I have often been ashamed of how lacking my prayer life is. I battle find the time and the desire to spend time in prayer and am often only praying in the midst of troubles. I have promised others that they are in my prayers and have forgotten to pray for them. I know that I am "unplugged" from a major source of power in my life and yet laziness causes me to stay disconnected.
Yesterday I sought inspiration for my blog as I had hoped to make an entry everyday this week. I prayed and read the Bible for an hour and though I found many things I could write about, I lacked the words to express my thoughts. I made a plea on Facebook for inspirational help and my dear friend Catherine sent me a link to her blog. For those of you who don't know Catherine, she is on a fantastic weight-loss journey. She recently posted a video speaking about why she has taken the challenge of this journey and her thankfulness for her accountability partner. And I found myself inspired to find an accountability partner for my prayer life. I called my husband and told him I wanted to start a prayer journal together.
One of my greatest struggles with prayer is knowing what to pray and when. How do I make a meaningful prayer without it being to general? How do I not become consumed with sorrow as I visit all of the needs of this world? How do I reign in my thoughts so I am thoughtfully meditating on specific needs for specific individuals? Finally last night, what I have been searching for appeared in my head. Together, Jonathan and I developed an organization so that we are rotating our prayer theme each night so we can stay focused and not forget the needs and hurts of our loved ones and others.
I thought I would share with you our design and invite you to join us on our prayer journey. For each day we open in a prayer of praise to our God for a specific area, then pray for others in a related area and carry that theme to focus on a prayer for our children. We then pray for each other regarding the same topic and end with a prayer of thanksgiving that coincides with that topic. Here is what we laid out as a guideline for us to follow. It may seem redundant to have a praise section and a thanksgiving section, but the praise section is intended to recognize God for Who He is and the thanksgiving section allows us to give thanks for the specific areas in our life where He has revealed that characteristic to us.
Sunday
Theme: Faith
Praise: Open in prayer praising God for His faithfulness to us. We love because He first loved us. His faithfulness endures forever and He has been faithful to all of His promises.
Others: Our prayer for others is for those lacking the faith, knowledge, and comforts of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We will name specific individuals that God has placed on our hearts to minister to.
Children: Regarding our children, we will pray that they grow in knowledge and faith of God, naming specific areas that may need to be strengthened at that time.
Each Other: We will pray that God would help us to follow Him faithfully, even when we don't understand what He is asking of us.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for our faith, for being able to freely share our faith and the opportunity to raise our children in the faith.
Monday
Theme: Finances
Praise: We will praise God for being the provider of all our needs. He is the provider of our life, our abilities that sustain us, and our purpose.
Others: We will pray for the specific individuals in our life struggling to make ends meet, in search of jobs, or those who struggle to use their financial gifts wisely. We will also pray for those in struggling countries, as well as our current country's economic state.
Children: We will pray for our children's discipline, since finance is an area in our life that requires great discipline. Along with that we will pray for our children's obedience since this is their role in the family.
Each Other: We will pray for Jonathan's career as well as my job as a wife, mother and blogger.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for our financial situation and the opportunities that He allows us to be a blessing to others with the gifts He gives us.
Tuesday
Theme: Health
Praise: We will praise God for being the Great Physician, the Healer of all our hurts. We will recognize that one day we will join Him in Heaven where we will look forward to our glorified bodies and no more pain and suffering.
Others: We will pray for those who are suffering with physical ailments.
Children: We will pray that God will provide our children with good health.
Each Other: We will pray for our own health and pray that God will encourage us in providing our children with a healthy environment, as well as meeting our own health goals in regards to eating right and exercise.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for our health, our children's health, and for those we have seen Him heal.
Wednesday
Theme: Relationships
Praise: We will praise God for being our Father in Heaven, who rules and disciplines in perfect divine example.
Others: We will pray for those struggling with relationship issues- those going through divorce or break- ups, those with strained parent/children relationships, etc.
Children: We will pray for our children's confidence, that they find their self-worth in God and Who He designed them to be. As they grow, we will pray for positive friendships and role-models and pray that God is designing a mate for them.
Each Other: We will pray for our own marriage. We our a powerful force of support together, which means there will be attacks by the enemy at our marriage. We will pray for perseverance, renewed love, continued respect and that when servitude grows tiresome, God would renew our commitment.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for those around us who fill our life and our children's lives with love. We will thank Him for His love. We will thank Him for the love that we have found in each other.
Thursday
Theme: Family
Praise: We will praise God for being Our Father in Heaven, who rules and disciplines in perfect divine example.
Others: We will focus our prayers on our extended family; for their health and well-being, for their happiness, for their faith, for their provision.
Children: We will pray for their wisdom. We will pray that we will be recipients of their love and devotion. We will pray for their role in our family as gifts from God that we are to raise up in love for Him.
Each Other: We will pray that He would strengthen our daily role as parents. We will ask for His wisdom, patience, kindness, love, and guidance so that we can be examples to our children so they will know how to grow to love and serve Him.
Thanksgiving: We will give thanks for our family and for being a part of the family of God.
Friday
Theme: Protection
Praise: We will praise God for being the Great Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep, who tends to us and watches over us and guides us to safe pastures.
Others: We will pray for those in dangerous situations, war and areas of public service that require a sacrifice of self. We will pray for those who are struggling emotionally as well; those that are depressed, lonely, or struggling with sin.
Children: We will pray for their protection from temptation, danger, and evil.
Each Other: We will pray for protection from temptation, danger, and evil.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for our friends and for the many support systems He provides us with.
Saturday
Theme: Witnessing
Praise: We will praise God for His great evidences of His love.
Others: We will pray for Pastor and our church, Heart of the Shepherd, that God might inspire the worship service the following day so that many will come and hear of the goodness of Our God.
Children: We will pray that God will provide them with the fruits of the spirit and that they would exude Godly qualities.
Each Other: We pray that God will strengthen our witness of His great love; that we would be open to sharing it and that He would provide us with opportunity and courage to share His love.
Thanksgiving: We will thank God for the comforts worship brings, for being tools in sharing His Word, and being designed for a specific purpose in carrying out His Word.
Join us in our prayer journey! Please feel free to email me with your prayer requests or post them at the end of this blog. My email is bloggingtobless@hotshepherd.org.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Happy Passover!
I know I am a day late on this one, but I wanted to wish you all a happy Passover! Now before some of you start wondering if I suddenly converted to Judaism, I want to remind you of our heritage and the significance of the Passover to Christians. Sadly, many Christians focus entirely on the New Testament, forgetting that the foundation of our religion was built in the Old Testament and is imbedded in the history of the Jewish nation. Christ, Himself a devout Jew, quoted Old Testament scripture to assert that He was the Savior the Jewish nation was waiting for.
The story of the first Passover is found in the Book of Exodus. At the time, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians. God had called Moses to urge Pharaoh to set the people free. Each time Pharaoh refused, a plague was placed on the Egyptians. The final plague was that all of the firstborn, man and animal, of any Egyptian household would die. However, God gave the Israelites specific instructions to protect themselves that night. He commanded that each Jewish household slaughter a spotless lamb and take the blood of the lamb and paint the doorframe of the home using a hyssop branch. The Jews were to remain in the home the entire night. This would be a sign to God to pass over these households that night as the plague took place. They were to eat the lamb after it had been roasted over a fire, along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. They were to have their cloak tucked in their belt, sandals on their feet and staff in hand as they ate, signifying that they would be leaving quickly.
All of this is a symbolic foreshadowing of what we will be celebrating in a few days as Easter approaches. First, it was because Jesus was observing the Passover that He was returning to Jerusalem at the risk of His life. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, and many gathered to shout Hosanna (which means "save" in Hebrew). The day is now celebrated as Palm Sunday, but on the day that it took place, it was the day that the Jews were required by law to present their Passover lamb for inspection so that it could be declared without blemish and an acceptable sacrifice. It was not a coincidence that Christ presented Himself on this day. He was spotless- without sin.
The blood of the lamb of the Passover protected the Jews from death the night of their exodus from Egypt. It was not simply the blood on the doorframe that caused their household to be passed over, but it was a declaration in belief of the God who would save them. In the same way, when we declare belief in Christ's death and resurrection, we are covered in his blood and saved from eternal death and given life eternal. This is why Jesus is often referred to as the "Lamb of God." When God looks at us, He sees the blood of Christ on the "doorframe" of our heart. Our declaration of belief is that Christ's death was sufficient payment for our sins as the wrath of God was poured out on Him during His death on the cross, therefore we are passed over and spared.
I pray that you understand the significance of Passover and have painted the doorframe of your heart with the blood of the Ultimate Paschal Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the sins of the whole world.
The story of the first Passover is found in the Book of Exodus. At the time, the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians. God had called Moses to urge Pharaoh to set the people free. Each time Pharaoh refused, a plague was placed on the Egyptians. The final plague was that all of the firstborn, man and animal, of any Egyptian household would die. However, God gave the Israelites specific instructions to protect themselves that night. He commanded that each Jewish household slaughter a spotless lamb and take the blood of the lamb and paint the doorframe of the home using a hyssop branch. The Jews were to remain in the home the entire night. This would be a sign to God to pass over these households that night as the plague took place. They were to eat the lamb after it had been roasted over a fire, along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast. They were to have their cloak tucked in their belt, sandals on their feet and staff in hand as they ate, signifying that they would be leaving quickly.
All of this is a symbolic foreshadowing of what we will be celebrating in a few days as Easter approaches. First, it was because Jesus was observing the Passover that He was returning to Jerusalem at the risk of His life. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, to fulfill the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9, and many gathered to shout Hosanna (which means "save" in Hebrew). The day is now celebrated as Palm Sunday, but on the day that it took place, it was the day that the Jews were required by law to present their Passover lamb for inspection so that it could be declared without blemish and an acceptable sacrifice. It was not a coincidence that Christ presented Himself on this day. He was spotless- without sin.
The blood of the lamb of the Passover protected the Jews from death the night of their exodus from Egypt. It was not simply the blood on the doorframe that caused their household to be passed over, but it was a declaration in belief of the God who would save them. In the same way, when we declare belief in Christ's death and resurrection, we are covered in his blood and saved from eternal death and given life eternal. This is why Jesus is often referred to as the "Lamb of God." When God looks at us, He sees the blood of Christ on the "doorframe" of our heart. Our declaration of belief is that Christ's death was sufficient payment for our sins as the wrath of God was poured out on Him during His death on the cross, therefore we are passed over and spared.
I pray that you understand the significance of Passover and have painted the doorframe of your heart with the blood of the Ultimate Paschal Lamb, Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed for the sins of the whole world.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Who Said Life Was Easy?
We wonder at how it could happen; how God could let it happen. Tragedies that befall upon the "good" people of this world- young parents at the death of a child, loved ones suffering with cancer, divorce threatening a once stable marriage. We question God and his sovereignty. We inform an all-knowing God that He does not know what He is doing; must not have considered the faithfulness of these people.
It seems a common expectation of Christians that life will be easy and safe, though the Bible warns us of exactly the opposite. Somehow it seems logical that as faithful followers of Christ, a man of great suffering and sorrows, we should be freed of our own.
As Christ approached His death, He experienced great mental anguish. Imagine having the awareness of God of what was to come and the ability of God to prevent it, but submitting entirely to the plan. We forget that it was not easy for Christ to bear these qualities here on earth. Long before His death had been plotted, He knew the great suffering He would endure. He also knew that He had the power to stop it. At any point, He could have decided that we were not worth. In the words of the great song "Ten Thousand Angels," He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free. He was not helpless, but He refused to save Himself in order to save us. The temptation must have been so real- excruciating to resist.
In John Chapter 12:27-28 Christ says, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say, 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" This verse describes Christ's ability to save Himself, but His willingness to save us. A voice from Heaven proclaims that His name has been glorified and will be glorified again. Then Jesus informs the crowd that the voice was for their benefit, not ours. How can we benefit from this story?
Jesus knew what we so often struggle with. He knew that His sufferings would lead to God's glory which would be for the benefit of the whole world and Christ as well. This knowledge, this trust in God, this faith is what gave Him the strength to submit to the suffering. So often we cry for God to save us from "this hour" of suffering, but it would behoove us to follow Christ's example and declare, "Father, glorify your name!" In this we will find the strength to push through the sorrows of this world to find everlasting peace in a God who can carry us through all troubles.
If the Son of God was not spared suffering, we should know that we will not expect to be spared either. But what, then, is the promise of God? Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." There is no promise of being exempt from troubles, but that He will be our ever-present help in the midst of troubles. So often our doubt in God is founded in the fact that we face troubles here on earth, but we can watch our faith grow abundantly if we were to submit to our trials and make our pleading be "Father, glorify your name."
Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Dear Christian, He is working ALL things in your life for good! There is a purpose in your suffering- a strength, a perseverance, a salvation that will glorify His name and that will lead you to everlasting peace and comfort.
It seems a common expectation of Christians that life will be easy and safe, though the Bible warns us of exactly the opposite. Somehow it seems logical that as faithful followers of Christ, a man of great suffering and sorrows, we should be freed of our own.
As Christ approached His death, He experienced great mental anguish. Imagine having the awareness of God of what was to come and the ability of God to prevent it, but submitting entirely to the plan. We forget that it was not easy for Christ to bear these qualities here on earth. Long before His death had been plotted, He knew the great suffering He would endure. He also knew that He had the power to stop it. At any point, He could have decided that we were not worth. In the words of the great song "Ten Thousand Angels," He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set Him free. He was not helpless, but He refused to save Himself in order to save us. The temptation must have been so real- excruciating to resist.
In John Chapter 12:27-28 Christ says, "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say, 'Father, save me from this hour?' No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" This verse describes Christ's ability to save Himself, but His willingness to save us. A voice from Heaven proclaims that His name has been glorified and will be glorified again. Then Jesus informs the crowd that the voice was for their benefit, not ours. How can we benefit from this story?
Jesus knew what we so often struggle with. He knew that His sufferings would lead to God's glory which would be for the benefit of the whole world and Christ as well. This knowledge, this trust in God, this faith is what gave Him the strength to submit to the suffering. So often we cry for God to save us from "this hour" of suffering, but it would behoove us to follow Christ's example and declare, "Father, glorify your name!" In this we will find the strength to push through the sorrows of this world to find everlasting peace in a God who can carry us through all troubles.
If the Son of God was not spared suffering, we should know that we will not expect to be spared either. But what, then, is the promise of God? Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." There is no promise of being exempt from troubles, but that He will be our ever-present help in the midst of troubles. So often our doubt in God is founded in the fact that we face troubles here on earth, but we can watch our faith grow abundantly if we were to submit to our trials and make our pleading be "Father, glorify your name."
Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Dear Christian, He is working ALL things in your life for good! There is a purpose in your suffering- a strength, a perseverance, a salvation that will glorify His name and that will lead you to everlasting peace and comfort.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Greater Things Are Yet to Come
They had two beautiful daughters. The father peeked into the stroller I pushed onto the elevator and told me he thought Julia was very cute. His wife asked how old she was and commented on how very alert she is. With motherly pride, I told them about all three of my girls.
After stepping off the elevator, I started bundling Julia for the cold walk to the car. It was raining heavily. I saw the wife tug at her husbands arm and he turned to me and said, "Please, could I watch your baby for you while you pull up your car? I would be happy to." I politely declined and his wife said, "Are you certain? It really isn't a problem." I assured them that I had Julia warmly covered with blankets and protected from the rain, but thanked them for their kindness.
As I walked to the car, I felt very touched by how friendly they were and concerned for my well-being. Suddenly I felt compelled to go back and thank them and then tell them how much God loves them. Julia was loaded in the car and I pulled out one of my "How Good is Good Enough" books that I have been carrying in my purse with the intent to give it to them. I prayed that God would allow me this opportunity and drove down the parking lot lane opposite from the exit. I saw the father get in his car that he had pulled up to the front door for his wife and two daughters and quickly pull away. Just like that, they were gone.
I have often felt sorrow for a stranger, whether it be trial or tragedy that brings on the emotion. But I don't believe I have ever felt true sorrow when considering a stranger's salvation, until Friday. I prayed to God that they knew the love of Christ and that if they did not, He would put a strong witness in their life. And I cried because I would not be a part of it, or know what becomes of them. They had two beautiful daughters. They were very gentle people. And I won't ever know if they will know the joy of their Lord and Savior.
I know why God let them get away. I believe He had to let me experience that sorrow so that I could know why He calls us to witness. Admittedly I felt sorrow because they were nice. I wanted them to be saved. They showed me love. But the sorrow I felt for them should extend even to those that do not show me love; even those that show me the opposite. The sorrow that I felt was a small glimpse of what God feels, but better than the sorrow, He wants me to experience the joy of watching another come to Christ. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to witness to my husband and see Him saved. When I look at Jonathan and reflect on the work that Christ has done in his life, my heart fills with joy. And to have been a part of it is a gift from God. God wants me to be part of more opportunities like this.
Colette's Bible verse for the week is "Store your treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy." (Matthew 6:20) The only treasures I can take with me to Heaven are the souls of my loved ones. This is what my focus should be in life.
God also spoke to me through this incident in another way. As my last entry indicated, I was feeling the need to branch out in my faith in God and commit to Him in a bigger and bolder way. I thank all of you that kept that in your prayers, and I believe the answer I received is found in Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.'" I have realized that I have not been trusted with greater deeds because I have not been faithful in the small things. In light of this revelation I have made a commitment to read the Bible and spend time in prayer everyday. Shamefully, these things I have not been doing. I want to join in my master's happiness. I would love to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I know that as I am faithful in the small things, greater things will be yet to come.
After stepping off the elevator, I started bundling Julia for the cold walk to the car. It was raining heavily. I saw the wife tug at her husbands arm and he turned to me and said, "Please, could I watch your baby for you while you pull up your car? I would be happy to." I politely declined and his wife said, "Are you certain? It really isn't a problem." I assured them that I had Julia warmly covered with blankets and protected from the rain, but thanked them for their kindness.
As I walked to the car, I felt very touched by how friendly they were and concerned for my well-being. Suddenly I felt compelled to go back and thank them and then tell them how much God loves them. Julia was loaded in the car and I pulled out one of my "How Good is Good Enough" books that I have been carrying in my purse with the intent to give it to them. I prayed that God would allow me this opportunity and drove down the parking lot lane opposite from the exit. I saw the father get in his car that he had pulled up to the front door for his wife and two daughters and quickly pull away. Just like that, they were gone.
I have often felt sorrow for a stranger, whether it be trial or tragedy that brings on the emotion. But I don't believe I have ever felt true sorrow when considering a stranger's salvation, until Friday. I prayed to God that they knew the love of Christ and that if they did not, He would put a strong witness in their life. And I cried because I would not be a part of it, or know what becomes of them. They had two beautiful daughters. They were very gentle people. And I won't ever know if they will know the joy of their Lord and Savior.
I know why God let them get away. I believe He had to let me experience that sorrow so that I could know why He calls us to witness. Admittedly I felt sorrow because they were nice. I wanted them to be saved. They showed me love. But the sorrow I felt for them should extend even to those that do not show me love; even those that show me the opposite. The sorrow that I felt was a small glimpse of what God feels, but better than the sorrow, He wants me to experience the joy of watching another come to Christ. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to witness to my husband and see Him saved. When I look at Jonathan and reflect on the work that Christ has done in his life, my heart fills with joy. And to have been a part of it is a gift from God. God wants me to be part of more opportunities like this.
Colette's Bible verse for the week is "Store your treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy." (Matthew 6:20) The only treasures I can take with me to Heaven are the souls of my loved ones. This is what my focus should be in life.
God also spoke to me through this incident in another way. As my last entry indicated, I was feeling the need to branch out in my faith in God and commit to Him in a bigger and bolder way. I thank all of you that kept that in your prayers, and I believe the answer I received is found in Matthew 25:21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness.'" I have realized that I have not been trusted with greater deeds because I have not been faithful in the small things. In light of this revelation I have made a commitment to read the Bible and spend time in prayer everyday. Shamefully, these things I have not been doing. I want to join in my master's happiness. I would love to hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" I know that as I am faithful in the small things, greater things will be yet to come.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Blind or Turning a Blind Eye?
Because I write this blog it is evident that I claim a saving knowledge in Christ. I told you in my very first entry that this blog is a testimony of my faith that God has worked a plan for my life and yours too. So the words in John 9:41 have been causing me much reflection on who I am claiming to be versus who I am acting as. "Jesus said, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.'" Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees whom He had just accused of spiritual blindness. This, after He healed a man who had been physically blind his entire life.
I claim to see. And that burden of guilt is heavy on my heart today.
I claim to see. I write to you, professing my love for God and what He has done for me, and I earnestly hope that you will join me in that proclamation.
If I claim to love God and know His truth and His desire for my life to be a reflection of His love, then I am guilty of all of those times-the majority of my life- that I do not act on that knowledge.
I claim to see. But today what I see is a computer that I hide behind and write words easily because I have been gifted with the ability. And though I think of you, dear stranger, who may read these words and I hope they bring you understanding, were I to meet you on the street and suspect your need for God's love and acceptance, I would not speak of it. That's what I see.
From where I sit in my kitchen I can see the refrigerator filled with the goodness of this morning's grocery trip, along with the bananas, tomatoes, avocados, and pears sitting on the counter, and the pantry that is stockpiled with all the things that I stare at when hungry and grumble that there is "nothing to eat in this house." From where I sit, I think I resemble much more the rich man whose gates poor Lazarus sat at, longing for the scraps that fell from his table, than the faithful servants described in the Bible who gave to each as they had need.
From where I sit I can view that which I have called blessings poured down from Heaven as a result of my faithfulness, and only today consider that they may actually be temptations from the hand of Satan. Temptations that convince me that my comforts are necessities and keep me in a position of serving my comforts as though they are my god and distract me from serving the One who truly is. This is what Jesus meant when He warned that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to Heaven. There is a lot of upkeep required for the rich's standard of living; upkeep that distracts from the work of God. Homes and cars and wardrobes that keep us running the rat race of complacency. And it's not just the money that keeps us preoccupied with the maintenance of these, but it is all of the time our "things" require- the yards to beautify, the large homes to clean and furnish and repair and heat and cool, the clothes to wash and press, and the cars to wash and wax. We call it good stewardship in that we are caring for our "investments" and making them last. Yet, all of it is eating up our time and we are satisfied with that when the harvests of God are ripe and the reapers are few. I go to bed with a feeling of accomplishment when my home is clean and my children well-fed, but how accomplished does God view that day?
I can not write this without feeling conviction, but yet I wonder what to do with it. Too often as Christians we can feel the pinch of guilt closing in us and use Jesus dying for our sins as our scapegoat to continue living in it. But we have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?! If we claim to see, but do not act on that sight, then the guilt remains. I know we are not saved by works, but faith without works is dead. How alive can my faith be when I look out at the rows of homes in my neighborhood filled with individuals who do not know Christ as their Savior and avoid sharing it with them? Where was my love for Christ when the Jehovah's Witness knocked on my door yesterday and invited me to his Kingdom Hall and I politely accepted the invitation and closed the door? Why did I not invite him to my church in return? Why was it relief that I felt when that was all the interaction we had? Where is my desire to knock on the doors of strangers and invite them to know God?
I have been sitting on this blog entry for days now with no way to end it. From a literary sense, it begs a powerful ending with a conclusion of how I am going to make some change in my life to further dedicate my life to Christ. From a godly perspective, it begs the same. But I cannot make a commitment to you or my God that I will not follow through with. I want to tell you I am ready, but fear is holding me back. So I ask for your prayers that I would be empowered to do that which God is calling me to do. I want to live my life for Him, instead of basking in His mercy. Truly, it is by His mercy that I have the many blessings that I do, for they are not deserved. I have not loved with my whole heart, but I want to be ready to.
I feel like something big is about to happen.
I have been sitting on this blog entry for days now with no way to end it. From a literary sense, it begs a powerful ending with a conclusion of how I am going to make some change in my life to further dedicate my life to Christ. From a godly perspective, it begs the same. But I cannot make a commitment to you or my God that I will not follow through with. I want to tell you I am ready, but fear is holding me back. So I ask for your prayers that I would be empowered to do that which God is calling me to do. I want to live my life for Him, instead of basking in His mercy. Truly, it is by His mercy that I have the many blessings that I do, for they are not deserved. I have not loved with my whole heart, but I want to be ready to.
I feel like something big is about to happen.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Changing "I love you, but..." to "Because I love you"
Last week was really chaotic. I am adjusting to life as a mother of three and have already had the experience of dealing with 3 sick kids all at once. Yes, though Julia is just shy of four weeks old, she has already had her first illness shared, no doubt, by the gracious coughs of her big sisters. Hence the absence of a post last week. And the ridiculously cluttered home I am sitting in right now. And the topic of this blogpost.
As I found myself just trying to provide for my family on a survival basis (meaning getting food on the table at regular intervals), I also discovered I had developed a new catch-phrase, "I love you, but..."
"Mary, I love you, but Mommy can't play right now. I have to make dinner."
"I love you, Colette, but Mommy needs some quiet time right now."
"Jon, I love you, but I can't talk right now."
By the end of the week the phrase was comfortably rolling off my tongue with little thought. And it was clear that despite my attempt to reaffirm my love, it was being received as, "I love you so long as you leave me alone!" Somehow it seemed acceptable to me to declare my love as a reason to be excused from actually putting that love into action. In the midst of trying to just get by on minimal sleep and the bare necessities, I had forgotten that it was because I love them, I needed to be making greater efforts in the difficult times to express it. Yes, there are certain leniencies that my family graciously allows and yes, providing for their physical needs is an expression of my love, but clean laundry says little to a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 3 week old. And if that laundry comes in the way of enjoying one of those rare warm winter days, then the only emotion that is evoked is resentment. I can tell my husband I love him, and hope that he sees it through the lunch that I threw together while bouncing a crying baby, but truly he will know it when I take the time to just listen to him talk about his day.
Love is about sacrifice. We see it expressed best when it was not easy for the giver to love, when it cost something. It is what makes a good romance- when someone continued to love when it hurt. It is why Christ's death means so much to those that understand it. But too often it is when it starts hurting that we hide behind the words of love to slack off on the actual act of it. "I love you, family, but I am just too tired to show it." I do not want my husband and my children to look back and question my love for them because though they heard about it frequently, they may have difficulty actually seeing it.
How frequent our love becomes rote memorization- Get the kids dressed, make breakfast, clean it up, do the laundry, make lunch, clean it up, change a diaper, clean the bedroom, make dinner, clean it up, tuck in bed, kiss, and "Good night, I love you." (Run out the door with a sigh of relief that your job is done) I could do it with my eyes closed... or at least with several children screaming at me! And because it is so routine, somewhere love can get lost by the viewer and the giver forgets to actually put the love into it.
And let's not forget, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven..." So it goes with the life of a Christian- go to church, sing a song, attempt to listen to the sermon, sing another song, remind God that you love Him, and drive back home. (Run out the door with a sigh of relief that your job is done) How often are we telling God, "I love you, but..."
"God, I love you, but I would rather sleep in today than spend time in prayer with you."
"God, I love you, but I don't want to sacrifice my comforts to show others your love."
"God, I love you, but I like things the way they are so don't ask me to change."
"I love you, but..." says little about love. It is precisely what John cautions us against in 1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." It is applicable in all of our relationships, including our relationship with God. How do we express our love for God instead of just being takers of what He freely gives? How do we change our life from being an "I love you, but..." declaration? By confessing in truth that we have failed to love in action and saying, "Because I love you..."
"Because I love you, God, I will spend time with you in prayer."
"Because I love you, God, I will sacrifice my comforts as you have called me to do to show others your love."
"Because I love you, God, I will seek your love through difficult times when I don't understand the changes that are going on around me."
And let's not forget to change our interactions with our family from "I love you, but..." to "Because I love you."
As I found myself just trying to provide for my family on a survival basis (meaning getting food on the table at regular intervals), I also discovered I had developed a new catch-phrase, "I love you, but..."
"Mary, I love you, but Mommy can't play right now. I have to make dinner."
"I love you, Colette, but Mommy needs some quiet time right now."
"Jon, I love you, but I can't talk right now."
By the end of the week the phrase was comfortably rolling off my tongue with little thought. And it was clear that despite my attempt to reaffirm my love, it was being received as, "I love you so long as you leave me alone!" Somehow it seemed acceptable to me to declare my love as a reason to be excused from actually putting that love into action. In the midst of trying to just get by on minimal sleep and the bare necessities, I had forgotten that it was because I love them, I needed to be making greater efforts in the difficult times to express it. Yes, there are certain leniencies that my family graciously allows and yes, providing for their physical needs is an expression of my love, but clean laundry says little to a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 3 week old. And if that laundry comes in the way of enjoying one of those rare warm winter days, then the only emotion that is evoked is resentment. I can tell my husband I love him, and hope that he sees it through the lunch that I threw together while bouncing a crying baby, but truly he will know it when I take the time to just listen to him talk about his day.
Love is about sacrifice. We see it expressed best when it was not easy for the giver to love, when it cost something. It is what makes a good romance- when someone continued to love when it hurt. It is why Christ's death means so much to those that understand it. But too often it is when it starts hurting that we hide behind the words of love to slack off on the actual act of it. "I love you, family, but I am just too tired to show it." I do not want my husband and my children to look back and question my love for them because though they heard about it frequently, they may have difficulty actually seeing it.
How frequent our love becomes rote memorization- Get the kids dressed, make breakfast, clean it up, do the laundry, make lunch, clean it up, change a diaper, clean the bedroom, make dinner, clean it up, tuck in bed, kiss, and "Good night, I love you." (Run out the door with a sigh of relief that your job is done) I could do it with my eyes closed... or at least with several children screaming at me! And because it is so routine, somewhere love can get lost by the viewer and the giver forgets to actually put the love into it.
And let's not forget, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven..." So it goes with the life of a Christian- go to church, sing a song, attempt to listen to the sermon, sing another song, remind God that you love Him, and drive back home. (Run out the door with a sigh of relief that your job is done) How often are we telling God, "I love you, but..."
"God, I love you, but I would rather sleep in today than spend time in prayer with you."
"God, I love you, but I don't want to sacrifice my comforts to show others your love."
"God, I love you, but I like things the way they are so don't ask me to change."
"I love you, but..." says little about love. It is precisely what John cautions us against in 1 John 3:18, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." It is applicable in all of our relationships, including our relationship with God. How do we express our love for God instead of just being takers of what He freely gives? How do we change our life from being an "I love you, but..." declaration? By confessing in truth that we have failed to love in action and saying, "Because I love you..."
"Because I love you, God, I will spend time with you in prayer."
"Because I love you, God, I will sacrifice my comforts as you have called me to do to show others your love."
"Because I love you, God, I will seek your love through difficult times when I don't understand the changes that are going on around me."
And let's not forget to change our interactions with our family from "I love you, but..." to "Because I love you."
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Invitation for Everyday Miracles
Shortly after my brother, Brian, and his wife had their first child, he said something to me that really captured what parenthood is like. This was before I had embarked on that journey myself. He said that having a child made you feel like you had just accomplished the world's greatest feat, that you had partaken of a miracle and yet, it was odd to consider that childbirth and childrearing had been taking place for thousands of years, that everyone that was and is, had been borne by someone. Still, you could not help but marvel at your involvement of bringing new life into this world.
It has been my joy to carry three separate lives within my own and each time I have found myself in awe of it. Women often like to share pregnancy and labor stories like men gloat over battle wounds. In the end, when that little life begins with it's first independent breath from the body that carried and nurtured it for so long, it is victory that we feel.
And yet, why?
Why glory in something that is experienced by so many- every nation, every race, every religion, every generation for thousands of years? What do we find special in bringing one tiny life into the midst of the billions already in existence? How do we continue to stand in awe of something that is routinely taking place thousands of times in hospitals and homes across this world, even as I type this message?
Somewhere along the way, we have convinced ourselves that miracles are a rarity. It seems that miracles can only exist outside of the norm or we deem them too "normal" to be miraculous. We choose words such as "coincidence" or "luck," even "accident," to describe miraculous events, so as not to sound extravagant. And when we toss out the cliche "the miracle of birth," we don't actually mean it. How often do we take the time to truly consider the process of reproducing life? For those that have struggled with conception, they know how difficult, and yes, miraculous, each new life is.
It only occurred to me with the birth of Julia what an opportunity pregnancy is. It is an invitation from God to participate in an everyday miracle. And He is offering this invite everyday to each of us, not just in the form of reproduction, but in the way we lead our life. For Him, miracles are His way of life. They are the norm. They are routine. But they are still miraculous!
Consider the disciples and the crowds that followed Jesus when He walked this earth. They expected nothing less of Him than miracles. Should we not expect the same? Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. But we allow monotony and routine to cloud our judgement about God's hand in our everyday life. He is constantly working through us to bring about His miraculous plan of opening hearts to the love and grace He offers.
I believe that there are miracles happening everyday with the coffee you spilled on your pants right before you needed to leave for work, the conversation you have with the random person in the grocery store, the item you dropped off at the Salvation Army, a positive post you place on Facebook. We do not always see the timing that God is working out, the seed that He is planting, the gift that He is offering, through our everyday routine, but I believe that He is always working through us. And I believe when we start opening our hearts up to Him, we start recognizing the miracles in the small things.
The truth is every life is a miracle, but that miracle doesn't end at birth. God works everyday miracles in each of our lives when we choose to recognize it and credit Him for it. Working with the God of the Universe on an everyday, routine basis... now that's pretty miraculous!
It has been my joy to carry three separate lives within my own and each time I have found myself in awe of it. Women often like to share pregnancy and labor stories like men gloat over battle wounds. In the end, when that little life begins with it's first independent breath from the body that carried and nurtured it for so long, it is victory that we feel.
And yet, why?
Why glory in something that is experienced by so many- every nation, every race, every religion, every generation for thousands of years? What do we find special in bringing one tiny life into the midst of the billions already in existence? How do we continue to stand in awe of something that is routinely taking place thousands of times in hospitals and homes across this world, even as I type this message?
Somewhere along the way, we have convinced ourselves that miracles are a rarity. It seems that miracles can only exist outside of the norm or we deem them too "normal" to be miraculous. We choose words such as "coincidence" or "luck," even "accident," to describe miraculous events, so as not to sound extravagant. And when we toss out the cliche "the miracle of birth," we don't actually mean it. How often do we take the time to truly consider the process of reproducing life? For those that have struggled with conception, they know how difficult, and yes, miraculous, each new life is.
It only occurred to me with the birth of Julia what an opportunity pregnancy is. It is an invitation from God to participate in an everyday miracle. And He is offering this invite everyday to each of us, not just in the form of reproduction, but in the way we lead our life. For Him, miracles are His way of life. They are the norm. They are routine. But they are still miraculous!
Consider the disciples and the crowds that followed Jesus when He walked this earth. They expected nothing less of Him than miracles. Should we not expect the same? Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever. But we allow monotony and routine to cloud our judgement about God's hand in our everyday life. He is constantly working through us to bring about His miraculous plan of opening hearts to the love and grace He offers.
I believe that there are miracles happening everyday with the coffee you spilled on your pants right before you needed to leave for work, the conversation you have with the random person in the grocery store, the item you dropped off at the Salvation Army, a positive post you place on Facebook. We do not always see the timing that God is working out, the seed that He is planting, the gift that He is offering, through our everyday routine, but I believe that He is always working through us. And I believe when we start opening our hearts up to Him, we start recognizing the miracles in the small things.
The truth is every life is a miracle, but that miracle doesn't end at birth. God works everyday miracles in each of our lives when we choose to recognize it and credit Him for it. Working with the God of the Universe on an everyday, routine basis... now that's pretty miraculous!
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