Let's Run!

The other night I ran into the local mall to pick something up.  I had gotten what I needed and was hurrying back to my car when I saw her.  She was holding fast to her mother's hand, tugging with all the enthusiasm her tiny little body could exhibit. "Let's run, Mommy!  Let's run!"  
She was pure delight!  And then she and her mom ran-- not fast mind you, most wouldn't have even classified it as a run.  The young mom smiled at her young daughter.  The precious little girl was bursting with pure joy and the anticipation of more joy to come, just because she could run.

I want to live life like that.  I want to urge those I am with "to run!" I want to be open to the best of all that is before me and encourage others to join in. I want to be excited about  possibilities and not be hesitant to rush forward. I want to not be so focused on what is to be accomplished that I miss out on how the journey can be crammed full of delight. I want to enjoy what I am capable of doing.

I want to live, really live.  

Jesus says in the Bible, John 10:10, "A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life -- life in all its fullness." (NCV)

Satan is always trying to distract me.  He wants me to feel overwhelmed, too busy, under-appreciated, incapable, trapped, tired, bored.  No matter the picture the devil seems to paint, he's not really into living.  He leads me astray from the best that life can be.

When I see Jesus, when I choose to be obedient to what Christ says is important and significant, I choose life.  Sure there are boundaries to the life God challenges me to live, I'm sure the mom I saw in the parking lot of the mall had boundaries for her child. She held tight to that sweet little girl's hand -- there was a boundary to the expression of joy in running. The girl's joy was not diminished, it was enhanced, for her mom was participating with her, she could feel her mom's presence.  Abundant life with Jesus is like that. He participates with me in this journey of joy, I can know His presence!  His boundaries grant me freedom from fear of what could happen.  He is the one watching out; He is the one who will guard and protect.

The little girl's face and her exclamation "Let's run!" is staying with me.  She challenges me to delight in the day set before me.  She creates a desire in me to express more joy, become more uninhibited in my expression of wonder. She is an example to my soul to live -- really live.

Knowing Me

We once received a phone call from someone my husband and I knew a long time ago and our then teen-age daughter answered the phone.  The person on the other end of the line seemed to know an awful lot about her, in her perception, and she informed us she thought it was creepy.  As I think about it, if I were in her shoes, I would think it was creepy too!  
There is something about others knowing too much about me that always makes me a little hesitant to offer up consistently more and more information.  I can remember in High School choosing what information to keep locked away from my parents, though that was more to save my skin then any type of creeper aspect going on.  After I've spent a day shopping with my friend, I don't necessarily want to share ALL the details with my husband. When I am participating in a group discussion and I think of something to contribute, I have an inner dialogue with myself first to discuss whether or not I should speak up. It seems there is something inside of me that consistently screams "Noooo!  Don't do it!"  
I'm not always sure what my motivation is to protect all that extra information about me.  It's like I go into protective commando mode with all my inner thoughts, feelings, and attitudes.  (And yet, here I am typing away so that an unknown face can read what I'm thinking about.  Go figure.)
I've been pondering this line of thought today because of a reaction to a scripture passage I read this morning in the Bible:  
Psalm 139:1-6   
"O LORD, you have searched me and known me!  You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.  You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it."

I read the very first line and I was captured.  Normally the idea found in that first sentence would have me all fidgety and nervous.  This morning I was flooded with a sense of peace.  I felt safe; still wanted and still loved.  What an exceeding sense of freedom, to know, deep down assurance know, that the God who created the universe knows all there is about me and He still chooses to be with me.  He still allows me the privilege of entering His holy throne room and soaking in His presence.  
As I continued to read I was grabbed by the phrase "You hem me in."  I don't like being trapped.  My son likes to sit on me and hold my hands down so that I can't move.  I can only handle it for so long and then I start to freak out.  He thinks it's hilarious!  (I'm now thinking I need to plot some sort of revenge for such mistreatment of one's mother!) All that bonus info about me just to confirm to you that the idea of being hemmed in is not a generally good thing to me.  I don't even like being hemmed in on the highway, I have to get around those people! And yet again, peace overwhelmed me.  
When I read the phrase "lay your hand upon me," I pictured a parent, in a crowd, with his or her hand resting on the shoulder of his or her child.  The gesture isn't designed to necessarily keep the child from moving at all (that's called a choke hold), it's a movement to make sure what the parent values most is kept safe.  
God opened my eyes a little wider today to envision His love for me a bit more clearly.  His knowing of me is a fascinating thing.  He desires to give me good gifts and His gifts are always the best since He knows me so well.  He is so patient with me, even when I struggle with something over and over. He gets me, because He knows me, so he understands my struggles and why they are struggles for me.  He longs to keep me safe.  He doesn't want to trap me in a life that is boring and full of rules. He longs for me to LIVE! -- in safety, in His presence.  
My words are falling short of what I experienced this morning. Truly the final phrase of the scripture passage was exactly how I felt.  The revelation of God's Holy Spirit to my soul was too wonderful. It's still hard for my mind to wrap around.  

My heart is in awe of the Glory of God.  I say with the Psalmist, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your words; my soul knows it very well." (verse 14)

Lenten Learnings

We are in the season of Lent.  Often, Christians give something up during the season of Lent to enable them to better grasp how Christ suffered when He died.  For Lent this year, I gave up electronic games. I have a series of games that I like to pass the time playing.  Honestly, I pass too much time, so I felt challenged to set aside my "little" distraction so that I would focus more on the intent of the season.

Since Lent began, I have not played electronic games except on Sunday, which is a day of celebration.  I have spent time in God's Word, learned more about Him, and how He longs to have a deeper relationship with me. I have enjoyed the time I have spent, studying in my front room, first thing in the morning. God has challenged me, revealed truth to me, and blessed the moments we have shared together.

I have also spent more time shopping online.  

Good . . . Bad . . .

It's raining today.  There's no big storm, the rain isn't pounding against my window; it's just a grey day.  Most of us would classify this day as dreary, gloomy and/or a little depressing.  We long for the sun; we ache for blue skies and radiating warmth.  I have a friend that loves this weather and that's stating it mildly.  The dark skies bring a brightness to her face and a twinkle to her eye.  

Isn't it interesting that what draws one, does not draw another.  What one of us finds enchanting, others of us would find boring, or perhaps difficult.  There are so many things that we classify in life as good or bad, when it is neither.  The weather today is not bad weather.  It is just weather.  When it is sunny and warm, it isn't necessarily good weather, it is just weather.

Why do we feel the need to classify things as good or bad?  I believe we call something "good," because it is something we want.  We call something "bad," because we wanted something else.  Think about a toddler. We describe some behavior as good, some as bad. Perhaps it is more a matter of appropriateness or acceptableness.  

The Bible says, in Mark 10:18, "...No one is good --except God alone."  My line of thought says that those elements, actions and attitudes that reflect who God is can be classified, or described, as "good."  The thing I find most fascinating is that God longs to draw each of us to Himself. He wants us to know Him, be in relationship with Him and experience His Good (oh so Good!) life.  I have learned that when I focus on God and His definition of "good," I begin to see the good in things that I have previously perceived as "not so good."  The closer I become to God, the greater and deeper I know Him, the greater the Good I see around me -- in me -- for me.  It doesn't always seem to make sense, but my heart understands what my mind can't comprehend.  

It's raining today.  Life is good --God is good.    

Making Soup

Yesterday was a play day.  My little buddy Bobby came over. Bobby is 2, with a quick smile that lights up his face, tons of energy, and an easy-going attitude.  When Bobby comes to my house, he makes soup.  Soup is evidently a very difficult thing to create.  It takes lots of pans to make soup.  In fact, it takes every pan I own!  

Do you remember when you were young?  Do you remember those days when you were caught up in the imaginary world you had created?  Do you remember the feeling of pure delight of just living in the moment and believing you were really doing what wasn't real?  

I have a vivid memory of my sisters and I taking turns riding the bike one sunny afternoon.  I'm not sure why we only had one bike that day, but we were playing and sharing.  One of us would ride the bike around the block (and it was a BIG BLOCK) and as each of us returned to the house, we would tell the others a story of what happened on our adventure bike ride.  I don't remember the stories of the day, but I do remember the fun we had creating and imagining and sharing.  

When my buddy Bobby isn't at my house, I'm not entertained making soup.  It's only with Bobby that making soup is so entrancing.  Bobby believes he is making soup.  He's invested, he's living the moment, and his soup is delicious!  

I think that's how God wants me to live. The Bible tells me that God wants to give all of us abundant life. The word abundant is not a pansy word.  It's a word that draws a huge painting, loaded with color and activity. It's a word that leads one toward excitement, anticipation, and bursting hope.   God longs for me to live each day with the wonder and joy of living, just like when Bobby is making soup.  I am reminded that it's not always about producing something amazing, it's about living an amazing, abundant experience called life.  

I'm not necessarily making soup today, but as I loaded my dishwasher, I remembered how much fun it had been. I remembered that Bobby was invested, and he believed what he was doing. I'm not spending today playing, creating, imagining or doing anything that would make someone else envious. I'm doing every-day mundane activities like the checkbook and laundry. I am also believing that my day is loaded with color, wonder, and bursting with hope. Today I am living an abundant life, the abundant God life, and the experience is delicious!

I want a cookie!

I just need to say it out loud.  I want a cookie.  I don't need a cookie.  I'm not hungry.  I've already had two cookies.  I still want another cookie, and probably another cookie, and probably another.  I am aware that this is not a healthy choice.  If I was longing after celery, I wouldn't hesitate to indulge. If I was craving broccoli or spinach, I would rush to the kitchen and not give it a second thought.  I KNOW what are the more appropriate choices for healthy eating.  I just don't want to choose those things.  I want a cookie: one of those cookies with the frosting on top and then fun sprinkles to make you think you are indulging in a personal party.  Sigh.

I am sipping water.  I am repeating in my head, "Ahhh, this water is so refreshing!  It's cool and it feels so great as it slips down my throat."  It helps.  .... some.

What is it with wanting things I know are not so good for me?  Why is it so hard to keep long term goals in view so that I make choices that support the "dream" instead of the immediate want?

I've been reading my Bible in 1 Corinthians.  In the first couple of chapters, Paul is challenging the people of Corinth to grow up in a spiritual way.  They aren't always acting as  God would want, instead they are making choices that reflect what Paul calls "the flesh."  One of the Bible versions I read described this as "being human at a disappointing level of behavior or characteristics."   This definition grabbed my heart.  It reminds me that God knows I am human.  He realizes the limitations that I have and He challenges me to live a life that is beyond those limitations. He knows that a life lived where I glorify Him by how I act and react is a more fulfilling and rewarding life.

The long term goal, the dream, is to be like Jesus.  In the immediate, there are times I want to act in ways that are not God glorifying.  I have my moments when I want to throw my little hissy fit and demand my way.  I want my cookie.  When I keep my eyes and my heart focused on who God is, then when I deny myself what I want, I remain satisfied with whatever He gives me, even if He gives me just water. My thirst is quenched, I am not sad or feeling guilty over the choice I made, and I know that I am successfully working toward the long term hope of being like Christ.

My water is tasting pretty good right now!

Take Another Step

Have you ever listened to a song, and it just resonates somehow with you? I've recently become enamored with a song by Steven Curtis Chapman from his latest project, Glorious Unfolding.  I am partially drawn to this song because it tells a story and I'm a "story girl."  The music itself is encouraging! If there were no words to this song, the music from the chorus alone would bring a smile to my face.   And then there's the repetition: "take another step and another step and another step." Overall, it's that phrase that for some reason resonates within my soul.  I'm not in the middle of a storm.  I haven't encountered some atrocious trial that  is pulling the rug out from beneath my feet.  I'm just living life.

And let me be honest: sometimes life is repetitive.  Get up, do a little this, a little that.  Get to work.  Eat some lunch.  Work some more.  Do a little grocery shopping, gotta get the laundry done, clean the dishes, feed the dog. Go to church.  Buy some fuel.  Find a little family time.  Make dinner, clean it up, go to bed.

Start over.

In the midst of all the every-day-ness of life, I need to be reminded to "take another step and another step and another step.  Trust God and take another step."

I have several friends who are encountering tough times in their lives.  This song has reminded me to pray for them with greater compassion and intensity.  So many times we do get frozen and "don't know which way to go." We are faced with circumstances that seem insurmountable and it's tough to remember that God hasn't left, He didn't take a different route, He didn't desert us. And we need to be encouraged to "take another step."

Regardless of the circumstance of your life, take a breather, listen to the song and then.....

Take another step.