Reassurance in a Scary World

Psalm 33

1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.

4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
5 He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

6 The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
7 He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.

8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
9 For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.

10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
and thwarts all their schemes.
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.

12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

13 The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
14 From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
15 He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
19 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.

20 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone.

Friday Football Fun

A little something to get us in the mood for the weekend...and by the way, ROLL TIDE!!!

Would You Like Some Cheese with that Whine?

I've just about had my fill of childlike behavior today. No, not from our Wednesday night class, which was much better behaved compared to last week. (Of course, it helped that we only had two kids tonight instead of our usual six or seven. And it was our last night of the quarter, hooray!)

The childlike behavior I'm referring to belongs to a couple of my co-workers. They've been talking behind each other's backs, whining and complaining, tattling on each other. Really childish stuff. I'm friends with them, so I feel a little stuck in the middle. I encouraged one of them to take the high road, be the bigger person. Of course, there's no fun in that! It's much more entertaining to think of ways to act like a two year-old than to act like an adult.

Both parties involved like to have a certain amount of drama focused on them. They get bent out of shape easily. It doesn't take much to get them riled up. Yes, it does make for a certain amount of entertainment at our office...but that show gets old quickly. I for one am tired of it.

I'm not sure how to exert good influence on them. Should I ignore their childish ways? I've tried reasoning with one of them but so far it doesn't seem to have done any good. How do you think Jesus would handle this?

Fairness

I think that one of the more difficult aspects of going through a trial is not only wondering why it is happening, but also wondering why it is not happening to someone else. Perhaps suffering would be a wee bit easier to deal with if it were distributed equally to everyone. But it's not.

And in those times where multiple people go through similar trials, there's no guarantee that the outcomes will be the same. Two people can pray about the same trial, and God may give two different answers. One person, stricken with cancer, may regain their health, while another passes away. One couple's marriage is saved, while another ends in divorce. One couple's dream of conceiving a child comes to pass, while another couples struggles through failed fertility treatments. One person receives a dream job offer, while another is turned down for one job after another. One person's house sells in a day, while another's languishes on the market for months without an offer.

I don't have an answer for why God chooses to bring healing or breakthroughs to some people and not to others. To our limited human vision, it's not fair. Especially when the people praying are all good, godly people who love God and want to serve and glorify Him.

I can't explain it. But I do know a few things to be certain. One is that, no matter what the outcome of our trials, God will be glorified through them. In some cases, He is glorified through the answered prayer. In other cases, He is glorified in the way we react when we don't get the answers we desperately want.

Something else I know: our happiness is not God's priority. He is concerned with making us more like Him, drawing us closer to Him. Sometimes that means that we go through trials that seem unbearable, in order to learn true dependence on Him.

One more thing: we are right, much of what happens in our lives isn't "fair". But what is truly fair--is it fair that Jesus took the burden for our messed-up, sinful lives so that we could live with Him in Heaven forever? Is it fair that God has promised to never leave us or turn His back on us, even when we are unfaithful to Him?

I don't know about you, but I am thankful that God does not treat us "fairly". I am so undeserving of His grace and mercy. When I go through trials, it's easy to forget that, and to focus on myself and on what I feel is "unfair" about the situation. It's tempting to look at others around me who seem to have happy, richly blessed lives and compare what they have versus what I have. But I am thankful for the reminder that God treats me infinitely better than I deserve. As His child, I am incredibly blessed. I don't deserve it. I want to live a life that never forgets it.

Remembering My Role

There are times when I see a wide chasm between where I am in my walk with Christ and where I want to be. And I become frustrated and discouraged.

I see areas of my life where I want to improve, from my discipline in diet and exercise, to attitudes at work, to relationships in need of healing and strengthening. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my spiritual "to-do" list. Just when I think I've got one temptation or bad attitude beat, another one (or two or ten) springs up in its place.

Then I remember that my role is not to change myself, but rather to allow God's Spirit to change me. He is the Potter, not I. As the clay that He is working with, I am to remain moldable, yielding to the changes He makes as He forms and shapes me into the woman He wants me to be. But I am not in charge of changing myself--which is a very good thing!

That is not to say that I am to be inactive and not take steps to improve my diet or relationships. But when I am allowing God's Spirit to give me wisdom in those areas, and trust Him to guide me, things go much smoother than when I try to make them work on my own.

Cultivating Patience

Over the weekend I had to work a booth at a local home expo. Included among the freebies we were giving away were packets of flower seeds. While many people stopped to pick up one or more packets, several others were reluctant to take some home, citing the drought our area was experiencing. (Of course, on Saturday afternoon as the home expo wound up, the bottom fell out and we finally got a much-needed rainstorm...but I digress.)

For those who were hesitant to take seeds home with them, we reminded them that the seeds would keep over time, and that they could wait and plant them in the spring when (hopefully) rain would be in more regular supply. That did help sway those who were on the fence about it.

There was nothing wrong with the seeds, but the conditions were not necessarily ideal for planting them right now. A wise gardener knows when to plant, when to weed, when to transplant and when to dig up and start over again.

How often I forget this when it comes to waiting for something in my life. If I'm forced to wait, I begin to think that something is wrong with me, when in many cases it's simply a matter of timing. I've learned (and am still learning) that God's timing is always right and perfect. While I may think I'm ready to be "planted" somewhere, He may still be toiling the soil and waiting until the conditions are just right. He truly knows what is best for me, and when I wait patiently for Him, I can more readily see how He's working things out in just the right way, at just the right time.

Recommendations

Here are a couple of interesting articles that I've read on other blogs that you might want to check out:

• On his blog, A Place for the God Hungry, Jim Martin writes of the difference between peacemaking and peacemongering. Very insightful...I never thought of it that way. Definitely makes me think about the need for love to be "tough" sometimes, not out of selfishness but for the good of others.
• Carolyn McCulley's blog includes this testimony from a young woman who is faithfullyand sacrificially caring for her boyfriend who was critically injured in a car accident nearly a year ago. Talk about serving one another in love...

The Curse

Why, oh why, SI?

I'm not normally a superstitious person. I've had black cats walk in front of me and I've walked under ladders and stepped on cracks and my mother's back is not broken. I'll ride an elevator to the 13th floor at 1:13 on the 13th day of the month without hesitation.

But whenever I see a certain national publication with a reputation for inducing a curse on its coverboys and girls featuring Tide players or their coach on its cover, I can't help but cringe. I remember just a couple of years ago, the cover proclaiming "Bama Is Back." Yeah. Thanks a lot, SI.

Of course, deep down I know that SI had nothing to do with Prothro breaking his leg or five straight losses to Auburn or Shula's Tide coaching career going up in flames. Still, all the hoopla surrounding Saban's arrival in T-town and the mile-high expectations accompanying this season make me more than a little nervous.

So, SI, please go sic your curse on someone else. The Tide has enough pressure as it is.

Brats

During the summer quarter at church, I've been helping my friend Jeni in the 5 year-olds class on Wednesday nights. Most weeks the children are fairly well-behaved, although there are a couple of hyperactive ones in the mix. Tonight, however, was by far our worst week of the summer. (Thank goodness next week is our last week!)

We asked them to sit still in their chairs. They didn't. We asked them to be quiet. They wouldn't. We told them that they wouldn't get their snack until all of them were seated quietly. That seemed to get their attention, although it was several minutes before all of them were quiet and settled. By the end of class, Jeni and I were ready to pull our hair out. It's a good thing that the children were all picked up on time, as baldness is not a particularly attractive look on a female.

As I drove home tonight, I thanked God for helping us survive the hour of lunacy and offered up special thanks for the end of the quarter being in sight. I began to think about how patient, loving and forgiving God is when we act like hyperactive spoiled brats. Sometimes when He's trying to teach us a lesson, instead of us sitting still and listening attentively, we run around and talk with everyone else around us and shut Him out. Even when we know that He wants to give us blessings if we would only wait on Him, we go right ahead doing our own thing and passing up what He has planned for us.

I have to admit that there are a couple of children in our class that, given their track record, I would be happy if they did not show up next week. But no matter how obnoxious and bratty I've behaved, God is not disappointed when I come to Him. He welcomes me and mercifully extends forgiveness when I humbly come before Him. How awesome is His love!

Thanks, but No Thanks

I'm reading a daily Bible and yesterday began my reading of the book of Job. Even though I've read it several times, I'm always amazed at the amount of suffering that Job went through, and his humility before God in the midst of it.

But I wonder if Job would rather have not had his faith tested in such dramatic fashion. I mean, when you go through some trial or trouble and someone makes a comment like, "God must love you or trust you an awful lot to let you go through all this", don't you sometimes want to say, "Thanks, but I'd rather He didn't love or trust me quite as much"?

Or am I the only one who thinks that way sometimes??

Intimacy in Prayer

Tonight I had three friends over for dinner. We ate, laughed, shared what was going on in our lives. We ended the evening by spending time in prayer for each other.

It had been literally years since all four of us had spent time together. One of my friends is married, and the rest of us are single. We all have different jobs and commitments that pull us in different directions. So tonight was especially precious to us as we were able to all get together and enjoy the intimacy of prayer.

To me, there are few things in life as precious as praying with others that I'm close to and sharing that intimate connection to God. Being able to share one another's heartache and hurts and temptations and expectations and bring those before God is so special. And I am always encouraged and my heart lightened when others pray for me as well.

I hope that you are blessed with opportunities to spend time in fellowship and prayer with someone this week. If you don't regularly get to do that, make an effort to do it...and ask God to put someone in your path with whom you can share that bond through prayer.

Who's to Blame?

As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. (John 9:1-3)

Last week our ladies' Bible study spent time poring over John 9. In this chapter, Jesus and His followers run across a man who had been blind all his life. The disciples' question about the origin of the man's affirmity was not all that uncommon, as many in that time believed that physical ailments were the results of sin in the afflicted's life, or even that of his or her parents.

While we may think that blaming a birth defect on the sin of the child or his parents is crazy and misguided, don't we sometimes find ourselves doing that? When something goes wrong, isn't it natural for us to start looking for someone to blame, some reason why the something wrong happened?

We start to analyze (and over-analyze) the situation, trying to figure out where things went wrong and what our role was in it and what we could have done to prevent it. I think that one of the most difficult parts of suffering is not necessarily what has happened, but not knowing why it happened. "Why?" is one of the most often-asked questions when we encounter some trial or suffering.

It's easy to try to find someone to blame for what's gone wrong. Often, it's ourselves we blame the most. If only we had been kinder or prettier or wittier, he wouldn't have left. If only we'd worked longer hours, we wouldn't have been passed over for the promotion or let go. If only we'd stood up for ourselves, we wouldn't have been abused or taken advantage of.

That's not to say that some things that happen to us are not the results of our faults and flaws and sins. But that's not always the case. As with the blind man, sometimes bad things are allowed into our lives not to show how bad and sinful we are, but to show how glorious and powerful God is.

In examining the trials that come into my life, I'm trying to see the role that I've played (if any) in them coming about, and to take responsibility for that. But there are some circumstances that are simply a mystery to me. Rather than analyze them to death, I need to release them to God, trusting that He'll show me the ways that this trial is purifying me and making me more like Him, and allowing His glory and power to be shown in it.

What if...

WHAT IF

...I treated today like an exciting new adventure rather than just another ordinary Monday?
...I fully expected God to do big things today?
...I saw people through His eyes today, even people who annoy me and cut me off in traffic or are slow to check out in the grocery store line in front of me?
...I cast every burden, worry, fear and doubt on Him?
...I cut myself some slack and enjoyed being with myself today?
...I had a thankful attitude in everything?

I'd probably fall into bed at night exhausted and spent, physically and emotionally. But I'd sleep really, really well.

Life Groups

Today is Life Group Sign-Up Day at my church. I tend to greet each sign-up day with a mix of trepidation and excitement. It's sort of like registering for classes in college--there's that sense of urgency to pick the "right" class with the "right" professor before it fills up and I get stuck in Basket Weaving 101 with a tough-as-nails prof.

Of course, our church isn't quite so rigid in life group sign-ups, although we are encouraged to keep the groups to a max of around 12 people. Which rarely happens.

In the decade that I've been at my church, I've been part of some good life groups and some crappy ones. Last year I started off in a great group, one that I still consider to be in my top two or three favorite groups that I've ever been part of. After the break-up, I encouraged my ex-boyfriend to continue to go to our group and I tried to find another. I visited a couple of groups, but just couldn't bring myself to commit to one. Part of the struggle was that I was coming from such a dynamic group that I sort of felt like any group I switched to would be just a "rebound" group and I wouldn't be able to really commit. I felt like, if I couldn't commit, then it wouldn't be fair to be part of a group.

Another reason was that some Sundays, it was all I could do to make it through the Sunday morning service without breaking down, let alone drag myself out Sunday night and be part of a group of happy couples. I realize that I allowed myself to wallow quite a bit, but I also think that there were times when I needed to grieve and let things out and not put on a happy face and pretend that I was fine.

Anyway, after a summer-long break, life groups are starting up again, and I am determined to commit to one this year. The question is which one to commit to. I've been praying about it, and will continue to do so. I may visit one or two before signing up. Or I may bite the bullet tonight and commit to one, if I feel that God is leading me to it. The key phrase here is "God is leading me". I really want to be sensitive to His direction, even if He ends up leading me to a group that is totally not what I would have chosen on my own. (Funny how some of the best things in life start off being what we would not have chosen for ourselves.)

I'm trying to keep focused on how I can contribute to a group, and not necessarily what I can get out of a group. That's not to say that I won't be blessed by it--indeed, I know that I will--but it's tempting to approach a group looking for your needs to be met, rather than trusting God to meet those needs and to let Him use you to reach out to others in the group.

I'd appreciate your prayers in this decision about which group to commit to. I've missed being part of a life group, and definitely feel that it's time to get back into one.

Thankful

This week, in the midst of sweltering heat, I'm thankful for Willis Haviland Carrier. The name may not be familiar, but his invention is a life-saver: the air conditioner. Praise God for giving this man the wisdom and foresight to create it!

Additionally, I'm thankful to live and work in places that have A/C. Last night at Bible study someone mentioned a friend's husband who has been stationed in Iraq, where he has to wear full uniform, along with all of his heavy gear, in 120+-degree heat. That definitely gives me perspective when I am tempted to complain about having to walk 50 yards in the heat from the office door to my car.

So, what are YOU thankful for today?

Royal Orders

This morning I was reading in Nehemiah about some of the Levites who served in the temple at Jerusalem:

The chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, a descendant of Asaph, whose family served as singers at God's Temple. They were under royal orders, which determined their daily activities. (Nehemiah 11:22-23, emphasis mine)

As servants in the temple, their daily schedules were not self-imposed, but rather dictated by royal orders. I don't know if they eagerly submitted to the day's duties, or if they had moments of inward grumbling and reluctance to follow someone else's plans for their day.

This verse reminded me that we, too, as servants of the King of kings are under His royal orders. We should let our day's activities be determined by and centered around His desires for us that day. I'll admit that it is SO easy to let myself fall into the trap of thinking that it's my day to control or determine my steps. It's easy to "do my own thing" and fit in God's plans when it's seemingly convenient for me. How foolish it is to get into that mindset!

O Sovereign Lord, help me to remember that this is YOUR day. Help me to remember that You are God, and I am Your servant. Help me to eagerly submit to whatever plans You have for me today, and to trust You that they are what's best for me.

In Good Hands

I really look forward to getting my hair cut. For one, having my hair washed is one of the most relaxing things to me. But more importantly, I know that when I leave my hair salon, I'm going to look good.

I trust my hairstylist. I've been seeing him now for about three years, and I know that he knows what he's doing. Usually when I get into his chair and he asks what I want him to do, I tell him to do whatever he wants. Of course, I trust him enough to know that he's not going to give me a crew cut or dye my hair pink. He realizes that how my hair looks is a reflection on him--as Vidal Sassoon would say, if I don't look good, he doesn't look good.

My hairstylist is trained to cut and style hair. He knows what cut and style looks best on me. I don't bother bringing him pictures from magazines of other women whose hairstyles I would like to emulate. I let him decide what's best. And I have to say, I usually leave the salon feeling good because I got a great cut.

Now, if I put this much stock into someone who's merely cutting my hair, why then do I struggle to fully trust God and believe that He knows what's best for my life? Perhaps part of the struggle is that I don't always get instantaneous results. With a haircut, I can see the fruits of my stylist's labor right away. But sometimes I pray over and over about the same things and cannot see any changes. Of course, that does not mean that there aren't changes, that God isn't working. But it can be awfully frustrating to wait to see some results.

O God, teach me to trust You more, especially in times where I cannot see what You're doing. You know far better than I do what I need. Help me to joyfully embrace whatever You send my way today, and to encourage others to do the same. May Your name be praised, and may Your glory be magnified in my life and the lives of those around me.

Another Reason to Quit Complaining

As if following God's command to refrain from complaining wasn't reason enough, a new study says that complaining can be hazardous to your health. Yet another reminder of how complaining is a waste of time--although it may provide a bit of a "lift" as we vent, that lift is short-lived, and we often feel even worse after doing so.

Of course, God does not instruct us to do anything that is not for our own good--He knows full well the emotional and physical damage that complaining can do to us.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe (Philippians 2:14-15)

The Psalms

If for some reason I could only have one particular book of the Bible with me for the rest of my life, I'd have to choose the book of Psalms. Not to say that it is more important than any other book, but it is definitely one of my "favorites".

The Psalms just resonate with me. They run the gamut of human emotion, from anguish and despair to humility and appreciation to praise and adoration--sometimes all within the same Psalm. Sometimes the Psalmist seeks protection from and revenge on his enemies. Sometimes he seeks mercy and blessings. Sometimes he simply seeks the face of God.

I love the honesty of the Psalms. Although written by men (including King David), the Psalms, like every other book of the Bible, were inspired by God--and if it's included in the Bible, then it's only because God wanted it in there. That's why it's so encouraging to me to read the gut-level honesty of these Psalms, particularly the ones that are filled with hurt and sorrow and even anger, and to realize that these are not turn-offs to God. We can be honest with Him in our own prayers. We can admit that we're afraid that He's not listening or that He won't come through for us. We can tell Him our deepest desires and not be afraid of His rejection or scorn.

As I spent time in prayer tonight, I found myself expressing a jumble of emotions--confusion, fear, overwhelming love, appreciation, humility. I am so thankful that God can not only handle whatever we throw at Him, but that He welcomes that honesty. It is through this honesty that we deepen our intimacy with Him. Just as honesty in a human relationship breeds trust and a bond, so does honesty with God.

How grateful I am for His inclusion of the Psalms in His Word. They remind me to not be afraid to be "real" in my prayers, and to acknowlege the awesomeness of God at work in my life.

Fasting Out Loud?

Growing up, I don't remember hearing much in the church about the spiritual discplines. To me, discipline was something your parents did when you misbehaved. And if I did happen to study something about the spiritual disciplines in church or in school, it was probably referred to as something that people did back in the "Bible days" but that was antiquated and no longer practiced.

Of course, now I know better. I realize that some of the things that I often do--such as intercessory prayer--are considered spiritual disciplines. And I realize that practicing these disciplines can help us focus on the One who truly matters, and remove the focus from ourselves.

One of the disciplines that I am not very familiar with is fasting. I've done it before, sometimes fasting from food, other times fasting from watching TV. Still, it's not something that I do with any regularity.

Last night I was thinking about all the people in my life in need of prayer for their various trials and circumstances, as well as my own trials that I need to pray about. I felt a very strong impulse to set aside tonight as a time of fasting and prayer, both for myself and in intercession for others. There's no doubt in my mind that I'll be blessed by spending that time alone with God, pouring out my heart to Him and searching His heart.

However, I did have some hesitation in mentioning that I'll be fasting. I was reluctant to share that because I don't want to come off as bragging or making myself seem more spiritually "fit" than someone else, because believe me, I'm not.

At the same time, however, since fasting is not something that is often preached upon (at my church anyway), let alone discussed in conversation with others, I wonder if we would fast more often if we were encouraged to do so more. Not out of peer pressure or a desire to fit in, but rather because of witnessing the example of others and the way they grow closer to God through their own fasting and praying, and desiring that intimacy with God for ourselves.

Any thoughts? Are fasting, praying and other spiritual disciplines meant to be shared, or something to be done in secret, with only God knowing about it?

Giving Living

Last night I finished my re-read of Randy Alcorn's book, Money, Possessions and Eternity. I have a feeling that the thoughts presented will stick with me for quite a while.

This book has really challenged my thoughts on giving. I was taught at a very early age to give money every week to the church, and God has certainly blessed me with an ever-increasing delight in giving to His work in my home church. However, He has also blessed me with an over-abundance of financial and material benefits, particularly compared to most of the world's population--benefits and blessings that I am not meant to hang on to, but rather to share with others.

I am giving more and more thought about just how much money I truly "need". How many pairs of shoes or purses or lipsticks are really necessary? How many retirement accounts do I really need? Am I putting more faith in bank accounts and IRAs and 401(k)s than I am in God?

I'm not saying that I feel God is calling me to liquidate all my assets, give away all my money and live on the streets. Nor do I think it's wrong to have more than one pair of shoes, or to enjoy going to Starbucks or buying books or other treats. But I am realizing that, while He does give us everything for our enjoyment (I Timothy 6:17), that enjoyment is not meant to be selfish, nor should our hope and confidence be in the gifts He gives us.

I want to have a more generous heart, a heart filled with compassion for others who are suffering, and a heart that is compelled by that compassion to not just be filled with pity or to pray for those in need, but to do something--to give when I can. I don't want to hoard money and material goods for my own use. I want to loosen the grip that I have on my wallet and checkbook and to be sensitive to when God is prompting me to share with others what He's so richly blessed me with.

This is something that I will continue to pray about. It's very difficult to let go of that "Live for today--get what you want now!" mentality so prevalent in our culture. Equally tempting is the "You'd better sock away everything you can into an IRA/401(k) so you can be a millionaire when you retire" advice. I think that the more I remember that the money and possessions that come into my life do not actually belong to me, but rather are given by God for me to manage here on Earth, the easier it will be to live a more generous life.

The Benefits of Storms

Several months ago, a storm blew through our city, not an unusual occurrence. This one, however, packed a wallop with lots of wind and hail. Thankfully, I happened to be out of town at the time, and thus my car was spared hail damage that so many others suffered. But my roof took quite a beating.

I called my insurance agent who sent a claims adjustor to investigate. Sure enough, like every other roof in my neighborhood, my roof needed to be replaced. The good news was that I didn't have any major holes, no leaks, which was a very good thing considering that roofing companies were quickly inundated with repair jobs and I would have to wait several months to have my roof replaced.

Finally, I got a brand spanking new roof yesterday. I also had the roof on my detatched garage replaced, as well as the rotted decking underneath. I had known for a while before the storm that I'd need to replace the garage roof, and thanks to this storm, my insurance paid for it rather than me having to pay out of pocket. What seemed to be a bad thing (this storm) turned into a benefit for me.

Sometimes the storms that come into our life produce unexpected benefits. At the very least, they can cause us to lean more on God and grow closer to Him--perhaps the greatest benefit we can get, after all. God never allows storms unless they provide some good for us. It may be difficult (or downright impossible) to see the good right away, but He is trustworthy and we can be assured that He is using the storm to bring about blessing for us and glory for Himself.

Challenging Verse

There are countless verses in Scripture that I quickly turn to when I need encouragement, strength, and cheer. Then there are other verses that deeply challenge me, verses that, quite honestly, I would sometimes rather skip over because they challenge me at the core of my being.

Romans 12:1 is one of those challenging verses:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

When Paul pleads with us to give our bodies to God, he doesn't just mean our physical bodies, although that is part of the sacrifice. He means our entire beings. And that, I will admit, is a hard thing to turn over to God. It means that every part of me, inside and out, every attitude and thought and behavior, belong to Him. My pride. My eating and exercise habits. My television and movie watching habits. My sexual purity. My desire to gossip or slander. My time. My finances. My job. My relationships.

I have heard it said that the problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar. How true. Time after time, I find myself re-dedicating my life to Christ, repositioning myself upon that altar.

Standing on its own, Romans 12:1 is quite an intimidating verse. However, let's look at it in context with the previous verses:

Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be his counselor? And who could ever give him so much that he would have to pay it back? For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Perhaps some of my inward struggle to give everything over to God is not fully trusting Him to know what He's doing with it. But as Paul states, His wisdom and knowledge are far beyond our understanding. When I recall that He knows far better than I do what is best for my life, I am able to relax my feeble grip on my life. My life is much better off on His altar, in His hands, than in mine.

What verse(s) really challenge you?

Going the Distance

Baseball has gotten a lot of attention over the past week, between A-Rod and Glavine reaching milestones in their careers, and Bonds reaching Hank Aaron's home run record. (I'll refrain from any comments about steroids.)


While these events have been broadcast ad nauseum in the media, I was more excited by last week's induction of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Both men are known for their commitments to the game and to their teams (the Orioles and the Padres, respectively), as well as for their character on and off the field. In an era where players are traded or sign as free agents with multiple teams throughout their careers, Ripken and Gwynn are somewhat of a rarity in that they spent decades with the same team.

Ripken is especially noted for his longevity, evidenced by his breaking Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games played. I remember quite well where I was when game #2,131 went in the books. I was in Nashville, visiting a college roommate who just happened to be from Baltimore, so naturally we watched the game. When the game was official, the crowd erupted as Ripken stepped onto the field and received a long, uninterrupted ovation. He wasn't getting applause for breaking a home run record, or for pitching a no-hitter, or for driving in the winning run in the World Series. Rather, he was a man recognized and applauded for showing up for work day in and day out, whether he "felt" like it or not.

I think that longevity and dedication are attributes that, sadly, do not get the recognition they deserve. We are quick to laud the athlete who does something "flashy". Even those who do something negative often get more press and attention than those who do their job without complaint and without giving up.

Failing to recognize faithfulness is not limited to the sports world, however; it takes place in the church as well. I am part of a church that has a very large addiction recovery ministry, and many of the men and women who have been saved through that ministry have graciously shared their stories at various church services. While I am thankful for these stories and being able to witness such powerful evidence of God at work in people's lives, I sometimes wonder if we overlook people whose stories of conversion aren't so dramatic.

There are plenty of people in our churches who, while they may not struggle with alcohol or drug abuse, have their own stories of God's faithfulness. Although I am moved by those dramatic testimonies, I am often more encouraged by hearing stories of the faith of "ordinary" people, like the husband who stays by his wife's side even Alzheimer's robs her of her ability to remember sho he is, or the family that pulls together when the breadwinner loses his job, or the friends who help each other move and who comfort each other over broken hearts. I believe that their dedication can likewise be a powerful testimony to God at work in them.

Many times it is those who do something dramatic who get the recognition, and often they should. But let me challenge us to look around and try to find someone who is not doing anything that they may consider to be special, but rather who is simply following God day in and day out, through the ups and downs of life. Take some time this week to encourage these dedicated people in your life, and let them know that their lives are powerful testimonies.

The Challenge to Live on Less

"What keeps us from living on less? It's not just our love for things, it's our fear of loneliness or abnormality. If simple living were the norm in our churches, it would be much easier to live simply ourselves. But we don't want to be left out or seem weird. We need examples to follow, models of simpler lifestyles that we can observe firsthand to convince us it's really possible--and desirable. We need to see people we respect, people like us who choose to live differently. A mandate to 'live simply' won't do it. It's easier to follow footprints than to follow orders. If most people in the church have new cars, beautiful homes, hot tubs, and cutting-edge entertainment centers, it's hard to remember these aren't what the church is here for.

...The Christian community should be filled with people who set a cap on their lifestyles, giving away everything above that amount. We need to draw a line and stop accumulating beyond it. Give away everything else. That isn't even sacrificial giving, it's just giving according to our ability. Simple as it is, the models are so few and far between that people don't even conceive of how it could work." (Money, Possessions and Eternity, pps. 297-298)

I'm challenged by the concept of setting a limit on how much I spend on myself, and giving away everything else. Throughout my career, God has blessed me with steady income and regular raises and bonuses. It seems that whenever my income increases, so does the amount of "stuff" I accumulate. As my income has grown, so has my lifestyle. It's a very different mindset to decide to live on a certain amount, and to give away anything beyond that.

I told you this book would be challenging!

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back...or So It Seems

Sometimes I feel like I've made a lot of progress in my walk with God. Then I have days (or in some cases, weeks) where I find myself dealing with old negative attitudes and hurts that I thought I'd put to rest long ago. Recovering from a broken heart is a series of emotional ups and downs; some days I feel like I've come a long way, and the next day I find myself breaking down for the millionth time. Frustrated is an apt description of how I'm feeling.

Yesterday I read this article about how God often works behind the scenes, in ways that we can't see until the time is right. Of course, I want to be able to see all that He's doing right NOW. But God, in His infinite and unexplainable wisdom, keeps some things hidden. I don't like that. But He must have a reason and I trust that one day, either here on Earth or in Heaven, He'll reveal what He's been up to.

I am truly grateful for the many times over the past year when I've seen and felt evidence of God working on my heart. He has brought about many changes in me for which I'm thankful. And in those times when I feel like I'm regressing rather than progressing, times when I can't see any evidence of change, I will try to remember that some of God's best work is done behind the scenes. I want my faith in what He's doing in me to increase more and more.