Archives for January 2013

Perseverance Required

Ever had one of those weeks where every other bite you put in your mouth just might be chocolate? Well…I am having one of those. There is an undercurrent in my emotions that has a twinge of anxiousness with a twist of exhaustion.

I always experience the urge to hurry. I rush through a walk from the parking lot the same as I have a major tendency to rush through life. I know that tasks will always be there, work will always have loose ends, and that as the water ripples it wrinkles time.

Yet, I continue to find myself saying, “Slow down, enjoy this moment. Enjoy the way the sun hits Emily’s hair. Remember how Little E looks in his big boy helmet while riding the firetruck. Cherish Joshua full of life as he says, “Mommy, did you see that?” after pushing his dump-truck down the hill for the 100th time.

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The days are fleeting even as my mind flies in a hundred directions and my feet want to cancel the anxiously eaten chocolate with more miles logged on the treadmill.

I stop and breath a prayer asking, “What is it that I am anxious about?” He will answer…He always does…in His time.

Repeatedly I think, “Stay the course, pray the prayers, give the anxiety over to Him moment by fleeting moment and cherish the days.”

For those of you who have made a New Year’s Resolution towards good health, I would like to offer a suggested running/workout playlist. Running does help refocus my anxious energy. I have used a combination of these songs for the past year and continue to find them motivational. Perseverance is required; a peppy playlist makes all the difference for me. Don’t get me wrong, exercising is something that I absolutely enjoy (sorry for those of you who gag at the thought), but having motivational music is a must.

A heads up: all of this music is Christian and most is Christian rap. Here you go:

1. Wobble- Family Force 5

2. Me Without You- Toby Mac

3. Try Me- Flame

4. Running- Flame

5. Scripture Alone- Flame

6. Show Out- Flame

7. Robot- Trip Lee

8. Envy- 116 Clique

9. Responsibility-116 Clique

10 Transcend- Group 1 Crew

11. Spazz- Lecrae

12. Courage-116 Clique

13. Temptation-116 Clique

14. Cool down music of your choice. This one I rotate frequently.

Please send me some new running music suggestions. What makes your feet hit the pavement faster? What makes you decompress the concerns of your days?

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Lessons in the Clouds

Remember as a child, or perhaps even presently, the game of discovering pictures or figures in the clouds? Saturday evening I was driving to church with the children and beheld the most magnificent skyline full of puffy, white clouds.

When you think of clouds you might contemplate the beautiful sight to behold in the sky, or their part in rain and photosynthesis, but have you ever looked at the clouds and thought of God? 

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On Saturday, one cloud-scape in particular caught my attention. I imagined that it looked like God in his chariot of horses riding on the clouds.

He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.~Psalm 103:3-4 (emphasis mine)

The Bible has many references to God and clouds. Take for example that God traveled before the Israelites by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire to guide them (Exodus 13:21); He again showed Israel His glory in a cloud over the desert (Exodus 16:10).  God spoke to Moses and showed him His glory from within a cloud (Exodus 24:15-16). God told Moses that He appeared in a cloud over the atonement cover (Leviticus:1-2).  God spoke to Peter, John, and James after they witnessed the transfiguration through a cloud (Luke 9:34-35).

Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. ~Revelation 1:7

There are more accounts in scripture associating clouds with God, but these six examples are enough to confirm that the association holds merit.

Oswald Chambers, in My Utmost for His Highest, assuaged that:

The clouds are a sign that He is there. What a revelation it is to know that sorrow and bereavement and suffering are the clouds that come along with God! God cannot come near without clouds, He does not come in clear shining. It is not true to say that God wants to teach us something in our trials: Through every cloud He brings, He wants us to unlearn something.  His purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child-God and my own soul, other people are shadows.” (July 29th entry)

Within the last year, I have witnessed so much death…unexpected death. There are clouds of sorrow that have loomed over my soul and even more strongly over those that I know and love.

I have contemplated how the evil in life is more real with every passing year. For children, the worries of this world are primarily unrecognized. Yes, they see and hear and worry, but not on a level of adult understanding. God does not want us to worry. In fact, worry is a sin that we should avoid. Rather, God would have us come like a child to their daddy and say, “Father, this has happened and I am so very sad…scared…doubtful…please help me.”

I believe the above is what Oswald Chambers and Jesus himself meant when they said we must approach God with the faith of a child. Our reasoning and wisdom increase with age, however we must revert to the child-like trust in the One who is greater than all to see us through and teach us the lessons in the dark or the fluffy clouds of life.

It has been said that “in every cloud there is a silver lining.”  Perhaps it would be better to say that in every cloud is God’s refining.  When we take a walk through the clouds it is for our sanctification and purification in Christ to ultimately bring us into greater communion with Him.  I am certain that my present clouds are teaching me more of God and my great need for Him.  What is your walk through the clouds teaching you?

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.~ Psalm 19:1-3

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Renewal

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you  may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:2

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This weekend I need some Biblical reminders that heaven is my home. Do you?

I asked Ron this morning if he thought that people we love, know, or have influenced will be the first to greet us when we enter into heaven.

Immediately following my face to face encounter with God Himself and Jesus in His glorified state, will I then be welcomed to heaven by some of the people that I love, and connected with most in fellowship here on earth? I sincerely hope so! Further, I hope that I have the privilege of welcoming others into their eternal home and joining with Jesus in saying, “Well done.”

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Today’s post will be simple. Meditate on one of these scripture passages and let your mind marvel at an eternity spent with Jesus.

Why not listen to these encouraging lyrics sung by Moriah Peters? Click here if viewing in a reader.

1. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. There fore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. ~ Hebrews 11:14-16

2. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. ~ Philippians 3:20-4:1

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you ~1 Peter1:3-4

More often than not, I rejoice at the thought of pure relationships in heaven. Community unstained by worldly desires. True fellowship with believers where jealousy, covetous, pride, idolatry, and adultery will never enter in. Contemplating an eternity where no death, sickness, or malicious acts of violence will terrorize will surely make believers rejoice at these words:

4. Surely I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! ~Revelation 22:20

5. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. ~Revelation 21:1-4

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We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed. And as a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away? ~C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p. 124

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My Son, Stay on Track

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The purpose of parenthood is to train up the next generation in wisdom and fear of the Lord. King Lemuel’s mother knew the importance of training her son in wisdom (see here). Solomon instructed his son in the ways of wisdom (here).

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;~Proverbs 2:1-7

This week Joshua turned three. Ron and I decided in order to celebrate the children’s birthdays we would have one parent take each child on a birthday date. Joshua chose his restaurant and mommy chose his clothes and the two of us set out together.

I will tell you that I was a bit nervous about our date. I wanted this to be a special time for Joshua to celebrate his birthday…I wanted to make memories.

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My three year old son loves trains. If we assemble a track for him, he will sit and play contentedly…given no one comes and interferes that is. We as parents are laying a track for our little engines to follow. Ron and I want to lay a track that would lead our children to the Lord; regardless of any mistakes we make, however, God’s purposes for our children’s lives will prevail.

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So it was, on our date that God revealed moments that I could instruct my son in the ways of wisdom…even in wise dating. “Hold mommy’s hand Joshua. When you meet a girl and you really love her, you will want to hold her hand. You will pray before you eat just like mommy did.”

Earlier during our meal, as we laughed and enjoyed each other’s company, I used a moment of our time to remind Joshua that God created him for the purpose of loving God and bringing Him glory.

My three year old son may never remember this one birthday talk, but it is the continual laying down of a track that will lead him to understanding and godly wisdom. It is the continual teachings that will guard him and guide him to recognize signs of danger and, conversely, the ways of wisdom.

Dearest Son,

As you enter this year leading to four, I pray that you will stay on track. May you grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man. Some days we will add many pieces to the track towards wisdom yet others it will seem as if we have taken some away. Steadily on we will work this year and praise God for the increase. I love you,

Mom

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~Proverbs 22:6

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I Have Not Love

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Jesus,

Help me. I have not love. At least not love enough.

Your Daughter,

Brooke

P.S.

I only love because you first loved me. Thank you…

How numerous the opportunities to kneel or to break by 10:00 in the morning! Today, the rare occasion in which the children awake me…at 6:00 no less; I choose to kneel. Sending daddy off to work; kneel again. A visit with Little E’s case manager, I kneel as the kids either obey the first time… or not. But wait, wait for it, here it comes…I bend…then break.

Crayons are given, coloring pages laid out, one book is read, and the starting of another. It is at this point it all comes unglued. I bend something mighty and the peace breaks into the very pieces which cannot be picked up.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.~John 13:34-35

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

If I am in fellowship with Christ, then shouldn’t I demonstrate love in action? Even with the provocations of three children? Instead, I bend and so went the clanging pieces of broken people clashing loud… the absence of patient love.

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People are fond of quoting the verse, “God is love.” But, C.S. Lewis rightly questions the meaning behind these words. Are we misusing these words as mere semantics for the thought that every love people express is God? Here is what Lewis has to say in this regard:

But they seem not to notice that the words “God is love” have no real meaning unless God contains at least two Persons. Love is something that one person has for another person. If God was a single person, then before the world was made, He was not love. Of course, what these people mean when they say that God is love is often something quite different: they really mean “Love is God.” They really mean that our feelings of love, however and wherever they arise, and whatever results they produce, are to  be treated with great respect. ~ Mere Christianity, p. 151

God is love expressed in his three state relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and then to His creation. To sustain my relationship with others I require the love of God as infused by daily filling of the Holy Spirit. The filling that I should seek and lean into through prayer and the reading and memorization of Scripture.

In the church, love is the most needed as the culmination of gifts that God has given His people: teaching, acts of service, giving, admonition, etc., are utilized. Whether preaching the gospel in our home,  to the body of Christ, or to a lost world, love is the essential key for others to see Christ in us; for others to know that we actually believe what we profess.  I realize this  especially when I have chosen to stomp my feet, dig in my heels, and demand the obedience that is required from our children as their mom.

Jerry Bridges perfectly illustrates the effects of the absence of love in the following story:

I remember hearing of one university student of whom it was said, “He can lead people to Christ, but no one wants to room with him.” Whether he could, given that immaturity of character, truly lead people to a saving knowledge of Christ may be questioned by some. But whether he could or not, it is true that a great big dose of love was needed to make him truly effective. ~ True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia

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After the kids had listened to the second story and sat there as quietly as possible in obedience I penned the note above. I need more of Christ because I need to love others more… I must choose to kneel.

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To Kneel or to Break

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On Christmas Eve, I bent over to pick up Joshua and the spasm of pain in my already troubled lower back quickly communicated a costly mistake…I had bent when I should have kneeled.

Health professionals, or anyone with back pain, confess that kneeling protects the back by transferring the stress of weight to the legs. However, most people bend at the hips the moment they drop something. Bending is the easier action. Easier isn’t always better…bending causes more strain to the spine and may result in injury. Because kneeling is not our first reaction, more discipline and resolve are needed to use this better practice.

If we do not kneel we risk brokenness of body. Similarly, if we face the mishaps, temptations, and opportunities of today with a bent on our own merit and strength mentality, we succumb to brokenness of spirit.

Why should our backs endure that which was intended for the knees to sustain?

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather healed. ~Hebrews 12:12-13

When the mess is made, the expectation unmet, the diagnosis rendered, relationships severed, or the moment of opportunity knocks, will we bend with all our might or bow our knees in humble prayer?

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit  in your inner being, so that…you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ~Ephesians 3:14-16, 19 (emphasis mine)

Kneel and be filled… bend and break. The choice is ours.

Today and everyday this week, why not kneel to retrieve and then kneel your heart in prayer? Obedience begets obedience and discipline begets discipline. May 2013 be marked by the discipline of prayer over self-powered attempts, and kneeling rather than back-breaking grasps.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. ~Luke 19:10

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. ~Mark 1:35

And going a little further, he fell on the ground and prayed…~ Mark 14:35 (emphasis mine)

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