Different for a Reason

Have you ever been asked why you do what you do?

As a believer who is seeking to obey God, and who is being shaped more like Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit, you are going to be asked a bunch of questions.

"Why don't you swear?....
Why do you respect your parents like that, even when they're illogical?...
Why don't you want to have sex before you're married?....
Why don't you wear this?
Go there?...
Why aren't you worried about making more money?
Why?
Why?
Why?"

What the world is really asking is;

"Why do you believe God?
What about His character makes you rely on what He says as truth?"

They are examining you to see if God is real.

They are looking at ME to answer their questions?!?!? They are looking at my life searching for evidence of God, of the Holy Spirit in me?!

Kinda scary isn't it?

But do you what is even more scary?

Listening to a group of believers argue about standards. No, not Christians discussing biblical commands. I am talking about a group of believers engaged in a heated debate over an issue that is not important. They are so distracted by their academic points and how well they can argue their side that they are missing the entire point.
I've been here. I've been PART of these groups. It IS scary...because we are missing the entire purpose of the standards God has called us to.

In 1 and 2 Timothy Paul writes to his son in Christ, the man he has been mentoring, about how ministry is to be run. He warns Timothy about the intellectual distractions we fall into when we are looking at our faith and sanctification as an achievement we accomplish ourselves instead of realizing it is a work the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us (John 15).

"...that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;" -1 Tim. 1:3b-6

No doubt, the principles and standards of holiness God has given to us to live by in His word He has given to us for a reason.

How do I make sure I am upholding God's standards and not one's that are actually man's?

How do I avoid all of the entangling debates, that assert our own attempt at godliness above what God really says?

It is easy to get involved in a group of believers and begin adopting standards, whether biblical or not, for the purpose of making them happy or yourself appear more disciplined. What can I do to keep my sincerity in check?

I should be holding each standard up to I Timothy 1:5.

"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: "

These things should be what is being seen. Not my fleshly wisdom, intelligence, or discipline, which is as useful as filthy, dirty, rags to God.

This is my interpretation of I Timothy 1:5:

"The outcome of our standards, the big picture of why God tells us to do or not do certain things....the ultimate result of our principles is to produce unselfish, generous action. Born out of a pure heart...motives not dulled or corrupted by fleshly desires, worldly wisdom, or Satan's lies. Coming from a sound moral compass grounded in the Word of God, which gives us an accurate and truthful sense of right and wrong and reveals to us our duty to God and mankind. And from faith: a genuine and complete trust in the character of God. Not having faith when it suits personal desires or makes you look better. But believing God is Who He says He is and will do what He said He will do regardless of personal cost or reputation."

This is the litmus test for every standard I hold, and every motive I have for upholding it. It it producing this result in my life...charity out of a pure heart, sound conscience, and genuine faith?

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You Are Loved

If you LISTEN...the next nine minutes could change your Christian life...forever.

I know this video is long. But please, take the time to watch it. I have watched this at least ten times since I have found it. You may need to watch it over again as soon as you finish it just to make sure you didn't miss anything.

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Glimpse

God,

Help me to change when I don't have the strength to do it myself.

One the days when all I can see it ME;

Remind me of what I was created for.

Show me Your life more abundant;

Show me Your life inside of me.

Help me realize that I was created for more than a lukewarm life.

That I was not put on this earth to please ME.

Keep showing me, please, until I realize that the only way to truly LIVE

Is to DIE to self.

Rid me of selfish ambitions, unimportant dreams, and fleeting distractions.

Show me a glimpse of the life You meant for me to live.

And DON'T STOP, until I realize,

That the ones who have the most

Are those who give it all away.

Amen.

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Stony Ground: But the Dandelion Looks Fine...

I flip a little further in my manual from my perch on the rock face.

"Stony Ground." Was the title of the next chapter.

"And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprung up, because it had no depth of earth: But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no roots, it whithered away." -Mark 4:5-6

Hmmm....I thought. I held my flashlight in my mouth as I climbed down to have a look. I descended until I finally reached the bottom, I let go of the wall and hoped to the ground of the cave.

Crunch. Rustle. Snap.

My feet landed with a tirade of noise. I pointed my flashlight at my feet. There it was, I was shuffling through mound of dead plants. Their brown leaves burst into dust as a repositioned my feet. How did this happen? I thought to myself. I scraped away a layer of deceased plant material, the soil underneath was dry as bone. I brushed away the dusty dirt until I hit rock.

I flipped through my manual again.

"And some fell upon rock; and as soon as it was sprung up it whithered away, because it lacked moisture." - Luke 8:6

No! This can't be, I madly dug into the sandy soil, but only rock stared back at me from underneath. I grabbed my water bottle and emptied the glistening liquid on the pile of plants and dust; but what was I thinking, it was much too late.

I sat in that spot not wanting to see anymore. My manual laid in my lap waiting to be read.

"They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." -Luke 8:13

So there were no roots? That was the problem? I picked up a limp stem, the hairlike strands of root were brittle and pale. I held the dying plant in my hand and dropped my head in despair. I began to see myself in a different light. Because it was true....I was rootless. I thought back at all of the clues I hadn't noticed.

I would hear something, maybe it's happened to you too. I hear a message on charity, or read a passage about forgiveness and as soon as I hear it I purpose to do better. I will reach out to that person, stop complaining, or read my Bible everyday without fail. But as soon as it becomes inconvenient or difficult I throw my resolution out the window. Why is that?

I see this in myself all the time, I promise myself I will do better with my relationships, with my devotions, or my attitude. But when push comes to shove, I break down, and just end up doing what is easiest.

My mind went back to something my history professor had told us:

"When given the opportunity: people will do the wrong thing. Because the right thing is always harder."

What a terrible thing?! I had thought when I heard that. But it is TRUE. This is what happens when our roots are dying. When the sun is up and burning the baby seeds trying to sprout in our souls. I set my jaw, trying to understand what all of this meant. I glanced down at the manual in my lap. There on the page stood in bold black letters:

"No root.....No plant."

What is a root, really? I ask holding up the wispy plant. I rustled through the pages, to the definitions at the back of the chapter.

1.) Root- Part of the plant that grows downward into the soil, anchoring the plant and absorbing nutriment and moisture.

Okay...roots are very important. Roots need water, and soil. Roots anchor the plant. And in order to be efficient in sustaining the plant they must be deep. This is what I know about roots.

Without them the seed will remain on the surface and never change my heart. The plants will never grow in my life. So, what can I do to make my roots stronger?

Well according to the definition, they need something called nutriment, and they need water. I scan the page until I find it. Ah, there it is.

2.) Nutriment- Any substance or matter that, taken into a living organism, serves to sustain it's existence, promoting growth, replacing loss, and providing energy.

Hmmm...I think I am beginning to understand. Simply trying harder, or making resolutions is not enough to make the seeds GROW. In order for the seeds so have healthy roots, they need things that sustain it's existence. The need things that promote it's growth, provide energy, and protect it from loss. What are these things?

It's the things that are God's. Because drenching a plant with things that are of me, my own will, tenacity, and fortitude; only kill the plant. In order for the seed's roots to survive, they need to be given more of Him. They need His promises, encouragement, and help. If I try to make the seedling grow on my own, it will die.

Plain and simple.

If I want them to grow I must feed them those things God has given me. His Word, His people, His promises. The seed of His Word needs....Him.

I've only begun to understand; but I stand to my feet, feeling better.

But a pile of dead seedlings was nothing compared to what I was about to see.....

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The Way Side: Watch Out for the Bird Poo

So here I am, my rope slung across my chest, holding my flashlight in my mouth, I begin my descent into the dark, damp, chasm of....ME.

What am I looking for? Well...I'm looking for seeds, or lack of seeds. What I want to see are mighty oaks; but I can see from my perch on the rock face that I will have no such luck today. So I settle for the hope of finding at least a sapling or two down there. I open my Parable-of-the-Sower Soul Searching Manual, and flip it open to page one.

". . . THE WAY SIDE . . ."

The bold, scary letters stare back at me. A chill runs down my spine, and I flip the page.

"Behold...."

The word yells at me thunderously and echoes off the cave walls.

"...a sower went forth to sow;" It continues softer.

"And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:" - Matt. 13:3b-4

Hmmm...what does that mean? I look up at the opening above me, nope. No birds here. So what am I looking for? I flip a little farther in my manual. Ah...there it is, an arrow pointing to an explanation.

"Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved." -Luke 8:12

"When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart..." -Matt 13:19

Whoa! This is some pretty serious stuff, I say closing the manual and placing it back in my pack. So the seed by the way side...it's the seed that never makes it. It gets taken away before it even has a chance to sprout.

I reach up to reposition my hold for the decent, and stick my hand is a slimy, wet substance. I pull my hand away and hold it under my flashlight. Yep...just like I thought; bird poo.

Ahhh...now I think I am beginning to understand. I've had experience with the way side and it's falcon. I see this when I don't understand a passage I am reading, or a message I am hearing, or even advice someone is giving me. I don't seem to grasp it's meaning, and then it proceeds to go absolutely. . . nowhere. In a matter of seconds, it's gone. Vanished. Poof.

Message over, passage read, advice giver gone...and my mind is still completely blank. The seed has officially been eaten. Yes the evil falcon has found it's way into the mouth of my cave...snatching my precious seeds before they can even fall to the ground.

But this nemesis isn't only after me. A memory flashes through my mind as I clean the nasty liquid from my hand.

I remembered a friend I seen standing in the Way Side. I met him at school, he was an agnostic who loved to talk... And I am a Christian who loves to talk about it...

Needless to say we got into our share of debates. We would talk about the meaning of life, what faith is, and where people came from. He would outright ask me why I believe the way I do. So I would tell him. For hours I would talk about how simple and irresistible salvation was. I would talk endlessly about the human condition of being born in SIN and our desperate need for a Savior...

We would discuss deep example, such as marriage as a picture of Christ and the Church, God as Father, and of course hours and hours were spent on Creation versus evolution.

He would ask me question after question and I would give him every answer I could think of. But I watched it all never dawn upon his face. He either didn't understand what I was saying or simply didn't believe it. Either way... it was stolen before it even made it inside him.

I begin to slip, losing my footing on the rocks; jolting me from my flashback. I shoot one last glance at the opening in the cave before I begin my descent.

"Darn birds!" I mutter.....

Leia Mais…

Guess What Day it is?

It's here...again. The day that happy couples flood every work place flaunting their happiness and self-worth, while all the singles out there spend their day stomping on candy hearts and being cynical about their solo state.

Really?! Must we do this every year? Come on people get a grip. Valentine's day, I will admit, is not my favorite day of the year. Everything is pink, there's flowers, roses, and cheesy cards everywhere with a bunch of pet names and bow-packing babies plastered on every billboard, store window, and television commercial known to man. It's an over-done, flaky attempt at affection that I seem to be allergic too.

But underneath all the hype, the idea of the holiday is about appreciating all the special people in your life. It's about celebrating the best in people. Giving back a little of the support and affection they've given to you over the years. So let's stop all the heart stomping, rose killing, and guilt tripping. Instead let's evaluate our capacity for loving PEOPLE in general.

This year, the cute couples can stampede me and the unhappy singles can rant and rave at me; but I have bigger concerns. Such as:

Am I truly loving PEOPLE?

If God is love; I should be loving others EVERYDAY?

True love is care and affection in the absence of self-interest.

TRUE love is unconditional. Which means I should be giving it to people FREELY; just as I have received it from my Creator.

Believe it or not, in a midst all the mush and flare of Valentine's day. What the world is really missing.....is LOVE. They just don't know it yet, because their too busy trying to fulfill culture's definition of what love and self-worth is. What they are missing is TRUE, HONEST, UNSELFISH....LOVE. The brawny type of love that doesn't leave people who make mistakes, or guilt trip people who aren't perfect. The type of love that has no requirements and no expiration dates. Love that is REAL. Care based on what Christ did for us, not for what someone can offer.

Loves that reaches out, gives freely, and sacrifices unselfishly. The type of love that can only be fully understood when you know the One who created and defines it. The Love that began at the beginning of time and showed us what it looked like at the cross.

Because THIS love. . . CHANGES the world.

Leia Mais…

I'm Looking in the Closet....and Under the Bed...

So once upon a time I was talking about gingerbread men, the matrix, spoon bending, and oh most importantly epiphanies. Particularly one that involved the parable of the sower found in Matthwe 13:1-23. We've all heard the story, whether in Sunday school, by reading it, or just hearing it from other people. But have we really stopped to evaluate what it means to our lives?

I had learned about this story in church, the seed represented the gospel and the ground represented lost souls. This way of looking at it is good. But it usually causes believers to fall asleep, saying well I already received the gospel so this passage isn't very crucial to how I live anymore.

Wrong.

A few weeks ago, this parable was taught in a totally different way for me.

Think of the seed as the Word of God. Not just the Bible, not just sermons. Think of His word as anything He shows you. Every conviction, every example He gives you, every time He touches your life in any way; through the Bible, prayer, worship...anything. Now think of the ground as your heart.

No, that's right; it's all your heart, the whole field.

I was challenged to look at the ground of what was going on inside; and yes, as an ex-gingerbread woman I was not looking forward to introspection. I really didn't want to know what was in there. I was too afraid to look.

But I was tired...really tired, of the way that I'd been living. My life, faith, hopes, relationships, everything was crumbling around me and I desperately wanted it to stop. I knew what I needed was change.

Drastic and whole-hearted. A daring type of change.

So despite all my reservations and fears, curiosity won out. If this was a crucial part of grabbing onto the more abundant life that Jesus promised, then I was going to try it.

In I went, to search the cavernous, terrifying depths of my own soul. Flashlight and rope in hand I repelled further than I'd ever bothered to go before.

Though it is scary, dark, and unwelcoming in there, I was determined to find the ghastly monster hidden in there that was robbing me of the life God created me to live.

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