Blog: Glimmers in the Fog by Kim Stiver

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There’s nothing like a major life event to upend the apple cart of habits. Bad ones seem to get worse, and good ones become harder to keep. And while I’ve written about the power of habit and routines before, like so many other life-altering topics, this is one that God keeps reminding me to pay attention to… and I’m guessing that He always will. No matter how much we mature, the force of habit is something that will always live inside of us. Sometimes we grow out of a bad habit and manage to cultivate a good one. Other times, we grow complacent and let old habits creep back in, even when we thought we’d banished them forever. And in what might be the worst-case scenario, we occasionally discover that what we thought was a good thing to do has actually been causing us harm for a very long time. Good, bad, new, or old, the force of habit is both shocking and powerful in its ability to either prevent change or create it. That’s because habits are rarely, if ever, neutral in their effect. They either entrench a behavior or challenge it.

In his groundbreaking book, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg said, “(Habits) shape our lives far more than we realize — they are so strong, in fact, that they cause our brains to cling to them at the exclusion of all else, including common sense.” When hearing that statement, I immediately feel better about myself, and perhaps you do as well. After all, misery loves company, right? But despite knowing that all the emotions we feel about having to change or give up a habit are entirely natural, we are still faced with the challenges associated with changing our routines and behaviors throughout our lifetimes. Things that worked in college, don’t always help us in the work world. What succeeds in one job may be the worst thing we could do in another one. Ways of handling relationships, money, food, our bodies, lifestyle choices, and even our spare time all must evolve if we want to remain on the beneficial side of habits and routines.

For the past two summers in a row, I’ve experienced a renewed sense of awe and some bewilderment at how closely habits are also tied to our sense of place, as much as they are related to our preferences and weaknesses. I originally wrote about the force of habit last year when a deluge of out-of-town house guests over a two-month period caused me to wonder if I was getting too set in my ways. At the time, I thought their disruption of my daily routines and the order of my world was at a minimum noticeable and occasionally uncomfortable, but I now know that their impact was downright mild compared to the challenge my husband and I faced this summer when we uprooted our lives and moved across the country. Everything about our sense of place was altered. Guests weren’t just injecting themselves into our world for a few days or weeks. We left our generally comfortable world behind to inject ourselves into a sea of unfamiliarity. All of my routines went out the window, and many of my bad habits found their way into my new life first, long before the good ones even had a chance to unpack.

Being out of routine in the place where you dwell is naturally unsettling, so our bodies and minds immediately experience dissonance when a familiar environment becomes inhospitable to our habits. This is why changing our bad habits is so hard in the first place. We are conditioned to them, and we naturally return to them, especially in times of weakness, stress, or sadness. According to Duhigg, “Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left to its own devices, the brain will try to make almost any routine into a habit, because habits allow our minds to ramp down more often.”
Yet the Word of God tells us that we have a power far greater within us than that of habits.

Hebrews 12 is one of my favorite scripture passages about the importance of keeping good habits and working to change the bad ones. In verse 11, we find incredible encouragement: “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” This verse hangs on my wall above my computer to remind me that being watchful of our habits and making tough changes to our routines can only be done through critical observation and continuous training.

Paul goes on to say in verse 12: “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” The Holy Spirit will lift us up, empower us, and give us the endurance to make hard changes and then stick with healthy habits of all kinds, no matter whether they are spiritual, physical, or relational in nature. Paul had firsthand experience with replacing bad habits with new ones. Imagine the changes that he had to make when he abandoned his life as a Jewish persecutor of Christians and became a Christ-follower himself. Every habit, schedule, expectation, and routine he possessed needed to change. And when you’re facing a mountain of changes all at once, there’s nothing Satan wants to achieve more than to bring you down and make you feel weak in the knees. That’s when we need to lift our tired and weary hands regardless of our emotions and sing praises to the One who will always strengthen and encourage our hearts.

Sometimes it’s tempting to think that God doesn’t understand the power of habit in our lives, especially when we sense the Holy Spirit prompting us to make very difficult changes. But the One who made us in His very image and knows every thought that pops in our heads or lingers in our hearts, completely understands the ramifications of how He made us. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For God sees everything you do and His eyes are wide open as He observes every single habit you have.” God created the power of habit and He knows firsthand how it can be used for our good or for our detriment. That’s why Psalm 64:10 says to make praise your habit because God is always at work, and Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to stick with the habit of gathering together in fellowship, teaching, and worship. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The body of Christ thrives when its people join together and spur each other on in habits that glorify God and draw us closer to Him.

The Bible also promises us success when we honor God with our lives as living sacrifices, which is the same thing as turning our daily habits, goals, resources, and time over to Him to direct and manage for His purposes. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” As believers, we have the power inside of us to change any habit and cultivate a life that points to Jesus. I am reminded of this every day before I exercise. I don’t want to exercise. As a matter of fact, I downright dread it. But there’s no room for laziness when committing to a good, but a difficult habit to maintain. If I let just one day go, with the exception of simply being unable to exercise due to something like an illness, then I suddenly find that it’s even easier to let the second day slide, and the third day after that… and before I know it, I’ve fallen off the fitness wagon and onto my couch… with a bag of popcorn. And maybe some Ben & Jerry’s. Not good.

Mental habits are no exception to laziness, either. As a continually recovering worrier, I must exercise the muscles of my mind every day to avoid sliding into anxiety or negative thoughts. Yes, there are days I fail at exercise and at cultivating a peaceful heart (usually on the same day!), but deep-diving into scripture study, singing praise to God, and spending time in prayer are good habits that also act as guardrails to keep me from completely sliding off the cliffs of laziness, complacency, and discouragement.

I’m sure someone out there listening to this or reading this post is feeling discouraged about their habits and wanting to shout at me, “You make it sound so easy. You have no idea what kind of habit I’m dealing with or how many times I’ve failed to make a change.” And that’s one of the reasons that encouraging people in their faith through blogging and podcasting is so very difficult. Real changes… difficult changes… lasting changes are best cemented in community. We may read a book and find newfound motivation, but the impact probably won’t last without accountability from others. We might find incredible inspiration in hearing someone’s testimony in a podcast or maybe during a Sunday sermon, but without creating our own action plan and making it personal, all the inspiration in the world will likely fizzle. Harnessing the power of habit is possible, but it takes incredible effort, a long time, multiple failures, and usually a village to make it happen.

Centuries ago, the Renaissance-era scholar Desiderius Erasmus wisely said, “A nail is driven out by another nail. Habit is overcome by habit.” Any habits we want to change for the better cannot simply be removed. We must replace them with another habit, that offers us more. Only Jesus does that. Only an intensely intimate and deeply personal habit of living in the presence of God stands a chance of holding a candle to the comfort of routine behaviors designed to make us feel better physically or emotionally on a temporary basis. Clearly, Erasmus was well ahead of his time regarding the power of habit and human resistance to change. History tells us that he advocated tirelessly for reformation within the church prior to Martin Luther’s arrival on the scene. He challenged many detrimental practices and encouraged religious leaders to put an end to a number of abuses in the name of faith.

Today, however, we live in an age where a person’s sense of self and identity is commonly wrapped up in their physical characteristics, desires, and actions. Most people are not looking toward faith for the answers pressing on their hearts. Yet Jesus holds out His hand and tells us to crave something more than what our five senses can give us. What He offers is the only thing that will truly satisfy and never be taken from us, yet we so often trade the most fulfilling thing in the world for a moment of habit-driven pleasure, peace, or happiness. Our identity is sadly misaligned through the culmination of our habits and routines. David Mathis, who wrote Habits of Grace, puts it this way: “Your habits are, in fact, one of the most important things about you. Those repeated actions you take over and over, almost mindlessly, reveal your true self over time as much as anything else.”

In the next few minutes, you and I will both do something out of habit. Another cup of coffee, perhaps. A nervous cough when we see someone we don’t want to talk to. Time in front of the TV with our favorite show. While every moment has its purpose, God understands that we need to relax, recharge, and laugh. He knows that there is comfort in routines and familiarity. But He also intends for us to join Him as He works in hearts and minds around us. And sometimes, the comfort of our habits can blind us to extraordinary opportunities popping up all around us. We need to remember that the Holy Spirit can turn anything routine into something life-changing. So instead of looking at everything you do through the lens of effort expended or pleasure rewarded, why not start asking God to invade your habits for His glory and His use?

Being reminded of how powerful my habits are and how important God’s calling should be in my life, has made me realize the very things I don’t usually think about are some of the most critical things to actually spend time thinking about. Harnessing the power of our habits is certainly not easy, but yielding to the Holy Spirit to help us do it gives us a power that’s even greater than the force of the habits themselves.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read and meditate upon Proverbs 5:21, Isaiah 55:8-9, and Proverbs 3:5. How does it bring you comfort to know that God sees your every habit? Are you willing to trust His ways and direction more than your own analysis and wisdom? Spend a few minutes asking God to search your heart in the days ahead and commit to being open to His promptings. Write down anything He whispers to your heart.
Day 2 - Begin with prayer and then sit in God’s presence without words for at least five minutes. Spend some time journaling today about your habits. Write without judgment or trying to make decisions. Just focus on making observations. How do you find that your habits change when you find yourself out of your normal routine or place? What do you think that reveals to you? What things do you do every day or every week, no matter what? Which of your habits were taught to you or modeled by someone else, like a parent?
Day 3 - Read Psalm 139:23-24 and then spend some time meditating on it and praying. What habits do you think God is telling you to modify, give up, or replace in some way? What new habits is He leading you to start doing?
Day 4 - Read Hebrews 12:11-12 in at least three different translations of the Bible. Spend some time asking God to reveal any fruits of His Spirit in your life or lessons learned as a result of going through a time of suffering, change, or discipline. Then spend time praising and thanking God for them.
Day 5 - Today, set aside time to make an action plan for change. Don’t try to change more than one habit at a time, but instead, ask God to help you prioritize which one to tackle first. Be sure to include the reasons behind making the changes, because going back and reviewing your “why” will be critical to your success. Once you are ready, pray over your steps and ask God to give you an accountability partner for the journey. You may also want to seek out resources to help you in the process prayerfully.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Broken Made Beautiful

11/6/2019

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Brokenness is Made Beautiful in the Hands of God

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It seemed like the day would never come, but on Friday, I finally unpacked the last moving box. Okay, so there are a few boxes that I’m not ever going to unpack. You know the ones… they’re loaded down with cheesy grammar school photos and homespun mementos of summer camping trips. But when it comes to the boxes that should be unpacked, I’m all done. I even emptied a few that I had marked for “deep storage,” which made me feel especially proud of myself. And just as I was reveling in the thought of being completely settled and patting myself on the back for small victories, it hit me how much I had forgotten by storing away dozens of years of my life in the attic.

Pawing through all the layers of memories, I was amazed at how quickly and easily my mind returned to another time. I could see vivid details of my old neighborhood streets and could almost smell the pungent boughs of a Christmas tree framed in the early morning light. Most of the stories that resurfaced were good ones, but a few made me wish I hadn’t opened a particular box. And it was then that I suddenly felt washed in a blanket of mercy. Thank goodness God allows us — and I think sometimes He makes us — forget certain things or experiences until we’re ready… until He’s prepared us… to unpack them again. In His endless mercy and wisdom, He knows that some stories can’t bear to be retold until the road stretches far enough behind us for wounds to be healed, and our hindsight is clear enough to bring appreciation and understanding.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Ecclesiastes 3:11, which begins with, “He makes everything beautiful in its time.” It’s a surprisingly hopeful statement for a book that is largely a downer comparatively speaking to the rest of Scripture. And although I have this verse written on a chalkboard in my office, I had never really thought to apply it to my past. Instead, I’ve been using it as a reminder to be patient while I wait on the Lord to open doors. The verse reassures me that waiting on God without grumbling or jumping the gun is rewarded because our Father never does anything half-heartedly or at the wrong time.

Yet, as I sat there surrounded by mostly silly junk and some 80s photos with my hair teased high enough to reach a ceiling fan, the Holy Spirit brought this Scripture to me in a fresh way, along with the rest of the verse, which concludes with, “Also, He has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that He cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” So true to the rest of the theme of Ecclesiastes, one of the most beautiful lines is followed by a frustrating letdown. It makes me smile because it’s like Solomon, the author, is giving the reader this cheeky grin and saying with great sarcasm, “Have faith, cause everything God does is amazing. Even the stuff you think is the most horrible or difficult. He’ll make it all come out in the wash and adorn you in the finest garment you can imagine. You’re going to look fabulous — simply radiant and whole — in His presence. But… before you get too excited… just know that between now and then, you’re not going to have a clue what He’s doing or why He’s doing it.” And for the remainder of that passage, Solomon reminds us that God is going to do what He’s going to do. He then goes on to advise us to accept the Lord’s sovereignty and just move on with life.

And while Solomon’s words ring true as only a pessimistic statement can, we know that God doesn’t leave us comfortless in our seasons of waiting, questioning, hurting, and emptiness. While we may not be able to discern why He is doing something or why He allowed a bad story to be written in the first place, He does pour out new mercies for us each morning of our lives. That means every day of our lives. Not just the days you feel hopeful, happy, or whole. Lamentations 3:22-23 is also one of my favorite passages, and as I pair it up with the verse from Ecclesiastes, the picture of God’s love is complete… extravagant even. Most versions of the Lamentations passage include the phrase, “His mercies are new every morning.” But The Message translation fits with Ecclesiastes 3:11 like two beautiful puzzle pieces, so snugly aligned that it is hard to separate them. It reads, “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, His merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning! How great is your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.”

So in the two different verses, we hear from people who are at the end of their ropes — Solomon and his father David. They’re miserable. They both endured great hardship, but they also had seasons of great luxury, completely saturated with every pleasure the world has to offer. They both reaffirm their conviction that God is in control of everything, and He loves His people enough to take care of everything in His way and in His time. Both authors assure us that during the “dry” times, it may seem or feel as though He’s left, but His faithfulness will prove itself over and over.

As I traced the outline of faded photos and the edges of old diaries, I recalled how many situations seemed so tragic, so unredeemable at the time. From that vantage point and with only the experiences of a kid or young adult, the roots of my faith were not as strong as they are today. Of course, I’m not planning to decorate our house with tacky childhood artwork and faded trinkets, and I surely don’t want to spend time re-reading those diaries adorned with glitter hearts and pink butterflies. But I have found a new appreciation for the stories I had intentionally banished to the dark corners of our previous home’s attic. That’s because, from where I sit now, I can see God’s hand in almost every one of them. He did use them. He did redeem them. He did make me whole again.

One relic from my childhood is extra special. It has made it to a prominent position in our home and is on permanent display. However, it is not the original item’s significance or even its physical appearance that makes it worthy to come out of deep storage. I cherish it because of its brokenness. Originally it was a simple, average commemorative baby plate with my name and birthday painted on it. But almost 20 years ago, it was accidentally dropped and shattered in about a dozen pieces. The person who broke it had hurt me in so many other ways, that I seemed to transpose much of my disappointment and pain onto those shattered pieces. They were symbolic of my suffering, some of which I had brought on myself after a few years of very bad decisions. Looking at those small blue and white china pieces was almost like looking at my own heart and soul. At that time, I wasn’t walking close to Jesus. Despite all of that, I couldn’t bring myself to throw the broken plate away. There was some pull inside of me… perhaps just poetic romanticism… or maybe something deeper and spiritual in nature… that made me believe it could somehow be fixed. I wanted my life to be fixed, too, but I had no idea how God could ever bring healing at that point.

Fast forward a decade later, and God has made everything beautiful in His time. My husband’s sweet grandmother had a talent for creating mosaics from broken ceramics and old china pieces. Before she passed away, she lovingly made something completely new out of my broken treasure. With her help, it became whole again and far more resilient than ever before. And with true poetic romanticism, it sits in a place of honor it never would’ve had if it hadn’t been broken in the first place. I’m sure you know where this analogy is going, don’t you? Like the plate commemorating my birth into this world, Jesus had also lovingly brought rebirth to my heart and soul. Just as Grandma Ann gave new life and value to a cheap souvenir, God redeemed my life and restored hope to my wounded heart.

Since the plate broke and Grandma turned the meaningless pieces into a new work of art more than 10 years ago, I never realized until this week that such a beautiful story was sitting on my bedroom dresser. I’ve had a lot of readers and listeners ask me how I come up with ideas and stories for Glimmers in the Fog, and I think today’s message is a perfect example to share. So here’s how the idea came to me. For some strange reason, a few days ago, I found myself staring at the plate while putting on my earrings. And I was reminded of what a precious treasure it is because of who put it back together. That thought lingered for the rest of the day, making me smile when other things weren’t going smoothly. And then yesterday at lunchtime, I was outside squeezing in a much-needed power walk and asking God what He wanted me to write about this week. And as I struggled to tune my ears to Him and not my endless to-do list, I suddenly had a thought. Some stories shouldn’t be unpacked too soon. They need time to mature and mellow before they are opened up and experienced again. Just as a fine wine needs many years on a shelf before it can be appreciated, so God sometimes intentionally keeps things obscured from us until we’re prepared to see them properly. We just have to trust Him and not our own logic or assumptions.

Even more amazing, today is the anniversary of Grandma’s passing, which wasn’t even on the forefront of my mind while I marveled at her handiwork. My husband texted me this morning to remind me when I told him what I was writing about. I know that some people would say it’s merely a coincidence, but because I believe God is the source of all things beautiful, all creativity, and He does love a good story, there’s no doubt in my mind that He authored this poetic ending on purpose. It is the same truth expressed in Hebrews 11:1, which says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God loves us more than we can fathom or imagine, no matter what our perceptions and senses tell us. And He does make all things beautiful in His time. What an incredible reminder that no story God authors ever ends in brokenness. And the good news? All of our stories can be turned over to the greatest Editor of all time.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read Psalm 147:3 to focus your mind and eliminate your distractions. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and open your ears to His whisper. Then spend some time in quiet reflection at the feet of Jesus. Don’t say a word in your head or from your lips for at least five minutes. If it helps, you can listen to soft instrumental hymns. Then ask God this question: Father, what brokenness is within me that I haven’t released to you for healing? Write down the thoughts that come to your mind.
Day 2 - Sometimes, God allows difficulties and hardship to come our way specifically to lead us to a place of brokenness. Read Psalm 51:17 and spend time writing down anything that comes to your mind as a benefit of being broken in some way? What kinds of brokenness have you experienced? Are there any sins, rebellious ways, stubbornness, or pride that needs to be released or has been overcome in your life through brokenness?
Day 3 - It can be very hard to thank God for allowing us to be broken-hearted, rejected, and wounded. Yet the Word makes it clear that we are to thank Him in all things. Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and James 1:2-4.
Day 4 - After we thank God for all things, the Word tells us to give Him praise. Lifting your heart to God when you’re grieving over difficult things, rejection, or losses takes great effort, but when you do, your heart will be lifted, and your soul will experience real joy. Read Psalm 147:1, Zephaniah 3:17 and Psalm 34:1-3, then spend time lifting your voice to Him — yes, out loud — through words of adoration and songs of praise.
Day 5 - No matter what suffering, pain, loss, or rejection comes our way, Jesus promises that He has already overcome. You can live with hope each day and believe that God will be with you. Read Lamentations 3:22-23, Jeremiah 29:11, and John 16:33 Spend a few moments asking God to give you a glimpse of hope, healing, and strength for whatever you are facing now or any “bad” stories you are trying to forget. Allow the Holy Spirit to unearth things in your heart that need His touch and then write down any themes of hope or encouragement that you hear from Him in the Scriptures or in prayer time.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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The Incredible Impact of Being Ordinary

10/30/2019

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Just about every television sitcom relies on a familiar formula for evoking laughs on a consistent basis: the smooth, cool guy or girl is portrayed in contrast to the ordinary, often awkward, everyday person. Think Fonzie juxtaposed to Richie on Happy Days or Rachel compared to Monica on Friends. Whether it’s a co-worker, friend, sibling, or even a spouse, we can all relate to feeling self-conscious around someone else whom we deem to have more of the “it” factor than we do. Often undefinable and challenging to explain, this vague sense that someone is more sophisticated, put together, or magnetic than we are, can make us feel ordinary… unremarkable… and downright boring. But unlike a TV sitcom, going through life without having the “it” factor is normal for 99% of the population. Most people will be Richies or Monicas, but the world will keep telling them through advertising and social media that they should aspire to be Fonzies or Rachels if they want to be truly accepted, admired, and loved.

To further compound the pressure to be cool, which has probably been around since the dawn of civilization, we now live in an era where being noticeably different is also a prerequisite to achieve society’s newest definition of success — the social media like or follow. When I was growing up, if you were different, then you stood out in a bad way. And you certainly weren’t cool. No one wanted to be different, and embracing those who were unusual or unique was not a popular thing to do. So while I’m thrilled that we live in an era where people who “march to the beat of their own drum” or were once labeled “an odd duck” are now more likely to be celebrated and accepted, I’ve become saddened to see the heavy burden that people of all ages are carrying to stand out, get noticed, be loved, and feel approved. We’ve taken it so far, that people across every demographic are seeking counseling for anxiety and depression at never-before-seen levels in history. And despite the pervasive clamoring for attention from others, people are becoming more and more isolated and lonely.

And in the middle of all this pressure, I have been wondering where does faith fit? How should our desire to be extraordinary change if we are believers? When we read that Jesus chose to have dinner with the most uncool members of society and hang out with the most unsuccessful people of His day, what impact should it have on us when modern Christianity has its own bubble of supremely cool and very successful celebrities? In America, most Christians are not marginalized, rejected outcasts. And while followers of Jesus will always be considered awkward or uncool in some social circles, Christianity now has its own equivalent of the Fonzies and the Rachels, plus an extensive pantheon of social media darlings garnering widespread acclaim from the Christian community and a huge portion of mainstream media. These Christian superstars might be more positive, far less vulgar, and present a more altruistic platform than the majority of their mainstream counterparts — which is good — but what happens when the rest of us ordinary people begin to believe our calling from God also requires the “it factor”? What happens when we desire the same level of coolness and trendy difference that the world around us cannot get enough of?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” So is it possible that Jesus may want those in Christian leadership to build platforms based on their ability to stand out and be unique? And if our leaders are seeking that recognition to more effectively share the Gospel, then is it something that God would also want for the rest of us who are living, loving, and serving in the routine trenches of life? Should all of us strive so hard to be extraordinary? Could it be that the culture’s emphasis on being unusual and the pressure to be remarkable has lured us into believing that there’s something wrong with being ordinary?

I realize all these questions may be an oversimplification of the complex world we live in. As a former professional marketer, I also understand all too well the amount of publicity and promotion required to ensure that a message can cut through the clutter and commercialization and reach its intended audience. That amount is staggering, by the way. But what I am getting at is something much more complex and deceitful than the simple allure of easy fame or widespread notoriety. More and more, it seems as though the one-to-one, deeply personal impact that Jesus modeled for His church body is being replaced by the impersonal, seemingly more efficient approach of mass inspiration. Instead of volunteering to serve Jesus through the intimate relational discipleship of teaching and mentoring others in our communities, loving a reclusive neighbor with regular visits, or giving back by helping a neighbor in need, so many people think God is calling them to become a public champion for a cause, a national recording artist, a full-time motivational speaker, a cutting edge entrepreneur, or a best-selling author. And, yes, God definitely calls people to those roles. Please don’t misinterpret what I am saying. The Bible makes it clear that God has plans for some believers that will include massive platforms. But the humbling reality is that He calls most of us to be incredibly ordinary as defined by the world’s standards. Of course, we are anything but ordinary to Him, and our impact for Him will be extraordinary when we’re walking in His calling, but by most earthly accounts, it will appear as though our lives are anything but high profile or well known.

Jesus taught the disciples to operate on a micro-scale … at the community level… creating a ripple effect powered by the Holy Spirit that eventually changed the lives of countless people throughout the ages. Today, more and more Christians are being duped into believing that God is calling them to serve Him on a macro-scale, creating an impersonal wave of information that reaches millions but changes no one. Yet most churches I know of are desperate for more volunteers to teach, mentor, organize, reach out, give, advocate, serve, and comfort both those within the church and the surrounding communities. Most church attendees go in person once or twice a month… tops. Many drop small offerings in the plate, but don’t discover the incredible joy that comes from worshipping through regular tithing. There are many self-professed Christians who seek a taste of the abundant life Jesus promised, but miss out on the truly satisfying feast of developing deep, life-nourishing relationships. Instead, they want the polish and sophistication of a well-organized church service with emotion-stirring music, but would prefer to avoid one-on-one accountability of a small group or the sacrifice of vacation time to chaperone for a youth mission trip. And that’s the irony of it all… Our culture pushes us to desire the praise of many for being different, yet we yearn to display our uniqueness and offer our precious talents from the safety of a distant place. We don’t actually want to get in the ordinary trenches of others’ lives and help them walk through the pain, the need, and the despair.

But the fault doesn’t only lie with church attendees — churches themselves can unknowingly fuel this widespread desire for celebrity wisdom, teaching, worship, and motivation. For example, there are some churches that prefer to bring in a high profile speaker to deliver a powerful message versus listening to an equally competent teacher within their own body. Then they essentially forget about (or overlook) the necessity of personal follow-up, accountability, and day-to-day discipleship in the days and weeks following their “big event”. This effectively encourages believers to flock to online workshops, seminars, and conferences, delivered by a big name, rather than being a part of a local Bible study, life group, or book club. Yes, great interaction and dialogue can happen during online Bible studies and classes. I’m leading one coming up in November through several Facebook Live events. But the problem creeps in when we find ourselves seeking all of our edification, encouragement, and teaching from a distance, rather than participating in a local body on multiple levels. Over and over, Jesus demonstrated that there is a time for learning, but there is no substitution for putting that learning into action into life’s ordinary situations and hardships.

James 1:23 so clearly puts the relationship between learning and action into perspective. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.” In Luke 6:46-49, Jesus explains it this way: “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest and one of the most action-oriented theologians of the previous century, frequently reminded his seminary students of the connection between faith and serving God in the most ordinary of ways. Even back in the early 1900s, people strained after recognition and achievement, and Oswald pushed his young audience of future pastors, missionaries, and teachers to be on their guard against the pursuit of grand service and lofty performance for God. “It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God — but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people— and this is not learned in five minutes.”
Yes, there are times when God puts one of His faithful servants on a platform, and countless people may benefit. Jesus also had moments of being on stage. There were times where He delivered a message to thousands. But He never stayed there. He never craved it, because He knew all too well both the power and the peril of being on a platform. Scripture indicates over and over that He was much more likely to be found looking one person in the eye rather than many. Thousands heard Him speak and followed Him, but the greatest impact of His ministry happened through the one-on-one transformations and small group teaching. Consider these pivotal, micro-audience moments from the Gospels and their crazy ripple effect throughout history and in your own heart:

The miracle of healing for the blind man, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus, the woman with the endless bleeding, and so many more.
The conversation between Jesus and the woman at the well (John 4)
The moment when Jesus squatted in the dirt to wipe tears off the face of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11)
The shock on Zacchaeus’ face when Jesus looked up to call him down from the tree (Luke 19:1-10)
The commissioning of the disciples to go out and share the good news two by two (Mark 6:7)
The painful interaction between Jesus and the thief hanging next to Him on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)
The intimacy of the upper room when Jesus appeared to His disciples and gave them the gift of His Spirit (John 20:19-23)
The conversation between the two travelers on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus intervened (Luke 24:13-35)

In all these moments, Jesus inserted Himself into the lives of ordinary people, transforming them and the circumstances into lightning rods for His glory. And this is how ordinary people can live truly extraordinary lives — letting Jesus fill every pocket, every corner of your heart, and following His lead, not your own desires or the world’s ideas of greatness. You and I may long to do something amazing for God, but all He wants us to do is long for more of Him, and Him alone. When that happens, everything else will fall into its proper place. Listen to Oswald Chambers one more time. “A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things. All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose he has given them. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them. Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing.”

So, today, my friend, let me encourage you never to lose sight of the one thing that should reign supreme over your heart, with all of its desires, needs, and dreams. Simply long for Jesus. Long to know more of Him and bask in His presence. Loving Him with all your heart, mind, and soul and sharing that love with others as He leads you is all you need to be utterly extraordinary. Others may never recognize you for anything, and thousands may not flock to experience the work of your hands, but you will be making an impact and receiving a crown of glory from the only One in the audience who matters.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - When Jesus talked to the woman at the well, He was doing something the culture around Him deemed scandalous. Yet, this one-on-one interaction brought out an entire town to hear the Gospel. What should’ve become the social media scandal of its day, became a message of hope for many in the hands of Jesus. Read John 4 and write down anything remarkable from Jesus’ conversation with a very ordinary person.
Day 2 - Go back to yesterday’s Scripture reading again. This time, read it in a different version and write down the verse or verses that stand out the most to you. Spend time in prayer, asking God to give you an action item out of this passage.
Day 3 - Read the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11. Spend some time thinking about her situation and how it might relate to someone you know. Don’t focus on the specifics of her sin, but on the ramifications of her pain, struggle, and societal standing. Now think about how Jesus related to her… showed her love, grace, and mercy. Write down name(s) and how God might be leading you to show the same tenderness to them.
Day 4 - Read James 1:23 and Luke 6:46-49. Spend time in prayer asking God to search your heart for any ways you have avoided taking action on something He’s asked you to do.
Day 5 - I recently read a blog post about fame by Sam Eaton that said, “If we aren’t enough without the attention, we’ll never be enough with it.” Read 2 Peter 1:3-4 and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in His truth today. Write down anything God lays on your heart.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Is Jesus Trying to Empty Your Net?

10/23/2019

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One of the most shocking things about God is that He not only wants to have an intimate, intensely personal relationship with us, but He also calls us and sets us apart for His particular use. He gives us things to do. He asks us to join Him in His work. 1 Corinthians 7:17 says, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.” With all of our flaws, weaknesses, distractions, and fickle desires, the King of the Universe not only sacrificed Himself so that we could have fellowship with Him, but on top of that, He takes the time to engineer a highly detailed plan for our lives. If you haven’t stopped to think about this mind-blowing fact in a while, then I invite you to pause and do that right now.

Although I am currently in a transition phase and actually have no idea what I might be doing for work a month from now, let alone a year from now, I have been amazed at how much the Holy Spirit has been reassuring me that He is preparing me for something specific. During my quiet time, He has been reminding me that nothing is ever wasted, and through the encouraging words of others, He has been continually reassuring me that He has a purpose for me. And I am especially appreciative of the Holy Spirit’s abiding support when the things God is doing to prepare me for the future feel especially difficult and hard to process. But that is the very nature of God. It is consistent with His character. When He takes us through times of realignment, discipline, or change, He reminds us that He never changes. That His presence is always with us. That His mercies will not fail. That He will give us enough to face the day ahead. Most importantly, that if we yield to His course adjustments, He will be glorified, no matter how ugly the path is to get to a new destination.

Sometimes the changes God brings and the adjustments He asks us to make are hard to describe. We can’t put words to them, which is essential for understanding, and humans hate the feelings that come with being clueless or confused. Even if the ramifications are bad, we want to know what is happening and why. And that’s the very reason God often has for allowing the circumstances in the first place — they penetrate to the core of us. They reach us at the deepest level and reveal our lack of trust in Him to not only handle the unknown, but to orchestrate it at His discretion. But oh my, when God does turn the light on in our brains, and the Holy Spirit permits us a glimpse of why and what God might be up to, our primary reaction always brings a tidal wave of humility. Because without humility in our hearts, God will often hold back some or all of the next steps in His plan. Pride is the enemy of holy plans, and sometimes we don’t even know it’s in the way until the Spirit reveals it to us.

For months and months this year, I was struggling to describe and understand what was happening and how God was planning to use a slew of difficulties — both outward and inward struggles — for His glory. And then one Sunday I was sitting in church and heard a sermon that the Holy Spirit used to turn the light on, so to speak. Even more remarkably, the word He whispered to my heart was not even a point the pastor was trying to make. I went back more than a month later and listened to the sermon again and was surprised to see that what I wrote down in my notes — what really struck a chord with me — was not anywhere to be found in the message that was delivered. It wasn’t entirely off-topic, and it had a direct correlation to the scripture passage, but the Holy Spirit uniquely tailored an application from the sermon for me. Even though I’ve seen it happen before, I still never cease to be amazed at the wonder of God and His intimate workings in our hearts.
The primary Scripture passage that spoke to me from the sermon that day is what many title as the calling of Peter in Luke 5:1-11. I know the selection is a little longer than what I normally include, but I think you’ll get as lost in the story as I did. I especially like this version of it from The Message.

Once when He [Jesus] was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret [Galilee], the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God. He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets. He climbed into the boat that was Simon’s [Peter] and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd. When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, “Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch.” Simon said, “Master, we’ve been fishing hard all night and haven’t caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I’ll let out the nets.” It was no sooner said than done—a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch. Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell to his knees before Jesus. “Master, leave. I’m a sinner and can’t handle this holiness. Leave me to myself.” When they pulled in that catch of fish, awe overwhelmed Simon and everyone with him. It was the same with James and John, Zebedee’s sons, coworkers with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “There is nothing to fear. From now on you’ll be fishing for men and women.” They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him.

As I listened to that passage, and have re-read it many times since, one thing kept hitting me over and over — Jesus performed two miracles in this story. Most of the time, we focus on the obvious one, which is the overflowing of fish when Peter obeyed Jesus and let down the nets. But what the Holy Spirit illuminated my small brain is the unspoken miracle of the empty nets. You see, Peter was a professional fisherman. He was likely very good at what he did for a living. He and his co-workers were not kids, and they had probably learned the craft of fishing from their fathers, just as they did from their fathers before them. Because his training and experience taught him that working the nightshift was the most productive, he was clearly dubious when Jesus asked him to go out to deep water and lower his nets in the heat of the day. But one look in Jesus’ eyes and Peter was compelled to obey. Something about the presence of Jesus and the power in His voice inspired enough faith in Peter for him to let go of everything he knew to be correct, right, and profitable.

And this is where the Holy Spirit allowed me to see myself in Peter’s predicament. Jesus was about to call Peter to an entirely new life. Therefore, Peter’s nets had to be emptied of his own efforts, talents, skills, and self-reliance to be filled with complete dependence on God. Peter had known what he was doing, so there is no reason at all for us to believe that he didn’t normally catch fish each night. In fact, it would be nearly impossible for his nets to not contain at least a piddly amount of fish after a night of fishing. Jesus miraculously intervened to prepare Peter’s heart for his calling. If given a choice, Peter — just like you or I — would have gladly asked for and received the miracle of abundance. But none of us would have asked for the first one… the miracle of emptiness. Yet, Jesus knew it was the very thing that Peter needed to be prepared for greater things to come. Without it, Peter would not have been humbled, vulnerable, and ready to receive Jesus’ invitation. He would’ve continued to cling to himself, his experience, talents, skills, knowledge, and previous accomplishments. Without the miracle of Jesus emptying his net, Peter would’ve remained a fisherman rather than the fisher of men and women which he became.

Sometimes, Jesus has to empty our nets, my friend. And it’s a hard miracle to watch and receive. But regardless of the difficulty, confusion, and sadness associated with letting go of ourselves, including the very things that God seems to have blessed us with, it’s still a miracle in which we are called to embrace and rejoice. Americans pride themselves on their work ethic. We sing about our independence. We’re taught to “pull ourselves by our bootstraps” and achieve the American dream. Even as Christians, we often assume that God’s calling on our lives includes the use of what we’re good at… what we know… what we have skills for… Logic tells us that God brings us life experiences and bestows talents upon us to outfit us for His calling. We use the phrase, “I was born for this,” like we can predict the future. I think Peter thought he was born to be a fisherman. But Jesus turned his world upside down and made Peter realize that he was born to follow the Messiah and do whatever the Spirit filled him to do.

It’s not what Peter thought he would be doing, but I don’t think he ever sat around an evening fire with the other disciples lamenting the waste of not using his professional skillset. And this is where conviction flooded my heart. If Jesus has been trying to empty my net and I’ve been gripping the ropes unwilling to let Him have it with all it contains, then He won’t perform the next miracle. While many of the things in my net — or yours — may not be wrong in and of themselves, they may be things that weigh us down or blind us to our true calling because we think we were born to do them. We hang onto them and drag them around with us, rather than letting them go and trusting God to provide what is needed for the tasks that lie ahead. Later on, He might bring some of them out of the ashes to use for His work, but He asks us to be willing to sacrifice all of them for the sake of the call.

Many years after Peter’s calling by the Sea of Galilee, the Spirit of Jesus inspired him to write these words in 1 Peter 5:5b-7: “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” In his earlier years, we know from the Gospels that Peter, along with the other disciples, had wanted Jesus to exalt him… to raise him up in leadership. To give him a grand and glorious dream to achieve in God’s name. By the time he wrote these verses, Jesus had clearly performed many more miracles of emptiness within Peter. I like to imagine that as Peter’s pen obeyed the Spirit’s leading, he also vividly recalled the day Jesus performed a miracle to kick off Peter’s process of being humbled himself. Within and of ourselves, human beings generally don’t have the spiritual fortitude to choose a humbling experience. Nor can we muster up enough faith to believe the impossible. It is always the miraculous work of God.

So today, I’m not only trying to embrace the emptying process, but now also asking Jesus to remove whatever I’m dragging around in my net that gets in His way. And I find myself continually returning to the verses from 1 Peter 5 to help me remember that my calling ultimately is to become more like Jesus, rather than achieve great things for Him. Our aim should be to love God and be transformed by Him into new creatures, not to serve Him. As we become more like Him, His infilling and transformation will produce the works He’s called us to do and fully glorify Him.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Re-visit the passages included in the message and read them in at least two different versions. Spend some time inserting yourself into the story of Peter. Ask God to reveal to you areas of your life that need to be emptied or He has emptied in the past. Sometimes we recall difficult times in our lives negatively, completely missing the signs of God at work. As you ask the Spirit to reveal truth to you from His Word, write down any thoughts that come to your mind.
Day 2 - Offer up prayers of thanks. If you’ve recently been through a season of having your net emptied, then spend the next few minutes thanking God for taking you through the process and ask Him to make you humble enough and have the eyes to see when it needs to happen again. If you’re yet to go through this experience, ask the Lord to prepare your heart. Give you the courage to accept the emptying when it comes. To thrive in the emptying. If you’re in the midst of it now, rest my dear friend. Stop trying to figure out what’s next and why He’s emptied the net. Instead, embrace the unseen that He is bringing to you. It may not seem like your net could ever be filled again, especially if part of your net emptying includes a dream you’ve always wanted. But when you spend time thanking God for His sovereignty over your life and His love at work in your heart, you will be strengthened for the road ahead.
Day 3 - Offer up prayers of Release. Spend time confessing and asking God to help you let go of anything that could be in the way of His plans coming to fruition in your life. Whatever it is, open your heart up to Him and ask Him to help you live with open hands rather than clenched fists, gripping your net to your chest.
Day 4 - Offer up prayers of Reliance. Jesus wanted Peter to rely on Him and not Peter’s own professional skills, talents, or experiences. Offer up to God your prayers for humility and dependence, asking Him to help you embrace the process of learning to lean on Him completely. He alone is responsible for results and outcomes. No matter how much hard work you put into it, Jesus is asking you to release the results of your labor to Him. The responsibility is all His. You can rest and trust in Him.
Day 5 - Offer up prayers of Renewal. The process of having your net emptied is a humbling learning experience. It takes courage to live fearlessly based on the Spirit’s strength and power, and not what you know best and what you know you’re good at. But when you release your control and all that you have to Jesus, followed by reliance on Him for your every dream, comfort, and need, He promises renewal. He promises peace. He promises joy.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Choosing Desire Over Duty

10/16/2019

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Choosing Desire for God Over Our Duty to Him

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I’ve been a Christian for a long time. This year marks the 40th anniversary of my soul becoming the bride of Christ, and like any other monumental day in my life, some things about the salvation moment are burned in my memory. The sweltering heat of the school gymnasium packed with people seeking revival. The insistence of my mother that I didn’t understand enough to respond to the altar call. (She changed her mind when I practically crawled over her to get to the aisle whether she wanted me to or not.) And — perhaps most vividly -- I remember the camel-colored leather half-boots of the preacher walking over and kneeling down to my level to lead me in prayer. With all that detail, you’d think I’d remember what happened next, but I don’t. That’s where the memories leave me, but the impact of the decision has lasted a lifetime.

And so, the headline of today’s blog post might seem shocking, disappointing, or perhaps expected for those who are particularly pessimistic. We’ve all learned the hard way that even the most memorable and enthusiastic beginnings can still burn out and fade when tested by life’s battles and cynicism. But my story is a testimony, as it is with so many other long-term believers, that what God starts, He always promises to finish. (Philippians 1:6) We may have many stops and starts in our faith journeys. We may fail miserably, not just once but over and over. We often drift. And we may even walk away entirely, or go as far as some have done in a very public manner, and announce our “de-conversion.” But if we truly gave our hearts to Jesus in the first place, then we will always return to Him. Not of our own doing or effort, but entirely by His powerful and relentless pursuit of us. It may take months, years, or even decades, but the Father always comes for His child. Always. (Matthew 18:12)

While I never announced my intention to walk away from God, there was a season where I tried. And I definitely made some great time running in the wrong direction. Suffering from the fallout of a major life mistake often has a way of bringing us to our worst selves, showing us just how depraved we are when intentionally try to remove Jesus’ covering of grace, mercy, and love. It is in these moments that God allows us to know exactly how the prodigal son felt sitting in the pigsty of his own doing, covered with the filth of his greed and rebellion and absolutely famished for real nourishment. Sometimes, the mud of our mistakes, sins, and bad choices has to run into our eyes before we’re ready to see Jesus standing before us with a basin of hot soapy water, a big fluffy towel, and a radiant change of clothes.

Many similar stories of redemption stop right there with a vision of the restored child. We breathe a sigh of relief and say, “Thank God the prodigal found her way back. Whew!” But we all know the actual process of restoration is just beginning. The prodigal may have turned the corner, but the baggage she collected along the way still lingers, slowing her down, and threatening to pull her back at any moment. While some of my baggage was collected during my wanderings, one of the biggest weights I carried around pre-dated my prodigal drifting. In other words, it was something I picked up, or rather learned from those I respected as teachers and leaders in the faith. And when I walked away, Satan twisted and then used the very things I was previously taught as a barrier to coming back.

Before my major life mistake came crashing down all around me and triggered my season of divergence, I never missed a quiet time with God in the morning. I never skipped a volunteer opportunity that suited my gifting. And I most certainly attended church or went to a Bible study every week, unless I was ill or out of town. In short, I had a deeply ingrained sense of duty to follow the formula. I wanted God’s approval for doing everything He told me to do as perfectly as possible. But when my life crumbled despite following “the Christian formula,” I found myself falling down through the scaffolding I had erected by building my life with the wrong materials. It may have appeared that I loved God with all my heart and mind, and it definitely started that way, but somewhere between childhood and the latter half of young adulthood, I had begun to perform for God rather than love Him. I was seeking and serving Him out of duty, instead of desire. Rather than hungering for Him, I denied myself to please Him.

But as I said, the Shepherd always comes for His lost ones. So when I left the pigpen of my own design, I didn’t know what to do with my big suitcase of guilt, which was filled with duties, obligations, and performance criteria. Like an accident victim learning how to walk all over again, my spiritual legs were clueless on how to walk in faith without the shoes of legalism. I discovered that I didn’t even know how to pray, read the Word, or worship purely out of a desire for God and not because they were disciplines I was supposed to do. For months, I would try to do the things that Christians typically do and just give up in tears because I couldn’t do them without the habit of keeping track or feeling guilty if I skipped anything. The reality was I simply didn’t want to do any of it anymore. I had reached a place where spiritual disciplines designed to draw me closer to God were pushing me away because of my own expectations and fear of breaking the rules. Previous sin leading up to my life’s collapse had taken my faith with it, and the only way I would be able to find it again — to find my real identity in Christ — was for God to bring it out of the ashes.

Finally, out of desperation, I remember trying to pray and blurted out something like this to God: “If can’t pray because I want to… because I desire You and not because I want to please you or achieve some standard… then I’m not going to pray at all. And the same goes for reading the Bible. I won’t fight You anymore. I won’t run from You. If You work a miracle in my heart and cause me to want You, then I will surrender. But I’m not doing anything out of duty, rules, or because I’m supposed to anymore. Enough is enough, and I’m tired.”
And then I stopped. I mean really stopped. If I didn’t feel like reading the Bible I didn’t. If sleep beckoned me to linger in bed on a Sunday morning, I gave in. And praying? Very infrequent. At first, it seemed like nothing was happening in me spiritually. But my heart had changed, because, for the first time, in many years, I woke up each day with a blank slate for God’s use. I was daring Him to fill it, rather than going through the motions of a pre-defined list. I had seen His power in my younger years. I had known the sweetness of His presence before I had begun to layer on the callouses of my own performance. So I waited on Him with a pained and timid hope.

About that time, the book Desiring God by John Piper found its way into my heart’s fragile restoration. The reality was, I wanted to want God. My spirit was longing for communion with my Creator, so when I saw the title of Mr. Piper’s manifesto to Christian hedonism, I was hooked. But I was not prepared for the magnitude of what I read, and it took me months of reading and re-reading it to even grasp the concept of glorifying God by being satisfied in Him, rather than following a formula or finding ways to please Him. And the battle Satan waged to prevent me from understanding that God wants me to experience delight without strings attached was a fierce, relentless one. I don’t think Satan cares if I’m Christian. What he cares about is if I live and act like a Christian without chains… a follower who chases after Jesus not because she has to or because she’ll get anything from it, but simply because she wants to be with Him all the time. John Piper puts it this way in his book, “He beckons us into the obedience of suffering not to demonstrate the strength of our devotion to duty or to reveal the vigor of our moral resolve or to prove the heights of our tolerance for pain, but rather to manifest, in childlike faith, the infinite preciousness of His all-satisfying promises.” I had to let go of the idea that there was anything I could offer or do for God, and instead let Him do everything and anything through me and within me for His glory.

Also vital to my healing, I had to shed the notion that being happy was wrong. It took years for the idea to sink into my soul that God wants us to find so much delight and satisfaction in Him that we not only discover what real happiness is all about, but that we can relish in it without any payment or punishment on our part. Because I grew up hearing the opposite from an important and involved family member, I had years of negative thoughts built up in my mind and shackling my heart. I had been taught that the other shoe would always drop, meaning if you’re happy and things are going well, you better watch out because something bad is coming. This, of course, is the opposite of how Jesus wants us to react to the truth about suffering. When He acknowledged that the world brings us trials and pain in John 16:33, He included the key to happiness right along with it. “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The problem with expressions like “the other shoe always drops,” is that it stops at half the truth, making it a full lie. And that’s how Satan wraps chains around hearts, creates fear, and fuels our doubts. He feeds us enough of the truth to make us believe the whole lie. He twists what is life-giving into what is life-stealing. We often falsely believe that the absence of suffering is the path to overflowing happiness and satisfaction in life. And that’s why I spent most of my life living in fear of the unknown… an imagined future suffering that was always on its way. No, the Spirit of my loving Heavenly Father has been teaching me for the last 16 years or so, that happiness is having every desire of my heart fulfilled. And when the desires of my heart are fixed on finding satisfaction in God, then He will replace any that shouldn’t be there with His desires for me. The essence of this truth is found in many places throughout Scripture, but my favorite is Psalm 37:4, which tells us to delight in the Lord, and He will give us the desires of our hearts. Through the years, that verse has helped me combat fear and disappointments. It has also guided me through major decisions and career changes. And right now, it’s teaching me how to break the stronghold of seeking validation, comfort, and reward from anything or anyone other than Jesus.

I didn’t stay away from having a daily quiet time with God for very long. The Lover of My Soul was faithful to woo me back. I can’t say I was instantly consistent or that I don’t ever go through dry seasons, but over the years since, the Holy Spirit has been kindling my desire for Him and not what I can do for Him or receive from Him. I’ve also learned that being a Christian hedonist isn’t just about seeking joy by choosing to embrace suffering and trials on behalf of Jesus. It’s not just about avoiding sin because we love Him. It’s also about choosing the best portion — making choices between what is good and what is best. When we seek satisfaction in Jesus more than the “good” offerings of this world, the Holy Spirit teaches us what true freedom is all about. He teaches us how to be less distracted and less controlled by our emotions, passions, and pleasures, whether they be outright sinful or entirely healthy in moderation. But God also encourages us to have feelings, not to deny them or stuff them down. The difference is that He transforms our feelings from controlling forces into beautiful, fulfilling experiences in His presence. I love how it’s written in Desiring God: “Minimizing the importance of transformed feelings makes Christian conversion less supernatural and less radical. It is humanly manageable to make decisions of the will for Christ. No supernatural power is required to pray prayers, sign cards, walk aisles, or even stop sleeping around. Those are good. They just don’t prove that anything spiritual has happened. Christian conversion, on the other hand, is a supernatural, radical thing. The heart is changed. And the evidence of it is not just new decisions, but new affections, new feelings.”

While I’m sure my story is different from yours, and I would never advocate for anyone to stop having a daily quiet time, I can tell you this without reservation — God desires your willing heart over and above any other thing, act of service, money, or discipline you can perform. None of that matters if your actions are motivated by anything other than love without strings attached. So God’s direction to you will be as unique as you are. Maintaining key disciplines of the faith is the right thing to do for most people, and are often a crucial part of rekindling your desire for God even when you don’t feel like doing them. However, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to God’s extravagant love for us. Seek His help, expect Him to reveal the path to you in unexpected ways, and be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

When I was a child, my feelings were far more exciting than they are as 40-something. When I was seven, every day was a fountain of new experiences and mostly enjoyable emotions. And while I may not remember what happened right after I asked Jesus to come into my heart on that hot summer night, I imagine my kid-self being exhilarated and overjoyed. Though I can’t attach a specific memory to it, the deepest place of my heart also tells me that Jesus comforted me and brought me peace in a season of confusion and change. My parents were going through a separation at that time, which led to their divorce a year later. So God’s timing for drawing me to Him was perfect and couldn’t have been more critical. I was a daddy’s girl, and my Heavenly Father stepped in to walk beside me and whisper to my heart that I didn’t do anything wrong, that I wasn’t abandoned, and that I was loved fully and completely by the One who would never go away. And this is why I think I remember so vividly the shoes of the preacher who prayed with me on that night so long ago. They were just like my daddy’s shoes. He used to wear them all the time. So in the absence of my earthly father, whom I loved and trusted so dearly, God sent His love to me in the perfect messenger. He knew just what I needed. He knew me better than myself. Leaving no detail to chance, my Father stopped at nothing to come get me. And He would do it a million times over to bring me home.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Any follower of Jesus can become the prodigal child given the right circumstances, heart position, and status of our walks with God. That is why humility is so important to cultivate in our lives. Being aware that we live by the grace and mercy of Jesus, makes us more resistant to Satan’s schemes to pull us away. Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 and write down what God whispers to your heart. Who do you identify with the most in the story (the dad, the older brother, or the prodigal) and why? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything hiding in your heart that might diminish your desire for being with, or returning to, God.
Day 2 - Read Psalm 16:5-11 and if you have time watch John Piper’s first video on the foundations of Christian hedonism (it’s 13:30 long). Ask the Lord to instruct you (verse 7), assure you (verse 8), and remind you of the last time you experienced fullness of joy in His presence (verse 11). Write down any words He whispers to you.
Day 3 - Read Psalm 37:4 in at least three different versions of the Bible. Commit your favorite version to memory and then spend time in prayer asking God to change the desires of your heart to match His.
Day 4 - God always finishes the work He starts in our lives, but sometimes we get in His way and cause delays or detours. Read Philippians 1:6 and ask God to reveal to you anything that you might be hindering and why. Write down what He’s asking you to do next.
Day 5 - The pleasures of God are far better than anything we can find or anyone else we can be with here on earth. Sometimes, however, we struggle with the words used to describe pleasure or even feel guilty about experiencing it. Read Psalm 4:7 and Psalm 19:8,10 and then read this short article on the Desiring God website. Finish by ask God to heal your tainted perceptions of pleasure and redeem them for His glory.
Recommended Resources from DesiringGod.org:

FREE book and Bible study: When I Don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy
Desiring God the book (updated and expanded) - You can download a free study guide here or purchase the book on Amazon.
Multi-Part Video Series: The Foundations of Christian Hedonism

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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10 Keys to a Contented Heart

10/2/2019

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When most of us think of contentment, we usually associate the virtue with a sense of satisfaction or peace specifically about money or possessions. But contentedness is listed in the dictionary as an antonym to envy, and when you think of it from the opposite point of view, an entirely different list of scenarios arises. Certainly money-related discontentedness — like houses, cars, careers, and clothes — is a common trap. Still, there are two other major, less tangible categories of restless dissatisfaction that we are less likely to recognize or acknowledge. The first I’ll label the image and social status category. Everything from a person’s fitness level to their community standing falls into this list of everyday envy triggers. And the other group is the more subtle, but just as common bucket of dissatisfaction that is sparked not by jealousy or comparisons, but powerful, deep-seated longings, such as personal achievement and individual happiness.

No matter what category our source of discontentment lies, the longer we let it fester and grow, the more trouble we get into. When our desire for it is so strong that we become fixated on it, it’s absence begins to taint our outlook on life, reduce our joy, fuel our restlessness, and water a slow-growing seed of bitterness.
Having walked in our shoes, Jesus knows what it means for us to struggle with discontentment, envy, and restlessness. Even still, He calls us to holy contentment in all situations, surroundings, and seasons of suffering. In other words, He promises that we can be satisfied and peaceful resting in Him during in every discomfort, period of waiting, or unfairness. That doesn’t mean it’s never God’s will for us to be discontent or restless, because sometimes the Holy Spirit does move in our lives to stimulate healthy changes that need to be made. But even when God is pushing us to take up a cause, modify or eliminate habits, or initiate a healthy confrontation, a soul-level contentment should still remain even if our minds and hearts are growing restless for positive change. A soul-level contentment is firmly rooted in the knowledge that He’s in control and knows what’s best for us, even if our life is in a time of upheaval or waiting.

But how do we attain this soul-level contentment and arm ourselves against all types of dissatisfied restlessness, envy, and jealousy? As it is with so many instructions from Jesus, the concept is simple, but the implementation is difficult. Yet, He promises us that when we allow His Spirit to work in our hearts to bring about transformation, His burden will be easy, and His yoke will be light. And I think that is the most beautiful part about our pursuit of contentment — it is our yielding to His effort in our lives, not our own. It is our surrender, not our striving, that makes soul-contentment possible. Still, it is helpful to receive some practical guidance — something we can get our heads around and apply to our daily lives — from those who have walked this road before us.

One such person is Thomas Watson, who wrote The Art of Divine Contentment almost four centuries ago. Despite its date of publication, the keys to contentment it describes are just as relevant today as they were in 1653. I guess it doesn't matter whether you are grumbling because you can’t afford the newest iPhone, or your team of oxen won't plow your field fast enough, learning to be content with what we have and what life brings us is an age-old problem for any generation. For some of you, the rest of this blog will sound familiar, as I originally recapped Watson’s rules for contentment in a previous blog post a year and a half ago. But since I am currently struggling with discontentment during a season filled with both disappointment and waiting, I needed to revisit Watson’s brilliantly-worded roadmap for satisfaction in Jesus. Like a familiar sweater or favorite comfort food, Watson’s words remind me of God’s uncompromising truth in a warm, compassionate embrace.

For a self-confessed word nerd like me, the ornate language in Mr. Watson's book makes his quotes all the more intriguing and beautiful. However, I don't want 400 years of change in the English language and culture to get in the way of wisdom, so I've taken the liberty of paraphrasing and consolidating his 18 rules into 10 keys for a contented heart. And if your mind starts filling with objections as to why you can't produce contentment right now, he even has advice on objections and how to overcome them. Thankfully, he doesn't include ancient agrarian frustrations like misbehaving oxen, but rather serious impediments we can still relate to like a financial loss, death of a loved one, and betrayal by a friend. Life has changed dramatically in the last four centuries, but when it comes to matters of the heart, most everything is the same. So, without further ado, here are the 10 keys — with a few new additions along the way.

Key #1: Put your faith in action.
All discontentment is rooted in unbelief. Having faith that God is trustworthy, that He is aware of your situation, and desires to help you through whatever life brings you, is the antidote to unfulfilled cravings and feelings of entitlement. When we determine in our hearts to trust that God knows what He is doing better than us, we put our faith in action. Psalm 84:11 says, “The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” The problem is that we think we know what is better for us than God does. And here comes one of my favorite Watson quotes: “We imagine a certain condition of life as good for us, but if we were our own carvers, we should often cut the worst piece. We often see things in our own light, but if we could sort out and portion out our own comforts, we would get it wrong.” When we choose to believe that God alone knows what’s best for us, we’ll be able to receive the best portion.

Key #2: Work for God, not for money or your boss.
When we focus on serving God in every little thing we do — and we labor so that He will be glorified in our lives, versus money, achievement or accolades — then everything else falls into place. As Steven Curtis Chapman sings, “Whether you're flipping burgers or cooking up mergers, do it all for Him.” Sure, you won’t get it right all the time, but when you discover contentment in the fruits of your labors, no matter how meager or huge they may be, you will experience true joy and soul-deep peace. (See Colossians 3:23)

Key #3: Strive for humility.
If unbelief is the root of discontentment, then pride is its food and water. Pride can make a fledgling unbelief blossom into a full-grown thorn bush of discontentment, grumbling, and pessimism. “When you lay humility for your foundation, contentment will be the superstructure,” according to Watson. (See 1 Peter 5:6-7)

Key #4 Delight in the right things.
When we ask God to replace the desires of our hearts with His, we will be gradually transformed into vessels of joy and generosity, overflowing with satisfaction in our work, our relationships, and our financial situation. Meditate on Psalm 37:4 and discover real delight.

Key #5 Stay positive.
At first blush, this sounds like a cop-out, right? But Watson asks, “Who looks at the backside of a painting?” Instead, he admonishes us to focus on what’s beautiful, lovely, true, excellent, and praiseworthy. When we discipline our thought life, according to Philippians 4:8, the Biblical promise of transformation can occur.

Key #6 Don’t place your hope in people or things.
Everything in our culture today revolves around the idea of doing whatever it takes to make yourself happy. But happiness is a feeling, and contentment is a virtue. Happiness is temporary and contentment is a state of being that breeds peace and trust. When we look to people, things, jobs, circumstances, or money to make us happy, we will eventually be disappointed and even emptier than before. “The foundation of contentment must be within yourself. The word for contentment in Scripture signifies self-sufficiency,” Watson says. When you place your hope in God’s promises and direction, you will have strength and endurance from within. Psalm 33:20-22 encourages us to wait for God with patience and courage. When we let God bring the right things to us in His time, we find freedom from the slavery of envy and restlessness.

Key #7 Compare yourself to others the right way.
Comparing yourself to others is like walking on thin ice, you might fall through into a well of envy and end up drowning in discontentment. However, Watson encourages us to compare ourselves to others in light of Christ’s sacrifice and how He’s called us to honor and serve them as He would have. Jesus washed the disciple's feet, which was considered the lowliest act for the lowliest servant of the household. (See James 3:16)

Key #8 Adjust your perception.
In the field of public relations, there’s a common saying that perception is reality. That’s because we often believe what we think we see, and we see what we want to see. But within each of us there is an ability to change our perceptions, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, our vision can vastly improve over time. We can choose to see what we have versus what we don’t. We can choose to place a high value on spending time with friends versus spending money on the latest outfit. We can focus on things that bring glory to God, versus glory to ourselves. Watson says if we could cure our distorted, sin-trained perceptions, we would find the secret to conquering a discontented heart. (See Matthew 6:33, Romans 12:2)

Key #9 Meditate on the promise of heaven.
We are most tempted to be discontent at our extremes — when we are the happiest and when we are in the greatest discomfort. When everything is going well, we can be lulled into a false sense of security, and then entitlement, and eventually self-reliance. We don’t see our need for God because it is covered by all of our creature comforts. On the other hand, when nothing is going right, we can become despondent and fixated on everything we lack. And most of life is spent going between the two extremes. But when we place our “treasure in heaven,” as Matthew 6:19 says, our satisfaction comes from glorifying God in any circumstance. Paul said it best in Philippians 4:11-13, “In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

Key #10 Pray… A LOT!
Back in the 1600s, physicians used a horrible medical treatment that makes me cringe. They would intentionally bleed patients thinking that the letting of blood would take the toxins with it. Although the practice is grim, I mention it to provide context for Watson’s statement that, “When the heart is filled with sorrow and disquiet, prayer lets out the bad blood. The key of a prayer oiled with tears unlocks the heart of all its discontents. It is the unburdening of the soul.” As we endeavor to find contentment deep in our hearts, prayer is the best medicine for a lifetime of soul satisfaction. When you spend a lot of time living in the King's throne room, your desire to wander the streets looking for trinkets vastly diminishes. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

My fellow traveler on this road between birth and heaven, I have no idea what your root of discontentment might be. But, I do know this beyond a shadow of a doubt… We are called to rest in the waiting, not be restless in nervous anticipation of the unknown or the unreceived. Jesus gently urges us to rest in our heavenly Father’s best, not what our own minds tell us we need or want to be happy. May you be encouraged today that when you press into Him through the application of these 10 keys, you will find a respite from yourself and soul-level contentment in the arms of your Savior.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.

Day 1 - Read Philippians 4:11-13 several times in a few different versions of the Bible. What areas of your life are trouble zones for a lack of contentment? (i.e. eating, shopping, neighbor envy, relationships, etc.) What is God saying to you about changing your habits, perspectives, or behaviors related to these trouble zones?
Day 2 - The love of money is often at the root of discontentment. How has your desire for money, things, or a certain lifestyle fueled or impacted your contentment? Search for the topic of money using a digital Bible app or online Bible. What verses speak to you the most and why? Memorize and meditate upon the one that speaks to your heart the most.
Day 3 - Read Psalm 27:14. Think back on a time when you had to wait a long time on something to happen or a long-desired change to occur. How did God use the time of waiting to spur you to rest in Him and trust Him more?
Day 4 - Read Lamentations 3:24-26. God’s timing is always perfect, even though to us, it may seem as though He has forgotten us or doesn’t understand the depth of our desires and needs. When have you been impatient for God to open the door and how can you see why He didn’t bring it about sooner?
Day 5 - Which one of the 10 keys do you want to start working on today? Put together a plan to pray, study the Word, and create life boundaries around something specific to avoid temptation.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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When to Sweat the Small Stuff

9/25/2019

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Sometimes an expression or truism takes off in our culture and morphs into something way more than the person who coined the phrase ever intended. For example, it happens with brand names all the time. Use of the word Google is now commonly used as a verb instead of a proprietary brand name. People often ask for a Kleenex rather than a tissue. Words as common today as a zipper, trampoline, and dumpster were all once brand names. In the advertising industry, this evolution from a unique brand name to a commodity category is called a propriety eponym, or a generic trademark. I think this phenomenon represents the greatest irony in all of commercialism because every company, organization, or charitable cause longs to have its flagship brand or product become so popular that it becomes a household name. When something becomes so successful that virtually every American has tried it, owns one, or supports it, then the provider of whatever it is has reached the pinnacle of success. But then irony steps in and radically alters that picture of success when the popular thing becomes so ubiquitous that virtually no one recognizes its uniqueness anymore.

The same paradox occurs with famous expressions and adages, but with one very powerful and often dangerous difference — it doesn’t only morph into a widespread, unattributed cliche, it eventually becomes a culturally accepted excuse. While these buzzwords, mottos, and quotations have their genesis within the realm of a specific incident or application, they quickly explode outside of their originally intended use. Think about sports idioms and analogies. Some clever commentator or coach frequently starts using a catchy remark in the ballpark or on the field, and before you know it the rest of the country is repeating it as a sports metaphor that applies to the arenas of business, politics, and general culture. Often what was intended as a memorable or funny way of summarizing a motivational concept or crystallizing a compelling truth, becomes so commonplace that people start to see it as a societally acceptable way of dismissing or laughing off something that actually should be addressed or managed.

And so we come to the incredibly relevant and well-meaning expression of “don’t sweat the small stuff.” First let me say, the original intent of the phrase when used in context is spot-on: We shouldn’t overreact to common occurrences and get ourselves all worked up over things that don’t have lasting significance. And just a quick side note … Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t the series of books of the same name by Dr. Richard Carlson that launched the use of the phrase. Developed as a motto for stress reduction techniques, the statement was first coined by a cardiologist named Robert S. Eliot in 1983 when being interviewed by Time magazine in an article about the rising stress levels of Americans. Over the last four decades, the work of both Dr. Eliot and Dr. Carlson has effectively raised our collective consciousness of the need to let go of the things we can’t change and let life’s irritations and frustrations roll off our backs instead of internalizing them as mounting rage or bitterness in our hearts.

As true and necessary as the concept is behind the expression of not sweating the small stuff, the ubiquitous phrase has indeed reached the level of saturation where even followers of Jesus can fall prey to using it as an excuse. And as it goes with all excuses, people tend to use them when it’s convenient for their circumstances or particular weaknesses, rather than applying the truth behind them as it was intended. Unfortunately, I’m the perfect example of this. I get frustrated, impatient, and worried at some of the “smallest” inconveniences and delays in life, yet I am the first one to reach for God’s grace with a comparably small sin or so-called harmless bad habit. And I know it’s not just me that struggles with making excuses for what most of us view as minor or trivial missteps or disobedience. Sometimes, as Christians, we fall prey to the enemy’s lie that the endless flow of God’s grace excuses us from whatever we’ve deemed in our own hearts and minds to be insignificant. And goodness knows, none of us wants to endure the discomfort of re-examining what we’ve previously determined to be a small matter, since it might make us question a much longer list of weaknesses. And this insidious and commonly accepted lie is only further entrenched when those we place in high authority or esteem are just as dismissive of what our culture deems as little sins or inconsequential habits. Or, when they go to the other extreme and only address the most societally maligned, morally egregious, or significantly harmful sins among those God has given them to shepherd and encourage.

The reality we all need to face, however, is that Jesus does indeed sweat the small stuff and His Spirit living inside of each believer won’t be satisfied with 90 percent obedience. Not even 99.5 percent. We can take one glance at the Gospel accounts of His interactions with the religious leaders of the day and immediately realize that God is asking for perfection. Matthew 5:48 states simply: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus knew when He said it that no one can be perfect of their own accord. No human could possibly sweat 100 percent of the small stuff to live a life of consistent obedience in everything. No one, except Jesus, of course. His blood, sweat, and tears poured out for us so that we don’t have to do so, that is the utterly beautiful and incomprehensible outcome of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. When we think of it that way and recognize His Spirit dwelling inside of us, then how can we not feel the weight of love, which is trying to seep into every pocket and corner of our being? How can we not see that every detail of our lives and every desire of our heart should submit to His plan for His glory alone? When we hold back a piece of ourselves — even something that is not in and of itself a sin — we are not yielding to the Spirit who, by His very nature, will seek to sweat out everything in our lives, from the so-called big things to the tiniest grains of mistrust and self-centered ambitions.

Oswald Chambers, author of My Utmost for His Highest (my favorite devotional of all time), once said, “You were looking for a great thing to give up. God is telling you of some tiny thing; but at the back of it lies the central citadel of obstinacy: ‘I will not give up a right to myself’ — the thing God intends you to give up if you are ever going to be a disciple of Jesus.” This sounds so extreme, doesn’t it? It feels so heavy and burdensome. But Oswald further explains the power and role of grace: “God does not ask us to do the things that are easy to us naturally; He only asks us to do the things we are perfectly fitted to do by His grace, and the cross will come along that line always.”

I have no idea what your tiny thing is. Personally, I have lots and lots of tiny things. On any given day, at least half a dozen tiny things distract me from surrendering, fully loving, and obeying Jesus. And that’s on a very good day. But the same Spirit who moves in my heart to trigger conviction about tiny things is the same Spirit who covers me in grace through the blood of Jesus. With that kind of outpouring of love, I am praying that God helps me respond with a heart of surrender, ready and willing to allow the Spirit to keep revealing, convicting, and removing anything that is more comforting, more important, or more motivating than Jesus is in my life.

So, should you sweat the small stuff? Well, the second part of Dr. Eliot’s original motto often gets left out. The full statement ends with, “And it’s all small stuff.” In other words, his advice as a cardiologist is that you need to learn how to let everything go. Don’t sweat anything, because doing so is never helpful. That’s because every little thing can be stressful if we allow it to be or perceive it to be. Stress is our reaction to a situation. As hard as it is to believe, freaking out, erupting in anger, worrying, being short with people, or becoming exasperated is not actually a requirement to solve any problem. None of our natural reactions like those are helpful. They don’t do anything to help us achieve Jesus’ command to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls. Nor do they help us love others.

On the other hand, nothing about us or what we do is small to God. It all matters to Him. But the great news is Jesus will take care of sweating the small stuff for us. Only He can do it the right way. However, we have to stop using excuses to prevent His Spirit from penetrating, revealing, and dealing with any little things that get in the way of being fully used for His glory.

Over the next several days as you ponder this topic, the most important thing is to be transparent with the Holy Spirit. Jesus already knows about your tiny things anyway. But the Spirit won’t force a change in you until you’re willing to loosen your grip on the covers concealing them or the rebellious streak that attempts to hide them. Here are some powerful Scriptures to meditate on and journal about in the days ahead. As you listen to them, think of them as mirrors on your soul. When you hear them, what do you see in your life? That’s the Holy Spirit searching your heart and preparing you to receive God’s instruction.

Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Colossians 2:8-10 “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Matthew 11:26-29 “Yes, Father, your plan delights your heart, as you’ve chosen this way to extend your kingdom—by giving it to those who have become like trusting children. You have entrusted Me with all that you are and all that you have. No one fully and intimately knows the Son except the Father. And no one fully and intimately knows the Father except the Son. But the Son is able to unveil the Father to anyone He chooses. Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me.”

I usually provide a five-day devotional guide as a companion for every podcast, but this week, instead, I want to encourage you to revisit each of the verses I just read and spend time in prayer with each one. If there’s a verse that just won’t leave your thoughts, then commit it to memory and spend some time writing down both the small and big stuff that is stirred up in you when you read that passage. Take some time to simply sit still in the presence of Jesus and let Him sweat out the small stuff in your heart, mind, and soul. The more He clears out what doesn’t belong there, the closer you’ll be to loving Him with every corner of your heart and not just carefully selected pockets of your life. Our God is big enough to care about even the smallest details of your life. And the more of you, you give back to Him, the greater His presence will be in every aspect of your being.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
These readings from today’s message can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Luke 12:6-7 “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Day 2 - Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Day 3 - Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
Day 4 - Colossians 2:8-10 “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”
Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Day 5 - Matthew 11:26-29 “Yes, Father, your plan delights your heart, as you’ve chosen this way to extend your kingdom—by giving it to those who have become like trusting children. You have entrusted Me with all that you are and all that you have. No one fully and intimately knows the Son except the Father. And no one fully and intimately knows the Father except the Son. But the Son is able to unveil the Father to anyone He chooses. Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me.”

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Finding Healing From Ourselves

9/18/2019

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Finding Healing from Ourselves and Renewed Hope for Tomorrow

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When you’re new to anything — a job, a neighborhood, or a school — you get to share your story a lot. Given that just about everything is new for me right now, having recently moved across the country, lately, I’ve been summing up my life in 30 seconds quite often. And with all that talk about myself, I’m becoming more and more aware of how much my story has changed in the last four years. Since the last thing I want to do is talk someone’s ear off at the first moment they lay eyes on me, I try to supply only the most pertinent information and let them ask questions if they’re interested. The strange thing, especially for me as a writer and an innate planner, is that I never gave any forethought to the introductory elevator speech that I’ve been using over the last several months. In fact, I was totally comfortable not attempting to filter anything. I was just me being me. And that is very, very new … for me.

Your first reaction to that statement might be to wonder about my authenticity and willingness to be transparent with others, but that’s not what I mean by the term “filtering” at all. In fact, I’m one of those people who had to learn how to temper my natural inclination to be brutally honest. I can’t even tell you how many feelings I hurt and toes I stepped on in my younger years. Not because I was trying to be mean, confrontational, or judgmental. I rarely had any of those motivations. Nope. I just couldn’t stop whatever I was thinking from coming right out of my mouth and being clearly displayed all over my face.

No, what is so new for me is that I’m no longer impeded by the filter of worry or anxiety that has been my ever-present, but a highly unpleasant, companion for about 25 years. For two and a half decades, it’s been there, sometimes humming low like an undercurrent of negative thoughts rolling subtly in the background of my mind … and other times swelling high into a fierce wave that literally drowns me in a suffocating and terrifying sea of panic that settles into weeks or months of debilitating fear or uneasiness.

Describing life as a long-term anxiety sufferer is hard, especially when I try to explain to someone who’s never been dominated by it. And this is where that filter comes in. Most high functioning chronic anxiety sufferers, especially Christians, don’t walk around wearing their concerns all over their faces. On the contrary, we get so used to the constant cycling between the undercurrent of nagging thoughts and all-out periods of intense nervousness, that we learn how to compensate accordingly to appear calm, cool, and collected even during a panic attack. And since most anxiety sufferers are naturally wired to be planners and over-achievers, we add a filter to our personalities, both to protect others from our suffering and to protect ourselves from feeling ashamed about our condition. Even if we come to realize that having an anxiety disorder is not in and of itself sinful, we can’t help but feel guilt over our inability to abide by Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:34 telling us not to worry.

This has been my life for a long time, but it’s not anymore. At least not right now. And for the first time since my early 20s, the hum of the agitated undercurrent is gone. The vicious cycle has stopped spinning. God’s peace is now louder in my soul than negative thoughts. After what seems like a lifetime of praying for healing, it came gently, quietly, and so gradually into my heart and mind, that it actually took me a while to notice that the cold hum of constant fear had been eclipsed by the warmth of release and the beautiful melody of a graceful surrender to hands I can’t see.

After all these years of bearing the thorn in my side, I had to ask God, “Why now?” And when I felt His Spirit nudging me to put aside what I had originally planned to write about today, I told Him that I wasn’t ready. “Write about your healing,” He kept insisting. So I pushed back with, “But God, I don’t have the words yet to explain how it happened so that others can benefit from it as well.” And He said, “That’s not the point. It’s not about the how. It’s about the hope.” And then I realized that “the how” is as different for each person, as snowflakes falling in the same storm. Sure, all storms arrive with similar attributes and characteristics. That’s how we know it’s a storm. But within each tempest, every snowflake that falls is different. And the important thing to know is that every storm will eventually pass. The sun will emerge, breaking through the clouds, and promising a new day, washed clean and made whole for the Father’s purposes and in His time.

I’m not actually sure when my decades-long, internal storm subsided within me, but ironically, I know that it happened sometime during the onslaught of external storms far stronger than I’ve ever experienced before. But in writing those very words, I am realizing now how consistent the strange timing has been with the very character of God. Biblical even. When we get thrown in the fire, we get refined in a way we could never achieve during peaceful times in our lives. The enemy may come at us with an all-out war on our lives, but our Mighty Protector takes the onslaught of evil meant for our harm and turns it for our good by leading us right through the middle of the battlefield one step at a time. As the weapons used against us grow more and more sinister and our physical strength wanes with exhaustion and repetitive strain, our spirits grow stronger and stronger as we transition away from wielding our own weapons to understanding how to wear His armor for all its worth. And for those of us who have a particular attachment to protecting ourselves, controlling our fates, and relying on our own mortality, it takes a little longer to become immersed in our real selves versus these temporary bodies we so fearfully dwell in here on earth. Somehow, mystically, and miraculously, the healing comes when we grab hold of our identity as who we are becoming for eternity, versus who and what we are right now. The more we believe that our Mighty King is leading the fight and handling all the details, the more a soul-drenching, mind-saturating trust seeps into our being, helping us see what’s really there and who we really are. The battles still wage, but the Spirit helps us rejoice in the coming victory more than wasting time worrying about what will happen between now and then.

Weirdly enough, I knew this current season of battles would come for me. I just didn’t know when. No, I don’t have the gift of prophecy, but God did whisper it to my heart. And this is the part I pushed back on the hardest when He told me to write about this today. Four years ago, I was reading Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George during a beach vacation. Because it was my second or third time through that book, I was more than startled when the Holy Spirit sent a wave of conviction through me so strong that I responded by throwing the book in the sand and vowing not to open it again the rest of my vacation. After all, who wants to sit on the beach and weep over your sin? But that night God wouldn’t let me sleep. He wanted to do some business with me. Perhaps more clearly than I’ve ever heard Him before, the Spirit said, “It’s time to finish this. I have work for you to do. You’re being called.” And I knew exactly what He was referring to with the word “this.” I had no idea what the calling might be. But the next step was clear. And it was a doozy too. Finishing “this” meant that He wanted me to move past my deep-seated anxiety and finally discover the unshackled freedom of trusting Him with every detail of my life. A complete surrender of control.

And that’s how God works with us most of the time. He gives us the next step, but never the complete roadmap. Like Luke 16:10 says, He was asking me to be faithful in this thing, and He would reveal the next thing when the time came. The problem was the size of the next step. I had been suffering for more than 20 years at that point and had certainly been progressing toward healing, but it had always been two steps forward and one step back. Okay, so sometimes it was five steps back. However, in the weeks and months ahead, it became clear that His plan for finishing it off wasn’t through an instantaneously miraculous healing. It would turn out to be another four years of very intense work in my heart and soul. But looking back on it now I can see that it has indeed been a miracle. Actually more like a series of miracles, each building upon each other with every tiny step I took toward Him.

I had to participate in the healing process, but He produced the results. It’s exactly as Paul describes in Philippians 2:12b-13. I love how The Message version puts it. “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give Him the most pleasure.” Many translations say to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling,” which can be dangerously misread by those of us prone to anxiety. But because we know Paul tells us repeatedly in Scripture not to be anxious about anything, I think he used those words to communicate the gravity of the command. In other words, the abundant life we long for hangs on the necessity of our trust and energetic yielding to God’s hand in our lives. To step into our true calling, we can’t be dominated by any need, agenda, fear, or desire of our own. We must be serious about finding our delight in God — that means our source of comfort, peace, and happiness all rest in Him, not in our need to feel safe, healthy, and prepared for everything life brings. We have to lay ourselves down daily and allow God to replace every desire we have with His. (Psalm 37:4, Matthew 16:24-26)

Oh my dear reader, I have no idea what healing you’ve been waiting on. I think we all have something, if not many things that plague our hearts, wallets, relationships, or our bodies. And often when one battle passes, another one appears. The older we get, the more we realize this, and must daily surrender our keen awareness of that fact to the grace and mercy of Jesus. Does God still offer instantaneous healings of ailments of every kind? Yes, absolutely. But if the one you’ve been seeking the longest or with the greatest yearning hasn’t come, don’t give up or despair. That’s exactly what Satan is hoping you’ll do. He’s watching you and can taste the kill so strongly that he’s salivating with the thought. 1 Peter 5:8 says he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. The battle around you is real, and so is the one inside your heart. But as you seek Jesus, He will give you the strength to endure and simultaneously use it for His glory. Whether the thorn will be with you for a short while or a lifetime, your healing will come. As far as we know, Paul’s thorn in the flesh never went away while he was in his earthly body, and yet he was able to write, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Perhaps the healing Paul hoped for came in a manner he could’ve never expected. Perhaps the miraculous work of Jesus was so beautifully manifested despite the existence of Paul’s thorn, that it vastly eclipsed his pain and suffering to the point where he no longer desired its removal. We have no way of knowing, and I think that’s exactly how Paul wanted it to be. I believe he would want to reassure us that the status of his affliction wasn’t important in the grand scheme of things. It didn’t stop God’s work in him. It didn’t help Satan’s cause. Whether he was healed or not was irrelevant compared to the glory of Jesus emanating from his life.

Isaiah 26:12 says, “O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.” Notice that peace is ordained, in other words, it is a sure thing, if we allow Him to do the work in and through us. Most of the time, I’ve just been in His way. Going back to that famous passage in Matthew 6, which I mentioned earlier. Most people only reference verses 25-26 when talking about worry, but verse 25 begins with the word “therefore.” That means whatever was said just before it is very critical to understanding the truth of what Jesus is saying. Verse 24 says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” You see, everyone one of us is mastered by something or someone. No one escapes that fact of life. And Jesus says, you can either let me be your Master, or you will be mastered by yourself or other things. And when that happens, you will worry. Something will always be threatening your peace and sense of stability. Always.

So I leave you with this thought. I have no idea if I have been permanently healed of my anxiety disorder. And the calling the Holy Spirit announced during my nights of desperate wrestling is still yet to be revealed. But regardless of those great uncertainties, I’m allowing myself to sink into the well of peace He’s provided. I’m learning that nothing I bring to the table is worthy of the King’s use. Not my ideas for how my life should go… not my skillset… not my natural talents… and certainly not my meager efforts to keep things under control… to be master of my own life. Yes, I have some things of value on my resume. I may even come up with a few words of inspiration every now and then. But as long as I think they belong to me for my benefit in any way, He won’t use them for His glory. As long as I try to be the master of anything, then I’m the one who’s visible to others and not Jesus. And in perhaps the greatest irony of all, it is when I am the most emptied of myself, that I become the most fulfilled, secure… and yes… utterly calm.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read the story about Peter and the fishing nets in Luke 5:1-11. A few weeks ago my pastor preached on this passage, and he said that sometimes God has to empty our nets of all our stuff before He can fill it with His. “Our stuff” could be talents, control, expertise, experiences, habits, possessions, etc. It’s whatever we rely on and trust in to make us successful, happy, comfortable or safe more than Jesus. What is in your net that Jesus is asking you to let go of?
Day 2 - Isaiah 26 is a powerful passage that describes the path to peace and healing. As you read it, think of yourself as the city that Isaiah describes. Spend time in prayer and ask God to speak to your strongholds as you read it again. Write down whatever He stirs within you. Whichever verse jumps out at you the most, write it down and commit to memorizing it.
Day 3 - The concept of God refining His people through fiery trials is a theme throughout the Bible. Pick a few of these verses to read, and then ask God to help you see His goodness in your circumstances and experience His presence in the most trying of times.
Day 4 - Philippians 4:4-8 has been called the cure for anxiety because it provides a step by step prescription for experiencing God’s peace. Even if you don’t struggle with worry, verse 8 is the perfect filter for our motivations. When live out this verse, asking God to empower us to filter all our thoughts through it, our desires become subject to the lordship of Jesus. Spend time meditating and praying on this verse. Write down anything God wants you to run through this divine filter.
Day 5 - Every believer in Jesus has a holy calling planned by God before time even began. Imagine that! God thought of you before the world was even created. Read 2 Timothy 1:8-9 and spend time in prayer and thoughtful journaling about His calling for your life. Are there any healings He needs to bring about in order for you to be fit for that calling? Ask Him to show you the next step.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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Praising God Past the Point of No Return

9/11/2019

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Praising God Past the Point of No Return

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A few weekends ago, my husband and I took a much needed day away from a long list of household chores to enjoy a leisurely scenic drive to the Northern California coastline. Since we live in what seems like an endless sea of suburbia stretching for 60 miles between our house and San Francisco, it’s easy to forget that vast areas of rural land still exist just a short drive away. Given that California ranks third for the highest real estate prices in the country, it was both surprising and somewhat hope-inspiring to drive by grazing fields on the bluffs high above the ocean ridge. As I marveled at the breathtaking view and wondered if cattle even could appreciate it, my husband interrupted my thoughts by stating calmly, “I should’ve filled up the tank when we stopped for breakfast.”

Yes, again, I know it’s hard to believe, but there we were … no gas stations for about 60 miles, almost non-existent cell coverage, and only one way we could go unless we wanted to backtrack significantly. Our only goal for the day besides relaxing had been to drive over to the coast just north of the bay, take Route 1 up the coastline, and then eventually zigzag our way back through the mountains to wine country before heading home. Being the fraidy-cat I am, I instantly replied, “Well, I guess we’ll have to go back then.” Of course, I knew he would probably disagree with me. Sometimes I think he likes to see how far we can run on fumes just to watch me squirm a little bit. But this time was different. Once we began winding our way through this remote mountain pass, we would be past the point of no return. We’d have to go all the way through. There would be no alternative routes ahead. There was only one way through to the other side, and we were on it.

“Let’s go for it. I think we can make it,” he says with a playful wink. I would have preferred him to leave out the word “think” in that statement, even if it were a lie. As we began winding our way through towering trees and around sharp cliffs without guardrails, I tried not to think about the fuel situation. I tried to enjoy one of the curviest, narrow, and most beautiful roads I had ever been on. But one thought kept gnawing at the back of my mind… We were now past the point of no return. We had to see this through.

At one point, when we still had about 20 miles to go, I could feel panic creeping into my thoughts. The cool, moist ocean air was long gone, and we were driving through what was almost a high dessert. As the 100-degree heat bore down through the windshield, I suddenly recalled a story from the nightly news about some motorists out West getting stranded in the mountains, fighting off a mountain lion, and getting severely dehydrated before another car came along. Not good things to flash through your mind when you’re running on fumes. Of course, I instantly counted in my head how many bottles of water we had with us. I also started keeping track of how often we passed another vehicle. Or at least I tried. I think we encountered only two the entire trip.

Well, you get the idea, so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. We made it. But barely. I think even my husband was getting a teensy bit nervous when he asked me several times if I had a cell signal and could I tell how far away the nearest gas station was. During that time, he remained incredibly serene and totally enamored with the route and the epic scenery. I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want him to know I was so distracted by the “what if’s.” When it was all over, I was relieved, of course, but in the weeks since I have also come to realize how much of life is about living beyond the point of no return. Each and every day. Not only the ones filled with obvious reasons to panic. Every second that ticks by of our lives cannot be repeated. There is no turning back. Ever. So why is it we so often live as though we can do things over and over? Like we always have another day, another year, to love someone as we should. To apologize. To make things right. To pursue our dreams.

I love how there’s story after story in the Bible to teach us how to live each day with an understanding that we’ve passed the point of no return. And if we have eyes to see them, there are stories happening all around us right now, each with their own remarkable lesson to learn. I don’t know why this surprises me, but I had to reach my own point of no return to understand the power and impact of praising God in the heat of spiritual battle. But just to be crystal clear about what I mean by praising God, I am not talking about simply having an attitude of praise, or giving Him prayers of thanksgiving, or even spending time on my knees telling Him how much I honor, love, and worship Him. Turning to God in our moments of need is often composed of spiritual disciplines that feel comfortable in our solitude. After all, being vulnerable is usually something we prefer to do alone. And prayer is powerful. Meditating on the Word is life-changing. But we often miss out on one of the most immediately effective weapons in our arsenal — singing praise to God. Yes, I mean singing out loud with all your might all by yourself. Anywhere you are. Any time. Ok, maybe not in the middle of the grocery store or the office break room, but just about any time you get the chance, especially when you are walking through the middle of a life storm, a major decision, or feel a spiritual attack.

More than spiritual icing on the cake after a good sermon or a spontaneous response to an outpouring of blessings, singing to God is a no-kidding, get-serious weapon to fight a myriad of spiritual problems within our hearts, in the world around us, and against the very forces of evil that want to destroy our souls. If you typically reserve out-loud singing for Sundays or would never dream of bursting into song all by yourself, which is how I have been most of my life, then you may not have experienced the miraculous power of singing praises in the midst of spiritual warfare. And if you’re like me, you may not have a good voice. But talent is completely irrelevant when it comes to the effective use of singing to fight your battles and bring joy to the heart of your Creator. For this, I am incredibly thankful. However, once you experience the miraculous results of singing during an onslaught of anger, suffering, frustration, pain, heartbreak, rejection, or injustice, and learn to wield the weapon effectively and consistently, you’ll never want to be without it again.

One of the best things I’ve ever read about fighting spiritual battles with praise is a sermon entitled “Ambushing Satan with the Power of Song,” delivered by John Piper back in 1985. With triumphant delivery and filled with powerful anecdotes both drawn from the Bible and everyday experiences, Piper explains why singing is so necessary for the power of God to be unleashed and how it works. “Singing is not merely a response to grace. Singing is power. I promise you [singing] will bring a new power to your fight of faith. Satan cannot bear the singing of the saints. You can drive him away with song. And don’t fall for his lie that you can’t sing. Everybody can sing. Not everybody can perform. Not everybody can lead. Not everybody can read music or even stay on the right keys. But everybody can sing to God.”

He goes on to explain that the Holy Spirit residing in believers is our “great hope against Satan” and that one of the primary ways we release the power of the Holy Spirit is through song, according to Ephesians 5:18b-19. “Be filled with the Holy Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord with all your heart.” Then, Piper tells four powerful stories — two from the Bible, one about missionary Jim Elliot, and one from Piper’s own ministry — which demonstrate the miraculous effect of singing. Here’s a quick recap of the stories Piper tells, but I strongly encourage you to listen to or read the full-length sermon.

Jehoshaphat — First up is Jehoshaphat, one of the Godly kings of Judah who began his 25-year reign in 870 BC. When his enemies rose up against him, Jehoshaphat and the people sought God’s help through prayer and singing, ultimately sending the musicians and vocalists to the frontline of the army rather than the soldiers. 2 Chronicles 20:22 tells us how the battle went. “And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.” This story also reminded me of Jericho from Joshua 6:20, and how the walls fell before the Israelites when they blew their trumpets.
Paul and Silas — Next, Piper recounts the story of Paul and Silas suffering in prison after being flogged and publicly humiliated. As Piper points out, most of us cry out in prayer when we are in pain or hit bottom, but rarely would we turn to something as simplistic or Pollyanna-ish as singing. Yet, according to Piper, Paul and Silas new the simplistic solution was the best one. They needed a display of God’s power and knew that He would inhabit the praises of His people. So they sang. And it worked. Acts 16:26 says, “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.”
Jim Elliot — Just before being killed for his faith, missionary Jim Elliot and his companions spent time singing praises to God as they prepared to take the Gospel to the Auca Indians of Ecuador. Like me, when you read that, you might immediately recoil, wondering why Piper would use that story as an example of the power of praise in spiritual warfare. It sounds like a complete failure to me. But Piper explains why Jim Elliot was triumphant through song this way: “All five of them were killed that afternoon. But they, too, were protected by God — protected from a fate far worse than death. They were protected from cowardice and unbelief and fear. And I think it would be fair to say — protected with song.” I think we could say the same for Horatio Spafford, who wrote the timeless hymn “It Is Well With My Soul” following the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire, which ignited a chain of events that utterly broke him financially and led to the death of his four living children. Song miraculously sustained Spafford and his wife through the most horrendous seasons of grief and loss.
A Demon-Possessed Woman — Many of us have never knowingly encountered a person possessed by evil spirits. We read about such things in the Bible and wonder how it could be any more than a riveting movie plot in today’s world. But Piper includes a personal experience in his sermon that is both stunning and incredibly educational. As a pastor, he has counseled people struggling with all kinds of battles, but in this case, he had been called by a group of believers trying to help a woman displaying all the characteristics of possession. As hours and hours pass, the group reads scripture to her and prays for her. She grows ever more violent, but doesn’t seem to make any real progress toward healing. Then, everything changed in a split second with the addition of song. Here is how Piper tells it: “At one point, about one in the morning, when the conflict rose to a fever pitch between the Word of God and the satanic force in this woman, someone in the group began to sing. It was one of our familiar worship songs. We sang it again and again and the Lord gave us new words for it each time. The effect on her was dramatic. She began to tremble and threaten us if we didn’t stop. Then she threw herself on the floor and screamed for Satan not to leave her. She went into convulsions and then went limp. When she came to, she remembered nothing of what happened and was willing to read Scripture and pray.” Singing was an instrument in this woman’s healing and the believers’ fight against Satan for her life.

Maybe the idea of singing praises sounds too simplistic to you. Honestly, it kind of did for me too. Sure, I’ve experienced a fresh outpouring of joy and strength when I’ve spent time praising God, either at church, or at home, or singing aloud in my car where no one will suffer from my off-key strains. But until recently, I hadn’t tried singing when I was angry or bewildered. I don’t know about you, but singing is absolutely the last thing I feel like doing when I’m angry or discouraged. But after a series of one frustrating or disappointing situation after another, I felt as though I was at the point of no return. Then the thought occurred to me to get angry — righteously angry, that is — at the source of all the trouble. Yes, prayer, speaking the Word, fasting, and saying the name of Jesus are all critical components in defeating Satan, but song is sometimes the very ingredient — when added to all the others — that seems to take our defense to the stratosphere. Why on earth would something that on the surface seems like the antithesis of strength and force be so powerful? How does praise work? According to Piper, the praises of God’s people lifted up to the throne of the King throws the enemy into confusion. It happened with Jehoshaphat and with the demon-possessed woman. I’ve always believed in the necessity to be a warrior in the fight against Satan, but it’s never been as real, or as visceral, as it is now.

This week’s five-day devotional guide, which is included at the bottom of the blog post, is a little bit different than I normally provide. But if you’re ready to do some battle through song, then I encourage you to check it out. You may not have time to do all of it, nor may you be ready to try everything it suggests, but here’s one thing I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, you’ll come out of whatever you try in a better place spiritually than before you started.

Five-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.

Day 1 - Watch this inspiring three-minute video from Desiring God which is based on the original sermon by John Piper. Then after spending time in prayer, sing your favorite praise chorus or hymn to God.
Day 2 - Listen to a few songs you know from this playlist and sing along as the Holy Spirit leads you. Following your time of worship, read Psalm 5:11 and ask God to keep the power of praise alive in your heart throughout the day.
Day 3 - Revisit the story from Joshua 6 about Jericho’s walls falling and then journal about the walls you need to fall and why. Ask God to give you a song in your heart to sing until the walls fall, whether it’s hours, days, or weeks from now. This song from the playlist on Day 1 will encourage you.
Day 4 - Write down your greatest fear, whether or not it’s something that’s actually interfering with your life right now. Read Zephaniah 3:17, then Listen to the song “You Make Me Brave” from the playlist. In that spirit of worship, go to the Lord in prayer.
Day 5 - Revisit the story of Paul and Silas in jail from Acts 16. What is remarkable about their ordeal and what role did praising God play in helping them? Ask God to help you turn to Him in song more often. Jot down any situation that comes to your mind that needs the power of praise. Spend time in prayer asking God to help you react in praise rather than anger, frustration, guilt, shame, or bewilderment.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts on this post! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

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How to Choose joy when You Don't Feel Like It

8/28/2019

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How to choose joy even when you don't feel like it

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If you’ve seen the movie Unbroken or read the book of the same name, you may recall a scene near the beginning where the young main character, Louie Zamperini, is training for his school’s track team to ward off the constant bullying and teasing by his classmates. In the beginning, he is riddled with self-doubt and floundering under the weight of discouragement. Louie didn’t feel like competing. Initially, he wasn’t motivated to take the actions necessary to persevere in extenuating circumstances. Seeing that his mental state of mind was going to kill his physical ability to perform, his older brother Pete gives him a pep talk, which concludes with this encouragement: “If you can take it, you can make it. Louie, a moment of pain is worth a lifetime of glory.”

One of the hardest things to do is feel something that you don’t, or to act a certain way when you have no motivation to do so. Yet, when we are depleted of joy and feeling down, stepping out on faith to express joy seems as hard as walking off a cliff and expecting God to supply a footbridge miraculously. Yet, as believers, that’s exactly what we’re called to do. Rejoice in suffering. Delight in God in all circumstances. Worship Him even when we don’t understand. Like Pete’s encouragement to Louie, Scripture essentially tells us to do something even when we don’t feel like it for the hope of victory down the road. But how on earth does God expect us to obey Him and experience joy in these types of situations? Are we supposed to be fake? Is God calling us to pretend? Well, yes and no. Now before you quit reading, I’m not at all saying that you should be inauthentic in your faith or actions or be disingenuous in any way with God. After all, last week I wrote about the topic of authenticity and how important it is for us to be real with ourselves, God, and others. But the old expression, “Fake it until you make it,” has some merit when applied the Biblical way. Unbroken is based on a true story, so kudos to Pete Zamperini for changing just one letter of a phrase that had already been around a long time and turning it into a battle cry that would ring in his little brother’s ears throughout years of his brutal hardship during World War 2.

We often choose NOT to feel the joy God is offering us because we disagree with God. We disagree with the circumstances He is allowing us to go through. And while we certainly don't want to be phony — like the dirty cups Jesus called the Pharisees in Luke 11:39, we also don't want to wait until we feel the internal desire to obey because having a joyless heart is not any way to live. It really comes down to acting on what God asks us to do because we love Him, whether we feel like showing that love or not. Whether we agree with Him or not.

In this fascinating Psychology Today article, compelling research proves that our behaviors can dramatically change our emotions. “Many people assume that the link between emotion and behavior is one-way: Emotions shape behavior. You love him, therefore you kiss him. You hate him, therefore you hit him. This view is incorrect. In fact, the relationship is reciprocal. Much of the time, behavior actually shapes emotion,” said the article’s author Noam Shpancer, Ph.D. “Recent research in clinical psychology has shown that the fastest way to change an emotion is to change the behavior attached to it.” And he closes the article with this straightforward advice: “The shortest, most reliable way to change how you're feeling is to change what you're doing.”

As I read the rest of the article, it hit me that my intrinsic ability to feel joy or feel love for God is mainly grounded in biology and not spirit. We are also far more conscious of our human instincts and subsequent reactions, which is why the article points out that we’re all walking through life mostly based on feeling-driven assumptions versus intentional actions. How can we help it? After all, it’s what feels right… instinctual even. But Jesus came to show us how to live above feeling-driven human instincts. In stark contrast, He came to show us how to move beyond mere reactionary existence in this turbulent and challenging journey. He boldly declared that we are to walk in the Spirit, intentionally pursuing and experiencing an abundant life marked by the fruits of our love and trust in God. Scripture outlined a clear path to real and lasting joy long before psychologists had proof that behaviors can produce or change feelings, but it’s so satisfying to see empirical evidence of these invisible truths.

Take, for example, Sara Frankl, who wrote the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts as a response to living with a terminal illness. She said, “He (God) fixes the problem when I ask Him to fix me. I believe He can do anything. I think He can physically heal me, I think He can stop a tornado and halt a flood. But I think what is most powerful is when He lets natural things happen and lets people use their free will, and at the same time fixes my heart and spirit to handle them.” God didn’t heal Sara. But has used Sara’s story to heal countless hurting hearts around the world. I agree with her, what is most potent is the display of God’s power through our tragedies and weaknesses.

As someone struggling to delight in the Lord right now, although I realize things will eventually get better with my current situation, I am learning not to pin my joy to a future hope of feeling better. Clearly, Sara learned that lesson as well. As her health deteriorated, her joy never wavered because it was pinned to something unchanging. Unlike Sara, I am just now realizing how often I have pinned my hopes to that which is likely to change. When times get tough, I have found joy more often than not by visualizing a better future. While there’s nothing wrong with imagining things getting better and drawing encouragement from that, God has been revealing to me how incredibly self-centered it is for me to rely on that kind of hope so heavily. He’s also been changing my perspective to see that I have often depended on my own natural bent toward optimism to get me through the hard times. So here I am learning what it means to be joyful in an entirely new way. And I feel like a kid getting on a bicycle for the first time. It’s a bit exhilarating, but also incredibly scary and awkward. And frankly, I am not any good at it. Just as I’ve never been athletically inclined, so I’m discovering that despite my generally cheery disposition, a day-to-day reliance on Spirit-generated joy is a learned behavior that takes careful nurturing and consistent implementation.

While I believe the time is coming once again when I will actually feel great joy bubbling up and overflowing spontaneously, I am now just starting to understand what it means when Paul says in Romans 15:13 (The Passion Translation), “Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” Yes, it is God’s responsibility to fill us, but notice in that verse that there are actions required on our part. It says, “As you trust in Him.” That’s the first behavior we must exhibit. We must choose to trust. Then, as the infilling of joy and peace comes, we are responsible to “radiate hope.” God’s actions are in partnership with ours, and that often means we have to get out of His way and let go of our own needs for comfort, agendas, expectations, and even our natural inclinations. All of which feels awkward and uncomfortable. But just like learning to ride a bike, something almost mystical happens when we finally get the hang of it. The untrained awkwardness gradually fades into smooth second nature, so much so we no longer think about balancing. We are no longer fearful of riding fast. We no longer fumble around with the gears. And suddenly, almost before we realize it, we’re simply enjoying the ride.

That’s what I think Jesus had in mind when He said in Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message version), “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” There’s no question it takes great effort to obey God when our feelings and flesh are screaming the opposite. But Jesus promises us that when we choose — when we take action despite our desires or inclinations — He will teach us the second nature of living through the power of His Spirit and not by the flesh.

All of this sounds great of course, but if you’re like me, then you’re looking up at heaven in the middle of whatever life has dealt you and asking, “Okay, I believe you, God. But how? How do I actually make myself choose joy when I feel anything but that? I understand that it comes through the power of your Spirit alive in me, but how do I even get on the bicycle when I don’t even feel like riding right now?”

Well, when the motivation isn’t welling up inside, then I say let’s go get some. Focusing on my current situation, its litany of exhausting details, worries, and unknowns, is certainly not going to spur me to any healthy actions. Indeed, I’d rather wallow in complacency on the couch of idleness with a spoonful of unhealthy comfort. However, I am beginning to discover that although my current feelings don’t motivate me to choose joy, when I focus on the compelling reasons to do so in spite of my emotional state, something remarkable happens. Rather than reacting to the situation with discouragement, I start to feel a spark of determination based on the compelling reasons themselves and not the circumstances. I think the compelling reasons to choose joy will vary wildly from person to person, but in case it helps someone, I thought I’d throw out a few that are stirring up newfound motivation in me. Now, I’m not feeling like Rocky at the top of the steps of City Hall or anything, but these thoughts are helping me take the first action required from Romans 15:13.

Compelling reason number one: do it for the sake of love. I know this sounds like a cop-out. Mushy even. But if you’ve told Jesus that you love Him, then make every endeavor to be the man or woman who keeps her word. Try this. Use your imagination to picture yourself sitting on a park bench somewhere. Now envision yourself staring at people doing something beautiful, like an elderly couple walking hand-in-hand in front of a fiery sunset or a group of little kids giggling as they chase each other around a jungle gym. Whatever whispers to your soul of pure, undefiled beauty. As you’re immersed in the site of something utterly perfect, imagine Jesus walking up and sitting down beside you. Don’t worry about what He looks like or what He’s wearing. Just focus on His presence. Allow yourself to sit there wordlessly with Him and gaze at the sight before you. Feel the unforced rhythms of grace as you effortlessly relax into the moment. You’re now observing the most beautiful display of humanity you can imagine with the most amazing person in the universe. And then He gently and tenderly asks you the same thing He did of Peter in John 21, “Do you love me?” Turn and look at Jesus full in the face and see if you don’t find the motivation to choose joy out of pure love for Him and unconditional love for many hurting people around you who will only see Jesus if you’re willing to let Him shine through you. (To make it easier, click the play button at the top of this post to listen to the audio version of this message.)

Compelling reason number two: don’t let evil win. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” So I hate to lose. Who doesn’t? But unlike playing cribbage with my father-in-law, I am promised a victory in Christ against an adversary who has made it his life mission to make me miserable. Each time I don’t choose joy, Satan wins a skirmish. I want to be a victor. I want to honor the One who has made me a champion. I will choose joy, even though it is not natural or logical. I will fight for joy by taking the actions that lead my heart to joy.

Compelling reason number three: focus on eternal hope rather than temporary relief. If we return to the story of Louie Zamperini once more, we’re reminded that fixing our hope on something unshakable changes our perspective and keeps us motivated. When Louie is stranded at sea with his fellow soldiers, he turns to God instead of dwelling on his circumstances. This helped him view even the smallest things as blessings, versus dwelling on every detail of their life-depleting conditions. Hope birthed endurance, and endurance helped him survive.

The reasons that motivate you to choose joy even when you don’t feel like it may be different than mine. I expect mine will vary from time to time, depending on the cause of my struggles, but one thing remains sure for either of us — we are 100% incapable of giving up… throwing in the towel… taking our ball and going home… if we are willing to make ourselves do what the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk did following a series of tragedies in Israel — he rejoiced. I’ll close with his words from Habakkuk 3:17-19. Let them wash over you, soothe your bitterness and pain, and trickle down into the depths of your heart and soul today. As you read them, go back to seeing yourself in the park with Jesus. Say these words to Him and then let Him respond to you. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; He makes me tread on my high places.” Amen.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - I didn’t want to write about joy this week. I seriously questioned whether or not I could even be authentic with the words if I did. But something within me felt so desperate for it, I had no choice but to ask God to lay words on my heart, even if I didn’t like them or feel them. Have you ever felt that way with God about something you need or feel deprived of? Have you humbled yourself and asked Him to give you what He knows you need instead? Read the words of Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message Version, The Passion Translation, and then in two more literal versions like the English Standard Version and the New American Standard Bible. Write down what you sense God whispering to your heart.
Day 2 - Using your imagination as a part of your daily quiet time with Jesus can be a very effective way to help you focus and listen to His voice. Read Philippians 2:1-18. Pick one verse resonates with you the most and then visualize hearing it from Jesus Himself as you sit together in a peaceful place.
Day 3 - When we pin our hopes to the unshakeable Rock who is God, we are less likely to be swayed or spiritually damaged by our circumstances. In fact, just the opposite happens, we will grow stronger and closer to Jesus every day. Read Matthew 7:24-27 and James 1:6. Ask the Holy Spirit to tell you what to do to get stronger in Christ.
Day 4 - Sometimes we fabricate joy by seeking comfort and happiness in things versus God Himself. Read these two passages — Psalm 42:1-3 and Romans 14:17 — and then pray them back to God. Ask Him to show you anything that is bringing you more comfort and joy than He does.
Day 5 - Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God and the second is to love others. Read these four Scripture passages and ask the Holy Spirit to help you love with a greater capacity than you ever have before. Spend some time writing down any barriers that might be standing in the way of love right now and then ask Jesus to help you remove them one by one.

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How God Sees You

8/14/2019

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I love just about any movie with Tom Hanks in it. Yes, I know everybody loves Tom Hanks, so my statement is certainly not profound or controversial, but just for the record, he was one of my favorite actors long before “Sleepless in Seattle” was released in 1993. I can remember watching “Bosom Buddies” reruns after school and being hooked on his one-of-a-kind comedic timing and boy-next-door charm. And, of course, when “Splash” came out in 1984, I begged my Mom to take me to the theater. I mean, what girl wouldn’t want to see a live-action movie about a mermaid?

So when interesting things happen in life, as you can imagine, I often think of a Tom Hanks film. While adjusting to our new house is not nearly as bad as the absolute debacle in the film, lately I have been pining to revisit Mr. Hanks’ first-of-many collaborations with Steven Spielberg — “The Money Pit,” which tells the hilarious story of a couple pouring endless amounts of coin into a fixer-upper that is clearly never going to be fixed. Since it’s one of the few Hanks movies I don’t have in my embarrassingly large DVD collection, I have to admit that part of me is afraid to go digging online for it because watching it might actually hit too close to home. More than anything else, it’s a recent experience cleaning up some construction debris that made me think of Tom’s most famous line from the movie: “Here lies Walter Fielding. He bought a house, and it killed him.” No, our new house is not going to kill us, but I think the number of unexpected problems we’re dealing with has quite possibly shaved a few years off our lives and undoubtedly increased the percentage of gray hairs on my head.

One of the messiest projects currently underway at our house is the repair of a broken pipe underneath our back patio. Since the demolition of cement slabs is required to get underground and fix the issues, we have a long way to go yet before the process of restoration can begin. Round one of the deconstruction to find the breaks is over, but the second wave of work needed to completely expose the affected area surrounding the bad pipe is coming next week. Given that construction dust is not good for the surrounding foliage we had just planted along the back fence, I went outside the morning after the initial demolition to rinse off the leaves, branches, and flowers. Besides making a mental note to gently cover them before the next round of chaos begins, I noticed that the dust seemed to cling unusually well to one new plant in particular — the star jasmine, which is a thick, flowering vine prized for its fragrant white blooms. Frustrated by the stubborn stickiness of the dust, I rinsed the leaves three times, only to find them still coated in a thin film of white hours later. It was clear a quick rinsing wasn’t going to do the job. If I wanted to give this young plant a fair shot at life, I was going to have to get down on my hands and knees and gingerly wipe each and every leaf.

As I began the tedious chore, I quickly realized that for such a small plant, this star jasmine already had what seemed like a thousand leaves. This was going to be way more work than I wanted it to be. So as my frustration levels rose along with the heat of the day, I teetered on becoming downright cranky with the whole situation. I grew angry with myself for not remembering to cover the new plants in the first place, and I began to stew all over again at the unfairness of having to correct the previous owner’s apparent neglect. And just as I was sliding into an abyss of bitterness for the day, I remembered a request I had asked of God a few weeks earlier when we realized the scope of problems with our new house. I had prayed for His perspective on these problems, not mine. I had asked Him to give me eyes to see His blessings, purpose, and patience through this season. I asked Him to draw me closer to Him in the struggle, rather than leaning on my own resources (of which I had none left anyway), wisdom, and resilience.

“Here’s your opportunity,” a still small voice whispered in my heart. “How would I see this task? What can you learn about Me at this moment?”

I smiled when the whisper came, and that small recognition tenderly pulled me back to a sitting position, right down into the dust with the star jasmine. In my bitter, inward ranting, I had previously refused to sit down during the process and had instead chosen to bend over or squat while rubbing leaves one by one. I hadn’t wanted to give in to the task, nor had I wanted to get dirty myself. Almost like an unconscious protest, I had opted for the aching back and leg cramps, rather than finding a comfortable position to do my work. Now, as I sat down in the dust with the plant and felt relief slowly rising in my extremities, I shook my head in wonder at God. Right there, sitting in the rubble and mud, I caught a glimpse of Jesus. Not only does He get down in the grime of our messes to help us come out of them, He walks through each phase of the construction process with us — demolition, clean-up, and full restoration. We not only get to know His character during these seasons, but we also learn how to tangibly rely on Him for everything in life with ever-increasing intensity.

It would have been so easy for me to opt for the quick solution with that small star jasmine. It had just been planted, so going to the greenhouse and buying another one would have been far easier than cleaning hundreds of leaves one by one. But God had a message for me that He could only deliver through the dust and the sweat. His Word tells me to be a good steward with the resources He’s given me, and discarding a perfectly good plant for the sake of my convenience wouldn’t honor Him. And I think it was that initial obedience to do the work — although reluctantly, I admit — that ushered in His ultimate purpose for that moment: He wanted me to see me as He sees me. And through that vision, He wanted me to draw closer to Him. And how does He see me? How does He see you? Well, frankly, we’re like a fledgling young plant with great potential but almost always covered in some kind of construction dust. Sure, there are moments where most areas of our lives seem to be going well, and we’re growing by leaps and bounds. But more often than not, we are always going through some kind of demolition or construction project in one area or another. Sometimes the demolition phase is for our own good, and other times, it brings widespread damage because of our own destructive choices. But regardless of the cause, Jesus is there in the midst of it all to shepherd every detail of our restoration. That’s because God sees us as a part of Himself. Made in His very image and created to be one with Him, His spirit dwells inside of all those who believe and follow. We are His temple. His earthly home. His child. His heir. We are called to walk in the very likeness of His Son. So, no matter the cause of the problem, whether we’re covered in the remnants of our own sins and mistakes, or we’re coated in suffering through no fault of our own, Jesus will always be there to wipe off the construction dust and expose us to the light and nourishment of His presence.

We are all vulnerable to forgetting how God sees us, especially the most seasoned of believers. Life has a way of hardening us as we grow, sometimes turning our previous trials and hardships into recurring memories that we allow to shape our perspective and cloud our vision. The newness of God’s cleansing presence and the yielding to His surgical precision become dulled based on our own perceived maturity, hurts, failures, and even our successes. We begin to think we know what God will do next based on our personal experience, rather than leaving our hearts and minds open to the truth of Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Sure, our experiences can guide us in better identifying the marks of God’s hand and hearing His voice, but we should never allow them to speculate on what He intends to do or say.

When we remember that God sees us as His son or daughter, whom He always loves, accepts, and restores through Jesus, our response should always be one of awe, humility, and receptivity to whatever He wants. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 18:3, that we are to be like children. I love how the ESV study Bible gives that statement some context: “The humility of a child consists of childlike trust, vulnerability, and the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help, direction, and resources of a parent.” Therefore, the mark of growth and maturity in a Christian is not what we would expect, or even naturally desire. We are not to seek the increase of our own wisdom, independence, or ruggedness. Rather, God wants us to become progressively more dependent on Him… for everything. He doesn’t even want us to see or evaluate situations, people, or things around us from our own point of view. He wants us to begin each day and approach every moment with His truth as our point of reference.

Not to say that any of this is easy, of course. But thankfully that’s where God’s promises, like Lamentations 3:22-23 come in, assuring us that for each new day, He will be there immersed with us in the trials of life. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” When you get up in the morning and face a day filled with daunting challenges, you may look in the mirror and see a face weary with frustration or disappointment, but God sees you as you can be under His wing and filled with His strength. While you and I are certainly a work in progress, God can see the finished masterpiece He is forming His child to be over time. So next time you find yourself covered with the suffocating dust and remnants of life’s endless construction projects, and you’re either frustrated with yourself, those around you, or both, Jesus beckons you to take a moment and look for Him drawing close right beside you. The clean-up process may seem overwhelming, but with His tender hand guiding your work, you’ll be restored and captivatingly fragrant like star jasmine blossoming in the afternoon sun.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.

Day 1 - Part of learning to believe the truth of how God sees you is grasping how much He loves you and the ramifications of that kind of love. Read Ephesians 3:14-19 in several different versions of the Bible and spend time in prayer asking God to whisper to your soul of how much He loves you. Ask Him to reveal any corners of your heart or mind that you haven’t surrendered to His love. Write down what comes to mind and commit it to prayer this week.
Day 2 - Throughout the Bible God promises to protect us, guide us, and be our shield in the storms of life. But that doesn’t mean the trials won’t come. When they do, He will walk through the suffering with us, drawing us closer than we we’ve ever been. Take a moment to listen to this worship song (Another in the Fire by Hillsong) and ask the Holy Spirit to give you courage to step out on faith before you feel His presence. If we step forward, He’ll be there to meet us. If you have time, read Daniel 3 and how God showed up to walk in the fire with His beloved ones.
Day 3 - Read 1 Peter 2:9 several times. What does it mean to you to hear that you are royalty? How should this guide your daily habits, perspectives, and behaviors? Spend time in prayer and ask God to reveal any ways in which you might not be seeing the truth of this verse in your life.
Day 4 - Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 several times. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to encourage you and convict you in any ways that you have not seen or cared for your body as His temple.
Day 5 - Read2 Corinthians 1:3-4. God calls us to comfort each other through the difficulties of life. We are supposed to get down in the dust and debris of life with each other. If you’re going through a hard time right now, find someone to share that with and ask them to pray with you regularly until the trial passes. If you’re in a good place, then ask God to put people in your path who need support and prayer. And if a name is coming to your mind right now, then take a moment and pray for that person right now. Maybe share this podcast or blog with them as an encouragement.

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Does God Want you to Be a Minimalist?

8/7/2019

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From the day you were born, you started collecting stuff that will be with you for the rest of your life. Indeed, stuff was already waiting for you in your room before you even came home from the hospital. There were the super practical things, of course, some of which would come and go within hours (like the diapers) and others that would linger for years until you grew out of them. And then there were the completely non-practical items. These were usually adorable and capable of generating an “Awwwww, how cute,” comment in the most high-pitched tone. Some of them were useless, but entirely sentimental icons of your earliest days, and they might still be tucked away in a box in the furthest corners of your attic or basement, no matter how old you are. If keeping some of your childhood memories isn’t your thing, then I am sure something else is. It may be a weakness for clothes, gadgets, knick-knacks, or books. Even artwork, pantry items, tools, office supplies, or small appliances can mound up through the years.

For most people, too much stuff of some kind in their closets, drawers, or garages is making them feel smothered, constricted, overwhelmed, busy, depressed, or frustrated on some level, whether it be occasionally troublesome or incredibly debilitating. We all exist somewhere on the continuum between minimalism and hoarding. But where does God want us to be? Is joining the minimalism movement, led by the likes of Marie Kondo and Clea Shearer, any different from trying out the latest fad diet to shrink our expanding waistlines? We try them out, only to find ourselves struggling again once we inevitably diverge from the plan. I found myself asking these questions and many similar ones over the last several months of packing, moving, and trying to unpack. Notice I used the word “trying” regarding settling into my new home. Just like getting a huge shock when you step on the scale for the first time in five months (yep, I have that problem too!), I have been both surprised and dismayed at how little storage capacity is available in my house. Having too much stuff combined with an impressive lack of storage options has created the perfect storm of clutter, disorganization, and overwhelm in almost every room.

For those of you who know me, the inability to unpack quickly, organize, and enjoy clutter-free tidiness, is driving me crazy. Bonkers. Nuts. Attach any word to it that makes you picture a woman with her hair on fire, and you’ll understand my state of mind. What’s more, I’m one of those writers who can’t even concentrate on crafting a single sentence until my desk area complies to my own very unorthodox version of feng shui. While I recognize that I am clearly displaying inherited OCD tendencies right now, and I probably need to break into a rendition of a saccharine Disney tune like Hakuna Matata or Let It Go, the truth of the matter still needs to be addressed. I must purge. Purge even more now than I did when I packed up everything. But again, questions come to my mind. Do I purge only enough to ease the madness, or should I take it much further and clear out everything but real necessities? And speaking of essentials, how is that really defined in my life? What is truly necessary, versus what makes life a bit more comfortable, versus what is outright indulgence or laziness? Did God lead my husband and I to this home in order to spur me toward adopting a more minimalistic lifestyle, or is being at some other point on the continuum of stewardship acceptable to Him?

Perhaps you’ve also wondered how much stuff God wants His followers to have. And I am not just talking about the stuff that actually costs money. Most of the faith-driven Christian books, blog posts, and sermons surrounding this topic tend to focus only on the stewardship component of this problem. As a result, I think many believers end up feeling justified in hanging onto a lot of stuff through the years as long as they are honoring God with their financial giving through regular tithing and offerings. After all, as far as I know, there’s no verse in the Bible that says you shouldn’t keep your first-grade finger painting masterpiece or that special dress that you wore to your Sweet 16 party (um, that would be me.) Or how about we head into even more sensitive territory? What would the Bible guide us to do with highly useful items that haven’t been used in a decade? What if we will need them again for some unpredictable project or event in the future? If we needed something once, doesn’t it stand to reason that we will need it again? And wouldn’t God want us to tuck it away in the back of the shed or closet instead of spending money on a new one should the need ever arise again? That last example is the toughest one of all, isn’t it? Maybe that expensive tool will come in handy again. Or perhaps the outfit you bought for that black tie wedding ten years ago might come back in style.

While Jesus didn’t talk specifically about things like that, He did make one truth repeatedly clear during His time with the disciples. He asks us to remove anything from our lives that prevents — and that means even slightly hinders — us from fully and completely following Him. Furthermore, He asks us to live without fear or wondering how our needs might be met in the future. Therefore, I believe we can firmly conclude that Jesus wants us to let go of anything that might get in the way of us drawing closer to Him, experiencing His goodness, obeying His direction and calling for our lives, or dwelling in the states of contentment and mental freedom. While this truth has different ramifications for each unique individual, the scriptures that support the idea of living with an unencumbered heart are uncompromising. Beyond that, it’s up to each of us to prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance regarding the boundaries needed in our lives. As I have been seeking God’s instruction in my own self-made chaos, here are a few of the Bible verses He’s brought to my attention in recent weeks.

Matthew 5:29 says, “So if your eye — even your good eye —causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Ouch. Can you even believe I am starting with that verse? I actually tried not to, but the Holy Spirit kept bugging me about it. Here’s why. There is nothing I have in my boxes of stuff, not even my most beloved wedding memorabilia, that is as important as my eyesight. I don’t think any of us would be willing to lose an eye over a possession. And here Jesus is using an extreme example to indicate the kind of extreme love we are to have for God. So even something useful or of the greatest value to us must take second place to serving and loving our Heavenly Father. I love how the verse includes the phrase, “even your good eye,” as if a person would want to give up either eye at all! But yet, that’s how some of us approach sacrificing our stuff in order to follow God. We prioritize it for Him — as if we have the right to do that. We’ll give up that thing, but not the best or the dearest thing. In this way, the Word makes it clear that even valuable, cherished, or useful things sometimes need to be sacrificed for the sake of obedience to — and love for — God. So if God calls you to downsize in order to fulfill your calling, then even something you might — just maybe — need again, probably needs to go. And the next verse offers assurance that if you need it again someday, He’ll provide it when the time comes.

Matthew 6:33-34 is Jesus’ end to all of our arguments about retaining things we don’t need or fretting about needing things we’ve let go of under the guidance of His Spirit. “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” I’m not planning on throwing out my box of wedding memories… at least not right now. There are plenty of other things the Holy Spirit seems to be leading me to let go of first. And what He might be asking you to release may be different now than it will be next year or next decade. And the flip side of that is true as well. You may be tempted to buy something that seems very reasonable right now that God knows will only be a hindrance later. So when the Spirit whispers to you with conviction or direction, it’s far better to obey and trust that your emotional, physical, or financial needs will be taken care of the way He knows is best for us.

In Mark 10:17-31, a prominent rich young man approaches Jesus and asks how he can live forever. When he explains that he has followed all the commandments and lived in obedience to God, verses 21-22 recount Jesus’ reply. “Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done,’ He told him. ‘Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” While this story in the Gospels is often used to illustrate our willingness to surrender financial assets, the implication is far more comprehensive. Jesus wanted the young man’s whole heart, and He could see that this prominent and accomplished guy was far more in love with his belongings and his stature than he was with God. When our accumulation of stuff encroaches on any aspect of our ability to love and serve God, then we are like the wealthy young man. Our hearts are clinging to our memories, treasures, gadgets, and clothes more than Him. So if I have so much stuff I can’t create a small, non-distracting space in my house to be alone with Jesus in prayer, read the Word, and worship Him, then something’s gotta go. If I own too many “toys” and their maintenance or use prevents me from serving others, then something’s gotta go. Jesus makes it that clear. That simple.

The apostle Paul said it this way in Hebrews 12:1-2: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” We don’t like to think of our stuff as sin. It makes us feel shameful. And shame causes us to feel defeated. It makes us feel like not bothering to try. And that’s right where Satan wants us. Shame makes us ineffective for Jesus. Yes, having a bunch of stuff can chain us down and keeps us from being free to go wherever and do whatever God asks us to do. But having shame over our stuff increases the weight upon our shoulders to an unbearable level. And Satan simply loves that. Not only are we weighed down, but we are also unmotivated and bewildered. But as Paul says, Jesus ran the race to demolish our strongholds of sin and shame. So no matter how much stuff I have or any stigma associated with it was buried with Christ, enabling me to run free in His strength and power. That’s how God sees me. Through the power of the cross. And that’s how He sees you too. All He asks is that we surrender our hearts, which means that He has the freedom to clear them out when necessary. Just like our houses, we have a tendency to fill up the rooms of our heart with things that don’t belong there. And everything in our houses first appeared as a desire in our hearts. Nothing shows up in our physical world until we’ve first acquired it in our hearts and minds.

A huge pile of stuff in my bedroom is about to be loaded into bags for donation. Some of the items have been in my closet for more than a decade. Some of the items are fairly new but should’ve never been purchased in the first place. For many different reasons, all of them were taking up space in my heart that wasn’t intended for them. I don’t know what else the Holy Spirit will bring to my attention for elimination in the days and weeks ahead, nor could I ever tell you what things in your life might need to go. But this I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt: with each step of surrender and obedience, Jesus is waiting to usher both of us into a greater depth of love and willingness to serve than we’ve ever known before.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide for Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read Matthew 6:25-34 in at least 3 different versions of the Bible. Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything (physical, emotional, societal) that you are hanging onto or long to have that might be creating a byproduct of worry, fear, or greed in your life. Write down anything He brings to your mind and commit to seeking God’s forgiveness and direction in those areas.
Day 2 - Go back to the list you made yesterday and spend time in prayer. Read 1 Timothy 6:6–8 and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what areas of discontentment exist in your life.
Day 3 - Sometimes contentment has nothing to do with material possessions or physical comfort, but rather our emotional or societal desires. We might be bitter over a lost relationship, promotion at work, or a wrong that someone committed against us. Even our state of health can tempt us to long for what we don’t have. Read Philippians 4:10-13 and ask God to reveal any emotions or longings in your heart that are leading to discontentment or mistrust of Him.
Day 4 - When life doesn’t seem fair, we might resort to unconsciously accumulating things or pursuing activities for the wrong reasons. The things or activities themselves may not be sinful, but if they are not God’s best for us, then He wants eliminate the root causes of those errant desires within us. Read Psalm 139:-23-24 and pray it back to God.
Day 5 - Read 1 Chronicles 29:11. Spend time today celebrating all the good things in your life that God has blessed you with, including your special memories, possessions, and most valuable relationships. Give God all the honor and glory for each one. Write down a few for future encouragement.

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Reassembling Life Even When You Can't Find the Pieces

7/24/2019

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Reassembling Life By Experiencing Gods Presence

Reassembling Life By Experiencing More of Gods Presence

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There is virtually no part of my life that is not in disarray right now. I’m surrounded by pieces. Not broken pieces, thank goodness, but it does feel as though I am surrounded by millions of scattered parts littered across the battlefield of a cross-country move. As many of you know, I have been on a brief hiatus from the Glimmers blog while my husband and I transition from Maine to California. And while today will be a shorter message than usual, I desperately needed to return to something normal and familiar as quickly as possible, for both my sanity and my sense of belonging.

However, even with the deep longing in my heart to serve God as He has called me, the almost addictive craving to keep working and achieve complete order from my chaotic surroundings was surprisingly and overwhelmingly alluring this morning as I stood in the shower and contemplated the day ahead. At least today wouldn’t feel like Groundhog Day (a reference to the classic Bill Murray movie, not the date in February). Today, I mused as I stood in my new bathroom wondering again which drawer I put my hairbrush in, I would at least do something other than deal with boxes, service contractors, and address changes.

Of course, I am also a planner and organizer by nature, so even though I color-coded, labeled, meticulously numbered all my boxes, and can search their contents in a master spreadsheet (yes, I really did that), my life is still utterly unorganized right now. Despite my best efforts to make the move easier, my excessive organization didn’t prevent my being overwhelmed by the deluge of boxes in every room, nor could I have anticipated all the work being compounded by 10 once we arrived and realized how little the previous owners had done to maintain their home.

Even the furniture we purchased and the accessories we bought to make life easier are all in pieces. Take, for example, the beautiful new cherry-finish step stool I bought to match my ultra-tall kitchen cabinets. I’ve always acknowledged that I am on the short side, but my new kitchen makes me feel absolutely minuscule in height. Since I can barely reach the second shelf in the majority of my cabinets, I figured a matching step stool sitting in my kitchen would be better than our old metal one with its paint dribbles and emerging rust lines. But, like everything else it seems, I can’t take advantage of the stool’s better height and attractiveness until I take the hour… or two… or three… required to assemble all 57 pieces. You read (heard) that right. 57 ridiculous pieces for a simple step stool. I’ve never been fond of puzzles. So as far as I’m concerned, the path to reaching new heights is paved with tedium and irritation.

But as I spread out those endless pieces on my kitchen floor and pondered whether I had it in me to begin the assembly process (yet again), I suddenly became acutely aware of the cool, solid feel of the tile beneath my feet. My floor didn’t need assembly. It had needed a deep cleaning, which it received, but it was not in pieces when we moved in. It was steady and doing a simple job well. And at that moment with temperatures outside soaring near 100, it brought me comfort. Like the shade Jonah sought in the overwhelming and sweltering landscape of Nineveh (Jonah 4), the cool tiles reminded me of God’s endless provision. He is the solid, comforting foundation that never moves. Always stable. And beckoning me to take a break and find refuge in His unwavering strength and the refreshment of His Spirit. Like Jonah, God had told my husband and I to come here to this new place, and just like the pouting prophet, I wanted to run away from the job and throw up my hands in exasperation. Over the last few months, I have certainly related to Jonah’s words in chapter 4, verse 5: “Just kill me now, Lord.”

But God is faithful to complete the good work in us — and through us — every time. And even during the hard lessons and excruciating work, He loves us enough to comfort us and teach us at the same time. Even though Jonah was angry with God for sending him to serve in Nineveh and even more resentful when the entire city turned away from evil to receive salvation, God patiently, but firmly, comforted and corrected him. In the passage from Jonah 4, God used everyday things to speak to Jonah’s heart — a broad-leafed plant, a worm, and a blistering wind. Everything and everyone is under God’s dominion, and He uses whatever it takes to reach those He loves. The key, of course, is that we are open to seeing and hearing Him through all those things… big, small, difficult, pleasurable, tedious, frustrating, and simple.

The Holy Spirit used a cool tile floor to comfort me and correct my attitude. An everyday structure became holy ground at that moment. Like Jesus squatting down in the dirt to touch the blind beggar or raise the chin of the teary-eyed adulteress, God gets down on our level and in our muck to love us. There’s nothing too scattered, overwhelming, or damaged for Him. And if that isn’t remarkable enough, we can find Him with us in the trenches every day, not just when we’ve reached the end of our stamina, patience, or hope. The problem is we usually wait, like Jonah, until we get into that predicament to see Him.

Growing up in a somewhat religiously legalistic culture, I used to believe that if I wasn’t having a perfect daily quiet time with a specific amount of Bible reading and praying, that God wouldn’t show up. I treated my relationship with God as if it functioned under a contract. If I do this and that, He will provide specific things. But if I were to fall down on my end of the bargain, He’d find plenty of other more deserving people to lavish His love and presence upon. And although that faulty and highly dangerous perspective is mostly behind me, every now and then I hear ghostly echos of its voice whispering doubts in my head as if there is anything I could do to change, validate, or increase God’s love for me or His involvement in my life. But on days where the tasks or struggles of life force you to get out of bed at the crack of dawn and not stop until the stars are long since out, Jesus doesn’t withdraw His Spirit just because the most you can eke out is a 30-second prayer as you fall asleep. The difference is how you seek Him on the whole, and moment by moment. The difference is that when life is somewhat normal and routine that you choose Him when you have the choice. Spending quality time with Him becomes your priority. You choose Him because you long for His presence so profoundly, so genuinely, that you can almost feel the need physically, like thirst or hunger. That’s the desire that the Psalmist is talking about in Psalm 42:1: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?”

Notice that David is asking the question to himself, more so than anyone else around him: “When am I going to be able to take a break from all of this to just go be with God?” That’s not what I usually find myself asking. I usually pout like Jonah and mutter, “God, when is this going to end?” Or perhaps, “God, this stinks. And I’m tired of it all.” And I think that’s why David is called the “man after God’s own heart.” Even when he had every reason and obstacle in his way, he didn’t let it taint or distract the longing in his heart for God, even when it meant his ability to formally worship God in a dedicated moment was impeded. He let that longing take precedence in his heart so that it filtered his vision, guarded his perspectives, and sensitized his heart to an awareness of God’s presence… anywhere and at any time. Certainly, some of David’s most compelling Psalms were written amid the chaos on a battlefield littered with destruction and despair. Poetry isn’t something most of us think of as being written in the midst of disarray and danger, but for David and many others since him, inspiration can always be found in the muck and hardship of life if our hearts are open to looking for God to show up.

So, as I finish up this message today, I’m fighting the urge to rush so that I can return to the wooden puzzle of step stool pieces laying on my kitchen floor… or the boxes of clothes sitting in the middle of my bedroom… or the stack of forwarded mail that needs to be sorted… goodness, even choosing which thing to do next is hard. But this time as I go back into the fray, I’m taking a deep breath and inviting God to interrupt me and my agenda with His presence. To remind me that even in the drudgery, there is joy. In the frustration, there is hope. In any moment… He. Simply. Is. In any moment, the great I AM is there for me. He is there for you. Now, the decision is up to us. Will we have hearts like David that long for Him enough to get past our own perspectives and attitudes? Will we see Him sitting there with us among the boxes, battlefields, and new beginnings? Are we open to being taught, or are we just seeking the comfort of His shade and the provision of His hand? In all these things, Scripture encourages us to trust before we can see. To believe before we can walk. Ephesians 3:17-18 says, “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is.” In verse 17, I love the phrase, “as you trust Him” because it reminds me that our ability to experience Jesus is a growth process. We get better at seeing His hand and leaning into His constant presence over time and with repeated practice. So let’s keep going, my friend. We have a holy incentive better than any comfort on earth to stay the course and anticipate His presence every step of the way.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

5-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. Before you begin reading the passage for each day, spend some time asking God to open your heart to His truth and hearing His voice.
Day 1 - Read Jonah 4. (It’s a short chapter.) God told Jonah several times to go and preach to the people of Nineveh, but he didn’t want to do so because he knew God would offer them salvation if they repented. When have you avoided spending time with God or disobeyed one of his commands (either directly to you or found in Scripture) because you didn’t want Him to do something you didn’t like? Even in the face of disobedience or avoidance, how did God still show His love for you and draw you back to Him?
Day 2 - Read Hebrews 12:11. Recall a time when you went through something painful, but the Holy Spirit helped you see that it was for your good. What did God teach you through the difficulty? How was He faithful to be with you? How has God used your experience to help others?
Day 3 - Read Philippians 4:8-9. The presence of Jesus brings peace. How can this passage help you to experience more of His presence in everyday life? What areas of your life or habits does God want you to “filter” through this verse more often?
Day 4 - ReadPsalm 16:11. There is no ambiguity about God’s promise of His presence. Meditate and memorize this verse, recalling it as a prayer in moments of stress or weakness. Ask God to reveal any changes you need to undertake to make this verse a more frequent reality in your life.
Day 5 - Read Romans 8:28 several times in a few different versions. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal to you in any ways in which you don’t believe this statement to be true. Ask God to help you see all things through the filter of this verse and comfort you with His presence as you trust in this promise.

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Never a Dull Moment with God

6/19/2019

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One of my favorite songs during my college years was “The Great Adventure,” by Steven Curtis Chapman. Looking back on it now, the western-themed music video filled with galloping horses and a leather-vest wearing Steven with big floppy hair seems so over the top and cliched, but back then — oh, that was cutting edge for contemporary Christian music. Somehow, though, despite it’s dated sound and the fact that I haven’t listened to it in ages, it came roaring back into my head today, playing over and over in my mind and reminding me to celebrate its central message: a life spent following God is never dull… never meaningless… and always filled with something new around the corner.

If you’re not familiar with the lyrics, the chorus challenges us to saddle up our horses, cause we have a trail to blaze into the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace. But my favorite lines are found in the bridge:
We'll travel on, over mountains so high
We'll go through valleys below
Still through it all we'll find that
This is the greatest journey
That the human heart will ever see
The love of God will take us far
Beyond our wildest dreams

If you want to join me in the fun and don’t mind falling prey to its catchy chorus becoming an earworm in your mind for the rest of the day, then check out this fresh spin (watch on YouTube) on the song with Steven and guest Bart Millard of MercyMe fame.

This song came galloping back to me — sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun — this week as my husband and I reached a box-packing, emotionally-charged crescendo in preparing to make a cross-country move from Maine to California. For many of my regular readers and listeners, you know that my year began with the passing of my beloved Dad, followed by the realization that God was calling us to go west. So I guess in some cheesy way, the expansive Rocky Mountain scenes of the 1992 video seem to fit with my outlook right now. I can choose to look at this move as the end of a chapter I don’t want to be over, or I can see it as a new beginning, trusting that God has purpose and joy waiting for us wherever He plants us.

There is not enough space here to tell you how deeply rooted we are in Maine with my family, the sweetest friendships, a church body with a mission we love, and a home we built ourselves. There’s no question that leaving is hard. Okay, beyond hard. I can’t even describe it, despite my propensity for wordiness. But this God has made abundantly evident: when He calls you to a new beginning, He always brings His peace and boldly blazes a trail. Like any challenging trail through unknown, mountainous territory, you may not see any further ahead than the next marker on a tree, but you can clearly see His hand at work around you. At times, you may also be exhausted, overwhelmed, and uncomfortable. But no matter how you feel, you’ll still sense His peace and presence. As Ney Bailey says in one of my favorite books, Faith is Not a Feeling, “You and I can either grow accustomed to listening to our feelings, thoughts, and circumstances, letting them control us, or we can be in the habit of taking God at His word despite our feelings and life experiences. We need to choose with our wills to believe that His Word is truer than our feelings.”

Since I will be packing up my office next week and will become like a nomad for the first half of July, today is my last blog post from the great state of Maine. So before the next adventure officially kicks off with a moving van carrying upwards of 200 color-coded and cataloged boxes (yes, I am that type of person), I wanted to share five of the lessons God has been teaching me or reinforcing with me during this prolonged season of major upheavals. Perhaps a few of them will also encourage you during your own seasons of change, doubt, or waiting. While I won’t be able to produce new blog posts or podcast episodes for the next three weeks, I am sure God will be filling my mind with plenty of ideas for new messages during the many days of driving through America’s heartland. So I am already looking forward to being back with you starting July 17th from sunny Northern California.

1. God is the provider of the feast, not unsatisfying snacks. Another way to say it is: God always brings us what’s best and He longs for us to never settle or take shortcuts to get second best. Throughout Scripture we see God as the founder of the feast, always offering His children the best when they choose Him. In John 2, Jesus performs His first miracle, which was turning water to wine at a wedding feast. Upon tasting it, the banquet manager exclaims in verse 10, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” What God has been speaking to me is that His best is worth waiting for, and when He does bring His plans to fruition, they will be far more than I could’ve imagined if I wait on Him and trust Him. Earlier in this process, I found myself praying for the equivalent of snack — just a taste of God’s glory — when what He had in mind was far more complete than I would’ve dared hope for.

2. God doesn’t need human cooperation to bring about His will. We simply can’t help thinking more of ourselves than we should. After all, we all live with the day-to-day disappointment of other people letting us down, frustrating us, or choosing the wrong path. So when people don’t seem to be acting the way we think they should in order to align with what God has planned, we may assume that we misunderstood God or that He will have to change His plans due to human misbehavior. But just as God both hardened and then softened the heart of Pharoah (in Exodus 11:10 and 12:30-32), we can rest assured that if God wants something to happen, it will. And if we trust Him to bring it about His way and in His timing, then we get the thrill of watching His handiwork unfold.

3. God gives us the chance to participate in miracles. Perhaps one of the saddest situations is when you or I try to wade through the changes of life alone. But just as Jesus included the disciples in the miracles He performed, so we should include others around us in both the work God is calling us to do and the decisions we need to make. We do this through prayer. And when we don’t ask others to cover us in prayer over big decisions, changes, struggles, and grief, then we rob them of the chance to participate in God’s miracles. When a close-knit group of believers spends days, months, or even years supporting someone going through a hard season, there is not only indescribable joy for each victory along the way, no matter how small, there is also an incredible amount of growth in the lives of every group member as they intimately witness the hand of God in all the details. In Luke 15:8-10, Jesus tells the parable about a woman losing a coin and then celebrating with all her friends once it is found. James 5:16 urges believers to pray for one another. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” And Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”

4. God never contradicts Himself. When a turbulent time engulfs our lives, God promises to work it out for good. But Satan is also working hard to divert us from God’s best or to get us to throw in the towel. Sometimes the evil tactics he tries on us are disguised in a veneer of goodness or practical advice. When my husband and I found a home we liked in California, after praying about it, we made a market-appropriate offer to the owners. They rejected our offer. Not once, but four times. This went on for several agonizing weeks, and all the while we were nearing our moving date without a place to live. With each offer, we came up a little more money until we had reached the maximum number God had laid on our hearts. As God’s Word calls us to be good stewards of the resources He gives us, we knew He didn’t want us to go any higher even though we could’ve found a way to do so. He had given us a line in the sand, regardless of how close the deal seemed. Many people said we shouldn’t let such a small amount deter us from a home we really liked. I’d like to tell you that sticking to our guns was a piece of cake, but as with any situation that we have the power to either solve on our own, or let the Lord handle in His own way, it was very difficult to remain firm. Each time I spent time in prayer, I simply heard, “Wait.” God impressed the same thought on my husband. Eventually, both sides reached a stalemate and we walked away from the property, believing that if God wanted us there, He would’ve made it work at the number He gave us. Several days after we let it go, our realtor called to tell us that the sellers had a change of heart and would indeed accept our offer and terms if we were still ready to commit. It’s hard not to fight for what you want. It’s hard to resist making things happen yourself when it seems like they fit with God’s plans. But if any part of the process contradicts a principle or a promise from Scripture — even if the outcome would be the same — then God wants us to be still and let Him take care of it. Exodus 14:14 says, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Some versions use the word “silent” and others use the word “calm,” but all of them apply when all you want to do is squirm, yell, run, or fret.

5. God brings order to chaos, both in circumstances and most importantly in our hearts. This lesson has been especially hard for me to learn and it might be for you as well. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us that God desires order versus confusion or chaos. But clearly He allows chaos to occur in our lives from time to time. Just look at the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33 walking on the water toward Jesus. He stepped out of the boat among the chaotic waves and wind to find himself rising above it all. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked unharmed through the continuing storm. But the moment he became aware of his precarious surroundings and began focusing on his impending doom, he sank down. When Peter’s focus was on Jesus, the storm in his heart was calmed. And, of course, we are no different. Jesus calls us to just let the circumstances around us simply be as they are. Through the Holy Spirit, He empowers us to say with conviction, “Nothing around me matters more than Who’s in front of me.” It’s with this vision that we will see God’s hand working to bring order out of the chaos and show us a clear, strong lifeline to safety. In verse 32, Jesus didn’t calm the seas until the disciples placed their trust in Him. Once the work in their hearts was done, God worked to reveal a miracle. “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

Over the past six months, God has been teaching and revealing so much more to me than these five lessons, but since I am only beginning to grasp their meaning and understand the depth of their impact, I’ll save the rest of them for future blog posts. In the meantime, I hope you’re encouraged in your own seasons of change, doubt, waiting, fear, and loss. There is no storm God doesn’t have a plan to use for His glory. There is no problem you face in which He won’t walk beside you and give you peace. There is no dull moment in any life lived in order to grow closer to Jesus. You may think that nothing is happening. It may seem as though nothing is changing or that nothing ever seems to go in your favor. But you must believe that those perspectives are your own, and not God’s. There is nothing that is not already known by Him. There is nothing that remains unsolved in His future. And so, He asks you and me to rest in the waiting knowing that every moment of our lives can be useful to Him. Every situation can be redeemed… in His timeframe, not ours. Finally, there’s always a new beginning. And it often comes in the darkest hours before the dawn. But that’s exactly when you can let God’s light shine the brightest in your life. Others will look at you and may remark on the darkness you’re facing, but if your eyes remain on Jesus, then the only thing everyone else will be able to talk about is Him.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

5-Day Devotional Guide For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling

God’s Adventure Spotify Playlist - Created just for this message, this music playlist will fuel your passion for God’s adventure and encourage you during times of change. (Yes, you can listen to the playlist for no charge when you sign up for a FREE account!)
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.
While Glimmers is on vacation for the next 3 weeks, if you need a daily devotional, I encourage you to check out the free plans in the YouVersion app or John Piper’s online daily devotional.

Day 1 - God is the provider of the feast, not unsatisfying snacks. Read Philippians 4:19 and Ephesians 3:20 several times in a few different versions. When have you settled for second best in the past? Why? What is it that you are currently longing for Him to provide? Ask Him to show you any ways in which you are impatient in waiting for His best. Pray and ask Him to give you discernment in seeking only His best and not counterfeits or shortcuts.
Day 2 - God doesn’t need human cooperation to bring about His will. Read Acts 17:24-25, 1 Chronicles 29:11, and Psalm 115:3. How does knowing the God is sovereign over everything bring you comfort when it comes to replying on other people for important things in your life? Spend time in prayer asking God to reassure your heart of His love and control over your life.
Day 3 - God gives us the chance to participate in miracles. Read Matthew 28:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:11. What does this passage tell you about God’s invitation to us to participate in His work and plans?
Day 4 - God never contradicts Himself. Read Hebrews 6:16-20 and Numbers 23:19. In what ways have you wondered about apparent contradictions concerning God, the Bible, or His control over your life? Meditate on these Scriptures and pray them back to Him. Consider memorizing them and repeating them to yourself during times of doubt.
Day 5 - God brings order to chaos, both in circumstances and most importantly in our hearts. Read Joshua 1:9, John 14:27, 1 Corinthians 14:33, and Psalm 37:23. Whichever verse spoke the most to you, spend time reflecting on how it speaks to your heart and circumstances. Then pray it back to God and ask Him to search your heart and speak to you.

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Too Much of a Good Thing = Not Enough Jesus

6/12/2019

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Too Much of A Good Thing Equals Not Enough Jesus

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Human history is filled with powerful stories about what happens when an individual or a group of people hit their “enough is enough” moment. Usually, it happens after a long time of enduring the consequences of too much of a good thing. In other words, something that was once perceived as a good thing — whether it actually was or not — goes really south and eventually reaches the boiling point. It is that point at which change is sparked…when the powder keg of freedom is finally lit. While there are things, habits, or relationships that may not be good for us from the start, the self-induced chains that sneak up on us most often are those things that once had harmless or even beneficial beginnings.

I often marvel at how many times I’ve had to reach the enough-is-enough point with issues in life. I used to believe that I would eventually be savvy enough to recognize the encroachment or overrun of anything long before I would have to begin the hard work of making corrections and recovering from the consequences of having or doing too much. But now I have come to understand that as long as there are things to be enjoyed and productivity to be pursued, Satan will always try to lure me to pursue something good until it spoils. I may learn how to draw impenetrable boundaries with one specific thing, but as long as I’m living on this earth, new things will keep appearing. God will continue to provide tremendous blessings, but the temptations to overuse them will keep coming. After all, that’s Satan’s self-assigned job. He’s passionate about twisting anything good into something bad. But my God-assigned job is even more powerful. I’m called to be passionate about relying on Jesus to help me both enjoy the blessings and endure the trials for His glory. Neither the pursuit of good things or the struggle over bad things should ever eclipse my love for —and trust in — God.

Sometimes we know that a good thing has turned sour long before we do anything about it. I’ve been waiting on my enough-is-enough moment regarding a particular issue for a long time. I’ve seen it coming for months now, and I’ve even longed for it, but have been unable to make it arrive any sooner. I’ve also simultaneously dreaded reaching that point, because when it arrives, it brings with it the discomfort of change, the difficulty of discipline, and the limitations of new boundary lines. But my life is crying out for it after a prolonged season of excess and counterfeit freedom. For me, reaching the point of being fed up enough to make a change is kind of like insomnia. The more I try to make myself fall asleep, the more elusive it becomes. Whatever this mental hurdle is called — I’m sure there must be a name for it — I have encountered it in almost every area of my life at one time or another. Whether it’s insomnia, an over-committed schedule, overeating, or even relationships, the motivation to finally draw the line in the sand and return to balance can be one of the most difficult things in life to find. And since there is no aspect of life that is not vulnerable to being overrun or overindulged, we can often find ourselves craving the motivation to make a change in multiple areas.

Two people in the Bible who articulated what it’s like to deal with having too much of a good thing are King Solomon and the Apostle Paul. While there is much to glean from their writings on the subject, they each handled the problem very differently. Solomon allowed the blessings of God to become his god until it was too late, finally seeking redemption at the end of His life. The gifts of marriage, financial comfort, and physical indulgence completely engulfed his every waking hour, eventually making him numb to anything meaningful, including the Lord’s presence. In Ecclesiastes 1:14, he gives us the theme of the book: “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Time and time again, he reminds us that the pleasures of life, the knowledge of the world, and even the work we perform, all have bottomless pits. There is no point at which we can experience complete satisfaction in anything other than God. Ecclesiastes 1:8 says, “All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.” And we read in chapter 6 verse 7: “Everyone's toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is never satisfied.” Ecclesiastes is a cautionary lament from an old man who allowed himself to become so ensnared by good things that many years of his life were wasted wallowing in regret and feeling the pain of self-induced consequences.

Solomon is a great example of a mistake we often make when we reach our breaking point. As you read Ecclesiastes it becomes clear that he took everything to the extreme. When he reached the bottom of trying one thing, he’d push another thing to the brink. Just as his ancestors did in the desert when they gathered too much manna (see Exodus 16:13-20), Solomon ignored God’s boundaries and ran after excess of blessings. The result was the same: a beautiful thing became spoiled and unsatisfactory to consume any longer.

Sometimes when we finally declare, “Enough is enough,” and design our action plan for change, we only turn around and fall into a different pit of extremes. Rather than embracing the much-needed adjustment with a healthy intensity of change, we take drastic measures, somehow trading one obsession for another. Like rebounding from a bad relationship into an opposite — but equally detrimental — one, we feel compelled to wipe away everything associated with the thing we had too much of. And, so yet again, we often to respond to an imbalance in our lives with another imbalance. For example, the person who couldn’t say no and becomes so burned out on volunteering that she pulls out of serving altogether. Or another common case is the dieter who swears off an entire food group, versus learning the valuable discipline of eating in moderation. It doesn’t matter what the issue is, we can all relate to the mistake of going to extremes in an act of desperation. That’s because when we let anything reach a severe level and feel the gravity of the choices that got us there, our human nature tells us to counteract it with equal force. Ever since the Garden of Eden, humankind has felt the need to punish itself once exposed to the light of conviction. Yet the only One who could adequately punish us for our sins instead offers us forgiveness and wholeness forevermore.

And this is where the example of Paul’s life gives us the very hope which Solomon was struggling to find until the end of his life. Although he wasn’t a king like Solomon with limitless power and money, Paul had tasted what it was like to go to extremes and come up empty. As a paid mercenary for the Jewish leadership council in Jerusalem, Paul had a blank check when it came to persecuting Christians. And he was passionate about it too. He also earned plenty of cash doing what he loved. But then Jesus stepped into the picture and everything changed. After Paul’s conversion experience with the risen Christ, I’m sure he was tempted to punish himself, but instead, he was saturated with the grace and mercy poured out upon him by Jesus and then spent the rest of his life sharing the same with others. Rather than endlessly searching for earthly satisfaction as Solomon did, Paul allowed Jesus to bring it to him. Just listen to how differently Paul looks as life compared to Solomon. Philippians 4:11-13 says, “I’m not telling you this because I’m in need, for I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance. I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.”

Paul was deeply satisfied through the power of God. Solomon was riddled with emptiness and disappointment after chasing everything but God. Paul knew the secret to see the travails of the earth as meaningful and valuable. Solomon spent his whole life searching for the secret, only to declare that everything was meaningless in the end. Paul figured out that just because something wasn’t necessarily harmful, perhaps even what most people would call good, doesn’t mean it’s beneficial at all times. Solomon viewed the world as his oyster and erroneously believed that God had given it to him to have as much of it as he wanted. When he saw something as good, he fooled himself into believing that it was also beneficial in vast quantities. But here’s how Paul viewed it in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31: “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say—but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

The secret to living life in balance is filtering every choice through the light of the Word and in the power of the Holy Spirit. And when things do get out of balance — when you’ve lost your focus on glorifying God in a particular area and something that once was good has overrun your life — the secret to reaching your enough-is-enough moment is exactly the same. Whether you’re in a state of balance or just beginning to realize how out of balance life has become, clinging to Jesus is the antidote you need. Everything that can be experienced in this world — even the blessings of God — turn to ruin when out of balance… when consumed too much… when they become more important to us than the Gift-Giver Himself. When the thing, relationship, or habit we long for consumes more of our thoughts than Jesus, then it’s moved from being a blessing to being an idol. We’ve moved from a Sabbath margin mentality to a self-fulfillment mindset.

By contrast, we can never overdose on the Bread of Life. We can never exhaust the mercies of our Savior. We will never reach the end of His goodness. We can never max out on the fruits of the Spirit. John 6:57-58 describes the never-ending satisfaction of knowing Jesus more: “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Every longing of our hearts that threatens to throw us out of balance points to a spiritual deficit. Every. Single. One. We cannot separate any part of ourselves from who we were created to be in Christ.

In most things we long for, we’re actually seeking comfort of some sort. Sheila Walsh said in her book The Longing in Me, “We long for peace, but we often grab control because it makes us feel that we are doing something.” For most of us, that good thing turned bad because we began to seek it not for God's intended purpose, but to fill a need in our lives… a hole in our heart… caused by a wound, a disappointment, or an unmet ambition. But no matter what drives our desires, God desires us to be with Him even more. There is no yearning on earth that can compare with how much He wants us to rely on Him, trust Him, and cling to Him for our deepest needs. Our Father delights in us and He longs for us to do the same by seeking Him first for our longings… by inviting Him into our cravings and desires and letting Him fulfill them through His presence and His means. Not our own. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Did you catch that? When we run to God for our longings, He promises us joy. Not only that, but He rejoices in our need for Him. Psalm 147:11 says, “But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”

If you are in a place of balance today, take a moment to praise God for the sure footing you’re currently enjoying. But if the Holy Spirit nudged your heart about something that might be a little off-kilter in your life, don’t ignore it or pretend you didn’t hear it. Don’t wait until the problem reaches the boiling point. Declare right now that enough is absolutely enough. And if you’re concerned about whether you’ll have the sufficient motivation and willpower to truly follow through, then I have two suggestions. First, believe and trust in the Holy Spirit to display His power each time you take a step of faith in the right direction. And second, make Paul’s rally cry your very own. Romans 6:12-14: “Sin is a dethroned monarch; so you must no longer give it an opportunity to rule over your life, controlling how you live and compelling you to obey its desires and cravings. So then, refuse to answer its call to surrender your body as a tool for wickedness. Instead, passionately answer God’s call to keep yielding your body to Him as one who has now experienced resurrection life! You live now for His pleasure, ready to be used for His noble purpose. Remember this: sin will not conquer you, for God already has! You are not governed by law but governed by the reign of the grace of God.”

So, go ahead my brother or sister in Christ. Draw your line in the sand and commit to not letting the winds and rains of life wash away every trace of your intention. No matter what comes your way, your victory is already secure if you cling to Jesus.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

Five-Day Devotional Guide: For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.

Day 1 - Read Matthew 6:19-24 twice, first in the ESV and then in The Message version. Now, in whichever version you prefer, go back and read it a third time, but instead of money/treasure being the topic, substitute whatever thing, person, or habit you currently have too much of — or desire too much of. After reading, spend time with the Lord in prayer and journaling about the state of your heart. If God whispers anything to you write it down.
Day 2 - Our bodies are gifts from the Lord to be used for His glory. Read Romans 12:1-2 and ask God to speak to your heart about the ways He wants you to serve Him, care for your body, and allow for breathing room in your life to live abundantly in His grace and by His schedule. Write down any adjustments that He wants you to make.
Day 3 - Every waking moment of our lives is designed to glorify Jesus. While that’s impossible to do within our own power, the Holy Spirit enables to grow more and more in that direction with each step of faith and obedience. Read Colossians 3:1-8 and consider any areas of your “old life” that have come back or you have never been able to defeat. What line in the sand do you need to draw today with God’s help? Write down your next baby step in that direction.
Day 4 - Whatever we consider our work, whether it’s a job, raising kids, volunteering, etc., we are to do everything as for the Lord. Read Colossians 3:22-24 and ask the Holy Spirit to whisper to you of any ways in which you are working for something other than for His glory. Write down your next step.
Day 5 - Look back over the last four days of scriptures and the ones mentioned in the blog post. Ask God which one He wants you to revisit and spend more time studying? Memorize it by making flash cards and putting them in your car, on your mirror, or anywhere else frequently visible. Read Deuteronomy 11:18 and then spend some time in prayer.

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Prayer: The Ladder to Heaven

5/22/2019

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Sometimes the topics that come to my mind for the Glimmers blog overwhelm me. They are often far too big for me to even scratch the surface of their spiritual impact within a mere 10 or 15 minutes. But just when I am about to abandon one of these enormous ideas, the Holy Spirit nudges me more insistently to make the attempt. That’s when I usually venture into Matthew Henry’s whole Bible commentary, the unabridged version, for a deep dive into theology accompanied by a prayer for accuracy and understanding. With a type size that would make a contracts lawyer jealous and more pages than the Bible itself, I also ask God to help me get in and get out of the commentary in less than an hour or two.

Today’s topic sent me into Henry’s vast knowledge base, not once, but twice. And though I’ve been thinking about it for several weeks now, I still feel woefully unprepared to talk about it. The reason I’m sharing these feelings of inadequacy is because it’s so important to know that mystery of prayer, its power, its potential, its role in God’s sovereignty, and how it actually changes things cannot be fully understood by anyone. Anyone. Scholars, missionaries, pastors, great authors, and even scientists throughout the ages have all offered incredible theories, but the truth is that we cannot fully explain or comprehend prayer any more than we can fully grasp God Himself.

Prayer is the aroma of heaven itself (Revelation 5:8), the expression of God at work in us (2 Chronicles 7:14), a shield of protection (Matthew 26:41), and the mechanism by which God not only draws us closer to Him (Romans 8:26), but also releases His power here on earth (James 5:16-18). Just as the Word of God is Jesus (John 1:1), so prayer is God’s very hand stirring among the hearts of His children. It is an enigma that I am both mesmerized by and also long to have more of throughout my day. After all, scripture commands that we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), so the closer we can move toward fulfilling that request, the more we will know and experience God.

The germination of this message about prayer all started with a vision I had in the middle of the night several weeks ago. I can count on one hand the number of times God has reached out to me in this manner, so my first reaction was to dismiss it as my imagination, which is particularly overactive in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep. But the next morning, during my usual quiet time, the Holy Spirit kept bringing it to my attention over and over. So, after spending time praying, reading and re-reading the Bible passage associated with my vision, I was off to the big fat Bible commentary to explore what the scholar had to say about it.

The vision had come in the middle of the night. I was lying on my back staring at the tongue and groove ceiling above my bed, which was illuminated only by the faint light of a clock radio. Quite suddenly, I noticed something that I had never considered before. The low eave of the dormer, which I had hit my head on numerous times — either getting into or getting out of the bed — was close enough for me touch it, yet it reached all the way to the soaring rafters of our cathedral ceiling. There was no way for me to ever reach the top, but I could indeed touch a part of the ceiling with my fingertips. As I pondered this, which admittedly seems more amazing at 2 a.m. than it does now, the story of Jacob from Genesis 28:10-17 flooded my thoughts in mind-blowing detail. Scriptures coming to my mind are common, especially the ones I’ve memorized and relied on for many years. But Old Testament stories like this one haven’t been on the forefront of my thoughts since perhaps my fourth-grade summer in vacation Bible school. Yet, there it was: Jacob’s ladder in full color.

In case you’re not familiar with this story, I will quickly summarize it. Isaac told his son Jacob to go far from home and seek his bride in the land of his forefathers. Alone and afraid of his vindictive brother Esau, Jacob stopped for the night to get some rest outside under the stars. We pick up the story here, in verse 12. “As he slept, he dreamed of a stairway that reached from the earth up to heaven. And he saw the angels of God going up and down the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and He said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions — to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you’.”

Like I am sure Jacob was, I lay there awestruck as I thought about the almighty God giving his children a heavenly bridge to connect with Him. For just a brief moment, God gave Jacob a glimpse into the glorious happenings all around him — things he would’ve never seen with human eyes. For weeks leading up to this vision of Jacob’s ladder, I had been seeking God in prayer and asking Him to help me understand His perspective on some troubling and puzzling things happening around me. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” So my belief was telling me that God is at work on my behalf. But my personal experiences were telling me that what I view as good is very different than what God sees as good. At the core of my mental wrestling match was John 15:16, which says in part, “Whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you.” But we all know asking God for a candy apple red Ferrari is not what Jesus meant by that statement. Most of us readily accept that God wants us to ask for what is truly good, not what we desire. But what about asking for healing from a serious illness or deliverance from an addiction? Sometimes we pray for those “good” things and they don’t happen. How can those things not be included in God’s definition of good?

So what does Jacob’s ladder have to do with any of this? I also wondered that until I consulted with Mr. Henry on the subject and then re-read the passage from Genesis again. The ladder from heaven gave Jacob a clear glimpse of God’s perspective on the troubling situation, but it also affirmed God’s plan for Jacob’s future. Jacob would not only survive this temporary trial, but he would also be a vehicle for God to bless the entire earth. This occurs through the coming of the Messiah, who was a descendant of Jacob. Jesus would become the bridge from heaven to earth for all of humankind.

After witnessing the heavenly spectacle Jacob exclaims, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” And with his faith bolstered in God’s promises, he then makes a vow in verse 20 to trust God for not only protection on his journey and his future, but even the tiniest of everyday necessities, such as food and clothing. In essence, he was committing to God that he would not worry about anything, no matter how small. He promised to trust God to determine what was good for his life, versus making his own plans. To seal his vow, he built a memorial pillar on the site and committed to giving God a tenth of all that he would gain from that point forward.

Suddenly I realized that I had been asking the wrong question all along. There is no need to ask God to help me understand what is truly good. If I knew all that was truly good before He brought it to me, then I would not need to have faith. To ask God to tell me what is good ahead of time is like asking Him to reveal the future to me. Instead, just like Jacob, I have a ladder to heaven right now. We all do. We can’t actually climb it until He calls us home, but just like my ceiling, we have a low eave that we can touch and gain immediate access to the heavens. It’s called prayer. Jesus is the bridge for our prayers. Through His Spirit, our requests — whether flawed or on target — are transformed before the throne of God as a pleasing aroma. The more we pray and see how God answers, the more the Holy Spirit trains our ears and eyes to discern what is truly good. It is nothing we can do for ourselves. It is the miraculous, transformative work of God.

Romans 8:26-27 explains what happens when we pray: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

I still don’t understand why some prayers take many years, or even a lifetime, to be answered, but I am now beginning to understand — just a tiny bit — that what I think or comprehend is entirely irrelevant. My mind is only a tiny grain of sand on the vast beach of God’s brilliance, power, and love. I’ve realized that my cravings to know anything other than God Himself are all rooted in a desire to please myself, in order to be more comfortable or to avoid waiting on His plan to unfold. It comes down to trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal what I need to know when God wants me to know it. And not a second before.

As I contemplated all of this and wondered if I could possibly capture it into words, God whispered to me, “I will never disappoint you, but your own expectations about Me will. Stop your wondering… allow your mind to stop spinning. Rest now. Rather than trying to guess what I will do, find freedom and rest in the simple enjoyment of expecting Me to do great things. You don’t need to know what they are. You only need to get to know Me more.”

Like Jacob, I have been given a glorious hope and a future through Jesus. And so have you. He is your ladder to heaven. And no matter what the situation around you looks like — good, bad, or downright ugly — when you gaze up at Him your vision will slowly begin to change.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week.
Day 1 - Oswald Chambers once said of prayer, “We hear it said that a person’s life will suffer if he doesn’t pray, but I question that. What will suffer is the life of the Son of God in him, which is nourished not by food, but by prayer.” How have you seen prayer nourish the work of Jesus in you? Read Ephesians 3:20-21 and ask the Holy Spirit to help you catch a glimpse of what God might want to do in your life through the power of Jesus at work in your heart. Journal about what that might mean for you and how it should impact your prayer time.
Day 2 - Read James 1:17. How have you doubted God’s desire to give you good gifts? Pray and ask God to help you recall a time when you didn’t realize something that felt uncomfortable at the time was actually a good gift from your Heavenly Father.
Day 3 - Read Psalm 42:1-2. Has there ever been a time when you longed for a gift from God more than you longed for Him? Confess that to God and ask Him to fill your heart and mind with His presence.
Day 4 - Read 2 Corinthians 3:17. What freedom do you need today through the power of Jesus? Like a ladder to heaven, how does prayer help you get closer to that freedom?
Day 5 - Read 2 Corinthians 2:14-16. In what ways are you called to be a fragrance to others on behalf of Jesus? What role does prayer play in being a pleasing aroma?

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Why You Can't Destroy God's Plan for Your Life

5/1/2019

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Why You Can't Destroy God's Plan for Your Life

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When we’re born, God’s plan for us is like a newly constructed wall of a house. Envisioned and intricately designed to glorify Him long before we are conceived in the womb, His plan is strong, smooth, and completely clear of any dings, marks, or ridges. Like an unaltered wall, its beauty is defined by its simplicity, flawlessness, and indisputable purpose in life. And then… we mess it up. Our mistakes start immediately, if not innocently. After all, who can blame a three-year-old for not admiring such a blank canvas and believing that a red magic marker wouldn’t improve it in some way? But then, as we grow, the dents, dings, and marks appear everywhere, eventually leaving permanent scars deep into the studs behind the exterior veneer of the drywall.

This analogy recently hit home with me as I thought about how much I will miss my house. My husband and I are in the process of relocating to another state, and it has been difficult to release some aspects of our current living situation. Although we have always tried to receive God’s blessings with open hands — as opposed to hanging on to them so tightly that they become more important than hanging onto Him — it is still difficult to think about moving on and opening our hearts to the next steps of His plan. It may sound silly or perhaps trivial, but there are two walls in my house I am really going to miss, each for different reasons.

One wall is in our guest bedroom, which is covered floor to ceiling with reclaimed wood from the original 1930s camp that used to stand on our property. What makes it so beautiful are all the marks and scars of nature’s wrath, coupled with the visible reminders of a bygone era. The other wall is likewise remarkable because of its imperfections… and its surprising location. It’s in the bathroom across the hall. While I never would’ve imagined that I could both admire and miss a bathroom, I will miss this one because it reminds me of the beauty God can bring out of mistakes. Initially, the bathroom’s walls were intended to be plain and smooth. We had planned for the decorative highlight of the room to be the colorful tile in the shower. But due to some severe painting blunders, our plans for its appearance would either have to change or we would have to start all over with some copious amounts of sanding, spackling, sanding again, and then primer. But instead of trying to remove our mistakes, we opted to add a new layer of texture using a technique we learned years before to cover up a similar error in our previous house. As a result, more visitors in our home have admired and commented about our guest bath than our living room or kitchen. One of the smallest rooms in our house makes the most significant impression because of the unique beauty that arose out of the ashes of error. And it reminds me that when we yield the paintbrush to the superior Painter, any ding on our lives can be redeemed.

While it may seem odd to find so much spiritual analogy from a bathroom wall of all things, it’s not the slightest bit strange to God. After all, who are we to Him? Psalm 113:4-8 says, "The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.” A bathroom might appear to be one of the lowliest rooms in your house second only to the closets, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t one of the most important. What we often see as the lowliest areas of our lives… the most unremarkable or even most tragic parts of our story, are the very canvases on which God intends to display His glory.

As I think back on the original mistake, which led us to alter our plans for that wall, I can remember my utter discouragement. Time crunches and stress have a way of magnifying our regrets and the pain from our mistakes. Because we were building our home on a tight budget, we had opted to do all the interior painting ourselves. Our sweet friends flooded us with generosity, helping us do some painting and landscaping. Like an old fashioned barn raising, our house was only finished through the hard work and kindness of others, and none too soon considering members of our west coast family would be coming to visit in a few short weeks after the drywall was finished. So it was in a state of pressure that we realized our mistake and that the bathroom would have to be done all over again or redeemed in some other way. While it seems trivial now, I can remember feeling completely overwhelmed at the thought of re-doing the wall treatments in that room. At the time, I never could’ve realized how that mistake could be transformed not only into something uniquely beautiful, but also a treasured memory of God’s hand in our lives.

All of this doesn’t mean that the new texture on the walls was perfect. In fact, its haphazard nature is what makes it so attractive and different from what most people would expect for a bathroom. Even more fun for me is that I can still recall where the mistakes are and immediately find the seams of the texture treatment. While the casual onlooker only notices the overall effect, I not only see but have also come to admire, the subtle remains of the work in progress. And this is often like the progression of God’s handiwork in our lives. We can still see the trail left behind by our tears or the scars remaining by our past sins, but God masterfully blends them into His plan to enhance its appeal so that others may view our lives and be drawn to Him. When He gives us a makeover or adds a new texture to our souls, He leaves behind evidence so we know the end result is for His glory and nothing that we can take credit for. Otherwise, we would all walk around displaying the arrogance of our accomplishments and the conceit of our own personal growth.

The apostle Paul knew a great deal about God’s makeovers and texturizing skills. Before his encounter with the risen Christ, Paul had well-laid, highly practical plans in place for his life. Steeped in knowledge with the training and expertise to build a lucrative and successful career as a religious zealot with Roman citizenship, he had it made. His passions were endorsed by the religious elite, culturally accepted, and protected by the mighty Roman Empire. By today’s standards, he was on his way to the top in terms of power, prestige, and prosperity. And he loved his work. But God had a plan for Paul that would be implemented at any cost. No amount of alteration or expense would be spared. And although Paul had done everything possible — both unknowingly and intentionally — to thwart God’s purposes for His life, the love of Jesus was generous enough to come to the rescue.

So many of us have made such serious mistakes in our lives that we think we’ve ruined God’s plan. We believe we’ve gone too far… one too many times. Deep in a pit of self-loathing, we look up and can’t see any sunlight. We know we deserve to be in the bottom of the pit, yet what we don’t see — or won’t allow ourselves to see — is the ladder out of it. Besides, we tell ourselves, if we did get out of this pit or find our way back from this ridiculous detour, people would see our stupidity, our sins, or our weaknesses all over us. We will be forever marred as fallen, or unlovable, or greedy, or whatever other dent or ding we left on God’s wall. Even worse, some of us have an affliction or flaw that will always be visible and might interfere with what others would expect us to achieve for God or to behave in a specific manner. But like the wall in my house, God always has a plan to use all of you. Not just a part of you. Not the most appealing aspect of your character. Not only your best skills or notable talents. He will use Every. Single. Part.

Hear this truth from Titus 3:3-7, my fellow mistake-maker: “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But, when God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace, he made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”

Despite all of the miraculous work, clearly administered by God and not Paul, the temptation to become proud of his transformation and subsequent accomplishments, lingered throughout Paul’s life. Here’s how he says it in the Message version of 2 Corinthians 12:6-12:
“If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk. Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size — abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”

Our mistakes, sins, distractions, and misguided dreams may alter or delay God’s plans for our lives, but they can never destroy its existence. There’s nothing we can do to remove the Divine Architect’s design for our lives, which is built upon His unending love. Not our intentions. Not our skills, nor our strengths. No, scripture tells us it’s built upon our weaknesses. The path we end up on may not look like anything we thought it would be, but when we find our way back to Him… when we turn over our willful stubbornness and come to Him with a repentant heart, He will always take our messes and turn them into His glory. It may take a while. In fact, it may take a long time. It may be uncomfortable. Things might even seem to get worse before they get better. But Jesus whispers to our souls during the entire process. He promises to stay with us through the transformation. And He guarantees that His way is better than our own. Romans 8:37 assures us that we are more than conquerors — over anything — through the power of Jesus.

One day, we will be flawless before our Savior. One day, everything that happens here will all be worth it. Open your heart to hear what Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” We may not always be comfortable in the process of becoming holy, but we can always rest in God’s wisdom to take us down the right path, His promise to complete the work, and His abiding presence in the journey.

What do you think of today's message? Comment and share your thoughts below! And if God brought someone to mind as you read or listened, please encourage them by sharing this post today!

For Further Reflection and Daily Spiritual Journaling
The questions and readings below can be used for a single-day study or your daily quiet time throughout the week. This is a recent addition to the blog, so if you like having the questions and readings offered in this format, please let me know by commenting below or in social media.
Day 1 - Read Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:5 at least two times, slowly. Pray and ask God to speak to your heart about any area of your life where you are struggling with believing that He loves you regardless of your previous decisions and actions. Ask Him to reveal to you areas of unconfessed sin and what He wants you to do next. Re-read the scriptures one more time and then write down what you sense the Holy Spirit whispering to your heart.
Day 2 - Jesus asks us to be vessels for Him to work and shine through our lives. He doesn’t ask to do His work for Him… that’s the job of the Holy Spirit at work in us. Read Romans 8:26 and Philippians 4:13. Ask God to reveal to you any areas where you are trying do the work for Him, versus letting Him work through you. Write down any thoughts that come to you.
Day 3 - Read Romans 8:15 and then ask God in prayer to reveal to you any ways in which you are a slave to something and therefore preventing His plans from coming to fruition in your life. Write down your reflections.
Day 4 - Listen to the song Flawless by the band MercyMe or read the lyrics. What do you need to surrender at the foot of the cross today? What do you finally need to lay down and walk away from knowing that God loves you, has forgiven you, and wants you to be free of?
Day 5 - The book of Jude contains only 461 words, making it one of the shortest in the Bible, yet it closes with one of the most poignant and moving assurances of God’s redemptive work and our final destiny in Jesus. Read Jude 1:24-25 and then ask the Holy Spirit to come and assure you of the work God is doing in your life.

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How to See Miracles in the Middle

4/17/2019