Living Within God's Boundaries

The first year my Pastor husband was in seminary we had 4 jobs between the two of us to make ends meet.  The second year we thankfully bumped down to 2 jobs.  After seminary we added children to the mix and moved across several states; his job hours increased, and my job hours decreased.  Five years later when we moved again, the cost of childcare was equal to what I could earn.  We decided to live on one income, whatever my husband brought home, that would be it.  We dove into tight budgeting, thrifty shopping, making do and doing without.

Our current culture is big on padding one’s resources.  We are encouraged to get a side hustle, donate plasma for pocket change, play the lottery and/or apply for yet another credit card.  The idea of making do or doing without seems a bit un-American.  We’ve become consumed with ease and comfort and having it all.

1 Chronicles 16 Review 

The Israelites had been living in the ease and comfort of the Promised Land for some time, the land God had given them, blessing them with abundance.  In 1 Chronicles 16, we read David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving.  He is celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and the wonder of God dwelling in their midst.  David reveals four concepts that can help us focus on God and not the things of this world.  We’ve talked about three of them over the last several weeks: giving God the credit; expressing joy through gratitude and worship because God is in control; and knowing God intimately.  Today let’s investigate the fourth concept: living within God’s boundaries.

Life Within God’s Boundaries

David mentions in 1 Chronicles 16:14 that God’s judgements govern the whole earth, in verse 31 he declares that God reigns, and in verse 33 he tells us that God is coming to judge the earth.  God is the one in control; God is the one who sets the laws and the parameters for life.  Just like my husband and I had to live within a very distinct budget, God sets distinct boundaries for our life with Him.

For many of us, the idea that someone has set limits for us is annoying.  We want to make our own choices and determine our own fate. Perhaps the Israelites had a similar struggle because David reminds them of God’s goodness.  He directs them to remember God’s covenant with them (v 15); he mentions God’s protection and provision (v18-22); and he challenges them to proclaim God’s salvation every day (v23). God’s boundaries were good for the Israelites.  Abundance and peace and freedom were found in the confines God set.

Center in on a Smaller View

Do you ever do wordsearches?  I’ve discovered that words are easier to find when I look at a small section of the puzzle or if I look for a small combination of letters instead of the longer word.  Breaking the puzzle down into a smaller framework makes solving the puzzle easier. 

Have you ever looked at things in your back yard or on a hike through the macro setting on a camera?  The macro setting allows you to see objects closer.  You get a better view, and a better photo of the details found in a flower or an insect or a leaf. 

There is something to be said about centering in on a smaller area or idea.  I think that’s a bit what God is asking of us.  When we listen to Him and live life within the perimeter He sets, we are better able to focus on Him. We begin to discover the wonder of who He is because we aren’t distracted by all the things outside His boundary lines.

Rely on What You Have

When our children were young, and we were living on one income, I became quite adept at finding free things to do within our community. We were rarely lacking for anything fun.  A local park had a public water feature that was free to play in; another park had a stream for wading; we made tents in the living room; hiked to a picnic dinner; and slid down the stairs on a cushion.  We learned to rely on what we had. When we live within God’s boundaries, God is who we have, and we learn to rely on Him.

Living within God’s boundaries enables us to see Him more clearly. Our focus narrows and becomes more direct; we are not distracted by what the world says is significant.  As we center on the details of who God is we are held in wonder that He, God Almighty, dwells with us.  We learn He is the one who saves us, who delivers us, and we can rely on Him.

Live in Wonder that God Dwells with Us

David tells us in 1 Chronicles 16:34 that God is good.  I pray that you believe the boundary lines he draws for you are for your best.  You can rest there.  There is wonder in knowing God dwells with us.  May you focus and truly see Him: give Him all the credit, express joy to Him, know Him intimately and obediently live within the borders He sets for you.

 

Boundary line photo by Raphael Mittendorfer on Unsplash

Splash Pad photo by Andrew Seaman on Unsplash

We Need to Know God Intimately

My husband was advised to not date me when we were in college.  The advisor was someone who perceived me to be on the wild side.  I suppose I can see that person’s point of view.  I was loud, excessively chatty, a prankster, and way more social than serious.  I liked capturing all the attention and thrived on the crowd’s laughter.  I’m older now.  Calmer. Quieter. More willing to take a back seat.  I like to think my personality has been tempered (who wants to think they’re just old after all).  There are moments when I hear myself laugh LOUDLY and in the back of my mind a little voice says, “Oh! There you are!”

God’s personality is never tempered; God is always the same.  Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  Who God is in Genesis is who God is in Revelation.  Who God was to Adam and Eve, to Moses, to David, to Paul, is who God is to us. 

1 Chronicles 16

We’ve been looking at 1Chronicles 16 for the past several weeks.  David is expressing his gratitude that the Ark of the Covenant has returned to Jerusalem. In verses 8-36 he pens a Psalm of Thanksgiving that reveals his attitude of being totally focused on God and not himself.  David paints a picture of what it looks like for someone to live in wonder over God in his midst.  The first week I told you I found four concepts to help us focus more on God, to realize afresh the wonder that God dwells with us.

• First: we are to give God the credit.  He is worthy and it moves us to a position where we are focused on Him.
• Second: we are to express joy.  We are to give thanks and worship God because of the confidence and peace we gain recognizing the Almighty is in control of all the details of our lives.

This week: Know God

First Chronicles 16:11 says, “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” (CSB) The Message translation paraphrases it as “Study God and His strength…” and the Amplified Version states, “...seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence] …” The idea in this verse is more than knowing about God or being acquainted with who He is.  David is describing something beyond looking for God to step in and provide His assistance.  Did you notice that David doesn’t tell us to seek God and have Him make us strong?  David says to seek God, seek God’s strength, seek God’s face continually. David is telling us that the seeking and the studying is the focus, not what we might receive.

My oldest sister died when her daughters were under five.  Several years ago, I sat at a table with the two of them all grown up, along with another of my sisters, and they asked us questions about their mom.  I realized I knew my sister, but the difference in our ages, and the fact that I didn’t have the opportunity to spend much time with her once we were out of our childhood home, limited how much I knew about her.  I have wonderful memories of her, but the questions her girls wanted answered, that fleshed out who she was in living color, I couldn’t answer.  I knew her, but my knowledge of her wasn’t deeply intimate.

David Knew God

David knew God deeply and intimately.  Throughout his Psalm he identifies various characteristics of God:

• He’s holy (v10)
• He is able; He does wondrous things (v12)
• He is just (v12)
• He is the LORD (v14)
• He governs (v14)
• He is trustworthy; He keeps His promises (v15)
• He is generous (v18)
• He is protective and powerful (v19-22)
• He saves (v23)
• He is glorious (v24)
• He is above all others (v25)
• He is creator (v26)
• He welcomes us into His presence (v29)
• He is King (v31)
• He is good (v34)
• He loves faithfully and forever (v34)

 

David was closely familiar with the breadth of who God is.  He had experienced life with God and knew Him in a profound and personal way. David was so overwhelmed with who he knew God to be, that having God’s presence dwell with him was the pinnacle of life.

Do We KNOW God?

Today, we don’t have the Ark of the Covenant.  We don’t need the Ark of the Covenant.  John 14:16-20 tells us we have the Holy Spirit, Christ in us, with us, always.  We also have God’s Word readily accessible to us, so much more than David ever had. And yet we don’t seem to know God like David knew God. The word know means “1. to perceive or understand as fact or truth; to apprehend clearly with certainty. 2. To have established or fixed in the mind or memory. 3. To be cognizant or aware of.  4. Be acquainted with (a thing, place, person, etc.), as by sight, experience, or report…” (Dictionary.com) I admit I think I have accepted the fourth definition for knowing God more than the first.  We are easily acquainted with God, but do we perceive and understand Him to know who He is as fact and with certainty?

God Almighty is in our midst. Always. He dwells within us. Continually.  We are to KNOW Him.  David reminds us in 1 Chronicles that knowing God, being aware of who He is and identifying how He interacts with us, strengthens us to be more centrally focused on Him. Being rooted in who God is enables us to be more and more in wonder that He chooses to be with us.

My prayer is that you will open your eyes and your heart to a fresh facet of God’s glory today; may you KNOW Him. Spend time in His Word.  Learn and list the characteristics of our Lord. Talk to Him in prayer. Listen for what He is whispering to your soul. Experience the wonder of God in our midst.

Photo of Bible by Ben White on Unsplash

Increase your God-Focus by Expressing Joy

There are days when you don't feel happy.  Your circumstances could be excellent; good things could be happening left and right.  And your emotions reveal your discontent.  Perhaps you plaster on a smile and push through, believing you can "fake it till you make it."  There are days you just muddle through, tucking yourself into bed early with a quick prayer that tomorrow will be better.  Some of us experience days when we cry over sappy commercials, quietly thankful for a release to pent-up fears, frustrations and feelings of failure.

Always Happy?

I have some weird Christian ideal that tells me I'm supposed to always be happy.  After all I have Jesus, right?  When I read David's Psalm of Thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16, I butt up against this big expectation. In the span of 28 verses, David refers to praising or expressing joy at least 12 times! The positivity wired into my personality steps forward and declares, "See? You're supposed to be happy!" Thankfully, God's Spirit speaks balanced truth to my soul.

David's Psalm of Thanksgiving gives us tools for our toolbox to live focused on God. These tools help us pursue the wonder that God is in our midst.  David is celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The Ark was the representation of the presence of God to the Israelites. David's repetition of expressing joy is a fantastic tool to keep our hearts and minds centered on Christ and His presence with us. 

Joy vs. Happiness

Joy does not equal happiness.  My Pastor husband has defined joy in many sermons as a "deep settled confidence that a loving Heavenly Father is in control of all the details of my life."* Joy is this mixture of peace, contentment and gratitude that runs so deep, and is so strong, that it is expressed periodically with exuberance.

The Tools for our Toolbox

In 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, I find three different ideas that can keep us settled in that confidence.

1. We get to seek God.  Verse 10 says, "Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice." (CSB) The NLT uses the word worship instead of seek.  Think about that connection.  When I seek God, I am led to worship and when I worship God, I am led to seek Him.  It's a privilege to be able to know the creator, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Seeking Him and knowing Him strengthens the confidence I have in Him. 
2. Remember how God has moved on your behalf.  In his Psalm (verses 15-22) David recounts ways God had been faithful to the Israelites.  When we recall how God has shown up in our lives, we remind our hearts that He is in control of the details.  We open the door to gratitude and peace, because we've battled our fears with the faithfulness of God.
3. Worship God; live a life of reverence.  Our minds are wired in such a way that what we dwell on affects our emotions.  When we think negative thoughts we begin to filter what we see and experience through a pessimistic point of view.  Soon we feel depressed, believing life is the pits.  The opposite is also true with positive thoughts.  David didn't have the science to back up his process, he just recognized that God is worthy of our praise.  David tells the people to sing praise (v9), declare God's glory (v24), ascribe to the Lord glory and strength (v28), ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name (v29), and worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness (v29).  Malachi 2:5 says, "My covenant with [Levi] was one of life and peace, and I gave these to him; it called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name." Levi received the peace that is anchored in joy because he revered God.  David challenges us to live into that same covenantal concept.

I think it's key that David shepherds us toward action.  He isn't challenging us to "Just think positively!" or beef up our attitude.  David's Psalm of Thanksgiving encourages us to actively engage in our relationship with God and then express what we experience.  That movement creates conviction, it deepens and settles the confidence we have in our God, who is wondrously in our midst.

*Note: my Pastor husband says the quote is not original with him.  He read the idea 30 plus years ago and he has made it his own.  He would be happy to offer appropriate credit if he could remember/discover the original authorship!

Joy photo by Preslie Hirsch on Unsplash

We need to Give God the Credit

Her name was Stacey. We went to High School together.  Stacey ran in different circles from me, but we did have the same English class.  I remember it was early Spring because she was prepping for a big basketball game to determine if the girls team would compete at State.  It was test day in our Junior English class. This was back when you took a test, passed it to a person behind you and then the teacher went over the answers while we graded each other's tests. I was toward the front of our row and as the tests got passed forward I was looking for my test to see my score.  I couldn't find my test; none of them had my name written in the top right corner!  There was one test with no name, but it wasn't my handwriting.  Then I saw it.  My test.  With Stacey's name in the top right corner. I was flabbergasted that someone would steal credit for what I had done and I was motivated to grab the credit back.

On that day in High School I was focused on what I believed was rightfully mine.  I was consumed with MY test, MY grade, MY reputation.  I didn't care what happened to Stacey.  In fact, I was hoping they threw the book at her, even if it meant she couldn't play in that all important basketball game. 

Sometimes our focus gets skewed. We focus on what we think and we don't make the best choices.  David learned some of those lessons the hard way (read 1 Chronicles 13). When He sets out to bring the Ark of the Covenant home to Jerusalem in I Chronicles 15 and 16, his focus wasn't skewed. He was intent on honoring God in God's way.  

DAVID'S PSALM OF THANKSGIVING

In First Chronicles 16:8-36 David honors God and expresses his gratitude. Verse 7, in fact, says that David "decreed for the first time that thanks be given to the Lord." David was firm on giving God the credit that He deserved in his Psalm of Thanksgiving. He saw all of who God is, so honor, praise and remembrance are woven through the entire Psalm.

• "proclaim his deeds among the people" (v8)
• "tell about His wondrous works" (v9)
• "Honor His holy name" (v10)
• "Remember his covenant forever --the promise he ordained for a thousand generations" (v15)
• "he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their behalf" (v21)
• "Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples." (v24)
• "the Lord made the heavens" (v26)
• "ascribe to the Lord glory and strength" (v28)
• "Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name…" (v29)
• "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever." (v34)

GIVING GOD CREDIT HELPS US KEEP OUR FOCUS

I admit I was a Christian when I was in High School; I knew about turning the other check and not judging others.  Pleasing Jesus was at the top of my list of things to do, but I wasn't intentional, or determined or fixated on that goal.  I needed help zeroing in on the right target, especially when it came to my encounter with Stacey.  Can you relate? Learning to give God the credit He deserves enables us to pinpoint the bullseye. It strengthens our ability to focus on God and it enriches our spititual walk.

1. Giving God credit stops us from being focused inward; it enables us to learn humility. It's so easy for us to claim credit for something without even realizing it.  Maybe we are good at a certain task, or we have an ability that others admire.  Just like I saw the score on the test as mine, we see our gifts and abilities as ours, as something we do.  Second Corinthians 3:5 says, "It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God." (CSB) All our talents and potential are gifts from God, either through how He created us and/or how He enables us in a specific moment.  For us to claim credit is to steal the credit from the One who is most deserving.
2. Giving God credit enables us to release control. When we realize that it's not our name on the line, we can relax.  We don't have to prove anything or be better than anyone else.  God is the one who is in complete control and the results are all in His hands.  In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar has had a dream he wants interpreted.  He thinks the wise men and magicians should be able to tell him what the dream is before interpreting it. In verses 28 and 30, Daniel says, "But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries and he has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days. . . As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind."  Daniel knew that it was only God who knew the mystery and He gave answers to Daniel because He chose to do so.  God was the one in control.  God was in charge of how everything would play out and Daniel knew he could trust God with his life.
3. Giving God credit enables us to see and be captivated by who God is. This is so evident in David's Psalm of Thanksgiving.  David was consumed with the glory and wonder of God.  First of all, David knew all the various ways God had moved on his own behalf, such as how God helped him kill Goliath, anointed him as king, and rescued him from Saul over and over. Second, David describes how God moved on behalf of the entire nation of Israel throughout his Psalm. David was enthralled with God Himself.

Giving God the credit moves us to a position where we are focused on Him. He is the One who provides, protects and saves. He is the one who pours out faithful love. He is the One who is good. And He has come to live in our midst. 

I pray that You can see Him in all His glory and majesty and splendor. 

Worship, praise and offer thanks. 

Give Him the credit He deserves.

Hallelujah!

                                                                                

Photo by Yustinus Tjiuwanda on Unsplash

Living into David's Psalm of Thanksgiving

I woke the other morning emotionally tired.  I got enough sleep, my body was rested, but my heart was “bland.”  Describing what I wasn't feeling is difficult. In those early morning moments, it seemed too much effort to conjure anticipation for the day, hope, happiness, or even quiet contentment.  I didn’t feel “blah,” because that’s an emotion of sorts. Instead, I had a weird feeling of being empty without being poured out.  Even as I sat with Jesus, I dispassionately went through the motions to move forward into my day.

God whispered: “Live into 1 Chronicles 16.”

I’d been working on a blog with 1 Chronicles 16 as the focal point for several weeks.  I approached the passage at least three different ways with three completely unique emphases.  None of what I composed satisfied me.  Each piece had elements I was pleased with, but I wasn't expressing what I really wanted to say, or what I believed anyone needed to hear.  Each composition read like well-constructed words without any umph.

I drove to work with nuggets of 1 Chronicles 16 flitting in and out of my consciousness. Be thankful. Rejoice. Seek the Lord. Remember His deeds. He is good. 

Background: 1 Chronicles 15

First Chronicles 15 tells the story of David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.  He first prepared a place for the ark to dwell, then organized a big parade to escort the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Obed-edom to its new home. The Levites who were the ones chosen to carry God’s Ark were instructed and prepped. He arranged for musicians to accompany the ark, ordering instrumentalists and singers. It was to be a grand jubilee!  Everyone got dressed in their finest. They sang and danced and celebrated the return of the Ark and the favor of God.

1 Chronicles 16

In Chronicles 16 the ark is home; God dwells with His people again. Burnt offerings and fellowship offerings were sacrificed to honor God. David blessed the people and then passed out party cake to end the big gala. In verses 8-30 David presents a Psalm of Thanksgiving. He doesn't give a big speech recounting how he orchestrated the Ark's return. He doesn't wax poetic about organizing people and the celebration. David doesn't talk about himself at all; His focus is all on God and the wonder of God in their midst.

Let that sink in. Sit for a moment and contemplate what that means.

His focus was all on God and the wonder of God in their midst. 

The morning of my bland emotions is long past, but the story of David and the return of the Ark has stayed with me.  Even as I sit and write, I am searching my heart and asking, “Is my focus all on God?  Am I living in wonder over God in my midst?”

I don’t know what you are facing.  I don’t know the circumstances you are living.  I do know that life is too much some days.  We are a broken people.  And God has come to dwell in our midst. 

There is more to be discovered in David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving. I identified four concepts that David reveals in his Psalm.  I’ll blog about one concept each week for the next four weeks.  Join me on this journey to focus more on God, to realize afresh the wonder that God dwells with us. Begin this week by reading through 1 Chronicles 16:8-30, David’s Psalm of Thanksgiving. Ask yourself: Is my focus all on God?  Am I living in wonder over God in my midst?  When we’re all finished, I’m hoping we will want to throw God a parade!  We can finish our celebration with cake.

Dealing with "Nothing Good Syndrome"

photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

Do you ever talk in extremes?  “Today was the worst day ever!” “I can’t do anything right!” I’m a total failure!” “I always mess up.” “Nobody cares.” “I’ll never be able to (blank).” “Nothing good ever happens to me!” 

We all have those moments when life is overwhelming.  In those moments, I often fall into a pattern of evaluating my circumstance through an emotional point of view.  I lose perspective, rational thought and hope.  I give fear and shame permission to set up camp.  There’s a part of my brain fighting for logical thinking, and I believe the lies Satan whispers in my ear.  I succumb to “Nothing Good Syndrome.”

Elijah and his “Nothing Good Syndrome”

Domenico Fetti, Elijah Calls Down Fire From Heaven, 1622

There’s a prophet in the Old Testament who gives great pointers for those of us with “Nothing Good Syndrome.”  His name is Elijah.  Elijah was a prophet with power.  Elijah took on the prophets of Baal, challenging them to a fire duel.  The prophets of Baal and Elijah each built an altar with a sacrifice and prayed to their god. The first god to light their alter on fire would be declared the true God. Elijah poured water all over his alter and God Almighty still lit the bar-b-que!  The Israelites chased down the prophets of Baal and Elijah slaughtered them.  Elijah knew God and he was well acquainted with all God can do. 

And… Elijah responded just like us when he was cornered by circumstances; he showed all the signs of “Nothing Good Syndrome.”

After the big night when God sent fire from heaven, Jezebel, the Queen, threatened Elijah’s life.  I would think after such a huge win, Elijah would’ve been saying something like, “whatever.”  But Elijah freaked out and ran away in fear.   First Kings 19: 4 tells us what Elijah said to God, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.”  Can’t you hear him muttering to himself? “I’m a total failure.  Nobody cares about me.  NOTHING good ever happens to me!”

I love the fact that God stepped in and took care of Elijah, sick with “Nothing Good Syndrome.”  First God let him sleep off his frustration, anger, and fear.  Then He sent an angel with food to feed Elijah.  Elijah was so exhausted, he ate and promptly took a nap. The angel woke Elijah and encouraged him to have a snack before going on a journey. Elijah traveled 40 days and nights to reach the mountain of God.  Once there, Elijah bluntly expressed to God exactly how he perceived things.  In verse 11 of 1 Kings 19 God told Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.” Elijah obeyed; he remained on the mountain waiting for God’s presence to be revealed.  Elijah finally heard God whisper to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

What are you doing here?

I think that’s the question God asks us when we begin showcasing symptoms of “Nothing Good Syndrome.” The story of Elijah provides us with 5 steps to move us toward healthy living.

1.       Step away from the noise that overwhelms; rest and refuel your physical body.  I know we can’t run away from most circumstances like Elijah did, but we can step away from making a decision or position ourselves to experience less stress.  We all learned in kindergarten what a benefit naps and snack time are; carve out moments to stop and rejuvenate.
2.       Seek God; go where you know you’ll find Him.  Elijah went to the mountain of God.  I sit in the chair where I have my morning quiet time, or out on my deck when the weather is warm.  Where do you find God on a regular basis? Go there; read His Word and pray.
3.       Be open and honest.  Elijah didn’t hold back; you don’t need to either.  God isn’t going to be surprised by anything you tell Him.   He can handle all your hurt, pain, disappointment, and fear. 
4.       Wait in God’s presence until you’ve heard His voice.  If you can literally wait, do that.  That’s not always possible, and you can still be waiting on God as you do the daily tasks that demand your attention.  Keep listening for his wisdom.  Keep speaking to Him of your need.  Elijah went on a 40 day and night journey of discovery.  God doesn’t always answer as quickly as we might like.  And just as He saw Elijah and provided for his physical needs through an angel, God sees you and will provide what you need as you wait.  
5.      Follow through in obedience.  God told Elijah to go back.  Sometimes He tells us the same thing, and we must live through facing our fears.  God also reassured Elijah that he wasn’t alone, there were 7000 others who had never bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). God will provide the encouragement we need to be obedient. 

 

We may not be taking on a herd of prophets or challenging someone to a fire duel, but we fight battles just like Elijah.  And we have access to the same powerful God.  We need to keep our focus on who He is when we are threatened with “Nothing Good Syndrome.”  God knows the war we are in, and He is ALWAYS good. 

 

 

Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

 

Keeping God in the Loop

I recently got a phone call from my brother-in-law.  He doesn’t normally call me; it was odd.  He left a message on my cell phone after I had gone to bed, requesting I call him back the next day so he could fill me in on my sister.  So many possibilities ran through my head when I heard the recording.  I listened to his message several times attentive to any helpful nuances in his voice.  So many questions:  why wasn’t my sister calling?  Had she been in an accident?  Was he planning a surprise for her?  Is he already up at 5am? 

Short story: he called to keep me in the loop.  My sister had a scheduled colonoscopy with less than desirable results.  Our family history is thick with cancer, and he knew if our roles were reversed, my sister would’ve been furious if she was uninformed.  There were still questions, and I was invited into their journey.

“In the Loop”

I began to process this idea of keeping others “in the loop.”  It’s all about relationship; it’s declaring someone is important and keeping them up to date on one’s experiences, thoughts and feelings is a priority.  Including someone in my journey implies I value his input or her point of view.  I am reassured when people I declare significant are in the know about my life.

The Holy Spirit formed the question: Do you intentionally keep God “in the loop?” 

I realize that God knows all things; I recognize that He knows what is going on long before I experience any situation.  AND… including God declares I value Him and our relationship.  It reminds my heart that I value His input and His holy point of view.  I find comfort when I pour out my heart and soul to Jesus, my friend and Savior. AND… sometimes it’s difficult to be honest with God.  Know what I mean?

Keeping God in the loop is a bit different than keeping my sister in the loop.  

• My sister is a smart cookie and God always knows best. 
• I like making my sister happy and God is the one I long to delight most. 
• My sister gives sound advice, and God is the one who is in control of all things.
• My sister and I are similar in many ways, so she gets me, and God is the One who created me. 
• When I keep my sister in the loop I talk and talk and talk.  It’s all about me.  When I keep God in the loop, I need to remember it’s still all about Him.

 

Psalm 141

The Psalmist David gives us tips about keeping God in the loop.

1. Our prayers are to be like incense.  It’s not just us talking all about us.  We are to be worshiping, recognizing God’s holiness, and honoring Him (verse 2).
2. We need to listen as much as we talk. David gives God permission to set boundaries, and to stop him from acting inappropriately or sinfully. We need to willingly hear God speak “no” even when we want Him to declare “yes” (verses 3-5).
3. Trust the Almighty to provide what you need and be your comfort as you journey wherever He determines. Only God has the power of life and death.  He is our ultimate refuge (verses 8-10).

 

So many things happen in our day to day lives-- good things, hard things, random things, fearful things, goofy things.  God wants to hear from us.  He wants to be kept in the loop. Always. My prayer is that you’ll carve out time and invite God into the loop of your life.

Photo of phone by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

God Talk

 

My Pastor husband and I have always been aware that we are distinctly different.  We are strong examples of the famous adage “opposites attract.”  We gained labels describing our differences when we took the Clifton StrengthFinders® assessment test.  Tim is an achiever who likes to complete lists and tasks; I am adaptable and love to live in the moment (especially if it’s fun).  Tim is strong in belief and what is appropriate; I am big on empathy and cutting everybody some slack.  Tim is great at connecting dots and helping people see where different choices will take them and how things will play out; I roll through everything positively thinking it will all be fine. 

We struggle at times with our distinctiveness; and we are great balances for each other.  For years, my Pastor husband would come home from work and ask, “what did you do today?”  I hated that question.  I had some weird perception in my mind that if I hadn’t done enough tasks, he would be upset or disappointed in me.  He just wanted to know about my day, nothing more.  Thankfully, he learned to ask, “how was your day?” which I could then happily answer with all sorts of emotive answers.

In our culture, our days are comprised with what we can or should accomplish.  We often define ourselves by what we do: our jobs and/or what fills our time.  It stands to reason then that our conversations are filled with the variety of things that consume our schedule. Gods Word tells us we are to be talking about God throughout our day. 

In Deuteronomy 11 Moses is instructing the children of Israel. In the first 17 verses he reminds them of all God has done for them: freed them from slavery in Egypt; rescued them from Pharoah’s army; provided for them in the wilderness; and brought them to the Promised Land. Moses informs them they are to obey God’s commands and rely on God.  He will be their provider.  He clearly states they are to love God with all their heart and soul.  Then verses 18 & 19 say,

“Imprint these words of mine on your hearts and minds, bind them as a sign on your hands, and let them be a symbol on your foreheads.  Teach them to your children, talking about them, when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We are to be talking about God throughout our day.  Who He is, what He has done and what He is currently doing is to be part of our normal, every-day conversation! We should be talking about what Christ reveals to us through His Word, through prayer, through life experiences, and through others.  We are to be discussing what God reveals about our struggles, and the steps of obedience He gives us.  God is to be at the core of every discussion. His influence should be evident in every element and every moment of our lives.  He should be woven into every aspect of the “What did you do today/How did your day go?” discussion.

Today is Memorial Day.  Your weekend may have already been busy with bar-b-ques and the gathering of family and friends.  Your conversations have probably ranged from the basketball finals to mask-wearing to your upcoming vacation and a myriad of other topics.  As you finish out this holiday weekend, and as you enter a new work week, would you consider talking about God and who He is to you?  Challenge yourself to bring up how God is moving in your life in just one conversation each day.  Begin the shift from focusing on what we do, to who God is. Our lives and our conversations will be richer.  

Picnic photo by Ryan Jacobson on Unsplash

Winning

 

My husband got a great board game for Christmas this past year called Pandemic Legacy. It’s designed so that the game is played once a month (twice if you lose) for an entire year. Once a month we have an opportunity to save the world from a Pandemic, you either all win or you all lose!  As you play, you uncover different rules or scenarios that affect the game.  The box comes with stickers and new pieces that we add to the board so that it plays differently every time we play. We are committed to saving the world, one game at a time. You’re welcome.

There’s a point in every game when we feel panic surging quickly to the surface.  We notice the card stack dwindling and once the cards are gone the game is done.  We begin to talk a little faster, and ideas jump back and forth more intensely as we figure every possible way to finagle the rules toward a win.  We fear the title “Loser.”

Sometimes life feels that way.  You’re not winning and losing feels inevitable.  You try to creatively manage all the pieces of your life. 

•    Take a little from here, pad a little there. 
•    Move a position here, stay determined there 
•    Give up something you’ve been saving for “just in case,” and hope the cards fall in an advantageous manner. 

The voice in your head lies to you and says you are in a no-win scenario.  You wonder why you can’t discover the perfect answer and you want to demand who changed the rules.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we know we are to bring our needs to God.  We’re familiar with verses like James 5:13, “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray…”; Psalm 17:6, “I call on you, God, because you will answer me…”; and Luke 18:1, “…pray always and [don’t] give up.” Are you like me and think “I am praying – a lot!” and you’re still not “winning?”

Perhaps we have the wrong concept of winning.

We tend to see prayer as a very distinct behavior, fundamental to our spiritual growth.  It evokes images of kneeling, a bowed head, closed eyes, and folded hands.  The Bible states several times we are to pray continually.  It’s hard to blend the picture of a humbled kneeling saint praying unceasingly with our busy, overscheduled lives.  We wonder how we are to practically live life on our knees.

In both Romans 12 and 1Thessalonians 5, the directive to pray continually is tucked in the in the middle of a “Christian checklist of behaviors.” The word used in 1Thessalonians (adialeiptos) means “uninterruptedly, without omission –without ceasing.” Romans 12 uses a different word (proskartereo) that means “to be earnest towards, to persevere, be constantly diligent...” Paul is teaching that while we are comforting the discouraged, helping the weak, acting patiently toward everyone, rejoicing, giving thanks, detesting evil, loving others, honoring one another, serving diligently and enduring affliction we are to be intentionally engaged in an ongoing conversation with God.

Imagine your closest friend and how you interact. The conversation is non-stop.  If there is silence, it’s comfortable and comforting.  When you see something intriguing, you bring it into the conversation.  When she has a fresh idea or opinion, she suggests her thoughts.  You both agree and disagree as you discuss.  You give and take, learn and adapt.  You feel valued and heard; you cherish what she brings to your life.  All of this happens while you are shopping or hiking or baking or entertaining your children or a myriad of other activities.  It’s the wonder of relationship. 

God is longing for that with us.

Perhaps the “winning” we are hoping to discover isn’t finding the ultimate answer to what will fix our circumstance. Winning is not feeling successful or good or happy or having everything look Instagram perfect.  Winning is connecting with God and building a deeper relationship. 

We won last month playing Pandemic Legacy; we saved the world.  That’s not what made the evening successful.  It was the laughter and friendship that eased away the stress of the week.  It was fresh insight discovered as we chatted.  It was the feeling of belonging.  God offers all of that to us.  He’s inviting us to participate in a continuous, ongoing conversation with Him that builds our relationship. Winning is experienced as we share our thoughts and ideas, our hopes and fears, our expectations and questions, our needs and longings, all the while listening and living day-to-day life with our God who loves us.

Dirty Windshields

 My car needs a bath. I noticed on the on my way to work the other day how distracting the windshield is. The dead bugs and the bird poop aren’t blocking my line of sight; they are blocking my view.  When I’m driving, I can’t help but continually notice the gunk.  Somewhere in my mind I recognize the blue sky and brilliant sunshine, but I keep coming back to the filthy windshield.  I think about taking the car through the car wash.  I’ve even considered giving my baby a thorough scrubbing in my driveway.  She’s still dirty.

I woke up the other morning with emotions left over from the night before.  I felt tired, grumpy, and discouraged.  The words I began to say to myself were like the dead bugs and the bird poop on my windshield.  I knew there was blue sky and sunshine; I knew God loved me and was in control.  I couldn’t get my thoughts to focus on the truth in front of me.  I was distracted by my mess of emotions.

Have you been there? 

•        A day doesn’t go as planned, and the frustration flows into the next day.
•     You hope someone will speak words of support after you share openly, instead you feel unnoticed.
•     You thought you would get more done over the weekend and Monday came too early.
•     You planned to say words of encouragement and understanding, but they sounded critical and unkind.
•     You put your best foot forward but never heard what you offered was appreciated or liked.

Sometimes we expect others to give us what only God can give.

I admit, on those dirty windshield days, I want my husband to come home and declare I’m taking you out for dinner!  I want him to show up with flowers and ice cream.  I want a surprise flash sale to pop up in my inbox from my favorite store.  I want one of my children to call me and say “You’re the best mom ever!  I love you!”  I want the house to magically clean itself and all the clean laundry to find its way to the closet.  I don’t want to deal with my emotions, admit I held on to what I should’ve let go hours before, and humble myself before God to confess my sin of selfishness and unbelief.

God reminded me after my dirty windshield morning of my word of the year, “and.” Two things can be true at the same time.  We can feel disappointed AND know that God still delights in us.  We can acknowledge our hurt AND find peace in God’s love for us.  We can admit we mishandled a circumstance AND know that God offers grace and forgiveness.

Isaiah 41:8-10 says, “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, descendant of Abraham, my friend – I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners.  I said to you: You are my servant; I have chosen you; I haven’t rejected you.  Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.”

I believe that promise is for us as well.  As followers of Jesus we are God’s servants, in fact we are His friends!  He has chosen us to be part of His royal family; He hasn’t rejected us.  He is with us, even on dirty windshield days.  He will strengthen us and help us to see beyond the dead bugs and the bird poop.  AND He will hold our hand the whole time. 

Pray for Me

 

I was struggling and I knew it.  My emotions were all over the map, I was teetering on the precipice of depression as I huddled in my corner alone.  I longingly desired to say the simple words: pray for me.  I couldn’t.  My mind shouted lies at me: you should be stronger than this; you’re supposed to be leading others; you can suck it up and fake it till you make it; Christians are supposed to be happy. 

Have you been there?  Those three little words, “pray for me,” can be so difficult to speak.  They admit need.  They declare an inability to measure up in some way.  They open the door to being perceived as less than. They possibly announce sin or failure.

At times we rationalize not speaking up because of humility. We don’t want to make everything about “me.”  We might even (mis)quote Philippians 2:3 & 4, “Don’t be selfish…think of others…take an interest in others.”

Let me be forthright: not being able to say those three small words is pride. Galatians 6:3 basically says if you think you’re “all that,” you are deceiving yourself.  If you think you are someone without a need: you’re lying to yourself. If you think you are someone who doesn’t struggle: you are fibbing with the best of them. If you somehow think you are someone who doesn’t sin (and that others think you don’t sin): boy has someone pulled a whopper on you!

We are nothing without grace. 

This is the truth of the gospel:

·       We are saved by grace alone (Ephesians 2:4 & 5).

·       Salvation is not a reward for good works that we have done (Ephesians 2:9). 

·       We all have weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). 

·       God is merciful and will provide grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:16).

One of the ways God provides for us is through each other. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 tells us two are better than one.

James 5:16 teaches us to confess to each other and share our spiritual needs with one another. We are then to pray for each other so that we find healing. If we want a life that is free from sin’s sickness, we must ask others to pray with us and for us.  I know, in my own life, there are many times others have interceded for me and rescued me because I was unaware of how sick I was. When we pray for each other, we are uniting (two are better than one!) before our heavenly Father so that God will bless us with spiritual health and wholeness.

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says, “. . . if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you . . .” This isn’t a way to beat the system.  You can’t create a pact that you and another will pray to win the lottery and BAM! You’ve won!  The context of the passage is dealing with lost people and restoring someone who has stepped away from following Jesus. Jesus is reminding us that He wants us to be successful in living with Him and for Him.  When we share a need with someone and she prays with us to overcome a temptation, or to step boldly out in faith, or to love more compassionately or whatever our spiritual life needs, God shows up -- guaranteed.

We are on this journey together; that’s the way God designed it.  We need each other. We need to be humble enough to allow others to carry our burdens, even as we willingly carry theirs. 

Will you please pray for me?  How can I pray for you? 

Photo by Rosie Fraser on Unsplash