My children tend to be pretty sloppy eaters, despite much coaching at each meal. "Mary, stop dissecting your sandwich and just eat it!" "Colette, if you pick up your spaghetti with your hands one more time, you will be all done eating!" Sometimes only seconds have passed since saying grace, and someone has peanut butter in their eyebrows. You get the picture. However, feed them something sweet and suddenly there is not a morsel left behind. Upon investigation, one could surmise a meal of spaghetti and green beans had been consumed, but there would be no evidences of cookie. Colette will literally lick a dessert plate clean if not under watchful eye.
Undoubtedly, their sweet tooth is a recognizable trait of their mother's. Having grown up in a family of seven, sweets were treasured and evenly divvied to avoid fighting. My sister, Melonie, and I still lament the day M&M's did away with the tan M&M as we would receive 2 of each color at candy time, and this meant two less. My eyes have had years of training to accurately determine which glass has more pop and which seventh of the Milky Way bar is actually bigger, though my mother went to great lengths to make sure they were all the same size. I also developed a handy knack of plotting my day around coveted food items. A box of Golden Grahams has 8 servings. Given we were each allowed one bowl of cereal in the morning and there were 7 of us, you can be certain that I was an early riser the following morning lest I be stuck with Wheaties.
When seeking inspiration for a blog post this morning, I found myself reading the story of young Samuel sleeping in the night and hearing his name called. He went to the priest Eli, with whom he lived, several times, before Eli told him it must be God calling him. Samuel waited for God to call out to him again, and received a prophecy regarding Eli's sons. Originally I thought the inspiration for this Scripture was in that storyline, but the verse that follows is what lead me to describe my family's eating habits. 1 Samuel 3:19, "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground."
My initial interpretation with this verse is likely incorrect. My original thought was that it described Samuel's value for the Word, hence my thoughts on how my children are so careful with the food they value. But as I investigated further, it appears that it might be referring to Samuel's gift of prophecy and how what he testified to, came to be. Regardless, the thought of gobbling up God's Word, letting none of it go to waste, is biblically sound. Are you careless with that nourishment? Or is it a sweetness that leaves you seeking more?
Too often I think we are willing to accept the notion that God's Word is archaic or too difficult to understand or apply. It washes away the guilty feelings one may have for not reading it. But we cause ourselves malnourishment of the spirit when we feed on the "sweetness" of this world and neglect the fruits the Lord has prepared for us. Isaiah 55:10-12, "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be lead forth in peace..." What a picture this paints! Budding and flourishing, seed and bread, and joy and peace. All for the one who will devour it.
When I was pregnant with Colette, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was 172 pounds at the start of the pregnancy and though I thought I was a relatively healthy eater, I struggled with my weight. The diagnosis lead to a better understanding of the affects my daily food choices have on my health and how I generally feel. After overhauling my relationship with food, I can easily identify overindulgence or imbalanced diet as factors in my energy and mood. I feel so much better now that I understand the nutritional needs of my body.
Our spiritual health is no different. What does you diet consist of? Are you indulging in movies, music and tv shows that leave you spiritually lethargic? Are you bloated with negativity, anger, and sorrow? Perhaps it is time for a spiritual diet. Fill up on the bread of life and the everlasting water, and you will be surprised how little you will desire the "food" of this world.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
A Test of Love?
I have a two year old. This means I frequently find my patience, endurance, and sanity being tested. "It's all about being more stubborn than she is," I often find myself saying to the sympathetic listener, or to no one at all, but simply as a means of committing myself to the idea. Mary has mastered two entirely frustrating characteristics of the two year old. First, she can ignore her name repeatedly called whether you are two inches from her face or juggling a baby and dinner prep in the kitchen whilst she is exploring mischievous opportunities in the bathroom upstairs. Secondly, her ability to play chicken with the "1,2, 3 threat" has the makings of a daredevil. Just as your lips begin to form the threatening "three" smackdown and you are prepared to rush her off to Timeout Land, her body launches into action at lightning speed, completing whatever simple request she had been resisting.
I heard it once said that if you pray for patience, you better be prepared for all the opportunities God would be sending your way to try your patience. Upon hearing such wisdom, I panicked. I had been praying for patience...a lot. I realized all of those times that I prayed for patience at the end of an exhausting day, I was really looking for respite from having my patience tried. I did not consider that in order to grasp the concept of patience, I would have to experience opportunities that cause impatience- Mary insisting that she has to put her shoes on when I am in a hurry to leave, Colette requiring detailed explanation about why there are still kids at the park when I am trying to rush her home because Julia's diaper has exploded, the phone call that I cannot get to end despite multiple attempts to bring attention to the chaos developing in my background.
I guess it would be safe to say I do not like to be tested. For this reason, I have often felt unsettled when reading Bible stories of God testing the faith of His followers: Job, Abraham, the Israelites when they were traveling to the Promised Land, and the disciples. It almost appeared cruel to me that an all-knowing God would need to test those that loved Him. Why would He need to test Abraham's faithfulness; He who knows the hearts of man? What could knowledge could He gain of us that He did not already know?
It was years of confusion before I realized the gain was all mine. Through testing our hearts, God learns nothing new of us, but reveals to us His goodness and faithfulness, and our own shortcomings. How can my faith be strong if it is never exercised? As an athlete trains his body, enduring strenuous activities to strengthen and prepare himself, so should our faith be in constant trial. If through competing, an athlete learns of his weaknesses, he does not pack up and go home, but uses the knowledge to prepare himself better.
In grade school I viewed tests simply as opportunity to boast about how smart I was. The grade was the end goal. Never did I use the test results to understand my needs as a student. Perhaps this is why I resented testing from God. There was little to boast about and I felt defeated; another "F" for patience and no amount of prayer seemed to bring about the magical transformation for which I pleaded. God was not simply looking for a passing grade. He was revealing to me the cause of my impatience. From my failing grade, He wanted me to gain lasting knowledge of self that would cause me to be a conqueror of impatience.
As Christians we should expect trials of faith regularly. Our attitude as they approach should be, "Lord, what can I gain from this? How will you teach me?" And our faith should lead us to believe that we will come out stronger, purer in heart, and prepared for the next challenge. Let us not forget that Jesus was tested by the devil with several temptations so that we might learn from the champion of our faith how to become triumphant ourselves.
I heard it once said that if you pray for patience, you better be prepared for all the opportunities God would be sending your way to try your patience. Upon hearing such wisdom, I panicked. I had been praying for patience...a lot. I realized all of those times that I prayed for patience at the end of an exhausting day, I was really looking for respite from having my patience tried. I did not consider that in order to grasp the concept of patience, I would have to experience opportunities that cause impatience- Mary insisting that she has to put her shoes on when I am in a hurry to leave, Colette requiring detailed explanation about why there are still kids at the park when I am trying to rush her home because Julia's diaper has exploded, the phone call that I cannot get to end despite multiple attempts to bring attention to the chaos developing in my background.
I guess it would be safe to say I do not like to be tested. For this reason, I have often felt unsettled when reading Bible stories of God testing the faith of His followers: Job, Abraham, the Israelites when they were traveling to the Promised Land, and the disciples. It almost appeared cruel to me that an all-knowing God would need to test those that loved Him. Why would He need to test Abraham's faithfulness; He who knows the hearts of man? What could knowledge could He gain of us that He did not already know?
It was years of confusion before I realized the gain was all mine. Through testing our hearts, God learns nothing new of us, but reveals to us His goodness and faithfulness, and our own shortcomings. How can my faith be strong if it is never exercised? As an athlete trains his body, enduring strenuous activities to strengthen and prepare himself, so should our faith be in constant trial. If through competing, an athlete learns of his weaknesses, he does not pack up and go home, but uses the knowledge to prepare himself better.
In grade school I viewed tests simply as opportunity to boast about how smart I was. The grade was the end goal. Never did I use the test results to understand my needs as a student. Perhaps this is why I resented testing from God. There was little to boast about and I felt defeated; another "F" for patience and no amount of prayer seemed to bring about the magical transformation for which I pleaded. God was not simply looking for a passing grade. He was revealing to me the cause of my impatience. From my failing grade, He wanted me to gain lasting knowledge of self that would cause me to be a conqueror of impatience.
As Christians we should expect trials of faith regularly. Our attitude as they approach should be, "Lord, what can I gain from this? How will you teach me?" And our faith should lead us to believe that we will come out stronger, purer in heart, and prepared for the next challenge. Let us not forget that Jesus was tested by the devil with several temptations so that we might learn from the champion of our faith how to become triumphant ourselves.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Mountain Moved
Sometimes I feel like there is some sort of plug between my brain and my hands that stops up the flow of words swimming in my brain that are trying to get out on paper. My blog entry from last week, "Moving Mountains," was actually a river of emotion that had been dammed for several weeks before I could express it. In layman's term, I suffer from frequent "writer's block," but I am more convinced God is behind it.
I have often humbly considered and hoped that God has worked through this blog. As a member of the Blogger community, I am able to view statistics regarding the number of reads my blog gets. Of specific interest to me, I can see internet word searches that landed on my blog. A number of times I have blogged about a topic and discovered searches with that specific content in mind, made within hours of posting, that are guided to my blog. In these moments, I feel very certain that God intended me to write for that individual.
It was weeks ago that I began to feel like a burdensome mountain in the way of God's work. It was so evident to me that it was preposterous how difficult I found it to reflect the thought on paper. Writing is all about release for me; an idea seems to grow in my head, budging room for the thinking that is necessary for daily functioning until I free them on paper and find myself able to think again. Yet, the words would not form with many a revisited effort. So I left the inspiration tucked in my draft folder, a folder I very rarely reopen. I am a one-draft kind of girl as proofreading assuredly leads me to believe that my writing is garbage.
So there the mountain-of-an-idea sat for several weeks in my draft box, while I blogged away about other topics. One day while reviewing the traffic sources that lead to my blog, I was very sobered by the word search hits for that week- "Has God seen me in eternity?," "Shame of sin, unworthy of God's love," "Do we have miracles in everyday life?," and "Why do I struggle with doubt in Christ?" My heart felt weighted by the thought that these people were seeking God on the internet, and a blog that I wrote might be a chance at finding Him. Who were they? Where were they? What lead them? And most heavily I considered, "Why me?" Why did God lead them to me? And had I sufficiently assured them of His grace and love? To think that I have taken this blog lightly at times...
Suddenly, the mountain started moving. I typed away at my thoughts of standing in the way of God's work in me and through me. I confessed that I feel there are often deep roots linking my behind to a chair, making me a more sturdy mountain than Everest. The idea was released and my mind set free as I clicked the orange "Publish Post" button. An hour later, God revealed just the kind of work He can do in moving mountains- two people had searched the topic "moving mountains" and landed on my blog.
What my blog did or did not do for these people, I will never know. What I do know is that God works through the offerings of His children when those offerings have been made according to His will. My "two cents" offerings may not seem like much value to this world, as I am not an acclaimed writer or an educated theologian, but as a mere housewife, God can take what I offer in my writing to touch the heart of a reader and make it invaluable, only because He is behind it.
That power is in you, too. God has equipped you to make offerings in His Name that will do immeasurable good to the soul of another. It may be disguised in the simple- a hug, a word of encouragement, a warm meal- but given in His Name, it has the power to be miraculous. Don't consider yourself to be a miracle-worker? Take a step in His Name and see where it leads you.
I have often humbly considered and hoped that God has worked through this blog. As a member of the Blogger community, I am able to view statistics regarding the number of reads my blog gets. Of specific interest to me, I can see internet word searches that landed on my blog. A number of times I have blogged about a topic and discovered searches with that specific content in mind, made within hours of posting, that are guided to my blog. In these moments, I feel very certain that God intended me to write for that individual.
It was weeks ago that I began to feel like a burdensome mountain in the way of God's work. It was so evident to me that it was preposterous how difficult I found it to reflect the thought on paper. Writing is all about release for me; an idea seems to grow in my head, budging room for the thinking that is necessary for daily functioning until I free them on paper and find myself able to think again. Yet, the words would not form with many a revisited effort. So I left the inspiration tucked in my draft folder, a folder I very rarely reopen. I am a one-draft kind of girl as proofreading assuredly leads me to believe that my writing is garbage.
So there the mountain-of-an-idea sat for several weeks in my draft box, while I blogged away about other topics. One day while reviewing the traffic sources that lead to my blog, I was very sobered by the word search hits for that week- "Has God seen me in eternity?," "Shame of sin, unworthy of God's love," "Do we have miracles in everyday life?," and "Why do I struggle with doubt in Christ?" My heart felt weighted by the thought that these people were seeking God on the internet, and a blog that I wrote might be a chance at finding Him. Who were they? Where were they? What lead them? And most heavily I considered, "Why me?" Why did God lead them to me? And had I sufficiently assured them of His grace and love? To think that I have taken this blog lightly at times...
Suddenly, the mountain started moving. I typed away at my thoughts of standing in the way of God's work in me and through me. I confessed that I feel there are often deep roots linking my behind to a chair, making me a more sturdy mountain than Everest. The idea was released and my mind set free as I clicked the orange "Publish Post" button. An hour later, God revealed just the kind of work He can do in moving mountains- two people had searched the topic "moving mountains" and landed on my blog.
What my blog did or did not do for these people, I will never know. What I do know is that God works through the offerings of His children when those offerings have been made according to His will. My "two cents" offerings may not seem like much value to this world, as I am not an acclaimed writer or an educated theologian, but as a mere housewife, God can take what I offer in my writing to touch the heart of a reader and make it invaluable, only because He is behind it.
That power is in you, too. God has equipped you to make offerings in His Name that will do immeasurable good to the soul of another. It may be disguised in the simple- a hug, a word of encouragement, a warm meal- but given in His Name, it has the power to be miraculous. Don't consider yourself to be a miracle-worker? Take a step in His Name and see where it leads you.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Moving Mountains
I believe God can move mountains, figuratively and literally. In Christian jargon, mountains often depict the looming problem that is preventing us from getting to the other side; that land of success and happiness we all long for. Faith leads us to prayerfully ask God to move the mountain. On Sunday in church we sang the song "Mighty to Save." The chorus says, "Savior, He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save. He is mighty to save." For the first time, I considered that I might be the mountain that needs to be moved.
In other words, perhaps I am so rooted in my current position that I am the biggest obstacle standing in my way. I do not like change very much. If one makes a suggestion after I complain, I am very likely to respond with a "yes, but.." Yes, getting up earlier so I can add some time to my day would be a good idea, but I'm so tired. Yes, writing a book is something I would love to do, but I'm so busy. Yes, I should exercise, but I don't have the energy. I am a mountain in the way of my own improvement, of my spiritual growth, and often, of my happiness.
I believe that God can move mountains. I believe He can heal the sick and wounded, restore the alcoholic, and bring joy to the mourner. And while I can truly believe Him capable of all these things, I can still deny His power in my own life. I claim to be a mountain too big for Him to move. Moses stood before a talking bush on fire that did not burn up, and told God he stuttered so he could not be the man to go talk to Pharaoh. The rich man who had diligently kept all the commandments his whole life, "went away sad" when Jesus told him to sell his possessions to the poor.
When I pray for God to heal the ailing, help the needy, comfort the mourning, and protect the endangered, I do not doubt His ability to work that miracle. But when I pray for my own weaknesses (if I even pray about them at all), I have nagging doubts in my mind of whether it is even possible for me to become more patient, more organized, more thoughtful, more willing. Why does the mountain seem so much bigger when it is me? I suppose it is because I know myself and my limitations; my habits of being easily discouraged and distracted. That is who I am, but it is not who I am in Christ- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)."
There are days where I feel like there is no power in me... and those are the days that I have given myself over to laziness and self-loathing, spending idle time with the devil. God does not often reveal His power in a person when they are warming the couch cushions. His power is revealed in those who start moving in His Name. A sledgehammer is not very powerful lying on the ground, but if you pick it up and start swinging, you reveal its capabilities.
God can move mountains, even if that mountain is me. I have some major moving to do in my life, but I will not be going anywhere without the power of God behind me. I can not continue to be the mountain in the way of God's power in my life. How about you?
In other words, perhaps I am so rooted in my current position that I am the biggest obstacle standing in my way. I do not like change very much. If one makes a suggestion after I complain, I am very likely to respond with a "yes, but.." Yes, getting up earlier so I can add some time to my day would be a good idea, but I'm so tired. Yes, writing a book is something I would love to do, but I'm so busy. Yes, I should exercise, but I don't have the energy. I am a mountain in the way of my own improvement, of my spiritual growth, and often, of my happiness.
I believe that God can move mountains. I believe He can heal the sick and wounded, restore the alcoholic, and bring joy to the mourner. And while I can truly believe Him capable of all these things, I can still deny His power in my own life. I claim to be a mountain too big for Him to move. Moses stood before a talking bush on fire that did not burn up, and told God he stuttered so he could not be the man to go talk to Pharaoh. The rich man who had diligently kept all the commandments his whole life, "went away sad" when Jesus told him to sell his possessions to the poor.
When I pray for God to heal the ailing, help the needy, comfort the mourning, and protect the endangered, I do not doubt His ability to work that miracle. But when I pray for my own weaknesses (if I even pray about them at all), I have nagging doubts in my mind of whether it is even possible for me to become more patient, more organized, more thoughtful, more willing. Why does the mountain seem so much bigger when it is me? I suppose it is because I know myself and my limitations; my habits of being easily discouraged and distracted. That is who I am, but it is not who I am in Christ- "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7)."
There are days where I feel like there is no power in me... and those are the days that I have given myself over to laziness and self-loathing, spending idle time with the devil. God does not often reveal His power in a person when they are warming the couch cushions. His power is revealed in those who start moving in His Name. A sledgehammer is not very powerful lying on the ground, but if you pick it up and start swinging, you reveal its capabilities.
God can move mountains, even if that mountain is me. I have some major moving to do in my life, but I will not be going anywhere without the power of God behind me. I can not continue to be the mountain in the way of God's power in my life. How about you?
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Restoring Joy with Rocks
One of the greatest blessings of having children or being with children is experiencing the joy of childhood all over again. This morning I had the pleasure of spending time with my nephew, who will soon be ten years old. We had walked to a park with the girls and while the girls were playing on the swings, my nephew and I discovered that the pea gravel that blanketed the park was a never-ending discovery of fossils and cool rocks. We were on hands and knees for the next hour, imaginations taking us to long-ago days.
Our excitement grew with each find. We daydreamed about exploring landscapes more exotic than the local playground and my nephew shared his interest of being an archeologist if he does not become a professional baseball player. My pockets were weighted down with rocks that we could not bear to leave behind to be ignored and trampled. It was questionable whom was enjoying the exploration more. Unwillingly, we had to go back home for the girls were now hungry and confused with Mommy exclaiming over rocks we never took notice of before.
Reclaiming the reality of motherhood, we walked home and made lunch, but my heart was light with the joy of childhood. Those days of building forts in the woods, pretending to be pioneers, and imagining the possibility of the world's next greatest archeological find being in my backyard are long-gone for me, but they were re-awakened this morning. It takes a child sometimes for us adults to really behold the intricacies of the world around us that God created for us to behold His Glory.
This morning really has me thinking how, as adults, we so often only allow ourself to be mildly amused with the awesome. In a world where the computers of six months ago are ancient technology, and the ease of all our needs are within our grasp, it can be challenging to find ourselves in awe of the complexities of our own bodies, our ecosystem, and the treasures in our backyard. Isn't that the beauty of our children? The discoveries that are overlooked by the busy, responsible adult are treasured by our youth for good reason. It is the fuel for their imagination and their potential. How exciting it is to consider that my nephew's interest in a few rocks at a park could ignite a future archeologist!
I think an unfortunate result of the American way of life is our ability to easily become disinterested with the marvelous when the next big thing comes along, and that spills over in our relationship with a God Who is the same yesterday, today and forever. But perhaps the struggle is not all that new. David wrote a Psalm that is regularly used in the Lutheran liturgy that would indicate he struggled with remembering to take joy in the work of God. In Psalm 51:12 David prays, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation..." It would do us well to pray this often.
There are times when I am sitting in church and what I hear has been said before or fails to intrigue me, and my mind begins to drift. Oh for shame that I do not marvel anew at the work of my God! God's Word is awe-inspiring every time- my disinterest is a chosen state of mind. Has salvation grown old to you? I will confess it sadly has to me many times. I must be reminded that the work God has done in me, in my family, and in my friends is worthy of a joy that is fresh every morning.
Though He is an unchanging God and His Word remains today as it was thousands of years ago, the possibilities of my God- His mercies, His miracles, His wisdom- are new to me every morning. Take a moment today, tomorrow, for a lifetime, to find joy in the miraculous He is working in you everyday!
Our excitement grew with each find. We daydreamed about exploring landscapes more exotic than the local playground and my nephew shared his interest of being an archeologist if he does not become a professional baseball player. My pockets were weighted down with rocks that we could not bear to leave behind to be ignored and trampled. It was questionable whom was enjoying the exploration more. Unwillingly, we had to go back home for the girls were now hungry and confused with Mommy exclaiming over rocks we never took notice of before.
Reclaiming the reality of motherhood, we walked home and made lunch, but my heart was light with the joy of childhood. Those days of building forts in the woods, pretending to be pioneers, and imagining the possibility of the world's next greatest archeological find being in my backyard are long-gone for me, but they were re-awakened this morning. It takes a child sometimes for us adults to really behold the intricacies of the world around us that God created for us to behold His Glory.
This morning really has me thinking how, as adults, we so often only allow ourself to be mildly amused with the awesome. In a world where the computers of six months ago are ancient technology, and the ease of all our needs are within our grasp, it can be challenging to find ourselves in awe of the complexities of our own bodies, our ecosystem, and the treasures in our backyard. Isn't that the beauty of our children? The discoveries that are overlooked by the busy, responsible adult are treasured by our youth for good reason. It is the fuel for their imagination and their potential. How exciting it is to consider that my nephew's interest in a few rocks at a park could ignite a future archeologist!
I think an unfortunate result of the American way of life is our ability to easily become disinterested with the marvelous when the next big thing comes along, and that spills over in our relationship with a God Who is the same yesterday, today and forever. But perhaps the struggle is not all that new. David wrote a Psalm that is regularly used in the Lutheran liturgy that would indicate he struggled with remembering to take joy in the work of God. In Psalm 51:12 David prays, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation..." It would do us well to pray this often.
There are times when I am sitting in church and what I hear has been said before or fails to intrigue me, and my mind begins to drift. Oh for shame that I do not marvel anew at the work of my God! God's Word is awe-inspiring every time- my disinterest is a chosen state of mind. Has salvation grown old to you? I will confess it sadly has to me many times. I must be reminded that the work God has done in me, in my family, and in my friends is worthy of a joy that is fresh every morning.
Though He is an unchanging God and His Word remains today as it was thousands of years ago, the possibilities of my God- His mercies, His miracles, His wisdom- are new to me every morning. Take a moment today, tomorrow, for a lifetime, to find joy in the miraculous He is working in you everyday!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Free To Love
My apologies for an extended hiatus. Life has been very busy! This past weekend was a combination of celebrating the blessing of freedom that we have in this country, as well as the blessing of seven years of wedded bliss for Jon and me. Originally when we planned our wedding for July 3rd, it was a matter of convenience and availability with the added benefits of Independence Day festivities. This year I reflected on the significance of celebrating the two together.
There is such freedom in love. When one is pursuing love, it seems wise to be cautious of how we reveal ourself. We are certain to look our best and act our best, laying out evidences for worthiness. We read into the actions of our love interest to interpret their level of desire for us, and attempt to reflect the same, hiding feelings that may indicate more out of fear of scaring them off. There are times when I get lost in years of journal entries and that angst of love not yet requited seems still so fresh. The feeling that I remember most was being so bottled up with love for Jon while he was off in that male world of oblivion. What I really wanted was not his love in return but just opportunity to express the immense love that was building up for him. I longed for that freedom to tell him how I felt and to serve him in love.
But there are always those games of pursuit first, right? Perhaps that is why, when love is in grasp, you suddenly feel so free to let go of all those appearances and dig deep into the heart of the person. When I was finally able to show Jon the love that I had for him (and he finally realized that he felt likewise), our worlds exploded with the freedom of just being who we are. Isn't that the best part of love- waking up with messy hair in an old t-shirt that you are only now discovering was splattered with spit-up the night before and knowing it does not affect one ounce of love the person next to you feels. 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." Those days of fearing that I would lose Jon by turning him off with one bad hair day or one ill-received gesture are gone.
Freedom in love is a wonderful thing, but there is much responsibility. Though Jon has expressed his love for me even when I am at my worst, I have a loving desire to please him and be at my best. Not that I feel his love for me is dependent on it, but because the freedom to love him is so enjoyable. I love to make him smile, to be a part of his happiness. So it is in the freedom of love that I serve him. It is opportunity, not obligation, that rolls me out of bed in the morning to make him breakfast and pack his lunch and send him off with a kiss. It is opportunity that drives me to spend his hard-earned money wisely and keep our home as orderly as possible. And he is quick to find opportunity to remind me of the love he serves as well.
Psalm 119:32 says, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." At first glance the language seems almost contradictory. If one is under the command of another, we rarely consider them free by today's interpretation of the word. The verse makes me visualize someone running through a wooded path with the freedom to steer off the course, but a desire to stay on the path someone laid out before them. It is clear to the runner that the path was laid out in love, a means of safe travels through an otherwise treacherous terrain. Perhaps the runner could explore other options, but in following the path there is freedom in every step for the path has already been laid and he has no worries of hurdling fallen trees and tangled vines. His feet are light down the path that has already been laid. The designer has promised a safe arrival and the runner is free to follow.
What freedom we have in Christ to follow the path He has laid out for us! It is love that drives us down that path of service in His name. And we are free to love because He first loved us. He drove out those fears of unworthiness by making our worthiness known to us when He died on the cross for us. God made the first move in declaring His love for us so that we could have the freedom to love Him in return. Let that love drive you down the path He has forged for you; one that promises success and arrival at your Heavenly home. It is your choice to serve Christ in love, but your heart will be set free from the burdens of this world if you anchor it to Christ.
There is such freedom in love. When one is pursuing love, it seems wise to be cautious of how we reveal ourself. We are certain to look our best and act our best, laying out evidences for worthiness. We read into the actions of our love interest to interpret their level of desire for us, and attempt to reflect the same, hiding feelings that may indicate more out of fear of scaring them off. There are times when I get lost in years of journal entries and that angst of love not yet requited seems still so fresh. The feeling that I remember most was being so bottled up with love for Jon while he was off in that male world of oblivion. What I really wanted was not his love in return but just opportunity to express the immense love that was building up for him. I longed for that freedom to tell him how I felt and to serve him in love.
But there are always those games of pursuit first, right? Perhaps that is why, when love is in grasp, you suddenly feel so free to let go of all those appearances and dig deep into the heart of the person. When I was finally able to show Jon the love that I had for him (and he finally realized that he felt likewise), our worlds exploded with the freedom of just being who we are. Isn't that the best part of love- waking up with messy hair in an old t-shirt that you are only now discovering was splattered with spit-up the night before and knowing it does not affect one ounce of love the person next to you feels. 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." Those days of fearing that I would lose Jon by turning him off with one bad hair day or one ill-received gesture are gone.
Freedom in love is a wonderful thing, but there is much responsibility. Though Jon has expressed his love for me even when I am at my worst, I have a loving desire to please him and be at my best. Not that I feel his love for me is dependent on it, but because the freedom to love him is so enjoyable. I love to make him smile, to be a part of his happiness. So it is in the freedom of love that I serve him. It is opportunity, not obligation, that rolls me out of bed in the morning to make him breakfast and pack his lunch and send him off with a kiss. It is opportunity that drives me to spend his hard-earned money wisely and keep our home as orderly as possible. And he is quick to find opportunity to remind me of the love he serves as well.
Psalm 119:32 says, "I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free." At first glance the language seems almost contradictory. If one is under the command of another, we rarely consider them free by today's interpretation of the word. The verse makes me visualize someone running through a wooded path with the freedom to steer off the course, but a desire to stay on the path someone laid out before them. It is clear to the runner that the path was laid out in love, a means of safe travels through an otherwise treacherous terrain. Perhaps the runner could explore other options, but in following the path there is freedom in every step for the path has already been laid and he has no worries of hurdling fallen trees and tangled vines. His feet are light down the path that has already been laid. The designer has promised a safe arrival and the runner is free to follow.
What freedom we have in Christ to follow the path He has laid out for us! It is love that drives us down that path of service in His name. And we are free to love because He first loved us. He drove out those fears of unworthiness by making our worthiness known to us when He died on the cross for us. God made the first move in declaring His love for us so that we could have the freedom to love Him in return. Let that love drive you down the path He has forged for you; one that promises success and arrival at your Heavenly home. It is your choice to serve Christ in love, but your heart will be set free from the burdens of this world if you anchor it to Christ.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Seeing the Obvious
By far the most chaotic time for my family is Sunday morning as we are preparing for church. Trying to make it out the door on time with everyone preened and primped is quite the feat with three children who do not sense urgency.
We were doing considerably well this Sunday. Everyone was gathered at the door for the final stage of adorning shoes and heading out. It seemed necessary to Mary at that moment to investigate a coffee cup left on the counter. Of course the coffee cup was not empty and in order for her to do a thorough examination with the counter still inches above her head, the coffee cup had to be lifted with a flipping motion that sent its contents (thankfully well-cooled at this point) in a wash over her beautiful sundress. In a flurry of unplanned activity, I stripped her, ran the soiled dress upstairs to soak, pulled a fresh dress from the closet, sat her on the potty before we had any other unwanted incidents, and sent Jon out to at least get two children loaded in the vehicle. I retrieved Mary from the bathroom and rushed to put her shoes on which had been left by the kitchen door.
Or had they? "Jon!" I yell dramatically from the window, "Where are her shoes?!" Exasperated, he responds, "I put them right in front of the bathroom door! How could you have missed them?!" Indeed, there they were, placed so strategically in front of the bathroom door that he was wise to think not a person could miss them, much less avoid tripping over them. But I was not looking for her shoes at the bathroom door. I knew to look for them at the kitchen door where I had left them. I was so mission-minded as I launched out of the bathroom, Mary on my hip, I overlooked them.
After His resurrection, Jesus was not immediately recognized by Mary at the tomb. She thought He was a gardener. It was not until He spoke her name that she realized with whom she had been conversing. I have often wondered what took her so long to figure it out. The shoes were a little revelation for me. She was not looking for Jesus alive; she was looking for a dead body. She had seen Him laid in the tomb on Friday so she was not expecting anything else but a dead body when she got there.
I wonder how often we overlook Jesus in our own life. How many times have we blown out the door with a mission for our day, stepping right over that Jesus-moment in our life, not even seeing it? What miracles have been undiscovered, written off as coincidence? What inconvenience was really God at our doorstep with opportunity?
Perhaps we are so busy with our own plans for our life, that we look for Jesus only in the areas where we left Him. "Hey Jesus! Good to see you at church- I'll be calling you for my next tragedy! Thanks for being there!" And off we go, not expecting to find God working in our everyday life, so we miss those moments when He makes His Will obvious to us.
What are we to do then? In my life where I am bustling about tending to needs all day, how do I make certain I do not miss God? James 1:22-25 advises, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does." To recap - read God's Word, apply it to your life, and be blessed!
I think prayer is the most certain way to open the door for God to make Himself known in your life. Beginning your day in prayer will route your thoughts toward God. If you invite Him to join you in your day, you will be sure to be looking for Him when He takes you up on that invitation. No more stepping over God in your doorway- time to get in step with Him!
We were doing considerably well this Sunday. Everyone was gathered at the door for the final stage of adorning shoes and heading out. It seemed necessary to Mary at that moment to investigate a coffee cup left on the counter. Of course the coffee cup was not empty and in order for her to do a thorough examination with the counter still inches above her head, the coffee cup had to be lifted with a flipping motion that sent its contents (thankfully well-cooled at this point) in a wash over her beautiful sundress. In a flurry of unplanned activity, I stripped her, ran the soiled dress upstairs to soak, pulled a fresh dress from the closet, sat her on the potty before we had any other unwanted incidents, and sent Jon out to at least get two children loaded in the vehicle. I retrieved Mary from the bathroom and rushed to put her shoes on which had been left by the kitchen door.
Or had they? "Jon!" I yell dramatically from the window, "Where are her shoes?!" Exasperated, he responds, "I put them right in front of the bathroom door! How could you have missed them?!" Indeed, there they were, placed so strategically in front of the bathroom door that he was wise to think not a person could miss them, much less avoid tripping over them. But I was not looking for her shoes at the bathroom door. I knew to look for them at the kitchen door where I had left them. I was so mission-minded as I launched out of the bathroom, Mary on my hip, I overlooked them.
After His resurrection, Jesus was not immediately recognized by Mary at the tomb. She thought He was a gardener. It was not until He spoke her name that she realized with whom she had been conversing. I have often wondered what took her so long to figure it out. The shoes were a little revelation for me. She was not looking for Jesus alive; she was looking for a dead body. She had seen Him laid in the tomb on Friday so she was not expecting anything else but a dead body when she got there.
I wonder how often we overlook Jesus in our own life. How many times have we blown out the door with a mission for our day, stepping right over that Jesus-moment in our life, not even seeing it? What miracles have been undiscovered, written off as coincidence? What inconvenience was really God at our doorstep with opportunity?
Perhaps we are so busy with our own plans for our life, that we look for Jesus only in the areas where we left Him. "Hey Jesus! Good to see you at church- I'll be calling you for my next tragedy! Thanks for being there!" And off we go, not expecting to find God working in our everyday life, so we miss those moments when He makes His Will obvious to us.
What are we to do then? In my life where I am bustling about tending to needs all day, how do I make certain I do not miss God? James 1:22-25 advises, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does." To recap - read God's Word, apply it to your life, and be blessed!
I think prayer is the most certain way to open the door for God to make Himself known in your life. Beginning your day in prayer will route your thoughts toward God. If you invite Him to join you in your day, you will be sure to be looking for Him when He takes you up on that invitation. No more stepping over God in your doorway- time to get in step with Him!
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