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

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

 

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

Mother's Day: Yeah?

 

Mother’s Day is fast approaching.  The local Wal-Mart has boxes filled with flowers.  Every type of store has a collection of cards.  Childcare providers are planning art activities with macaroni and yarn.  Fathers are beginning to panic because they aren’t sure what will make mom happiest.  Mother’s Day is like Spring’s celebration of life, and everyone is invited to the party.

Not everyone anticipates Mother’s Day.  For years, a friend of mine would grieve because she didn’t have the child she longed for. Other’s have lost a child and every day is still painful. Some grieve the fact that their mother wasn’t much of a mother.  Some are mothers who feel like a failure because their child has shut them out of their life.  Some are annoyed over the celebration because they are experiencing a season of motherhood that is hard; motherhood wasn’t what they thought it would be. And there’s those whose mother is no longer living. They ache to make a phone call to someone who no longer can answer. 

I want to tell you: you are seen.  I see you; I ache with you.

More importantly, God sees you. 

In the Old Testament there is a story about a woman named Hagar.  She was the slave of a woman named Sari.  Sari’s husband was Abram, later called Abraham.  In Genesis 12, God promises Abram that He will make Abram into a great nation.  That promise is repeated in Genesis 15 when Abram talks with God about the fact that he doesn’t have any children. God promises Abram that he will father a child.  Life goes on and still no child.  In Genesis 16, Sari suggests a common cultural solution when one doesn’t have a child; she recommends Abram sleep with her servant and if a child is produced, it will be their child.  Abram thinks the plan is solid and he sleeps with Hagar.  Hagar gets pregnant, but the story doesn’t end with a happily ever after. 

Pregnant Hagar sees herself as better than barren Sari. Sari, living in her own pain, begins to treat Hagar exceedingly cruel, and Hagar runs away.  An angel of the Lord finds Hagar by a spring in the wilderness, and he asks her what her story is.  Hagar takes advantage of the willing ear and reveals all. The angel tells Hagar she needs to go back, and she will indeed have a son, a blessed prize in their culture.  In Genesis 16:11, the angel tells her, “You will name him Ishmael (which means God Hears), for the Lord as heard your cry of affliction.” Verse 13 of Genesis 16 says, “So [Hagar] named the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are El-Roi,’ for she said, ‘In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?’”

From this point on in the Bible, God is known as the God who sees.  He saw Hagar in the wilderness, and He sees you as well. No matter where you are, what you are experiencing, God sees you.  He knows exactly what you are facing and feeling.

The story of Hagar doesn’t end there.  She has a second encounter with God in Genesis 21. God has changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sari’s name to Sarah.  Abraham is 100 and Sarah is in her 90’s when God blesses them with a son they name Isaac.  Despite God’s faithfulness to her, Sarah continues to believe Hagar and Ishmael are a threat, so she banishes them. 

In devastation, Hagar trudges back to the wilderness, this time with her son Ishmael. Her water is gone too soon, and scripture says she places her son under one of the bushes and sits a distance away because she can’t bear to watch him die.  Hagar has circled back to the end of her rope.  She may have remembered all God told her when she was pregnant.  The thought that God sees her may have been flitting in and out of her consciousness, but her fear and anguish are too great for the idea to gain any solid footing in her mind. 

Genesis 21:17-19 reads, “God heard the boy crying and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, ‘What’s wrong Hagar? Don’t be afraid, for God has heard the boy crying from the place where he is.  Get up, help the boy up, and grasp his hand, for I will make him a great nation.’ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well.  So she went and filled the waterskin and gave the boy a drink.”

In Hagar’s first encounter with God, she knows God to be the one who sees her.  In her second encounter with God, God helps her to see.  That’s who God is for all of us.  He sees us, and He helps us see what we need to keep living. 

This week when your emotions are raw.  This week when grief overtakes you in a moment.  This week when memories aren’t enough to fill the ache.  This week when your dreams seem excruciatingly unfulfilled.  This week when your pain and longing run too deep to describe.  God sees you. He is waiting to help you see.  He’s prepared to show you how there can still be life. 

I’m praying for you.

Freedom

I work at a retail store and the shelves are crowded with Fourth of July decorations.  Customers are stocking up on flags and stars and decorated little red trucks. I admit I’ve purchased my own little stash. There is no doubt we are longing to celebrate the idea of freedom. 

We like the idea of freedom.  We each want to do whatever we want.  We aspire to be in complete control of our own lives without hindrance.  None of us relishes being told what to do. 

I’ve struggled with the idea of spiritual freedom.  I accept the truth that Jesus has freed me from the penalty of sin which is death (Romans 8:1-4).  I believe that God did for me what I couldn’t do for myself.  I know that I can’t earn my salvation in any way by following a list of rules or laws.  That’s all good.

Confusion flooded my mind when I contemplated other scripture.  In Romans 6, Paul says, “But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God . . .” (verse 22) What?!!  Many times, I felt as if I traded in one task master for another.  I was weighed down by all the things I perceived a Christian should do like be kind, love your neighbor and help the unfortunate.  It’s not that I didn’t want to be that person, I felt cornered by the obligation to be “perfect.” Have you been there?

God doesn’t want us to feel trapped by what we read in His Word.  God sent Jesus to free His followers from fearful obedience to the Law. Jesus died to rescue us from living a life of “should:” I should be (blank); I should behave (blank).

Early in my marriage, our budget was squeaky tight.  My husband was working on his masters and we aimed to accomplish it debt free.  During that season we lived near two of my sisters.  They periodically created plans for the three of us to go and spend a day together.  My typical response was I needed to check with my spouse.  He was the one paying the bills and balancing the checkbook; I didn’t always know if there were funds available.  They were frustrated with this sequence of events, telling me I should just do whatever I wanted.  They perceived that I was being controlled. I didn’t see it that way.  I wasn’t upset about having to “check in;” I wanted to please my husband. I wanted to keep our relationship at its absolute best.  I felt the freedom to do what I wanted, and I also desired to stay within our budget.  I knew that there were boundaries that kept us living well.

Our freedom in Christ is similar; the key is to focus on relationship.  Just like I wanted our marriage to be its best, we are to prioritize our relationship with Jesus.  It’s not about what we can or cannot do, it’s about delighting the One we love.

Galatians 5:10 says, “…If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.”  Jesus leads us how to live.  We need to “check in” with Him, trust what He knows and follow His guidance.  We are to live within the boundaries that safeguard our relationship and keep us living well.

Freedom is found within the boundaries God provides.  

Our relationship with Christ evokes celebration!

A Second Piece of Cake

 

Confession: I ate a piece of cake.  It was delicious.  It made my mouth so happy; I ate a second piece of cake.  I wasn’t hungry.  I didn’t need the additional slice to give me sustenance or tie me over till my next meal.  I desired the taste, and I gave in.

Later that night, as I lay in bed, I decided the second piece wasn’t a good idea.  I didn’t feel awful, like I was going to “re-experience the cake,” but I definitely wasn’t feeling the joys of a happy and contented stomach.  God chose that moment to pose a question: In what other ways do you choose desire over need?

I didn’t want to answer the question.  Would you?

I processed through God’s question for several days.  In my cake story, I realized if I were to continually choose my desires and consistently consume seconds and thirds, my stomach would revolt.  I would pack on additional weight becoming self-conscious about my appearance.  I would find it difficult to move, possibly becoming short of breath. A new wardrobe would be in my future, but it wouldn’t come with the excitement that idea normally brings. Desire would become the driving force of unwanted circumstances.

How many times do we make a choice just because we want what we want?

•    online shopping
•     procrastinating on chores
•     watching a questionable movie or TV show
•     sleeping in and missing church
•     making fun of someone so we feel better about ourselves
•     going over budget because “it’s such a good deal”
•     avoiding someone so that we don’t have to talk to them
•     playing games on our phone instead of investing in our family

Choosing desire over need is a spiritual issue.  It’s not about what we eat, the new shoes, our appearance or finding “me time.”  It’s about Lordship. First Corinthians 6:19 & 20 says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?  You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.  So you must honor God with your body.” (NLT) We are God’s temple, the place where a holy, perfect God dwells.  Paul clearly states that we do not belong to ourselves; we belong to God Almighty.  When we choose to live according to what we desire, we are not living within the boundaries of “you do not belong to yourself.”

Processing God’s hard question led me to a more difficult question: “Does the decision I am about to choose fit with the goal of knowing Jesus, following Jesus, and living out the truth of His Lordship?”  I admit I originally fought the idea of asking such a question over every detail of my life including second helpings of cake; then I recognized I wasn’t honoring God.

We need Jesus.  We need forgiveness.  We need God’s grace to make us holy. We need God’s wisdom and strength and direction and peace.  We need God to be Lord if we desire abundant life. I believe we need to willingly ask ourselves the hard question of Lordship, so we continue to remember we do not belong to ourselves.  When the Holy Spirit resides firmly within us, it’s a life-celebration and God provides the cake.

Autopilot

 

I remember when we first moved to the small town of Ontario from Salt Lake City.  The kids and I arrived first because school was starting.  My Pastor husband didn’t start his new job for at least a month, so every weekend we would head back to SLC.  Tim and I would pack; the kids would hang with their friends.  We traveled that road so much I began to believe the car could drive the route on autopilot.

Sometimes we live on autopilot.  It may be because we are in a good rhythm. It could be because we’re emotionally exhausted, so we just do the next thing, and the next, and the next.  There are times we are in a season of waiting and we don’t know what to do except what we’ve always done.  During times of grief, we function on autopilot because we are in survival mode.  When we are learning something new, chunks of our lives are operated automatically because our mental energies are focused elsewhere.

And let me just say: It. Is. Okay.

We just came through the season of Lent and the celebration of Easter. Somewhere in my head I perceive I should be living a utopia of exuberance due to freshly experiencing the wonder of God’s grace and hope. I’m not.  Monday came after Easter Sunday just like every other week. 

Every weekend ends and a Monday follows.  Life marches forward.  Sometimes we aren’t ready for the every-day-ness that Monday brings.  Know what I mean? In those moments do you tend to slip into autopilot and just go through the motions of life? Do you wonder why you don’t feel joy or gratefulness the way you think you should? Are you like me?

When life shifts into autopilot, we need to carve out moments to live in Psalm 27:4.

“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking Him in His temple.” (CSB)

The Psalmist reveals 3 things we can do amid the every-day-ness of life.

1. Talk to God about your desire for Him. The Psalmist only wanted to be with God.  I know I am not always that dedicated, and I know God wants me to seek Him. Acts 17: 27 says God intended for us to seek after Him so that we could find Him.  Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first, before anything else.
2.  Focus on how beautiful God is. When we dwell on the glory and wonder and goodness of God our thoughts and our attitudes change.  In Romans 12:2 we are told “…let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…” (NLT) God longs for us to see life from His holy perspective.  What better way to alter how we perceive our daily life than to be focused on how glorious and wonderful and magnificent God is?
3. Seek to know God better in the company of others.  The Psalmist says he sought God in His temple.  It’s where he knew God was, and it’s where everyone else was seeking God as well.  Learning with and from others reminds us we are all on a journey, and we all have a way to go! God did not mean for us to deal with life as individuals.  He gifted us community to strengthen us and to enable us to see Him more clearly.

 

David, the author of Psalm 27, writes about fighting his enemies.  He’s experiencing significant danger in his day-to-day living.  I can’t imagine a daily life with such turmoil. Yet His declaration of certainty toward the end of Psalm 27 is what our every-day-battle longs for.  “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.” (verse 13, CSB) On Monday, when Sunday seems like it was a month before, I want to know God’s goodness.  Don’t you?  God’s goodness can be discovered when we talk with Him, focus our thoughts on Him, and put forth the effort to learn more about Him, on our own and with others.

I’m praying you will be able to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) when Monday rolls around again.

(photo by Salvador Godoy on Unsplash)

Learning to Live in the AND

 

I haven’t been writing much lately.  I admit that life threw me some curveballs and I didn’t do well with catching them, hitting them or even sloppily juggling them.  I dropped balls left and right as I scrambled to emotionally handle what was. 

 

In July, my mother-in-law began her final journey home to Jesus.  We left our camping trip early allowing my husband to get things lined up so he could leave to be with his mom.  He left and I proceeded to cancel our up-coming vacation to the coast so that we could celebrate her life.

 

In late August, we received word that my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Though she was in her nineties, chemo was scheduled to help slow the cancer’s progression and hold off long-term pain.  I spoke to my boss, received extended time off and flew to be with my mother the day before my husband’s birthday.  I spent 7 weeks away from home caring for my mom while my husband fended for himself. 

 

By the second round of chemo, side-effects began to happen to my mother and serious questions about her long-term care needed to be answered.  My sister and I made the heart-wrenching decision to move my mom into an assisted living before my return home date.  My brother came and helped with the packing as we all grieved the change in my mom’s life.  

 

We moved my mom and I flew home.  Three weeks later I was back on a plane hoping to see her one last time before she died.  I didn’t make it.  Whereas we were grateful my mom’s passing came without extended pain, facing the reality that she was truly gone has been hard. 

 

God reminded me of truth found in the word “and.” 

 

When we communicate and formulate sentences we often use the word ‘but,’ such as: I want to buy a new car but it would be too expensive.  Using the word ‘but’ invalidates the first part of the sentence and creates a feeling that it is less significant than the second part of the sentence.  Sometimes that is what we intend to say.  Many times, both phrases hold equal weight, so the word ‘and’ should be used.  The truth is two or more seemingly opposing things can be true at the same time.  It may be that buying a new car is too expensive for me, and that doesn’t lessen my desire for a sweet shiny red convertible. 

 

God reminded me of a variety of truths using the simple word “and.”  I can be grief-stricken AND God is Yahweh Shalom. He is my peace.  I may feel very alone AND God is Emmanuel.  He is always with me.  I may feel overwhelmed with the tasks I need to accomplish AND God is my provider and my strength.  I may feel crushed from the weight of decisions to be made AND God is the God of all wisdom.  I may feel guilt over choices that had to be AND God is the God of comfort. 

 

My word for 2021 is the word AND.  I am seeking to see the full truth of what I experience even in the day to day.  I am choosing to see how God is showing up.  I am determined to be truthful with myself about the good and the bad, the easy and the difficult.  I am realizing that authentic life is found in the AND.  It’s in the AND I’m discovering the truth of who God is as He meets me as I truly am.  Twenty-twenty-one has not begun as a banner year AND God is already faithfully pouring out His love and grace into my life. 

 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:1-5 NLT

Thanksgiving Really does Come First

It started on Halloween; now it’s Christmas music until January.  I don’t hate it. Growing up, the rule was no Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.  I’ve fudged that rule several times over my life for a day here and there.  Basically, I follow the rule that my father laid down when I was a child.  This year, I’ve joined with the rest of the 2020 rebels and I’m filling my home with Christmas music.   I’m anxious for the peace that Christmas heralds.

God recently revealed wisdom and hope as I read again my favorite passage of Scripture, Colossians 3:12-17.    “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

First of all, we who are believers in Christ are chosen, holy and dearly loved.  Those are words I need to hear in the midst of life’s current circumstances.  My spirit is tired, my heart is grieving, the days are full and there is no end in sight.  Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not standing on the cliff of depression, life hasn’t become so overwhelming that I’m giving up, it’s just LIFE.  And I need some peace.  Hearing God whisper that He still chooses me, He still is making me holy, and He still loves me dearly gives my heart a chance to breathe, and rest.

Secondly, God doesn’t ask any action of us that He hasn’t already lived out toward us.  I know I sometimes get caught in the list of behaviors found in verses 12-14.  They become a checklist, so I vow to do better, work harder, and become more aware of others around me.  God opened my eyes to the reality that He has already lived out each of these behaviors toward all of us. His compassion is what led Him to Calvary.  His kindness reaches into our lives and beckons us to find Him.  He humbled Himself and gave up every royal right He had, dying a humiliating death so that our sins would be covered with His righteousness allowing us to enter God’s glorious presence.  He gently leads us, patiently allowing us to make choices that sadden His heart, and then He graciously leads us again. He forgives us over and over and over. He draws us closer to Himself with His overwhelming, incomprehensible love.  He has given us an example, but it’s more than that.  He pours Himself into us, and we are changed forever; He is molding us into His perfect likeness. 

Third, Christ’s peace is to be the determining factor, the over-arching element in how we choose to live.  The Bible states that God’s peace isn’t like the world’s peace (John 14:27).  The world’s peace is conditional, an if-then arrangement.  If you agree with me, than I won’t argue with you.  If you spoil me, then I won’t throw a tantrum.  If you let me do what I want, then I won’t belittle you. God’s peace isn’t like that. God’s Spirit led me to list the areas in my life where His peace was not readily evident in my life, the circumstances where I was struggling, hurting or grieving.  In His compassion and kindness, God whispered for me to go back to the truth that He has chosen me, He has made me holy, and He loves me dearly. As I focused on His truth, my spirit began to rest.  When we focus on our relationship with God above all else, when we center our hearts and minds on all that God gives, when we give ourselves permission to really see God in all His glory and goodness, when we choose to trust who He is, His peace rules over whatever we may be facing

Finally, be thankful.  When I read verse 15, I feel as if being thankful is just tacked on.  I don’t think that’s what Paul meant.  Perhaps it should read, “And identify all the various reasons you have to be thankful.”  We are chosen, holy and dearly loved.  God has treated us with compassion and kindness.  Christ humbled Himself for us, and His grace gently and patiently teaches and leads us every day.  Jesus has provided us complete forgiveness and offers us His own peace.  We have so much more to be thankful for beyond our families, a roof over our heads and a good cup of coffee in the morning.  Those are definitely gifts from our God who is the giver of all good things, and they are not the source of true thanksgiving.  A heart filled with gratitude continues to kneel at the Savior’s feet, continues to seek His wisdom, and continues to allow His peace to reign.

I am listening to Christmas music already.  And Thanksgiving really does come first.  We need to stop and be thankful. We need to recount how good and faithful God has been.  We need to truly see how God has shown up in the middles of this year’s stress and heartaches.  Being thankful is not an idea that is tacked on.  It is the attitude that brings us back around to the truth of who God is, and that He gives peace.