It is said that we are passing through this life, a journey of sorts, and as such we are travelers.
Destination? Eternity.
But for now, we carry suitcases that impact the ease of our travel. We live out of our suitcases, as do all travelers, so it matters which type of suitcase we choose.
A suitcase of weakness and despair provides little protection over our belongings--our heart, body, mind and soul. Defeated is the traveler who opens this suitcase each day and dresses himself in language and thoughts that remind him that all is hopeless and he has no options for victory.
A suitcase of strength, on the other hand, is an asset. Each day the traveler opens it and chooses an outfit that promotes the gifts and blessings available for the day. Heart, body, mind and soul reflect this decision to wear and believe strength, and he sees life as hopeful with continual options for victory and freedom.
Gideon, in Judges 6 and 7, was heavy-laden with his suitcase of weakness and despair when God approached him and said, Go in this strength that is yours. Save Israel from Midian (6:14). God reminded him that he was carrying the wrong suitcase. He couldn't do the task his journey entailed dressed for defeat.
Which suitcase are you carrying? Are you dressing out of despair or victory? Do you live out of your weakness or your strength?
Each day we decide which suitcase to carry.
Travel well.
24 March 2012
23 March 2012
We Are Truly
We are truly free when choose forgiveness over grudge-holding.
We are truly kind when we are responding with kindness in the face of unreasonableness.
We are truly validated when someone listens to our story without having to one-up us with theirs.
We are truly volunteering when we do not expect anything in return, including recognition.
We are truly a model for our children when we admit wrong and ask for forgiveness.
We are truly God's choice for imparting His love and His story to others.
We are truly showered with blessings every day that we dismiss or overlook.
We are truly given the choice to be amazing in an amazing life journey.
We are truly kind when we are responding with kindness in the face of unreasonableness.
We are truly validated when someone listens to our story without having to one-up us with theirs.
We are truly volunteering when we do not expect anything in return, including recognition.
We are truly a model for our children when we admit wrong and ask for forgiveness.
We are truly God's choice for imparting His love and His story to others.
We are truly showered with blessings every day that we dismiss or overlook.
We are truly given the choice to be amazing in an amazing life journey.
22 March 2012
Slippage
Maybe you've experienced slippage. You were in a routine, set a standard, followed guidelines, any or all of which were feeding your strength.
But a tweak here, a missed note there, and suddenly you are in a different place altogether. It's like the ship that moves only one degree off course--over time, it is hundreds of miles from its destination.
I take seriously my work with God every morning. My routine, my standard, my guidelines are specific and keep me rooted to the area of learning He seems to direct me toward each day.
My one degree off course began to take me in a different direction and compromise set in. Instead of getting right to work, I checked the NCAA brackets (I can be very competitive) or took a quick peek at Facebook (I can be very curious) and before I knew it, my early morning strength was being fed a compromised diet.
Of course, nothing is wrong with brackets or Facebook. But for me, I was using my time with God to "worship" other interests.
So, yesterday, my Internet was down. The phone company and I spent an evening hour together and I was told it wouldn't be fixed for 7 days. Seven days?!? So I began to pray. Alot. And I began to think what I might do early each morning to find Internet to write this blog.
Did God get my attention? Absolutely.
Was I in the wrong? Absolutely.
So here we are this morning with a miraculously working Internet that may go out at any moment but to me, it is available so I can share: lesson learned.
Here's to slippage, its consequences, and lessons learned. I hope it gets you where you were going.
But a tweak here, a missed note there, and suddenly you are in a different place altogether. It's like the ship that moves only one degree off course--over time, it is hundreds of miles from its destination.
I take seriously my work with God every morning. My routine, my standard, my guidelines are specific and keep me rooted to the area of learning He seems to direct me toward each day.
My one degree off course began to take me in a different direction and compromise set in. Instead of getting right to work, I checked the NCAA brackets (I can be very competitive) or took a quick peek at Facebook (I can be very curious) and before I knew it, my early morning strength was being fed a compromised diet.
Of course, nothing is wrong with brackets or Facebook. But for me, I was using my time with God to "worship" other interests.
So, yesterday, my Internet was down. The phone company and I spent an evening hour together and I was told it wouldn't be fixed for 7 days. Seven days?!? So I began to pray. Alot. And I began to think what I might do early each morning to find Internet to write this blog.
Did God get my attention? Absolutely.
Was I in the wrong? Absolutely.
So here we are this morning with a miraculously working Internet that may go out at any moment but to me, it is available so I can share: lesson learned.
Here's to slippage, its consequences, and lessons learned. I hope it gets you where you were going.
20 March 2012
Windswept Love
You love someone.
But her love receptacle is broken. She has known such hurt, such rejection over the years that fear is the strongest response stored up in her heart.
So, when you get close, she defends rather than receives, and strikes you with her storehouse of fear.
It rejects you before you can reject her.
Hopeless? No, but it is a lot of work.
She has a cavity...a spiritual cavity. Somehow--and only God has the instruction book here--you must confront the fear without destroying her heart. When God directs each next step in cleaning out the cavity, it is doable.
It is messy, combative, and it makes you want to run for cover. That's how you know you are on the right track. You feel like waves of wind keep trying to knock you down. It's like you are out on the plains with no protection and the winds of her fear try to blow you away.
If your love stands--and God-directed love always does--then the storehouse of fear is depleted, the cavity is cleaned out, and the love receptacle has a chance to receive love.
Your love, though windswept, is sturdy and life-giving.
Is there a he, or she, in your world that needs your windswept love?
I hope you stand. The very life of his or her heart is in the balance.
But her love receptacle is broken. She has known such hurt, such rejection over the years that fear is the strongest response stored up in her heart.
So, when you get close, she defends rather than receives, and strikes you with her storehouse of fear.
It rejects you before you can reject her.
Hopeless? No, but it is a lot of work.
She has a cavity...a spiritual cavity. Somehow--and only God has the instruction book here--you must confront the fear without destroying her heart. When God directs each next step in cleaning out the cavity, it is doable.
It is messy, combative, and it makes you want to run for cover. That's how you know you are on the right track. You feel like waves of wind keep trying to knock you down. It's like you are out on the plains with no protection and the winds of her fear try to blow you away.
If your love stands--and God-directed love always does--then the storehouse of fear is depleted, the cavity is cleaned out, and the love receptacle has a chance to receive love.
Your love, though windswept, is sturdy and life-giving.
Is there a he, or she, in your world that needs your windswept love?
I hope you stand. The very life of his or her heart is in the balance.
19 March 2012
The Train
I often imagine there is a God-train.
Its many cars hold weary stragglers picked up along the way, world-worn, hurt, disillusioned.
Now bound for somewhere, these travelers are fed love and nourishment for their beleaguered souls and hope springs within.
But then a funny thing happens. The conductor-God-begins to share the particulars of the train's destination. You are invited into a community who needs your gifts, while I (God) have gifted You for a career field that needs to know more about Me.
You #1: But I have always lived in big cities, important cities. Why this dumpy little town?
God: Interesting point--I often hear people say the same thing about Bethlehem.
You #2: I am going to be ostracized big-time if I try to take You into THAT career field.
God: True--Jesus' career field was you guys. He pretty much found the same thing.
You #1: May I get off this train?
God: Absolutely--it's your choice entirely.
You #2: Will you be with me every step of the way and hold onto me when I am falling and even failing?
God: Absolutely--you will never be without My Presence.
You #1: I'm sorry, God, this just isn't for me.
You #2: I am scared but excited. I'm in.
God: Though I am with You Both wherever you go, this train is where the greatest adventure and the greatest breakthroughs occur. I love You Both.
I often imagine there is a God-train.
Its many cars hold weary stragglers picked up along the way, world-worn, hurt, disillusioned.
Now bound for somewhere, these travelers are fed love and nourishment for their beleaguered souls and hope springs within.
But then a funny thing happens. The conductor-God-begins to share the particulars of the train's destination. You are invited into a community who needs your gifts, while I (God) have gifted You for a career field that needs to know more about Me.
You #1: But I have always lived in big cities, important cities. Why this dumpy little town?
God: Interesting point--I often hear people say the same thing about Bethlehem.
You #2: I am going to be ostracized big-time if I try to take You into THAT career field.
God: True--Jesus' career field was you guys. He pretty much found the same thing.
You #1: May I get off this train?
God: Absolutely--it's your choice entirely.
You #2: Will you be with me every step of the way and hold onto me when I am falling and even failing?
God: Absolutely--you will never be without My Presence.
You #1: I'm sorry, God, this just isn't for me.
You #2: I am scared but excited. I'm in.
God: Though I am with You Both wherever you go, this train is where the greatest adventure and the greatest breakthroughs occur. I love You Both.
I often imagine there is a God-train.
18 March 2012
The House That Decision Built
You are the house that decision built.
Yesterday you made dozens of decisions that somehow strengthened or weakened the caliber of your house.
Did you hold an open house for those pesky free radicals by eating lots of the wrong foods?
Did you give those muscles another day off they didn't ask for?
Did you tell God you'd get back with Him tomorrow?
Did you not do that one thing you promised yourself you would do? Or conversely, did you do that one thing you promised yourself you would not do?
As today breaks, do you feel stronger or weaker? Is your house feeling sturdy and peaceful or shaky and erratic?
When you build today's part of your house with another set of decisions, will you consider what would truly feed your strength?
Then Monday won't be such a slam-you fest. Victory lies in the strength-building of your house...you.
Yesterday you made dozens of decisions that somehow strengthened or weakened the caliber of your house.
Did you hold an open house for those pesky free radicals by eating lots of the wrong foods?
Did you give those muscles another day off they didn't ask for?
Did you tell God you'd get back with Him tomorrow?
Did you not do that one thing you promised yourself you would do? Or conversely, did you do that one thing you promised yourself you would not do?
As today breaks, do you feel stronger or weaker? Is your house feeling sturdy and peaceful or shaky and erratic?
When you build today's part of your house with another set of decisions, will you consider what would truly feed your strength?
Then Monday won't be such a slam-you fest. Victory lies in the strength-building of your house...you.
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