The other day, I was playing with my just-turned-one-year-old daughter when she heard the sound of the lawnmower's motor starting. Her head turned as she sought to determine the source of the sound, then she immediately crawled to the nearest window to look outside. Still not finding it, she went from one window to the next until finally she saw him: "Da Da!" she cried. She stared at him urgently, excitedly as he mowed the lawn, filled with pleasure at the sight of him and yet frustrated by not being able to be outside with him, as near to him as possible. "Da da da da da!" she yelled repeatedly. As he cut the grass and moved from one part of the yard to another, she followed along to the nearest window, still shouting, "Da da da da da!" and grinning with delight as he got closer and said hello to her.
Watching her made think of my heavenly Father. Do I look to Him throughout the day? Do I long to be near Him, fixating my gaze on Him and crying out to Him? Do I feel a sense of urgency to focus on Him and follow along with where He is and what He is doing? Do I delight in His love for me? Sadly, the answer is mostly no. Seeing my daughter's desperation to watch her "Dada" reminded me of how urgently I need to focus my eyes on God and how much joy is to be found in Him.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Make Room for Peace
Stop for just a few seconds and breathe deeply. Take five slow breaths in and out.
Was that difficult for you? Did you feel like you were wasting time that could be spent on something more significant?
My mind is constantly revving, always thinking of several things at once. In addition, I love to read, and between books, newspapers, magazines, mail, the Internet, and so on, I'm regularly filling my mind with even more information. New facts to learn, new world events to fret over, new products I need and home improvements to consider. My brain's cup overfloweth. But it's just too much.
Beyond that, there are life's personal challenges to consider, friends and family who need to be loved and prayed for, etc. And sometimes life seems weighed down with worries, pain, and burdens.
I've been awakened to the fact that I have far too little peace in my life. Even when I'm not feeling as anxiety prone as I might at other times, the mental and emotional space somehow gets filled with lots of other junk. It's not all junk, but it also doesn't need to occupy so much attention or urgency.
I've found that the more cluttered my mind is, the less room there is for me to truly focus on God. I'm learning that I need to train myself to seek and enjoy peace. It might only be for 10 minutes a day, but I am trying to prioritize peace. That might look different for different people or on different days. For me, one day I might focus on a few Bible verses related to peace. Another day I might listen to calming music on my iPod. Or I might step outside, maybe for a walk, or maybe just for a few minutes to breathe fresh air and thank God for His creation. Whatever works best for you, I urge you to make some time for a little peace each day.
Here are just a few of my favorite peace-related verses:
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (Psalm 94:19)
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, o Lord, make me to dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6)
Was that difficult for you? Did you feel like you were wasting time that could be spent on something more significant?
My mind is constantly revving, always thinking of several things at once. In addition, I love to read, and between books, newspapers, magazines, mail, the Internet, and so on, I'm regularly filling my mind with even more information. New facts to learn, new world events to fret over, new products I need and home improvements to consider. My brain's cup overfloweth. But it's just too much.
Beyond that, there are life's personal challenges to consider, friends and family who need to be loved and prayed for, etc. And sometimes life seems weighed down with worries, pain, and burdens.
I've been awakened to the fact that I have far too little peace in my life. Even when I'm not feeling as anxiety prone as I might at other times, the mental and emotional space somehow gets filled with lots of other junk. It's not all junk, but it also doesn't need to occupy so much attention or urgency.
I've found that the more cluttered my mind is, the less room there is for me to truly focus on God. I'm learning that I need to train myself to seek and enjoy peace. It might only be for 10 minutes a day, but I am trying to prioritize peace. That might look different for different people or on different days. For me, one day I might focus on a few Bible verses related to peace. Another day I might listen to calming music on my iPod. Or I might step outside, maybe for a walk, or maybe just for a few minutes to breathe fresh air and thank God for His creation. Whatever works best for you, I urge you to make some time for a little peace each day.
Here are just a few of my favorite peace-related verses:
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul." (Psalm 94:19)
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, o Lord, make me to dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Trusting God
You just need to trust God. How many times has someone told me that? How many times have I said it to myself? And yet, so many times I've failed to understand that properly.
For many years, I think I interpreted "trusting God" as trusting that He would work everything out according to my preference or safety. I'd find myself anxious about an upcoming flight (what if the plane crashes?), a job interview (what if I say the wrong thing? or don't get the job?), confronting a friend, making decisions, dealing with job loss, and much more, and think, "I just need to trust God more." But what that meant to me was trusting that God would keep me safe, protect me, help me ace the interview, help me not to lose a friendship, help me make the right decision, or help me find a job (preferably on my timetable). While God obviously can do all these things -- He is all powerful! -- He doesn't always. He knows the best plan for us, and sometimes He intervenes to protect us from harm but not always. I've learned that trusting God doesn't mean trusting that everything will go smoothly.
The dictionary defines trust as "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence" and "confident expectation of something; hope." God is the most worthy object of our trust, completely reliable in every way. However, we must be certain that we are trusting in Him rather than for Him to produce a desired outcome. I can still talk with Him openly in prayer and ask for that outcome. But my faith must not be shaken if I don't get what I want.
The ultimate example, as always, is Jesus. I remember how he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) I'm trying to adjust my prayers accordingly.
Recently I was praying specifically that a negative thing would not happen to me. When that thing happened anyway, disappointment filled me. What was the point of praying? Hadn't I shown that I trusted that God could do this for me? Yes, God did have the power to protect me from that situation happening. And I'm certain He had compassion on me as I experienced it. But for some reason, He didn't prevent it. Through it, I learned (again) of the need to apply "Thy will be done" to my prayers just as Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Sometimes I even say something to the effect of "Thy will be done, and help me to accept Thy will." One thing we can always trust is that God will walk through any difficult circumstance with us and will give us the power to endure in our faith if we ask Him.
For many years, I think I interpreted "trusting God" as trusting that He would work everything out according to my preference or safety. I'd find myself anxious about an upcoming flight (what if the plane crashes?), a job interview (what if I say the wrong thing? or don't get the job?), confronting a friend, making decisions, dealing with job loss, and much more, and think, "I just need to trust God more." But what that meant to me was trusting that God would keep me safe, protect me, help me ace the interview, help me not to lose a friendship, help me make the right decision, or help me find a job (preferably on my timetable). While God obviously can do all these things -- He is all powerful! -- He doesn't always. He knows the best plan for us, and sometimes He intervenes to protect us from harm but not always. I've learned that trusting God doesn't mean trusting that everything will go smoothly.
The dictionary defines trust as "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence" and "confident expectation of something; hope." God is the most worthy object of our trust, completely reliable in every way. However, we must be certain that we are trusting in Him rather than for Him to produce a desired outcome. I can still talk with Him openly in prayer and ask for that outcome. But my faith must not be shaken if I don't get what I want.
The ultimate example, as always, is Jesus. I remember how he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) I'm trying to adjust my prayers accordingly.
Recently I was praying specifically that a negative thing would not happen to me. When that thing happened anyway, disappointment filled me. What was the point of praying? Hadn't I shown that I trusted that God could do this for me? Yes, God did have the power to protect me from that situation happening. And I'm certain He had compassion on me as I experienced it. But for some reason, He didn't prevent it. Through it, I learned (again) of the need to apply "Thy will be done" to my prayers just as Jesus taught his disciples to pray. Sometimes I even say something to the effect of "Thy will be done, and help me to accept Thy will." One thing we can always trust is that God will walk through any difficult circumstance with us and will give us the power to endure in our faith if we ask Him.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Why I (Sometimes) Love Studying the Bible
- I've always been someone who wishes God would speak to me audibly, especially at crucial moments of decision. The Bible contains God's words and exactly what I need to know about life here on earth (and thereafter!). It's the next-best thing to actually hearing His voice out loud.
- Every time I read or study a book of the Bible or read a passage, even if it's one I'm very familiar with, I notice something new that's applicable to my life.
- It's full of people who are just as messed up as I am.
- It reminds me who I am in Christ and the importance of reflecting on that instead of what the world or the culture currently values.
- Reading the prayers of Jesus, David, Paul, and more teaches me how to pray.
- I love when one passage leads to another, which informs the first, and when I see the connection between one part of the Bible and others and marvel at God's plan in putting together this book.
- In the Old Testament, I enjoy discovering passages from books like Isaiah, Psalms, and more that point so explicitly to the identity and mission of Jesus.
- Reading the Bible is a way of preaching to myself and reminding myself of the endless nuggets of wisdom that are so easily forgotten.
- It helps make more of Christ and less of me, while at the same time becoming more of who God created me to be.
Now to address the "sometimes" part. I have great difficulty studying the Bible completely on my own. I much prefer to do it in the context of some type of group accountability. I like having "homework" and having to complete it by a certain day; otherwise, it's too easy not to do it or do only do it when I "feel" like it. With homework, I do it consistently because I committed to it. Somehow I don't slip into legalism, though some may struggle with that. Without a group, it's important to at least have a plan. Pick a certain book of the Bible to study, maybe even get a study guide or other resources, and plan ahead for the coming month(s). You'll be more likely to follow through. I guess the point of this is we each need to know ourselves and what works best for each of us and in different seasons of life. I often don't think I've fully processed something I'm learning until I've discussed it with someone else. That may not be true for you.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Preventing Spiritual Amnesia
You know the feeling--you've just returned from a Christian retreat or conference, and you're bursting with new knowledge you're excited to apply to your life. Or you've finished reading a book that seems to have shifted your thinking in a significant way. Maybe it's as simple as a particularly affecting time of worshipping God or a great conversation with a friend about spiritual matters. There's a sense of fullness, of motivation, of life changing for the better.
But you're quickly drawn back into the mundane matters of life, whatever those are for you. Responsibilities. Sitting at a desk getting work done, making phone calls, doing laundry, sitting in traffic, feeding hungry kids, doing the dishes. Over the course of a month, a week, or even the same day, the fresh lessons begin to seep out of you, and you return to old habits.
I've experienced this countless times, and recently was reading and discussing a Christian book with a group and had it happen again. With each chapter I amassed food for thought and new insights for, with God's help, making positive changes in my life. The day of the discussion or of reading that week's chapter, I maintained an awareness of the information and changed my behavior accordingly. But on the other days, I experienced varying degrees of forgetfulness. A couple weeks ago we discussed the last chapter, and I felt a low-grade panic: What if I forgot everything from the book and lost it forever? Was this material doomed to hiss out of me like air from a balloon?
It got me thinking: What could I do to prevent this spiritual amnesia? Here's what I've come up with so far, but I'd like to hear from others as well:
But you're quickly drawn back into the mundane matters of life, whatever those are for you. Responsibilities. Sitting at a desk getting work done, making phone calls, doing laundry, sitting in traffic, feeding hungry kids, doing the dishes. Over the course of a month, a week, or even the same day, the fresh lessons begin to seep out of you, and you return to old habits.
I've experienced this countless times, and recently was reading and discussing a Christian book with a group and had it happen again. With each chapter I amassed food for thought and new insights for, with God's help, making positive changes in my life. The day of the discussion or of reading that week's chapter, I maintained an awareness of the information and changed my behavior accordingly. But on the other days, I experienced varying degrees of forgetfulness. A couple weeks ago we discussed the last chapter, and I felt a low-grade panic: What if I forgot everything from the book and lost it forever? Was this material doomed to hiss out of me like air from a balloon?
It got me thinking: What could I do to prevent this spiritual amnesia? Here's what I've come up with so far, but I'd like to hear from others as well:
- Find God in the ordinary moments of life. Train yourself over time to think about, talk to, and just be with God regardless of what you're doing. Sometimes I stand at the sink washing the dishes and think "I can be with God right here, right now!" Keep your eyes out for blessings, even ones that are more hidden (laundry is a blessing because it means I have clothes to wear, and if I'm also doing others' laundry it means I have people in my life and home).
- Make it a priority to hang out with others who are like-minded. I've found that I am much more likely to keep my mind set on spiritual things if I'm around others who are also seeking God and imitating Christ.
- Teach what you learned to someone else. Obviously make sure you have a willing "student" first! This could be in a formal or informal setting.
Remind yourself of what you learned. Write a few summary points in a journal, or post a notecard somewhere with a one-sentence reminder. - Memorize scripture related to what you learned. Bible Gateway is a great tool for quickly looking up Bible verses on various topics if you need help finding ideas.
- Don't move on to the next topic of study until you have a better handle on this one. Sometimes I am very quick to put down one book and immediately open the next, or finish reading or studying a book of the Bible and jump into the next one. It might be even better to continue delving into the topic that has excited you for a while longer and let it settle in rather than speeding forward to the next victim of spiritual amnesia.
Monday, March 14, 2011
God's Fierce Love
Maybe the word fierce has recently been associated with Tyra Banks and Beyonce, but for me it has come to describe one aspect of God's love for us. I've been studying Isaiah (with Bible Study Fellowship), so you may see me increasingly referring to it here. This book of the Bible is chock full of details about God's relationship with the Israelites, which I think gives us all insights into how we interact with God.
The intensitiy and protectiveness of God for His people has struck me repeatedly as I've read various chapters in Isaiah. Not only does God tell them they shouldn't fear because He will be with them, and that He will strengthen them and help them (41:10), He says
I can only compare this fierce love to the love a parent has for a child, where if the child were attacked the parent would not just passively try to get her back but would respond with fervor, doing everything possible to retrieve that child. God is saying that if someone treats His people poorly, that person (or entity) will have to deal with Him and be punished accordingly.
I confess: That last one shocked me a little. For those who think we worship a namby-pamby God, they couldn't be more wrong. This is a God Who would stop at nothing to redeem His people. He stopped at nothing to redeem the Gentiles, too -- He sent His Son to provide a way for us all to be redeemed.
I am encouraged that the God who loved the Israelites so fiercely loves me the same way. Another part that stood out to me was "Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame." It's like God is saying that hope in Him is guaranteed to be worthwhile. There are so many other things we can put our hope in, but when we put our hope in God we are 100% guaranteed not to be disappointed because He alone has the power to fulfill all His promises. It strengthens my soul to know that He is worthy of my hope.
The intensitiy and protectiveness of God for His people has struck me repeatedly as I've read various chapters in Isaiah. Not only does God tell them they shouldn't fear because He will be with them, and that He will strengthen them and help them (41:10), He says
Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish. (41:11)
I can only compare this fierce love to the love a parent has for a child, where if the child were attacked the parent would not just passively try to get her back but would respond with fervor, doing everything possible to retrieve that child. God is saying that if someone treats His people poorly, that person (or entity) will have to deal with Him and be punished accordingly.
The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against his enemies. (42:13)
Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. (43:4)
Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet: And you will know that I am the LORD; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame...I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons. I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh, And they will become drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine; And all flesh will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (49:23, 25b-26)
I confess: That last one shocked me a little. For those who think we worship a namby-pamby God, they couldn't be more wrong. This is a God Who would stop at nothing to redeem His people. He stopped at nothing to redeem the Gentiles, too -- He sent His Son to provide a way for us all to be redeemed.
I am encouraged that the God who loved the Israelites so fiercely loves me the same way. Another part that stood out to me was "Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame." It's like God is saying that hope in Him is guaranteed to be worthwhile. There are so many other things we can put our hope in, but when we put our hope in God we are 100% guaranteed not to be disappointed because He alone has the power to fulfill all His promises. It strengthens my soul to know that He is worthy of my hope.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Spiritual Kick in the Pants
Have you ever had a spiritual kick in the pants? A wake-up call from God? I've had multiple times in my life when I was shaken out of my relative apathy into rapt attention.
In Revelation 3, God addresses the church in Laodicea and comments that he will spit them out of His mouth because they are lukewarm. We also know from Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord disciplines those He loves. Sometimes He sends things across our paths that wake us up from complacency so we can return to Him. Or difficulties come our way that might not be from God, but He uses them to renew our faith.
Recently, I've been going through a trial. This trial has propelled me to cry out to God in my questioning, in the darkness, in the pain. It's caused me to sense Jesus' presence when I need it most and reminded me that He can relate to any suffering that comes my way. I pray that this sense of intimacy with God can be sustained even after the worst part of the trial has passed. We all know how easily we can fall back into old habits when the sense of urgency is gone.
Through this situation I'm experiencing, I've realized that it is certain that difficulties will come our way in life. Occasionally I partially create those difficulties through my own poor choices. But many times things just happen and couldn't have been forseen or prevented. Christians are not immune to difficulties. In fact, 1 Peter 4:12 says we should not be surprised when we suffer. And James 1:2 says we should consider it a joy when we encounter trials.
We can't avoid trials, but we can know one thing for certain: God is with us during them. There are many encouraging passages to this effect in the Bible, but here is one that has been meaningful to me recently:
"'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you...you are precious in My sight...you are honored and I love you...Do not fear, for I am with you..." Isaiah 43:1b-2, 4a, 5a (NASB)
How reassuring to know that God loves us and is with us each moment of each day! Sometimes even when I'm not "feeling" His presence I repeat truth to myself so I remember what's right. That's why Scripture memory, though not my strong suit, can be so helpful. In the moment of need, it is easier to pull out a helpful verse from your mind than to hope a Bible will be nearby and that you'll have the wherewithal to open it and find an apt verse.
My latest spiritual wake-up call has pressed me to a greater commitment to Bible reading, prayer, and more consistently looking to Him throughout my day for every need instead of filling myself up with empty things.
I've also had a kick in the pants from a book I recently started reading, A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. I'm only a handful of chapters in, and it's already opening my eyes to the plight of the world's poor and how helping them is part of bringing the kingdom of God to earth. I encourage you to check it out if you're looking for an interesting read.
In Revelation 3, God addresses the church in Laodicea and comments that he will spit them out of His mouth because they are lukewarm. We also know from Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord disciplines those He loves. Sometimes He sends things across our paths that wake us up from complacency so we can return to Him. Or difficulties come our way that might not be from God, but He uses them to renew our faith.
Recently, I've been going through a trial. This trial has propelled me to cry out to God in my questioning, in the darkness, in the pain. It's caused me to sense Jesus' presence when I need it most and reminded me that He can relate to any suffering that comes my way. I pray that this sense of intimacy with God can be sustained even after the worst part of the trial has passed. We all know how easily we can fall back into old habits when the sense of urgency is gone.
Through this situation I'm experiencing, I've realized that it is certain that difficulties will come our way in life. Occasionally I partially create those difficulties through my own poor choices. But many times things just happen and couldn't have been forseen or prevented. Christians are not immune to difficulties. In fact, 1 Peter 4:12 says we should not be surprised when we suffer. And James 1:2 says we should consider it a joy when we encounter trials.
We can't avoid trials, but we can know one thing for certain: God is with us during them. There are many encouraging passages to this effect in the Bible, but here is one that has been meaningful to me recently:
"'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you...you are precious in My sight...you are honored and I love you...Do not fear, for I am with you..." Isaiah 43:1b-2, 4a, 5a (NASB)
How reassuring to know that God loves us and is with us each moment of each day! Sometimes even when I'm not "feeling" His presence I repeat truth to myself so I remember what's right. That's why Scripture memory, though not my strong suit, can be so helpful. In the moment of need, it is easier to pull out a helpful verse from your mind than to hope a Bible will be nearby and that you'll have the wherewithal to open it and find an apt verse.
My latest spiritual wake-up call has pressed me to a greater commitment to Bible reading, prayer, and more consistently looking to Him throughout my day for every need instead of filling myself up with empty things.
I've also had a kick in the pants from a book I recently started reading, A Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, President of World Vision. I'm only a handful of chapters in, and it's already opening my eyes to the plight of the world's poor and how helping them is part of bringing the kingdom of God to earth. I encourage you to check it out if you're looking for an interesting read.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Jesus' Prescription for a Healthy Soul
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit...Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15: 1-2, 4-5
Holy Ambition
With God's help, my desires for money and prestige have been tamed over the years (with occasional relapses). Back in junior high school, I remember evaluating future careers based on how much money I'd make. By the time I entered college, I had a double major in English literature and creative writing -- certainly not the typical route to a high income.
Over the years, however, I've noticed that my ambition leans toward worthier goals, focused on making a difference in the world for the glory of God. There is a place deep inside me that longs to influence others for good, have a sense of purpose, be a part of something that lasts beyond my lifetime here on earth.
Sometimes, though, I struggle with the question of whether this desire is truly pure of heart. (Prepare for some soul-baring here...) Here's when the red flag goes off: I hear about people who are my age and similar to me in many ways who are pastoring churches, leading ministries and non-profits, publishing books, sitting on boards, rubbing shoulders with the Christian "bigwigs" of our country and the world (not to imply that the "bigwigs" sought that out). When I see others doing these things, I think Why am I not doing things like that? My life and contribution seems so insignificant in comparison. Am I a Christian underachiever?
Am I the only one who has these thoughts?
The truth is, there is an element in my life of letting fear hold me back from trying "big" things. There's also an element of lacking focus -- I have multiple interests but excel at none. And there's nothing wrong with hungering for a sense of purpose or wanting to contribute or use my gifts and abilities for God's glory.
BUT...I think a bigger element is that I am right where I'm supposed to be, that I am having an influence in tiny ways that few will ever see (and who else needs to know but God anyway?), and that His main concern is that I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul and love others as myself. He doesn't care that I haven't gone to seminary, been published, planted a church, etc., as long as I am being faithful with whatever he's given me right now. He loves me as I am.
That doesn't mean that it's wrong to do the aforementioned sorts of things if God so leads. But for me, for right now, I'm just going to give Him my attention and trust that if I'm heading off course or missing something He has in store for me, He will show me the way. I will seek to be faithful with what I have been given and trust that there's a reason I'm exactly where I am and seek to learn from it.
I would love to hear if any readers also have these kinds of thoughts. I think "holy ambition" can also play itself out in the local church as some members become overinvolved or have their feelings hurt when they are not chosen to do certain things, lead ministries, etc.
Over the years, however, I've noticed that my ambition leans toward worthier goals, focused on making a difference in the world for the glory of God. There is a place deep inside me that longs to influence others for good, have a sense of purpose, be a part of something that lasts beyond my lifetime here on earth.
Sometimes, though, I struggle with the question of whether this desire is truly pure of heart. (Prepare for some soul-baring here...) Here's when the red flag goes off: I hear about people who are my age and similar to me in many ways who are pastoring churches, leading ministries and non-profits, publishing books, sitting on boards, rubbing shoulders with the Christian "bigwigs" of our country and the world (not to imply that the "bigwigs" sought that out). When I see others doing these things, I think Why am I not doing things like that? My life and contribution seems so insignificant in comparison. Am I a Christian underachiever?
Am I the only one who has these thoughts?
The truth is, there is an element in my life of letting fear hold me back from trying "big" things. There's also an element of lacking focus -- I have multiple interests but excel at none. And there's nothing wrong with hungering for a sense of purpose or wanting to contribute or use my gifts and abilities for God's glory.
BUT...I think a bigger element is that I am right where I'm supposed to be, that I am having an influence in tiny ways that few will ever see (and who else needs to know but God anyway?), and that His main concern is that I love Him with all my heart, mind and soul and love others as myself. He doesn't care that I haven't gone to seminary, been published, planted a church, etc., as long as I am being faithful with whatever he's given me right now. He loves me as I am.
That doesn't mean that it's wrong to do the aforementioned sorts of things if God so leads. But for me, for right now, I'm just going to give Him my attention and trust that if I'm heading off course or missing something He has in store for me, He will show me the way. I will seek to be faithful with what I have been given and trust that there's a reason I'm exactly where I am and seek to learn from it.
I would love to hear if any readers also have these kinds of thoughts. I think "holy ambition" can also play itself out in the local church as some members become overinvolved or have their feelings hurt when they are not chosen to do certain things, lead ministries, etc.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Inside the Mind of a Church Visitor
My family is looking for a church community that will be a good fit for us. We moved to this area nearly a year ago, but only recently learned where we're likely to land on a more long-term basis. Thus, the search for a church home has resumed (we found a temporary home this summer at a church with a kid-friendly service where we could easily include our young child).
Last Sunday as I sat in another perfectly fine but not right for us church, I found myself rapidly writing down notes about all the things that, regardless of denomination, can make things friendlier for visitors. Several years ago I was on a church committee where we often discussed how well our church welcomed visitors and subsequently connected them with the church body as a whole and met their needs. It was difficult for me to remember how it felt to be a visitor, so I'm sharing some of my thoughts in case they are helpful to any of this blog's readers. (Of course, this is only my perspective, and I'm sure coming from a different faith background (or lack thereof) could add another layer of questions and concerns.
On the way to the service, questions flood my mind: How do I get there? Did I wear something appropriate? Do I need to bring my Bible or anything else? Where do I park? Where do I enter the building? Where do I sit?
Churches that offer guest parking spots make parking simple. Conversely, those with severe parking issues (not enough spaces in the lot for the attendees) seriously need to address the problem. I contemplated leaving last weekend because I literally could not find a place to park. I ended up in a nearby lot for a business that wasn't open at the time. Not every guest will be that persistent.
Make sure to have a pile of bulletins/programs placed near entrances for latecomers. Also, ushers should not be shy about actually helping people find seats (maybe even discreetly asking if a person would prefer to sit in the front, middle or back). I thought I found a seat last week but the entire pew, it seemed, was being saved with coats and Bibles. I ended up in the back, the only place I could find a seat.
Be sure to have song lyrics available either in hymnals, printouts, or onscreen. Don't assume that everyone knows the words to songs that are widely known in your church.
If you do communion, be sure that visitors understand your approach (doctrinally and logistically) eitiher through an announcement or an explanation in the bulletin.
Try to make it clear, either with signs or volunteers, which entrance is closest to where the service takes place.
Try to have greeters and ushers remain on duty for 5-10 minutes after the start of the service. Due to various reasons, visitors are likely to be late, and they are the people who most need assistance.
Be sure to have extra Bibles available and/or put the words from a passage onscreen. (Side note: a church we attended where we previously lived had tissue boxes in each row, and I appreciated that several times!)
Please don't force visitors to stand up, raise hands, introduce themselves, or be called out in any way. Often guests just want to get a feel for what your church is like. They typically appreciate some level of friendliness but not undue focus on them.
On the other hand, if your church has a time where the congregation greets each other, be sure to make an effort to look for people who might be visiting (including in the back) so they are not overly ignored.
If you have certain announcements that might be relevant to visitors, wait to make them until 10-15 minutes into the service so latecomers don't miss anything important.
Have 1-2 (or more, depending on the size of your church) volunteers ready to help parents learn what the options are for their kids (unless there aren't any). It is nerve wracking leaving your young child in a nursery or preschool (or other) area for the first time. It helps if someone is there to explain how things work, escort you to the appropriate area for your child, etc.
Related to that, make sure your children's areas are very secure! I'll never forget the time we came to retrieve our child, who was in the hallway unsupervised near an exit. We made an effort to tell the room leaders that we were the parents and they didn't seem to care. This was after an extremely detailed signup process that implied they had a great system.
Try to have ample materials related to your church available in an obvious spot. Guests will want to know what your church believes, what programs are available, and much more. Make it easy to find.
Also, if you have a welcome center or similar area, try to make sure that both a man and a woman are always available in case a visitor isn't comfortable approaching one or the other alone.
I'm sure you'll all have a lot to add, but those are my thoughts so far. I'd love to hear more comments on your thoughts about visiting churches and/or things that have or haven't worked at your churches.
Last Sunday as I sat in another perfectly fine but not right for us church, I found myself rapidly writing down notes about all the things that, regardless of denomination, can make things friendlier for visitors. Several years ago I was on a church committee where we often discussed how well our church welcomed visitors and subsequently connected them with the church body as a whole and met their needs. It was difficult for me to remember how it felt to be a visitor, so I'm sharing some of my thoughts in case they are helpful to any of this blog's readers. (Of course, this is only my perspective, and I'm sure coming from a different faith background (or lack thereof) could add another layer of questions and concerns.
On the way to the service, questions flood my mind: How do I get there? Did I wear something appropriate? Do I need to bring my Bible or anything else? Where do I park? Where do I enter the building? Where do I sit?
Churches that offer guest parking spots make parking simple. Conversely, those with severe parking issues (not enough spaces in the lot for the attendees) seriously need to address the problem. I contemplated leaving last weekend because I literally could not find a place to park. I ended up in a nearby lot for a business that wasn't open at the time. Not every guest will be that persistent.
Make sure to have a pile of bulletins/programs placed near entrances for latecomers. Also, ushers should not be shy about actually helping people find seats (maybe even discreetly asking if a person would prefer to sit in the front, middle or back). I thought I found a seat last week but the entire pew, it seemed, was being saved with coats and Bibles. I ended up in the back, the only place I could find a seat.
Be sure to have song lyrics available either in hymnals, printouts, or onscreen. Don't assume that everyone knows the words to songs that are widely known in your church.
If you do communion, be sure that visitors understand your approach (doctrinally and logistically) eitiher through an announcement or an explanation in the bulletin.
Try to make it clear, either with signs or volunteers, which entrance is closest to where the service takes place.
Try to have greeters and ushers remain on duty for 5-10 minutes after the start of the service. Due to various reasons, visitors are likely to be late, and they are the people who most need assistance.
Be sure to have extra Bibles available and/or put the words from a passage onscreen. (Side note: a church we attended where we previously lived had tissue boxes in each row, and I appreciated that several times!)
Please don't force visitors to stand up, raise hands, introduce themselves, or be called out in any way. Often guests just want to get a feel for what your church is like. They typically appreciate some level of friendliness but not undue focus on them.
On the other hand, if your church has a time where the congregation greets each other, be sure to make an effort to look for people who might be visiting (including in the back) so they are not overly ignored.
If you have certain announcements that might be relevant to visitors, wait to make them until 10-15 minutes into the service so latecomers don't miss anything important.
Have 1-2 (or more, depending on the size of your church) volunteers ready to help parents learn what the options are for their kids (unless there aren't any). It is nerve wracking leaving your young child in a nursery or preschool (or other) area for the first time. It helps if someone is there to explain how things work, escort you to the appropriate area for your child, etc.
Related to that, make sure your children's areas are very secure! I'll never forget the time we came to retrieve our child, who was in the hallway unsupervised near an exit. We made an effort to tell the room leaders that we were the parents and they didn't seem to care. This was after an extremely detailed signup process that implied they had a great system.
Try to have ample materials related to your church available in an obvious spot. Guests will want to know what your church believes, what programs are available, and much more. Make it easy to find.
Also, if you have a welcome center or similar area, try to make sure that both a man and a woman are always available in case a visitor isn't comfortable approaching one or the other alone.
I'm sure you'll all have a lot to add, but those are my thoughts so far. I'd love to hear more comments on your thoughts about visiting churches and/or things that have or haven't worked at your churches.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
In Defense of a Moment of Silence
Our ears are overflowing with sound throughout the day. Coworkers, children, TV, radio, trains, horns honking, construction, alarms and timers going off, and so on. Beyond that, we have the "noise" of browsing the Internet, reading the newspaper, even looking at billboards as we drive past them, and the general buzz of an endless string of thoughts and concerns that fills our minds.
At times, I have even been known to sabatoge perfectly peaceful quiet moments by seeking to fill the silence -- turning on the TV just to hear the sound of another person's voice when I'm home alone, reading a book, listening to the radio in the car, or flipping mindlessly through a magazine. There's nothing wrong with any of those things in particular. But if we're constantly giving in to the "noise," we may be missing out on something even better.
Is there space in your life to hear what God might want to tell you? Is there a time when you allot even a few minutes here and there to just being with Him, knowing that He loves you and you love Him, without an agenda? I've sensed lately that God has been nudging me to learn to take pleasure simply in being with Him and contemplating Him.
I am the mom of a preschooler, so I can't get away very often for personal retreat time. Maybe you have similar personal constraints (really, blessings!). That doesn't mean we're exempt from creating bits of silence in our lives. The bits might just be smaller or less frequent than we might have time for in other seasons of life -- but the point is to be mindful of creating some space instead of rushing to fill the potential segments of time with mindless "noise" like I am often guilty of.
No one's time was under more demands than Jesus -- he had disciples constantly asking him questions and looking to him for wisdom and guidance, crowds following his every move, Pharisees and Saduccees looking to challenge him, sick people crying out to be healed, and much more! And yet we see multiple examples of him withdrawing for some time with the Father (and there were likely countless more that went undocumented -- after all, we don't get an account of every meal he ate or every little thing he did on a daily basis). "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Luke 5:16
My goal for now is to be more mindful, more aware of potential bits of time when I can truly quiet my mind and be with God throughout my day. It doesn't have to be a long stretch of time. It could be as simple as stepping out my back door, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the birds sing, saying a prayer of thankfulness to God, telling Him I love Him, and then being silent for a moment so I can listen, just like in a regular conversation with someone I love.
At times, I have even been known to sabatoge perfectly peaceful quiet moments by seeking to fill the silence -- turning on the TV just to hear the sound of another person's voice when I'm home alone, reading a book, listening to the radio in the car, or flipping mindlessly through a magazine. There's nothing wrong with any of those things in particular. But if we're constantly giving in to the "noise," we may be missing out on something even better.
Is there space in your life to hear what God might want to tell you? Is there a time when you allot even a few minutes here and there to just being with Him, knowing that He loves you and you love Him, without an agenda? I've sensed lately that God has been nudging me to learn to take pleasure simply in being with Him and contemplating Him.
I am the mom of a preschooler, so I can't get away very often for personal retreat time. Maybe you have similar personal constraints (really, blessings!). That doesn't mean we're exempt from creating bits of silence in our lives. The bits might just be smaller or less frequent than we might have time for in other seasons of life -- but the point is to be mindful of creating some space instead of rushing to fill the potential segments of time with mindless "noise" like I am often guilty of.
No one's time was under more demands than Jesus -- he had disciples constantly asking him questions and looking to him for wisdom and guidance, crowds following his every move, Pharisees and Saduccees looking to challenge him, sick people crying out to be healed, and much more! And yet we see multiple examples of him withdrawing for some time with the Father (and there were likely countless more that went undocumented -- after all, we don't get an account of every meal he ate or every little thing he did on a daily basis). "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." Luke 5:16
My goal for now is to be more mindful, more aware of potential bits of time when I can truly quiet my mind and be with God throughout my day. It doesn't have to be a long stretch of time. It could be as simple as stepping out my back door, breathing in the fresh air, listening to the birds sing, saying a prayer of thankfulness to God, telling Him I love Him, and then being silent for a moment so I can listen, just like in a regular conversation with someone I love.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Glimpses of Heaven
"The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell." Randy Alcorn, from his book Heaven
I recently began reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I'm only on about page 68 or so, and it's already re-shaping my views on Heaven and bringing to light how seldom this topic is discussed among Christians or preached about. I picked up the book with a specific hope: that it will help diminish my fear of death. The existence of this fear has often made me feel that my faith is not strong enough, but I think it's really my understanding of the reality of Heaven that is weak.
The quote above stood out to me because I have often felt that there are specific experiences or moments in my life that were like bits of Heaven on earth or little loving touches from God. Alcorn goes on to discuss that earth might have been inspired by Heaven in sort of the same way that humans were created in God's image. This got me thinking: Could it be worthwhile, or even a spiritual exercise, to create a greater awareness of those heavenly moments and be more intentional about thanking God for them and using them as a reminder to set our minds on Heaven and eternity?
Conversely, those darkest moments of our lives here on earth could be promptings to thank God for His grace in sparing us from Hell and to pray for others to open themselves to faith in Him.
Sometimes we view the spiritual and things that can be experienced with our senses as completely separate, possibly even in opposition to each other. But what could be more spiritual than taking in a beautiful view of the mountains or sunset and then saying thank you to the Creator and meditating on the beauty of his works? So many things that can be felt, seen, heard, tasted, or touched could actually be foretastes of the incredible life that awaits us in Heaven.
More thoughts on this to come, but I would be curious to hear what some of your "foretaste of Heaven" moments might be.
I recently began reading the book Heaven by Randy Alcorn. I'm only on about page 68 or so, and it's already re-shaping my views on Heaven and bringing to light how seldom this topic is discussed among Christians or preached about. I picked up the book with a specific hope: that it will help diminish my fear of death. The existence of this fear has often made me feel that my faith is not strong enough, but I think it's really my understanding of the reality of Heaven that is weak.
The quote above stood out to me because I have often felt that there are specific experiences or moments in my life that were like bits of Heaven on earth or little loving touches from God. Alcorn goes on to discuss that earth might have been inspired by Heaven in sort of the same way that humans were created in God's image. This got me thinking: Could it be worthwhile, or even a spiritual exercise, to create a greater awareness of those heavenly moments and be more intentional about thanking God for them and using them as a reminder to set our minds on Heaven and eternity?
Conversely, those darkest moments of our lives here on earth could be promptings to thank God for His grace in sparing us from Hell and to pray for others to open themselves to faith in Him.
Sometimes we view the spiritual and things that can be experienced with our senses as completely separate, possibly even in opposition to each other. But what could be more spiritual than taking in a beautiful view of the mountains or sunset and then saying thank you to the Creator and meditating on the beauty of his works? So many things that can be felt, seen, heard, tasted, or touched could actually be foretastes of the incredible life that awaits us in Heaven.
More thoughts on this to come, but I would be curious to hear what some of your "foretaste of Heaven" moments might be.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Stewardship of the Home
I've found that in Christian circles we often say things like "my money is really God's money" or "this home really belongs to God." Then again, my husband is a Certified Financial Planner and a Christian, so maybe I hear these types of things more than most. But I wonder whether, at the heart level, we actually live that way? I thought I did until I recently had to give up my home.
We had lived in our house for 9 1/2 years and needed to sell it. Although I didn't expect to live in the house forever, the timing was not of my choosing. The act of putting a For Sale sign in front of the house was excrutiating. I am a very sentimental person, and I kept thinking through all the beloved memories that took place in that home: various small group meetings, gatherings with friends and family, meals around the table, bringing my baby home from the hospital, digging all the beds around the house ourselves while the sunlight faded into evening, and so on. Our "fingerprints" were all over the house and yard. Suddenly I realized that I had an "it's mine!" attitude.
When the sign was placed in the yard and I started cleaning frantically for the first showing, I had a sudden realization: the house was never mine. It was always God's, mine only to care for and manage well. Part of managing it well would be to present it in the best light possible so that it could sell, and sell for a decent price. My mind started to shift into managerial mode and I wanted to honor God with the way I prepared and cared for the house. I proceeded with the process of letting it go, thankful for the time spent there and realizing that it did not belong to me.
The house ended up selling within a week, and everything proceeded quickly from there. But thanks to that nudging from the Holy Spirit, though some tears were shed (mostly related more to leaving precious friends), it became easier to leave the place we'd called home.
But like any other discipline, cultivating an attitude of stewardship rather than a tight-fisted clutching of a house requires practice, prayer, and consistency. It requires reminding myself of what's true.
Now I need to re-examine how I'm doing with stewardship of my body, abilities, money, and so on. I know one of the hardest things for me is to remember that my daughter belongs to God and not me and that I am raising her as His representative. That may be a topic for another post.
We had lived in our house for 9 1/2 years and needed to sell it. Although I didn't expect to live in the house forever, the timing was not of my choosing. The act of putting a For Sale sign in front of the house was excrutiating. I am a very sentimental person, and I kept thinking through all the beloved memories that took place in that home: various small group meetings, gatherings with friends and family, meals around the table, bringing my baby home from the hospital, digging all the beds around the house ourselves while the sunlight faded into evening, and so on. Our "fingerprints" were all over the house and yard. Suddenly I realized that I had an "it's mine!" attitude.
When the sign was placed in the yard and I started cleaning frantically for the first showing, I had a sudden realization: the house was never mine. It was always God's, mine only to care for and manage well. Part of managing it well would be to present it in the best light possible so that it could sell, and sell for a decent price. My mind started to shift into managerial mode and I wanted to honor God with the way I prepared and cared for the house. I proceeded with the process of letting it go, thankful for the time spent there and realizing that it did not belong to me.
The house ended up selling within a week, and everything proceeded quickly from there. But thanks to that nudging from the Holy Spirit, though some tears were shed (mostly related more to leaving precious friends), it became easier to leave the place we'd called home.
But like any other discipline, cultivating an attitude of stewardship rather than a tight-fisted clutching of a house requires practice, prayer, and consistency. It requires reminding myself of what's true.
Now I need to re-examine how I'm doing with stewardship of my body, abilities, money, and so on. I know one of the hardest things for me is to remember that my daughter belongs to God and not me and that I am raising her as His representative. That may be a topic for another post.
The Discipline of Stewardship
When we think of spiritual disciplines, we tend to think first of Bible study and memorization, prayer, and maybe even fasting. Until I read some books over the past few years I didn't realize that there were dozens, maybe even hundreds, of things that can be considered spiritual disciplines. Really, anything that assists in the molding of our character into something more like Christ's could probably be considered a spiritual discipline.
To me, stewardship is an oft-overlooked spiritual discipline. One definition (from Merriam-Webster) of stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." If we consider that everything given to us comes from God and belongs to God, everything we have is really just under our stewardship and not truly owned by us, whether our bodies, our time, our money, or other resources in our possession.
The act of living as a steward of these things is a discipline because through it we acknowledge God as the owner of all while we are the caretakers.
Now that I've introduced this idea, I'll proceed to a more personal post about how this has recently played out in my life.
To me, stewardship is an oft-overlooked spiritual discipline. One definition (from Merriam-Webster) of stewardship is "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." If we consider that everything given to us comes from God and belongs to God, everything we have is really just under our stewardship and not truly owned by us, whether our bodies, our time, our money, or other resources in our possession.
The act of living as a steward of these things is a discipline because through it we acknowledge God as the owner of all while we are the caretakers.
Now that I've introduced this idea, I'll proceed to a more personal post about how this has recently played out in my life.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Conformity is Overrated
Have you ever been with a group of people, let's say a Bible study or community group, and felt different from everyone else? Let me set the scene: you respond to a question, express a way you interacted with God over the past week, or share about a past experience and how it fit in with your testimony. You're met with blank stares or silence (or both).
Many years ago I began to share something deeply personal about my past in a small group from church when, at a particularly sensitive moment in the story, several group members began to laugh. Following their eyes, I saw that the hosts' dog was chewing its leg like it was a meaty bone. I never finished my story. But no one was to blame for that response -- it was circumstantial.
I guess what I'm talking about is less about a silly distraction and more a sense of feeling different from everyone else -- of feeling like you've shared something in a way others don't seem to relate to or that your approach to life or God is different somehow. I'm not talking about the "coarse jesting" that I'm often guilty of that Paul tells us to avoid. Or even of the many sinful attitudes I've expressed. It's more just a feeling of not being understood.
My intitial reaction to these situations is usually to avoid feeling that way again, which means trying to act like everyone else. Much less risky. Or to back off from talking as much in the group context (anyone reading this who's been in a group with me probably wonders if I've ever really employed that strategy!). Mostly, it takes me back to the junior high mentality of just wanting to conform.
But I've become convinced that conforming is the worst possible response we can have. I'm beginning to wonder if the very aspects of ourselves that make us feel most different from everyone else might be attributes given to us by God to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
I shared my hypothesis with a trusted friend who kindly pointed out that I tend to not be content with shallow conversation/interaction and ask more probing questions than most people do. She also mentioned that I have a real passion for savoring life rather than just going through life numbly. These traits have often felt like liabilities to me, but I am beginning to see that although they sometimes isolate me or are not initially understood, God has created me this way for a reason. When all our unique traits come together, unencumbered by the darkness of sin, God's character unfolds in wonderful ways here on earth.
Your "assignment," readers, has four parts: 1.) Reflect on situations when you've been in a group and felt different or felt compelled to censor yourself 2.) Talk with a friend who knows you well and try to determine what special traits/attributes your past experiences might be highlighting 3.) Thank God for those traits and ask Him to help you use them for His glory 4.) Start allowing those unique attributes to flourish and don't be tempted to conform any longer!
I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences/etc. in the comments section.
Many years ago I began to share something deeply personal about my past in a small group from church when, at a particularly sensitive moment in the story, several group members began to laugh. Following their eyes, I saw that the hosts' dog was chewing its leg like it was a meaty bone. I never finished my story. But no one was to blame for that response -- it was circumstantial.
I guess what I'm talking about is less about a silly distraction and more a sense of feeling different from everyone else -- of feeling like you've shared something in a way others don't seem to relate to or that your approach to life or God is different somehow. I'm not talking about the "coarse jesting" that I'm often guilty of that Paul tells us to avoid. Or even of the many sinful attitudes I've expressed. It's more just a feeling of not being understood.
My intitial reaction to these situations is usually to avoid feeling that way again, which means trying to act like everyone else. Much less risky. Or to back off from talking as much in the group context (anyone reading this who's been in a group with me probably wonders if I've ever really employed that strategy!). Mostly, it takes me back to the junior high mentality of just wanting to conform.
But I've become convinced that conforming is the worst possible response we can have. I'm beginning to wonder if the very aspects of ourselves that make us feel most different from everyone else might be attributes given to us by God to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
I shared my hypothesis with a trusted friend who kindly pointed out that I tend to not be content with shallow conversation/interaction and ask more probing questions than most people do. She also mentioned that I have a real passion for savoring life rather than just going through life numbly. These traits have often felt like liabilities to me, but I am beginning to see that although they sometimes isolate me or are not initially understood, God has created me this way for a reason. When all our unique traits come together, unencumbered by the darkness of sin, God's character unfolds in wonderful ways here on earth.
Your "assignment," readers, has four parts: 1.) Reflect on situations when you've been in a group and felt different or felt compelled to censor yourself 2.) Talk with a friend who knows you well and try to determine what special traits/attributes your past experiences might be highlighting 3.) Thank God for those traits and ask Him to help you use them for His glory 4.) Start allowing those unique attributes to flourish and don't be tempted to conform any longer!
I'd love to hear your thoughts/experiences/etc. in the comments section.
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Art of Being Still
Being still does not come easily to me. Oh, I can sit still with the best of them, but quieting my mind is nearly impossible. I am constantly thinking about something, if not multiple somethings. There is so much "noise" in my brain, and I've grown so accustomed to it that I don't know how to tone it down.
When I was dating my husband, I remember riding in the car somewhere with him in silence, looking at him and wondering what fascinating thoughts must be in his mind. Upon asking that common question "What are you thinking about?" (which I rarely ask anymore), the reply was "Nothing." "No, really," I said. "What are you thinking about?" I couldn't comprehend that someone could really be thinking about nothing. And the battle for a more peaceful mind rages on today in my spiritual life.
I'm convinced that, despite my struggle to do so, it's essential that I spend time periodically making a specific effort to be quiet in God's presence and listen to Him or just enjoy being with Him. Or to empty myself of everyday thoughts to make more room for praising His attributes.
The question is, in the midst of our cluttered lives, mentally and otherwise, how can this happen?
Getting out of my house and away from other people tends to help me, though it happens very rarely. Finding a secluded area in a (safe!) park gives me a connection with nature and removes me from anything that might call to mind my to-do list. Even in those circumstances, though, my mind wanders. Sometimes I try to find one single thing to focus on, like a flower, so that I can weed out the junk from my mind.
What I'm really curious about, though, is how can this state of mind and soul be accomplished on an everyday basis, in my own home? If you've got something that works for you, please post it in the comments. Thanks!
When I was dating my husband, I remember riding in the car somewhere with him in silence, looking at him and wondering what fascinating thoughts must be in his mind. Upon asking that common question "What are you thinking about?" (which I rarely ask anymore), the reply was "Nothing." "No, really," I said. "What are you thinking about?" I couldn't comprehend that someone could really be thinking about nothing. And the battle for a more peaceful mind rages on today in my spiritual life.
I'm convinced that, despite my struggle to do so, it's essential that I spend time periodically making a specific effort to be quiet in God's presence and listen to Him or just enjoy being with Him. Or to empty myself of everyday thoughts to make more room for praising His attributes.
The question is, in the midst of our cluttered lives, mentally and otherwise, how can this happen?
Getting out of my house and away from other people tends to help me, though it happens very rarely. Finding a secluded area in a (safe!) park gives me a connection with nature and removes me from anything that might call to mind my to-do list. Even in those circumstances, though, my mind wanders. Sometimes I try to find one single thing to focus on, like a flower, so that I can weed out the junk from my mind.
What I'm really curious about, though, is how can this state of mind and soul be accomplished on an everyday basis, in my own home? If you've got something that works for you, please post it in the comments. Thanks!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Prayer's Block
It all started an embarrassing number of years ago when I heard a radio reading of the day's My Utmost for His Highest devotional. My dad was struggling with yet another health issue, and moments before I had been praying that God would heal him and just let my parents enjoy their remaining time on this earth after all they've been through. Cutting through my previous understanding of prayer were these words (excerpted from May 3 in the book):
Honestly, I'd always thought of "emotional sympathy" for others as a good thing. Really, it's that concern for others that motivates me to pray for them in the first place. I hear of a situation and imagine what it would be like in that person's shoes. I empathize. I am moved to pray. To me, muting that sense of concern would hinder my ability to love others as I should.
But it got me thinking (and has, on and off, ever since): what if what I think is best for someone isn't what God considers best for them? What if He's allowing a difficulty in someone's life to make him stronger in some way, to draw him closer to God, or to make him better able to minister to others?
We can easily agree that God's plan and mine are not always the same. Which leads to another question: How can I see things more in tune with God's perspective? Chambers makes it sound so simple, but for me it seems much harder to lay aside my bias. I don't like to see those I love experiencing any suffering.
These questions have plagued my prayer life periodically since that day I happened to turn on the radio. The result -- a serious case of prayer's block. I've had no shortage of prayer concerns and requests. In fact, I've got lists and lists of them. But my problem isn't the what as much as the how. As I bring my mind and heart into supplicational prayer, I've become so insecure about what to request that I have sometimes given up. It's become quite a roadblock in what is already a stumbling point (spending large chunks of time in prayer has never been easy for me, which I'm sure I'll mention in a future post).
One approach that has been helpful to me has been to look at the prayers in the Bible for inspiration. Paul, in particular, often focuses his prayers on spiritual blessings, so I often pray for those types of things (see Ephesians 1:17-21, for example) for those who request prayer.
Recently, I've determined to push through the blockage by cutting myself some slack and letting myself pray without so much analysis. I won't push aside the issue because I think it's worth consideration, but it's not necessary to let it hold me back so much, either.
I don't remember where, but I once read that prayer is like hanging out a "Help Wanted" sign for God. That's exactly what I'm doing internally and externally right now -- God, I need your help, every moment of every day, in every way. It's definitely a state of being.
I have some other "prayer's block" issues, too, that I'm not touching on now, such as "do my prayers actually change anything?" but I'll leave those for another day. I am reading Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey right now, so I'll probably wait untiI finish it.
"...we may find that our obedience to God in intercdeing is going to cost those for whom we intercede more than we ever thought. The danger in this is that we begin to intercede in sympathy with those whom God was gradually lifting up to a totally different level in direct answer to our prayers. Whenever we step back from our close identification with God's interest and concern for others and step into having emotional sympathy with them, the vital connection with God is gone...Identification with God is the key to intercession, and whenever we stop being identified with Him it is because of our sympathy with others, not because of sin...It is sympathy with ourselves or with others that makes us say, 'I will not allow that thing to happen.' And instantly we are out of that vital connection with God."
Honestly, I'd always thought of "emotional sympathy" for others as a good thing. Really, it's that concern for others that motivates me to pray for them in the first place. I hear of a situation and imagine what it would be like in that person's shoes. I empathize. I am moved to pray. To me, muting that sense of concern would hinder my ability to love others as I should.
But it got me thinking (and has, on and off, ever since): what if what I think is best for someone isn't what God considers best for them? What if He's allowing a difficulty in someone's life to make him stronger in some way, to draw him closer to God, or to make him better able to minister to others?
We can easily agree that God's plan and mine are not always the same. Which leads to another question: How can I see things more in tune with God's perspective? Chambers makes it sound so simple, but for me it seems much harder to lay aside my bias. I don't like to see those I love experiencing any suffering.
These questions have plagued my prayer life periodically since that day I happened to turn on the radio. The result -- a serious case of prayer's block. I've had no shortage of prayer concerns and requests. In fact, I've got lists and lists of them. But my problem isn't the what as much as the how. As I bring my mind and heart into supplicational prayer, I've become so insecure about what to request that I have sometimes given up. It's become quite a roadblock in what is already a stumbling point (spending large chunks of time in prayer has never been easy for me, which I'm sure I'll mention in a future post).
One approach that has been helpful to me has been to look at the prayers in the Bible for inspiration. Paul, in particular, often focuses his prayers on spiritual blessings, so I often pray for those types of things (see Ephesians 1:17-21, for example) for those who request prayer.
Recently, I've determined to push through the blockage by cutting myself some slack and letting myself pray without so much analysis. I won't push aside the issue because I think it's worth consideration, but it's not necessary to let it hold me back so much, either.
I don't remember where, but I once read that prayer is like hanging out a "Help Wanted" sign for God. That's exactly what I'm doing internally and externally right now -- God, I need your help, every moment of every day, in every way. It's definitely a state of being.
I have some other "prayer's block" issues, too, that I'm not touching on now, such as "do my prayers actually change anything?" but I'll leave those for another day. I am reading Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey right now, so I'll probably wait untiI finish it.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
When God Seems Distant
Maybe it's just me, but I have moments when God seems so far away. Cue Bette Midler: "God is watching us...from a distance." It's like going back to my childhood when I thought that heaven was right above the clouds and that's where the beautiful rays of sunshine came from that spread downward toward earth. God was up there, close enough to intervene when necessary but far enough away that humans were free to make our own choices in the meantime.
This feeling of distance often prompts me to examine my conscience to make sure that there's not a sin issue involved. Sometimes there's a specific sin that's creating blockage.
But just as with human relationships, the level of felt closeness can vary. I've found it essential in these moments to reflect on the times when I have profoundly felt God's presence or seen His direct hand in my life. These memories are vital to preserve -- they are touchstones for our darkest moments, or even just for blah ones.
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses exhorts the Israelites not only to follow the new commandments they have been given and teach them to their children and grandchildren but to never forget how they were brought out of slavery by God when they are in the Promised Land: "...watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Deut. 6:12) It's essential that we find ways to remind ourselves of the love God has for us and the ways He has intimately interacted with us. In addition, evidence of His care is all around if we only look in a new way.
One final reminder of an important truth: God doesn't change. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My sense of closeness to Him likely has more to do with me than Him. Also, it never hurts to pray specifically for a greater sense of His presence. That is probably a prayer He loves hearing!
This feeling of distance often prompts me to examine my conscience to make sure that there's not a sin issue involved. Sometimes there's a specific sin that's creating blockage.
But just as with human relationships, the level of felt closeness can vary. I've found it essential in these moments to reflect on the times when I have profoundly felt God's presence or seen His direct hand in my life. These memories are vital to preserve -- they are touchstones for our darkest moments, or even just for blah ones.
In Deuteronomy 6, Moses exhorts the Israelites not only to follow the new commandments they have been given and teach them to their children and grandchildren but to never forget how they were brought out of slavery by God when they are in the Promised Land: "...watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." (Deut. 6:12) It's essential that we find ways to remind ourselves of the love God has for us and the ways He has intimately interacted with us. In addition, evidence of His care is all around if we only look in a new way.
One final reminder of an important truth: God doesn't change. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My sense of closeness to Him likely has more to do with me than Him. Also, it never hurts to pray specifically for a greater sense of His presence. That is probably a prayer He loves hearing!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Treadmill Spirituality
For the past few years, I’ve seen a couple women regularly when I work out at the gym. Recently I’ve noticed that despite their faithful workouts, they look basically the same to me. One day my mind snapped out of judgment mode and realized I’m guilty of the same thing. I’ve worked out regularly for about eight years now, and while my weight has had its ups and downs, I’m relatively the same, and certainly not different in any way that other gym patrons would notice.
Worse still, I wondered if the same thing could be said of my spiritual health. Am I different in any way from eight years ago? I am in any way more like Christ, more frequently exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit? Am I trusting in God more and worrying less? Am I living as though I believe what I say I believe, and does my life reflect that Jesus is my main love? If not, something about my spiritual “workout” needs to change.
The answers to those questions are sobering for me. I've decided to be more diligent in considering modifications I need to be making – realistic ones that, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, can last. We’re long past the time of New Year’s resolutions and Lenten sacrifices, but it is never too late to shake things up and start doing something differently. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). We can “start over” each morning or even at 4:20 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon.
Please consider asking God to reveal one thing you could change to shake up your routine. If you’re the type of person who thrives on accountability, tell one trusted friend what you’re doing.
One final note about those women (and myself): though I don’t want to be someone who’s moving but getting nowhere, there is worth in faithfully doing something and at least not backsliding. No one can maintain constant growth or always be on the mountaintop. However, the ideal is to be in a growth pattern that, despite time in the valley or periods of stagnancy, is ultimately progressing.
Worse still, I wondered if the same thing could be said of my spiritual health. Am I different in any way from eight years ago? I am in any way more like Christ, more frequently exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit? Am I trusting in God more and worrying less? Am I living as though I believe what I say I believe, and does my life reflect that Jesus is my main love? If not, something about my spiritual “workout” needs to change.
The answers to those questions are sobering for me. I've decided to be more diligent in considering modifications I need to be making – realistic ones that, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, can last. We’re long past the time of New Year’s resolutions and Lenten sacrifices, but it is never too late to shake things up and start doing something differently. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). We can “start over” each morning or even at 4:20 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon.
Please consider asking God to reveal one thing you could change to shake up your routine. If you’re the type of person who thrives on accountability, tell one trusted friend what you’re doing.
One final note about those women (and myself): though I don’t want to be someone who’s moving but getting nowhere, there is worth in faithfully doing something and at least not backsliding. No one can maintain constant growth or always be on the mountaintop. However, the ideal is to be in a growth pattern that, despite time in the valley or periods of stagnancy, is ultimately progressing.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Spiritual Personality Test
Sounds like an odd concept, but I actually got a lot out of this exercise. Gary Thomas wrote a book several years ago called Sacred Pathways that explored the concept that we all have different spiritual temperaments that can affect the method that most easily helps us feel connected with God.
Quick synopsis from the publisher: "One reason many Christians become discouraged with their devotional lives is because they've adopted a narrow, cut-and-dried approach--one they're not wired for as individuals. Sacred Pathways explores nine time-tested ways to commune with God that honor the unique design he has given each of us. The naturalist, the ascetic, the traditionalist, the activist, the enthusiast, the intellectual . . . this engaging, insightful, and well-written book will lead the reader to a deeper understanding of his or her spiritual temperament, and new vistas of relationship with God."
Included in this book is an assessment to help you determine your primary way(s) of communing with God. From there, you can develop ideas of new ways to spend your devotional time with God instead of trying to fit a certain mold. Obviously, we should all spend time in the Bible and prayer in some way, but the when/how/where of it doesn't have to look the same.
Here's a link to an online version of the assessment. To delve deeper into the temperament descriptions or devotional ideas, I recommend checking out the book.
Incidentally, right now I am an intellectual sensate naturalist, according to the results, but I think last time my results were slightly different.
Quick synopsis from the publisher: "One reason many Christians become discouraged with their devotional lives is because they've adopted a narrow, cut-and-dried approach--one they're not wired for as individuals. Sacred Pathways explores nine time-tested ways to commune with God that honor the unique design he has given each of us. The naturalist, the ascetic, the traditionalist, the activist, the enthusiast, the intellectual . . . this engaging, insightful, and well-written book will lead the reader to a deeper understanding of his or her spiritual temperament, and new vistas of relationship with God."
Included in this book is an assessment to help you determine your primary way(s) of communing with God. From there, you can develop ideas of new ways to spend your devotional time with God instead of trying to fit a certain mold. Obviously, we should all spend time in the Bible and prayer in some way, but the when/how/where of it doesn't have to look the same.
Here's a link to an online version of the assessment. To delve deeper into the temperament descriptions or devotional ideas, I recommend checking out the book.
Incidentally, right now I am an intellectual sensate naturalist, according to the results, but I think last time my results were slightly different.
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