The day dawned sunny and clear, with cool air nipping our cheeks as my husband and I piled stuff in the car for our trip from the Dallas area to Austin. Our son and daughter-in-law and three grandkids also drove from the Dallas area and met us at my brother and sister-in-law's house for a Thanksgiving family dinner.
The usual turkey and dressing, as well as ham, multiple side dishes, and numerous desserts crowded the counter as we filled our plates. So much food! You probably experienced the same thing. Gratefully I overate. Thanksgiving is the one time of the few times I indulge in food that would lay me low me if I ate it all the time. But, boy, did it taste good!
The day after we got home, I sat down to pay bills. An appeal from the North Texas Food Bank caught my attention. I thought about the rich foods spread before me at Thanksgiving, and then I thought about those who are grateful just to have something to eat.
Selfishness tried to rear its ugly head as I wrote a check. We live on a limited income, but still have far more than the majority of people in this world. I'm embarrassed to admit that after stuffing myself with the choicest of foods, I hesitated when it came to helping the poor. What's even more embarrassing is that God brought me out of poverty. I never went hungry, but we didn't have nice clothes, a nice house, or even a phone or car as I grew up. Normally I have a generous heart, but this incident showed me once again that we're never free of the temptation to focus only on our needs.
First John 3:17 says,
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
John the Baptist told the crowds in Luke 3:11:
The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.
As we go deeper into the Christmas season, I pray we will actively look for opportunities to help the least among us. Let's remember how God generously supplies our needs so we can help others.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Pain, Pain, Go Away!
Yesterday I experienced a horrible pain day which included a foggy brain. Most of the time the fibromyalgia I've lived with for 25+ years is manageable through nutrition, exercise, and stretching. However, once in a great while it lays me low, and I go through the day thanking God that "this too shall pass" and not getting much done.
I thought I had accepted pain as a way of life until a day like yesterday hits me like a sack of cement and knocks me off my feet. It's not just the physical pain that's difficult, but the emotions that go with it. People who live with chronic pain have to deal with down-in-the-dumps days, and I'm no exception.
BUT. . .we have a Savior who suffered more than we ever will. He experienced excruciating pain as the nails were pounded into His hands and feet on the cross. Then He was separated, for the first time, from His Father in heaven, in order to take on the crushing sins of the world. . .my sin! And He did this voluntarily.
First John 3:16 says,
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
When I go through a bad pain day, I face the temptation of wanting to back off and not fully follow God the rest of my life. The enemy puts thoughts in my head that I have a right to take it easy because of my pain.
I say to that: Hah! God takes me to verses like the one above, and I once again fall on my face in gratitude for what Christ has done for me. He not only gave me eternal life, but abundant life here on earth. There is no greater joy than knowing God loves me and that He gives meaning and purpose to my life through serving.
There will always be a battle between the flesh and the spirit until we're out of these bodies. However, God is greater than Satan. My prayer for us is that we will live out Hebrews 12:2-3:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Christ laid down His life for the joy set before Him. There is purpose in the pain that God allows in our lives. When we scorn the pain and lay down our lives for others, joy comes!
I thought I had accepted pain as a way of life until a day like yesterday hits me like a sack of cement and knocks me off my feet. It's not just the physical pain that's difficult, but the emotions that go with it. People who live with chronic pain have to deal with down-in-the-dumps days, and I'm no exception.
BUT. . .we have a Savior who suffered more than we ever will. He experienced excruciating pain as the nails were pounded into His hands and feet on the cross. Then He was separated, for the first time, from His Father in heaven, in order to take on the crushing sins of the world. . .my sin! And He did this voluntarily.
First John 3:16 says,
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
When I go through a bad pain day, I face the temptation of wanting to back off and not fully follow God the rest of my life. The enemy puts thoughts in my head that I have a right to take it easy because of my pain.
I say to that: Hah! God takes me to verses like the one above, and I once again fall on my face in gratitude for what Christ has done for me. He not only gave me eternal life, but abundant life here on earth. There is no greater joy than knowing God loves me and that He gives meaning and purpose to my life through serving.
There will always be a battle between the flesh and the spirit until we're out of these bodies. However, God is greater than Satan. My prayer for us is that we will live out Hebrews 12:2-3:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Christ laid down His life for the joy set before Him. There is purpose in the pain that God allows in our lives. When we scorn the pain and lay down our lives for others, joy comes!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thinking About Love - Part 2
I love the Bette Midler song, The Rose. The last verse goes like this:
When the night has been too lonely,
and the road has been too long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows,
lies the seed that with the sun's love,
in the spring becomes the rose.
I used to think that love was only for the strong, the popular, the beautiful people. But God changed those thoughts when He drew me to Himself through Christ. In the verse above I change the "the sun's love" to "the Son's love." I was like that seed, buried far beneath the cold snows of despair, hopelessness, and defeat. But the Son's love melted the snow and replaced despair with warmth, hope, and love, causing me to blossom.
Last Sunday our pastor talked about how Jesus loved the poor, the weak, the needy when He was on earth. And He still does. I rejoiced as I listened to our pastor and realized that I am no longer ashamed of growing up poor, unpopular, and needy. Think of the people in your world who are poor, weak, and need God's love. Will you let God love them through you?
Here is the second part of Encouragement for the Journey
Nothing can separate you from My love (Romans 8:35-39)
My thought toward you are precious. They outnumber the grains of sand.
(Psalm 139:17-18)
I will reward you for your perseverance (James 1:12)
Your tears and pain will come to an end (Revelation 21:4)
You will dwell in My house forever! (Jon 14:2-3)
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
When the night has been too lonely,
and the road has been too long,
and you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong.
Just remember in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows,
lies the seed that with the sun's love,
in the spring becomes the rose.
I used to think that love was only for the strong, the popular, the beautiful people. But God changed those thoughts when He drew me to Himself through Christ. In the verse above I change the "the sun's love" to "the Son's love." I was like that seed, buried far beneath the cold snows of despair, hopelessness, and defeat. But the Son's love melted the snow and replaced despair with warmth, hope, and love, causing me to blossom.
Last Sunday our pastor talked about how Jesus loved the poor, the weak, the needy when He was on earth. And He still does. I rejoiced as I listened to our pastor and realized that I am no longer ashamed of growing up poor, unpopular, and needy. Think of the people in your world who are poor, weak, and need God's love. Will you let God love them through you?
Here is the second part of Encouragement for the Journey
Nothing can separate you from My love (Romans 8:35-39)
My thought toward you are precious. They outnumber the grains of sand.
(Psalm 139:17-18)
I will reward you for your perseverance (James 1:12)
Your tears and pain will come to an end (Revelation 21:4)
You will dwell in My house forever! (Jon 14:2-3)
PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Thinking about Love
If I speak in the tongues of mean and of angels,
but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love,
I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames,
but have not love,
I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Henri Nouwen wrote that we have nothing to offer others if we don’t know that we are loved by God. It’s often assumed that Christians know they are loved by God. However, it is not unusual to meet Christians who struggle with not only God’s love for them, but also His goodness, faithfulness, and grace.
We must have a heart knowledge, not just a head knowledge, of God's love for us before we can pass that love on to others. God is love! We have no other source from which we can have our hearts filled with love. Think of living on a farm with one well as the only source of water. If you don’t draw water from that well and drink it, you will die. And if you don’t water your garden from that well, your crops will die. Likewise, if we don’t get our love from God’s unending well of love, we will shrivel up and wither spiritually. That means that people around us will wither too.
Because of the way my parents were raised, they didn’t know how to express love except through taking care of our physical needs. I don’t remember my parents hugging me or telling me they loved me. Until I met Christ at age 32, I thought I was unlovable. As a new Christian, I went through a crisis that forced me to dig into Scripture. I clung to verses like Romans 8:38-39, that familiar passage that tells us nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I began to believe that God truly loved me. It changed my life!
Someone gave me a plaque several years ago that has sentences all over it about what our heavenly Father says about us. I added verses to each one. Below are half of them. I’ll print the other half in the next blog. Please read these slowly and think about the great depth of God’s love for you. He sent His Son to die for us. . .what greater love is there?
Encouragement for the Journey
I love you with an everlasting love (Psalm 36:5; 103:17)
I am your provider (Hebrews 1:3)
Trust Me, I will not fail you in any way (Psalm 91:4)
Your times are in My hands (Psalm 139:16)
I hold you with My hand (Psalm 37:24:63:8
You are my child (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1)
I am for you. Who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have a faith that can move mountains,
but have not love,
I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor
and surrender my body to the flames,
but have not love,
I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Henri Nouwen wrote that we have nothing to offer others if we don’t know that we are loved by God. It’s often assumed that Christians know they are loved by God. However, it is not unusual to meet Christians who struggle with not only God’s love for them, but also His goodness, faithfulness, and grace.
We must have a heart knowledge, not just a head knowledge, of God's love for us before we can pass that love on to others. God is love! We have no other source from which we can have our hearts filled with love. Think of living on a farm with one well as the only source of water. If you don’t draw water from that well and drink it, you will die. And if you don’t water your garden from that well, your crops will die. Likewise, if we don’t get our love from God’s unending well of love, we will shrivel up and wither spiritually. That means that people around us will wither too.
Because of the way my parents were raised, they didn’t know how to express love except through taking care of our physical needs. I don’t remember my parents hugging me or telling me they loved me. Until I met Christ at age 32, I thought I was unlovable. As a new Christian, I went through a crisis that forced me to dig into Scripture. I clung to verses like Romans 8:38-39, that familiar passage that tells us nothing can ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I began to believe that God truly loved me. It changed my life!
Someone gave me a plaque several years ago that has sentences all over it about what our heavenly Father says about us. I added verses to each one. Below are half of them. I’ll print the other half in the next blog. Please read these slowly and think about the great depth of God’s love for you. He sent His Son to die for us. . .what greater love is there?
Encouragement for the Journey
I love you with an everlasting love (Psalm 36:5; 103:17)
I am your provider (Hebrews 1:3)
Trust Me, I will not fail you in any way (Psalm 91:4)
Your times are in My hands (Psalm 139:16)
I hold you with My hand (Psalm 37:24:63:8
You are my child (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1)
I am for you. Who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Count it All Joy?
Carrie Cooper, my speaking and writing partner, wrote an insightful post on her blog on October 26. I encourage you to read the entire post at comfortedbygod.blogspot.com. The following is an excerpt from her post titled, "A Benefit of Troubles."
"One of the great blessings of trials is that it reveals our desperate state before a soveriegn God. Without his direct intervention and salvation, we all would perish. It is only because of his mercy do we have eternal hope. Our broken state serves to remind us of our human weakness and his glorious strength. . .Life's hardships point us to the peace of God and the eternal life he offers us. If life were perfect here, why would we hope for eternity?"
Psalm 119:67, 71, and 75 all affirm the benefit of affliction. The psalmist states in verse 67, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." And again in verse 71 he says, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
Living life from an eternal perspective, as Carrie wrote about, takes grit, courage, and a willingness for God to teach us through trials. For many years of my Christian life I fought against God when afflictions came into my life. I chose self-pity and blamed others for what I was going through.
God, in his mercy and grace, allowed a multitude of difficulties to assault me in order to break my prideful, self-centered will. Now, when I choose to live with an eternal perspective, I can do what James said and count it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds.
However, when I fail to spend time with Jesus, I find myself giving in to the cares of this world. Life lived with an earthly perspective loses its joy.
Could I pray for us?
Father, forgive me when I lose my eternal perspective and let the cares of this world snuff out my joy in You. Teach us to truly live above our circumstances and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Help us view trials as Your way of creating Christ's character in us. Someday You will wipe away every tear, and we will rejoice that every trial on earth was so worth what You did through it. Thank You for loving us. We love You, Lord! In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
"One of the great blessings of trials is that it reveals our desperate state before a soveriegn God. Without his direct intervention and salvation, we all would perish. It is only because of his mercy do we have eternal hope. Our broken state serves to remind us of our human weakness and his glorious strength. . .Life's hardships point us to the peace of God and the eternal life he offers us. If life were perfect here, why would we hope for eternity?"
Psalm 119:67, 71, and 75 all affirm the benefit of affliction. The psalmist states in verse 67, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word." And again in verse 71 he says, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.
Living life from an eternal perspective, as Carrie wrote about, takes grit, courage, and a willingness for God to teach us through trials. For many years of my Christian life I fought against God when afflictions came into my life. I chose self-pity and blamed others for what I was going through.
God, in his mercy and grace, allowed a multitude of difficulties to assault me in order to break my prideful, self-centered will. Now, when I choose to live with an eternal perspective, I can do what James said and count it pure joy when I face trials of many kinds.
However, when I fail to spend time with Jesus, I find myself giving in to the cares of this world. Life lived with an earthly perspective loses its joy.
Could I pray for us?
Father, forgive me when I lose my eternal perspective and let the cares of this world snuff out my joy in You. Teach us to truly live above our circumstances and fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Help us view trials as Your way of creating Christ's character in us. Someday You will wipe away every tear, and we will rejoice that every trial on earth was so worth what You did through it. Thank You for loving us. We love You, Lord! In Jesus' precious name, Amen.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Facing our Fears - Part 2
I love this quote by John Wayne: "Courage is being scared to death . . . but saddling up anyway."
We don't need to get down on ourselves when fear invades our life. It’s what we do with the fear that matters. Even the great apostle Paul experienced fear. He said in 1 Corinthians 2:3, "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling." Paul went to the Corinthians in spite of his fear. He "saddled up."
Some of the synonyms for weakness are feebleness, puniness, frailty, helplessness, inability, exhaustion. The word fear means fright, terror, panic, alarm, timidity. Paul felt that way in addition to "much trembling" which is to shake, quake, shudder, shiver.
What caused Paul to go the Corinthians despite his feelings of weakness, fear, and trembling? Obviously, his obedience to Christ overruled his fear. But also, I believe Paul saw his message of the cross so crucial that it overrode any fright he had. Paul loved the Corinthians enough to put aside his fears for their wellbeing.
So what do we do when fear squashes our courage?
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. . .He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:4,8b
Jesus endured the cross for our salvation. Do we love as Christ loved? Are we willing to overcome our fear for the benefit of others? Fear calls us to look inward; courage calls us to look outward and upward.
Sometimes I'm tempted to use my chronic illness as an excuse when God calls me to do something scary. You know what keeps me going? First, thinking about Christ's sacrifice for me. Then, thinking about people like Joni Erickson Tada. I'm sure she's overcome many fears so that God could work through her in an amazing way.
You may be the example of courage that someone is looking for. We never know who's watching our lives. So,ladies, we live in Texas. Next time we’re scared to death to step out in faith and obey God, let’s saddle up anyway!
We don't need to get down on ourselves when fear invades our life. It’s what we do with the fear that matters. Even the great apostle Paul experienced fear. He said in 1 Corinthians 2:3, "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling." Paul went to the Corinthians in spite of his fear. He "saddled up."
Some of the synonyms for weakness are feebleness, puniness, frailty, helplessness, inability, exhaustion. The word fear means fright, terror, panic, alarm, timidity. Paul felt that way in addition to "much trembling" which is to shake, quake, shudder, shiver.
What caused Paul to go the Corinthians despite his feelings of weakness, fear, and trembling? Obviously, his obedience to Christ overruled his fear. But also, I believe Paul saw his message of the cross so crucial that it overrode any fright he had. Paul loved the Corinthians enough to put aside his fears for their wellbeing.
So what do we do when fear squashes our courage?
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. . .He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:4,8b
Jesus endured the cross for our salvation. Do we love as Christ loved? Are we willing to overcome our fear for the benefit of others? Fear calls us to look inward; courage calls us to look outward and upward.
Sometimes I'm tempted to use my chronic illness as an excuse when God calls me to do something scary. You know what keeps me going? First, thinking about Christ's sacrifice for me. Then, thinking about people like Joni Erickson Tada. I'm sure she's overcome many fears so that God could work through her in an amazing way.
You may be the example of courage that someone is looking for. We never know who's watching our lives. So,ladies, we live in Texas. Next time we’re scared to death to step out in faith and obey God, let’s saddle up anyway!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Facing our Fears
Franklin D. Roosevelt, at the height of the Great Depression, uttered these memorable words during his first inaugural address: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
Fear seeps into our minds, leaving us apprehensive, discouraged, and anxious. Fear feeds on itself. Roosevelt recognized that fear brings panic and often the inability to act.
It's interesting that one of the synonyms for fear is distrust. It took me a long time to realize that when I let fear dominate my thoughts I am not trusting God.
I find it encouraging that seemingly weak people in the Bible are the very ones whom God often calls to carry out His plans. God called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon's answer - "But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." God's reply - "I will be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were one man."
Gideon was obviously afraid, but God reassured him and used him anyway in spite of his fear. When God calls me to do something that seems overwhelming,I often look at my limited ability rather than God's great power.
And then there's Moses. Who can forget his response when God said to him, "Now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Whoa! That hit Moses like a ton of bricks. He said to God, "But who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" We see God's patience as Moses threw out one excuse after another about why he couldn't do what God commanded. The Lord answered all his objections, yet Moses said, "O, Lord, please send someone else to do it." Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses.
Friends, this story motivates me to face my fears and obey God when He puts seemingly impossible tasks before me. Not because of His anger, but because no matter what Moses came up with, God's answer was bigger than Moses' fear.
When I was a student at DTS, I used Moses as my password to get into my student account because I felt like Moses. "Who am I to be doing"...whatever it was God was leading me to do. I changed my password to Esther during my last semester at DTS, choosing to believe that God had called me for "such a time as this." I still revert back to my doubting Moses identity occasionally, but thankfully I don't stay there.
Imagine the Creator of the universe wanting to use us to fulfill His purposes on earth! What could be more exciting, rewarding, or meaningful? As we face our fears, we will discover God's faithfulness in enabling us to complete whatever He calls us to do. Let's go for it!
Antidote to fear: A greater understanding of who God is, His power and might and ability to work through us when we submit to Him. That comes only from spending time with Him in prayer and in His word. How big is God in your eyes?
Fear seeps into our minds, leaving us apprehensive, discouraged, and anxious. Fear feeds on itself. Roosevelt recognized that fear brings panic and often the inability to act.
It's interesting that one of the synonyms for fear is distrust. It took me a long time to realize that when I let fear dominate my thoughts I am not trusting God.
I find it encouraging that seemingly weak people in the Bible are the very ones whom God often calls to carry out His plans. God called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon's answer - "But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." God's reply - "I will be with you, and you will strike down the Midianites as if they were one man."
Gideon was obviously afraid, but God reassured him and used him anyway in spite of his fear. When God calls me to do something that seems overwhelming,I often look at my limited ability rather than God's great power.
And then there's Moses. Who can forget his response when God said to him, "Now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Whoa! That hit Moses like a ton of bricks. He said to God, "But who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" We see God's patience as Moses threw out one excuse after another about why he couldn't do what God commanded. The Lord answered all his objections, yet Moses said, "O, Lord, please send someone else to do it." Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses.
Friends, this story motivates me to face my fears and obey God when He puts seemingly impossible tasks before me. Not because of His anger, but because no matter what Moses came up with, God's answer was bigger than Moses' fear.
When I was a student at DTS, I used Moses as my password to get into my student account because I felt like Moses. "Who am I to be doing"...whatever it was God was leading me to do. I changed my password to Esther during my last semester at DTS, choosing to believe that God had called me for "such a time as this." I still revert back to my doubting Moses identity occasionally, but thankfully I don't stay there.
Imagine the Creator of the universe wanting to use us to fulfill His purposes on earth! What could be more exciting, rewarding, or meaningful? As we face our fears, we will discover God's faithfulness in enabling us to complete whatever He calls us to do. Let's go for it!
Antidote to fear: A greater understanding of who God is, His power and might and ability to work through us when we submit to Him. That comes only from spending time with Him in prayer and in His word. How big is God in your eyes?
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