Month: July 2014

In a brief exchange with a friend this morning, we quickly identified a common struggle.  Even with years of experience behind us, we still find ourselves lacking when it comes to certain relationships.  We long to relax and enjoy the fellowship with those dear to us, but often these exchanges leave us feeling as if something was left undone and unsettled in a vague, not-so-sure-what-it-is kind of way.  If we are not careful, we beat ourselves up over our perceived deficiencies, and promise ourselves we will do better next time.  I shouldn’t have said this.  I should have said that.  Why did I do THAT?  

We’ve spent the better part of our lives as followers of Christ and have seen amazing changes in ourselves.  We are leaps and bounds from where we began, so how is it that we still struggle here?  Both the time spent with our loved ones and the parting are bittersweet, as we wish things were just a little different.  If only they could hear our hearts.

We weigh our success in these relationships on the scales of our personalities and judge them by our abilities, or lack thereof, to adequately express ourselves on one side of the scale, and their responses to us on the other.  We imagine this scale rocking up and down, hoping to find it stop perfectly balanced leaving us eye-to-eye, understanding finally achieved.   Someday.  When we get it right.

God quickly reminded me that we are weighing our lives on the wrong scales so often.  Some are weighing the success of their lives based on their work or their outward appearance.  Others are weighed by their bank accounts or their good deeds. Still others are looking at the scales of religion or titles achieved to measure success or failure on any given day.  But these are all faulty scales.

A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work – established on His eternal principles.  Proverbs 16:11

With all the wonderful things we may be able to accomplish in this lifetime, especially the things we do for Him, they will all be measured on one scale:  Love.

If I can speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have prophetic powers and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor in providing food, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.  1 Corinthians 13:1-3

When the weight of God’s love is put on the scale of all our relationships, He assures a right balance.  Our relationships still require our efforts to develop and grow into what He wants them to be.  But none of the efforts we employ will remain on the scale if they are not saturated in and motivated by His love.

So this morning I encouraged my friend and myself.  I reminded us both that while the personalities in all our relationships may still be a little out of sync , those dear to us know that we love them and in the end love wins.

 

 

“Are you excited about going to the 3rd grade?” I asked.

“Yes!” answered my granddaughter.

“I wonder who your teacher will be…”

Her mom speaks up “Just be glad you won’t have Mrs. So-and-so!”

Oh yes… Mrs. So-and-so….       😦

Growing up with the nature of a “rule follower”, a strong respect/fear for authority, and a deep dislike for any kind of confrontation, I didn’t buck the system when my child was placed with the less than stellar teachers.  I knew that she was smart and would be able to complete the work assigned to her, so when she got the difficult teachers I tried to encourage her as much as possible and remind her that school was not about fun, it was about learning (I sounded like my father…).  I gave the teachers the benefit of the doubt that they held the positions based on their merits even if they were not well liked. But I watched her interests wane as year after year she was assigned to classes with teachers that were not the best.  She envied her friends that were enjoying their classes.  She effortlessly earned decent grades, enjoyed the social aspects of the school environment, and highly celebrated the day it was all over.   It could have been so different….

My favorite teachers were the ones that I felt truly cared about me.  Other teachers were tolerated as I completed the assignments and stored the facts away in the recesses of my brain, but I didn’t learn all that I could have under their tutelage.  Then of course there were the bad teachers.  Like the one who would lay her head on the desk and sleep during our time with her.  She was unpleasant and difficult to understand as she seemed to mumble when she spoke.  (I now strongly suspect she had a drinking problem.)  We enjoyed her class only because we were happy with the opportunity to quietly play as she slept, being careful not to wake the angry beast.

The best teachers first build confidence in the student’s ability to learn.  They are encouraging and patient, trustworthy with the facts, and strategic in laying a strong foundation that can be built upon year after year. They are not afraid of the hard questions and will endeavor to lead the student to understanding.  They will correct mistakes made, both in the assignments given and behaviors observed, but will do so with kindness.  The hunger of a student eager to learn is the pinnacle of satisfaction for them and they will move mountains to not only satisfy that hunger, but to also make them hungry for more.  The best teachers love to teach and they love their students.

I have told you these things while I am still with you.  But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.  He will bring to your remembrance everything I have told you.   John 14:25-26

The early church dealt with the same problems we have – teachers that disagreed, false prophets, and leaders who denied Jesus as the Son of God.  They may not have had the internet where they could post their beliefs for the world to see, but the synagogues and temples were central attractions of that day.  Their voices were loud and their messages spread rapidly throughout the cities.  Jesus knew His followers would be bombarded with misinformation and the temptations to depart from His truth.  Yet He was leaving.  He wouldn’t be walking with them much longer and would not be there to sort the truth from the lies for them.

If you abide in My word – hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them – you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.  John 8:31-32

A familiar scripture, even to unbelievers.  Erase from your mind how the world has used those words and read them again.  Jesus said if we will abide in His word, His teachings, and direct our lives accordingly, we WILL know the Truth.  We do not have to fear wrong teaching, but in order to identify the Truth, we must be devoted to studying and listening.  He never intended that we only rely on other people to hear what He has to say.  He wants to speak to each of us individually and lead us in His ways.  John wrote to the church:  …His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood….  1 John 2:27

He also knew how much we would need each other to develop and grow.  We are instructed to “not neglect the assembling together”  (Hebrews 10:25).   We need to talk about what we are reading and what we are learning.  We have to be willing to disagree at times, but continue to come together to “…watch over one another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds and noble activities… (Hebrews 10:24)

We have been assigned to the best Teacher.  He has clearly told us we CAN learn.  He is not afraid of our hard questions and will lead us to understanding.  He corrects us when needed, always with kindness.  He delights in our desire to know more and will take us as far as we want to go in discovering the treasures of knowing God, moving mountains if need be.  He is never boring, and while satisfying our hunger with the truth of His word, He stirs up hunger for more.  He loves to teach and He loves His students.

With all that He will teach us, He will never stray from the foundation He laid upon which every command He has given is based:

Love Him with all our hearts, and love others like He does.

 

 

Driving through the traffic on what felt like the 100th errand I had run that day, I could feel it.  The tentacles of resentment winding tightly around me threatening to suffocate.  Fighting back the tears, I replayed in my mind all that I needed to be doing, all that I had planned to do, all that I wanted to be doing.  If anyone asks me to do one more thing it will push me over the edge!  Fatigue had been my companion for several days, which only added to my frustration, and when the enemy’s invitation to the pity party arrived, I responded by accepting.  I didn’t stay at the party long, but we all know that any time spent there is too long.

Quiet times filled with prayers of surrender typically have me envisioning my life spent in noble endeavors that are worthy of the martyrdom I sometimes feel.  Sacrificing my time and efforts to teach others about God, working to relieve the suffering of the poor and the homeless, blogging exhortations and encouragements to build up the body of Christ – these are the things I am called to do!!  Help me, Lord!  If everyone would just leave me alone, I could do what I’m supposed to do!!

Kay.

Yes, Lord.

Do you love me?

Yes, Lord.

Do you trust me?

Yes, Lord.

Will you do whatever I ask?

I want to, Lord.

Will you pour your life out for Me?

Yes, it is my deepest desire to live my life for You, Lord.

Will you pour your life out in the mundane if I ask you to?

I am not quick to respond to this question He asks.  I hesitate.  I know my heart is not hidden from Him and I cannot lie.  I do not want to spend my life only doing the mundane, every day activities.

When I’m finally back at home, I have just enough time to prepare for bible study.  When I arrive at the church, I realize that we’ve had interruptions in our schedule for a couple of weeks and I’d neglected to send a reminder email that class would be resuming.  I’m early and once I’ve settled in I have time to myself while waiting to see if anyone will remember to come.  I’m thinking about my day and this phrase plays over and over in my mind:  a life poured out.

Kay.

Yes, Lord.

Remember Who I am.  Remember that I knew the events of this day long before they touched your life. Remember that My Son came to give you life, a good life that you would enjoy.  If you will do whatever I ask you to do and keep your focus on Me, I can do amazing things with even the everyday, mundane activities of your life.  I can cause you to enjoy every moment spent with Me.  I will use you to bless others and accomplish My purposes every day, and you’ll be satisfied if you keep your eyes on Me.

I repent.  I change my mind and remember a verse I memorized years ago, but have strayed from:

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…  Colossians 3:23

 

 

 

 

Lounging on a white sand beach watching the sun set in all its beauty over the expanse of the ocean.  That’s my heaven on earth.  I love the sound of the ocean waves, the quiet of the morning sunrise, and the array of colors displayed as that fire slowly sinks into the waters of the evening.  I’ve been blessed to relax on more spectacular beaches than I had ever dreamed possible in my youth.  Of all the many wonderful places to see on this earth, nothing compares to this experience thus far.  The magnificence of what God has created stirs a praise so deep there are no words to express it.  Yet as I sit in His presence admiring His handiwork, His presence is so tangible no words are needed. He knows.  He delights in these moments with me and fills the experience with peace that truly passes all understanding.

Once we traveled with friends to a wonderful resort in Mexico.  As we walked back to our rooms one afternoon we saw a family at the outdoor concierge desk as they were checking out.  A young boy was dejectedly waiting for the process to be completed, his head hung low with the disappointment of having to leave and return home. We paused to speak with him and asked him if he had enjoyed his stay.

“Oh yes!  But now we have to go home.”

“Where do you live?” we asked.

With the saddest tone he replied

“The Bahamas.”

Seriously?  Oh, how sad to have to return home to the Bahamas!!!  We walked away laughing at a child’s perspective of what had become boring and common to him.

Sometimes as Christians we aren’t that different that this little boy.  Sometimes we get bored with following Jesus.  We go to church and sing the songs and return home leaving the worship experience behind.

Jesus took time to get away.  He had crowds clamoring for His attention everywhere He went.  He sometimes retreated to the mountains, other times to the sea.  He knew He needed time to be refreshed.  Perhaps while He was busy with the mission God had for Him, He was also thinking about the next time He would be able to get away with God.  Yet He enjoyed every day of His life, no matter what He had to do because He knew that God was with Him.

…He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:6

I don’t pretend to understand all that it means to be seated with Christ in the heavenly places.  But if by my confession of faith in Him He has saved me from all sin and made me alive together in fellowship and union with Christ, I want to take my seat!!  I don’t want to forget the wonder of being born again, the magnitude of the grace He has showered over me, or the promises He gave to me that my life would be more than I could have ever imagined – in Him.  Taking my place seated with Him will most surely give me a new perspective on every aspect of my life, every day.

Need a new outlook on your life?  Take a seat!

On purpose.  I knew this day was coming.  I planned what I would do and what I would say, knowing full well it would make her cry.  And I did it anyway.

This is not the first time I’ve made her cry.  Much of our childhood was spent sharing a bedroom.  We were oil and water, morning bird and night owl, neat freak and messy bessie, forced to endure the limitations of homes with fewer bedrooms than the number of inhabitants.  She has always been the more emotional between the two of us, and since sensitivity to the feelings of others wasn’t something I was born with, you can imagine the outcome of many of our sisterly interactions in our shared space.   Tears flowing and me wondering…what?…why is she crying?…

One particular day playing outside, we began squabbling.  Hands on her hips and knowing that our parents forbid physical fighting, she cockily dared me to hit her.  This opportunity simply could not be passed without action.  Normally fearful of getting into any trouble, I think the fact that I socked her in the eye surprised us both!  She ran in the house crying, of course.  A few short moments later I was summoned in as well.  I received a stern rebuke for my actions with no consideration of the logic in my explanation that I had only done what she had told me to….

Other times I inflicted pain without invitation.  I remember biting her once (I was definitely old enough to know better) and another time practicing my skills in popping a wet towel.  I really didn’t mean to pop her that hard….  Longer lasting were the words spoken that pierced the heart and made her cry.

It took me many years to understand her tears, to understand why we were so very different, and to accept us both as we are.  Occasionally her tears still surprise me.  But today I was ready.  She kept her face turned away, not wanting me to see, but I knew.  Yet unlike the tears through the years that were provoked by childish unkindness or grown-up misunderstandings, today’s tears were different.  They were provoked by love.

I may not be that great with overt displays of affection or flowery words that convey the depths of the love I feel, but I know my sister.  I know what will touch her heart and what she treasures.  So today I gave her love the best way I know how.  I made my sister cry.

 

 

 

Living near a railroad track provided numerous forms of entertainment for us as children.  We weren’t allowed to play on the tracks but occasionally found ourselves sneaking over to examine this forbidden territory.  We would walk the rails as balance beams, never going very far.  We looked for treasures among the rocks and cross ties, treasures such as flattened pennies we may have placed there previously, or other such things.  Mostly we watched from a safe distance as the rail cars passed, ever looking for the infamous hobos we’d seen and heard about on tv.  If we had arrived before the passing of the engine, we would wave vigorously in hopes the conductor would notice and wave back.  Then as the last car approached, we would wave again at the caboose man.

It was easy to understand what the conductor’s job was – he was the one driving the train.  But I never really knew why there was a caboose man.   Oblivious to his responsibilities as a watchman, I saw his job as simply riding in the back and waving at the children as the train rolled along.  He wasn’t in charge of where the train was going, only to follow in his rightful place at the end, enjoying the trip.

I’ve used the illustration of a train many times in talking to others about faith and emotions:

 FEELINGS                         FAITH                              FACTS

The engine represents the facts.  When it comes to following Jesus, the facts are all that the Bible says about Jesus’ life and His words to us – the Truth.  He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  The middle car represents our faith, the decision to believe.  The caboose represents our feelings.

The problem we have is that we often let the caboose drive the train!

The caboose has no power source.  No matter how much the caboose man wants to be the conductor, he is still unable to properly direct the train.  In reality, when it appears that the caboose is leading the train, the train is actually going backward.  It’s being pushed by the engine.

Ever let your emotions be the deciding factor in an important decision?  Ever discover when it was all said and done that the emotions had it all wrong?  Ever disobey God’s instructions because your emotions led you in the opposite direction – like that whole “love your enemies” thing?  Oh, the many messes I’ve made by following my emotions rather than the facts!!

For a great deal of my life, the emotion of fear overshadowed the facts of God’s love for me.  Fear led me to make some very bad decisions.  I had never really understood the facts of God’s goodness and His passionate love for me, so my faith was placed in my feelings more than the facts.  I was saved.  I knew if I died I would go to Heaven.  But I had never really believed what the Bible said about His love for me, so I wasn’t letting this amazing truth lead my life.

Once I began to diligently pursue the facts of God’s love, my faith grew and became solid in this truth.  During this time of study and development, I had to ignore the feelings that would come that brought doubt and fear and I had to stay focused on the facts.  It took awhile, but eventually the emotions lined up and began to follow the facts!

Our faith must be placed in the facts of God’s goodness, His mercy, His faithfulness, and most of all His love for us.  When His ways become our diligent pursuit, our faith is rightly placed and the right emotions will follow.

 

 

 

Years ago before I got back into running I participated in race walking.  Proper race walking form often draws puzzled looks from the spectators unfamiliar with this sport.  Arms pumping and hips exaggeratedly swiveling, it is much more intense than you would imagine.  When competing, the athlete must maintain such control so that the back toe does not leave the ground until the heel of the front foot touches the ground or risk being disqualified from the race.  And yes, they have judges that watch those things.

When first introduced to this sport, I gained my instruction from an expert and paired up with another newbie to begin our training.  The form was very awkward and took a good bit of concentration, but we were so excited to begin that we proudly returned to our starting point having gone quite a bit farther than we had been instructed.  Little did we know that our pride would soon be turned to sorrow upon waking the following day with every muscle below our waists in extreme pain.  Pain relievers and hot showers getting us through those first few days, we were hooked on this new workout.

As soon as I felt I had developed my form so as not to completely embarrass myself in front of those with more experience, I began to enter the local competitions.  One particular course offered the opportunity to achieve my fastest time to date – it ran downhill from the start to a bridge that stretched in a long, straight, level line until you turned for another short downhill to the finish.  Throughout my training and competitions, I repeatedly heard the name of a man who was the best race walker in the area, and I had the chance to meet him on this course.  I set my goal on keeping up with him and winning the women’s division.

The course proved to be everything I had hoped for.  I kept pace with the leader and was feeling so confident as we entered the downhill to the finish that I entertained the idea I could beat him and be the overall winner.  Nearing the finish line I could hear the small crowd cheering and I gave it everything I had.  It’s a miracle that I didn’t trip us both because we crossed the finish line with me on his heels.  Literally.  He won the race with our times separated by only seconds.  I was feeling pretty proud about it until I learned that he was 71 years old.  I was in my early 40’s….

When we begin this walk with God many things seem awkward.  Onlookers may appear puzzled at our new form if they are unfamiliar with Him and His ways.  Learning this new walk can be intense at times and require a good bit of concentration.  Some days we run ahead as if everything is easy.  Other days we feel as if every move hurts and we wonder if we can continue.  We are happy to practice and when the pressure is on, to give it our all.  We see others that seem to have mastered this walk and we try to keep up with them.  Occasionally this causes us to stumble.   We are here to practice together, help each other, and cheer each other on.  But our eyes are to be fixed on Him.

My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.  Psalm 63:8

I left that race with a new personal record, a medal, and a t-shirt. Today, I don’t remember how fast I finished the race.  The medal and t-shirt are long gone.  But I do remember the satisfaction of giving it everything I had and finishing well.

That’s what I want when I stand face to face with Jesus.  To have followed so hard after Him it felt as if I were on his heels.  If I do that, I will finish well.