Years ago, when my oldest granddaughter was about 4, she and her parents lived with me for a time right after my son was discharged from the Army. I lived in Abilene, Texas and tornados were a part of life. Now mind you, I was told when I moved there that, "we haven't had a tornado hit Abilene in over 20 years!" That did NOT bring me comfort. In fact, in an odd way it actually had the opposite effect. It seemed reasonable to me that if they had not had a tornado in over 20 years, they were due one, right?! I lived in the church parsonage that didn't have a basement. However, just a few blocks away was Dub and Evlyn Allen's cellar, behind their house, built by his loving hands years before. They were elderly parishioners who welcomed us to their cellar any time we felt the need or we heard the tornado sirens blow.
Naturally, the day after Easter the skies grew black, the clouds rolled low over-head and the conditions were right for the spawning of tornados -- and I was ever watchful. My daughter-in-law was in a panic that quickly spread to us all, but most of all, to Katelynn. I was holding myself together as the brave grandma that I was, for Katlynn's sake. Suddenly, the siren's began to blow and bravery was out the window! You never saw anything like it! We ran wildly to the car, headed for the Allen's house, ran 2 red lights - while the rain and hail blew sideways. Evlyn was waiting for us on the porch with an open door ready to usher through the house, across the yard and down into what she called, "Dubbie's playhouse." Katelynn was NOT impressed. We tore through the yard and down the steps into the dark-dampness of that musty hole in the ground, while our feet hardly landed on the steps. For a moment we relaxed in the safety of that haven, but not Katelynn. She bounced from adult to adult as we tried to calm her until the deafening rumble seemed to roll right over us. and then it was silence. Dubbie opened the door and the sky was blue again, the birds were singing praises to God, and all was well. No downed trees, the house still in tact, and we were unharmed and safe. After a quick inspection, the men-folk gave us the - all clear. Once out of the cellar, Evlyn said, "well Hallelujah!" Katelynn whipped her head around to Miss Evlyn, cocked her head to one side, placed her hands on her hips and spurted out, "Hallelujah NOT, that was scary!"
Today after Wes and I returned home from meeting with the radiation oncologists about his cancer, I sort of felt like Katelynn. It was another of those "fearful tornado moments," that threatened certain destruction. Panic set in at the over-whelming news of a fifty-percent chance of survival. My faith responded, "Hallelujah, that's a fifty-percent chance of beating this thing," while my flesh cried out, "Hallelujah NOT this is scary! That's a fifty-percent chance of not!"
In that moment God reminded me of David's words in Psalm 42:11, that says:
"Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him; for I shall yet praise Him Who is the help of my countenance, and my God." (The Amplified Bible)
Matthew Henry's commentary on Psalm 42 with regard to this section, verses 6-11 wrote, "the way to forget our miseries, is to remember the God of our mercies." Is that not an incredible quote? O how often we get trapped in our miseries, our fears, our circumstances, and forget the God of our mercies. His mercies are NEW EVERY MORNING! Every morning our loving Creator God, creates for us a new day filled with new mercies. Not yesterday's mercy, not last weeks mercy and not even tomorrows mercy. Instead, every day, our daddy God meets us where we need it the most. There is mercy for the moment, mercy for the hour, and mercy for the day.
King David the psalmist, does a little self-reflection and finds that his soul is downcast. He is feeling restless and filled with sorrow, but he doesn't give in to it. Instead, David has what my Grandma would call a "come to Jesus meeting" with himself, and demands his feelings to put their hope in God. He reminds his feelings, his flesh, and his very soul to be patient, hopeful, and even expecting of God's favorable outcome. David's cure for the blues, is praise, not self-pity! He banishes the blues by singing praises to God who is the only One who can speak to a storm and calm the raging sea. When my flesh wants to cry out, "Hallelujah NOT!" I will do the opposite and experience the power of praise for this I know, He's the lifter of my head! (Psalm 3:3)
Most people know the first few words of the first verse of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," and most can sing the chorus. But, very few know the third verse that says:
Whenever I am tempted,
Whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing,
When hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him,
From care He sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He cares for me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
Hallelujah! His eye watches over me and over YOU!
Comment and share with me, how He watches over you!
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Resisting the Devil
Today is one of those days that I "just don't wanna." I don't want to walk on the treadmill, I don't want to get out of the house and face all the load of the day, I don't want to think about what to eat, how to eat and least of all, I don't want to BLOG! Have you ever had one of those days?
It's a cold, rainy, dreary day. I'd much rather sit with a huge bowl of popcorn, curled up in my favorite chair and read a book between naps. That's all I want to do today. But, instead, here I sit forcing myself to be obedient and fighting the kind of fight, spiritually with the devil, who gives me every reason to call off the day, as if I were wrestling with a dragon. But, it turns out, the dragon is my own will and my will is that which HAS to be submitted to God! So, I began with scripture, setting my mind on the things above so that I might be pulled out of this lulled and lazy place. And, it never ceases to amaze me how God's Word does just that! Take for instance this scripture for the day, from James 4:7.
"So be subject to God. - Stand firm against the devil; resist him and he will flee from you." (The Amplified Bible)
That's it. That one small sentence. It's one small sentence that is chock full of clear instruction. And, can I just say, bummer! I'd rather hear, "Sit firm, say a prayer and the God of the heavenly armies will swoop down and take up the fight for you. And, before you know it, my child, you'll perk up and.'feel like it' again." But no, that is NOT what it says. Instead, the burden is on me before it's on God. You see, I have to decide to stand firm, be unmovable in the quest. I have to be resolute in the challenge. I have to be wholly dedicated to the stand of obedience I've declared. I've declared war on the enemy and apathy is his best weapon. I've been pierced with an apathetic arrow and everything in me wants to give in to it. But, I'm called to take a stand AGAINST the attack of the enemy. But, it doesn't stop there. I am called to resist him and the best weapon I have in my arsenal is scripture. Resistance is best done by quoting scripture to the devil, such as, "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13). Once, I resist, I am then called to flee. Fleeing implies movement in the opposite direction from where the attack is coming from when what I would rather do is the opposite. So, just the moment I am done with today's blog, I will get on the treadmill and be faithful to my daily mile, head downstairs for my shower and begin my day. Never mind that I've wasted my morning, more importantly, that I grabbed ahold of the feeling and responded in faithfulness to my Temple Training.
Did you notice all those words? Stand, resist, flee? Those three words are my words for the day, the are all action words. When you look at them don't they look like oxymoron's? Don't they contradict themselves? Stand and flee? To me, the word "stand" is a static position that is fixed, unchanging; lacking in action. While "flee" seems to be dynamic, moveable, not fixed. And, I would be right if I were to look at this verse simply from the point of view of the English language. But, this verse means so much more than that. It's more of a command from God that says, "Stand up, get up and get out of this stuck place that holds you to failure. Stand up and resist the urge to stay here, the place you've been, the place you hate, the place you've grown weary of. And run like thunder away from it, in the other direction. Do something, anything toward the goal and desires you've set." And, friends when we do that, the devil doesn't stand a chance! The devil has to flee! Why? Because, "Greater is He who is in me, that he who is in the world!" (1 John 4:4).
So, today I stand. Today I resist. Today I flee! Let the Temple Training Challenge continue!!!
Great, is the victory, great is the victory, oh glorious victory that overcomes the world!
Thank you Father God for reminding me of this verse and this song, for great is Your victory. Thank you for helping me to overcome. I surrender this day and my will to YOU! In Jesus name, Amen.
Comment and let me know how God is speaking to you through this challenge, we're in this together!
It's a cold, rainy, dreary day. I'd much rather sit with a huge bowl of popcorn, curled up in my favorite chair and read a book between naps. That's all I want to do today. But, instead, here I sit forcing myself to be obedient and fighting the kind of fight, spiritually with the devil, who gives me every reason to call off the day, as if I were wrestling with a dragon. But, it turns out, the dragon is my own will and my will is that which HAS to be submitted to God! So, I began with scripture, setting my mind on the things above so that I might be pulled out of this lulled and lazy place. And, it never ceases to amaze me how God's Word does just that! Take for instance this scripture for the day, from James 4:7.
"So be subject to God. - Stand firm against the devil; resist him and he will flee from you." (The Amplified Bible)
That's it. That one small sentence. It's one small sentence that is chock full of clear instruction. And, can I just say, bummer! I'd rather hear, "Sit firm, say a prayer and the God of the heavenly armies will swoop down and take up the fight for you. And, before you know it, my child, you'll perk up and.'feel like it' again." But no, that is NOT what it says. Instead, the burden is on me before it's on God. You see, I have to decide to stand firm, be unmovable in the quest. I have to be resolute in the challenge. I have to be wholly dedicated to the stand of obedience I've declared. I've declared war on the enemy and apathy is his best weapon. I've been pierced with an apathetic arrow and everything in me wants to give in to it. But, I'm called to take a stand AGAINST the attack of the enemy. But, it doesn't stop there. I am called to resist him and the best weapon I have in my arsenal is scripture. Resistance is best done by quoting scripture to the devil, such as, "I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me!" (Philippians 4:13). Once, I resist, I am then called to flee. Fleeing implies movement in the opposite direction from where the attack is coming from when what I would rather do is the opposite. So, just the moment I am done with today's blog, I will get on the treadmill and be faithful to my daily mile, head downstairs for my shower and begin my day. Never mind that I've wasted my morning, more importantly, that I grabbed ahold of the feeling and responded in faithfulness to my Temple Training.
Did you notice all those words? Stand, resist, flee? Those three words are my words for the day, the are all action words. When you look at them don't they look like oxymoron's? Don't they contradict themselves? Stand and flee? To me, the word "stand" is a static position that is fixed, unchanging; lacking in action. While "flee" seems to be dynamic, moveable, not fixed. And, I would be right if I were to look at this verse simply from the point of view of the English language. But, this verse means so much more than that. It's more of a command from God that says, "Stand up, get up and get out of this stuck place that holds you to failure. Stand up and resist the urge to stay here, the place you've been, the place you hate, the place you've grown weary of. And run like thunder away from it, in the other direction. Do something, anything toward the goal and desires you've set." And, friends when we do that, the devil doesn't stand a chance! The devil has to flee! Why? Because, "Greater is He who is in me, that he who is in the world!" (1 John 4:4).
So, today I stand. Today I resist. Today I flee! Let the Temple Training Challenge continue!!!
Great, is the victory, great is the victory, oh glorious victory that overcomes the world!
Thank you Father God for reminding me of this verse and this song, for great is Your victory. Thank you for helping me to overcome. I surrender this day and my will to YOU! In Jesus name, Amen.
Comment and let me know how God is speaking to you through this challenge, we're in this together!
Monday, January 2, 2017
H.O.T. (Holy Obedience Training)
Years ago when I was working in children's ministry, I used a curriculum called, "HOT, HOT, HOT!" I don't remember who put the materials out, but I'm thinking it was Willie George Ministries out of Oklahoma (but don't hold me to that). That title has been running through my mind these last few days, since that is exactly what I've begun, "Holy Obedience Training."
After reading several my recent posts on Facebook, folks have repeatedly asked me, "So, you're on a new diet?" That's a fair question, I'm always on a new diet. But, what God is showing me is that you can't diet your way to obedience, but you can obediently follow a diet. This challenge for me is NOT a diet, anything but,\! It's thinking deeper, being more honest with myself than ever before, and facing truth with new eyes.
The fact is, I have NOT been faithful to my body, God's dwelling place, the temple of the Holy Spirit! For many, their disobedience in this same area of sin, doesn't show up visibly on their body. My disobedience does! My Heavenly Father has been revealing truths to me, about ME. I deeply care about the welfare of others. In fact, to that end, I've been an over-functioner and when you over-function in one area of your life, just like a teter-totter, you under-function in another. Sure enough, that is what I've done and now my journey is all about - balance. That place of peace found only in the balance of Godly wisdom, through prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, and healthy living. Today, I want to look at this verse found in Romans 12:1:
"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies - presenting all your members and faculties - as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (The Amplified Bible)
It is useful for us to note that the author of the book of Romans, was Paul, whom God blinded in order to give him sight, and insight, you might say. That blinding moment was a moment of realigning for Paul. It was an awakening to the truths of God in every aspect of his life. This Godly encounter affected Paul physically, spiritually and emotionally - and from that day forth Paul was obedient to the things of God. In the same way, I've had a blinding moment with God. Recently God has impressed upon me how I've allowed childhood hurts to actually shape me; body, soul and spirit! They shaped the way I thought, the way I responded (to food and other stimuli), and even distorted the image of God, in me. Through a class on Bowen's Family Systems and a study on Emotional Intelligence, God blinded me, so that I might see! Soon, my vision became clearer and clearer and I saw that my spiritual worship was even affected by my previous vision of who I was. I knew in an instant that I was going to have rebuke the enemy, rebuff my body, and renewed my mind through scripture; in order to walk in the liberty God so desired for my life! My current lifestyle with it's heavy influence on meeting everyone else's needs was no longer sustainable.
God's call for me is to make a decisive dedication regarding my body; what I put in it, how I exercised it, how I was spiritually fed, and the amount of rest, sleep and renewing, I gave it. This living sacrifice had to make the top of my priority list, and it I had to do it NOW! I want to be well pleasing to God! God isn't pleased with my "performance, performance, performance," for all the wrong emotional reasons. God is not pleased with my people-pleasing skills. God isn't even impressed with all my doing in His name, NOT AT ALL! God is pleased by my obedience and sacrifice. From God's perspective, the body of His son was given for me, the least I could do is surrender mine to Him! It is my reasonable service, and when that is done and I have compassion and service for others, THEN God is not only pleased, but well pleased!
So, here's to another week of right eating, a mile on the treadmill, and meditating on His Word daily! That is the Temple Training Challenge! And, blessings to you who join me! Comment and let me know how God is speaking to you!
"Creator of my body, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I ask today that you give me the grit I need to get through this week as faithfully as I did last week. May my sacrifice be pleasing to you as I engage in this Holy Obedience Training. Amen."
After reading several my recent posts on Facebook, folks have repeatedly asked me, "So, you're on a new diet?" That's a fair question, I'm always on a new diet. But, what God is showing me is that you can't diet your way to obedience, but you can obediently follow a diet. This challenge for me is NOT a diet, anything but,\! It's thinking deeper, being more honest with myself than ever before, and facing truth with new eyes.
The fact is, I have NOT been faithful to my body, God's dwelling place, the temple of the Holy Spirit! For many, their disobedience in this same area of sin, doesn't show up visibly on their body. My disobedience does! My Heavenly Father has been revealing truths to me, about ME. I deeply care about the welfare of others. In fact, to that end, I've been an over-functioner and when you over-function in one area of your life, just like a teter-totter, you under-function in another. Sure enough, that is what I've done and now my journey is all about - balance. That place of peace found only in the balance of Godly wisdom, through prayer, meditation on the Scriptures, and healthy living. Today, I want to look at this verse found in Romans 12:1:
"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies - presenting all your members and faculties - as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (The Amplified Bible)
It is useful for us to note that the author of the book of Romans, was Paul, whom God blinded in order to give him sight, and insight, you might say. That blinding moment was a moment of realigning for Paul. It was an awakening to the truths of God in every aspect of his life. This Godly encounter affected Paul physically, spiritually and emotionally - and from that day forth Paul was obedient to the things of God. In the same way, I've had a blinding moment with God. Recently God has impressed upon me how I've allowed childhood hurts to actually shape me; body, soul and spirit! They shaped the way I thought, the way I responded (to food and other stimuli), and even distorted the image of God, in me. Through a class on Bowen's Family Systems and a study on Emotional Intelligence, God blinded me, so that I might see! Soon, my vision became clearer and clearer and I saw that my spiritual worship was even affected by my previous vision of who I was. I knew in an instant that I was going to have rebuke the enemy, rebuff my body, and renewed my mind through scripture; in order to walk in the liberty God so desired for my life! My current lifestyle with it's heavy influence on meeting everyone else's needs was no longer sustainable.
God's call for me is to make a decisive dedication regarding my body; what I put in it, how I exercised it, how I was spiritually fed, and the amount of rest, sleep and renewing, I gave it. This living sacrifice had to make the top of my priority list, and it I had to do it NOW! I want to be well pleasing to God! God isn't pleased with my "performance, performance, performance," for all the wrong emotional reasons. God is not pleased with my people-pleasing skills. God isn't even impressed with all my doing in His name, NOT AT ALL! God is pleased by my obedience and sacrifice. From God's perspective, the body of His son was given for me, the least I could do is surrender mine to Him! It is my reasonable service, and when that is done and I have compassion and service for others, THEN God is not only pleased, but well pleased!
So, here's to another week of right eating, a mile on the treadmill, and meditating on His Word daily! That is the Temple Training Challenge! And, blessings to you who join me! Comment and let me know how God is speaking to you!
"Creator of my body, Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I ask today that you give me the grit I need to get through this week as faithfully as I did last week. May my sacrifice be pleasing to you as I engage in this Holy Obedience Training. Amen."
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Dump It!
Yesterday I took a huge dump! Now, before you say, "Oh come on Gayle" and are instantly repulsed by my overt confession, and before you declare this to be T.M.I., let me explain.
Day 5 of Temple Training is about dumping all the negative thoughts about my life, myself, and others. It's about dumping negativity; my own and people if I need to, in my life that create it. It's about dumping all the excuses I've made in the past and the one's that I make for myself regularly. It's about dumping the whining and martyrdom (now this is a BIG one for me) as if no one understands my situation, my circumstances or my challenges and if they did, they would understand me better - waaah! And finally it's about dumping old patterns and thought processes. So I made a long list of all the hurts, the people who bring me down, the things I whine about, and all the negative challenges in my life. I wrote the list on toilet paper (naturally, that's what you need when you're taking a dump, right?). Once the list was made, I asked God's forgiveness for all the stored up stinkin'-thinkin' and flushed it right down the toilet!
Once a year on the Day of Atonement, when the priests in the temple offered washing for the people from their year-long sins, one person was selected to take all the waste, (the useless remains of the animals sacrificed; guts, bones, skin) including the dung of the animals, far away from the community of faith, to be utterly destroyed by fire. This was followed by a very specific cleansing and washing process in preparation to re-enter the community. (Leviticus 16:27-28).
You see, there is a lot of waste in our lives, things not suitable for worship, not suitable for sacrifice, and unhealthy for every member of a community of faith. There is a lot of dung, (pardon the pun), that has got to be dumped and destroyed. Yet, we've become content to live with it, I know I had. This waste is not conducive to pure worship and it taints and contaminates my thinking and life of contentment in whatever circumstances I am in. It creates a whole lot of disease or dis-ease and the result is stinkin'-thinkin'. The longer I sit in my dung-heap, the less I recognize the stench of it. But, believe me, others do! And for certain, our Heavenly Father does. In fact, He gives us this instruction from Philippians 4:8:
"...whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things - fix your minds on them." (The Amplified Bible)
Why is this instruction so important? Because scripture says, "As a man thinketh, so is he."(Prov.23:7) We pollute every aspect of our being to the point of actually becoming the rubbish in our lives we complain about! It hinders our growth, it hinders our relationship, it even hinders our usefulness in worship, and it rubs off onto others! Before you know it, we're surrounded by the very negativity we can't stand, never realizing we created this dung heap!
Now mind you, ridding ourselves of this foul habit is NOT going to be easy! So, during my Temple Training, I am keeping a roll of TP on my desk with a marker pen, so that every day those thoughts from the day before that I want to dump, I write down and flush away! Doing this regularly in prayer, repentance, and physical action, is a sure cure for stinkin'-thinkin'. But, this isn't enough. Next to my desk I have a "Blessings Wall." Each day, I write the blessings and positive things from the day before on a sticky note and post it to the wall as a reminder of God's goodness and provision in my life, things worthy of praise. I am reminded that I have to FIX my mind on these things and flush away the other. I need to regularly, even daily, take a dump!
Day 5 of Temple Training is about dumping all the negative thoughts about my life, myself, and others. It's about dumping negativity; my own and people if I need to, in my life that create it. It's about dumping all the excuses I've made in the past and the one's that I make for myself regularly. It's about dumping the whining and martyrdom (now this is a BIG one for me) as if no one understands my situation, my circumstances or my challenges and if they did, they would understand me better - waaah! And finally it's about dumping old patterns and thought processes. So I made a long list of all the hurts, the people who bring me down, the things I whine about, and all the negative challenges in my life. I wrote the list on toilet paper (naturally, that's what you need when you're taking a dump, right?). Once the list was made, I asked God's forgiveness for all the stored up stinkin'-thinkin' and flushed it right down the toilet!
Once a year on the Day of Atonement, when the priests in the temple offered washing for the people from their year-long sins, one person was selected to take all the waste, (the useless remains of the animals sacrificed; guts, bones, skin) including the dung of the animals, far away from the community of faith, to be utterly destroyed by fire. This was followed by a very specific cleansing and washing process in preparation to re-enter the community. (Leviticus 16:27-28).
You see, there is a lot of waste in our lives, things not suitable for worship, not suitable for sacrifice, and unhealthy for every member of a community of faith. There is a lot of dung, (pardon the pun), that has got to be dumped and destroyed. Yet, we've become content to live with it, I know I had. This waste is not conducive to pure worship and it taints and contaminates my thinking and life of contentment in whatever circumstances I am in. It creates a whole lot of disease or dis-ease and the result is stinkin'-thinkin'. The longer I sit in my dung-heap, the less I recognize the stench of it. But, believe me, others do! And for certain, our Heavenly Father does. In fact, He gives us this instruction from Philippians 4:8:
"...whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things - fix your minds on them." (The Amplified Bible)
Why is this instruction so important? Because scripture says, "As a man thinketh, so is he."(Prov.23:7) We pollute every aspect of our being to the point of actually becoming the rubbish in our lives we complain about! It hinders our growth, it hinders our relationship, it even hinders our usefulness in worship, and it rubs off onto others! Before you know it, we're surrounded by the very negativity we can't stand, never realizing we created this dung heap!
Now mind you, ridding ourselves of this foul habit is NOT going to be easy! So, during my Temple Training, I am keeping a roll of TP on my desk with a marker pen, so that every day those thoughts from the day before that I want to dump, I write down and flush away! Doing this regularly in prayer, repentance, and physical action, is a sure cure for stinkin'-thinkin'. But, this isn't enough. Next to my desk I have a "Blessings Wall." Each day, I write the blessings and positive things from the day before on a sticky note and post it to the wall as a reminder of God's goodness and provision in my life, things worthy of praise. I am reminded that I have to FIX my mind on these things and flush away the other. I need to regularly, even daily, take a dump!
It is my goal in my Temple Training, to find myself responding to negativity with positivity, compassion, and praise. It's my goal to become one who seeks the solution instead of agreeing with the problem. May I become a joyful, positive influence of sweet perfume instead of a foul smelling dung heap!
Friday, December 30, 2016
The Value of a Sparrow
So why is this Temple Training program so important to me? Why am I putting myself through the detox from carbs with it's headaches and discomfort? Why am I getting up and the first thing I do after saying, "Good morning, Lord" is get on the treadmill and knock out my mile? Why am I making myself sit down and journal my reflection on the verse God gives me for the day? The answer is because my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), and I've neglected God's dwelling place too long, it's a shambles! Because God reminded me again today of my worth.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave and notice. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows." (The Amplified Bible)
Wow! What a thought, that the Father loves me so much that He knows the very number of hairs on my head! If He cares so much for the devalued sparrow; two for one penny, how much more does He care for me? How much more does He desire that I KNOW His love and MY value. The boundless worth that I am to God cost His Son His life! That shed blood, every drop of it paid my debt, and yet, all these years I have neglected His dwelling place as though to say, "It wasn't worth it."
My heavenly Father's sacrifice is worth some expended energy and discomfort as I work through this Temple Training. Every calorie, every pound, every prayer, every scripture, every amount of faithfulness on my part is worth it, because he is worth it and because I am worth it.
I'm reminded of the story of the momma eagle found burned to death, still standing like a charred statue at the foot of a tree. The fire raged fast and hot. The mother eagle did not have time to move her precious chicks, so she placed each one on the forest floor at the foot of a large tree, gathered her babies under her wing, and there she died. But, when the fire-fighters came to that place of smoldering embers, the sight of her statue-like heap of charred ashes was so surreal that one of them gently poked her lifeless body with a stick and out from under her wings came three baby eagles. All of them were alive and well. She gave her life to save theirs in a tremendous act of self-sacrifice.
Jesus did the same thing. He bore the cross in a raging fire-storm of human emotion while surrendering himself to the cross in order that I might be saved under the shelter of His Almighty wing into eternity, while dwelling within my heart and soul, His temple every day! How is it I have spent so many years loving Him and yet neglecting His dwelling place, ME? How is it that the lies of the devil have been so powerful as to persuade me to care for everyone around me, more than I care for me? How is it, I have fallen into the trap of over-functioning while under-functioning in my own self-care? How is it I have read and known this truth and yet turned a blind eye all these years?
No, I don't want to move to the other extreme of a false identity I see in so many who are fitness guru's, who have gone beyond self-care and moved into self-idolization and vanity; traits God never intended for His children, yet another trap and lie of the enemy. But, I certainly don't intend to remain here on the other side of this extreme either! Both are sin! Forgive me Lord, I pray. I am overwhelmed and humbled that You desire to dwell with me. I love you Lord!
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave and notice. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows." (The Amplified Bible)
Wow! What a thought, that the Father loves me so much that He knows the very number of hairs on my head! If He cares so much for the devalued sparrow; two for one penny, how much more does He care for me? How much more does He desire that I KNOW His love and MY value. The boundless worth that I am to God cost His Son His life! That shed blood, every drop of it paid my debt, and yet, all these years I have neglected His dwelling place as though to say, "It wasn't worth it."
My heavenly Father's sacrifice is worth some expended energy and discomfort as I work through this Temple Training. Every calorie, every pound, every prayer, every scripture, every amount of faithfulness on my part is worth it, because he is worth it and because I am worth it.
I'm reminded of the story of the momma eagle found burned to death, still standing like a charred statue at the foot of a tree. The fire raged fast and hot. The mother eagle did not have time to move her precious chicks, so she placed each one on the forest floor at the foot of a large tree, gathered her babies under her wing, and there she died. But, when the fire-fighters came to that place of smoldering embers, the sight of her statue-like heap of charred ashes was so surreal that one of them gently poked her lifeless body with a stick and out from under her wings came three baby eagles. All of them were alive and well. She gave her life to save theirs in a tremendous act of self-sacrifice.
Jesus did the same thing. He bore the cross in a raging fire-storm of human emotion while surrendering himself to the cross in order that I might be saved under the shelter of His Almighty wing into eternity, while dwelling within my heart and soul, His temple every day! How is it I have spent so many years loving Him and yet neglecting His dwelling place, ME? How is it that the lies of the devil have been so powerful as to persuade me to care for everyone around me, more than I care for me? How is it, I have fallen into the trap of over-functioning while under-functioning in my own self-care? How is it I have read and known this truth and yet turned a blind eye all these years?
No, I don't want to move to the other extreme of a false identity I see in so many who are fitness guru's, who have gone beyond self-care and moved into self-idolization and vanity; traits God never intended for His children, yet another trap and lie of the enemy. But, I certainly don't intend to remain here on the other side of this extreme either! Both are sin! Forgive me Lord, I pray. I am overwhelmed and humbled that You desire to dwell with me. I love you Lord!
Thursday, December 29, 2016
What's In The Well Comes Up In The Bucket
My grandmother used to say, "What's in the well comes up in the bucket." If mud is in the well, mud is coming up in the bucket, if brackish water is in the well, brackish water is coming up in the bucket. If refreshing, pure water is in the well - you get the picture. The same is true for what is deep within. There are ways of thinking and responding that have shaped each of us from infancy. We watch the patterns of family from the earliest of age, and we pick up certain unspoken cues. There are also words spoken to us and over us, that are damagingly suppressed, and we are often unaware of the ways they shape our reactions and responses. I remember being told by a family member at a very young age that , "You'll never amount to anything." At the time, I didn't even know what those words meant, and over the years those words were pressed into my psyche and contributed to shaping my over-functioning, people-pleasing, achieve, achieve, achieve attributes. But, one thing was for sure, try as hard as I might to achieve thinness, I never could. I was a failure. Time and time again, it was one area of my life I worked hard at, but could never achieve. Little did I know until doing some Family Systems study, that what was showing up on the outside was the result of something going on deep in the well of my being. Temple Training is the result of this realization. What has to be done is to clean out the well, repair some of the foundational stones and allow it to once again be filled with living water, the Word of God. At the same time, I am minding nutrition, exercise (which I hate but have decided I will fall in love with), scripture reading and prayer. Fueling and filling the temple of the Holy Spirit, God's dwelling place; my body, soul and Spirit.
This is NOT an easy task. Yesterday was day two and I found myself drawn to the few remaining Christmas cookies gifted to us. I stood and looked at them, I picked them up and even smelled them. My mind was busy with reasons why one or two, "all things in moderation" wouldn't hurt. But, each time I put them down saying out loud, "Because I'm worth it!" That's Temple Training! Training is NEVER easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it. So, today with a new resolve, I begin again.
Today's passage from Colossians 3:10 becomes my prayer and reflection for today.
"...and have clothed yourself with the new [spiritual self], which is (ever in the process of being) renewed and remoulded into (fuller and more perfect knowledge upon) knowledge, after the image (the likeness) of Him who created it." (Amplified Version)
I am reminded that all these years of struggle have NOT produced a failure. They produced symptoms that I was finally able to diagnose in light of scripture. I am in the process of being renewed and remoulded, reshaped into a likeness of the one who created me, inside and out. As that which is deep within is being renewed, it will be reflected on the outside, but not unless I choose to cloth myself by addressing the deeper issues that have kept me from success. The image of God has been distorted by a confused and wounded soul, but it isn't permanent damage, hallelujah! So, on day three, I will remind myself, each time the struggle gets difficult, that a fuller and more perfect knowledge of who I am in the eyes of my creator, is coming up in the bucket!
Renew me Lord; body, soul, and Spirit! May what comes up in the bucket of my life become a true reflection of what is in the well as you create in me a clean heart/soul. Erase the reckless words spoken over me as a child and perfected in me, by me, as I have tried to "perform" my way to proving it wrong. Help me today, just today, to be faithful to the task at hand, Temple Training! Amen.
This is NOT an easy task. Yesterday was day two and I found myself drawn to the few remaining Christmas cookies gifted to us. I stood and looked at them, I picked them up and even smelled them. My mind was busy with reasons why one or two, "all things in moderation" wouldn't hurt. But, each time I put them down saying out loud, "Because I'm worth it!" That's Temple Training! Training is NEVER easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it. So, today with a new resolve, I begin again.
Today's passage from Colossians 3:10 becomes my prayer and reflection for today.
"...and have clothed yourself with the new [spiritual self], which is (ever in the process of being) renewed and remoulded into (fuller and more perfect knowledge upon) knowledge, after the image (the likeness) of Him who created it." (Amplified Version)
I am reminded that all these years of struggle have NOT produced a failure. They produced symptoms that I was finally able to diagnose in light of scripture. I am in the process of being renewed and remoulded, reshaped into a likeness of the one who created me, inside and out. As that which is deep within is being renewed, it will be reflected on the outside, but not unless I choose to cloth myself by addressing the deeper issues that have kept me from success. The image of God has been distorted by a confused and wounded soul, but it isn't permanent damage, hallelujah! So, on day three, I will remind myself, each time the struggle gets difficult, that a fuller and more perfect knowledge of who I am in the eyes of my creator, is coming up in the bucket!
Renew me Lord; body, soul, and Spirit! May what comes up in the bucket of my life become a true reflection of what is in the well as you create in me a clean heart/soul. Erase the reckless words spoken over me as a child and perfected in me, by me, as I have tried to "perform" my way to proving it wrong. Help me today, just today, to be faithful to the task at hand, Temple Training! Amen.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Faith, Fear and Frustration
Today is day two of what I am calling my "Temple Training," a program of renewing my commitment to self-care; body, soul and Spirit. To that end, I have decided that I will embark on a journey for 2017 of daily exercise, daily nutrition, daily prayer and searching the scriptures with regard to my true identity as God sees me, and blogging my discoveries and thoughts.
Since my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive and invasive bladder cancer and has numerous other health issues, I've found myself eating in anxiety. The scales show it along with my clothing! I had to admit to myself that I am a walking bundle of faith, fear and frustration! I'm frustrated easily by lots of things and lots of people, which isn't good when you're the pastor of two churches. Lord knows, that will quickly lend you plenty of reason for frustration. I'm frustrated with the medical world and how slow they move. Don't they know how anxious we are for answers and to get started and for results that were supposed to come 7 days ago! I'm frustrated with both my husbands and my own reactions to this challenge and our ever growing range of emotions, reactions and responses. I'm frustrated with the swings of faith and fear and frustrated with my own feelings of aloneness.
If you've dealt with a loved one with a life-threatening illness, you've probably felt the same frustrations. I hear God asking me, "Do you still think I'm good even when you're situations aren't? Am I only good when good is in the forecast? Am I good even in the darkness?" Naturally, I want to quickly respond, "YES!" But, the truth is that my reactions and frustrations reveal more about my inner heart than I wish they did. I realize there is a battle going on for my mind and heart.
This battle has led me to examine each day one scripture that deals with God's love for me, who God says that I am, my identity in Christ or the building-up of my faith.
Today's passage comes from Colossians 1:11 and says,
The Colossian church was smack dab in the middle between Hierapolis, an "all things Greek" community with several temples, a gymnasium, a community bath house, and even a local house-church. You could combine aspects of worship and aspects of the world into your identity in the hustle and bustle of life and no one would be surprised at your hybrid self, in fact, it would be praised! On the other side, stood Laodicea where Paul established a church later condemned in the book of Revelation for their apathy and ambivalence toward the faith; they were neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm.
There in the middle were the Colossians receiving this word to be invigorated and strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, not my own power and ability! His glory - is His victory over sin and death! By His victory, I can be victorious! However, this victory is in direct relation to my endurance, patience and forbearance (self-control) with joy. YIKES! And here is my battle!
I'm therefore reminded today, that my test can be my testimony. I don't want to stand out and be praised for my broad-mindedness and openness to adopting many aspects of our culture and religious world-views, but for my single-mindedness in Christ. And, I also don't want to - in my time of emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion - become apathetic and ambivalent in my pursuit of passion in ministry. I don't want to have a form of religion while denying the power thereof! God forbid!!! So, between these same two poles, with all the same influences that the Colossians faced, right in the middle of the crazy mixed-up world they lived, they were called to exercise; not in the gymnasium of the Greek gods, but in the gymnasium of the recollection of Christ's victory and with the power of His Holy Spirit, my helper, and be patient with others and with myself.
So my prayer is, "Lord, help me today encounter each negativity with a response of victory and joyfulness, reminding myself and others that You have already overcome and therefore so can I! Invigorate and strengthen me for the day as I keep my eyes on YOU and not on this storm! In Jesus Name, Amen!"
Since my husband was diagnosed with an aggressive and invasive bladder cancer and has numerous other health issues, I've found myself eating in anxiety. The scales show it along with my clothing! I had to admit to myself that I am a walking bundle of faith, fear and frustration! I'm frustrated easily by lots of things and lots of people, which isn't good when you're the pastor of two churches. Lord knows, that will quickly lend you plenty of reason for frustration. I'm frustrated with the medical world and how slow they move. Don't they know how anxious we are for answers and to get started and for results that were supposed to come 7 days ago! I'm frustrated with both my husbands and my own reactions to this challenge and our ever growing range of emotions, reactions and responses. I'm frustrated with the swings of faith and fear and frustrated with my own feelings of aloneness.
If you've dealt with a loved one with a life-threatening illness, you've probably felt the same frustrations. I hear God asking me, "Do you still think I'm good even when you're situations aren't? Am I only good when good is in the forecast? Am I good even in the darkness?" Naturally, I want to quickly respond, "YES!" But, the truth is that my reactions and frustrations reveal more about my inner heart than I wish they did. I realize there is a battle going on for my mind and heart.
This battle has led me to examine each day one scripture that deals with God's love for me, who God says that I am, my identity in Christ or the building-up of my faith.
Today's passage comes from Colossians 1:11 and says,
"[We Pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, (to exercise) every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy." (Amplified version)
The Colossian church was smack dab in the middle between Hierapolis, an "all things Greek" community with several temples, a gymnasium, a community bath house, and even a local house-church. You could combine aspects of worship and aspects of the world into your identity in the hustle and bustle of life and no one would be surprised at your hybrid self, in fact, it would be praised! On the other side, stood Laodicea where Paul established a church later condemned in the book of Revelation for their apathy and ambivalence toward the faith; they were neither hot nor cold, just lukewarm.
There in the middle were the Colossians receiving this word to be invigorated and strengthened with all power, according to the might of His glory, not my own power and ability! His glory - is His victory over sin and death! By His victory, I can be victorious! However, this victory is in direct relation to my endurance, patience and forbearance (self-control) with joy. YIKES! And here is my battle!
I'm therefore reminded today, that my test can be my testimony. I don't want to stand out and be praised for my broad-mindedness and openness to adopting many aspects of our culture and religious world-views, but for my single-mindedness in Christ. And, I also don't want to - in my time of emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion - become apathetic and ambivalent in my pursuit of passion in ministry. I don't want to have a form of religion while denying the power thereof! God forbid!!! So, between these same two poles, with all the same influences that the Colossians faced, right in the middle of the crazy mixed-up world they lived, they were called to exercise; not in the gymnasium of the Greek gods, but in the gymnasium of the recollection of Christ's victory and with the power of His Holy Spirit, my helper, and be patient with others and with myself.
So my prayer is, "Lord, help me today encounter each negativity with a response of victory and joyfulness, reminding myself and others that You have already overcome and therefore so can I! Invigorate and strengthen me for the day as I keep my eyes on YOU and not on this storm! In Jesus Name, Amen!"
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