An inheritance

Growing up, my family life was secure and stable, and I was loved. Many of my friends in high school came from broken and/or abusive homes so I was very thankful for the family life I had. There was a problem though, an underlying question that left some significant impacts on my life. I questioned if I was adopted. I now know I wasn’t, but for a number of years it was a doubt and question that remained unanswered. There are a variety of issues that led to the conclusion, but the lack of evidence that I wasn’t adopted was the biggest area of concern. There were no pictures of me as an infant, no pictures of my mom when she was pregnant, and no birth certificate. There wasn’t anything to prove my birth.

Those doubts and questions shaped my life in significant ways. For a number of years I had to cope with insecurities and uncertainties that affected my self-esteem, my relationships with others, and especially my relationship with God. I questioned God’s love and care for me. Because I questioned the relationship I had with my earthly parents and family, I questioned whether the relationship with God was honest and real. I couldn’t understand why he would want someone like me.

I just came across this story about a boy who faced insecurities and ridicule because he grew up without a father.

Just about the time I got to the door, I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I looked up and the preacher was looking right at me. “Who are you, son? Whose boy are you?” I felt the old weight come on me. It was like a big, black cloud. Even the preacher was putting me down. But as he looked down at me, studying my face he began to smile a big smile of recognition. “Wait a minute,” he said, “I know who you are. I see the family resemblance. You are a son of God.” With that he slapped me across the rump and said, “Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it!” (“Belonging” Stories for a Teen’s Heart by Alice Gray, comp. p316.)

Realizing that I had a Father who truly loved me and choose me had incredible impact on my life. He didn’t have to love me. He knew intimate details about me before we met and he still chose to pursue me, declared he wanted me, and was willing to go to great lengths to win my heart. If you are a Christian, you too are a son or daughter of God. You too have a great inheritance. It doesn’t matter what your family was growing up, or what family you are a part of now, you have a heavenly Father who loves you more than anything you can compare it to.  Are you resting secure in God’s love, or doubting that he could care for you enough to make a difference? You have a great inheritance. Believe it and go claim it!

Do we suffer from group think?

I have been talking with a friend this week about group think. It is defined by Irving Janis, someone who did extensive research on this topic, as “A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.”

At church today during worship we were encouraged to shout during a specific song. I am a pretty quiet person and shouting is not my way of showing support, enthusiasm, or passion. It definitely is not something I do to show my love for God, but I can respect that this is an action that others find some value in. As I stood watching and listening to others I wondered how group think applies to Christianity and our churches. Group think isn’t by nature bad, but it may cause groups to make hasty or irrational decisions, and it can be a characteristic of groups that adhere to a certain set of beliefs without questioning those beliefs.

Sometimes I hear or observe Christians expressing there is one way to approach God or have a relationship with Christ. I don’t know where that idea comes from because I see just the opposite in God’s word. I believe God has made us all different and unique and therefore there are various ways we can pursue, follow, or approach relationship with Christ. We should choose those methods that work best for us rather than joining in with others in a manner where group think is in control. Here are a few examples of what I mean:
• Zaccheus – While he desired for more, just seeing Christ was enough and was better than missing out completely.
• Woman who had bled for years – She only wanted to touch, not be seen or recognized, and she did not say a word. She had tremendous respect for the power Christ carried.
• Jairus – He fell at Christ’s feet, pleading for him to come heal his daughter.
• Canaanite woman – She believed that Christ only had to say her daughter was healed. She had great faith that Christ would do what he said.
• Men who lowered their friend through a roof so he could be healed – These men would do anything to get to Christ. They knew the source of power and healing and didn’t want to wait.
• Disciples – They were willing to give up their way of life to follow Christ

How do you follow Christ? Are you only doing what others tell you to, or are you finding the best way for you to follow Christ? God doesn’t tell us how to come, he just wants us to come and share life with him. Find the way to do that which fits you best.

Is it what you understand or don’t understand?

“It’s not what I don’t understand in the Bible that worries me; it’s what I do understand.” Mark Twain

I have been wrestling with some questions lately and as I was reading the book Seismic Shifts by Kevin G. Harney I came across the above quote by Mark Twain. It made me stop and reflect. It isn’t what I don’t know about the Bible that stops me from reading or limits my relationship with God. I don’t know what I am missing out on. Instead, it is what I already understand. I don’t always like what I read, in fact sometimes I strongly dislike it because it brings such conviction or it challenges me to change my way of life.

Have you ever hesitated to open the Bible? Was it because you didn’t understand, or because you really did understand and scared you?

Thinking about Lent in a new way

I was raised in a main line denominational church that observed the season of Lent. Although we didn’t see it as a time where we had to give something up or deny ourselves of things like other Christian groups, it was still a very important season in the church. Honestly though it was something I didn’t fully understand.

I have been thinking about Lent over the last few days, and wondering what I can do to observe this season in a new way so that it becomes more meaningful and purposeful. It is very easy for holidays, even Christmas and Easter to come and go without me paying much attention to them, at least proper attention.

As I have questioned if I should be giving something up or practicing penitence, an act of introspection where we take stock of our lives and our relationships to discover and change things in preparation for Easter. This is done to experience spiritual renewal through the act of sacrifice and to seek a way to make things right in our relationship with God and others.

What I keep coming back to is that God doesn’t want our lives to be about denial, but instead it should be about acceptance and abundance. He did sacrifice, but only because he knew with certainty that something greater would come through that sacrifice. His sacrifice wasn’t about denying himself something, but instead it was about achieving something of greater value. Denial isn’t wrong, and it can certainly bring us awareness and draw us closer to God. Rather than spending the next 46 days denying myself though, I am going to approach this time to see what I can gain and glean. How many truths, values, and insights can I take to heart? What can I apply to my life so that it will be different? What can I gain so that I know God better and can serve him more? How can I recognize and associate with his sacrifice and the goals he sought to achieve through it by Easter? I hope to have many things to share come Easter Sunday, and I hope I am different inside and out.

Sometimes we will fall…

We all have been created with special skills that we are good at, and with practice we can often even improve on those skills. I have a skill that I am not proud of, and it is one that I unfortunately continue to practice and reinforce. I am very good at doing stupid things to injure myself.  I have caused myself injury doing the most mundane things. Once I injured my hands three or four times within a year, culminating with breaking four fingers at the same time. Luckily the injuries are usually fairly mild, but explaining the circumstances around the injuries can often be a humbling experience.

As we learn to walk, talk, and grow to maturity with Christ we sometimes will fall on our faces or experience injury. Just like a child who is learning to grow and experience life on their own, there will be times where we will successfully achieve a goal, and other times where we will lie in middle of the room with our face in the carpet wondering if we should cry. Children learn to look at their parent’s for feedback to see if they are okay. We too should be learning to look to our heavenly Father for feedback, security, confidence, encouragement, and hope.

I am going through a time right now where I feel like a teenager who has realized that their rebelliousness has gotten them into some trouble. If I had taken the time to learn from my Father’s wisdom I wouldn’t be in this place, but I didn’t trust him and instead felt certain I could handle things on my own. My reaction is to want to hide, ignore things, cover it up, and avoid any negative consequences. My Father has waited up though and is sitting on the front porch waiting for me to come home. He isn’t angry. Instead he wants to offer a hug, a shoulder, and an ear. He wants me to know the safety of coming home. He wants me to come inside and to rest peacefully. Doing that is my choice though. I can continue to wonder if I am okay or if I need to cry, or I can look my Father in the face, know that I am forgiven, and feel the tenderness and grace of his embrace. I think it is time to go home!

A legacy for our children

Even though I am not a parent, children and youth are something very dear to my heart. A few days ago I came across an article on CNN’s web site that has continued to weigh heavy on my heart and mind. The article titled Stolen kids turned into terrifying killers discusses the horrible situation around the world where children are being recruited, guided, and trained into lifestyles of crime, violence, slavery, and being physical and political shields. “There is no escape for what the United Nations and human rights groups estimate are 250,000 child soldiers today. These children, some as young as 8, become fighters, sex slaves, spies and even human shields. Sometimes their guns are taller than they are.” (Quoted from the article)

It is so easy for us in America to assume our kids are safe. Even with gangs, drugs, crime, and violence here in America most of our children and youth are predominantly safe. They don’t have to fear being kidnapped, tortured, brainwashed, or forced into lifestyles of sex or violence. My eyes have really been opened to human trafficking and international abuses toward children over the last couple years. The more I learn about these issues the more I become aware of how little I know. These children are facing lifestyles and issues I can not even fathom. They are not just making poor choices, but instead they are fighting to live.

As I hear about the plight of our young I am left to think about the legacy we are leaving our children. What future do these children who are becoming fighters, sex slaves, spies, and human shields have? Who will be there to provide for them, teach them, and give them love? It is easy to feel we have no responsibility to what is happening across the world, but we can make a difference. God asks us to make a difference. My challenge today is that I need to learn how to “live with worship being a way of life where we are stretching out our hands toward others every day”. It is easy to think about it and write about it, but how can I live it? How can I leave a different legacy for those I can impact?

Right now God, I don’t want to leave unchanged

One of the most moving pieces of conversation I have run across on a music CD comes from Shaun Groves on the Twilight album as he introduces a time of worship.

“Are you guys ready to worship with me tonight? Worship is not a song. Worship is my response to God with all that I am, to all that he is, all that he has done, is doing, and will do in me, through me, around me, and in spite of me, but it’s not just a song. Worship is our response with all of our lives, everything we’ve been given to all that God is. And so if we come in here to this place and we raise our hands and we raise our voices but we don’t stretch these hands out when we leave this place to feed the hungry and cloth the naked, and fight for the poor and for the oppressed, then what you and I have done is worshipped a singer or a song but not a God. So let me ask you again, are you ready to worship with me tonight?”

The next song on the album is After the Music Fades. One line really stands out to me. “Please take me, and break me. Right now God, I don’t want to leave unchanged. I never want to be the same.”

I was listening to this last night and I found myself weeping as my heart moved closer to God’s. Think how amazing life would be if we started to live with worship being a way of life where we are stretching out our hands toward others every day, and we are not leaving unchanged! That is the life I want! God is so transforming, and I don’t want to ever be the same as I was yesterday.

Our scars

I stopped by the store on the way home from work tonight to pick up some ingredients for a dinner I was to provide for someone who had just had surgery. When I got to the checkout I noticed my cashier was a man with a grossly deformed face. I am guessing he had some type of tumorous growth. It affected one half of his head (eye, check, mouth, ear, etc.). I had wondered why this checkout line was shorter when I got into, and now I wonder if this man was the reason. As I stood waiting for the person in front of me to complete her transaction I thought of the scars this man carries. His were on his head and face so they were available for the world to see. To hide them would be extremely difficult. Instead of hiding this man found a job where he interacted with the public every day. The courage he showed by working there, and the integrity the store showed by hiring him greatly impressed me.

As I left the store I found myself continuing to reflect on the scars we all carry. I was making dinner tonight for someone with physical scars from surgery. I have a friend who is dealing with scars left from rejection she experienced in childhood. I carry scars from both physical injury and emotional/psychological experiences I have gone through in the past. I know of others who carry scars (emotional and physical) that they have inflicted on themselves. Some scars are easily seen by others, while other scars are hidden. How do we react when we encounter others’ scars? Do we react differently to some scars than others? Are physical scars more difficult? Emotional?

God asks us to love everyone. In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ” As I stood in the store tonight I tried to see this man’s heart. I tried to look him in the eye, something he probably doesn’t get very often. I also realized how amazing God’s love is. He sees my heart and still loves me, scars and all.

Worshipping with all

Last night I had the privilege to see a theatrical presentation of the Ten Commandments. This morning as I was preparing myself for the day, I found myself singing praises to God and thinking on the amazing story of Moses, Aaron, Miriam and others. One image stood out in my memory from last night, a scene where Miriam and the Israelites praised God. They were not just praising him with a song, a hand in the air, or simple words, but they were deeply and passionately involved in their worship and expression of love. They were involved with all of who they were: body, mind, and spirit.

At church today we sang a song with the words:
I will love you, I will praise You, I will serve You, I will trust You
With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind, with all my strength

How do you worship God? Are you loving/praising/serving/trusting with all of who you are? Would you be willing to laugh, dance, sing, shout, blow trumpets, fall on your face, surrender, and sacrifice for God? Do you worship with the way you dress, eat, talk, walk, live, care for others, manage priorities, manage money, etc?

I believe our actions flow from our heart and our values. I want to pursue God’s heart and his values. I want to learn to worship God with more of who I am and what I have.  I don’t want to worry about what someone thinks at church if I want to move to the music, sing loud, lift my hands, or get lost in the presence of God. May we all learn to love and worship God with more depth, passion, vulnerability, and humility, even in the face of incredible troubles and struggles such as the Israelites experienced.

Affluenza: How I lost much to gain even more

Yesterday my assistant pastor asked me to tell him about a time in my life that changed my thinking and choices about “affluenza” and materialism. Since I wrote this for him, I thought I would share it here too. Sorry its a little longer compared to normal posts.

Four and a half years ago I was hired into a new job. It was the first time in my life that I earned enough money to do more than just get by each month. It allowed me to pay off debt (school loans, car loan, credit cards), and still be able to buy things without really thinking about what I was doing. After about a year and a half I was completely out of debt. I had even sold my condo with the hopes of owning a house.  

One night I went to a Christian concert and I felt God impress something on my heart. I felt he wanted me to quit my job. I am not someone who typically hears things from God and the idea of quitting my job without something else in place seemed very irresponsible. It caused me to realize though that while I loved the work I was doing, there were difficulties in my immediate work team and growing ethical conflicts I was facing that caused me tremendous stress. At this same time I was at a point of growing in my relationship with God in new ways, so I was very torn by my desire to listen and be obedient to God while also trying to be responsible for my own financial future and trying not to negatively affect my work colleagues. After taking some time to think things through, I basically told God I would obey, BUT that I was in charge of the timeline and would only resign once he opened the door for a new job. I couldn’t see how resigning without another job could be in God’s plan. Little did I know…

Through the following four and a half months many things happened but eventually I did resign from my job without another one in place, and I was left unemployed. I expected to be able to find employment easily but that didn’t happen. I spent the following seven months unemployed and seeking direction. I kept asking God what was next, what he wanted from me, and what I needed to do to prepare for my future. As the weeks went by my need for God grew as my finances dwindled and I became increasingly isolated, frustrated and lost.

God answered my prayers by showing me the need I had for him, by showing me the way I could live with a lot less than I had before, by teaching me to pay attention to where I spend money and why I spend it, and by giving me time to deal with the issues. As I pursued God’s heart and asked him honestly what needed to change he walked me through each issue. The first step of the process though was for me to admit that I needed him and to let him be in charge instead of controlling things myself. For me that was the hardest step. During the months, God had me go item by item through everything I owned and ask if that item was helping or hurting my walk with God. I asked questions like: Why do I own this? Am I saving this for a future that might never come? Could I get by with less of this item? Would my life be different if I didn’t have this? Am I holding onto things in a way that keeps me from relationship with others or God? Does this keep me from thinking of what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, or admirable? If I died and someone else cleaned out my house would I be okay with them seeing this? Anything that stood in the way of my relationship with God or that I loved more than him was removed from my life. I also ended up with a list of projects to deal with. There were tasks to do, relationships to repair, healing and forgiveness to work through, and beliefs and values that had to be readjusted. My life was stripped down so that I could clearly see what was most important and see how my life and values did and did not align with God’s. As my list shortened I hoped that a job was on the horizon. Instead, I was faced with one of the most difficult events of my life which resulted in me having to leave my church and losing the connections and relationships there also.

Eleven months after it all started I was left with no job, no church, few friends, no activities or time commitments, and I was living on a month to month lease. I had nothing permanent left in my life except for those things that really mattered, my relationship with God and with those who were most important in my life. Finally God opened the door for me to return to work but only through a temporary contract. Over the last two years God has been helping me put my life back in place. He gave me back the stability of having a job, a schedule, and an income, but he also gave me a heart that wants to align with his values. It took a year to find a new church home, a church that would teach me even more about those values. It is taking time to find and develop new, healthy friendships. I am slowly finding new activities, and learning to choose activities that have purpose and strengthen my heart for God’s values. I’m still working on a short term contract and living on a month to month lease, hoping that one day those things will change. I am again I am in a place where I am out of debt but now I am willing and able to bless others with my extra income. What I gained through this is priceless. I know what I value and why. I know I can live with less, and I know that everything I have is a blessing from God, a blessing I want to share. I now love giving my life away. Many of my greatest joys comes from sharing my time, money, belongings, and gifts with others and telling them about the love I have for my God, who took it all away from me, only to give me back so much more.

Where are you seeing God?

I keep trying to see God every day because it is so easy for me to overlook his blessings. Sometimes it is easy for me, but at other times it is more difficult. I find it especially difficult if I am wrestling with something or feel unsettled as I have been for the past week. God is working though and has been blessing those around me and letting me observe it in amazing ways while also blessing me.

• A family just returned from Russia where they adopted three siblings (1, 3, & 4 years old). This process took many months and had lots of obstacles so it is amazing to see the positive answer God gave to our prayers.
• Yesterday Katie willingly gave her healthy kidney to another in need. The surgery went well and the kidney immediately started functioning. Again, this has been a couple years of prayers and it is amazing to see how God worked this situation out.
• A friend was just hired as a Deputy DA in Los Angeles. He has searched for work and lived in three different towns before having this door opened for him.
• Seeing a woman who almost lost her life in a tragic accident before Christmas regain her health and memory in spite of innumerable obstacles to overcome.
• Seeing and hearing of others around me growing in their relationship with God or understanding of him. This is happening through personal bible study, challenging questions, discipleship relationships, and especially through God softening hearts and drawing people toward him.
• Four families around me are pregnant, three for the first time. Two of those babies are due in the next few weeks.
• I have also found surprise personal notes and gifts in my mailbox every day this week. God knew the encouragement I needed and met it in unexpected ways.

Are you seeing God work or are you overlooking something amazing that he is a part of?

Why are you bursting my bubble?

Before Christmas I was talking with the junior high youth at my church about the Christmas story. I was pointing out some misconceptions about that story which have become mainstream ideas such as the points that no where does it say there are three wise men, and when the wise men arrived to see Jesus they came to “the house” (Matthew 2:11) not a stable.

One of the youth listened to me for a while and then asked, “Why are you bursting my bubble?” He was asking why I was giving him information that would change what he believes and what he had accepted as truth. My answer was, “Because I want you to know the truth. I want you to know the real story of God.”

How often do we run away from, hide from, ignore, or refuse to listen to the truth? Do we even know what the truth is? Do we make up our own version of the truth? I heard a speaker last year talking about truth and deception. He asked the crowd how we know when we are being deceived. The answer was, “You don’t!”. I like to turn that question around and ask, How do you know when you are being told the truth? Don’t you need to know what truth is before you can recognize it?

John 8:31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

How far would you go for love?

With today being Valentine’s Day the topic of love (or romance) is on a lot of people’s minds. The real meaning of love has become much more real to me this year because of an example I have seen from others.

Two years ago the son of some friends was diagnosed with a kidney problem that would result in kidney failure in about two years. Trent and his wife Marie were preparing to go to India to serve as missionaries when this was diagnosed. They went there for a time and returned to the US as Trent’s condition worsened in hopes of finding a kidney donor. That donor was finally found. Katie, a wife and mother of two that Trent and Marie did not know was tested and found to be a viable donor.

On this day where the topic is love, I am thinking and praying about two people I don’t really know but have been praying for for many months. Today, they are in a local hospital where Katie is sacrificially giving a part of her own body that is healthy and working to someone in need. We often are willing to give if it doesn’t cost us much, but Katie is willing to give when it does cost her to the point of physical pain and possibly future health complications. She is willing to give a tangible part of her life to improve the life of someone else.

How far would you go for love? Would you be willing to give to a complete stranger in a tangible way?

Thank you Katie for giving me such an incredible example of love! It is an example that I will not forget, especially on this holiday where love is often reduced to something without meaning.

Random music….”I Love Trash!”

My church is talking this week about affluenza (extreme materialism which is the impetus for accumulating wealth and for overconsumption of goods). I was just reading about it on our blog and reflecting on a conversation I had on Sunday about growing older and how children, teens, and even young adults don’t know about some things we grew up with as kids.

So, in honor of all of that I just pulled out my 1970 Sesame Street record (yes, it is vinyl and I have an actual record player) and listened to Oscar The Grouch sing “I Love Trash”! I won’t tell you the list of other albums that sit on my shelf next to Sesame Street…..you really would learn new things about my past history. : )

I have to go rub my tummy and pat my head now while I sing a silly song.

Covenant…the heart of wanting the best interest for all

We have been talking about covenant at my church. It is a concept I am wrestling with a great deal. The idea of covenant isn’t something I hear much about outside of the bible, marriage, or legal contracts. Since our country has made marriage to be an agreement with legal bindings the use of covenant in both marriage and law is a rather formal agreement with repercussions if the agreement is broken.

I think the use of covenant between God and man is different. Rather than being legally binding it is an agreement of the heart between two parties that deeply care for each other. It isn’t about rules and regulations, but about a deep love for the other party. It is an agreement that declares the depth of commitment to the other party, and defines that each are in the partnership for the good of both parties.

There are two main issues I am grappling with:
1) Is a covenant conditional? In the Old Testament the covenant seemed to be conditional. God declared that if we would follow him and be faithful he would protect us and bless us. History shows that humans have repeatedly broken that covenant. Did the concept of covenant change with Jesus? How do grace and unconditional love come into play with covenant?
2) If the idea of covenant is about having both parties blessed, how is it walked out between two imperfect people (or a church full of imperfect people)? Do I care enough about others in my church community to give them what is best for them? Am I able to say I am in a church community for others best interest and not for my own?

If I take these questions seriously I am forced to look at my own selfishness, brokenness, and lack of humility. I can’t say I am willing to participate in my church community every week with the best interest of others in mind. I want to say it, but I know myself and I know that declaring it would be a lie. It is what I want to work toward, but I am not there. Yesterday as the pastor taught about this I recognized how much I would have to die to my own wants, desires, and ideas to really put others first. I experienced the grief that can come from living with a heart that is trying to live and die at the same time.

Am I in covenant with God? Do I care enough about God to give him what is best for him? If so, what am I doing daily to live with the intention and put it into action?

A gift of hope or encouragement

I have been thinking about my dad a lot lately. He passed away in April 2001 on his 62nd birthday after a 22-1/2 month battle with cancer. Cancer isn’t a disease I knew a lot about until my dad was diagnosed with it. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor which eventually spread to his spine. By the end he lost the ability to walk and talk, simple actions we take for granted every day. In a few weeks I will be helping with American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days, a yearly event that raises funds through flower sales, but also gives flowers to cancer patients with the purpose of giving them hope. Knowing how deeply patients and families with cancer have to struggle makes me angry at the disease. I really want to see a cure found.

This morning at church we sang a song that got me through the week of my dad’s death. It was something that gave me hope during that difficult time, and it always brings back a flood of emotions for me. I once again found myself reflecting on who my dad was. He was a son, husband, father, friend, pastor, leader, guide, shepherd, teacher, enthusiast, supporter, community volunteer, youth worker, traveler, believer in people, and man of great faith. My dad taught me to: love God, love people, give of myself, share my heart, follow my heart, be passionate, practice discretion, support worthy causes, listen intensely, love deeply, give my life away, care about others even when it is costly, live with intention, forgive, slow down, be easy going, look for the positives, hold life and others with an open hand, expect the best, dream big dreams, and open my heart to new experiences. Not only was he my father, but he was my friend, confidant, supporter, source of wisdom, and a deep encourager in my life. I miss him and the influence he had on me tremendously.

Who is influencing your life? Do you recognize the impact they are having? People pass through our lives every day. The gifts from those who make you feel valued, who give you hope, and who share wisdom with you are priceless. Are you taking them for granted? Maybe today you should pick up the phone, write a note, or visit someone just to tell them how important they are to you. Two weeks ago I received an email from someone very precious to me saying “I think of you and how often you make me feel like I count.” Words can’t express how her words affected me and touched my heart. Can you spare a few words to give someone hope or encouragement today?

When did it grow?

“The Chinese bamboo tree is one of the most remarkable plants on earth.  Once the gardener plants the seed, he will see nothing but a single shoot coming out of the bulb-for five full years!  That tiny shoot, however must have daily food and water.  During all the time the gardener is caring for the plant, the exterior shoot will grow less than an inch. At the end of five years, however, the Chinese bamboo will perform an incredible feat.  It will grow an amazing 90 feet tall in only 90 days!  Now ask yourself this: When did the tree actually grow?  During the first five years, or during those last 90 days?

The answer lies in the unseen part of the tree, the underground root system.  During the first five years, the fibrous root structure spreads deep and wide in the Earth, preparing to support the incredible heights the tree will eventually reach.

 

You may be liked Chinese bamboo, my friend you may be working and dreaming and planning and persevering, yet you feel as if God is taking forever to flower your dream into any visible result. Wait patiently on the Lord.  You are growing, even if the growth is underground, hidden deep in your character.  In due time, God will reveal everything he’s grown and you.  Those who wait on the Lord will never be put to shame.” (Quoted from Flashpoints by Stephen Arterburn)

 

As I struggle, waiting to see my dreams and desires come to life I have been reminded of this image/example. It is my hope that my life right now is like the bamboo that is building roots. I don’t feel like much is really going on which is frustrating at times. I want to grow, and be useful. For now though, I am trying to be patient and to wait for God’s direction about what comes next. May each of us have ears to hear when that time comes for God to call us to something more.

Love the Lord your God with all…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27)

We are called to love God more than anything else in the world. Can you think of anything you love more than God? Is there anything or anyone you would not give up for God?

I have been challenged lately by the fact that I am choosing to spend time and energy in a lot of places other than in my relationship with God. My actions tell me (and God) that I love other things more than I love him. The above scripture calls me to not just love God, but to do it with ALL of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. If all of me is focused on that priority then every priority I have flows from that.

My relationship with God is a privilege, not a right. He chose me, and continues to choose me and pursue me even when I fail him. My heart has been heavy the last few months as I have come to understand that for thousands of years God’s people have failed him and not listened to his wisdom and love. They have knowingly rejected him and abandoned him. I don’t want to continue that cycle. I want to be called one of God’s faithful followers and I want him to know that I love him more than life itself. Do I love God more than anything else? Unfortunately, the answer is no or my life would be different, but I am going to start over again today and try to reset my priorities and invest in that relationship and love because my desire is to answer yes.

Is your life different?

On Sunday my pastor made a comment that has left me pondering. He said, “If you want to be different, love your enemies. When others see us loving one another, offering grace to each other, and valuing others even through conflict we are a witness.”

It has caused me to stop and take a look at my life. How is my life different from that of my neighbor? Many Christians might name off things like not drinking, not swearing, not watching R rated movies, giving to charity, being involved in Bible studies or ministry activities, etc. Really though, a lot of people with good morals and caring hearts choose those same things. What is it that really makes my life different? Is my life different? If someone were to look closely at my life would they see something that sets it apart?

As I have pondered this I have come to believe that one of the key things that makes the life of a Christian different is our relationships. Yesterday was a day where that became real to me. I have recently experienced some strain and misunderstanding in two different relationships. Yesterday grace and healing occurred in both of those. What a tremendous gift it was to be in relationship with people who seek understanding, reconciliation, and who offer forgiveness rather than sharing hate, resentment, anger, or rejection. I also was blessed with another conversation where I found connection, acceptance, and friendship in an unexpected place.

I am now inspired to take a closer look at my life, to examine my relationships, actions, and heart. I desire to be a person that others can look at and know without a doubt that she is different. As the prayer by my bed reads, “I don’t want to live in the ordinary and the normal. I want to live in the place where I see the impossible happen. Put me on that cutting edge so that I can be used.” If I am not going to live in the ordinary and normal, then I can’t be ordinary and normal. My prayer is that I can become “different”!

Do you support your pastor?

I recently read a book that completely changed my thinking about what it means to support my pastor. For the first time in my life I am attending a church where my pastors are accessible, open, and available. I was raised in a denominational church where the pastor changed every few years. Although I left with the pastor (he was my dad), most people made the commitment to the church and to supporting it rather than to supporting the pastor. My views on how to support, encourage, equip, enable, and defend my pastor have changed a lot over the few months I have been a part of my church. I now know that church is so much more than the programs and the calendar, but is all about the people and the pastor affects every person that comes through the church doors.

Here are a few quotes from the book (You Can Make a Difference in Your Pastor’s Life Shoulder to Shoulder by Dan Reiland):
“Risks must be taken for the church to grow. In your pastor’s attempts to grow the church he will make mistakes. The bigger the church, the bigger the impact of the mistakes. But all pastors make them. The best pastors make them regularly and admit them freely. The key is in not making the same mistake over and over again. If a pastor is not making many mistakes, he’s not taking enough risks. You can support your pastor by encouraging him to make a few mistakes this month! Laugh about them, and learn from them together. Pastors tend to report success quicker than failures, but you can make a difference by letting your pastor know you realize he is human.”

“How committed to your church are you? Your church needs you to help it become better. Commitment is necessary for your own spiritual growth as well is the growth of your church. Your pastor needs your commitment and support in order to fulfill the great commission of Matthew 28 – to go and make disciples.”

“Your pastor is your “spiritual coach.” He is responsible to cast vision, motivate, teach spiritual truths, train you in the basics of your faith, and show you how to fit on the ministry team. Your job is to get off the bench by getting in the game.” “What is nonnegotiable is whether or not you are part of the team.  You are on the team-congratulations! Now the question is, will you spend it on the sidelines or in the game?”

Are you praying for your pastor? Are you committed to your church, pastor, and God in a way that supports your pastor? As you pray for your pastor God will change and grow your heart. I have a picture of my pastors on my desk to remind me to pray for them every day. I have made that commitment and have even told one of them that I am committed to supporting him through daily prayer. Nothing has changed my heart and commitment to my church more than praying for and supporting my pastors. It has been such a blessing for me. I can only hope it is a blessing for them too.