Heart Change

No Updates Needed About God

2012-01-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

Several years ago, the Encyclopaedia Britannica told its readers that the Salem Church Dam on the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, Virginia is 194 feet high and 8,850 feet long. It is located upstream from Fredericksburg and makes hydroelectric power and controls floods. But guess what? There isn’t any such dam. Although an Army Corps of Engineer drew up plans for it in 1944, it was never built.

How could this mistake have happened within such a respected encyclopedia? “The whole reason for the encyclopedia is accuracy, but we are dealing with 44 million words, and we sometimes do make mistakes,” says Larry Grinnell, a spokesman for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, as quoted in the LA Times (Aug. 18, 1988). “The error will be corrected in the next update possible.”

You and I are never going to be given an update to correct the facts about God’s character or His Word. His qualities of truthfulness, love, compassion, and so many other wonderful characteristics have always been there, and they always will be. They never change. And the facts stated in His Word are timeless and immutable. We may not always understand them perfectly, and at times our explanation of them may have to be altered; but the facts themselves never change.

Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (KJV)

Talk about security in our lives! God’s truth is a strong, rock-like foundation that will always hold us steady! You can lean on it!

Adventure #2: Encounter in the Airport

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I was waiting in the airport for my next connecting flight, minding my own business while enjoying reading my novel. I looked up and noticed a small food counter nearby where a woman was serving customers. I continued reading when unexpectedly the Lord’s still small voice within my heart whispered, "Go talk to that woman behind the counter about Me."

My reaction was unfortunately one that I usually made: "Oh, Lord, you know I don’t like doing things like this. Please! No!"

I could sense Him patiently waiting.

"Oh, all right, Lord. What should I say to her?"

"Tell her I love her."

Well, that wasn’t very original! I still wasn’t convinced I wanted to go and tried reading my book again. But I knew He wouldn’t let me rest so I gathered my things together and got at the end of the line for the counter.

I was amazed that by the time all the customers in front of me had been helped, no one had gotten in line behind me. When I faced the woman at the counter, I gulped and shot an arrow prayer, "OK, Lord, here we go."

I spoke up. "M’am, I know this will sound strange, but God wanted me to tell you He loves you."

The woman’s face seemed to harden for a second. "Oh, no, Father, what have you gotten me into now?" I cringed.

But then suddenly, her face softened and tears welled up in her eyes. She stared at me in surprise and said, "Oh, my husband recently died and I’d begun to believe God didn’t love me. Thanks for telling me that."

I ordered my iced tea and she began sharing her hurt and pain with me. As I went to the side of the counter to mix in some sweetener, she followed me over and again thanked me for reaffirming her belief in God’s great love.

I was amazed that no one came up to the counter as the room was full of people. God had opened a door of opportunity and I was so glad I hadn’t refused His prompting.

Walking with God Is An Adventure

2012-01-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, the last day of the women’s retreat where I was a speaker, I autographed books. Kris bought a copy of my book, God’s Vitamin "C" for the Spirit, and I began autographing it when she exclaimed, "Wait! I want it autographed for a friend."

I’d written down "Kris," so I put that book aside and autographed another for her friend. Later when I packed, I put the "mistake" book in my briefcase. It lay on the front seat of the car as I drove home.

There were two different routes I could take, but remembering a drive-through hamburger place, I decided to drive that way and stop for a drink.

Pulling up beside the drive-in window, I ordered and gave the young woman my money. She remarked, "You’re dressed up. Did you just come from church?"

"I spoke at a women’s retreat. Do you go to church?’

"Usually I do but I couldn’t today because I had to work."

We talked briefly about the Lord and He whispered in my heart, "Give her the ‘autographed’ book."

I thought, "But, Lord, it’s autographed to Kris."

"Do it."

An unexpected thought popped into my mind. Wouldn’t it be a coincidence if her name is Kris? Oh, what would be the chance of that?

The woman came back to the window and handed me my drink. I spoke up. "I’m an author and I’d like to give you a copy of my book. What’s your name?"

She answered, "My name’s Kris."

I laughed and explained the situation. "I guess God wants you to have this book."

She was amazed and thrilled. And I rejoiced in the joy of walking with God. It's an adventure in which there are no coincidences!

Romans 11:33 tells us, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" Isn't that the truth?!

Corrected Yet Hopeful!

2012-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

As the Lord recently made me aware of a needed correction in my life, I was caught up short by realizing the change in my reaction from years ago. I didn't feel condemned. I didn't feel any contempt from God. There wasn't any hopelessness. In the past, I would have "heard" God say something like, "See? There's another thing you're bad at! You'll never change!"

This time there was nothing close to that! That was amazing to me. So different from the past. Now I can face my sin and repent in peace. The difference?

Now I'm convinced that instead of contempt from God, His correction--even rebuke--is His loving act. He is looking at me with love saying, "This correction is for your good. Yes, I know you are a sinner and you sin. That is your nature. I didn't create you that way, only the ability to choose. But I don't shame you for that. I want to work in your life. I'm wooing you back to me because your disobedience separates you from me. Come to me. Recognize your sin. Let me forgive you and restore you to fellowship with me. I love you!"

What a relief! There is hope. There is life. There is power to change.

He has not withdrawn His love, only revealed it through His concern for my welfare and good.

Forgive me for quoting this passage again but it's so essential for us to believe God's promise when we fail:

³⁰ “If his sons forsake my law
and do not follow my statutes,
³¹ if they violate my decrees
and fail to keep my commands,
³² I will punish their sin with the rod,
their iniquity with flogging;
³³ but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness. (Psalm 89:30-33 NIV).

The reason God woos you through His correction rather than shame you is that His faithfulness is a reflection of who He is: love! To do anything other than woo you is to go against who He is--and that is impossible. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

So the next time you feel shamed or hopeless or discouraged or helpless because of your sin, claim the truth: it's all about God's faithfulness, not your sin. He welcomes you back through your repentance and has not rejected you. What joy!

There is hope! Don't go by your feelings and old thought patterns. Believe the truth.

Stop Putting In the Quarters to Earn God’s Love

2012-01-12T22:17:00.000-08:00

I arrived at our local regional park prepared with the six quarters necessary for the machine that controlled the mechanical arm blocking the way to the entrance of the park. I deposited the six quarters and looked forward anticipating the mechanical arm to raise. Much to my surprise, I realized there was no mechanical arm attached to the machine at all. It had been removed for some reason. Nothing had prevented me from entering the park all along--I just hadn't paid attention to its absence.

"I just wasted my six quarters," I exclaimed. "I could have gone in free!"

That’s just like we perfectionists who are very good at depositing our quarters of good works in an effort to earn entrance into God's love.

"Here, God, is my quarter of loving that person I hate. Do you love me now?"

"Here, God, is my quarter of having my devotional time today. Do you love me now?"

"Here, God, is my quarter of serving in the nursery even though I would rather go to the service. Do you love me now?"

We put in our quarters, while all along, the mechanical arm that should block us from God's love is not there. Jesus died on the cross in our place and has shattered the obstacle to God's unconditional love. Instead of putting in the quarters, we can move forward into experiencing God's love.

Certainly, God does want us to obey him, to love others, to have our quiet time with him, and to serve in our church. But those things should be done out of our love for him—not as a means of earning his love and our entrance into heaven.

Are you willing to give up depositing your quarters trying to earn God's love? He wants you to know his incredible, unconditional love so that you no longer have to feel like he doesn't approve of you. He loves you and wants only the best for you.

Have Success at Your New Year's Resolution

2012-01-11T22:45:00.000-08:00

I was working out at the gym with a friend and knowing the New Year would start in a couple of days, we chuckled as we thought about how much more crowded the gym would be after January 1^st. Then as it happens every year, about four to six weeks later, the gym returns to its normal level—and we wouldn’t have to wait in line to use the weight machines.

Yes, the New Year resolutions for buffing up the body and becoming healthy would last a short time for most people. Great motivation to start but not much to continue. Why is that? For many, it’s because we make our goals too high and become discouraged when we can’t meet them.

But there is a solution. It’s found in "The 1% Principle," which I write about in my book, Why Do I Put So Much Pressure On Myself? It’s the idea of setting small goals toward a bigger one and when we meet the small one (1% instead of 75% or larger), we’ll be encouraged to continue.

Here are some ideas.

Unrealistic Goal	1% Principle
I will have a devotional time with God for one hour every day next week.	I’m going to spend 5 minutes with God two times next week.
I’m going to stop eating all sugar.	I’m going to limit sugar to one item per day.
I’m going to go to the gym every day this week.	My goal is to go to the gym two times next week.
I’m never going to get angry with my child again.	Since dinner time is the hardest time to be patient, I’m going to concentrate on staying calm on Tuesday next week and ask a friend to pray for me during that time.

Get the idea? Instead of thinking 100% toward a goal, start small and be encouraged as you reach it. Then you’ll continue to move toward the larger goal. (And by the way, it’s OK to do more than the 1% goal if you’re able).

Does this sound like a plan that God can’t applaud? After all, doesn’t He believe He can empower us to reach huge goals? Of course He can but He also understands that "we are but dust" (Psalm 103:14). That’s why He says, "Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all." (1 Timothy 4:15 NASB). He doesn’t say, "so that your perfection may be evident to all." He expects us to be in process little by little and is pleased with our progress—even 1% at a time.

How can you use the 1% Principle to grow closer to God, become more of the person God wants you to be, or develop your spiritual life? Make a plan now and carry it out—little by little—1% at a time.

Out of the Mouth of a Four-Year-Old: "I Don't Love You Anymore"

2012-01-09T10:04:00.001-08:00

We've returned from our holiday visit with the family and a highlight of the visit--which may seem strange--is the day four-year-old grandson Raphael "Raffi" told Larry and I, "I don't love you; I love my mommy and daddy." I'm not sure if he said, "I don't love you anymore," but he may have. That would make sense because he usually sat in my lap and as I kissed him, I would say "I love you." Then he would say, "me too."

Now for some reason, he suddenly didn't want any kisses and declared his independence from love for Grandma and Grandpa. We all smiled and thought it was quite cute. (He will grow out of this, won't he?)

Yet in that moment as I inwardly confirmed my undying love for Raffi--in spite of his declared independence--I knew I'd just felt a tiny bit of God's unconditional love. We can tell God we don't love Him anymore but that doesn't change His love for us. Our attitude might bring painful consequences for ungodly choices, but if doesn't change His undying love.

That's what Psalm 89:30-34 is about:

"If his sons forsake My instruction
and do not live by My ordinances,
if they dishonor My statutes
and do not keep My commands,
then I will call their rebellion
to account with the rod,
their sin with blows.
But I will not withdraw
My faithful love from him
or betray My faithfulness.
I will not violate My covenant
or change what My lips have said." (HCSB)

How affirming and amazing that God's love is steadfast and unchangeable. He doesn't think our independence is cute, like we regard Raffi's comment, because the consequences are serious. But He still reaches out to us because He is faithful, not because we are.

I guess this is called GRACE! Praise the Lord!

A little side note: I just tried something different for my Bible reading. I listened to the audio reading at www.biblegateway.com while I read along in my Bible. I hadn't done that before and although I'm a visual learner and it takes a little longer, I think it was a good practice. See what you think.

Be Careful What You Rehearse

2012-01-05T15:25:00.000-08:00

For several posts, we've been meditating on Romans 13:14: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." Here's one last thought.

I think the best way to not make provision for the flesh is to be aware of what we're rehearsing. Since "making provision" carries with it the implication of preparation, what we rehearse and focus on, especially in preparation of something, has a huge impact in our reactions "in the moment." We may think, "Now why did I act that way?" or "Now why did I say that?" And it may seem like a mystery. But chances are, in some way, we made "provision" for that reaction. And it's most often by our thought processes based on our belief system.

I remember a time I felt rejected by someone important to me. What they said haunted me. I thought about it over and over again. I defended myself in my mind. I stored up all the reasons that person was wrong. I shored up all the reasons I was right. I wrote out script after script of what I should say to them. Then they would be humbled to see I was right and they were wrong. I would be vindicated.

Was it any mystery then that one of my comments to them was tinged with sarcasm and pain, even though I'd committed to trust in the Lord and allow Him to handle the situation? I'd made provision for letting my flesh produce ungodliness even though I thought I'd released it to the Lord.

How is your thought life today? Especially about something painful in your life. Second Corinthians 10:5 gives us an important caution: "...take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." That's closely linked to "make no provision for the flesh."

What are we thinking about? What are we believing? What are we defending? What are the scripts we're writing in our minds? It could be we're setting ourselves up for putting on the flesh. Let's put on the Lord Jesus Christ instead. Let's think His thoughts. Allow Him to defend us. Believe that He will raise us up at the right time if we humble ourselves. And see others through His eyes because He loves them as much as us.

What Does God Owe You?

2011-12-31T09:26:00.000-08:00

Do you sometimes find speed bumps along the way while reading Scripture? You know! That's when you're reading along in a chapter of the Bible and all of a sudden, you feel your mind or heart go up in the air and you think, "Why is that there?" Just as a speed bump in the road tells you, "Slow down!," a speed bump in your spirit is the Holy Spirit saying, "Slow down! Pay attention to why this is here."

I hit a Scripture Speed Bump this morning as I continued reading Romans. I'm currently reading Romans 11-16 every day and usually try to read in a different translation so that I don't get too used to the wording of one version. And so this morning Romans 11 had a speed bump while I read it in the NCV: New Century Version.

(By the way, you might be thinking, "Kathy sure has a lot of different Bibles." Actually, I read different versions at www.biblegateway.com.)

It always surprises me, but it shouldn't, that a verse I've read many times can get a speed bump. It just goes to show how we can scan over something and not pay attention and/or the Spirit wants to stop us to reveal something to us. Option #2 is what happened this morning as I read Romans 11:34-36:

"'Yes, God's riches are very great, and his wisdom and knowledge have no end! No one can explain the things God decides or understand his ways. As the Scripture says,

"Who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been able to give him advice?" — Isaiah 40:13
"No one has ever given God anything
that he must pay back." — Job 41:11

Yes, God made all things, and everything continues through him and for him. To him be the glory forever! Amen." (NCV)

I hit the speed bump when I read the words I highlighted in red. I stopped and thought, "What's that got to do with anything?" It just didn't seem to apply to the point. Paul has been talking about how the Gentiles were grafted in and the Jews were un-grafted and how it's all up to God's choice and mercy. I could see how the previous verse applied but my mind couldn't grasp the verse that Paul quoted from Job 41:11.

So I went to Job 41 where God is telling Job about how just as it's useless to try to tame the great Leviathan, it's useless to try to tame Him. And then God says to Job: "No one has ever given me anything that I must pay back, because everything under the sky belongs to me. (Job 41:11 NCV).

My brain still wasn't connecting all the dots but eventually I got it: "God doesn't owe you anything, Kathy." If we give someone something we usually have a sense that they owe us. Either they'll need to return it or they must reciprocate. But God is saying, "Regardless of what you do for me, I don't owe you anything. There's nothing I need and there's nothing you can give me that I don't already own."

Yet I hate to say it, we sometimes operate as if God owes us. I've talked about entitlement before and these verses go right along with it. And this all goes along with our current verse in Romans 13:14: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts."

What are one of the ways we "make provision for our flesh?" By having an attitude that God owes us. I'm reading Red Like Blood: Confrontations with Grace by Joe Coffey and Bob Bevington. Joe tells about how his younger brother, a sophomore in college, was killed in a head-on motorcycle accident along with his rider, a 14-year-old from the youth group. Joe tells about how Rachel and Jacob had household gods and then writes, "I realized as I stood knee deep in the aftermath of the storm [brother's death], my faith floating like so many splinters around me, that I really had nothing more than a household god. As a minister and the son of a minister I thought I had a contract with God. My family would serve him and in exchange he would take care of us. It seemed like a no-brainer to me. I found out on that Monday night that God had not signed the contract and without a contract a household god is pretty worthless. I picked my god up and threw him as far as I could."

Joe had made provision for the flesh through his "no-brainer" one-sided contract with God. In another part of the book he talks about how the disappointment with God not keeping His part of the contract resulted in anger at God which led to a three-year depression.

But Joe ended up "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ" by repenting of his disappointment and his wrong expectation. He writes, "Pain tempts me to question the heart or the head of God. I only need to take a look in either a telescope or a microscope to be reminded of his head. I only need to take a look at the cross to be reminded of his heart. God, forgive me for my simple math [of trying to figure you out]."

When you and I begin to believe God owes us (and we're making provision for the flesh), we only need to look at the cross which reminds us of our sin and our utter unworthiness of anything good. And then we look at Jesus on the cross and see God's love for you and me. If He was willing to give up His most valuable person, then whatever He allows in our lives is within His definition of "love."

Maybe you're going through something really hard and it's hard to see and feel God's love. Maybe this situation is even stuffing provisions into your back pack labeled "reasons to distrust God." Throw out that back pack and put on the Lord Jesus Christ instead. I'm not saying it's easy to do; but by focusing on the cross, you can throw out your "entitlement" household god.

The Truth Hurts: I Am Old!

2011-12-29T19:05:00.000-08:00

We've been focusing on Romans 13;14: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." (NASB).

As I first started meditating on this verse, I envisioned how "making provision" reminded me of a warrior storing food in their backpack before he/she heads out on a journey toward a battle. That's a positive image. But our verse is talking about a negative "provision"--"make NO! provision." Don't store up provision that will lead to sin through indulging the flesh.

I think we all have different areas where the "flesh" is tempting for us. For instance, I can easily love fashion and my image more than Jesus. That's "flesh" for me. You may tisk-tisk and think that's positively silly because it's not a "fleshly" thing for you. But I begin thinking about how I look because of fashion magazines or fashion TV shows. I begin believing that my image is what defines my worth and value--rather than seeing myself through God's eyes.

I then begin making provision for my flesh through concentrating on those fashion magazines and TV shows. Reading or watching with my eyes feeds my brain which feeds my soul with the message that if I'm not in style someone is looking at me and thinking I'm stupid or ignorant or ACK! ...old!!!!!!

Oh my, the Holy Spirit just did a "soul care" moment on my heart with that last word. I had no trouble coming up with the words "stupid" or "ignorant." But then I paused and couldn't get in touch with a deeper message. Then it surfaced. What the fear and dread is really about! Someone is going to see me as old! Wow! If I'm dressed stylishly, then I'm young! And that is valuable. But being old is not.

When Larry and I counsel people (we call it "soul care"), we are led by the Holy Spirit to try to find out the underlying "message" that the person is trying to avoid. God just did a "soul care" on me! I wasn't aware of the underlying motive of my fashion temptation.

But guess what? I am old! Lord, forgive me for wanting to be other than what I am. What you've brought me to. And thank you that I am being old! Because otherwise, I wouldn't be on this earth. I am looking forward to heaven, Lord, but I want to fulfill all the days you intend for me. And that takes being old. And why am I so hating being old? Because society says it's not worthwhile.

Oh, Father, forgive me for judging what's worthwhile based upon the world, the flesh. I have much to offer because of the years that have made me old. Society doesn't value that but You do! So I surrender to being old. I surrender to being seen as old. I want to value what You value, not what the world values. So I'm not going to give provision to the flesh by agreeing with the world. Thank you, Lord, for setting me free!

Let me tell you that the outline I'd made for this post wasn't used. My thought processes went in a totally different direction and I'm so grateful to the Mighty Spirit of God. Thank you for listening in. God certainly is creative, isn't He? Can I recommend that you also ask the Spirit to reveal the underlying motives of your "flesh provisions"? I hope you experience the joy of submission, repentance and surrender that I'm feeling right now.

A Putrefying Ancient Custom

2011-12-26T18:51:00.001-08:00

I hope your Christmas was a joyful celebration of Jesus's birth. To think of God Himself coming to earth knowing He would die for our sins is amazing--and something I can easily take for granted. I must remind myself again and again of the wonder of it. And to concentrate on what He made possible: salvation and freedom from the bondage of sin.

Remember how? By "putting on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14--what we've been chatting about for several posts). As I've read several commentators, I was directed to some insights about Romans 7:24 which gives us the opposite of what it means to "put on" Jesus: Paul has been talking about the burden of sin and says, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"

Some commentators believe that Paul is thinking of an ancient custom whereby some tyrants, like Mezentius (as mentioned in Virgil's account), bound a dead body to a living man as punishment for murder or other crimes. Eventually, the putrefying body spreads it's germs onto the living man, killing him. So the living man carried a "body of death" on his back.

Not pretty, is it? And at times, talking about our sinful condition seems extreme and unpleasant--about as pleasant as thinking of a putrefying body. But our sin really is killing us--except that Jesus came! And made possible that you and I can "put on" His glorious being rather than continuing to carry around sin's putrefying "body of death".

Why would we not want to surrender all to Jesus? Let's see. Hmmm. A putrefying body or life-giving Jesus? hmmmm. Why does it even seem like a huge question? Choose life!

Ann Graham Lotz encourages us to do that very thing when she writes in The Magnificent Obsession:

"As I surrender all, God wraps His arms of love around me, fills me with Himself, draws me near to His heart, and holds me close until I can hear His own heartbeat. The warmth of His love and the sweetness of His presence make everythig else fade away. All I care about is Him. And provision is made.

"What is the one thing hindering you from receiving all that God wants to give you? You will have no idea how God will provide for you, or what God will do for you, or the blessings He will pour out upon you, until you lay it down! So...lay it down!"

Amen and Amen! God Himself has come to earth! Thank you, Lord!

How To "Put On" Jesus

2011-12-23T15:58:00.000-08:00

My last post addressed Romans 13:14: "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (NASB).

As I've meditated on that verse, I remembered what happened the other day when I made chocolate chip cookie dough. My grandson, four-year-old Raphael, pulled a chair over so that he could "look at" the rounded dough balls. I told him he wouldn't be eating any. "I just want to see them," he claimed.

Then within seconds, his hand was within a fraction of an inch away as he exclaimed, "Oh, they're so cute," acting as if he was going to pet one.

I knew where this was headed and removed the cookie pan to a safe distance. I would submit to you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that was a lack of "making no provision for the flesh."

Yet, aren't we so like that? How we tempt ourselves! "I just want to look at the possibility of this sin." "Isn't this sin cute?" "I'll only reach for it; I won't touch it." Phooey! We are setting ourselves up for a fall.

How wonderful that God's power and grace is available to strengthen us to resist. And the key is in the first part of the verse: "put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." (NASB).

The NLT phrases it: "clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ." I love thinking of focusing on Jesus's presence with me. I'm sure if I really acknowledged Jesus was right at my side when I reached for the cookie dough (symbolic of sin), I wouldn't even try to "pet" it.

And commentator Barnes writes, "The phrase to 'put on' a person, which seems a harsh expression in our language, was one not infrequently used by Greek writers, and means to imbibe his principles, to imitate his example, to copy his spirit, to become like him."

Commentator Clarke writes, "The mode of speech itself is taken from the custom of stage players; they assumed the name and garments of the person whose character they were to act, and endeavored as closely as possible to imitate him in their spirit, words, and actions."

(These commentators are quoted at http://bible.cc/romans/13-14.htm.)

If we're supposed to imitate Jesus, how did Jesus make no provision for the flesh? I think the underlying way is His trust in His Father's heart. I truly believe that our sin is based in our lack of trust in God's goodness and love. We're saying He is withholding something good from us and therefore I must provide for myself (remind you of someone named Eve?). So I make provision for the flesh. I provide for my own needs because God won't come through for me the way I think He should.

Think of the last time you sinned. Can you identify in what way you might have distrusted God's goodness and how you felt you needed to provide for yourself--rather than "putting on" Jesus and making no provision for the flesh?

It's certainly something to think about, eh?

Making Provision for Sin

2011-12-22T19:05:00.000-08:00

If you were asked, "What Bible verse do you dislike?", what would you say? That is a question that Larry and I ask, among others, when someone new comes to us for soul care/counseling. How a person answers the question can be revealing. But even as I would ask it of others, I wondered about myself and couldn't really think of how I would answer. No verse really seemed to qualify for me.

But today as I was reading in Romans again, I focused in on a verse and felt dislike. I didn't want to focus on it. It was too dangerous. Even though I'd read the verse many times in the past, it fairly screamed at me in that moment. God's Word read, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:14).

The words "make no provision for the flesh" convicted me. I didn't like it. The mirror of Scripture made me look at myself and my plans for "providing" for sin. I'm like a soldier who sets out on a journey and puts his provisions in his backpack for his body to be sustained. Except that in this case, the provisions are not for good; they are sustenance for sin.

I've been meditating all day on that verse and the word "provision," trying to examine how I make plans to gratify the desires of my flesh. And I realized the reason I reacted so strongly to God's loving words is because when I sin I can deceive myself into thinking, "Oh! What a surprise! How did that happen?" I think I was caught by surprise, but the truth is, more often than not, it was a matter of making provision for my failure before it ever happened.

I'm still ruminating on all this and I plan to write about it for awhile (sorry to be on a downer over the Christmas season) but what better way to celebrate Jesus's birth than to work on drawing closer to Him by dealing with the very thing that separates me: my sin.

For today, here's one specific way we can "make provision" for gratifying our flesh. Anne Graham Lotz writes in The Magnificent Obsession about how Abraham might have made provision for his sin in Genesis 20:2. Like before, he fears for his life when a king takes Sarah into the king's harem. As a result, he lies, calling Sarah his sister. Anne writes, "One reason Abraham may have failed again is that he never set straight with Sarah his previous sin of lying to Pharoah. When he had returned from Egypt, he had gone back to Bethel, but there is no record that he also went back to Sarah and apologized, no indication he ever said, 'I'm sorry. I was wrong to lie about you. I promise never to do that again.' He seemed to have left the door open to lying again. And he did."

I think this gives us a significant way we make provision for our flesh: we fail to acknowledge the seriousness of our sin and apologize, committing to never sin in that way again. (By the way. I believe there is no level of seriousness with sin. There is no "little" or "big" sin. It's all sin! Therefore, it all deserves repentance and a commitment to never do it again).

I must admit that the thought of saying, "I'll never do that again" seems fairly...well...in all honesty...pretty stupid! Who could claim to never do something bad again, especially if it's one of our tendencies like it was Abraham's. But maybe by not promising, we are indeed making provision for us to do it again.

Definitely something to think about. What do you think?

I'm going to continue thinking about this and write more soon.

A Most Unusual Christmas Tradition

2011-12-18T17:29:00.000-08:00

(This is a reprint from my blog from December, 2009).

It wasn't intended to be a Christmas tradition and yet because it took place over several years when my brother, sister and I were young, it became a tradition.

In our house in Norwalk, California, the kitchen was separated from the bedrooms by the living room. The living room held the Christmas tree and it was one of our traditions for Santa to bring unwrapped gifts that were put under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Not unusal of course. Except that it posed a problem.

My mother adamantly insisted we three kids eat breakfast before opening our gifts. She knew if we didn't, our behavior would deteriorate because of low blood sugar and we'd be too distracted by our gifts to eat. As a result, we had to go to the kitchen to eat.

The problem? To go to the kitchen, we had to go through the livingroom where the Christmas tree held the unwrapped presents. It wouldn't do to have us see our gifts.

So somehow someone thought of the idea of our father and our Uncle Frank carrying us from the bedroom to the ktichen with a blanket over our heads so that we couldn't see. Then in the kitchen we would quickly gobble down our Malt-O-Meal and then head for the tree. Of course, only after Mother had turned on the bright lights of the movie camera.

For years, we were carried through the living room and it became a fun experience and a looked-forward-to-event.

Certainly, no one thought this would become a tradition nor that we would speak fondly of it every Christmas. But that's how traditions are. Most of them are not planned and we may even be surprised that a particular happening became a fond memory.

Are you sometimes concerned that you don't have Christmas traditions? Let me assure you that you have more than you realize. Be confident that memories are being created. And they'll be spoken of in years to come.

The TRPFAW of Holiness

2011-12-13T20:10:00.000-08:00

Internet problems were eating up valuable time. Even after multiple contacts with support people, I still couldn't get the problem solved. I was so frustrated! Have I mentioned I was frustrated?

But then I remembered what I'd committed to in my devotional time that morning: TRPFAW! That's what I came up with when I studied the armor of God. I started calling it "trip-faw" when I listed the different aspects of the armor:
T: truth (gird loins with truth)
R: righteousness (breastplate of righteousness)
P: peace (shod with preparation of the gospel of peace)
F: faith (shield of faith)
A: assurance (helmet of salvation)
W: Word (sword of Spirit, word of God)

Ephesians 6:13-17 says, "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (NASB).

In my devotional time, I'd tried to get a handle on applying those verses and came up with this application:
Belt of truth: what is the truth in this situation?
Breastplate of righteousness: what is the right and godly reaction?
Feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace: I have peace with God and I can also seek peace with others.
Shield of faith: I believe God is in control.
Helmet of salvation: I am not condemned. I'm assured of my position in Christ. Nothing can steal that away and nothing can separate me from God's love.
Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God: What does God say about this?

As I meditated on those principles and put on the full armor of God, I didn't get upset about all the internet problems. In fact, the next morning in my quiet time, I wrote in my journal: "I passed the test! Even though I dialogued by email with two tech people and talked personally to two other tech people, I never got upset about the frustration. I could sense so clearly that it was a test. And when I initially didn't get hooked, I sensed Satan wasn't giving up. He was thinking, 'She'll cave in when this goes on long enough.'

"But then I rehearsed TRPFAW over and over again. I concluded, 'God, if you want me to 'waste' my time in this way, then OK. I'm your servant. My time belongs to You. You know how much I have to do and You've allowed this to happen, so there's nothing I need to get upset about.'"

Putting on the armor helped me "stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11) and after 24 hours of trouble, my internet problems were solved.

How about you? How can TRPFAW empower you to trust God more and grow in holiness more?

How Many Gifts Did You Receive as a Child?

2011-12-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

The first Christmas Larry and I were dating, I went over to his house and noticed he had one present under the three. "Oh, you get all your presents on Christmas morning?" I asked.

"What do you mean?" Larry replied in surprise. "I only get one gift for Christmas."

Oh my. I should have known then that if we got married Christmas would be a point of contention. Because in my family, each of us three kids would usually end up opening something like twenty gifts from various family members including Santa. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if my sister reading this would reply, "Twenty? I think it was more like thirty!"

Regardless, it seemed like a lot. And those gifts meant love to me. I felt very loved seeing those gifts and receiving things! So you can imagine the difficulty when our children were young. Larry thought one gift would be sufficient and I felt compelled to buy them lots of gifts to--you guessed it--make them feel loved.

It took many years for me to change my perspective to a large degree but wanting people to feel loved still lies at the root of my gift buying.

But the truth is I can't be in charge of or make anyone feel loved. At least not the kind of lasting love that only God can give. Maybe I'm even trying to substitute for Him through my gift buying.

Do you have a gift buying story from your marriage? Or how do you resist making gifts into love? Or maybe you think that's OK. Share your perspective with us. I would love to hear it and it'll help me.

Maybe It Won't Be So Bad Afterall

2011-12-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

Although I can’t stake any claim to conquering worry completely, many years ago as a fairly new Christian, I heard a concept that began my mental and emotional transformation about worry. I attended a seminar where the speaker gave an antidote for worry: “Think of the worst possible thing that can happen and then think of reasons why it wouldn’t be so bad after all,” citing Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (NASB)

Hmmm. An interesting concept. Obviously scriptural. I mulled it over and then got worried! I don’t think I want to give God the impression He has my permission to do the worst possible thing!

It seemed to be a risk, but my heart longed to be free from the nagging worries that ruled my life. I was nineteen or twenty, yet I felt like worry was my daily portion—like a storm cloud always threatening on the horizon. I had to think about how my friend may have misunderstood what I’d said. I had to be concerned about my grades in college. I had to wonder about my future. Of course, I used those innocuous words because I worried that someone would think I wasn’t a strong Christian if I used the word “worry.” I felt tense, even condemned, because I knew God couldn’t be pleased with me as a worry wart!

Then came the day I attended that seminar and the antidote stood out in bold relief. Can I apply it? I decided I would try.

The day after the seminar I returned to my part time job in the morning and college classes afterwards. There were no extra minutes between the two. I often fretted about arriving late to class.

That morning I left work late because my boss pulled me aside to discuss something. As I drove, my stomach churned. I envisioned walking into the classroom late with all eyes on me and the teacher making some belittling comment. Then I remembered the speaker's principle: “Think of the worst possible thing that can happen and then think of reasons why it wouldn’t be so bad after all.” I rehearsed Romans 8:28. Here’s my chance, I mused. What good thing could happen from being late? I paused to try to think of something. OK…I’ll be noticed! But that’s the very thing I’m afraid of!

I smiled. But wait! I’ve been trying to share Christ with my fellow students. Maybe I can use being late to tell my new friend about how worried I was and how God gave me peace of mind!

Bingo! With those thoughts, my anxiety level diminished. I couldn’t wait to be late to class! I didn’t need to drive like a maniac! God was going to use it!

Ten minutes later, I walked into class without my typical breathlessness and was shocked to see that the teacher hadn’t even arrived yet. He was late! I took my seat beside my new friend and I told her what happened. We laughed together.

That day I saw two truths about worry: God can bring good out of what we worry about and most of the time, what we worry about, doesn’t happen! The principle of Romans 8:28 began to diminish the hold that worry had over me.

Is He a Good Guy?

2011-12-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

I've had twelve wonderful days with my grandson, Raffi, 4, (even though I've been sick for the last few days), and will be heading home tomorrow. Raffi is obsessed with who is the bad guy and who is the good guy. If we're watching a cartoon, he'll ask, "Is he a good guy?" If we're reading a book, he'll ask, "Is he a bad guy?" And if he's familiar with the cartoons or book, he'll tell me who is who.

Maybe as a four-year-old, he's sorting out the world and he knows there's a difference between good and bad guys in the stories he hears. It would be fascinating to be inside his brain to know why this is important but I'm sure it's a part of his development and God's design to develop his sense of goodness and sin.

As Raffi has asked me these questions so often, I have been impressed with asking a similar question of myself: "Is this good for me? Or is this bad for me?"

Another application is the joy of knowing that God is always good. When we are pointed to God, we can always know and say He is a good guy with no mixture of bad. No matter what He chooses for us, He is a good guy and intends it for our good and our best.

My brother, Chuck continues to express his faith and trust in God's goodness as he today begins the process of a bone marrow transplant for myeloma cancer, a cancer of the blood. I'm always encouraged by him. Of course, he goes through various feelings--that's normal. But his faith in his good God is a blessing.

Maybe in some ways, we're all still trying to figure out who is good and who is bad; what is good and what is bad, in this complicated world. Raffi has just started that journey. Regardless of everything we could consider, let's always believe that God is a good guy.

Psalm 34:8 says, "O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" We can truly trust our great good God who is our refuge.

A Lesson from the Muppet Movie

2011-11-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

I took my four-year-old grandson, Raf, to see "The Muppet" movie which is very cute. At one point in the movie one of the characters blows up something. Raf tried to push me out of my seat and said, "Go tell them to do that again." I thought, "If only I had that power!"

As I'm sitting here thinking of that, I'm rejoicing that God does have the power to do all He wants to do. How comforting and thrilling to trust in our loving and powerful God. He is faithful and holy therefore He only does that which is righteous and good.

This past week, my Uncle Harold died and though he heard the Gospel over many years, he always resisted. My sister who was very close to him even shared the Gospel again with him within two weeks ago. Again, he wasn't receptive. But he was found kneeling by his bed when he died. We hope that he surrendered to the Lord and then God took him home to heaven. God was faithful to continue to work in his life until the very last moment.

I don't have the power to make a movie in the theater replay but God has the power for all things He desires to happen. God is powerful and faithful! Praise the Lord!

Do You Love Jesus?

2011-11-27T11:48:00.001-08:00

For some reason, this question "Do I love Jesus?" has really intimidated me at times. My perfectionism rises strongly within me in regard to that question. I review all the ways I don't obey or act as God would want, and it feels like my "love" level for Jesus dips to nothing.

And then I view the word "love" and think of feelings. Do I feel love for Christ? It "feels" like I don't. I must review the truth that love is more than a feeling; it is a choice.

So today as I'm reading J.C. Rylie's book Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots, Dr. Rylie talks about the ways we know if we love Jesus. Here's his main points with his quotes:

1. We will think about Jesus. "The true Christian does not need to be reminded that he has a crucified Master. He often thinks of Him."

2. We like to hear about him. "We find a pleasure in listening to those who speak of him."

3. We like to read about him. "The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures, because they tell him about his beloved Savior."

4. We like to please him. "We are glad to consult his tastes and opinions. to act upon his advice, and do the things which he approves."

5. We like his friends. "We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to one and the same person...There is a bond of union between us."

6. We are jealous about his name and honor. "We do not like to hear him spoken against without speaking up for him and defending him."

7. We like to talk to him. "We tell him all our thoughts, and pour out all our heart to him."

8. We like to be with him. "The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will see his Master face to face, and go out no more."

I usually don't like lists of "requirements" because my perfectionism, as I said, kicks in and it feels like I don't do ANYTHING! But that's not the purpose of this list. It's to give us pause and I really think we'll find that the desire of our heart is for all those things, though imperfectly. I'll never measure up to perfection, but I know sincerely that each of those eight items is true in my life. And then I can (and you can) seek to improve little by little.

Pastor Rylie continues, "...if you do not love Christ, let me tell you plainly what is the reason. You have no sense of debt to Him. You have no feeling of obligation to Him. You have no abiding recollection of having got anything from Him. This being the case it is not likely, it is not probable, it is not reasonable that you should love Him."

The degree that you and I are grateful for what Jesus did for us, will determine the degree of our love for Him. Jesus said about the woman who was "a sinner" and poured expensive perfume on him: "her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47.)

Yet, somehow it feels selfish to love out of gratitude. Doesn't that make it all about me? Shouldn't I just love Him without any other motivation? Thankfully, I John 4:19 tells us, "We love, because He first loved us." It's to be expected that we'll love Him out of gratitude for His love and sacrifice. God graciously gives us plenty of motivation to love Him. Isn't that wonderful?

How's your love level for Jesus? How can we rejoice in the ways we do love Him and how can we grow more deeply in love with Him? Which of the eight ways do you see in your life most strongly and which of the eight ways do you want to grow more in? If you are weak in an area, reflect upon how much Jesus has done for you. Our love for Him must increase as we concentrate on our wonderful undeserved blessings.

Beware! Time Pressures!

2011-11-24T19:25:00.001-08:00

As Christmas approaches and stresses seem to increase, one of the tensions is having enough time to do what we need to do. So in keeping with the theme of our last several posts, let me give you a story of the third principle (from a previous post): An opportunity is not necessarily God's open door.

Years ago as I was trying to put this principle into practice, I was invited to the re-organizational meeting of a ministry at the church I was attending. I knew the Lord didn't want me to take on any responsibilities like that, but I couldn't say "no" to going to the meeting. As the needs for leadership were outlined at the meeting, I was mentally sitting on my hands because I knew I would be tempted to volunteer for something. But this "opportunity" wasn't God's open door so somehow I was able to walk out of the meeting without volunteering to help with anything.

But I walked away with a heavy heart because no one else volunteered to take on any of the positions. I figured that was the end of that ministry at our church.

Within two weeks, I talked with the women's ministry director of our church and she asked me if I'd like to start teaching a parenting class. My parenting book had just come out and I knew this indeed was the opportunity that was His open door. I said yes! (And I continued teaching that class for many years).

After I said "yes," I realized that if I'd volunteered for a position with the other ministry, I wouldn't now be able to agree to the parenting class which was what God really wanted me to do. Or I would have done both and had too much to do. Then my family would have suffered. I was thrilled to see how the Lord had led me.

Several weeks after that, I heard that a group of women had stepped forward to take over the leadership positions of the first ministry. They hadn't even been at the meeting and so that ministry continued for many years. God had opened His doors to who He wanted to be involved. Thankfully, no one at the meeting felt pressured to take on something God didn't intend for them. And God had faithfully continued the ministry that He desired to continue.

As you face this Christmas season and it may sometimes feel like you have too much to do, remember this principle: an opportunity is not necessarily God's open door. Don't feel pressured to take on responsibilities God doesn't want for you. Only do those things God wants you to do. He knows what is best for you and your schedule. Trust Him with it. He won't lead you wrong.

Who's In Charge of Your To-Do List?

2011-11-21T19:12:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Freda who won the copy of Faith Deployed...Again. Thanks to all those who contacted me.

Guess what? I just crossed off the last item on my to-do-list. Well, I guess more accurately, when I finish this, I will! (If you haven't read my previous post yet, it will bring you up to date).

As I thought more about the three reasons we can trust God with our to-do list, I wanted to share more about Truth #2: God will give me enough time to do what He wants me to do.

I've had to learn that truth in the trenches. Yet I have some great stories from it. For instance, I remember the day I was working frantically on a project that needed to be completed for a meeting that evening. I knew I didn't have any extra time. I would need every moment until I left.

And of course, the phone rang. I hesitated even answering it but I couldn't NOT answer the phone. (There's another truth to add to the list: you're not required to answer the phone!) It was Lynn. She said, "Kathy, I made an appointment with my pastor but I want you to go with me. You've been encouraging me to do this and I'll only go if you go with me."

When was her appointment? Within the next hour.

A war started in my mind. "Lord, I can't go with her, I have to work on this for the meeting."

I was shocked when I sensed the Spirit prompting me to say I'd go. "But Lord, you don't understand. I'll never get the work done and after all, it'll be your reputation that's stained!"

"Go with her!"

I didn't understand but since I'd been working on trusting the Lord with my schedule by obeying Him and letting Him be in charge of what I accomplished in a day, I told Lynn I would go with her. And I did.

When I returned home several hours later, the phone was ringing. I picked it up and heard the chairperson for that night's meeting say to me, "Kathy, we've had to cancel the meeting tonight. I'll let you know when it's re-scheduled."

I guess my lack of faith was revealed when my mouth dropped open. But that day, my trust in God's control over my schedule rose sky-high.

If you have a similar story of when God demonstrated how He will give you enough time to do what He wants you to do, please share it with us. It will encourage all of us.

Submerged Under Details

2011-11-18T18:41:00.000-08:00

Help! My pile of details has fallen on me and I can't get up!

After returning from our trip, I began making a to-do list. I think it must be related to rabbits because it began to multiply. And it's feeling really overwhelming. So I needed to start reviewing some truths:

1. God is the blessed controller of all things. God is sovereign and though things may feel like they are out of control, they aren't. God is in charge and knows how He wants me to handle each thing on my to-do list.

2. God will give me enough time to do what He wants me to do. If I obey Him and follow His lead through each item, it will get done if God wants it to be done. Not only time, God will give me enough energy to do what He wants me to do. Because it's all about Him and about His glory. If it will bring glory to Him (and I cooperate with Him), it will get done.

3. An opportunity is not necessarily God's open door. Just because I've put the item on my list doesn't necessarily mean God wants me to do it. I don't need to feel pressured because otherwise that means the list is my god. Instead I can seek the Spirit's direction whether it's an item to work on.

Whew! I'm feeling better. OK, Lord, what should I do next?

Encouragement for Military Wives

2011-11-16T19:09:00.001-08:00

We're home from our trip. Thank you for your prayers for our safe arrival. For today's blog, here's an interview with Jocelyn Green, the author of Faith Deployed . . . Again: More Daily Encouragement for Military Wives, a newly published book with Moody Publishers. My niece Kelly Dye is a military wife stationed in Japan and I so respect and appreciate her service for our country. We owe so much to all our military people and their spouses. I hope you'll purchase a copy of Faith Deployed...Again to pass along to the military wife you know.

Jocelyn has offered to give a copy of Faith Deployed...Again to one of my readers. To put your name in the drawing for the free copy, please post a comment or send me an email at Kathyspeak@dc.rr.com letting me know you're interested. I'll draw out a name this Sunday, Nov. 20th.

Could you share with us the inspiration behind Faith Deployed…Again and what readers can expect from it?

The inspiration for Faith Deployed . . . Again was the same as the inspiration for the first book I wrote for military wives, Faith Deployed. Put simply, military wives need encouragement, and the best source is God’s Word.

As a former Coast Guard wife, I was so desperate for biblical encouragement that spoke directly to me. To have an opportunity to collect this type of encouragement from twenty-eight other military wives from every branch of service and have it published by Moody is an incredible gift. I never once lacked motivation to work on this project. Encouraging military wives is my heart’s passion. Plumbing the depths of God’s Word and finding new gems in it to share with other women was a deeply spiritual and satisfying experience for me.

The title of your sequel is Faith Deployed…Again. What is the significance behind the phrase “Faith Deployed,” and can the phrase (and the book itself) have meaning for those who aren’t military wives, as well?

I think of “faith deployed” as a faith called into action. Whether your military family experiences deployments or not, military life requires that we all deploy our faith in order to respond biblically to each trial we face. While this book was written by and for military wives, using illustrations from the military lifestyle, anyone who reads the book will come away with a deeper understanding of God’s Word and how it applies to trials we face. Military wives will be likely to get the most out of it, since it speaks directly to their unique lifestyle, but I have heard from many, many civilians, and men, who have also benefited from reading it.

What is the one piece of advice/recommendation you give most for wives?

Get plugged in with a church, and cultivate your relationship with Christ by reading the Bible and seeking out other women who have been through military life challenges and have still remained strong in their faith, rather than bitter about life. (If people who read the Faith Deployed books aren’t sure what I mean by having a personal relationship with Christ, there is an appendix at the back of each that explains it.) I can offer no greater hope than the hope I find in God’s word. For just a sampling of some favorite Bible verses that apply to deployments, for example, see: http://www.faithdeployed.com/2011/01/favorite-bible-verses-for-deployments/

I also tell wives to bring their troubles to God in prayer, and to let others pray for them, too. Prayer works.

I do have a page dedicated to lots of resources for military families on my Web site, and I often send women there to find some really great help out there. Many times the most helpful thing I can do is to connect women to the resources that are already available.

November is the Month of the Military Family. What are some practical ways that individuals can support the home front?

Instead of simply saying “Let me know if you need anything,” give her some ideas, perhaps in the form of a coupon booklet for free babysitting, homemade cookies, a coffee date, running errands, an hour or two of housework, etc.

Find out what’s broken and fix it. Computer problems are a big deal, especially since so many couples rely on email or Web cams to communicate. If the car is broken down, offer to give rides.

Mow the lawn, pull weeds, other yard work- cleaning out gutters—those seasonal tasks that the deployed spouse may have typically done.

Bring a meal over so that’s one less thing a stressed out spouse would have to think about.

Visiting is a great mood lifter, but ask first. And if you get a couple negative responses, don’t take it personally.

Drop off a basket of favorite foods and/or a movie rental you know she’s been wanting to see. (Other ideas for a military wife care package can be found here: http://www.faithdeployed.com/2010/02/the-reverse-care-package-a-guaranteed-way-to-bless-a-military-wife/]

Pray for her! [link to http://www.faithdeployed.com/2010/11/when-someone-asks-how-they-can-pray-for-you/]

For more about Faith Deployed…Again, including a free excerpt, visit www.faithdeployed.com/coming-soon.

Good Bye to Greece

2011-10-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Our time in Greece is drawing to a close. On Thursday morning we’ll fly out for a two week vacation. We’re continuing to see the Lord work and it’s been both marvelous and humbling. To see how God uses you, especially as a broken vessel, brings great gratitude.

I think of the Apostle Paul who wrote in Acts 20:18-20, “And when they had come to him, he said to them, ‘You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews;’”

I like how Paul speaks of his own humility. I think we often believe we shouldn’t speak of our own humility. How humble can we be if we speak of our own humility? Isn’t that pride? Aren’t we being proud about our humility?

But if Paul refers to it maybe there’s room for us speaking of it too. And that’s how I feel right now. Looking back at the six weeks here in Greece is truly humbling. To see God’s work and know that He used us is humbling because we don’t deserve to be used. We are inadequate yet God uses our imperfect efforts. We believe that lives were truly changed because we were here. And we’re hoping it’s the Lord’s will for us to return next Fall.

Thank you for praying for us. I won’t be able to write on my blog until after November 12th. See you then!

If the Door Doesn’t Open

2011-10-21T01:20:00.000-07:00

About six weeks ago, as we were on the verge of leaving for Greece, I wrote on my blog that it felt strange that we didn’t know a lot about what we were going to be doing. We knew we were scheduled for a Marriage Seminar but that was it. It was also strange because our planned six weeks in Greece would be the longest we had ever ministered elsewhere. We’d ministered in foreign countries for two weeks but never longer. What would we do for six weeks in one place?

Well, now that our five weeks on the Greek island of Zakynthos is over, it’s fun to look back to see God’s hand in so many ways. Of course, our trip isn’t over. We leave this evening for Athens where we’ll spend five days following God’s lead. Then we head for vacation for two weeks.

Through our missionary friends, Taki and April, God has used us in fun and mighty ways. We’ve experienced village life--Greek style. We’ve spoken at a Marriage Seminar to 40 people. I’ve taught a Middle School Sunday school class for four Sundays. I’ve led a women’s Bible study for three Tuesdays. Larry and I shared the Gospel with a married couple. We’ve given, most likely, over 40 hours of soul care counseling to different people. We’ve made wonderful friends. We’ve learned a few Greek words. We’ve been content without driving. We’ve been treated wonderfully by everyone. We’ve never felt bored.

And we’re thinking the Lord wants us to come back again next year and do it all over again.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God knows what He has planned? Ephesians 2:10 is such a wonderful promise: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (NASB).

Maybe you’re unsure about God’s plans for you. Maybe you’re doubting He even wants to use you. Maybe you feel you must know the next five steps of His plan and He has only revealed the first. Maybe...(you fill in the blanks).

Let me testify that God knows what He’s up to. He is eager to use you. He may only reveal the first step but if we obey and step out, the next step will be revealed.

I’m thinking of the opening for the television show of “Get Smart.” (You may not want to reveal that you’re old enough to remember this show, but considering the recent movie had a similar scene, you can just say that’s how you know what I’m talking about). Remember how Max walks down the corridor and door after door opens as he gets to them? The doors aren’t open before he gets there.

I think that’s how the Lord operates most of the time. Just one door at a time. Oh, wait! I think I remember that Max walks into one of the doors because it doesn’t open. And maybe that’s how you feel right now. You’ve smashed your nose into the door and it’s not opening. I actually feel that way right now about our current book project.

But you and I must claim Ephesians 2:10. God knows what He’s doing and He knows the individual works that you and I are supposed to do. Just rub your nose and wait until the door opens or another one does. I’m assured of God’s faithfulness even more because of coming to Greece.

Beware! Wild Beasts!

2011-10-18T07:25:00.000-07:00

As I thought of my last post about unearthing the boulders, rocks and stones of sins in our lives, I was reminded of Deuteronomy 7:22, “The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.” (NASB).

The setting is that the Israelites are about to go into the Promised Land and God is telling them how He’s going to do it. I’m sure the message was very confusing; after all, wouldn’t God want them to inhabit all the land right away? Hadn’t He been promising them the Land for a long time? Why the process of “little by little”?

His explanation? “The wild beasts would grow too numerous for you.” If all the Canaanites had been killed at once, there wouldn’t have been enough Israelites to fill the land and the wild beasts would have filled the unoccupied land.

I think God has the same message for us as we think of clearing the boulders, rocks and stones from our personal lives. If He wants us to be in a process of clearing our field, what “wild beasts” would fill us if the clearing was done all at once?

First, a lack of dependence upon God. This beast thinks, “I’ve cleared everything so I don’t need God anymore.” But being “in process” keeps back the wild beast because we must rely upon God. When we struggle we recognize our need of God.

Second, pride. This beast thinks, “I’ve cleared my land, why can’t everyone else? If only they were as good as me, they wouldn’t struggle.” What an ugly beast. Being “in process” keeps back this beast because we recognize that our progress is because of God’s work through us, not our own. And whatever progress we make is for His glory, not ours. As a result, we can be humble.

Third, lack of knowledge. This beast thinks, “I’ve cleared my land and have nothing else to learn.” But being “in process” keeps back this beast by teaching us more and more of God’s ways for changing our lives and passing that knowledge onto others. Second Corinthians 1:3-4 tell us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” You are most effective in helping others by continuing to clear your land.

Are you glad you’re still in process? Well...that’s most likely a stretch to think because struggling is not fun. But there are advantages of continuing to clear our land. Rejoice! You draw closer to God in dependence, you will stay humble, and you’ll learn more to share with others. Maybe this will diminish the pain of hauling the boulders, rocks, and stones over to that wall.

Picky, Picky, Picky

2011-10-15T02:30:00.000-07:00

(Prayer Update for our Ministry here in Greece: Pray for continued ministry to those who came to the Marriage Seminar. Especially pray for one couple with whom we had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with them and we're praying they'll want to meet with us again.)

If you’re a reader of my bog, you may have thought, “Oh, Kathy, why are you so nit-picky about every little sin? Lighten up! Don’t take it so hard.” If you have, I can certainly understand. But consider the metaphor that our Greek friend, Taki, shared with us.

He told us how fields are cleared here in Greece. (If you’re new to my blog, please read some of my earlier posts about why my husband, Larry, and I are in Greece.) When the Greeks want to plant a crop, they begin clearing the field by taking out the obvious big boulders first. Those big boulders are then used as the foundation for the stone wall around the field. Then after the large boulders are cleared, the smaller boulders are dug out and placed on top of the big boulders on the wall. The process continues until the small rocks and stones finish off the top and crevices of the wall. Of course, at times, large boulders are again found as they dig deeper but little by little, the field is cleared of obstacles and prepared for planting.

I’m sure the connection to digging out the sins buried in our lives is obvious. When we become Christians, most of us are willing to ask God to make us more patient or loving. And really, those are challenges we’ll most likely be working on all our lives. No one “arrives.”

But the longer we’re Christians, the more we should be examining and digging out the small stones dealing with motives. Jesus says we’re not just sinning when we commit adultery, we’re adulterers for even lusting in our hearts (Matthew 5:27-29). The big boulder represents working on not saying something hurtful. The rock is desiring to not even think it. The smallest stones represent having godly motives of love that wants the best for the person from the beginning. And a field with the least boulders, rocks, and stones yields the greatest crop of the fruit of the Spirit.

The interesting thing about clearing our field is that the more holy and spiritually mature we are, the more sensitive to sin we become. The more holy and spiritually mature we are, the more we see little rocks and stones. And the more holy and spiritually mature we are, the more we are grieved by those rocks and stones. Thus we are humbled to grow in our dependence upon the Savior and Spirit.

J.C. Ryle writes that none of us will achieve perfection on this earth. He comments, “On the contrary they [the most eminent saints of God] have always had the deepest sense of their own utter unworthiness and imperfection. The more spiritual light they have enjoyed the more they have seen their own countless defects and shortcomings. The more grace they have had the more they have been ‘clothed with humility.’” (Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots).

Where are you in the process of clearing your field? Don’t be discouraged if it seems like you shouldn’t be finding any large boulders any longer. The deeper the Spirit digs, the more will be unearthed. See it as God’s cleansing work. It’s when you’re no longer seeing the boulders, rocks, and stones that you should be worried. Rejoice that you’re identifying that which prevents you from growing ever closer to the Lord. Be humbled but not discouraged. Your field will yield greater fruit.

Why Do We Do What We Do?

2011-10-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

Several posts ago, I wrote about my idol of being seen as magnanimous and compassionate. As April, our hostess here in Greece, and I were driving along downtown Zakynthos this morning (she was driving, I was in the passenger seat), the Holy Spirit suddenly gave me an insight about an incident that happened decades ago.

In those days, I had a friend named Margaret who was a single mother with two sons the same ages as my children, around 8 and 10. We did a lot together and Margaret had a difficult life, working full time and trying to raise her sons without any positive help from her ex-husband.

Margaret was rarely without her boys except when she was working, and I felt sorry for her. I volunteered to take care of her boys overnight and was thrilled with the idea that I could give her such a wonderful gift of being alone or to go out with friends.

When she came the next morning to pick up the boys, she went on and on about how much she missed her sons and couldn’t sleep since they weren’t with her. She most likely thanked me at some point (I don’t remember) but what I do remember is how hard it was for her to be without her boys.

As I listened to her, my heart hardened. I thought, “OK, then, you must not want time alone. I’ll never take care of them again.”

It seemed very reasonable at that time. She didn’t want to be without her boys so there was no reason to take care of them. Cause and effect. But what came to me this morning as I thought of my recent blog is that the reason was deeper than that. Her lack of thanking me profusely and not having the desired effect (the effect I wanted for her), really was more about me not being seen as magnanimous and compassionate (and a related characteristic: helpful).

I felt like the proverbial balloon with the air let out. I’d looked forward to hearing of her amazing time alone or with friends that would make me feel good that I had blessed her. With the emphasis on “I”! I would be the source of her gift of blessing, not the Lord.

But could it be that He had a different “gift” for her? Maybe He wanted her to feel like she missed the boys in order to minister to her in a completely different way than I could imagine. I thought I knew what was best for her but why would I think that? Am I God that I could see her heart and her need?

As I began typing this blog, I sensed an additional message from God’s Spirit. I was thinking I was ministering to her real need but her real need was something else.

Margaret not only worked a full time job but she delivered newspapers to homes every morning (or maybe it was six days a week--I can’t remember exactly). Early on those mornings, around 4am, she woke her boys up and got them into the car where they continued to sleep. Then she picked up her pile of newspapers from some delivery point and drove through neighborhoods throwing newspapers onto multiple driveways. Then she would go home, get the kids ready for school, and go to her workplace. She kept up this pace for years. Years!

I was amazed at her dedication. I knew I had an easy life with a husband with a good job. So when the day came that she called me with a request, I should have had a different response.

“Kathy, I saved some money to go on a two week vacation but I need someone to deliver my newspapers for me. Would you do it?”

Now I’m the queen of not being able to say no, but this request was easy to say no to. The inconvenience and lack of sleep I would suffer was just too hard to swallow. I’m sure my excuse sounded reasonable: “Larry works the swing shift and has to sleep in in the mornings. There wouldn’t be anyone to get the kids ready in the morning.”

I distinctly remember the pause before she said anything. I truly believe she thought I would help her. I felt bad. Was my hardened heart still affecting me?

She did find someone eventually to cover her deliveries, I’m glad to say. But it wasn’t me.

The new insight? I already felt selfish so the new insight is that I didn’t love Margaret “well” because I thought I knew what she needed. I thought she needed a night without her boys, but she really needed someone to make a vacation possible. But the cost of loving her well was too much for me.

Caring for her boys overnight didn’t really cost me much yet I thought the reward of being seen as magnanimous and compassionate would be huge. Delivering the newspapers would cost me too much in comparison to the reward. And maybe since she didn’t express appreciation for the first favor, maybe I feared I wouldn’t be rewarded as I should for the second.

The past is the past. I can’t change what happened. I can’t even ask for Margaret’s forgiveness. She is in the Lord’s presence. But I can repent of my idol of being seen as magnanimous. And I can seek God’s glory regardless of the cost.

Where is there an opportunity for me to love “well”? Where can I have an opportunity to love sacrificially without regard for how I’m being “seen”? Where can I love without expecting a particular reward?

My Father who sees in secret will know. And my Father knows best what a person needs. I pray I can be available for whatever He desires for me and someone else whom He wants to bless His way.

Do you often consider your motives? Are your choices to love for another person’s welfare or for your own desires? It’s an important thing to evaluate.

Life in a Greek Village

2011-10-05T02:53:00.000-07:00

We are ministering on an island called Zakynthos, a six hour drive from Athens (which includes an hour-and-a-half ferry ride.) The village of Lithakia is specifically where Taki and April live. It’s really been a fascinating experience to be among the people. We have ministered in many places around the world but this is the longest we’ve been in one place and it also feels like we’re a part of the village life. For instance...

At 4:30am, the roosters start crowing. We are staying in a 700 square foot cottage and our neighbors have chickens, roosters, and a pig. Nearby are a pen of turkeys and a dog that loves to bark--that is, the dog likes to bark.

We live at the top of the town, thankfully only 200 feet from the village well where we get our drinking water--along with the people of the town. From 9am to 1pm, the spigot is turned on and we take our large water bottles over to be filled. But don’t feel sorry for us. There is running water in the house for bathing and washing dishes from a underground well.

The Greeks wake up early, take a siesta from 2pm to 5:30pm when everything closes, and then re-open until 8 or 9pm. Then they eat dinner and stay awake until midnight or the early hours of the morning. We’re grateful that our host family has been eating dinner around 5 or 6pm. We’re usually in bed by 9pm or 10--unlike everyone else.

Olive trees are everywhere since the main cash crop is olive oil. But there are also grape vines. Yesterday I saw an old cart being driven by an old man in a tractor, hauling what must have been a ton or two of grapes still in bunches. The cart must have been pulled by a team of horses only a few decades ago--it looked that old. I kicked myself because I didn’t have my camera with me. But you’ll notice my photo of an olive tree that is most likely 2,000 years old. To think it was a young sprig when Jesus walked on the earth is an amazing thing.

The people are friendly and we’ve learned the Greek words for some phrases like “thank you,” “good morning,” “good evening,” and “goodbye.” I’m sure those who see us walking the third of a mile to Taki’s house every morning and home every evening are curious as to what we’re doing. They are used to seeing tourists driving ATV quads through the town on the narrow roads, but an American couple walking back and forth I think is unusual. Nearby at the beach, hotels and resorts host tourists but now that it’s October, the tourist season is almost over. The resorts will shut down completely soon.

Most of the people work 1-2 jobs (sometimes 3), seven days a week, throughout the tourist season (May-October). Then during the winter, they’ll work on their own farms or live off their summer earnings. We see a lot of gardens as we walk along and April explains that the food in the stores is local produce. If it’s not the season for cantalopes, there are no cantalopes to be bought. April and Taki eat a lot of food from their own farm, including chickens, turkeys, eggs, pork, and vegetables.

Since April is American, she celebrates the American holidays. The turkey on their farm hasn’t yet been told he’ll be Thanksgiving dinner. Larry and I are city folk, but when we wanted to do something to try to help on the farm, about the only thing we could do was pick the last of the garbanzo beans in the garden. It really was a lot of work to pick the beans off the stems and then break the actual bean out of the pod for a soup that evening. But I wonder if the soup tasted even more tasty because we’d had a hand in making it happen.

Families stay in an area for generations. In fact, we’ll notice houses that look like the roof is the beginning of a second story. Steel rods jut out at the top as if construction workers will be there the next day. But that’s just the beginning of a second floor where the next generation will be living in time to come.

Most of Taki’s relatives live nearby. His own home (which he built) is an extension of his mother’s home. She lives upstairs and his brother lives downstairs from her. Other brothers and cousins, aunts and uncles live on the same street or within close walking distance. He likes to joke that everyone in the village is a near or distant relative, like 10th removed.

Enjoy the photos. I hope they give you a little taste of village life. We’re enjoying it.

Introducing Taki & April Korianitis

2011-10-04T05:45:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you about the amazing couple we’re working alongside here in Greece. Five years ago, when Larry and I were invited to go to Poland to speak, we asked around for other opportunities to minister in Europe while we were there. Our pastor, Marvin O’Dell, suggested we contact Taki and April Korianitis who our church supports and who he knew personally. We did contact them and for a week in November, 2006, we appreciated the opportunities for speaking they opened for us.

Over the next five years we kept in touch with them and knew we wanted to minister alongside them again. This trip was designed for us to be in Greece longer so that we could have more opportunities to support their ministry.

Taki and April have an amazing story and a passion for God’s work. In December, 1988, Taki, who was born and raised in Zakynthos, Greece, decided to visit the United States for six months, visiting his uncle.

Around the same time, living in the same area, April Cacioppo came to know Christ at the Faith Baptist Church in Somis, California, where Marvin and Theresa O’Dell then pastored.

Taki and April worked at different businesses at the same shopping plaza and met at the restaurant where Taki worked. April was enchanted by this Greek man who was learning English. He seemed so sweet and innocent. She explained to him that he shouldn’t ride his bicycle on the freeway. No wonder people had yelled at him.

Taki was drawn to this pretty girl who gave him attention. April invited him to church and their first date was attending her church’s Bible study. Taki, who had been raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, was surprised at the appearance of the inside of the church. There weren’t any icons or priests. No gold relief decorated the church. Only a cross. Taki concluded, “These Christians must be very poor.”

April and Taki were married in 1989. Taki was fascinated by the different perspective of Christianity and over time and through lots of discussions with Marvin, came to Christ. Taki joined the US army. After serving, Taki felt God’s call to go to seminary and then return to his native Greece to represent Christ.

He knew that back in his home village, it had been announced without his permission that he was returning and would become a priest in the Greek Orthodox church. His family was ashamed about his new “religion.”

Taki may have felt the call but April’s heart, as she confesses, “was rebelliously unsure. I didn’t want to have anything to do with living in Greece.” After living there for four years, the Lord changed her mind. “When I finally was able to un-attach myself from my church family at Faith Baptist, I could surrender to the Lord’s will.”

Taki and April have now lived on the Greek island of Zakynthos for 15 years. Their ministry among the Greek people is very difficult because the Greek Orthodox church and its teachings are a part of the very fabric of Greek culture. In the Greek mind, to become an evangelical is to divorce yourself from being a Greek. Taki has been maligned on the radio by the local Greek Orthodox Bishop and even blamed for an earthquake. The sowing of the Gospel message is on hard ground but the Korianitis’s persevere. They provide both an English speaking service and a Greek speaking service on Sunday. There are many people from England who live in Greece and Zakynthos Bible Baptist Church attracts them with solid biblical teaching.

Taki and April don’t just pastor a church, though, they wear many hats. Taki cares for his family’s farm and constructed his own house and other buildings. He is a talented musician and songwriter who teaches a variety of instruments including the mandolin.

April is a homemaker of four children ages 20, 14, 6 and 4. But two other children wait in heaven. A little girl, Anastasia, with a malformed heart died in utero after six months. And a little boy named Stavros lived for two hours after birth. He was Downs Syndrome also with a severely malformed heart. April’s faith and trust in God have stayed strong and as a result she ministers to others with wisdom and encouragement.

It’s a privilege for Larry and I to co-labor with this committed and wise couple. If you’d like to check out the church website, it’s www.zakynthosbiblebaptist.com/ (click on the English flag).

PRAYER UPDATE:

Thank you so much for praying for us. The Marriage Seminar is this Fri, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. The "Greek way" is not to sign up for anything so we have no idea how many to expect, but flyers have been distributed in the area and there are newspaper announcements in two newspapers. Taki and April have invited many people. Please pray that the Lord prompts people to come and that especially if they are not Christians, they will be receptive to coming and to the material presented.

Thank you for praying for the Middle school girls for the Sunday school class. Only two of the three attended this past Sunday and it's very hard because of the language differences. Please pray that I'll have wisdom in reaching out to them.

I met with April, the pastor's wife, and another gal Anita, this morning for our first women's Bible study. We studied Hosea and it was significant.

Thank you so much for supporting us with prayer. We continue to enjoy our time here and know the Lord is working. We appreciate you!

When We Rebuke Jesus

2011-10-03T03:57:00.000-07:00

Remember the story of Peter rebuking Jesus? Recently, I re-read it with new eyes.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:21-23.

Don’t you just love Peter’s perspective? He thinks he knows better than Jesus. What pride that would motivate him to take Jesus aside as if he were some wise sage and could be an advisor for Jesus! What pride to think he’s qualified to rebuke Jesus. The pride. The arrogance. The...

Oh wait. I’m just like Peter. When my children were little, I tried to protect them from any and all dangers. I didn’t want them to be needy or hurt. I thought I shouldn’t ever get angry at them or make them feel bad about themselves. If it did, their source (me!) wasn’t coming through for them and providing the self esteem they needed. I turned out to be a very angry mother which destroyed that plan. But there was one benefit: I learned my children need to be needy so that they will need God. They need God--not me--because I sure don’t have what they need. I don’t know better than God.

Oh wait. I’m just like Peter. As a lay counselor I can begin thinking that my style of counseling is the only way that people will change and grow closer to God. Hello! The mighty Spirit of God has been working in the lives of believers for 2,011 years without my help! I don’t know better than God.

Oh wait. I’m just like Peter. In so many ways. And Peter’s kind of thinking spawns ungodly and untrusting reactions like

co-dependency: thinking I’ve got to come through for someone
rescuing: thinking I’ve got to protect someone
anger: believing I know the goal someone else should strive for (and if they don’t I’m upset)
discontent: believing I know what will bring happiness.

Yes, there are so many ways that I’m just like Peter. Lord, help me remember that I don’t know better than you!

Idol Formation, Finale

2011-09-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

(Prayer note: In the past I asked you to pray for my brother, Chuck, who has myeloma, cancer of the blood. He was being tested for getting a bone marrow transplant and found out his myeloma count is still too high. He has to continue chemo. Please pray the Lord uses the chemo so that he can progress to getting the transplant. Thank you.)

Stephen describes the fourth aspect of idol formation, verse 41, “And at that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.”

We are just like those Israelites. We would rather have something impotent yet evident, instead of something powerful yet unknown. They could control, it seemed, a “god” which was a known entity. A calf they could see seemed safe. But Jehovah God is unpredictable. He wasn’t safe. He didn’t perform. And so they felt secure having a physical object where they could then offer a sacrifice and also “rejoice in the works of their hands.”

The calf was an object of their creation and their contribution. They had contributed their jewelry and other valuable metals to its creation. What they valued was in that calf.

How do we sacrifice to our own idols and rejoice in the works of our own hands? Don’t we contribute and create our own images and reputations as reflective idols of ourselves? For instance, what do you value being seen as? Do you value being seen as self-controlled? Loving? Easy going? Organized? Correct? Wise?

I value being seen as magnanimous and compassionate. I have “created” and “contributed” to this image of an idol by at times choosing to be that way with the hope that someone will notice. I offer a sacrifice to my idol when I’m feeling good that my efforts to be friendly stand out, especially to someone not well regarded.

I remember the day long ago that I was talking with a woman who was thought of as a kind of “irregular” person. We were in a group of Christians and I felt good about myself that I was reaching out to a needy person. I was sacrificing to the idol of my image when one of the men of the group came up to us. He took over the conversation and I don’t remember how, but in effect, dismissed me to leave.

Later in the evening, he came up to me and said something like, “I knew you’d want to get away from her.”

Only being in a group (after all, I had to keep up appearances), prevented me from yelling at him. But in a heated voice, I said something like, “I didn’t need your help. I was doing just fine.” I think I said some other angry things also.

He stared at me in amazement. He was completely caught off guard by my anger. In embarrassment he excused himself and turned away.

My reaction felt totally reasonable at the time but I wouldn’t have been able to tell you why I was so bothered by his actions. Only after I became exposed to understanding my motives did I know why his “rescue” made me so angry.

He had removed my opportunity to sacrifice to my idol and “rejoice in the works of my hands.” He was indicating through “rescuing” me that I wasn’t really being the magnanimous and compassionate person I wanted to be seen as. He was saying I didn’t really want to be talking to her, thus removing the value of my sacrifice. And I was mad because he had blocked my ability to be seen a certain way.

Knowing what I know now, and since I’ve been working on destroying this idol in my life, I believe I would have reacted differently in that situation today. And I’m grateful for that. But looking back I can see how insidious my idol was. I’m tempted to sacrifice to that idol even today.

Do you get upset when your opportunity to be seen a certain way is spoiled? Or maybe you withdraw from a relationship because your “preferred image” isn’t being acknowledged?

These are hard questions. But they go to the core of how even we Christians can have idols in our lives.

Idol Formation, Part 2

2011-09-26T03:10:00.000-07:00

(A fast update: the latest surprise assignment from the Lord as we’re here in Greece is that I will be the Sunday school class teacher for the middle-school girls--three of them. Pray for me! This is definitely out of my league. The girls are Olivia, Lilly, and Angela. I forgot how much that age group giggles! Also, April and I will be starting a weekly women’s Bible study. I think I’m going to lead them through the book of Hosea.)

In a previous post, I talked about the workings of idols in our lives based on Stephen’s defense of the faith (Acts 7:39-41). So here’s point three.

3. Stephen continues with his description of the Israelites, “for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt--we do not know what happened to him.’” (verse 40).

As I mentioned, Moses is up on the mountain communing with God and he’s been gone too long--at least that’s what the Israelites think. They’re getting nervous. They’re on their own and their safety net--Moses--is out of the picture. So they are looking for security and demand that Aaron make an idol in the shape of a calf. You can just “hear” the Israelites grumbling, “Where is this Moses? He and the God he represents aren’t coming through for us. God must not care for us very much if He’s preventing Moses from being with us. He has stopped performing for us according to our expectations and we’re feeling mighty nervous. We demand something to make us feel better.”

The concept of "demands" was a new one to me several years ago. Of course, I'd always been making demands, I just didn't see it that way. A “demand” is anything we feel we need and if we don’t get it, we decide to take things into our own hands. Even if we can’t make it happen, we’re basically not trusting God and instead polishing our idol. That’s what the Israelites already had a pattern of doing. Psalm 78:18 says, “They [the Israelites] tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.”

Is there a way God isn’t coming through for you and you’re wondering “what happened to Him”? Does it feel like you must have that “thing” or “person” or “experience” for you to be contented, happy, or fulfilled? We can rightfully ask God to supply our needs but we can cross over the line from asking to demanding very easily. We can tell when we stepped over that line by our reaction: if it looks like we won’t get our “need.” We’re nervous. We’re tense. We react in anger because someone isn’t cooperating with our plan(s). And so we look to whatever will meet our needs--and that’s called an idol.

For years in our marriage, my demand was that Larry should meet my needs. My marriage was my idol. It was supposed to be my “source.” I felt justified in getting angry at Larry because he wasn’t coming through for me. After all, why else did I get married than to have him meet my needs?

Only through anguish did I relinquish the demand for Larry to be what only God can be: my Source. I gave up regarding marriage as my idol. Gary Thomas says that marriage is not intended for our happiness but our holiness. That’s an important idea.

Does it sometimes feel like you don’t know where God is? Or it feels like He’s not coming through for you according to what you expected? Can you identify some “demand” in your life that reveals an idol? If you can, you just might be stepping closer to preventing some ungodly response like anger, discontentment, etc.

In the next post, we'll look at the fourth point for idol formation.

God's Work in Greek Bus Station

2011-09-24T04:01:00.000-07:00

(I'll get back to my topic of idol formation most likely next time but wanted to share this Greece story with you first.)

In a previous post I mentioned that since we didn’t know all that we would be doing on our trip, it was a faith adventure. That felt strange, because most of the time when Larry and I minister overseas, we go into one country for one or two weeks and have seminars planned. So this six weeks in one country with only one seminar planned was unusual. Yet, we had been wanting to make a lengthy trip like this so that we could have more time with the people in country and see what opportunities God might open up.

Well, He started quickly after we arrived in Athens. We traveled with Taki from Los Angeles who is the Greek pastor we are ministering with in Greece. I plan to tell you more about the amazing Taki and his wife April in a future post. Traveling with your host is a great blessing. That’s security! When we arrived in Athens, we first slept for a few hours at the home of some of Taki’s friends and then were taken to the bus station to take a bus the six hour trip to Taki’s home on the island of Zakynthos. Originally we wanted to take the noon bus but it was filled. So we had to wait for the 4pm bus. We ate lunch at a little take out place and sat there talking.

About 2pm, I noticed two young women come into the restaurant and they looked like Americans. They were talking, looking around, and finally came over to our table. “Do any of you speak both English and Greek?”

Larry and I pointed to Taki and the gals began their tale of their friend whose back pack was stolen on the bus and in it was her insulin because she is diabetic. Taki was able to make some calls for them to Greek authorities and also find the phone number for the American embassy. Over several hours, they would come back to report what they were doing and how things were going. At times, I needed to walk around because of my back problem and as I did, I realized that I never heard anyone else speak English in the bus station.

At one point, we were able to tell the college students about how we shouldn’t have been there but that God delayed us leaving so that we could help them. One of the gals said she was Jewish and felt the connection with us. We told them the Lord loved them all.

Larry and I were encouraged to experience already God’s leading for the ministry He had in mind for us. We knew we’d begun a wonderful adventure.

Idol Formation--Part I

2011-09-23T03:03:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers for Larry and I while we’re in Greece. We are enjoying the beautiful island of Zakynthos and appreciate the ministry of Taki and April Korianitis who are pastors of a Baptist church. We are preparing for speaking at a Marriage Seminar on Oct. 7-9. As we’ve gone over our talks with them to get insight into the mind of the Greek people, it’s been fascinating to get to learn about the Greek way of life and thinking. And of course, many of the terms we use as Americans cannot be translated into their language. So it has been a challenge for Taki and April to find the concepts that will translate. Please pray for God’s wisdom and direction as we continue to work with our material. Also for interest in the community especially among unbelievers who will hear about the seminar. Please pray for airtime on the local radio and ads in the local newspaper. A concept of a marriage seminar is pretty unknown here and yet the needs are great.

While here, I’ve been reading through the book of Acts since some of what is chronicled there occurred not far away. As I came upon Acts 7:39-41, I was struck by Stephen’s sermon points. He says to those who will end up stoning him, “And our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt--we do not know what happened to him.’ And at that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.” (NASB)

I saw in those verses four points about the formation of idols and how they work in our lives. An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives. It can be people pleasing, anger, worry, discontent, our reputation, or our image. It’s when we “worship” anything and it becomes our source for handling life, instead of trusting in God’s love and surrendering to Him. It’s anything that is more important to us than God. When it is threatened, we feel tense and respond in unholy and unloving ways--reactions which are the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. Let’s look at those four points contained within the Holy Spirit’s words through Stephen.

1. The first point is found in verse 39: “And our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but repudiated him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.” The ground floor of idol formation is disobedience, repudiating God, and turning our hearts back to our old patterns. To repudiate means to “refuse to accept or be associated with.” The Israelites wanted to again be associated with Egypt and yearned for its leeks and onions. They forgot that they hated being there--and they were hated there. They were in bondage as slaves. While there, they whined and complained that God wasn’t delivering them. And when God did, they quickly forgot their former pain and wanted to return. Even though God wanted to lead them to a wonderful new land flowing with milk and honey, their hearts were focused on where they’d come from---not to where God wanted to take them.

2. Verse 40 tells us why we do this. The Israelites said, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us.” There’s something important in those three words “go before us.” The Israelites evidently felt they were on their own. There was no one to go before them. They must have felt unprotected and exposed. They were afraid something bad was going to happen to them without someone with them. Moses, their leader was missing in action. He was up on the mountain with God and they have no one to guide them or tell them what to do.

You and I do the same thing when we respond with or act in old patterns of solving our problems, relating to people, or trying to get our needs met. Maybe we grew in our ability to love unconditionally but when stressed, we returned to trying to change or manipulate the people around us. Such manipulation is an idol. But did manipulating people in the past benefit us or others? No. Did it represent the Lord or bring glory to Him? No. But we easily forgot that it didn’t work and we “turn our hearts back to” our old ways--our idols of the past.

The idols of our lives are revealed when we feel threatened and exposed and it seems like God isn’t coming through for us. One of my idols is my image. I don’t like to be seen without my makeup. As we prepared for our trip, I knew I would be traveling for a long time, about 40 hours (it turned out to be 46). After 30+ hours, we would be sleeping at a home before we headed out for the last leg. Knowing my make up wouldn’t last that long made me ask whether I wanted to even start with it.

That thought made me feel tense because I believe that people who look better get treated better. Maybe if I look good, I’ll get an upgrade into a first class seat. Maybe if I look good, I’ll get better service on the flight. That is one of my basic assumptions of life. And it feels threatening to think I’ll miss out on something good if I don’t look good.

But let’s look deeper into that. Is it possible that my assumption leaves out God? Where does God’s sovereignty and power come into that? If my assumption is correct, I’m saying what happens to me is determined by my makeup--not God’s will for me. It rejects His ability to fulfill whatever He desires. If He wants me in a first class seat, is He hampered by whether I look pretty? Is my treatment on a flight dependent upon how I look? Since I don’t believe God “will go before me,” I need an idol--my image.

Looking at the situation that way helped me to decide not to wear any makeup. I wish I could tell you I was upgraded to a first class seat or that I received special treatment, but I didn’t. But it was a good exercise in trusting God for whatever He wanted to do during our journey.

In my next post, I’ll share points 3 & 4 with you.

Don't Discount Your Steps of Faith

2011-09-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Mark C. Miller)

We're talking about risk and I thought this photo of my four-year-old grandson, Raffi, shows what trusting God with taking a risk looks like. Raffi is running through the sprinklers getting wet and if you read my last post, you saw how he was hesitating getting wet. Here he is taking the risk and running through the sprinklers, holding his blue Star Wars Lightsaber high in victory and exuberance. He is the conqueror and loving every second.

That is how God wants us to believe He can empower us to take those risks. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Paul writes in Philippians 4:13. If God has called us to do something, then He will empower and equip us for all He wants to do through us.

After my last post, I heard from a few people who know me and I found their input interesting. One person said, "Kathy, I think of you as a risker. I've seen you do things I would have hesitated being courageous enough to do." Another said something similar. I was surprised. As I said, I really don't think of myself that way.

Then it occurred to me. I discount the ways I risk because I'm successful at it--even if it was a little scary or out of my comfort zone. I did it, therefore it doesn't seem like any big deal. For instance, this will be the last post I write from the United States for two months. Larry and I are leaving for Greece on Wednesday. We'll be there around six weeks and then take a transatlantic cruise home. As I mentioned in a post quite some time ago, we're going not knowing all the Lord has planned for us. We're going to be available and see the doors He opens.

Risky? I suppose in some ways. Greece's economy is not good and some bad things are happening there. Maybe I'll be homesick--it'll be the longest time that I haven't seen our grandson. Thank heaven for Skype. My brother who has blood cancer will be starting the process of getting a bone marrow transplant. Please pray for him. It's going to be hard being so far away and not seeing him and not being involved with the family. I guess I could think of several other risks if I dwelt on it. But God has called us on this adventure and He knows everything going on and what He wants to do.

I feel like Raffi running through the sprinklers getting wet. I trust God, holding my Lightsaber high and knowing that being wet can't hurt me. I am a conqueror in Christ and a Daughter of the King on a Royal Mission for His glory.

Is God calling you on a Mission but you've hesitated getting "wet"? Lift your Sword of the Spirit high and claim God's promises. Ephesians 2:10 promises, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." (NASB). Isn't it the most amazing confidence-building promise? God has prepared beforehand what He wants you and I to do. How great is that!!!!!?

Or maybe you have risked in God's power but since you were successful, you have discounted God's work through you. It doesn't feel very risk-like afterwards. But celebrate God's good work! Let it build your faith and confidence. Don't discount it. Praise God instead!

I'll keep you posted about God's work in Greece. Please pray for a safe trip. It'll take us around forty hours from our door to where we're staying on the island of Zakynthos. It'll include two flights, a bus trip and a ferry ride. Pray for my patience and resistance to irritation when I'm tired! Poor Larry! Thank you.

Risk in God's power! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

Ready to Risk?

2011-09-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Mark C. Miller)

My four-year-old grandson, Raphael, is attacking the water sprinklers with his blue Star Wars Lightsaber. When I saw this photo taken by our son I related to Raffi. See how he is bravely jutting forth the Lightsaber but also backing away at the same time, not wanting to get wet?

That's how I feel about risk. I don't risk well. I don't risk easily. I don't like risking. Can you tell I don't like risking? I may step out to risk but my body language and my heart are trying to back away at the same time. I don't want to get wet from rejection, confrontation, or crisis. It takes all my courage to do something risky like do something that might hurt someone's feelings, because then they won't like me. Or step out in faith to speak about Jesus, because if he/she doesn't accept what I say, I feel foolish. Did I mention I don't like risking?

I've been reading Risk by Kenny Luck. Even though it's a part of a men's series, I knew I needed to read it because I don't like risk. (I guess I don't need to say that again. Sorry.) It has prompted me to think more about risk and two different times since I started reading it, I have done something that felt like risk to me. I asked the Lord to empower me and He did. I won't say what they were because it might embarrass some other people and they might not like me. Oh, sorry. But at least I made the decision and followed through.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel inside like Raffi looks as he attacks the sprinklers and yet doesn't want to get wet. Maybe what God is asking of you feels too dangerous. Or someone's possible rejection is too threatening. Could you fear appearing foolish or silly or stupid?

I can relate. Yet if I truly believe God intends everything for my good and His glory; in fact, if He intends everything for my holiness, then I can view risk as a step in faith that will draw me closer to Him. I may get wet but my heart will be warmed by His joy in my obedience.

How about you? What would you like to risk? It's worth it if God is inviting you into risking for His sake.

Would You Buy the T-Shirt?

2011-09-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

On the news this morning, commentators were giving their opinons about JCPenney pulling off their shelves a girl's T-shirt that said, "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me."

Their points were that girls were being encouraged to be selfish and self-centered by being described as pretty. They believed there was too much emphasis on girls being called princesses or encouraged to find "their value in their looks, not their brains"--as one blogger wrote.

Although JCPenney has evidently pulled the T-shirt from their website because of the uproar by many, an informal poll of Fox News audience members indicated almost 60% of them saw no problem with the t-shirt. Even the newscaster was surprised by that number.

As I listened to the comments, I wanted to shout, "And well, how about the integrity issue?" No one seemed to notice that one of the points of the T-shirt was that someone would lie and say that the homework was their own--when it was someone else's. That to me is even more important. I think you can tell a young girl she's pretty and she's a princess--a daughter of the King--without encouraging selfish and self-absorption. (Obviously, we Christians have a different perspective of being a Princess--because we women are!) But to indicate it's OK to have someone else do your homework and it's OK!? Isn't that something to get upset about? That's why I wouldn't buy the T-shirt. It's a character issue.

Which issue is more important to you? What do you think?

Malachi: Book of Self-Deception

2011-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

We've been chatting about deceiving ourselves (see previous posts) and concurrently I've been studying Malachi. Guess what? The Book of Malachi is all about self-deception. It's all about the prophet Malachi giving God's perspective of the Israelites's blind spots. Through a series of cataloging the Israelites' questions, God tries to bring them back to sanity and a heart for Him. In reading those questions, I came up with several ways that we can be unaware of our blind spots. As a result, we might be able to identify where we're missing hearing God or responding to Him. Let's take a look.

Here are the questions that the Israelites give to God:
1:2: “How have You loved us?”
1:6: ‘How have we despised Your name?’
1:7: ‘How have we defiled You?’
2:14: ‘For what reason?’
2:17: “How have we wearied Him?”
3:7: ‘How shall we return?’
3:8: ‘How have we robbed You?’
3:13 ‘What have we spoken against You?’

I hope you'll read through Malachi to get the total package, but I think we can get a sense of the attitudes of self-deception from their questions.

Do you hear:

the questioning?
the demanding for God to show proof?
the arguing?
the talking back?
the nit-picking?
the denial?
the compartmentalizing?
the lack of listening?

I'm chagrined to recognize my own voice and tone in those questions. When I don't want to obey or see it God's way, I can come up with all sorts of arguments. Have mercy, Lord!

What gives me hope in this book about rebels is God's patience and His faithfulness to answer every question and to try to reveal Himself to the Israelites. He offers them hope of relationship if they will turn from their stubborn ways. Yes, He does say He'll curse them (2:2) because "you are not taking it to heart" but He also says He will bless them abundantly by opening "the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows" (3:10) if they will turn to Him in obedience.

To know God's patient heart and faithful wooing is so encouraging.

"Lord, reveal to me my own stubborn arguments and demands. Thank you that you patiently call to me out of your love and grace. There is hope. Thank you!"

Grateful Beggars

2011-08-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

Out and about on errands, I suddenly craved a diet soda. I spied a hamburger fast-food restaurant and headed for it--when I also spied a homeless man sitting on a block wall holding a hand-printed sign. I couldn't read the sign but immediately felt the familiar guilt of thinking I should help him but how could I know how the money would be used? I've struggled for a long time with what to do in these kinds of situations and I know different people have different perspectives. I usually try to seek the Lord's direction but as a default, rarely do anything.

But as I pulled into the drive-through line, I felt like I should buy the guy a hamburger and soda. And I got excited about it but fear mingled in too. Wonder if I pull up to him and he jumps into my car and pulls a knife and has me drive to San Francisco.... Well, my fears are good at jumping to wide-ranging conclusions.

Regardless, I was gonna do it.

I received the hamburger and two drinks at the pick-up window and drove over to him. As I pulled up beside him, he smiled and jumped up from sitting on the wall. I extended the bag to him along with the drink. He looked at me through the window and asked, "Is it a hamburger or a chicken sandwich? And if it's not a diet soda, I really can't have the sugar from a regular drink."

I was speechless. I tried to answer that it was a hamburger but the words caught in my throat. He started mumbling as he looked inside the bag, "Someone brought me a hamburger already this morning. I'm sorta tired of them. I sure hope this is a chicken sandwich. I haven't had one of those for awhile."

NOT! OK, it didn't really happen that way. But as I drove away from the man who expressed his appreciation over and over again, my imagination took over and I wondered what it would have been like if that had happened.

And then I thought about how each of us is a beggar before God, deserving nothing from His hand yet in His mercy, grace, and generosity, He gives us the banquet of His presence and a feast of His love. But we sometimes react like my imaginary ungrateful homeless man. "Well, Lord, why did you give me that trial and not the easy one that my friend has? And you should know that I really can't handle rejection right now. I'm tired of what's going on in my life. I deserve a trouble-free life."

It seems sorta silly for a beggar to be picky when it comes to hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. But maybe we're doing the same thing when we are ungrateful for God's choice of how He works in our lives. We really don't deserve anything good at all. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Everything, even an opportunity to be challenged in order to grow closer to God, is His gift.

Let's be grateful beggars.

Who Me? Deceived?

2011-08-24T10:26:00.000-07:00

Almost seven weeks with our four-year-old grandson, Raphael, was so great. One of the incidents that stand out is Raffi's penchant for picking at scabs. This child is obsessed with scabs. He was even picking at some on my fingers. You'd think it would hurt for him to pick at his own but he loves to pick at those little owies on his face especially. During our trip, he had a little owie on his chin and just couldn't resist it.

His mom told him, "Stop picking at that!"

Raffi replied, "I'm not picking at it, I'm just patting it."

Oh, did we laugh. How easily we can try to defend or justify our behavior. We call wrong behavior other words that don't sound so bad. Instead of saying, "I'm angry," we say, "I'm just a little irritated." We can so easily deceive ourselves.

One of the books I read on our trip was I Told Me So: Self-Deception and the Christian Life by Gregg A. Ten Elshof (Wm. B. Eerdsman Publishing Co. 2009). Although Mr. Ten Elshof's book was enlightening and convicting, it was also encouraging. It has motivated me to consider how I could be deceiving myself and I've been asking the Lord to open my eyes and understanding to those ways.

One way is through a principle Larry and I call "railroad tracks" in our counseling. We are operating side by side with two opposing beliefs--the rails are side by side. For instance, we might say we trust God, yet we are worried about something. We deceive ourselves into thinking they both can operate at the same time but they are the opposite.

We can say we love someone but we aren't making choices for their best.
We can say we have the power of the Lord but we avoid taking risks.
We can say we just don't have enough time to do what we want to do, but we're frittering our time away on meaningless tasks.

I've always remembered the comment of a friend who claimed she didn't have time to read the Bible. Then one day she said to me with an amazed look on her face, "But I sure find the time to read my decorating magazines." She hadn't realized until that moment that she was self-deceived.

Of course, I'm not advocating perfection but we aren't going to grow in the Lord unless we face those inconsistencies.

Mr. Ten Elshof calls this "attention management." He writes, "Attention management, then, has two sides. On the one hand, we manage to deceive ourselves by systematically avoiding attention to evidence against those beliefs upon which our felt well-being depends. On the other hand, we direct inordinate critical attention to evidence that opposes our cherished belief if that evidence can't be avoided or if we think we'll have to answer for it in public. We give it our attention, it seems, not so much to learn from it as to creatively discount it. Either way, through careful management of attention, we enable ourselves to be deceived over the long haul." (pg. 39).

That is what was happening to my friend who thought she didn't have time to read the Bible. She initially avoided attention upon the time it took to read her decorating magazines and focused attention on her cherished belief that she didn't have time to read the Bible. There were "railroad tracks" in her mind.

How can we stop deceiving ourselves? Obviously, it's takes the Spirit of God speaking to our hearts. We must pay attention to the benefits that come from obedience and abiding in the Lord. Unfortunately, being blinded to our own wrong beliefs can be very hard to identify, so I think it really takes asking those close to us to point things out. It may be hard to hear but we need that input. I recently asked someone who knows me well if there was anything I needed to be aware of. I must admit I was relieved when she said there wasn't anything she could think of. I gave her permission to give her "constructive criticism" any time the Lord led.

What we need is a "vacation override." Since Larry and I will be ministering in Greece soon and we'll be out of the country for two months, we need to get a three month supply of our medications rather than the allowed one month. I had to call our health insurance and they said I needed a "vacation override." Their rules say I can only have one month of meds at a time but for my trip they will "override" their rules.

You and I have beliefs that may not be correct. Or we are acting as if we don't really "believe" one of our so-called "beliefs" (IE. saying we trust God but we are also worried.) We need the Spirit of God to "override" our wrong beliefs so that we can abide and operate in truth.

If you know me well enough to give me some "overriding," I welcome it. And would you be willing to ask some wise person in your life if there is something that needs "overriding" in your life? What truth that will eliminate self-deception does the Spirit want to speak to us about? Let's be open.

And stop picking at that scab! Oh, that's right. You're just patting it.

Wanna FEEL Holy?

2011-08-16T11:40:00.001-07:00

Have you ever wondered what holiness feels like? I think I found a verse that expresses what God might like us to experience when we see the fruits of holiness that He is producing in our lives. It's Malachi 4:2. “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall." (NASB).

Have you ever "skipped" in your spirit after recognizing that your trust in God had expanded to include forgiving someone who hurt you? Or giving grace to someone who normally ignores you by listening with understanding to her share a problem? Or resting patiently in a situation that normally drives you over the edge?

Just imagine the sight of that calf skipping in freedom and not being boxed in any longer by a fence or pen. The Amplified Bible expresses that phrase this way: "and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy." Just think, we can leap for joy when we obey God and operate in His power. We're no longer fenced in and held in bondage by sinful patterns like worry, fear, selfishness, hate, resentment, and so many other binding things.

The NIV words it: "And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves." Oh, to frolic like well-fed calves! Can't you just picture it? This calf isn't emaciated but instead healthy and well-nourished. I think that gives the idea that it is assured that all it's real needs are supplied and it is free of concern for love and care. The foundation of holiness is believing and trusting in God's sovereign love that provides everything we truly need; therefore, we don't need to demand it from people who are needy themselves.

But where does all this start? The background to Malachi gives us the answer. The Israelites were in another phase of disobedience and Malachi gave God's prophecy to try to turn them back to God. After three chapters of rebuke, the final chapter, Chapter 4, predicts what will happen when they turn back. Look again at the promise of verse 2 to those who are truly worshiping God: "“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall."

God brings healing and there's a feeling of joy about being set free. Healing brings holiness and holiness brings joy. God heals us of our wounds which have created wrong ideas about life,
God, and people. We begin to view our circumstances and the people around us as opportunities to serve God through being a servant. Less and less our attitude is, "I want to be a servant until I'm treated like one." I'm still growing in this of course, but the joy that comes when I cooperate with God is like skipping out of a pen where I'd been restrained.

Have you experienced that joy? I hope so. We obey not in order to have that feeling but how generous of God to give us the reward to encourage us.

Are you like a calf encircled by some pen? Could it be bitterness, a critical spirit, a sense of entitlement, people pleasing, or self-absorption? Do you want to break free? You can in God's power through repentance and surrender. Get ready to leap and frolic. The gate is opening.

A Modern Day Prodigal Story

2011-07-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

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I was on a mission from God.

I woke up at our daughter's home as I have for the last four weeks and headed out around 5:50am for my walk. Within 100 feet of the house, I noticed a little girl walking along the sidewalk--alone. She looked to be about seven years old and shouldered a backpack that was just about half her size. She also grasped to her chest a big bundle of what looked like a colorful blanket.

When she saw me, she stopped, tried to hunker down behind a car, and stared at me cautiously. I asked, "Are you okay?"

She nodded and walked on, heading out of my daughter's housing development. Wondering what I should do and not having seen which house she came out of, I continued on my walk. I always circle the small development before I head up the hill out of the homes.

About five minutes later, I headed up the incline, still wondering about the little girl. I couldn't see far because the sidewalk twisted and turned, but within a few minutes, a white van came down the hill and stopped. A man looked out at me through the window and said, "There's a little girl walking up the street. I asked her if she was alright but I didn't think I should do anything."

I replied that I knew about her and would try to catch up with her. It wasn't until I reached the top of the hill that I could see her, heading for the busy street. I followed her across the street and praying for wisdom, while directly behind her, I spoke up. "Hi there. Do you know my grandson, Raffi?"

Expecting her to flee, I was grateful when she stopped and turned around, shaking her head "no." I sat down on the parking lot curb trying not to intimidate her and asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going home from a sleep over." I was surprised she answered my questions and I found out she was nine years old but was very petite for her age. She knew her address although I didn't know where the street was. I asked her if something bad had happened and she shook her head no. I told her I would follow her to keep her safe and tried to assure her I was a safe person.

With her big dark eyes staring at me, I wondered if I should call the police. But I felt commissioned to do what I could and certainly her house must not be too far for her to think she could trek home.

Wrong! We walked for at least a mile and a half up a very steep hill along a busy street. I trailed behind her feeling like I would attack anyone who tried to pick her up. I had my mission and she would be safe. I kept at about 30 paces behind her. Several times, the things she'd wrapped in her blanket dropped out and I called out to tell her. She picked them up, stuffing them back into the folds of the blanket. One time, she stopped, turned around, and called to me, "You don't need to follow me."

I replied, "Yes, I do." I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and held it up. "You can call home if you want." She refused, shaking her black cropped hair. Then she trekked on. I wondered if she might actually be running away. Did she really know where she was going?

Fortunately, no car stopped to try to pick her up and no pedestrian gave her much attention. A little bit of fear hit me when I wondered if I might be accused of stalking her or my motives being questioned. But I wasn't going to give up.

I felt so sorry for her. Her chock-full backpack drooped off her shoulders and finally she had to rearrange her blanket. All the different clothes stuffed in it were falling out. Like a miniature version of a bag lady, she stopped and spread out the blanket on a block wall fence and rearranged the bundle. Then she started the climb again.

Finally, a woman ran across the street toward the little girl, calling, "Thea! What are you doing? Why are you carrying your sleeping bag?"

Who I assumed was the little girl's mother looked back at me and asked, "Did you follow her from down there?"

"Yes," I called. She thanked me and turned to walk alongside her daughter. At least I hoped it was her daughter. Questions still filled my mind. Should I approach and make sure? How would I know? Why would the little girl leave the host house? Had something bad happened? Would this mother investigate? We weren't near any houses at that point, so I deduced the host family had called the mother and she had started out looking for her daughter. I turned to walk away but then stopped and looked back at the little girl and the woman. Only then did the mother reach out to take the sleeping bag.

As I headed down the hill, I was glad I had fulfilled the mission. I knew the little girl had been frightened of me but I felt that was worth the safety I provided.

The little girl, Thea, didn't know I was a safe person--I can understand that. To allow me to help carry her blanket or to use my cell phone may have felt like she was no longer controlling her own life. Maybe she feared I would snatch her and carry her away. It was obvious Thea had a plan and no one was going to thwart it.

But oh, how I wanted to help. And oh, how the Holy Spirit wants to help us. He protects us as we trudge along but often we refuse His help. Like the little girl, we trudge along carrying our burden of sins fearful of what it might mean to ask forgiveness and allow the Spirit to take over. At one point, I asked the little girl if I could help her with her bundle, but she refused. I respected her decision and so does the Spirit. He says, "OK, go ahead and carry that load but it sure would be a relief for you if you would allow me to help."

"Give me your bitterness and you won't have to carry the burden of anger. You'll be released to live in love."
"Give me your discontent and you won't have to carry the burden of unhappiness. You'll be released to live in joy."
"Give me your critical spirit and you won't have to carry the burden of selfishness. You'll be released to live in gratitude."
"Give me your worry and you won't have to carry the burden of fear. You'll be released to live in peace."

And the Spirit calls out, "Here's the direct line to the Father. Call Him. Call upon Him. I'm here as His Spirit to direct you to Him."

As I continued my walk down the hill, I felt like I'd accomplished a wonderful deed. I'd delivered the little girl to her mother. Tears suddenly crested in my eyes as I thought, "Someday the Holy Spirit will deliver me personally to the Father." I had such a sense of the Holy Spirit's role as our guide and protector, our comforter and our accompaniment, walking along with us, helping us to abide in the Father. I was challenged to trust His loving presence even more.

But often like Thea, I think I have a plan and to do anything different seems like I'm out of control. Yet the Spirit knows better. Obeying Him is not losing control; it's gaining the help of the Almighty God of the Universe. Thea didn't know I was safe but you and I can be assured that the Spirit is safe. We can trust Him. He wants only our best. Will we hand our burdens over to Him?

I reflected on the reunion between mother and daughter. I felt sad. Why didn't the mother fall to her knees and wrap her arms around her daughter? Her daughter was found! Why didn't she lift her high and twirl her around in joy? Her daughter was safe! Why didn't she gather up the sleeping bag into her own arms and lift the heavy backpack off the little girl's tired shoulders? Her daughter was weary!

What a fantastic view we have of how our Heavenly Father would have reacted if He'd found us. The story of the Prodigal Son shows our Father running to us, scooping us up, throwing a party, and providing tasty food. If we were Thea, I think He would have dropped to His knees, wrapped his arms around us, lifted us high, twirled us around, and taken the burdens out of our arms and off our shoulders.

My mission watching over Thea is done but the impact upon me lingers. Will you join me in giving our burdens over to the Lord and allow Him to guide us?

God Knows the Plan

2011-07-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

For several years, Larry and I have looked forward to returning to Greece. We were there several years ago on a ministry trip that also included Poland. We spent a week in each place, speaking and making friends with those in leadership. In Greece, we had the privilege of getting to know Takis and April Korianitis who are pastors of an evangelical church on the island of Zakinthos. We loved being there as the country is gorgeous and the people are delightful. And the best part: God used our ministry.

We kept in touch with the Korianitis and we all mentioned about us returning. So when the time looked right, we started making our plans. We'll be there for five weeks starting the middle of September. We've been looking forward to staying in a place for a longer period of time to see how the Lord might use us.

But I'll be honest. I really wondered what we would do in a longer period of time. Usually, we just go for a week or two, give some marriage seminars, parenting seminars, and meet with people for encouragement. Five weeks? That's a long time. What is God up to?

Last week, we received an email from Takis. He wrote,

"You won’t believe what happened at summer camp....!

While camp was going on some parents visited. One of them, from our village, told me that someone directed him to us so he can find help for his marriage, and his wife’s brother's marriage also. Not going into details, we are planning a marriage seminar for a few families from our church and also for a few families that are lost.

So, needless to say that I am flying right now....! Prepare then, for a 3 or 4 day seminar or whatever you guys think would be appropriate for saved and lost couples.

Man oh man! this is a door that I have been praying for!"

What exciting news! Hearing of God's work was so encouraging to me. Why am I even wondering or concerned what God has in mind!? He already is working to set things up. He knows exactly the plan He has in mind, far beyond what I could ever cause to happen or work out. We'll just need to be prepared as much as possible and abide in His power, going along for the ride.

Maybe there's some uncertainty in your life. I could list so many things that the people I love are going through. The future seems murky at times. What will happen? What should be done?

It could feel very scary to you right now. We all would prefer having a blueprint to life. But God is an expert at giving us opportunities to walk by faith and abide in trust. He knows what He's doing. We just have to take one step at a time and believe He has a plan.

Let's make a fresh commitment to trust that the Lord God of the Universe knows exactly what He's doing and He can be trusted. Take one step at a time and know He'll guide us for the next step after that.

Jeremiah 29:11 is God's promise: "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" Praise the Lord!

Just Give Me the Chocolate, I Mean, the Lord

2011-07-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

If you know me, you know I'm a sugar-and-chocolate-holic. I look for any and all opportunities to get my fix. Sometimes, I make decisions based on whether I can fit in getting something sweet.

Now, if you are a "salty" person, just transfer the thinking to that. I find that most people prefer either sugar and salt as their treat. So, maybe you look for opportunities to have something salty--or have trouble stopping once you've started.

But whether it's sugar or salt, wouldn't it be fabulous to crave the Lord as much as you crave something sweet or salty? To look for any and every opportunity to "taste and see that the Lord is good"? To make decisions based on whether we can fit in tasting the Lord's goodness?

Are you feeling like you'd love to thirst and hunger after the Lord more? J.I. Packer writes, "Objects are actually desired in virtue of the goodness, real or illusory, which is attributed to them. One who truly appreciates God's goodness, therefore, cannot but desire him." (A Quest for Godliness, page 194).

I've often tried to analyze why sugar is so attractive, even addicting to me. I definitely perceive it as a "good"--whether "real or illusory." It's a curious thing because I've gone without sugar at times for up to a year, and I didn't die! I might have thought I would because it seems so important to me. Although I'm sure there are many reasons sugar is so important to me, it's more important to meditate on why the Lord is good, and why He's a desirable source to thirst and hunger after.

I find in Psalm 63:1-8 a wonderful perspective of God's goodness and why He is worthy to be dwelt upon. I'll put the Scripture in bold and color to stand out as you read. ¹ O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Sugar and salt (or anything else we crave) is like licking dirt in a dry and weary land in comparison to God's attractiveness. It doesn't seem like it when I'm eating that flourless chocolate cake, but in reality, I'm actually tasting an example of how good God "tastes." Wouldn't it be interesting each time we enjoy some pleasure, if we thought, "This is a small example of the joy of dwelling on God's goodness"?

² Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.
Focusing on God's qualities, like his goodness, power, and glory, make us appreciate Him. He really is so attractive. As much as we salivate looking at the photo of the dessert in the menu, we can rejoice in thinking about how fabulous a good God we serve.

³ Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.
^{God's love is certainly what we love the most about God. By speaking of it, we remind ourselves to focus on Him.

4} So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.
I hear a lot of "choice" here. It's a matter of our wills. We may not always feel like focusing on God's goodness, but we can choose to. And it's okay that it's not always easy. It's easy to enjoy our favorite salty or sweet thing, but we can cultivate a willingness to appreciate God's loveliness.

⁵ My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.
Isn't that what we're really desiring when we eat our favorite food or delight in any pleasure? We're looking for satisfaction. But only God fully satisfies. Too much of our favorite food or activity can make us feel bloated, but there can never be too much of God. Isn't that fabulous?! You can't overdose on God!

⁶ When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
I don't know about you, but I'm so often more tempted to give into cravings when I'm tired at the end of the day. I'm also more tempted to negative thinking like worry in the middle of the night. Satan loves to attack when the dark surrounds me. But we can instead focus on God and His goodness, trusting that He wants only our good.⁷ For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.^{God's goodness is shown by His help. Maybe you've heard the story of the man walking through a forest where a fire recently burnt everything. He spots a dead bird with its wings spread out against the base of a tree. He nudges the carcass aside and out pop several chicks. The mother bird died protecting her young. Jesus died and rose again to help us. And His Spirit is available every moment to empower us to abide in Him. What a good God to provide and help us to live for Him. He doesn't say, "OK, I saved you; now you're on your own." He helps us in every way we need. What a good God.

8} My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.
That's what hungering and thirsting for God looks like: clinging. At times, it means hanging on by your finger tips. It means focusing again and again and again on the Lord--each time your hunger is directed in another direction. It means choosing to concentrate on the Lord's goodness and thinking you're doing all the work. But then you look back and see how He "upholds me." We cling and He upholds.

Right now, that is what our whole family is doing, clinging to the Lord's goodness and seeing how He is upholding us. My brother, Chuck, is in chemo for blood cancer and may be going through a bone marrow/stem cell transplant soon. In addition, a few days ago, my niece was in agonizing abdominal pain and she is seven months pregnant. She was diagnosed with an infection in her uterus and that could be both dangerous for her and the baby. The Lord graciously answered our prayers "yes" for the antibiotics to clear the infection and for pre-labor to stop. At this point, she and the baby are safe.

Every time wondering and concern (two valid reactions which are godly) turn into worry (which is ungodly--Philippians 4:6), we can cling to God's goodness, as we hunger and thirst for Him. Even more tasty than chocolate or salty chips, our wonderful God satisfies and gives us plenty for which to praise Him.

There's a saying I like to use, "Just give me the chocolate and no one will get hurt." Let's say instead, "Just give me Jesus, and I'll be satisfied." May I pass you some?

"You're Welcome"--God

2011-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that I won't be posting as much but we're staying with four-year-old grandson, Raphael "Raffi" (and his parents) for a month. Funny thing, but it's hard to concentrate on much else when a darling little boy is begging, "Play with me! Play with me!"

His mom, my daughter, was driving home from the gym with Raffi in the back seat this afternoon. A beautiful Washington state day, Darcy said to Raffi, "Isn't this a beautiful day? Let's say thank you to God for the day He gave us."

Raffi spoke up, "Thank you God for the beautiful day."

He paused, and then spoke up again, "He says 'you're welcome.'" Ah, the faith of a four-year-old!

I don't know that I've ever thought about God saying "you're welcome," but isn't it a great idea and I'm sure very true?' We're careful to say "thank you" to God. Let's listen afterwards and hear His reply.

God is a Multi-Tasker

2011-06-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Darcy, and I were talking about my brother's illness and she said something profound, "God is a multi-tasker." We had been talking about how God has been working in each of our lives in different and unique ways because of Chuck's illness. According to the transforming work He wants to do in each of us, He is speaking and moving in our lives.

We each are experiencing different reactions to what is going on. We're learning to give grace to each other as we realize that we each will process and deal with the shock and fear in different ways. We're all praying, of course. But it also helps to focus on what God wants to do.

As I talked later with my sister, we talked about how much we want to remove the pain and disease from Chuck. It's so hard to see him in so much physical pain even as he trusts the Lord. But then I said, "Looking back, I'm glad no one could remove my pain when I was having back troubles. They would have stolen the blessing God intended for me. Of course, at the time, I would have given the pain and experience to any volunteer, but in retrospect, I'm grateful for the journey. Of course, it helps that I'm no longer in pain. But the transformation was worth it."

I'm sure Chuck would give his pain to any volunteer also but if we trust that God is sovereign and knows what He 's doing in each of us, then we can surrender and cooperate with all He has in store for all of us.

I'm still praying fervently for my brother's healing, you better believe it. But I can be at peace knowing God's multi-tasking in each of our lives will work for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). So as my sister says, "We're looking for the Chuck Blessings."

Please continue to pray with me for my brother's healing and regardless, strength for the journey.

Jesus Says, "I Feel Your Pain"

2011-06-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

I visited my brother Chuck in the hospital yesterday. He was diagnosed with Light Chain Myeloma today which is a cancer of the blood. He's in extreme pain because the disease has created bone fractures in his spine. He'll have spine surgery later this week and start chemo and steroids tomorrow.

This all seems so unreal. He is younger than I am and has always been very active. His children are 24 and 20. It's going to be a long journey with the potential for a lot of both physical and emotional pain. We are thanking the Lord that Chuck is trusting God and we're all asking for God's miraculous healing and the extension of Chuck's life beyond the 5-10 years that is normally anticipated for this disease.

As I sat in his hospital room and watched him grimace in pain, I could literally say I knew his pain. I had similar back pain in 2010 but surgery corrected my herniated disc problem and the Lord has brought me back to health. But seeing Chuck's agony brought back memories of the pain, weariness, and pleadings for God's mercy and help.

I began thinking of Hebrews 4:14-15: "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (NASB).

Just as I could feel Chuck's pain to some degree, Jesus feels our pain and struggles to the fullest degree. He is not a god sitting in the heavens cheering us on but never experiencing our humanity. He has been tempted in every way that we are. Of course, not in every single individual way but in the broad categories, He was faced with the same temptations we are. In his humanity, he was tired, bored, weary, weepy, physically injured and rejected. He can actually say, "I feel your pain" and mean it!

Although there is nothing I can do to help Chuck, except pray, Jesus is able to help us in our weaknesses and temptations. Not only did He experience humanity in the flesh and be tempted as we are, He wants to help and has the power to help. Not just to sympathize and empathize but help!

That's why the next verse in that passage is so encouraging and significant: "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (vs 16 NASB).

What a thrill and encouragement to know that Jesus knows Chuck's physical pain and how he'll be challenged in these coming months and years. And He knows the heartbreak of us who love him and care about him. We can go to Jesus and He'll assure us, "I know what you're going through. I'm here for you."

Glorious God! Thank You that You know and care!

Raffi Called Me!

2011-06-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

I answered the telephone with a hello and heard a little boy voice say, "Hi Podditt!"

"Hi Raffi!" I replied with surprise and pleasure.

My four-year-old grandson, Raphael, had just called his grandma on his own for the very first time. His mother had called me from the store less than five minutes before and Raffi had redialed to talk to me.

Tears filled my eyes as he began talking to me, most of which I couldn't understand. But it didn't matter. He had purposefully called to talk with me! As I heard his chatter, I thought, "How cool is this? This is the first time of many times that he is going to call me."

(By the way, Raffi started calling Larry and I "Podditt" when he couldn't pronounce "grandpa." I encouraged him using it for my name and eventually he chose "grandpa" for Larry's name. I figure I'll be the only Podditt in the world! How cool is that?)

As Raffi and I chatted back and forth, I was so thrilled that it surprised me. And I couldn't resist thinking of God who must love me calling upon Him just as much; maybe more. I pictured the joy of Zephaniah 3:17:
“The LORD your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will exult over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy." (NASB).

Knowing God delights in my prayers is particularly meaningful right now especially as I meditated on Daniel 9: 22-23 this morning. Daniel has been confessing the sins of his people and himself and asking for God's forgiveness and the restoration of their nation from exile. As he's praying, the angel Gabriel appears. Daniel writes, "'He [Gabriel] gave me instruction and talked with me and said, 'O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision'"" (NASB).

As soon as Daniel prayed, the command was issued--the reply. Although told the command was issued, the command itself wouldn't be carried out for quite a while because the answer/command is expressed in verses 24-27 referring to the End Times.

But what spoke to me both through knowing God delights to hear my prayers and that the answer is often answered, though not fulfilled right away, is that I'm praying along with members of my family for my brother, Chuck, who is in the hospital in horrible pain. His kidneys are in renal failure and they are trying to determine whether the intense back pain he's having is connected to that or to a pinched nerve problem.

So I pray continually for him; for relief, for wisdom for the doctors, for strength for him and his family. I'm so grateful that they all know the Lord and are looking to Him also. So far, God has not answered our prayers with the quickness we would like. But we can trust that whatever His answer is, He is attentive and loves hearing us intercede for Chuck.

Would you also pray for Chuck? Thank you.

And rejoice knowing that your Heavenly Father loves to hear your prayers. Just like this Podditt loves her grandson to call.

Beware! Wheelchair!

2011-06-15T19:55:00.000-07:00

My sister, Karen, and my mom and I went to Sea World in San Diego on Monday. Karen and I took turns pushing my mom in a wheelchair. I've pushed strollers in the past, of course, but I think this is the first time I've pushed someone in a wheelchair. I'd never realized how unwieldy a wheelchair is. It's not easy to quickly change direction or stop quickly. In the crowds at Sea World it was a challenge. It was frustrating when people would walk straight toward us and expect us to maneuver to avoid them. I'm sure I've done the same thing to others and I finished the day determined to be more sensitive and compassionate to those in wheelchairs.

During the day, I thought of Galatians 6:2,5: ^"Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For each one will bear his own load" (NASB).

These two verses have always fascinated me because they seem like the opposite. First Paul says to bear someone's burden and then he says they should bear their own load. Hmm. What's going on here?

The key is in the word meanings of "burden" and "load." A burden is something someone cannot carry on their own. A load is something they can. We shouldn't take on a load because we strip the other person of depending upon God to take care of something they are capable of doing in His power. But we should help the person whose burden is too much for them.

As I pushed the wheelchair, I felt like saying, "Look, people, this is a burden, not a load. Ya gotta give me some space."

People with a load should be encouraged to call upon God to help them shoulder what they're facing. Otherwise we could easily become their Helper when God is supposed to be that for them. But people with a burden need God's help with skin on. They have a hard time maneuvering through life. They need extra help. We may need to give them extra grace and give them extra space to cope. Or they may need someone to point specifically the way.

Knowing whether someone is carrying a burden or a load is the hard part. And some people are really good at trying to convince you they have a burden when it's actually a load. It feels very uncomfortable to not help more than God wants us to. We may feel like we're not being loving or kind. But God knows that they need to call upon Him.

What have you found helpful or important to remember when deciding who and how to help?

I do know one thing. Give space to those in wheelchairs. They really don't want to plow into you.

Heap Those Coals On!

2011-06-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

OK, you'll be glad to know this will be my last post on godly sorrow. Whew! Aren't you glad? I hope our examination of this un-popular topic has been meaningful. My desire was that you could view whoever has hurt you or disappointed you as a beloved creation of God in whom God wants to work. And He can use you for their possible repentance by responding in trust that God will bring the justice He desires.

That is what Romans 12: 14, 17-21 says: "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,' says the Lord. 'BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (NASB).

If you're like me, you've wondered about the "heaping burning coals" thing. Sounds like a great opportunity to take vengeance, doesn't it? But Chip Ingram in his book Living on the Edge (Howard Books, 2009), explains the meaning of this. He writes, "This is not a picture of being nice to people who were mean to you so God will boil their brains out. The origin of this phrase goes back to an Egyptian ritual in which a man purged his offense by carrying on his head a dish containing burning charcoal on a bed of ashes. When someone realized they were in error, they would take coals from a fire, put them in a pan, put a towel upon their head, and carry the pan throughout the village, declaring they were burning out the bad thinking of the past. In essence, this was an act admitting their wrong and repenting of their past failure." (page 246).

Do you want the person who has hurt you to do something like that? Wouldn't that be satisfying? Wouldn't God like that too? Would you like to assist God in helping someone come to such repentance?

Well, you can. Just look back at those verses and see what lead up to the "for in so doing you will heap...."

Bless and don't curse.
Don't pay back evil.
Respect doing right.
Be at peace with others, as much as you can.
Don't take revenge.

If we do those things, there will be a much better possibility that the other person will come to a point of repentance. Godly sorrow puts aside our own hurt and pain and desires their repentance, even to the point of treating them well. This shows our faith that God will work and is a much more effective Holy Spirit than we ever can be.

Thank you for sticking with me as we examined godly sorrow. May what we learned strengthen us for godly living and greater trust in God. And more loving too!

Biblical Stories of Godly Sorrow

2011-06-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post, I asked you to think about biblical stories of godly sorrow. You'll remember that godly sorrow can be defined as grieving over another's sin and desiring their repentance. It most often includes giving grace and mercy to the person who doesn't deserve it. They have hurt us. Or they have sinned and the consequences ripple into other people's lives, especially our own. We want to hammer back in some way to force them to see their sin. We might even dream of them admitting they are wrong and tearfully asking for our forgiveness. We want to be vindicated.

But that's not godly sorrow and when we respond with godly sorrow we are being like Jesus who gives grace and mercy when we don't deserve it. Obviously, salvation only comes when we repent and acknowledge our sin. But God does so many loving things for us that we don't deserve and He grieves over our sin because He knows it's not good for us.

So besides God, who else in the Bible expressed godly sorrow? One example is David. Remember the story? King Saul had been pursuing David and had every intention of killing him. Saul felt threatened by David and nothing would dissuade him from wanting to harm David. In I Samuel 24, David and his men were in a cave and guess who comes into the dark recesses of the cave to "relieve himself." Talk about a perfect opportunity. Even David's men encouraged him to kill Saul saying it's was God's open door for revenge. But David only cut off a piece of Saul's robe and refused to harm God's anointed. David trusted that God would take care of his call to the Kingship in God's timing. Such trust!

When Saul realizes what happened, he says to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt wickedly with you. You have declared today that you have done good to me, that the LORD delivered me into your hand and yet you did not kill me." (verses 17-18 NASB).

In this case, David was acknowledged as righteous although it was short-lived. Saul quickly turned from his repentance and again sought to kill David. But David's godly sorrow and resulting grace and mercy are a good example for us. Even when it seems the "perfect opportunity" for revenge is handed to us, the Lord says in Romans 12:19 to not take revenge. When we have godly sorrow, we trust like David did, that God will do the work if the other person will cooperate with Him.

Another example is Jesus in dealing with the Pharisees who didn't want Him to heal the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6). Verse 5 says, "After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.'” Jesus had godly sorrow. Oh, how He longed for them to resist their picky ways which left out God's grace.

How about Ruth? Naomi, her mother-in-law, was a pitifully depressed person. Although Ruth wasn't being sinned against by Naomi, certainly Ruth would have liked to be around a cheerful person who wasn't self-absorbed and requiring so much care. In our fleshly ways, it would be easy to say to such a person, "Just stop it! You're making me depressed! Start thinking about my needs for once!"

But Ruth didn't require anything from Naomi that Naomi couldn't give. She clung to her and identified with her--Naomi's God would be Ruth's God, even though Naomi wasn't representing her God very well. Ruth was gracious and loving. She served Naomi by working and bringing in the bacon after they reached Bethlehem. And in time, Ruth was honored and Naomi rose out of her depression. Ruth must have been sad that Naomi was sad but she didn't respond in frustration.

I'm sure there are other examples. Those are the obvious ones. I don't know about you but these examples challenge me to grieve over another's sin for it is hurting them. I can choose to love them well by not taking personally their lack of trust in God. It's really all about God, not me! And He is better at moving in their hearts than me. I think I'll let Him. Wanna join me?

Review of "When You Can't Find God"

2011-06-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

If you want to trust God more, especially in the dark places of life, the new book by Linda Evans Shepherd is for you. And don't we all want to trust God more? When You Can't Find God: How to Ignite the Power of His Presence (Revell, 2011) is her newest release and it offers both practical and spiritual principles coupled with her stories of how God has worked in her life and in the lives of others.

Linda has learned to trust God in many hard places of life. Over twenty years ago, she and her daughter, an infant at the time, were in an automobile crash that severely disabled her little girl. Linda tells other riveting stories that made my faith grow stronger by knowing a loving God who uses everything for good.

One of her most endearing stories to encourage the reader to find real joy by experiencing God's love, is of Jim, her son, when he was a toddler. After shopping in the mall, she realized how tired Jim was. She writes, “That's when Jimmy suddenly flopped to the white-tiled floor. 'I'm tired,' he said, grabbing my snow boot in an arm lock. 'Could you drag me for a while?'

Of course, she picked him up and carried him and relates how this represents a trusting relationship with God. She concludes, “We get so focused on our prayer requests that we forget he longs to have a deeper relationship with us...Just as I didn't want to drag my son down a dusty floor and into the parking lot, God doesn't want to drag us through the muck of this world. He wants to lovingly scoop us into his everlasting arms and carry us through our difficulties.” (pgs 167-168).

When You Can't Find God is written for every Christian since there are always times when God seems distant. I also would pass this book along to any person who is open to reading about God but hasn't yet made Jesus their Lord and Savior. It's a readable, encouraging and inspirational book that makes you feel like God cares and that it is possible to trust Him more.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell as part of their blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Practicality of Godly Sorrow

2011-06-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

^{I'm sure that godly sorrow doesn't feel very practical. If godly sorrow is grieving over another's sin and desiring his repentance, how do we apply it? Actually, it is a very grace-filled response.

For instance, you're giving some instruction to someone and without you knowing why, they seem irritated. Even though you need to give them this instruction, they may take it as a message that they are stupid or they "hear" a tone from the past when they were belittled. Their reaction has nothing to do with you; actually, it's their own issue of possibly not wanting to appear stupid or ignorant.

You can't really know the "why" of their irritation but this is where godly sorrow comes in. Instead of becoming irritated yourself because now they seem to be communicating something negative back about you, you can grieve that they are not believing the truth about themselves. If they are "in Christ," they are not stupid--they have the "mind of Christ." You can be gracious and kind because they are for this instant, believing Satan's lies about themselves. They are not walking in the truth. It is their own struggle and says little about you.

Making such a wise conclusion and choice in that instant isn't easy. We can react in an ungodly way all too quickly. But as we have a transformed heart, over time, we can cast off taking it personally and see this person as beloved of God and currently struggling. Godly sorrow can fill our hearts.

As that godly sorrow fills our hearts and we don't need to defend or protect our value, God may invite us to reach out in some way toward them. Maybe we could say something like, "You seem a little irritated. May I ask why?" Or "Is this frustrating for you? What's going on inside of you right now?"

Evidently, the Apostle Paul reached out through some letter (maybe First Corinthians?) because he talks about the reaction of the Corinthians to his former letter. I wonder if Paul first had godly sorrow that the Corinthians weren't walking in purity with the Lord, and in love he wrote to them. They were being tempted by certain false teachers in their midst. They were straying from Paul's teachings of truth. He writes:}"For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Cor. 7:8-10, NASB).

Paul's godly sorrow created godly sorrow in his friends. And godly sorrow brings a person to the point of repentance--of recognizing their sin and being restored to God. It brings salvation and life. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

Could the "sorrow of the world" refer to over-reacting? Being offended? Protecting ourselves with anger? Blaming? Certainly those things bring a kind of death to the relationship--if only temporarily. We feel separated from them. But godly sorrow that they are believing lies and we succumbed also, brings repentance and salvation--restoration of the relationship.

Godly sorrow is indeed very practical. It can strengthen us to walk in our friend's shoes and wonder what is going on in them. With our focus on their pain, we can be selfless and loving. We can forget about ourselves and respond as Jesus would.

The Motives of Godly Sorrow

2011-05-30T16:53:00.001-07:00

Choosing godly sorrow is a challenge because when we are attacked, misunderstood, or hurt, everything within us wants to fight to stay in control of the situation or defend ourselves. But 2 Corinthians 7:1-16 gives us some insights into living in the Holy Spirit's power in this area. Verses 1-4 give the motives for godly sorrow; a few verses after that, Paul will directly talk about godly sorrow (which we'll address in another post).

He writes, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction" (1-4 NASB).

1. Paul's goal is always cleansing that leads to holiness.
2. Paul shows his motive of being at peace with everyone. His attitude is not one of forcing others to admit how right he is. He does, in a sense, defend his actions, but there's no sense of a demand that others agree with him.
3. Paul makes it clear that his desire is not to condemn but to reconcile and encourage. He is "for" them; not against them. He is even willing to die alongside them or live with them. He doesn't withdraw from them because they are sinning or being imperfect.
4. Paul expresses his confidence that good things will happen. He is not trying to whip them into shape by being negative or stressing all the bad things they've done. Because their behavior is not a reflection of himself, he can live in joy, without worry or fear that his own reputation is being ruined.

Paul's pure motive comes through clearly. He's not angry. He's not pointing a finger at them. He wants them to come to repentance through godly sorrow and he will say it plainly in the next verses.

When we want to correct someone, let's examine our own motives to see if we can seek after Paul's heart.

Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!

2011-05-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

We're talking about godly sorrow which can be defined as we grieving over another's sin and desiring their repentance. The opposite is getting offended, making it all about me, defending myself, attacking, withdrawing, taking revenge, telling others about that person's sin, responding with contempt, or avoiding contact. One of the ways we can tell we're not responding with godly sorrow is to point the finger back at the other person. Romans 2:1-4 in The Message says it clearly,

"Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn't so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you've done.

"You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change."

One of the most common ways we point our finger at someone else is by reacting in protective anger. Anger is one way to try to distract the attention away from ourselves when we fear we might deserve someone's hurtful behavior. Maybe we're really not as certain as we thought about our love-ability and so we feel exposed.

Unfortunately, my husband, Larry, knows this all too well. He's married to me! I'm the queen of feeling exposed. He may innocently say something like, "Do you think you could have handled that in such-and-such manner?" Exposure! Maybe I'm not as perfect as I'm trying to convince everyone else. My perfectionism as my default gets threatened. "Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!" (If you didn't watch the TV show, "Lost in Space" in the 60's, this tidbit will be uneventful for you but it's an understood reference around my house.) I feel like someone is pointing a huge finger at me, declaring, "Imperfect!"

Well, if a huge finger is pointing at me, I'll just point back. I skillfully remember and rehearse something Larry did that was imperfect. There! That'll take care of that! I've protected myself! No one will know I'm not actually perfect! Larry is the bad one!

Now I realize that in this example, I wasn't being sinned against. But whether it's a perceived threat to our image or someone has done something to hurt us, godly sorrow doesn't react in ungodly ways. Godly sorrow desires the best for the other person. We may still need to set appropriate boundaries, but our desire is that they will repent and restore relationship with their Heavenly Father. Our goal is not that they apologize to us and profusely say how right we were (and how wrong they were!). The goal is that they live in harmony with their Abba Father. That's loving them well.

When you are feeling attacked, misunderstood, maligned, gossiped against, whatever... Go to God. He is for you! He is your strong tower. He knows the truth and wraps His arms around you. You don't need to protect yourself. You can respond in godly sorrow and love another well. And when you do, you'll rejoice in God's ability to work in their lives so much better than you.

Are Your Feelings Hurt?

2011-05-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

When someone hurts us or even irritates us, it's easy to react in an ungodly way because we want to defend ourselves and protect ourselves. We point the finger at him or her, thinking that takes the focus off of us--just in case we might be deserving of what they did or said. It even feels justified to be "hurt."

Does it sound too unfathomable to hear that it is possible to not become "hurt" by the actions of others? I think for some, and it has for me in the past, seemed impossible to not react with hurt. (OK, it's still a challenge!) After all, if someone does something hurtful, shouldn't I be hurt? They hurt me! They hurt my feelings! They rejected me! There's a litany of situations where being hurt seems like the only option. And unfortunately, hurt turns into resentment, bitterness, and anger.

But, believe it or not, being "hurt" can be prevented by living with the perspective of godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is when we're more grieved over the sin or dysfunction of someone else than trying to defend or protect ourselves. Godly sorrow is when we are more concerned about the healing and joy of the other person, rather than making sure we don't look bad or are never hurt again. Godly sorrow will even put ourselves at risk for the good of the other person, rather than withdrawing and making sure we don't experience any more pain.

Godly sorrow is only possible if we believe God has our back; if we believe that He is the source of our every true need. Godly sorrow is most difficult when the person who is "hurting us" is a perceived source of joy, love, or some other need.

Of course, Jesus is our example of godly sorrow, as He is our example of every good thing. A good story is in Matthew 16: 22-23. Jesus has just told his disciples that He will be killed and then rise again. "Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." (NASB).

That is godly sorrow! Jesus could see the heavenly battle occurring, the influence upon Peter and Jesus reacted to the influence and the battle not to Peter. Jesus could have been "hurt." He could have thought, "Oh, that Peter! He makes me feel so bad. He just doesn't understand me, even after all the time I've spent with him. I'd hoped my training would have made more of an impact. That really bothers me. That hurts my feelings."

I trust you're smiling. We can't even imagine Jesus having any of those reactions or thoughts. Not even close. Guess what? We're supposed to be like Jesus! Jesus never got his feelings hurt! He never took anything personally! Isn't that amazing? That blows my mind. He saw the heavenly battle going on and He addressed that instead of attacking Peter in order to protect His own reputation and feelings.

Do you recognize that Satan (or his minions), are trying to get to you through some of the people around you? And he most often uses those who mean the most to you or who represent something that is valuable to you. If that person's valuable opinion of you or an accomplishment on your "bucket list" is withdrawn, it's easy to feel hurt. The rejection and disappointment fuel our ungodly reaction of pointing to them as doing something wrong or casting blame, etc. It feels like it's all about them, but it's really a defensive and protective ungodly, yes! sinful response.

How would Jesus's example of godly sorrow correspond? Can we first believe that God is sovereign and allows only that which is for our good? Can we then care about the needs of that person or whatever is best in that situation rather than focusing on us? This is a hard assignment but it has everything to do with believing God is good and trusting God's goodness.

Next time, I'll share another way to reach out in godly sorrow. In the meantime, can you share anything about being hurt or godly sorrow? Can you think of a biblical story of godly sorrow? HINT: there are several even in the Old Testament!

What Do You Know about Homosexuality?

2011-05-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is a high risk post because I want to review the book, Homosexuality and the Christian by Mark A. Yarhouse, PsyD. (Bethany House, 2010). I think it's a high risk post because I know there are many who have varying beliefs about homosexuality. I plan to read more books about a variety of issues Christians face for writing our next book, but for now, Yarhouse's book is the first I've read on this subject. But the book is important because this issue is one that is hard to talk about and hard to know how to respond to.

Many years ago a woman revealed to me that she is a lesbian and it totally took me off guard. I was completely tongue tied. I didn't know anything to say or not say. I just sorta stared at her. I think she then talked about a very troubling childhood including being raped at 13. If I'd read Yarhouse's book, I would have been more prepared to enter into this woman's pain and world.

Mark Yarhouse seems very qualified to write this book. I think that's important to know. He is Professor of Psychology at Regent University and the director of the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity. I appreciated his calm and measured coverage of the subject and included many examples from his therapy practice. He has a thoroughly Christian perspective.

The most important thing I learned in his book is that there is a "three-tier distinction" between attractions, orientation, and identity. Here are summaries of those terms in Dr. Yarhouse's words:

Same Sex Attraction: "Certain people, regardless of the cause, have experiences of attraction to the same sex. This fact doesn't say anything about either their identity or their behavior...It is descriptive. We are simply talking about the fact that a person experiences same-sex attraction." (page 41)

Homosexual Orientation: "When people talk about having a homosexual attraction, they are essentially saying that they experience a same-sex attraction that is strong enough, durable enough, and persistent enough for them to feel that they are oriented toward the same sex." (page 42).

Gay Identity: "When people take on this label, they move beyond describing their experience and instead are forming their identity." (page 42).

Dr. Yarhouse also writes, "What I want to recommend is that we keep the three tiers distinct and try to be more descriptive. For those who find it helpful, we can create and keep open this 'intellectual space' for them to sort out their own sense of identity. Talking to people in specific terms about their attractions is more helpful than presuming that an identity has already been shaped around these attractions." (pg. 43).

I take this to mean that if someone tells me, "I'm gay," I need to not assume that they have already taken on the gay agenda. I need to ask questions which will reveal where they are in reality. They may not even know they have choices to make, especially if they have only encountered other gay people who encourage them to take on the gay identity.

As Dr. Yarhouse goes on throughout the book, he stresses that a person who has a homosexual attraction may not be able to change that attraction but he/she can choose in God's power to resist acting on it.

What causes homosexuality? This is the question we all move to immediately. Dr. Yarhouse believes that the reason is not really known. Some studies show some things and others show others. He believes the old ideas about the child being raised with a weak father and a too-strong mother or even sexual abuse may not fully explain the cause.

He writes, "Although I disagree with those in the gay community who advance the conclusion that nature is the sole cause of homosexuality, I also disagree with Christians who take the position that it is all nurture." (page 80). Of course, by "nature," the gay community believes the person is born with homosexuality at their core. By "nurture," many Christians believe it was the family dynamics or the experiences a person encountered. In the chapter "What Causes Homosexuality?" Dr. Yahouse examines the possible causes: biology, childhood experiences, environmental influences, and adult experiences.

I highly recommend reading Homosexuality and the Christian. Even if we can't imagine having an opportunity to respond to someone struggling with homosexuality, there might be that opportunity when you least expect it. I personally feel that I will have more knowledge, compassion, insights and a godly, loving response if someone shares with me again.

Sitting in the Jury Box

2011-05-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

(NOTE: My friend, Jim, who I mentioned several posts ago as fighting cancer, entered the presence of God on Tuesday morning. We are missing his big blue eyes, his teasing, his incredible skills as a handyman, and his relaxed and welcoming friendship. Please pray for his wife, Gail, as she starts a new walk down the path of grief).

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of sitting in a jury box being questioned by a prosecutor and a defense attorney. In my almost 62 years of living, I've been called for jury selection maybe six or seven times. Every time, I would have begged on my knees to sit on a jury. It just sounds like a fascinating experience. The courtroom is an interesting place to me. I love watching the TV channel covering live and real courtroom cases. BUT I've never been allowed to sit on a jury. I've always been kicked off the courtroom island.

Why? Because my husband was a policeman for 30 years and even though now retired, I still have to disclose that interesting bit of information. (Should I just say he's a freelance writer like me? Would that be deceptive? I just asked Larry, he said, "Yes!" OK, back to my story... But it would be for a worthy cause...OK, back to my story).

A friend of mine who is a policeman's wife was recently allowed to be on a jury, so I went in on Tuesday with a very hopeful heart. But oh, no, the first person the defense attorney picked to send off the island was me! Grumble, grumble, grumble. I was really disappointed. Maybe it's really my face... I digress. Or I seemed too eager to be impartial. I digress. Who knows! I'll never know and now I'm convinced, I'm never going to serve unless I am called into a civil case. Unfortunately, our courthouse rarely hosts civil cases. Just ask my attorney neighbor who travels far away for her civil cases.

But as I walked off the island, oh, I mean, walked out of the courtroom, I wondered, "Why am I so eager to do this? Why does having a person's future in my hands seem so attractive? Why do I want to have the pressure of trying to stand my ground if I'm not in agreement with other members of the jury? Why do I feel like I can make such huge decisions?"

I don't have the answers for those questions, but I did become acutely aware and grateful thinking about God being a just judge and jury member. OK, just a judge. There won't be any jury in heaven deliberating our innocence or guilt. Only God will make all the decisions. Only God can see the motives of our hearts. He knows everything about us and at the final judgment, the only thing God will need to know is whether you and I are clothed in Jesus' robe of righteousness because we have depended upon Jesus to cleanse us from our sins, thus making Him the Lord of our lives.

Isn't that the most amazing thing ever? Aren't you glad you don't have to sit at the defense table hoping and praying that the jury can figure out the truth? Aren't you thrilled that God will declare you innocent because He knows you are His child?

Our country is blessed by a justice system that is the best in the world. Heaven is the only place where a superior system resides. And I'm grateful I won't be kicked off any heavenly jury.

But can I still hope that there's a chance that I'll someday serve on a jury? Don't worry, I will keep telling them my husband was a cop.

Fighting the Defeated Foe

2011-05-11T19:19:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I talked about resisting Satan and "taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5). The next day I was reading Daniel 7 and came across this verse:

"''He [Satan] will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time." (verse 25).

Wear down! Wear out! The New Living Translation gives the wording "oppress." Do you sometimes feel like your Enemy is trying to wear you down? It really does feel like "oppression." It's like a heavy cloud in our spirits that won't go away. And in all honesty, sometimes when I resist Satan he doesn't give up. He keeps sending those flaming missiles, hoping I'll get worn down.

How does Satan try to wear us down? A few ways I thought of:
1. Discourages us when we don't reach perfection--and we feel like we should.
2. He keeps bringing the same temptations to us over and over again, especially when we thought we had conquered a particular challenge.
3. Satan returns again and again through trying to tempt us in a variety of ways. If we only expect him to knock at the front door, we won't recognize him at the back door.

How is Satan currently trying to wear you down? Wear you out? Oppress you? Praise the Lord, Satan cannot inhabit you. The bad news is he can attack you from the outside.

Don't give up. Keep resisting him. He will have to flee. He may try another door but stand against him. He is a defeated foe and will not win. Claim your rights as a Princess and Prince--children of the King.

Incoming! Accusations!

2011-05-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

In my last post I talked about knowing the heart of another person. And wouldn't you know it...I was challenged to put this truth into practice. When Larry and I visited our friend who has cancer, I said something really stupid to him when we left. I mean, it seemed like the stupidest thing that could be said. At least that was the accusation I believed. I began my usual routine: beating myself up!

"Kathy, you stupid! Why did you say something so insensitive and stupid? What must he think of you? What must he think about how much you care about him? Why can't you ever say the right thing?" By later that evening, I should have had black and blue marks on my brain, I had hit beat myself up emotionally so much.

I knew I was succumbing to believing lies but somehow I think I should just stop doing it, rather than taking the action that Scripture says. Finally I knew only obeying my loving Heavenly Father's instructions would deliver me.

I first rehearsed where the accusations were coming from: Satan. Revelation 12:10 tells us, "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night" (NASB).

I next relied upon 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," (NASB).

How do we do that? One way is to resist Satan (James 4:7). For me in that situation, it meant saying out loud, "Satan, in the Name of Jesus' who defeated you at Calvary through His blood, I resist and rebuke you. I tell you I'm not going to believe your lies any longer. I am a child of the King and I have been given the mind of Christ; therefore, I am not stupid. I'm not going to cooperate with you any longer."

Now, had I tried to believe that truth since the incident happened? Yes. I knew the truth that I possessed "in Christ" the mind of Christ. But it wasn't until I resisted Satan that the flaming missiles (Ephesians 6:16) actually stopped bombarding me. And I mean stopped! It always surprises me (but it shouldn't) that the accusations stop! It's like there's this peace that's supernatural. Where before a tense battle was going on--the air filled with volleys of bad thoughts; now there's a peaceful vacuum of still air. It's uncanny. And usually it takes me a few minutes to think back and realize that something is now very different.

This has happened so many times before. Why can't I go there right away? Why do I wallow in the mud when power is available to defeat the enemy immediately? I guess I'm just .... No, I'm not going to give Satan an opportunity. :-)

What lie of Satan's do you succumb to most regularly? How can you resist Satan by taking every thought captive? What inheritance of being "in Christ" can you claim that will stop Satan's flaming missiles from assailing you?

You do have power! Use it!

The Heart of Others

2011-05-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

I promised you a second application to knowing God's ways but it's not really about God. It's about the heart of those you know. To review, I received a message from a friend on Facebook encouraging me to click on a link to find out who was visiting to my main page. It seemed a little unusual for my friend to send such a thing so I ignored it. It "smelled" like a scam. Within a few moments, I noticed that my friend posted that her account had been hacked and that everyone should not click on that link. I let her know I didn't respond and noticed that another person had written, "I ignored it because it didn't sound like something you would do."

The obvious application is to your friends and family. You're most likely not like me, but I'm easily offended and I'm too good at allowing Satan to whisper lies in my brain about other people (and of course, God, too!) Therefore, if someone seems a little short with me or isn't returning my emails, I immediately jump to the conclusion they don't like me. Or if I do something that I think might have offended them, I jump to the same conclusion. I'm good at jumping!

But if someone has shown themselves to be my friend in the past, why am I doubting their heart? Can I think, instead, that their avoidance or offense or whatever I perceive "isn't like them"? Can I trust their heart?

That's my challenge. I hope you don't have to have the same challenge.

Do You Know God's Ways or Just His Acts?

2011-04-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

I received a message from a friend on Facebook encouraging me to click on a link to find out who was visiting to my main page. It seemed a little unusual for my friend to send such a thing so I ignored it. It "smelled" like a scam. Within a few moments, I noticed that my friend posted that her account had been hacked and that everyone should not click on that link. I let her know I didn't respond and noticed that another person had written, "I ignored it because it didn't sound like something you would do."

That comment has been resonating in my mind since then. I can think of several applications.

First, we can know if God is "in" something by "is it like Him?" Is He initiating a certain move? Is He telling us to do something? If we know God's heart and His character, and how He has acted in the past (through the Bible), then we can know if it's "something He would do."

Now, I realize that's harder than we'd like to think. God can't be placed in a box. The Bible is a collection of God's "movements" and not all of them seem to reveal a consistent pattern. God works in marvelous and mysterious ways at times. I don't think He ever contradicts His nature--that's impossible. Everything He does springs from the same amazing characteristics of His nature. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8). He never contradicts Himself, yet we can too easily pick out something and say it's not like Him.

Some people really camp on this when they talk about God's love. They say, "If God is love then He would never allow pain or hurt or anything bad to happen." Their definition is that being loving means only good things happen. But God in His infinite love knows what's truly "good." And His definition of "good" may not be our definition of "good."

I wonder if the Israelites had that trouble. Psalm 103:6-7 tells us, "The LORD performs righteous deeds And judgments for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel."

Remember how the Israelites didn't want to go up the mountain to meet with God? They sent Moses. "Moses, you go. We don't want to meet with such a powerful God." Their attitude was, "We're not quite sure what He's about."

I've pondered the difference between "ways" and "acts" and come up with what I think the difference is:
"ways" represent a person's heart
"acts" represent only what is seen that they do.

Moses knew God's heart; but the Israelites only focused on what He had done. You'd think that His miracles would have impressed the Israelites but it only seems to have frightened them. They couldn't see God's heart behind His acts so they were not motivated to move toward Him in relationship. Maybe they couldn't trust God because He was powerful and seemed unpredictable. He couldn't be controlled or anticipated.

Do you know God's ways or only His acts? Not only can we say, "I knew, Lord, that was (or wasn't) You," but we can hopefully say, "I know your heart behind what you do." I think we can know that by studying and paying attention to God's attributes. For me, His sovereignty is most meaningful.

Which of God's attributes are most meaningful to you?

I'll give the second "application" next time.

God Sees and Hears and Knows YOU!

2011-04-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

(Please note that if you would like to receive an email with my blog posts, you can put in your email address on the left side column where it says, "Subscribe via email." That way you'll make sure you don't miss a single post.)

Larry and I have two friends, both named Jim, who are fighting for their lives in their battles with cancer. Within days of each of their diagnosis, we talked to their wives and both women said, "The Lord knows." We were encouraged to hear of their faith and trust. Through those three words, these two wives were saying, "God knows what's going on and He will do whatever He knows is best."

As I heard their statements, I thought of Exodus 3:7-8a: "And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters and oppressors; for I know their sorrows and sufferings and trials. And I have come down to deliver them..." (Amplified Bible)

The context is that the Israelites are being abused by the Egyptians and He has chosen Moses to be His vessel for delivering them. God's compassion has been aroused because He is involved in their lives and feels their pain with them. And out of that motivation, He will come down to deliver them.

I don't know God's plans for our two friends but I do know God has seen and heard their plight and as a result He knows and is with them. One way or another He is going to deliver them--either on this earth or into heaven. Just knowing God sees, hears, and knows can be encouraging for all of us.

I felt that powerfully in my life years ago when I had driven to a city where my son's band was performing. It also happened to be the city where my husband worked as a police officer. I parked my car in a parking lot near the stadium where the band competition was going on. Hours later after the competition was over in the late evening, I walked to the parking lot but couldn't find my car. At first I thought I'd forgotten where it was and I wandered around in the cold. But finally it dawned on me that the place where I'd parked it was empty--with only shattered glass to indicate that it had been stolen. I looked around in fear, not knowing what to do. This was in the days before cell phones and I felt helpless and alone. I'd never experienced any crime before and I was shocked at my reaction. I felt violated and confused. I couldn't think straight.

As I wandered around, I finally found a pay telephone and called 911, explaining to the dispatcher what had happened and asking whether my husband had left for home. She said he had but she then said, "You're at a pay phone at ...." and she named the intersection where I was. "Just stay there; I'm sending over a police officer immediately and I'll call Larry on his car radio."

I can't tell you the peace that flooded over me. It almost brings me to tears right now thinking of that peace. She knows where I am! She is sending help! I'm not alone. Someone knows and cares. I'm going to be protected and taken care of.

As I looked out at the darkness surrounding the telephone booth, I felt renewed courage.

That experience pales in the face of what our two friends are experiencing. But any of us at any time can lacking courage or feel frightened or uncertain. Let me assure you that God sees where you are. God hears your cry. God knows what you're going through. And God will deliver you. He is already with you and knows His plans for you--for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

Please pray for God's healing hand upon our friends, the two Jims. They love the Lord and we long to continue to experience life with them.

Would You Have Given Up On Jonah?

2011-04-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

The biblical book of Jonah is a story of grace. God shows His graciousness in so many ways:
1. calling Jonah to be His prophet even though He knew Jonah would run from His assignment
2. saving the sailors in the boat where Jonah slept even though the sailors worshiped other gods
3. turning from His promise to destroy the Ninevites because they repented
4. giving Jonah the gift of some shade through a plant even though his attitude was horrible.

In Tullian Tchividjian's book, Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels, he talks about three specific ways God reveals His grace after Jonah runs away and proves himself an unfaithful prophet.
1. God doesn't hold grudges. Even though Jonah doesn't confess to any wrongdoing, "God doesn't remind Jonah of his past failings. His words carry no rebuke." (pg 86).
2. God "doesn't lighten the load for Jonah this second time around....God's grace isn't seen in the lessening of his demands toward us; he always has and always will demand perfect obedience. His grace is experienced when we come to realize that his perfect demands for each of us have already been met by Jesus." (pg. 88).
3. God doesn't give up. "God is more interested in the worker than he is in the work the worker does. He's more interested in you than in what you can accomplish. If accomplishing Project Ninevah was all God cared about, he could have discarded Jonah and found a more reliable prophet. He knew Jonah would run; so why did he ask Jonah to go in the first place? It was because Jonah was God's project." (pg. 89).

Have you read the book of Jonah lately? Try reading it again with the theme of grace. You'll find a lot to encourage you in knowing God's grace.

Flexibility Prevents Crashes

2011-04-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

My sister, her grandson, and I are standing in front of the moat at the Imperial Castle in Tokyo, taken a few days before the earthquake. Our tourist guide pointed to the wall of rocks and said that it was 400 years old. She explained that the builders fashioned it to survive earthquakes by allowing for movement between the rocks. Little did we know that two days later, we would experience a huge earthquake--9.0.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, I talked with people whose relatives were looking out a high rise building in Tokyo when the earthquake hit. He said the buildings were swaying as if they couldn't possibly not fall over and crash. Yet no high rise buildings fell because they were built on ball bearings that allow the buildings to float and take the vibrations.

That speaks to me of flexibility. As Christians, we know that the Bible is filled with doctrines that we can't manipulate, change, or "be flexible about." There are basic tenants that can not be changed. But knowing that our hearts can easily be swayed by our own sinful desires, we should still hold loosely beliefs that might be wrong. Otherwise when there are "earthquakes" in our lives like illness, confusion, or rejection, we can be open to making sure our thinking really is the truth.

I just finished reading Tullian Tchividjian's fabulous book, Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels. He uses the book of Jonah as the basis for a wonderful examination of grace. And grace is more flexible than we think. What we sometimes are convinced God is like or how He will react, can surprise us.

For instance, Jonah couldn't understand why God would forgive the evil of the Assyrians in Ninevah. After receiving the call to preach repentance to the Ninevites, Jonah tried to flee to Tarshish because "I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life." (Jonah 4:2-3 NASB).

Jonah was so angry about God acting in such a way that went against his prejudices that he wanted God to strike him dead. His hatred of the Ninevites made him inflexible and hard so that he couldn't understand God's gracious love--even for ungodly people.

If we'd had a chance to talk to Jonah, he would have been convinced that his view of how God should act was completely right. But he was blinded by his own prejudice and hatred.

I must repeat that there are indeed some doctrines and principles that are clear in the Bible that do not allow for any flexibility. But shouldn't we also be careful about labeling something as dogmatic when our opinions, prejudices, or upbringing could be getting in the way?

If you haven't yet seen the video of the swaying buildings, check it out. May it remind us to be flexible at times.

Review of "Words: A Novel" by Ginny Yttrup

2011-04-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't mind the long flight to Japan because I read Words by Ginny L. Yttrup. I was as happy as a clam and didn't even sleep because I was so eager to read this book. And once I started, I didn't want to stop! It's an incredible book and you'll never want to stop either once you start. It is a riveting novel about sexual child abuse.

But don't let that subject stop you in your tracks. Ginny handles the topic in a sensitive and yet powerful way. The story is centered on a young girl, Kaylee, who is being sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend. The mother abandoned her and Kaylee has gone mute because of the trauma. There are no explicit sexual scenes but by inference you know what's happening to this child.

The second main character is Sierra who happens upon Kaylee and in time their paths intertwine, bringing healing to both their wounded hearts.

After you read this novel, you'll be blown away that this is a first novel by writer Ginny Yttrup. This book is superbly written. The character development and scene descriptions draw you in. The plot twists and turns and your concern for both Kaylee and Sierra make you want to jump into the story to be a part of the story.

Now, I'll tell you a secret. I'm mentioned in Ginny's Acknowledgement's page. Why? Because I met Ginny at a writers conference many years ago and was privileged to be the first writer to read this very story as Ginny began writing it. Even then, I knew this story and her weaving of it was electric. At the time I encouraged her, I know that she thought I was just being nice but my wisdom :-) has been proven. I told her she was good and now everyone knows what I knew. Ginny Yttrup is an amazing writer and I know that her next books will bear this out even more.

So, yes, Ginny is a friend of mine but I bought this book to take it with me on my trip. I'm thrilled to tell you to get this book! I know you will be mesmerized and won't be able to put the book away. I even recommend you get it for those you know who were sexually abused. I think it can bring healing because of the steps that are taken in Kaylee's healing. This is not a self-help book for sexual abuse victims, but it will minister.

Read this book! You won't be sorry just like I'm don't regret encouraging Ginny to continue on in writing this novel. You can purchase this book here: Words

Keep Grinning about Your Humility

2011-04-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

While in Japan, I got the biggest kick out of the times I complimented a Japanese on their English speaking abilities. They just loved hearing that they spoke English well. I was really surprised at their joy in the compliment.

At one point, my sister, niece, and baby Jack were in a bus depot waiting for our tourist bus to take us on a tour of Tokyo (this was before the earthquake). I was following 16-month-old Jack around the station and with his red hair he always received admiring glances and the Japanese, who love babies and children, loved coming up to him and talking to him.

One woman spoke to him in English and we struck up a little conversation. I said to her, "You speak very good English" and she did indeed!

You'd thought I just handed her a thousand yen bill. She began bowing and grinning from cheek to cheek. She thanked me profusely as she bowed and explained that she had lived in Northern California for two years while her husband worked there. She was very dismissive of her abilities saying, "Oh, but I don't speak well; I have so much to learn."

But I assured her she spoke very well and was very understandable. Again, she dismissed it and kept bowing and grinning. I think my offer turned into a million yen bill, from her reaction. I loved it. I had made her day. Her joy made me smile.

I found this same kind of dismissive humility wherever we went. I suppose I could delve into the cultural reasons for these reactions (if I knew enough), but it spoke to me regardless of the humility we are supposed to have. Romans 12:3: "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith" (NASB).

I've always appreciated that verse as having keys to true godly humility:
1. Everything we are good at, or have accomplished, or have exhibited in godly behavior, comes from God's grace. It's all about Him. It's His gift and not of ourselves. When we are weak, He is strong. So many biblical principles point to us having nothing of value; it's all due to His gracious empowerment within us.

2. There's nothing wrong with acknowledging those very works of God. Just don't think there's more than there really is. The Apostle Paul doesn't say, "Don't ever think highly of yourself." He says, "Don't think more highly than you should."

3. Have sound judgment when thinking about yourself. The Message says it this way: " The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him."

I don't know the motives of the Japanese woman in her humility, but I can evaluate my own heart and whether I'm thinking rightly and soundly and truthfully about myself , especially when someone gives me a compliment. For a long time, I thought humility meant demeaning and refusing someone's compliment. Invariably, the person felt like they had to say something more complimentary to convince me to accept their compliment. Inadvertently I was encouraging them to praise me even more and make it all about me!

Although it felt awkward and still does, I've learned to say, "thank you" instead. That way they don't have to go on and on trying to get me to accept their compliment. I could accept what they sincerely said and thank God for whatever or however He had moved in my life that He would shine. And as appropriate, give Him the credit.

You and I can have a godly and healthy opinion about ourselves. It's only through God's view of us as we are "in Christ." What a relief to make it all about Him! That way we don't have to live up to our inflated reputations. He gets the praise and we stand by grinning, just like that precious little Japanese woman.

Who in Your Life Needs Grace?

2011-04-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

I'd gone to Japan to visit my niece, Kelly, whose husband is in the Navy and stationed at Yokosuka. Since the Japanese drive on the left side of the street, the base is also oriented that way, which of course is a challenge for all the Americans when they arrive there.

Every time I've been in a country where driving is on the "wrong side of the street," I've never wanted to drive. Thankfully, I haven't been forced to. I know it's possible to learn and my niece Kelly has done that very thing. I felt completely comfortable as she drove us around.

When we traveled around on the base, I remembered that she had told me about a little courtesy given to those who are new. On the car of anyone learning to drive on the left side, a magnetic sticker with a specific design is put on their car to alert others that this person is learning.

At one point as we drove on the base, we saw someone turn into the wrong lane. When we saw that familiar magnetic sticker on their car, we said, "Oh, they're new." Kelly graciously waved to them to let them know it was OK. She understood.

As I saw this exchange, I thought of grace. The grace of giving understanding to those who stumble. Grace to give help to someone who has fallen. Grace to remember that we once didn't know how to drive on a different side of the street.

Actually, in the Christian walk, we all need grace from others because none of us has become perfect. In many ways, we're still all learning to drive on the different side of the street--in the Kingdom of God. God has already given us the grace to welcome us into His kingdom through salvation. And He continues every day because we continue to stumble and at times, fall.

All of us are wearing a spiritual magnetic sticker that says, "Hey, give me some grace. I'm new at this." Regardless of how old we are in the Lord, we're still "new" in it in some sense. Every experience and challenge is a new one; we are learning to trust the Lord in new ways.

Who in your life needs some grace? Who in your life, or even yourself, is turning into the wrong side of the street? How about waving graciously that it's OK and to try again? How knows how soon you'll need someone to give that same wave to you?

What I Learned from Two Japanese Drivers

2011-03-28T05:47:00.001-07:00

When I arrived in Narita/Tokyo airport (not knowing a 9.0 earthquake would hit almost two weeks later), my sister, niece, and I waited for some time to take the naval base bus to the base where my niece Kelly would get her car and take us to her home. As I walked 17-month-old Jack around in his stroller, I could see what looked like limousine drivers waiting for the people they would transport to their destinations. They stood right at the exit where passengers came out, holding their signs with the names of the people they would transport. But they didn't just stand casually. They stood at attention, in their black suits, with their white gloves on, hardly moving a muscle. Two men in particular stood side by side talking but their bodies faced toward where their passengers would walk by.

For an hour, I watched them stand there. Other limousine drivers moved around the area, standing casually. But those two men stood at attention holding up their little name signs, never even moving their feet.

"Wow," I thought. "That's dedication. They must know their passengers aren't coming soon. No one has exited on that walkway for over an hour. Is the plane late that carries their passengers? Do they expect them to come at any moment or do they stand at attention because that is their job?"

By the time we left over an hour later, the two men were still standing there. One of them began to drop one of his arms down, stretching it out. Then he would stretch out the other arm, but never allowing the card to lower. And never moving his feet. What dedication.

As I watched this scene, I asked myself whether I am just as persevering and dedicated to my God-assigned tasks as those two men. Am I distracted from being faithful to God's call? Am I sloppy in completing my work? Do I watch more TV than needed? Do I check email more often than needed? My friend, Linda Blue, committed to staying off of Facebook for Lent because she realized it consumed too much of her time--time that she could focus on the Lord.

During my time in Japan, I saw many instances of the Japanese culture that models faithfulness and perseverance. And it reminded me; yes, even convicted me, of my need to be faithful as I anticipate the arrival of the King. He could come any moment.

May you and I be like the faithful five virgins who were named "wise ones" and had enough oil in their jars for their lamps to meet the Bridegroom. The five virgins who did not were called "foolish." (Matthew 15:1-13).

Although those two Japanese drivers may have been excessive in their dedication, I can still learn from them. How about you?

Facing Fear in an Earthquake

2011-03-24T18:39:00.001-07:00

When I was sharing about my earthquake experience in Japan with my friend, Mike Bechtle (author of books on making evangelism easy for introverts Mike's books), I told him about how I felt God's peace and protection even in the midst of possible danger. He replied, "Alfred Hitchcock supposedly said, 'People love to be terrified when they know they're safe.'"

That so resonated with me. As a California girl, I've been in lots of earthquakes and because I've never been in real danger of something crashing down on me, they've become sorta like an amusement park ride. I felt the same during the earthquake in Japan. It was rocking and rolling and we knew it was a big one because it was strong and long. My sister and I were definitely looking at each other wide-eyed. But we didn't know the extent of it, nor the destruction that would be coming because of the tsunami. We didn't see anything being damaged.

But I really know that the peace that surrounded us was more than all that. It was a sense of God's presence and that He was completely in charge and in control of anything that might happen to us. And as I've shared in other posts, He guided us and orchestrated everything we needed to return home safely.

Chuck Swindoll, pastor and author, says that God's sovereignty is "our all-wise, all-knowing God reigning in realms beyond our comprehension to bring about a plan beyond our ability to alter, hinder, or stop."

Trusting in God's sovereignty is how you and I can go through something terrifying without succumbing to the terror. We are safe in God's loving care. We are safe in God's incredible power. We are safe in God's amazing plan. If we believe He knows what is best for us and for His glory, then we need not succumb to fear. Nothing will happen to us outside of His protective plan for us.

Is something looming in your life that seems scary? Terrifying? Unhappy? Does it feel like the earth is rocking and rolling under you and terror is creeping up your spine? Life is scary. Life is uncertain. And there's nothing wrong with feelings of fear. But we don't have to succumb to those feelings. We can surrender to whatever God allows if we believe He wants only the best for us.

You are safe. Trusting in your loving Heavenly Father will help you go along for the rocking and rolling ride.

Privileged to Be There During the Earthquake

2011-03-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

I talked with my sister yesterday and said, "It feels funny to say, but I feel like it was a privilege to be in Japan for the earthquake." She agreed she felt the same way.

I thought more about that statement and I thought of Philippians 3:10, where Paul writes, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death" (NASB).

Somehow, I feel privileged that I could get to know the Japanese people and share in their sufferings. Of course, I was safe and didn't share fully their horror and grief. But I know that if I hadn't been there at the time of the earthquake, especially while interacting with our newly made "friends" on the train, (see previous posts and enclosed photo), I wouldn't feel the connection with them that I do--and the motivation to pray!

The Japanese people are a wonderful people who need the Lord. Their culture is one that encourages them to be kind, gentle and perfectionistic. When I received my boarding pass for my flight home at the Narita/Tokyo airport from the Singapore Air boarding agent, she didn't fling it at me, she didn't hand it to me, she "hands" it to me. With both of her hands grasping the piece of paper, she extended it to me and didn't let go until she was sure it was securely in my hands.

And always there were smiles that seemed completely sincere. At one point, as I walked around the Narita airport during my 12 hour stay there, I noticed a boarding agent standing alone at a desk smiling at me. That's exactly what I expected from her and smiled back. Only then did my vision focus and realize that I was smiling at a cardboard cutout of a flight attendant. Oh my! I smiled to myself and looked around to see if anyone had observed me. But that smile, even from a cardboard cutout, was what I expected from them.

I wonder if Jesus considered it a privilege to come and live amongst us and see what it was like to be one of us. I do know he suffered in the same ways we do: weariness, temptation, dealing with people, abuse, and so much more. As a result, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).

He suffered with us and as a result, the next verse gives us the benefit: "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (vs 16). Because Jesus knows what it's like to be human, we can come to God's throne where He forever abides and know that He'll never say anything like, "I just can't understand what you're talking about."

I'm so grateful for a Savior who suffered with us and knows our challenges. I only tasted a tiny portion of the pain that the Japanese people experienced. But Jesus experienced all of ours--except sin!

(The photo above is when we were waiting in the train for two hours. The boy on my lap is my great-nephew Jack (my sister's grandson) and the Japanese boy is Kokie who helped to entertain Jack while we waited to be rescued.)

God's Provision In the Train During the Earthquake

2011-03-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the train that we were riding in when the earthquake struck in Japan. You can see the ladder in the center of the photo that we climbed down to get out. God was so good to my sister, her grandson, and me in so many ways. I've actually wondered whether we didn't feel the earthquake as much as others because the train shock absorbers may have absorbed some of the motions of the earth. I don't know if that's true, but regardless, we felt safe enclosed in the train.

I was concerned, though, for as you can see, there is some sort of electrical pole with wires which was right beside and over our train car. As it swayed and lurched, I did wonder if it might fall on us. Would that be dangerous? I didn't know. But it stayed solid as did everything we saw, since we were at least 200 miles from Sendai where the tsunami came ashore. We didn't see any damage.

The Lord provided for us in so many ways. For the first hour that we waited in the train, my sister's 17-month-old grandson, Jack, was content to sit in the stroller. We figured we'd be underway in a short time. But the aftershocks came one after another. One time the engine started up and we thought, "OK, we'll go on now." But then another strong earthquake hit and the engine shut down.

After that first hour, we thought we might as well let Jack out of the stroller and God provided a little 6-year-old Japanese boy, Kokie, to play with him. He and his mother were in our train car and even though they didn't speak English, we smiled back and forth and tried to communicate. God also provided a Japanese woman nearby who spoke limited English and she would try her hand at her English to interpret. Kokie loved Jack's attention and they followed each other around in the car during the second hour of being in the train.

Finally, a train conductor came through the car and brought people from the back cars toward the front and ushered us to an open door. We climbed down the ladder but didn't have any clue where we were or how to get to the next station or home. We asked the conductor about reaching the next station "Jimmuji" which is where we would get off, but he didn't seem to understand.

Within a few seconds, a Japanese woman said to me in very good English, "Are you going to the Jimmuji station?"

"Yes," I replied.

"We are too. You can follow us."

Then began our 45 minute trek along busy streets with little sidewalks until we neared the Jimmuji station. Karen recognized the street that would take us to her daughter's home and we said goodbye and "arrigato" to our friends. God had protected us. In fact, I felt more tense walking along those busy streets than feeling the earth shaking.

We arrived at my niece's home at 5:30pm to discover the electricity was out. We had just enough time to find some candles. We couldn't find any matches but Karen thought of using the gas range and we had just enough daylight left to feed Jack and put him to bed. Karen made us a salad in the candlelight and we tried to play a game of Scrabble as best we could with limited light. Yes, we are Scrabble fanatics!

God took care of us. As my sister and I had walked along those busy streets, at one point, we both were in tears feeling as if God were enclosing us in His cocoon of love and protection. He was our "Ladder" out of the train, the kind people who led us, and the timing of arriving before dark.

I know that many were not aware of God's protection but He still calls to them to come to Him. He wants them to know Him.

I Was There During the Earthquake!

2011-03-14T17:40:00.000-07:00

I survived the 9.0 earthquake in Japan.

I was in Japan visiting my niece, Kelly, with her mom/my sister, Karen, and we experienced the earthquake. Kelly is married to Tim, a sailor on the Blue Ridge Naval Ship stationed there. On the day of the earthquake, Karen, Kelly's 17-month-old son, and I were traveling on a train after dropping Kelly off at the naval base so that she could get a bus to go to the airport to visit her husband in Singapore.

All of a sudden with no train station in sight, the train stopped. Since the train was rocking back and forth, I wondered if they were changing tracks or something. Then I looked out the window and saw an electrical pole above the train swaying back and forth at least a full foot or more. "Earthquake" I said to my sister!

I'm a California girl and been through many earthquakes but a 9.0 takes them all. We rocked and rolled for what seemed like a very long, long time! It was like being on the Universal Studios ride "King Kong" where they have the earthquake. The train remained stopped and we continued to experience the strong aftershocks and the little ones too.

After sitting in the stopped train for almost 2 hours, we escaped out by a ladder onto the street as if we were in a disaster movie. We didn't know where we were or how to get to our train station but someone overheard us asking and invited us to walk with them. We walked for 45 minutes home to Kelly and Tim's home which had no electricity. We didn't know at that time and didn't find out until the electricity was restored about the massive destruction, especially from the tsunami. In many ways, since our experience ended safely, we consider it an adventure. But we know that for those who are affected, often with their lives, it's no "adventure."

After the earthquake as we would encounter various people, the question always was, "Where were you when the earthquake hit?" That made me think of the old Gospel song, "Where were you when they crucified my Lord?" Maybe someday, we will ask each other in heaven, "Where were you when the Lord returned?" For those of us who know Christ as our Savior and Lord, it'll be an adventure to join Him in heaven. The experience will be a safe one.

But for those who don't receive Christ, it'll be far from an adventure. It will be a disaster for eternity. Far worse than any tsunami or earthquake.

I loved my encounters with the Japanese people. They are a wonderfully kind and gentle people. But most of them do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. May we pray that God uses this disaster to draw many to Him, which is exactly what He wants to happen, because He wants to use everything for good.

Knowing God's Will

2011-02-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry to be so absent lately in blogging but I've been traveling a lot and will again within a few days. So I thought I'd try to fit in some thoughts before I leave again.

I'm thinking of one of my spiritual pet peeves: that troubles indicate how close you are to walking in God's will. Maybe you've heard it expressed this way:
"I must be following God's will because I'm getting a lot of opposition from Satan."
Or the reverse: "I better question whether I'm in God's will because Satan seems to be leaving me alone. Nothing is going wrong."

I don't find anything in Scripture to support this. If you know of something, let me know.

It's a pet peeve for me because I think it falsely leads people to evaluate their direction by something that is fickle. All of us experience good and bad times. For the longest time Job walked seemingly in peace and quiet, following the Lord. Eventually, Satan got his nasty little fingers into Job's life with God's permission, but evidently for some time Job was in God's will without anything bad happening to him. He didn't change his course or make different decisions because things were going well. And when bad things happened, he stayed the same course of trusting God without thinking "Now, I'm really in God's will."

If we evaluate our walk based on our circumstances, then we're focusing on our circumstances rather than God. We're seeking the right way based on whether good or bad is occurring. I think that's shaky ground. We should only seek God Himself for direction.

What do you think?

Entitlement and Pleasure--the Connection

2011-02-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

(If you received my last post and couldn't open the link, here's the right one:
Article about praying for Egypt.)

New Post:

The other day after enjoying one of God's gifts of pleasure, I had this inward assurance that God was yelling to the angels, "She enjoyed my gift! She enjoyed my gift!" I just sat in awe of picturing God enjoying my enjoyment of one of His gifts. It was an incredible moment, affirming what I've been reading in Gary Thomas' book Pure Pleasure.

Gary has wisely balanced his book's perspective about pleasure. Yes, God does want us to enjoy His gifts of pleasure but because we can easily deceive ourselves, we need wisdom in knowing what to actually allow and enjoy.

Gary reminds us of the "E" word as a means of evaluating whether we have that wisdom: Entitlement! He writes, "How do you know if someone sees a particular hobby or pleasure as an entitlement? That's easy. Take it away, or even delay it for a moment. The vicious reaction will give you chills." (pg 139).

I relate. As in, "just give me the chocolate and no one will get hurt."
Or "You ate my left overs that I have been looking forward to eating all day?"
Or "I can't believe all these people are at Costco just to inconvenience me." (I didn't think this but I acted as if I were).
Or "How dare that guy pull in front of me? Can't he see he's in my space?"
Or ... put in your own entitlement reaction. You do have them, right?

In the moment of our demand for pleasure (or anything we think we should have), we think we not only need it, but we are entitled to it. Oh, how we deceive ourselves.

We aren't entitled to anything but God graciously and generously gives us so many wonderful gifts, including gifts of pleasure.

Would you like to see if some gift from God has become an entitlement to you? As Gary suggests, go without it for awhile. I've found this to be a valuable way to see if what I'm thinking is a gift from God has been turned into an entitlement.

Lamentations 3:37-40 says, "Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,
Unless the Lord has commanded it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
That both good and ill go forth?
Why should any living mortal, or any man,
Offer complaint in view of his sins?
Let us examine and probe our ways,
And let us return to the LORD. " (NASB).

We cannot complain about not getting our way, having our pleasures, because we deserve nothing. God is in charge of everything and if He allows that driver to turn in front of you, maybe it's to help you examine and probe.

(I just hope Larry hasn't found where I stashed that chocolate.)

Pray for the Christians of Egypt--Corrected Link

2011-02-04T07:17:00.001-08:00

I'm sorry the link I gave previously didn't work. This should:

Here's a Christian's insider view of what is happening in Egypt and how we can pray.

Article

What's Your Definition of Pleasure?

2011-02-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

I love going to the movies. I feel like I'm careful about what I watch but I love the relaxation and the buttered popcorn! Just give me the popcorn and no one will get hurt! I love going to the movies!

Larry hates going to the movies. He's so careful about what he watches that he watches nothing. He hates being in the theater and tries to resist the buttered popcorn. Larry hates going to the movies.

Do you see a difference in defining pleasure?

But this post isn't about marriage. It's about pleasure. Because in reading Gary Thomas' book Pure Pleasure, I realized that I define pleasure too narrowly. Going to the movies can be easily defined as pleasure for me but it's not for Larry.

Well, maybe this post is about marriage a little. Because I complain that I want time with Larry and "why won't you go to the movies with me?" I want the pleasure of his company in something I enjoy and while that's natural, I make it seem like it's only time with Larry that I'm asking for, when actually I'm trying to fulfill my idea of pleasure.

So while reading Gary's book, I realized that watching a football game with Larry (and rubbing his feet) is spending time with Larry. I say I want time with Larry but I don't want it that way! Watching a football game while rubbing his feet is not pleasure for me. I demand it be my way!

Can I broaden my definition of pleasure and include more of a variety in that definition? One way to do that is to recognize that when I'm "out," like going to a movie, I don't feel pressured to "work," like I do when I'm at home. When I'm "out," I obviously can't do the dishes. But while at home, I feel pressured knowing the dishes need washing. That's not pleasure.

How about if I consider watching the football game being "out," and ignore the dishes? hmmm...maybe that could work.

Then I started thinking of how Jesus enjoyed pleasure. What did Jesus seem to enjoy? He enjoyed his friends, fellowship, food, and solitude. Could it even be that Martha was highly energized to fix good food--and a variety--because she knew Jesus enjoyed food and she wanted to please him?

For those of us who think every second has to have spiritual value and production, think of Jesus in His times of pleasure--including sleeping on a storm-tossed boat instead of lecturing His disciples about faith. (OK, that did come after they woke Him up.) And yes, sleeping is pleasurable! I just wish I could stay awake while I'm sleeping in order to enjoy it!

Gary wisely writes, "If you're the responsible type, you may allow yourself to enjoy pleasure if every chore is done, the house is spotlessly clean, no one within a hundred miles of you is sick, no one needs anything, and the planet has finally achieved world peace.
"That's not going to happen." (pg 97)

Amen!

Do you need to broaden your definition of pleasure? (Wanna go to the movies with me?)

The Tithe You'll Love!

2011-01-31T16:10:00.000-08:00

I bet you've never heard a sermon on Deuteronomy 14:22, 25-26:

"You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year ...then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household" (NASB).

We're continuing our study of pleasure, and Gary Thomas in his book, Pure Pleasure, draws our attention to those verses. He writes, "I've never heard a preacher tell the congregation to save even part of their tithe and use it to go to an expensive restaurant, order filet mignon and a fine wine." (pg 80).

Of course, Gary balances this by saying we need to give our tithe to the church, etc, but he does find it interesting, and so do I, that the Lord in His Word encourages us to enjoy a part of the tithe for whatever we want! (Hmm, I will try to resist going to the jewelry store. Hey! God did say "whatever your heart desires!")

Gary's point: "Do you see how selectively we emphasize certain passages about duty, sacrifice, and obligation while almost completely denying corresponding passages that talk about celebrating, having fun, and even throwing a party?" (pg 81).

He continues, "It doesn't mean we shouldn't give sacrificially. It does mean we can and should acknowledge the role of reverent pleasure, realizing that God created us to enjoy pleasure and that receiving such pleasure is, in God's mind, an act of worship." (pg 81).

Gary's ideas continue to challenge me because I'm all about duty, sacrifice, and obligation. Maybe God is saying to me, "Lighten up! Have some fun! Enjoy!"

Is He saying something similar to you?

Again, I recommend Gary's book for your reading pleasure!