The doctor looked at me the other day with a smile on his face and said, "You've never been called 'stubborn' have you?" I smiled back at him and replied, "No, of course not."
It's taken me a long time to realize that I'm the epitome of what some people might call "a little determined." Don't get me wrong, I don't think all stubbornness (I mean, determined-ness) is a bad thing. After all, God made me this way for a reason. However, spiritually speaking, sometimes my stubbornness is a great hindrance to my walk with Jesus.
You see, sometimes when I am struggling with a situation, my stubbornness takes over. I think to myself, "I've got this. I can handle it," when all the while, Christ is standing off to the side telling me I was never meant to "handle this" on my own. I try and try and try...pulling myself up by my boot straps...determined to pull myself out of the pit, and yet, I keep falling - over and over again. Climbing out becomes too hard, and I find myself curled up in the fetal position, frustrated with my ability to NOT "get this."
Ever been there? It's an ugly and yet, beautiful place to be. Ugly, because you know that it's YOU who's put you there, and beautiful, because that's where Christ can finally reach you. He's been there, but as long as you have your face to the wall trying to pull yourself out, you never see that He is patiently waiting for you to turn your face to Him, so He can show you another way out.
Let's picture it this way:
You are at the bottom of a brick well. Fortunately, there are some bricks missing, almost in a stair step pattern all the way to the top. Each hole in the wall is a perfect place for a foot rest. You begin to notice that each of the bricks has a verse written at the bottom. The first foot-hold you see says, "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:37). You read it, get excited about it, and shove your foot as hard as you can into the little crevice, ignoring the other footholds a little higher on the wall. The next foothold says, "...for momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison" (II Cor. 4:17). You muster strength to hold on, as you shove your other foot in deep. From somewhere below, you hear Jesus calling, "Come to Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden" (Matt. 11:28).
Immediately, you call to Him, "It's okay, Jesus. I've got this. I'm standing on Your Word. I'll meet you at the top!" So you trudge higher, only for your foot to slip out of the next hole. You tumble off the wall and fall flat on your back...for the eighth time. Finally, you crumble into a heap at the bottom of the well and look up in the Savior's face for the FIRST time. You can see Him clearly now. His eyes are fixed on you, and He has that beautiful gaze directed deeply into your eyes.
The questions come: "Why, Jesus? Why couldn't I climb out? I keeping falling back into this mire. I'm standing on Your Word. I'm quoting it to myself, as I climb. Why isn't it working?"
Then He quietly replies: "Because You're climbing on Your own. Your determined nature is clouding your vision. My Word was never meant to be used apart from Me. Come, I'll show you what I mean." He stretches out His hand, and this time, you grasp it for fear of remaining in your present state.
He pulls you to your feet with ease, and as you stand, you turn your back to Him and approach the wall of verses. You look up: "Sure is a long way, and I don't want to fall again."
Jesus, knowing your heart and your thoughts, looks at you and says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9).
"Isn't that interesting," you think. "Christ's power is perfected in my weakness, not my determination or stubborn will. His power...His miraculous ability to help me climb out of this well...His will for My life, is made perfect when I am weak. Hmmm...."
You start to stick your foot into the first opening that says, "We are more than conquerors who are in Christ Jesus," but then you remember He's behind you. You turn back, surprised to see Him pointing in another direction. "That one first," He replies. You look over and begin to read the writing at the bottom of the crevice: "Submit to God...Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:7, 10).
"But this hole will be harder to reach," you argue. "Wouldn't it make more sense to start with another Scripture first...one a little closer to the ground...one about victory and endurance in Christ?" You look back at Jesus, and He smiles. "Has Your way worked so far, my child?"
Realizing He's right, you shake your head and pick up your foot a little higher, shoving it into the crevice. As you do, you notice that the open crevice closes around your foot, giving the hole into a shoe-like fit, securing your foot on the wall.
Again, you follow His direction, and the same thing happens. This time the verse underneath reads, "He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber" (Ps. 121:3). It's at this point you realize, Christ was right all along: "This is the path to choose...the right verses to stand on to help me out of this well."
And those other verses - those verses that talk about victory and strength and determination? Well, they still have their place on the wall, and as you climb, you see them again. But unlike before, this time, your foot fits perfectly as you listen to Him, and you feel the strength and assurance the verses were meant to give.
You then begin to realize where you went wrong in the beginning of your ascent. You got the verses all out of order. You were trying so hard to climb the right path...without listening to the One who knows the "right path."
I hope you don't find yourself "there" today. Instead, I hope that you are at the top of the wall, praising the One Who led you out. However, if you are "there," let me encourage you: don't give up. Get back up on the wall, and this time, listen desperately to Christ. Listen to Him telling you where to place your feet. Listen to His leading, step by step. Remember to submit your strong will to Him...to what He desires for you...shrugging off your independence FROM Him and pursuing your dependence ON Him, allowing His strength to become perfected reality in your life.
Jesus, I pray for those today who are stuck at the bottom of a well...those Believers who are tired and worn out from the struggle of trying to make it out. I pray that You would whisper Your love to them...that You would reassure them of Your presence in the well...and that they would let go and turn to You. I praise You, Lord, for never leaving us nor forsaking us. I praise You that You are our Guide and our Friend. Thank You for holding our hands and placing our feet right where they need to be. You are truly amazing.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
The Cowbell
I found my cowbell the other day.
I know this probably doesn't "do" much for you, but it strikes terror into the hearts of my children. They still remember the sound of that bell clanging in their ears, as an over-excited fan jumped up and down, screaming to the top of her lungs, cheering her child on to victory.
Alex said he could hear me from the field. The sad thing is, I believe him. I throw all caution and sense of calmness to the wind, when football season comes around.
Oh, and this year - the terror has intensified. You see, this year BOTH boys are playing football, and our daughter is playing volleyball. Can you believe it?! I get excited just thinking about the feel of that bell in my hand and the anticipation of that first good ring.
My kids have already informed me that I AM NOT to ring as loudly this year. And the volleyball coach? Well, let's just say she is making me a line judge for the games, because the cow bell will have to remain untouched while inside the gym. Such sadness. I'll be a miserable line judge...having to cap my larynx and not be partial to my child, for fear of being thrown out into the parking lot.
"Why," you might ask. Why would I do this to my children? Why would I put them through the sheer misery?
Well, I really do TRY not be embarrassing. I TRY not to be loud and hold in my excitement at the games, but it just doesn't work. I CAN'T HELP IT! Those are my kids and those other kids? They aren't mine, but they might as well be, because we're all on the same team...playing for the same purpose!
It's funny, but that's the way God is with me, too. I don't think about it often enough, but it really is. Scripture calls Him my Father, and because of that, I can't help but get the picture of God up in heaven with a cow bell, cheering me on when I do something that pleases Him, and then STILL cheering me on to do better, when I fumble the ball or fail to spike it over the net.
I'm His kid. I'm His pride and joy. I am an heir to the throne and a sister to Christ Jesus. What a thought...what an occasion to find joy in and think about all day long!
Romans 8:14-15 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons (daughters) of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
When God chose me as His child, He didn't instill in me a spirit of fear. Instead, I got it all. I was adopted. I became HIS - totally, completely HIS. He is now my Father. My perfect Father, who stands on the sidelines of my life, ringing His heart out literally, cheering me on, pushing me to be the best I can be, encouraging me to continue, even when I feel like giving up, strengthening me through His Spirit. He's the best Cheerleader there ever was, and when I listen, I can hear Him above the crowds. I can hear His loving voice, celebrating my victories and encouraging me in my defeats. He's the best Fan I have. He has to be. He can't help it. I'm His kid, and He's my Dad.
And if you are a Believer...if you have given your life to Jesus and allowed Him to be your Lord - your Father - He's your Dad, too. He's cheering you on. You and I are a part of the same team, and part of the same family with a joyful, excitable, kind, gentle, encouraging, fun-filled, playful Dad on the sidelines.
Now that's a reason to celebrate.
Where's my cowbell...I feel like having a good ring!
Dearest Jesus, thank You for paying the price for me that I could be adopted into the family of God. Thank You, God, for being my heavenly Father, encouraging me, cheering for me, helping me to do what You have put me on this earth to do. Thank You for that today. I love You, Abba. I love You.
I know this probably doesn't "do" much for you, but it strikes terror into the hearts of my children. They still remember the sound of that bell clanging in their ears, as an over-excited fan jumped up and down, screaming to the top of her lungs, cheering her child on to victory.
Alex said he could hear me from the field. The sad thing is, I believe him. I throw all caution and sense of calmness to the wind, when football season comes around.
Oh, and this year - the terror has intensified. You see, this year BOTH boys are playing football, and our daughter is playing volleyball. Can you believe it?! I get excited just thinking about the feel of that bell in my hand and the anticipation of that first good ring.
My kids have already informed me that I AM NOT to ring as loudly this year. And the volleyball coach? Well, let's just say she is making me a line judge for the games, because the cow bell will have to remain untouched while inside the gym. Such sadness. I'll be a miserable line judge...having to cap my larynx and not be partial to my child, for fear of being thrown out into the parking lot.
"Why," you might ask. Why would I do this to my children? Why would I put them through the sheer misery?
Well, I really do TRY not be embarrassing. I TRY not to be loud and hold in my excitement at the games, but it just doesn't work. I CAN'T HELP IT! Those are my kids and those other kids? They aren't mine, but they might as well be, because we're all on the same team...playing for the same purpose!
It's funny, but that's the way God is with me, too. I don't think about it often enough, but it really is. Scripture calls Him my Father, and because of that, I can't help but get the picture of God up in heaven with a cow bell, cheering me on when I do something that pleases Him, and then STILL cheering me on to do better, when I fumble the ball or fail to spike it over the net.
I'm His kid. I'm His pride and joy. I am an heir to the throne and a sister to Christ Jesus. What a thought...what an occasion to find joy in and think about all day long!
Romans 8:14-15 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons (daughters) of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'"
When God chose me as His child, He didn't instill in me a spirit of fear. Instead, I got it all. I was adopted. I became HIS - totally, completely HIS. He is now my Father. My perfect Father, who stands on the sidelines of my life, ringing His heart out literally, cheering me on, pushing me to be the best I can be, encouraging me to continue, even when I feel like giving up, strengthening me through His Spirit. He's the best Cheerleader there ever was, and when I listen, I can hear Him above the crowds. I can hear His loving voice, celebrating my victories and encouraging me in my defeats. He's the best Fan I have. He has to be. He can't help it. I'm His kid, and He's my Dad.
And if you are a Believer...if you have given your life to Jesus and allowed Him to be your Lord - your Father - He's your Dad, too. He's cheering you on. You and I are a part of the same team, and part of the same family with a joyful, excitable, kind, gentle, encouraging, fun-filled, playful Dad on the sidelines.
Now that's a reason to celebrate.
Where's my cowbell...I feel like having a good ring!
Dearest Jesus, thank You for paying the price for me that I could be adopted into the family of God. Thank You, God, for being my heavenly Father, encouraging me, cheering for me, helping me to do what You have put me on this earth to do. Thank You for that today. I love You, Abba. I love You.
Friday, August 2, 2013
What if???
What if?
That phrase seems to always conjure up ideas and thoughts of dreams misplaced and hopes destroyed. As the phrase crosses our lips, we often look back over our lives with sadness and a sense that things could have been better "if."
I think we need to take a closer look into this discouraging phrase and speak some truth into it - some life. "What if?" is not always reminiscent of good things, gone bad. Sometimes the "what ifs" in our lives are reminiscent of bad things, gone good.
What in the world could that possibly mean? I'm glad you asked.
Take the Joseph for example. The Bible tells us he was sold into slavery by his brothers, accused falsely by his Egyptian master's wife, and left in prison to rot for two years, while the man that he helped set free, forgot him.
Let's just "what if" for a moment:
What if: Joseph had never been sold into slavery by his brothers?
Then: He probably would have lived the rest of his life, arguing with his brothers in the land of Canaan and died along with his family, when the worldwide famine hit years later.
What if: Joseph had never been subjected to the continual advances of his new master's wife? What if she had left him alone after he refused her the first time?
Then: He probably would have remained in the service of his master, never entering the king's household and becoming the most powerful person, besides Pharaoh, in all of Egypt.
What if: Joseph had never spent any time in prison? What if he had been released, as soon as he was incarcerated?
Then: He probably wouldn't have been as familiar with people groups other than his own and the Egyptians. Like it was, Joseph was surrounded by people - probably from other countries, with different languages, different cultures, different beliefs. There were probably dignitaries from other countries there - possibly even kings - and Joseph, being in charge, probably got a world-wide education, simply from sitting with the men in the belly of a prison.
What if: Joseph had become bitter in the midst of his hardships, instead of keeping his eyes on what God was doing?
Then: He would have ceased to be a usable vessel. He wouldn't have learned what he needed to know in order to save thousands upon thousands of people from starvation. He wouldn't have had the favor of God upon his life, so much so, that everyone around him saw that "God was with him." (Gen. 29:2)
What if: Joseph hadn't chosen to see past the bitterness of the plan, into its beauty?
Then: Life for Joseph would have become a looking back - a bitter wondering "what if" life, characterized by defeat and sadness.
What if?
What if God is doing something in the middle of your prison today that you can't see? What if He's using the very people who have mistreated you, to bring you into a life of joy and fulfillment that you wouldn't have otherwise? What if your imprisonment is the very thing that not only draws you closer to Him, but becomes the very thing that draws others to Him through you?
What if: What Satan means for evil in your life, God means for good? (Gen. 50:20).
What if...
God help me today to see into your plan. Help me to look past how I "feel" at this moment and choose to learn the invaluable things You are teaching me in the midst of this journey. Thank You for my "prison," Lord. Thank You for the things I am learning in the midst of my time spent there. Change my heart to reflect Your heart to those around me. I love You, Lord.
That phrase seems to always conjure up ideas and thoughts of dreams misplaced and hopes destroyed. As the phrase crosses our lips, we often look back over our lives with sadness and a sense that things could have been better "if."
I think we need to take a closer look into this discouraging phrase and speak some truth into it - some life. "What if?" is not always reminiscent of good things, gone bad. Sometimes the "what ifs" in our lives are reminiscent of bad things, gone good.
What in the world could that possibly mean? I'm glad you asked.
Take the Joseph for example. The Bible tells us he was sold into slavery by his brothers, accused falsely by his Egyptian master's wife, and left in prison to rot for two years, while the man that he helped set free, forgot him.
Let's just "what if" for a moment:
What if: Joseph had never been sold into slavery by his brothers?
Then: He probably would have lived the rest of his life, arguing with his brothers in the land of Canaan and died along with his family, when the worldwide famine hit years later.
What if: Joseph had never been subjected to the continual advances of his new master's wife? What if she had left him alone after he refused her the first time?
Then: He probably would have remained in the service of his master, never entering the king's household and becoming the most powerful person, besides Pharaoh, in all of Egypt.
What if: Joseph had never spent any time in prison? What if he had been released, as soon as he was incarcerated?
Then: He probably wouldn't have been as familiar with people groups other than his own and the Egyptians. Like it was, Joseph was surrounded by people - probably from other countries, with different languages, different cultures, different beliefs. There were probably dignitaries from other countries there - possibly even kings - and Joseph, being in charge, probably got a world-wide education, simply from sitting with the men in the belly of a prison.
What if: Joseph had become bitter in the midst of his hardships, instead of keeping his eyes on what God was doing?
Then: He would have ceased to be a usable vessel. He wouldn't have learned what he needed to know in order to save thousands upon thousands of people from starvation. He wouldn't have had the favor of God upon his life, so much so, that everyone around him saw that "God was with him." (Gen. 29:2)
What if: Joseph hadn't chosen to see past the bitterness of the plan, into its beauty?
Then: Life for Joseph would have become a looking back - a bitter wondering "what if" life, characterized by defeat and sadness.
What if?
What if God is doing something in the middle of your prison today that you can't see? What if He's using the very people who have mistreated you, to bring you into a life of joy and fulfillment that you wouldn't have otherwise? What if your imprisonment is the very thing that not only draws you closer to Him, but becomes the very thing that draws others to Him through you?
What if: What Satan means for evil in your life, God means for good? (Gen. 50:20).
What if...
God help me today to see into your plan. Help me to look past how I "feel" at this moment and choose to learn the invaluable things You are teaching me in the midst of this journey. Thank You for my "prison," Lord. Thank You for the things I am learning in the midst of my time spent there. Change my heart to reflect Your heart to those around me. I love You, Lord.
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