Friday, January 7, 2011

A Small Adjustment Can Make All the Difference.

Over the past couple of days I've mentioned the fact that we all have our ups and downs that we have to deal with. The word, we, is our biggest problem. We think we have to deal with our problems and in a sense we are supposed to. In a sense. What am I talking about?

You remember Psalms 23? You've probably either read it a bazillion times or you are at least familiar with it. With good reason. It teaches us some amazing things, but the other day I was reminded of one thing that, if ignored, negates everything else in the Psalm. As a matter of fact, it is so important to understand that our walk with the Lord is virtually meaningless if we don't grasp the first line of this Psalm. What is it?

The Lord is my Shepard. That's it. As a matter of fact it is only a part of the first sentence but it is so significant it stands alone. The sentence doesn't say, "The Lord is the Shepard". It says, "The Lord is my Shepard." You see, all the things God promises in the rest of that psalm are in store for the people who can say, The Lord is my Shepard.

But in order for Him to be our Shepard, we have to be willing to follow Him.

What does that entail? Is it really that easy? It may sound easy, but letting anyone other than yourself guide your decision making and direct your steps definitely goes against human nature. But God is not "anyone". He is our creator as well as Father. He is perfect. Time does not affect Him. He can look at His children right now and see them in the future. It doesn't do any good to try to hide anything from Him because He already knows everything about us. Our past hurts and pains as well as our present ones are known to Him. He has compassion on us because He truly understands us...better than we have ever understood ourselves.

We have limited God to the position of judge. But He wants a relationship with us. That's why He is called our Father. That's why we have been adopted into His family. And that is why David, in Psalms 23, begins it with ... The Lord is my Shepard.

A small adjustment can make all the difference.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

A Spiritual Catalyst

So, yesterday I asked if God cared about our despair. Well, obviously He does. You and I know that...but it sure doesn't feel like it sometimes. I mean, some days I'm fine when it comes to being able to control my out of control emotions. Other days, well, I feel like my feelings have been taken over be an evil dictator! Can you relate?

Why do I say this? Because I wanted you to know just how scared I get. How anxious I get. I know me. I know what I would have done in the past under the circumstances that we find ourselves in right now. I would have freaked out. But shear fear has driven me to desperately remind myself of God and His promises.

Good or bad, desperation can drive us to do things that we normally wouldn't do. For me, even though I've been aware of verses like Be anxious for nothing... and He causes ALL things to work together for good for those who love Him...this is the first time that I have clung to those promises in desperation. But when I did that I discovered that the panicky feeling I was feeling began to subside.

Christians all over the world throughout time and cultures, have thrived more when in the midst of suffering and persecution than any other circumstance. The agonizing grief they experience actually becomes a catalyst for spiritual growth. I know it isn't the desire of their hearts to have to deal with turmoil. But I truly believe that it's because in desperation they cried out to God and clung with tenacity to His promises. I never thought that desperation could actually become...

A Spiritual Catalyst.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Does He Care About Our Despair?

I'm going to be frank with you. The past year was one of the most difficult years of my life. No, my husband and I have never been rich. We've been among the many people who find themselves right on the "border". We always made just a little too much to receive help when it came to any kind of financial aid or government assistance.

So, we sacrificed and told ourselves that we didn't have to own a house. We did't have to have a clothes budget. Would I have liked insurance? How many times did I wish I could go on a two week vacation? True, we couldn't have what others had but we dealt with that little reality and were okay with it. Somehow our needs would be provided...and God always took care of us.

Fast forward to today. Our financial security makes our previous years look like a piece of cake. Has God left us? No. But what He is allowing - or not allowing - in our lives makes the past look like a walk in the park.

On top of all that, I continue to deal with medical issues that I can do nothing about. Each day I wake up to yet another 16 hours of fighting despair, loneliness and pain as I go through another work day that requires an emotional energy and stamina that is beyond my capacity to deal with. Or so it seems. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a pointless prison.

The good news is that that is just what I feel like. The reality is that God has not left me. I refuse to get angry at Him because the circumstances around me are difficult. God knows what He is doing...or allowing. I know in my head that we shouldn't let feelings dictate our actions, but I can only apply that line of reasoning for so long before I'm spent!
So what does God think about all this?

Does He Care About Our Despair?

More about that tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

A Maximum Impact

Yesterday I told you that someone suggested to me that instead of my placing a lot of focus on how much time I have, I should ask myself..."What am I doing with my time?"

At first I thought, "Hey, that's a good question. What am I doing with my time?" But a few minutes after I posted that thought on this blog, I realized that it could be a very irritating question. I think of all the people, myself included, who are working as hard and as fast as they can just to meet the bare minimum requirements of life. We get very little free time and maybe, just maybe we can actually squeeze in a little downtime.

Then somebody asks us what we are doing with our time? Kinda makes you want to hit someone if you are exhausted from a long day! So what does a person do in those circumstances? Cave in with the discouragement of someone who is spinning their wheels all day to simply pay their bills? What about a meaningful life? Are people like us relegated to futility?

No! You are in a unique position right now! Why? Glad you asked. I remember a book I had a while ago. The title alone says it all. Out of the Saltshaker, Into the World. That's where you and I are everyday. In the world. Whether it is in an office, at a store, at home or driving from one destination to another - whatever it is, we are in the world and we have the opportunity to impact the people in our sphere of influence.

How do we do that? That's up to you to decide, but I do know one thing. We need to let God's love influence whatever action we do take. It may simply be a smile on your face throughout the day. And BTW, if you are on the phone a lot...smile while you're talking. The person on the other end can feel it. Seriously. The point is, somewhere, there is someone you could give an encouraging word to. You would be amazed to discover the influence you can have in peoples lives. Be creative. Whatever you do, let God's love be at the root of it and you will have...

A Maximum Impact!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The New Anomaly

Many of us have had difficult upbringings. We come from dysfunctional families that have affected us in different ways based on numerous variables.

Unfortunately, most of us fall into that category now-a-days. Of course, there are always exceptions. I remember when coming from a broken family was a departure from society's norm. Today a person is almost considered an anomaly if they were raised in a completely healthy family environment. If you fall into that category, I'm really happy for you. Seriously. But if you don't fall into that niche please don't fret because I've got great news for you!

You are not only not alone, your life dovetails with a group of people that were the ancestors of the greatest person to walk this earth. A person who was actually God in the flesh. We celebrated His birthday a few days ago.

He came from one of the most dysfunctional groups of people I know of. Many of Jesus' ancestors did some pretty scummy things. For instance...

Jacob tricked his father into giving him his brother's birthright.
Rahab was a prostitute.
King David committed adultery then murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with.

I could go on, but the point is clear. Jesus had both a gnarly family tree and difficult life circumstances to deal with. He was surrounded by people who hated, rejected and despised Him. But as Jesus allowed Himself to be molded into what His Father wanted Him to be, it is my guess that although the outside world He lived in was hostile and pained Him greatly, His inside world was protected.

Our inside world - our emotions - can also be protected and healed as we let God lead, guide and fill us with His Spirit. The healing restoration began when we joined the family of God. A family that many today consider "dysfunctional". Some people may see us as...

The New Anomaly.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Is It Possible To... Muzzle a Puzzle?

Whatever can I be talking about now? Muzzle a puzzle? Surely, the only reasoning behind that "title" is that is that it rhymes?

Yes, this morning I was asking myself what I could share. I suppose you could say I was...puzzled. Then I looked up and saw the puzzle that began when one Christmas years ago, our daughters gave us a Thomas Kinkade puzzle...with puzzle glue. We put it together and a beautiful picture formed. My husband found an old frame that had seen better days in the trash on one of his morning walks. He painted it and after applying the puzzle glue to our new picture, we let it dry and fastened it to the newly painted construction that would act as a border. It was beautiful. Matter of fact, we ended up putting together another round Thomas Kinkade, gluing it and mounting it on a round piece of wood that I purchased for very cheap. My sister helped us paint and prepare the backing and "voila"...another Thomas Kincade "painting" in our price range! It is what I see every morning as I sit here.

The point? It's beautiful...but it began as a puzzle. Life is like that. Though it has the potential to be beautiful...in the beginning and possibly even now, it is a mass of puzzle pieces that are overwhelming and meaningless. Intuitively, many of us know that there is no way we can put the puzzle pieces of our lives together by ourselves.

Even if we are clever and do manage to create a "Thomas Kincade" from our lives, it won't last forever and it won't be "the real thing". The good news is that when Jesus was born and gave His life sacrificially for us, He began putting the pieces of our lives together again. God sent the Holy Spirit to work in His children's lives as He takes the myriads of odd shaped puzzle pieces and creates a beautiful masterpiece! Unfortunately, many of us won't let God into our lives. We try to put the puzzle pieces together on our own but the pieces in our lives are so many that discouragement can quickly find a home in our hearts. We not only do not want to put the puzzle together, we try to ignore the pieces all together in our misguided attempt to...

Muzzle the Puzzle.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Complete Compassion

You want me to tell you something that will make you think twice? Something good?
I thought so! We could all use a little encouragement here and there. Okay...maybe a lot. So what am I talking about?

Let me start by asking you a question. Do you tend to feel that Gods love in your life is based on your performance? Isn't it true that you - we all - tend to feel Gods love when we think we deserve it? And, well, when we've had a rotten day and haven't been the "best kid on the block"...we feel God's disapproval?

We spend a good deal of our lives...feeling. Most of our actions and/or reactions are based on them whether we realize it or not. Some people hold in their feelings, but they're still there.

So why am I talking about this?

I just wanted to remind you of something that I needed to be reminded of as well. God loves His children. He has compassion on them. Since He is not confined to the thing we call "time", God is able to look at us ... at the end of our lives. He loves what he sees in you and me. Why? Well, it certainly isn't because of how awesome we are. It is simply because He loves us. Period. He is our Father and has compassion in His heart toward us when He looks at us. Does he still discipline us when necessary? Of course. Are circumstances that threaten to overwhelm us, in His control? Yes. Can He "get rid of them" for us? Yes, if He chooses.

What if He doesn't "choose"? Is it because He doesn't love us any more? No. God's love for us is not based on our actions. So next time you "feel" Gods disapproval - I want you to recognize something important. The disapproval you felt was not a reflection of Gods feelings toward you. It is how you felt about yourself. So take God out of the equation if you are applying it to His love for you.

God cannot love you any more or less than He already does. You can't do anything about that fact. Absolutely nothing. When God looks at us, His heart is filled with...

Complete Compassion

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Because of Christmas, We Have a Home!

This past weekend, everywhere I went I kept hearing one song over and over again..."I'll Be Home for Christmas". We all love the sweet aroma of a love-filled home. Whether that was a reality in our lives or not makes no difference. A good home is a good home and much to be desired.

In addition to mine and my husbands two girls, my husbands son and daughter from his first marriage visited us every other weekend. When they were young they had a good home with us. That didn't change...but we also let other adults stay with us from time to time who seemed to need help. Over time, after we witnessed the destruction these people brought into our lives, we finally realized that we needed to protect our home for our children's sake. They had been hurt because of the people we were trying to help. It was time for us to provide a safe haven for our little family.

We still cared for other people...we just had to care for them on different terms. It's difficult to do that, sometimes. But our children were able to finally grow up in an environment free from behavior that brought with it bad consequences.

God loves His children. I'm grateful that when I leave this world one day, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I will go...Home. God provided a place for me that is free from corruption, free from sin. Heaven.

He didn't just provide that for me...His Son, Jesus, was sent to this world to take the punishment that we deserve. God is loving, but He is also Just. Only Jesus had the ability to take on the punishment for our sins, and God knew that. So God did what no man could ever do. He sent His Son...His only Son...to this world. Jesus was born to die. For me. For you. Christmas is a celebration of His birth into this world.

His death is meaningful for anyone...absolutely anyone...who asks Jesus into their lives. And now...

Because of Christmas, We Have a Home!

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Fear Gear...

Can you feel it in the air? It's as if the Spirit of Christmas is turning into the Memory of Christmas. Without realizing it, it seems like people are more and more succumbing to a quiet fear. As a matter of fact, many people don't even know exactly what it is that seems to be shifting. It's as if Christmas, the way it used to be celebrated, is becoming a thing of the past - replaced with "Happy Holidays". It's not the same.

This country has, in the past, embraced the celebration of Christmas as it symbolized the birth of Christ. We had nativity scenes in the park. People would wish everyone a "Merry Christmas" with joy. The spirit in the air was due to... the Spirit. Why? Because we were celebrating the birth of Jesus. God had to have been pleased. So many people throughout the world and through the ages have hated God. But here, in America, even our coins expressed our love of God. "In God We Trust".

As a country we have been blessed in many ways, but some of us have confused Gods spiritual blessings with prosperity in the material realm, as if that were the only way God could bless us. It actually fits quite well with the American Dream idea...and then we did two things.
1) We relegated God to "Religion" and compartmentalized our relationship with Him, focusing on church attendance.
2) We stopped talking about Him.

Now, our big "evangelical tool" is to say "Merry Christmas". It seems, for a variety of reasons, some of us are allowing fear to dictate our actions or non-actions. But not everyone. Many citizens refuse to let fear rule them. It makes me happy to know that a significant amount of people throughout our land refuse to be shifted into...

The Fear Gear,

Monday, December 20, 2010

Are you a Moral Mirror...or a Morality Maker?

Our lives are more about "image" than we realize. We allow ourselves to think that the people that are concerned with image are people in their teens and twenty's. Even into the thirty's. But by 40 and up, well...we tend to equate image with fashion, appearance, idols - people with a guise that is in keeping with the trend of the day.

Image, however, is simply a reflection. So what do you and I reflect? Who do we "take after"? Are you the spitting image of your Dad or Mom?

I liked the story I heard about the little girl who asked Jesus into her heart and figured that since He was big and she was small, well...He would have to shine through her. As she let God live in her, she actually became a moral mirror that reflected God's life in her little human body. Do we do that? Will we let go of the self made image we have of ourselves?

Sometimes we might. Many times, though, we decide our own morality. We make up our own rules and regulations. Decide what is right and what is wrong. That's understandable if you don't believe in God. But what if you do believe in God? If so... I have a question for you.

Are you a Moral Mirror...or a Morality Maker?