As I plan my first day of my Christmas break from school, I’m excited to wrap presents, clean the house, light the pine scented candles, and bake some treats. First, I quickly glance at facebook, scan emails, the news is on in the background and the more I read, the more I listen…the more I become painfully aware of the sorrows, struggles, sickness, pain, death and brokenness that is right this minute enveloping those I love and those I don’t know in this broken world in which we live.
On Christmas morning, in many homes, including my own, there will be a magical joy of Christmas …the presents, the scrumptious smells, the foods, the lights, the laughter of children; while simultaneously people starve, die, and experience horrors that I cannot imagine. And this shakes my soul . I’m suddenly feeling so very selfish. Sure, I’ve sent money to charities, I’ve purchased and wrapped and given gifts to the Angel tree. I’ve prayed for others. But, it’s not enough.
I want my family, my children to experience joy, and magic on Christmas. I want to spend the time in my church worshiping joyfully and thanking our great creator for the gifts he has given me.
The moment Jesus was born must have been like that…There were those who were in his presence and those who heard the news that were celebrating, presenting him with gifts, and weeping with joy, and worshiping; yet, simultaneously pain, sorrow, and horrors abounded.
As I reflect on this, I realize nothing I can do will ever be enough. I cannot solve the problems of the world. That’s exactly what Christmas is about. Focusing on the one who can. We can’t ignore the hurts, poverty, pain…but, there is something we must do first. Worship and celebrate the precious gift our God gave us on that first Christmas day. In the midst of the tree, the lights, and Santa; we can make sure that he is in the forefront of our celebrations, that we rejoice in his presence. As the celebrations commence, we can continue to remember, and to pray for those who suffer…and commit ourselves to listen, so that when he calls us to do more, we will hear him.
What’s on Your “To Do” List?
Last Saturday morning I woke up at 5:30 in the morning and made a long “To Do List.” I had afternoon plans and my goal was to finish everything before time to go. I was so proud of myself as I rushed around checking off things on the list. A few hours later, I sat down to read that day’s devotional in “The Upper Room.” The thought for the day said, “The most important task God has for us today may not be on our to-do list.” Wow. Then, I looked up the suggested Bible passage, Luke 10:25-37. In my bible beside the passage, I had previously written some notes (I think they were from one of Jay’s sermons). The notes I had written said, “A day’s most important meetings may not be the ones we’ve put on our calendar.” God got my attention that morning!
I’m a list maker, and couldn’t survive without my calendar or “To Do” list, but I have to be careful not to get tunnel vision; not to get so hung up on THE list that I miss out on what’s happening around me, that I miss out on opportunities to spread God’s message, to be neighborly, to be more like Jesus (Maybe I should add those to my “To Do” list J) What about you? Do you have room on your calendar for what God is calling you to do today?
TLC for the Soul
Have you been looking for the silver bullets in your life this week? Mine came at me in the form of…droopy plants.
Upon returning from an out of town trip, I neglected our backyard for a couple of days. I knew it had stormed while we were gone, so I didn’t really worry about the plants needing water immediately. I was wrong. Wow, what a mess it was when I ventured back there today. Dirt, leaves, and pine needles lined the bottom of the pool and the pool deck. The plants were wilting and beginning to dry out. They were surviving but definitely not flourishing. Tonight, after a little time, work, and water they are beginning to perk back up.
Similarly, our souls can begin to wilt and dry up after just a short time of neglect. Fortunately with a little TLC we can bring it back up to par. Sure we can survive and get by with minimal attention, but if we want to flourish we have to treat our spiritual lives with intentional, deliberate care. How is your soul today? Take the time to water it with prayer, study and worship!
Have you had fun today?
While I was lying in the pool last night on a raft, gazing up at the almost full moon and one bright star, I realized how much I take for granted, how much I miss in the busy-ness of life. God wants us to enjoy life. God has given us amazing gifts in which to delight. This week I’ve made it a point to simply make time and do just that, enjoy what he has provided. The time spent riding the waves with my daughter, playing putt putt with friends, reading, laughing, and night swimming in the pool have created invaluable memories this week and led to prayers of thanksgiving.
Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones”
Have you laughed today? Have you taken time to enjoy the blessings that God has provided? So many of us live busy lives, full schedules, and problems to solve, etc. which cause us to forget to enjoy the wonders he has provided. Now go have some fun!
Fix your eyes on Jesus
A little silver bullet buzzed right at me while teaching yoga class last week. We were about to move into tree pose, so I began my usual spiel, “Find your balance, find a point to fix your gaze, don’t fix your gaze on me, find a stationary place ahead of you…” As I’m saying this, I’m preparing to do the same, looking into a class of “swaying trees” will sometimes cause me to lose my balance, so I gaze ahead where I usually look at a blank spot on the wall. But today, I find myself gazing straight into the eyes of Jesus. That’s right, I said straight into the eyes of Jesus. There was a huge sketch of Jesus in a little alcove, just behind the room I was teaching in, the kind of sketch with such life like eyes you can feel the person looking at you. For a moment, I was speechless as I locked eyes with Jesus. Speechless as I heard the words I had just said to the class…fix your eyes on a stationary point. While balancing in Tree Pose, I’m looking into the eyes of Jesus and recalling a hymn I used to sing in church as a child:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
That my friends, is what I call a silver bullet. It buzzed right at me, and I felt it! Life gets crazy here on earth. Our lives can be like a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. Somedays more than others. Sometimes, life just doesn’t seem fair. In spite of our best efforts, troubles come. What we can hold onto is the knowledge that in the midst of the good and bad, we can fix our eyes on Jesus, and be reminded that he is beside us, the task he has set before us, and that there is more to come. Fix your eyes on Jesus, he is our stationary point, when you are wavering, he’s standing solid waiting to return your gaze.
Hebrews 12 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Go Ahead, Take the plunge!
I watched as my friend, nieces and daughter climbed up to the top of a water slide at Wild Adventures, “The Cyclone, it’s a slide where you sit in a huge tube with 3 other people and you are shot out of a tube and then swirled around, like you are being flushed down a huge toilet bowl. I could see the fear on their faces as they stood at the top and looked down, just before they took the plunge. But, they did it together laughing and screaming the whole way down, ready to do it again. Sometimes, it helps to “Take the Plunge” with other people.
Prayer can be scary. I find that the scariest thing for me about prayer is praying with others, especially others whom I’ve prayed with before. Like standing at the top of the water slide and climbing back down the stairs instead of taking the plunge, I’ve let fear stop me. Maybe I’ll pray for them alone, or in my head, but pray “with” them, that’s the part where I’ve backed off. Sometimes though, God is calling us to pray that type of prayer, to join hands with others and take the plunge. Last week, before a recent doctor appointment, a relative asked if she could pray about it together with me and other family members. She was a bit nervous about this and had thought it out and written down her words ahead of time. It was powerful prayer, facing fear, stepping out of her comfort zone and boldly taking the plunge as she prayed before our almighty creator. Prayer is not about our eloquent words, it’s about faith, it’s about trust, and it’s about obeying our father. Once you take the plunge, it may be that you come out ready to go again, it’s a beautiful thing!
Dive On! (But, Be Careful!)
My daughter has been wanting a “slip n’ slide” for years. And for years I have been saying, “No! That’s too dangerous.” So, today we took a trip to Big Lots with her own money, after there was some begging (which sounded more like a miniature lawyer pleading her case) followed by a call by me to check with Dad, I surprised her by saying yes and letting her buy it. We got it home and it was much smaller than I envisioned. And she was much more careful than I thought she’d be. She was ready. Why didn’t I let her get it before? I wanted to protect her. Why did I let her get it today? She saved, she waited, and she’d matured a bit. Okay, she could still get hurt, but I felt like it’s something she could now handle.
SPOILER ALERT: If haven’t heard Drew’s now famous “Habanero” sermon…you might want to read this later, or actually, it might not hurt to read on and do a little reading before you hear it, or if you’ve been there a little review of these verses may be of value, I know I found new jewels when I dove back in to these verses: Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13-14; John 15:7; 1 John 3:21-22; 1 John 5:14-15. Herein lies the danger, Do we understand the instructions? Drew focused specifically on Matthew 7:7-11., where the directions clearly tell us what to do: Ask, Seek, Knock. If we do those things God will give us anything, right? (Here is where the understanding part comes in) God’s promise is: “I will take care of you” He will take care of our needs. He will take care of us like a father, the perfect father. Does this means he will give us ANYTHING we ask for? Sometimes, he takes care of our needs by saying NO! (That explains why I haven’t won the lottery yet…) Maybe he says no because it’s something that is harmful to us, maybe he says no because he has other plans for our life. A No can lead us closer to God.
Sometimes God says SLOW, he makes us wait. When we wait we realize who’s in charge. When we wait it changes us on the inside. There is value in waiting, and in continuing to ask. Waiting can bring us closer to God.
Sometimes God says GO! And we are amazed by the miracle that we asked and he gave it right to us, we almost don’t believe it…and our response should be thank you! Receiving what we ask for brings us closer to God.
Prayer is all about relationship. The purpose is to always bring us nearer to him, He always says GROW. Whatever avenue that looks, like. (no, slow, go…we always grow). Prayer allows us to love him, be loved by him, to become more like him.
Drew’s Habanero of prayer, the potent promise of God, is one that we should not dilute, or qualify, God will care for us like a father. Thru prayer we press in, get closer, feel his love, and listen and seek to understand his directions, the directions and love of our perfect father.
Dive in
No Diving. That’s what it says all along the shallow end of the pool. Why? Because if you dive too shallow you are most likely going to be stopped by a painful encounter with a cement floor. That’s what happens with our faith– sometimes we dive in, but dive too shallow and Bam! we abruptly stop when we hit that cement floor. Maybe we need to go deeper, so we can really take a dive. Going deeper can be scary, we might not be able to see the floor, we might not quite know what to expect. That’s why we’re going to go deeper together. Phillipians 3 says: “ 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Put on your scuba gear, get out your goggles and let’s press on toward the goal as we dive deeper together!
Finding the right thing
This week was really a busy one, and in the midst of it my family and I spent a long time looking for the charger for a small video camera. I wanted to be able to use it to record my daughter’s dance dress rehearsal. Even though I had other cameras, I really wanted to use this one because it hooks right to the USB port on my computer, and I could easily upload the video. We put off doing other needed things and stayed up past bedtime searching unsuccessfully for this charger. It was only the next morning while trying to focus on a devotional (with my mind wandering to the lost charger) that I remembered this camera doesn’t have a flash. It wouldn’t have worked well in the dark auditorium.
I realized we had spent time, energy and focus searching for the wrong thing! Which led to this thought…how often do I get off track? How often do I spend time, and energy searching for something that just doesn’t work? Searching for the Wrong thing? That’s where we as Christians have to be careful. Distractions surround us. Satan plans it that way. It’s easy to get off track or to be led astray. How do we maintain focus on the right things? Go straight to the sourcethrough prayer and the Bible. We can also surround ourselves with others who will “watch our back” and let us know when we wander. Proverbs 11:14 advises “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Have a great week as you continue your journey focusing on the right things!
Finding a New Route
It’s such an inconvenience when you’re driving along on your usual route headed to your destination and run into a detour. Sometimes the detour is laid out for you; sometimes you have to figure out a new route all on your own. One little detour can make you arrive late at your destination, cause you to get lost, or just throw off your plans a bit. Sometimes, though inconvenient, the new route might offer you a more scenic view, and give you the chance to see things you haven’t seen before.
That’s what happened to me this week. After being diagnosed with seizures, the doctor told me that I can’t drive for six months. SIX MONTHS. I live forty minutes from the school where I teach, 30 minutes from most grocery stores, 30 minutes from church, and I have an 8 year old with a very active extracurricular schedule. Detour! This detour caused our family to reroute our daily plans. What I’ve found is that although the new route may be a little scary, might take a little longer, and might be very inconvenient; it has offered me a chance to enjoy the scenery. I’m enjoying extra time with my family, the pace of my day has slowed down, and I’ve learned that I am absolutely surrounded by loving people who have offered support, rides, or whatever they can do to help.
Have you run into a road block? Maybe it’s physical. Maybe it’s emotional. Maybe it’s spiritual. Maybe you’ve been detoured and you don’t have a choice. I know that many times the detours send you through rough roads and thunderstorms and not always down a pretty country road or along the palm tree- lined coastline. But, I do know that life’s detours force us to see things in new ways, to look a little deeper, and to broaden our thinking. Life doesn’t always go as we planned it, but God is with us on every detour, God can use each detour to change us, shape us and mold us. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the detour leads you away from God, instead start by finding God and follow his lead through your new route.
Finding Friends along the Way
When traveling to an unknown destination, I love to use the GPS device on my phone. She (the GPS) often is heard saying “Recalculating route” when I miss the turn she so clearly told me to make .3 miles previously.
Have you turned on your spiritual GPS lately? How often do you think God says, “Recalculating Route,” as we venture off course? He’s given us excellent directions, told us exactly how to get there, but somehow we still manage to get lost along the way. We get distracted, lose sight of the goal, and even lose touch with his voice as redirects us. He even places guides along the route to help keep us on track, to support us when we break down, and to keep us company on the journey.
In our local church one way to build such a support team is to sign up for a small group. God intends for us to “do life” together. God guides us, speaks to us and loves us through each other.
Have you found what you’re searching for?
Last weekend I was getting my hair done in a salon that had just changed locations. (In fact, they moved in right next door to The Chapel’s youth building). It was funny to listen to the stylists each time the phone rang. The customers on the other end had first gone to the previous location, read the “moved” sign, and were searching for the new location. With each call the stylists would throw out new landmarks, “Do you know where Angel’s Café is? No? Orlando’s Mexican Restaurant? No? Doctor’s Lab? Grandy’s?” Time and time again this conversation would be repeated. Twice, after the stylist went through the same spiel, she said incredulously, “Are you in the parking lot?” The clients had navigated their way, searched for their destination, but didn’t know when they found what they were looking for. You see, a sign hadn’t been put up yet, so you had to look a bit closer to find the place.
Most of us are searching for something. (For me, it’s usually the sunglasses that are right on top of my head). Seriously, most of us are searching for something more, something deeper. This search may have been what brought you to The Chapel or what led you to read this article today.Maybe you’ve gotten lost along the way, made a few wrong turns, asked for directions and moved past the popular landmarks. Maybe you’ve already arrived and are trying to decide where to go next or maybe you’re sitting in the parking lot staring right at your destination and you don’t even know it, maybe it’s because you’re looking for a sign that isn’t there, or maybe you just don’t SEE the sign.I don’t know where God is leading you, but I do know the route includes prayer, scripture, and giving yourself to him. We don’t have to be lost; God gave us the guide, the map, and is available to answer the call when we can’t find our way.Jer. 29:13 says “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” and Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”
Simply.Draw.Near.
Why? That’s the question I remember most from my children’s toddler years. Each answer produced another “Why?” Sometimes, I would think I had the perfect answer, yet it would still trigger another “Why?” My answer would often exceed their understanding. I would grow weary of answering before they would grow weary of asking. In an attempt to end the questioning, I’d simply sweep them up in a hug, draw them near and say, “Why? Because I love you! Why? Because I love you! Why? Because I love you!” This usually resulted in giggles, hugs and a respite from the questioning. These tiny little people looked up at me with love, and with trust. They didn’t fully understand the answers to their questions but they knew they could put their trust in me. (Sweet story? I almost forgot–These cute toddlers began to get older, and the “Whys?” still prevailed. My answers didn’t always result in hugs, and giggles all around. It often became a stern, “BECAUSE I SAID SO!” still said with love, of course.)
Like that small child, do you find yourself asking, “Why?” I do. I especially ask this question in times of tragedies, death, accidents, unfairness, violence, and suffering. There is no answer that seems fully satisfactory, no answer that completely stops the “Why?” Yet, there is a perfect answer. An answer that exceeds my understanding. A simple answer. God draws near, embraces us and answers, “Why? Because I Love You!”(or when necessary, a stern, but loving, “Because I said so.”)
This answer doesn’t make my tiny little brain understand suffering, hopelessness, or tragedies any better. But, it does provide peace. John 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We, are but tiny little people, looking up asking “Why?” and he answers, “Because I love you.” Lou Giglio, In his book, I am not but I know I AM, says “I hope you see it clearly today: the cross of Christ is the place where trust in God is born. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is an act of loving kindness from a loving and trustworthy God, an undeniable demonstration of His goodness that we can cling to when our sight and understanding fail to make sense of the circumstances that surround us…..but now because of Christ we can personally know how much He loves us and believe that He is using everything that comes our way for His glory and for our ultimate good.”
This Easter are you looking for an answer. Simply .Draw. Near. and feel his embrace, hear his answer, “Because I Love You.”
Elisabeth
Drawing Near when you have Fallen
When my daughter, Amber, has done something she knows is wrong she’ll often hide her eyes with her hands, or even run and hide in her room. She’s embarrassed, feels guilty, wants to be alone, separated from us.
That’s how it is when we sin. Sin separates us from God. That’s exactly why Satan’s goal is to cause us to sin. When we know we’ve done wrong, we want to keep it hidden, keep it in the darkness. I imagine that’s how Peter felt when he denied Christ. But, Christ didn’t let that happen. Right after Peter denied Christ for the third time, in Luke 22:61, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” Peter’s wrong had been brought out of the darkness and straight into the light; he had to look Jesus straight in the eyes (literally!). Peter’s reaction? Luke 22:62 “And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
Flash forward to Mark 16:7 ” But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” Did you catch that? And Peter. He specifically wanted Peter to get the message. The resurrection message. We see a man who thought he was in control. A man who thought by his own power, he would not deny Christ. Yet, he fell. And Jesus specifically sought him out. Peter wept, he repented and relinquished control to Christ Jesus. Peter moved on, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and shared the good news with words and actions.
Jesus calls us to bring our wrongs into the light, to come out of hiding and look him straight in the eyes. He is waiting to return the gaze with love, mercy and compassion as we repent. Just like a parent’s forgiving embrace after their child has done wrong, Jesus is waiting to embrace us with unconditional love. It is when we repent, accept his forgiveness and love, that we can move on and live a life worthy of our calling.
Drawing Near in Times of Temptation
As I write this, I’m savoring the last bite of a Cadbury crème egg. Chocolate is my weakness, particularly these little chocolate eggs filled with sugary goodness. The problem is I know that my body is healthier and that I feel better, when I steer clear of such foods. Yet, I have once again given in to this temptation. In my moment of weakness, I can actually talk myself into reasons why it would be good for me to eat chocolate…energy boost, mood lifter, antioxidants in dark chocolate, etc. I can be strong for a little while, but the reality is if chocolate and I are alone in a room together it begins to call my name so loudly that it consumes me. Usually this happens when I’m tired, stressed, or upset. The solution? I can distance myself from the chocolate, I can establish a support system, I can have other choices available, I can write down my goals. Basically, have a plan in place before the moment of weakness occurs.
Chocolate calling my name? That’s how it is with Satan and temptation. He knows our weaknesses and moves in when we are most vulnerable to dangle the proverbial carrot right under our nose. He begins to whisper our name. He can even make us think that giving in to this temptation will get us what we need, make us better in some way. He can make us doubt what we believe. His goal? To tempt us into sin. So what can we do to protect ourselves? We can do what Jesus did. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he simply responded with The Word. Jesus knew the scripture and knew how to use it correctly.
What does this mean for us? Don’t go into battle without your weapon. Draw near to God in peaceful times, pray and get to know the scripture before battle ensues, build a support system, and make choices wisely. Temptation is certain. Giving in doesn’t have to be. Draw near to God and be prepared.
Drawing Near in the Last Hours
This past week-end I had the precious opportunity to gather with my family at the bedside of my grandmother during the last hours of her life on this earth. We experienced an incredible evening of sharing memories, telling stories, singing songs, reconciling differences, expressing love, voicing fears and saying goodbye as we knew the inevitable was coming. The most treasured memory for me was when we laid our hands on her and prayed. This allowed us to leave for the evening with a deep down, heartfelt peace. When the call came the next morning, letting us know that her time on earth was gone, peace was coupled with the grief. We couldn’t fully comprehend what was to come, until she was gone. It was then that we knew that we were left here with a job to do. She wanted us to carry on as a strong family, loving and caring for one another.
I wonder if that’s what it was like for Jesus and the disciples during The Last Supper. This night was a time of celebration, of remembering, and of preparation. Although Jesus explained what was going to happen, it wasn’t until after his resurrection that they fully understood. They had been prepared for a task, left with a job to do. After his resurrection, Jesus commissioned them to …”go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)
I hope your Lenten journey is preparing you in much the same way. I hope you are experiencing a time of preparation, of drawing near, of remembering, sharing, and reconciling so that we can then go forth and live out the Great Commission.
Lift him up
I’m not really a rollercoaster kind of girl, but I was a good sport this week-end and rode one with my daughter. There is nothing like fear to throw you right up close to God—“Please God, let me live through this, get me off of this thing.” The problem was if he was talking to me, I couldn’t hear him over my own screams. (My friend who was seated behind us thought it would be funny to video tape my screams…it seems as far as coasters go, this was a “family friendly” coaster and thus my blood curdling screams are the only ones that can really be heard.)
Isn’t that how it often goes in everyday life? Problems, Fears or tragedies send us running straight to God, but then we’re often so caught up in the screaming, complaining, and grief that we can’t hear him, we forget to feel his arms around us, and sink deeper in fear, aloneness, despair. When I was on the roller coaster, I didn’t know the ride was over, because my eyes were shut tight and I was still screaming!
| God wants us to draw near to him in good times, bad times and all times. When we draw near, we have to remember to stop screaming long enough to hear, to open our eyes wide enough to see. We are human and we do feel deeply earthly pain, sorrows, tragedies, fears and uncertainties, I’m not making light of that. But as believers we can know that our time here is short, that this earthly ride will end. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32) Jesus has called us to draw near, he has called us to lift him up by loving him, obeying him, and sharing his story with others. It is when we lift him up that we can truly draw near to him.
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Itinerary
I’m really excited about Lent this year. I’m looking forward to it the way I look forward to a vacation. Vacation, to me, means relaxing, energizing, getting away from the mundane and then returning home with a new vitality. Similarly, Lent can be a time of Spiritual renewal, a time to revive and energize, a time to escape from those things that hold us back from God, and a time to go forward living life in a changed way.
I’m a planner. Before vacations, I research in books, on the internet, and talk to people who’ve been to my destination. I find out about what activities are available, what the weather will be like, places to stay, and places to eat. I talk to my family and find out what they want most want to experience on the trip. That way we can be sure to make the most of our vacation. So, this year, I’ve been planning for Lent in much the same way: reading scripture, reading books, searching articles online, and talking to people about it. I’ve started planning my departure date, “Ash Wednesday,” and planning my agenda. Rather than starting with what will be on the agenda, I’m looking at what I will leave off so that I will be assured to have time for what is most important. Next, I’m looking at what I’ll add on, what I’ll do differently during this time.
What about you have you started planning? I’m not saying you should plan out every minute of your Lenten Itinerary, but there are some intentional choices you can make. These choices will look different for each of us. Are you ready to draw near to God? He’s already near; he’s waiting on you to make your move. James 4:8 “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”
Elisabeth Ruff
Preparing, Growing, Nurturing, Planning
I had good intentions. I meant to bring in all my plants this winter. I did go outside and cover some of them… once (and never thought of them again, left them under a sheet). So, I was quite surprised when my husband called me outside last weekend to show me all the new sprouts. Not surprisingly, much of the area was covered in brown dead remains of what was once beautiful. I couldn’t believe that some had survived with little sprouts firmly rooted. I cleaned out weeds, and watered them. Just one week later, with a little sunlight and nurturing, many of these plants had beautiful flowers blossoming! These plants were made to bloom, to produce, and to bear fruit. Nurturing these neglected plants led to growth; to healthier more productive and beautiful plants.
Spiritual growth also requires nurturing. Next Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. This is the perfect time to implement a plan for spiritual growth. When I was a child, Lent meant giving up something like candy, sodas, or chocolate. There is nothing wrong with giving these things up, but I don’t think that I really understood the reason. I thought I was just depriving myself of something I really liked. Now, I understand. Lent is a time to repent, fast and pray; A time for self-examination and reflection; A time to remove things that distract our attention from prayer. This can serve as a guide when deciding what’s meaningful for you. During Lent, some people give things up; others choose instead to add things on (like volunteering). What about you? What will Lent mean for you this season?
This week before Lent, would be a great time to examine what it is that stunts your spiritual growth and what it is that causes it to blossom. Maybe even go a step further, what will lead to spiritual growth not only for you individually, but for your family? For our church? Commit yourself to a plan that will put you and yours on the path to spiritual growth, nurturing what has been neglected, so that you may blossom and bear fruit.
You have 1 friend request
This morning I turned on my computer, checked my email, and there was a message from facebook. You have “One new friend request.” Yay, who could it be? I experienced a moment of excitement, someone new wants to be my friend. Someone has looked me up, sought me out, and taken the time to request my friendship. I click on it, hmmm… don’t quite know who this is, so I look at her photos.Oh wow, I haven’t seen her or her family in years. Now, I have the power: I can accept the request and catch up with an old friend or quietly ignore it and go on about my day. Oops. I accidentally rolled over ignore and zap it’s gone. What to do? I can let it go, or I can look her up and request that she be my friend.
I admit it–I’m a facebooker. Some people love facebook and others love to hate it. I love that I can share photos instantly with my family, most of whom live in other states. I love that I can “keep up” with what’s going on in their lives. Yes, there are dangers. Yes, it can be very superficial. Yes, it can be a time drainer. I’m not going to debate the good vs. the pitfalls and dangers of facebook, that’s a whole other article in itself. But, today I’m focusing on relationships. On facebook, you can classify your relationship status: married, single, engaged, etc. Maybe the best choice is the one that says “It’s complicated,” because really, they are, relationships are complicated. Relationships look a little easier on facebook. You can quickly catch up with an old friend, and then just kind of let them sit out there in cyberspace. They remain on your friend list, they can see your photos and status updates if you choose, but you don’t really have to interact with them. Thank goodness we have real relationships outside of cyberspace. What would relationships be without hearing a friend’s voice, feeling the touch of their hand, or seeing the look in their eyes? Yea, relationships are complicated, but we were made for this purpose. We were made for fellowship with Christ Jesus and with our neighbors. At the chapel, this has been a month focusing on relationships. I hope you have gained some insight into your relationships, taken away some advice on how to make them better. I know I have. I know I have spent more time this month focusing away from myself, and my busyness, and focusing more on various relationships and what I need to put into them to make them flourish.
Did you know you have a friend request right now? Do you feel the excitement? Someone wants to begin or rekindle a relationship with you. Someone has searched for you, sought you out, and is waiting for your reply. This request isn’t new. It’s been sitting there waiting for your response. Have you accepted it before? or Have you quietly ignored it? Did you catch up briefly with this old friend and then, just let the relationship sit out their stagnant? or Are you actively involved in the relationship? Take the time to accept this friend request. This one doesn’t have to be complicated. John 15:13-15 “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
