Capacity for Faith

"The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can't receive the Gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by Spirit--God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion." (1 Cor. 2:14 MSG)

Most new digital cameras come with barely enough memory to take a few test pictures. They do not have the capacity to fill their intended purpose- to recognize and capture images. The factory installed memory card has to be replaced with an upgraded one to make the camera functional.

Similarly, our natural self can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There is no capacity for them. We cannot recognize or store God's Spirit within us till our factory installed self is replaced by God.

Faith can seem silly to those who do not have God's Spirit within them. Their souls have limited storage, just enough to house their own identities. They are unable to see beyond themselves. This is not a flaw, it's just the default setting.

God gives gifts to those who are in close relationship with Him. Self-reliant individuals are resistant to the idea that God is the source of all. I was one of these people until I was at my wits end, when I was shown the limitations of my capacity.

I'm extremely grateful for the gift of faith, yet because it's a gift, I can't take any credit for it. Yet, revealing my faith can encourage others to seek out God's Spirit for themselves. 

Two days in the Wilderness

I spent the last few days in the Wilderness. No, I didn't camp out in the woods, but I was disconnected from the world... the world wide web that is.  My internet connection was broken. Here is the story of my survival:

At first, I felt lost and confused. I couldn't send out my blog, my email Bible study post, or my daily note to a dear friend. I spend the first day trying to fix the problem. But without the internet, I couldn't figure out how to fix the problem. After a while I just made peace with the fact that I'd have to wait till the weekend was over and the phone company sent someone to fix it. I had no choice but to go old-school, 1990's style.

I rediscovered paper. I wrote in a paper notebook with a mechanical pencil. I walked all the way to our study and lugged the big paper dictionary out and looked up words. I used an old paper concordance to look up Bible verses. I looked up recipes in a cook book.

When I needed an hour-by-hour weather forecast, I asked my farmer neighbor, who seems to have an internal radar. When I wanted to know the difference between plywood and particle board, I called another neighbor who is a master wood-worker.

Here is what I learned in the last few days: I have been spoiled by technology. I've become lazy, dependent and lost many skills. What was meant to connect has in some ways disconnected me from myself and others. I've allowed technology too much influence in my life.

Gifts of Joy

Daily, I receive gifts that fill me with joy.  Answered prayer.  Friends share news of healing. My child laughs at his own quirky humor. My husband says something sweet. My dog lays her head on my lap. The sound of my garage door opening lets me know my husband is home safely, yet again.  The morning sky, dressed in salmon pink, makes me smile.

Some days these gifts are tangible. I got a beautiful new blue pot last week. It's such a bright happy blue that matches nothing in my kitchen. It's the perfect shape and size. Each time I cook a meal it feels sacramental. Hallelujah!

I've been eating mostly healthy food since the new year began. Yet, I indulged in a Big Mac a few days ago. I cut the burger into 4 pieces and savored each bite. Sheer pleasure.

My husband hooked up a TV and DVD player in my exercise area. Joy!
I managed to have patience with my son. Joy!
My knee doesn't hurt as much. Joy!

There are plenty of negative things that happen too. Things that make me want to cry, fill me with fear and dread. Yet, if I focus on those impediments, I miss these little gifts. So, instead I cherish these moments of joy. I express my gratitude to the One who gives... and takes away.

One-on-one Time

Once a week, my husband and I go on a date. We usually go out to eat, then go shopping, or hiking, or a movie... anything that is conducive to connecting and enjoying each others company. Daily, we try to make some time alone to talk, walk the dog, or watch some TV together.

Similarly, I carve out alone time with God. Here are some activities that help me connect and enjoy my time with God: Reading (the Bible as well as other inspirational books), prayer, thinking, writing, music, nature, listening, and serving or reaching out to others.

God whispers to me when I am quiet and introspective. I'm at my freshest first thing in the morning. This is my time to pray, listen, think, write and read. On weekend mornings I get to extend this precious time for several hours before the rest of my family wakes up. Once the day gets going, I try to join God in more active ways. Reaching out to others through phone calls, emails, helping out in what ever way I can, taking a walk outside, listening to music, and taking care of my family...

My friends in my Bible study group always share what God has whispered to them. I always learn so much from their wisdom. They push me closer to Jesus.

I attend church every week, mostly out of habit. I rarely connect with God there. I have a hard time getting close to God when there are so many other people around. I guess I'm just better at one-on-one relationships.

Dead Ends

Children's activity books routinely have maze games where you draw a line from the start position and find a clear path to the finish without hitting dead ends.

I have made some choices, that led to other choices, that eventually led to dead ends.

There are only two options at this point. Stay and beat yourself up, or turn around and try a different path.

Or, If you're like me, you could convince yourself that you like dead-end streets and build yourself a home and get comfortable ;-)

If I could have the foresight to see where some of my choices would lead me in the future, I might select different paths. Meanwhile, I use my hindsight to tell others about my mistakes, so they won't have to back track as much.

Lord, grant me discernment and a sense of direction. Please lock doors that lead to emptiness.
　

　

Cluttered Desks

A few more thoughts on sorting through priorities...

The desktop background on my laptop shows a picture of my family. I intentionally set this image as my wallpaper because it brings me joy and reminds me of what is important. I have several shortcut icons obscuring this picture. I click on some of these icons to get online, open documents, upload pictures, transfer music, etc. Some days, I don't pay much attention to what's in the background.

There are several icons in my life that eclipse my primary purpose. These start of as harmless short cuts that are supposed to make my life better. Yet eventually they add up and hide what's important.

I cleaned up my computer's desktop today. Got rid of all the unnecessary icons. Moved the few icons that were left to the side, so that my family picture is not covered up. Also cleaned up my real desk. Got some book ends to hold up the books. Put the rest of the stuff in the drawer.

Over time, all our lives accumulate idols or icons that obscure God's image and interfere with His purpose for us.  Every so often, we need to take time to clean up our virtual, physical and spiritual desktops.

Overcommitted

Lately I'm feeling like a ball of yarn that's all tangled up. I've committed to too many good things and now can't seem to do any of them well. I untangle just enough time and energy to do a days worth of work. Yet the next morning I'm faced with the same situation. Frustrating. I'd like to just push everything off my desk and just have a nice clean start. I'm sure it wouldn't take long before I'm facing the same situation again.

So... how do I stop getting into the same mess over and over?

Every time I get a new car, I trade in or sell my old car. I have limited garage space, and I don't want to pay insurance and maintenance on an extra car. When I get new clothes or shoes, I usually give away old ones to make room in my closet. Yet, when I add new commitments to my life, I rarely pull out of earlier ones. Just the word 'commitment' implies that I am bound to continue forever. May be I need a different word to describe taking on projects. A lighter word, a word that allows me to pare down when necessary.

I have decided to do certain activities daily. I have chosen to do several projects that involve others. I should be able to change my decisions and choices when needed.

I have made a commitment to knowing, loving and serving God. I have also made a commitment to being an attentive, available wife and mom. These are binding and non-negotiable. I've had my decisions or choices tangled up with my commitments.

More on this subject tomorrow...

Ship Wreck

During the last week, I've been following the news of the cruise ship wreck near Italy. The captain had delegated the day to day running of the ship to others. The ship was off course and he didn't even notice. He was too busy wining and dining his girlfriend. Even after the crash, he continued his negligence. He ordered a sharp U-turn which caused the ship to tip over. The captain then abandoned ship in one of the life-boats. The coast guard had to order him back on the ship to give them a full inventory of the passengers. The captain is still making excuses for his behavior instead of taking responsibility. At last count, 13 bodies have been recovered and 20 people are still missing.

There are lessons to be learned in this tragedy. The patterns of our lives might be charted ahead of time. Our day to day routine may not vary significantly. We grow apathetic, complacent about our duties. We get distracted by more engaging roles. Our ship veers off course. By the time we notice, we've already crashed. We try to make abrupt changes. We hurt ourselves and others. We make excuses instead of owning up to our mistakes and their consequences.

We must not live on autopilot. We must take our roles as spouses, parents, teachers, caregivers, etc. seriously. We shouldn't delegate these responsibilities to surrogates just because we've found other, more interesting pursuits.

The Top 1 Percent

If you earn over $34,000 a year, you are among the top 1% income earners in the world. An annual income over $70,000 puts you in the top 0.1% of the world. (Milanovic, The Haves and the Have-Nots. 2010)

If you have more than 99% of the world, should you care for those who are not as privileged?

Let's look at it from a slightly different perspective. Imagine you were visiting a foreign country, where you didn't speak the local language, and you lost your money and passport. Now you are one of the powerless, the 'Have-nots'. You would be at the mercy and kindness of those that have more money, knowledge of the system, power, language skills, food, shelter, transportation etc. than you have. What if these 'Haves' were too busy with their daily lives, jobs, kids, soccer, to-do lists, and meetings to even notice a penniless, foreigner who didn't even speak their language?  What if the locals ignored your plight with justifications like "we worked hard to get where we are in life. If we used our resources to help out every unfortunate person we meet, we wouldn't be where we are now".

God is the source of all our resources. We are not in the top 1% because we are smarter, or work harder, or more disciplined, than the other 99% of the world. Let us not be hoarders. Most of our resources are renewable. Our knowledge, power, and skills can be shared without depleting our stock. It takes a bit more creativity to help the 99% rather than passing out gifts to our fellow 1%. The simplest way is to get involved in the life of one individual in a third world country. Share more than money. Or care for the marginalized in your local community. Share your time, your skills, your resources.

"When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required." (Luke 12:48 NLT)

Staying in the dark

I've had three people tell me this week that they are depressed and they would rather be left alone. Surely, they can't mean it, can they?

Why would any one choose to stay in the darkness?

I keep wanting to go in to these lives and turn on the light. I try to listen, to just sit with them. After a few days, I start saying goofy things to distract them out of their funk. After a few weeks, I start dragging them out of their gloom, whether they are ready or not.

Could I be prematurely pushing others out of darkness? By trying to alleviate their pain, am I short changing their healing and growth?

In the winter, I crave sunlight. I try to leave as many lights on in my house to compensate for the darkness outside. This elevates my mood temporarily.

Similarly, when I try to draw others out of their depression, I'm just switching on artificial lights that may provide symptomatic relief. True healing requires the light of the Holy Spirit which comes from within.

We can pray against the spirit of oppression and darkness. We need to reach out with compassion, and patience to those who are suffering from depression. It is not within our power to heal them. Our role is to comfort, listen, and be available.

Country Living

A decade ago, we moved into a rural neighborhood. We were raised in a city, and didn't know a daffodil from a dandelion. It was the farthest I'd lived from a Wal-mart. As far as I was concerned, I was living on the frontier. During the first few years, we planted trees and shrubs, even grew some vegetables from seed. We survived with only dial-up internet... (barely). I wore overalls, and used the word "choring" whenever I was doing laundry or other house work. I reveled in walking barefoot through the grass, and watching the stars, away from the city lights. Yes, I was living out my "Green Acres" fantasy.

Fast forward ten years. I'm no longer as clueless as I used to be. Today, I wear Carhartts, over my pajamas, as I run through the snowy field to my neighbors house to fix her broadband internet. (Our neighborhood got DSL 5 years ago. Still waiting for cable). I've learned to call my neighbors and ask if they need anything before I drive the 14 miles to Wal-mart. They do the same for me. I don't have a walk-in pantry in my house, instead I can walk-in to my friends' homes and pick through their pantries. The apple trees we planted have borne fruit and the evergreens shelter birds. The maples and oaks provide shade.

I moved out to the country to get close to nature. I stay, to be close to these friends.

Separate Lives

Some evenings, I'll ask my family this question: "So, what do you guys want to do tonight?"
My son will answer with a smile: "How about we all do our own thing?"

It's getting harder and harder for us to find stuff that we are all interested in doing together. Soon our son will graduate and have his own life. I've been mentally preparing for his solo flight into the unknown.

I wonder how my husband and I will fare as empty nesters? Will we pour ourselves into our individual interests, jobs, hobbies? Will we have new projects to work on together? I don't want to live like two room mates sharing a home, yet with separate lives. 

When my husband and I are traveling in our own cars, we sometimes get separated even when we are going to the same destination. One of us can get stuck at a stop light, get stuck behind slow traffic or sometimes we just choose different routes. We try to stick close, in case one of us gets in trouble. Who ever is ahead waits for the other one that is behind. Most of the time we just take one car and I let him drive.

I've been talking to some of my friends who are older and wiser and are navigating the "empty nest" phase successfully. Here are some patterns I've noticed: Their nests are not empty. These spouses have a common purpose, people and causes they nurture, joint concerns that they pour themselves into, mutual growth through sacrifice. These couples continue to take care of each other as well as others. They defer to each other, follow each others' dreams. They are traveling in the same vehicle.

I'm grateful to all of you for sharing your wisdom with me.

God's call

"I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, If you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart." (Hymn by Shulte)

What is God calling me to do?

When I was in elementary school I used to ride the school bus. Some times, the driver needed to figure out if a kid was missing when they loaded the school bus after school. He would say the kids name and since I had the loudest voice, I would always shout it out. Is this my role? To be a megaphone? Repeating out loud what God whispers?

Or maybe I'm supposed to be an interpreter. Translating mysteries into current stories that are easy to understand? An interpreter isn't supposed to add his/her own words or spin. I like to add my own flavor to things. This might be a problem.  

Perhaps, I'm supposed to sing harmony to God's lead vocals. I would have to train my ear to recognize the melody and the notes and then sing in a different pitch that complements the lead vocals. Plus harmony vocals should not drown out the lead vocals. I better leave this role for some one else.

Or, I could be like Reese, the side kick/muscle man on the TV show "Person of Interest". He works for this genius billionaire named Finch who has created a machine that predicts crime. Finch, who is the brains of the team speaks to Reese through an ear piece and they work together to prevent crimes before they happen. Reese gets to kick-butt, twist-arms and shoot people. Sounds like fun! I wonder if God needs a muscle man? Unfortunately, I'm small and wimpy.

Here I am Lord....Still waiting for clear instructions.

Recognizing God

I was watching the Dr. Oz show the other day. He recommends that people with sleep problems use earplugs, an eye patch and a noise machine that blocks out other sounds. I suffer from insomnia, and I have all these tools available in my house. Yet I'm hesitant to use these sleep aids because I don't want to be unaware to that degree, even when I'm sleeping. What if the smoke alarm goes off? Or an intruder breaks in to the house? Or my son knocks on my door?

This reminds me of the following verse from Isaiah:
"They will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to me for healing." (Is. 6:10 NLT)

Some of us go through life in a somnambulant state, wearing ear plugs, eye patches and blocking out God's voice continuously. We are unconscious of evil, of suffering around us, of loneliness, of brokenness. We intentionally create noise and distraction so that we can remain incognizant of unpleasant circumstances. We also miss the glory, the beauty and the mystery all around us. We fail to recognize God.

Lord, open our eyes, soften our hearts, so we may perceive you and turn to you, so that you can heal us.

A New Vehicle

I used to drive an old unreliable car during college. I was always nervous that it would break down when I stopped at a red light. It didn't have power steering. It responded really slowly. I got in the habit of driving timidly and fearfully.

After college and marriage, we got a new shiny sports car. Although it was a completely different automobile than my previous one, my driving habits remained the same. Other drivers would look at me quizzically, as I drove over-cautiously and slowly in this powerful machine.

I thought of all this today as I read the following verse:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline."  (2 Tim.1:7 NLT)

We no longer have to be timid, afraid, wimpy or wishy-washy. God gave us HIS Spirit, which is powerful, passionate, and disciplined. We are operating a whole new vehicle. It's time to Zoom!

Baptism

I've always thought of baptism as a symbolic ceremony of commitment to Christ. Christian denominations disagree about many of the details of this ceremony: infant vs. adult, full immersion in water vs. pouring or sprinkling water, rivers vs. pools, in the name of Jesus vs. the Trinity, etc.

I personally believe these details are peripheral. It's like quibbling about the rituals of a wedding ceremony rather than focusing on the life changes ahead in marriage.

 "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose it's power in our lives." (Romans 6:4,6 NLT)

Baptism is symbolic of the death of our old self and resurrection into a new life. In our pre-commitment days, we may have been sinful (lived separately from Christ). Our character, perspective, and daily routines should be completely different after we are unified with Christ. If a married person acts the same way as when he or she were single, we would think that's odd. After we have made a commitment to Christ, we are no longer in control of our own lives. We have willingly given ourselves over to our Beloved.

Spiritual Fat

"Whenever there is any element of pride or conceit remaining, Jesus can't teach us anything." (from Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)

Pride is no longer considered a sin. I'm supposed to take pride in my work, in my children, in my home, and in my appearance. We soften this trait with euphemisms like self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence. Conceit is not as acceptable, unless you call it 'swagger', which then is a good trait, if you have the goods to back it up.

I actually happen to have put on a few extra pounds of pride over the last few decades. It provides me with padding during lean times. When I'm feeling insecure, pride provides a protective layer of insulation.

If pride is socially acceptable, then why is it harmful? In some cultures, extra fat is acceptable, even admired. Yet, it still has many adverse health risks. One of the reasons surgery is more difficult on obese patients is because it requires cutting through more tissue to get to the internal organs.

Think of pride as spiritual fat. As Jesus tries to heal us, He has to cut through layers of pride to get within us. Diagnosis and treatment of the soul are much more difficult when we are puffed-up with self-importance.

More than half of Americans are overweight. Yet we accept this as unhealthy and we try to make changes. Similarly, pride might be a common trait in our culture; but it is detrimental to our spiritual health.

Can you let me out?

This morning our dog sat by the sliding glass door and watched the snow falling. She looked so peaceful and introspective. I thought to myself, I wish I too could just sit and watch the snow all day, pondering the mysteries of life.

A bit later, my dog got up, went to the door and looked back at me with her.. 'can you let me out?' eyes. I knew she just wanted to play because it wasn't time for her to potty again. I hesitated. I knew she would track snow onto the carpets and smell like a wet dog when she came back in the house.

I let the dog go out anyway. As I watched her frolicking in the snow, I realized that I like to ponder and philosophize more than getting out and doing things. The thought of going out when it's cold, windy and wet would not be appealing to me. The aggravation would outweigh the gain.

I enjoy thinking, writing, analyzing, and discussing life's principles, values, and mysteries... preferably in the comfort of my own home. Yet, I'm uncomfortable implementing these theories. When I was younger, I hoped to solve the problems of the world. That was before I discovered that the world was full of variables. In life, just as in algebra, problems with multiple variables are pretty tricky to solve.

I wish I were more like my dog. She is a thinker and a doer. She is not discouraged by external factors. She follows her instincts, her senses. She doesn't dwell on worst case scenarios or cost vs. benefit ratios. She knows how to sit in peace, as well as live fully.

I sense my soul looking back at me with her 'can you let me out?' eyes...

　

　

Pardon our mess

Recently, I read this sign at our bank: "Please pardon our mess while we undergo renovations."

Construction sites are always messy. Any time we are in the process of building, we have to expect some chaos. I have several building projects going right now. Some within myself, and some along side my family and friends. Every change creates disarray in my life.

For example, my quiet time in the morning is changing. I used to have almost an hour and a half to quietly sit in my big comfy chair, sip coffee, read scripture, think and pray, all before my family woke up. My "new and improved" quiet time involves writing, so now I sit at my desk. I've also taken 30 minutes out of it for exercise. I feel a bit disoriented by all the changes.

I've also been trying to give more of my time and energy to others. This involves getting my hands dirty. People misinterpret my intentions. Boundaries are trespassed.  Every one feels uncomfortable...inconvenienced. 

The disorder makes me want to quit building, go back to the familiar. Remodeling is stressful.

Mama Don't Play That!

I'm set in my ways. I don't like my plans to be interrupted. I'm inflexible and I secretly like it. For some absurd reason, others around me don't seem to admire this trait as much!

There used to be a pop culture saying in the 90's: "Homey don't play that" - (It means- I'm not going to do that because it goes against who I am and what I believe in...said by Homey the clown from 'In Living Color'. ) As a young mother, my favorite catch phrase became, "I don't think so, Mama don't play that."

Lately, I've realized that I've mistaken my rigidity for strength. I want to stand up for what I believe in and not back down on my principles. Yet, my hardness creates conflict with others who have their own principles, (which may appear to me as just fuzzy discipline and half-baked ideas!)

Sometimes, I operate by standards that no longer fit my life. For example, I'm frugal and reluctant to spend money on myself. This pattern stems from earlier times when we didn't have much money. Now, it's just a habit that I justify as a dislike for extravagance.

Now that I realize that this is a weakness, I'm trying to change. Trying to see things from the other's perspective. Becoming softer, making time for interruptions. Listening. Trying to discriminate between core principles and long-held habits.

Stretch Marks

"Keep open house, be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16 MSG)

Only a few of my closest friends have seen my stretch marks. It's not that I'm ashamed of having them, it's just private. My friends are often surprised when I reveal my imperfections. Yet, instead of repelling them, my flaws tend to make others more comfortable. My transparency leads my friends to open up even more.

Now, if I stopped there, it would be a nice gal-pal moment... but that would be it. Instead, as I expose my scars, I reveal God's work through all if it. As I stretched and grew, God was there with me. He was with me in the fear, the waiting, the pain, as well as the joy. This leads others to trace their own silver scars and remember God's grace. God is visible in our scars.  

Light bearers

"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine!" (Matt. 5:14-15 MSG)

When my husband is fixing something under the sink, I become his plumber's assistant. My job is to shine the flash-light on whatever he's working on. Well, I can't see what he's working on, because he's already filled up the space under the sink with his body and elbows, so I'm usually sitting near his feet trying to just shine the light near his hands. Sometimes, my attention wanders, and the light wanders with it. He usually says something and I get the light back where it needs to be.

God calls us to be light-bearers, to shine our light on whatever He's working on. We are to sit at His feet, yet have our eyes on His hands. If our eyes wander, so does the light.  Somehow, God gets our attention, so that the spot light gets back on His work.

Bringing out the Flavor

"You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? " (Matt. 5:13 MSG)

I went on a low-sodium diet for about a month. Everything tasted bland. I tried to compensate by adding other spices. But without salt, non of the other flavors made an impression. I lost interest in food. Eating seemed pointless.

How can we bring out the God-flavors in ourselves and others?

I like to taste the food as I cook, feel the texture to see if something is done, smell the spices, see when the meat is browned, and the onions are translucent. Sometimes I get distracted by the phone, TV or radio and I burn the food.

Bringing out God-flavors involves paying attention. I think every person is flavorful in their own way. We have to taste, feel, stir, and add a little of our own salt to draw the flavors out. We have to listen and be involved. We need to sprinkle affirmation, validation, and pour on the love...Share the godliness that lies within us, as well as bring out the God-flavors in others.

Chew-and-Spit Diet

I recently read about an eating disorder called the "Chew-and-Spit diet". You taste the food, chew it, and then spit it out instead of swallowing. Pleasure without calories. Bulimia light?

Many of us do this with Scripture. We savor the words as we swirl them around our mouth. We chew on the words at Bible studies and during our quiet times. Yet when it comes to making it part of our thighs, we hesitate. Do we really need this extra weight?

Taste, chew, swallow, digest... let the Word nourish every part of you. Then exercise these principles daily. This will bring strength to your thighs, enabling you to lift heavy burdens and run from the enemy.

The extra weight we carry might not fit the worldly standards of beauty. But then again, bulimic super models are useless in a crisis.

Covenant vs Contract

The Judeo-Christian tradition is based on a covenant relationship with God. There is a big difference between a covenant and a contract. The first is based on an intimate relationship, while the latter is more of a legal agreement. A loving intimate relationship is generous and accommodating. It makes room for forgiveness and sacrifice. It is not based on expectations of quid pro quo or self interest. So, having a covenant with God is not about rules, obligations or penalties.

Sometimes religion is more a cultural identity than a faith choice. Although I disagree with many of the Church's teachings, and frequently feel stifled by it, I'm reluctant to shed the familiar casing. It would feel as disloyal as bleaching my brown skin.

Just as expectations of spouses and children vary among different cultures, covenants are influenced by culture and tradition. Many of the details are left open, unwritten, open to interpretation.

I believe that I have a covenant with God that is shaped by my culture. Each of us have to work out the individual, intimate details of our commitment with God.

Rebuilding with words

"I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, lay your foundations with sapphires..." (Isaiah 54:11 MSG)

I've always liked this verse about restoration... partly due to the bling factor.  Yet, God has chosen to remodel and restore the broken parts of me through precious words.  Sometimes the words came in the form of scripture verses. Sometimes through other books, podcasts, songs, good friends and sometimes just as a thought in my mind.

I haven't always been able to pay back my friends for their opportune words that were placed at the right time and place in my life. But, I have tried to pay forward what I haven't paid back.

"Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone's needs will be met." (2 Cor. 8:14 NLT)

If you have words of encouragement, comfort, wisdom... share it with those who might need it. Then, when you need it, others can share with you and everyone can be rebuilt.

"Keep each other's spirit's up so that no one falls behind or drops out.... Pray that I'll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time" (Eph. 6:18-19 MSG)

Prayer 360

We use Norton 360 for our computer security. It includes an antivirus, firewall, and protects against phishing.

I use PRAYER 360 for my family's security. It can't prevent malicious activity, yet it can protect us against enemy attacks. It detects threats and fixes them before we are completely incapacitated.

I pray for a wall of protection around my family. I pray that we will be able to stay away from dangerous situations. We can depend on God to continually scan us and remove anything that may be harmful or slowing us down.

Accompanied Minor

Traveling was exciting when I was a child. It was just fun and adventurous since some one else took care of all the details. I would look out the window, watch the scenery, and look forward to stopping at restaurants for lunch.

Now, as an adult, I plan all the details, map out the route, map out the stops, read reviews on trip advisor, buy all the tickets online, check the weather, pack accordingly, turn the water main off, stop the mail... I'm exhausted even before I leave the house.

Going through life while trusting God is akin to traveling as a minor accompanied by a capable adult. You can leave the details to God. Just make sure you don't get distracted by all the new sights and sounds... and end up lost and separated from HIM.

Foot prints in the Dust

Foot Prints in the Dust

The other day, I needed to change the time on a clock in the basement. It was too high for me to reach, so I found a stool in the corner that we hardly use... and pulled it next to the clock, stood on top and reached the clock and changed the time. When I got off the stool, I noticed my foot prints in the dust. Ok... so most people would think: "this place needs to be dusted!" Maybe because I hate dusting, I had a different reaction... I thought about all the people that are isolated, in dark corners, craving attention, needing to feel that some one cares. How can we make an impact, a human foot print, in these dusty lives?

We can reach out to people who are isolated. Pay attention to them, listen. Care for them. Get involved in the details of their lives. Acknowledge the difficulties that they face. Be there for them. Share our lives and our days with them. Make them feel useful again.

applied faith

New Years Day 2012

"For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in God. Lean on your God!" (Isaiah 50:10 MSG)

One of my New Years resolutions is to apply my faith. I'm looking for ways to use daily what I learned that morning, in some practical way. Yesterday, I made 3 resolutions. Every year, around this time, I make resolutions that fall by the way-side come February. So yesterday, I applied my faith by TRUSTING GOD. I knew that I was not capable of keeping promises to myself, yet I trusted God and made those promises.