Stuck on Search

“Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.” (Psalm 105:4  NLT)

Have you ever had your phone stuck on ‘search’ mode? This usually happens when your phone cannot connect to your carrier. Until you resolve the issue, your phone has limited use. Most every page you try to open will be non-responsive, and your phone’s battery will be drained quickly.

Some people seem to spend their whole life stuck in search mode. They have trouble connecting to the One Who Carries them. They are unclear about their end goal. Since they are not sure what they want, they can’t find contentment. Their souls wander restlessly down dead-end roads--every non-responsive pursuit, draining their energy.

“Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night;” (1 Chronicles 16:11 MSG)

Study God. Contemplate His strength. Meditate on His word. Seek His presence day and night. He is the One Who Carries you. He will bear you up, energizing your spirit. Your soul can only find contentment as it rests in Him.

Distractions

“I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” (1 Corinthians 7:35 NLT)

Distracted driving accounts for approximately 25% of all motor vehicle accidents. Common distractions within your own vehicle include: cell phones, navigation systems, entertainment systems, other passengers, food, drinks, etc. Our attention can also be diverted by external factors such as other vehicles, construction, roadside attractions, accidents, scenery, billboards, and weather conditions. All these things can slow us down or prevent us from getting to our destination safely.

Similarly, worldly preoccupations can prevent us from fully dedicating our lives to God. Our concerns for our loved ones, ambitions, desires, hang-ups, hobbies, worries, work, approval addiction, self-absorption, self-reliance, laziness, exhaustion--all can be distractions that pull us away from our destination.

There are several things we can do to protect ourselves from distractions. Self-evaluation can help us become aware of the things that vie for our attention. Cultivating detachment is the next step. This requires trust in God. When we learn to hand over our concerns to the Lord and allow Him to take care of everything, we are able to detach from the things of this world and attach to something infinitely better. Finally, we must devote our full concentration to the end goal--which is a life dedicated to knowing, loving, and serving the Lord.

What I Want to Be

“It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living.” (Ephesians 1:11 MSG)

A few months ago, a friend brought over a tiny potted plant with an usual drip tray--a miniature cast iron skillet. She didn’t have any other use for such a small pan, so she had stuck it under this pot to catch excess water. Even though it was rusted and dusty, I could see it was meant for more. I washed it, scrubbed the rust out with fine steel wool, and seasoned it with oil. I have discovered that this mini-skillet is perfect for frying eggs. This was the purpose for which it was originally designed.

I’ve spent much of my life trying to figure out who I want to be when I grow up. I think I finally know:

I want to be TRUE.

I no longer want to be defined by external appearance, talents, job titles, or other people’s projections.

I want to be who God designed me to be.

How do I know what that is? I ask the Designer and wait attentively for revelation.

It is in Christ that I find out who I am and what I am living for. He has designed me for glorious purposes. I want to live accordingly.

Real Relationships

“He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.” (Proverbs 17:17 DRB )

Weddings, graduations, and funerals draw relatives and friends together. These sorts of gatherings can provide a sense of connection, albeit illusory. A few months after such events, very few of these gatherers will be available to support each other. When the married couple is considering separation, when the graduate is depressed because he can’t find work, or when the widower needs someone to sit with him while he cries--real relationships are revealed.

“Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted. Belonging, on the other hand, doesn’t require us to change who we are; it requires us to be who we are.” (Brene Brown)

Genuine connections are rare. Most of us are content to just fit in and be accepted. We conform and compromise, deforming ourselves into incongruous shapes. We become assimilated into a culture of pretense, where inauthenticity is so common that it seeps into relationships as well.

“As it turns out, men and women who have the deepest sense of true belonging are people who also have the courage to stand alone when called to do that. They are willing to maintain their integrity and risk disconnection in order to stand up for what they believe in." (Brene Brown)

Real relationships require individuals with strong convictions. We have to know who we are, what we believe in, and what we are willing to fight for--before we can authentically connect with another. Consistent, private communication in  times of distress is particularly challenging, especially for those who are driven by the need for social validation. Those who follow the crowd will show up for ceremonies but will disappear when the crowd disperses. They are incapable of handling deep revelations of grief and vulnerability. They cannot know you or understand you, because they don’t know or understand themselves. Therefore, true belonging can only be developed among those have the courage to stand apart from the crowd.

Desecrating the Holy

“Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 MSG)

Water is pumped into our home from a well in our yard. I don’t have to pay a water bill, so I rarely think about how much water I use for things. I use the dishwasher and washing machine, take long showers, water my garden in the summer months, wash the car, power wash the siding on our house--all at no cost. In parts of Africa, women and children still walk up to 30 minutes to collect water in containers for their household use. These water bearers spend time and labor for every drop. They also pay a physical price in the form of early degenerative bone and soft tissue damage. As you can imagine, they do not squander water thoughtlessly.

The more we suffer for something, the more we value it.

Many of us squander our lives thoughtlessly. We fail to recognize the value of health, until we no longer have it. We indulge our whims, misusing our bodies, minds, and spirits daily by the choices we make. We desecrate what is sacred. Once we realize our mistake, we can make changes. We can be intentional in everything we do--carefully choosing how we use our bodies, what we expose them to, and what goes into them. Cherish health. Treat it with reverence. Remind yourself of how precious life is, how much Christ sacrificed to redeem it. Honor God by keeping your body, mind, and spirit undefiled, so that people may see God through the way you live.

Sacred Places

“Didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 MSG)

Once upon a time, there were lots places and objects that were sacred: churches, altars, ceremonial vessels, holy days, etc. These things were set apart for the worship and service of God and, thus, worthy of reverence. These days, there is not much we consider sacred. We fail to recognize the mystery within us and around us.

Sacred things inspire awe and deep respect. We perceive the presence of something beyond logic. Sacred sense must be cultivated and nurtured. Go out into nature; look up at the night sky; listen to the quiet. Look down at your fingers and toes; listen to your heart beat; feel your breath. Realize that you are sacred, and the ground you stand on is also holy. You are cherished, precious in the eyes of the Lord. You have been set apart for worship and service of God.

Layers of Gratitude

“Give thanks to the LORD.” (Psalm 107:1 NLT)

It was a cold day, and I was planning to run outdoors. For me, there are two separate parts to getting ready before I do something difficult: physical and mental preparation.

I carefully picked out my clothing: two layers (top and bottom), two pairs of socks, two pairs of gloves, ear covering, stocking cap, balaclava to protect my face from the wind, and, finally, a full-zip jacket. I have learned that layering is the secret to staying warm in cold weather.

Next, I prepared my mind for the task ahead. I knew from experience that if I focused on the negatives, it would weigh me down, so I mentally went through a list of all that I was grateful for. The sun was shining; I wouldn’t have to run in the dark today. There was no new snow or ice to make the path slick. I would be running with friends, so safety was not a concern. My body was healthy enough for what I was about to do, and I would be stronger by the end of it. Just as I had put on layers of clothing to protect against the cold, I fortified my mind with layers of gratitude. I was ready to face the challenges that lay ahead of me.