Lessons

I have this way of training new people on my team at work that I think works really well. I have them work with more experienced team members for awhile...in this process, they're being helped step by step with someone telling and reminding them of whatever they need to know. Eventually, I will set them off to work on their own. Then, someone more experienced will review their work. Then, the reviewer takes a very specific approach to providing correction. If there (for example) 4 mistakes, the reviewer will tell the new person, "Okay, you have 4 things that need to be corrected. Can you figure out what they are?"

If they take a second pass and find 3 of the 4, I will then ask them to go through each individual element or decision and consider why they've completed it in the way they have - letting them know they're still missing 1. Usually, they find the 4th mistake this way. But if not, I'll tell them which thing is wrong, and then challenge them to come up with the correct thing on their own. Finally, if they're still stuck, I will go ahead and give them the corrected version. And then we do the same thing all over again.

My experience with this approach to training is that, as long as the initial "hand holding" stage is thorough, it usually moves quickly. New employees learn to identify, work through and correct issues on their own, and they become self-sufficient for all intents & purposes.

I've seen this parallel lately in my own life and some of the things the Lord has been teaching me this year. As longer term readers will know, early in 2009, the Lord kicked off a pretty "exciting" journey driving me toward deeper belief. I put exciting in quotation marks, because although the results are exciting and the process was dynamic, much of it has been sort of painful and painstaking. I guess I'm a slow learner in this area!

None the less, as the year has progressed, I am seeing the progress in His curriculum for me. Early in the year, I needed to write about, meditate on and study up on believing Him on a pretty daily basis. I was starting from scratch in so many ways! And as the year has gone on, I've needed refreshers. I have had plenty of my own instances where I have had the Lord say, "You're missing 3 things. Can you figure out where they are?" And, at least in this metaphor, they might be 3 ways in which I was not believing Him and His truth.

So, last night, I had a realization about some big ways in which I have not been believing God. I have been relying on my own best ideas for clarity and direction in many ways. So, I had a good heart to heart with the Father and asked for forgiveness and resolutely turned back in a Godly direction (viz., I repented). And as I was digesting all this inside myself, I was realizing that I, too, am being trained and that some of God's process for tutelage resembles training I've done in more practical areas of my own life.

At first, He was giving me direct and blatant reminders about believing all the time. And as I've learned, and put into practice the things I'm learning, I have needed less and less reminding. Now, naturally, part and parcel with being a student is the fact that, sometimes, I lose my way and don't know what I'm doing. When those times come, I need only go to the Teacher and He sets my path straight. For me, the hard part is sometimes 1) realizing I've gone astray and 2) remembering its as simple as turning to Him. But when I do, He always gets me going. He is a patient, kind and amply capable Instructor. I am so grateful!

The Truth under the Truth

Let's do a quick review of a few things that the Bible has to say about truth:

"LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart..." Psalm 15:1-2

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.." Proverbs 12:19

"A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful." Proverbs 14:25

"Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth." Proverbs 16:13

"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Psalm 145:18

So, I know it may be a foregone conclusion at this point, but it does seem pretty clear that the Word is in favor of truth all the way, right?

Well, that may seem a little "duh" at first glance, but let's dig a little deeper; the topic I want to address today isn't just simple truth - as in, "Did you go to the store?" and then saying no, when really you did. That's about lying more than anything. My point is about digging another layer deeper into our surface truths and finding what lies beneath them...and then living that out into the world...and not just because sometimes it's helpful, but because it honors God.

So...what do I mean about something underneath our surface truths? Well, let's make up an example: a husband & wife are discussing their plans for the holidays. They're talking about whether or not to host a Christmas party for their friends and family. The very social wife is all for it, but friction is building because her husband seems reluctant. "Well, I just don't know if I really want to have that much hustle and bustle around the holidays. I'd like it to be quieter." The wife is perplexed; her husband also loves people and she can't understand why having more "quiet" seems appealing. It makes no sense to her.

Well, rather than let this post take 10 years to write out, I'm going to jump ahead a bit... what is really going on for the husband is that he is missing quiet time with his wife. He wants some more time to connect and build their intimate connection. His resistance to hosting a Christmas party isn't about not wanting to host or Christmas parties. It is truthful that he doesn't want to host the party, but his resistance doesn't have a thing to do with Christmas parties, and instead is about what he wants and needs in their relationship.

This is a little off my normal topic style, but I really have been hit between the eyes lately with the realization of just how important the whole truth is. And I can leave out the entire truth without even knowing it...when I hurry and am not thoughtful and mindful about what I say and communicate.

So, I thought I'd check the Bible for some input, and realized all the input I needed was to review the idea of truth. It's a good reminder for me today; I hope it's helpful for you too!

Believe Him for Transformation

As often happens, I got a gentle rebuke the other night when praying about believing God. As I've written about frequently, this is a key topic for me & my relationship with the Lord. In fact, it's hard for me to believe this isn't a key topic for all of us, whether we know it or not, but I will leave that deciding up to you!

I asked God what it was that I wasn't believing Him for lately. And His answer? Transformation.

Ah, what a good God. I forget sometimes, as I am looking at, examining and praying about my human and fallen tendencies that although I am an imperfect being in a fallen world, HE is a perfect God who has drawn us with cords of kindness. Through the sacrifice of Christ, I am not limited by an imperfect world, an imperfect will or anything else. He can make me different. He has already made me different, but that transformation doesn't have to ever stop. I need only to believe and submit to His direction. And I can be continually more and more freed from my natural tendencies and further freed to live into the beautiful creation He designed me to be!

The Grating of the Plane

Do you know what a microplane grater is? If not, it may be helpful to quickly google an image for reference in this metaphor... :)

I've had this image in my head a lot lately, and it may sound sort of morose, but the image has been of a microplane grater rubbing against my skin - just grating away the layers. It may sound a little gory, but I think it's appropriate. If you've ever used one, you know that a microplane grater can definitely get the job done; little can be left of the outer layer of anything you rub it up against. At the same time, it's workmanship makes for removal of little bits at a time; even in its harsh task, it is somehow delicate as well.

I have seen God's had grating away the (metaphoric) flesh in my life in new ways lately, and while I truly am grateful for the refinement, I have to admit that sometimes it hurts! And in addition to some surface wounding, I've found that - in addition - there are some situations in which I also need to grieve a little bit for that which is being scraped away. Or, perhaps it isn't the flesh I'm mourning, but the assumptions of my fleshly self.

The less I attach to the things of my self, and the more I let the Father refine me, the more I realize how foolish it is to attach to my own best plans at all. My own best ways, my own best thoughts, my own best ideas...not a one measures up to His plans, His thoughts, His ways. I will lean not on my own understanding; His way is the path to my greatest good - without fail!

Looking to You

"O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You." 2 Chronicles 20:12-13 (NASB)

I know I am one among many as I hear this sentiment and my feel it resonate in my heart. There are definitely times when I feel powerless before a great multitude who come against me... a multitude of situations, scenarios, limitations, impulses, imperfections... the list could go on and on. I feel, sometimes, like there is a resistance on every side. And, yes, sometimes, I just feel like I have no earthly idea what to do.

But that's the point, isn't it? I have no earthly idea. So I, too, can come to the throne with this beautiful prayer. "I do not know what do to, but my eyes are on You!" Praise God for His righteous leading and His shepherding us! I would be so lost without Him!

On the Approach

I have a book that's been sitting on my nightstand since last Christmas. I have wholeheartedly wanted to read it, and it's on a topic that is of great interest to me. Yet, I haven't; it's just been sitting there. For nearly a year.

I finally started reading it today, and as I fought the urge to put it down half way into the first chapter, I realized why it's taken me so long to start it in the first place: truth.

Proverbs 23:23 reads, "Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." (NIV)

This is clear instruction, and intuitively, I nod along as I read. Of course! How could the truth not be a good thing? Wisdom, good. Discipline, good. Understanding, also good. I would be the first one to tell you that I believe in the pursuit of these things, and that that belief shows up in the activity and actions of my life.

Yet, sometimes, I resist.

I didn't pick up this book because I was a little afraid of what it might have to say. I am still a little afraid, to tell the truth. It's about relationships, Biblical relationships with others in our lives, and I am fairly certain it has some things to teach me. I'm only about 5 chapters in, and I already know there are some ways in which I'm not living out or living into a Biblical standard. Actually, I suppose I knew that before I even started reading. Yet, before beginning, I could claim simple ignorance. How could I be expected to live God's principles if I wasn't 100% clear on what they are? Well, that might sound nice, but isn't honest. Just as the verse above says, we are to get truth, get wisdom and discipline. It doesn't say, "It's a lucky break for people who accidentally happen upon wisdom." It says "get wisdom." Get it. The word used in translation here is clearly active, assertive, alive. This isn't a verse about dumb luck resulting in some wisdom and knowledge of truth; this is a verse about action.

So, I've started my book, and I am going to keep reading. In fact, somewhere inside me, I have a feeling that once I get going, I'm not going to be able to put this book down. There is a craving deep inside me for this knowledge; for knowledge and knowing. Of Him, of His ways. Fearing them, and fearing the learning is foolishness. So, I'm diving in! Wherever you may find yourself treading lightly around His direction, go forth boldly. You are safe in His ways!

More on Battles

I wrote yesterday about remembering that the wars in our lives (which maybe are all just battles of a single war) are not really our battles. Instead, they below to the Lord, and He will fight for us (see also Exodus 14:14). So, just in case you needed any more convincing, please read and absorb this:

'You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem ' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17

And please, really do let that sink in. Even though I wrote this, I found myself thinking earlier today, "Wow, I need to take in that message! This is God's battle...and He will be victorious." In fact, He is already victorious. We just have to believe Him for it!

Any place there is worry or fear or doubt, turn it over to the Warrior protecting us all. We do not need to fight this battle. He is with us! Hallelujah!

Battle Owner

I'll start here:

"Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; and he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's." 2 Chronicles 20:14-15 (NASB), emphasis mine

I added the bold formatting... "Do not fear or be dismayed...for the battle is not

yours but God's."

I cannot say enough how important this principle continues to be in my own life. When I feel like it's me against the world (or me against myself!), it is SO easy to be dismayed and frustrated and, yes, afraid. But when I remember this key principle, I find His peace. We are not alone, nor are we meant to be. He doesn't send us into our battles, our lives or our days alone. Believe Him for it!!

Worship & Praise

Today, we use the phrase "praise and worship" as commonly as "In Jesus Name" and so many other phrases we all-too-casually throw out without the appropriate level of thought, reverence and consideration; it's just part of our "jargon."

Last night, however, a passage referencing both praise & worship caught my attention, and as I dug a little deeper, I found it to be worth sharing:

"Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel, with a very loud voice." 2 Chronicles 20:18-19 (NASB)

I noticed that the two words used here for "worshiping" (v. 18) and "praise" (v. 19) are two different words in the Hebrew. The word used for worship distinctly implies one laying prostrate on the ground, face down. As you may notice, there is a reference to some of the men then standing up...to praise. Well, this word translated as "praise" implies absolutely uninhibited shouting, vocal cheering and a large show altogether. This is NOT a shy moment!

What struck me was this question: for all the times I say that it's time for "praise & worship" (in whatever context!), in my life, how often do I either praise or worship in the sense of these words above and their original meaning? And certainly, another worthy question is how often do I do both??

For me, this was a good reminder not to forget the core of what those times are about - not only in act, but in spirit. Hope they serve as reminders and encouragement to you too. Don't forget that "all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV)!

Day by Day

When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they were provided manna in small, manageable, daily portions. When Paul took his missionary journeys through the various parts of the then-known world, his work was executed one city, one established community at a time. Even God Himself spread creation across a week's worth of days - creating each thing in succession, and then modeling for us all a day to rest.

By nature, I tend to try to do too much too fast sometimes. I decide to undertake a project or an internal change, and I find myself unwittingly surprised when my transformation hasn't been completed 15 minutes later.

I need to remember that life isn't lived that way - and it's no doubt for good reason. I could espouse all the positives of having to build a road, one pave stone at a time...but I will spare you the rhetoric. Instead, I will just say that this is the way God designed us.

I am certainly more successful and less overwhelmed when I let life, even my life, unfold at His pace. I can do today's work today...but tomorrow's portion remains in His hands. I'm sure we are all familiar with the verse, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

In addition to being able to actually function better in the present day, I realize that when I don't hurry myself into tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow, I am better able to appreciate and recognize the beauty of the journey. There are many small wanders upon even the simplest of paths. I don't want to miss the way He's marked out for me, and staying on the path doesn't ensure I won't miss some of the scenery. Take it easy. This time of year that is especially hard, but in the long run, the intentionality begets ease and peace. He promises.

Priorities

As we head into a busy time of the year for many, I have found myself in a particularly busy place in life. There is much we are planning and many decisions to be made and priorities to be set. Being who I am, I tend to get into "decision maker" mode a little too easily. I can get into a mindset where I am evaluating things left and right and making big decisions and big plans, all without ever checking in with God.

Talk through some of this stuff with my boyfriend last night, we were talking about the fact that, even with all the variable factors in play, we can stay strong and certain in our decisions if we stick to our top priority: staying submitted to God.

He sees every angle, every factor, every heart and every detail...and He (and He alone) knows what is truly in the best interest of His children - short term and long.

So, if we stay focused on the top priority of being under His will, we can rest absolutely in peace. We still have our parts to play - due diligence, seeking and making decisions in wisdom, but above all else, we have to let Him lead. He won't lead us astray. Guaranteed.

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV), emphasis mine

Trust Him with You

I have a friend who is having a hard time right now, and I can SO feel my fleshly desire to jump in and try to "help" the situation. I put help in quotation marks, because although my desire is to help, what's really going on is that I'm trying to control! There isn't a way for me to be helpful in this situation, except for to love my friend and to pray.

While my own discomfort with my friend's discomfort is palpable in the pit of my stomach, what the pit also tells me is that I am not trusting God with my friend. And if I'm going to be perfectly clear about the bottom line, it means that I'm simply not trusting God.

As hard as it is for me to live into, it's just plain truth that your life is mine to manage. There are a hundred ways in which my own life is not even mine to "manage!" So, what am I thinking when I let myself get bogged down in someone else's feelings? I'm thinking God won't take care of it. I'm thinking God won't take care of that person. In fact, unconsciously, I might be able to say I seem to be thinking that God doesn't care.

Remember, God LOVES us, and that's with a Biblical, active love. It's not a far-away-watching-from-the-clouds love. He is up in our business whether we like it or not - as long as we let Him be Lord of our lives. And when God gets involved, things get good. Sometimes they get uncomfortable, but tell me for half a second that you think Jesus' life was comfortable. In fact, think of anyone you admire, and tell me you think for a nano-second that their life was comfortable. Comfort is the enemy sometimes; I'm certain of it.

So, I have to let go of my own reservations about my friend's discomfort. I can love my friend through a hard time, but I shouldn't try to take it away. With God in charge (and in this situation, He is firmly in the driver's seat!), it can't go wrong! And maybe this discomfort will be the doorway to the best that is yet to come. I need to trust. One day at a time, I must! And I have to let Him help me - even with the trusting; I haven't found another way!

Appearances

This weekend, I had a conversation with a good friend that got me thinking. Our sermon that night had been about the importance of relationships, and we were discussing the relevance of this topic around the holidays. This is a time of year during which so many feel especially struck with loneliness and sadness over the state of their own relationships...especially relationships with family.

I was reminded of times in my past, and of scenes from movies and the shared memories of friends - all scenes of happy loving relationships between friends, lovers and families. For many, these scenes can bring on waves of sadness. I would be lying if I were to say I've never looked at a scene out of someone else's life and thought, "Gosh, why not me?"

But, what I was reminded of during my conversation with my friend was that any family can look happy in church for an hour or so, any couple can put on a happy face in the middle of a dinner party and even friends sometimes have times where they "fake it." It's not pretty; it's not even good, but it's real.

So, what's my point?

The Bible talks about not coveting the things of others... that's sort of Sunday School 101, but I think it applies just as much - if not more so - for adults, and adult things...like relationships. God knows what He's doing. With each and every one of us; He knows, and He has a plan. And His plan is GOOD. Good like only He can do. Don't long for someone else's journey; each one has pain and hardship. And the journey you are on is being guided at every step of the way by the Maker who loves you more than you can know.

Progress

I have to re-remind myself sometimes about the nature of progress. I find myself unconsciously thinking that life happens in a straight line. I seem to think that I will realize or recognize some issue in my life, put in a place a single, clear plan to address it and then that will be that.

What I then have to realize is that life doesn't usually work that way. Maybe if we lived in Eden, and there was still a need for growth & refinement, the process would be smooth. But, we live in a fallen world, and the thorns in our flesh don't always fall away without issue. Sometimes they do, and that's wonderful when it happens. But I need to remember to give myself grace and have patience for the process of change.

As metals are refined, the skimming of the dross is a slow, step by step process. When wood is whittled away to reveal the art underneath, as envisioned by the Maker, and when our hearts and lives and reshaped and changed, it takes time, and it takes process. The rushing water of the ocean takes years to smooth the stones into the works of art that reflect the beauty of the world around them, so I use these examples to remind us all that sometimes the crags and rough edges are just markers of a spot in a longer process. Trust Him for the journey, and we will get there right in time.

Cold War

I had a meeting earlier this week that was a little tense to say the least. In fact, after most of the people had left the room, a friend who remained in the room looked at me and said, "Cold war. How long do you think that'll last?"

I sigh again just thinking about it.

I left that meeting feeling frustrated and a little disheartened. Then a new thought occurred to me: what can I do to thaw things out? Now, in general, I am definitely NOT in favor of inserting myself into situations that don't involve me, but this particular situation not only involves me, but officially (in a professional responsibility sense) is mine to help mediate.

So, I went back to my desk and sent off a quick note - thanking one of the people in the group for being frank, honest and up front. It's true that after her direct comments, there was an uncomfortable silence from some, but what she did was speak truthfully and without rancor.

I'm not sure my email will make much difference at all, but my hope was to do a tiny bit to ease the situation, and - more importantly - to actively and intentionally encourage honesty and direct communication. While that may all seem like a lot of uninteresting corporate musing, I am certain the principles are rooted in the Bible. And my take is that the Bible is as applicable at work as it is at home or in the church or anywhere else.

"Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth." Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

"These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;" Zechariah 8:15 (NIV)

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

I'm doing my best to take what I read in the Book of Truth and apply it to my life. It's not always going to be graceful, and it's sometimes might not even be done well or rightly, but I'm doing the best I can. And I think that's what we're called to do. So, one day at a time, let's do it!

You Are

Our pastors at church are great at reminding us that 1) God is who He says He is and that 2) He does what He says He'll do. There is a third truth I want to focus on today: 3) You are who He says You are.

Yep, let me say that again: You are who HE says you are.

We all tend to be so hard on ourselves, and the phrase "negative self-talk" has become rather common in our self-help saturated world. There is a key, fundamental truth in the midst of all the coaching for self-positivity. Believing God's word means believing ALL of it, and it's been my own experience that some of the most difficult words to trust in are those He has about me, and I've seen the same struggle in so many others. But let's review just some of what He says about you & I.

First of all, and this is a "go to" for me when I am tempted to believe otherwise: I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14; fact check me.

I am God's treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7:6).

You are God's child. (John 1:12-13)

You are the apply of His eye (Psalm 17 & Zechariah 2:8).

We are loved with an everlasting love. We are LOVED. By God. Drink that in, friends. The everlasting love of the Father is yours. He loves you. (Jeremiah 31)

And He has chosen you. (Isaiah 41)

You are precious in God's sight. PRECIOUS. (Isaiah 43)

You are God's friend. (John 15:15)

He delights in you. I'm not going to give you the reference on that one; I challenge you to find it for yourself, and to dig into the Bible, it's His love letter to us all, and there is MUCH that He says about you. His truth isn't reserved for Him and what He says about the world, Himself or others. He's talking about you. He's talking about me. Will you believe?

Thankful for the Lies

I found myself praying a strange prayer this morning. This last week has come with many attacks from the enemy; I've heard lies in my head, and have had to fight hard to remember that the truth lies in Christ, not in this fallen world and the words of the liar.

So, as I was reflecting on this and praying about it, I heard myself telling God that, as strange as it may seem, I was grateful - in a way - for the lies. Not only am I grateful for the ability to see the attacks for what they are, but also that I have the chance to fight against them. I've called on scripture, the power of the name of Jesus, and simply the love of God many times in the last week or so...and, of course, He never fails me.

More so, these challenges of deception have forced me to dig back into some basic truths as a reminder and as reinforcements. And in digging into these these, I've found myself rooted in God's strength. Furthermore, some of my feelings that have reared up in response to his teasing have really challenged me to look at the root causes. I've unearthed unknown and unsuspected pockets of pride, of fear and even rebellion...all in the last week! And as these impurities get brought up to the surface, I know the Refiner skims away the dross, and I am more able to shine my light for His glory. So, I found myself thinking about this scripture, and being thankful for this little span of trials.

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." James 1:2-3 (NKJV)

And more than gratitude for the trials, I find myself grateful for a God who works all things together for the good, for my good...and for your good. My challenge to myself, especially in this coming week, is to look upon ALL of it as good...not because Satan's lies are good, and not because the discomfort feels good...but because GOD is good, and I have the option to put it all in His caring and capable hands. With that perspective, there is little to see on the landscape without also being grateful for His hand at work!

Circumstances being what they are...

I woke up today kinda out of sorts. I haven't had enough sleep the last few nights in a row, and that kind of pile up takes a toll on me. I had a headache, my eyes hurt and I was already running late for work by the time I woke up, so no time to workout. Not my personal favorite start to a day. So, I got up and started dragging myself through the morning routine.

Then, I was hit with a thought that I'm nearly certain came straight from God: it doesn't have to be this way.

No, I don't have the ability to magically catch up on sleep; nor can I shake this headache. However, God is good, and He is faithful, and when I zoom out just a tiny bit, I remember that He blesses me in incredible ways again and again and again. He's relentless in His love and in His favor. And I am so grateful.

So, I was reminded again that regardless of circumstance, I have the option of choosing to consider it all as joy and letting HIS truth be the truth of my day. Praise God! It'll change your life!

When You Are With Him

I wrote about Asa yesterday, but this guy has some good stories, so here's another.

Background for this passage is simply that Asa was kind of "freaked out" about some opposition he was up against. Luckily, Azariah was there...

"The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.'" 2 Chronicles 15:1-4 (NIV)

The short version of the aftermath is that, upon hearing this, Asa's heart was encouraged, his resolution to believe God restored and he took courage and charged ahead.

There is much we can learn not only from Asa's example, but from Azariah's exhortation. The idea that when we seek God, we will find Him is repeated in many places in the Bible, and I can always use the reminder. I also appreciate the reality check in reference to Israel. I'm comforted by the reminder that my problems aren't the first problems ever to exist on the face of the earth; it's a perspective thing I guess. I remember that, over generations, Israel repeatedly turned from God, but each and every time they sought Him, He was found by them, and He proved Himself strong on their behalf. It's hard for even me to convince myself He won't show up for me.

My favorite sentence in Azariah's encouragement is this: "The Lord is with you when you are with him." People talk about "finding God" all the time, and I've often heard it said in response that "God wasn't lost!" There's truth in the sentiment of that humor though. God doesn't stray from me; but I do stray from Him. He is always with me; it just doesn't seem like it sometimes, because I forget that I am with Him.

I just have to remember that our God is a loving, ever-present Father and that His heart is ALWAYS on me. And all it takes to feel that reality is to make an effort to be with Him. And He is with me. Always. Forever. This truth may seem cliche, and certainly may seem like old news to some, but when I stop and consider the magnitude of a loving Father whose perfect love shields me always, prefers me always and is always focused on me, I feel waves of gratitude anew. We serve an amazing King!

We are You

A tiny tidbit caught my attention the other night... Look at Asa's prayer below:

"Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, 'Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you.'" 2 Chronicles 14:11 (NIV)

It was the tiny pronoun in the last sentence that struck me. Asa calls on God and asks for his help in battle and in strength. And yet, his last request comes just a breath after declaring his devotion to the Lord. And after affirming His commitment to God, he asks, "let no man prevail against you."

When I first read this, I thought that, perhaps, the idea was "Hey, God, you are going to help us, so don't fail and make yourself look bad." BUT, I think there's more to it than that. I see it this way: Asa's commitment to the Lord is his declaration of unity with God and with His purposes. Is it not true that our metaphor for our own relationship to Christ is marriage? And does the Bible not make it perfectly clear that, in marriage, we are joined as one in unity? With those things in mind, I believe Asa is saying, "You are our God, and we are Yours. We hitch ourselves to you!" In other words, we are one with You.

His next request, then, is not only perfectly logical, but also lovely in its commitment to their unity with God: "Let no man prevail against you." I read this to say, "If we fail, You fail." This isn't said because Asa expects God to fail; quite the opposite. I think Asa is just emphasizing their commitment to the Lord - tying his heart, his army & his success to Him.

Of course, I cannot know Asa's true intent, and this is all conjecture...but I love the example. I am Him, and that helps me believe, just a little bit more, that He is for me, and will never let me fall!

Rewards

Let's start with the good stuff:

"O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." Psalm 17:14-15 (NIV)

The phrase "such men" is referring to those elaborated more in the preceding verses, but basically it's "bad guys." The Psalmist is decrying their evil just words before this passage. Then, he throws in this beauty.

There are a couple things that catch my attention & admiration:

First, notice that the "such men", our evil-doers are also referred to as people "whose reward is in this life." It's almost thrown in as an after thought, and certainly is a passing descriptor, but let's think about the significance! If this word tells us that there are those whose reward is in this life, it's logical to say that the "other" group of people are those whose reward is in another life. Oh friends, don't you want to be those whose reward is not limited to the natural world?!?

Secondly, I loved the translation that reads "You still the hunger." That's beautiful to me, and such an apt metaphor. The Lord does fill my hungry places, but He stills them as well. Flutters of anxiety and fear are still when I let Him touch those places inside me. And, like the Psalmist I will strive to submit my hear to Him so that I can see His face in righteousness and find satisfaction in His likeness!

How grateful I am today for the scripture! They feed us again and again and then more!

Falling Down

I had a little fall recently...well, the fall was little, but the aftermath wasn't quite. I slipped on my stairs and ended up cutting myself on a baby gate I use for my dogs. The cut ended up being long and deep and right through an arterial vein. I will spare you all the gory details, but the bottom line is, it wasn't good. After a day and a half in the hospital (which can only be partially blamed for my absence from writing; I apologize for that!), I came home to recover.

The good news was that I wasn't home alone. My boyfriend was over hanging out, and it was a good thing! I lost a lot a blood and he was there to drive me to the ER, get me situated once there and also to just take care of me in a million ways over the next few days.

A couple days later, he came across this verse in his reading:

"If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NLT)

He actually thought this was quite funny, and sent it to me in a text message - claiming it was "my" verse for this season. I have to admit I also thought it was funny, but of course, we both agreed that there is more in this scripture than just an opportunity to tease me about falling. :)

Let's put it in context; this passage is verses 9-12. The NLT has "The Advantages of Companionship" as the heading for this paragraph:

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Of course, I am certain I am not alone in having heard this passage before - many times. Yet, I am struck anew by its relevance and its message as I think about the happenings of my own fall. In this particular example, my stumble was literal, and I am struck with a new appreciation for my companion that night. He didn't leave my bedside - literally, and he reached out to help me when I needed it. I am struck as I write with a wave of gratitude for not only him, but also for the others in my life whose hand is always within reach when I find myself on the ground.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm not going to buck tradition, but instead embrace it. I'm giving thanks today for companions whose hands are outstretched, and who stand with me when I have a battle to fight. And with God's powerful love woven amidst our fellows in Christ, what is there for us to fear?

For Me

Remember this: The Lord is FOR YOU. (Psalm 56:9)

There is much cause for celebration even in just letting that truth simmer and settle into your heart.

"Give your burdens to the Lord,

and he will take care of you.

He will not permit the godly to slip and fall." Psalm 55:22 (NLT)

He loves us with a pure & true love. His love is active and ever-present. I had a VERY godly woman chide me the other day for saying, "I worry about...."

"Never worry," she said. "Worry is sin."

She's right of course; that's Bible. Worry is sin. Trust in Him. I am trusting in Him. I know that He is for me. He is taking care of me - right now. There is much cause for praise! He will NOT permit me to slip & fall. Thank You, Father!!!

Squirming

I was engaged in some heavy-duty conversation last night, and a dear friend of mine was lamenting the challenges of making relationships really work. We were discussing the hard work of being fully honest, vulnerability and speaking up at times and in ways that are frightening or intimidating. It has been my experience, in any case, that the most worthwhile relationships in my life have also taken some of the largest doses of courage and strength.

My friend made an off-handed, only half-serious comment, the basic gist of which was, "Well, maybe we're not meant to be in those relationships - you know, the ones where it's hard." My friend wasn't serious, but I did have to smile. "My theory," I said, "is that a certain degree of challenge in my fulfilling relationships is simply a sign that God loves me."

My friend looked at me strangely (you might be looking at your computer with much the same facial expression!).

"As I see it," I said, "the relationships that take the most from us - when they're relationships that are worthy of the energy - also happen to be those that grow and develop us the most."

I use the qualifier about relationships that are worthy of the energy, because I know I'm not the only one who's willfully delved into relationships that were not in God's will for me...relationships that shirked His instructions and (I thought) fulfilled my own plans and desires. That type of relationship has also been hard. But, for me, it's a different type of difficult. The pain and aggravation of one of these self-propelled relationships was often caused by the existence of the relationship itself, and were largely in response to ungodly behavior or circumstances by one party or the other (yes, sometimes that "ungodly" person was me!). In these relationships, I found my heard wrenching again and again.

By contrast, rather than feeling like I've been wrenched in some way, healthy relationships in which I choose to really "dig deep" and show up usually leave me feeling like I'm squirming a bit. There's discomfort, yes. And some truth and honesty is painful in its own way...but, even with all that being true, there is a release in all of it. And the journey bears its own price again and again. That type of honesty and intention leads to a greater understanding of God, a truer commitment to Christ's ideals and a greater ability, for me, to lay down my self and seek after Him.

So, I guess my summary here is that, at least in my experience, wrenching is not good. But squirming just shows I'm living into God's will. Many great Bible teachers have spoken at length about the need to push past our comfort zones. A great pastor at my church recently remarked that our comfort zones "aren't places we were meant to live; they're places we're meant to rest." And I know Beth Moore has said that, if you're not being stretched into some sort of discomfort in your relationships, you're living in a world that is too small. Jesus stretched. Ah, I could probably write days on that alone. Can you imagine? Do you think Jesus' days were comfortable in almost any way? Thanks to the grace of our Father, His resolve was able to remain firm. Yet, I suspect, He probably had days where even He wanted to squirm a bit too...

Truth Telling

I'm fairly certain that no one reading this post would disagree with me in saying that honesty is of the utmost importance to God. I wonder if I might lose a few of you if I modify my statement to say that "Absolute honesty is of the utmost importance to God."

I wonder how many of you might start considering the true definition of absolute honesty, as I have been lately.

The Bible tells us that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). It also encourages its reader, over and over again, to be truthful and to reject falsehoods (Ephesians 4:25, Proverbs 30:8, etc). Furthermore, there is Biblical example after example of the Godly pursuit of speaking truth. In many instances, truth is also closely connected with love...it might not be too far a stretch to say that love cannot exist without truth, nor truth without some form of love.

Along these same lines, there is this phrase we use that has been bothering me lately "Spare me the details" or "I spared him/her the full story." To "spare" someone seems to imply that the speaker is doing that person a favor; yet, the context of these statements often is within the cloak of opting out of a full truth. How much love can there be when half truths are spoken? Or partial truths omitted? Or raw truth avoided? What is left with absolute truth is shied away from?

I have been thinking a lot about this topic lately, and I suspect some of you are nodding along as you read. I don't think it would be hard to find people willing to join in my rally cry for "Truth!" Yet, I see the hypocrisy when I look at my own life. How many times have I avoided answering a question, because I didn't want to give my full, most truthful answer? How many times have I hoped to dodge a particular topic, because of hesitation about sharing the truthful account of my experience with a certain person or topic?

And yet, at the same time, would I not tell any child that a partial truth is not the truth at all?

I'm still considering this topic, and I invite you to do the same. I wonder what my life would look like, and in what areas there would be change, if I committed absolutely to rigorous honesty without exception. It's important to speak the truth with love, yes...but to continue to speak the truth nonetheless. Agree?

Permissive

Our pastor recently challenged us all to begin earnestly praying Psalm 139:23&24:

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (NLT)

As he pointed out, verse 24 is really where the rubber meets the road. "Point out anything in me that offends you..."

Well, I have been praying this prayer, and I have to say I was not anticipating the things that God has been pointing out to me. So far, He's shown me a couple key areas in which I need to do some work. However, both of these areas elicited, from me, a surprising response. When the Lord said, "Hey, look at this," my heart's instant reaction was "Yeah, I know." Yikes!

I had expected (hoped?) that He would reveal things to me that were surprising areas - new frontiers just opening up before me. Instead, I realized, He was pointing out areas that offended Him, and they happened to also be areas where I knew I had some work to do.

God didn't say, "Hey, look at the ways in which you judge others" only for me to respond with, "What? I didn't know I did judge anyone!" Instead, my honest, unfiltered response was "Yeah, I know...I do that a lot, don't I?"

So, what I'm realizing is that - in addition to God pointing out these specific areas, He's also calling into question a bigger offense: my own permissiveness with my sin.

I've said, "Well, yeah, I do judge people sometimes, but pretty much only strangers. It's not like they're my friends or family." YIKES.

I'm just being honest here...but the truth is, I do have areas in which I sort of "let things slide." It's not like I pause and make a reasoned, rational decision. I don't think, "Well, I am pretty sure a little sin is no big deal." If I thought it through that much, I'd respond to my own conviction. Instead, these are areas - some of which may seem "minor" - that I sort of see slide past the radar as they happen. I just don't let them sit on the radar long enough to set off any warning bells.

So, as I continue to pray Psalm 139:23 & 24, I encourage you to do the same. I also encourage you to scour your life for areas in which you may have your own permissiveness showing up. Perhaps you will not find any, and I pray that is the case! But, for me, there are a few things that I know it's time to work on. So, here I go!

Representation

I've been thinking a lot lately about the idea of representation. Many have surely heard it said that part of our job, here on earth, is to represent God to those around us. Hopefully you've all heard the saying that "You may be the only Bible someone ever reads" or "You may be the only Jesus someone gets to meet." The idea behind these phrases, of course, is that YOU carry the message of Christ, in all you do, in all you say.

The Bible tells us that we are surrounded by a "great cloud of witnesses" (see Heb 12:1). These witnesses are perhaps meant to be the angelic host, perhaps there is more to it. I am not certain. What I am sure about, though, is that the people in our lives see us. There are children in our world, coworkers in our days, neighbors on our streets and family at our holidays. And when they see you - even out of the corner of their eyes - they are taking in parts of the story of who you are.

It took me a couple years to be ready to put a Christian symbol on my car after committing my life to Jesus. I wanted to make sure I could be a consistently gracious driver before I went around advertising myself as a believer. And if that thought strikes you as unpleasant - that a "Jesus fish" or bumper sticker or other identifier is equivalent to "advertising yourself as a believer," then please remember that people do notice. And whatever your motivation may be for your cross necklace, Christian bumper sticker or sloganed T-shirt, it's the non-believer that you encounter who is your primary audience. It is to him or her that you are representing Jesus. Think...every day you climb into your car, little Jesus fish on the back, you take on the mantle of emissary for the Lord. And each time you talk about going to church, all in hearing distance become the mission field...

My heart's desire is to be someone that others see and think, "She's different. I wonder what it is." But, God, I ask you would NEVER let it be that others would see me and, on any level, think "Gosh, I thought she was a Christian."

None of us are perfect, and I am not the only one who will fall short of the ideal from time to time. But, when I remember that the word "represent" really is re-presenting Jesus to those around me, I remember the weight of the responsibility of being His. There is a whole cloud of witnesses who see me with spiritual eyes; yet the audience here in my daily life is no less important.

Testimony, part 2

As I wrote about for yesterday's post, I have written - and am soon going to be sharing - my testimony. I have been excited about the opportunity, and had even invited a few close friends to join me. Then, this weekend, the Lord put some things on my heart... He seemed to be instructing me to cast a wider net and invite more people to come and hear.

I will admit that I really resisted this directive. I found myself talking to my boyfriend and saying that, while I wanted to bring glory to God, it was after all, my story, and I felt sensitive about who would hear it. Ugh. As soon as the words were on my lips, I knew that I was quite mistaken. This story, this listing of miracles and transformations in my internal and outward lives is far, far from my story. This is HIS story. That's the only way it could have turned out as it has...and this is just the beginning.

So, while I knew what I was going to do (be bold!), I looked at scripture for some additional guidance and support. I found this:

"But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds." Psalm 73:28 (NIV)

and this...

"Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;

proclaim among the nations what he has done." Psalm 9:11 (NIV)

and this...

"Come and listen, all you who fear God;

let me tell you what he has done for me." Psalm 66:16 (NIV)

and this....

"Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world." Isaiah 12:5 (NIV)

and, lastly, this...

"We will not hide them from their children;

we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,

his power, and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4 (NIV)

Needless to say, I found myself persuaded. And then, as if God wanted to just hit it home, after I'd already made my decision, one of our pastors at church shared this scripture with us this weekend:

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;

make known among the nations what he has done." 1 Chronicle 16:8 (NIV)

Okay, okay, I get it! Not only did I need to be bolder about inviting people, but I needed to be quick to obey. So, I have.

And although you may not have a public speaking opportunity, I encourage you to let the principles here sink in and apply them in your own life. I've been praying for boldness with my coworkers; I'm sure this open invitation is part of His plan to teach me. I'm scared, but I know it is worth it! He has done amazing things...and I don't want to be shy about bringing glory to His name! Do you?

Testimony, part 1

I had recently been given the opportunity to share the story of Jesus' work in me (so far!) this week at a recovery group at my church... it's a discipleship program of sorts, and I went through one of its intensive programs earlier this year. It's a ministry in which I'm still involved, and there is an open door for people to share their testimonies.

As I started pondering the opportunity, I knew I wanted to share. I started the writing process and found it to be both instructional and enriching. It was hard to dig into some of the darker parts of my life, and even more challenging to figure out how to encapsulate them in a way that would make sharing them both simple and useful. It wasn't easy.

Delving into so much of my history felt scary and frustrating. I found myself resisting. Then I remembered this principle:

"But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you." 1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)

The "principle" in this verse that I'm referring to is that of appreciating the good. If there weren't harder seasons in my life, I wouldn't know to appreciate and love the great and happy place to which He's brought me. The hard parts of my story have given Him opportunities to show up and and show off...and I can, indeed, say that He has done great things!

So, testimony is written and I am grateful! Reflect today on not only His goodness, but the good acts He has done in your life and heart. It brings glory to Him and is Biblically commanded!

Example

I was praying this morning, and had a brief moment that I felt was significant and wanted to share.

I was praying about what it means to be in leadership - at work, in ministry, and even in various relationships in my life. I was reflecting on what it really means to be in a position where others are looking up to me.

There are children in my life that look to me and whom I love dearly; I take seriously the responsibility of modeling appropriate behavior and boundaries for them. There are teenagers in my life, and I want them to see, in my example, ways they can resolve conflict and approach their own inner-growth process with dignity, faith and joy. I have employees that need to see me committing my efforts fully in my pursuits at work - and that the efforts are about being a person of character, not an employee seeking glory. And I serve in various ministries, and regardless of the context, I want those around me to look to me and see faithful humility, a countenance of graceful joy and the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit within me. And I have a man I love that I experiences an abundance of love, patience, understanding, adoration, grace and sacrificial giving in our relationship.

As I was praying, and considering all these various "roles," I heard myself say that being an example was "a great burden." I immediately retracted the words. My heart knew in that moment that I was wrong. It's a responsibility, yes, to be an example of the Lord's heart, to represent Him here on earth. Trust me, that "great cloud of witnesses" is often on my mind, and I wish I gave them less opportunity for what must be a host of holy sighs! I have many areas where my grade-card would probably read "Improvement needed." But my oh my, I am glad there isn't a spiritual grade-card. I give thanks for a God who never writes my sins in His book, now that I live in the well of His forgiveness and grace!

What I knew in that moment this morning was that the responsibility of being His representative wasn't a burden; I carry only the burdens I refuse to rest on His shoulders. Rather, it's a privilege. It is a privilege to be able to walk into my life and know that I can carry through even the most frustrating of days at work with a countenance of joy...not because I am so cheery and chipper, but because the King of Kings has sent His Spirit to me. It's an honor to be able to set down my own willfulness in deference to taking care of someone I love...again, not because I'm just this gracious and meek soul, but because He who is in me, is greater than he who is in the world. It IS the world and the enemy's hold in the world, in my world, that drive me toward selfishness, surliness and bitter resentment. Yet, it is the Lord who loves me that enables me to do all things. And that includes walking into every day in a way that speaks to those around me - all around me. In service or in leadership, yes...but also as I wait in line for groceries or lean against the car while pumping gas, I pray and ask that I would be one of those people that others would look at and think, "She's got something different inside her." I pray that they might ask, "What is it?" And, Lord, I pray for the boldness to be able to proclaim Your goodness without hesitation and with grace!

It isn't a burden to have these things on my mind; the consideration of them isn't heavy. The work is the Lord's to do. He renews minds. He transforms hearts. He fills and guides and directs. I need to only ask and receive. I have to be active in both parts, but He is faithful in deed!

I will live into the privilege and honor of calling You mine, Lord! Thank You for Your blessings!

God is Love

One of the most well-known pieces of scripture is probably a portion of 1 John 4:8 which reads, "God is love." The entire verse (below) is one I decided to focus on for today.

"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." (ESV)

I have a lot of different senses about what this means, but I wanted to dig into the original language to make sure I wasn't missing any richness provided with the original writing.

First, let's check the verb. The "is" in this sentence is in a verb tense called present indicative active. Really, if you don't let it intimidate you, the name of the tense itself pretty much says it all. It's present. Current. It's also active. This is a thing that is happening, currently. It's right now real & true. It indicates a prolonged state. God is love. Ahh, let that soak in a little...

The combination and grammatical structure of the entire phrase is also important and can teach us more about its meaning. The combination of the word for love with the structure of the sentence indicates that the statement is describing a quality of a thing; that is to say, God is described by love. Love, which is usually a "thing" or noun for us, is also a descriptive quality that helps comment on God...and, especially within this context, the reverse is true. God comments on what love is as well.

Lastly, the word for love found here is one many will know. It's probably the first Greek word I ever learned, and I bet I'm not alone in that. Agape (uh-gawp'-ay). One fact I think really helps explain this word at its root is that the word is sometimes translated to mean, essentially, "love feast." This is a word that describes an abundance and overflow of deep down, right to the core essential love. This word (and its root) are used to describe the way God feels towards Jesus, and describe the essential quality of what it means to be a Christian. Agape love is self-sacrificing, generous and abundant. And this, as we are learning, is what God is.

"Strong Belief"

I had a friend at work ask me some questions the other day. He stared with acknowledging that he knew I had "strong beliefs." This phrase got me thinking...

What is a "strong" belief? Is there such a thing?

I took what he said to indicate that, really, I had things I believed (in my head) that I also put action to (outwardly) in my life. And I started wondering about whether or not I can claim to really "believe" something if I'm not living it out in my life.

So, let me make this a little more concrete. Here's an example:

I believe the Bible to be absolute truth, accurately reflecting things God wishes to communicate to His people (including me!).

I believe that the Bible indicates clearly that I am to tithe the first 10% of my income.

I believe this is one of God's directions to me.

I believe that being obedient to God's will - without exception - is in my own best interest.

So, could I claim to believe these things and then fail to faithfully tithe my first 10%?

Only if I want what is not best for me. Right?

In my opinion, if I were to not tithe, I would, essentially, be saying that I don't believe one of the things above. My guess is that, in a moment of short-term vision, I might think that hanging onto the money I earned is in my "best interest" at any given point in time. That would be understandable to me. However, how can I claim that and also claim to believe that obedience to God is in my best interest?

I hope I haven't completely confused everyone reading. My point is this. I think it's fair to say that I either believe or do not believe that something is right or true. If I believe it, my actions would reflect that. If I do not, I think there must be somewhere inside me that I do not believe. I think it's fair to say that believing is sort of an all-or-nothing deal. Fair? I can't "sort of" believe that the sky is blue. I either do or do not believe it. I can doubt my own believe, but I still have to land on one side of the fence.

My point, in terms of "Why do I care?" is this: if I believe God's commands are for my best good, then I should follow them. All of them. Not just the ones that suit me for a given day or moment. Now, just to be completely clear, I fall short of this ideal all the time... but when I do, I repent - by changing my mind (coming into belief on that subject) AND changing my actions. And I pray consistently for God to expose to me new areas in which I need this kind of change.

So, I would put to each of us...if there is an area of repetitive transgression in your life (in my life), what is it that I do not believe? And when I identify that, am I okay claiming to NOT believe it? If not, something has to change. The two things can't coexist without denial.

Sometimes, for me, this kind of topic gets a little too heady, but often times, the other thing that can happen is that it takes all the nuance and guess-work out of things that really, in truth, are quite simple. Much of the world is not "black and white," but much of it is. I think danger lies in mis-identification on that front. So, call a spade a spade... where, I ask myself, does that leave me?

Patience & Patience

There are two root Greek words that are translated as "patience" in most versions of the Bible. The first is makrothymia. This is the word often translated as "long-suffering." And that's sort of what it means. This is the word that I think of when I am feeling tempted to lose my temper. When in the midst of a frustrating conversation or upsetting situation, I must display makrothymia in order to maintain my composure. This word is about self-restraint and maintaining balance and calm in light of provocation. In fact, the very literal translation of this word is "long temper."

The second word is a personal favorite of mine: hypomone'. For me and my individual personality, I seem have an easier time displaying makrothymia; hypomone', however, is where the rubber meets the road. The literal translation of this word means "to abide under." This word is more frequently and consistently translated as "patience," although, in my opinion, we don't have an English word that represents its full meaning well. Hypomone' is about endurance. This is the thing that comes to mind when I find myself in the midst of a painful season or long-standing situation. In this situations, when I submit to God's sovereignty and authority, I am displaying hypomone'. When I am in a time of teaching or feel myself in the midst of the "refiner's fire," chances are, the quality I need to find within is hypomone', if I am going to carry myself with grace and without angst. One word-study aid translates this word as "patience continuance."

It is also a variant of hypomone' that the Bible uses when talking about patience more specifically in the sense that indicates waiting. For me, this adds an interesting element to the idea of waiting - or, more specifically, waiting on the Lord. Although I'm sure the Greek includes more nuance than this, the quick version as I understand it is that makrothymia is about staying peaceful in the moment, while hypomone' is about enduring challenges with peace and gracefulness. For me, hypomone' is what I must find in the Spirit while my own flesh has a tendency to be indignant, self-seeking, impatient and even self-righteous. I must rely on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to come to (and remain in!) a place of submission, surrender and acceptance. This world, as I frequently continue to find, is about God's plans. God's timing is sovereign. God's pace (although sometimes frustrating!) IS the best pace. God's methods of honing and growing and teaching us are sometimes painful and frustrating, but they are for our greatest good - without exception. Remembering that, I believe, will help us all stay focused on letting the Spirit bring abundances of both makrothymia and hupomone' into our hearts and lives.

Encouragement

In principle, I'm not a fan of randomly plucking a verse from scripture and crafting a "point" around it for my own purposes. If I am learning anything as I grow in my study of the word, it's that "Context is king!" (thanks, Pastor Tom!)

That said, I do want to throw out a verse that, although part of a more specific context for the original writing and reception, does have general application in our lives as believers today.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)

Sometimes it's easy for me to get bogged down in the pressures of life, or to be discouraged by either failures or the simple frequency with which the world around me (or within me!) doesn't live up to my expectations. It happens. In fact, in some seasons, it happens a lot.

I am learning to appreciate anew, however, the difference a little encouragement can make. And, like many other acts of service, I find that I am even more encouraged when I take the time to thoughtfully encourage another.

I have a new accountability partner, and she & I are sharing emails back and forth each day about some of our own personal goals of growth and development for ourselves. Earlier today, I set aside just a few moments to be truly thoughtful about response to her. After reading her email and being sensitive to the nudging of the Spirit, I felt like I needed to put a little more thought and pause into my email to her than I might on a normal day.

And I am so glad I did! She probably hasn't even read the email yet, but I am feeling great! :)

My sincere hope, of course, is that she finds my words to be encouraging and uplifting. I hope she feels a bit lighter and even more hopeful as a result. But, the bonus outcome that I wasn't expecting was that I feel better too! By taking the time to encourage her in truth, I was reminding myself of those same truths! And it serves to further reinforce my faith that God is faithful, and that He does work all things together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose! (see Romans 8:28)

So, I encourage each of you to take the time today, with a spirit of service, to truly speak to someone's heart around you and do your best to encourage them. Don't worry about whether or not you say the "right" thing, and definitely don't worry about the outcome! Those things are in God's hands. Just show up and do the best you can; then believe Him for His purposes in it. And then, sit back and give thanks to Him for the encouragement your own heart is guaranteed to feel!

I marvel again and again at the way our Lord designed us... we are blessed to be a blessing, yes... but to also be blessed by our own acts of service? Well, it's flawless design! I'm sure of that!

Jackpot

I have the incredible good fortune to be a part of a church that has started its own Bible College. Our instructor is passionate, knowledgeable and filled with the Holy Spirit. He's a gifted and open teacher, and like a cherry on top, we also happen to have a lot of fun.

After class last night, I was thinking about what an incredible blessing it is for us to have the privilege of this situation in so many ways. Not only is it nearby and affordable, it's quality teaching in a collegial environment. It's at my church and the room is full of people who love the Lord and whom I have the privilege of getting to see every week in services, serving God and worshipping His holy name.

There are religions - Christian religious traditions - that fail to teach that, through Christ, we now all have access to the truth of His word and to His heart. There are people in my very city who don't think they're supposed to pick up their Bibles and learn it! A little more removed, there are people who struggle to afford a Bible; they don't hop on to the BibleGateway website to check various translations. There are people in other nations who walk miles to get to church, and those who not only meet in secret, but are literally martyred for their faith. And I throw on sweats on a Monday night and drive over to our cozy meeting room to learn about the word with 70-some of my classmates. Incredible.

Today, as simple as it is, I'm just taking time to be grateful for my exposure and ability to access not only the Lord Himself, but quality tools that can help me get to know Him more. I hold firmly to the belief that prayer and time are the key tools, and even those living in remote lands who don't have a Bible in their language can get to know God that way. But I am really grateful that the depth of information to which I have access is right in front of me and freely accessible in many ways.

In one of my classes, our instructor made the comment that prosperity often breeds ingratitude. I want to set aside today as a special day for me to honor the prosperity He's given me (and many of us, I trust) in regard to the opportunity to really learn and know His word and teachings. Thank You, Father!

Deserving

I had a good and humbling reminder recently...a reminder of the true magnitude of God's grace.

I'd made a mistake in a certain area of my life, and was feeling really frustrated and disappointed in myself. I had sinned in this area before, and had been doing really well in living in victory, and holding myself to higher standards...standards that I believe are reflective of His standards for me in this particular area.

Anyway, I messed up and was feeling pretty flat-on-my-face in my sin. I was worshipping and spending some time with God, and just feeling so down on myself. I was aware of my guilty feelings, and wrestling through with God whether or not it was appropriate to feel the guilt. I know there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ" (see Romans 8:1), and yet I definitely did not want to sweep my sin under the run, throw out a cursory repentance prayer and move on. So, I sat with it a little and spent time with God, talking it out.

I heard myself saying, from a sincere spot in my heart, that I just felt like I didn't deserve God's grace on this one...I was saying that I "know better" and had acted immaturely. "I just don't deserve You," I heard myself say. That's when God gave me the much-needed reminder. His response, as gentle as it could be, was "You never have."

Well that got my attention for sure. "Lord?"

"What's changed?" He asked.

*deep exhale*

Right.

That's right.

I have never deserved the magnanimity of God. I have never been worthy of the gift of His Son on the Cross. I never have and NEVER will have earned Calvary. Never. I am incapable of it.

This reminder not only corrected my lack of humility, but more so, drew me closer to the heart of God. His reminder to me wasn't shaming or condemning - even of my arrogance. Instead, it was just a reminder of the reality of truth.

Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (NIV)

And that's it in a nutshell. The grace He lavishes on me (even when I make the same mistake more than once!) and the forgiveness He extends are demonstrations of His love. Christ went to the cross while you & I still bore the weight of our guilt, so that we would never have to again. He defeated the condemnation I was allowing to be heaped on my own head, and I am thankful He re-directed me and reminded me to take hold of the freedom He's given.

I don't think there's anything wrong with letting my own disappointment in my weakness have a moment to be experienced, but when I wallow in it, or worse, lend the idea of truth to it, I negate the reality of His sacrifice and what it really means. I was blessed by my own fallen-nature, in a roundabout way. Just another example of God working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). I not only got to learn a renewed appreciation for His grace, but I came to love His heart just that much more...for He loves us. And that is the hinge on which our lives turn. What a gift; what a Lord!