Running ahead of God

Toddlers are so cute, so full of spirit, amazingly courageous.  I saw a toddler refuse to take his father’s hand at the grocery store, sprinting away while in the parking lot.  I was afraid for the father and toddler both.

Sometimes I run ahead of my father too, my Heavenly Father. I get so excited that I run, heading straight for disaster.  I ignore all road signs telling me to yield.

King Saud did much of the same during his career. Saul to wait for Samuel for seven days (I Samuel 10:8) as God commanded through Samuel.  Saul turned into that toddler and did not wait for Samuel.

We see Sarai do the same when she gives her servant, Hagar, to Abram so that Abram can have children (Genesis 16:1-2).

But, God instructs us through Solomon to instead: Trust in the Lord with all of your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The toddler waiting for his father equates to safety and longer life, as does our listening and waiting on our Heavenly Father.

Filter your expectations through God

Filter your expectations through God

Today my pastor said, "filter your expectations through God.", what a powerful thought.

You are doing many great things, but are they ordained by God, or are you doing them for yourself? 

If you were doing things through God, you would not feel weary.  We may be doing good things, but if they are not what God has in store for us, they bring on feelings of weariness. 

When you say yes to something, not to God, you are saying no to something that may be of God.

I know this feeling.

I did many great things not necessarily ordained by God. I was a Girl Scout leader, the Boy Scout Committee Chair, the Upward Basketball coach. 

I was exhausted. 

I was doing great things not necessarily what God called me for and not necessarily in that order He desired in my life. 

I was weary.

God placed a significant event in my life that allowed me to find my voice, allowed me to say no, and realized that I was enough without proving my worth through my works.

Ford versus Ferrari

Anyone who knows me knows that I love cars, specifically fast cars. Do not let the 13-year-old Honda pilot fool you. I was born for speed. At 17, I was stopped by a policeman for going 109 in a 55. I wouldn't have known because my 1982 Honda only had up to 85 on the tachometer.  I could not understand how fast I was going. The car was an extension of me. It was my instrument, and I, the operator, the wheel in my hand, the pedal on the floor, all instruments for my pleasure and performance.

Ford versus Ferrari came out in early 2020. I wanted to see it, but the pandemic started, and I decided not to go to the movies. I yearned to watch it the minute I had the chance.

July 2020, I see the movie. I was able to know the thrill of the characters driving those beautiful machines.

I was excited to see the craftsmanship of Ken Miles and Carrol Shelby, whom I often heard of in my youth from my father, a former drag racer.

Ken Miles and Carrol Shelby handcrafted the vehicles that would win the Sebring 12 hour, Daytona 24 hour, and hit the top records at Le Mans. 

Many times the Executives who gave them the backing to create this beautiful machine would continue to get in the way of craftsmanship. The movie is called Ford versus Ferrari, but it should've been called Ford versus Ford. 

The executives would interrupt the craftsmen from doing their work and impede success. One minute they would promote their trust in the craftsmen the next minute knock them down.

The Craftsmen's motives were genuine. They had one goal to win Le Mans in a Ford for the first time, unseating Ferrari. 

Vision communicated. 

Craftsmen engaged. 

And executives getting in their way. 

I think about what God is doing in my life: He sets the course, puts in the guardrails, and I ignore it all with my plan. 

Sometimes I am those Ford executives stopping God's will, the craftsman of my life.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

A Step-Dad’s letter to his daughter

One night I was at a dance bar in Los Angeles, and this woman asked if I wanted to dance. After a first glance, I immediately said yes. I was just thinking of how fortunate I was to be dancing with the most beautiful woman there. We exchanged digits, and that was the start of a beautiful relationship. Christine told me that she had a two-year-old daughter. Her name was Jasmine. My first thought was, what a beautiful name. I was dying to meet you. I always saw myself as someone who always wanted children. I finally got the chance to meet you after we felt it was right in our relationship. It was at a playground. I was kind of smitten by how precious you were. You were such a vibrant bunch of energy. We played around for a while and had an amazing time. I kept thinking that night, what an amazing two-year-old! That was the start of forming the Soler Braun family. 

At that time, we didn’t live in the same area. I would drive to Bakersfield, and you both would drive to LA. I looked forward to all of our times spent together. After some time, we decided on the next step in our relationship to move together. We moved into an apartment by the beach. We ate at restaurants, had walks by the beach, and had birds poop on us after a little girl (hmmm! her name started with a J) scared them away. We had the best times. I was such a lucky man to have these women in my life. An opportunity presented itself to take a job in Florida. I have decided that I could not be happy making this move without the women that made me happy. I decided to propose to your mother, and we all moved together. We decided to take a road trip from LA to Fort Lauderdale. 

This is my favorite picture of us together. It was taken at the Grand Canyon. 

I was such a changed man because of you. You made me realize that I was ready for a change in my priorities. It was all about starting a family. You made me so happy! You were so easy to love. Thank you! I have seen you grow into such a mature and bright, independent woman. A Georgia Tech graduate with a BS in chemical engineering! I hope that I gave you a sense of stability and a love for those that are close to you. I tried to teach the importance of on education and becoming an independent woman. I am so proud of being the stepfather of someone who now inspires me to be better. Jasmine Angeline Thompson, you are a beautiful and strong woman!

You are always going to have a cheerleader in your corner. Know that you are always in my thoughts and that I LOVE YOU very much! I look forward to seeing you succeed in your career and in life.

Letter to my dad

My Dearest Dad,

Dad, I want you to know how much I love you.

I want to tell you all of the reasons I am thankful for you.

• Your high expectations enabled me to achieve great things.

• Your strength allowed me to understand the need for strength and what it looked like.

• Your work ethic has created in me an unstoppable work ethic where I crave to be judged on my work rather than on my ability to kiss butt.

• Your vulnerability enabled me to know that it is ok to make mistakes and to own them.

• Your desire and drive to provide for your family demonstrated the importance of working hard for my family.

• Your generosity enabled me to model your behavior and be generous with my time and money.

• Your idea of giving me an allowance gave me the ability to manage my money successfully.

• Your coaching and teaching created a love of developing others, and I use the same techniques.

• By investing in me and taking me with you to the hardware store or the shop told me that you liked to be around me.

• Watching your interactions with others taught me how to treat others with love and respect. Watching you take on so much and never complain taught me to suck it up and figure it out.

• Your resolve to get your degree while supporting a family made me confident that I could do the same.

I love you for everything you are and everything you are not.  I love you for your big heart and your quirky sense of humor. I love you for your ability to love so deeply.

Dad, I am so proud of you and all that you have become.  You have achieved more than so many people. You have achieved more than anyone would have ever expected of you.  If your parents were alive today, they would say, “well done,” and you know how much they love you. When you see them in heaven, you will be able to hear them tell you for themselves. Most of all, Dad, you are loved by our Heavenly Father.  God is so proud of you and the man you are.

Dad, you are a good man, a strong man, an intelligent man, a worthy man, a gracious man, a loving man, an ethical man, a hardworking man, a man who wants something better for his family.

Dad, you are an immense success, and I hope you are as proud of your accomplishments and who you are as much as we are.

I love you, Dad. 

Your Daughter.

Conceding the fight

I have been a fighter my entire life.  I feel like I have been training for the next fight for years, always expecting the next shoe to drop.  I have practiced mental strength training by running head-on into situations, never yielding, never slowing.

I have been a single mom, faced no money, overwhelming debt, and adversity.  Some of my challenges have been brought on by my own choices, some not.  All of this has taught me to fight, push, and pull.

All these years of fighting have turned me hard, untrusting, unyielding, and stubborn.  I no longer know how to succumb, concede, and accept because I only know how to fight. In turn, this makes my expectations of myself and others high, higher than what is reasonable.  I have become difficult to and judgmental.  I wanted to understand how to stop fighting and lessen my stress and fully live.  I found a great website on conceding and defeat and found it relevant (https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-concede-7aa994600f17).

1.     Thank the process:  I am thankful for where I am and my strong mental state.  I am resilient and can be genuine for others.  Without my past, I would not be strong for my future.

2.     Be accountable: I accept responsibility for my emotions, my behaviors, and my reactions.  I cannot blame others for my behavior.

3.     Show deep gratitude: I would not be where I am today without my experiences.  Some experiences were good and some bad, but they made me who I am today.  I am proud of who I am.  For this, I am grateful.

4.     Turn losing into learning: As long as I am learning from my experiences, I am growing.

5.     Turn learning into teaching: By acknowledging my past, my experiences, and my reactions, by taking accountability, by learning and growing, I keep moving forward.  It is up to me to pass my learning and understanding to others in a supportive and loving manner.

6.     Take pride in small successes: I may not get it right all the time, but I learn from my past and make better decisions for the future.  For this, I am proud.

7.     Cross the next start line, keep going: When I have a setback, the best thing to do is learn from the experience and keep going. 

It is ok to stop pushing.  Sometimes letting go is the best thing to do for your well-being.

Am I Team Me or Team God?

Am I Team Me or Team God?

Recently I read an article in Unwritten.com by Laura Van De Walle, 6 Important Things Team Sports Taught Me in Life.

I never played team sports as a child, and spilling into adulthood, I would hear the phrase "team player" a lot. While I am uber-competitive, the competitive nature tends to fall on team me with the players me, myself, and I.

Because I did not partake in team sports, I think I messed some valuable lessons shared by Laura Van de Walle:

• How/when to lead

• How/when to listen

• How to take criticism

• How to lose

• Confidence

• Teamwork

How/When to Lead:

There are times when leading is essential.  As well, there are times when taking a back seat and trusting others is imperative.  Letting God take the wheel and trusting His judgment in our lives is needed to drive our growth.  I am taken back to the driver's training, where the instructor reached over, grabbed the wheel, and steered us from danger. Trust was required of me in that situation and is needed in me today.

How/When to Listen:

Sometimes listening to God is difficult. I am so busy living my life that I forget to humble myself, be still, and listen.  Or other times, God is sending His messages loud and clear, and I refuse to listen.

How to Take Criticism:

God's gentle hand corrects us in His word.  It is the reason we read a verse and learn something new we did not see in a prior read. Or sometimes, when we read God's word, we see God speaking to us and giving us gentle correction of where we may be falling short.

How to lose:

As Christians, we are to lose ourselves and live in Christ (Galatians 2:20). No longer do we live for our desires, but we live for Christ's glory (Luke 9:23); when we live to love others, we gain spiritual peace. Just like when we volunteer, we receive the benefit to our soul. 

Gaining Confidence:

Psalm 146:3   

Don't put your confidence in influential people; there is no help for you there.    

Through God, we can gain confidence.

Psalm 146:5

But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

Jeremiah 17:7

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

By rooting our feet in God, our footing is firm, and our strength is solid.

Teamwork:

God created us to be Team God. All of us supporting one another, loving one another, growing together in God.

Ephesians 4:15-16

(15) Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. (16) He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its special work, it helps the other parts grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing full of love.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper who is just right for him."

We are meant to be a team, together in God.

Let's join Team God: following God, listening to God, hearing his correction, losing ourselves to God, gaining confidence through God, and supporting each other as a team. Team God.

Letters to my surrogate mothers

Kathy -the misunderstood

You are no longer on this earth, but I know you had a heart for God.  You were misunderstood and unappreciated.  Your worth was not honored.  As my first step-mother, you were tasked with raising three children, not your own, in addition to your son. You came in at a disadvantage compared to a woman who hung the moon.  Your past was not forgotten, not forgiven as God forgave.  Instead, your past was held against you. You overcame so much; a life headed for destruction through abuse and a search for love.  God saw you.  God loved you. And you turned it all around.  

Then came a family who portrayed “ideals” but was incredibly broken in their own hearts.

The expectations were high, higher than anyone could have met.  You came in trying to be perfect; the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter-in-law, trying to fill the shoes of someone taken too soon and dearly loved.

I want you to know that I saw you and did not understand your pain.  Today, I see you, and I understand your pain, your need for love and acceptance, your impossible situation.

Thank you for trying your best in a difficult situation.

Nancy-the friend

You are the steadfast, the wise.  You knew what you could influence and what you could not.  You came in with little expectation and careful strides.  You knew what you could and could not push.  

You are amazingly strong and have a heart full of kindness and grace. Your ability to look past the shortcoming to see the promise in people is valuable and desired. 

You were the calm in the storm of teenage life.  You always told me my decisions were smart, even when they may not have been—and I felt safe and intelligent and loved.

As I grew into adulthood, you became Nana, so beloved by my daughter, so special in her eyes, and I knew you were made for this.  You imparted wisdom and love; you fostered growth and acceptance.

You found the secret sauce in a marriage in our family: space.  Give space to grow, to growl, to shift, to settle.  You see the unease and move out of the way; your wisdom knows not to take the unrest personally as it results from an unsettled mind.

You have taught me so much, and you are loved.

Millie-the Mother-in-Law

You took me in and accepted me. You loved and took care of my children allowing me to work and follow my passion outside the house. You are funny and sunshine in our life. Thank you for always supporting my husband as he went through a major medical issue. Thank you for teaching me to cook and taking care of all of us. You stepped in as a surrogate mother to me.

I know your life has not been easy, you lost your husband so young, you struggled and fought to raise your children well, you took care of your parents as you have taken care of everyone in your life.

You have taught me to love, to care for and to mother.

I love you.

Shelly—the sister: put in a difficult spot trying to be both mother and daughter.  Your burden of trying to please so heavy.

My sister, I see you, I see your heart.  I see your pain; I see you not forgive yourself.  I know that life weighs heavy on you as you place so much responsibility on yourself.  You hold it together and do not let anyone see your pain or your struggle.  Your expectations of yourself are more than anyone could expect.  My heart longs for you to know that God says, “well done.”

What you do not know is how much I look up to you and respect you.  You are so wise, so loving. You have our mother’s heart and are more like her than any of us. Your love for God is an inspiration. Your humble nature is an example of what I want out of my life.

You have endured much heartache without permission to feel and experience the pain.  You hide your grief and put on a happy face for others.  It must be a struggle to keep it all together for everyone else.

I long for you to feel free to spread your wings and chase your bliss in God.  I love you, Shelly, who accepts me as I am.

Father God,

Watch over the mothers in my life for all that they are and all they are not. Thank you for sending each one to be a guide in my life.

Amen.

Image found at zazzle.com

A letter to my mother

You wear a crown of thorns. I whisper secrets in your ear and trust the pinky swear. You’re always near. You are more friend than mother but it wasn’t always this way.

Once you reach a certain age the sands of time have smoothed you. Formed you. Buffed out the need for thrills and youthful transgressions, for nonsense and worrying over meaningless affections. You look back and notice situations, people, events with a new lens. I see you now mom. I yearn to turn back time and praise you the way I should. Love you the way I should. Honor you the way I should. All I can do now is say I’m sorry and love you now. Lift you up any way I can. Love you worn and weathered, weary and toughened. I wish you didn’t need to toughen your skin the way you have, to sharpen your sarcasm to burden the pain. To shoulder the weight of his lies, his instability, his illness. You hid the empty bottles of pills and liquor, the manic episodes, the depressive ones which followed soon behind. You hid it all from eager mouths.

I took dads side when I was young because I needed him to love me. I rebelled and sought attention in unsavory places because I needed his attention. The youngest of four, with the oldest having a dad before his fall into dark places, I thought he never was satisfied, never showed up at my sports games or events because I wasn’t good enough. There was something wrong with me and if I could just do better, be louder, he would notice and wake up from his stupor. I thought I could lift him from his depression and finally give him happiness. I let you down and I wish I would have lifted you up as you carried the weight of all of us and him – a mother and father. You hid his instability from our tight knit community so we wouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed.

Who was your anchor? Who kept you going? Why didn’t you leave? I know now that you loved us more than you loved yourself and you trusted in the Lord. 

You shared a story recently about going to church with your family back home, kneeling at the altar for communion and hoping your dress covered the holes in the heels of your shoes. You spent what little money you could acquire from working on us. Now you feel comfortable sharing these sacrifices as I am a mother now and understand the love you share with your child.

I love you mom. I am here for you and will always be to shoulder your burden. I wish I could have helped back then but I didn’t and can’t turn back time. I see you now. Recently I saw a picture of you as a young 20-something. Tall, thin and beautiful in a red dress in a sea of neutrals. That’s how I see you and will always see you. Let me carry you now.

The writer of this is a beautiful woman with a heart of understanding for her mother. She wishes to remain anonymous, but willingly shared this story as a tribute to her mother.

Christine’s Mother

Posted with permission of the Author, Anne Schroeder, as published in The Best of SLO NightWriters in Tolosa Press 2009-2013.

“Christine’s mother walks her to the bus stop,” Katy remarked, twisting her toast into bite-size pieces then setting them back on the plate. “Christine’s lucky.”

Reaching to clear a handful of breakfast dishes from the table, I brushed a kiss across Katy’s forehead and cheerfully agreed.  “I guess Christine’s mother loves her better.”

Katy glanced up, surprised, “No she doesn’t…” she started to protest, then grinned when she realized I was kidding her. I sent her off with a hug, cautioning her to hurry or she’d miss her early-bird bus.  With a twinge of guilt, I watched my second grader, bundled in her bright-blue goose down jacket and red stocking cap, running down the long driveway in the gray, frosty morning.  But she skipped ahead to catch up with a friend and I started my daily routine.

That evening while I tucked her into bed, Katy reached to twist a strand of my hair and quietly told me, “Christine’s mother took her to McDonald’s for lunch and bought her a lip gloss and came back to school just before recess ended. Can we do that tomorrow?”

I smiled and replied, “You bet…sometime.  But not tomorrow.  Daddy’s taking the car and we sure can’t walk that far. But sometime soon…Promise.”

As I left the room and gently closed the door, I thought, Christine is a most indulged little girl.  Christine, who skated backward in her own set of rink skates, who came out with the first computer game system in the neighborhood, whose mother walked her to the bus stop, and who is leading my daughter into unrealistic expectations of life. 

I decided that if Katy felt so strongly about the attention Christine was getting, I would break out of my comfortable routine and do something about it.  The next morning, I dressed early and surprised her by suggesting that I walk her to the bus stop. We packed cinnamon toast and orange juice and had a picnic on a little knoll where we fed our crusts to a kitten that came by to investigate.  We began a sometimes ritual of walking together and I came to know the froggy pond, the path, the friendly dog, and the children at the bus stop.

One day I met Christine’s mother.  After waving our children off through the back window of the disappearing yellow bus, we walked the short distance home.  Pausing at the end of my driveway, I asked her up for a cup of tea.  To my surprise, she accepted and for the next two hours we shared confidences.  She told me about her oldest son’s musical ability, her hopes that one of her children would become a doctor, and how hard it was to join a busy family together for a family dinner and prayer. Gradually, hesitantly, Donna told me of her leukemia and her numerous trips to the hospital for chemotherapy, her intolerance to germs, and her fears that Christine would not have the time with her that the older children had enjoyed.

After she left, I sat a long time just looking out my window.  Finally, I reached for the phone and deliberately dialed the number.  The voice on the other end said, “Hello…Santa Rosa Elementary.  Mrs. Anderson speaking.”

“Yes, hello…This is Mrs. Schroeder.  Could I leave a message for Katy in Room 5?  I will be picking her up for lunch today…but I’ll have her back by the end of lunch recess.”

Seven months have passed, and Donna is still bravely battling her illness.  Christine and Katy are best friends, second grade style.  Every day when the sun comes up over our neighborhood, I say a prayer for the lady who helped me to see the world through new eyes.  A very special lady—Christine’s mother.  

Donna Braun, Christine’s mother, died three months after I wrote these words; before her death, I gave her a copy.  At her request, the minister included it in her eulogy.

In the years that have passed, Donna’s daughters have grown into lovely, gracious, spirit-filled women.  She would be proud of her children. And I believe she would be grateful for the aunts, stepmothers, teachers, and neighbors—the women who took the tie to help form them.

On Mother’s Day let us honor these women, birth mother or surrogate.

Putting on my “big girl panties” today

Do you remember the days of the week panties? For kids, it made sure we were changing our panties every day: shutting the dirty and putting on the clean and fresh.

When we say putting on her big girl panties, it means to grow up, leave the past behind.

Shed the old, the dirty, the past sins: put on the clean, new life in God’s glory.

God calls us to “no longer live like the Gentiles” Ephesians 4:17. Those who are not believers “wander far from the life God gives “Ephesians 4:18. 

The Gentiles who are hardened to God’s word, have no shame and seek lustful pleasure are our old panties, yesterday’s panties.

But, today’s a new day.

Ephesians 4:20-24 speaks to the new people we are in Jesus, disregard our sinful nature, and put it on our new righteous and holy nature, our fresh new big girl panties.

• Stop telling lies

• Don’t let anger control you

• Don’t steal

• Be generous

• Don’t curse

• Say only edifying things

• Be good and helpful

• Get rid of bitterness

• Stop gossiping

Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving as Christ forgave us Ephesians 4:25-32

Girl, it’s time to grow up and put on your big girl panties. Be the woman God made you be.

Sacrificing versus Investing

Sacrificing versus investing

Are we giving something up or investing in the future?

Flipside!

Our last post discussed the cost of being a disciple. Is that cost a sacrifice or an investment? Is there a difference when we are talking about the kingdom of God? Is it a sacrifice in this life or an investment in our eternal life?

If we look at a few verses forward from last week to Luke 14:7-14, Jesus speaks to the goodness of humbleness. In verses 12 to 14, Jesus says to invite the poor, the blind, the lame instead of the rich.  The rich will reward you in this life by asking you back and repaying the favor. But, by investing in those less fortunate, your reward will be at the resurrection of the righteous. Are you sacrificing or investing?

In chapter 10 of Matthew, Jesus prepares His disciples. He cautioned the disciples, saying he is sending them as sheep among wolves (verse 16). He tells them that they will feel persecution and, as a result, will be in front of kings and rulers. At that time, they receive the opportunity to share Jesus. Is this a sacrifice or an investment?

Jesus’ disciples will be called names, threatened; but, do not be afraid because even if they killed the body, they could not kill the soul (verse 28). “If you give up your life for me, you will find it,” says versus 39. 

Sacrifice AND investment.

What we sacrifice is only for a short time, temporary, as an investment in our eternity with our Father in Heaven.

 Photo credit Bible.com

Are you a Salty Christian

Are you a salty Christian?

A.k.a. the cost of being a disciple Luke 14:25-35

This post follows closely with a former post: What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

In Luke 14:25-35, Jesus shares the cost of being a disciple. 

25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28  “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31  “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

34  “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

I know when I read this, fear immediately sets in. Giving up everything? 

Give up my three hours of couch time watching TV when I “don’t have time to read my Bible”? 

Yes

Quit working until exhaustion just to “get one more thing done”?

Yes

Give up my dependence on volunteering?

If volunteering in the organization is not in God’s plan, yes, you need to give it up and dedicate yourself to God’s will.

Giving up what stands in the way of God’s will is what we are all asked to do.

Jesus wants us to put nothing ahead of our following God. This is what the text means by in comparison, we must hate everything else.

Next, we must carry our cross and follow Christ. I always thought this meant, “suck it up, buttercup.” What He’s saying in verse 27 is to be willing to lose oneself (self-gratifying actions) for God, give up our lives and our earthly desires for God’s desires. Carrying the cross being synonymous with death on the cross at that time. When someone was carrying the cross, they carried the cross on which they were to be executed.

Then, Jesus says that we need to choose to be a disciple wisely, there is a cost. In verse 28, he says that you would not begin construction on a project without knowing if you had enough money to complete it.  Jesus is asking the same of us: understand the cost before committing.

Lastly, Jesus asks if you have the stamina to sustain. Can you give it all up and persevere? In verse 34, Jesus says salt is good (passion, excitement, desire). But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? How do you regain that passion, excitement, and desire?

So, are you ready to be a salty Christian?

 Photo credit Bible.com

What would you do if you were not afraid?

What would you do if you were not afraid?

Spencer Johnson MD, Who Moved My Cheese

Recently my work had us read a book on change. We are going through an extensive IT project to migrate four divisions to the same ERP (enterprise resource planning) system (think SAP, sage, or similar). The system takes all facets of the organization and merges them onto one platform: from quoting to project planning to finance to manufacturing to shipping. One system to handle everything. 

With a new ERP system, the goal is to get four unrelated divisions to merge and work as one, seamless to our customers who work with each division. It is a vast undertaking; thus, the goal to prep the teams for change.

The book we were to read is Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson MD. The book will foster growth through change or get you to recognize when change needs to happen: excellent book, concise read.

While I have my own copy and read it every other year or so, it is never less meaningful with each new read. The author says, and I agree, that the one most meaningful phrase is, “What would you do if you were not afraid?”. 

We so often go through life living in fear without knowing it. We do this to the point that usually we follow our will rather than God’s will.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) - “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths

In Deuteronomy 31, Upon Moses’ old age of 120, he handed the reins to Joshua. Think about how scary this must be for Joshua.

What would you do if you were not afraid?

Deuteronomy 31:3-6 Moses tells Joshua and the people, God will go ahead of you, Joshua will lead you, God will hand the nations over to you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

What would you do if you were not afraid?

Joshua would lead a nation.

We do not need to be afraid, for God is with us (Psalm 23:4). God is even there for us when we do not know the path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6) as long as we follow him and seek him through his word (Psalm 119:105) and in prayer.

When Jesus ascended, God sent the Holy Spirit to guide our path so we would not be alone or afraid to follow God’s plan (John 14:26–27).

Paul speaks to Timothy, telling him:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 

We should be bold

What would you do if you were not afraid?

1 John 4:11 Stand up in God and for God, share the good news of Jesus Christ and love each other as God loves us.

Final thought:

Ephesians 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

What would you do if you were not afraid?

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Provoking Thought: Generosity

Provoking Thought:  What would the world look like if we were all exceedingly generous?

• Generosity of love

• Generosity of forgiveness

• Generosity of grace

• Generosity of humbleness

• Generosity of kindness

• Generosity of self-control

• Generosity of support

• Generosity of knowledge

God has much to say about generosity, more so about receiving more than you give.  

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

Proverbs 22:9

Goodwill come[s] to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Psalms 112:5

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38

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Knowledge of God

In my job, I am very knowledgeable.  Yet, in the Bible, I am an infant and know so little.  I want to learn more and gain Biblical knowledge, but how do we do that? 

Let’s consider how long it took you to train to do your job.  How long did it take before you could teach others how to do your job?  With everything, learning takes time.  God wants us to learn more about Him and His ways.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.

Psalms 25:4

Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Psalms 119:12

Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 11:19

9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

Deuteronomy 4:9-10

In order to deepen our knowledge, we must read, pray and surround ourselves by other believers who can help challenge our thinking.  The Jewish community values debate and conversation over the Torah, the five books of Moses, to deepen one’s understanding of God’s word.   Often these debates and conversations happen daily in the Jewish community.  We can learn from our Jewish friends and dig into God’s word and keep it close to us daily.

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God carries us

Are you feeling weary or broken down?  Do you feel broken, hurting, and unloved?  God loves you and cares for you deeply.  It is comforting to know that God will not take the storm away, but He will walk with us.  We need to go through the storm to mature as a person and in God.  

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Footprints Poem

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Potentially written by Mary Stevenson, Margaret Fishback Powers, or Carolyn Joyce Carty, no proof of authorship is firmly documented and often uncredited.

Know that you are loved, you are held, and you are deeply cared for by your Heavenly Father who knew you before you were born.

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Living Intentionally

Like most of you, every new year I sit down to look at my past year and think on the year ahead. I may feel satisfied or disappointed when I look at my last year. I may feel hopeful or discouraged when I look to the next year. 

Some years, I see a year that passes me by and this is when I know that I was not living intentionally. I was on auto pilot. Have you ever felt the same?

This year is my year of living intentionally in God, for God. I want to step out boldly and I want to bravely live for God and His purpose in my life. 

Check out Romans 12:2, Romans 13:14 and Ephesians 4:21-32. 

Are you ready to step out in faith to live intentionally in God with me?

Can we abide by Philippians 4:8-9 in today’s world?

Philippians 8: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Is it possible in light of the distractions and entertainment options to abide by Philippians 4:8-9? With cable, movies, social media, medical and political stress it seems unavoidable to be influenced and think outside of what is honorable. Paul in his letter to the Philippian church is not saying they will be able to avoid anything not of God, but our focus should be directed toward God. We should keep God in our hearts and our minds, as in Deuteronomy 11:19 in keeping the word close, [teaching your children], “talking about [the word] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” NIV. We should surround ourselves with others who believe similarly, Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. We should mentor each other, challenge and hold each other accountable. In return, the peace of God will be in us.

Running from God

For many years, throughout my twenties and even into my thirties, I ran from God.  I ran from God’s love, from His protection, and God’s desire in my life.  I would justify my decisions: 

• I work hard, I deserve this

• I don’t go to church because I feel judged

• I don’t think about inserting God in my life

• I am too busy to get in the word today.

Justifying our behavior is not new. Adam justified his sin by stating that Eve convinced him to eat the forbidden fruit and Eve blamed the serpent.  Jonah justified disobeying God to warn the people of Ninevah because he did not feel they were worth saving.

In being responsible for my behavior and being my authentic self I can see that what I am doing is offering up excuses for my behavior, rationalizing my choices, defending my emotions. None of these foster my growth and maturity in Christ, nor do they make me the person I want to be.  I am running from the truth, running from God.

Now it is time for me to run to God.