As I dig deeper into my walk with God, I am realizing there are some fundamentals that are often overlooked as we choose to forge on into this journey called Christianity. We tend to get the flowery parts of Jesus; He died for our sins, he can redeem our past, he loves us all, but we tend to miss the information that I jokingly call the fine print. Pastors, teachers, preachers, evangelists, and your average witness are all well intended in bringing others to Christ and for most, I am sure it is not an intentional oversight, but it is none the less a major one.
There are some major factors to be considered when committing your life to Christ. What does being a follower of Jesus Christ really cost? John 15:18-19 says "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (ESV)
Hate is a strong word! I don’t even like to be disliked…being hated brings things to a completely differently level. This verse gets quoted often enough to be known, but not necessarily in a way that really brings it into a perspective to truly be understood. So when the world truly does start to hate you, it’s hard to figure out what you are doing wrong. However, the appropriate question is what are you doing right?
Luke 14: 26-27 says "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
Now for those who have read that and said “Done…that was easy!” We need to reexamine some things in your life. The hate in this verse is meant as a measure to show how we are to set our desire on Jesus, meaning at the potential loss of anyone else or anything else participating in our lives. Clearly love is promoted and commanded all throughout God’s word. But, he is also clear that there is no love to be given or received that is greater than his. We have to evaluate our ties to people and things to see how it lines up with God.
Can you let go of that friendship or relationship that don’t line up with what God is calling you do to do? Can you stop eating that food God says is hurting you and slowing down your ministry? Can you stop watching that show that is feeding negatively into your spirit? Walking for Christ comes at a cost and it often comes at the cost of the things we have the hardest time letting go of (self included).
We also have to be prepared to face opposition. This is something they don’t tend to prepare you for in salvation bootcamp. If you have been a follower of Jesus for any length of time, you have had to experience these things to some degree. You have been persecuted if you boldly proclaimed your faith. You have had to let go of people, places, and things that have weighed down your walk and deterred you from God’s purpose in you. But, what we often don’t realize is that committing to Christ really means committing to surrender all. We sing the song “I surrender all….I surrender all. All to thee my Blessed Savior…I surrender all.” But then reading Matt 19: 16-30 makes you want to vomit at the real thought. GO….READ IT!!!! I posted the other verse, so meet me half way. (SMILE) And, don’t assume you know the story…read it anyway.
…
Okay, are you back? Does your tummy hurt just a little? It’s okay, that is natural. It means you are still a living, breathing, human. God can’t be more clear about what this walk really takes…it takes the understanding that we can be called at any time to give up anything we truly value and we have to be willing to walk this walk with that in mind. He has called some to truly give up everything and they are blessed by it. There are others he has increased their lot, in many differing ways, and they have been blessed as well. So he isn’t just a God that takes away…and if he does take away, it serves a purpose. But, you still have to be prepared to serve him no matter the cost, to include your life.
To walk this thing out fully we have to be prepared to speak out against the things the world considers to be right. That means you aren’t going to make many friends at times. It may even mean making none at all and losing a few that you thought you had. Being different comes at a price and it can be a big one to pay at times. There are places where people do truly die because they follow Christ and there may be a day when we face that type of persecution in our own country. We should never rule those types of things out based on what Jesus has to say in regards to what it takes to be a follower of him. Are you ready? Have you truly counted the cost?
This is vital to our walk, because I believe it is one of a few things that can keep people from walking away. It is not enough to just claim the name of Christ. You have to be willing to walk it out in extremes. The question is not if you will be tested in this area, but when and how. It always happens and you have to be willing to hear God out for his glory and your good.
Jesus covered us even after laying out the costs. He prayed, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.” John 17:20-25 NIV
He is going to be with us and we are equipped through him to show others his love. We are also equipped to change the pattern of those coming into his grace without knowing the fine print. You are now equipped to be a part of that change, so that others don’t have to experience God in the way you may have, with no one to show them the way.
We have to love and care for one another because the rest of the world may very well hate us. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 (NIV)
Don’t let it be lost on you that he first commanded that we love each other, then he explained more than once that the world would hate us. That is important. Holding each other up and walking each other through the harder times is part of being the arms and legs of Jesus. It’s how we keep fighting the good fight and how others can set us apart from the rest of the world.
This walk is not easy, not for the faint, and not a recipe for a trouble-free life. It is worth walking, because our life on earth is short in comparison to an eternity in either heaven or hell. I am learning that salvation does bring freedom, but it isn’t absolutely free like we tell people. You have to truly count the cost.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Friday, December 14, 2012
God's Face in Tragedy
I read a post basically spitting in the face of God and those that believe in him due to the tragedy suffered in Newtown, CT. I get it...believe me I do, because I would have a hard time seeing God in such a tragic and senseless situation. I've managed to discount him for much less, but living for him also gives me a perspective that can be difficult to fathom at times.
There are 2 things I've suffered as a mother that give me slight (extremely slight) insight as to what these families (more specifically mothers) are experiencing; loss and stripped security. Now I dare not say I can even truly get to the deep of what these families are facing. I absolutely positively cannot. So that alone will make my thoughts easy to dismiss for some, but hear me out even if you choose to toss aside all that I have to say.
In 2001 I found out I was pregnant in late October/early November time frame. But Christmas day 2001 I lost that baby. I had been trying for months to get pregnant and on that day my joy turned to pain. Although I became pregnant again a month and a half later or so, I carried the loss of that first child with me for many years, without ever realizing it.
For many years I couldn't stand the Christmas holiday, although it used to be my favorite. However, I never personally made that connection with that loss.
Fast forward about 6 years later where someone at a service I attended talked about a loss they suffered and how it took their joy from them. That was a true "aha" moment in my life. That is something I may have gone my entire life never recognizing but through someone else's experience I was able to alter something in my own life.
As a parent I also lost my sense of security around the time my son was 5. He attended a daycare where I was very familiar with the staff, some who I had pretty close personal relationships with and on occassion individuals watched my child outside of school hours/days. That sense of family and security was important to us because we are a military family and we believe in building a network in order to hold our own.
Well in my son's last year of preschool, when he had been at this facility almost 4 years, we found out he was being abused by his teacher. And after connecting a few dots, we realized it had been going on for years. I worked at this school for a year. So I was onsite and there is no way you could have told me my boy was in harms way, especially by a teacher who highly praised him and seemed to favor him. As a person who trusted almost no one with the care of her child...to know that I not only paid these people to harm my child, but worked right alongside of them while they did it was upsetting and unsettling. It caused me to question a lot and stripped me of what little security I had in being able to judge others sense of love for my children. But that was all I lost...a baby I never knew and security I never really had anyway,so in no way are either of those comparisons to what happened in CT; not even close.
What I can say about those and many other situations is that in what seems like unfair or ungodly circumstances, God can use them. I have been able to share many pieces of my life with others and there are things in my life that have been horrible, but I can give those experiences to others in need when no one else can. When no one else seems to understand what they are going through, people often come to me for counsel, because they've seen me overcome my challenges and struggles. And they see me strongly persevering new ones. I can only attribute those moments to God being a major and intricate presence in my life. I have put God down and taken him for granted, but my life was more tormented then, than anytime when God came first. That's all I can give to people are my experiences and how God has worked them out for me or those around me.
I have witnessed a mother and son fight for their lives about 2 years apart. One of my best friends was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer a few years ago. As she battled and began conquering her illness, her son was diagnosed with leukemia. It was difficult to find God in her illness alone. Watching her have to fight at such a young age, compounded with other things going on in my life, I turned my back on God. But now I'm able to see how God can use situations like that to connect people.
First off her and her son have a deep and strong bond, because they can understand things about one another's experiences that no one can begin to understand. That little boy fought alongside his mother and 2 years later she fought alongside him (and is still fighting).
I believe God gave them such a unique journey to face as a whole family, because it would be difficult to not hear out their story and it not impact your heart...your faith. Situations like that put God on a new level for some who otherwise wouldn't experience him.
Yesterday's events (in CT and in China) were awful. We have 3 children here in our home and 1 waiting for us in China. So both tragedies were a bit much for our emotions to handle. I sat and watched news coverage of the CT massacre and only by chance did I get details about China. I held my babies a bit tighter. And my heart longed for the one that is waiting. But yesterday's events helped line up some thoughts for me as a parent. We get so caught up in the day to day, and forget how precious every second is. So hopefully more parents took time to be parents and not just survivors of everyday life. That's how God shows up in tragedy. You see your children and other loved ones with new eyes. The unimportant things stop being important. You slow your pace, instead of attempting to beat the clock. And after the darkness passes, things have a new glow and shine that you likely never noticed before, because you were too busy just passing through life.
I believe that God can use the experiences of these families to make an impact. To touch so many lives that may have gone untouched. I believe that at least some of these families will do things and become changers of the world around them because of the loss they feel today. They will do something great to honor their fallen. They will be that person in life that will understand your loss or struggle when no one else does. They will reach lives as someones, when prior to this they were just one of many lost in the crowd.
I believe God's heart broke yesterday as the blood of innocent people were shed, but I don't doubt that he can use this to spread far and wide messages of hope, love, community, faith, family, and peace that our world would have gone without if we hadn't had to mourn a day like that.
So how can God's face be seen in times of tragedy? Maybe it can't always be seen in the immediate. At least not to the those caught in the aftermath of loss, but I bet to those that had a chance to hug and love their child, spouse, mother, father, friend, sister, or brother last night could see it. I know I could!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Stepping into the Ring
First, let me start off by saying I know it has been a very long time since I have written anything. My life has turned into a tree with many branches and I am the nut that is hanging on for dear life. I have missed writing in so many ways, so I am glad that despite the cajillion other things I needed to be doing today, I finally answered God's prompting to sit down and write this piece.
God has been on my heart for a while about this subject and I prayed that he would give me some clarity on it yesterday. As I was sitting on Facebook a friend of mine posted something on my page. She had no clue about the prayer I prayed or even about the internal struggle I have battled with for quite some time. I wrote back in January about things God has placed on my heart concerning our political system. This morning I felt like God had given me the green light to write about some other things that I have felt like I needed to share for a long time.
This political season has been difficult for me because my values seemed to be at stake on both sides. I am a Bible believing Christian. I don't try to pick apart the Bible to make it fit my life. I adjust my life according to the knowledge I glean from God's word. Over the years that has truly meant seeking out God for answers to questions I have had. Many of those questions being ones that people who know me today would be shocked that I had ever asked.
I believe in going to God's word for all my answers and knowing his word for.my.self., Unfortunately Christianity in this country is becoming more and more watered down, because as a nation we have become content with being spoon fed our information...including God's word. I've heard many Christians talk about their pastors not bringing forth God's word in a heavy fashion. Although I believe that pastoring is definitely not a playground activity, Christianity is neither a spectator sport.
Our church leaders need to be willing to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:16) and boldness (2Tim1:7). But, our Christians need to learn God's word for themselves (Prov 18:15, Prov 1:7, Prov 23:12, Col 2:2-4). We also need to understand God's words as it applies to our leaders and our nation. The biggest cry I hear is "separation of church and state," but I don't believe that to be Biblically possible. Understanding that as a body of believers may be the very thing to keep our nation from continuing to fall apart at the seams.
I do understand that this is all a part of the end times, but I don't think that knowledge gives us a free pass to just buckle down and succumb to it or be numb to it. This is part of our charge as Christians, to stand boldy in our faith and charge on in spite of the world around us (Romans 12:2). Now before you start hollering and getting all bent out of shape, look at this perspective. Historically speaking from Bible times all the way to the events leading to the pilgrimage to America, leaders that imposed a religion on the nation ("you must serve this or that God" have failed. But on the same token, when a nation's leader allowed his land to be devoid of morals God has allowed 2 things to generally happen...turn back to him or be destroyed.
I don't believe our leaders should impose a national religion of Christianity (because that worked so well for England), but our laws and leaders need to be of strong moral character and have a long term vision of prosperity (Deut 28:1-68). That entire chapter is a good example of why leaders characters should be built from a strong foundation. Combine that with Hosea 4:6, and we gain understanding of how lacking knowledge in God, as well as how that knowledge applies to us and our leaders can have severe consequences. Death can be brought about spiritually, physically, socially, mentally, and generationally, so it can stretch much further than the here and now.
God destroyed nations and leader because they thought they were bigger than him or exempt from his mandates, but he also gave them opportunities to turn back to him. Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, King Nebuchadnezzar, and Saul are all examples of nations and leaders that did not keep God at the head, and they and their people suffered greatly. Some received the opportunity to redeem themselves with God post-destruction, some chose to do it at his warning, and others charged on in spite of his warnings and lost their chance to get it right. I don't want to be a fallen nation before we choose to turn back to God's wisdom for us and I definitely don't want us to lose our chance altogether.
I also charge people to take the roles of national leaders into consideration. The best leaders are actually servant-like in nature. People like to bring up Jesus in politics to serve their point. Guess what? I am about to do the same. Jesus was a servant leader. He put himself below the ones he was called to lead. So, what WOULDN'T Jesus do? He wouldn't run his city, county, state, or country collecting a salary with several 0s at the end while the prosperity of the people he was called to serve completely fell apart. He wouldn't put policies in place that he was exempt from. We have allowed our leaders to step out of servant status and they now rule over the people who vote them into office. They ultimately make the decisions and then we are supposed to accept that.
I honestly believe that the entire system is failing us, not just one party or one leader over another. I have my ideas about certain things (such as the Electoral College....my vote can speak for itself, thank you very much). I believe public servants should have an average salary. Not to say that they have to lack wealth to be a leader. If they've built wealth prior to taking office, it's all well and good. No one should be faulted for working hard and earning an honest living or being blessed by a family legacy. However, it is not my job as a member of this nation to line your pockets, while I live pay check to pay check. (I in general...not me specifically). I want you to desire to vote on decisions because my interests are of concern to you, not because your personal agenda and wallet depend on the vote you make. Public servants salary should not outweigh that of those who make daily sacrifices for our children, souls, safety, and freedom. Our teachers, police officers, military, spiritual leaders, an fire fighters all earn modest wages...I believe our public servants should do the same while in office. I don't expect you do to the job for nothing, but your integrity comes into questions when you get to fat cat it up on the dime of average hard working people.
I am not inclined to sway you one way or another. I am going to share the video link my friend sent me yesterday. It does put many things into perspective that I am not sure I was even prepared for, but I am glad I watched it. I do recommend watching it all the way through, because you'll miss a lot by cutting it short.
My personal belief is that I currently have things I question about either candidate. I love many things about my current president as a person and I am proud of things he has accomplished, but I am leery of his compromises as well. His heart may be in the right place, but execution has been off in some ways. I feel Mitt Romney lacks a true understanding of diversity. I could be wrong, but ultimately I feel that he will just be bringing different issues to the table. We will still be receiving poop packaged as chocolate from a political standpoint.
Clearly, I don't have this all figured out for myself, but what I do know over all is that a new president or the 2nd term of the one we have isn't actually going to solve our problem as a nation. We need to stand up, stand strong, and demand a new standard from our government. But the first step to all of that is understanding what true leadership is supposed to look like. There are severe consequences for allowing our leaders to passively drive us out of God's will.
God has been on my heart for a while about this subject and I prayed that he would give me some clarity on it yesterday. As I was sitting on Facebook a friend of mine posted something on my page. She had no clue about the prayer I prayed or even about the internal struggle I have battled with for quite some time. I wrote back in January about things God has placed on my heart concerning our political system. This morning I felt like God had given me the green light to write about some other things that I have felt like I needed to share for a long time.
This political season has been difficult for me because my values seemed to be at stake on both sides. I am a Bible believing Christian. I don't try to pick apart the Bible to make it fit my life. I adjust my life according to the knowledge I glean from God's word. Over the years that has truly meant seeking out God for answers to questions I have had. Many of those questions being ones that people who know me today would be shocked that I had ever asked.
I believe in going to God's word for all my answers and knowing his word for.my.self., Unfortunately Christianity in this country is becoming more and more watered down, because as a nation we have become content with being spoon fed our information...including God's word. I've heard many Christians talk about their pastors not bringing forth God's word in a heavy fashion. Although I believe that pastoring is definitely not a playground activity, Christianity is neither a spectator sport.
Our church leaders need to be willing to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:16) and boldness (2Tim1:7). But, our Christians need to learn God's word for themselves (Prov 18:15, Prov 1:7, Prov 23:12, Col 2:2-4). We also need to understand God's words as it applies to our leaders and our nation. The biggest cry I hear is "separation of church and state," but I don't believe that to be Biblically possible. Understanding that as a body of believers may be the very thing to keep our nation from continuing to fall apart at the seams.
I do understand that this is all a part of the end times, but I don't think that knowledge gives us a free pass to just buckle down and succumb to it or be numb to it. This is part of our charge as Christians, to stand boldy in our faith and charge on in spite of the world around us (Romans 12:2). Now before you start hollering and getting all bent out of shape, look at this perspective. Historically speaking from Bible times all the way to the events leading to the pilgrimage to America, leaders that imposed a religion on the nation ("you must serve this or that God" have failed. But on the same token, when a nation's leader allowed his land to be devoid of morals God has allowed 2 things to generally happen...turn back to him or be destroyed.
I don't believe our leaders should impose a national religion of Christianity (because that worked so well for England), but our laws and leaders need to be of strong moral character and have a long term vision of prosperity (Deut 28:1-68). That entire chapter is a good example of why leaders characters should be built from a strong foundation. Combine that with Hosea 4:6, and we gain understanding of how lacking knowledge in God, as well as how that knowledge applies to us and our leaders can have severe consequences. Death can be brought about spiritually, physically, socially, mentally, and generationally, so it can stretch much further than the here and now.
God destroyed nations and leader because they thought they were bigger than him or exempt from his mandates, but he also gave them opportunities to turn back to him. Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, King Nebuchadnezzar, and Saul are all examples of nations and leaders that did not keep God at the head, and they and their people suffered greatly. Some received the opportunity to redeem themselves with God post-destruction, some chose to do it at his warning, and others charged on in spite of his warnings and lost their chance to get it right. I don't want to be a fallen nation before we choose to turn back to God's wisdom for us and I definitely don't want us to lose our chance altogether.
I also charge people to take the roles of national leaders into consideration. The best leaders are actually servant-like in nature. People like to bring up Jesus in politics to serve their point. Guess what? I am about to do the same. Jesus was a servant leader. He put himself below the ones he was called to lead. So, what WOULDN'T Jesus do? He wouldn't run his city, county, state, or country collecting a salary with several 0s at the end while the prosperity of the people he was called to serve completely fell apart. He wouldn't put policies in place that he was exempt from. We have allowed our leaders to step out of servant status and they now rule over the people who vote them into office. They ultimately make the decisions and then we are supposed to accept that.
I honestly believe that the entire system is failing us, not just one party or one leader over another. I have my ideas about certain things (such as the Electoral College....my vote can speak for itself, thank you very much). I believe public servants should have an average salary. Not to say that they have to lack wealth to be a leader. If they've built wealth prior to taking office, it's all well and good. No one should be faulted for working hard and earning an honest living or being blessed by a family legacy. However, it is not my job as a member of this nation to line your pockets, while I live pay check to pay check. (I in general...not me specifically). I want you to desire to vote on decisions because my interests are of concern to you, not because your personal agenda and wallet depend on the vote you make. Public servants salary should not outweigh that of those who make daily sacrifices for our children, souls, safety, and freedom. Our teachers, police officers, military, spiritual leaders, an fire fighters all earn modest wages...I believe our public servants should do the same while in office. I don't expect you do to the job for nothing, but your integrity comes into questions when you get to fat cat it up on the dime of average hard working people.
I am not inclined to sway you one way or another. I am going to share the video link my friend sent me yesterday. It does put many things into perspective that I am not sure I was even prepared for, but I am glad I watched it. I do recommend watching it all the way through, because you'll miss a lot by cutting it short.
My personal belief is that I currently have things I question about either candidate. I love many things about my current president as a person and I am proud of things he has accomplished, but I am leery of his compromises as well. His heart may be in the right place, but execution has been off in some ways. I feel Mitt Romney lacks a true understanding of diversity. I could be wrong, but ultimately I feel that he will just be bringing different issues to the table. We will still be receiving poop packaged as chocolate from a political standpoint.
Clearly, I don't have this all figured out for myself, but what I do know over all is that a new president or the 2nd term of the one we have isn't actually going to solve our problem as a nation. We need to stand up, stand strong, and demand a new standard from our government. But the first step to all of that is understanding what true leadership is supposed to look like. There are severe consequences for allowing our leaders to passively drive us out of God's will.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Redirection: Faith, Family, and Focus
Proverbs 31:10-31
New International Version (NIV)
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Lately, God has been trying to put back into balance some things I have allowed to shift or put out of proper order. My prayer life has not been as strong as I was hoping it would be, especially at this juncture in my faith, but I couldn't necessarily explain why. Recently I read a format for prayer somewhere (I can't remember where) that went like this: Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield. I chose to pray that way tonight and once I yielded I asked God to speak to me however he deemed suitable. I then spent the next few hours in bed tossing and turning, going between being asleep and hearing bits and pieces from God.
He brought to my attention that he has been causing me to reevaluate some things about my life that really should have been addressed a long time ago. I am a mother of 3 children and a wife, and those are some very demanding roles to take on. But, I haven't given them the type of attention and command that I should have been. Not to say that I am not good at either of those roles, because on most days, no one would be able to make that claim, but I have definitely been distracted. Probably more distracted in those areas than any other in my life, because I felt like those roles would always be there. But God is desiring that I now make a shift in faith, family, and focus. Things that are culturally acceptable for the design of family and marriage can no longer be acceptable to me. I've talked about being different and not following the lead of what is around me and I have done good, but I haven't excelled. I haven't met the potential in that area that God is requiring of me.
God was nudging me for a while to unplug, not just as a fast, but as a way of being a mom and wife. It was no thing for my phone to ring or ding and I would chase it down. There were times when I could say "let it wait" but, more often than not, it was my children, husband, or duties that I put on hold. I would Facebook, text, blog, occasionally tweet, be on the phone for a friend in need or just to be in a state of conversation that wasn't me responding as mommy, email, Google searching any and everything,. You name it and I was doing it...on my phone. That didn't include the things I was also doing on the computer (well it did, but I was simultaneously on the phone usually in some manner. ) My son said to me one day when I was yesing and uh huhing him "are you listening to me or just pretending to listen to me?" I took notice of that and those words made an impact, but the true heart change came when I walked into my MOPS meeting the very next day and a blog post was read to the group on being a distracted parent. The mom reading it suffered the same problems I did and the blogger had too. Please go read her post, especially if you are a mom...especially if you are a distracted mom.
That was the true eye opener...I had to stop putting everyone else above my family, including myself. Not to say that I didn't need to create some balance and find time for myself, but me time should be scheduled into my day, not the majority of it. I began to unplug immediately and while I am not perfect at it...I am doing way better and noticing that it has changed the dynamic of my household. My family is no longer competing with my friends and my phone for my attention. I get way more done around the house and am able to be proactive versus being upset that the house isn't the way I want it. It still isn't the way I want it most times, but with 3-5 people in it on most days at any given moment, it looks about right. It looks lived in, but it almost always company ready, which is something I have desired for my homes in years past, but have rarely been able to achieve.
This comes at a price, because people want me to still be the same available person I always have been, but I can't be. My roles are shifting as they progressively have over the years, but this year is probably the most demanding of my mothering career. I began homeschooling my son partway into the school year. Making the adjustment to having him home again after being in daycare, preschool, private school, and public school was not easy. And I still acted as though my life was the same. Although we spent a lot of this year deschooling than working on academics I know some of my time could have been better spent much sooner if I was focused. I am proud of what we accomplished, but I know I missed out by continuing to be disconnected.
Now God is requiring that I step up and show out. I don't have to be connected to life 24/7. A phone call, email, or text can be returned when it is convenient for me. My focus needs to be making sure my home is in order spiritually, physically, academically, and emotionally. And I have to accept that people may be upset that I am not giving them the time and attention that I once did, but If they have a problem with it, the problem does not lie with me.
God wants me to press further into him for myself and for my family. I have to find ways to stay strong spiritually and to be the best example to my children. I am responsible not only for my soul, but theirs and the time I have to cultivate a standard is very limited. My son is 9 and will go out into the world in 9 or so years with whatever we have prepared him with. I need to be sure that I am giving him the kind of impression I can be okay with him walking away with. My window is a bit longer with my girls, but no less pressing or important.
God called us to become a homeschooling family, which I was absolutely not prepared for. Just weeks before I told my mentor that I was impressed by the fact that she did it ( I had just found out that her and several others I knew actually did it). She told me it was something that all parents were equipped to do and I said it wasn't for me. Ha ha...there goes God with his sense of humor. My son came to me about 2 weeks later asking to be homeschooled. Not because he was aware of this conversation that I had, but because he felt he could get more out of his education if I were providing it. He had asked before, but I never considered it and had honestly been dismissive, but God had been setting the stage for that day. My baby was advocating for his own education and was able to intelligently express why he desired a homeschool education over a public one. Mommy definitely listened this time around. THAT is a big role to take on and seeing God's hand in it caused me to respond, but it requires that I stay connected with him so that I do what is best for my family. We have been given a golden opportunity to be the biggest sphere of influence for our children and that is not a challenge I can take lightly.
Proverbs 22:6
6 Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
That was the true eye opener...I had to stop putting everyone else above my family, including myself. Not to say that I didn't need to create some balance and find time for myself, but me time should be scheduled into my day, not the majority of it. I began to unplug immediately and while I am not perfect at it...I am doing way better and noticing that it has changed the dynamic of my household. My family is no longer competing with my friends and my phone for my attention. I get way more done around the house and am able to be proactive versus being upset that the house isn't the way I want it. It still isn't the way I want it most times, but with 3-5 people in it on most days at any given moment, it looks about right. It looks lived in, but it almost always company ready, which is something I have desired for my homes in years past, but have rarely been able to achieve.
This comes at a price, because people want me to still be the same available person I always have been, but I can't be. My roles are shifting as they progressively have over the years, but this year is probably the most demanding of my mothering career. I began homeschooling my son partway into the school year. Making the adjustment to having him home again after being in daycare, preschool, private school, and public school was not easy. And I still acted as though my life was the same. Although we spent a lot of this year deschooling than working on academics I know some of my time could have been better spent much sooner if I was focused. I am proud of what we accomplished, but I know I missed out by continuing to be disconnected.
Now God is requiring that I step up and show out. I don't have to be connected to life 24/7. A phone call, email, or text can be returned when it is convenient for me. My focus needs to be making sure my home is in order spiritually, physically, academically, and emotionally. And I have to accept that people may be upset that I am not giving them the time and attention that I once did, but If they have a problem with it, the problem does not lie with me.
God wants me to press further into him for myself and for my family. I have to find ways to stay strong spiritually and to be the best example to my children. I am responsible not only for my soul, but theirs and the time I have to cultivate a standard is very limited. My son is 9 and will go out into the world in 9 or so years with whatever we have prepared him with. I need to be sure that I am giving him the kind of impression I can be okay with him walking away with. My window is a bit longer with my girls, but no less pressing or important.
God called us to become a homeschooling family, which I was absolutely not prepared for. Just weeks before I told my mentor that I was impressed by the fact that she did it ( I had just found out that her and several others I knew actually did it). She told me it was something that all parents were equipped to do and I said it wasn't for me. Ha ha...there goes God with his sense of humor. My son came to me about 2 weeks later asking to be homeschooled. Not because he was aware of this conversation that I had, but because he felt he could get more out of his education if I were providing it. He had asked before, but I never considered it and had honestly been dismissive, but God had been setting the stage for that day. My baby was advocating for his own education and was able to intelligently express why he desired a homeschool education over a public one. Mommy definitely listened this time around. THAT is a big role to take on and seeing God's hand in it caused me to respond, but it requires that I stay connected with him so that I do what is best for my family. We have been given a golden opportunity to be the biggest sphere of influence for our children and that is not a challenge I can take lightly.
Proverbs 22:6
New International Version (NIV)
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Deuteronomy 11:19
19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
We've discovered in the last year or so that we aren't being called to raise our children the way we were raised. We are probably defying everything that we know as normal, so being distracted is not an option. And it requires that we also stay in tune with one another as husband and wife. I have a role and a duty as a wife. I have always loved the Prov 31 woman and have looked at her with awe, but God is showing me how that is an attainable state of being for me. But SHE did not have time to deal with distractions, because she had to fulfill her role as wife and mother, as well as business owner. Those are all roles that I play.
Again, I am sure she spent time with her friends and had fun, but it was those were not her priority. She made sure her house was in order, her business was well run, and she ministered to others. Those are all areas where God is beginning to require a bit more from me. I teach in the special needs ministry for my church once a month, but God is also desiring that I use my time to minster to other wives. I am 31 and have been married almost half my life (I do find irony that God is calling me to Prov 31 Woman status at the age of 31 lol). That is a unique quality to bring to the table for wives my age. Most are still fairly new to the game so I have insight to offer.
Titus 2:3-5
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
I have definitely covered for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and in sickness and health, and there are wives out there who need someone with that experience because they need to see that it can be achieved with lots of prayer...and I mean LOTS. Marriage is about give and take, but it took me a long time to realize I had to be willing to give more than I took. When I do things are better, because my husband naturally gives too. But when I desire to take take take...he begins to fight for his take too. It's like working with magnets: they either come together or a forced apart.
Our culture views a lot of what I do and say as archaic, but God hasn't changed his views on how to run a home, a marriage, or a family. When I am not careful, I fall into the trap of thinking life everyone else and I suffer dearly for it. I have to be very intentional in how I conduct the manners of my household and I am learning (although it is uncomfortable) that I have to be willing to break a cycle that I have started. I allowed the distractions to come in, I allowed people to have roles they weren't supposed to be assigned and carry weight they shouldn't carry, but God is saying enough. He needs me to put everything else on pause to complete that tasks he has assigned to me.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Faith, Family, and Focus...I think that is my challenge in the remaining months of 2012. I can't balance anything else appropriately until those things have been worked out. I know I still have quite the journey ahead of me. I am going to be interested to see how he grows me in this area. God has definitely taken a new approach with me, normally there is a lot of painful pruning, but this time I don't feel we went through that process. This was more of a series of eye opening situations that called me to get into view what he was seeing.
Maybe this isn't the area where God is challenging you, but what is it that he is challenging you for? No matter if you are sure or not, I encourage you to Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield. Also pay attention to the messages he keeps sending your way. Almost everything I have heard or read in the past 2 months has led back to these 3 areas for me, which means God expects me to take them seriously.
New International Version (NIV)
We've discovered in the last year or so that we aren't being called to raise our children the way we were raised. We are probably defying everything that we know as normal, so being distracted is not an option. And it requires that we also stay in tune with one another as husband and wife. I have a role and a duty as a wife. I have always loved the Prov 31 woman and have looked at her with awe, but God is showing me how that is an attainable state of being for me. But SHE did not have time to deal with distractions, because she had to fulfill her role as wife and mother, as well as business owner. Those are all roles that I play.
Again, I am sure she spent time with her friends and had fun, but it was those were not her priority. She made sure her house was in order, her business was well run, and she ministered to others. Those are all areas where God is beginning to require a bit more from me. I teach in the special needs ministry for my church once a month, but God is also desiring that I use my time to minster to other wives. I am 31 and have been married almost half my life (I do find irony that God is calling me to Prov 31 Woman status at the age of 31 lol). That is a unique quality to bring to the table for wives my age. Most are still fairly new to the game so I have insight to offer.
Titus 2:3-5
New International Version (NIV)
I have definitely covered for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, and in sickness and health, and there are wives out there who need someone with that experience because they need to see that it can be achieved with lots of prayer...and I mean LOTS. Marriage is about give and take, but it took me a long time to realize I had to be willing to give more than I took. When I do things are better, because my husband naturally gives too. But when I desire to take take take...he begins to fight for his take too. It's like working with magnets: they either come together or a forced apart.
Our culture views a lot of what I do and say as archaic, but God hasn't changed his views on how to run a home, a marriage, or a family. When I am not careful, I fall into the trap of thinking life everyone else and I suffer dearly for it. I have to be very intentional in how I conduct the manners of my household and I am learning (although it is uncomfortable) that I have to be willing to break a cycle that I have started. I allowed the distractions to come in, I allowed people to have roles they weren't supposed to be assigned and carry weight they shouldn't carry, but God is saying enough. He needs me to put everything else on pause to complete that tasks he has assigned to me.
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
Faith, Family, and Focus...I think that is my challenge in the remaining months of 2012. I can't balance anything else appropriately until those things have been worked out. I know I still have quite the journey ahead of me. I am going to be interested to see how he grows me in this area. God has definitely taken a new approach with me, normally there is a lot of painful pruning, but this time I don't feel we went through that process. This was more of a series of eye opening situations that called me to get into view what he was seeing.
Maybe this isn't the area where God is challenging you, but what is it that he is challenging you for? No matter if you are sure or not, I encourage you to Praise, Repent, Ask, and Yield. Also pay attention to the messages he keeps sending your way. Almost everything I have heard or read in the past 2 months has led back to these 3 areas for me, which means God expects me to take them seriously.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Giving up and Giving Life
Hebrews 13:1-5 AMP
LET LOVE for your fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with you [never let it fail]. Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoner, and those who are ill-treated, since you also are liable to bodily sufferings. Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous. Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Matthew 18:20 AMP
For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.
Psalm 22:3-5 AMP
But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered]. Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted (leaned on, relied on You, and were confident) and You delivered them. They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed.
One thing that sets Christians apart from the world around us is our call to duty. Once we turn our life over to God and give him full reign we are assigned partnership with the Holy Spirit for some character changing exercises. Our nature is generally selfish and self-fulfilling, but our call through Christ causes us to work against those traits of humanity.
I have had my own personal struggle with that call and it`s taken years to find the balance. Even then...I fall off track when I don`t apply myself and keep my daily focus on God. I recently went through a spiritual drought. The original cause was me becoming hyper-focused on my wants, needs, and desires and not bothering with the idea that those may not line up with God`s plan. I even openly admitted that I knew God had a purpose for his way of things playing out in my life in a particular fashion, but my choices would have still been different from God`s. The result was my spirit becoming dry and thirsty.
I had spent a lot of time away and also got really sick, which kept me from fellowshipping with my church family and my actual family. One missed service or activity soon became several and before I knew it, I was feeling wiped out spiritually and it was dragging into other areas of my life. May productivity dwindled and I wasn`t focused on anything....especially God.
When I did step back into my church doors, y spirit truly breathed a sigh of relief. I actually became more thirsty for time with God until I began praying for God to recreate the balance. Once those things took place I was able to become grounded in my spiritual life again and God was able to open some doors he hadn`t previously, because I wasn`t prepared.
God desires us to stay connected with our fellow believers, to be life givers by stepping outside of ourselves and focusing on the needs of others, and to let go of our sinful desires. Our humanity allows us to justify and pacify our wrong doings. I am the first one to be honest in saying I have desired wrong things for easily justifiable reasons, but there comes a point when I have to acknowledge that no matter the reason, God can`t do much with me in the middle of a self-inflicted mess and he will sooner turn me over to those things than allow me to believe he is going to do something good with my life in the midst of me blatantly disregarding his word and his desires for my life.
I thank God for his conviction and grace, because without it, I would lose every time. Satan desires for us to give up on life...the life God has planned for us. God desires us to give up and give life...so that we may live more abundantly.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Counter Attack on Faith
Hebrews 11:1-3 AMP
NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed)
of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real
fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith--trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of
old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good
report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive
ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose)
by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are
visible.
John 20:26-29 ESV
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
I was loosely engaged, recently, in a discussion (or better described as an attack) on the Christian faith. In this particular instance I chose to refrain, from defending the reason behind my faith and other believers, because in the moment, the more pressing issue was my friend's character coming under attack because he chose to take a stand and stick by it.
The issue in totality was that Amendment 1 was passed in our state, which defines marriage as 1 man and 1 woman. An immediate attack on Christianity and the people who walk under that covering was very blatant.
Anyone who voted yes or no, voted based off of a personal belief system, and what they felt was right. But Christians as a whole in the state of NC are now labeled a bunch of bigots, which is truly unfair. Standing by one's values and beliefs is not an act of bigotry, unless it is done with hateful and malicious intent.
I know plenty of individuals who voted yes, but they wouldn't treat a gay person in any less loving or kind manner than anyone else. They would never speak ill of them and they would likely come to the defense of someone under the attack of someone who is a true bigot.
Our faith and beliefs as Christians makes us no more likely to be hateful and nasty, as someone's sexual orientation would. In fact, if someone is truly walking in faith with God, they are going to be loving and kind, yet still stand up for what they believe in.
A statement was made that Christians mindlessly follow the flock. The act of walking in faith, believing in the word of God as inherent truth, going against your very nature and making choices that go against the mindset of the majority of your culture takes a alot of heart and mind.
Faith is defined as a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust". How can anyone mindlessly do that? Our nature and our culture thrives on proof being a necessity. Having faith means you have to step outside your comfort zone and believe beyond anything tangible. As believers, our only "proof" is the way that God shows up in our lives through people and his miraculous actions. So Christianity is far from being a flock following activity, especially when our beliefs are constantly challenged by the world around us.
If you have a personal issue with how you've been treated by an individual group of Christians or 1 Christian in particular..I understand the resistance, but just like all whites, blacks, gays, straights, Jews, northerners, or southerners are not the same....neither are all Christians. Standing by our belief system is not hateful in and of itself, just like anyone else standing up for theirs is. The outward actions and words of an individual should define them, not their faith or orientation.
I will leave this Earth as a Bible believing Christian and you may not, but don't assume I or anyone else in my faith is a mindless bigot without being given a valid reason, and I will vow to be a loving, caring individual towards you, no matter if i agree with you or not. Disagreement should not equal hate, but unfortunately on both sides of the faith and orientation table, this is often the result.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Redirect
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Casting Crowns had a Facebook status a while back that said "If you think God is getting in your way, you're going the wrong way." It's a very small statement that packs a lot of power. How often do we feel that God is keeping us from something that we really want? I know it is something I have felt at different points in my life. I've been fortunate enough to have God allow me moments of experiential learning to see why his way is better. He's let me go down my chosen path and see why my way isn't the best. He has also given me opportunities to see the beauty in going against my nature and doing it his way. It can be the harder decision, but it comes with softer results.
Proverbs 3:6
Amplified Bible (AMP)
6In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
For any parents (or aunts, uncles, or anyone that desires to be a parent, aunt, or uncle) do we direct our children to do things that will cause them intentional harm? Do we seek to do things that will make them miserable for the sake of doing so? Of course not! We give them directions in order to set them up for success, even if it means causing them a bit of immediate discomfort. But also as parents, we have to sometimes allow them to learn from their mistakes and be there with a bit of grace and mercy once they've messed things up.
God treats us the same way. He doesn't want to see us unnecessarily burdened, but that doesn't mean that doing things his way will be comfortable, however it will be more comfortable than trying to do things outside of proper order.
How often have you experienced seeing a path you could have taken and getting the opportunity to acknowledge why God closed that door? Those are some awesome moments.
I don't get joy out of seeing others not doing as well as they could have, but it is a blessing to see that when God has removed a person or a situation from my life, it is for my own good. Those are the times you begin to thank and praise God for unanswered prayers. If you feel like God is getting in your way, it's probably time to stop and ask for directions.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)