Employers tend to hire talented, educated, attractive, personable, self-assured people to represent their company. They want humans with resources. They are not looking for washed-up people who have reached the end of their rope.
However, God is looking for people who are empty, who have reached rock-bottom.
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” (Matthew 5:3 MSG)
We imagine that God would prefer talented people. We say things like, “I want to use my talents and resources to bring glory to God.” Just think about how silly that sounds. It’s like a child offering to help with Thanksgiving dinner by baking cookies in her easy-bake oven. Sure, the parent might appreciate the thought behind it and put the cookies out on the table to humor the child. Yet, I doubt that any mom is counting on those cookies to complete the meal.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:25 NLT)
It’s easier for God to use those who are lacking resources. They are more likely to be meek and humble. They are moldable, trainable, impressionable. God prefers those who have come to the end of themselves over those who are full of themselves. This is why it’s difficult for a person who is rich in resources to enter God’s sphere of influence.
streams
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Soul Train
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26 ESV)
I’ve been thinking of the word ‘profit’ lately. If I invest my time, money, or energy into some project, what is the profit margin? Are the returns worth it after I deduct the hassle factor? What is the risk/rewards ratio?
The soul has no currency. It’s hard to measure its growth in terms of profit and gain. If we have been disconnected from our souls for a while, we lose the ability to monitor its well-being.
There are certain forms of investing that are soul-nourishing and others that are not. Frequently I invest in ways that don’t make much monetary sense. However, it feels right to me. Other times, I have gotten caught up in societal pressures and blindly followed others. I end up feeling like a locomotive, going full steam, but unhooked from its soul.
In our pursuit for profit/gain, frequently we lose our authentic selves. To the rest of the world, we may look like we have accomplished a lot. Yet, we are like a box that has made it across several transatlantic flights, but lost its contents. We feel dis-content, empty.
The best way to live authentically is to always consider your soul first. This might seem inefficient to the rest of the world, and you might be perceived as unambitious or just plain stupid. Even if it leads to loss in wealth, prestige, or power, make choices that nourish and strengthen your soul. Hook the soul train to your engine first, instead of relegating it to the end of the line.
I’ve been thinking of the word ‘profit’ lately. If I invest my time, money, or energy into some project, what is the profit margin? Are the returns worth it after I deduct the hassle factor? What is the risk/rewards ratio?
The soul has no currency. It’s hard to measure its growth in terms of profit and gain. If we have been disconnected from our souls for a while, we lose the ability to monitor its well-being.
There are certain forms of investing that are soul-nourishing and others that are not. Frequently I invest in ways that don’t make much monetary sense. However, it feels right to me. Other times, I have gotten caught up in societal pressures and blindly followed others. I end up feeling like a locomotive, going full steam, but unhooked from its soul.
In our pursuit for profit/gain, frequently we lose our authentic selves. To the rest of the world, we may look like we have accomplished a lot. Yet, we are like a box that has made it across several transatlantic flights, but lost its contents. We feel dis-content, empty.
The best way to live authentically is to always consider your soul first. This might seem inefficient to the rest of the world, and you might be perceived as unambitious or just plain stupid. Even if it leads to loss in wealth, prestige, or power, make choices that nourish and strengthen your soul. Hook the soul train to your engine first, instead of relegating it to the end of the line.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Protecting Each Other
I have some friends who own horses. Recently, one of their mares got badly bruised protecting another mare from a male horse. I’ve heard of animals shielding their young, but I was a bit surprised that an animal would put herself in danger to protect a friend.
Humans are separated from the ‘lower animals’ by their ability to reason, to have empathy, and to have compassion. Yet, most of the time, we are hesitant to put ourselves in harm’s way for anyone outside our family. If a friend is in trouble, we might offer to pray for them, bake a casserole, or distract them by taking them out. However, we are reluctant to jeopardize our friendship by getting too involved. If a friend is having marital issues, financial problems, or living in an unhealthy situation, how many of us would be willing to get bloodied or bruised trying to protect her? True, most of the time our friends don’t want us to get involved. They want to fight their own battles and not be indebted to anyone.
I don’t appreciate people outside my inner circle telling me how to live my life. However, I routinely ask my close friends to look after me, to point out when I veer off course. I seek their advice concerning marriage, finances, parenting…pretty much everything. Ok, so I might not always listen to their advice…at least not right away, but I invite them to be involved. I ask them to protect me from myself.
I’m glad that my friends’ horses didn’t have the ‘reasoning power’ that we as humans have. Otherwise, one mare would have decided that it’s none of her business to get involved in a lover’s spat, and the other mare would have insisted that she can take care of herself. Perhaps these animals could teach us a thing or two…
Humans are separated from the ‘lower animals’ by their ability to reason, to have empathy, and to have compassion. Yet, most of the time, we are hesitant to put ourselves in harm’s way for anyone outside our family. If a friend is in trouble, we might offer to pray for them, bake a casserole, or distract them by taking them out. However, we are reluctant to jeopardize our friendship by getting too involved. If a friend is having marital issues, financial problems, or living in an unhealthy situation, how many of us would be willing to get bloodied or bruised trying to protect her? True, most of the time our friends don’t want us to get involved. They want to fight their own battles and not be indebted to anyone.
I don’t appreciate people outside my inner circle telling me how to live my life. However, I routinely ask my close friends to look after me, to point out when I veer off course. I seek their advice concerning marriage, finances, parenting…pretty much everything. Ok, so I might not always listen to their advice…at least not right away, but I invite them to be involved. I ask them to protect me from myself.
I’m glad that my friends’ horses didn’t have the ‘reasoning power’ that we as humans have. Otherwise, one mare would have decided that it’s none of her business to get involved in a lover’s spat, and the other mare would have insisted that she can take care of herself. Perhaps these animals could teach us a thing or two…
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
PraiseBook
I rarely post anything on Facebook, except pictures of my dog. It’s too public. I prefer to share my life and thoughts with only my real friends.
I wish we could have a PraiseBook instead of Facebook, where everyone daily updates what they want to praise God about!
“Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things HE does.
Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
Recognize the Lord;
recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!” (Ps. 96:3-4, 7-8 NLT)
First, we must recognize the Lord’s maneuvering in our day. Next, we must acknowledge God’s power by giving HIM glory instead of using every opportunity as a platform for self-promotion and self-validation.
If there were a PraiseBook, I would have so much to post. I would have to limit myself, or else people would get sick of hearing about all the great things the Lord has done. Just in the last 24 hrs, here are some of the glorious ways that God has managed my life: He has kept me and my family alive and safe, answered prayer, given me insights, nudged me to apologize for things I’ve said, reminded me to be patient, shown me marvelous things in nature…
What amazing things has God orchestrated in your life lately?
(I'm actually thinking about creating a PraiseBook group within Facebook. If you'd like to be invited, let me know. It will be a secret group, so no one outside the group will be able to see any of your posts)
I wish we could have a PraiseBook instead of Facebook, where everyone daily updates what they want to praise God about!
“Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
Tell everyone about the amazing things HE does.
Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
Recognize the Lord;
recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong.
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!” (Ps. 96:3-4, 7-8 NLT)
First, we must recognize the Lord’s maneuvering in our day. Next, we must acknowledge God’s power by giving HIM glory instead of using every opportunity as a platform for self-promotion and self-validation.
If there were a PraiseBook, I would have so much to post. I would have to limit myself, or else people would get sick of hearing about all the great things the Lord has done. Just in the last 24 hrs, here are some of the glorious ways that God has managed my life: He has kept me and my family alive and safe, answered prayer, given me insights, nudged me to apologize for things I’ve said, reminded me to be patient, shown me marvelous things in nature…
What amazing things has God orchestrated in your life lately?
(I'm actually thinking about creating a PraiseBook group within Facebook. If you'd like to be invited, let me know. It will be a secret group, so no one outside the group will be able to see any of your posts)
Monday, August 27, 2012
Chicken or Falcon?
One of my friends raises chickens in her backyard. Recently, 3 of her chickens have started flying the coop. They fly over the 6-foot fence and then walk around right outside the fence, where they get chased by the family dog. Several times a day, my friend goes out there and walks them back in to the fenced enclosure. She says it’s just a matter of days before either the dogs get them or they end up as her family’s dinner!
Why these same three chickens keep flying out is a mystery to me. They are all the same breed, so they must do it because they are able to fly better than the others. They get into trouble because they can? I wonder if the other chickens are content to stay in the enclosure. Do they envy the flying chickens? Or do they shake their heads at these comrades who keep getting chased by dogs outside the coop? How come these chickens only fly out, but can’t seem to figure out how to fly back in?
I can identify with the non-flying chickens. I’m content to stay in my home and stick to my familiar routine. I avoid trying new things that feel risky.
Yet, deep inside, I have this nagging feeling that I am not really a chicken, but a falcon. I’ve always admired these petite, intelligent birds for their ability to change directions quickly, while flying at high speeds. These birds are highly trainable, and their extraordinary vision has made them useful to humans as hunting companions. Falcons can be tamed, but they are never domesticated to the extent that chickens are. Falcons always retain a sense that they are meant to soar in the highest heavens, unlike chickens who are content to merely scratch the surface of the earth.
If I’m meant to soar, I’d rather be a falcon than an eagle. Eagles may be big, strong, independent, and courageous. However, they are untamable, un-trainable, and rarely submit to others. I don’t want to be a flying chicken that gets eaten. I don’t want to be a wild, fiercely independent eagle. I want to be a like a falcon--trainable, tamable, useful, sharp-sighted, intelligent, able to maneuver turns efficiently, comfortable in the high places, yet able to dive down to earth effortlessly.
Why these same three chickens keep flying out is a mystery to me. They are all the same breed, so they must do it because they are able to fly better than the others. They get into trouble because they can? I wonder if the other chickens are content to stay in the enclosure. Do they envy the flying chickens? Or do they shake their heads at these comrades who keep getting chased by dogs outside the coop? How come these chickens only fly out, but can’t seem to figure out how to fly back in?
I can identify with the non-flying chickens. I’m content to stay in my home and stick to my familiar routine. I avoid trying new things that feel risky.
Yet, deep inside, I have this nagging feeling that I am not really a chicken, but a falcon. I’ve always admired these petite, intelligent birds for their ability to change directions quickly, while flying at high speeds. These birds are highly trainable, and their extraordinary vision has made them useful to humans as hunting companions. Falcons can be tamed, but they are never domesticated to the extent that chickens are. Falcons always retain a sense that they are meant to soar in the highest heavens, unlike chickens who are content to merely scratch the surface of the earth.
If I’m meant to soar, I’d rather be a falcon than an eagle. Eagles may be big, strong, independent, and courageous. However, they are untamable, un-trainable, and rarely submit to others. I don’t want to be a flying chicken that gets eaten. I don’t want to be a wild, fiercely independent eagle. I want to be a like a falcon--trainable, tamable, useful, sharp-sighted, intelligent, able to maneuver turns efficiently, comfortable in the high places, yet able to dive down to earth effortlessly.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Olympic Lessons
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been watching the Olympics on TV. I’m inspired by the discipline and attitude of most of the athletes. They have reminded me about pushing myself to excel, to get up and try again when I fall, to work through pain, and that fluorescent yellow running shoes make everyone run faster ;-)
I also learned a new word during these Olympics--Slipstreaming. When swimming long distances in open water, athletes like to conserve energy by swimming in another’s wake. Similarly, cyclists find it easier to ride in the draft of another rider. Sometimes teammates take turns riding lead to conserve energy till the very end. Migratory birds, truck drivers, and race car drivers, all use slipstreaming to conserve energy or fuel.
If we could slipstream behind Jesus--swim in His wake, ride in His draft--we wouldn’t get exhausted. This involves always following closely behind Jesus and keeping our eyes on His movements, with just an occasional glance at the road ahead.
I also learned a new word during these Olympics--Slipstreaming. When swimming long distances in open water, athletes like to conserve energy by swimming in another’s wake. Similarly, cyclists find it easier to ride in the draft of another rider. Sometimes teammates take turns riding lead to conserve energy till the very end. Migratory birds, truck drivers, and race car drivers, all use slipstreaming to conserve energy or fuel.
If we could slipstream behind Jesus--swim in His wake, ride in His draft--we wouldn’t get exhausted. This involves always following closely behind Jesus and keeping our eyes on His movements, with just an occasional glance at the road ahead.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Rescue
“The Lord says, ‘I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.”
(Ps. 91:14-15 NLT)
As I read these verses, I wondered: Why is the rescue conditional? Why does it say that we can only be rescued, if we love and trust the Lord?
I imagine a drowning victim thrashing about in the water…I visualize someone jumping in to rescue her. This panic-stricken victim is much more likely to stay calm if she loves and trusts the rescuer.
Why does the Lord say, I will be with them in trouble?
Why won’t He just get me out of the trouble immediately?
Maybe, He is waiting for me to calm down. Maybe, He needs to get a secure grip on me. Maybe, He is waiting for the right current or tide. Meanwhile, He stays with me in the trouble, until the conditions are favorable for rescue.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.”
(Ps. 91:14-15 NLT)
As I read these verses, I wondered: Why is the rescue conditional? Why does it say that we can only be rescued, if we love and trust the Lord?
I imagine a drowning victim thrashing about in the water…I visualize someone jumping in to rescue her. This panic-stricken victim is much more likely to stay calm if she loves and trusts the rescuer.
Why does the Lord say, I will be with them in trouble?
Why won’t He just get me out of the trouble immediately?
Maybe, He is waiting for me to calm down. Maybe, He needs to get a secure grip on me. Maybe, He is waiting for the right current or tide. Meanwhile, He stays with me in the trouble, until the conditions are favorable for rescue.
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