My friend Sabrina and I were chatting via email this morning. As I read her words about facing her own self-centeredness, while thinking she was such a giver, I was taken back by the similar issues I addressed this week. The difference is that she's battling her way through chemotherapy and all of the ugly things associated with cancer. This is a time when others delight to give to her, yet her fertile heart is concerned about her own selfishness.
Isn't that just what trials do in us? They burn away the filth of our own self-centeredness, which runs so deeply in our souls?
When Bill, my first husband went to be with the Lord, the Scripture that saturated my life was, "Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never anymore than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way anyone who holds onto life just as it is, destroys that life. But if you let go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal." John 12:24-25 MSG
Rereading this passage that prophesied Jesus' fate and the account that followed as He prepared for what was to come, I was struck by how He assessed those blind, whose hardness of heart kept them from perceiving Him or being healed. Daily we too can opt to live in our own hard heartedness, blinding us from Christ's very example.
In Chapter 13, during the Last Supper, Jesus not only spoke, but actively laid down the pattern that we are to follow as He washed the feet of His disciples, saying, "...so the Master and teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. John 13:13-14 MSG
Yes, I can actually choose to let go...let go of all that I hold so tightly in my grasp and live in reckless abandoned love, rather than waiting until I face a circumstance, be it loss, cancer, financial trouble or the like, and witness those traits fall into the ground to sprout selflessness.
This year what I am asking to receive for Christmas is a heart that is so moved by His presence that I become abandoned to His reckless, jaw dropping love.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The Risky Faith Embrace of God
Watching my kids wrestle their way into adulthood, fighting for ground that life snatched away through hard dealt circumstances and mistakes, I am reminded that the dictionary defines the word education as: The knowledge and development resulting from an education process. That means opportunity is all in the way you look at it. The quality of our life is not dependent on our circumstances, but on what we do with the education life provides.
If we are smart we will let our mistakes and life's circumstance be the tuition for the schooling we have received from them. We don't have to continue making payments on our mistakes. The schooling we have received paid our tuition in full! Now we can invest the education that life has given us.
That means all of my delays and wasted years are part of my schooling. Infact it says in Romans 3:27, speaking of Abraham the Father of faith, "God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does...our lives get into step with God and all others by letting Him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade." (Have you noticed His cadence is so much better?)
vs 9, "It was embracing what God did for him that Abraham was declared fit before God." (MSG)
We are all recipients of God's marvelous grace and action in our lives. Those who receive it, walk by faith and on His timeline. Verse 12 says those are the ones who are "...willing to live in the risky faith-embrace of God's action for them." God is masterful at mending broken things. When we get in step with Him even time is redeemed.
Doesn't that make you want to run into the risky-faith embrace of God with all of your hard learned education and be connected to His movement in your life?
If we are smart we will let our mistakes and life's circumstance be the tuition for the schooling we have received from them. We don't have to continue making payments on our mistakes. The schooling we have received paid our tuition in full! Now we can invest the education that life has given us.
That means all of my delays and wasted years are part of my schooling. Infact it says in Romans 3:27, speaking of Abraham the Father of faith, "God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does...our lives get into step with God and all others by letting Him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade." (Have you noticed His cadence is so much better?)
vs 9, "It was embracing what God did for him that Abraham was declared fit before God." (MSG)
We are all recipients of God's marvelous grace and action in our lives. Those who receive it, walk by faith and on His timeline. Verse 12 says those are the ones who are "...willing to live in the risky faith-embrace of God's action for them." God is masterful at mending broken things. When we get in step with Him even time is redeemed.
Doesn't that make you want to run into the risky-faith embrace of God with all of your hard learned education and be connected to His movement in your life?
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Infamous Family Photo
I was reading in my friend Chelsea's blog today about the frustration of trying to get the perfect Christmas photo with uncooperative children. Thinking about my own infamous family Christmas Photos, stirred a chuckle. I can remember some hair pulling sessions.
There was the time the final photo displayed Josh's tears from his displeasure of having to perform for the camera. Instead of a happy Norman Rockwell family photo, we produced one that made the authorities question child abuse! Even now when we get all 10 of us get together and try to get a good photo, it is exasperating! Someone is always out of sync. Mark is the worst, because he never wants to participate.
We have tried to mix things up a bit every year. One year we all crammed into Gabe's old Honda Civic and hung out of the windows. Needless to say, not the best idea. Another year we all dressed in plaid (Mark's signature fabric)! You can tell even in this highly creative family we are running out of viable ideas. This year we might just be normal, but highly unlikely!
There was the time the final photo displayed Josh's tears from his displeasure of having to perform for the camera. Instead of a happy Norman Rockwell family photo, we produced one that made the authorities question child abuse! Even now when we get all 10 of us get together and try to get a good photo, it is exasperating! Someone is always out of sync. Mark is the worst, because he never wants to participate.
We have tried to mix things up a bit every year. One year we all crammed into Gabe's old Honda Civic and hung out of the windows. Needless to say, not the best idea. Another year we all dressed in plaid (Mark's signature fabric)! You can tell even in this highly creative family we are running out of viable ideas. This year we might just be normal, but highly unlikely!
Navigating Interruptions with Mary's Style
Can you imagine being a 14 year old girl, having a visitation from an angel and suddenly being informed that your world would never be the same, because you were chosen to carry the Christ child? I imagine Mary contemplated all of the things that anyone of us would, as her life began to flash before her eyes. "How can this be?"
How many, "How can this be" moments have we all faced? When we have eyes to see and ears to hear our lives can be touched by unusual means. As Mary moved from utter shock, she transitioned into faith. Every interruption that invades our world can be a vehicle to usher blessing into our lives if we can receive with the same kind of simple faith that Mary displayed. Scripture says Mary was blessed because she believed that there would be the fulfillment of what was been spoken to her.
That means I have the opportunity to respond in faith to the experiences that shake my world everyday. Like Mary, though I may be afraid of what I cannot comprehend, something amazing may be created through the wake of any upheaval. That is the invitation I have this week, as I traverse through misunderstanding, hurt feelings and fear of the unknown in relationships that mean the world to me. I want to be like Elizabeth who was able to perceive the presence of the Lord in her midst and Mary who faced the unknown with bold faith saying, "Be it unto me according to your word."
How many, "How can this be" moments have we all faced? When we have eyes to see and ears to hear our lives can be touched by unusual means. As Mary moved from utter shock, she transitioned into faith. Every interruption that invades our world can be a vehicle to usher blessing into our lives if we can receive with the same kind of simple faith that Mary displayed. Scripture says Mary was blessed because she believed that there would be the fulfillment of what was been spoken to her.
That means I have the opportunity to respond in faith to the experiences that shake my world everyday. Like Mary, though I may be afraid of what I cannot comprehend, something amazing may be created through the wake of any upheaval. That is the invitation I have this week, as I traverse through misunderstanding, hurt feelings and fear of the unknown in relationships that mean the world to me. I want to be like Elizabeth who was able to perceive the presence of the Lord in her midst and Mary who faced the unknown with bold faith saying, "Be it unto me according to your word."
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Default or Intention?
Last night I met with the Path group that I am coaching from my last workshop. I was so encouraged to see these women taking great strides as they step out toward their goals and purpose. Some clearly see their vision right in front of them and are unashamedly making strides toward it, others are pushing forward into discovery of who they truly are, what they think, what they like and for the first time after many years, determining what causes their heart to leap with joy. They are on the road to their true purpose and mission in life.
In our time together we discussed the struggle that many have in abdicating choices in life to others, which may appear righteous, however, if motivated by fear this kind of default is dishonest. We are called to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, but if in fact we are surrendering our will because we are afraid to stand up and claim our life, this kind of poverty thinking is not faith based or righteous. Scripture says, "The righteous man shall live by faith." Romans 1:17
Jesus' faith example of denying Himself was not an act of cowardice, but a conscious act of great faith. As He took up His cross He was claiming something for mankind that was much larger than Himself. If we are not courageous enough to truly live the life we've been given, but hide out in fearful surrender, what glory do we bring God or betterment to mankind? Matthew 5:37 says it this way. "Let your "yes' be "yes' and your "no',"no.'
In the Message Translation Matthew 5:33-37 says, "And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk... You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say "yes' and "no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong."
Many of us grew up in environments that encouraged a martyr syndrome, which may have had all of the appearances of righteousness, but in fact made us "less true". Are we not challenged to boldly stand and make our choices and actions count, not merely living by default as we give our life away carelessly for the wrong reasons? Laying down your life and denying yourself is not the same thing as having never picked up the life you've been given. Isn't it time we lived with intention?
In our time together we discussed the struggle that many have in abdicating choices in life to others, which may appear righteous, however, if motivated by fear this kind of default is dishonest. We are called to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, but if in fact we are surrendering our will because we are afraid to stand up and claim our life, this kind of poverty thinking is not faith based or righteous. Scripture says, "The righteous man shall live by faith." Romans 1:17
Jesus' faith example of denying Himself was not an act of cowardice, but a conscious act of great faith. As He took up His cross He was claiming something for mankind that was much larger than Himself. If we are not courageous enough to truly live the life we've been given, but hide out in fearful surrender, what glory do we bring God or betterment to mankind? Matthew 5:37 says it this way. "Let your "yes' be "yes' and your "no',"no.'
In the Message Translation Matthew 5:33-37 says, "And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk... You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say "yes' and "no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong."
Many of us grew up in environments that encouraged a martyr syndrome, which may have had all of the appearances of righteousness, but in fact made us "less true". Are we not challenged to boldly stand and make our choices and actions count, not merely living by default as we give our life away carelessly for the wrong reasons? Laying down your life and denying yourself is not the same thing as having never picked up the life you've been given. Isn't it time we lived with intention?
Monday, December 3, 2007
Changing Our Perception to Receive
Yesterday, Pastor Steven Furtick's said something that is at the very core of a section of the Path workshop I teach, entitled, Paradigm Shifting. He said, "What you perceive determines what you will receive." When we aren't able to perceive the wealth that has been deposited in each of us we miss out on receiving what is available to us.
If we can't get past the fact that our younger brother is no longer in diapers, we could be missing something important that he has to impart. Although we may be dissing him, we are the ones who truly suffer. It is through humility that we are able to allow the Lord to shift our perception, so that we can receive all that He has for us that exists outside of our particular paradigm. Isn't that the best trade off imaginable?
We are offered an exchange for something that we never spent a dime to acquire. All of the old stale thinking we acquired through life experiences that got us to where we are now, will not take us to where we are going. But if we humble ourselves to the vast wealth that is available through Christ, although it may come through our next door neighbor with the beer belly, or the friend that we couldn't imagine has a special impartation or a child's word of wisdom at the right moment, we will receive.
Isn't it time we cleaned off our clouded lenses that have hindered our view point and allow our perception to be altered, so we can receive God's unlimited supply? Give yourself the best gift possible this Christmas, surrender your old way of thinking and receive a higher way. Scripture says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so he is." Proverbs 23:7
Lord, help us to see you and those you have created as you truly are and not through our limited lenses of understanding. When we only see the ordinary, show us the extraordinary in others and ourselves. You call out the potential in us, never dwelling on our lack, because you know when our eyes behold You, there is no lack.
If we can't get past the fact that our younger brother is no longer in diapers, we could be missing something important that he has to impart. Although we may be dissing him, we are the ones who truly suffer. It is through humility that we are able to allow the Lord to shift our perception, so that we can receive all that He has for us that exists outside of our particular paradigm. Isn't that the best trade off imaginable?
We are offered an exchange for something that we never spent a dime to acquire. All of the old stale thinking we acquired through life experiences that got us to where we are now, will not take us to where we are going. But if we humble ourselves to the vast wealth that is available through Christ, although it may come through our next door neighbor with the beer belly, or the friend that we couldn't imagine has a special impartation or a child's word of wisdom at the right moment, we will receive.
Isn't it time we cleaned off our clouded lenses that have hindered our view point and allow our perception to be altered, so we can receive God's unlimited supply? Give yourself the best gift possible this Christmas, surrender your old way of thinking and receive a higher way. Scripture says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so he is." Proverbs 23:7
Lord, help us to see you and those you have created as you truly are and not through our limited lenses of understanding. When we only see the ordinary, show us the extraordinary in others and ourselves. You call out the potential in us, never dwelling on our lack, because you know when our eyes behold You, there is no lack.
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