Deborah Z Green

Being Discipled

2012-02-06T20:35:00.003-05:00

Our relationship with God takes many forms. We may see Him as a judge who keeps a record of our sins and then a redeemer who forgives us. We often need Him to be our Father so we can run to Him in times of trouble. He swoopes us up in His big strong arms. Jesus becomes our Big Brother and counselor who listens intently as we pour out our souls and listen as He speaks Truth to us. I especially have liked to see Him as my Senior Partner realizing we are in business together, working to bring His kingdom to earth.

All of these perspectives, along with many others, are valid. One additional one came to my attention recently. While Pastor Jeff was speaking from Colossians, he pointed out that the word "learn" comes from the Greek word which means discipled. I thought to myself, "Good thought! Being discipled would be a good thing." I have great godly friends who speak Truth into my life from time to time but being discipled seemed like something different. My mind wandered for a few seconds pondering who I might find to disciple me. I ran through a list of mature Christian friends, quickly assessed their busy schedules and realized that I would likely not be able to find someone to disciple me in the way this verse seemed to indicate.

Just when I was about to give up hope, he referenced another verse that used the same greek word for learn. Matthew 11:29. Jesus had just invited us to come to Him if we are weary and burdened (verse 28). Jesus than says. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me..." I immediately understood and I took it as a personal invitation. "Let me disciple you!" Does it get any better than that?

Trusting God

2012-01-30T11:10:00.003-05:00

At the heart of our quality of life is our relationship with God. His Word assures us of His love for us over and over. He blesses us far more than we deserve and floods us with his grace and mercy. With all that, it seems that it would not be difficult to trust Him, but sometimes it is. Why is that?

Perhaps it is because we do not know Him well enough. The more time we spend with Him, the better we will get to know Him. Just like it is when we want to get to know a friend better, we must spend time with them, listening to their perspective and insights. The better we know them, the more we can trust them. It is the same with our relationship with God. The better we know Him, the more we will be able to trust Him.

Trusting Him may also be difficult because His ways are higher than our ways. He sees the big picture. We often pray for something specific but the answer does not always come in the way or time frame we had in mind. Does that mean that God can not be trusted? Not at all. It rather means that He has a better plan. In those moments, trusting Him becomes a choice we make.

For some reason, it seems that I have had more opportunities to make a decision to trust Him lately. Sometimes we limit the areas of our life where we allow God to be in charge. We stay in control in some areas and let Him be in charge in others. As we grow closer to Him, we come to understand the importance of giving Him access to all areas of our life. A familiar passage is Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." The word that stands out for me today is "all." I trust God in many areas of my life but probably not all. I want to change that, to trust Him more, allowing Him to be in control in all areas of my life. The more I trust Him, even with the details, the better quality of life I will experience. It's my choice.

Can we talk?

2012-01-14T17:55:00.002-05:00

"Can we talk?" When we ask this question or when someone asks us this question, a door of communication may be opening. Talking plays an essential role in our relationships with family and friends. Without continual discourse, many misunderstandings and hurt feelings result. From the perspective of a counselor, when honest and respectful communication happens between people, problems are quite likely to be solved. We need this kind of connection wit each other. God created us this way.

From the beginning, God made man for communication. He talked with Adam and Eve on a regular basis and it was only when they disobeyed Him that the communication was compromised. God talked with Noah about the condition of sinful man and his solution, the flood. God talked with Moses through a burning bush and Moses responded to Him. God talked to King Saul through Samuel, to King David through Nathan and to many of the other kings through His prophets. When Jesus appeared on the scene, the bar of communication was raised to a much higher level. Jesus made it possible for us to have much better communication with the Father. He modeled it and He mandated it. The talking between God and us is known as prayer. Too often we see prayer as a one-way conversation, us talking to God. That is not what God had in mind. Just imagine a child coming to their parent with a litany of concerns. All of them are ligetimate and all of them need to be expressed to the parent. The parent listens patiently, knowing that they will be able to provide solutions to each of the problems at one level or another. But when the child completes his list of concerns, he turns and runs off. "Wait," the parent might call after him. "Wait, come back. I can help you with those things. We can work together to make things better for you. I need to talk with you. Come back!"

Sometimes we are that way with our heavenly Father. We give Him our prayer concerns and then, before He has the opportunity to speak into our lives, we are off and runing to the next item on our agenda. I wonder if God does not sometimes feel like that parent, saying, "Come back...." While He deeply desires to hear from us, what He has to say is far more important than what we have to say. I believe God is saying to us, "Can we talk?" He absolutely wants us to come to Him with our hurts and hurtles but when we are done with that list, He has something to say to us. It is in our best interest to listen. When He asks, "Can we talk?" Our best response is, "You bet and I will do most of the listening!"

Prayer, a Priority

2012-01-07T14:40:00.003-05:00

Over the past week or so, my Senior Partner, (A.K.A. the Holy Spirit) and I have had several conversations about changes He would like me to make in the new year. One of these is more prayer. I came across the verse in Colossians 4:2 and believe this is to be my theme verse for the year. "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (NIV) Only eight words but this little command is packed with meaning.

I understand being devoted to something. When I am involved in a knitting project, I am devoted to it. I get all the right materials and I work on it every chance I get. Every free moment, I pick up my knitting and work on it, even when I am watching TV or listening to a book. I am quite devoted to eating also, especially when I am hungry. My freezer is full of good food and there is no chance thatI will ever starve. At times I even am devoted to walking or running, being intentional about creating an opportunity for it to happen. I believe He is asking me to be just that committed to prayer. That means praying every chance I get, creating opprotunities to pray, making it a priority.

I found the second part of this verse to be just as challenging. What is the value of being watchful and thankful? Perhaps being watchful makes us alert to what is going on around us so we will know how to pray. It might include being sensitive to the needs of, those God places in our path. It may mean being aware of God's hand at work. Being thankful, on the other hand, a theme throughout the Bible, changes our perspective. We can easily focus on the negative things in life but when we are intentional about focusing on God's blessings, life is better. It may be that being watchful and being thankful need to go hand in hand. If we are devoted to prayer, we will become aware of the needs around us. Being watchful will sharpen our perspective while being thankful will keep us from becoming overwhelmed with the hurt and struggles of those for which we are praying.

I have decided to be intentional about this "little" command. I believe it is a big deal to God. Jesus certainly modeled a strong prayer life. I believe being devoted to prayer is the key to going to the next level in my relationship with God as well as the next level in ministry!

Who sets your goals?

2011-12-30T21:11:00.003-05:00

2011 is fast coming to a close. It is now just over 24 hours and we will be into 2012. It's hard to believe; where did the time go? For several years now, I have participated in what I refer to as an annual review. I set aside a couple of hours where I read back over my journal for the past year and invite the Holy Spirit, my Senior Partner, to give me his assessment of how I am doing. He tells me where I have done pretty well but also points out where I can make improvements. In the past, I would use this time to set goals for the next year.

We did my annual review this week. Something was different this time. After looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the past year, I began to think about what goals I would set for 2012, but something did not seem right. I realized that I should not be the one who sets my goals. Since I claim to be a follower of Jesus, He should be the one to do that. I have been guilty of making plans and then asking God to bless them. That is backwards. This time I asked Him to set my goals for me for the new year. He certainly has a better plan for my life than I do. He knows which goals are unrealistic and which ones are not high enough. He knows the direction He wants my life to go and which goals will get me there.

So He has set my goals for me. I have them in writing and plan to review them on a regular basis. He promises to guide us. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 (NIV) What a great promise! I need Him to do just that. With Him in charge, 2012 will be a great year.

The Big Difference

2011-12-23T21:40:00.003-05:00

During Advent this year, I am spending extra time reading about Jesus in an attempt to learn more about Him. As one of His followers, I want to reflect more of His qualities. I want to learn how I can be more like Him. What are some qualities of His that I could imitate? How can I be more effective in my service to Him?

I came across a couple of verses that seem to point out the big difference between me and Jesus. I missed this in the past because of a chapter division. In the original writing, there were no chapter or verse separations. While these separations are helpful, we must be careful to not miss important connecting thoughts. That is what almost happened for me when I read John 7:53 and 8:1-2.

Read these verses without any separation, as a continuous thought. "Then each went to his own home. But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn He appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around Him and He sat down to teach them." Just prior to this, Jesus almost got arrested. People were in a big discussion about who He really was. Many did not believe Him when He told them who He was and why He had come to earth. That could have been quite discouraging and stressful for Him. At the end of the day, though, the people all went home. Where did Jesus go? To the Mount of Olives, a well-known place of prayer for Him. We do not know for sure what happened there but the next comment is that He appeared the next morning in the temple ready for ministry. He likely spent the night there. He likely spent time in prayer.

I believe that while the rest of us go home, Jesus goes to His Father. That is a major difference between me and Him. At the end of a draining day, where do I go? Too often, I look for an activity that is a diversion for me. It may get my mind off of the events of the day. It may even relax me but more often than not, these activities do not restore me. It is only time with my Father that encourages, affirms and energizes me in a meaningful way. If I want to be more like Jesus, I will go to my Father for the refreshing that I need, that He alone can give!

How bad do you want it?

2011-12-11T18:41:00.003-05:00

Some time ago, a friend and I were talking about the TV show, Biggest Loser. She pointed out that if she worked as hard as they did, she would lose weight, too. Then she added, "I don't want it that bad." She was exactly right. She did not want to lose weight enough to put in all that time, sweat and effort. I understood, neither did I.

In a recent Bible study, I was challenged when the teacher asked us to think about this same issue. How bad did we want to grow closer to God. She asked if we were content with our relationship with Him or whether we wanted more. What would we be willing to do to experience more of Him? She asked us to think of one thing we would be willing to change to get closer to God. What is one thing I could do to experience a deeper walk with the Lord? I thought a lot about that. I asked my Senior Partner to show me what that one thing might be. I recalled that the Psalmist had that same concern. "Search me, Oh God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

So what change should I make? It could be illiminating a behavior or doing something new. It might involve another person or it could be internal. It might be connected to my home, my church or my job. It could be an attitude or an action. It may be something I never thought of before or something that my Senior Partner has been talking with me about for some time. As I write this, I have become aware of what change I must make if I want to grow closer to Him. He has pointed out that this change will take me to the next level in my ministry. He has also let me know that if I do not make this change, He will still love me but that I will not experience His best for me. So now it is up to me! How bad do I want it?

Which Commands?

2011-11-26T06:18:00.002-05:00

As I read through Psalms 119, it is clear that whoever wrote this Psalm, loves God's laws. I feel convicted. I do love God's Word but I certainly do not feel as passionate about His commands as perhaps I should. I want to have that much passion though and told Him jus that. But where do I start? There are the ten commandments, of course. It would take a lifetime to get all of those down but there are a lot of other directives throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments.

As I was pondering these thoughts, I noticed something in verses 34-35.
"Give me understanding and I will keep yor law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands for there I find delight." (NIV)

In both of these verses, and in many other places, the author asks for help. "Direct me" and "give me understanding." I decided to do that also, to ask for His guidance with the question about what commands he is talking about. When I did, He said I should simply start where I am. Obey the commands I am aware of to the best of my ability. He said He would take it from there. What great news!
I realize He wants me to grow even more than I do. He will provide the means for that to happen. My job is to follow His leading. That requires a daily committment to stay focused on Him. With His help, I can do that!

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever." II Peter 3:18 (NIV)

Esau's Choice

2011-11-17T19:53:00.002-05:00

Abraham's son Isaac had two sons, Jacob and Esau. They were twins but apparently as different as day and night. Esau was the older one and was an outdoor kind of guy. Jacob was more of an indoor person. One day, according to Gennesis 25:29-34, Esau came in from a hunting trip. He was famished and noticing that Jacob had been cooking, asked for some food. Jacob saw his desparation and made an offer. "First sell me your birthright." (v 31) In the moment, Esau thought that he would die so saw little value in a birthright. He readily agreed, had some stew and that was that, or was it.

I wonder if later in the day Esau thought about the transaction and had any regrets. I wonder if he understood that by this action, he had "despised his birthright" (v. 34). He must have understood the special standing he had as the first born. When his father, Isaac, was on his death bed, he called for his first born son. Isaac was tricked into giving the special blessing to Jacob. Esau realized his great loss and was so angry that Jacob had to leave the country, fearing for his life. The decision Esau made at a point of great need had huge ramifications.

Sometimes we are not all that different from Esau. Our moments of desparation may not always be hunger. They may be anger, loneliness, fear, disappointment, hurt or boredom. Regardless of the reason, in those moments, the enemy of our soul offers up a variety of plausible solutions. Accepting any of these is similar to selling a birthright. Our birthright might be seen as our relationship with God. When we accept the offer made by the enemy of our soul, we miss out on the rich relationship resource God has promised us. The next time you feel desparate for any reason, realize the moment as an opportunity to draw closer to our Wonderful Counselor, the only source that can truly satisfy our deepest need.

Cravings Good and Bad

2011-11-10T21:09:00.003-05:00

God delivered the Children of Israel out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, destroying their enemies in the process. At first "they believed his (God's) promises and sang praises to him. But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. In the desert, they gave in to their cravings...." Psalms 106:12-14 (NIV). A craving is something we desire intensely. Some cravings are good like a craving for water, food or sleep. Some, however, are bad and have the potential to destroy us.

In the book, "Made to Crave) the author suggests that at our core, we desperately want a closer relationship wit God. At times, we sense a longing, an emptiness or a desire. Often we cannot put our finger on it but the author says these feelings are a craving for God but we do not realize it. Instead of turning to God and moving in a little closer in those moments, we turn to other activities or things. These can include sugar, shopping, reading or any number of things. We engage in the activity and the craving seems to die down. It is still there though because that kind of craving can only be satisfied by a closer relationship with the Lord.

When we are dealing with a craving , we must first acknowledge it, believe God is able to overcome it and then come to him and let him strengthen us. "He will satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things." Psalm s 107:9 (NIV) Instead of giving into our cravings like the Israelites did, let us wait on the Lord. He will meet all our needs. The more we rely on him, the more we will walk in his plan for an abundant life.

What are you thinking?

2011-11-05T05:27:00.005-04:00

May my meditations be pleasing to him as I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:34 NIV)
We constantly are thinking. Our minds stay active even when we aren't. Our thoughts set the direction of our lives. Our relationships are impacted by what we think. Our self images are a direct result of our thoughts. Managing this continual flow of self talk is the key to all of life. How do we take control of this most important area of our lives?

God's word often refers to our thinking as meditation. The Psalms has many references to our thinking often imploring that God would be pleased with our thoughts. But can we control what we think? What actually determines what goes through our minds?

Our thoughts grow out of what we watch on TV or at the movies, what we read, hear or experience in some way. Most of that we certainly can control. Someone who watches a lot of scary movies might struggle with being afraid. Someone who reads a lot of romances might find themselves dissatisfied with their less than perfect spouse. But when we fill our minds with truths from God's word, we begin to think like God thinks. We see people as he sees them and adopt his priorities. Our thoughts focus on things that are true, pure and encouraging.

When you are ready for a spiritual growth spurt, ask God to help you assess your meditation, evaluate what you are choosing to put into your mind and be willing to make whatever changes he might suggest. You will be glad you did!

Getting Rid of Weeds

2011-04-25T15:29:00.002-04:00

With all the new growth and color of spring comes those unwanted weeds. The dandelions and wild onions pop up in the yard and who knows what appear in our gardens. A couple years ago I decided to hire a lawn care service. I expected them to show up with weed killer but they had a different approach. "We do not attempt to kill the weeds, rather we feed the soil so that the weeds won't grow. Grass thrives in a richer soil than weeds and when the soil has been enriched, the weeds simply die out on their own, they explained." It worked! I have very few weeds in my yard.

There is a parallel in our spiritual walk. We can work hard to get rid of the negative thoughts and actions in our life with little success. When, however, we feed our souls with food from God's word we are stronger to resist sin. We are advised to guard our hearts, take our thoughts captive and think on things that are pure and honest. We can hide God's word in our hearts so we will not sin against him.

Just like feeding our lawns to get rid of weeds, we can nourish our hearts by being careful about what we read, what we watch, what we hear, even what we say. When we delight in the "law of the Lord", focusing on the Lord, we will be productive and successful in our work for Him.

Unconditional or Earned

2011-04-16T21:29:00.003-04:00

The Hebrew nation, God's chosen people certainly had their ups and downs. Just when we think they have it all together, they openly disobey and God has to get them back on track. A significant truth became clear to me recently as I observed them through my Old Testament reading. God's love is unconditional but his blessings require obedience! This is an important distingtion.

It is easy to get this wrong in both areas. Some tend to think they must work to earn God's love. No where in God's Word do we see this. His love is greater than we can ever imagine and there is nothing we can do to make him love us more. On the other hand, some like to think that his blessings are unconditional. They think God owes them his favor and seem to delight in making demands on him. The Word is just as clear on this point. It is as we seek Him, delight in Him and walk in obedience that He promises to bless us.

Yes, His love is unconditional but his blessings require obedience. One additional element in our relationship to our heavenly Father cannot be overlooked - His grace! If we have a hard time getting our minds around His love, how can we ever expect to understand His grace. I certainly don't. I do, however, stand in awe of Him and all He has done to make it possible for us to have a relationship with him. I accept His love, commit to please Him and rely on His grace when I fail.

Benefits of Obedience

2011-04-01T11:03:00.003-04:00

Of course we know that obeying God pleases him but I came across a verse recently that pointed out a couple specific benefits. "Keep his decrees and commands which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your childrenafter you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time." Deut. 4:40 (NIV) Moses is giving some final words of wisdom. The Children of Israel are poised to enter the Promised Lan after forty long years in the wilderness.

This verse is as relivant today as it was al those years ago. Yes, I want things to go well with me and I would like to live a long life. What caught my attention, though, was the relationship between my obedience and how things go with my daughter. Do I want things to go well with her? You bet! I have spent a good deal of time and energy over the years trying to make that happen. Now I see that the best thing I can do for her is to be obedient to God!

How does that happen? I guess she would see my life as an example. I would talk about my relationship with God. I would teach her what I have learned. While I am not responsible for the decisions my adult child makes, I do believe God's promise is true. I do not understand how this all works but it is just one more reason why I am committed to obey Him!

Numb or Nourish

2011-03-22T06:18:00.005-04:00

One of the greatest challenges of life, of ministry, is finding the balance between being productive and being rested. We like and need to contribute to life, to assist, to help. We enjoy participating in activities and in connecting with people. Often there are many demands on our time and resources. How do we find the balance? How do we prevent becoming burned out?

One misconception about preventing burnout is that taking a break from our routines is sufficient. The quality of that activity is key. Sometimes the break is a diversion only. It is something different. It may even be mindless, requiring little of our mental or emotional energy, but does it nourish us or simply numb us for a time. Sometimes we think a video game, a book or a movie will refresh us. Not always. It may serve as a destraction but it may not nourish or refresh. At the end of the "break" we may feel just as tense and just as depleted.

As our model of abundant life, Jesus did it right. He spent time with his Father! Several times in the Gospels, Jesus is reported to be away from the croud, even away from his disciples. He received nourishment in those moments. If He needed this kind of time, I certainly do. With everything else I have to do, you say, how can I possibly fit this in? Talk to Him about that. If you really want to spend time with Him, He will help you work that out. Yes, you may have to reorder your priorities but it will be worth it. God does not intend for us to live on the edge of burnout but rather , in the midst of abundance!

Change

2011-03-16T22:14:00.003-04:00

Spring is here and everything around us is on the verge of change. Grass is getting greener and buds are peaking out from branches. I am in the middle of a major remodeling project in my basement and my grandson is different every time I visit him. Change seems inevidable!

Some change happens as a part of nature. God designed it that way. Other changes are expected and desirable, like losing weight or getting your hair cut. The most challenging kind of change, however, are those that are unexpected. Often these changes appear to be unwanted. They disrupt our routines and put us in a place of uncertainty. When my son-in-law was in a major car accident, everything in his life changed. He could not walk for months nor could He return to work for quite a while. As a result of the accident, my daughter lost her job. All these changes were unexpected and seemed undesireable. But many great things have developed as a result of that change.

When I am faced with unexpected change, I need to get past my immediate reaction as soon as possible. Do I really believe that all things work together for the good of those who love him? Do I really want things to always stay the same? Do I trust my Senior Partner enough to relax in the face of change, knowing that he has everything under control. We can maintain stability in the midst of change when we are firmly planted in the one thing that will not change - God's love for us! God will always be with us. His word will never change, neither will he for that matter. Heaven is still my home. God is still God and I will still serve him the rest of my days!

Getting to Know Him

2011-03-08T05:16:00.003-05:00

Lent is a season of the church that leads up to Easter. Many protestant believers do not observe this time but it offers an opportunity to grow closer to God. We hear about people giving up something for Lent . The purpose of sacrificing is to remember the sufferings of Jesus in our behalf. A couple of years ago, I received a challenge to pray a certain prayer and decided to do it every day during Lent. "Father, open my eyes to who you really are and I will open my life to you." Only 17 words but a life changer!

Our concept of God matters. Often we think of God in terms of our human relationships. We can think of God as a sort of Santa, a grandfather or a slot machine where we can get anything we want simply by asking. On the other hand, we can imagine Him as a detached, uncaring father or a cruel abusive parent who watches for us to slip so they can punish us. Of course, God is none of these. His love for us is beyond our understanding but so is His holiness and majesty. In Numbers 11, after He miraculously brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and is leading them to a land of promise, we read that he got angry when they complained yet again. We read that His ways ar higher than our ways and that we cannot expect to understand everything. We find out that He is all knowing, all powerful and is everywhere at the same time. He does not tolerate sin but rather than kick us to the curb when we fall short, He graciously provides a way to re-establish our relationship with Him through His son Jesus.

So I pass the challenge I received on to you, dear reader. Pray the 17 word life changing prayer or simply tell Him you want to know Him better. That will be music to His ears because He delights in you and wants nothing more than to teach you His ways. When you read the Bible, look for clues about His nature. Listen as He speaks to your heart. You will discover that this relationship is the most important thing in the world. To know Him really is to love Him. You will want to express that love by obeying Him and when that becomes your top priority, the sky is the limit! Get ready for the time of your life!

They Laughed at Him

2011-03-02T05:54:00.003-05:00

I love reading about Jesus, listening to his stories and watching him as He ministered to all those people. He seemed to be surrounded with so many people who all wanted something from him. Recently, I saw something in an account from Mark 5 that struck me . Jesus had been asked to come and pray for Jairus's daughter. Jesus agreed to go with him but got delayed when someone touched him and was healed. He stopped to have a conversation with her but in that moment, some men came from Jairus's home reporting that his daughter had died. There would be no point in Jesus continuing on his mission to heal her. Jesus ignored them!

Most interesting, however, is what happened when He arrived at the house. Clearly everyone thought she had died for there a lot of crying and mourning. Jesus pushed past all that commotion commenting that she was not dead, just sleeping. One might think that this would be good news. Wouldn't they have felt relief to know that her condition was temporary? Wouldn't they be glad to have Jesus on the scene? But no, they laughed at Him!

I can only imagine how some of us would have reacted in that moment. Put yourself in his shoes. You go out of your way to come to this strangers house to pray for his daughter. All the people around think she is dead and you admit that she looks dead but you also know that this is only temporary. You plan to pray for her and she will be healed. You make this wonderful announcement but instead of words of relief and gratitude, they laugh at you. Some of us might be tempted to turn around and walk out. If they have no more respect for us than that, we will show them. Forget healing their daughter.

I am glad Jesus was not like us. I am sure He was aware of their reaction to his comment about the little girl being asleep but it didn't matter to him. He knew why He was there, He felt their pain and He knew that He could fix things. I want to be like that. I want to be so clear about my mission, my assignment, that it does not matter what kind of reaction I get. I want to be so committed to obeying the Lord that I do not need affirmation or encouragement to carry out my task. I'm sure Jesus was able to be that strong and focused because of his connection with his Father. Yes, I want to get closer, hear more clearly and yes, be more like Jesus!

Loving God or Loving People

2011-02-23T05:24:00.003-05:00

God's Word is full of reminders of His love for us. He asks us to love him in return and, when we think of all He has done for us, that is easy to do. Recently, though, my Senior Partner, the Holy Spirit, has pointed out something that has changed things for me. Actually, I guess it is my fault. I asked Him to teach me more about God's love. Who would have thought I would learn more about His love in Leviticus. Chapter 6:1-7 makes an interesting point. "The Lord said to Moses, If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord by ..." He goes on to list specific sins against other people such as deceiving, cheating and lying. Isn't that amazing. He makes it clear that sinning against those around us counts as being unfaithful to the Lord. The rest of that passage explains what they were to do if they sinned against God in these ways. It includes both restitution along with specific sacrifices. I remembered that Joseph understood this concept when he said that he would not sin against God by sleeping with Potiphar's wife. There clearly is a connection between our relationship with God and our relationship with people.

Jesus certainly adds to this concept when He tells the story about sheep and goats in Matthew 24. Ministry to others counted as ministry to Him. John adds a final comment when he explains what completes God's love in I Johm 4:12 "...if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us." It was through Jesus, a human, that God showed His love for us. In the same way, it is through other people that we show our love for God.

Wow! Does this mean I should treat people as I would treat Jesus? Do I need to be as patient and kind to others as I would be toward Him? Does that include my friends at the nursing home and those who do not agree with me? I think so. My Senior Partner has some more work to do in me. I am glad He loves me and is patient with me.

Our Part

2011-02-16T05:05:00.002-05:00

God's word is full of promises. It is clear He desires good for us. Psalms 34 contains several of these promises. Phrases like "the Lord is good:, "Lack nothing o" and "lack no good thing" point out God's intention for us to live well. What we miss sometimes is the qualifier that goes with each of these. Each of them are connected with something we are to do. "Taste and see that the Lord is good" We must make the effort to taste. The rest of that verse tells us that the person who takes refuge in the Lord is blessed. Again, we have a part to ply, taking refuge in Him. Verse 9 makes a similar point. We are to lack nothing but in order for that to happen, we are to fear the Lord. Again in verse 10, we see that God intends for us to lack no good thing but that happens as we seek Him.

I get lazy sometimes. I want all the benefits but do not always make the effort to taste, fear and seek. Sometimes my tasting, fearing and seeking are in the wrong areas and then things do not go as well as I would like. Keeping our focus on the Lord does take effort but the quality of our lives is in direct proportion to our effort to get close to Him and

When it's all said and done

2010-10-26T14:44:00.000-04:00

Near the end of II Timothy, we read Paul’s assessment of his life. One might think he would evaluate himself based on the number of churches he had planted or the number of souls he had led to Christ. Perhaps he would think in terms of the number of books he had written or the number of miles he had traveled preaching the gospel.

But no, Paul recalled a couple of the analogies from his previous books. He said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (4:7) NIV)

What measuring stick do we use at the end of a day? Do we determine whether the day was good based on the to do list we established, which may not match God’s list? Do we look at the approval or lack of it we received from certain others during the day? Do we feel successful if we earn a certain amount of money or get a promotion? If our role as a servant is to please our Master, the value of our day needs to be whether we carried out His will. We may not see benefit of our obedience. We may not know how people were impacted.

When it is all said and done, at the end of the day, at the end of our lives, what really matters is whether we have been faithful to the calling God has on our lives. Paul understood this. Perhaps that is the secret to Jesus’ light burden and his easy yoke.

Waiting

2010-08-06T11:24:00.002-04:00

Have you ever heard a parent say, "Wait" to an impatient child. Perhaps you have said that yourself. I certainly have. Recently I have been on the other end of that conversation. God has said, "Wait" to me. Waiting can be difficult.

My daughter, Stephanie, gave birth to her first son, my first grandchild on Sunday, July 11. She was seven weeks early. A NICU team was waiting for him and within minutes of his birth, he was wisked away and received the life saving medical services he desperately needed. Stephanie got to hold him for a few seconds that day but than had to wait until Friday until she got to hold him. I was able to go into the NICU and they let me touch him, but I did not get to hold him. I am still waiting. He is still in the hospital. Each day there is improvement. He is off all the tubes and we are just waiting for a little more development. He will go home soon and then my wait will be over. I will get to hold him!

Sometimes when we pray, God answers our prayers in the way we ask. Sometimes He says, "No." Sometimes He tells us He has a better plan but sometimes He says, "Wait!" It is in those moments that we have to trust Him. Does He really know what is best? Will all things really work out for the good of those who love Him? Often it takes a sheer act of our wills to determine we will trust Him. In those moments, our relationship with Him strengthens and we take a step closer. I usually do not like waiting but I know there is a reason and if I could see the big picture, like He does, I would agree.
Do

Daily Surrender

2010-06-29T12:30:00.005-04:00

Recently I read a comment where the author said he started each day on his knees. He said he simply slid out of bed onto his knees as his first act of the day. With my increased focus on my relationship with God, I decided to do that, also. It is not a firmly established habit yet. Some mornings I remember and do it right. Other mornings, I forget and head down the hall before I remember. I turn around and go back to my bed where I kneel to pray.

From that position, it is easier to surrender the day to my Master. I usually have plans for the day but at that moment, they are all on the table. The overarching questions are what will please Him. What is his will for me? What will grow our relationship?

I have spent a good deal of time in my yard recently. I have been digging up weeds. I have untangled vines from around bushes and flowers. I have put down weed killer and mulch. I have drug out the hose and watering can. As I work, sweaty and dirty, I understand the parallel to what God wants to do in our hearts. It takes time and it takes hard work. We will not have a pretty yard by relaxing on the back porch with a glass of ice tea. We will not have a rich relationship with the Holy Spirit without spending time with Him. Our relationship with Him is His gift to us but the quality of that relationship is our choice, our gift to Him!

What is the most important thing?

2010-06-15T21:28:00.003-04:00

In the process of clearing my plate and becoming more focused, the Lord has asked me to check my motives. The other day, I had to decide which I should do first, write in my journal, a form of prayer for me, or reading my Bible. My first impulse was that nothing is more important than reading the Bible but in that moment, I decided to write in my journal. I posed that question to the Holy Spirit, my Senior Partner. He pointed out that Bible reading is essential but my top priority should be our relationship, his and mine. The Bible ranks up there pretty high but mostly because it lets me get to know Him better, improving our relationship.

That happened just a few weeks ago but since then, I have been running my plans through the filter of how that action impacts my relationship with God. The shift is subtle but everything has changed. I go to Him first each morning and we assess the day. I often change my plans after discussing things with Him. Sometimes we make a list. A lot still needs to change but by the end of the summer, my life will look and feel much different. . . I will keep you informed!

My Prayer is being Answered

2010-05-19T16:25:00.003-04:00

It is probably been about a year ago. For reasons that I did not then understand, I felt overwhelmed. I seemed to have much more to do than I could ever have time for. I had a long talk with my Senior Partner, the Holy Spirit. I explained that something had to change and would He please help. You should try that sometime. He has an amazing way of getting right to the point. He simply told me that if I thought my plate was too full, there were things on it that He did not put there.

I had to think about that a while. He added that whenever I wanted to work on clearing up my plate a bit , He would be happy to help me sort everything out. He reminded me that I needed to fulfill my commitments but when that commitment time ended, I needed to check with him before I added anything new. It has been amazing! Little by little, the responsibilities I had are reducing. I have good friends who are encouraging me in this process and I am being careful not to take on anything new without His approval. I have had time to work in my yard and am setting up a study in my home. The biggest deal is that I got out my old guitar and played a while last night. I have not done that in years.

I am not sure where this will end but I think He is showing me that His yoke really is easy and his burden really is light!

Changed by our thoughts

2010-04-15T14:49:00.005-04:00

God promises us transformation. He says in Romans 12:2 that we are changed by renewing our thinking. It is exciting to know that we do not have to stay where we are, there are new and exciting opportunities ahead of us. Spring make this very apparent. Everywhere you look things are changing. The grass is growing, trees are blooming and little sprouts are popping up everywhere. Over the next couple weeks, we will see a lot of change.
For us, change occurs as we keep our focus on God. Lamentations 3:21, "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: " What we think needs to be intentional. As we keep our focus on seeking God, opening our hearts to Him and becoming more like Him, our lives will continue to change, grow and improve.

Transformation

2010-03-16T13:33:00.003-04:00

Change is part of life, part of growth. We see it everywhere in nature, especially in the spring. Seeds turn into flowers and fruit. Caterpillars curl up in a cocoon and emerge as a beautiful butterfly. Brown lawns become lush green carpet. We take it all for granted.
I believe growth and change is part of our DNA. While change sometimes is scary, we become alarmed when change does not occur. Romans 12:2 encourages us to embrace change. This process is called being transformed. It goes on to tell us how to make changes, by renewing our minds. If at any point in you life you would like to see change, allow God to search your heart and show you the areas where he would like to make improvements. To the degree your heart is open to him, he will renew you mind and transform your life!

Lent

2010-03-02T14:12:00.003-05:00

I did not grow up in a tradition that celebrated Lent so I don't know a lot about it. I do know that it is a time of sacrifice in preparation for Easter. I see it as an opportunity to grow closer to God. This year, I decided to cut out some foods that are not good for me. In addition, I am doing something I have never done before, I am working on memorizing scripture. I plan to memorize 40 verses, one each day, during Lent. It has been interesting to see where the Holy Spirit leads me. I want to live out Psalms 1:2-3. I want it to be said of me, "Her delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law she meditates day and night. She is like a tree planted by rivers of water ... and whatever she does prospers."

Success

2010-02-16T15:32:00.000-05:00

God's word is filled with great words of wisdom. One of the best is the formula for success. In several places, He makes it clear that to be successful, we need only obey His law. Psalm 1 points out that the person who delights in God's word day and night will be like a tree planted by a stream of water - successfull in all we do. Perhaps one of the most important things we can request of the Lord is for Him to show us the areas in our lives where we are not walking in obedience. I am confident He will answer that prayer!

A No Regrets Life

2010-02-12T21:42:00.000-05:00

So, if you thought you had only one month to live, how would you do life differently? Two principles have impacted my life as a result of this study. First, I will attempt to have a life of no regrets. At the end of my life, at the end of my day, I want to be confident that I made decisions that pleased God. This motive can guide us throughout the day and bring clarity to the choices we make continually.
Right along with that, I want more than ever, to know my purpose, to discover the passion God has placed in me. I think I am on the right track with my passion for people in my counseling career, but I want my life to be focused. I plan to continue to clear my plate of things and activities that do not contribute to this purpose. I believe this is why Jesus could say that His yoke is easy and his burden light.

Leaving a Legacy

2010-02-03T21:46:00.000-05:00

We are completing our One Month To Live study. In our small group recently, we talked about leaving a legacy; storing up treasures in Heaven. We wrestled with just how we do that. Probably the best way to get a handle on leaving a lasting impact is to think about what you remember about people who have made an impact in your life. Was it the money they had accumulated, the position they had achieved, or the letters behind their name? Probably not.
Likely what made the biggest impression on us was the time we spent together, the Truth they spoke into our lives, the thoughtful acts of kindness and the prayers they said for us. None of these cost money. If we could take a peek at how we are doing with storing up treasures in Heaven, I wonder what we would find. As we go throughout our day, may we see people as Jesus sees them. May we be motivated to pour into the lives of those around us in the same way that Jesus does, in the same way He has poured into ours.