Thought Check!

Remember in high school on the church bus trips some adult trying to be hip and funny would yell "Hand check!"? And all the kids put their hands up to show that no ones hands where anywhere they weren't supposed to be.  It was half playful and half serious. It was always for those kids who sat in the back and mysteriously got suddenly sleepy! Teenagers are teenagers and hormones don't care if it's a church bus or a school bus. I know cause that was me and Mike. (Did I just confess that?!) Temptation can be very inviting when the setting is just right.

It occurred to me today I need someone to randomly durring tempting times in life to yell at me "Thought Check!" It seems far too often my thoughts are not where they are supposed to be. It's seductive to look at our feelings and circumstances and let our minds run away with what ever bait is put before us. Since the garden, the enemy has been after our thoughts. He is ever skillful at presenting opinions that try to keep us from knowing God and believing him. See if you can relate:

~Life hands over a loss of some kind - a relationship, a death, a job. It's tempting to think God doesn't care, he could have prevented that.

Thought check! - Jesus weeps with us when our hearts our broken. There is a day coming when he will restore all things as they should be. (John 11:32-44) 

~Finances seem impossibly tight and wiggle room nonexistent.  It's tempting to think if I just had more money I'd be _______.

Thought check! - The things that money can do and buy are temporary treasures that have an end, can break, are quickly outdated and can be stolen/destroyed. Jesus says store up treasure in heaven and not to worry about food and clothes and basic needs. God gave us his Son, don't we know he will freely give us all we need? (Matthew 6:19-34; Romans 8:32)

~The future is uncertain in a difficult circumstance - think a diagnosis, home value/the economy, a relationship teetering on the edge, or the direction your company is going. It's tempting to worry about the outcome and what that outcome means for you.

Thought check! - We are told to pray, take our thoughts captive and think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and things that are worthy of praise.   (Phil 4:6-8, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

I'm learning that right thinking leads to right believing which leads to right living. Scripture teaches that our lives can be transformed if we will quit our stinkin' thinkin' and start to ruminate on what he illuminates. (Hey hey hey! How about that witty, corny rhyme?) We don't have to give into to whatever temptation the enemy wants to deceive us with. We can make a choice to oblige when the Helper whispers "Thought Check!" to our hearts. Check out this verse and be encouraged:

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13

So how about you? Is the bus ride tempting your emotions to believe something other than the truth?
Need someone to yell Thought Check! at you? It's OK, I'm right there with ya. Man! Did someone just take their shoes off?! Gross! I'm just hoping the van driver doesn't pull the ol' Brake Check! trick on us too. Are we there yet?

Busted

In the last few weeks it seems as if my girls have taken "I'm going to aggravate my sister" pills in high dosage. The nit picking and provoking, the pesky tone of voice and little peeves have just been in abundance. And it's all little things. They are not calling each other names, they are not out and out fighting, they are not on a scale of 0-10 in Obnoxiousville, they are just not enjoying each other. Consequently, no one else is enjoying them not enjoying each other either!

Friday night after a particularly prickly exchange between them, Mike and I decided some intervention was necessary. We came up with the plan to make them hold hands for an hour and a half. Great idea! I wish I could say I came up with it on my own, but I saw a similar idea on Pintrest. And so the discipline began. Here is the first few minutes of joy.

Hahahaha I must confess, I might have enjoyed this a bit too much. We gave them a few chores to do and it wasn't long before there were giggles galore and the irritability was gone. It was a great exercise and reminder of how we want to live life. After the time had lapsed and they were granted their freedom back, we talked about love from 1 Corinthians.

The NIV passage reads this way: 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I was focusing on the it is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs part and that's when the conviction fell. I was busted.  The very thing I was trying to instruct in my girls I felt the Lord say in my spirit; You too!

I have an area in my life, probably as close as a sister, where my heart is prickly. I get irritated quickly in this place and have been holding a running list in the back of my mind of offenses. Instead of looking to trust and hope I have been easily angered. And now I have been pegged on it! Oh goodness, Lord, if you make me hold hands for an hour and a half.....please no! I don't think you'll be as amused at my selfishness and immaturity as I was with my girls! HA!

My girls really do love each other and most of the time get along wonderfully. I am one blessed mom. And in this prickly area of mine, when all layers are pulled back, love is there too. Reminds me of Psalm 133:1 - Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! How true is that?! What parent doesn't want their children to get along and love each other well? God the Father included.

As I patiently(ahem) explained yet once again the acceptable sisterly behavior, grace for them rushed in me as the speech became less for them and more for me. And isn't that also just like God the Father too? How patient is he and how blessed am I! However, I'm still asking for the no holding hands discipline. Grin.

Precious Jesus, how great is your love that covers a multitude of sins! May I be a catalyst of your extravagant grace I receive. Thank you for your patience as your teach me yet again of your amazing love and what it is to love well. And please don't make me hold hands, please don't make me hold hands, pleeease don't make me hold hands! hahaha You are easy to love Lord, you are good and you do good! Thank you! 

Boundaries

It's a new year and I'm one who loves a fresh start. After a successful 30 pound loss a few years ago I joined Weight Watchers again to finally reach my goal. I stopped short last time thinking I could make it there on my own, but never did. Thankfully, I'm not back at square one, but actually right where I left off.

Last time I used the WW program, it was great! Very simple and easy to use. There is an app for it which made all the difference in my success. Every time I needed to make a decision about what to eat, I could consult my phone and was empowered to achieve my goal.  In the grocery store, out at a restaurant, even tips for portion sizes at those pot luck meals God lovin' church folk have, help was there.

If you are unfamiliar with how the WW plan works, each and every food is assigned a point value. Based on your starting place and goals, you are assigned an allotment of points each day to consume. You can earn points by exercise and there is also a weekly bank of extra points to pull from in the event of a sweet tooth that wont quit, a special occasion or an emotional/hormonal fit of desperation.

I really love this plan because it is so cut and dry. There is no guess work. There is also nothing that is totally off limits. I could have a Dairy Queen large vanilla malt shake! It would use my total daily allotment of points but I could do it! One of the best things about it is all fruits and veggies are zero points. So I could have that DQ milk shake and then eat salads and strawberries the rest of the day. Hey! There's a plan!

The good thing is I really do enjoy fruits and veggies. I have noticed in the past after a short time off refined sugar, natural sugar is plenty sweet and my craving for refined sugars are significantly less. And on those days I find myself really hungry, I can have all the apples and bananas I can handle. Of course those are the choices that lead to a healthy life and an ideal weight anyway. And herein lies a parallel I see in scripture.

We were given boundaries that Jesus summed up in saying love God and love others. Simple guidelines that should steer our every decision. Every choice can come under this filter: Will this enable to me love God and love others more? But there are times we are given to operate outside those borders and there is a bank of grace for that. Paul said that where sin abounds, grace abounds more.

There are also the fruit and veggies of life too. Paul gave us a list of actions in Galatians that we can do in abundance all day everyday; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. He said there are no limits on any of them. We can act fully in them with no recompense.

And just like fruits and veggies lead to a healthy life and idea weight, isn't it true that a life filled with the fruit of the Spirit lead us to being conformed into the image of Jesus? Also true is the craving issue. The more we indulge in the life in his Spirit, the less our desire is for the things of the flesh. How simple and concise. However, I'm pretty sure that self control is the equivalent of brussel sprouts. Bleh, someone pass me a Kiwi, that's gotta be joy or peace right?

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good! Psalm 34:8

Lord Jesus, you are so faithful. How simple is your plan for abundant life for us. Thank you for the smorgasbord of options in food and in actions. For those days when my willpower is gone and I need your stockpile of unending grace, my soul is eternally grateful. Thank you for being with me in every choice I have to make. May they make you proud. I love you Lord. 

Covered

When we moved to IL I envisioned the winter to be filled with six feet of snow for three and a half months. It was a hopeful dream for this former snow deprived Fl girl. When we got here, the winters certainly produced more snow than central FL ever saw but not the likes what I envision maybe North Dakota enjoys. I'm of the philosophy that if it's going to be cold, let it snow. And lots of it! But around here the normal seems to be an inch or two every three or four weeks.

Last week brought two snows in rapid succession. I was giddy! My girls and I got out in the yard and made snowmen. Dirty snowmen mind you. Two inches is not enough to create what Hollywood does, but we had a great time none the less. Lumps of coal for eyes and a carrot for the nose just like the storybooks. Stinky Pete's snowman got a belt. So fashionable.

Later that afternoon we were driving through town while the warmth of the day was bidding the snow it's inescapable demise, my eye was caught by the beauty of the remaining small snow piles and tiny heaps. In certain places it lingers longer because the sun can never find it. Some rocks and yards look comparatively deep as they hide in the winter's shadows.  Branches and gardens look picture perfect covered in a fluffy white blanket.

But other areas are exposed to the bright warm rays. Science proves that the shallowest places will melt first and reveal the brown, dead earth beneath. Places of comparatively thick cold snow beside warmer places, barren and exposed. There is something beautiful to behold here. It's almost as if the snow clings together is desperation to fight against the sun's warmth, bound and huddling tight to not give way to the unavoidable fate and reveal it's hidden captive. It's a hushed stillness that commands attention. 

Then I see it. It is a picture of my heart. Of your heart. Of all hearts. We are the dead brown earth. Some places we let people see with no regard, exposed and naked. Those are the secure parts of our life, confident in what we have become. But the other places, those places that never see the sun, that never feel it's warmth, that hold on to the snow like a cover to provide some sort of sense of dignity; those are the places of our hearts where our fears reside. Where our shame is hidden, where our wounds are wrapped up tight and most inner secrets kept. The places we want concealed from the world around us.

And it occurred to me, that's exactly what Jesus does! I love the analogy of how he washes my sins white as snow, but this day He showed me he not only washes me, he covers me. He covers my heart at it's coldest spot.  He clothes me thickest around my shame. He clings and binds himself to my deepest wounds. He wraps me up where I'm most afraid of the sun's exposure.  He heaps and piles himself where I need it most for the purpose of protection, but also so that what others see is only his beauty. 

Scripture gives beautiful accounts of how he covers us beginning in the garden with animals skin and through the desert with the Israelites by his cloud. But the most touching reference I found was in Ezekiel chapter 16. He is speaking to the nation of Israel as a whole, but individually this verse seems fitting in the barren, dead of winter. Verse 8 says this:

When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.

He covers us! With a blood covenant that cost him everything. And now we are his. Protected and hidden in his care. With our weaknesses safely exposed to him alone. Loved by a saviour that knows where we need him most. Covered by grace that runs deeper than any shadow.

Lord Jesus, how precious is your blood that not only washes me clean but covers me tenderly. What a beautiful saviour you are!

The Camry Experience

Years ago I heard a pastor share an illustration that has come to mind again and again recently.  He told a story of a time in his life where he needed a new vehicle. As he and his wife went to the car dealership they test drove several cars and came to settle on a Toyota Camry. The both very much liked the car and bought it. On the way home they noticed how many other Camrys there were on the road. In fact, several neighbors had one and they never realized it.  When they got home and showed the car to their teenage son, he was excited. He was familiar with the car and told his parents of several friends who also owned a Camry. It seemed as if Camrys were all around this family, but because they had not been in the market for a car, they didn't see them. 

And here is the parallel he made from this story. When we have an encounter with God our senses become awakened to him. When he speaks to us and we hear him it creates a fresh experience. It may be through scripture or a sermon. Through a friend or a devotion or a song.  But somewhere God gets our attention and we connect on a point. Our spirit becomes alive and we digest his life-giving word. It is a moment where we know this is God. Then as time passes, it's as though we see that truth everywhere again and again and our soul is thrilled and refreshed at each recognition. And we discover once more his omnipresence is real.  

The first way I can relate that comes to mind is the time when I was getting married. I remember as soon as I said yes it seemed as if everyone around me was also getting married. It felt like every billboard, commercial, TV show and magazine article was about weddings and engagements. Dresses, rings, cakes and flowers were everywhere I looked.  It was definitely because my senses were heightened to the experience in my own life.  

Here in more recent months this has been happening a lot with words like "all" and "seed" and "open". And I love it!  There is something so great about a fresh encounter with God. It is exciting like a new car or getting married. And when he confirms it by opening my eyes to see the same thing here or there, I just love that! What a comfort to realize he is all around me working and moving, involved and present.  He is creating an appetite in me for him. 

What about you? What was the last encounter you had with God? What is he showing you repeatedly? Or, are you in the market for a fresh experience? Has God ever surprised you with a promise that was precious like a diamond? Do share!

Matthew 20:32-33 - And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” 

Be encouraged today, his name is Emmanuel - God with us!

Loves Little or Loves Much?

Bible study this week took me to Luke chapter 7 verses 36-50. This is the portion of scripture where Simon invites Jesus over for dinner and the woman with the alabaster jar comes and publicly anoints Jesus' feet with her hair, tears and kisses. While Jesus is receiving this act of worship he makes a teaching moment with Simon. I've never really liked this passage because I identify more with Simon than the woman in the scene and that makes me very uncomfortable with myself.

Scripture doesn't tell us Simon's motives for having Jesus over for supper, but we do know that he was a Pharisee and that carries much definition on its own.  And given the ritualistic and perfect performance the Pharisees kept, it is interesting to note all the things Simon didn't do when Jesus got there.

As they were eating, the woman comes in and makes quite a public display of affection. Oddly enough the love that motivated this act is not what upsets Simon, but rather the reputation and character of the woman is what rattles him most. He is not upset over this display so much as that "a sinner" would touch Jesus.

 I love that we don't read Jesus' tone to be an angry one. It could be that Simon's thoughts were simply what he had been taught and had never ventured away from, something Jesus has grace for. We see Jesus teach in his usual pattern of a gentle parable and leading questions. A good coach always asks the right questions that will lead you to discover the answer yourself. Jesus leads Simon to a place where he could begin to look past a person's issues and see their heart. A heart that loves much and a heart that loves little. "Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven-for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little loves little," he says. Then he speaks to the woman and tells her "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  In the camera view of this in my mind, I see Simon sit back and take it all in and I wonder, did he get it?

 As one who knows all too well a Pharisee's heart, it completely unnerves me to think that I might be one who Jesus considers "loves little."

I wrestled this out with Jesus hard. Thank you Lord for my upbringing and your hand of protection and provision over and on my life. Thank you Jesus that my testimony is not one I will be embarrassed to tells my kids about someday. Thank you God for the blessing of a family who lead me to you early in life and a church body that kept me busy enough to not get in difficult trouble.  You put people in my life that steered me well and lead me rightly, it has shaped me into who I am today!

But does all that mean I love you little?

Have there been times I've entertained you and neglected to worship you? Have I gained your gracious attention forgetting to honor you with all I have? Have I been in your presence and considered myself....anything other than "a sinner?"


Yes.


Devastating.


A brokenness comes over me as I repent and confess my arrogance and unworthy heart. Why are you so patient with me Lord? So gentle when you coach me to see me for who I really am? So gracious as you open my eyes to see you for who you really are?

Through my tears his tender voice responds, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace." And in this moment he shows me I have moved from identifying with Simon the self righteous to this unnamed woman, the worshiping sinner.  No longer to love little, but to go in peace and to love much.

Father, in the upbringing you allowed, somehow I picked up wrong theories and warped theologies.  Sometimes it's so hard to look past a person's issues and look to their heart, my own included. Transform my eyes Lord to see how you see.  Your kindness changes everything. I don't ever want to gain your attention again without giving you my all. May all of my days be a continual act of worship that shows you how much I love you. Your love is better than life! 

This is what you have trained for.

Two weeks ago I had an opportunity to hear pastor Wayne Cordeiro speak on sifting from Luke 22. He told a story of being on a rowing team and entering a 40 mile race.

He said everyone had a great start. He was feeling strong and performing well. At mile 10, he was still feeling good as were all the competitors. By mile 20 there was starting to prove to be a gap in those that were really able to win the race and those that were not. At mile 30 he was exhausted, spent and ready to quit.  But he said he came to realize that this was the very moment he had been training for. All the workouts, all the time and energy put into being the strongest and best rower was for this exact minute. It was here he coached himself to not give up. "This is what you have trained for!" he told himself. And he reached down to find more strength, fight through the fatigue and finish the race.

The moral of the story was that the reason you ever do any training is for the time when we are squeezed. The things we have deposited in our lives will be what comes out in those intense times in life.

I ran a half marathon last weekend, and I thought of that line so many times. A half marathon is thirteen miles and my training had made about eight or nine miles not too crazy difficult. On race day mile ten was pushing me.  My feet were tired and I was feeling kinda queasy. "This is what you have trained for!"  Mile eleven came and my toes were really, really sore, and I had a rock in each shoe. "This is what you have trained for!" Mile twelve was a bitter sweet mark, almost done, but somehow it seemed like it was the longest mile ever. I was reaching for every ounce of energy possible. "This is what you have trained for!" At the last half of the mile were two friends screaming my name cheering me on. What an encouragement! "This is what you have trained for!" I few steps later, one more friend yelling and cheering for me! "This is what you have trained for!" And finally the finish line. What a moment! This is what I had trained for!

A sweet friend was there to greet me and celebrate. Yes, celebrate the accomplishment, but celebrating that I didn't give up. Giving up is always the easy way out. I have so many thoughts about it all. So many spiritual parallels. I see a sifting in areas of my life and I want all the junk brought out. All the pride, all the selfishness, all the obnoxiousness. All those things that I have deposited and deposited over and over again have been coming up as I have felt squeezed in a few ways. The whole purpose of a filtering sieve is to bring to the surface all the junk and get rid of it. And I want it all up. All up and out. Then, when it's done and over with, all I want left in me is Jesus.

A few verses come to mind:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 1 Corinthians 9:24 

I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loves me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

That is what I want my life to show I have trained for. Less of me, more of him.

These are some of pastor Cordeiro's impactful thoughts:
     ~Sifting accelerates spiritual growth.
     ~The best veggies grow in sifted soil.
     ~Sifting enables us to teach out of our scars, not our theories.
     ~If you are not on the road to the right goal, then the road to success and failure are the same road.
     ~Everything God has invested in you is for the moment you are ready to quit. It's to get you through that dark night of the soul.

 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. Luke 22:31


He is praying for us, what do you want to train for?

They shall be called...

Yesterday morning my bible study took me to Matthew 5:9, a familiar passage of the beatitudes. It says this:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 

A few things jumped out at me.

I learned long ago there is a great difference between a peacemaker and a peacekeeper. Far too often a peacekeeper isn't really keeping the peace. So much of the time in difficult situations we mistakenly think that if we don't say anything or just let stuff lie, then all will eventually be well. And, there are times that this is appropriate, however, I wonder if more often than not, this thinking proves more toxic than beneficial. It seems to me that the fear driven, forced indifference rarely brings real peace. This type of passive, responsibility-less, void of genuine love for another usually just brings a nice big pot to stew in, that eventually boils and explodes at the first stir.

To the contrary, peace making some times looks like having a difficult conversation with humility and compassion. Peace making sometimes looks like directly ending an unhealthy relationship. Peace making sometimes means standing up and speaking the truth in love with grace. Peace making is not always the most easy way out. Peace making, I believe, is often vastly different than peace keeping.

The other thing that grabbed me was the part that says "they shall be called".  I recently was taught a new to me method of studying scripture by learning how to ask questions to hear God speak. So my question is; who is going to be doing the calling? Who is it that is going to look at a person's life and say "Whoa! This person is a peacemaker. They must belong to God!"

I think there are several answers. First, I think God sees when we are living the sometimes difficult life of peace making and says "Yes! You are mine and I will pour out my favor on you!"

I also think that our christian brothers and sisters see when we are choosing to walk in genuine love for others and recognize the truth as they see it. And then the Spirit moves in them to heap blessings on us in gifts of grace and compassion, mercy and encouragement.

But the option that I felt God really impress on me as an answer were the people that have yet to have an encounter and intimate relationship with Jesus. John 13:35 came to mind which says this: By this all people will know that you are mine, if you have love for one another all the time.

It's only in walking with Jesus that we can ever have productive, difficult conversations. It's only in being led by His Spirit that we can have healthy, growing relationships. It's only by His power we can be bold and be strong in a fruitfully lasting way.

Real love for one another.
Being a peacemaker, not a pseudo peacekeeper.
Keeping in step with Jesus.

This is a life of blessing.

This is how I want to be called.

I've been thinking...

My amazingly fabulous hubby has been encouraging me to blog more consistently.  I do want to, I just get so hung up on trying to really be as perfect as I can than that more often then not, I end up not writing at all. So I'm going to try to be more faithful in posting even if I don't always have some cool insight and a great way to tie it all up. After all writers write don't they?  And getting better requires practice, so here we go.

Last week Jesus clearly spoke to me a fresh understanding of sin: taking my eyes off him. I've been thinking about that a lot. As I've been considering it, Galatians 1:10 has come to mind repeatedly. It says this:

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. 

I made the connection that guess what; I am a human being. I am people. (Thank you Captain Obvious for THAT public service announcement!) Yes, some days, I am just that slow. Haha

The picture I'm trying to paint is that it's not just a problem when I'm worried about what others think. Because wrapped up in that is a root of self. I want to be liked. I wanted to be approved. I want to be accepted and esteemed. So that means the truth is while I am trying to please others it is for completely selfish motives. I'm not sure I have connected before just exactly how linked these two thoughts are.

Then this morning I read Romans 6:16 which says this:

you are slaves to the one whom you obey, either of sin (remember, taking my eyes of Jesus), which leads to death, or of obedience which leads to righteousness. 

Slaves to whom we obey. There is so much to unpack in those five words, but the idea for me this morning is very simple. Am I obeying me, or am I obeying Jesus?

Not exactly a new concept, I know. But definitely a new layer of insight into my heart has been pulled back and revealed. Don't you just love how God's word really is alive and active, sharp and piercing, discerning the thoughts and intentions of our hearts? And it's in the hands of a skillful and attentive, accurate and gracious, faithfully patient God. Sigh. I love him so.

Your turn now. (Grin) What's God speaking to your heart lately? Any "aha" moments to share?

Tangled

I read an article once about the way that some people in third world countries train elephants. These people get the elephants when they are babies and chain one leg with a big heavy chain that keeps them "caged" and unable to escape. Then when the elephant's strength is needed, the chain is loosed and the elephant is made to perform whatever task is needed. When the elephant's services are complete, the chain is replaced. Over time however, as the elephant grows, the weight of the chain is reduced slowly till eventually only a thin string is needed to keep the elephant imprisoned. The elephant's memory of the pain from early in life provides all the bondage needed to keep the elephant trapped and at the whim of the people.

A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you that I woke up wrestling with an issue and felt God speak to my heart to press on. There were many verses in my bible study that morning that the Lord took me to. One of them was Hebrews 12:1-2 which says this:

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.

The timing of reading this was so cool because that very week were the final days of training enabling me to run a 15K race.  I was so encouraged as I felt God was cheering me on for my race. But the more I thought about this verse the more I began wondering what weights I needed to lay aside and what sin was clinging so closely to me and not just in a physical sense.

In training for a race, endurance is the name of the game so carrying any extra unnecessary weight of any kind just doesn't cut it. But sin that clings so closely, that one seemed a little more tricky to identify. I decided to check out a few different translations on that phrase. The Message reads "no extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins." The NIV says "let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." I like both of those. After reading them is when I was reminded of the story of the elephants in captivity.

I, and so many I know, are just like those elephants. We too were born into captivity, chained by the flesh.  Taught early on to keep all "the rules" and trained to perform and act rightly. Limited freedom came when we served as we were told and when we behaved in just the right way. But as soon as the expectation was met and the obligation was kept, the chain went right back on. And we were left alone and isolated. Wondering if our work would ever be good enough or ever completed so that real freedom could be experienced.

So what is this sin that clings so closely? This parasitic transgression? This error that so easily entangles?

It's when we are looking at anything but Jesus. It's when we are rehearsing our successes and faults. It's when we are obsessing over our guilt or lack of worth.  It's when all we can do is worry. It's when the only thing we see is our lack or someone else's gain. It's when every bit of our energy and effort is going for that next new toy. It's when we think consciencely or sub consciencely that that next bite, new outfit or one more workout will finally settle us. It's what ever way we are trying to cover that nagging pain.

This sin that clings so closely, this parasitic, entangling sin is the sin of taking our eyes off Jesus. The writer of Hebrews gave us the "how to" lay down this stuff in the directions. He says: "let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ( HOW?) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God."

You and I can never be good enough. There will always be something someone can make us feel guilty or unworthy over. In the physical realm, there is forever something more to want of every fashion imaginable. Just like that grown elephant who is really only bound by a memory, the deceiver is always throwing something our way that says "Hey look over here! You don't have this! You can't have that! You'll never get this!" All things that probably early in life might have even been healthy guidelines, but somewhere, somehow became bondage. Painful chains that kept us tied up and wrapped up and bound up and able to see nothing but the memory of slavery.

But here is the good news; Jesus was good enough! And he will NEVER use guilt as a means of communication. And all the work that needed to be done to make God happy is complete, that's why he's sitting at the right hand of God. And because of the shame he despised and endured, I don't ever have to wonder any more. Wonder if he's pleased with me because I acted right or mad at me because I messed up. I never have to worry if tomorrow is gonna work out. I don't need to ever again feel like I'm missing out on something, somehow, someway.

How can this be? How do we get to that place? Where does this happen?

By looking to Jesus. The founder. The perfecter. He is the one who began a good work in us. He is the one who is going to complete it too. To look to Jesus is the very definition of faith. Where he leads is out of captivity like a mighty elephant walking out of a thin string tied to his ankle and into real freedom. Looking at him instead of our chains. Looking at him instead of our pain. Looking at him, the perfecter of faith.

You see, every race is won the same way; with eyes forward, one step at a time.

So what do you think? Ready to lay aside some baggage with me, even if it's only memories?  Ready to focus in on Jesus? He's so beautifully, transformingly perfect. He's already freed our feet and he's enabling us to follow him. Straight to the victory line.

Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.

An invitation

Every year at the ministry kick off in September, Trinity hosts a 24/7 church wide prayer time where members take an hour at a time to come and pray for the new year.  Last year when we did this, to be completely transparent, I was less than excited. In fact, the whole deal sounded really, ...well, ... like it wouldn't be my new favorite thing. I was greatly mistaken. What a gift to quietly press in alone with God. Fastest hour ever. This year I eagerly signed up for a slot.

We have a prayer room here that has been beautifully and carefully thought out. There are 8-10 stations that give directions and instructions for how and what to pray if you should choose to use them. The first is a praise stop. My favorite. My heart lingers here a while.

The second is a confession station that is set up with paper and a leading prayer to write out any thing the Holy Spirit may be speaking to your heart. There is also a 'Paid In Full' red stamp and a paper shredder to the right to lead you in the truth of God's word that promises forgiveness with confession.  The instructions at this table are topped with the following verse:

"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall become white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool." Isaiah 1:18

My eyes read this verse so fresh and new. Did the Maker of heaven and earth really just invite me to come and reason with Him?

Maybe reason doesn't mean what I think it means.

Dictionary.com says when used as a verb reason means:
     ~to think or argue in a logical manor;
     ~to form conclusions, judgments or facts
     ~to urge reasons which should determine a belief or action.

Nope, it does mean what I think it means. How could the God of the universe, the omniscient, the omnipresent, the all powerful I AM ask me to reason with him? What does that look like? How does that happen? What does that mean?

Who am I that I could argue with God, or lead him to a conclusion that he himself has not thought of. Do I really think that I could change God's mind? That he would relent the things he has defined as sin and somehow I'd be "off the hook"?

No. Quite the contrary. As I sat and pondered these thoughts, it occurred to me it is exactly the opposite. It's not his mind that needs to be changed, it's mine. God is very secure in who he is. Don't be mistaken, He is fully confident and competent in being God. He will not change his mind on what he has deemed holy and what he has not. But it is that very fact of him being settled in himself, and with himself, that enables him to not be threatened, rattled or have to be defensive with me.

In other words, my sin, my messes, my stuff doesn't change the fact that he is who he says he is. And it is because of the fact that he doesn't change his mind about my sinful nature that gives him authority to invite me in to look at things from his perspective. He knows what a holy life looks like. And he knows that on my own, I'll never attain it. And the scriptures teach that it's his kindness that allows me his captive audience.

He knows the damage that sin does to us. He understands the pain and brokenness that come from it. He is acutely aware of the suffering and choking isolation that sin brings upon a life. It is this very understanding that moves his heart to extend an invitation to me that says 'Come, wrestle this out with me. I'm a safe place. I will not humiliate and exploit you over this. No, I will teach you and show you why this is not for you. Let me give you an understanding of what it is I have for you. Cleanliness. Righteousness. Holiness."

I was reminded of a few other places in scripture of God inviting us to come to him.

But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9 

Come to me all who labor and are weary and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. Hebrew 4:16

This is such a different picture than the warped and distorted view of God I have sometimes. What a gentle invitation. "Come, talk with me. Come walk with me. Come, let me help you."

It is certainly not at the exemption of consequences or discipline, but oh how the heart remembers a lesson when guilt is recognized and acknowledged and then grace is given and received.

This is what it is to be known and to be loved.
This is an experience of love that casts out fear of punishment.
This is what it is to be refreshed.
This is the invitation, "Come."

Right in front of me

Have you ever had one of those days where you hop right out of bed, get some good hair going on, and feel skinny in your outfit? You go on about your day seeing half the people you know and life is full of high fives and big smiles. Then at a quick glance in the mirror something grabs you and demands a second glance. All the sudden, you realize there is a huge zit right on the corner of your chin or side of your nose! Where did that come from? How long has it been there? How many people have seen you with that bulging thing today? Better yet, why didn't someone mention to you, this thing that now feels like Mt Kilimanjaro?! 


Sigh. Thankfully those pesky things that pop up with lightening fast skills usually are removable equally as fast with little to no sign of remains. I hate those bad boys!


I had that entire scenario happen to me this week. Only it played out spiritually. 


I was having a pretty good day, feeling pretty comfortable and confident. Connecting with some friends and having some laughs. Then late in the evening, Mike and I were discussing a particular situation and he said something that just rang in my ears. We were actually discussing someone else and he said "Sometimes people just cant see their own religion that's right in front of their own faces." Now that's not a hugely profound statement in and of itself. The saying 'You can't see the forest for the trees' is as old as the day is long, but for whatever reason this idea clocked me upside the head. 


Shortly after when I went to bed,  I felt like the Lord gave me a snap shot of my day and revealed some big, irritated and exposed religion of mine that was right in front of me. Multiple occasions. With multiple people. Yikes! Not good! I was so embarrassed and frustrated! How had I been so blind to my own motives? Where had that stuff come from? How long has it been there? I certainly didn't remember seeing that this morning! Sigh.


In bible study this week we landed on James 1:14-18 which says this: 

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Verse 15 and 16 were the ones that continued to show me where this ugly manifestation were coming from. Selfish ambition was the culprit. And it brings earthly, unspiritual and demonic wisdom, disorder and every vile practice. Yes it was vile alright, a big 'ol spiritual zit if there ever was one. 


It would make this a cool post if I had some scientific insight about the human body as to why those unsightly things surface and I could make some interesting parallel, but I don't. What I do know is that usually they clean up pretty quickly and relatively painlessly and most often don't even leave a scar. That's so like Jesus. Check out this passage in Isaiah where someone else had a double take in the mirror.

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for." Isaiah 6:4-7

As quickly as I saw my own junk, and confessed it to Jesus, healing was right there waiting. After repenting and asking for the Holy Spirit to come and lead me into life, the Lord comforted me with a few of his precious promises:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

And then reminded me of a few truths too.

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. James 1:2-4

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:23-25

The take away for me was this. Seemingly out of nowhere stuff can surface that I had no idea was in me. It is the truth of the depravity of my sinful nature. Given the right circumstances, my vile heart is capable of anything. But, confession and repentance bring swift realignment. Then seeking wisdom from above, which is keeping in step with the Spirit, bring a harvest of righteousness which is being in "right standing" with God. 


Oh how I hate the days where others see a side of me that is less than becoming. Especially when I'm oblivious! How humbling yet clearly the way of life. But I'm so much more thankful for his word and grace that extracts my impurity and fills the void all at once. Grace that cleans and heals, and reminds me "I'm still a work in progress." 


How great is our God? 


Jesus, truly your love is patient!  It is your kindness Lord that leads me to repentance. Thank you for grace.  Keep working in my heart Lord and take all the junk out until all that is left is a reflection of you! Your love is extravagant and I am humbled and amazed. All praise belongs to you God! You are a good God!

Free

I read the following over here. So good!!

             Jesus plus nothing equals everything!

Because Jesus was strong for you, you’re free to be weak;

Because Jesus won for you, you’re free to lose;

Because Jesus was Someone, you’re free to be no one;

Because Jesus was extraordinary, you’re free to be ordinary;

Because Jesus succeeded for you, you’re free to fail.

Somedays it says this...

I was encouraging a friend this morning with some scripture and I read Romans 8:37-39 which says this:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And while I in no way mean to belittle Paul or his amazing understanding of God's love, somedays I'm not wresting with heights and depths and angels and rulers. And while I get the spiritual trues to all that, somedays I just need to read something a tad more, well, .... literal. 

So here was my interpretation on these verses this morning. 

I am sure that neither loads of dirty laundry or piles of unwashed dishes, nor filthy floors or gardens full of weeds, nor messy bathrooms, sleepless nights or stress, nor an exhausted body or needy children, nor emotional depletion from being overworked and under appreciated, no bad hair day or make-up that runs, no clothes that don't fit or shoes out of style, nor guilt, nor self or other imposed condemnation, no distraction, no interruption, no frustration will keep me from remembering the extravagant and tender, precious and personal, unending and costly love that God has for me in Christ Jesus my Lord. 

Somedays I just need the gospel preached right where I am. 

Be encouraged and reminded right now that you are dearly loved and nothing thrown at you today can separate you from Him and His sentimental affections for you.

Sweet Jesus who knows our names and how many hairs are on our heads, may we rest in you today and remember your great love for us above all else. May your name be praised!

Rescued

We are about to wrap up a series here in Trinity Church entitled Rescue - God's Story of Life from Death.  It has been a great time of remembering the gospel.

In our small group this week, we were discussing and defining the word rescue. Since this was our first gathering, to help us to get to know each other, our group leader asked us all to share our own rescue stories. It was such an encouraging time to hear how God has and is working in the lives of my friends.  One person shared that there has been more rescue and growth in the last year than ever before. I love that!

On the way home from group I was contemplating rescue accounts and I remembered the following story.

Several years ago Mike and I had hit a really rough place in life and the Lord worked it out for us to live for about a year with some of the most gracious and generous friends I think I'll ever have, Amy and Shawn. During this year there, Amy's parents lived and traveled in an RV and from time to time would come and stay in Amy's back yard as the opportunity afforded. Amy had two small children and her parents, Nanny and Poppy, just took our Lucy in as one of their own granddaughters. What a blessing!

One particular evening we were all hanging out in the living room. Being the young moms Amy and I were, our conversation led to parenting.  Nanny told us a story that I don't think I'll ever forget. She and a large group of extended family were at some sort of fair or amusement park. They all decided to ride on a big ferris wheel that had large gondola bucket seats. For what ever reason, in the impulse of the moment, all the adults decided to ride in one gondola and allowed all the kids to ride on a separate gondola. Alone. With out any adults.

I began holding my breath as I listened.

As the ride took off, everyone was enjoying themselves and having a big time looking over the horizon and loving the wind in their faces. About half way around the ride stopped to exchange riders. When it did, Nanny looked over to the gondola with all the kids. Before her eyes was a scene that would terrify anyone, let alone a mother.  There, across the sky was her child standing up on the seat and peering over the side of the bucket. Panic struck her heart and every horrible thought possible came plunging through her mind. I could hardly wait for her to finish talking!

She frantically screamed at her child to sit back down in her seat but it was to no avail. The distance was too great and the kids were completely self engulfed. It was in this moment, she said, she realized the total impossibility of the situation because there was absolutely nothing that she could do. She could not reach her with her hands. She could not reach her with her voice. She had no power over the giant machine. She was out of control in every way possible and completely at the mercy of God.

She said she took a breath and prayed. She surrendered herself and precious child to God alone and experienced the most tender grace and God's incomparable rescue. She needed mercy for her daughter's safety and she needed rescue from her own insanity. She had to release this child that she loved immeasurably into the hands of Jesus. She told us that He reminded her that He loved that child even more than she and that they both were in His hands.

To close the story, her daughter (I think it was Amy's older sister) sat down and the ride concluded without a mortal tragedy; at least in her daughter's body! Haha. But Nanny continued to share with Amy and I the lesson Jesus used in that moment to teach her about her own lack of real control and what it really means to trust Jesus and live in his rescue.

What a parallel to life that event was. Just like Nanny, we are without control in every way to enter what the Bible describes as real life, abundant life. I can't act right enough. I can't speak or think right enough, I have no real power over more things than I care to admit. And the thing I love most, my own flesh and blood, and I mean me, is often oblivious. Standing at the edge of danger, peering unaware.

But it's in those moments like Nanny experienced, when life grabs you by the throat and your realize that control is a myth; these are the moments that Jesus is ever present. These are the moments where he surrounds us with his grace and peace like the wind wrapped around Nanny's face high in the air. These are the teaching moments where he shows us that the life he offers, real life, is meant to be lived out with the faith like a child. Ever trusting that He knows best, trusting that He is in control.

When we release ourselves to him fully and trust Him with everything we hold dear, what we find is that He is the safe place. We find a Father who loves us more than we love ourselves and is taking us on the ride of our lives to show us horizons we never dreamed existed.  We find He is trustworthy. And faithful. We find a relief from the thing that plagues us most, ourselves. We find that surrender to Him really is the only way to move from death to life.

We find we've been rescued.

He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me. - Psalm 18:19

Favorite Quotes

There were lots of great quotes on Twitter last week. Here are a few of my favs.

Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable. ~ David Augsburger  


Where family identity is STRONG, peer pressure is WEAK. Where family identity is WEAK, peer pressure is STRONG. Greg Groschel


Life is a long lesson in humility. James M. Barrie  


Let's not live a just enough life while serving a more than enough God!-judahsmith  


"We do not do Christ's teaching justice till we worship him." -PT Forsyth


Grace is not about treating wrong as if it's alright. Wrong is never alright, that's why the grace of rescue and forgiveness is precious. Paul Tripp


Nothing in today will surprise your God, or catch him off guard or find him unprepared. Go live in the day he made. Jon Acuff


Church denominations exist because so many scholars have stomped off the playground with the ball. Donald Miller


God doesn't want something from us. He simply wants us-CSLewis


Gratitude is a spiritual muscle. You build it up by working it out daily - Tim Sanders


I have never met a mature follower of Christ who did not have a trophy case full of trials... James1:2-8 Crawford Loritts

The 6 requirements to be a good mom

I read this post over at Confessions of a Tired Supergirl last week and wanted to share it with you.

I was talking to my friend, Leslie, the other day.We were lamenting the fact that we often feel like we are coming up short in the mom department.That we are not the supermom we hope to be and that is disappointingto both us and our kids.I believe the real problem is that we have unrealistic motherhood goals...we think we have to be a marathon running, birthday cupcaking, homework brainiac, organizationally superb, philanthropic, soda bottle recycling, emotionally stable, theologically sound, sous chef, nutritionist, child psychologist type of woman to be considered a good mom.I decided that what we really need to do is revamp our expectations of what it takes to be a good mom. And maybe we should be just a touch more realistic in what we require of ourselves..So here goes.

To be a good mom you need to: 

1. Be a girl. 

2. Have a child. 

3. Remember the child's name. (Or a name that sounds like their name... Bobby and Robby are interchangeable, as are Cindy and Mindy.) 

4. Feed the child.(You can use the traditional 4 main food groups:or Buddy the Elf's 4 main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.) 

5. Provide the child with clean underwear.(If they don't wear it, clearly, that is on them.) 

6. Give the child lots of love and hugs and kisses.(This one is non-negotiable.) 

I believe I have taken the requirements down to the bare minimum.Now as we compare ourselves to this list, we will find out the truth.WE are a rockstar moms and our children are blessed to have us.We can bask in the glow of that for at least 14 seconds or until wehave to go make dinner...whichever comes first.

Be blessed friends!  

Known and Loved

I watched a chick flick this weekend and at the "You complete me" guy-wooing-the-girl-part, I was reminded of this video we saw at Trinity a few weeks ago while studying John chapter 4.  I'm so thankful for the real love story of a Saviour who knows me and loves me.



Heres a link to the video.

Growing in Grace

I love twitter! It has become 140 characters of preaching the gospel to me. I recently started following Scotty Smith and he twitters all these "A sign you're growing in grace...." thoughts. They are so good! I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you.

A sign you're growing in grace: You define success less by how much you do in a day & more in terms of how well you love.


A sign you're growing in grace: You expect to discover more of your need for Jesus today & more of the riches of Jesus.


A sign you're growing in grace: You want to trust again more than you want to stay stuck in your hurt.


A sign you're growing in grace: You know if Jesus is calling you to do 3 things you can't afford to dabble with 17.


A sign you're growing in grace: You're just as excited about what the gospel frees you FOR as what it frees you FROM.


A sign you're growing in grace: You spend way less time stuck in the paralysis of analysis.


A sign you're growing in grace: You repent freely and regularly, to your spouse and children.


A sign you're growing in grace: You don't impose your meaning on other people's words & you don't finish their sentences.


A sign you're growing in grace: You love hearing Jesus' name exalted and you're not as pained when you don't hear yours.


A sign you're growing in grace: You no longer confuse knowledge with spirituality.


A sign you're growing in grace: You know, that given the right circumstances, there is NO sin you're beyond committing.

When I am free

"When I am free from ambition, I am free to serve with a joyful heart.

When I am free from selfishness, I am free from irritation.

When I am free from jealousy, I am free to rejoice in the good of another.

When I am free from judgment, I am free to pray from a pure heart.

When I am free from expectation, I am free to enjoy whatever comes.

When I am freed from controlling others, I am free to see the miraculous.

When I am truly free, I will see the Kingdom of God in my life." -Lynn Cowell

Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.