Tasks or People?

Mark 5:21-42

I am task oriented. There I said it! I am so task oriented that I am ashamed to admit I place menial tasks on my “to do” list just so I can quickly check them off. I pride myself on efficiency, and I do not allow anyone to slow me down! And… I am NOT like Jesus! Jesus never once allowed tasks and “to do’s” to drive his day. Our great Savior allowed His Father’s love for mankind to flow through Him and direct His steps.

In the story of Jairus’ daughter, we see Jesus on the way to do a great miracle for a prominent man. However, in route He was touched. Just a momentary touch that stopped Him in His tracks. He scanned the crowd, saw the need and ministered to the woman without regard to the task at hand. It took a few minutes, but it changed a woman’s life.

How many times am I so consumed with the task at hand that I either ignore or don’t even notice the little touches of others along the way? How many times am I so eager to get out of the grocery store that I don’t notice the cashier who is obviously having a bad day? How many times am I asked throughout the day “How are you doing?” without ever asking that person back? How quickly do I rush out a door without noticing the person behind me whom I could help by holding the door open? How quickly do I rush my children through “teachable” moments just so we are not late to Bible Study?!

In this story, two people were healed that day: the hemorrhaging woman and Jairus’ daughter. Jesus was able to redeem the “lost time” spent helping that woman by still accomplishing an even greater miracle than just healing– but resurrecting a dead life! Do I believe that Jesus is powerful enough to redeem my time, when I commit these “touchable” moments to Him?

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). Time to call it what it is… selfish ambition and vain conceit. It is time to put the list down and put the love of Christ on (Col 3:12-14).

Are you Sacrifing Your Children?

Leviticus 20:1-7 (Click on reference to read text)

My children have decided they want to share a room.  That means I spent the past few days turning my daughter's girly room into a gender neutral room.  In the midst of moving furniture, I am having to patch holes and paint.  It seemed I couldn't get three consecutive minutes to work without interruption.  Didn't they know I was doing all that work for them?  The icing on the cake came when my daughter brought me a broken pencil sharpener.  In exasperation I asked her why she didn't ask me for help.  She replied, "I didn't want to make you upset by asking you a question."  In shame, I put the roller down and immediately dropped to my knees.  I wrapped her in a big hug, told her I was wrong and asked for her forgiveness.  You see... I had placed her upon the altar of a false god, and I needed to take her off!

The Ammonites worshipped a god named Molech and served him by sacrificing their children upon an altar built for him (Lev 18:21).  Although this seems utterly appalling, I would be so bold to say that in some form we all do that, if not on a daily, at least a weekly basis.  I have sacrificed my children to the god of personal time, a well decorated house, and exercise.  I have given dirty looks and talked in ugly tones to my children for the sake of these "gods."  My most precious blessings have been sacrificed for things I have convinced myself I needed more than their well-being.  Even worse, I have taught them the opposite of the Gospel.  Are my actions teaching them that God delights in them (Zeph 3:17), that God will always answer when they call (Jeremiah 33:3), and that nothing can separate them from the love of God (Romans 8:38)?  No, I was teaching them the antithesis of every reason that God sent Jesus to die for them. 

Praise the Lord that God loves me enough to kick me in the tail and not allow me to continue on a path of destruction.  As I often say, "He loves me to much to leave me where I am."  The Bible tells me that I should be the one on the altar, offering myself as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - This is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2).  The world tells me that I deserve personal time, and to spend as much time as necessary to make my house and body look good... no matter the cost.  The only way to "not conform to the patter of this world" is to renew my mind in His Word every day.  To take my family off the altar of false gods and put myself on the altar of the one true God.  That is where true life, resurrected new life, begins!

We may not be placing our children on a burnt offering, but we may be sacrificing their hearts and skewing their understanding of the Gospel for gods that need to be destroyed.  2 Corinthians 10:3-6 tells us that though we walk by the flesh, we do not wage war in the flesh.  We have divine power to demolish strongholds.  Time to take our kids off the altar and put ourselves there.  That is a picture of the Gospel they can understand.

For further reading, PLEASE read:  http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/motherhood-is-a-calling-and-where-your-children-rank

Throw Off Everything that Hinders...

Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "

The text is too important to skip over.  Sorry for my absence.  I have found myself entangled for the past month, and it wasn't until this morning that I have broken Gloriously free.  This time of year is hard for me.  Very hard.  Two years ago this Christmas Eve my Daddy passed away suddenly, doing what He loved the most... he had just finished writing his first sermon for Zion Baptist Church.  My heart has been weighted down with grief since his birthday in October.  I have faked being okay well, except probably for the people who walk daily with me through life.  Yet I have handled my emotional drain completely the wrong way.

I have spent the past two months being busy with anything and everything I can imagine.  My feet ran from the second they hit the floor to the time I collapsed exhausted into bed at night.  Most have been good things, things for the church and my family.  A few not great things (let's just say for a girl who hates shopping, I shopped a little too much last month).  I had created an impossible to do list, and I was actually accomplishing it.  I looked pretty good on the outside.  But I was wrong.

I was running a race that was not marked out for me.  My eyes were not fixed on Jesus, but on my to do list and whatever I could do to make my church and family happy.  Hebrews said that Jesus endured the cross for me and I was giving him my time, but NOT what He wants most of all... my heart.  You see, I didn't have time to "Cease Striving and Know that He is God" (Psalm 46:10)

Galatians 3:1-3 contains a harsh rebuke for the church.  Paul is blasting them for believing that they must win over Christ's love and salvation through works.  He asked them, "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"  We don't please God through our many works, we please Him through our faith in Jesus Christ. He is most happy when we obey the greatest of all commandments, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthews 22:35-37). 

Paul clarifies the relationship between faith that is pleasing to God and works we are to do for Him in Ephesians:  "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them" (2:10).   We are to "do" things for Him, but ONLY what He has prepared for us before the foundation of the world.  When you are seeking Him, you don't have to take on everything, but just what HE tells you to do.

Do you feel burdened by life?  Are you exhausted?  Have you  "grown weary and lost heart"?  Maybe you are doing things that the Lord had not set out for you to do.  He doesn't want tired bodies, but sold out hearts.  Join with me in praying every morning, "Lord, I just want to do what you have prepared for me in advance today.  I don't want to add anything more or do anything less.  Please give me discernment to walk in You path for me, grant me courage to obey the leading of your voice, may you be glorified in everything I say do and speak.  My time is yours.  My family is yours.  My heart is yours.  In Jesus's Name I pray, Amen."

Staying the Course... Do You Even Know the Course?

Acts 20:18-24 (Please click on reference to read text)

When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus?  How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names?  How did the distractions of life not make them falter?  I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important.  Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.

In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?"  This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."  That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life?  Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him?  When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply.  He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do.  You must start here.  Paul KNEW!  Paul knew why God had put him on the earth.  He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."  Go ahead and ask.  Wait for His answer.  Write it down!

Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it?  How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24.  Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God.  In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?

Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him?  In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short.  In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness.  There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life.  Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.

The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever.  We can too.  We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey.  Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do?  How are you doing in those areas?  If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No!  Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."

The Wilderness

Deuteronomy 2:7, 8:2-4 (Click on reference to read text)

You know the saying that you can't see the forest for all the trees? I think we often cannot see our blessings because we are too focused on our circumstances. Yes, Israel wondered around in the desert for 40 years. Yes, it was hard. BUT they were never alone. The entire time they were there, the Lord provided for their every need. When they were thirsty, God gave them water (Deut 8:15). When they were hungry, God provided food (Exodus 16:4-8). Although they wondered in the wilderness for 40 years, their feet never swelled, and their sandals and clothes never wore out (Deut 8:4, 29:5). Amazing!

When I find myself in the "wilderness", whether self inflicted like the Israelites because of sin, or because the Lord is growing and teaching me to depend upon him (Deut 8:3, 5), I too can be so focused on my circumstances that I do not even notice His blessings. However, I would wager that if we would just open our eyes and look around us, we would quickly notice the movements of His hands in our lives. Our lives may not look exactly like we thought it would, we many not have everything we "want", we still get sick, we still have trials, but He is walking with us every step of the way.

However, it is often only in these times of wilderness, where we are stripped of everything, that we get quiet enough to focus on the only thing that truly matters.... our relationship with Christ. The wilderness is not always punishment. Sometimes the wilderness is the safest place for us to be (Rev 12:6).

So... instead of trying with all our mights to run from these times of trial and affliction, let's open our eyes to the movements of God in our life that brought us here. Allow His overwhelming presence and provision be your sustaining power, and watch and be amazed at how He provides for all your needs: emotionally, physically and spiritually. So today, instead of trying to figure out how to run out of the wilderness you find yourself in, try running into His presence and loving arms. You too will find you are not alone.

Human Sacrifice...

2 Kings 3:24-27 (Click on reference to read text)

I read this passage this morning and it literally made me nauseous. How could a grown man ever hang their child on a wall and offer them as a burnt sacrifice to a false god? And even if by doing such an act could induce this god to come to his aid, why would you ever serve a god that requires such cruel and grotesque means of worship? Yet, as always happens, in my moment of greatest judgment and self-righteousness, the Holy Spirit began to whisper to my heart. Nausea was replaced by tears as I realized, how can I so quickly offer my children as a sacrifice to my own desires and ambitions?

Although you would never see any children in a American being burned as an offering, there are families and children all across this country who live the lives of sacrifice to their parent's false gods. Children are forgotten or pushed off to various camps and day cares so that parents can get ahead, work longer, and not have to do the day to day rearing and training. TV has become the cheapest babysitter our generation has ever known. Quality family time has been replaced by busy schedules and pushing children to be great at sports, academics, and music pursuits at increasingly younger ages.

Each of these things in small increments can actually be beneficial. It is wonderful for our children to have the joy of sports, learn to play a musicual instruments, or for us as parents to work hard and provide for our family. However, we must make sure we are living a life of balance that is pleasing to the Lord. We must make sure we are living our lives in priority to His standards. I have been increasingly convicted of my schedule and what I allow to drive my day. As we pray about Christian ministry and what the Lord would have us do for Him, as a parent, those questions become painfully obvious. If you have children, the Lord has entrusted them to you, raise them in a way pleasing to Him! They must always be our first "ministry."

I am preaching to myself. Just today I was thinking about how I really "needed" time to myself, so I was all set to allow them to have a day of watching hours of television or whatever necessary so that I could appease the god of "me time." How quickly I justify my actions by cultural acceptablity and not my Heavenly Father's viewpoint. I pray that I will never sacrifice my children to gods that do not satisfy, that cannot truly bring peace and lasting reward, and that simply destroys my family and my children in the long run. Instead "in view of God’s mercy, may I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God for this is my true and proper worship. May I not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Then I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. " (Romans 12:1-2).

Allowing Me to Fall...

Luke 15:11-24 (Click on reference to read text)

My daughter was on the patio of my husband's store when all of a sudden, she started running straight towards the parking lot and a moving car. I yelled for her to freeze, but she kept running, completely oblivious to the danger. As I took off after her, I watched as she tripped and fell flat on her face a few feet from the road. She was hurt, but she was alive. I was never so glad to watch my daughter fall. I explained to her, "Jesus loves you so much, He let you fall. You were running straight into danger, and although it hurt to fall, it hurt a lot less than running into a car. We need to thank Jesus for your fall." As I prayed with my little girl, I too began to thank Jesus for the times in my life He let me fall to save me from even greater danger.

The prodigal son is a story we are all familiar with, yet it is also something that each of us can relate to. How many of us have wanted to go our own way and do what we want to do? We may have been more subtle in our rebellion, but we have all chosen to do life in our own way. Our rebellion could be a calendar out of control and being too busy, making work your number one priority, or trusting in a relationship and not in the Lord. He may yell for us to freeze. Send us warning signs, but sometimes He must make us fall. It could be health problems that force us to slow down, job loss, or the end of a relationship. It may hurt at the time. Your heart may be broken, you may be confused, or you may feel abandoned. However, if you really take a close look, you may just see the Lord directing your steps to much better, and safer, places.

The most amazing thing about our Heavenly Father is that when we fall, we can run back to Him. Just like the father of the prodigal son, He is watching and as soon as I turn towards home, He runs to me and and embraces me. He is ready to run to you too. In what ways are you being rebellious and doing life your own way? Stop justifying your actions, and run home. He is waiting with arms open wide!

For further reading: Psalm 103:12, 1 John 1:9, 1 John 3:1, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 3:1-26

The Daily Grind...

Luke 2:41-50

Mary and Joseph had been given a message and vision from the Lord. They were charged with raising the very Son of God. This purpose and calling turned their life upside down. They experienced a virgin birth, received numerous visits from angels, shepherds, wise men, and prophets appeared to them praising the Savior of the World, and they spent the first few years of Jesus's life in Egypt hiding out. It seems like it would be impossible to forget who they were raising, impossible to lose sight of their calling, yet we find they did. Before we become to judgemental... I would wager that we have found ourselves in the same boat as well.

Mary and Joseph were doing the "right" thing. They followed the law and made the trek to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. They were fulfilling the letter of the law. Yet they lost sight of Jesus and His passions. When they finally found Him they did not understand what Jesus meant by having to be in His Father's house.

I would wager that somewhere along the 12 years of Jesus's life, Mary started to get comfortable. They were back home from Egypt, making a living through carpentry, raising children, and following the "law" by travelling to the temple every year with the rest of their family. The angel's voices may have grown more and more silent with each passing year, the gifts from the wise men pushed back into a corner somewhere collecting dust, the great calling on their life a memory. They did not understand why Jesus HAD to be in the temple.

I am not at all being critical of Mary and Joseph. Life can be tough. Trying to make a living, trying to raise your children in a way pleasing to the Lord, trying to take care of all the daily tasks that need to be completed. We all seem to slip into believing the way to please God is to do the right things and try to follow His commandments. I cringed when I read this story, because I see myself in Mary's shoes.

God has given us all a purpose, and so many times we forget about it in the day in and day out living. Do you know what God has called you to do? Are you still hearing His voice and direction in your life? When is the last time that you drew near to the Father's house just to be in His presence? These are questions I am asking myself.

Lord, protect me from being so busy being the wife, mother, house keeper, teacher, etc. that I lose sight of how you want me to spend my days. Please help me to keep my eyes on Jesus and never lose sight that He came to die for our sins, for the sins of my neighbors, and not just to help me along life's way. May my ears and heart be sensitive to you!

Just a Little Balance Please!

(A post that is just about being real... no real devotional... just honesty.)

I am selfish. There. I said it. I know I am not alone, but that doesn't matter. Jesus commands me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but to always consider others as more important than myself (Phil 2:3 f). It was time I listened and time I got my priorities correct.

All of this came to a head about two weeks ago. A month before I had started an extreme exercise program. The commitment was 6 days a week, at least an hour a day. The only time I had to do it was while the kids were napping, which was when I usually did my quiet time. So then my quiet time got pushed to right before bed (you can imagine how productive that time was!). After exercising, I was wiped out and had little energy to keep up with the house, play with the kids, take care of my husband, stay up on errands, etc. I was doing nothing well. In fact I found myself getting angry and defensive about not getting more help from others. I wasn't even losing the weight I was hoping for. I was incredibly discouraged, not because of the weight, but because I was watching the breakdown of the relationships I care about the most.

I am not a quitter, I loved the exercise, but how could I justify putting everything second to that program? I made a hard decision. I cut back. Instead of working out 6 days a week, I now work out 3 days a week. I am doing the same program but it is just taking me twice as long. Guess what, I am now losing weight, my kids are getting my attention and we are playing together, I am keeping the house clean, my husband gets a hot meal on the table, and I NEVER replace working out with my quiet time. It is all about priorities.

Ecclesiastes 3 talks about the different seasons of life. In every season there are times we are going to be called to certain things. I know that this season of my life is to be the best mom to my preschool children that I can be. To love them unconditionally, give them the attention and instruction they deserve. If I am so busy with other things that I am not able to be the consistent parent I need to be, something is wrong. I need to love my husband well by respecting him and caring for him. To love him as the Bible commands: to demonstrate to the world that how I love him is how we should love the Lord (wow, that is convicting!)(Eph 5:22-33).

It is hard putting off something that we want to do for the good of those around us and for my own spiritual health. I know that anything that causes me to be to busy to spend time with the Lord is an idol and NOT from Him (even good things, even some Godly things). God is looking at my heart. Was losing weight and being physically fit worth the sacrifice I was asking my family to make? Easy answer, no.

My Dad passed away suddenly almost 6 months ago. It was completely unexpected. It happened to him, it could happen to me, to those I love around me. What if it did? Would the way I am living my life now, managing my time now, cause me to have regrets? Would I feel guilty and convicted of wasted time and a wasted life?

Anyway, I know this post is completely random. Not super deep and not the usual explication of Scripture, but this is real. This is what I am going through, this is what the Lord is teaching me. Time will come that I will have the time to serve in a particular ministry, work out at my leisure, lay in a hammock and read to my hearts content... but now I know where the Lord is convicting me. I know where I need to change, and if you are being honest with yourself, you know the areas in your life that need to change too. The time is now. It is time to listen and obey. Trust that the Lord will handle the details and let go.

As I sang to my precious toddler tonight, "Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."