Ask the right questions

Dear friends,

I apologize for the long periods between posts, will try harder to blog more regularly as my seasonal stint with BarBri has subsided. Thank you for your faithful following and patience. :)

So I've been thinking, and reading more, and seeing how no matter what place or state of life you're currently in, there are always areas of growth, of introspection that should occur, as we strive earnestly to obey God's Word and long for His return, continually seeking to be satisfied by Him and Him alone.

It appears to me like the most common obstacles to this careful reflection are ignorance or complacency.  Some do not know to think about or ask questions of themselves, of others.  Some are not asking the right questions or not asking them often enough.

Please allow me to quickly address each "lifestage" and what I have generally observed - 

For the high school student, the focus is often on what college to attend, what to "be", and to get there...

For the college student, it's getting through these courses, landing the dream job, or finding "meaning" and purpose in that career...

For post-grad, career singles, it's when you'll meet that "special" someone, or when you'll know it's ok to move on or change paths...

For those who are dating and planning for marriage, it's how you discern or correct conflicts or areas of concerns, communicate through, or work on ways to "prevent" divorce/beat the statistics/make it for the long haul...

For the married couples waiting on kids, and or learning how to parent, it's focusing on the preparation and discipline and avoiding your parents' mistakes...

But aren't we all just missing the point if it's just "practical" steps...relying on ourselves and conventional wisdom??

I believe that although these things should be thought about and discussed, what is so often missed...especially by the weaker, less informed, individuals living outside a vibrant church community. 

What really should be shaping our thoughts, behaviors, actions, and decisions?  

Most of our attention and resources are unfortunately not spent on the "right" things, asking the "right" questions.

What are the right questions then? I think they're similar for each chapter/season in our life.  The Bible doesn't outline "practical" step-by-step advice most of the time.  We're dealing with general principles to live by.

So be asking yourself this:

1) What are my heart's motivations? Is this to serve/please self or God?

2) How does this bring God more glory?

3) How am I becoming more like Christ and blessing/edifying others through this?

4) Am I giving proper and enough priority and attention to what God views as important?

5) Have I sincerely prayed about, sought wise counsel and affirmation in the matter?

6) Where am I placing my trust here, in God or myself or other people/things?

7) How am I doing with resting in God's sovereignty, loving Him first and with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength?

I'm not even close to being an expert, but I do believe that these are questions that can help put you on the right path.  Ask your pastor, mentor, wise friends if what you're doing seems Biblically right to them.

Now that you have been made aware, you can and do have the ability to change and make wiser decisions with God's help.  Pray for God to lead you, pray for greater surrender and reliance on Him, pray for good friends that will ask you and keep you accountable with these sort of questions.

Grace and peace to you.   

Birthday musings

It's been a long time...some 30 years now.  As I think and reflect on the things that matter...priorities have changed, and the Lord has changed me, my heart.


My favorite song right now is "Hosanna" by Hillsong.  The bridge is written and performed beautiful, strikes a chord with my soul's cry:

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the thing unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause

As I walk from earth into eternity.

I'd like to believe that getting older makes me wiser...but I'm realizing more and more each day, how foolish I can be, how easy I can fall back to old ways, have a critical and complaining spirit, and those daily failings remind how much more I'm in need of a Savior.

Jesus, "save us". Hosanna!

No matter how many more days I'm granted here on this earth, may I live them well, righteously, for His glory, that I truly appreciate and "love on" the friends and family God has blessed me with.  I do not deserve any of this grace and kindness.  I stand amazed, humbled, and rejoice...love much!

Grace and peace to you.

New Year's Lesson

Out with the old, in with the new.  As the entire world sits and reflects on the year past and the year to come, there are good memories, bad memories, and some in between.


What do we take from 2009? What do we allow into 2010? Will it be better or worse?


Our choices define who we're becoming and where we're going. Pastor Rick Holland says faithfulness is in every little decision, living moment by moment, because life is a vapor. Who we worship colors everything we think about, everything we do and say. If our motivations are unhealthy, not Christ-centered, our hearts will naturally follow its sinful desires and stray. How wretched are we! What to do?


I find that it always helps to preach the gospel to myself, in moments of uncertainty, of weakness, of lack of faith and trust.  Salvation and what Christ has done should influence how I choose to live my life today, into the new year, and the remaining days I am granted here on earth.  


Ps. 116:12 says this - "What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?"


If we would just remind ourselves of the constant state of need and dependency on the Lord which is required to function, we would already be better off.  


We deserve wrath, and that that has been removed and placed upon the holy, lamb of God in our stead.  Anything else, any single ounce of kindness or blessing bestowed upon me should cause me immediate and passionate, unceasing praise, undivided attention, love and devotion, and gratefulness that overflows for the grace of God shown to me.


Our only response should then be service.  Whatever talents the Lord has given to me, I wholly devote to His use.  Whatever suffering I must endure for Christ's sake, I rejoice in.  Whatever blessing He pours out, I'll turn back to praise.


I pray that you are thinking rightly upon all the great things that the Lord has done. And the holidays can be hard on some if our perspectives are incorrect...so look ahead, and praise God for His grace, His strength, and His promise to carry you through...and appreciate the simple everyday things.


It's in the cool breeze as the sun blazes even on a winter January morn...it's in His word as He reminds our souls that He is our Rock and Deliverer...it's in text from an old friend reminding you that you're remembered...it's in the warmth of a hug from a family member...it's in the sudden rush of your dog when he dashes towards you, excited to love and adore you, to please you...it's in the familiar sights and smells of good times you've shared with those who love you most...it's in the knowing that your safe and secure in the arms of God, that Jesus knows, and cares for you...so just trust, and love Him with all your heart, and push forward. 


Cling to the good, pure, holy, and right. Flee from sin and praise God for forgiveness when you fail. Happy New Year!


Grace and peace to you. 

Say what you mean and mean what you say

Proverbs 12:18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

I know it's been a long time since I've been able to get on here and blog. I appreciate the loyal "followers" as you check in periodically. 


I've been thinking a lot about the holiday season, what a blessing it is to celebrate with family and friends, to reflect on those things we value and worship, and to re-focus on what matters most...which is Christ, and who we are becoming in and through Him.


Of late, I've been dealing with how to grant Jesus access to all areas of my life, as I have felt more busy with work and the "hustle and bustle" that surrounds us.


The devil tries to distract us, to get us worked up about small things, to be offended by what we think others are saying or doing...and when we allow him to deceive and lie to us, one small evil thought can carry a long way...and before we know it, what comes our of our mouths is unwholesome, hurtful and does not build up at all.


So my lesson to you today is two-fold...one - to be careful to tame our tongues...and to take time to listen before we jump to any conclusions, two - to be deliberate about communicating clearly, so that others will not misunderstand where you are coming from.


I have been at the giving and receiving end of each.  I know how easy it is to speak without discernment, to let loose because of emotive passion, to assume that something said or done demands an immediate response or rebuttal.  I also know how frustrating it is when someone is unclear, that you feel misled and defrauded in a sense, because you don't know for sure what someone means.


Let's all work on learning how to better judge what to say, when to say it, how to best say it, and then making sure those who are listening understand it well.


Grace and peace to you. 

Love and Good Works

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people." – Titus 3:1-9

This passage says so much about HOW we are commanded are to love others, to be ready to do good works: 

1) remember who we used to be

2) to humble ourselves

3) to be reminded of God's saving grace, quick forgiveness and His rich mercy towards me

4) and then to be motivated to turn and desire to love, forgive, and give grace to all, including those who have wronged me

I wrote this prayer which helps me set my focus on Jesus and obedience to my Lord, to die to self and live for Christ:

-O, wretched sinner, wayward child that I am, consider the wondrous work of your Savior Jesus on the cross and bow down, revere His grace and mercy, His majesty!

-Bask in the riches as an adopted heir of the King of Kings and ask not what God can do for me but how I can serve Him and others best, all for His glory!

-Christ is gain, to live and carry this cross, my cross, is my privilege and true joy. Take pleasure in being fully satisfied in a faithful, loving, kind, good God!

May this encourage you, dear brothers and sisters, to think of new and creative ways to be a blessing to others, to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works" - Heb. 10:24.   

Grace and peace to you!

On self-control

I have just started reading Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney and wanted to share a few things from her chapter on self-control.


She writes:
"Self-control is so important that the apostle Paul required it, directly or by inference, of every group of Christians he addressed in the Titus 2 chapter.  The emphasis placed on this virtue reveals how essential self-control is if we are to effectively commend the gospel. We cannot affort to ignore it. Therefore, if Scripture requires self-control from every Christian, it is obviously attainable by every Christian."


She addresses self-control and how it relates to eating (too much/too little), sleeping (too much or too little), our thoughts and feelings, and our behavior. Self control doesn't just happen but requires effort.  However, it is critical to realize that it is the Lord who equips us to attain this.


What I really enjoyed most was her ending comments on the one behavior, if diligently pursued would promote self-control in all other areas of our life - the daily practice of meeting with God.


"When we meet with God, we can find peace in the midst of trying circumstances, eternal perspective where we have lost sight of the truth, and power to fight our battle against sin.  We will resemble that tree in Psalm 1 that is healthy, strong, and fruit bearing.  Therefore we should eagerly and consistently respond to our Savior's invitation to come and meet with him."


I would like to encourage all of you to desire and work to gain greater self-control in your lives, abiding in Him, to enable you through your continual dependence and reliance on Him.


Grace and peace to you.

Perspective

Too often, we are preoccupied with things that do not matter. When I reflect on what I do not have, what I desire, what I think I need, I get sad, or even worse, I start to complain and become someone I do not want to be.

On the other hand, as I keep Jesus, and His work on the cross as my only focus, everything on earth, EVERYTHING fades away. I am a wretched sinner. I deserve wrath and judgment for my sins, eternal separation from God...but God chose to save me, to send a precious Savior to die in my place.

Amazing Grace, how can it be? That Thou my God shouldst die for me.

We are small, insignificant, and naturally selfish and wayward creatures. In the grand scheme of things, anything we may encounter is just as small and unimportant...but God takes care to notice and to get involved...in His timing, in His way. He desires to be OUR life, to direct and define who we are becoming...that He alone is enough and sufficient and will provide for our every need.

God, please look on us with kindness, when we are not faithful or place things or people in front of your purposes, when comfort outweighs character in our twisted minds. Teach us how to serve like your Son did. Help us to be humble, to wait on you, to trust in you more and more.

God, give us a hope and longing for heaven...a greater love and desire to put you first and foremost in our lives before all other "priorities", to live a pleasing and honorable life before you and others, and help us to seek your glory in all that we do.

God, transform our hearts so we can be useful to you. Give us the right perspective on where our energy, desires, and love should be (not on self, but in consideration and deference to others).

Lord, you are Lord of our lives. God, please make us a blessing, that the lost would come to know you.

Grace and peace to you.