Growing Pains - Revisited

Good morning, Friends! What a lovely crisp morning greeting us as we start the last day of 2009. My Honey is off today and we shall end this year together just as we start the new one, being thankful for all God has done in our lives. Each January we start the year by focusing on drawing more in tune to what the Lord has in store for us to do in the coming year. We slow down our schedules, less TV, a Daniel fast to help our focus and make more time seeking Him our priority above and beyond our normal study/worship routines. We see this as a time of renewal and cleansing, not as sacrifice. In fact, over the years the anticipation of it has become rather enjoyable to me. So, as I send out the last posting of the year, I pray the coming year brings you joy, blessings and a more Jesus-filled life.

Happy New Year to one and all,

Lynn

Growing Pains - Revisited
I have been going through a period in my life where I struggle with what can only be described as growing pains. Remember as a child when you’d complain to your parents that your legs hurt, especially at night? Their inevitable reply was that you would ok, it was only growing pains. Not a very satisfactory answer to a kid with hurtful legs but there was some sense of well being in knowing that at least it meant you were getting bigger.

Spiritually, we have growth spurts, too. It’s rather like the shedding of an old skin; somewhat snake like. To allow the growth to take place, we must shed that fleshly nature, layer after layer. As with the growing pains of our youth, this can be a painful process. Not always but decidedly from time to time. Our flesh hangs on to the old familiar ways with tenacity.

When I become aware that I’m dealing with spiritual growing pains again, I have found solace in a book called Joshua. The following paragraph comes from the book. I’ve removed character names and references but left the meat of content:

….We all have to be content with slow progress….Human beings are like plants. They grow in stages and those stages can’t be accelerated. In due time plants bear their fruit, and with human beings it is much the same. In the proper time and at the proper pace we grow into what God intends us to become. Events take place and strangers cross our paths that force us to think. All these things God uses to teach us and suggest a different way of understanding things. So we grow, gradually, imperceptible, under the subtle guidance of God’s own spirit. Being conscious of our success is not important. The left hand shouldn't know what the right hand is doing……

I have read this book at least six times; not as substitute for the Bible but, for me, another reflective source of how I aspire to be more Christ-like. When I am discontent with my personal spiritual growth, unhappy with myself, reading this book helps me align my thoughts back in a more proper order. God’s order, not mine, be done; the cry of my heart.

God shows me mercy but it seems I sometimes have difficulty showing myself any. I’m sharing all this to say, beating yourself up when you don’t feel you measure up is not a part of God’s growing plan. We are never going to be exactly where we aspire to be as long as we walk around in human flesh. It’s the process of the growing, the removal of our old self, the renewing of our minds that is the constant task before us. If we do our part, God is faithful to do His part and grow, we will.

Winds of Adversity - Revisited

Good morning, Friends......

Sending out another post of previous thoughts while still on holiday vacation. I am spending time with a variety of grandchildren and thankful for the time to do so.It is cold out and sleet is hitting the windows; a perfect day for staying inside and just enjoying one another. May your day be filled with love and laughter!

Lynn

Winds of Adversity - Revisited
I felt compelled to share a story this morning of a situation God used to teach me a life lesson. Have you noticed I like life lessons? So very often, God places them right in front of us; we just need to be paying attention.

This story is true and happened when the grandkids were living with us. It was a chilly and gusty school day morning. It was more gusty than chilly. I was standing at the bottom of the hill with the kids waiting for the bus. It comes from a general north direction, so, I was facing the full force of the wind. Donovan had a heavy jacket with a hood, so he simply turned his back to the wind. Daniel had a heavy jacket but no hood; he stood under my arm so his ears would be covered. Sometimes he faced the wind because he just couldn't stand not looking for the bus. Other times he turn his back to the wind, but still under my arm. Douglas had on a light jacket and no hood. He snuggled as close to me as he could and I had both gloved hands covering his ears. Hannah had a heavy long coat with a hood. When facing the wind, she complained about it being in her face. With her back to the wind, she complained about her back getting too cold. Like I said, it was more gusty than chilly, but the north wind made it seem much colder than it actually was.

Here is the life lesson. God stands facing all things in life for us, head on. We have a choice about how we receive that protection and covering from Him. We can choose to stand apart from Him (like Donovan) defiantly turning our back to adversity, which never works because adversity doesn't care which way you face. It will pound you regardless. Or, we can get up under the arm of God knowing we need His protection, but pop out (like Daniel) simply because we do not trust Him enough to watch over our lives for us. We just have to see for ourselves. Or we can (like Hannah) stand apart, in spite of her warm jacket and hood(blessings), complain anyway. She had the longest, heaviest coat of all yet complained and grumbled the most. Or we can (like Douglas) snuggle up to God, reaping the reward of His warmth and protection, trusting Him completely to watch out for us.

The wind was the same on all of us, it was the different ways we reacted to it that made all the difference. The Lord showed me this lesson while out in the chilly wind. His perfect timing allowed me to 'see' what He wanted me to get. I believe, had I been there complaining about having to face the wind and protecting the kids, He would not have not shown me that lesson because I would not have been ready to receive it.

I'm very thankful that the Holy Spirit lives in me and that I've learned to be still and listen for that quiet voice. We CAN & DO drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit when we are caught up in the hustle and bustle of our noisy lives. Today, take the time to be still and just listen. I shudder to think of the lessons I've missed because I was too busy to pay attention.

One short final note, each of the children handled things that morning in true keeping with their character. Your 'Character' is who and how you really are. We can all put on our 'nice face' for the world to see but when faced with the cold wind of adversity, our character jumps out large and refuses to be ignored! Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what people see when they look at you in times of adversity. What does your character say?

Walk On, Head Up - Revisited

Good morning, Friends....

The posting this morning is a look back at some thoughts previously shared. If you've read this before, I hope you will use fresh eyes and ask God to show you a concept or insight you may have missed the first time. As we move toward the New Year, I look forward to sharing any and all the Lord gives me to write.

Blessings on your week!

Lynn

Walk On, Head Up - Revisited

This is the start of a new week. New opportunities, new challenges. I am determined not to let the 'nay sayer's' in my world affect my efforts. Remember, for every one person that stands in support of you, there will always be at least five others telling you that which you have set your sights on is impossible.

Apparently, they don't know God. I'm 5'3" tall & 55 years old so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out I'm not physically strong in my own power. Look in any direction and you'll find multitudes with more education, better looking, all kinds of gifts I don't possess having apparent success. I live in a tiny village between two small communities in a small house on top of a small hill. We live a simple life with none of the common 'toys' some believe are necessities. When you add all that up in the world's economic system, I don't look like much of a driving force. Between the three of us, Me, Myself & I, not one of us is very impressive at all. And that's ok! I don't have to impress or reflect worldly success. My God, though not visible with the human eye, stands beside me in every endeavor I undertake. I've learned the difference between what I want and what He leads me to do. So, since I have chosen to do what He wants me to, I can walk with my head up, full of confidence. It's not confidence in my plan or my abilities; it is confidence that He is there and in control.

A little over seven years ago I stood in a hospital hallway not knowing whether my husband was alive or not; though no one I knew was in sight, I was not alone. My heart ached to know what was going on with my Honey but no one seemed to be able to tell me. I knew God was the reason I was standing upright and not in a puddle on the floor. That day has been repeated four other times and God never failed to show up to hold me up.

When you step out in a new direction, even one ordained by God, expect all kinds of folks to laugh out loud. They may have known the person you were before God; they may know the skeletons in closets you moved off and left a long time ago. Scoffing, doubt, disbelief, nay-sayer's all around! They can't hear the marching orders from the Lord; they can't see He is in charge and you are simply the worker bee. You may be rejected, lied about, challenged and dismissed. People will give you no credibility what so ever. You can't help that, you don't serve them; which is usually their biggest problem. I know this because all of the above has happened to us personally.

When you stand on the Rock, your feet are planted in Him and He is always there. We do not have to be strong, He is our strength. We do not have to be clever, He is all knowing and His wisdom is above anything on earth. We do not have to be good looking, His glory shines through us. We do not have to live in a fancy house, we're going to live in His house! No matter how large the enemy looms at any given moment, God is bigger.

Yes, we can walk in confidence. All we really have to do is be willing to submit to the Lord and then walk in the light of His glory!

This is me, confidently and courageously facing this day!

Manners Matter - Revisited

Last night we received a phone call from our grandson, Daniel, now 12 1/2 years old. He was passing time and thought to give us a call. Papa John put him on speakerphone so we could both listen. Daniel is an engaging child and we enjoy him. He and his siblings lived with us for several years; a life altering event for one and all.

Two things came up during the conversation that made the hearts of these grandparents proud and thankful. One, Daniel used excellent manners when speaking to us. We are from a time in space where saying "yes, Ma'am and no, Sir" were expected; we passed that on to our children and our children's children. We taught that saying "yeah?" or "what?" when we called their name was unacceptable and, rather than calling out from another room, they were to come to us to see what we wanted. To us, these were basic good manners. The conversation last night showed that Daniel respected us enough to address us with the decorum we instilled even though he is no longer under our roof. Secondly, he talked about he and his brother doing their household chores that day. He said they discussed the fact that they learned to do them the right way because we taught them to and they were glad we had because they would have gotten in trouble had they not. Wow! This brought a tear to my eye. Every now and then you hear something like that and realize you must have done something right once in a while when bring up the children. Those rare moments are nuggets of parenting gold!

As we move into the last few days before Christmas, be aware of your own manners toward others and their's. I'm sharing some thoughts on that subject below. Manners matter, no matter who you are!

Lynn

Manners Matter- Revisited
We now live in a world where your life can be made miserable, sometimes even threatened, if you are not considered 'politically correct'. You may offend one race, religion, ethnic group, political group, short people, tall people, fat people, skinny people, carnivores, vegetarians, vegans, beer drinkers, wine sippers, teetotalers, people living in the north, people living in the south, east coasters, west coasters, mountain dwellers, farmers, motorcyclists, SUV drivers, red scarves, blue scarves, cyclist, runners, joggers, gym goers, yoga enthusiast, rock climbers, chess players, those in gated communities, those in mobile homes, those that pray, those that don't want you to be able to pray, etc, etc, etc........this is but a small list of potential offenses.

My goodness, it is enough to boggle the mind! Who, pray tell, sits around and makes the decisions on what is or isn't politically correct? Do they get paid for this or is it a labor of love? At one time I thought there needed be a book with all the Do's and Don'ts listed but then I realized that could not be possible; who would decide what color the book, the materials the cover would be made of, the language it was written in? Again, the list goes on.

If you want a micro-view of the state of personal interaction in the world, just observe a group of children for a while. I had the opportunity to do so this past weekend and it is not always a pretty sight. The old adage that children learn what they live rings loud and true today! In any restaurant you will find someone among the diners that is oblivious to those around them or simply may not care regardless. So they behave in such a manner that it is obvious they have no consideration for anyone else. This is played out in every school cafeteria across the country.

Perhaps I am showing my age but I believe that manners absolutely DO matter. If people simply used common courtesy and basic good manners, this world would be a better place. Therein lies the problem; what constitutes 'common courtesies and good manners'? Cultural dictations being as diverse as they are make this a mine field of opportunities to misstep. But in our own country, there should be a standard accepted as the norm without fear of being politically incorrect.

When training people for the mission field we are careful to research and teach cultural differences so as to not offend our host countries people. This makes sense. What possible good could we do if we walked around offending people all the time?!

Shouldn't we do as much for our children? I believe, as a nation, we have gone too far in the direction of protecting people's rights to be obnoxious and rude. It becomes dangerous when we protect rights to be demanding and self-serving but do not protects the rights to common courtesy. It will never be important on a national level unless it is taught and expected in every home. I'm not talking about insisting that each child be taught which fork to use in a formal setting, I'm talking about teaching and requiring our children to thoughtful, considerate, compassionate people; requiring more of themselves and passing a heritage of good manners and civilities on to their own children, generation after generation. As it stands now, we are rearing generations of educated savages. If you think that is too strong a comment, go to a school playground at recess.

The state of our children reflects the state of our nation. We have lazy, selfish, unmotivated children with a high level of entitlement that will one day be the leaders of our country. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule but as a whole, we are in trouble. When children are allowed to be rude and ugly to one another, as well as with adults, we are perpetuating a mentality that eats away at the core of moral values. Manners and good behavior starts at home. Etiquette starts there but should continue on throughout a lifetime. When people start treating each other as one person of value and worth to another, then and only then will we have a chance to build the kind of world worthy of passing on.

Manners matter! Pass them on.

Trial of Fire - Revisited

One of my favorite morning rituals is to stand out on the front deck, coffee cup in hand, and soak in the morning before the sun has had time to make an appearance. 'Morning' means different things to different people but one meaning I hold dear is that still quiet time in the darkness before the stars fade from sight, listening to the coyotes in the distance, wondering what triggers the local roosters use as their songs to wake the sleeping and, of course, time alone with God before the world and her busyness has time to get in the way.

This morning, star sightings were limited by the fog and overcast winter sky. Those I could see in the break of clouds were shining brightly and boldly against the blackness of night. Country living has its perks and dark nights without harsh glare from electric lights is one of them. We are but three days from Christmas morning and my thoughts traveled to people generations ago that sat in the darkness staring at the stars while their charges, sheep and goats, lay in the grass all around them. I imagine they were bedazzled by the beauty in the sky just as I. We are not so different from those people of long ago. They were waiting for their Messiah. We are blessed to have Him! Stars in the sky may come and go but The Morning Star remains forever.

May your nights and mornings be filled with stars as we move closer to Christmas.

Lynn

Trail of Fire - Revisited
Recently, I was blessed to see a shooting star. How cool is that?! I ask myself why we get excited to see one. For me, it's one of the many signs that our universe, in all its glory, is bigger than we can even begin to comprehend. Rather like God and eternity. Our finite little minds can not fully wrap themselves around the vastness.

A shooting star has a magical quality, and like magic, it's over almost before you realize what is happening. Your eye sees it as a tiny stream of light as it zips into darkness but there is nothing tiny about it. Think how large it really must be for us to even see it in the first place. Think how much energy is expended in that fire trail that propels it across the sky. Think of the happenstance that had you right there at the exact moment, to see the final dance of the star before it's gone.

In our lifetime, we are a lot like that shooting star. In God's big picture we are but a fleeting streak. Our energy comes not from a trail of fire but from the fire of the Holy Spirit in us. The Lord gave us the gift of the Spirit as a comforter, a guiding source of knowledge, that tiny voice within that tells us when we're headed down the wrong path or steers us toward the right one. The power of the Holy Spirit is greater than the burst of energy the shooting star burned in it's final flight. You and I contain all that resource in us. Makes you wonder why we wallow in the muck and mire when we have that power, doesn't it? We have a choice, the shooting star didn't.

We can learn to acknowledge the Holy Spirit power or refuse to recognize the power and authority He gave, maintaining status quo. As for me, I'd like to burn bright with the power of the Spirit. I still have too much 'human flesh thinking' and am my own dimming factor but I'm working on it. I'm praying about it, seeking the Lord and asking for help in ridding myself of the 'stinking thinking'.

When my time is over and I get to head on home to the Lord, I pray I will have lived that others may see my Holy Spirit fire trail and want one of their own.

The Promise

The Christmas season is well upon us. Decorations, holiday foods, gifts and all the other trimmings that come with our traditional Christmas season are in full swing. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. For some the holidays bring about a time of sadness and depression. Maybe they do not have family near and will be alone. Perhaps they have been laid off and the weight of financial devastation is so great they can not carry the burden. There are too many 'what if's' to list.

The saddest is perhaps they have just never known Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Let's pause and take time to consider how many people in this world simply do not celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus. Today's posting addresses this.

Friends, I will be taking a Christmas vacation from writing new posts until the first of the year but I will be sharing previous thoughts. I hope you enjoy it. Today it is titled 'The Promise'.

Blessings,

Lynn

The Promise
If you've known me any length of time, you've heard me say I don't know how people that don't have Jesus make it at all. Seriously, Jesus is the only thing that has kept me going when things were bad. I feel so sad that people have the opportunity to have Jesus in their lives, yet choose not to. Not ever hearing about Him is one thing, but to know He's available and still not turn to Him, is 'plumb dumb'.

It amazes me that some will practically drool in anticipation for their next paycheck which will only last as long as it takes to get to the bank and pay a couple of bills. There are those who proudly stash money away in retirement plans so they can take care of themselves when they are old; yet they do not think of the eternity they will spend somewhere. Their 'promise' of security is the paycheck and retirement check, both of which they take credit for having. I'm not saying planning ahead is a bad thing. I'm not saying having money put back is a bad thing. What I am saying is that all the comfort or promise some people ever have comes from those sources.

In our country, you don't have to look very hard to find a church...or a bank; they are everywhere. We are blessed to be able to have so many from which to choose. Still, there are people that choose not to make Jesus a part of their lives. Their faith is in financial planning. Enron, Madoff, bailouts; these words should be a wake-up call to those with that mindset. Many unfortunate people are jobless and bankrupt with nothing to fall back on. They worked all their lives for the promise of that money and "poof" it was gone.

Jesus will never be a puff of smoke that will blow away in a poof. That's a promise you can hold on to. When the Enrons of the world tumble and fall around us like the wall of Jericho, we will still have our Rock on which to stand where others will be stumbling on the rubble. My prayer for each of us today is that we MAKE the opportunity to tell someone about our security, our promise, our Jesus. Ask the Lord to place someone in front of you today that needs to know there is a real promise they can trust; to give you a divine appointment for you to share.

He is faithful. How faithful are we to follow the Great Commission and tell every nation, tongue and creature of the Good News of our Promise? Your mission field may be your work place, your neighborhood, your children, your extended family & friends. The Great Commission did not say to do this only if it feels comfortable to you or if you have extra time or if it's not going out of your way. YOU reap the benefit of the Promise because someone somewhere shared with you about Jesus. Pass it on, it's a promise for all generations for all times. How blessed are we??!!

Proverbs 17: 22

Proverbs 17: 22

(Complete Jewish Bible) A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one’s strength.

(NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

(Amplified) A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

(New Living Translation) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

This familiar scripture virtually jumped off the page at me this morning during my daily perusal of a chapter in Proverbs. I believe it made that leap because it ties into something I read the other day that I have been meditating on since. Reading on the need to renew our spiritual passion, I was taken with a passage talking about how debilitating it is to our passion/energy when we expend energy in nonrenewable ways. More specifically it addressed the danger of allowing others around us to drain our spiritual energy.

A depleted energy/passion is drained whether it is a personal ‘dry inner well’ or because someone else drains it from us. Think of the woman with the blood issue that touched the hem of Jesus’ garment; He was aware of the energy pull He felt; differentiating it from the contact of the crowd around him.

We’ve all known someone that just wore you down when you spent time with them. Maybe you couldn’t put your finger on it but you always walked away feeling drained and tired. These are energy/passion sappers.

In reading the scripture above, it occurred to me that not only does a low and broken spirit affect the person carrying it around; it can draw down those around them. Equally, being around someone with a happy cheerful heart can lift and renew those around them. There are exceptions, of course, like the person that simply refuses to be encouraged or lifted up; a mega-energy/passion sapper! Oh, my! No amount of encouragement makes a difference with these people because they have closed their minds and hearts. God can change them but only when they let Him in.

We need energy/passion to flow out to those in need but we also need others around us that help rebuild our energy/passion. We have to find a balance that allows us to help our fellow man without leaving us so drained we are no longer able to do that which God has assigned us. Does that sound calloused and self-serving to you? With Jesus as our example and role model, we read in scripture of Him taking time away from the constant demands of people on both his time and energies to rest, pray, and renew. You can not give out that which you do not possess. We need be aware and protective when we see something or someone demanding and draining us of our spiritual energy/passion; we must strive to maintain our reserve of renewable energy/passion. Remember….A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one’s strength. Wishing you a happy heart….

Map Reading 101

Many times in my faith walk I have prayed for instructions and directions clearly mapping out that which God wants me to do. The road map of heavenly guidance is already written in scripture. Knowing how to read that map is vital because sign posts of life will often dispute what you read on the divine map. When God guides and directs you, He does not nullify the scriptures. Neither will He change them to accommodate any voice you may be hearing that says to go right when the scripture map says to go left. If you ‘hear’ direction, make sure it is in agreement with the Word.

Here is a vital 'Map Key' (taken from Scripture Keys to Kingdom Living) ; don't take that first step without it!

When the Lord Speaks, the following is evident:

AN INNER KNOWING, Sometimes He speaks in words not familiar to you or not common to your vocabulary (1 Cor 2:13}

PEACE comes into your soul and you are at rest (John 14:27)

TRUSTING results with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-6)

CONFIDENCE AND ASSURANCE follow (Isaiah 30:15)

AGREEMENT WITH THE WORD OF GOD, the Bible, God, will not violate His Word for anyone’s convenience (II Peter 1:19)

CONFIRMATION, God always confirms His words to you, especially in guidance for action (II Cor 13:1)

THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST, always acknowledged (I Cor 12:3)

CLARITY, Jesus always speaks clearly and in line with Hid Word, so that you KNOW it is He (II Cor 1:20)

WHEN THE DEVIL OR ANOTHER SPIRIT SPEAKS, the following is evident:

DOUBT, FEAR, DISCOMFORT (II Tim 1:7; Rom 8:15-16)

CONFLICT, RESTLESSNESS, NO PEACE (Jas 3:14-18; Isa 48:22)

LACK OF CLARITY, CONFUSION, If you have to ‘work it out’ forget it! God is not the author of confusion, satan is.

NEGATION OF THE LORD’S COMMANDS to us personally or through Scripture. When god speaks, satan soon says the exact opposite, trying to snatch away the Word. (Matt 13:4, 18, 24-30; Gen 3:4)

LORDSHIP OF CHRIST DENIED, discounted, satan will not call Jesus Christ “Lord” (1 John 4:1-6)

CONDEMNATION, GUILT, DISCOURAGEMENT, satan brings up sins that have already been confessed, forgiven, and forgotten by God (Rom 8:1; I John 3:20; Rev 12:10)

WHEN THE FLESH-SELF SPEAKS, the following is evident:

HESITATION, self has to think before it speaks. God’s Word to us flows easily without any preconceptions due to our carnal mind (Rom 8:5-7; 26-27)

DECEPTION, we can be led astray by our own hearts since we do not fully understand ourselves (Jer 17:9-10). So we must feed on the Word until we become mature (Heb 5:12)

DOUBLE-MINDEDNESS, Wanting two opposite things at the same time results in instability (Jas 1:8). Jesus gives us the “single eye” (Matt 6:22-23) so that we can really want to do God’s will (Phil 2:13). It is the indwelling Spirit that enables us to do this (John 14:16; 16:13)

UNREGENERATE DESIRES, The voice sounds like our own, with our own inflections and intonations, and speaks of the same old desires that you used to indulge in (Jas 1:13-16). Such desires arise from the flesh, and we must consider ourselves dead to those desires (Rom 6:1-4).

Our journey through life will take us on many long and winding roads. It is comforting to know God provided us with a biblical Road Map to follow. So, pack your bags, grab your Bible and Map Keys, Friends, it’s going to be a fascinating trip!

Choose Your Words Carefully

Yesterday I wrote about spiritual burnout. Last night, it occurred to me that I never explained what spiritual burnout was; I was working from the assumption that anyone choosing to read a Christian blog would be well versed in what I call ‘Christianeze’, the language and verbiage used in the Christian community. I fell into the trap about which I have so often warned others when training them for the mission field.

There is a problem with speaking Christianeze; it does not translate well to those unfamiliar with it, this is why it is not wise to use it in the mission field or when sharing Christ with a non-believer or with those young in their faith (another Christianeze concept). For instance; using my own experience when I was a fledgling born-again (Christianeze) Christian – a phrase I heard often was that God was no respecter of persons. This caused confusion and grief for me. For anyone familiar with Christianeze, that means that God does not favor one person over another, we are on a level playing field. As the person unfamiliar with the language I thought it meant He didn’t really care about anyone. This contradicted what I thought I DID actually know about God, thus the confusion.

Years ago, I attended a congregational meeting where a dividing line was clearly marked by attitudes and opinions. The discussion of the necessity of spiritually mature leaders within the church body seemed clear enough; at least it did until one of the most vocal in one of groups asked just what ‘spiritually maturity’ meant. I was stunned by the question. It seemed to me that if you had to ask what it was, you didn’t have it. Christianeze can be detrimental to communication if everyone is not speaking the same language; even within a congregation.

I had a pastor tell me once that as a Christian I thought and reacted as a Christian. In my dealings with a non-Christian family member, I was bewildered that he was unable to see to consequences and pain his family was being put through by his choices; I had sought counseling from this pastor because I was torn by requests of me during the fallout of his actions. The pastor explained that this man could not think and react as a Christian because he wasn’t one, he did not have the mind of a Christian; he said we were speaking different languages…..and he was right. I could no more see the perspective and rationale of the non-Christian than he could mine.

This reinforced to me that Christianeze has a place when equally yoked (Christianeze) believers are together but can be dangerous and counterproductive at other times. Some people feel they are being talked down to when well-meaning albeit misguided Christians minister to them in Christianeze. On a mission trip in Africa we had translators with us when we walked the streets of the village. How useless would we have been had we shared the message of Christ in Christianeze with our Texas accents? We also used a flip chart that used symbolism meaningful to the village people. The picture words conveyed much more than anything we could have said. It expressed a language they clearly understood.

This is, in part, why I believe God has me use the life lessons He shows me as the genre for utilizing the gift He gave me. By writing about everyday life in everyday language and the role faith plays in it, perhaps I will be able to share more of Him with more people. I realize my postings have Christian written all over them and, by virtue of that alone, many will pass it by without so much as a glance. I have seen my mission field changing over the years for many reasons. It’s a far cry from an African village to my keyboard in my home office but my prayer is that I am still His hands and voice as I minister through words with His divine inspiration.

I will endeavor not to speak Christianeze, though an occasional phrase or two slip by me. And as with most missionaries, I need your prayer and support. You can support this ministry by sharing it with others. Word of mouth is how the gospel was initially shared and it is still the best way to bring a little Jesus to someone. Join me on this journey and let’s build an awesome missionary team together. There is power in prayer and power in number when Christians join forces to make a change for Jesus.

Rest for the Weary

The road to spiritual burnout winds and twists through our busy lives and leads us to a place we didn’t even realize we were headed. You can quote me on that.

Spiritual burnout may be a relatively new term but it certainly isn’t a new situation. The Bible is chocked full of godly people, the movers and shakers in their day that desired nothing more than to honor God with their lives and their work; yet, just as today, burnout plagues well-intended people. When you are doing more and enjoying it less, take note, Friend, because burnout may be lingering around the next corner just waiting to strike.

There is a passage in one of my favorite books by Gordon MacDonald that addresses this:

‘In the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Natives had been engaged from a tribe to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they just sat and rested. On inquiry as to the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, and that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies. (From Springs in the Valley by Mrs. Lettie Cowman)

Mrs. Cowman concluded that story by saying: This whirling rushing life which so many of us live does for us what that first march did for those poor jungle tribesmen. The difference: they knew what they needed to restore life’s balance; too often we do not.’

My favorite line in that story is that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies. Oh, my! Haven’t we all been there, done that too many times? Rare is the person in today’s hectic world that truly takes time to rest the way God intended when He proclaimed a day of rest. Sabbath rest was created FOR us. God knew our minds, bodies and spirits would need it. Mosaic Law dictated the day of rest and Jesus showed us that it can be carried to the extreme; but let’s not lose sight of the fact that God rested and knew we needed rest – recuperative, renewing deep rest..

Many Christians suffer burnout because they stay so busy, running and planning and making things happen that they neglect their souls and abuse their bodies. Christians, do not be deceived; busyness ‘doing things’ in service of the Lord is not the same as time with the Lord. We must learn to ‘step into the boat and push away from the shore’ as Jesus did when He knew His disciples needed rest after returning from the missionary outings He sent them on. Just as most pastors take Monday off after ministering on Sundays, they needed time to restore, refresh and refill their own spiritual wells before they would be able to pour out again.

Physical rest plays a large part in spiritual burnout. Physical work can bring about a ‘good tired’. Too much physical work, without proper rest and nourishment, can bring on a state of exhaustion that defies all efforts to maintain spiritual balance. Emotional highs and lows do as well. We can get just as tired and exhausted from a really wonderful event as we can a dreaded one. We may not realize it at the time but the stress on our bodies is the same. What feels like a surge of energy at the height of emotion is just that; energy expended has to be replaced whether it’s spent on happy things or sad ones.

My husband and I are very blessed with a large family we love a great deal. It’s wonderful to be able to support the grandkids in their endeavors and nothing fills us with more satisfaction than time with the family. At the same time, we are blessed to have a wonderful church family and a great deal of our time is structured around that, as well. If we are to be beneficial to our biological and church families we must ‘step into the boat and push away from the shore’ once and awhile. We don’t do this often enough. We both have good habits of time spent in Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books and seeking God but it is the time of spiritual rest we need to allow us to be useful servants to God and everyone else.

With the holiday season in full swing this is perhaps the hardest time of the year to find time you feel you can lay aside for spiritual rest and yet it is the time you need it the most. Once burnout is in full swing you will not, can not enjoy the holidays anyway because stress will rule your emotions and clothe you in frustration. So, my prayer is that you ‘step into the boat and push away from the shore’ so you can wait for your ‘soul to catch up with your body.’

Frosted Flakes Won't Cut It

People, we have a problem.

In our age, our place in space, our time – this time on earth (call it what you like) we have fallen into a dangerous state of ‘feel good Christianity’. People are hopping from church to church in hope of finding the ‘right’ one that suits them. Sadly, it’s often about programs, activities and appealing to their sense of being entertained more than the condition of their salvation and soul. People, we have a problem.

We have ‘cotton candy’ pastors oozing a high fructose version of Christianity to keep the pews and offering plates filled. Somewhere between the high voltage worship music and the pot luck dinner, people stopped being told they would go to hell if they did not accept Jesus as their savior. They are encouraged to be joyful and at peace as the flames shoot higher and higher. The Bible tells us of three young Hebrew youth that were able to do just that. However, and it’s a big however, they were able to do so because they were faithful to their faith, disciplined in their worship and refused to follow the ways of the indulged heathens around them. They were willing to die before they bow down to anything other than their God; the same God that lives and rules today.

Yet, we have churches with one eye on the Bible and the other on the clock because, heaven forbid, they should run a little over the usual service/sermon time. They have no inclination to follow the Holy Spirit in the service because, well….that would cut into lunch time and people just can not sit still and hear the Word of God if their little bellies are growling. Besides, sometimes they have to rush home for a football game where they will cheer, shout and enthusiastically sit for two – two and half hours engrossed in watching grown men run head long into one another. Can’t let that pesky church service get in the way of that, now can we? These are the same people that would faint and fall over before raising a shout or cheer for team Jesus. That’s unthinkable. People, we have a problem.

A woman told me she and her daughters changed churches because they needed a shorter service; they had other things to do. This professing Christian also believed in reincarnation. Maybe in her next lifetime she can find what she’s looking for.

One of my spiritual fathers goes to remotes places of the world to help encourage and train nationals as spiritual leaders to their people. He tells of one trip to India where traveling to the location was difficult for his team. Some of the ‘pastors’ coming to hear more about God and learn how to reach their own had walked for four days to get to this teaching seminar. Then they had to sit on the ground in the rain for the duration. Yet, they did not leave, nor complain. They sacrificed every personal comfort to learn more of God and Jesus. Here, in the land of plenty, we have people that will not sacrifice an hour of sleep to get up and dress in their multi-room homes so they can drive their comfy cars to church where they sit in the air conditioned/heated sanctuaries on padded pews and chairs unless they are being entertained and made to feel good about themselves for an hour or less, one day a week while their kids are catered to and fed snacks because that hour is just too long to expect them to act right. People, we have a problem

People are dying and going to hell all day every day everywhere you look. The God I read about in the Bible doesn’t come across as being too concerned about a sports team, or coddled kids or doing laundry or sleeping in. I do read about eternity. I do read about the depths of hell and the glory of heaven. The Bible isn’t sugar-coated so it will sit better in your mouth. If pastors, parents, grandparents, Sunday school teachers and TV preachers do not stop ignoring the basic teaching of Christianity where sin is sin no matter how you try to pretty it up, where we are to seek and worship God instead of waiting for some church-like entity to woo us to them when it’s convenient, we are perpetuating the problem. One day we will all stand before our maker and account for what we did and did not do to train up our families in the way of the Lord.

People, let’s be a part of the solution, not the problem!

The Eyes Have It

This life’s dim window of the soul

Distort the heavens from pole to pole

And lead you to believe a lie

When you see with, not through, the eye

That little poem by William Blake describes a common condition. People, including but not limited to Christians, in times of struggle, excessive activity, physical or spiritual exhaustion can be deceived by what they see with their eye as opposed to using discernment. Choices and decisions made by emotional reactions are equally dangerous. Then there are those that routinely function from a position that believes all that glitters really is gold and chase after the sparkle.

For example, Abraham and Lot found themselves at a point where the land they inhabited could no longer sustain all the flocks and herds they held. A division would be necessary to maintain. Abraham made the offer to Lot to take his flocks, family and household and choose the land he wanted for this move. “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley as well watered…” Genesis 13:10 Lot eagerly looked around and took the greenest and most lush fields and valley for himself. He ‘thought’ with his eyes, seeing the beauty, selfishly wanting what he perceived as the best for himself; no concern for his generous uncle. This was his decision making process, not inner values and convictions. The moral decay and filthy lifestyles of Sodom and Gomorrah included in that valley he desired would eventually lead to the loss of his family, his dignity and credibility.

In my reading this morning, I noted that there are 508 scriptures using the word eyes in the NIV Bible. The most common use of the word was referencing ‘lift(ing) up their/your eyes’….With 508 references, it is safe to assume they play a vital role in our life, well beyond the obvious. It seems to me that in ‘lifting up’ our eyes, we are making a deliberate action over a casual sighting.

We have heard the proverb that says ‘the eyes are the window to the soul’. Scripture tells us in Luke 11:34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.

And from 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

So, it seems we should pay diligent attention (that ‘deliberate action’ mentioned above) to that which we do with out eyes! We guard our hearts by monitoring what we see and hear. We can delight the Lord by our eyes seek or we can spiral into sin with those same eyes.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints

In reference to Jesus, Isaiah prophesied Isaiah 11:3 And He will delight in the fear of the LORD, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

In short, Jesus always has been, always will be our example; the standard by which we are to aspire. I leave you with these words of encouragement:

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Being Independent is Highly Overrated

By virtue of being American, we are raised with the pioneer independent spirit. We pride ourselves in our national mentality of independence. Sadly, in the world in which we live, that might not be such a bad thing. Or is it? It becomes a problem when we apply that thought process to our spiritual life. We can not function outside of God's will for us and still enjoy the fruit He has promised. Worldly success and Godly vision rarely are the same. You can be very successful and follow the Lord's ways, but it takes a self-discipline many never achieve. Self gets in the way.

As for me, I'd rather live in a tent and follow the Lord than dwell in a mansion of worldly living. I tried living my life "my way' as the old song tells of, failed miserably in every aspect of it, and finally surrendered to the Lord all those years ago.

At the time my Honey and I married, I had been my sole support for many years. I wasn’t ‘rolling in the dough’ as the saying goes but I kept a roof over my head, never went hungry, paid my bills, bought my own vehicle, went on mission trips, tithed every Sunday and was actively serving Him in many different ways. I had, thanks to God, been blessed with promotion on my job. Life had taught me not to depend on another person and I was fiercely independent. Sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it?

Moving in with my new husband was a blessing and a challenge at the same time. Learning to live with a partner again did not come easily. First, I planned on being transferred with my company from Austin to San Antonio. That did not happen and the bottom line was that the nice income I/we were expecting as a given was not to be. This came as an emotional and psychological blow to the former Miss Independent, now Mrs. Married with no job. I searched for a job with comparable pay, found nothing. I did find a job I enjoyed a lot in spite of the pitiful salary but physical issues forced me to resign. I was forced to be dependent on my Honey. This was painful and terrifying to me; my history reared its ugly head to remind me that depending on a man was not a good thing.

The one thing that kept me from losing my mind was that I knew, knew God had put my Honey and I together to serve Him in ministry. It was through an immense amount of prayer and Bible reading that I realized God was using that time of transition to build my faith in Him and my new husband. Growing pains, my constant companion; I learned to simply stand in faith on the plan God had for my life.

Soon after, we became a family of six rather than two when four of our grandchildren came to live with us. They were young, troubled by all the pain in their own lives and needed me home with them. Had I been working, I would have had to quit. God had used my transition time to prepare me for life with my husband and children.

Every day I'm thankful for the wake-up call from God, as painful as it was at the time, because my life today would not be possible had all that not happened. Independence, I have discovered, is not for me! Dependent financially on my husband does not equate to lack of self-esteem or personal failure; I want and need to be dependent on the Lord. I love being partners with my Honey and, though my contributions to our life together do not come in the form of a paycheck, they have value and make our lives richer for them. I have learned to lean on my husband and not see that as a weakness; I have learned to trust him more and more as I trust Him more. Funny how that worked.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Many years ago I was having a casual conversation with a former employer I can still call my friend. He asked me, in a baffled tone, if I was aware of a right way and a wrong way to load a dishwasher. I said, of course, there absolutely is. He looked at even more perplexed at hearing my answer.

He explained the previous evening he was in the kitchen with his wife as she prepared dinner. Her routine was to get all the needed ingredients out on the counter before she started. As the process evolved, he decided to help out and put away the spices; she did not appreciate his effort and sent him out of the kitchen. Afterward, he thought he would be helpful by loading the dishwasher. He was informed he was doing it the wrong way and sent out once more. It was obvious he was perplexed by the whole turn of events.

I explained putting away her spices may have been creating more work if she had to retrieve them again; he had not asked what could be put away. Her concern that the dishes would not get clean his way could have been an easy explanation; had they communicated. His heart was in the right place. Her frustration at his efforts defied reason to him. He concluded by saying he believed there was no right or wrong way, simply perspective. It seemed to me trouble arose from not sharing their perspectives with one another. An opportunity for clarifying communication missed.

His observation about perspective has remained with me all these years later. I try to look at my own perplexing situations with others by viewing things from their perspective. I believe we can look at and understand someone else’s point of view without having to agree with or like it. It’s the being listened to that makes the difference.

The trouble is not that people have differing opinions and perspectives, trouble comes when one or both parties refuse to consider the possibility that the other view may have merit. When Person/Group ‘A’ discount the perspective of Person/Group ‘B’ without listening and giving thought to their view, People/Groups start taking things very personally. They feel disrespected and, in common terms, blown-off, without the opportunity to have their views weighed on the scale against the other’s stance. This is when marriages come apart at the seams, business partners become adversaries, churches split, and governments/cultures become enemies. Yes, it is that important.

In families, this is an especially dangerous road to tread. I knew a man once that felt you must not have understood his point of view if you did not agree with him because, had you really understood; you would have seen the error of your ways. He would argue until you said he was right; never concerned about your perspective. Many a relationship died an agonizing death before his eyes.

I was on the phone with a good friend the other day when something on TV caught my attention. I could hear my friend talking but my brain had switched gears and I was not listening to her. Suddenly I realized I no longer even knew what she was saying. I felt badly; I was not showing her proper respect. I turned off the distraction and focused on my friend for the remainder of our conversation. She deserved my full attention.

There is a difference between simply hearing someone talk with your ear and listening to what they are saying. Webster list several definitions for ‘hear’ with the first being the capturing of sound with the ear. That one may be necessary for all other definitions to function but it is of least importance in a relationship. The following, however, can make or break any attempts at fruitful communication.

hear: to listen to with attention : heed : to gain information : learn

listen: to hear something with thoughtful attention : give consideration

Regardless of how crazy and zany someone else’s perspective may seem to you, everyone deserves the right to be heard and listened to as defined above. So with your visual ears ‘hear’ me say this, it is imperative that you hear and listen as described above to other’s perspectives if you want your own to be heard as described above. Nothing shuts down communication and minds faster than coming across as not listening to the heart and voice of the person speaking; an opportunity for clarifying communication needlessly missed.

Feeding the Soul

Last night we had dinner with family at Olive Garden. My entrée of choice was a Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto, delightful to all of the senses. Yes, even hearing; if I sit very still I can recall the low rumbling ‘umm’s” uttered by Haylie and me as we indulged our appetites with the creamy risotto. The good news about the overly generous portions served in American restaurants is that you have leftovers to take home. I had my leftover risotto for breakfast this morning. The sad news is that it was just enough to wake up the taste buds but not enough to satiate the demands of the growling tummy.

Tapas are a delightful custom brought to us by our culinary brothers in Spain. Tapas are small portions of real food eaten when imbibing alcohol; rather like the appetizers with which we are more accustomed. The original idea was one tapa per drink. A variety of tapas were available, so each person was able to enjoy many small tongue tickling delights. Now, Tapas bars are everywhere (except in my small town apparently) and it is fashionable, if we are to believe programming on PBS, to make an entire meal from tapas alone. Initially they were intended to whet the appetite for the meal but I can see where having enough of them can fill you up. So, technically, based on the definition of tapas and taking into consideration my choice of drink was coffee; my risotto breakfast could be considered an Italian version of a Spanish tapa. Confused yet?

While small samplings of tasty food might be an interesting way to tantalize the tongue, it becomes a danger when people approach their ‘religion’ or faith decisions the same way. A little bit of this, a little bit of that is not the way to build a strong foundation of faith. Like tapas, different faiths can offer inviting and colorful bits to entice you. You can mix and match tidbits and come up with a custom made variation to suit you personally. Once upon a time I, too, felt that my faith choices were personal and customized my very own. Dangerous mentality, that! It was based on the tidbits I found appealing and I discarded issues I chose to ignore. I thought it fit me to a tee. There is none so blind as she who will not see!

You see, I was unknowingly practicing a form of Humanism and not true Christianity. I considered myself a Christian but made my own determinations as to what that meant. Let me state this clearly: I was wrong! I had taken a “tapas mentality” in determining which appealing tidbits to incorporate into my faith rather than relying on the written Word of God. I had completely deluded myself into thinking my smorgasbord of ideologies would bring about the beginning and end of all I needed spiritually. Again: I was wrong! I was spiritually depleted and nothing brought about ‘that peace which surpasses all understanding”.

It wasn’t until I passed up the appetizers of worldly faith and got into the meat and potatoes of Christianity that I understood what I was lacking and felt satiated in my soul. A steady diet of the Word of God, followed by frequent meals of study and prayer were the only things ‘to satisfy (as a need or desire) fully or to excess’; the very definition of satiate.

By the way, I followed the risotto tapa with a hardy bowl of steel cut oats with a little honey and cinnamon. Not as colorful and fancy as the risotto but pure foundation building nutrition. Then, and only then, was I able to get about the business of working for the Father. There’s a lesson in that.

In Times of Trouble

Times of Trouble are perhaps one of the most common afflictions known to man. If you are alive you will have trouble. Matters not your country of origin, faith, age or economical scale, Trouble will stalk and attack you as surely as the lion does a gazelle. Wild Kingdom has nothing over real life when it comes to the appetite of Trouble.

Scripture affirms we will encounter Trouble. Matthew 6:34 "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. This scripture alone talks of Trouble being a daily issue. Why, then, are so many surprised when they find themselves face to face with a myriad of circumstance and situations hurled at them by Trouble? We’ve all heard someone lamenting their latest dilemma and asking what could possibly go wrong next. Perhaps the voice was familiar; perhaps it was your own. Fear not; you do not have to look for Trouble, it will find you.

Luke 12:22 And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. Almost sounds too simple and naïve to think we are not to worry over the basics of living, doesn’t it? When we ponder these issues with our finite minds it seems impossible not to stress over them, yet God is not limited by a finite mind. Scripture goes on to tell us we can expect life to be hard but we are not to walk in fear when it looks like darkness is closing in. Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 2 Timothy 3:1 BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 Timothy 3:3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

Scripture also reassures us we can count on the Lord to protect us. Psalm 9:9 The Lord also will be a refuge and a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble (high cost, destitution, and desperation). Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. Psalm 41:1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is he who considers the weak and the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the time of evil and trouble. Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

In our weakness and times of trouble He will not fail or forsake us. Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

So, Friends, my prayer for us all is that we stand on our faith rather than hang by our fingertips when Trouble is breathing down our necks.