Life is busy. I do not have to tell you that! Practically every single person I know has the same lament - "I am too busy!" I have too much going on!" Even in the summertime when we could be relaxing and taking a break, we find ourselves busy trying to get "it" all in. What is "it" anyway?
Today I find myself at home, alone, Cool! This is going to be such a nice relaxing day. I decide to start off with a little exercise, get the blood pumping and the steps for the day in, so I hook up the dogs to go for a nice long walk through our lovely quiet neighborhood. Of course, Daisy pooped. Yes, I always have poop bags with me. The poop bags I recently bought and tied to the leash, however, were defective. (Exasperated sigh goes here!) They were not sealed on the sides or the end. Just really cute sheets of plastic and not very helpful. So, after our walk, I had to go back and pick up the poop with a real bag. My conscience won't let me just leave it there. Moving on. When I got home, I sat on the side of the tub to take my shoes off and slipped off the side of the tub landing on my tailbone, ouch!! How did I even do that? Next on the agenda, making dinner for some dear friends. I thought I had everything I needed. Nope. So I hop in the car to go get sour cream and flour tortillas only to find when I got home that I already had both. (Seriously???) Why didn't I double check in the garage frig? I need a drink! No, not that kind of drink...a drink of water...I need a drink of water! So I grab the bottle off the counter and looking forward to being refreshed, I gingerly place the water bottle to my lips and tilt it awaiting the cool refreshment and... low and behold, I haven't taken the top off the bottle. Duh!!!
When goofy things like this start happening to me, I know I am very near the brink of something...like maybe I am about to self-destruct. More than likely, my brain is on overwhelm. Sometimes it is trying to sort things out and is just distracted. At any rate, I have too much processing going on in my brain and it just keep going and going and going, thinking and thinking and thinking and this wreaks havoc. Unlike the Energizer Bunny, however, my batteries do run out. I don't like it, but it's true. Do your batteries run out, too?
There is hope for those of us that get overwhelmed, tired and confused at times and our batteries begin running out. His name is Jesus. So today, in the remainder of my home alone time, not to be confused with the movie of the same name, I pull out my Bible and land in Matthew, Chapter 11.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11: 28-30
The yoke of Jesus here is meant as a spiritual aid. When we are in overwhelm mode, it is our very spirit, our soul, that is tired or distracted or confused and working overtime. The function of a yoke was to couple the oxen to do the farmers work - the oxen working in tandem, side by side - together with the farmer. Taking on the yoke of Jesus couples us with Him to do the work He has for us - whatever and wherever it is. If we work, think and play or even spend time home alone in this way, the Bible promises whatever we do will be made easier and lighter.
Overwhelmed? Tired? Confused? Head out to the barn and talk to Farmer Jesus.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Friday, June 29, 2018
Praying - anytime, anywhere, about anything
I believe it is God's desire for us to communicate with Him. Communicating with God verbally or in our thoughts is called prayer. His Word encourages us to talk to Him "without ceasing", and "at all times".
I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
I Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication to that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
I have charge of the Preschoolers in our church. I can't imagine serving anywhere else. Preschoolers are so much fun and they learn through movement. Anyone with a 4 or 5-year-old, knows they love to move - A LOT!! and practically all the time. Anyway, one of the things we teach them when we are learning about prayer is that we can talk to God anytime (we point to our wrist, aka wristwatch) anywhere (we move our hands to each side of our body at about shoulder height) about anything (we reach our hands to the sky). This, of course, is a simple way to teach kids about talking to God and they totally get it.
But, as adults, prayer needs to go deeper still. Every occurrence, every occasion, every circumstance, every decision we need to make can become a stirring of the Holy Spirit within us to pray. Prayer needs to become a habit. So much a part of ourselves that it is as frequent and natural as breathing.
I have read a book called The Practice of the Presence of God several times over the years. This book changed my thinking on prayer. The cover of the book invites us to read the spiritual secrets of a humble brother who enjoyed closeness with God. Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite monk whose sole purpose in life was to remain always in the presence of God - no matter the task, no matter his circumstance - anytime, anywhere, anything!
In his 7th letter to an unnamed friend, Brother Lawrence wrote, "The least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. (God) You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of." God is always available - just a thought or even a whisper away.
The book goes on to talk about S. Clement of Alexandria. He was a gifted teacher of new Christians in the church at Jerusalem. I can easily identify with Clement on several levels. You might want to look him up and read about his life. It is quite interesting. Back to topic...around 190 A.D. Clement wrote the "Stromata" in which he described a man that might be very much like Brother Lawrence. He wrote, "the great business of a philosopher, that is, a wise Christian, is prayer. Such an one prays in every place, at every time, not indeed using many words, or thinking to be heard for his much speaking, but in secret in the depths of his soul, while walking or conversing with his fellow-man, or reading, at the table, when at work. His praises rise to God unceasingly; not only in the morning, and at noon, but in all his actions he glorifies God as do the Seraphim." Anytime, anywhere, about anything! Unceasingly in thought, word and deed!
These types of prayers are called breath prayers; they are short, simple, heartfelt, meaningful, spontaneous, important and valuable. Examples might be when you are watching your child quietly play - you speak a blessing over your child, or pray for their future. When you see a beautiful flower, thank God for the gift of nature. When someone you know comes to mind, ask God to give them the desires of their heart. Short, simple prayers that keep us communicating with God, and in His presence all the time. Breath prayers can be prayers of praise, worship, love, needs, thanksgiving, blessing, help and so on and so on. Anytime, anywhere about anything!
Today might be a good day to begin practicing breath prayers and perhaps, like Brother Lawrence, they will become a habit in us leading us to remain always in the presence of God. I pray it is so!
Breathe in - "Father", breathe out - "draw near to the persons reading this blog today."
There are many good articles on Breath Prayer. Following is a link to just one.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Be Prepared
Time and time again, scripture tells us how the Israelite people of the old testament rejected God's ways and followed their own. And over and over, God gave them chance after chance to get it right.
After Solomon finished having the house of the Lord built, he dedicated the temple to the Lord praising God and pleading for God to hear his prayer on behalf of the people. In answer to Solomon's prayer, beginning at 2 Chronicles 7:12 we read, "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ..." The next verse, verse 14 is the second or third or fourth chance God gives them. It says "...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (There are so many 'if" 'then' statements in scripture!)
What I read in the words of verse 14 is, 'if I (God) have a people that know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to the times I will forgive them and do great things for them.' Now let's make those words more personal. Go ahead hear these words as if God were speaking them to you. Take them to heart. 'If you know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to what I will do for you and no limit to what I can do through you for all things are possible with Me in your court.' (See Philippians 4:13)
Know Me. Trust Me. Obey Me. A tall order for sure. For in our humanness you and I want control. We want what we want, our way, in our time, as we planned. Guess what? That's not knowing and trusting that God has our back. That's not being obedient to what He wants. Don't shoot the messenger on this, I just call 'em like I see 'em and it is humbling.
You and I need to relinquish control and know that God's ways are not our ways. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8 & 9 If we are asking God for direction or clarity in a matter, we need to be prepared to step outside our comfort zone and do things His way. Remember His ways are higher, better and maybe harder. And that's a good thing! We can't wait twiddling our thumbs for an answer hoping to hear God tell us to do it our way. No! God will challenge us. A challenge needs trust. A challenge needs obedience. A challenge forces us to look at who we know God is. I believe that is what God wants from us.
Recently, I prayed and prayed and prayed for an answer to a matter. I just wasn't hearing from God. (I thought.) I finally realized I was waiting to hear Him tell me to do what I wanted to do. To do what I thought was right. But I learned, the hard way, that what I thought, was not what He thought. He wanted to do something way better. And I missed out on that and am suffering the consequences. I didn't come to Him asking for what He wanted, I was praying for what I thought He might want. There is a huge difference. Now, I am in the same boat as the Israelites and must go to Him humbly asking forgiveness and praying that He will heal my land. In other words, fix my mess.
When we count on what we know of God, when we trust Him and obey Him, His ways will challenge us to do more, to be better, to live righter (Is that a word?). His ways, His methods, His purposes - so, be prepared - for 'if' we do this, 'then' He promises great and mighty things.
"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
After Solomon finished having the house of the Lord built, he dedicated the temple to the Lord praising God and pleading for God to hear his prayer on behalf of the people. In answer to Solomon's prayer, beginning at 2 Chronicles 7:12 we read, "Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, ..." The next verse, verse 14 is the second or third or fourth chance God gives them. It says "...if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (There are so many 'if" 'then' statements in scripture!)
What I read in the words of verse 14 is, 'if I (God) have a people that know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to the times I will forgive them and do great things for them.' Now let's make those words more personal. Go ahead hear these words as if God were speaking them to you. Take them to heart. 'If you know Me and trust Me and obey Me, then, there is no limit to what I will do for you and no limit to what I can do through you for all things are possible with Me in your court.' (See Philippians 4:13)
Know Me. Trust Me. Obey Me. A tall order for sure. For in our humanness you and I want control. We want what we want, our way, in our time, as we planned. Guess what? That's not knowing and trusting that God has our back. That's not being obedient to what He wants. Don't shoot the messenger on this, I just call 'em like I see 'em and it is humbling.
You and I need to relinquish control and know that God's ways are not our ways. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8 & 9 If we are asking God for direction or clarity in a matter, we need to be prepared to step outside our comfort zone and do things His way. Remember His ways are higher, better and maybe harder. And that's a good thing! We can't wait twiddling our thumbs for an answer hoping to hear God tell us to do it our way. No! God will challenge us. A challenge needs trust. A challenge needs obedience. A challenge forces us to look at who we know God is. I believe that is what God wants from us.
Recently, I prayed and prayed and prayed for an answer to a matter. I just wasn't hearing from God. (I thought.) I finally realized I was waiting to hear Him tell me to do what I wanted to do. To do what I thought was right. But I learned, the hard way, that what I thought, was not what He thought. He wanted to do something way better. And I missed out on that and am suffering the consequences. I didn't come to Him asking for what He wanted, I was praying for what I thought He might want. There is a huge difference. Now, I am in the same boat as the Israelites and must go to Him humbly asking forgiveness and praying that He will heal my land. In other words, fix my mess.
When we count on what we know of God, when we trust Him and obey Him, His ways will challenge us to do more, to be better, to live righter (Is that a word?). His ways, His methods, His purposes - so, be prepared - for 'if' we do this, 'then' He promises great and mighty things.
"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
Saturday, August 26, 2017
Little Things Making a Big Impact
Sometime, notice in your Bible the many little things that were of great significance: the little gift of the widow, the water pots in Jesus first miracle, a little lunch of 5 fish and 2 loaves, spit and mud, touching just the hem of Jesus cloak, the red cord of Rahab, the jars that Gideon's army smashed and on and on. There is no doubt in my mind that little things are important. Every little detail is important. And in doing little things, I think we become more Christ-like-- offering a smile, giving a hug, even just a look or a brief touch on the cheek of a child - all little things, but so important. For often, the little becomes the big - think about each of those little things from the Bible that I mentioned - a big lesson, a big ministry, a big crowd gets fed, the blind man could see, a woman healed, a family saved, a small army victorious. Huge outcomes from simple acts. Jesus was simple. He told simple stories. He spoke of a flower, a bird, a gardener, a single lost coin, a single lost sheep, a boy who ran away from home and He was concerned for the little children. Everything and everyone was important to Jesus. He used little things to make a big impact. I see that God uses those small things we do in big ways, too.
A few Sundays ago our church held a River Baptism in the mighty Boise River. Over 100 people made a decision to be baptized to show the world that they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, love Him and are one of His devoted followers. In each case, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the road to that big decision began with a little thing - a smile, a hello, or an invitation - Come!
Think about it this way - the little things we do or say can make the difference in how a person spends his or her eternity. That's actually huge! We get to be part of God's big story for each and every person we meet. Little things, make a big impact on people. It's up to us to just do what we can and then God does the rest...more than we could ever ask or imagine.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3: 20-21
A few Sundays ago our church held a River Baptism in the mighty Boise River. Over 100 people made a decision to be baptized to show the world that they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, love Him and are one of His devoted followers. In each case, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the road to that big decision began with a little thing - a smile, a hello, or an invitation - Come!
Think about it this way - the little things we do or say can make the difference in how a person spends his or her eternity. That's actually huge! We get to be part of God's big story for each and every person we meet. Little things, make a big impact on people. It's up to us to just do what we can and then God does the rest...more than we could ever ask or imagine.
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3: 20-21
Monday, August 7, 2017
You're Strange, I'm Unique - Marriage
Today marks 47 years of marriage. Yes, to the same guy!!! They all said it wouldn't last but we proved them wrong - perhaps out of pure stubbornness or maybe it is our competitive natures. We both hate to lose. But I say -- it must be love. Whatever the reason, here we are.
Married at a young age, we sort of grew up together. This can be advantageous. There really were no surprises. But, there was a huge learning curve. The phrase "young and stupid" comes to mind. When we went to get our first apartment, we were literally pulling change from our pockets and the bottom of my purse to make the deposit of $110 for the rent. We made our first meal in our new apartment in a popcorn popper. Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup heats up quite nicely in a popcorn popper from the 70's. Who knew!!!
He swears marriage is more difficult for men than women. Women are so hard to understand he says. For my first birthday after we had been married for a mere 7 weeks, he gave me a vacuum cleaner. He was so proud. We needed a vacuum cleaner (we hadn't vacuumed in 7 weeks - ewww!) and he was being a good provider. I cried! 35 years later, I asked for a shed for Christmas. He got me two sheds and I was happy as a clam!! So what's not to understand? Women make perfect sense. If I had asked for a vacuum cleaner and got one, a vacuum cleaner would have been fine -- but seriously, who would ask for a vacuum cleaner? Certainly not I.
For the first several years of our marriage, he gave me a sympathy card for our anniversary. I was never really sure if the sympathy was for me or if it was transfer sympathy and he was feeling sorry for himself. The jury is still out on that one.
At 6 years I got a t-shirt. This was not just any old t-shirt - no, this one was special. It had words of love on it. It read - "6 years, I must be nuts!" Lovely. That could go both ways, so I wore that t-shirt to rags!! I have been known to hang on to clothes for quite a while so he actually asked me today if I still had that t-shirt. I don't, but I do still have the other t-shirt gem from about 20 years ago that reads - "Tyrannosaurus Rox." Speaks volumes doesn't it? Now I affectionately wear one with a picture of Grumpy on it that reads "I Love Grumpy Guys". Just sayin'.
Over the years - 47 to be exact - life has thrown us curves, there have been ups and downs, but always we had each other and God. When people ask how we have stayed married so long I often wonder if they are asking because they know us and can't believe we are still married to each other - or if it is because they just wonder how we've made it this far.
Marriage is not about the stuff. It's about commitment. It's about taking the good with the bad. It's about forgiving and forgetting. It's about respect and honor. It's about laughter and tears. It's about doing life together. "Two-gether" - Two as one! Your strangeness and my uniqueness combined in one life under the umbrella of God's great love.
Through it all, with God at the center, it's all about love and the rest of our lives "two-gether".
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2: 24
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4- 8a
Married at a young age, we sort of grew up together. This can be advantageous. There really were no surprises. But, there was a huge learning curve. The phrase "young and stupid" comes to mind. When we went to get our first apartment, we were literally pulling change from our pockets and the bottom of my purse to make the deposit of $110 for the rent. We made our first meal in our new apartment in a popcorn popper. Campbell's Vegetable Beef soup heats up quite nicely in a popcorn popper from the 70's. Who knew!!!
He swears marriage is more difficult for men than women. Women are so hard to understand he says. For my first birthday after we had been married for a mere 7 weeks, he gave me a vacuum cleaner. He was so proud. We needed a vacuum cleaner (we hadn't vacuumed in 7 weeks - ewww!) and he was being a good provider. I cried! 35 years later, I asked for a shed for Christmas. He got me two sheds and I was happy as a clam!! So what's not to understand? Women make perfect sense. If I had asked for a vacuum cleaner and got one, a vacuum cleaner would have been fine -- but seriously, who would ask for a vacuum cleaner? Certainly not I.
For the first several years of our marriage, he gave me a sympathy card for our anniversary. I was never really sure if the sympathy was for me or if it was transfer sympathy and he was feeling sorry for himself. The jury is still out on that one.
At 6 years I got a t-shirt. This was not just any old t-shirt - no, this one was special. It had words of love on it. It read - "6 years, I must be nuts!" Lovely. That could go both ways, so I wore that t-shirt to rags!! I have been known to hang on to clothes for quite a while so he actually asked me today if I still had that t-shirt. I don't, but I do still have the other t-shirt gem from about 20 years ago that reads - "Tyrannosaurus Rox." Speaks volumes doesn't it? Now I affectionately wear one with a picture of Grumpy on it that reads "I Love Grumpy Guys". Just sayin'.
Over the years - 47 to be exact - life has thrown us curves, there have been ups and downs, but always we had each other and God. When people ask how we have stayed married so long I often wonder if they are asking because they know us and can't believe we are still married to each other - or if it is because they just wonder how we've made it this far.
Marriage is not about the stuff. It's about commitment. It's about taking the good with the bad. It's about forgiving and forgetting. It's about respect and honor. It's about laughter and tears. It's about doing life together. "Two-gether" - Two as one! Your strangeness and my uniqueness combined in one life under the umbrella of God's great love.
Through it all, with God at the center, it's all about love and the rest of our lives "two-gether".
Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." Genesis 2: 24
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Corinthians 13: 4- 8a
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Looking in the Right Place
I watched a robin this morning as she searched the tall wet grass for a morning meal. The sprinklers had been on and had very probably coaxed the little robin's breakfast near the surface. She hopped here and there, then suddenly stopped, cocked her head, and with a swift jabbing motion, dove her beak into the ground and with two hard, fast tugs pulled out a fat worm that looked to be about 5 or 6 inches long. If birds could talk, I am fairly certain she would have shouted what I did as an observer...SCORE!!! (I really did shout SCORE I was so excited for her!) She finished her first course and hopped to another section of the lush green lawn and promptly found the second course to her meal. I watched her for quite some time repeat her search and find mission and then she happily flew off content and satisfied that she had relieved our yard of all the fattest and juiciest worms. But was she done? Had she met her fill? Nope! She flew to the neighbors yard and began her search all over again. I found this whole scenario quite fascinating.
As always, when I see something that amazes me, I try to find a way to see God in it. This morning it was easy. Oh, I could quote the likely scripture here found in Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" The lesson being: God takes care of the birds, He'll take care of you. But, I'd like to go much deeper today. Let's think about our souls rather than our bellies, the heart of each one of us.
My little friend the robin, kept searching, kept filling herself with bugs and worms. (Ewwww!!) She needs to keeping filling herself. It is a matter of survival and perhaps being able to feed her young. I have to ask, what do we keep filling ourselves with? What feeds the very heart of you -- your soul? What do you think you need to make you whole - to survive? We often search for people we think will fill us up. Perhaps for you it is traveling, or a lovely house, a boat, a motorcycle, a better job, more money - the list can go on forever. We could go on searching tirelessly, but we won't find what we need. My little robin was not always successful in her foraging. Sometimes she'd drive her beak into the ground and come up empty-beaked. She hadn't looked in the right place. We are the same. We can look and buy and go and do but we won't find what we need until we look in the right place - UP!
God made us so we could and would have a relationship with Him. He made us in such a way that our souls long for Him. He is what we need for survival. He is the one who makes us whole. "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1 "My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:2
I have Psalm 62: 1-2 labeled in my Bible as "My Song". "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." God made each one of us so that He could be with us; so we could be filled up with Him. He even sent His Son, Jesus - Emmanuel - which means 'God with us" so we could be with Him eternally. When my soul is filled up with God, - none of the other things matter, because it is all about God. I have inner peace. I am content. I am satisfied. I am whole. I have looked in the right place and found what my soul needs - God with me!
Here's an idea - what if the first thing we (you and I) do when we wake up - even before we fall out of bed - is ask God to walk with us through the new day. Invite Him to just be with us. Perhaps even ask if we can be with Him.
If we were to do that each and every morning and mean it, I imagine that each morning God would smile real big and say, "I'd like nothing more, my child."
SCORE!!
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5
Link to "As the Deer" written by Martin J. Nystrom
As always, when I see something that amazes me, I try to find a way to see God in it. This morning it was easy. Oh, I could quote the likely scripture here found in Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" The lesson being: God takes care of the birds, He'll take care of you. But, I'd like to go much deeper today. Let's think about our souls rather than our bellies, the heart of each one of us.
My little friend the robin, kept searching, kept filling herself with bugs and worms. (Ewwww!!) She needs to keeping filling herself. It is a matter of survival and perhaps being able to feed her young. I have to ask, what do we keep filling ourselves with? What feeds the very heart of you -- your soul? What do you think you need to make you whole - to survive? We often search for people we think will fill us up. Perhaps for you it is traveling, or a lovely house, a boat, a motorcycle, a better job, more money - the list can go on forever. We could go on searching tirelessly, but we won't find what we need. My little robin was not always successful in her foraging. Sometimes she'd drive her beak into the ground and come up empty-beaked. She hadn't looked in the right place. We are the same. We can look and buy and go and do but we won't find what we need until we look in the right place - UP!
God made us so we could and would have a relationship with Him. He made us in such a way that our souls long for Him. He is what we need for survival. He is the one who makes us whole. "O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1 "My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:2
I have Psalm 62: 1-2 labeled in my Bible as "My Song". "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." God made each one of us so that He could be with us; so we could be filled up with Him. He even sent His Son, Jesus - Emmanuel - which means 'God with us" so we could be with Him eternally. When my soul is filled up with God, - none of the other things matter, because it is all about God. I have inner peace. I am content. I am satisfied. I am whole. I have looked in the right place and found what my soul needs - God with me!
Here's an idea - what if the first thing we (you and I) do when we wake up - even before we fall out of bed - is ask God to walk with us through the new day. Invite Him to just be with us. Perhaps even ask if we can be with Him.
If we were to do that each and every morning and mean it, I imagine that each morning God would smile real big and say, "I'd like nothing more, my child."
SCORE!!
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5
Link to "As the Deer" written by Martin J. Nystrom
Check out my latest release, Psalm 63 Expectant Prayer at www.roxannedrury.com or on Amazon.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
A Living Sacrifice
In Romans 12: 1 Paul encourages us to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices." The entire verse says: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (NIV) Quite honestly I just could not wrap my head around exactly what this meant. I always thought of the Old Testament rules and regs when the word sacrifice came to mind. This passage of scripture is in the New Testament - the part of the Bible that is more specifically directed to the here and now. And the words were a bit troubling. What was God expecting of me in this regard? So, because I am an educator, I decided to educate myself. Whenever I don't quite understand a portion of scripture, the first thing I do is ask the Holy Spirit to open and clear my mind so I can understand what I am reading with no preconceived ideas. This is so important.
Next, I reread the scripture, sometimes several times. I also might read the same passage in other versions of the Bible. And of course looking in commentaries or online can prove to be very helpful.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines sacrifice as "to forfeit something for something else considered of greater value" "to sell or give away at a loss". This word was easy to understand. As moms, we know sacrifice! Am I right? If there is only one donut hole left in the box, who get's it? Not the mom, for sure! So the word sacrifice I got. I have given away a last donut hole or two in my life. Where I was having trouble was pairing the words living and sacrifice with offering my body. The kids at church are going to be hearing the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men who loved and served God had refused to bow down to a gold statue of the King and remained true to the one true God. Because of this they were put in a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3) Now that is what I call giving your body as a living sacrifice. How exactly could I do that? How does God want me to do this?
The New Living Translation offered some help by wording the verse just a little differently. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He had done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him." These words speak of commitment. They speak of surrender. These words screamed to me - present yourself to God wholly, completely, to use as He sees fit - EVERY DAY you are alive! Why??? because of all He has done for me. I am a living being with a live body, I need to give myself to God daily - a living sacrifice. Giving God the last donut hole daily as it were. Living my life in such a way that everything I do, everything I say, everything I think is an act of worship. None of it is for me, it is all for Him out of love for Him. This pleases Him. John W. Ritenbaugh said "Worship is our response to God, and real worship is the offering of our everyday life to Him. Loyal devotion given to please God in every labor of life is the most satisfying and acceptable response we can give God."
Sacrifice is an action. Setting aside my own agenda, wants and needs and living for His agenda, what He wants, what He needs from me. It's deciding to stay true to God, no matter what everyone else does. It's letting God use me everyday. It's more than that even...it's asking to be used everyday. It's being committed to God as His servant to do His will on earth while I am alive. It's a daily choice. It's a daily ask.
Will it be easy? Not likely. Will I fail at times? Most definitely! The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had a happy ending though - God was with them and saved them from the fiery furnace. Can I count on God to help me as I try to offer my self as a living sacrifice daily? You bet!!! And that is very reassuring.
Next, I reread the scripture, sometimes several times. I also might read the same passage in other versions of the Bible. And of course looking in commentaries or online can prove to be very helpful.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines sacrifice as "to forfeit something for something else considered of greater value" "to sell or give away at a loss". This word was easy to understand. As moms, we know sacrifice! Am I right? If there is only one donut hole left in the box, who get's it? Not the mom, for sure! So the word sacrifice I got. I have given away a last donut hole or two in my life. Where I was having trouble was pairing the words living and sacrifice with offering my body. The kids at church are going to be hearing the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men who loved and served God had refused to bow down to a gold statue of the King and remained true to the one true God. Because of this they were put in a fiery furnace. (Daniel 3) Now that is what I call giving your body as a living sacrifice. How exactly could I do that? How does God want me to do this?
The New Living Translation offered some help by wording the verse just a little differently. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He had done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him." These words speak of commitment. They speak of surrender. These words screamed to me - present yourself to God wholly, completely, to use as He sees fit - EVERY DAY you are alive! Why??? because of all He has done for me. I am a living being with a live body, I need to give myself to God daily - a living sacrifice. Giving God the last donut hole daily as it were. Living my life in such a way that everything I do, everything I say, everything I think is an act of worship. None of it is for me, it is all for Him out of love for Him. This pleases Him. John W. Ritenbaugh said "Worship is our response to God, and real worship is the offering of our everyday life to Him. Loyal devotion given to please God in every labor of life is the most satisfying and acceptable response we can give God."
Sacrifice is an action. Setting aside my own agenda, wants and needs and living for His agenda, what He wants, what He needs from me. It's deciding to stay true to God, no matter what everyone else does. It's letting God use me everyday. It's more than that even...it's asking to be used everyday. It's being committed to God as His servant to do His will on earth while I am alive. It's a daily choice. It's a daily ask.
Will it be easy? Not likely. Will I fail at times? Most definitely! The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had a happy ending though - God was with them and saved them from the fiery furnace. Can I count on God to help me as I try to offer my self as a living sacrifice daily? You bet!!! And that is very reassuring.
Monday, October 24, 2016
Time to Plow
Just outside our neighborhood, there is a huge field. Being new to the area, it took some fact finding research to discover what the crop even was. Turns out it is a crop of sugar beets. I will tell you a little secret, because I am a curious soul, one time when we were out walking I plucked a plant to see if I could tell what it was -- I couldn't, I just got roots. (My apologies little plant!) Last week, when we were out walking the dogs, we were surprised to find that finally, the farmer was plowing the field and gathering up his crop of sugar beets. All spring and all summer we watched the sugar beet plants grow from tiny little shoots to huge bush type plants. The field was a blanket of solid deep dark rich green. When the summer was winding down in August, we couldn't understand why the field had not yet been harvested. When September hit, we thought for sure the farmer would begin harvesting. Nope! October came and with it, chillier weather, surely now the farmer will harvest. Nope! It wasn't until the 3rd week in October that the farmer finally revved up his tractor and called in the big trucks to harvest his crop. Day and night for 3 solid days he and his crew worked. The machines they used looked ferocious - shiny wheels of sharp steel churning and turning - loosening the soil and pulling up the sugar beets. The smooth flow of their system was like a well choreographed dance. The giant tractor digger (I didn't know what it was really called, I just made that up.) moved slowly along the field digging up and spitting out the sugar beets into the tummy of its partner the sleek white dump truck that was waltzing along by the tractors side. Once its tummy was full the dump truck sped off to unload and a new fresh dump truck took its place with precision and exact timing. Absolutely fascinating. We watched for over 45 minutes so entranced were we in the Farmers Beet Harvest Dance.
Upon further research we learned that the timing for harvesting sugar beets must be perfect. The farmer has to pay attention to the weather and to the temperature and the conditions in order to know when exactly it is time to harvest his beets. He has to be prepared to go at it at the first sign of readiness. Harvesting sugar beets begins with the first frost. The day of the first frost that farmer must be prepared to harvest or all is lost. And once harvested the sugar beets must be protected to prevent them from deteriorating before they can be delivered to the factory. Such an amazing process and it is all centered on timing. (By the way - I also learned that the "giant tractor digger" is actually called a beet harvester.)
I tell you this story of the Sugar Beets because it made me think of how precise and exact God's timing is as well as how precise our timing must be in order that we do not miss a blessing.
In Hosea 10:12 God's Word declares, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you."
It is time to sow the things of God in our lives and the lives of others.
It is time to reap the fruit of His unfailing love.
It is time to plow through the things that prevent us from being and doing all God has planned for us.
It is time to seek the Lord with all our heart.
It is time to be prepared...
Until - in His time - He comes and showers righteousness on us.
Until - in His time - we receive His blessing.
Until - in His time - He comes again!
Upon further research we learned that the timing for harvesting sugar beets must be perfect. The farmer has to pay attention to the weather and to the temperature and the conditions in order to know when exactly it is time to harvest his beets. He has to be prepared to go at it at the first sign of readiness. Harvesting sugar beets begins with the first frost. The day of the first frost that farmer must be prepared to harvest or all is lost. And once harvested the sugar beets must be protected to prevent them from deteriorating before they can be delivered to the factory. Such an amazing process and it is all centered on timing. (By the way - I also learned that the "giant tractor digger" is actually called a beet harvester.)
I tell you this story of the Sugar Beets because it made me think of how precise and exact God's timing is as well as how precise our timing must be in order that we do not miss a blessing.
In Hosea 10:12 God's Word declares, "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers righteousness on you."
It is time to sow the things of God in our lives and the lives of others.
It is time to reap the fruit of His unfailing love.
It is time to plow through the things that prevent us from being and doing all God has planned for us.
It is time to seek the Lord with all our heart.
It is time to be prepared...
Until - in His time - He comes and showers righteousness on us.
Until - in His time - we receive His blessing.
Until - in His time - He comes again!
Friday, October 14, 2016
Gather, Scatter, Matter
Gather, Scatter, Matter. 3 little words that define life.
I first heard these words put together at a church meeting. Leadership was sharing and encouraging the folks that come to the church to commit to partnering with the church by gathering regularly, scattering by engaging in the community inside and outside of the church and making a difference (mattering) by using our God-given time, treasure and talents through service, generosity and finances - again inside and outside of the church. This is a scriptural concept and not something that is new. I had just never heard it summed up in this way and wrapped up in a nice neat package. Thank You, church!
Gather: Hebrews 10:23-25 Scatter: Acts 2:42-47 Matter: Ephesians 4:1-16
As I thought about the concept of Gather, Scatter, Matter I saw so much more than just how this can apply to church life. This concept applies to our daily lives as well. Think about it...family life is all about Gather, Scatter, Matter. As parents we gather our kids around the dinner table or we pile them all in the car to go on vacation. Then when they are grown they scatter - going off to college, getting married, getting jobs and hopefully if we have done our job as a parent right, we have made a positive impact on their life and what we have done as a parent mattered. And we see each child in turn gather, scatter and matter in their personal life, at their workplace and in the scope of their own little family as well as wherever they attend church.
In our home, when our children were growing up, we sat at the dinner table every evening. This was a time of regrouping and reconnecting, touching base with each child. This was our gathering time. It wasn't always pretty...there was spilt milk, and lap chops (that is our term for when a child cuts his or her meat and it lands in his or her lap - I use no names to protect the not so innocent!) and there were disagreements - "Mo-om he's looking at me!!!" "Mo-om she is sitting too close!!!" Sigh!!! But I wouldn't exchange a moment of it for all the coffee at Dutch Bros. because there was also laughter and sweet times. We would hear about how one brother stuck up for another brother. Or how our boys were watching out for their little sister. We would hear about field trips and what they learned. We would hear about who likes who and all that the boy/girl drama. We would hear about what happened when our children sang at the old folks home or served meals to the needy with the boy scouts. We saw them scattering and making a difference (mattering) in the lives of each other and the lives of people outside our family.
In Matthew 13: 4-9, Jesus told a parable of a farmer who scattered seeds. The farmer first has to gather his seeds, then he can scatter them. But once scattered, only some of the seeds landed on good soil - only some of the seeds mattered. In verses 18 - 23 of that same chapter, Jesus explains the parable. What I see is that if the farmer never gathered or scattered, none of the seeds would have mattered.
Gather, Scatter, Matter are intertwined. But it starts with Gathering. Whether you gather at the dinner table, gather via Face time, gather with a group of friends or gather in the church, that's where it starts.
For once you Gather, seeds of life and love will be Scattered and it will Matter.
"The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's Word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Matthew 13: 23
I first heard these words put together at a church meeting. Leadership was sharing and encouraging the folks that come to the church to commit to partnering with the church by gathering regularly, scattering by engaging in the community inside and outside of the church and making a difference (mattering) by using our God-given time, treasure and talents through service, generosity and finances - again inside and outside of the church. This is a scriptural concept and not something that is new. I had just never heard it summed up in this way and wrapped up in a nice neat package. Thank You, church!
Gather: Hebrews 10:23-25 Scatter: Acts 2:42-47 Matter: Ephesians 4:1-16
As I thought about the concept of Gather, Scatter, Matter I saw so much more than just how this can apply to church life. This concept applies to our daily lives as well. Think about it...family life is all about Gather, Scatter, Matter. As parents we gather our kids around the dinner table or we pile them all in the car to go on vacation. Then when they are grown they scatter - going off to college, getting married, getting jobs and hopefully if we have done our job as a parent right, we have made a positive impact on their life and what we have done as a parent mattered. And we see each child in turn gather, scatter and matter in their personal life, at their workplace and in the scope of their own little family as well as wherever they attend church.
In our home, when our children were growing up, we sat at the dinner table every evening. This was a time of regrouping and reconnecting, touching base with each child. This was our gathering time. It wasn't always pretty...there was spilt milk, and lap chops (that is our term for when a child cuts his or her meat and it lands in his or her lap - I use no names to protect the not so innocent!) and there were disagreements - "Mo-om he's looking at me!!!" "Mo-om she is sitting too close!!!" Sigh!!! But I wouldn't exchange a moment of it for all the coffee at Dutch Bros. because there was also laughter and sweet times. We would hear about how one brother stuck up for another brother. Or how our boys were watching out for their little sister. We would hear about field trips and what they learned. We would hear about who likes who and all that the boy/girl drama. We would hear about what happened when our children sang at the old folks home or served meals to the needy with the boy scouts. We saw them scattering and making a difference (mattering) in the lives of each other and the lives of people outside our family.
In Matthew 13: 4-9, Jesus told a parable of a farmer who scattered seeds. The farmer first has to gather his seeds, then he can scatter them. But once scattered, only some of the seeds landed on good soil - only some of the seeds mattered. In verses 18 - 23 of that same chapter, Jesus explains the parable. What I see is that if the farmer never gathered or scattered, none of the seeds would have mattered.
Gather, Scatter, Matter are intertwined. But it starts with Gathering. Whether you gather at the dinner table, gather via Face time, gather with a group of friends or gather in the church, that's where it starts.
For once you Gather, seeds of life and love will be Scattered and it will Matter.
"The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's Word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" Matthew 13: 23
Friday, September 23, 2016
The Weight of the World
Did you ever have one of those days where you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders? Nothing seems right in your home, in your family, in the world and there is simply nothing you can do about it. Those kind of days it is hard to power through when all you really want to do is climb back in bed and sleep... thinking maybe when you wake up things will be different.
I had one of those days recently. I learned that a dear friend lost her husband to a massive heart attack. I knew her husband, and I know that my friend is hurting and I am not there to love, comfort and support her. But God is. If I am honest, even though God is with her, I am still sad.
A little later on the same day, I spoke with my son who has been job hunting for a really long time. He finally had a good job locked in, he had a start date, things were good to go and then there was a hiccup in his paperwork, and with his cell phone - he missed an important call and the company terminated the hiring process and hired someone else. Heartbreaking news. When he and I spoke on the phone we decided God is in this and there is a reason. Acknowledging that God is in control of this situation doesn't make it any less painful. I am still sad for my son and his family because this didn't work out for them.
Does this mean that I don't trust God? Does it mean that I have no faith? No. It means I have a heart. A heart that hurts for the people I care about. A heart that feels what they are feeling. I like that!
So I did what I always do with my sad heart, I took it to the Savior. I told Him what I was feeling and you know what He said? He said, "I know. I understand. Be still, child, and know that I am God. I am in control and I have a plan." In other words - rest in me - I am with you (and your friend and your son) - I have you (and your friend and your son) securely in the palm of my hand - climb on my lap and feel my embrace." And so, I did. I climbed up onto his lap, and taking a deep breath and releasing it with a sigh, I laid the weight of my world at His feet.
Today is a new day. I woke up with the same left over sadness but today I was granted a new perspective. I laid in bed looking out the window to see the leaves on the colorful trees blowing gently in the wind. I saw the glorious sun and felt such gratitude it was overwhelming. I wondered, can sadness and gratitude fill a heart at the same time? I suppose it depends on the capacity of the heart. I believe God has given me much heart capacity because I feel so many different things - sometimes all at the same time - so deeply and so passionately - though probably people would never know that. I know many people with this same huge heart capacity - and I love that I am surrounded by them. They are a gift as I hope I am a gift to them.
The weight of the world is not mine to bear. Yes, I will be affected by it - I will feel sadness, I will get disgusted, I will feel pain and sorrow but I have a Savior that knows, that understands, that cares.
The weight of the world is not yours to bear either. Do you know my Savior?
Let me introduce you...His name is Jesus. He knows. He understands. He cares. Rest in Him. Climb into His lap and feel His embrace. Pour yourself out to Him. Lay the weight of your world at His feet.
He invites you to do just that!
"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
I had one of those days recently. I learned that a dear friend lost her husband to a massive heart attack. I knew her husband, and I know that my friend is hurting and I am not there to love, comfort and support her. But God is. If I am honest, even though God is with her, I am still sad.
A little later on the same day, I spoke with my son who has been job hunting for a really long time. He finally had a good job locked in, he had a start date, things were good to go and then there was a hiccup in his paperwork, and with his cell phone - he missed an important call and the company terminated the hiring process and hired someone else. Heartbreaking news. When he and I spoke on the phone we decided God is in this and there is a reason. Acknowledging that God is in control of this situation doesn't make it any less painful. I am still sad for my son and his family because this didn't work out for them.
Does this mean that I don't trust God? Does it mean that I have no faith? No. It means I have a heart. A heart that hurts for the people I care about. A heart that feels what they are feeling. I like that!
So I did what I always do with my sad heart, I took it to the Savior. I told Him what I was feeling and you know what He said? He said, "I know. I understand. Be still, child, and know that I am God. I am in control and I have a plan." In other words - rest in me - I am with you (and your friend and your son) - I have you (and your friend and your son) securely in the palm of my hand - climb on my lap and feel my embrace." And so, I did. I climbed up onto his lap, and taking a deep breath and releasing it with a sigh, I laid the weight of my world at His feet.
Today is a new day. I woke up with the same left over sadness but today I was granted a new perspective. I laid in bed looking out the window to see the leaves on the colorful trees blowing gently in the wind. I saw the glorious sun and felt such gratitude it was overwhelming. I wondered, can sadness and gratitude fill a heart at the same time? I suppose it depends on the capacity of the heart. I believe God has given me much heart capacity because I feel so many different things - sometimes all at the same time - so deeply and so passionately - though probably people would never know that. I know many people with this same huge heart capacity - and I love that I am surrounded by them. They are a gift as I hope I am a gift to them.
The weight of the world is not mine to bear. Yes, I will be affected by it - I will feel sadness, I will get disgusted, I will feel pain and sorrow but I have a Savior that knows, that understands, that cares.
The weight of the world is not yours to bear either. Do you know my Savior?
Let me introduce you...His name is Jesus. He knows. He understands. He cares. Rest in Him. Climb into His lap and feel His embrace. Pour yourself out to Him. Lay the weight of your world at His feet.
He invites you to do just that!
"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
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