A planted kernel

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. (John 12:24-26)

Unless the kernel dies, there is no harvest. This is a principle farmers know quite well. A principle is a 'rule of action' that basically indicates when one condition is met, the other condition is met, as well. We might think we can bypass some of God's principles as we navigate through life, but you can trust me on this one - I have never observed one person being able to accomplish all that God desires for their life when they spend their time bypassing his principles!

Loss is something many of us almost fear. We might even 'pre-regret' that loss, because we anticipate the loss being so significant that we begin to bemoan that loss even before we experience it. When the thing we lose is replaced with something of even greater value, do we regret losing the original? Not hardly! In fact, we wished we lost it sooner! If the thing we 'lay down' is replaced with something that is flawed, kind of troublesome, and maybe even 'broken down', we might just desire to 'pick up' something that is perfect, new, and without flaw.

Lay down your imperfect life and take up his perfection. This is the principle being taught here - the 'kernel' of our life needs to be laid down - given in service to him. In so doing, we see the impact of that life of service. It is not a principle we understand well, for in this world seldom do we 'give away' something only to find we get something better in return. What do we love more - this world or God's presence? If we are a little too comfortable with the 'imperfection' of this world, we might feel entering into all the God has for us is a bit 'onerous'.

It is like experiencing death - but never forget - death brings life! We cannot experience resurrection life if we never experience death - maybe not a literal death, but a death to the appeal or draw this world's offerings have for us. A kernel in the silo is of little value, but a kernel planted in good soil will produce way more than one more kernel. The pursuit of this world's things and values actually is like keeping the kernel in the silo. Laying down those pursuits and taking up the offered new life of Christ is like being planted - we are about to experience growth beyond measure. Just sayin!

Stable Homes and Cities

If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap. (Psalm 127:1-2)

Just a couple of thoughts today as we break down this passage a bit - God must be central in all we set out to accomplish and he must be central in all our relationships. We can 'build and build', all the while not really building of any long-term value. I was able to get some free pallets a while back and decided to break them down into usable pieces that I could build some raised gardens with. They lasted about four years before decay began to make them no longer useful. I had to replace all that hard work with block beds because of the decay. They looked good for a while, but as time went on, the wood didn't hold up to the elements. 

There are times when we 'build and build' in our relationships, thinking what we are 'building' is strong and stable, only to find they aren't as 'stable' as we had hoped. There are things we do to feel secure and 'whole' in our homes, but in the long run they don't really make us any more secure or 'whole' than we were before we put them there. That video doorbell won't stop someone from breaking in, but it could deter a porch pirate. That gun in the safe isn't going to stop a thief, but you may feel a bit more secure knowing it is there. Relationships must be built on solid ground if they are to mature and stand the test of time. Homes and cities are only as 'secure' and 'stable' as the relationships maintained within those walls!

So, how do we build relationships that will stand the tests that come their way? I think we can see plainly that if God isn't at the center of these relationships, all the building is really with 'inferior materials'. Just as the beds made from wood began to decay with the elements, the relationship without Christ at the center will also face 'decay' and 'pressure' from the elements of life that challenge its stability. We might think it has to be that we grow with God 'together', but all growth begins individually, and that somehow 'spills over' into the type of growth that binds us together. We might want to focus on the other person in the relationship, thinking they are to 'blame' for the instability in the home or city, but it could just be that 'stability' begins with us! Just sayin!

One word: Pursue

Life is a journey. When we stop, things don't go right. (Pope Francis)

So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. (Colossians 3:1-2)

Act like it - a behavior change is required, is it not? When we embrace this life in Christ, there is to be evidence of having a life change. How is this change manifest? We embrace or pursue the things that were once foreign to us. In other words, we stop being so absorbed with the things of this world and we ask God for a change of focus. We want to be open to the things God is doing, but there are times we are so absorbed in the things going on around us in this world, we forget to get his perspective.

All of this life with Christ is really defined by one word: PURSUE. At first, we are pursued by God. As we embrace the life of grace offered through Christ, we begin to pursue him. Our immediate response may be to just follow his path because it is pleasant, and things seem to be changing for the better. After a bit, the challenge to pursue is a little harder - things don't seem to be changing at as rapid of a pace in our lives, so we may get a little bogged down. It was great while that immediate 'thrill' of pursuit was there, but now that it is getting harder, the investment greater, we are challenged a bit in our pursuit.

As Pope Francis reminds us, we cannot stop just because the journey is hard, or it isn't moving at the same pace as before. Growth is sometimes rapid-fire, but at others, it is slow, tedious, and even a bit of a struggle. A plant begins by putting down one main root, then it puts of littler ones. At the same time, a stem begins to struggle to the surface, leaves begin to appear, and then more leaves. The first two leaves soon fall away, no longer needed because the 'permanent growth' is beginning to appear. 

It is oftentimes like than when God asks us to grow in a certain area. We put down one root, let some other smaller ones develop, seeing immediate signs of 'new life', but then it seems to take forever for the other 'leaves' to grow. Life takes time - change is occurring, but the pace has just changed. The plant doesn't just stop growing because it has a few 'first leaves'. It puts down more roots, digging in a bit deeper, and sending all that it receives by those roots to the parts that need growth. God does the same in us - we pursue (send down roots), he nourishes, and we put forth new growth. Don't ever stop the pursuit because you are never going to see the fullness of growth if you do. Just sayin

Lingering a little too long?

Of all possessions, a friend is most precious. (Herodotus)

Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah! (Romans 5:9-11)

I would say I am blessed to have a 'best friend', but throughout the years, I have been blessed to have many friends. Some stick closer than others, don't they? You are most fortunate if there is always at least one who is 'just there' through thick and thin. There is one friendship we can never neglect - that which we share with God himself. When we were (and are) at our worst - he is right there to set things right in our lives.

Today's blessing is that we are constantly being 'expanded' in Christ Jesus. We are never 'stagnant' or 'just existing' when we pursue this friendship with God. Being put on right terms with him means we are free to pursue just have we have been pursued. Tenacious pursuit - that is what God desires of us. As a result of our pursuit, we find our lives are 'deepened' - there is no longer that shallowness of self-control. 

Religious pursuit doesn't bring a change to our lives, but a genuine relationship with God does. When we put our hope and trust in his 'leadership' over our lives, we find there is no reason for 'religion' any longer. Religion kept us bound to our sinful past - doing over and over again the things we thought would help us grow and deepen in our relationship with God but finding it did little to bring us any closer. When we stop trying to be 'made right' and just enter into this relationship with our whole heart, we find the pursuit changes.

We are no longer content to just linger in unproductive practices - we want to experience the depth and breadth of God's love, his plan for us, and his purpose lived out in us. Just sayin!

That used to be a tight fit

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

"I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us." (Anne Lamott) Do you understand grace? I know more about grace each and every day I live - simply because there isn't a moment that goes by where I don't need more of it! Grace isn't always 'understood' as much as it is 'appreciated'. We are wrapped in the healing power of grace, not so we can sin again, but so we can see our sin as forgiven and learn to live without sinning again.

All of this walk with Jesus is one of coming to 'appreciate' the extreme value of the work of grace in our lives. We discover new things about how grace does a work within us every day. We might not 'feel' grace at work but trust me on this one - if you are a child of God, grace isn't finished with you yet! Have you ever worn a garment that felt just a bit too tight, making it hard for you to really be comfortable in it? Then one day, you realize that the garment you had put to the back of your closet because of the discomfort now fits without that binding or uncomfortable feel any longer.

Grace is kind of like that - one day, the sin that so easily tripped us up and got us all in a muddle doesn't hold us captive any longer. What caused us so much discomfort at one time no longer has that same 'binding' power. As long as we attempted to deal with that sin in our own power, we were bound up in it - uncomfortable, ill at ease, and under the pressure of guilt. When grace did its work within us, what once caused us such unnecessary 'pressure' is gone! We know a new level of comfort because we are walking free of the 'extra weight' sin created in our lives. It may not be easy to see grace 'growing' within us, but we can definitely 'feel' the effect of it in the long run. Just sayin!

Not one more blow!

Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]? (Jeremiah 23:29)

Both fire and a hammer have an effect of changing what they touch, don't they? They both can reduce to pieces that which are touched by their influence. There is a "heating" effect of both. The hammer begins to "heat up" the nail as it drives it through the wood - repeated blows from the hammer actually change the temperature of the nail! Why on earth does God compare his Word to fire and a hammer? The Word of God changes whatever it comes into contact with, and it has a way of changing the "temperature" of whatever it touches. It is important for us to see God does not say the purpose of the fire is to consume us. It is just used to consume whatever cannot hold up to the test of the heat! In other words, whenever we feel like the Word of God is a little "consuming" in its focus, it is like a farmer doing a controlled burn around his place. The purpose of the controlled burn is to remove the weeds and brush which threaten the potential for his harvest! The Word of God is really not after the good stuff - it is after the "chaff" - the unfruitful, unproductive, and choking influences of our life. 

Have you noticed how well some of the wood burns in a fire, while the other wood seems to be harder to "catch" and it burns a lot longer before it is reduced? The "hardness" of the wood is often the determining factor of how long the fire has to "work" upon the wood to achieve the optimal effect of reducing the wood. Sometimes our heart is responsive to the fire of God's Word, allowing the Word to take hold quite quickly. At other times, it is a little harder, isn't it? The likeness of the Word of God to a hammer is pictured here not so much as the hammer driving home the nail, but of pounding upon rock. I think this is an appropriate picture of our hearts sometimes - rocky, hard, and just needing a little "pounding". My dad used to have a couple of sledgehammers - some smaller like hammer size, others bigger like the size of an ax. It took quite a bit of effort to wield the sledgehammer, regardless of the size. Why? They carried some "weight" to them because what they would come into contact with was often unyielding and required a little more force to affect the desired change. I think God's Word is sometimes like the sledgehammer - it encounters some pretty unyielding stones and must break those stones up into smaller pieces, allowing for those pieces to be removed and discarded in order to begin to prepare the place it occupied for fresh growth.

The hammer on the stone produces some "heat" with each blow. It is perhaps the influence of this "heat" which gets the stone to the point of beginning to yield to the blows. A sledgehammer applies force, and it is that force which begins the process of changing the consistency of whatever it touches. If you know anything about using a sledgehammer, you know it is the weight of the hammer which is used to produce the force. God's Word is a "weighty" thing in his hand! It is by the strength of his hand and the force of his Word we are changed - the places of our most stubborn resistance are broken into manageable pieces until they no longer find a suitable place of dwelling in us any longer. The Word embraced becomes the basis of change. Embrace it quickly and we see the effect of its influence almost immediately in our lives. Exert a little stubborn resistance to its influence and we might find we need a little more heat or a few more blows to get things accomplished within our stubborn hearts. Just sayin!

A shelf vs. a closet?

 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Have you ever frittered away a day, only to find at the end of the day you didn't accomplish as much as you set out to accomplish? There have been days when my list was so long and my accomplishments so few - leaving me with an even bigger list the next day. Early on in my career I learned to do something called 'prioritizing my goals'. I had work that required my immediate attention (like completing the timecards so everyone got paid); some that needed my attention as soon as time allowed (like updating a monthly report); and other things that needed to be done, but had a less 'strict' deadline (like cleaning out old files from the file cabinet I didn't need any longer). What was the advantage of learning to assign a priority to the things on my list? I got the stuff done first that was most urgent which left me free to pursue the less urgent and sometimes more time-consuming things in time.

God isn't much different in how he approaches the things we need to accomplish in our lives. He sets priorities of what should be the most important and these actually prepare us for being ready to allow the accomplishment of the things that may take just a little more time. The first priority God established for each of us was to put him first - first in our day, first in our time, first in our finances, first in our family, and the list can go on. The important thing is that he gets first 'dibs' on our time, talent, and treasures. The rest of the stuff follows. If you are anything like me, you might have tried to focus on some of the other stuff first, leaving God out of the picture until a little later down the road, then wondered why you were frustrated with the results. I got the cart before the horse - God first - the rest follows.

Even when you look at how God 'grows us up' in our faith-walk, it requires prioritizing some things over others. Our faith is 'built upon' - that means there is a foundation first. We come to know grace because we draw near enough to him on a frequent basis and the appreciation of grace becomes ingrained into our every action. We learn good character at the feet of Jesus and that character is built upon as we take in the Word and learn from the examples within those pages. We incorporate the lessons of the best examples, understanding the results of bad choices from those with a little less 'honorable' character. If our character isn't impacted by grace, our discipline will wane. We won't care about others because grace puts others first.

We might want all the growth at one time, but we have often explored just how hard that would be. If you have ever decided you wanted to clean your closets and then pulled things from this corner and that, making pile upon pile of things that need a 'place' somewhere other than the closet you were cleaning, you know how much of a mess doing all this at one time can produce. You started with one closet, but needing to put all the other stuff you found into their right spot means you likely will find things in those spots that require removal and relocation, as well. Before long, the piles are big and you realize you are in for a long, long cleaning day! One shelf may be more realistic - don't tackle the whole closet at one time! Just sayin!

Gathered, but also brought

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father.” (John 10:14-15)

We have all probably read or heard this portion of scripture at one time or another, but I never really caught something that Jesus was saying until this morning. Read that passage again with me and stop at the sentence where Jesus talks about having other sheep in addition to those in this pen. Did you ever see that before? I guess I just glossed over it, but if we want to know why Jesus delays his return to this earth, maybe we can extrapolate from this verse that he is doing some 'sheep gathering' so the pen is more than full - it is overflowing! He was talking with his disciples when he shared these words - telling them truth in simple story form so they can begin to understand it. His 'pen' wasn't full enough - he had more work to do in order to gather more sheep into the pen. He needs to gather and bring them into the fold - meaning that this 'pen' we call Christianity and the churches that make up his 'pens' aren't really 'full' yet. There is more room to grow!

Do you know what the response was to Jesus' teaching that day? It was a 'split' in the Jewish ranks. Why? Truth divides the sheep from the goats every time! Think of the 'religious' as the goats and the ones Jesus called his 'disciples' as the sheep. There are a lot of 'goats' in this world, concerned about all the rules they have to keep in order to attain some form of 'right-standing' with their god. Goats serve a 'god' of some form, but not the One True God. Sheep follow the Shepherd - their very existence and sustenance is because of his tender care over his flocks. We aren't one big 'pen' of believers, but many 'pens' spread hither and yon - soon to be gathered into his presence all as one, but now we are in a kind of 'holding pen' we call our local church. It is within these 'pens' we find we can feed and grow, share and multiply.

Look at what Jesus says again - I need to gather and bring them. Gathering sheep may be one thing - getting them to all move in the same direction at the same time may be quite a different task! If you have been part of a local church for any time at all, you know exactly what I mean by that statement! It isn't easy getting all of the 'sheep' to get moving in the same direction. Some doddle along, not overly concerned about the pace being set by others. There will be some who are always out front of the rest, just ready to 'move out' at a moment's notice - attentive, quick to respond, always listening to the Shepherd's voice. We may find others just so intent on whatever it is they are focused on that they are totally unaware the rest of the flock is about to move on to the next place God has prepared for them spiritually. 

Churches are filled with all kinds of sheep - some may label them lazy or crazy, regular or 'out there' - but regardless of what 'label' we attach to those sheep within our 'pen', they are all under his care and watchful eye. All must be brought along - not just gathered in. I think this is the purpose of the 'pen' we call our local church. God intends for our 'pen life' to be the place where we are gathered with the purpose of us being 'brought along' in this Christian walk. It is a place for us to grow - to be brought out of where we have lived for so long in unsheltered and unsafe spiritual, emotional, and physical conditions. Then he brings us into a place where we learn to walk together - providing for our spiritual needs, healing our emotional hurts and hang-ups, and then helping us to break free of those things that have bound us physically. Be gathered, but don't forget he is also doing the work of bringing us along! Just sayin!

Let it spill over

There are things in life that we all need to 'continue', while there are also things we definitely need to 'discontinue'. I cannot binge watch show after show and feel good about how my day went. I cannot go days on end without some physical exercise to clear my mind, regenerate my body, and get my juices flowing again. Self-quarantine certainly lends itself to the kind of 'isolate in place' kind of activities such as binge watching and incessant eating if we allow it to, but we have to make conscious choices to 'continue' in the things that help us to live strong lives. Experts tell us to rise at the same time we usually would, go to bed at similar times, engage in as close to normal activities as possible, and all should be well. I don't drive to work right now, so I try to make a few laps around the house before I settle in behind the computer monitor. I don't get to socialize with my friends, or give my BFF a big hug right now, but I can SKYPE and see we somehow dressed alike for our day! I have food at my fingertips because I am at home, but I am exercising discretion with how many trips I make to the fridge! Continue in the good stuff, so the journey is actually shaping our lives in the way it should go!

Now that you have welcomed the Anointed One, Jesus the Lord, into your lives, continue to journey with Him and allow Him to shape your lives. Let your roots grow down deeply in Him, and let Him build you up on a firm foundation. Be strong in the faith, just as you were taught, and always spill over with thankfulness. Make sure no predator makes you his prey through some misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you). (Colossians 2:6-8)

The 'shaping of our lives' is a 'cooperative' thing - we allow God to shape us - we participate actively in the shaping process. We aren't doing the shaping, but we are taking steps to do the things he says will help to 'keep us in shape' spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. First and foremost is the idea of having solid roots. I have referred often to roots in my writings because I know just how important that structure is to our well-being. If we don't maintain the 'rooting', we soon find we have 'slippery footing'. We begin to take steps away from that which gives us stability and 'solidness' in our daily walk. Strong faith isn't accidental - it is 'fashioned' through consistent steps that 'shape' our faith. Look at how strong faith develops - it is through being taught. That means we take time to learn each day - first what God wants us to know, then something new that we can somehow use to benefit ourselves and others. You might learn to make a new 'shoestring budget' recipe, sharing your ideas with others. That doesn't seem like much, but when a family of four is trying to stretch their food budget right now, it could be a godsend to them!

Strong faith 'spills over' into the lives of others. Right now we aren't gathering together in large groups. We aren't able to get out to all the places we usually frequent and we aren't seeing all the people we normally 'hang with'. As hard as that may be, we still need to find ways for our faith to 'spill over' into each other's lives. I am seeing some add new things to their social media feed, like let's show each other one photo from a trip that reveals some beautiful spot God created for us to enjoy. I also am observing some ask if there are things that they can pray for in their friend's lives right now. Still others are just letting others know they are there for them - giving each other a call more frequently, reaching out in non-traditional ways, like gathering in a parking lot six feet apart, and sharing a cup of coffee while catching up on 'home matters'. Our faith needs to continue to spill over - don't discontinue that! Just sayin!

Build Strong Relationships

I am going to ask some hard questions this morning, so please bear with me. What kind of friend are you? What motivates you within friendship? How is it that you seek to have your needs met in that relationship? How is it that you seek to meet the needs of the other individual? Do  you build strong relationships, or are you content with nothing more than the superficial or 'artificial' kind of friendships? These are tough questions, but if we begin to answer them honestly, we may find they reveal something about either the 'success' or 'failure' of our relationships with each other!

Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them, and you will destroy it. (Proverbs 17:9)

As a kid, I truly desired close friendships - the kind where you could tell your BFF anything and they wouldn't blab it to the world, or judge you because of something you thought or did. I truthfully didn't have any of these 'close' relationships until I was well into adulthood, though. It wasn't for lack of trying, but because I really didn't understand what it was I needed to 'give' in relationship and what it was that I 'needed' out of relationship. So, I went through my childhood with those 'superficial' types of relationships - good friends to hang out with, riding bikes, playing with our Barbie dolls, and watching clouds pass overhead on a hot summer afternoon while reclined under the shade of the mulberry tree.

Coming into adulthood found me seeking something deeper, though. I was no longer content to just have 'play dates' with people! I wanted deeper relationships - the type that would challenge me to grow and give me a chance to be myself without the masks! Let me assure you of one thing - these types of relationships are harder than you think, take longer to find than you might imagine, and are worth their weight in the most precious of metals or gemstones! Now, maintaining these relationships is something we seldom think about - but without 'maintenance', they will soon drift into the types we call 'superficial'!

If we desire to grow into strong relationships with each other, it takes consistent work - yep, you heard me - work! It isn't all fun and games, good times, and easy conversation. Sometimes it is harder conversations - the kind that challenges us to think differently, to see things from another viewpoint, or to just listen without saying anything in return. The time we spend together is truthfully treated as a 'valuable commodity' - every moment is spent building the relationship. Yes, we enjoy our times together, but somehow each time we are together there is something that transpires within that relationship that draws us closer. It may be laughter when we need to just have a good belly laugh, or tears when we just need to share our fear or hurt. Either way, growth is occurring.

I don't know where you are today, but I hope you are not in a bunch of superficial relationships. You need the closeness of that one who will challenge you. You don't know what you are missing out on in your life until you have found that strong and lasting relationship of one you can truly be yourself with in this world! You are growing, not singularly, but jointly. You are good for each other - not just for one, but for both. Just sayin!

Go ahead...be an irritation

It was Carl Jung who reminded us, "Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." I find some stuff others do a little more than irritating - like when someone chews loudly with their mouth open, or when they leave one teaspoon of ice cream in the bottom of the container in the freezer. These things are just not supposed to happen! There is an 'etiquette' to chewing and a courtesy to 'sharing', is there not? Yet, if we are honest about what irritates us the most, we might just find out that we do not really stop at finding the 'behavior' offensive - in time, unchecked irritation can lead to anger, disgust, and even a riff in the relationship! For our love to grow, sometimes we have to 'check' our irritations to see if they reveal just a little more about how we really are treating each other.

Your faith is growing more and more. And the love that every one of you has for each other is also growing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 ERV

Love that is growing is the result of a faith that is growing. It is kind of hard to separate the two. We must be in right relationship, growing in grace with Jesus, then we can focus on growing in grace with each other. As your faith grows, so does your love. It is not the opposite way around. So, if you are struggling to get past some of the 'irritations' of others in your life, you might just want to take a moment to explore your faith relationship with Jesus. It may not be as deep as it needs to be! Those are pretty harsh words, I know, but sometimes we need to hear the truth about ourselves from someone else because we almost always tell ourselves what we WANT to hear, not what we NEED to hear!

Mother Teresa always tried to meet others with a smile - she said a smile was the beginning of love. A smile reflects so much, oftentimes breaking down barriers that otherwise would not be breached. The little act of smiling was her way of 'opening doors' for her to minister to the deeper needs of those around her. Now, before you plaster a smile on your face and head out the door today, let me assure you a genuine smile comes from the heart. It isn't practiced or rehearsed. It is real because there is a love behind it that stems from a very real and deep faith that is growing daily. That is why her smile was so powerful - her faith was vibrant and growing. To her, sharing a meal was an act of love - opening doors to the poor and meeting their most basic of needs.

I wonder if things irritated her? I imagine seeing the overwhelming poverty of Calcutta might have just gotten under her skin from time to time. Seeing caste systems at work might have caused her a little consternation. Yet, she learned to live in such a way so as to allow those 'irritations' to bring her to a deeper faith. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all turned our 'irritations' into opportunities for us to see something within us that needs God's touch and our growth? We'd like to blame others for irritating us, but maybe it would be best to thank them for those irritations - because they are opportunities to expose areas where our faith needs to grow! Just sayin!

Soar, Climb, Change Your Perspective

Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it. (Winston Churchill) I know there are lots and lots things we walk through that have absolutely no appeal to us - we'd rather just dismiss them and walk away rather than go through them. What makes it more frustrating for us is the prolonged period of facing those troubles. We don't mind if they 'come and go' as long as they do so quickly. We don't want them hanging around! All kites rise best when there is wind, my friends, and opposing winds help it to soar higher and higher. A kite without the wind is just a little bit of fabric, paper, sticks, and string. With the wind, it is majestic beauty!

My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. James (1:2-4)

Have you ever been in a forested area and observed some form of vine ascending the tall trees around you? Those vines are nothing more than 'ground crawlers' without the tree! Either way, on the ground or climbing the tall trees, they are still vines. They just have different perspectives and challenges! One rises above, the other is content to just crawl along the low places in life. I don't know about you, but I am not content to crawl along the low places in life. I want to climb to new heights and I want to soar as the kite - higher and higher, meeting each opposing wind with strength, endurance, and beauty!

To rise, one faces great opposition. Imagine the little vine trying to make the climb. It has to resist the pull of gravity if it is to climb. Yes, it is equipped with small 'tentacle like' appendages that it sends off to help hold it in place as it wraps its way up the tree. Yes, it has all the resources of being solidly planted in the ground to ensure it continues to grow. Yes, it needs the sunlight to keep growing. But...if it never begins the struggle to move out of the forest floor, it remains a 'bottom crawler' and is subject to the life as limited as that may be. 

To rise, we need to have determined focus to move from where we are to where we will become our best. The kite is designed to soar high. It begins the ascent little by little. As it 'catches the wind', it begins to climb. Just as the tiny vine begins the climb, the kite endures the hardships of opposing forces all around it. The higher it climbs, the easier it becomes to soar as it should. It is where it should be, not in the absence of the opposing forces, but because of them! 

We are made into what we are designed to be not in the absence of those opposing forces in life, but because of them! Let them grow your faith. The kite takes on a new 'form' as it ascends, much like the tiny vine. The vine is able to develop at sometimes astronomical speed as a result of the climb. The kite expands and begins to display its full beauty as it soars high above in the face of those winds. Time to ascend, my friends. Just sayin!

It is hampering my growth

One thing is said, another is meant. One thing is done, but the intention behind it is completely contrary to the "appearance". At times, we are presented with individuals who seem to have an "ulterior motive" in their actions. In other words, what is presented is really a "mask" for something being done to deceive the individual on the receiving end of the action. This is very dangerous ground for us - simply because we really don't know what to expect, or when to trust. When expectations are not clear, or trust is not fully established, we can get ourselves into all kinds of pickles!

Mixed motives twist life into tangles; pure motives take you straight down the road. (Proverbs 21:8)

We would probably call an "ulterior" motive a "second motive" - one which is usually a little selfish or self-centered in nature. These motives result in a life that ends in a tangled mess! Not my idea of where I want to be living, but I have known my share of tangles! In fact, when I am faced with these kind of individuals, I tend to pull back from relationship with them - simply because I cannot trust their intentions and they have a tendency to "complicate" my life way more than I want! Don't get me wrong - I don't always have the purest motives myself! I just try my best not to purposely work in the realm of "secret" or "hidden" agendas! God is perfectly aware of our "hidden" motives - those we'd call "selfish" or "self-centered" in nature. Times such as when we ask God to bless us with a new car and what we are really saying is, "God, I don't like the one you have already blessed me with!" The desire is genuine, but the motive is a little self-centered.

People who purposefully set out to deceive by their actions not only leave their own lives in a mess, they leave the lives of those they touch in a mess of tangles. They are never free from the tangled mess themselves because any life of deception requires a whole lot of effort to keep up the facade of untruths used to mask the reality of what lies just beneath the surface! I think these are the individuals God was "aiming at" in the verse above - those who hide their guilt behind a facade live in tangles and leave others in tangles. Pure motives keep us on a straight path. God understands our "bent" toward selfish motives, but he expects as we become aware of these motives, we will hurriedly lay them at the foot of the altar and have them changed by the touch of his grace. If we are finding our life caught up in a jumble of tangles as a result of the deceptiveness of our actions and thoughts, we might need some altar time to untangle the mess we've created!

In examining the word "tangle", I found it not only relates to the mess of inter-twisted parts, but also it carries the idea of being caught or held in a trap or snare. Mixed motives actually serve to entrap us; snaring us in their grip. There is a 'hampering effect' which occurs anytime the motives we choose to obey are those which are not pure in nature. They hamper our growth, relationships, and even our access to God. Perhaps this is why God places such emphasis on purity of heart! His goal is to never have anything keep us from straight-forward, immediate, and unhindered access to him! Mixed motives deceive - pure motives open the doors of trust. Mixed motives ensnare - pure motives allow freedom in relationship. Mixed motives will overgrow if never placed in check! We need to be constantly examining our motives - not in light of our own perceptions - but in the light of the Cross. The Cross exposes what is just beneath the surface - revealing exactly what it is we are "covering over". Never forget that it is at the altar we are altered. Never "under-value" the time you spend at the altar of God's grace! In the end, what emerges is pure and good. Just sayin!

Skills check-off

What is a preceptor? In many learned skills, there is a process of aligning an individual who has much experience with another who is just starting out in the skill. During a specific period of time, the preceptor 'checks off' the 'newbie' on various skills required for the work at hand. The main purpose of the preceptor is to help the newbie add line upon line, precept upon precept, skill upon skill, until they are deemed able to perform the task at hand without constant oversight. We all look for 'mentors' from time to time in our lives - whether learning a new job, or just trying to learn a new hobby. There is no greater 'mentor' relationship one can have than that which mentors another in the 'skill' of being in a committed and growing relationship with Christ.

God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness. (Titus 2:11-14)

Older men and women, well-established in their faith, being solid examples for younger men and women to look up to. Why is this important? It is because we learn best by the examples we can see, feel, and connect with frequently. God's readiness to give and forgive is public knowledge! Sometimes we think the things of God are hidden from us, but the scripture tells us differently - maybe because we don't want to see the truth that is right there. God is ready to give - sometimes we just have to be ready to receive! He is ready to forgive - sometimes we just have to be ready to repent! Sometimes the best way to realize this is to be mentored in a relationship that actually helps us to understand the truth we are not able to see ourselves.

This Christian experience is more than a moment-in-time experience. We grow fresh in our connection with Christ each day. We go through life "being shown" how to turn our backs on the old stuff of our sinful life and to embrace the good stuff of the life in Christ. The need for mentors or preceptors implies that we don't just "get it" alone - we need to be shown - we need examples. I know this is true for me - an example speaks louder than any words in the "instruction manual". I think that is why those 'put it together at home' furniture packages come with pictures, not just words!

A picture speaks louder than words! What we can perceive through observation cements the words to an actual lifestyle - seeing right choices lived out helps us understand the truths we may be struggling with that just don't seem to have connected with us yet. The preceptor takes it from being "ethereal" to being "real". We have been granted "leaders" in the church that help us make this connection. Yet, God is not stopping with the leaders - we also need to find good "mentors" - older men and women who can lead by example. I don't know who you have in your life that acts as a mentor or preceptor for you, but the truth is that you need someone! When we need to understand forgiveness, we benefit so much from the evidence of a lifestyle that shows the results of walking in forgiveness. To see another embrace forgiveness, despite the ugliness of their past sin, and then to walk in freedom that forgiveness produces allows us to "connect-the-dots" of God's grace, our repentance, and his restoration. 

Did you know that scripture says that we learn "line upon line, precept upon precept"? Yep, it does. Guess what another word for mentor is? Yep, you guessed it - preceptor! So, if we really want to learn what God has in store for us, we would do well to align ourselves with preceptors who can help us learn "line upon line, precept upon precept"! In turn, we become that preceptor to another who needs an example to follow. If you don't think of yourself as an example today, just wait - - - God is making each of us into the best example of his grace he desires for another to see! Just sayin!

Let him at it!

As a parent, we all have those moments when we are less than patient with our children. As caregivers to the elderly, we can experience those similar moments. Regardless of our 'age' in Jesus, he never seems to become impatient with us. God is immensely patient with his children. He gives us space - to make our own choices. He gives us time - to come to our own conclusions. He gives us these things because he knows that in order to have our heart, he must have it yielded willingly - we must 'want to' yield our hearts to him. God is infinitely patient in his waiting for us to turn from our sin - but he will not wait forever. Sometimes, he gives us gentle, but quite firm nudges to cause us to see our sin. When he does, remember that it is out of his immense love for us that he has done so.

You didn't think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard? Or did you think that because he's such a nice God, he'd let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he's not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change. (Romans 2:3-4)

We often want to take the "focus" off of us by putting it on someone else - pointing out their faults. It is like we believe that by pointing out the other person's faults, no one will ever see ours, including God! Silly us! In fact, look at what another criticizes in another on a frequent basis and you will usually have a good idea of what the one doing the criticizing is struggling with, too! That includes me! It is not a subtle walk with God that we are called to live out. It is a "radical" life-change. These three words say it all! Radical means getting at the root of things. This word carries the idea of getting at the fundamental stuff - what's really at the core of our being. 

When God goes for the "root", he is expecting something to be extremely different in the end. The "root" of something gives it both the stability and the system for being nurtured. If the "root" is wrong - the fruit will be, as well. Life really focuses us on looking at what is produced. This word carries the idea of growth - the ability to adapt when moved upon by a force greater than ourselves. God focuses on the root because he hopes to affect the fruit. He is concerned with our growth. His desire is that we no longer "adapt" to the world around us, but that we "adapt" to his will, his direction, and his love for us. In so doing, he really is "transplanting" us from infertile, diseased soil into the nutrient rich soil of his grace. There is no better place to take root.

Change signifies us moving (sometimes at a snail's pace) from what we were to what we would become if we were left to our own devices. God is not as concerned about what we have the "ability" to do as in helping us realize that ability in him. His greatest goal is to make our "form" or "nature" just like his son's. To do this, he removes the covering we place over our sin in an attempt to hide it from him and others. In so doing, the exposure allows him to transform what has been hidden into something that can actually be a display of his grace. So, it is to this radical life-change that God calls us. We can probably all agree, it is easier to cover up our sin than it is to face it - but no amount of cover-up will change what is produced in the end. The "cover-up" needs to be over in our lives! It is time to allow the Lord to see the "true" us! He has something divine he desires to produce...so let him at it! Just sayin!