Rights vs. responsibilities

Responsibility isn’t a very popular word.  I feel badly for it!  Some people want to shirk it; others avoid it at any cost.  Some folks begrudgingly fulfill it, but very few people enjoy it. 

And yet, as new creations in Christ, doing the things I’m responsible for not only becomes possible, it becomes something I want to do!  It’s a joy!  Why?  Because I’m doing what I was created to do. 

What are my responsibilities?  Well, being the best wife and mother I can be, serving in the ministries I’ve committed to at church, keeping healthy spiritually and emotionally, loving and serving others to the best of my abilities…  Funny thing, just typing that list brings a smile to my face!

Why?  Because when I get my focus off of myself and what I want or need at the moment and get it back on my real, actual need – to fulfill my responsibilities in life – I become happier!  Focusing on my own complaints never brings sunshine.

Years ago, I attended a seminar called Parenting With Love and Logic, led by a man named Jim Fay.  It was beyond outstanding.  He cited a study that had polled a large number of adults, asking them to rate their level of happiness.  They asked everything about their lives and their childhoods they could think of to find some link to their happiness level, and the one they found was surprising:  the people who were the happiest adults reported being taught (and required) to do chores as kids.

What’s the takeaway?  I was made to fulfill certain responsibilities.  Neil’s subtly bringing us back to the principle that a true goal doesn’t involve other people, just me (being the best mommy I can, vs. wanting to have obedient kids), so nobody can block it.  Blocked goals lead to frustration and hopelessness; I’m happy and I feel significant when I’m doing what I was made to do.

Now if you’ll excuse me, this best-mommy-and-wife-I-can-be needs to go slay the laundry monster…

Sword of the Spirit

Have you ever thought about the fact that Satan isn’t omniscient?  God knows the hearts and minds of everyone (so impossible to imagine!), but Satan cannot.

I remember years ago, when my husband and I attended Neil’s Freedom in Christ seminar, this bit of logic blew my mind.  It was so simple, but not stated in such a comparison anywhere I’d read before. 

Speaking the word of God out loud isn’t just reading; it has power: 

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.  Isaiah 55:11 (New King James this time)

I’m reminded today to speak the word of God over my kids as I pray, over situations in my life, and even, when I can, to read aloud during my daily reading time. 

Helmet of salvation

According to Neil today, salvation (my helmet) was put on my head at the moment I received forgiveness from my sins.  I did nothing to put it there, only believed, and nothing I can do will forfeit it.  That’s powerful.

I love the imagery of the rebel force against the giant, evil army…  It’s the stuff of great novels and movies.  Historical, fantasy, sci-fi – it’s a formula that works. 

Unlike your typical rag-tag militia, however, we have what basically amounts to superpowers.  Yes, we are the X-Men.  (Okay, not a perfect metaphor, but go with me, will you?)  We may be outnumbered, but we’re not outgunned.    

The blood of Christ by which we were saved is the strongest thing in the universe.  It broke the power of death and sin when it was spilled on the cross. 

I love Neil’s phrases here:  The Christian warrior wears the helmet of salvation in the sense that he [or she] is the receiver and possessor of deliverance, clothed and armed in the victory of his Head, Jesus Christ. 

Faith

Have you ever heard someone say, I wish I had more faith?  Do you think they knew that it was within their power to get more?  Probably not!

As we’ve talked about in past days, faith isn’t some mystical thing we’re either grace with or we’re not.  It’s something we earn; something we go out and get, take and own.  If my faith is weak, it’s not because God failed me.  It’s because I didn’t spend the time or the effort learning about Him through His word.

What challenged you today in Neil’s entry?  What did God speak to your heart?  Is there something He’s asking you to do? 

For me, it’s a renewed sense of passion for His word.  Although I’ve enjoyed writing a daily blog, I’m looking forward to spending more time in the Bible – time that’s just for me.  What’s up for 2012, in terms of this (or another) blog?  I’m not sure; I’m asking God what He has in mind.  For now, I’m going to get everything I can out of Neil’s devotional.  Thanks for making the journey with me.

Shoes of peace

The language of the shoes in the armor of God has always seemed a little clunky – why didn’t Paul just write “shoes of peace”?  That would go much better, I think.

But as I read it, there’s lots there…  I must be prepared.  That involves time and effort.  Prepared in what?  The gospel of peace.  God loved us so much that He gave His Son as a sacrifice so that we could belong to Him.  Now we live for Him by loving others – that’s how the world will know we belong to Him.

Loving others brings peace.  Yesterday was Black Friday, and the clerk at the store where I was shopping this afternoon looked tired.  I asked how the day had gone, and she reported that it was crazy.  I asked if, in general, people had been nice, and she shook her head.  “No, most people are complainers today.” 

I told her I was sad for that, and that I hoped the few nice customers in between all the mean ones helped a little bit.  She smiled and said that it did.

Loving others won’t happen if I’m not ready for the unexpected opportunity.  Yesterday, I got to spread a little peace.  Today, I’m going to look for more chances to do the same.

The breastplate

I love the image of the breastplate of righteousness – not my picture on it, but Christ’s, and the cross, covering me, keeping in mind that Neil said two days ago that this breastplate was put on me at the moment of salvation.  There’s nothing I did to put it there, and I can’t take it off.

It’s something I need to live by, though, which means two things:  I choose to make right choices, and I get things cleared up immediately when I don’t.  Once I am in the habit of confessing my sin, I don’t leave room for guilt, or its destructive effects on my life.

I’m thankful today for the truth of what Neil writes in the last paragraph, especially this one:  You’re in Christ; you’re already forgiven.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ, and He will never leave you.

Apparently, we can handle the truth

New information for me:  the belt of truth holds all the other pieces on.  I guess it makes sense when you know about real armor; it makes total sense as I think about it in the spiritual sense, too – truth has to be the foundation for everything I believe and everything I do.  It won’t matter where my feet go if I’m not spreading truth, right?

As I read, I was struck by the language Neil uses as he compares God, the author of truth, with Satan, the father of lies.  When I say something that isn’t true, partially or totally, I’m not just doing something that God doesn’t prefer.  I’m sneaking into the enemy camp and scoring one for his side.  I’m betraying truth; I’m siding with lies. 

Our culture chafes at the idea that there is such a thing as absolute truth; anyone who believes in such a thing is naïve, simple, or a religious nut.  When we live God’s way, we’re going against the current. 

I think I’m okay with that.

Armor

There’s a lot I don’t know about armor, namely, how to put it on or what it does, specifically.  I have friends in law enforcement, however – hi friends! – who rest the fate of their lives in pieces of protective gear.  Reading Neil’s entry today, one picture that came to my mind was the police officer going through the routine of putting on a utility belt, vest, and helmet…

As I read the last paragraph dealing with the language of Ephesians 6 (lots of action words), another picture came to mind:  football players, gearing up for game day.  Each team has two main parts.  One plays offense, the other defense, although the gear is pretty much the same.

As believers, it’s not enough to hang out on defense, looking to pick a pass when the opportunity arises, and gain a bit of ground.  We’re called to be on the offense, ready to march down the field. 

I’m inspired, and I’m looking forward to the next several days…

Prophecy

Wow – Neil didn’t pull any punches today.  He comes across as harsh, but I see that there’s real potential for harm, even from someone who means well and wants to speak an encouraging word from the Lord to someone. 

Does God speak through prophecy today?  If He didn’t, I suppose He wouldn’t have listed it among the spiritual gifts He distributes to the church (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12).  Neil knows his scripture pretty well, so I’m going to figure that he writes as a reaction to misuse of prophecy that he’s seen over the years in churches.

In reading and thinking about this topic, the idea that kept coming to the surface in me was that of humility.  If I’m hearing something I believe is from God, it’s with great humility that I offer it to the appropriate person, in the appropriate time.  Not everything is to share; some things God tells me are just for me.  I’m supposed to be praying about the situation and supporting those involved. 

And when a word is offered by someone, it’s with humility that I need to take that before God in prayer, and to His word, to look for confirmation.  I won’t know what’s in God’s mind and heart unless I ask.

People, not goals

I love it when Neil gets personal.  He waited until November to share this story, and it was worth the wait.

While I’m caught by the idea of God stepping in to keep Neil from going down the wrong path, what I’m focusing on today is this idea of seeing people as people. 

Sure, it seems pretty basic, but it’s a problem we all share…  Why did I treat my husband unkindly?  Because what I wanted to accomplish at that moment was more important to me than he was, flesh and blood, standing right in front of me.  I had a wrong goal. 

Years ago, I was a schoolteacher.  I look back on those days fondly, but with the distinct memory that the actual minutes of the day spent educating young minds was only a portion of what’s involved in being a teacher.  Factor in things like discipline problems, learning disabilities, communicating with parents, planning big events, fulfilling staff obligations (sure, I’ll chair that district Speech Meet!), maintaining your continuing education units, etc., and it’s not hard to see why so many teachers burn out.  It sure was true for me. 

It was at a children’s ministries conference that I heard a speaker talking about her job as a principal.  She was confiding to a colleague, Wow – I could get so much more done in my job if it wasn’t for all these difficult parents I have to deal with!  The friend replied, That’s just it – they ARE the job.

What a turning point for her, and for me, when I heard it.  Today, I’m going to be asking God to show me where I am choosing task over relationship.  I know I’m guilty of seeing people as blocking my goal; I want to learn to set aside what I had in mind so I can love my friends and family (and anyone God puts in my path) the way He does.

Miracles

Does God still do miracles?  What do you believe? 

I’ve known people who have said things like, I believe certain things, like miracles, happened in the Bible, but not necessarily today. 

I’ve known other people who say, God heals every time!  We just have to keep asking and have enough faith.

I’m in the middle…  I’ve seen a four-year-old boy healed from leukemia (healed, not sent into remission), and I’ve stood at the bedside of a friend dying of cystic fibrosis. 

It would be easy to say that God is random in how He answers prayers.  While not accurate, that thought hints at a larger truth:  God’s ways are so much greater, higher and better than mine that I won’t be able to comprehend them.  I’ll never get the Why behind what He does.

What I have learned is this:  I will pray for people to be healed, as Jesus told us to – ask and keep on asking, etc. – but I can’t call ultimatums like “God always heals”, nor can I stake my faith on what I want Him to do.  I can’t force Him to do anything, ever.

Matthew 7:9-11 tells me that God is a good and loving father, and that He gives good things.  Sometimes I think about how much I love my kids, and although I may not always give them what they are asking me for, I’m always looking out for the big-picture good for them.  Today, God is reminding me that He’s doing the same for me and the people I love.

Faithful

I’ll confess, I’ve never stopped to break down each of the ways in which faith affects my life.  Leave it to Neil!  It’s cool the way he categorizes stuff.

The third thing, the one about ministry, got me thinking about the correlation between faith and being faithful.  Second on the list was walking by faith, which requires movement, but living life as a faithful, reliable person requires lots of effort! 

I’ll admit it – it’s easier to be flakey some days.  Many folks I know don’t hold themselves to a very high standard when it comes to following through on commitments, but as soon as I start pointing a finger, I’m reminded of my own (many) shortcomings. 

God has never made a promise that He didn’t keep; the faithfulness of His word is the foundation of our universe (In the beginning was the Word…  from John 1).  The application for me is that because God is faithful, I am a faithful person.  I’m on the right path but I needed to be reminded of why it’s important. 

Deep-watering

As you’ve read over the past months, Neil writes on a theme and then circles back, often several times, to reinforce or extend it.  I think the idea is that we allow the information to sink in gradually, with the goal that it will stay lodged in our long-term memory,  It’s kind of like deep-watering the lawn, only more permanent.

Neil warns us:  …even believers are vulnerable to being lured away from the knowledge and power of God by our enemy. 

It’s a good reminder that instead of pursuing knowledge of God, I need to pursue God.  When I do, I will have the understanding I need based on my relationship with Him, and that will be a safeguard in my life.

We’re also reminded that God created us with legitimate needs – we want to be secure about our future – but when we meet them outside of Him, we invite disaster.  It’s a good day to say, Today, God, I’ll stop striving. I’m going to look to You to meet all my needs. 

About those marbles...

Did you ever see the movie Hook, way back when?  So much good stuff in that film.  Today’s entry from Neil had me thinking about an old man in Hook, a somewhat senile fellow named Tootles.  (What did we ever do before the internet?  Look stuff up at the library?)

From what I remember – and it’s been a while – we meet Tootles a couple of times, doddering along, saying, “I’ve lost my marbles.  Can you help me find them?”  He’s a gentle old soul, but nothing makes us doubt that he has, in fact, lost his marbles.

Metaphorically, we each dodder along, looking for what we lost in the garden.  We thrill to think that a friend or a group of people might accept us for who we are; we long to be safely ensconced in loving relationships.  When we don’t know how to find those things in healthy ways, we use any means necessary, resulting in broken, unhealthy relationships. 

God designed us to recognize real love and safety; we’re unsatisfied with the substitutes, thus we keep on looking.  Or, having found the real thing, we forget the treasure we have, and fall back into our former patterns of searching.

In case you’re worried about Tootles, he ended up okay – they found his marbles, yes, actual marbles, and they were what made him able to fly. 

Some days, the metaphors just write themselves…

All creation

It’s quite a picture, isn’t it?  Adam in the garden (and eventually, Eve), managing it all and enjoying it all…  When sin entered the world, it wasn’t just Adam and Eve who changed.  All creation was altered at the same time.

Neil says this:  The work of God is not just for our personal victory but for all of creation. 

The best illustration I can think of is from C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  Aslan, the lion, gave himself up as a sacrifice on the stone table.  He died there, but the next morning, the deeper magic brought him back to life.

When it did, the world of Narnia began a transformation.  The White Witch had cast a spell causing it to be eternally winter (but never Christmas), and since she was a villain, she turned innocents into stone as a hobby.  But all that began to change…  Snow melted, stone creatures were freed, and winter was over.  What an image! 

Makes me think.

Identity crisis

The sentence from Neil today that jumped out at me was this:  If we don’t help them [our kids] establish their identity in Christ, they will establish their identity in the world.

Two years ago, we attended a seminar at our son’s school dealing with child safety – it wasn’t about car seats.  It was about building in measures to protect your kids from child abusers of every variety. 

The speaker had all kinds of good measures to take – know who is with your kids, pay attention to the uh-oh feeling you get, teach kids never to keep secrets from Mom and Dad – but interestingly, she said one of the strongest safeguards for kids is a strong sense of family and value.  Abusers often target the fringe kids who respond instantly to attention/affection because they don’t get it at home.

So that’s a pretty extreme possibility; most likely, my kids will face a world view at school that is different from what we believe.  I needed to be reminded today that I can’t be in reaction mode all the time; I must be purposeful about teaching my kids who they are in Christ.

Family heritage

Generational bondage – you’ve seen it at work, haven’t you?  A pattern in a family, handed down from parents to kids to grandkids?  Behind what we see in the natural, the spiritual world comes into play, far more often than we realize.

For me personally, generational stuff is tricky.  I was adopted as an infant, and never knew my birth parents.  I’m okay with that, by the way.  But over the years, I’ve pondered the spiritual applications of the debate on nature vs. nurture:  to what extent am I affected by my birth parents, my adoptive family, or both? 

I appreciate the open nature of Neil’s prayer at the end – it covers the full gambit.  My addition to his prayer is that I would have discernment to recognize what in the natural world has spiritual forces at work, and that my husband and I would deal with our own issues so as not to pass them along to our kids.

Roller coaster

Today, Neil reminds me that becoming a healthy, mature Christian isn’t all about me; it’s about helping someone else along.  The saying goes that you can’t take someone where you haven’t been yourself, and it holds true here – any encouragement I may want to offer a brother or a sister had better be evident in my own life first.

I’ll keep this page bookmarked so I can refer to it when I need it.  I appreciate the systematic way Neil lays it all out – stuff we all kind of know we should be doing, but is way less organized in my head.

The item that was personally challenging to me was this one:  Helping them [newer believers] get off the emotional roller coaster by focusing their thoughts on God instead of their circumstances. 

It’s easy to see this dynamic in someone else’s life, and harder to get my own under control.  Just today, I was hearing the click-click-click of the roller coaster nearing the top of the big hill (that would be November – kids’ birthdays, Thanksgiving, and then – all that surrounds Christmas), feeling a little ill at the sound.  What’s the cure?  Keeping my focus on God, and asking Him to show me just the next thing I need to do.  That’s my focus for the day.

Knowledge and love

On which point in today’s reading were you convicted?  Several did it for me…

I spent my junior and senior years in college at Bethany, a liberal arts Assemblies of God school in Santa Cruz (with a very beautiful campus).  So although my major wasn’t ministry related, in order to graduate, I was required to take a full load of Bible classes, since I had neglected to do so at UCLA.

There was a lot of Neil’s points 1 and 2 going around.  There’s a rush that comes from discovery, and in a group setting, with the right professor, well, you never wanted to graduate and move on.  There was a wide gap between the deeper principles we were learning and the application to our young lives.  Simply put, we were becoming Bible scholars while doing some of the dumbest things we’d ever done in our lives. 

It’s funny to look back, but I realize I’ve still got the same tendency.  I love learning, but 1 Corinthians 8:1 hit me between the eyes:  Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.  It’s not enough to know all about God; the amazing understanding of who He is must transform me if it’s to matter at all.

How about you?

A new twist

Something new from Neil today – I’ve used Philippians 4:8 as a filter for things like worry, working through forgiveness, etc., but I’ve never thought of using it to block tempting thoughts.  So simple!

Just the process of coming back to that scripture in a moment of temptation will surely be a reality check.  The trick will be to develop the discipline to do so.  How will I get into the practice?  I think getting the verse in writing, somewhere I’ll see it often, is a good start. 

Since I’m not ready for my first tattoo yet, maybe I’ll dig out my 3x5 cards for now.  Other options (for the future, of course) are writing it out and using it as a wallpaper for my computer or phone, taping it to the mirror in my bathroom, putting it in my purse – no, that’s the land of no return – in my car, making it into a magnet for the fridge, etc. 

What’s your plan?

Trees and science-y stuff

I heard a story over the weekend, and I went fact-checking…  It appears to be entirely true.  It’s about an experiment near Tucson, Arizona, called Biosphere 2, essentially a huge dome  (two and a half football fields) in which they created various habitats, and could control and measure all kids of science-y stuff.  Yup, lots of research.

The bit of the story I heard was about the trees they planted.  Surprisingly, they tended to fall over because they didn’t grow strong enough.  Here’s an excerpt from the Columbia University team’s work:

Wind is also necessary for creating hardy and strong trees. When it was first created, there was no wind inside of Biosphere 2. Plants grew relatively quickly, but they frequently fell over before they were of reproductive age. After some intensive observations and experimentation, it was determined that the lack of wind created trees with much softer wood than that species would normally make in the wild. They grew more quickly than they did in the wild, but they were harmed in the long run as a consequence. 

(http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/seeu/bio2/restrict/modules/module09_content.html)

The implication is that without adversity, these trees never fully matured. 

So here I am (sometimes), asking God to fix my difficulties, and in the next sentence, asking Him to grow me deeper in Him.  It’s like my kids saying they’re hungry but don’t want to eat the healthy food on their plate, or that they want to buy a toy but don’t want to save up for it.  I could cave and give them what they’re asking for, but it would not be in their best interest, or mine, in the long run. 

Thank you, Neil, for shooting straight:  God’s plan is for you to hang in there and grow up.

Any questions? 

Unfortunately, Fortunately

My kids love a book entitled Fortunately, Unfortunately… It’s about the (mis)adventures of a young monkey boy who always seems to land on his feet.  My thoughts on today’s entry fall into those categories, albeit in reverse…

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try to make my kids behave well or gain the character I want them to, let alone pick up their clothes and take them to the laundry on a regular basis, I just can’t make it happen. 

Did you see Disney’s Aladin?  Do you remember the Genie’s rules?  He can’t make someone fall in love with you.  I can’t make someone (even a small someone) do anything, really.  All I can do is be the best mom I can, and trust God for the outcome.  It’s scary, but… 

Fortunately, I’m realizing that there is much in life that I thought was my responsibility, but in reality, it isn’t.  I know we’ve spent many days on giving over control to God, and just when I think I’m getting the hang of it, some new angle crops up.  This one, thankfully, is a relief. 

And instead of being discouraged at all I can’t actually accomplish, I find fresh enthusiasm as I think about trying to be the best wife I can be (and the best mom, friend, etc.).  It’s simple; I can do it.  I pray the same is true for you today.

Winning really isn't everything

Today’s blog isn’t an easy one to write – that’s probably why I’ve been procrastinating.  It would have been easy to read what Neil wrote and think of other people – sandpaper people – in my life.  It took a conscious choice for me to switch that off and read it for myself instead.

It’s uncomfortable because, well, I like to win; thus, I’m insecure.  Probably this is no surprise, and as I’m learning, it’s a condition I share with just about everybody, to some degree.  Some days, I’m a shining example of self-control, and others, it looks like the fruit of the Spirit is decidedly out of season.

There are times, too, when I forget when I’m dealing with a difficult person that they are most likely acting out of their own insecurity.  When I remember to consider that fact, it helps me deal with them more graciously.

I appreciate the directness of the way Neil writes.  This, especially, hit me:  If what you do can’t be done in love and self-control, the maybe it’s better left undone.  That’s going to be my focus for the day.

Decisions, decisions...

My first reading of today’s entry made me pretty mad at Jill’s parents.  Who does that?  How could parents just take over her life like that?

As I read it a second time, though, it occurred to me that while the decisions they made were huge, I have the potential to do the same thing on a smaller level every day. 

The issue, as far as I see it, is whether I’m going to make decisions for my kids (control freak alert), or teach them to make good decisions on their own.  If you’re a parent, and you have control issues, you’re probably agreeing with me – it’s harder than it sounds. 

At the heart of it, too, is that basic question:  God, do I really trust You with my kids? 

Today, I’m going to be mulling over the ways in which I can work on the small things, teaching my kids to be good decision-makers, with renewed urgency.

What do you mean, If?

I’ll lead with this from Neil:  According to Scripture, the invisible world is more real than the visible world.

He writes of living with a conviction regarding what is unseen, crazy as it might seem, as if it’s reality.  Faith pleases God because it acknowledges who He is and that we have simple, child-like trust.  It’s about the disposition of my heart more than anything.

So my question to you is this:  What has God spoken to you?  What is the reality that you’re waiting to see with your eyes?

Maybe it’s something you’re waiting for, longing for…  Maybe it’s a broken relationship that seems beyond repair…  Maybe it’s simply being able to believe that you are, in Christ, who God says – dearly loved and precious beyond belief…

In the book of Mark, a man came to Jesus asking Him to help his demon-possessed son.  He spoke honestly as he asked Jesus for a miracle:  Have mercy on us and help us.  Do something if you can.

Jesus replied, What do you mean, If I can?  Anything is possible if a person believes!

And the man cried out, I do believe!  Help my unbelief! 

(paraphrased from Mark 9:21-24)

I can’t be too hard on the guy; I find myself in his shoes from time to time.  I do believe; I want to believe; I’m in the process of believing.  And I know God hears the cry of my heart, and answers it:  Lord, help my unbelief!  He hears you, too.

Oooooh! Neil is preaching DCAT!

God made pastors to preach the gospel, but pastors can’t be everywhere.  So he took full-time ministers, disguised them as electricians, baristas, customer service reps, and _____________ (fill in your occupation here), and spread them out into every nook and cranny of the city.  Our job as secret-agent-ministers is to spread light wherever we spend our time.

Don’t have a job outside the home?  Me neither.  So I make sure the people I do interact with on that rare, joyous occasion (Target employees all know me…) get a taste of the life and joy of serving Christ, even if I’m having a bad day.  I want to represent Him well.

But I’m not a preacher, and I’d be afraid of messing it up if I tried to lead someone to Christ! – you say.  No problem!  All you have to do is invite said co-worker (or Target employee) to visit your church with you.  You don’t have to make it about them; all you have to do is say something like this:  I’ve got the most awesome church – you might love it!  Why don’t you come with me one of these days?

One last thing…  When working at my job becomes less about me and more about what God wants to do through me, I can find joy, even when I’m folding laundry, cleaning out the fridge, or ________________ (insert that yucky part of your job here).  

Trusting God for change

My first reading of today’s entry focused on the flashy parts, where Neil talks about bringing someone in (the expert) to deal with demons.  Literally. 

As I read it a second time, however, the point that hit home was that I simply need to be willing to gently relay truth to a brother or sister, and it’s God’s job to work repentance in them.  It might seem pretty obvious, but I struggle with feeling responsible for people, and it was encouraging to hear this from Neil:  He [God] alone can grant repentance and set the captive free.

I read this passage in the New Living Translation, and I appreciate the language it uses (starting at verse 25):

They should gently teach those who oppose the truth.  Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will believe the truth.  Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil’s trap…  2 Timothy 2:25-26

The bottom line for me is that I’m to speak the truth in love, and trust God to bring about change in that person.  It’s His responsibility, not mine, and He’ll make it happen.

Thomas Guide: an elegy

Do you remember the Thomas Guide?  It was a map book of every section of the city.  My dad installed cabinets all over, and he lived by his Thomas Guide.  He could find just about any place, and knew all kinds of back roads and short cuts to take when traffic got bad.  He’s retired now, and so is the Thomas Guide.

Enter:  GPS and Google Maps…  What an improvement – thank goodness for technology!  And if you’ve ever been frustrated by one of these new things, you’re laughing along with me.

Sometimes, the mistakes are annoying, like the day I tried to find the house of our little carpool buddy in a new-ish development.  It looked pretty simple, except for the fact that Google Maps left off 4 streets or so…  Fortunately, the little man knew his way around the sub-division and we made it without much trouble. 

Other times, the consequences can be treacherous, like the folks who were stranded on what looked a small highway in Oregon, but was, in fact, a county fire road that wasn’t maintained.  I’ve read stories of people who eventually were rescued, and others who were not.

As I was thinking about the lies of the enemy, I pondered the fact that when we’re lied to, we may be heading full-speed into a dangerous situation, all the while happily thinking we’re going to reach our destination.  I know of a man who believed it was okay with God for him to have an affair and leave his wife; lies twisted his understanding of God’s word (which was considerable). 

It’s all the more critical that we spend time understanding what the Bible says, and listening to the Holy Spirit, especially in those moments when He’s giving us that Uh-Oh feeling.  Today, I’m going to be asking God to show me areas of my life where I’ve bought into lies, and look to apply the truth of His word.

When God whispers

It occurs to me, reading today’s entry, that it’s possible to get lazy when it comes to checking everything against God’s word. 

I was reminded on Sunday (awesome sermon, Bob!) that the main way God will speak to us is through His word.  It’s as if my daily Bible reading time is doubly important:  He will speak to me now through it, and He use my knowledge of His word to help me check to see if something is from Him.

There have been a few times in my reading where I’ve come across a passage that directly applies to what I’m going through.  It’s awesome when it happens, but usually the way it goes is that while I’m reading, God will whisper something to me – maybe it’s about the story, maybe it’s an insight into His character and His heart – and I love those moments.  They happen most often when I’m not in a hurry and not distracted; today, I’m going to make it my goal to take my time and listen.

What about you?  How do you hear God’s voice?

How He sees me

Last year, my son had some trouble in kindergarten (says the Queen of Understatement).  We dealt with his behavior from the beginning of the school year until pretty much the end, although it did get better in the last couple of months of the school year. 

Having been a teacher, I was pretty reluctant to be critical of my son’s teacher (you don’t want to be one of those parents!), however in watching her, I noticed that most of the interaction she had with him was negative, and centered around his behavior.  They say kids will take negative attention over no attention at all, and that’s what I saw.

I’m thankful to say that this year has been wonderful so far, and I know it’s because of the way his first grade teacher treats the kids in her class.  She is nurturing, loving and respectful, yet manages to keep them in line and keep the lessons moving forward – no simple task! 

I’ve seen how my son has responded to someone who loves and accepts him as he is, and it makes him want to live up to how she sees him (sorry for the sentence structure there).  It makes me teary to think about it, and I’m reminded once again of how my heavenly Father sees me, and how much I want to be the girl He sees when He looks at me.