the last thing I want to be to anyone is a stumbling block. May my words always come straight from You. Lessen me that You may be magnified. Father, if there are any hesitating with giving their lives to you, please convict them to the point that they cannot turn away from You. Pull them to You. Erase all doubt. And Father, may none of us ever look lightly on Your incredible sacrifice for us. What an amazing love You have for us. Though I'll never fully comprehend Your sacrifice and why You would give Your Son for sinners such as us, I'm so thankful, Father. Thank You for Your free gift. Thank You for paying the debt. I love you, Father. In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.
When God calls us to Himself, we respond. The point is, it's God's doing. There's nothing we can do ourselves. It's a free gift(that was the intent of my post). He sacrificed all for us. We can't or won't do anything that repays that debt. It was covered in full by His shed blood--- period. You can't work your way to heaven. No amount of service will make up for our sin nature. It's why He made the sacrifice in the first place!
Now, the point in my previous post was this: over the years, I've heard several people confess that they were in youth group situations or group situations where lots of people were going forward and making public professions of faith. They made the choice to go forward because it seemed like the thing to do at the time even though they didn't feel called. Then years later they would sit in church and get a conviction to go forward in faith but faced confusion because of the the previous experience. As a matter of fact, I remember a friend's brother saying he had many "white knuckle moments". He said he'd sit in the pew Sunday after Sunday. His dad was a deacon, his mom sang in choir, they were very active members. Yet he sat each Sunday full of confusion. He'd never really felt close to God. He'd never felt led to do much in the church. He said he felt like it was all for show. He said he felt like he was going through the motions. He felt this stirring in his spirit that he couldn't shake and didn't know what to do with it. Then, he finally realized that the Lord was prompting him to surrender. He knew that it wasn't out of peer pressure but because the Lord was calling him and he had to reply. He came to a point where he didn't care if others saw it as weird that he hadn't done it sooner. It was what God was calling him to do. So he surrendered. After that point, he knew it was the real deal.
So my original point was, there may be some having the same struggle. You may be grown and having gone through the motions before and you now find yourself in a place of confusion. You may have never really felt the Holy Spirit stirriing your soul but you feel it now and you don't know what to do with it. You sit in the pew each Sunday wondering what others would think. You sit wondering why you've never really had a relationship with God and why you've never felt conviction to live for Him. It's time to let go of your fears. That step of faith, that surrender of trusting Him with your life is it. He'll guide you the rest of the way. The rest will come as you grow in Him. He'll draw you to HIimself. That stirring in your spirit is there because He placed it there. That's what conviction is. So, release your grip and respond realizing that it's nothing you're doing but rather a surrender to His will. He just wants you to come to Him. Let go.
Now the other part to that is, if you're saved and you feel conviction in different areas of your life whether it's breaking a bad habit, coming out of your comfort zone to do something for Him, missions, forgiveness, etc... and you've been ignoring that call, stop. Trust and obey. I know, personally, I've lived many moments of my life in a spirit of fear. I ignored the Holy Spirit's calling out of fear. I then realized what fear was-- the opposite of faith! While it's okay to feel afraid, it's not okay to allow fear to keep us in bondage. I'm finding that when I do trust and let go of the fear I receive a bigger blessing than anyone. Unfortunately, for me, it's an ongoing struggle. Satan has seen that area of weakness and likes to attack there. So I'm finding it's something that I have to continually lay at the feet of my Lord.
Like the old hymn says, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."
Lord, thank you for conviction. Thank you for the stirrings in my spirit. Father, the last thing I want to be to anyone is a stumbling block. May my words always come straight from You. Lessen me that You may be magnified. Father, if there are any hesitating with giving their lives to you, please convict them to the point that they cannot turn away from You. Pull them to You. Erase all doubt. And Father, may none of us ever look lightly on Your incredible sacrifice for us. What an amazing love You have for us. Though I'll never fully comprehend Your sacrifice and why You would give Your Son for sinners such as us, I'm so thankful, Father. Thank You for Your free gift. Thank You for paying the debt. I love you, Father. In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Stay In the Game!
"Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" Ephesians 1:4
Fall is here and I'm liking the change in season. Don't get me wrong, I love playing outdoors in the warm sunshine, swimming, and the wonderful fun that comes with summertime, but I love the wonderful change of seasons. It's such a blessing God gives us so that we can have appreciation for the cool crisp air as well as the warm sunshine.
This fall, my son has chosen to play fall baseball. It's been a couple years, so he's had to put in some practice time to get up to his potential. He's one of the youngest on the team this year as he had to move up a bracket. Usually, he's the biggest in a group of boys when they're all his same age. However, to my surprise, I showed up at the field for his first game and contemplated going around to parents and asking to see birth certificates. Seriously! Some of these twelve year olds looked like they could probably bench press me! I'm only joking, but I was surprised nonetheless.
In getting to my point, I was at a recent game where our team was really holding our own against our opponent. The boys started off a little sluggish at the beginning but soon began to pick up momentum. I noticed one boy in particular really giving it all he had. I could sense that he'd been a star player in years past and his love for the game was obvious. Well everything was going along great for this kid until he missed a line drive hit straight to him. Fortunately, his backup made the play so the runner only ended up hitting a double. The runner tried rounding second to make a run for third base but the infield held him. After all the excitement of the play had subsided, I looked up at the boy who'd missed the ball. Defeat was all over his face. It was painfully obvious that he was beating himself up over the missed ball despite the fact that he'd played a flawless game to that point, and really, a flawless game all season. Unfortunately, he just couldn't shake it off for the remainder of the game. The coach decided to pull him and give him a breather on the bench in the last inning.
I couldn't shake that child from my head for the remainder of the game. I felt so sorry for him that he was allowing one mistake to make him feel defeated to the point that he couldn't even finish the game. What a shame. And yet, I thought about how often you and I react exactly the same way. Whether it's a diet and you eat something you shouldn't so you just give up or a promotion you haven't received so you do what you can to get by. And often, it's a sin you've committed and you feel like a moral failure and God won't love you anymore or maybe you've given up on loving yourself. It may be that someone has said something or done something to you that makes you feel worthless. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY! Isn't that incredible? You don't have to feel defeated. You don't have to sit on the bench. So rest in the assurance that God loves you and it's time to get back in the game and play your heart out!
Lord, we don't deserve Your love. Thank You for Your love and thank You for loving us with no strings attached. What a comfort it is to know that when You sought us out and we responded with our hearts, we were in the game for good! Lord, I pray that we would live each moment with full assurance of your love. And Lord, I once heard that the evil one spends his time convincing the lost that they're saved and the saved that they're lost. Lord, may we never doubt Your love for us. Remove the evil one far from us. May we not live a life of defeat. Please guide us to to live lives which bring glory to You. In the name of Your Son, Amen.
Fall is here and I'm liking the change in season. Don't get me wrong, I love playing outdoors in the warm sunshine, swimming, and the wonderful fun that comes with summertime, but I love the wonderful change of seasons. It's such a blessing God gives us so that we can have appreciation for the cool crisp air as well as the warm sunshine.
This fall, my son has chosen to play fall baseball. It's been a couple years, so he's had to put in some practice time to get up to his potential. He's one of the youngest on the team this year as he had to move up a bracket. Usually, he's the biggest in a group of boys when they're all his same age. However, to my surprise, I showed up at the field for his first game and contemplated going around to parents and asking to see birth certificates. Seriously! Some of these twelve year olds looked like they could probably bench press me! I'm only joking, but I was surprised nonetheless.
In getting to my point, I was at a recent game where our team was really holding our own against our opponent. The boys started off a little sluggish at the beginning but soon began to pick up momentum. I noticed one boy in particular really giving it all he had. I could sense that he'd been a star player in years past and his love for the game was obvious. Well everything was going along great for this kid until he missed a line drive hit straight to him. Fortunately, his backup made the play so the runner only ended up hitting a double. The runner tried rounding second to make a run for third base but the infield held him. After all the excitement of the play had subsided, I looked up at the boy who'd missed the ball. Defeat was all over his face. It was painfully obvious that he was beating himself up over the missed ball despite the fact that he'd played a flawless game to that point, and really, a flawless game all season. Unfortunately, he just couldn't shake it off for the remainder of the game. The coach decided to pull him and give him a breather on the bench in the last inning.
I couldn't shake that child from my head for the remainder of the game. I felt so sorry for him that he was allowing one mistake to make him feel defeated to the point that he couldn't even finish the game. What a shame. And yet, I thought about how often you and I react exactly the same way. Whether it's a diet and you eat something you shouldn't so you just give up or a promotion you haven't received so you do what you can to get by. And often, it's a sin you've committed and you feel like a moral failure and God won't love you anymore or maybe you've given up on loving yourself. It may be that someone has said something or done something to you that makes you feel worthless. Nothing could be further from the truth. God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY! Isn't that incredible? You don't have to feel defeated. You don't have to sit on the bench. So rest in the assurance that God loves you and it's time to get back in the game and play your heart out!
Lord, we don't deserve Your love. Thank You for Your love and thank You for loving us with no strings attached. What a comfort it is to know that when You sought us out and we responded with our hearts, we were in the game for good! Lord, I pray that we would live each moment with full assurance of your love. And Lord, I once heard that the evil one spends his time convincing the lost that they're saved and the saved that they're lost. Lord, may we never doubt Your love for us. Remove the evil one far from us. May we not live a life of defeat. Please guide us to to live lives which bring glory to You. In the name of Your Son, Amen.
Monday, October 4, 2010
From the Outside Looking In
"For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thessalonians 4:16
I don't know about you, but the promise of that trumpet just gives me goose bumps. Isn't that exciting stuff? How amazing that will be! Sometimes I wonder when it will happen and what it will be like. It's gonna be so awesome.
When I think about the time of the trumpet it makes me realize that I don't know when Christ will return. That, in itself, is a pretty humbling thought. I wonder what I'll be doing at that moment and I hope and pray that whatever it is, it will be gloryfing to God. I can look back over my life at certain moments in time with relief that Christ didn't return in those moments! Not shining moments if you know what I mean! I've even had some moments in the very recent past dealing with some unforgiveness in my heart where I'm relieved that Christ didn't return at that moment. He's given me grace to deal with the unforgiveness in seeking the Holy Spirit to help me.
This week, we traveled out of town for a memorial golf tournament. It was one that is held each year in memory of my late brother. The proceeds go toward a scholarship that helps men who feel the calling to switch careers and go into the ministry. Often those men have wives and children and struggle in the financial part of going to seminary. So it's neat to see some good come of such a tragedy. Well, this year, there was a journalism student doing interviews with family and friends about my brother and the scholarship. He wanted to know about my brother's life. Of course the interview brought back wonderful memories but was tinged with pain and longing as well. I can think back over my brother's life and what people had to say about him after he died. As a side note, I think people often put the deceased loved ones on a pedastal a bit when remembering them. It's as though the person lived a sinless life. However, though my brother was indeed a sinner saved by God's amazing grace, he was an incredible young man. Just a month shy of 21 years, he had lived an abundant life. He was generous, loyal, a man of his word with a huge servant's heart, very slow to anger, merciful, forgiving and would stop what he was doing to just listen to those who needed a listening ear. As a matter of fact, a friend of his came to us at last year's tournament and told us that he'd told him before he died that he hoped to be a missionary in the future. I never knew that.
All that to say, in thinking over the interviews I realize that my brother left behind a legacy. Because of his death and God's grace and divine power and provision, around $100,000 has been awarded in scholarship. We've seen a number of people come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as well and smile when we think of others coming to Christ through the pastors coming out of seminary. How great is our God?
Now I must ask: What will be my legacy? If Christ returns today, what have I done for Him? Will the last thing I've done be something of eternal value? How many will be joining me in the air because of my faithful witness? Was I a willing vessel for God? If someone were doing an interview about my life, what would be said? How did I spend my days? Was I selfish or was I serving? Was I forgiving or was I bitter and hard? Was I one who would take the time to listen? To extend mercy? To share God's word? How about this: what would God say about my heart? Did I have love and forgiveness in my heart? Did I have mercy in my heart?
One of the neatest stories I heard about my brother after he passed away was a testimony from an elderly lady. She wasn't part of our family. In fact, I never even met her. I heard the story from a family friend. Apparently, when my brother was in high school and college he'd go and visit this lady. He'd check on her and get things for her. So many times when we thought he was hanging out with friends that was what he was doing and he felt no need to tell us about it. He understood that his reward would be in heaven and there was no need to brag on his deeds. That just brings tears to my eyes.
So, let's pretend we're on the outside looking inward out ourselves. What do we see that needs to change? We can't change the circumstances around us. We can't change other people, but we can change our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can change the way we live our lives. We can begin to live like Christ is coming back at any moment. He's coming soon and I want to be ready!! How about you?
Father, help us where we're weak. Please Lord, just fill us with you. Cleanse us and renew our hearts. I don't know when you'll call for me, but I'm so excited! I know the way I'm supposed to show my love for You is by my obedience to Your commands. I know my heart must grieve the Holy Spirit at times, Lord. For that, I mourn. But Lord, your word promises comfort to those who mourn sin. Lord, I know that doesn't mean you're promising me a comfortable life, but You are promising to guide me through it. Help me. You are my strength, my armor. Thank you, Father. In my Savior's name, Amen.
I don't know about you, but the promise of that trumpet just gives me goose bumps. Isn't that exciting stuff? How amazing that will be! Sometimes I wonder when it will happen and what it will be like. It's gonna be so awesome.
When I think about the time of the trumpet it makes me realize that I don't know when Christ will return. That, in itself, is a pretty humbling thought. I wonder what I'll be doing at that moment and I hope and pray that whatever it is, it will be gloryfing to God. I can look back over my life at certain moments in time with relief that Christ didn't return in those moments! Not shining moments if you know what I mean! I've even had some moments in the very recent past dealing with some unforgiveness in my heart where I'm relieved that Christ didn't return at that moment. He's given me grace to deal with the unforgiveness in seeking the Holy Spirit to help me.
This week, we traveled out of town for a memorial golf tournament. It was one that is held each year in memory of my late brother. The proceeds go toward a scholarship that helps men who feel the calling to switch careers and go into the ministry. Often those men have wives and children and struggle in the financial part of going to seminary. So it's neat to see some good come of such a tragedy. Well, this year, there was a journalism student doing interviews with family and friends about my brother and the scholarship. He wanted to know about my brother's life. Of course the interview brought back wonderful memories but was tinged with pain and longing as well. I can think back over my brother's life and what people had to say about him after he died. As a side note, I think people often put the deceased loved ones on a pedastal a bit when remembering them. It's as though the person lived a sinless life. However, though my brother was indeed a sinner saved by God's amazing grace, he was an incredible young man. Just a month shy of 21 years, he had lived an abundant life. He was generous, loyal, a man of his word with a huge servant's heart, very slow to anger, merciful, forgiving and would stop what he was doing to just listen to those who needed a listening ear. As a matter of fact, a friend of his came to us at last year's tournament and told us that he'd told him before he died that he hoped to be a missionary in the future. I never knew that.
All that to say, in thinking over the interviews I realize that my brother left behind a legacy. Because of his death and God's grace and divine power and provision, around $100,000 has been awarded in scholarship. We've seen a number of people come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as well and smile when we think of others coming to Christ through the pastors coming out of seminary. How great is our God?
Now I must ask: What will be my legacy? If Christ returns today, what have I done for Him? Will the last thing I've done be something of eternal value? How many will be joining me in the air because of my faithful witness? Was I a willing vessel for God? If someone were doing an interview about my life, what would be said? How did I spend my days? Was I selfish or was I serving? Was I forgiving or was I bitter and hard? Was I one who would take the time to listen? To extend mercy? To share God's word? How about this: what would God say about my heart? Did I have love and forgiveness in my heart? Did I have mercy in my heart?
One of the neatest stories I heard about my brother after he passed away was a testimony from an elderly lady. She wasn't part of our family. In fact, I never even met her. I heard the story from a family friend. Apparently, when my brother was in high school and college he'd go and visit this lady. He'd check on her and get things for her. So many times when we thought he was hanging out with friends that was what he was doing and he felt no need to tell us about it. He understood that his reward would be in heaven and there was no need to brag on his deeds. That just brings tears to my eyes.
So, let's pretend we're on the outside looking inward out ourselves. What do we see that needs to change? We can't change the circumstances around us. We can't change other people, but we can change our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. We can change the way we live our lives. We can begin to live like Christ is coming back at any moment. He's coming soon and I want to be ready!! How about you?
Father, help us where we're weak. Please Lord, just fill us with you. Cleanse us and renew our hearts. I don't know when you'll call for me, but I'm so excited! I know the way I'm supposed to show my love for You is by my obedience to Your commands. I know my heart must grieve the Holy Spirit at times, Lord. For that, I mourn. But Lord, your word promises comfort to those who mourn sin. Lord, I know that doesn't mean you're promising me a comfortable life, but You are promising to guide me through it. Help me. You are my strength, my armor. Thank you, Father. In my Savior's name, Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)