A Desert Stream

Wiseman Still Seek Him:Thoughts on Worship

2010-06-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

I know it's not Christmas but I recently watched The Nativity Story with my daughter (her favorite). It triggered some questions and thoughts on worship in me. So what do the lowly shepards, the wisemen, and later, the woman who poured her life savings in perfume over Jesus' feet have in common?

To them, worship is not at all about "getting", it's about "giving". It's not even about a song or a particular style-vibe. They model tremendous personal sacrifice and a worship that always comes back to our heart position before Father-God.

It's so true! Sometimes worship is giving adoration to God as a complete act of our "will". Perhaps it's exhaustion or concerns of the day. At this point, it is a matter of choice to give Him our "sacrifice" of praise. In the good, the bad, and the ugly! He deserves the praise of our lips and adoration of our heart, even if we don't "feel" it. It's not about me, its about Him.

Once again, It's not about me, yet my response in worship ultimately affects me. To clarify, worshipping Him wholeheartedly, regardless of my present emotional state, only opens the door to His joy and strength anyway. "In His presence is fullness of joy...Ps.16:11"
In taking my eyes off of me His Presence shows up to make all the difference.

No matter the situation, He is worthy, He is good, He is working things out on my behalf, He loves me, He died for me and He rose again to give me the victory in every area. When I truly believe to act on this, it changes everything (or it changes me to deal with the everything ha ha).

From scripture we can see that God wants his children to emphasize certain things over others in His House. Think of it, it's His house. It's not like the courthouse, it's not like the public library, and it's not Wal-Mart. It's where we go as family to collectively love on God and each other. Warmth, acceptance, forgiveness, singleness of purpose to make Him famous should be the hallmarks.

On an individual level, its coming before him with child-like trust and humility... Keeping our heart open to the penetrating power of His Spirit to teach and to guide us.

On a corporate-worship level, its that the Lord's worth and character remain under the main spotlight...not parading a particular talent or music as having the "corner".

Getting back to "giving" versus "getting" in worship. In this American Idol generation, the emphasis can often be "entertain and enthrall me". It's up to the next generation of worshippers to model God's heart, and show the people coming in the purpose and power behind "giving". We give God our praise and worship simply because He is worthy to receive it.

This is aided by worship that provides opportunity, unscheduled time, to freely "give". Lingering time where we lay our offering of worship before Him. We relinquish control, and let Him move in any way He wants to. In His loving kindness, He then clears the dust of our everyday life away. The sweet fragrance of His presence fills us, illuminating the Word as it applies to our lives

Our childhood pastor use to say with as big grin before practice, "Guys, the worship song could be Kumbaya, but sung in sincerity from our hearts as an offering to the Lord...He is well pleased!" I will never forget that. The anointing (His presence and power to overcome anything) makes all the difference!

A Swim Day and Fun at the Cave

2009-06-24T04:29:00.000-07:00

Cool cousins, blue water, a big slide, and a Native American cave site

My arm is missing...Thoughts while I wait

2009-06-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

I feel like my arm is missing...my computer is being repaired and I have not been able to write...Writing was in many ways my vocation for ten years as a teacher. But long before that, I was always writing. Writing to really see, writing to cope, writing to reflect. It is a little known fact that my eye begins to twitch if I go too long without it. Stacks of dusty journals line our personal bookshelves...some from high school... And this place has become like a virtual classroom of sorts...once a teacher, always a teacher I guess. The desire to impart never leaves.

So in the process of my waiting to write I revisited the classic movie Chariots of Fire. It is the true story of two British athletes, one a Jew, the other a Christian. They compete in the 1924 Olympics and win the gold. And great musical score might I add. The single, repeated bass line was my piano favorite as a kid.

Early on in the story, someone near and dear to our Olympian did not agree with his choice of vocation. You want to do what? You want to run? Instead, this person wanted to cookie-cutter his life into ministry....persuading him towards that end. This young man's heart's passion was, and had always been, running. I love the line in the movie where he says something to the effect of (paraphrased)

...I feel God's presence when I run, His smile of approval...

Gotta give him credit. He stays true to that. He is right. Life is too short, too precious to let another dictate your destiny in Christ..No one should speak on behalf of God what He does not confirm in your heart through an inner witness. Friend, do not let others place you in a box saying,..Well..you only fit here and there... Do not let others become your Holy Spirit or string you up like a marionette for whatever suits their purpose. Is it God's purpose? Are you left wondering? Have you sought the Lord like Daniel on your knees...Have you wrestled like Jacob?

For me the answer was along the journey. Every journey must begin with a step. Faith takes action...Faith without works is dead...I Pray, journal, dream...receive Godly counsel. God is teaching me to replace feelings of limitation with an unshakable faith in God. "Bull-dog faith" as I once heard it called. It holds on and will not let go...even in the face of persecution..even if your closest friend walked away, even when there is so much work left to do.

I trust God, I trust the covenant promises in His Word, I trust His precious Spirit. What? Did I just say that? Yes! I trust His Spirit. So sad that so many pulpits excommunicate God's Spirit to keep their purses lines with profit... to steer clear of the controversial is to deprive God's people of the very power to overcome sin. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our Helper. He sent Him as the fulfillment to the promise. So if Jesus put His trust in Him, I know I can too.

Eyes Up, Chin Up

2009-06-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

Everything made a little more sense after I was thirty...Why is this? Did the electrical wiring of my brain finally charge? I felt like I'd been staring at one of those 3-D illusion posters, and the picture finally popped.

I find myself another year older. My intention is not to sound smug, but I am glad to have gleaned some new found wisdom from this year. I stepped out of the rat-race and all that was normal...to let God reform me, our family, our goals into a 'new' normal.

No over-planned schedules, no senseless drama, no unreasonable expectations...just a back-to-basics kind of life. (Big sigh here) The simplicity of resting in Christ.

I'm not going to lie to you and say it was all roses and chocolates.
It has been hard forging new ground. I picture Charles Ingles, sweating profusely, plowing up chunks of sod for his Little House on the Prairie.

We decided early on to commit in faith and walk it through come rain or shine. I am excited about the next step which requires looking forward, not looking back. Wait. Another visual. It's a sparkling bust of Lot's wife crystallized into salt... One day I looked back. Okay! Many days I looked back! And the outcome was NOT favorable.

Then the Holy Spirit showed me that when my eyes are up (meaning fixed on Christ), then my chin automatically goes up, a metaphor for keeping the right attitude. As I wrap up another year, I realize that this is my year's motto.

One other thing, if you are reading this and God has put something big in your heart to do, ask yourself what it is worth to you. He most likely placed the desire there in the first place. Then go stand in a cemetery and pray. It may change some things.

Receive Godly counsel, run prayerfully with it, and never look back... Together let's remember, especially on the cloudy days...eyes up, chin up.

Loved Across Time

2009-06-06T17:34:00.000-07:00

We attended an exquisite little wedding ceremony today. Round bouquets of red and white roses hung from the ceiling. Each one was draped between satin panels. Votive candles twinkled like stars against the warmly lit room. The sweet cries of a violin tugged at heart strings, as Father hugged daughter and then lovingly let go...His gentle kiss on her tear-stained cheek...

Then the vows. Simple. Intimate. Charged with the wisdom of the ages...We were witnesses to a holy, heavenly exchange~the merging of two destinies into one.

What made this wedding so different? Was it the twinkle in the brides eyes as she gazed lovingly into his? Was it the reassuring nod of the groom as he promised to always fight for their love? No. It was something sweeter. It was the realization of God's presence surrounding all of us in that place.

Is it possible to feel God's presence during a wedding? I did not expect it, but there it was. So much so, that the minister could not speak for the tender sob caught in his throat. With eyes closed and voice trembling, He prayed that their love stay ever centered in Christ. I saw couples seasoned by a life-time of experience wipe tears from their eyes. Such a beautiful fragrance, God's smile of approval.

Oh the sweetness of a dream realized...to hold the one you love, and to choose that lover in the sight of God and man... without shame. Amazing that this is the picture of God's love for his beloved, the church. You and I.

He chose us, knowing who and what we are, yet without shame! And he says, "I love you! I fought for this love on the cross." He sees the good, the potential, and on our worst days has loved each of us across time...

Little Pictures in Frames

2009-06-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

I just put some of our Grand Canyon pictures in frames up on the piano. They remind me of beautiful moments with my children. Sacred moments in God's presence. Such tremendous healing and love was released from hugging and playing with my kids in the canyon snow. From becoming a mere speck in a place that confounds comprehension... Each time I look at these pictures, I am reminded of God's immense grace.... that the expanse of who He is exceeds all the little check-off boxes people put Him in. He is as wide and limitless as the canyon..

In Protest of the Gong

2009-06-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

“I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.”
~Henry Ward Beecher

Years ago I heard a minister over a prayer group call hurting, needy people “nut-cases”. That got under my skin a bit. Through time I observed a consistent “us” verses “them” mentality emerge. He would often speak in arrogance about “them” as if he were higher on the totem pole of life…

So many have it backwards these days. They quote the Bible inside and out, know theology like a Bible Professor, bedazzle with amazing talents, but if we do not know how to love, we are nothing. I am reminding myself today…

Paul wrote:

Without love, we are an empty, annoying sound like an obnoxious gong!
(1 Cor. 13: 1 paraphrased)

I am glad I am still learning to love. We have all stumbled many times, but I know now that on a journey, it is okay to stumble! You can brush off the dirt, bandage the wound…sit back and catch your breath…smell a flower, give thanks, and then start hiking the trail again. You make mental notes of what made you stumble in the first place. Then it is time to press on…

Don’t let people or those who sell empty religion for personal gain fool you. This walk of faith is not a one-time event or collection of quippy sayings.

It is constant growth and a process of becoming…and then becoming again…learning to love the unlovely… learning to love like Jesus. If it costs me nothing, I am surely fooling myself. "I will not give to the Lord that which costs me nothing...(David, 1 Sam 24;24)"

Is love just giving a needy person a bag of fast-food on the highway? Perhaps. Many would agree that the deed is at least charitable. The kind of love God wants his children to have? Giving the food even with the knowledge that it is your last meal...

That is why the Christian faith really is a journey. We do not just wake up with that kind of love. We do not suddenly “arrive” to it. It is a process of the Holy Spirit who shows us how to strip away the old man and embrace the new man. We have to humble ourselves to see others the way God does. Talent, money, status, celebrity and power do not make us greater than another. We are all God’s children; naked before him when we stand before the throne.

I am grateful that His mercies are new every morning. He knew we would need that dose of reality-mercy daily…. I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

And I never knew how to love until I let it cost me something.

Aye Carumba! This Cilantro Kicks!

2009-06-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

This and a big bag of chips with veggies makes a nice light dinner. I love contrasts: the combination of salty, sweet, little lime, and juicy sweet tomatoes with crunchy chips.
Taste as you make to alter what works to your liking:

5-6 Roma Tomatoes (I find Romas have less water)
1/2 c finely chopped onion, more if you want punch
1/2 c freshly chopped cilantro
1/4 of a lime
1-2 TBS of sugar
Hot sauce if you like it

We throw it all in the processor and run it on chunky.
I also peel and mash 2 avocados in a bowl. Mix in some of the fresh salsa with it. We add an all-spice in for more flavor. Or, you can make you own all-spice mix with paprika, white pepper, cumin, garlic powder and seal in a ziplock bag.

Happy eats!

Depth of Mercy

2009-05-27T19:25:00.000-07:00

Depth of Mercy!
Can there be Mercy still reserved for me?
Can my God His wrath forbear,
Me, the chief of sinners, spare?
I have long withstood His grace,
Long provoked Him to His face,
Would not hearken to His calls,
Grieved Him by a thousand falls.
I have spilt His precious blood,
Trampled on the Son of God,
Filled with pangs unspeakable,
I, who yet am not in hell!
I my Master have denied,
I afresh have crucified,
And profaned His hallowed Name,
Put Him to an open shame.
Whence to me this waste of love?
Ask my Advocate above!
See the cause in Jesus' face,
Now before the throne of grace.
Jesus, answer from above,
Is not all Thy nature love?
Wilt Thou not the wrong forget,
Permit me to kiss Thy feet?
If I rightly read Thy heart,
If Thou all compassion art,
Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow,
Pardon and accept me now.
Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood!
He disarms the wrath of God;
Now my Father's mercies move,
Justice lingers into love.
Kindled His relentings are,
Me He now delights to spare,
Cries, 'How shall I give thee up?'
Lets the lifted thunder drop.
Lo! I still walk on the ground:
Lo! an Advocate is found:
'Hasten not to cut Him down,
Let this barren soul alone.'
There for me the Savior stands,
Shows His wounds and spreads His hands.
God is love! I know,
I feel; Jesus weeps and loves me still.
Pity from Thine eye let fall,
By a look my soul recall;
Now the stone to flesh convert,
Cast a look, and break my heart.
Now incline me to repent,
Let me now my sins lament,
Now my foul revolt deplore,
Weep, believe, and sin no more.

Charles Wesley 1707-1788

2009-05-20T03:13:00.000-07:00

I recently watched an Extreme Home Makeover Edition where they not only rebuilt a home for a family in crisis, but repaired a whole community neighborhood. It was awesome!

The neighborhood was socioeconomically low on the totem pole. It had been hit really hard by the jobless rate. So much so, that grown men were reduced to tears when they saw help coming.

The teams landscaped, painted and fixed broken windows and pipes. Such a sense of community and pride was restored! Mentorship programs were initiated. Someone even donated laptop computers to the local school.

It caused me to examine my own life. When was the last time I did something selfless for the people around me? Something that really made an impact? Something that might even cost me something like time, energy, effort, even money?

How fascinating that one church in Texas made CNN headlines for breaking the mold. They asked people suffering for their next meal to actually take money from the offering plate. What a novel idea: The church helping those in need. Economic crisis? This should be the church’s moment to shine! Read about it here:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/05/18/texas.church.collection/

What if we used networking to help others instead of building up our little corner on the church market? Why do I see more Church Incorporated businesses profiteering rather than the church of Jesus who healed and helped? Why do I see more leaders just helping themselves for personal gain and self-promotion?

I have to start by examining my heart and making steps to do it differently. What am I building today? Or rather, who am I building today?

We are at a place in our culture where our preaching is only authenticated by our actions. Helping the widow, the fatherless, the soup kitchen, the neighbor who just lost his wife builds the community of faith. These selfless acts advance the cause of Christ more than celebrity and making a brand name out of church.

Don’t misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with using the arts in the church to spread the gospel. But as the main tool of evangelism, it falls grossly short. I am afraid we are producing a generation of shallow believers who only value the tickling of their own ears and needs.

I love how Stephanie Bennett, associate professor of Communication and Media Studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University puts it,

“Do we remember what it means to function in the gift of hospitality, spending time caring for each other, visiting the elderly, or helping a neighbor? Doing the small, unnoticeable deeds that help build the community of faith are much more important to advancing the call of discipleship than getting people out to the pews for another big night of celebrity.

If American Christianity would refuse to embrace the cult of celebrity and begin to value everyday brothers and sisters instead of big name bands and star preachers, we would see refreshment and reality return to our altars. Surely, then, our everyday lives would begin to take on the fragrance of Christ in the marketplace instead of the stench of the idolatry that festers in the hotbed of the cult of celebrity.”

Here is what scripture says:

1 John 3:17 But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's love be within him ? 1 John 3:18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 1 John 3:19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.

Prov. 28:27 If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied! But a curse upon those who close their eyes to poverty.

1 Tim. 6:17 Tell those who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone, but their pride and trust should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Tim. 6:18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 1 Tim. 6:19 By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven--it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.

Mat. 25:34 "Then I, the King, shall say to those at my right, 'Come, blessed of my Father, into the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. Mat. 25:35 For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you invited me into your homes; Mat. 25:36 naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.' Mat. 25:37 "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Sir, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you anything to drink? Mat. 25:38 Or a stranger, and help you? Or naked, and clothe you? Mat. 25:39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' Mat. 25:40 "And I, the King, will tell them, 'When you did it to these my brothers you were doing it to me!' Mat. 25:41 Then I will turn to those on my left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. Mat. 25:42 For I was hungry and you wouldn't feed me; thirsty, and you wouldn't give me anything to drink; Mat 25:43 a stranger, and you refused me hospitality; naked, and you wouldn't clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' Mat. 25:44 "Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' Mat 25:45 "And I will answer, 'When you refused to help the least of these my brothers, you were refusing help to me.' Mat. 25:46 "And they shall go away into eternal punishment; but the righteous into everlasting life."

Wrapping Things Up, Mr. Spock Style

2009-05-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

I am thinking about a riveting scene in the new Star Trek movie where Spock travels to the future to come face-to-face with his younger self. I thought about what I would say to myself if I could pass through time and space to an earlier age. If you could go back through time what would you say to yourself? What advice or words of encouragement might you share knowing what lies ahead in life?

Then I thought about beginning our home school year. Even though I taught for ten years, I was overwhelmed by the questions about how to get everything rolling in the right direction. There were baby steps before there were strides. Funny how I believed the questions would die down after a year, and I would have some clear answers. But no, It seems like I have even more questions from my questions. I have learned that this is okay. Really it is. I think the danger is in ignoring the questioning process because we stop growing and can ultimately grow stagnant. As much as I am teaching, I am also the student, so as my child's living curriculum, they will take their cues from me.

There has been such fruit from choosing to follow the leading in our hearts to home school. It has been a tremendous year of growth. A year of simplify, back to basics kind of living. I can't tell you what a difference it has made in our relationships and quality of life.

As with many things in life, it was not how I first perceived. The adventure has been organic, moving and changing from one thing to another. We did what was necessary. Then we did what was possible, and now we are accomplishing the impossible. Our kids have surpassed expectations in every subject area beyond reading, writing, and arithmetic. Our hearts are grateful.

I want to take this time to say thank you. I am especially thankful for my husband who has been a constant support, so patient, and strong. My sister, certified to teach third grade, was key to this wonderful new world. We could not have made the journey without her. She has shown me what it really means to be a teacher and a mother. She is my best friend.

Thanks to the grandparents who believed in this step by giving love and wisdom along the way. We are so happy to have grown together. We were so busy before this year, and family solidarity has been a welcomed change. I want to personally thank the friends who kept the door open by being an encouragement even when I was not so visible. I love you.

So getting back to my original thought where Spock travels to the future to converse with himself at an earlier age. What would I say to myself at the start of this year for advice and encouragement?

Hug your family every day
Kiss your husband like it is the last time you will see him
Don't sweat the small stuff
Revel in small victories
Trust God to lead you and don't second guess yourself
Coffee is your friend
Who you are is not what you do
The promises of God are stronger than the promises of man
Push through when you want to give up. A soft answer turns away wrath
Miracles really happen (Grand Canyon!)
Experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted
Please God and the rest will follow
Worship is a lifestyle and you are just a worshipper
Titles and labels are distractions
Look for the best in others even when it hurts
People will surprise you
Take a break
First impressions are often false
Everyone deserves a second chance
Even if something seems dead, it can be resurrected, and ten times better the next go around, kinda like Star Trek

Next Generation Prayers

2009-05-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for our Children

1.Teach them

2.Keep their foot from evil and give them a spirit of wisdom

3.Give them bold love and conviction

4.Cover and protect them all their days

"Your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13

Have You Ever Been Hated?

2009-04-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Has there ever been a time in your life where you were hated? I mean really, really despised. Maybe because of what you do, who you represent, what you believe, who you are as a person, or perhaps because of who you are not . . .

Maybe this is happening to you right now. Maybe it is a certain group of people at your workplace, fellow classmates in college, a person or group of people who call themselves your family (but rarely act in that way).

Whatever the case, I want to encourage you. I went through a season in my life where for the first time ever I was hated. And nothing I could do would appease or make amends.

I had always been loved. To suddenly be hated was something that caught me completely off guard. How could I adapt to this? It was a hatred I could feel. It was like a cold stone wall going up and icy daggers directed straight towards my heart. I could taste it, see it, smell it. It was real. Although devastating, I knew I had to fight it with everything within. Fight what it wanted to get out of me and what it wanted to do to me. I had to choose to do the opposite of what was natural in this situation.

I want you to know that if you watch carefully the way in which you navigate this season, you will come out on the other side stronger, wiser, and more full of God than you ever imagined.

If you make it your goal, to be and do as Christ Jesus, you will never fail ( II Peter 1). You will have shown that your heart is truly trustworthy to carry all that God has in store for you. Not necessarily that you handled each situation for a perfect outcome , but that your highest goal was to honor Him out of love first. He can use a heart like that.

Dealing with hatred, I noticed I fell face down to kiss the carpet in prayer a whole lot more. The more I did, the more God supplied what I needed. Sometimes it was like manna from heaven-just enough for that day, so I had to keep seeking. This forged a greater dependency on God for everything. Guard closely your time for prayer and intimacy with God. It is your life-line.

Like others who have experienced this, I noticed He gave me a supernatural love for these people. I vowed to pray for each one, even if I knew they would never care or have one shred of thanks. Even if they never received me and kept mistreating me. I knew God wanted me to respond in love at every opportunity given. I did my best. Where retaliation would have been the natural response, I knew the Holy Spirit wanted me to sow peace. There were days where the struggle was so great. I know at times I failed.

Yet the precious Holy Spirit was right there urging me forward. He will give you strength too. In fact, Zechariah 4:6 and all the scriptures regarding the Helper became even more real because I was walking them. Looking back, I love how He positioned people on the journey to hold up my arms when strength was failing. Dear friends said things and did things they did not even realize were such an encouragement. I am so grateful.

It was one of the worst, and one of the BEST seasons of my life! I had heard about Jesus being hated by his own since sunday school, but now I KNEW how Jesus felt to some small degree. Oh the love and sacrifice He gave!

Best of all, I received an accurate picture of who I am and where I am. Of where my maturity really stood as a believer. Believe me, I was not the shining spectacle I had deemed myself to be. No. I had and still have a lot to learn.

And last, I learned to shift my gaze to what counts. I had to force my gaze off of man and fix it to Jesus. Higher things. I had heard that sermon all my life too. But now it was becoming practice. Truthfully, I cared too much what other people thought. God wanted His Word and HIs opinion to be the driving force.

I know these words are for someone struggling today. With Jesus, you will make it through a season of being hated. God loves you so much, He is refining you. I believe He allows us to go through experiences to mold our faith. To reveal what may be lying dormant in our hearts. It is the testing of our faith that produces patience. If you let patience have its perfect work, you will be perfect (meaning 'whole', not without error) and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:3-4).

You will be ready! You will be able! Teachable and trustworthy! Not because of anything you did in your own strength, but because you depended on Him and then acted in obedience. You allowed God to transform you from the inside out, and that my friend, is a beautiful thing!

Lessons from a Jasmine Bush

2009-04-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of the lovely jasmine taking over one side of our house. I am not much for a green thumb, but my daughter loves this plant and waters it every other day.

Last summer, we actually had to cut the Jasmine back in order to replace a rotting wooden trellis. The long plant vines had become so entangled and unruly that they were growing ever which way but up!

I remember taking the pruning shears in hand and hesitating . . . is cutting them here the right move? One year later we can smile and be glad we did. Little white blossoms of fragrance greet us sweetly each morning.

I can learn a lot from my Jasmine plant. I am thankful that my heavenly Father loves me enough to teach me and prune me inwardly. Without his loving correction I could not, we could not progress in God. And He wants each of us, above all, to bear fruit.

Through this process our family has been spending more time in the promises of God. Yes. Bringing them to the forefront, revisiting them, remembering, and holding them so dear and close. And this week specifically, the promises we have centered on are those Peter wrote of concerning success. Definitions may vary and I have heard many different ones in my lifetime. Yet I love these two. One from my Pastor and one from a favorite book.

Success is finding the will of God and doing it wholeheartedly.

The second, Success is being able to look back and have minimal regrets.

Now I know that it is normal in everyone's life to have some regrets. To say the opposite is being naive. I am not condoning looking at the world through rose colored glasses, being unrealistic, etc. . . .

I am pointing to a keeping power in Christ. A supernatural direction that only He can give you that is spot on! You will not find anywhere else, the latest horoscope, fortune cookie, or eight ball. It has nothing to do with chance or luck (these things, sadly, run out), it has to do with relationship.
It is the Almighty's hand of providence over you and I. I know many of you know His power first hand through different life experiences. How wonderful to experience this peace and direction in the midst of uncertainty. Peter wrote about it to encourage the Christians of his day who were facing great opposition, including false teachers, doctrines of greed, and horrible, deadly persecution. He reminds us that if we follow God's instruction, we will never stumble.

II Peter 1:3

“ . . . His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness . . .”

Notice he includes "life", and not just "godliness". All we need for this life we can look to God to supply. Even if circumstances are screaming failure, we can trust our heavenly Father to make a way. He will provide what we need. It may not come the way we thought, yet He promises He will never leave His children forsaken or begging for bread (Psalm. 37: 25).

“ . . .by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust . . .”

Peter goes on to write my very favorite part:

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your

Faith, Virtue

To Virtue, Knowledge

To Knowledge, Self-Control

To Self-Control, Perseverance

To Perseverance, Godliness

To Godliness, Brotherly Kindness

And to Brotherly Kindness, Love

For if these things are yours and abound, you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

Verse 10, Therefore brethren (and sisters) be even more diligent to make your call and election sure. For if you do these things you will never stumble.

For so entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior (His will and way on the earth)

A very dear friend described it to me as climbing up a rope. You know you are going somewhere. You may stop and rest in one place to catch your breath, give your weary body a breather, but keep climbing up!

Home, Sweet Home

2009-04-09T18:56:00.001-07:00

Wow! We had a tremendous vacation with loving family and friends. We were so blessed to be with them. And they are in our hearts. It was the stuff of dreams! The laughter, the connection, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Tucson, and Phoenix. We did it all in just eight days . . . and survived.

One of the most striking features of this state is its diversity. Literally, We were traveling through hot desert, and then in two hours time, engulfed by a mountain. And not just any mountain, the snow bowl of Arizona, 8000 feet up in what looked like Colorado!? Then a few hours later we found ourselves passing by tall Ponderosa Pines and the red rock wonders of lovely Sedona. Such contrast!

God ministered to us so much during these times. Sometimes the journey of life has been just like this. Dry, barren places, and then restoration, where we are on the top of a mountain. Sometimes the valley of correction and pruning. The green valley of rest and growth. Through it all, God and His love is the one constant. I am so glad that in this ever changing world He holds us steady. This Easter is so special, because for the first time in a long time, He is our All in All. There is nothing to distract or infringe on this!

When life feels like like a gyroscope, spinning and turning, pointing ever which way, I know I am anchored in Him. And this is a fact that as believers we must keep bringing to the forefront. Other things, circumstances, change, the cares of life want to loom and cast shadows over this truth.

I love this hymn and think it says it best:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

When darkness seems to hide His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

"You know me inside and out, you hold me together, you never fail to stand me tall in your presence so I can look you in the eye." Psalm 41:12

Thinking About Peace

2009-03-31T03:12:00.000-07:00

Gideon built an alter and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace ~Judges 6:24

"And He Himself is our peace. . ."
~Eph. 2:14

I am thinking about peace today, and where it fits in the equation. I am grateful that it is more than a choice. It is a gift of my heavenly Father. When I am beyond the capacity to choose it, even in rising tide of change and life situations, He gives it in supernatural form. When I bring all to the altar (a place of reckoning and repentance) There He is. And there His peace is.

It passes all understanding, it guards my heart and mind. It is a fruit of the Spirit, so amidst the day to day, I am thankfully thinking of His peace.

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."
~John 14:27

"Unto a child is born, unto you a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder. His name will be called:
Wonderful
Counselor
Mighty God
everlasting Father
Prince of Peace"
~Isa. 9:6

I usually hear this verse quoted around Christmas time in a pageant or on the radio. I am glad Isaiah ends his list of names for God this way. The last thing I am left thinking about is HIs peace. I need reminding.

"My people will dwell in peaceful habitation in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places, though hail come down on the forest, though the city is brought low in humiliation. "
~Isa. 32-18-19

Refocusing the Lens

2009-03-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Habakkuk goes from a place of questions and doubt to a place of worshipful trust. How did this happen I personally wondered?

He seeks, he waits in faith, and he worships. In spite of his feelings and despite it all, he worships God. This is when his gaze begins to shift to higher things. This is what worship does. It refocuses the lens of our heart to see the goodness and help of our heavenly Father in the midst of the storm.

Pain can skew the way things really are. When we are in pain, we tense up, we focus inward, and all we can think of is our pain! I remember after a difficult season, it felt as if my heart were glass, and the glass was shattered. This pain affected my relationships. And although some people can put on a good act about being “up" all the time, being impervious to trials or pain, everyone at some point will go through it.

During this struggle the words of Max Lucado were such inspiration. He wrote about one storm of his life where in one shard of glass God looked big and in another shard of glass He seemed so small. Through it all, He knew the goodness of God by faith, and he understood that his painful feelings were skewing the real picture.

This is where worshipful praise makes the difference. It refocuses the lens to see God for who He really is. He is good, faithful, loving, just, longsuffering, the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Paul and Silas gave worshipful praise while incarcerated in a Roman prison cell. And God delivered them, Their chains were broken off. David did this over a demonically oppressed Saul, and the menacing spirit left him.

Even in a barren winter season of his life, Habakkuk models worships:

Though the fig tree may not blossom, he writes
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
~Habakkuk 3

Is what you are going through weighing heavy on your heart? God has provided you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. This is not just figurative! It is a supernatural peace God gives those in covenant relationship with Him. God’s presence and strength literally clothe us in a season of trial, especially as we worship. There is a wonderful place in our worship where we are untouchable! Hidden under the shadow of the Almighty.

I am thankful for Habakkuk’s life and example. No matter what things look like, through worship, we can refocus the lens of our heart to really see Him and His hand at work in our situation! It is just a matter of time before His deliverance arrives. It may not come early, but He has always been faithful. Over and over again He is right on time.

A Closer Look

2009-03-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Science has discovered that even things that look random, have a pattern.

This is a picture of a fractal. Specifically, the Golden Spiral type. Fractals are found in clouds, mountain ranges, lightning bolts, shells, flowers, coastlines, snow flakes, galaxies, and even human life within the womb! Wow.

Fractals are infinitely complex. The closer you zoom in with a microscope, the more the pattern emerges!

There is a pattern that God wants us to follow too. Not to constrict us, but to bring wholeness and joy into our lives.

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you."
Philippians 3:16

Today I spent time with two precious individuals who are full of God, and who model His pattern. They are not social elites so concerned with impressing the masses, or being so trendy. Through their words and actions I can see truth and integrity are what matter most to them.

Pay attention to whom God sends your way. He may be calling you to model His way of doing things for someone else. Or, he may be sending someone your way to show you His heart.
Take a closer look, and then become fully devoted to following His pattern.

Lessons from a Canyon

2009-03-25T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am bursting with a grateful heart. In a few days we will be able to cross one more thing off our family list of “Things to Experience Before Heaven”. God has made a way. Monday it is off to visit family we have longed to see, and Wednesday it is off to the splendors of the Grand Canyon.

How interesting to find that four million people travel to the Grand Canyon each year. In its deeper places, several skyscrapers can stack up on top of each other and still not reach the top. I keep thinking of the incredible amount of time and pressure involved in its creation. In my imagination, I can picture the mighty Colorado river twisting and turning, carving at the rock, splashing up on its sides, carrying sediment along the river bed . . . What exquisite beauty this process brought about!

Time.

So much of our growth involves patience and time. Repentance, starting over in God, repeating what works, averting what did not, forgiving others, forgiving ourselves, returning . . . And if we surrender to the process, we will be molded and remade into what God has designed from the beginning. This is difficult because it is our nature to want things immediately. Sadly, we can see what the Burger King mentality- “have it your way, have it now” mind set has done to our generation, not to mention our country.

In the biggest struggle of his life, Habakkuk shows us the importance of waiting on the Lord in faith. Waiting so He can renew our strength, waiting so that as Isaiah writes; we can mount up with wings like eagles. Habakkuk models a righteous pattern of coping, which leads to his overcoming in the tough places of life: He seeks, he waits in faith, and he worships.

Trustful waiting is a key component to the process of our growth. If we skip the waiting, and we miss the waiting-in-faith part, we will miss out!

Habakkuk wrote in the second chapter, verse 1:

I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.

Habakkuk stands his watch . . . I think of the royal guards at Buckingham palace with the black bear skin caps. They stand there so deliberately focused that nothing can move them. Tourists wave in their faces, and little kids can “Hey mister!” all they want; yet they are solid in their determination to remain steadfast.

David repented and prayed for this, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

Isaiah saw its importance, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”Isaiah 26:3

And Paul, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Peter too, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

Be still and know that He is God. He hears you. Scripture says that even your deepest sighs become like prayers to Him. He is not to be placed on the same level as friends who stuck around when the going was good, only for the limousine ride someone once put it. He will be there when the limo breaks down, your driver quits, and you have to take the cab! He is the author and finisher of your faith. And He as promised to finish the work He began in you. However, it is His work, not yours, He is the potter and we are the clay. As I write this, I know I too will tested and strengthened by these lessons.

The buds of fruit bursting on your tree will be such a testimony to God's faithfulness. Jut hold on, wait on the Lord, and embrace the process.

Seek

2009-03-24T03:50:00.000-07:00

Habakkuk’s eyes are lifted from temporal things to higher things. He realizes God is involved and intimately acquainted with what concerns him. He ends up singing of God’s faithfulness in a winter season of His life. I believe He overcame because He persistently sought the Lord. Even through His frustrations he sought the Lord. In doubt storms, He sought the Lord.

Seek

You can usually tell what is of value to someone. This is what they will spend their time, energy, and affections on. When we seek the Lord, it is more than just carving out these things for him. The danger is seeking Him out of obligation, fear, or because we feel we have to in order to achieve a certain means.

God is looking at our heart. He desires a relationship, so “Doing” does not equal “being”. He wants us to know Him, to be with Him, not just to “do” for Him.

The Wisemen sought Jesus by bringing precious gifts from afar. This was an investment of their time, energy, and effort. The woman with the precious oil of spikenard sought Jesus. Then she poured her life savings of perfume all over His feet. By that same token, she symbolically anointed Him for His death and resurrection.

What do these individuals have in common? Gusto!

They give their all, their best, with their whole heart. Do you ever do something half-hearted? I have. And the results were usually so-so.

When my daughter was very little, she wanted to express her love to us by making us breakfast in bed. She woke us up with kisses and a tray of morning goodies. Then we saw it. The toast was burnt. The coffee was watery. The flowers she collected were stinkweeds, yet the love was incredible! It did not matter. She colored a card “I love you!” it said and stood there beaming at us. We hugged her and were so grateful. I will never forget how precious her heart was.

Even when what we give is a little sloppy, God honors our best effort. How we give is as important as what we give.

We see this in the story of the widow’s mite, the boy with the loaves of bread and fishes, Cain and Abel’s sacrifice. It is a strong theme woven throughout the tapestry of the Bible. Even if our heart is struggling, we can return to Him again and again. We never need to be afraid to be real before Him.

“I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Tough Questions

2009-03-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

What do you do with the tough questions of life?

Why did (fill in the blank) have to happen to me?
Why did my loved one leave?
Why do I still have to put up with (fill in the blank)?
Why am I hurting like this?
What is my next step?

I am learning that God is not afraid of our questions. Just recall how much of His time here was related to questions. . . Nicodemus asked Him, “Be born again? What? Crawl up into my mother’s womb a second time?” And when Lazarus died. "Lord if you had been here, he would still be alive . . " What about the questions of the woman at the well, the Centurion, the disciples, the throngs of people following him? And then of course there were the Pharisees’ questions. In those cases, He already knew the intent of their hearts.

My heavenly Father knows my heart. He knows your heart too, and He holds all things in His hands! He is big enough to hold our questions. Habakkuk understood this. He allowed the questions to drive Him into a deeper pursuit of God’s presence. He was real before God. He cried out to Him and God met Him right where He was. Habakkuk is a minor prophet. He is not often quoted or discussed. Yet his life holds such inspiration! Crisis? He lived through one. Testing? Every day. Questions? Just open his book and read the first chapter.

Walking with God was a definite choice in Habakkuk’s day. The children of Israel had once again repeated a cycle of turning their backs on God. They would not repent. They were arrogant. Essentially they said, “Talk to the hand.”

They pushed God away through their actions. After all He had done to deliver them, heal them, and help them they turned to other gods. As a result, God’s hand of protection was removed, and correction was on its way. History records this correction in the form of a Babylon invasion.

Habakkuk was surrounded by darkness, despair, and great wickedness . . .

He holds on to God with all of the strength He can muster. Ever been there?
Me too. And with this in mind, isn't it fascinating that Habakkuk's name from the Hebrew means, “Embrace”?

I think of the loving embraces my family gave me today. Such comfort and strength came from them. This is a metaphor of our lives in God. It represents His unconditional, persistent love for us, and our life in Him. It is an embrace. And we can't hold to him fully while clutching for other things to fill the empty, broken places . . .

In Chapter one Habakkuk begins the questioning, and then the prayers, the seeking, the waiting on God and by Chapter three he is singing a hymn of God’s faithfulness. I personally wondered, how did he get to this place of worshipful trust? Notice, he seeks, he waits in faith, and he worships.

Habakkuk exemplifies the underlying principle of the just shall live by his faith. Paul also quotes him a few times in the New Testament. The principle of the just living by his faith becomes the core of our new covenant walk. We walk by faith and not by sight. Even if our faith is a mustard seed, God will help it grow as we run after Him with our questions. Allow the questions to drive you into a deeper pursuit of His presence. These are powerful tools that God has given you to overcome.

There is song that Cathy Goddard wrote. I love it so.

In and out of situations that tug of war at me
All day long I struggle for the answers that I need
But when I come into His presence
All my questions become clear
And in that sacred moment
No doubts can interfere
In the presence of Jehovah God Almighty,
Prince of Peace
Troubles vanish, hearts are mended
In the presence of the King
Through His love the Lord provided
A place for us to rest
A place to find the answers In our hour of distress
Now there's never any reason For you to give up in despair
Just slip away and breathe His name
You will surely find Him there

He will never leave you or forsake you, He will be shield around you, and as you take refuge in the Most High, He will be like a fortress of strength on the inside. Remember He is good, He prunes us and corrects us so that we will produce fruit. He is close to those with a broken heart. And to those with no might, He increases strength!

2009-03-17T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a hard day for Kevin and I. We watched as a former student was laid to rest, and there are no words to describe those agonizing moments. The Pastor’s words rang loud and true. Our life is a vapor, and it is what we do in the here and now for eternity that counts.

I hugged my children more today. I skipped washing that other load of laundry to really listen and affirm them with love. I served my husband with joy today. I paused and marveled like a child at beauty around me. I let myself feel grateful. I allowed myself to dream, and to turn in the direction of my heart’s vision, one that needs nurturing and commitment to grow. I loved on my Abba Father, and sat still and quiet in the everlasting arms. . .

“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Family Ties

2009-03-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Why are you the way you are?

Studies show that it is through our family, mainly our parents that we build our first perceptions of the world around us. Most children will grow up to adopt a similar world view as their parents. The home is where values are passed and character changing moments are forged, if we allow and purpose the time for them . . .

How can we fulfill God's call to minister to our family effectively in these busy times? Some homes are required to work two or three jobs now just to make ends meet. And then there are church activities, basketball practice, boy scouts, reunions, etc . . .

Being unable to carve out time to sit at the dinner table, texting more than talking, rushing so much that you barely see each other, let alone have the energy to know each other, is dangerous. It means it is time to examine and align priorities. Sometimes it can't be helped. And there is grace for those seasons, so no condemnation here.

What I am referring to is a higher standard of relating within the family unit. I am also speaking out against being an “Activity-aholic”, which I was for many years, and my parents too, which led to their divorce and subsequent loss.

If we are constantly running ragged with every minute of the day planned around too many demands, what is the fruit in that? Stress, strife, yelling out the door, lost touch with our teens, disconnection, the list goes on. Children, especially teens may begin to search for approval and connection elsewhere because it is not present in the home.

I live in Marion County, and was astounded to read in the paper that the Police Department recently reported 93 active gangs in the area. This was unheard of even ten years ago! And it shows that kids who eventually turn in to teens want to belong to have a sense of value and worth. God designed the family unit to provide this to them first, so that when it is time to launch into the real world, a healthy reference point from the family provides stability. Sadly, more and more parents are too busy and letting go too early. It takes courage to be real about where we are with our family connections.

Most of Jesus' ministry was one-on-one, and that is the standard. Jesus told the children to come close to Him and boldly corrected the disciples for asking them to go "play in traffic".
Additionally, we cannot rely wholly on an organization to teach and train our children. They are a tremendous support and can be wonderful! Yet problems occur when they are made the sole connection!

Don't misunderstand. I am not referring to doing away with activities, or walking away from a direct call God has to serve full-time. I am cautioning excessive busy-ness, especially in families with young children. Sadly, I have seen burn out too many times and the fall out is gut-wrenching! I am grateful for missionary friends, pastor friends who serve full time, and they still carve out priority time for meaningful family connection. The fruit of this is evident in their lives and their example has benefited ours.

God wants our priorities to reflect balance. Him first, family, and then everything else. When Jesus said Seek first the kingdom of God. . . He was not talking about an earthly kingdom or some sort of hierarchy of positions. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual system. It is His will and way of doing things.

I Timothy 5:8 shows us:

"If any one does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his own family, he has disowned the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Most of time this verse is discussed in reference to helping widows and family in desperate need. Yet I believe the word provide refers to the responsibility we have to spiritually and emotionally give of our unique supply to our family. No one else can do this. God calls me to love m husband alone, calls me mother my children.

Family is the first sacred institution. And the enemy knows if he can mess with distorting it, he can mess with a whole lot of people. Before there was a Pentecost, the birth of the New Testament Church, there was Adam and Eve, the first institution with God's blessing. Like the church, the family has come under such attack and has suffered greatly in the last decade.

Paul implores us to examine our own heart. Why is it that we do the things we do? Some individual's motivation for being a workaholic is to find a sense of belonging and self worth. Sometimes it is an escape mechanism. Rather than facing issues at home, it is so much easier to lose one's self in a mound of work down at the office. Plus, we get the big fat commendation in front of everyone on Monday.

I know, because I lived this life for many years before God delivered me. I saw people I respected lose their teenage daughters because they strapped themselves to their work for the approval of man. It may seem like a good cause, but excessive anything is not a God cause. He wants us to be Jesus to our family first, to do in private what we do in public.

Here are strategies that have helped our family grow in grace in this area:

1. Pray Together-Share from the Word Children take cues from us, especially what is important enough to come back to on an ongoing basis.
2. Couch Time-Love is spelled T-I-M-E. Carve out time to be with your spouse. Ten-fifteen minutes where you discuss nothing too stressful, just active listening and building up.
3. Time with children- Remember their birthdays and actively listen to what concerns them. Toss a ball, hold hands on a walk, read a story together. We have the responsibility to train our children. This is not only for when they make a mistake. It requires a relationship, and that is ongoing time and effort.
4. Set healthy boundaries- Pray before you say “yes” and kindly say no if you are not released to serve and it robs excessive time from your family.
5. Take the phone off the hook- especially during dinnertime or intimate family times. Sister potluck dinner can wait until later.
6. Evaluate-Make sure the activities you are involved with are a calling. Seek the Lord for what He would have you do with your time to please Him.

The enemy is working overtime to unravel the fabric of the family. If you are a parent like me, there is a great call and responsibility to train and prepare our children. I am thankful for God's help, and the peace from comes from being free of misguided priorities. In the end, what will matter most? A relationship with God, my family, and then everything else. I'm making the most of it right now to make them all count!

A Leap of Faith

2009-03-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

I often think about what was running through Peter's mind as he stepped out of the boat and onto the water . . . A lot of people discredit him and only point out the fact that he lost faith, and thus began to sink. But it occurred to me that there were several others in the boat who did nothing. Although frail, at least he acted upon his faith to demonstrate committed trust and love for the Savior.

Have you ever been in that place of decision? A place of extreme faith? I think this picture gives a good representation of the emotions and awe that can accommodate those places in life. It is where we are on the verge of something so wonderful, so tremendous, and divinely inspired that there are no words!

Can You Hear Me Now?

2009-03-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

I was not offended. I recently said something to someone, and though I thought they heard me, from their response I became aware that we were on two completely different planets. I have also been guilty of doing this. Have you?

Stuff on our minds, too much on the plate, sensory overload . . . God has been dealing with me because there is a difference between hearing and listening.

Sometimes for fun, I will check to see if my children are listening. I’ll be teaching about a particular subject, and then interject something out of the blue to check if they are still audibly present, like, “ . . . and then the alien life form abducted the child’s brain to complete his diabolical experiment . . .” The look is priceless if they are really listening. If not, they are just nodding their head in agreement, uh huh . . .

The difference between hearing and listening is that one is other-centered and the other is self-centered. I am not speaking of those day’s a person is tired, sick, or it’s been really busy and there is mental fatigue. Really listening is turning all our energy and time towards that other person regardless of how we feel. Our heart and thoughts are intently focused on his or her words and intentions. Really listening means that we can turn around and say, “So what your saying is . . . or what your feeling is. . . ” And at least come close.

Philipians, Chapter 2 says,

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . ."

One of our family members is a Fulbright Scholar and world traveler. He will often remark about his observations of different cultures and peoples he has had the pleasure of visiting. He said in other parts of the globe like Russia, Uzbekistan, other Asian cultures, people actually talk. They talk in a way that is deeper than surface, “Hi how are you, bless God.” They share, they listen, they remember. I can see Jesus doing this with His disciples. It is what people are hungry for, and a vital process by which we can really have a positive impact on others.

It takes empathy. Not a skill we are born with. Empathy is the ability to place our self in another person's shoes. It was what Jesus exemplified throughout his life’s ministry. It is driven by sacrificial love and is the hallmark of life submitted to the cross. What an important character trait to teach and model to our children. I know in the Wiseman household, it is being given increased attention and practice.

In this world of selfishness and inflated self-importance, shallow entertainment options, and technology overload, this is what is so needed in our relationships. Think of all the misunderstandings, derailed friendships, even divorces that could be avoided, if we would just be daringly caring and cognitively “all there” for each other!

Reasons to be Glad

2009-03-03T05:33:00.001-08:00