Flowering Stage

We had unusually warm weather this March. Our apple trees bloomed early. Then we had a cold, frosty April, and all the flowers perished before they could develop into fruit.

Last year, during the flowering stage, these same trees got infested with worms. As the fruits developed, they looked fine from the outside but were being eaten away from the inside.

Just as fruit trees are vulnerable during their flowering stage, humans are more vulnerable as adolescents and young adults. Whatever we are exposed to at this stage makes a big impact on our fruitfulness. Harmful influences, such as physical, sexual or verbal abuse, can completely change the trajectory of a person’s life. Stressful situations that cause instability, including the death of a loved one, divorce, financial difficulties, or moving to a new place, can be debilitating. Even common pollutants like criticism, peer pressure, bullying, rejection, self-image issues, pornography, learning disabilities, alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, etc. can affect the quality and quantity of a person’s fruit for a lifetime.

We don’t have control over many environmental factors. There is little we can do to protect our young people from harmful exposure. All we can do is pay close attention to them and on frosty nights, throw a blanket over them.

Giving Your Power Away

Whatever you love or fear has power over you.

When you love people, you become vulnerable to their choices. Their circumstances affect your peace. When they are hurt, you get hurt. Likewise, if you are passionate about anything, it has a grip on you. For instance, if you are wrapped up in acquiring wealth, advancing your career, building your dream house, promoting a cause, or pursuing a hobby…these obsessions can bind you.

Whatever you fear, whether it is sickness, death, poverty, divorce, failure, violence, loneliness…that apprehension can enslave you.

Why do we give away our power like this? It’s like giving our house keys to someone. Once you hand it over, it’s really hard to get it back. So we try to pick reliable people whom we can trust.

So then, who is trustworthy? Whom should we love? Whom should we fear? Who shall have power over us?

“I hate all this silly religion,
but you, God, I trust.
I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love;
you saw my pain,
you disarmed my tormentors,
You didn't leave me in their clutches
but gave me room to breathe.” (Ps. 31:6-13 MSG)

“The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him,
Those who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Ps.147:10-12 NLT)

Blessed Are We Among Women

This Mother’s Day morning, I spent some time reading Each Day a Portion, a book by Nancy Nystrom. Nancy is a friend of a friend. She runs an orphanage for street children in Mexico. In her book, she tells of mothers who are unable to care for their children. Most of these moms are too busy surviving, so the children are left to fend for themselves.

On this Mother’s Day, I think of my own mom… her expressions of regret. She missed out on a lot of our childhood because of her work.

I realize how blessed I am as a mom. I have been able to take care of my child. I have a husband who supports me unequivocally in my attempts to nurture and nourish our only son.

Some of us have been given the opportunity, resources, support, health, inclination, and time to take care of our children. Those of us who are called to this vocation of motherhood are blessed among women.

P.S.- If you live in the Iowa City area and read this before 5/16/12, you might be interested to come hear Nancy Nystrom speak at the Washington County Library at 6:30 pm.

　

　

Who Put Your Ego in Charge?

I get annoyed when disorganized people pretend that God put them in charge. I figure that God would equip those whom He has called to be leaders with some managerial skills. Good intentions and vision do not make a leader, just as lack of planning and organization do not equal faith.

When a person is God-controlled, he/she will be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. I imagine that this person would be infused with godly perspective and judgment.

Let’s say I felt called to build a homeless shelter in my town. I definitely don’t have the skills to accomplish this on my own. Yet, if I am completely under the influence of God, I think I would be able to recognize the right people who do have the skills, connections equipment etc. to make this happen.

Or maybe I feel called to write, but I can’t spell or punctuate well. If God has given me access to someone with good editorial skills, I shouldn’t be too proud to beg for his/her assistance.

A person cannot be God-controlled and ego-controlled at the same time. As long as we are under the influence of our egos, we have no business taking on leadership roles in the name of God.

Certain of God

“We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.” (from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)

Every day I face situations in which I feel unsure. What should I do? What should I say? Am I making things worse?

I don’t like uncertainty. I’ve never in my life uttered the phrase, “Surprise me!” I enjoy planning as long as I have some control over the events. Yet when planning my future, I realize I don’t have as much influence over the outcome as I’d like. This used to cause me a lot of anxiety. Until I accepted that God is in control.

What does it mean to be certain of God?

I am certain that God is with me. I also get the feeling that God’s love, understanding, and acceptance of me is beyond what I can muster up for myself or toward others. How do I know this? Because God has placed this surety in my heart.

The Myth of a Secretive God

I admit, God can seem mysterious and elusive at times. I wish He would explain things to my satisfaction. I’ve often wondered why He doesn’t reveal Himself to everyone.

“God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface.” (1 Corinthians 2:7 MSG)

God is not obvious. His truths are not common knowledge. This is not an easy relationship. It’s not that He is intentionally secretive, but He is unfathomable. The more time I spend with Him, the more I realize how profound and enigmatic He really is! Yet, He reveals Himself daily in ways we can understand. He exhibits His glory in nature. He expresses His thoughts through scripture. He showed His love through Jesus.

“God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business.” (Deuteronomy 29:29 MSG)

The Myth of a Distant God

Traditional beliefs point to a God who lives in heaven, while we humans live here on earth. A bit like a C.E.O of a large company, who stays up in his plush office on the top floor, while the rest of the employees work busily on the bottom floors. We work hard, trying to impress our boss and get promoted. We eventually hope to work our way up to an office on the top floor next Him.

My experience has been different. It is more similar to the following verses:

“When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God.” (Isaiah 43:2 MSG)

I think God is with us, within us. He is not distant or absent or too busy or condescending. He works alongside us, struggles with us, suffers for us. How do I know this? Because I can sense His comforting presence, His guidance, and sometimes…I think I hear Him laugh.