And the Pendulum Swings . . .

I grew up in a pretty legalistic environment. Everything was wrong from music that had emphasis on the wrong beat to skirts that were above the middle of the knee.  Strict, blind obedience was highly valued, asking questions to understand was rebellion.  So I played along, and I pleased the people.  The problem with this was that the goal they were shooting for was pleasing God.  I don't blame the environment too much because they were trying to create an environment safe from sin.  Unfortunately, God is concerned about our hearts.  He wants the behavior to be a result of a heart change not a rule change. 

When I moved to South Florida, I began to understand the freedom of grace and how much God loves me.  Without realizing it, I had developed an understanding of God being this big guy in the sky who loved me so much that He was waiting for me to step out of line so He could punish me. I began to learn that God really does love me.  He wasn't waiting for me to step out of line so He could punish me.  I began to grow in the knowledge of God's love for me.

And the pendulum began to swing . . . I went from a god waiting to punish my every move to a god that doesn't really care what I do.  It is funny how when the pendulum begins to swing, it is hard to stop it in the middle.  So it swung hard to the other side.

Over time, God has shown me that He truly does love me.  He is more concerned about my heart motives than my actions . . . however, my heart motives will control my actions.  He is concerned about my heart motives and the actions that result.  My pride will make me do things that seem good on the surface but are extremely fleshly . . . for instance, all of those years of following all the rules.  I wanted people to think highly of me, so I followed the rules:  pride.  I looked good to everyone around me, but it was all rooted in pride. 

The truth that I have to remember is:  GOD HATES SIN.  He cannot coexist with it.  He loved us so much, that He sent His son not only to die a painful death, but more importantly, to take on the sin of all mankind for all time.  He separated Himself from His son.  He put on His son the one thing that could separate them . . . so He could make a way for us sinful people to be with Him.  Jesus wasn't so concerned with the pain and agony of dying on a wooden cross (lesser men have sung praises to God as they were martyred).  He asked for the "cup to pass" (Matthew 26:39) to not have to be separated from His Father.  He knew what that really meant (Matthew 27:45-46). We don't get it. 

Side note: As I looked for a picture of Christ on the cross, many of the pictures were gorgeous with sunsets and beautiful clouds.  This painting seemed more realistic.  The sky was black in the middle of the day, and I often associate God's anger with thunder and lightning (though not necessarily; just an association that many of us make).

We sin and think little of it. Every time we sin, we should remember that Christ died and was separated from God for that "little white lie" or that slandering of another person or that envious heart, etc.

So what is my bottom line?  We serve a God Who loves us and demands holiness.  The love isn't all feel good, flowers, chocolate, cuddling . . . it is the deepest form of love there is.  Don't make God's love out to be similar to the way I love Reese's Peanut Butter cups or the way we see love on tv.  It isn't the same, but He does love you so much that He made a way for you to be with Him.

May you know the love of God more and more today and for eternity . . .

Fear

I was talking to some friends on Sunday, and they were telling me a story about having a "funeral" for their bug that died.  The little boy told me he read a bible verse, and I asked him which one.  He said, "2 Timothy 1:7."  Knowing that verse very well, because I have needed it so much, I asked him, "What does that verse say?"  He said, " 2 Timothy 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and sound mind."  I smiled as I enjoyed watching a young child remember God's Word.  It will probably stick with him for life. 

On Tuesday, we had some men come to put a new roof on our house.  I knew it was going to be loud, but I figured we would get used to it.  I never anticipated how much it would affect my dog, Max.  Now, you must understand we don't have children, and Max is our baby.  We tried desperately to calm him down as he barked and jumped at every noise.  He eventually stopped barking, but he had to be touching me or Miles, and his eyes and ears spoke volumes. He was scared to death.  He couldn't relax.  He was in a constant state of fear.  I hated watching the fear in his eyes.  It pained me to see that he couldn't relax.  So we spent the rest of the day and half of Wednesday trying to find places to take him where he could keep cool and be relaxed.  Poor guy was so exhausted on Tuesday night that he slept 12 hours straight! 

It is amazing how fear can wear us out.  It is amazing how it can paralyze us.  What amazed me even more than that was how much I hated seeing it in my helpless dog's eyes.  He couldn't understand, and I hurt for him.  This is just me and my dog.  I am certain this would be so much worse if it was your child. 

So I come back to 2 Timothy 1:7 . . . If I can't handle seeing fear in my dog, or a child, imagine how God feels. He gave us the answer to fear because fear doesn't come from Him, and many times we ignore what He has given us.  It must grieve Him so much!

God has given us power.  ". . . Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (I Jn 4:4)  Believers have the ultimate power residing within them.  God has given us love through His son.  "Greater love has no one than this, that One lay down His life for His friends." (Jn 15:13) He has given us the greatest example of love.  God gave us a sound mind.  ". . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Rom. 12:2).  He gave us a mind that can think clearly and rationally and with faith, and we can be transformed by it. 

So use those resources to fight off fear.  Fear is not from Him, and I am sure it grieves Him to see us in fear.   We should realize we are safe and have nothing to fear when our faith is in Him. 

Center of the Universe

Geocentrism . . . the theory that the earth is the center of the universe.  It seemed to make sense at the time.  The sun rises and sets on the earth each day.  This theory was gradually proven wrong in the 16th century as we began to realize that the earth actually revolves around the sun which is heliocentrism.  Some things made much more sense when they realized that the sun is the center of the universe instead of the earth.

 

Egocentric . . . everything is about me and originates with me.  We are all, by nature, egocentric, I am the center of the universe.  We look at everything from our perspective.  How does this event, comment, person, truth, etc. affect me? 

One of the reasons it is hard to communicate biblical reality to modern, secular people is that the biblical mindset and the secular mindset move from radically different starting points.

What I mean by the secular mindset is not necessarily a mindset that rules God out or denies in principle that the Bible is true. It's a mindset that begins with man as the basic given reality in the universe. All of its thinking starts with the assumption that man has basic rights and basic needs and basic expectations. Then the secular mind moves out from this center and interprets the world, with man and his rights and needs as the measure of all things. *(Piper, 2012)

 

We, believers and unbelievers alike, need to understand that it isn't about us at all. It is all about God & His glory.  It is often difficult for us to accept things that we read in Scripture or that we see God doing around us, because we can't understand why God would allow that to happen to us or to our country.  We need to realize that things don't work out from an egocentric perspective, only from a Theocentric perspective . . . God is the center and Originator of all things.  Everything is about Him. 

 

Allow God to be your point of reference this year . . . things will make alot more sense.

*Piper, J.  (2012) Did Christ Die for Us or for God.  desiringgod.org

Christmastime in Tennessee

Immanuel . . . God with us.  (Matt. 1:23)

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn. 1:14)

Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, wise men, etc. are all parts of the Christmas story,

but JESUS is the central figure. 

This Christmas was the first time Miles & I were able to be in our home for Christmas day.  We are typically in Pennsylvania my family, but this year my family celebrated a few days early.  So we came home to TN looking to start some of our own traditions.  It was a little last minute to find a copy of The Nativity Story to watch on Christmas Eve, so we intend to do that in the future. 

Christmas morning we got up and read the Christmas story from Scripture.  The only tradition we were certain we wanted to have was to be sure that the day started with the reason for the celebration.  So Miles slowly read from Luke & Matthew as we took in the story again.  There were a few things that caught our attention this year . . .
1.  The story is often depicted that Mary & Joseph arrive in Bethlehem, and Jesus is born that night.  This may have happened, but it doesn't say that. They could have been in town a few days. The census was taking place, so Bethlehem may have been without a place to stay for several nights. 
2. The story is often depicted with an innkeeper taking Mary & Joseph to a stable, but that isn't actually stated in Scripture.  There wasn't room in the inn, so Mary & Joseph had to find a place to stay.  Now the innkeeper may have done so, but we didn't see it in Scripture. 
3.  The story is often depicted with a star over the manger, but the star led the wisemen not the shepherds.  Who knows when the star actually appeared.  In Luke 2:12, the shepherds were told that they sign will be finding a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger not to follow a star.  (And a common misconception is that the wise men were at the birth, but they didn't show up for awhile.)
#1 & 2 are more just speculation . . . but #3 was most interesting to us. 

I hope that as you had time off work, as you shopped, purchased, and opened gifts, as you and your families spent time together this Christmas that you took time to reflect on the King of Kings, the Son of the almighty, eternal God, being born in a dirty manger to poor, young, and inexperienced people willing to submit themselves to being used for God's purposes.  I love that God used them . . . His story is full of people the weak, uneducated, poor, submissive, and willing being used in great ways to carry out God's plan.  It takes alot of pressure off!

Merry Christmas!

Unconditional Love

So it has been a crazy few months, as you can see I haven't blogged since July 24th.  There have been many things going on and many lessons being learned.  I will just share one with you.  In August, we brought in a new member to our family:  Max, our Lhasa Poo.  He is about 7 months old, and he has brought alot of fun into our home.  I have been told many times that pets become a part of the family, but I had no idea until we brought Max home.  He is my baby. 

Max is my little shadow.  If I go to the bedroom, he is right next to me.  If I get a shower, he lays on the floor next to the shower until I get out.  If I am making dinner, he is sitting under my feet (figuratively) or on my feet (literally).  Sometimes it can be really dangerous. I have tripped over him and onto him which can hurt both of us.  Sometimes it is just annoying.  I'm trying to make dinner, and he is under my feet.  One day, I felt him sitting on my feet as I was washing the dishes, and I was hindered from moving because he was on my feet.  I was about to yell at him to move, and God spoke to me.  "He loves you."

 

As I thought about it, I realized that Max loves me unconditionally.  It doesn't matter if I have just yelled at him, fed him, took him to be neutered; he can't wait to be near me.  He trusts me whether he is asleep in my lap (as seen above) or freaking out at the vet in my arms.  It reminded me of my relationship with God.   He will shine His grace on me, and as long as it is pleasant, I'm grateful.  But if it is painful or difficult or trying, I have a much harder time being grateful or feeling loved.  I don't love God unconditionally (at least in a practical sense).  I don't want to be near Him all the time.  If I wanted to be with God half as much as Max wants to be with me, I would be doing well. 

On the other hand, I'm so glad that God loves me like Max loves me.  I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but He longs to be with me. He is excited when I talk with Him.  He sings over me.  He wants to spend time with me. 

Unconditional Love . . . Do you love God like Max loves me? 

Journey to Contentment

Let me preface this blog with a disclaimer . . . My thought processes are very clear to me, but I won't be surprised if they are unclear to you.  Please feel free to ask if you don't understand me. 

I have spent a good portion of the summer helping a pregnant teenager manage the craziness that life brings as a mother approaches giving birth, delivering the baby, and adjusting to life at home. The teenager who longs to be married with a family, wonders why she made these choices;  for me, being someone that has longed to be a mother for many years, this was an bittersweet experience. I saw my first live ultrasound and the miracle of birth which I am still in awe of the God I serve from that experience.  It will be an experience that I will never forget.  I am forever grateful to God for allowing me to witness these things.  God amazingly made this experience mostly sweet, though I could have wasted much time in the bitter.  Why does God allow teenagers who don't want to be pregnant to get pregnant, when so many married people long to be parents and aren't able to be parents?

I used to be stumped by this and other questions, but God has begun to teach me this summer about expectations and entitlement.  The natural progression is get married and have children.   I often see Christians ask single people, "Why aren't you married yet?"  (As if they are less than normal because they aren't married.)  Am I better than another person and therefore deserve to be a parent more than others?  (And my ugly pride surfaces in entitlement.)  This "natural" progression may not necessarily be what God has for each person, and that doesn't make them any less of a person or any less valuable.  I don't think anyone would say that, but that is the message that is communicated to the person who isn't married or without children. 

For fear of this being a blog that is too long, I am going to try cut to my bottom line here.  Life is not about our expectations or sense of entitlement.  Bottom line . . . my life is not about ME.  The US has created a culture of entitlement, and it has creeped into Christianity.  I expect and am entitled to have children, good health, a husband, a full time, good paying job.  God doesn't promise any of these things.  He promises us Himself. He promises that He will meet our needs. He promises that trials and tribulations will make us more like Him. When we evaluate our expectations and entitlements in light of God and His Will, our expectations and entitlements must die.   

We think that being married should be an expectation, but Paul talks about it being better to be single than married because you can focus on the Lord instead of your spouse.  (I Corinthians 7:8) I think the same applies to children.  Because I don't have children, I am free to focus on the Lord and the ministry that He has to be done.  Poor health and poor paying jobs keeps us humble and dependent on the Lord instead of self-sufficient and prideful. 

I'll end with a verse that a friend shared with me today, and that was such an encouragement:  For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11. 

She quoted this verse, and God said to me, "See . . . I told you that I wouldn't withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.  You walk uprightly, and I'll give you everything that is good for you.  Obviously, having a husband in good health, or having children are not good for you right now.  You may think they are, but they are not. Trust Me."  I need to rest there . . . in Him. 

So remember that God's goals are the only ones that lead us to contentment.  Evaluate your expectations in light of Scripture, and you will see the road to contentment as you let go of your self-centered goals. 

Love

I've been spending a week or so contemplating love.  Not romantic love or even love of a child . . . but agape love . . . godly love. The fruit of the Spirit is what God was bringing to mind for me to really mull over, but I have gotten stuck on love. 

This kind of love is difficult.  It is unnatural.  Which is why we can't conjure it up.  This kind of love is a result of living in the Spirit. 

⁴³“You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5)

Who can do that on their own?  No one. We teach our kids to avoid or fight back when someone is mean to them.  We say, "Why did that nice thing happen to them?  They aren't good people."  or "They were mean to me, so I am going to just pretend they don't exist."  These are not loving responses.  We have been so molded by our culture and Satanic attacks that we prioritize our selfish feelings above what God commands.  We need to pray for people who are mean to us.  We do need to love and do good to people who mistreat us or slander us. 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)

I often think, "but they don't deserve love, God!" He quickly reminds me that I didn't deserve it either.  I remember when Hussein and Bin Laden were killed, and I (along with the rest of the US) rejoiced.  Hussein and Bin Laden didn't deserve to be loved, but it doesn't mean that I shouldn't love them.  It was hard to imagine loving those men, but that is what God commands.  They deserved death . . . so do I.  It is easy to love people who are kind and loving.  Loving people like these men, or just the person who says false things about you, this is love that only comes from God. 

We love, because He first loved us.  (I John 4:19)

Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Love is good . . . it is a result of living in the Spirit. So spend time in the Spirit more and more every day, so that love for people flows out of us.