Renewal

Yesterday a co-worker and I were discussing locus of control, the idea of whether things happen to us because of things beyond our control (external locus) or because of what we do and tell ourselves (internal locus). Certainly, the reality is a combination of the two. Our discussion got me to thinking about thinking. Obviously, things happen that we can't control. But we can control how we react to them, including how we think about them. This is basic, popular psychobabble, isn't it? Nothing too new here. But it is worth thinking about.

When you are a Christian, these concepts go beyond psychobabble. We have a God who is available to help transform our thinking. I thought about Romans 12:2 this morning:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It seems to me that we tend to think of this verse in light of the indulgences of the Romans--you know, those horrible, not-to-be-spoken-of sins. (The previous verse talks about offering our bodies as living sacrifices.)

However, what about stress? What about not getting enough sleep, enough exercise? What about eating unhealthful foods? What about isolating ourselves, away from relationships and community?

The pattern of our world is extreme stress, coupled with pressures to be perfect--whatever that means in your life. God never meant for us to feel this way.

We may not be able to control all of the circumstances we are in. But we can make changes in how we live. With New Year's just around the corner, it's a great time to think about renewing your thinking about how you live. One of the best ways to do this is to read scripture. God made everything, so He's probably the best One to consult on life.

So, Why Don't We?

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).

I read this verse and am encouraged in the reminder that Jesus has been through the struggles of this life and wants to help us through them. But then I stop and wonder....

Why don't we approach the throne of grace and request help from our Father more often?

There are many reasons why we don't. But none of them are very good. So if you, like me, have not been daily asking your Father for direction, strength, wisdom, comfort, or whatever, please renew your resolve today to make it a priority. And this time of year--with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner--is a perfect time to remember the One from whom all good things come.

Everyday Gifts

Lately I've been struggling a bit with the "Why?" issues of faith. We all go through these phases--I believe we must experience these times to have true, tested faith. Sometimes God doesn't provide many answers to the big questions. However, He often grants our prayer requests in the form of little, "everyday" gifts. They may seem insignificant, but when you're really wondering if He's up there, if He cares, it makes a big difference.

Chronic insomnia plagues me, and recently I woke up in the middle of the night to loud, gusting winds. I was concerned about our patio furniture and plants outside, and the anxiety kept me awake for a long time. The narrative of Jesus' calming the winds at sea jumped into my mind. I said to God, "I know You calmed the winds at least once. I know You can do it now. Please, please, God, make the winds die down just long enough for me to go back to sleep."

Within minutes, the winds were stilled.

I slipped back into sleep, somewhat surprised and very grateful.

When I awoke in the morning, the wind was active again. But it had calmed down enough for me to sleep again, and that was exactly what I'd asked for. The next morning I told my husband about my middle-of-the-night prayer. He said that he had noticed that the winds calmed down and very abruptly--so I know it wasn't just my imagination.

God knows that our faith sometimes needs a little boost. He knew I needed sleep that night. I've experienced at least one other honored "everyday" prayer request since that windy night. I still have some big prayer requests that give me some pain. But these little gifts from my Father help me to continue to ask and give the strength and wisdom to understand that His wisdom and timing are much better than mine.

Those Good Ol' Psalms

Well, it hasn't been quite a month since I last posted, but pretty close. I've been busy, busy, busy with a major project for work, but we finally completed it last week.

I received the following quotation from an email list I subscribe to. Because I originally began this blog (and the email messages preceding it) with the Psalms, I felt it was appropriate to share this quotation:

"The Psalms defy our notions of profane and sacred, proving that everything we feel, witness, do unto others, and have done to us is acceptable subject matter for conversing with the Divine. They invite us to bring every part of ourselves into our houses of worship. If we omit expressions of faith lost, of rage, of disdain, and of the desire for revenge, we leave parts of ourselves at the door." --Kari Jo Verhulst

God knows our every thought, so why not be completely open with Him about our feelings? We might as well discuss them with Him.

The email list had verses 6 through 10 of Psalm 103. But here is the psalm in full--it's even more powerful.

"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul" (Psalm 103).

It's a Process

"...[M]ake every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).

I don't think anyone would want their faith to become stagnant and, therefore, "ineffective and unproductive." Our purpose in life is to bring God glory by the way we live our lives.

It's interesting that the very last attribute listed in the series of virtues in the passage above is love. Love comes even after self-control? When you think about it, it makes sense. True, unconditional, pure love is the very essense of God. So it makes sense that this would be the hardest for our human hearts and minds to attain. But it's a process, and being a child of God means that you are always striving to become more and more a reflection of Him.

Verse and Quote of the Day

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices" (Psalm 37:5-7).

"Prayer that works is prayer that makes a difference, contemplation that turns into action, on behalf of peace and justice in a troubled and unjust world system. Prayer is energy, the energy of love and transformative power. It is given to us to use for the good of all creation. In prayer God gives us the fuel of life, and asks us to live it." ~ Margaret Silf

(Taken from Sojourners Verse of the Day and Voice of the Day, September 28, 2006)

Why?

When I accessed the Internet this morning, my eyes fell on a news headline about an occurrence in Colorado. Yesterday a gunman entered a Colorado high school, took a group of girls hostage, and eventually killed one 16-year-old girl and then himself. Why?

On days such as these, I am painfully aware that I don't have all the answers. I do believe that evil and good battle each other in our midst every day. An event like this makes it obvious. But even everyday issues of handling one's life with integrity or choosing not to are signs that the fights between good and evil are around us and in us daily.

So what verses can I look to for comfort? When the ugliness of this earthly life seems to take over, what enables me to have hope?

"I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:13b).

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy" (Psalm 30:11).

"'Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted'" (Matthew 5:4).

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20a).

"'He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever'" (Revelation 21:4).

It will happen. It will happen.

In Memoriam

"'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?'" (I Corinthians 15:55).

As the granddaughter of a man who loved golf, the name Byron Nelson was familiar to me as I grew up. I didn't know too much about the man, but I knew of him. It was a surprise, then, to learn a few years ago that "Lord Byron" was a member of my husband's and my church. At that time, I expected churchgoers to approach him with starstruck worship. But Byron was not the kind of man that drew that reaction. Rather, because of his humility, church members greeted him at the beginning of church services with a quiet awed pleasure of being a fellow child of God. You could tell church members loved him, loved seeing him, loved that such a prominent figure in our society was really just a fellow Christian, wanting to live in a way that pleased God.

At church, you never really saw Byron without seeing his wife, Peggy. She is an amazing woman. Her faithful presence by his side in worship services always brought joy to my spirit, and her graceful way of welcoming people as a greeter at church warms my heart. On several occasions she told my husband and me that we were a very nice-looking couple. That's a great compliment coming from anyone, but it's certainly significant coming from a woman who has socialized with Tiger Woods and, perhaps, his wife.

It's just nice to see genuine Christianity, especially in the lives of individuals who are known in society.

In the last couple of years, Byron's health seemed to be deteriorating. We knew he had lived a long time and prepared our hearts for his departure. I don't think you can ever be prepared for the loss of someone you love, though. I lost my mother last year, and since then, I have learned a lot about life and death. I also feel a special bond with those who lose a loved one.

Last night when we heard on the 10 o'clock news that Lord Byron had died, we were saddened but not surprised. Though my heart grieves for Peggy and the Nelsons' family and friends, it also rejoices because, as much as Byron loved his ranch in Roanoke, Texas, his home of 58 years, he is finally in his real home. We can imagine him, as a local newscaster said, swinging a golf club in heaven. I don't claim to be a theologist, but I imagine there will be some divinely beautiful fairways in heaven, along with the streets of gold. Do you think anyone bogeys in heaven? (I doubt it.)

God never wants to be separated from us. His desire is for all of us to be with him forever. Byron said, "After all life is short, but eternity is forever. And I hope I never have to spend eternity in the wrong place." And we all have the opportunity, offered from our Father, to spend eternity in just the right place--with Him...and our brothers and sisters.

On a personal note: I've been wanting to learn to play golf (I'm not too bad at putting, thanks to many family outings playing miniature golf), and I am now reminded that we're on earth for only a moment. Perhaps, when my life is over, I'll be ready for my tee time with Byron.

Getting a Grip

Stress seems to run rampant in our society. There are numerous suggestions of how to deal with it effectively, but I've found that the best is grabbing yourself by the shoulders (figuratively), taking a deep breath, asking God to help you, and then reading Scripture.

Here's a passage I've had on my mind this morning:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:4-7).

Testing, Testing

I think I wrote about this passage not too long ago, but it seems to be one worth repeating, and probably repeating often.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:23, 24).

It's easy for us to ignore the promptings of the Spirit, especially when we're not asking for Him to reveal to us our weaknesses and failings, our sins against Him and against each other. Therefore, it is all the more important to consistently ask God to show us how our hearts are not like His and then ask Him for help in rooting those sins out.

Quotation on Prayer

I recently subscribed to an email list that has a daily verse and quotation.

Here's today's quotation:

"Nobody finds time for prayer. You either take time for it or you don't get it." - Joan Chittister

I like people who say it like it is, even if (or especially if!) it stings a bit!

Like Stars in the Sky and Sand on the Seashore

Recently I was struck by the thought of just how many of us inhabit the earth. My mind can't comprehend it. The thought of all the people who have lived before us and all those who are yet to be blows me away.

The crowning thought is that God knows each person intimately. Each of us is His child, created by Him. That amazes me.

Here's a verse I read this morning that encouraged me:

"He has put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God...Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD...O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them" (Psalm 40:3a, 4a, 5).

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah
God sends his love and his faithfulness. I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. ~Psalm 57

One Day

"'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people'" (2 Corinthians 6:16b).

"'I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty'" (2 Corinthians 6:18).

Though all believers are a family--God's family--we often feel disjointed in this world. One day we will be united together. We'll eat together, praise our Father together, and just be together. And our Dad will be happier than He's ever been because His children will be back home. What a day....

What's Your Heart Doing Today?

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing" (I Corinthians 13:1-3).

Love is what matters. God is love. If we are to emulate Him, then when people think of us, they should think of love.

So, what is your heart up to today? Is it full of love? Or is it (as mine usually is) turned inward, concerned only with yourself? If your heart is breaking, is it with the pain of compassion for what others are going through?

Love is a decision. Sometimes we don't feel love for a person. But we can decide to love that person because, after all, God loves us when we are at our lowest. And He loves that person, too.

Even When All Systems Are Go

Every doctor's office has one nurse that is an expert needle sticker. She's the one the others recruit when they haven't been successful at getting a good stick for a blood draw. I had that nurse to begin with yesterday when I went to have blood drawn. I asked her to use a butterfly needle, which she did. She had me pump both arms and slapped both arms and poked around to find a good vein. I was impressed--most nurses just try on one arm and then end up sticking me in both arms by the time it's all over. But this time seemed different.

But she still had to dig around a bit with the needle to get the blood to flow out. I held on as long as I could, but apparently my system couldn't take it. I passed out. I tend to do that, but I hadn't done it in over ten years. I've come close a couple of times in the last decade, but despite all the good signs that yesterday's doctor visit was going to go well, it didn't.

Sometimes that happens in life. We can plan and plan, and everything looks like it's going to be successful, but it isn't. In these times, there are two things we should do:

1) Thank God for what we have. Fortunately, my husband was with me yesterday, so I wasn't alone. Even in the direst circumstances, we can always thank God for something. Just the fact that He loves us and sent His Son to die in our stead is something for which we should thank Him.
2) Acknowledge that God is ultimately in control of our lives. We can do all we can think of to ensure success, but God is in control. I wish we remembered this more often. Think of how much less stressed we'd feel.

This is all not to say that we shouldn't plan ahead and make sure our ducks are in a row. God wants us to be wise in our plans. But we must remember that He's got the whole world in His hands, and that includes us.

Don't Be Afraid...And Hold On

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid" (Psalm 56:3-4b).

Fear is a horrible thing. It immobilizes you. So many of our human mistakes stem from a fear of some sort.

In the last few weeks, I've been afraid in several different situations, fearful of what might happen. I have to confess that I haven't really trusted God in these situations, even though I've prayed for His help. My prayers have been made as a last resort and with little belief that God would help. He has, though, at least in little ways. I think God sometimes throws us a life preserver in our times of feeling lost at sea, but we must make the decision to grab on to it...and hold on. Sometimes we'll grab on for a bit, but then decide that we can handle the situation on our own. Thanks, God, we say, I've got it from here. And then we're surprised when we find ourselves afraid and drowning in trouble again.

Living the Christian life is a daily decision. We must live intentionally. And truly trust God when He asks us to trust Him.

Highlights from Psalm 55

"Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy..." (Psalm 55:1-3a).

"But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me" (Ps. 55:16-18).

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall" (Ps. 55:22).

The World Doesn't Revolve Around Me

"Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4).

"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others" (I Corinthians 10:24).

That first verse is easier to take than the second, isn't it? Each of us is selfish--it seems to be part of the human condition. This part of our nature really bothers me...but not enough to do very well in not being selfish.

The old phrase "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" is something we ought to take to heart. Sometimes the solution to the problem of being irritated with someone is to look at the world through the perspective of that person. And really, we're all in this big world together. We're bound by our humanity. Take a look outside of yourself today and see what happens to your perspective.

Happy Labor Day Weekend

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

May you have a restful Labor Day weekend. And thank God today that He has given you your job. (Yes, even if there are frustrations there. God told us to give thanks in all circumstances.)