Plans for the Day

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

I once saw a video where a guy was trying to fill a jar with a certain amount of big rocks and sand. First, he put the sand in and tried to fit the rocks on top. He couldn’t get all of them in the jar. However, when he put the big rocks in first, the sand easily fit between the gaps of space.

Every morning, my husband and I go over our plans for the day. Some things cannot be moved around--like my husband’s work schedule. Other things are more flexible--exercise, meals, chores, social time, etc.  Since his schedule is less fluid than mine, I tend to work my schedule around his.

The purposes of God are unchangeable. If we try to fill our day with our plans and then try to squeeze God’s purposes into the gaps, they may not fit. However, when God’s intentions take precedence over our personal aspirations, everything finds its proper place.  

Lord, help me to seek You today, to watch what You are doing, and to align my values with Yours.

Steps with Purpose

“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” Psalm 39:8 NLT)

During our last family vacation, we got lost while walking the dog. We took a few wrong turns and ended up going away from our intended direction. Luckily, we discovered our mistake before too long and found our way back with the GPS on our phones. It wasn’t a total waste of time; at least we got some exercise. Since I wear a fitness tracker, I’m always eager to find ways to increase my step count--even if I’m just walking in circles. It makes me feel active and productive.

Every little choice throughout our day is like a step. Some of our choices are intentional; others are random. Some steps lead us in the right direction, some in the wrong direction, and some just take us in circles going nowhere. At the end of each day, we may have a high step count, but have accomplished nothing meaningful.

Obsessive ambition and worldliness can lead us into sin. Self-absorption and a lack of direction can lull us into pointless busy work. However, when we listen to the Spirit of God, we are guided in the right direction, blessed with motivation, and enlightened with clear purpose.

My Healer

“Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.”(Isaiah 30:26 KJV)

The world is fractured. We broke it--not deliberately, of course.  We lost touch with the divine spirit within us that called us to love all of creation.  Instead, we followed our human instincts to look out for ourselves while neglecting everything else. This seismic shift away from what God intended created deep fissures. Although we broke it, we can’t fix it. We need Divine help to repair, reconcile, and restore this world. Thus, we take all our wounds to the Lord, our Healer, who makes us whole. God’s light brings complete clarity, renews our perspectives, and purifies our souls.

“O God of the poor,

help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,

so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives,

that we may protect the world and not prey on it,

that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts

of those who look only for gain

at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,

to be filled with awe and contemplation,

to recognize that we are profoundly united

with every creature

as we journey towards your infinite light.” (Pope Francis)

Birthday Prayer

Since today is my birthday, I'm feeling indulgent. Instead of posting my own thoughts, I would like to treat myself and everyone else to a prayer written by one of my favorite authors:

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will

does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you

does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though

I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,

and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.  

(Prayer by Thomas Merton)

Correcting Mistakes

“You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.” (Proverbs 28:13 MSG)

When I notice a pimple or under eye circles, I pull out some concealer from my makeup bag and cover it up. The blemish is still there, but it is less obvious when I look at myself in the mirror. I am hoping others don’t notice it either. Instead of camouflaging my flaws, I could try to change my diet, drink more water, or get more sleep. However, these changes would require a lot more effort; covering up is much easier.

As Christians, many of us strive to follow the teachings of Jesus. However, we stopped caring about people who seemed ‘different’ than us.  We classified them as threats to our way of life. We segregated humanity based on ethnicity, geography, and socio-economic class.   We concealed our prejudice. We whitewashed our sins rather than confronting them. We sense that this is not a solution, but we are too wrapped up in maintaining our image and justifying our attitudes to make any real changes. Somehow we lost our way. It is time to admit our mistakes, turn around, and find our way back to the path of compassion.

American Values

"Into the hovels of the poor,

Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:

'I've had enough; I'm on my way

To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched." (Psalm 12:5 MSG)

For centuries, the United States of America was known as a melting pot of immigrants from all over the world who came in search of freedom and opportunity. The Statue of Liberty was the symbol for all that America represented. At the base of the statue is the following inscription:

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

We are a nation built on liberty--the freedom to practice any religion without being harassed; the freedom to assemble, to protest injustice, and to have a free press.

I am deeply saddened by what is happening in my country. American values are being trampled; freedom is being replaced with restrictions and bans. Christian values are adulterated to justify greed and racism.

This is NOT us! America is better than this!  

Human Regress

“If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.” (Isaiah 58:10 MSG)

Here are a few mind-blowing statistics:

-The world produces 17% more food per person today than thirty years ago, but close to a billion people go hungry every night. 98% of these people live in developing countries. (Oxfam)

-Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day - that's roughly 200 billion more than needed - enough to feed 80 million people. Americans throw out 200,000 tons of edible food daily. (public.wsu.edu)

-83% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. (abcnews.com)

How can we call ourselves a Christian nation and continue to ignore those who hunger and thirst? How can we refuse to help those who are powerless and vulnerable?

My Helper

“We can say with confidence, ‘The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’ (Hebrews 13:6 NLT)

What can people do to me?

Plenty!

Am I afraid?

You bet!

So, how do I face my fear of what humans can do to each other?

I must develop confidence in the Lord as my helper.  

“The bottom’s dropped out of the country; good people don’t have a chance.” (Psalm 11:3 MSG)

The foundations of love, compassion, justice, and equality are crumbling. The poor and the vulnerable are stripped of what little they have, so that the privileged and the powerful can hoard even more. Malice is rebranded as mercy to justify greed.

Where is God? Why doesn’t he intervene?

“His holy address hasn’t changed. He’s in charge, as always, his eyes taking everything in.” (Psalm 11:4 MSG)

The Lord is still in charge. He sees through the hypocrisy. His address is still the same. When we are exhausted and out of options, we can turn to God boldly. He is our helper. He will not abandon the poor and the helpless.

God's Address

“But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high;” (Psalm 3:3 MSG)

I was in the midst of yet another distressing situation. Everywhere I looked, I could only see more trouble coming at me from all sides. I was exhausted and at the end of my rope. I didn’t know what to do. I staggered around for days with a droopy head and a fearful heart.

“God’s address is at the end of your rope.” (Dallas Willard)

When we have exhausted all our usual resources, when we can’t figure things out on our own--that’s when we go to God. He waits for us to come to Him, to rely on Him completely.

Lord, I am grateful that You shield me on all sides. You protect everything that is vital, inside and out. You keep me stable. You restore my dignity so that I can walk with my head high. You are the only source of real help. I shall depend on You to sustain me.

Disruptive Questions

“The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus.” (Luke 22:2 MSG)

Jesus was an agitator. He refused to be complaisant. He often asked thought-provoking questions, disrupting the status quo. He spoke out against hypocrisy and injustice. The religious leaders did not appreciate being challenged; thus, He was crucified.

In 1517, Martin Luther, a German priest, questioned the Catholic Church’s dogma which led to the Protestant Reformation. He was excommunicated. A few centuries later, Martin Luther King, Jr., a Baptist minister, led the Civil Rights movement. Using nonviolent, civil disobedience tactics, he challenged a ‘Christian Nation’ about the way they treated minorities in their midst. He was assassinated.

Most societies encourage preservation of the establishment over exploration of truth. Anyone who speaks up against institutional beliefs can be seen as confrontational rebels. Even nonviolent protest can be divisive. Yet, this struggle is necessary for transformation. It’s a lot like tilling up hard ground before gardening; it’s unsettling but essential for future growth.

“Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I've come to disrupt and confront! (Luke 12:51 MSG)

Followers

“‘Follow me,’ Jesus told him.” (Mark 2:14 NIV)

According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 4 out of 5 doctors don’t get enough exercise. Almost all of them believe in the benefits of exercise and routinely recommend it to their patients. However, only 21% of them actually practice what they preach.

Frequently, Christians refer to others who share their faith as believers. I have heard people of other faiths describe themselves as practitioners. For example: a practicing Jew is not only Jewish by birth but also by they way he lives. A practicing Muslim not only believes in the tenets of Islam but also prays five times a day, fasts for Ramadan, and goes on pilgrimage to Mecca.

Why are Christians satisfied with being believers and not followers?

“You are blessed whenever you follow my example.” (John 13:17 GWT)

What kind of example did Jesus set for us to follow?

-Love, trust, obey, and depend on God

-Love one another

-Be humble

-Forgive

-Resist temptation

-Be compassionate and merciful

-Help those who are needy

-Be led by the Holy Spirit

Lord, help us to be more than believers. Enable us to be followers.

Mulching

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)

A friend of mine recently bought a new house. She wants to do some low- maintenance landscaping just in the front yard. I suggested a few evergreen shrubs. She thought even that was too much work; plus, she preferred plants that had flowers. I jokingly told her to go ahead and plant some plastic flowers and put some rubber mulch around them. She said that one of her neighbors actually had some artificial flowers stuck in between some real plants in his flower beds. Supposedly, no one can tell them apart from the street.

Likewise, some people prefer faux friendships, because they require no maintenance. Other than the initial investment of time and energy, there is very little you have to do on a regular basis. From a distance, it’s hard to tell these relationships apart from real ones. But up close and personal, there is a difference. Authentic friends will invest in each other regularly. They are reliable and stick close. Their intertwined roots make them stronger and more resilient. They suffer and rejoice together. They hold each other accountable--speaking truth, even when it is difficult to hear. They encourage and motivate each other to be better humans. They add value to each other’s lives as well as to those around them.

Searching for Good

“The one who seeks good finds delight; the student of evil becomes evil.” (Proverbs 11:27 MSG)

My mind likes to play this game I call: “What’s wrong with this picture?” For example, if I try on a new outfit, I immediately notice the negatives rather than the positives. Or if I meet a new person, I am more likely to remember annoying traits rather than endearing ones. I can quickly list the worst three restaurants in my city. I would have to think harder to pick out three of the best places to eat.  

This Lent, instead of giving up favorite foods, I’ve resolved to give up negativity. It’s not going so well. (Darn it, I just complained again!) I am trying to intentionally look for the good in every situation. I practice daily. Since I like to make lists, I scan for three positives before my mind slips into its default mode of finding fault. I ask myself: “What is right with this picture?” Every morning and evening, I remind myself of all that God has blessed me with. Before I leave the house, I list three things I’m looking forward to. When I meet new people, I focus on what is admirable. Now that I am searching diligently for good, I find it. I am grateful for every bright discovery.

“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It opens us up to wonder, delight, and humility. It makes our hearts generous. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.” (John Ortberg)

My Shepherd

“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23:1 NLT)

I am the primary caregiver for my dog. I feed her at the appropriate times,  make sure her water bowl is full, take her for walks daily, and groom her regularly. I make sure she is safe. If she runs off without her leash, I will chase after her until I get her back. If another dog is aggressive toward her, I will step in between so that she doesn’t get hurt. I love my dog, and there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her. However, I don’t give her everything she wants. If I gave her treats every time she begged, she would be unhealthy. If I let her run off-leash through the streets, she might get hit by a car.

The Lord is my caregiver; He provides me with everything I need, but not always what I want. He provides for me. He guides me in the right direction. He protects me against evil. He sustains my soul. He is always by my side. If I wander off, He pursues me. He grooms me to His standards, shearing me of any excess. He makes sacrifices for my sake. When I beg for things that are not good for me, He doesn’t give in. When I run after distractions that are dangerous, He pulls me back. He wants me to stay with Him for the rest of my life.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I know I am loved; thus, I am carefree.

Man-made Disasters

“People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” (Luke 21:26 NLT)

When I was a kid, my parents would load us up in the car every summer, and we would drive to Oklahoma to see our relatives. This was back in the 1980’s when the vehicle entertainment options were limited to the car radio and looking out the window. For hours, we would stare out at flat grasslands dotted with small towns.  Back then, Oklahoma and Kansas were considered quiet, peaceful, and safe. Things have changed.

In the last few years, this area has been plagued by thousands of earthquakes. Unlike most natural disasters, these earthquakes are linked to man-made causes. For the last few decades, there has been an increase in oil and gas drilling by the means of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in this area. The wastewater produced from fracking is injected deep into the ground. This has been linked to the increased earthquakes in this area.

Unfortunately, even though the evidence is strong, many choose to ignore it.  Corporations continue to make profits, while people live in fear of being crushed to death in their own homes. Many Oklahomans attribute the earthquakes to a sign of the end times. They may be right. Human greed, environmental destruction, and apathy could cause the end of life as we know it.

“Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36 MSG)

Dulled Senses

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing, drunkenness, and by worries of this life.” (Luke 21:34 NLT)

Alcohol, drugs, distractions, exhaustion, materialism, ambition, pleasure, overstimulation, addictions, and illnesses can all dull our senses. All these things can impair our judgment and skew our perceptions.  We can get so fixated on one thing that everything else becomes blurry.

I am attached to many things and people, and I have a tendency to worry. Even while I am meditating, my mind starts ruminating over things about which I am irritated or anxious. I am still learning to pull my mind back from these distractions.

We cannot be occupied by the Spirit of God when we are preoccupied by our concerns. Our spiritual perception can be dulled when we are drunk with worry. When we are focused on our anxieties, our faith becomes blurry. Thus, we must aim our attention on Jesus, and let everything else become peripheral. Remove the barriers and distractions that impair your consciousness of God.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace. (Lyrics by Helen Howarth Lemmel)

Meditation

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” (Psalm 62:5 KJV)

Meditation has become popular again.  There are loads of apps that can guide you through ten minutes of meditation while you commute to work or wait to pick up your kids from school. I tried a few, just to see what everyone was talking about. Most of these programs have soothing audio instructions to focus on your breathing and observe any discomfort with a sense of detachment. I do feel more relaxed after these sessions, but something seems to be missing...

I decided I needed to customize my meditation practice in order to make it more meaningful for me. Here is what seems to work for me:

I set an alarm for fifteen minutes and turn off the ringer on my phone. I do a self-check. I go over the meaningful things I have done or left undone today. I thank God for all the opportunities and blessings. I pick a Bible verse and write it down in a journal. I repeat it slowly in my head. I write down any words or phrases that pop up. I continue visualizing, imagining, and absorbing this verse. I open up to God; I wait expectantly and listen attentively. I receive whatever He pours into my mind. I take notes. When the timer goes off, I say a prayer of thanks and consecrate myself and everything else to Him.

Lord, forgive me for the wrong that I have done and the good that I have left undone today. I’m thankful for Your presence and forgiveness. I hand over everything to You. I shall wait upon You expectantly and lean upon You confidently.

Comfort

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT)

My husband and I have been considering replacing the mattress on our bed. While doing my online research, I picked up some new information about mattresses. A mattress should not be overly soft, or it will cause your body to sink into the bed. This can lead to bad posture and pain in the long run. A too-firm mattress will push on your pressure points which can cause misalignment. A good mattress should be neither too soft nor too firm.

God comforts us in our troubles, and He expects us to do the same for others. Sometimes we are called to be a safe place for others to land--to provide rest, encouragement, and empathy. However, it’s hard to get it just right--to be supportive but not enabling, to be comforting but not coddling,  For this we need God’s help and guidance.

Lord, comfort all those who are suffering from physical pain or mental anguish. Use me if necessary. Teach me how to have the right balance of softness and firmness. Grant me wisdom, patience, and steadfastness.

My Sanctifier

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 MSG)

The root ‘sanct-’ means sacred. When something is sanctified, it is set apart, dedicated for sacred use, consecrated, made holy. Since humans are naturally flawed, it takes some work to make us whole and holy. Sanctification is God directed; it isn’t instigated by our external environment or personal willpower. We can’t make ourselves holy, no matter how hard we try. We have to rely on God. Only the Spirit of Truth can regenerate and renew us. Like a personal trainer, He motivates, instructs, and assists us to reach our full spiritual potential. The changes may be gradual and, thus, not immediately evident. Yet, if we listen to the Holy Spirit and remain dedicated to following His instructions, eventually we are conformed to the image of Christ.

“Everything that we have - right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start - comes from God by way of Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG)

Giving

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27 NIV)

According to a report from the Giving USA Foundation, Americans donated 119.30 billion dollars to churches and religious groups in 2015. Most of this money was spent on staff salaries and maintaining buildings. Very little went to aiding the poor or the helpless. This bothers me greatly.

Churches try to attract members who are wealthy, influential, and powerful. They also try to cater to those who are likely to have the means to donate to the church rather than to need its resources. This ensures a steady stream of revenue. Jesus instructed us to give to the poor. Yet we, as Christians, continually neglect the needy and marginalized members of society. We complacently stand by while our contributions are used for everything but charity. This is hypocrisy.

“The sickness or, you can say the sin, that Jesus condemns most is hypocrisy, which is precisely what is happening when someone claims to be a Christian but does not live according to the teaching of Christ.” (Pope Francis)

Tax Season

“Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Luke 20:24-25 NIV)

We have five seasons where we live: spring, summer, autumn, winter, and tax season. The U.S. Treasury department prints paper currency and mints coins for circulation,and, it expects a chunk of it back every year. From January to mid-April, my husband and I are scrambling to find receipts and get through the mountains of paperwork that are required to file our taxes. We use an accountant to make sure we haven’t missed anything since the tax laws change every year.

The religious leaders of the day asked Jesus for tax advice. Should they pay taxes to Caesar who represented the Roman Empire? Jesus pointed out that the money was created in Caesar’s image and thus to “give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

What is God’s? What does He expect us to give back to Him?

God created human beings in His own image. Thus, we are expected to give of ourselves to God. Most of us have a tough time with the concept of giving over our individuality to God. Instead, we make do by giving a portion of our money, time, and talents to churches--which we imagine are storehouses and distribution centers for God. This allows us to retain the illusion of control, our egos still intact. Our identity and self-will are still in charge. We continue believing we are masters of our own lives.

Out on a Limb

“There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.” (Luke 19:2-4 NLT)

Zacchaeus was short and unpopular. He wanted to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way.  Yet, these limitations did not keep him from getting close to the Lord.

How badly do we want to see Jesus? What are the things in our way? Are we willing to go out on a limb to get close to Him? Most of us would put ourselves out for worldly success and earthly relationships, but it often takes some sort of tragedy before we go out of our way to seek Christ.

Every day, we each have the opportunity to seek Jesus through different people and various circumstances. This might feel risky and awkward. Many of us already have comfortable spiritual routines and rituals. We compartmentalize our faith into certain parts of our day or reserve it for desperate situations. Inviting God into every area of our lives feels vulnerable...at first. Yet, we must be willing to go out on a limb before we are able to see Jesus beyond our limited perspectives.

Pushing through Discomfort

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 NLT)

Distance running is a test in physical endurance and mental fortitude. Discomfort is guaranteed. Every long distance runner has to deal with weather, hills, cramps, sore muscles, blisters, thirst, fatigue, and pain. The mental battles are even worse--discouraging thoughts keep popping up in your head, urging you to quit.

Someone recently asked me about the difference between jogging and  running. Technically, it is a difference in speed, but to me it’s a difference in attitude. Runners are those who push past the discomfort and press on to new goals.

As followers of Christ, we are called to stretch forward to new heights. Our ultimate goal and purpose is to be in the presence of God. Physical and mental afflictions are guaranteed. Accept this. Push past the discomfort. Forget everything else and focus on the finish line. Don’t slack off. Don’t make excuses. Don’t listen to sabotaging messages that pop up in your head. Instead, move forward decisively, fully committed, giving Christ everything you’ve got.