Posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
True Christmas Joy!
As we enter the peak of the Christmas celebration, I want to share with you a thought that has blessed my season. In our couple's class recently, our lesson was from Luke 2, the Christmas story. It was noted that the shepherds experienced a change in their attitude toward God that symbolizes the very heart of salvation. When the angel of the Lord came upon them, the Word says they were afraid. The shepherds naturally feared any presence of angels as they represented a God who had shown His wrath upon the earth in times past. They feared for their very lives. But the angel said, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." "Fear not." The angel represented the coming of faith in place of fear. Because of Christ, we no longer have any reason to fear God, as in being frightened of Him. Instead, we can rejoice knowing that He is a God of mercy and love, providing His Son for us to bring us into a peaceful relationship with Him. Because of His great mercy, we should have great joy! As we remember the birth of our Savior, let us be mindful of the peace we now have with God because of His great love for us; and, with a heart of gratitude, let us embrace an attitude of true Christmas joy!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Dear Friends,
You know that "I like Mike!" I support Mike Huckabee for President of the United States. Today, I let the world know that Mike has my vote in the primary election by signing up at HucksArmy.com. Signing up is FREE and takes only a minute, but it makes a big statement. Please join me in supporting Mike Huckabee. He is the only candidate who will take this country up, not down; the only one with a proven track record as an innovative, optimistic, and authentic conservative.
Declare Your Support for Mike Huckabee: http://www.hucksarmy.com/enlist_today.php
We can make a difference!
We can make a difference!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Why I Like Mike: A Late-night Rambling About the Importance of Getting in the Game, Regardless of Position
In Matthew 9:37, Jesus tells his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” It occurred to me today that the workers are few for two reasons. Historically, I’ve thought Jesus’ teaching referred only to the importance of the harvest, and indicated if one was not working, he was either unaware of the harvest or unwilling to work. My interpretation included the ignorant and the lazy, but there is another group of people who are oftentimes not working, namely, the leaders. In this analogy, if it were expanded, one might include the landowners as the leaders or masters over the workers. Today, we seem to have an abundance of these. More people would prefer to be a leader, or perhaps boss or master, rather than a worker. I saw it plenty of times during my eighteen-year career in public education. Some might even accuse me of this very mistake. “Just do as I say, not as I do.” But as the Education Agency bosses the local agency, the local agency bosses the bosses, who must in turn boss the workers. Many people desire to tell others what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, but few are willing to do it themselves. And leaders are even taught, “Delegation is the key. Good leaders delegate.” But too many delegating contribute to too few actually working.
I’m not intending to downplay the importance of good, solid, Christian leadership. The idea of leadership originates in the Bible and is a vital component of our existence. Nor am I meaning to imply that the act of leadership itself is not work. But we are living in a time in which people are misusing leadership as a means of selfish gratification rather than unselfish service. Jesus did not lead in order to satisfy himself. On the contrary, he led because that was God’s purpose for him, in order to ultimately meet every human being’s most important need – to know Him and be accepted as His child. But Jesus did not lead this effort by sitting in a grandstand directing traffic! He walked with the wayward and hung out with the heathen. We have too many today who are neither ignorant nor lazy about the harvest. They are aware and willing to get up and go to the fields, but prefer to perch in the grandstand. They see the harvest, but rather than working in the fields themselves, take great pride in telling others how to go about their work. This is certainly not every leader, but every leader can be tempted to fall into this trap…”Get in the game and work, oh no! Don’t ask the ministry leader or preacher to actually GO on mission in a dangerous neighborhood. Heaven forbid! We should encourage those under our influence to go and evangelize, but the leader’s place is to direct and observe. I don’t want to get my hands dirty.”
As Jesus talked about the harvest to His disciples, they weren’t even yet aware of the harvest that awaited them. At this point in their walk with Him, they had no idea of the importance of their involvement in His ministry, or in the harvesting of the early Christian church. But today, His disciples--you and I-- realize there is a harvest; but the question is, are we willing to do the work? Or are we too busy telling others what work there is to do? Are we willing to sacrifice our lives to work for Him in any way asked? There is an old adage that says, “True leaders don’t ask others to do what they aren’t willing to do themselves.” Now bosses and masters of slaves, that’s another story. But Christian leaders should be willing to bite the bullet and work alongside others in any capacity directed by God in any location or situation.
This is just one more reason why “I like Mike.” Mike Huckabee was a pastor, teaching and preaching to congregations of people seeking to know God more. Surely in this role he had many an opportunity to discuss politics and what the government should and should not be up to. But he was willing to do more than talk; he gave up the pulpit for the pew. He was willing to follow God’s call of leadership out of the church and into the world. This may seem backwards to some. For many it seems, and even for me, God calls out of the secular world to serve in the church. But God can call people to lead and to work in any capacity that fits into His larger plan and purpose in any order He deems best. Jesus’ focus was the harvest – the work waiting to be accomplished by those who were willing. The harvest was and is plentiful. May God bless Mike Huckabee for his willingness to step out into the field and lead, by working for America.
I’m not intending to downplay the importance of good, solid, Christian leadership. The idea of leadership originates in the Bible and is a vital component of our existence. Nor am I meaning to imply that the act of leadership itself is not work. But we are living in a time in which people are misusing leadership as a means of selfish gratification rather than unselfish service. Jesus did not lead in order to satisfy himself. On the contrary, he led because that was God’s purpose for him, in order to ultimately meet every human being’s most important need – to know Him and be accepted as His child. But Jesus did not lead this effort by sitting in a grandstand directing traffic! He walked with the wayward and hung out with the heathen. We have too many today who are neither ignorant nor lazy about the harvest. They are aware and willing to get up and go to the fields, but prefer to perch in the grandstand. They see the harvest, but rather than working in the fields themselves, take great pride in telling others how to go about their work. This is certainly not every leader, but every leader can be tempted to fall into this trap…”Get in the game and work, oh no! Don’t ask the ministry leader or preacher to actually GO on mission in a dangerous neighborhood. Heaven forbid! We should encourage those under our influence to go and evangelize, but the leader’s place is to direct and observe. I don’t want to get my hands dirty.”
As Jesus talked about the harvest to His disciples, they weren’t even yet aware of the harvest that awaited them. At this point in their walk with Him, they had no idea of the importance of their involvement in His ministry, or in the harvesting of the early Christian church. But today, His disciples--you and I-- realize there is a harvest; but the question is, are we willing to do the work? Or are we too busy telling others what work there is to do? Are we willing to sacrifice our lives to work for Him in any way asked? There is an old adage that says, “True leaders don’t ask others to do what they aren’t willing to do themselves.” Now bosses and masters of slaves, that’s another story. But Christian leaders should be willing to bite the bullet and work alongside others in any capacity directed by God in any location or situation.
This is just one more reason why “I like Mike.” Mike Huckabee was a pastor, teaching and preaching to congregations of people seeking to know God more. Surely in this role he had many an opportunity to discuss politics and what the government should and should not be up to. But he was willing to do more than talk; he gave up the pulpit for the pew. He was willing to follow God’s call of leadership out of the church and into the world. This may seem backwards to some. For many it seems, and even for me, God calls out of the secular world to serve in the church. But God can call people to lead and to work in any capacity that fits into His larger plan and purpose in any order He deems best. Jesus’ focus was the harvest – the work waiting to be accomplished by those who were willing. The harvest was and is plentiful. May God bless Mike Huckabee for his willingness to step out into the field and lead, by working for America.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
A Pure Heart of Thanksgiving
Many expressions of thanksgiving will be cast out of heaven this Thursday. Why? They will be offered from a heart of pride.
Have you ever realized how easy it is to become prideful of God's provision? In my circles, it is common for people to give credit to God for His provision and blessing, and we are absolutely correct to do this, for we know all good gifts come from above. "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (James 1:17) But when our focus on His blessing outweighs our focus on Him, we are subject to sin. Why? Because of where His blessing has fallen--on us! If we become more concerned about giving God glory for our blessings than giving Him glory for who He is, our focus is really on ourselves. Our gratitude is not glorifying to God if we are worshipping what we are receiving from Him instead of worshipping Him. Nor is He pleased by my thinking too much about how my life is bettered by His blessing, or how good I feel because of His goodness toward me. Do you see all the "we's" and "me's" instead of "Thee's?" When our focus is primarily on what we have been given, we are operating from a self-centered rather than God-centered heart. We must not be focused on the gifts, but the Giver.
This time of year our country sets aside a time to express our gratitude toward God for His goodness, mercy and blessing. I believe the original motive for the holiday was pure. However, what was considered a blessing in yesteryear differs from our materialistic view today. Join me in returning to striving for purity in gratitude to God this Thanksgiving. Let us thank Him for our abundant blessings, by keeping the focus on Him and who He is, not on the blessings themselves. This season, may we remember to be most grateful for His presence, His faithfulness, His mercy, His guidance, His protection, His power, His sovereign rule, and His eternal love for us expressed most clearly through the giving of His only Son. May God be the heart of our Thanksgiving!
Have you ever realized how easy it is to become prideful of God's provision? In my circles, it is common for people to give credit to God for His provision and blessing, and we are absolutely correct to do this, for we know all good gifts come from above. "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (James 1:17) But when our focus on His blessing outweighs our focus on Him, we are subject to sin. Why? Because of where His blessing has fallen--on us! If we become more concerned about giving God glory for our blessings than giving Him glory for who He is, our focus is really on ourselves. Our gratitude is not glorifying to God if we are worshipping what we are receiving from Him instead of worshipping Him. Nor is He pleased by my thinking too much about how my life is bettered by His blessing, or how good I feel because of His goodness toward me. Do you see all the "we's" and "me's" instead of "Thee's?" When our focus is primarily on what we have been given, we are operating from a self-centered rather than God-centered heart. We must not be focused on the gifts, but the Giver.
This time of year our country sets aside a time to express our gratitude toward God for His goodness, mercy and blessing. I believe the original motive for the holiday was pure. However, what was considered a blessing in yesteryear differs from our materialistic view today. Join me in returning to striving for purity in gratitude to God this Thanksgiving. Let us thank Him for our abundant blessings, by keeping the focus on Him and who He is, not on the blessings themselves. This season, may we remember to be most grateful for His presence, His faithfulness, His mercy, His guidance, His protection, His power, His sovereign rule, and His eternal love for us expressed most clearly through the giving of His only Son. May God be the heart of our Thanksgiving!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Disappearing Bees
If you've read my blog before, you know that I have a fancy for bees. Tonight, I happened to run across a video about the disappearance of honeybees across our country. Some Christians believe this may be another sign of the end times.
Below will hopefully "bee" a link to Godtube.com that will take you directly to the video. If it doesn't work for you, go to Godtube.com and search videos for Disappearing Bees. This short video certainly made me pause. For me, my collection of bees has long heralded a message of faith and stirred great conversation, as bees fly with wings too small for their bodies. After seeing this video, my bee-loved icon has new meaning and is more precious than before.
Disappearing_Bees
Below will hopefully "bee" a link to Godtube.com that will take you directly to the video. If it doesn't work for you, go to Godtube.com and search videos for Disappearing Bees. This short video certainly made me pause. For me, my collection of bees has long heralded a message of faith and stirred great conversation, as bees fly with wings too small for their bodies. After seeing this video, my bee-loved icon has new meaning and is more precious than before.
Disappearing_Bees
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Marriage and the Maker
Have you ever stopped to consider what makes a marriage successful? Why are some marriages more dynamic than others? Some naturally testify of God’s love, illustrating the importance of a marriage with Christ at the center. Others struggle along, appearing to be in danger of falling apart at any moment. What are the keys to making marriage work? That’s a million dollar question! Certainly the most important factor is keeping Jesus at the heart of the marriage. But assuming this is in place, what are the other keys you would list? My list includes trust, communication, loyalty, honesty, shared interests and goals, spending time together and intimacy. Does your list look similar?
Marriage is used throughout the scriptures as a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the church. Isaiah 54:5 states, “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts.” John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29, and Jesus identified himself as the bridegroom in Matt. 9:15. Jesus is the bridegroom, and the church is His bride. There is an old Sunday School song that says, “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.” Since each disciple of Christ is a part of Christ’s holy church, each of us has been chosen as a bride for our Lord.
While the complete marriage of the Lamb to His church is yet to occur as described in Revelation, for now we walk in a spiritual marriage with Christ if we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior. How healthy is your marriage to Him? How would you rate your levels of trust in Him, communication with Him, and loyalty to Him? How about your honesty, shared interests and goals, time spent together and loving intimacy? If we are to have a successful marriage to Christ while living in our flesh, and effectively join Him in His work and ministry, we must attend to these important factors. It is only by concerning ourselves with the health of our relationship with our bridegroom that we allow ourselves to be the most available and effective for His Kingdom.
Some who have been married for a time will pause on an anniversary to restate their vows, rededicate their love and recommit their lives to one another. Could it be time to celebrate your anniversary with your Lord and Savior and renew your relationship to your beloved bridegroom?
Marriage is used throughout the scriptures as a symbol of the relationship between Christ and the church. Isaiah 54:5 states, “For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts.” John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29, and Jesus identified himself as the bridegroom in Matt. 9:15. Jesus is the bridegroom, and the church is His bride. There is an old Sunday School song that says, “I am the church, you are the church, we are the church together.” Since each disciple of Christ is a part of Christ’s holy church, each of us has been chosen as a bride for our Lord.
While the complete marriage of the Lamb to His church is yet to occur as described in Revelation, for now we walk in a spiritual marriage with Christ if we have accepted him as our Lord and Savior. How healthy is your marriage to Him? How would you rate your levels of trust in Him, communication with Him, and loyalty to Him? How about your honesty, shared interests and goals, time spent together and loving intimacy? If we are to have a successful marriage to Christ while living in our flesh, and effectively join Him in His work and ministry, we must attend to these important factors. It is only by concerning ourselves with the health of our relationship with our bridegroom that we allow ourselves to be the most available and effective for His Kingdom.
Some who have been married for a time will pause on an anniversary to restate their vows, rededicate their love and recommit their lives to one another. Could it be time to celebrate your anniversary with your Lord and Savior and renew your relationship to your beloved bridegroom?
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Our Great Advocate
Have you considered the gravity of the truth that God is our Advocate? Job did. Even in the midst of all his difficulty, he continued to believe in God as his advocate. From his despair, he still proclaimed, “Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.” (Job 16:19) He did not understand why God was allowing him to suffer so greatly, but he never quit believing that God knew the truth of his life and was ultimately on his side.
What Job didn’t realize at the time was that God was more than an all-knowing witness to his righteousness. In the New Testament, a different word is used for advocate, a word meaning one called alongside to help. Christ used this word when he told His disciples in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” The Greek word Jesus used for Helper is paraklhton, meaning one called to one’s side, to plead one’s cause, to serve as an intercessor, and to assist. After Christ’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit was given to inhabit those who would believe in Jesus, to serve as a helper, or advocate.
John understood the depth of Christ’s teachings and went on to relay God’s word to new believers. In his second epistle, he encourages new believers in Christ to walk through life in the same manner Jesus walked, a walk of obedience to God’s commands. He tells them that they “have an Advocate (paraklhton) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” He knew Jesus was his own advocate and an advocate for all believers. Like Job, John understood that God is our advocate, the all-knowing witness to our lives, the one omniscient God who knows the truth about our lives even when we are falsely accused. But, John was also entrusted with Jesus’ teaching that God loves us so much, He chooses to be more than just a witness to our lives, but an active advocate, one who acts on our behalf. God acted on our behalf when he provided Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus then advocates for us by continually praying for us, interceding to the Father on our behalf, and standing at His right hand, serving as the sacrificial bridge between our earthly state and our heavenly home. And God provides the Holy Spirit, His holy presence and guide during our earthly walk; and as our guide, the Spirit is our personal advocate here on earth.
As God the Father, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit are separate persons yet one entity, we can be assured that we have all three advocating for our best interests. God provides. Jesus prays. The Spirit leads. Wow! How blessed we are as believers in Jesus! Upon reflecting on this truth today, God prodded me, “I am your advocate. Are you mine?” I stand humbled. How awesome to know that God in three persons is advocating for me each and every day. How actively do I advocate for Him?
What Job didn’t realize at the time was that God was more than an all-knowing witness to his righteousness. In the New Testament, a different word is used for advocate, a word meaning one called alongside to help. Christ used this word when he told His disciples in John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” The Greek word Jesus used for Helper is paraklhton, meaning one called to one’s side, to plead one’s cause, to serve as an intercessor, and to assist. After Christ’s resurrection, the Holy Spirit was given to inhabit those who would believe in Jesus, to serve as a helper, or advocate.
John understood the depth of Christ’s teachings and went on to relay God’s word to new believers. In his second epistle, he encourages new believers in Christ to walk through life in the same manner Jesus walked, a walk of obedience to God’s commands. He tells them that they “have an Advocate (paraklhton) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” He knew Jesus was his own advocate and an advocate for all believers. Like Job, John understood that God is our advocate, the all-knowing witness to our lives, the one omniscient God who knows the truth about our lives even when we are falsely accused. But, John was also entrusted with Jesus’ teaching that God loves us so much, He chooses to be more than just a witness to our lives, but an active advocate, one who acts on our behalf. God acted on our behalf when he provided Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus then advocates for us by continually praying for us, interceding to the Father on our behalf, and standing at His right hand, serving as the sacrificial bridge between our earthly state and our heavenly home. And God provides the Holy Spirit, His holy presence and guide during our earthly walk; and as our guide, the Spirit is our personal advocate here on earth.
As God the Father, Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit are separate persons yet one entity, we can be assured that we have all three advocating for our best interests. God provides. Jesus prays. The Spirit leads. Wow! How blessed we are as believers in Jesus! Upon reflecting on this truth today, God prodded me, “I am your advocate. Are you mine?” I stand humbled. How awesome to know that God in three persons is advocating for me each and every day. How actively do I advocate for Him?
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Redeeming Love
I just finished reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. If you have not read it, I would highly recommend your spending the time necessary to devour its 400 plus pages. I did. And I am so glad I did. What a work of art! She makes a grand effort to capture in words the depths of God’s love for us, His redemptive love. Love and redemption are the crux of my faith, yet I am starved for words that come close to the hint of a definition. How can we describe in our simple humanness the greatness of God’s love for us? We haven’t the capacity in our minds to comprehend it to its fullest degree, so how can we come close to explaining it?
This weekend, our Pastor Jack Graham preached on John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Certainly it is one of the most well-known and often-quoted scriptures of the Bible. God loves us so much He wants to redeem us to life everlasting. He is the everlasting God and He wants to give us His everlasting love and an everlasting life with Him. Despite our faults and our failures, our sins and our selfishness, God loves us anyway, so much so that He made it possible for us to live with Him forever. There is a key word in the scripture that none should read swiftly past. It is the word “believes.” “Whoever believes.” Each who desires to know God and live forever with Him must believe in God and in His Son. It is really much simpler than one might think. God doesn’t put parameters around the word “believes.” He doesn’t require a certain amount of belief, a specific show of belief, or a carefully-worded statement of belief. His only requirement is a simple, but true, belief in Him and in His Son. That means the seven-year-old who says with a pure heart “Yes, I believe” has God’s everlasting love and promise of eternal life as much as Billy Graham. To believe, really believe, is at the heart of our hope.
I emphasize believe with the word really, not to be redundant, but to create a pause, an opportunity for reflection for all who are reading. Have you come to a place where you truly believe? It is not enough to be in a family who believes, in a church who believes, have friends that believe, or even to be married to one who believes. It is insufficient to sing about belief, to “Amen” to others’ prayers of belief, or to rely on a ceremonial act of belief. God knows the heart of each one of us. God knows whether you are one who believes or not. He knows if you doubt His very existence. He is the great “I Am” and His existence is not dependent upon your belief. But your eternal existence is dependent upon your belief in Him. He knows if you doubt that Jesus was and is His Son, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”--given, sacrificed and resurrected for you. He knows if you don’t recognize or receive His love for you. He knows. But He is patient. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God’s redeeming love is indescribable, although Francine Rivers made phenomenal strides towards the goal. But don’t take her word for it. Don’t take mine, or even my Pastor’s. Take His. Take God at His Word. If you haven’t experienced His redeeming love for yourself, then call out to Him, believing. Just one simple word of faith, spoken out of a heart that truly believes, is all that is required to receive God’s greatest gift of all.
This weekend, our Pastor Jack Graham preached on John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Certainly it is one of the most well-known and often-quoted scriptures of the Bible. God loves us so much He wants to redeem us to life everlasting. He is the everlasting God and He wants to give us His everlasting love and an everlasting life with Him. Despite our faults and our failures, our sins and our selfishness, God loves us anyway, so much so that He made it possible for us to live with Him forever. There is a key word in the scripture that none should read swiftly past. It is the word “believes.” “Whoever believes.” Each who desires to know God and live forever with Him must believe in God and in His Son. It is really much simpler than one might think. God doesn’t put parameters around the word “believes.” He doesn’t require a certain amount of belief, a specific show of belief, or a carefully-worded statement of belief. His only requirement is a simple, but true, belief in Him and in His Son. That means the seven-year-old who says with a pure heart “Yes, I believe” has God’s everlasting love and promise of eternal life as much as Billy Graham. To believe, really believe, is at the heart of our hope.
I emphasize believe with the word really, not to be redundant, but to create a pause, an opportunity for reflection for all who are reading. Have you come to a place where you truly believe? It is not enough to be in a family who believes, in a church who believes, have friends that believe, or even to be married to one who believes. It is insufficient to sing about belief, to “Amen” to others’ prayers of belief, or to rely on a ceremonial act of belief. God knows the heart of each one of us. God knows whether you are one who believes or not. He knows if you doubt His very existence. He is the great “I Am” and His existence is not dependent upon your belief. But your eternal existence is dependent upon your belief in Him. He knows if you doubt that Jesus was and is His Son, “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”--given, sacrificed and resurrected for you. He knows if you don’t recognize or receive His love for you. He knows. But He is patient. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) God’s redeeming love is indescribable, although Francine Rivers made phenomenal strides towards the goal. But don’t take her word for it. Don’t take mine, or even my Pastor’s. Take His. Take God at His Word. If you haven’t experienced His redeeming love for yourself, then call out to Him, believing. Just one simple word of faith, spoken out of a heart that truly believes, is all that is required to receive God’s greatest gift of all.
Friday, August 3, 2007
The Narrow Road
As I anticipated our summer jaunt to the mountains, my mind went to thoughts of fresh air, quiet stillness, and unadulterated nature. While I have experienced all, it is not in these refreshments that I have heard God speak the loudest as I had expected. The glory and majesty of God is evident from the pine-covered peaks to the rushing rivers below. He speaks to me through the beauty of His nature, and it revives my soul. But it is during the journey up and down the mountain each day that He and I have had our greatest conversations.
It takes approximately eight minutes one way on a narrow, gravel road up or down the mountain. During these eight minutes, one must wind one’s way back and forth, carefully navigating the sharp switchbacks and avoiding the unprotected edges of the roadway. When I am driving, I am in control and too busy concentrating on the roadway to talk much with God. But when I am a passenger, I surrender my safety into the hands of another and find myself talking incessantly to Him. Why? Fear. Fear of surrender. Fear of not being in control. Fear of accident, injury, even death. As I have dialogued with Him about this, I realize how strikingly similar this is to my everyday life. When I retain control, I often don’t take time to converse with Him in prayer. Perhaps I am too busy concentrating on the drive. Perhaps I am too confident in my own abilities to feel it is necessary or even beneficial to talk with Him. But when I have no control over a situation, such as the illness of a loved one, the choices of a family member, or the like, I run to Him in prayer seeking His help. But is my running to Him a result of my love for Him, my respect for Him, my longing to follow Him? Or is it a result of my fear? Rather than running to Him in moments of panic, I should desire to consistently surrender to my loving Father and His perfect plans. Rather than fearing lack of control, I should rest in the assurance of His control over all things. Rather than worrying about disaster, I should be at peace knowing that nothing can separate me from His eternal love for me, not even death.
How often I wind my way back and forth along the narrow road of life. He expects me to navigate my way carefully and avoid danger. But He also expects me to trust Him and His sovereignty during every minute of the journey, at every turn and in every situation. Tonight we ascended uphill during a rainstorm. About halfway up, in the dark of night, we found ourselves in the midst of a dense cloud of fog. My fear doubled in an instant. My prayers intensified exponentially. Rather than discuss with God, the urgency of the moment led me to pray one simple prayer—“Lord, please lift this fog.” That was all I could pray. There was no lengthy discourse, no conversation, and no argument over control, just a simple prayer of desperate faith, knowing that only God could lift the fog and restore our vision for the road home. This moment was a meeting of fear and faith. I could not stand in my self-confidence, nor stagger in my fear. I could only sit immediately at His feet, surrender to His control and trust Him. Miraculously, within minutes of my letting go of fear and trusting in Him, the fog lifted. What a lesson! How I need to let go of both control and fear, and let God lead me every minute of every day. Rather than retaining control, or fearing the lack of it, I must trust in His sovereignty. It is only then that He can lift the fog and restore my vision, so I can see clearly the way to my heavenly home.
""On your way," said Jesus. "Your faith has saved and healed you." In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road." (Mark 10:52, MSG)
It takes approximately eight minutes one way on a narrow, gravel road up or down the mountain. During these eight minutes, one must wind one’s way back and forth, carefully navigating the sharp switchbacks and avoiding the unprotected edges of the roadway. When I am driving, I am in control and too busy concentrating on the roadway to talk much with God. But when I am a passenger, I surrender my safety into the hands of another and find myself talking incessantly to Him. Why? Fear. Fear of surrender. Fear of not being in control. Fear of accident, injury, even death. As I have dialogued with Him about this, I realize how strikingly similar this is to my everyday life. When I retain control, I often don’t take time to converse with Him in prayer. Perhaps I am too busy concentrating on the drive. Perhaps I am too confident in my own abilities to feel it is necessary or even beneficial to talk with Him. But when I have no control over a situation, such as the illness of a loved one, the choices of a family member, or the like, I run to Him in prayer seeking His help. But is my running to Him a result of my love for Him, my respect for Him, my longing to follow Him? Or is it a result of my fear? Rather than running to Him in moments of panic, I should desire to consistently surrender to my loving Father and His perfect plans. Rather than fearing lack of control, I should rest in the assurance of His control over all things. Rather than worrying about disaster, I should be at peace knowing that nothing can separate me from His eternal love for me, not even death.
How often I wind my way back and forth along the narrow road of life. He expects me to navigate my way carefully and avoid danger. But He also expects me to trust Him and His sovereignty during every minute of the journey, at every turn and in every situation. Tonight we ascended uphill during a rainstorm. About halfway up, in the dark of night, we found ourselves in the midst of a dense cloud of fog. My fear doubled in an instant. My prayers intensified exponentially. Rather than discuss with God, the urgency of the moment led me to pray one simple prayer—“Lord, please lift this fog.” That was all I could pray. There was no lengthy discourse, no conversation, and no argument over control, just a simple prayer of desperate faith, knowing that only God could lift the fog and restore our vision for the road home. This moment was a meeting of fear and faith. I could not stand in my self-confidence, nor stagger in my fear. I could only sit immediately at His feet, surrender to His control and trust Him. Miraculously, within minutes of my letting go of fear and trusting in Him, the fog lifted. What a lesson! How I need to let go of both control and fear, and let God lead me every minute of every day. Rather than retaining control, or fearing the lack of it, I must trust in His sovereignty. It is only then that He can lift the fog and restore my vision, so I can see clearly the way to my heavenly home.
""On your way," said Jesus. "Your faith has saved and healed you." In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road." (Mark 10:52, MSG)
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Balancing the "Bee"
While gardening this past week, I could not help but notice the numerous bees amongst the blooms in my flower beds. After my last blog, it seemed natural for me to take note of their behavior. I studied them closely to see if I caught them at rest, since I alleged last week that they were never still. What I observed in my garden taught me new lessons about my walk with God.
The bees buzzed purposefully around the blossoming plants. It appeared that although busy, their business was at all times on task and with purpose. Amazingly, they did not waste time as they went about collecting their pollen, but went in an order, from one bloom to the next closest bloom, and only to blooms that were worthy of visiting. They ordered their day. God calls us to "make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Ps. 90:12 NLT) If only we would “bee” so wise, as we go about ordering our days. Secondly, I realized that the bees did appear to rest for a few moments, but it was purposeful resting. They rested ever so slightly as they landed upon each bloom. As I mentioned, the bees chose only blossoms that were worth visiting, those ready for harvesting, and those able to nourish the bee, meet its needs and help it in its work. When we stop, do we carefully consider where and with whom we are stopping? We might learn from these busy workers that we should land in a place that will benefit our God-given purpose, and we should stop and rest only long enough to meet our need and then continue along our way. If we rest longer than necessary, God's assignments are at risk of being ignored, put off, or missed altogether. Work is not getting done. So, while He desires us to “bee” still, we might do well to remember that God calls us to be still for a purpose. When the purpose is for resting our bodies, then when we are sufficiently rested, we should arise and work. When the purpose is to meet a need, such as to eat or to love another, we should fulfill it and then proceed to the next point on our journey. If the purpose is to worship, to pray, or simply to hear from Him, we should focus our minds on our Lord, refraining from daydreaming, creating mental “to do” lists, and contemplating the temporal, and then respond to His word in immediate obedience.
One challenge I face, and I feel certain I am not alone, is the challenge of balance in life. I tend to live at one extreme or the other, either working without ceasing, or ceasing without working. Each day is a gift of time that we are to use. I am currently reading Max Lucado’s new book, Every Day Deserves a Chance. In it he states, “An hour is too short, a year too long. Days are the bite-size portions of life, the God-designed segments of life management. A complete rotation of the earth. Both a sunrise and a sunset.” Each day is a perfectly designed, perfectly orchestrated, perfectly timed opportunity and gift from our great God. So during each unique segment of life we call a day, my goal from henceforth is to better balance the ceasing with the working. God built me in such a way to require me to rest my body physically. He also built me to rest spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. But God also created me to fulfill a unique purpose to which I am called. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 NASB) Walk in them. Not rest in them. Therefore, I must also utilize each day to complete my assigned work.
Finally, I noted that the bees’ buzzing presence diminished as the morning turned to noonday. But the last lesson is found in their morning activity. We all know bees make honey. But for these particular bees, and maybe only for the ones God sent in my yard that day, their morning work was not the making of honey. It was about getting ready to make honey. It was all about preparation. They rested long enough to gather what was necessary to head off to their workplace. Do we rest long enough in the morning to be still and gather the instructions, the tools, and the spiritual nourishment before getting busy on our work? Do we take time to be still, even for the slightest moment, and ready ourselves for each day by spending time with God, the Giver, the Provider and the Source of all we need?
I guess I’m refreshed in a way, realizing that buzzing about like a busy bee isn’t totally out of God’s will for my life, as long as I take purposeful rests as God ordains them. These rests allow me to successfully complete the work that He calls me to do. While too much rest results in my not getting His work done completely, too much work results in my failing to get His work done successfully, for it would likely be done apart from His voice of direction and His supernatural power, both best accessed first thing each morning. To complete our assigned daily work and to do it in a way that honors Him requires first resting, then receiving, and finally responding to His marching orders, which most likely will include making a little honey sometime during the day.
The bees buzzed purposefully around the blossoming plants. It appeared that although busy, their business was at all times on task and with purpose. Amazingly, they did not waste time as they went about collecting their pollen, but went in an order, from one bloom to the next closest bloom, and only to blooms that were worthy of visiting. They ordered their day. God calls us to "make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom." (Ps. 90:12 NLT) If only we would “bee” so wise, as we go about ordering our days. Secondly, I realized that the bees did appear to rest for a few moments, but it was purposeful resting. They rested ever so slightly as they landed upon each bloom. As I mentioned, the bees chose only blossoms that were worth visiting, those ready for harvesting, and those able to nourish the bee, meet its needs and help it in its work. When we stop, do we carefully consider where and with whom we are stopping? We might learn from these busy workers that we should land in a place that will benefit our God-given purpose, and we should stop and rest only long enough to meet our need and then continue along our way. If we rest longer than necessary, God's assignments are at risk of being ignored, put off, or missed altogether. Work is not getting done. So, while He desires us to “bee” still, we might do well to remember that God calls us to be still for a purpose. When the purpose is for resting our bodies, then when we are sufficiently rested, we should arise and work. When the purpose is to meet a need, such as to eat or to love another, we should fulfill it and then proceed to the next point on our journey. If the purpose is to worship, to pray, or simply to hear from Him, we should focus our minds on our Lord, refraining from daydreaming, creating mental “to do” lists, and contemplating the temporal, and then respond to His word in immediate obedience.
One challenge I face, and I feel certain I am not alone, is the challenge of balance in life. I tend to live at one extreme or the other, either working without ceasing, or ceasing without working. Each day is a gift of time that we are to use. I am currently reading Max Lucado’s new book, Every Day Deserves a Chance. In it he states, “An hour is too short, a year too long. Days are the bite-size portions of life, the God-designed segments of life management. A complete rotation of the earth. Both a sunrise and a sunset.” Each day is a perfectly designed, perfectly orchestrated, perfectly timed opportunity and gift from our great God. So during each unique segment of life we call a day, my goal from henceforth is to better balance the ceasing with the working. God built me in such a way to require me to rest my body physically. He also built me to rest spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. But God also created me to fulfill a unique purpose to which I am called. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 NASB) Walk in them. Not rest in them. Therefore, I must also utilize each day to complete my assigned work.
Finally, I noted that the bees’ buzzing presence diminished as the morning turned to noonday. But the last lesson is found in their morning activity. We all know bees make honey. But for these particular bees, and maybe only for the ones God sent in my yard that day, their morning work was not the making of honey. It was about getting ready to make honey. It was all about preparation. They rested long enough to gather what was necessary to head off to their workplace. Do we rest long enough in the morning to be still and gather the instructions, the tools, and the spiritual nourishment before getting busy on our work? Do we take time to be still, even for the slightest moment, and ready ourselves for each day by spending time with God, the Giver, the Provider and the Source of all we need?
I guess I’m refreshed in a way, realizing that buzzing about like a busy bee isn’t totally out of God’s will for my life, as long as I take purposeful rests as God ordains them. These rests allow me to successfully complete the work that He calls me to do. While too much rest results in my not getting His work done completely, too much work results in my failing to get His work done successfully, for it would likely be done apart from His voice of direction and His supernatural power, both best accessed first thing each morning. To complete our assigned daily work and to do it in a way that honors Him requires first resting, then receiving, and finally responding to His marching orders, which most likely will include making a little honey sometime during the day.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Learning "To Be"
It may sound strange to some that I would spend my time learning something so simple as "to be." But I contend that in my generation, we do not focus enough energy on learning what our Father requires of our "being." We are focused so much on "doing," that we do not take time to think about our "being." Our being is wrapped up in our doing, rather than our doing stemming from our being with God and being who He desires us to be.
As a former principal, I was known to my school community as "Mrs. B." The bumblebee was a symbol of mine, with many scattered throughout my office and finding their way into many a correspondence. The bee represents doing the impossible, for science would argue that its wings are too small to support its overstuffed body. However, it flies anyway! It was a sign of inspiration and motivation for me, a starting point for conversation with struggling students, and a reminder to me that I can do the impossible tasks of the job if I will continue to "bee-lieve" that with God, all things are possible.
I am realizing now that the bee also symbolized busyness. How often do you see a bee rest? It is always buzzing about, gathering pollen or making honey. It is always at work. While there is blessing in productivity, there is also the call for us simply "to be." God calls us first "to be" in a relationship with Him through His son Jesus. Although this is a one-time event when we choose to enter into this relationship, it is also an ongoing priority to grow in intimacy with Him. This requires our taking time to be with Him. He calls us to be obedient. This obedience includes his command to "be still" and know that He is God. We must slow down our lives in order to be still with our Lord. It is in the still, quiet, resting place of His open, loving arms that we connect with Him and hear from Him.
His Word teaches us much about what we are "to be." Some of our being has to do with our interacting and serving others. We tend to be better at these outward acts of being, such as being kind and generous, than the inner condition of being in our heart. We are to be humble before Him, be worshipful of Him, be surrendered to Him, be dependent on Him, and be present with Him. He wants our hearts to be peaceful, teachable and prayerful. Our world rewards the doers, the movers and the shakers, the performers and the achievers. But our God has greater rewards for those whose "doing" is a result of their "being" who He calls them to be. Take time today just "to be."
As a former principal, I was known to my school community as "Mrs. B." The bumblebee was a symbol of mine, with many scattered throughout my office and finding their way into many a correspondence. The bee represents doing the impossible, for science would argue that its wings are too small to support its overstuffed body. However, it flies anyway! It was a sign of inspiration and motivation for me, a starting point for conversation with struggling students, and a reminder to me that I can do the impossible tasks of the job if I will continue to "bee-lieve" that with God, all things are possible.
I am realizing now that the bee also symbolized busyness. How often do you see a bee rest? It is always buzzing about, gathering pollen or making honey. It is always at work. While there is blessing in productivity, there is also the call for us simply "to be." God calls us first "to be" in a relationship with Him through His son Jesus. Although this is a one-time event when we choose to enter into this relationship, it is also an ongoing priority to grow in intimacy with Him. This requires our taking time to be with Him. He calls us to be obedient. This obedience includes his command to "be still" and know that He is God. We must slow down our lives in order to be still with our Lord. It is in the still, quiet, resting place of His open, loving arms that we connect with Him and hear from Him.
His Word teaches us much about what we are "to be." Some of our being has to do with our interacting and serving others. We tend to be better at these outward acts of being, such as being kind and generous, than the inner condition of being in our heart. We are to be humble before Him, be worshipful of Him, be surrendered to Him, be dependent on Him, and be present with Him. He wants our hearts to be peaceful, teachable and prayerful. Our world rewards the doers, the movers and the shakers, the performers and the achievers. But our God has greater rewards for those whose "doing" is a result of their "being" who He calls them to be. Take time today just "to be."
Friday, June 22, 2007
Full-time Freedom
Little did I know that writing a simple blog would begin a new chapter in my life. Six months ago, I resolved to write in the New Year. My first writing would be a short blog, dedicating anything that came of it to the Lord. It was a simple statement of commitment, or devotion, to pursue a God-given desire. Since that time, God has opened doors for me in writing and in ministry. Assuredly it was not the blog that opened the doors. To date, I have written only two other blogs, neither of which has received any comments from the possible few who may have read them. No, it was the Lord. He honored my small step of faith in ways I could not have imagined. This summer, I will be formally published as a Christian writer. God did not wait in responding to my commitment. He was ready and waiting on me. I did not seek out any new opportunities, only surrendered my desire to Him, believing Him to be the source, as it says in Phil. 2:13, "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." As a result, He brought the work right to my doorstep. He opened the door and said, "Here it is."
The burden to leave my full-time career as a school principal then became so heavy, I knew that I must lay it down in front of the cross. My decision was confirmed six days after my resignation, when the school district began discussing the possibility of closing my school. Within six weeks, the determination was made. Next year will be its last. God protected me from the difficulties of closing a school, a school in which I have given my heart and soul for the past nine years, while filling me with hope for His next chapter in my life. How great is the Divine Author of Life and Faith!
"Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time--remember, you've been raised from the dead!--into God's way of doing things....You're living in the freedom of God."
--Romans 6:13-14 (The Message)
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the AUTHOR and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
--Hebrews 12:1-3
The burden to leave my full-time career as a school principal then became so heavy, I knew that I must lay it down in front of the cross. My decision was confirmed six days after my resignation, when the school district began discussing the possibility of closing my school. Within six weeks, the determination was made. Next year will be its last. God protected me from the difficulties of closing a school, a school in which I have given my heart and soul for the past nine years, while filling me with hope for His next chapter in my life. How great is the Divine Author of Life and Faith!
"Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time--remember, you've been raised from the dead!--into God's way of doing things....You're living in the freedom of God."
--Romans 6:13-14 (The Message)
"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the AUTHOR and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
--Hebrews 12:1-3
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Free to Write
One publication that I use regularly for my devotional time is "Our Journey: A Daily Walk in the Word." Today's reflection is written by the legendary Beth Moore and it ministered to me in a unique way. She defines a stronghold as something that overpowers one's mind, distracting one from focusing on God and keeping one from living the abundant life in the power available to believers through the Holy Spirit. Addictions are a common stronghold. But a stronghold can be less obvious. Today, I realized that a stronghold in my life is the negative thinking associated with my ability to write for God's kingdom. While in my heart I believe I have gifts in this area, in my mind I have allowed Satan's influences to replace my faith in God to utilize these gifts with doubt in His will and power to do so. This negative thinking about my own God-given skills and His potential purposes for giving them to me is a stronghold, as this goes against my knowledge of the Almighty and His sovereignty. If it is His will to utilize my writing in some way to further His kingdom, then nothing can get in the way, unless I allow strongholds to rule my mind, limiting my ability to hear from the Holy Spirit and my courage to follow His leading. May it never be!
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" John 8:31-32
(Special thanks: http://www.walkintheword.com, http://www.bethmoore.com)
Friday, January 5, 2007
In Prayer
I admit I have little idea what I have done in creating this blog. Truly, I am unsure of the complete meaning of "blog" and of its possibilities. But I create this in prayer, that whatever may come of it, all of it will be to the glory of God. Life is a series of lessons as we grow into His likeness. May this blog be dedicated first to Him and then to His lessons for me, as well as for any others who may take the time to view it.
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