Fitness has become an economic windfall and a booming industry. It has been infiltrated by women in skimpy outfits and men with muscles bulging from beneath tight shirts. The whole focus of this industry is on the outward appearance. It has become about how "sexy" or "ripped" a person can become. Fitness has become the means in which one becomes attractive to the opposite sex. In our twisted society, being fit is too often about being good looking and not spiritually, emotionally and physically healthy.
This is just another way in which the world has taken something good and turned it into a field day for satan's work. Gyms are a place where men and women can hook up, lust over one another's bodies and built their own egos in the process. Fitness and muscle magazines show men and women wearing barely enough clothing to cover up their most private of body parts and sell sex more then workouts and protein shakes. The sexual aspect of the body has become glorified and embraced. Get in shape and flaunt your body. That is the message being sent in every grocery store check out, online body building site and gym locker room.
God's intent for our health and fitness has nothing to do with being sexy, ripped or attractive. He didn't give us muscles so we could show them off on stages in bikinis. He gave us functioning, strong bodies for the purpose of fulfilling his will and working to further his kingdom. A strong body is much more able to be a worker in his field. When we are weak we become dependent on other people, but a strong physical body is able to do the Lord's work and assist others who are physically limited or disabled.
Just think about how having a strong body can aid in your service to the Lord. If you were weak would you be more limited in how much you could serve and what kind of service you could perform? What can you not do in service to the Lord right now because your physical body's limitations are making it impossible?
God doesn't want us to be healthy so we can be better looking. He wants us to be healthy so we can be useful vessels for fulfilling his purposes on this earth. We can go to the gym, run on the treadmill, lift heavy weights and do it all for the glory of God. But that means we can't be doing it for the glory of our own bodies. We must be doing it with the intent of service to the Lord's work. How do we make sure we are keeping our intentions and motives pure? There is no sure fire way to eliminate the temptation to put our focus on physical appearance, but there are principles that we can put in practice to guard against this temptation.
Here are a few ideas and suggestions:
1. Watch what you wear. Keep your apparel modest and God honoring. Ask yourself this: if Jesus came walking into the gym right now, would I be embarrassed for him to see me?
2. Fill your mind with the right noise. Most people go to the gym with ipod in hand and headphones stuck in their ears. If this is a strategy that helps you push harder and focus then make sure the music you are choosing is of the right content. Music that spews sexual references and swearing is insidious. You cannot fill your mind with those thoughts and not see the results of it in your own life. Keep the message of your music pure. Choose songs with lyrics that set your eyes on Jesus and the truth of scripture.
3. Make workout time prayer time. While lifting, running or stretching take the time to talk to God. Thank him for your physical body and the amazing blessing it is to have muscles that can lift and move with such ease; marvel at God's creation.
4. Don't compare. This is a tough one, but it is worth the struggle. It is a trap of satan to compare your body to others around you or on the cover of magazines. Not only does this move your focus from God centered service to the physical body, it also creates lust and jealousy in the heart. Set goals dependent on your own personal abilities and body. Don't judge yourself based on what someone else can do or what they look like. Set your goals based on the body God gave YOU.
5. Stay in the scriptures. There are so many scriptures that are great motivators for getting physically healthy. Focus on these, memorize them and repeat them throughout your workout and your whole day.
6. Set time aside for rest. Don't go so gun-ho that you forget the importance of rest. If you are strength training 7 days a week you need to take a step back. Even God rested on the Sabbath. Keep Sunday a day of rest, fill it with church service(s) and fellowship. Working out and physical fitness is important but should always take a back seat to the commandments of God.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Pippy is prone to wander, and so am I.
I have taken to opening my front door on my porch and letting Pippy out into the yard to do what she does best: sniff, explore, wander. She is a pro at sniffing out invisible wonders found in particular patches of grass. To me, all the grass looks the same but for some unknown reason, some grass catches Pippy's nose like you wouldn't believe. I can never tell when all of a sudden a blade of grass will catch her attention. When it does she stops dead in her tracks and sinks her heals down, nose to the ground, just begging me not to keep moving. She then indulges in the thrill of a good sniff.
This used to make our walks annoying at times. I'd be walking, my mind not thinking about what might lie in the next patch of grass and then, all of a sudden, my whole body would be abruptly yanked to the right as Pippy caught wind of something I couldn't detect. I would have no warning and my shoulder would pay the price. Now, with the addition of free sniff time in the yard, this isn't as much of an issue. Pippy gets her chance to smell at her leisure and my shoulder isn't at risk of dislocation. It is a win-win.
The only loss in this scenario is the occasional missing dog - not that she has gone missing for long, but there have been 5 or 10 minute periods where Pippy has gone MIA. She follows the sniff right out of the yard, into a neighbors back yard and clear into paths leading down the street. She wanders a bit far. This doesn't cause me to panic. I trust her nose enough to get her back home. So far, with the addition of a little calling out her name, Pippy has always returned. I still wish she wouldn't wander to begin with. I wish she would just keep the sniffing to the general area, where I can easily spot her. She is very obedient about coming back and usually doesn't take more then a minute to return after being called. By why not just stick around in the first place?
Then, it hit me. Pippy is me. I am Pippy. We are both so prone to wander, and even though we come back when prompted, we still stray off the path when no one is looking. For me, I don't wander to sniff, I wander in thought. I start filling my mind with negativity or with meaningless dribble that doesn't build me spiritually. I fall into the mind numbing place of stupid TV and dumb magazine articles on how to organize a bedroom closet for maximum efficiency. Not that organization isn't a good thing, but unless you are shopping for a California Closet system or in the middle of a spring cleaning event, chances are the article is simply a time filler and not so much a life changer. Plus, who truly needs to be told how to organize their closet? Isn't it pretty self explanatory. We all know deep down that to have an organized closet (or an organized life for that matter) we must purge the unnecessary. We all know it but try putting that one into practice! I have kept adorable printed flats for years just in case I ever find the perfect shirt to match so I can wear them to an event I have yet to know exists, must less been invited to. But gotta keep those shoes, just in case!
These are the useless matters that threaten to overtake day to day thinking. Spiritual growth takes a back seat. Focusing on learning more about God becomes a small part of a 15 minute morning devotional. The rest of the day becomes filled with the meaningless, the mundane and the fleeting.
Today, when I stood out on the porch calling Pippy's name I started to get frustrated. Where had she gone this time? I called and then paused. No Pippy. So I called her name again. Off in the distance I heard the distinct sound of the metal on her collar dinging against the clasp. I stayed silent, wondering if my ears were tricking me. Then a brush in the bushes behind my neighbor's garage. I paused another second and looked to the left of my house just in time to see Pippy bound from the gap in the neighbor's fence. She ran to the stairs and gave me her classic look: "You called?" Yes, now get in here!
I opened the door and called her name again. That silly dog went through her crazy routine to get up the stairs, just like she always does. She crouches down, sways back and forth (gaining momentum I suppose?) and then bonded up the 3 steps onto the porch.
She didn't wander to try to scare me or defy my authority. She just wanted to sniff. When I called, she was quick to head my command and come back home. I wish I could teach her to never wander in the first place. It is all well and good to have a dog that comes when you call, but what if her wandering got her in some trouble that she didn't intend to find? What if her wandering took her to a busy street and she ran in front of a car? She might get hurt, or worse, and not be able to physically make it back to the house when I would call for her. She might have never intended to wander that far or not come back when called, but circumstances would make it impossible for her to obey.
When I watched Pippy run onto the porch today it hit me that the same principle applies to me, too. I don't mean to abandon God when my mind wanders. When I worry or have negative thoughts I'm not intentionally trying to defy God or hurt him. Yet, that is exactly what I am doing. Even though I am well intentioned, I must stay focused as well. I can't wait till he calls me back every time. Yes, I listen when he calls. But why did I wander in the first place? Don't I know well enough by now that he wants me to be focused on him without him having to remind me? Just like a parent who constantly has to remind their child to make their bed, God doesn't want to have to remind me of the most basic aspects of our relationship: I am to be fixed on him.
My wandering hasn't come from a place of evil intended disobedience. I haven't been trying to rebel against God and his will. But just because I didn't intend for that does not mean it hasn't unintentionally occurred. My wandering mind has created a wandering heart. Instead of relying on God to call me back over and over, I need to focus my eyes on him without being prompted. I need to wake up each morning with my eyes on him and keep them there throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours. As the sun sets my eyes and heart must remain steadfast in their focus. A heart yearning for God isn't limited to a specific time during the day or a Bible study during the week. It must be an every minute, consistent and constant dedication to seeking out his face in all circumstances and all surroundings, each and every day.
This used to make our walks annoying at times. I'd be walking, my mind not thinking about what might lie in the next patch of grass and then, all of a sudden, my whole body would be abruptly yanked to the right as Pippy caught wind of something I couldn't detect. I would have no warning and my shoulder would pay the price. Now, with the addition of free sniff time in the yard, this isn't as much of an issue. Pippy gets her chance to smell at her leisure and my shoulder isn't at risk of dislocation. It is a win-win.
The only loss in this scenario is the occasional missing dog - not that she has gone missing for long, but there have been 5 or 10 minute periods where Pippy has gone MIA. She follows the sniff right out of the yard, into a neighbors back yard and clear into paths leading down the street. She wanders a bit far. This doesn't cause me to panic. I trust her nose enough to get her back home. So far, with the addition of a little calling out her name, Pippy has always returned. I still wish she wouldn't wander to begin with. I wish she would just keep the sniffing to the general area, where I can easily spot her. She is very obedient about coming back and usually doesn't take more then a minute to return after being called. By why not just stick around in the first place?
Then, it hit me. Pippy is me. I am Pippy. We are both so prone to wander, and even though we come back when prompted, we still stray off the path when no one is looking. For me, I don't wander to sniff, I wander in thought. I start filling my mind with negativity or with meaningless dribble that doesn't build me spiritually. I fall into the mind numbing place of stupid TV and dumb magazine articles on how to organize a bedroom closet for maximum efficiency. Not that organization isn't a good thing, but unless you are shopping for a California Closet system or in the middle of a spring cleaning event, chances are the article is simply a time filler and not so much a life changer. Plus, who truly needs to be told how to organize their closet? Isn't it pretty self explanatory. We all know deep down that to have an organized closet (or an organized life for that matter) we must purge the unnecessary. We all know it but try putting that one into practice! I have kept adorable printed flats for years just in case I ever find the perfect shirt to match so I can wear them to an event I have yet to know exists, must less been invited to. But gotta keep those shoes, just in case!
These are the useless matters that threaten to overtake day to day thinking. Spiritual growth takes a back seat. Focusing on learning more about God becomes a small part of a 15 minute morning devotional. The rest of the day becomes filled with the meaningless, the mundane and the fleeting.
Today, when I stood out on the porch calling Pippy's name I started to get frustrated. Where had she gone this time? I called and then paused. No Pippy. So I called her name again. Off in the distance I heard the distinct sound of the metal on her collar dinging against the clasp. I stayed silent, wondering if my ears were tricking me. Then a brush in the bushes behind my neighbor's garage. I paused another second and looked to the left of my house just in time to see Pippy bound from the gap in the neighbor's fence. She ran to the stairs and gave me her classic look: "You called?" Yes, now get in here!
I opened the door and called her name again. That silly dog went through her crazy routine to get up the stairs, just like she always does. She crouches down, sways back and forth (gaining momentum I suppose?) and then bonded up the 3 steps onto the porch.
She didn't wander to try to scare me or defy my authority. She just wanted to sniff. When I called, she was quick to head my command and come back home. I wish I could teach her to never wander in the first place. It is all well and good to have a dog that comes when you call, but what if her wandering got her in some trouble that she didn't intend to find? What if her wandering took her to a busy street and she ran in front of a car? She might get hurt, or worse, and not be able to physically make it back to the house when I would call for her. She might have never intended to wander that far or not come back when called, but circumstances would make it impossible for her to obey.
When I watched Pippy run onto the porch today it hit me that the same principle applies to me, too. I don't mean to abandon God when my mind wanders. When I worry or have negative thoughts I'm not intentionally trying to defy God or hurt him. Yet, that is exactly what I am doing. Even though I am well intentioned, I must stay focused as well. I can't wait till he calls me back every time. Yes, I listen when he calls. But why did I wander in the first place? Don't I know well enough by now that he wants me to be focused on him without him having to remind me? Just like a parent who constantly has to remind their child to make their bed, God doesn't want to have to remind me of the most basic aspects of our relationship: I am to be fixed on him.
My wandering hasn't come from a place of evil intended disobedience. I haven't been trying to rebel against God and his will. But just because I didn't intend for that does not mean it hasn't unintentionally occurred. My wandering mind has created a wandering heart. Instead of relying on God to call me back over and over, I need to focus my eyes on him without being prompted. I need to wake up each morning with my eyes on him and keep them there throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours. As the sun sets my eyes and heart must remain steadfast in their focus. A heart yearning for God isn't limited to a specific time during the day or a Bible study during the week. It must be an every minute, consistent and constant dedication to seeking out his face in all circumstances and all surroundings, each and every day.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Soak it up....
"I want you to soak up more of me," he says.
God is calling out to me, asking me to stop and enjoy his presence.
".....Far too often you are too busy trying to soak up something other than my presence...the sun, the gym, your dinner, a cup of coffee, the racks of shoes at TJ Maxx, a walk with Pippy, the most recent book you have pulled from the shelves...these things may not appear evil on the surface but if you are replacing them with me then they are evil indeed. Is your focus on soaking up the things in this world that you can see, touch and feel? Or are you more focused on soaking up my presence? I am here, I am ready to pour out to you such wonderful truth, knowledge, goodness, love, mercy, grace, and blessing but you keep looking to other things. You keep trying to soak up other fleeting pleasures instead of what I have to offer you. Slow down, stop, be silent and let me pour out to you wonders beyond your imagination.
To receive what I have I need you to be still. I need you to stop what you are doing and simply focus in on me. Don't focus on the things you think you should be accomplishing or another place you could go and another thing you could be doing with your time. Anything other then soaking in more of me is a waste of time. Simple as that. You are a dog chasing your tail. You will get no where fast. But stop to get at the heart of me and then you will truly be making progress. Maybe it won't be progress like the world defines progress. But who would want that anyhow? Don't you want spiritual progress? Don't you want what will last past this life? Remember all I have taught you so far. That is just the beginning. Look back over the last 12 months. Could you have imagined you'd be here, in Chagrin Falls, attending Parkside? Can you believe the path I took you on and the journeys of the last 3 years? That is all just the beginning. You didn't plan that out. I did. And I am still in control of the plan. I don't need your ideas, I have my own. Trust me, mine are better. They will excite you and surprise you. But you have to be paying enough attention to me to see them! If all you are focused on is your own human desires then you are going to miss out on the better, bigger plan.
So slow down, be still, and soak up all I have for you. Soak up who I am; soak up my Holy Spirit. You are my child and I have not abandoned you and I have never forsaken you. Where have you been? Has your heart been wandering about, looking to fill a void? Fill it with me. I am sufficient. I am enough. Let me be the desire of your heart and I promise, that void will be a thing of the past."
God is calling out to me, asking me to stop and enjoy his presence.
".....Far too often you are too busy trying to soak up something other than my presence...the sun, the gym, your dinner, a cup of coffee, the racks of shoes at TJ Maxx, a walk with Pippy, the most recent book you have pulled from the shelves...these things may not appear evil on the surface but if you are replacing them with me then they are evil indeed. Is your focus on soaking up the things in this world that you can see, touch and feel? Or are you more focused on soaking up my presence? I am here, I am ready to pour out to you such wonderful truth, knowledge, goodness, love, mercy, grace, and blessing but you keep looking to other things. You keep trying to soak up other fleeting pleasures instead of what I have to offer you. Slow down, stop, be silent and let me pour out to you wonders beyond your imagination.
To receive what I have I need you to be still. I need you to stop what you are doing and simply focus in on me. Don't focus on the things you think you should be accomplishing or another place you could go and another thing you could be doing with your time. Anything other then soaking in more of me is a waste of time. Simple as that. You are a dog chasing your tail. You will get no where fast. But stop to get at the heart of me and then you will truly be making progress. Maybe it won't be progress like the world defines progress. But who would want that anyhow? Don't you want spiritual progress? Don't you want what will last past this life? Remember all I have taught you so far. That is just the beginning. Look back over the last 12 months. Could you have imagined you'd be here, in Chagrin Falls, attending Parkside? Can you believe the path I took you on and the journeys of the last 3 years? That is all just the beginning. You didn't plan that out. I did. And I am still in control of the plan. I don't need your ideas, I have my own. Trust me, mine are better. They will excite you and surprise you. But you have to be paying enough attention to me to see them! If all you are focused on is your own human desires then you are going to miss out on the better, bigger plan.
So slow down, be still, and soak up all I have for you. Soak up who I am; soak up my Holy Spirit. You are my child and I have not abandoned you and I have never forsaken you. Where have you been? Has your heart been wandering about, looking to fill a void? Fill it with me. I am sufficient. I am enough. Let me be the desire of your heart and I promise, that void will be a thing of the past."
Monday, June 3, 2013
Becoming truly useful
One of my primary struggles in life is feeling like a bum. I often feel that I am not useful. I'm a drag on my family's finances and a burden. I want to be beneficial and I want to contribute, yet everything I attempt seems to blow up in my face. It is a series of disappointments that have left me feeling like a failure. I don't want to be a weight on my parents, continuing to cost them more and more money that they work so hard for. With each endeavor that I attempt to make a success I get more and more frustrated. What is wrong with me that I can't seem to make anything work? How will I ever be useful?
...Then I stop and listen to what God has to say and he puts me in my place every time.
How am I defining "useful"? he asks. If I am measuring my usefulness by the standards of this world (mainly dollars and cents) then I am missing a major point he wants to convey to me. Usefulness has to do with furthering his kingdom, not my bank account. God looks at the success of this world as filthy rags. In my human imperfection, so limited in its understanding, I fall into the trap of coming up with my own definition of success and totally missing God's. I am so prone to forget what true riches are. My desire to make money and be financially independent isn't in itself evil, but God knows that it has the potential to compete for my attention. God wants my whole hearted, sold out devotion to him, with no competition and no distractions. He is a jealous God and I wouldn't want it any other way.
For the past three years I have slowly watched fewer and fewer people want to be active participants in my life. They look at me and put up brick barrier because of the red flags they see in my outward appearance. My social circle has been reduced to family and a few church friends. At times this has been a tough pill to swallow. The feeling of isolation has been overwhelming. I have lamented my loneliness and wished for someone, anyone to want to spend time with me and truly get to know me.
And all the while there was God, longing for me to stop striving for other people, a fulfilling relationship, career or a successful business venture and just spend time with him. This whole time I have been feeling sorry for myself because things haven't been going my way. I've wanted my circumstances to change and my relationships to be more abundant. When a new business idea or career hasn't panned out I've beat myself up with guilt and regret. The whole time God has been there, wishing I would just stop all of this striving and be content with him. Hasn't he been enough for me? Isn't a relationship with him fulfilling enough? Isn't being useful for him enough? Why do I need what the world has to offer if I am busy pleasing and enjoying God? If I were truly busy working to further God's kingdom and spread his glory then why would I be so concerned about what earthly job I will fill? If I were truly fellowshipping with God and soaking up his presence why would I feel the burning desire for other relationships?
For so long I have been missing the heart of my relationship with God. I have been looking for other things to add to my life instead of embracing the most glorious and precious thing I could ever possess: a savior, my God, the King. I have pierced the heart of God by striving for earthly satisfaction.
....God, please forgive my heart that is prone to wander. Replace it with a heart that wants nothing but you and more of you. Give me a heart that wants to soak up your presence morning, noon and night. I want to be so in love with you, so desiring you, that my heart longs for nothing else. I want the one thing that I desire to be to know you more and to be fulfilled by you. The things of this world have nothing for me. But you, God, fulfill every corner of my heart and give my life the ultimate meaning. Thank you for loving on me, longing for me and seeking me out. I have neglected you and your love. Please forgive me. I want to come home to your presence.
...Then I stop and listen to what God has to say and he puts me in my place every time.
How am I defining "useful"? he asks. If I am measuring my usefulness by the standards of this world (mainly dollars and cents) then I am missing a major point he wants to convey to me. Usefulness has to do with furthering his kingdom, not my bank account. God looks at the success of this world as filthy rags. In my human imperfection, so limited in its understanding, I fall into the trap of coming up with my own definition of success and totally missing God's. I am so prone to forget what true riches are. My desire to make money and be financially independent isn't in itself evil, but God knows that it has the potential to compete for my attention. God wants my whole hearted, sold out devotion to him, with no competition and no distractions. He is a jealous God and I wouldn't want it any other way.
For the past three years I have slowly watched fewer and fewer people want to be active participants in my life. They look at me and put up brick barrier because of the red flags they see in my outward appearance. My social circle has been reduced to family and a few church friends. At times this has been a tough pill to swallow. The feeling of isolation has been overwhelming. I have lamented my loneliness and wished for someone, anyone to want to spend time with me and truly get to know me.
And all the while there was God, longing for me to stop striving for other people, a fulfilling relationship, career or a successful business venture and just spend time with him. This whole time I have been feeling sorry for myself because things haven't been going my way. I've wanted my circumstances to change and my relationships to be more abundant. When a new business idea or career hasn't panned out I've beat myself up with guilt and regret. The whole time God has been there, wishing I would just stop all of this striving and be content with him. Hasn't he been enough for me? Isn't a relationship with him fulfilling enough? Isn't being useful for him enough? Why do I need what the world has to offer if I am busy pleasing and enjoying God? If I were truly busy working to further God's kingdom and spread his glory then why would I be so concerned about what earthly job I will fill? If I were truly fellowshipping with God and soaking up his presence why would I feel the burning desire for other relationships?
For so long I have been missing the heart of my relationship with God. I have been looking for other things to add to my life instead of embracing the most glorious and precious thing I could ever possess: a savior, my God, the King. I have pierced the heart of God by striving for earthly satisfaction.
....God, please forgive my heart that is prone to wander. Replace it with a heart that wants nothing but you and more of you. Give me a heart that wants to soak up your presence morning, noon and night. I want to be so in love with you, so desiring you, that my heart longs for nothing else. I want the one thing that I desire to be to know you more and to be fulfilled by you. The things of this world have nothing for me. But you, God, fulfill every corner of my heart and give my life the ultimate meaning. Thank you for loving on me, longing for me and seeking me out. I have neglected you and your love. Please forgive me. I want to come home to your presence.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Fulfilled and whole
When have you felt most alive? When have you felt 100% yourself and 100% in the moment?
Has it taken life risking adventure or thrills that take you to the edge? Has it required high excitement and high drama? What has is taken to make you feel like you are on top of the world, floating on air and unstoppable?
I thought I had experienced this kind of fullness but I am beginning to see that nothing in my life has compared to the fulfillment of living in the center of God's will. That is where I am truly coming alive.
Before we come to know the blessing of living within God's perfect will we strive for fulfillment in every possible nook and cranny of this world. When we search for happiness in the things this world has to offer we will always come up short. Sky diving might be fun and thrilling for the moment but when it is over you come down from not only the physical high but the mental and emotional high too. A night out on the town with friends is great while you are laughing it up and forgetting all the cares of the world but the next morning life goes back to the routines that pay the bills, get food on the table and keep life moving along. What this world labels as "fun" and "exciting" are only snippets of a bigger picture. If the rest of the picture is falling flat the snippets will have a hard time picking up that slack. The result is disappointing. Instead of a life of complete fulfillment, days become market by long periods of mundane mixed in with occasional, short lived highs. Where is the satisfaction in this sporadic living?
God has something better. He has a 24 hour, 7 day a week fulfillment that he is offering, free of charge. You won't need to shell out $400 for a 2 minutes sky diving adventure and you won't have to make the drive to Cedar Point and then endure long lines just to have the thrill of a monster coaster. No, God's fulfillment isn't of the typical adventure seeker variety. His ride lasts much longer.
The ride God desires to take you and I on is one that lasts a lifetime, and then gets really exciting in the eternity we will spend enjoying the presence of the maker of the ride. He wants to thrill us and excite us by taking us on journeys we never imagined and down paths we didn't know existed. He wants to wow us with dreams we weren't creative enough to think up ourselves. He wants to shock us with miracles and blessings that will stop us dead in our tracks, make us look up and say, "How did you do it?" He wants to set our hearts ablaze because of the wonderful maker and creator he is.
In a world filled with temporary satisfaction, God is offering something permanent. He is standing at the door and knocking, wondering if we will go on the ride with him. He knows if we take him up on the offer, we will never regret it. We must first take the step of faith to say yes; to jump on board. But then again, isn't that what you had to do to get on the big roller coaster? You had to agree to stand in the line, sit in the seat, strap on the belt. If you had fears or hesitations, you overcame them. So, why not buckle up next to God? Why wait to experience the ride of a lifetime? You won't regret it. That I can guarantee.
Has it taken life risking adventure or thrills that take you to the edge? Has it required high excitement and high drama? What has is taken to make you feel like you are on top of the world, floating on air and unstoppable?
I thought I had experienced this kind of fullness but I am beginning to see that nothing in my life has compared to the fulfillment of living in the center of God's will. That is where I am truly coming alive.
Before we come to know the blessing of living within God's perfect will we strive for fulfillment in every possible nook and cranny of this world. When we search for happiness in the things this world has to offer we will always come up short. Sky diving might be fun and thrilling for the moment but when it is over you come down from not only the physical high but the mental and emotional high too. A night out on the town with friends is great while you are laughing it up and forgetting all the cares of the world but the next morning life goes back to the routines that pay the bills, get food on the table and keep life moving along. What this world labels as "fun" and "exciting" are only snippets of a bigger picture. If the rest of the picture is falling flat the snippets will have a hard time picking up that slack. The result is disappointing. Instead of a life of complete fulfillment, days become market by long periods of mundane mixed in with occasional, short lived highs. Where is the satisfaction in this sporadic living?
God has something better. He has a 24 hour, 7 day a week fulfillment that he is offering, free of charge. You won't need to shell out $400 for a 2 minutes sky diving adventure and you won't have to make the drive to Cedar Point and then endure long lines just to have the thrill of a monster coaster. No, God's fulfillment isn't of the typical adventure seeker variety. His ride lasts much longer.
The ride God desires to take you and I on is one that lasts a lifetime, and then gets really exciting in the eternity we will spend enjoying the presence of the maker of the ride. He wants to thrill us and excite us by taking us on journeys we never imagined and down paths we didn't know existed. He wants to wow us with dreams we weren't creative enough to think up ourselves. He wants to shock us with miracles and blessings that will stop us dead in our tracks, make us look up and say, "How did you do it?" He wants to set our hearts ablaze because of the wonderful maker and creator he is.
In a world filled with temporary satisfaction, God is offering something permanent. He is standing at the door and knocking, wondering if we will go on the ride with him. He knows if we take him up on the offer, we will never regret it. We must first take the step of faith to say yes; to jump on board. But then again, isn't that what you had to do to get on the big roller coaster? You had to agree to stand in the line, sit in the seat, strap on the belt. If you had fears or hesitations, you overcame them. So, why not buckle up next to God? Why wait to experience the ride of a lifetime? You won't regret it. That I can guarantee.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Things to remember
There are certain things in my memory that I want to make sure I never forget. I believe God gives us experiences to shape us and mold us. If we forget they ever happened then chances are we will also forget the lesson that accompanied them. Here are a few of the things I believe are worth remembering.
1) The feeling of pain I used to experience when I walked. When I was sick, before I knew the muscle in my leg was in a permanently clenched position, walking was painful. There were days that it took sheer mind over matter to take Pippy for a walk. Thank God for her. She kept me moving when all I wanted to do was stay in a chair or in bed. Walking hurt. Every step felt labored. I could feel the tightness that radiated up my body but had no idea where it was coming from or why. Since Dr. Miller has been working on me I have experienced relief from the pain. Now I can walk and walk and walk. I feel nothing but loose muscles. Prior to the pain, I didn't know anything other then the simple ability to walk free of any burden or physical ailment. I took walking for granted. I could do it with no pain and no thought. Then, all of a sudden, that basic function became a struggle. I don't want to ever forget what that was like. I can now experience walking with a new found appreciation for the blessing that it is.
2) When I was living in Florida for my brief stay on the Gulf Coast, I experienced a night where I truly believed if I fell asleep I might never wake up this side of Heaven. I was fully convinced, and fully accepting, of the realization that my life might be ending. Up until that point in my health struggle I hadn't been overcome by such a cloud of death. I had believed that this illness could possibly lead to death and I had questioned whether or not I would ever be healthy, but to believe that death was imminent was a whole different story. I laid there that night and cried, telling God that I was okay with dying if that was his will. I released any hold I had left on my own life. It was emotional and draining but I was immediately at peace. I closed my eyes and fell asleep in an instant. The next morning I woke up knowing that God was sustaining my body and giving me each and every breath. I don't ever want to forget that he is my source of life. I don't ever want to forget that he is giving me each day as a gift, not as a guarantee.
3) Florence - my sponsored child through World Vision. I often forget to pray for her. To be honest, there have been times that I have forgotten I even have a sponsored child! But there she is, on the other side of the world, yet a part of my life. I need to be her prayer warrior. I need to be carrying her and her community and family's needs to God in prayer. She is a child of God just like my nieces and nephews. I remember to pray for them (although, admittedly, not like I should) yet I forget to pray for this other precious child. I have been given the blessing of growing up in a country where I am free to learn God's word, proclaim it and worship him. There are millions of people in this world that don't know that blessing. I don't want to forget them. I want to carry their burdens to the Lord and ask that he break into their nations and their hearts so that they may know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
4) I don't want to forget what it is like to weigh 73 pounds because some day I am going to weigh 100. I've learned so much in my skin and bones body and I've been given insight that I never knew was possible. When I gain weight and health I want to share what God has taught me with others. I don't want life to return to normal. I never want to return to who I was or where I was. I want to be healthier physically but I don't want to back slide spiritually. I only want physical healing if God is going to use it to further his kingdom and spread his message. If I will forget all the things he has taught me and regress in my growing process then I don't want healing. But if God can heal me and still grow me then I am thrilled to receive that blessing. But no matter what, I don't want to forget what it is like to live in this body because this is a place that I have experienced amazing grace and amazing growth.
1) The feeling of pain I used to experience when I walked. When I was sick, before I knew the muscle in my leg was in a permanently clenched position, walking was painful. There were days that it took sheer mind over matter to take Pippy for a walk. Thank God for her. She kept me moving when all I wanted to do was stay in a chair or in bed. Walking hurt. Every step felt labored. I could feel the tightness that radiated up my body but had no idea where it was coming from or why. Since Dr. Miller has been working on me I have experienced relief from the pain. Now I can walk and walk and walk. I feel nothing but loose muscles. Prior to the pain, I didn't know anything other then the simple ability to walk free of any burden or physical ailment. I took walking for granted. I could do it with no pain and no thought. Then, all of a sudden, that basic function became a struggle. I don't want to ever forget what that was like. I can now experience walking with a new found appreciation for the blessing that it is.
2) When I was living in Florida for my brief stay on the Gulf Coast, I experienced a night where I truly believed if I fell asleep I might never wake up this side of Heaven. I was fully convinced, and fully accepting, of the realization that my life might be ending. Up until that point in my health struggle I hadn't been overcome by such a cloud of death. I had believed that this illness could possibly lead to death and I had questioned whether or not I would ever be healthy, but to believe that death was imminent was a whole different story. I laid there that night and cried, telling God that I was okay with dying if that was his will. I released any hold I had left on my own life. It was emotional and draining but I was immediately at peace. I closed my eyes and fell asleep in an instant. The next morning I woke up knowing that God was sustaining my body and giving me each and every breath. I don't ever want to forget that he is my source of life. I don't ever want to forget that he is giving me each day as a gift, not as a guarantee.
3) Florence - my sponsored child through World Vision. I often forget to pray for her. To be honest, there have been times that I have forgotten I even have a sponsored child! But there she is, on the other side of the world, yet a part of my life. I need to be her prayer warrior. I need to be carrying her and her community and family's needs to God in prayer. She is a child of God just like my nieces and nephews. I remember to pray for them (although, admittedly, not like I should) yet I forget to pray for this other precious child. I have been given the blessing of growing up in a country where I am free to learn God's word, proclaim it and worship him. There are millions of people in this world that don't know that blessing. I don't want to forget them. I want to carry their burdens to the Lord and ask that he break into their nations and their hearts so that they may know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
4) I don't want to forget what it is like to weigh 73 pounds because some day I am going to weigh 100. I've learned so much in my skin and bones body and I've been given insight that I never knew was possible. When I gain weight and health I want to share what God has taught me with others. I don't want life to return to normal. I never want to return to who I was or where I was. I want to be healthier physically but I don't want to back slide spiritually. I only want physical healing if God is going to use it to further his kingdom and spread his message. If I will forget all the things he has taught me and regress in my growing process then I don't want healing. But if God can heal me and still grow me then I am thrilled to receive that blessing. But no matter what, I don't want to forget what it is like to live in this body because this is a place that I have experienced amazing grace and amazing growth.
Beautiful joy
"Morning and Evening" by C.H. Spurgeon
Was it so even in the beginning? Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day? Then it should be no surprise if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. It will not always be the sunshine of noonday, even in my soul; I must expect at times to mourn the absence of my former joys and seek my Beloved in the night. I am not alone in this, for all the Lord's loved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and delight. It is one of the arrangements of divine providence that day and night will not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation until we reach the land of which it is written, "there will be no night there."1 What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.
What, then, my soul, is it best for you to do? Learn first to be content with this divine order and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good. Then work at beginning and ending your days with joy. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty in both sunrise and sunset; sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, sound your notes at all hours. Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously against the darkness of grief. Continue your service under all circumstances. If in the day your watchword is work, at night exchange it for watch. Every hour has its duty; so continue in your calling as the Lord's servant until He shall suddenly appear in His glory.
My soul, your evening of old age and death is drawing near; do not dread it, for it is part of the day, and the Lord has said in essence, "I will cover him all the day long."
What more can I add to this? Nothing. This devotional says everything I have felt and reaffirms God's divine hand in my life. Even in the midst of trials, I have experienced joy that can only be explained by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I have been strengthened by Paul and the thorn in his side. Did God not love him enough to take it away? Was God unable to relieve him of his misery? No, God could have healed him and could have changed his circumstances but he knew that Paul's life would be a more effective witness if the thorn remained. And so it is today. There is incresing joy in being used by God. In the midst of tribulation there can be abounding joy if you choose to allow God to use that trial for his glory. Spurgeon summed up this joy in the most beautiful and poetic language. There is a song of joy just waiting to spring forth, if only we will allow the inconceviable joy, given freely by God, to indwell in our hearts.
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