Uncategorized – Page 3 – Live the Crazy Life

Advent, Bible, Christmas, Holiday, Uncategorized

The Season Of Advent

November 26, 2019 No Comments

Oh Advent how you make my soul relax, sing, and full of what matters most. Advent season starts traditionally on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and goes for 4 or 5 weeks depending on your religious affiliation. But I’d rather not focus on specifics of Advent but rather the intention and meaning of it.

The word Advent means “coming”. In general it means arrival of a notable person. But to me, Advent means so much more. I have done some sort of Advent calendar for years with my kids. There are so many creative ways to do the traditional Advent calendars on Pinterest. I think I have probably done most of them. But this year I decided to branch out even more in the world and season of Advent and do two Bible studies on the subject.

Both studies focus on slowing down and taking time to notice all the sensations of the Holiday Season. They both focus you on Jesus but in very different approaches. For the Christian, that is the purpose of any Advent activity – to focus on God, not ourselves, our wants, our desires. In the words of Ann Vankamp, “He begs us to spend the attention of Advent on the little, the least, the lonely, the lost.”

I shared a blog about Advent last year. You can read it here. This year, my intention in studying Advent a little deeper is learning to find God in every day, and honor Him with every day I live. I am focusing on the little things; slowing down and taking time to savor reading the Bible this season. Paying attention to needs spoken or unspoken by those around me. Taking them to Jesus and seeing how I can be used to help someone else encounter God in a deeper way. I have challenged myself with activities from both studies I am doing right now. If you are looking to do a study on Advent, I would highly recommend either of them. The Greatest Gift by Ann Vankamp and LifeWay Christian Resources women’s study called Advent – The Weary World Rejoices.

As I take time over the next few weeks to prepare my heart and my family for Christmas, I want to know that I am preparing for the right thing, the right reasons. Not a season of chaos, over-indulgence, stressful parties, and endless shopping; but rather on making a lasting difference in the people whose lives intersect with mine.

However you get ready for the Christmas season, I want to encourage you to make Advent part of your traditions. Take time to recognize what really counts this year. Slow down to notice those who really matter to you. Make space in your schedule for God to speak. Then make a resolve to follow through on what God speaks to you. Be courageous this Holiday season. Share what you really believe about Christmas. Take a step of faith and bless someone who can never bless you back; tell a stranger that Jesus loves them. Share your faith journey with someone, and invite them to start their own journey with Jesus. Be intentional about what has your focus and where you give your time. Don’t let the chaos around you determine how you respond to this season.

For traditional advent readings click here.

Bible, Prayer, Uncategorized, wisdom

Life Lessons from the Book of Esther

November 10, 2019 No Comments

A while back I posted a blog about what I was learning from studying the book of Esther. Now I am on the last week of studying Esther with a group of amazing women from my church. And while I have learned a lot, the 3 big take-aways are: 1. God uses those in the shadows to affect the outcome of the start (see blog post We all have a part to play). 2. How we approach God in prayer when we are feeling attacked. And 3. the impact of seeing God’s hand in every situation we face.

Since I already explained what I mean by the first take away I will jump straight to the second and third. How we approach God in prayer matters. We can learn a lot on how Esther approached the king with the news that she and her people were set to be destroyed. She asked the king if she had favor in his eyes. We don’t have to do this. We already know we have God’s favor (see Psalm 84:11 or Psalm 5:12 for a couple of examples.) Esther wanted the king to see that he did indeed care for her, that he felt favorable towards her. Once that was established, she used that favor to her advantage. She exposed what the enemy had planned for her. Esther 7:5-6 says “King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, ‘Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?'” Esther said the adversary and the enemy is this vile Haman.” We have a King who favors us, but do we point out to Him in prayer who our enemy is? Do we expose the plans of the enemy to our King? Esther didn’t ask the King, “Please, if it’s in your will can you stop this attack of the enemy?” All she had to do was point it out and then let the King respond. When I am feeling attacked, I ask God to help stop the attack of the enemy. I don’t think that is wrong, but I think there is more power in exposing what the enemy is doing to me and then let the righteous anger of my King respond. The Bible says over and over He hears our cry; He rescues us. (See Psalm 34:17). So why not pray something like this? “God, do you see what the enemy is trying to do to me? The one you favor! Your beloved! How are you going to deal with our enemy?” God is our shield, our protector. We don’t have to ask Him to act on our behalf. We know He will. We just need to let Him know it’s more than we can handle, and we need Him to intervene on our behalf.

The 3rd lesson was pointed out to me in the Beth Moore study on the book Esther. She used original language to point out that the words “portion”, “favor” and “lot” in Esther are all connected in the original Hebrew. In Psalm 16:5, the Bible says, “Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup. You have made my lot secure.” In other words you have given me all things. You keep me secure in the midst of all things. Beth Moore’s words sum it up best – “No matter what life – or Satan himself – hands us, the favor God has on His children causes that “lot” to tumble out on the table in such a way that instead of destruction, the child will discover that her portion turned into destiny one trusting step at a time. When all is said and done, she will see that the portion God assigned her was good. Right. Rich. Full of purpose.” (It’s tough being a woman Bible study page 208)

So when life throws you a curve ball you weren’t expecting, remember God is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Bible, family activities, Parenting, Raising Teens, Uncategorized, wisdom

The impact of a child

September 23, 2019 1 Comment

This goes out to all the moms I know.

I recently had the privilege to lead a missions to trip to a Native American Reservation. It was an amazing trip! But the biggest take away I had came from a six year old little boy.

I don’t know much about his story other than that currently he is being raised by his grandma. She is a Godly woman, and from what I can tell has tried her best to show her grandson how to live for Christ. And she has done a great job at it.

This little guy prayed for us one night, and his prayers were powerful and strong. He prayed with authority and no fear. He declared God’s truth and bound the devil like it was second nature for him to do so. And it got me thinking. When my kids were little I fear I prayed little kids prayers with them. You know keeping things on their level of understanding, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, sometimes exposing them to things they can’t fully grasp has its place, too.

God uses children and kids all throughout the Bible. In 2 Kings 12:1-2 we see a boy at age 7 become king of Judah. He reigned as king for 40 years. The text mentions his mother’s name Zibiah of Beersheba. It says he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord because the Priest instructed him. I think we can infer from the passage that his mom was important. In a world where women had little value, and lineage is passed through the father’s family, why mention a mom? Unless that mom had great impact for the country. I believe that Jehoash’s mom influenced him. She taught him to listen to authority and quite possibly about the Lord, as well. However and whatever she did as a mom, it must have been good parenting because in a time when kingdom turn-over was high, he reigned for 40 years. Something about that boy gained both the favor the Lord and his fellow countrymen in order for his reign to last that long.

In 1 Samuel chapter 1 we learn that it was Samuel’s mom Hannah who took Samuel to the temple and left him there to live and learn and be raised in the ways of God (1 Samuel 1:23-28). Some commentaries believe that Samuel was 3 years old when he first stood in front of Eli the priest. God called to a child who then changed a nation.

King David was most likely a young teenager when Samuel anointed him as king. We know that he was thirty when he finally did become king after years of fleeing and fighting Saul.

Then there is the verse in Matthew 19:14 that says, “Let the little children come to me.” I know there are others who were quite young when they encountered God. But my point in this blog isn’t just that God can use little kids. I think every mom who lives for Jesus knows and believes that. My point is this – are we putting into practice what we believe? Are we giving little ones the opportunity to practice their faith? I will admit I wasn’t the best at this.

After seeing this young boy who had a genuine love and faith in God, who knew that God heard his prayers and believed that God would respond, I felt compelled to share with all the moms I know to teach your child to love Jesus first and foremost. Then from there give them opportunities to practice their faith. When you are praying with someone ask them to pray with you for that person.

Encourage them to practice hearing from God on their own. Have them share with you what God has whispered in their little ears. Play worship music while they color and ask them to draw what God is saying to them. Teach them to live for God. Teach them that praying powerful prayers is normal. Show them, guide them, and lead them into a life where prayer comes naturally. Teach them not to fear evil but to take authority over it from the time they can speak. Because God can and will use them now and in the future.

What would the world look like in 20 years if those little ones in nurseries all across the country in all sorts of different God-fearing, Jesus-loving churches grew up with the mindset that healing is what Jesus wants and that sharing your faith isn’t scary or something only to be done on the mission field? That praying with anyone in need is always the right thing to do, even if it is just in your head. What if they grew up knowing who they have always been in Christ from the time they are born? What if they are taught to believe – really believe – that victory is theirs in Jesus’s name?

Moms, don’t you want that? To have 6 year olds praying over adults as if it were a normal part of their life with God? So let’s encourage each other and band together to teach and lead our kids into living fearlessly for God no matter how old they are. Who’s with me?

Bible, community, Friendship, Uncategorized, wisdom

We all have a part to play

September 1, 2019 No Comments

I am getting ready to lead a study on the book of Esther this fall. So I have started studying and reading this book. I have come to a conclusion that Esther isn’t the only hero in the story. As I was reading I came across an interesting verse. One you probably have heard a million times. But read it one more time, slowly, focusing on the first part of the verse rather than the last. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14. Did you notice anything new as you read this?

Here is what I noticed – Mordecai’s faith in a God who will always fulfill His covenant promise to His people. Mordecai knew this is what God wanted Esther to do; but even if she didn’t, he knew that God would not allow the Jewish population to be annihilated. Mordecai also knew this was bigger than him. He knew his life was at risk as well as Esthers. I think it was his faith in God and in Esther that gave her the courage to go before the king.

There are times when we are asked not to play the lead in the play but to be the supporting character. But oh how important that role can be. Maybe you are the one called to stand in faith while encouraging your child to go for what the Lord has called them to do. Maybe there is a friend who needs someone strong in their faith to remind them of what God can do in a situation.

Hebrews 10:24 says let us consider how we might spur one another on toward good deeds. And what greater good deed is there than obedience to God lived out in faith? The word spur there means to literally jab someone to the point they must respond. Isn’t that what Mordecai did? He reminds Esther that both his life and hers is at stake, but that God is bigger than this situation. Mordecai pulls on her heart strings by saying, “… you and your father’s house.” Mordecai had raised Esther. He was her father’s brother, her uncle. He pushes Esther so that she must respond. And he encourages her with his faith in a loving caring God.

If you are like me you want to be in the starring role – to be the hero who saves the day; but heroes need someone behind them, encouraging them, cheering them on to fulfill their purpose. There is nothing wrong with not being center stage. God often uses people who never get applauded for their actions. But that does not diminish their part in the story of God.

Who can you spur on toward good deeds? Whose faith can use a boost from yours? Is there someone who needs your faith and support today? Is there someone God has in your life for you to spur them on? Go find them and play your part with great gusto.

Bible, community, Uncategorized

Bearing each other’s burdens to build better lives.

June 21, 2019 1 Comment

I have been doing a Bible study on the book of Nehemiah. It’s a great study by Kelly Minter called Nehemiah – A Heart that can Break. It truly is a good one. We are up to Nehemiah, chapter 4, in the study. Nehemiah has come to Jerusalem, assessed the walls that lie in ruins, and has now rallied the people to start rebuilding. Things are going great. The people are working until their enemy finds out what is happening and tries to stop them from building the wall. Nehemiah 4:10-11 reads, “In Judah it was said ‘The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”

What a bad place to be in. The people are overwhelmed with all the “rubble” and their enemy wants to kill them. If you stop and think about it, that is where many of us find ourselves living. We are living in the midst of our rubble, our sin, our pride, our junk, and we have an enemy who wants to kill or at the very least stop us from getting rid of our rubble so we can become who God has called us to be to begin with. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with life, with my issues, my struggles and I feel like it is pointless. There simply is too much work to get rid of the rubble and I find my strength failing. Haven’t we all found ourselves at that point in our lives. Maybe it isn’t even sin related. Maybe it is circumstantial. Mabey you are overwhelmed with life with toddlers, or being a full time mom and working full time. Or the constant medical issues that leave you feeling hopeless. Not to mention the bills that never stop coming. Many of us are feeling like our strength is failing in life for many different reason.

Then you factor in the enemy. The bible says the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy in John 10:10. If you are feeling hopeless, hang with me because something amazing happens in Nehemiah chapter 4 that we can apply to our lives, too. Nehemiah 4:13 says “So in the lowest parts of the space behind the walls in open places I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.” And Nehemiah 4:16 says “From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows and coats of mail.”

You may still be thinking what does this have to do with me? You are either the one who’s building and your strength is failing you, or you are one who is ready to fight. And at different points in life we are both. Let me explain. When life is hard and you are struggling and someone offers help, they are offering to be your fighter to support you so you can keep building. For example if you are a young mom, and an older woman in your church offers to watch your kids for you so you can have a break. You are the weary builder and that older woman is the fighter.

I see this happen all the time at church. We even have ministries designed to help the weary, tired and beat up by life people. It’s what we should be doing. It is how God wants us to function. Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens, and in doing so fulfill the law of Christ.”

So if this is how it is supposed to be and this what the local church tries to do, then why are so many people still feeling like their strength is failing them and there is no one there to help? I believe there are a couple reasons for this, but they come from the same place. We have isolated ourselves from real relationships with people, and we are simply too prideful. Notice I said we because I include myself in this.

People can’t help you if they don’t know what you need help with. I once went to a marriage conference and the only thing I remember is this quote. “Healthy people ask for what they need.” If you are overwhelmed but don’t tell anyone, how will they know? If you feel like your life is a bunch of rubble but you smile and say everything is great, how can anyone help?

And what about those times when people offer to help and we politely thank them but tell them we can handle it? If someone offers, then assume they are willing to help and they want to help. Why won’t we let them?

So I challenge you to be like the people of Nehemiah’s day. Help your fellow brother or sister in Christ when and where you can. And in turn when you need help, ask for it. Tell people what you need.

Nehemiah 6: 15-16 says, “So the wall was finished on the 25th day of the month Elul, in 52 days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of the Lord.”

When the people shared their struggles, and then worked together, some building and some fighting, they were able to build the wall all the way around the city of Jerusalem in just 52 days. In just a few weeks the weary worn out discouraged builders regained their strength to finish the task they were given. When we let people help us, we can accomplish much more than we try on our own, and it opens a door for the Lord to do great works in us so that others can’t help but notice what God has done. Our lives become a testimony to the greatness of our Lord.

So I ask you, do you want God to do great things in and with your life? Do you want others to see the activity of the Lord in you? Then ask for help when it is needed, accept it when it is offered, and once you are strengthened and the rubble is removed, go help someone else with theirs.

Recipes, Uncategorized

Best Ever Gluten Free Vegan Lemon Cookies

June 11, 2019 No Comments

Gluten Free Vegan Lemon Cookies

I like to cook. I love to cook for others. This recipe was created from a love for two dear friends of mine! Kate and Kim. They are awesome gals who have helped me more than they could know. We have a summer bible study going on that I am leading with these two. Part of the study includes health-ish recipes at the end of each week. We have made these recipes part of a snack rotation in the study. I was cooking last week – Asian lettuce wraps and lemon cookies. Kim is gluten free and Kate is a Vegan so I wanted to make something they both could eat. Lettuce wraps were easy but the cookies, well that took a little more thought. In the end I made what I think is the best gluten free vegan lemon cookie.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup Vegan Butter (I used a cashew based one and it worked great) 1/2 cup sugar (or sugar substitute) 2 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind 1/2 cup coconut flour 3/4 cup white rice flour 1/2 cup brown rice flour 1/4 cup tapioca flour * If you don’t have all those different flours hanging around your kitchen, you can just use 2 cups gluten free flour. I liked this blend. It ended up not too dry and crumbly like some gluten free mixes can be. 1 tsp xanthan gum 1 1/2 tsp baking powder dash of salt 2-3 tbsp of vanilla almond milk (any type of nut milk would work, too)

For the Glaze: 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 1/2 tsp grated lemon rind dash of vanilla 1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar (depending on how thick you want the glaze)

Directions:

Mix the vegan butter and the sugar until fluffy and the sugar is all mixed in. Then add the lemon juice and the lemon rind. Slowly add the flours one at time mixing after each addition. Add the xanthan gum and baking powder. The mixture will be crumbly at this point.

I added the almond milk and mixed it by hand. Then roll the dough into golf ball size pieces or a little smaller, and place on a greased cookie sheet.

If you haven’t by now, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take the bottom of a glass and slightly flatten each dough ball. I used a glass with a design on it, but you couldn’t tell once they were baked. So any old glass will do.

Bake the cookies for 10-13 minutes or until just barely golden brown in color. While they are baking or cooling you can make the glaze. In a small bowl (I used a measuring cup because it has the little pour spout to help drizzle the glaze) mix all the ingredients for the glaze. Add more sugar until you get the consistency you like. Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle the tops with the glaze.

These are the best gluten free Vegan lemon cookies you will ever eat!

Bible, Easter, Uncategorized

A True Easter Celebration

April 19, 2019 No Comments

I normally try to post holiday ideas and celebration tips early so people have a chance to plan and tweak things for themselves. This, however, isn’t going to happen this year. I have heard it said that time moves fast as you get older; and while I know that isn’t possible I am feeling like sometimes it might just be.

I have struggled with Christmas and Easter for as long as I can remember. It seemed like no matter what I did, something was amiss in my celebrations. I have tried dozens of ways to make Easter feel weighty as in my mind it should. Yet, it always seemed like I missed the mark. As Easter pasts have come and gone, I would find myself thinking this holiday is the crux of my faith. Christianity would be nothing without the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, but my attempts to honor and celebrate this felt flat and lacked the sense of Holy wonder I was wanting – until now.

My family and I traveled to Israel this past fall, and the one thing I wanted to buy myself was a Seder Dinner set. My church had done a teaching on the Seder dinner years back and it had stuck with me. God’s timing is amazing. The women’s ministry in our church decided once again to do a teaching on Seder this spring. So with my new Seder plates and the teaching fresh in my mind, my family did our first Seder Dinner together.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was blessed. As we sat at the table with my husband leading and me and the kids repeating, the Holiness of the Easter season hit me. Out of nowhere I was moved to emotions. With tears in my eyes I sat at the table silently thanking God for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. My heart was overwhelmed at the goodness of God. How He knew our family needed this moment in the fall when I purchased the Seder set, and how we needed instruction on how to do the actual Seder, and most of all how we needed time in the busy Easter weekend to connect as a family and with God.

For those of you who don’t know what a Seder is I will offer a quick, brief explanation. It is the Jewish passover celebration. It is the dinner Jesus had with His disciples in Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-39 and John 13:1-20. It is a recounting of the story of Moses and the Israelites being freed from slavery (Ex. chapters 6-13).

For me it is reminding myself while I have never been an actual slave, sin in my life has held me captive in many ways. I am reminded of the power of the cross over sin and darkness. “There is a path to freedom” still echos in my mind as I type this.

Easter is forever changed with a truth I have always known and believed for years but is now etched on my heart in a new, powerful, love-filled-way.

Jesus is our Savior. He is our redeemer. In Him we are free. He alone can touch your heart to know truth at a deeper level. However you celebrate Easter, may this be the year that your celebration turns from tradition to heart felt knowledge. And a truth that will truly set you free!

Bible, Prayer, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, Thanksgivings Oh my!

March 29, 2019 1 Comment

I have a confession. I struggle with prayer. I mean I do pray, and on occasion I have prayed with great focus, but on a normal day-to-day basis prayer is hard for me. My mind seems to wander which leads to my hands wandering and before I know it I am no longer praying. I am cleaning, or working, or doing whatever other task was on my to-do list for the day. Or I will pray and then sit waiting to hear from God only to find myself waking up from a nice cat nap. I know I can’t be alone in this struggle, but as a Christian and a Pastor it isn’t something you openly admit or broadcast to people. Until now. I guess this post is a broadcast of my struggle. But it would be a sad post if it was only my struggle. Enter 1 Timothy 2:1

“First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for all people.” I count 4 different types of prayer in that one verse. 4 DIFFERENT TYPES! What? I thought prayer was prayer and intersession was when you prayed for others, and supplication was just another word for prayer, and thanksgiving – well that’s the part of the prayer where you tell God how thankful you are for ______________(fill in the blank).

I am a Pinterest junkie, and I have seen all kinds of methods for prayer on that sight, but I don’t know that I have ever understood there are different types of prayer. I mean I know that there are different emotions that surface when you pray, but these are 4 different words that don’t just all mean prayer. They are all for sure connected, but each have their own meaning, depth, and purpose in our pursuit of communion with the Lord.

I began to look into what each one of these words means. I really was hoping that they all would just mean pray, and make it simple, easy, and neat. But when has God ever been simple or allowed His people to take the easy road? Oh foolish me.

What I found was amazing. Explanations of or examples of ways to come before the throne of God with confidence and humility. It was beautiful and new to me. First, supplication is the Hebrew word Deesis (forgive the Hebrish I don’t have a keyboard to type Hebrew letters). It is a heart felt petition arising out of a personal need that is urgent. It is the “Lord Help me!” desperate cry that comes from a place of fear or lack. A place that says, “God if you don’t show up and do something here, I am toast.” This is a common prayer I am familiar with. For me it is what I call the last hope prayer. Which I fully understand prayer should never be our last hope, but let’s be honest. Sometimes we try everything we can think of on our own and then pray. Am I right? But even if it is a last hope prayer, it still pleases God. Verse 3 of this chapter says “This is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” Which (side note) did you catch the word sight? God hears and SEES our prayers. I think that is super cool. Ok, back on topic.

Next is prayers. The Hebrew word for prayers is proseuche (imagine a little hash mark over the last e). Exchange of wishes or an oratory. I will confess I had to look up oratory. It is used mostly in reference to Catholicism. It is a place or building that is used just for priests to pray. In the Jewish culture, it is a place set aside for prayer when there is no temple near by. I remember being taught once that everyone should have their place of prayer, an area you can go that won’t be distracting, that has the supplies you need to get into the presence of God. Stuff like a bible, worships music, a journal, maybe a good smelling candle. It makes me think of the temple with all the utensils used by the priest to offer prayers and sacrifice to God. Maybe if I had a place in my house I wouldn’t get so distracted and if it was a place with no chair I wouldn’t fall asleep.

Then there is intercessions. This was the word that I fell in love with. It is enteuxis. It means intervention, the literal translation is “hits the mark”. It is an intervention led by God marking the intersection between heaven and earth as it reflects the Lord’s specific will for that situation. That is a very cool thought. I envision God in the room with me and the person I am praying for, and God looking at that person with such love and so much concern over the issue, and explaining to us both the best way to move forward from where we are. Him giving us His plan on how to fix the situation and avoid this dilemma in the future. It’s like the best 12 step program that brings total freedom at the end of the meetings. For the one interceding it is the idea of waiting and not doing or even speaking until you feel the Lord tell you what to do or say. He is the one leading the intervention after all.

And lastly thanksgiving, which is the word eucharisto. It means gratitude. It is an action word meaning actively giving God grateful language as an act of worship. It is so much more than telling God I am so thankful for……..

I am going to start approaching my prayer life with this new insight. I am going to make myself a place free of distractions and loaded with all things that make me feel calm and that are inviting to the Holy Spirit. I am going to approach prayer with heart felt cries for God to arise and fill in where I am lacking and for Him to mark the place where heaven invades earth and His will is made clear for all to see. Will you join me? What could our homes, neighborhoods, schools and churches look like if we all approach prayer with a new and greater understanding of what God desires to do in our prayer lives?

Bible, Friendship, Uncategorized

Real Friends – Real Community

March 6, 2019 No Comments

Do you know how many followers you have on whatever your favorite social media sight is? If you don’t, good for you. Do you know how many real friends you have? If you don’t, my heart hurts for you; but I don’t think you are alone. With the craze of social media, I believe we have lost real community and real friendship along the way. I am not meaning to bash you for posting but maybe give a loving word of caution. We all should care more about the real people around us that we interact with on a daily bases than the ones on screens.

I was sitting at my desk working on my Bible study and I read these verses. “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” -Hebrews 10:24-25

I read it, paused and re-read it and then began wondering what some of the words mean in the original language of the Bible. So I did what I always do, logged onto biblehub.com and began searching for deeper meaning.

The word concerned is really made up of two words in the original language: kata and noioe. Kata means “exactly according to” and noioe means “to think properly from up to down, expressing real comprehending, thinking decisively to a definite understanding”.

According to this we are to be so concerned with people that we know what is really going on in their lives. We are to know exactly according to them what they are dealing with and think through that situation with up down thinking. Now this is just my thoughts on that up down thinking. To me it is heaven minded thinking. It’s heaven on earth mentality. I love that. I love the idea of thinking and interacting with people with a God’s way first thought process.

But according to this verse we are not just to be concerned about each other for the sake of being concerned. We are to be involved and concerned with people so we can promote love and good works. The word promote here means “a provocation” which literally means to jab someone so that they must respond. We are told in the Bible to be involved with others so that we have concern for them; we know what is really truly going on and then push them towards love and good works. The word love in the verse is agape love or God centered love. And good works means “beautiful attractively good, good that inspires or motivates others to embrace what is lovely, or praiseworthy”.

I bet you don’t have those kinds of interactions with people on social media. Connections where you have knowledge and true facts, and relationships where you can speak to them and help move them towards love and good things, so that others will be attracted to good that is happening in their lives.

This, people, is why we need church. Because I need someone involved in my life who knows what is going on, and can help me think correctly about myself and my situation so I can express God’s love and goodness to a world full of everything but love and goodness. And others need me involved in their lives at that same level so I can do the same for them.

This is the kind of life we are called to live. Real honest friends don’t come easy. There is risk involved for sure, but most rewards don’t come without risk.

So I want to encourage you. Are you involved in a church? I don’t just mean do you go to church? Lots of people go to church. But are you involved there? Do people know you? Does the leadership of the church know you? If not, God wants that for you. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of great churches. Find one. Get involved. Take the risk, and watch heaven invade earth.

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Fasting

January 17, 2019 No Comments

The last part of last year was rough. My life was spinning faster than I could keep up with. I was unwilling to deal with emotions in my life, and I found myself in a bad place. I was depressed but unwilling to acknowledge that depression. To be honest it had probably started somewhere over the summer. I just was ignoring the symptoms. I found myself eating Chick-Fil-A and a half-gallon of Birthday Bash ice cream on a weekly basis. I kept telling myself it was ok; I had had a really rough couple of months, and I don’t drink, gamble, or go on shopping binges. And food is a necessity for life. I was out of control. I had no self-control but denied that truth.

Fast forward to a few days before New Years when another pastor at my church approached me and asked if I would be willing to do the Daniel Fast for the first 40 days of the new year. I didn’t want to, but I knew deep in my heart God was already telling me I need to get a grip and gain some self-control. So I agreed. For those of you unfamiliar with the Daniel Fast, it is based on Daniel chapters 1 & 2. Basically Daniel had been taken captive by Babylon. He was being trained in the ways of Babylonian culture, was given a new name, and was given food from the king’s table. The food wasn’t Jewish food, and some of it had been sacrificed to foreign gods. Daniel asked that he and his friends be fed vegetables and water for 10 days. At the end of those 10 days Daniel and his friends looked better in appearance than the men who were given the king’s food. (Daniel 1:15)

The first few days of the fast I was a hot mess. I was mad, emotional, and not fun to be around. It was harder than I thought it would be; after all, this fast wasn’t like the ones I had done in the past where I didn’t eat anything. Let me clarify. I am not the type of person who fasts often. In fact I have only successfully completed two fasts in my 28 year walk with the Lord. I usually have a good reason I can’t participate in fasting. I am hypoglycemic and get migraines when I don’t eat enough.

About the same time I started this fast, I started reading a book by Lysa TerKeurst called Made to Crave. God was speaking “You worship food. You have made food more important than me. You seek comfort in food that only I can give.” When I think of idols, I would never have thought of food. The truth is, food isn’t the real idol here. I am. Maybe I have given my wants and my desires a bigger place in my heart than God. That is a hard thing to come to terms with.

The more I read, and stuck with the fast, and prayed the more I began to see I was living my life the way I thought a “christian” should. I was rationalizing sin, down playing the fact that I had little to no self-control. Eat that cookie – sure. Watch 4 episodes of that TV show – why not? I don’t have anything else to do. All the while I was missing the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit…. “Enough is enough.” “Have you prayed today more than the simple ‘bless this food’?” The more I gave into my wants, my desires, my self complacencies the quieter the whispers grew.

This fast has been hard, I wont lie. Denying yourself is never easy for a million reasons. Self denial goes against our culture, our flesh, and the enemy hates it to name a few. But as I kept saying “No” to myself the more I began to feel free. I really could eat just a salad and be fine. I could have a bad day and pray and read my Bible instead of watch TV while eating whatever food. I could find self-control with the help of the Lord. I could trust that what I tell others about God is true. He REALLY is our everything. He really does have our best interests in mind. He doesn’t tell us to worship Him alone for his own reasons, but for ours.

I have found that reading my Bible and praying are coming easier in my life. I have found myself longing for time to sit and read or study or pray. The battle isn’t over, but I am winning. I am laying my will down and picking up the will of God. I am hearing the voice of the Lord louder than in the past few months. I am gaining victory and self discipline along the way. I can’t tell you I don’t still want that candy that I got for Christmas that I put in the cabinet until the fast is over. But I can be alone in my kitchen without eating every last piece of it because no one is around to know I ate it ALL.

I am determined that God will be first in my life. I am more in tune to the fact that there will always be a battle for that place in my heart, but for the first time I am willing to fight for it to be given to God.

I want to encourage you that self denial and self discipline are not just good things to do. They are God’s commandments for our lives. 1 Peter 5:8 says “be self-controlled and alert.” Titus 1:7-8 says that as God’s steward we should be self-controlled and disciplined. And 2 Peter 1:3-11 gives a list of the attributes we are to have in our lives that are granted by divine power. That list includes, self-control. Those are just a few scriptures. Not to mention the countless verses about having no idols and making God first.

Fasting is hard, but it has a great purpose in the life of the believer. If you haven’t fasted in a long time (or maybe ever), now is the time. I encourage you to take this to God. Ask Him if there is anything that you put before Him. Then be willing and bold to take that step of faith and fast whatever He shows you until that thing no longer has power over you, and God has His rightful place as LORD of your life.