Today we were in the store and two birds flew over head. Anna said, "Birds you not suppose to be inside...go outside." Our three year old spoke great truth. Everything those birds need...food, water...is outside. Moreover, those birds were created to fly free...not be confined to the ceilings of an Odd Lots. However, these truths seemed to make no difference to the birds as they happily flew through the warm aisles of the store.
This week, I was confronted with my own desire to stay where it is warm even though God and I both know that what I really need is outside the safe walls I have created for myself. As I spent a couple of days allowing God to uncover unhealthy lies through the prayer ministry of inner healing, I faced the strong reality that a deep seated part of myself would rather live with lies that I have grown comfortable with however unhealthy, than let Jesus lead me down the uncomfortable path that leads to freedom. Then, as I visited the inner city mission-church in Cincinnati, I thought to myself how much this suburbanite was out of place andwas tempted to think that perhaps this was not the best idea. Then the week culminated with Kimberly tricking me into going to the Dentist. I have not been the dentist since I was 17 years old (its amazing what irrational fear can cause a grown man to do).
As I look back over this week, I can honestly say that every day of this week I found myself being made uncomfortable in some way. Can you believe God would do that to me? I mean, I thought he was all good and all-loving. Isn't it God's job to make me happy, comfortable, meet my every and bless the socks of of me in every way?
That may be what I prefer as I fly around in the warmth of my own comfort zone, but God's love for me is greater than my comfort. He lovingly leads me outside of comfort to the place where he can bring about real, needed, healing and lasting transformation. The place where God does that kind of work in us is in the place called "uncomfortable." Have you ever followed God there? Its the place where your desire to stay comfortable is sacrificed for His desire to make you whole. It is a painfully exciting place to be. It is painful as everything in you fights to stay where you have always been no matter how unhealthy and it is exciting because you know that if you can press on until you break through your comfort zone things that you could never imagine and only God could do will transpire in your life.
Hebrews 12 talks about this process. I encourage you to check it out. In that chapter of the Bible, the writer talks about how God disciplines his children. Discipline means all that goes into raising a child--encouragement, instruction, reprimand, training, rebuke and more. Uncomfortableness is not a sign that you are in the wrong place...it is not God's way of telling you he is mad...it is God's indication that he is ready to move you from where you have come to call home to the wide open sky he died to give you.
So, I have a question...will you and I insist on flying where we are comfortable or will we be so willing to follow Jesus that we let him lead us right in the middle of uncomfortable?
After the third week of sabbatical, the word that seems to be most fitting is uncomfortable.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"Available"
Kimberly and I have an ongoing, friendly debate about her cell phone. You see, I simply raise the question, "If you do not answer your cell phone, does it make sense to have a cell phone?" Now, she would quickly object that every time she does not answer her cell phone she has a legitimate reason, which I could accept, if it was not every time I call! (I can just see you rolling your eyes and saying that is not true, Kimberly...you'll have to get your own blog if you want your side presented...LOL!).
The point is...when you call someone you hope they are available to talk. A second theme that has emerged in week two of the sabbatical for me is, "Am I available?" Am I available to each moment and each day so much so that if God chooses to reveal himself whatever the moment, that I would not miss the call. You see, I have a problem...may be some of you can relate...I can get so caught up in what needs to be done next that I forget that this moment is all that I know for sure God has given me. And if this moment is what God has given me, then every moment, even menial moments are of value. The questions is am I available? Are you available?
Tuesday night Kimberly was struck with illness. Then, at 10 PM, Anna came out of her room and regurgitated her supper onto our hallway carpet. Normally, I, who tends to have quick gag reflex when it comes to bodily fluids, would have quickly referred the clean up to Kimberly. However, Kimberly was sick and Seth can barely walk, so it was left to me. What a moment, huh? Actually it turned out to be a God-moment. Don't get me wrong, the puke was still nasty and it made me want to puke, but the moment that puke opened up for me and my daughter was divine. The best moment was when, after several more times of vomiting, Anna leaned over to me, put her arm around me, pulled me close and said, "Dad, guess what...I love you so much." As the night and the next day went on moment by moment I heard God whisper, "Chad, every moment is full of me if you will be available."
The truth is, I am not always available to the moment let alone waht God has for me to see of him in the moment...God calls, I don't answer and then I say, "I wonder why God never calls anymore...why do I feel so distant from him?" Hhhhmmmm....I wonder...not even God can talk to me if I am not available...so to all of you I say, "Pick up the phone today, God is calling and to Kimberly, I say, "Pick up the phone, I'm calling!" :-)
The point is...when you call someone you hope they are available to talk. A second theme that has emerged in week two of the sabbatical for me is, "Am I available?" Am I available to each moment and each day so much so that if God chooses to reveal himself whatever the moment, that I would not miss the call. You see, I have a problem...may be some of you can relate...I can get so caught up in what needs to be done next that I forget that this moment is all that I know for sure God has given me. And if this moment is what God has given me, then every moment, even menial moments are of value. The questions is am I available? Are you available?
Tuesday night Kimberly was struck with illness. Then, at 10 PM, Anna came out of her room and regurgitated her supper onto our hallway carpet. Normally, I, who tends to have quick gag reflex when it comes to bodily fluids, would have quickly referred the clean up to Kimberly. However, Kimberly was sick and Seth can barely walk, so it was left to me. What a moment, huh? Actually it turned out to be a God-moment. Don't get me wrong, the puke was still nasty and it made me want to puke, but the moment that puke opened up for me and my daughter was divine. The best moment was when, after several more times of vomiting, Anna leaned over to me, put her arm around me, pulled me close and said, "Dad, guess what...I love you so much." As the night and the next day went on moment by moment I heard God whisper, "Chad, every moment is full of me if you will be available."
The truth is, I am not always available to the moment let alone waht God has for me to see of him in the moment...God calls, I don't answer and then I say, "I wonder why God never calls anymore...why do I feel so distant from him?" Hhhhmmmm....I wonder...not even God can talk to me if I am not available...so to all of you I say, "Pick up the phone today, God is calling and to Kimberly, I say, "Pick up the phone, I'm calling!" :-)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
"Waiting"
In Isaiah 40:31 it says, "they that wait on the Lord renew their strength."
I would guess there are many of us for whom waiting is not our favorite activity. Waiting seems like a waste of time...while we are waiting in line or waiting to get through a long list of animated options on the phone, we can practically feel the minutes of life we are loosing that we will never regain. However, the Bible seems to challenge us to rethink waiting. Rather than a passive activity, waiting is to be proactive.
For example, sometimes when I know Kimberly is returning from working out or when I know Grandma and Grandpa are one their way, I take the kids to the front window to wait for them. There is nothing passive about their waiting because their waiting is really a watching. They are watching intently and wholeheartedly for the awaited loved one to arrive. They look up and down the street. Any car that passes, they ask, ""Is that mommy?" There waiting is very active...it is no waste of time...they are watching for someone they love and every minute that passes brings them closer to a warm embrace.
Isn't that waiting on God is all about? Not twiddling our thumbs growing more and more frustrated and impatient, but learning to watch for God in expectation. Watching for God to show up when you wake up in the morning, at work, at the kids practice, at the grocery store, at the gym, at the moment when you can't help but smile and at the moment when you can't help but cry. Those who find renewed strength are those who wait, because those who wait are watching for God. They expect God to show up in any and every moment of life. And Jesus said those who seek will find.
Pretty soon the car pulls around the corner and Anna shouts, "Mommy's home" or "Ma maw and Pap pa are here." Then Seth pounds on the window and squeals in excitement. And I sit back and pray, "Father, help me to learn to wait for you in a way that I watch for you with certain expectation that those who look for you find you wherever and whenever no matter whatever."
As I am in my second day of sabbatical that is my prayer for you and for me...that we will learn that waiting is not a waste of time, but the best way to see God show up!
Feel free to share your thoughts on the message board at www.elivinghope.com at the sabbatical page.
I would guess there are many of us for whom waiting is not our favorite activity. Waiting seems like a waste of time...while we are waiting in line or waiting to get through a long list of animated options on the phone, we can practically feel the minutes of life we are loosing that we will never regain. However, the Bible seems to challenge us to rethink waiting. Rather than a passive activity, waiting is to be proactive.
For example, sometimes when I know Kimberly is returning from working out or when I know Grandma and Grandpa are one their way, I take the kids to the front window to wait for them. There is nothing passive about their waiting because their waiting is really a watching. They are watching intently and wholeheartedly for the awaited loved one to arrive. They look up and down the street. Any car that passes, they ask, ""Is that mommy?" There waiting is very active...it is no waste of time...they are watching for someone they love and every minute that passes brings them closer to a warm embrace.
Isn't that waiting on God is all about? Not twiddling our thumbs growing more and more frustrated and impatient, but learning to watch for God in expectation. Watching for God to show up when you wake up in the morning, at work, at the kids practice, at the grocery store, at the gym, at the moment when you can't help but smile and at the moment when you can't help but cry. Those who find renewed strength are those who wait, because those who wait are watching for God. They expect God to show up in any and every moment of life. And Jesus said those who seek will find.
Pretty soon the car pulls around the corner and Anna shouts, "Mommy's home" or "Ma maw and Pap pa are here." Then Seth pounds on the window and squeals in excitement. And I sit back and pray, "Father, help me to learn to wait for you in a way that I watch for you with certain expectation that those who look for you find you wherever and whenever no matter whatever."
As I am in my second day of sabbatical that is my prayer for you and for me...that we will learn that waiting is not a waste of time, but the best way to see God show up!
Feel free to share your thoughts on the message board at www.elivinghope.com at the sabbatical page.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
" A Cry, Better than Words"
Our son Seth, is not yet speaking more than a "Mama", but that does not mean he cannot communicate. Yesterday evening, I said, "How about I take Anna and Seth for a sled ride in the snow." As soon as I said that, Seth came running to me. He lifted up his arms to tell me to pick him up. When I did not pick him up fast enough, he started to cry.
I said, "Kimberly, could he really have understood my offer to take him sled riding."
To which Seth replied with a loud cry and pointed to the door. "Why, yes, I guess he did understand" and more importantly I understood him.
He cannot yet use words but he is a very effective communicator. In fact, you might argue that his cry is better than words. His cry is loud, strong and confident..."Daddy, I want to go sled riding...you better not be jerking my chain...put on my hat and boots and lets go!" So, we bundled up and went out into the snow-ice and had a blast until...I told him it was time to go back inside...and then, once again, Seth's cry spoke louder than any words.
Do you ever feel like you don't know how to put your prayer into words? Do ever encounter a time when you don't even know what to pray for a situation? Does it ever feel like any words you could come up with are just not enough? If you have ever felt like that, let me ask you one more question: Who said you have to use words to pray? What if a wordless cry reaches the ears and heart of the Father just as good and even better than our most eloquent words.
That is what Romans 8:26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
Did you catch that? You do not have to figure out what to pray. Prayer is not about a magic formula of the right words. Prayer is all about relationship...it is you pouring your heart out to God and opening your heart up to God. Some of the best prayers a person may pray are those that use no words. If, I as an earthly father have my ears in tune to my child's cry, how much more does your all-loving heavenly Father hear you when you cry out to him "with groans that words cannot express"?
Go ahead and pray what you cannot say...Did you hear that? I hear the Father running to your cry...now, just lift up your arms and let him pick you up into His.
As you pray today, I ask that you remember a 32 year old woman in our church family and a member named Mickey and her husband Jeremy and son, Justin. Mickey is very ill and in the Critical Care unit. I know they would value your prayers...words or cries on their behalf will be just fine!
I said, "Kimberly, could he really have understood my offer to take him sled riding."
To which Seth replied with a loud cry and pointed to the door. "Why, yes, I guess he did understand" and more importantly I understood him.
He cannot yet use words but he is a very effective communicator. In fact, you might argue that his cry is better than words. His cry is loud, strong and confident..."Daddy, I want to go sled riding...you better not be jerking my chain...put on my hat and boots and lets go!" So, we bundled up and went out into the snow-ice and had a blast until...I told him it was time to go back inside...and then, once again, Seth's cry spoke louder than any words.
Do you ever feel like you don't know how to put your prayer into words? Do ever encounter a time when you don't even know what to pray for a situation? Does it ever feel like any words you could come up with are just not enough? If you have ever felt like that, let me ask you one more question: Who said you have to use words to pray? What if a wordless cry reaches the ears and heart of the Father just as good and even better than our most eloquent words.
That is what Romans 8:26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
Did you catch that? You do not have to figure out what to pray. Prayer is not about a magic formula of the right words. Prayer is all about relationship...it is you pouring your heart out to God and opening your heart up to God. Some of the best prayers a person may pray are those that use no words. If, I as an earthly father have my ears in tune to my child's cry, how much more does your all-loving heavenly Father hear you when you cry out to him "with groans that words cannot express"?
Go ahead and pray what you cannot say...Did you hear that? I hear the Father running to your cry...now, just lift up your arms and let him pick you up into His.
As you pray today, I ask that you remember a 32 year old woman in our church family and a member named Mickey and her husband Jeremy and son, Justin. Mickey is very ill and in the Critical Care unit. I know they would value your prayers...words or cries on their behalf will be just fine!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
"Travel Far"
I have been told if you can say what you want to say in a few words, don't ruin it by using a lot of words, so my thoughts are brief today:
An old African proverb says, "If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together."
In a culture that pushes us to travel fast, may God help us to go against the current and settle for nothing less than traveling far together.
Romans 12:15 describes what it means to travel far together when it says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn."
An old African proverb says, "If you want to travel fast, travel alone. If you want to travel far, travel together."
In a culture that pushes us to travel fast, may God help us to go against the current and settle for nothing less than traveling far together.
Romans 12:15 describes what it means to travel far together when it says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn."
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
"Let it Snow"
Finally, it looks like we could get a good, ground-covering, beautiful snow. I know some of you will not appreciate my enthusiasm, but after all the rain and ice we have had, I say, "Let it snow!" In my opinion snow has a beautiful peace about it. Snow makes a gray, cold winter day look bright. And, have you ever noticed how snow seems to quiet everything?
Someone this week emailed and to ask if I was OK. They explained that I seemed strained and stressed on Sunday. Though I was surprised that this person noticed, I could not deny the truth of their observation. My life is just like yours, some times life casts a winter gray over everything. As I watched a our brother in Christ die at age 43 and hugged his wife as she sobbed that cold winter gray swept over me. I felt it again, as I waited for the surgeon to tell me how my wife's surgery went. You know what I mean, don't you...you've felt the cold, winter gray sweep in with the call of another debt collection agency or with the slamming of a door ending another fight or walking into the house to spend another night alone...It's life...in life there is a season for everything as Ecclesiastes says...why would we expect spring and not winter? Seasons of winter blow through every life, the questions is what do we do when winter comes? Will we simply lay down and freeze? Will we be swallowed up in the gray? What will we do?
Why not pray for snow? If it has to be winter, why not ask for snow?! "Father, for the one who is experiencing a season of cold and gray, I pray for snow. Like snow covering the earth, cover us with your presence. Give eyes to see beauty where it seemed there was none to be found. Like snow's quiet fall, let your peace fall on us. Hush us. In the quiet let us hear you. We understand that in this life you said we would have trouble. We accept that. We stop acting like some how we should be exempt from it. Instead, we look to you and say, if it has to be winter, then, Lord, let it snow!"
Someone this week emailed and to ask if I was OK. They explained that I seemed strained and stressed on Sunday. Though I was surprised that this person noticed, I could not deny the truth of their observation. My life is just like yours, some times life casts a winter gray over everything. As I watched a our brother in Christ die at age 43 and hugged his wife as she sobbed that cold winter gray swept over me. I felt it again, as I waited for the surgeon to tell me how my wife's surgery went. You know what I mean, don't you...you've felt the cold, winter gray sweep in with the call of another debt collection agency or with the slamming of a door ending another fight or walking into the house to spend another night alone...It's life...in life there is a season for everything as Ecclesiastes says...why would we expect spring and not winter? Seasons of winter blow through every life, the questions is what do we do when winter comes? Will we simply lay down and freeze? Will we be swallowed up in the gray? What will we do?
Why not pray for snow? If it has to be winter, why not ask for snow?! "Father, for the one who is experiencing a season of cold and gray, I pray for snow. Like snow covering the earth, cover us with your presence. Give eyes to see beauty where it seemed there was none to be found. Like snow's quiet fall, let your peace fall on us. Hush us. In the quiet let us hear you. We understand that in this life you said we would have trouble. We accept that. We stop acting like some how we should be exempt from it. Instead, we look to you and say, if it has to be winter, then, Lord, let it snow!"
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
"Press On"
Psalm 91:4 reads, "...his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
This is a verse that has provided me with much encouragement and hope. It is one that seems to always come to mind just when I need it. It reminds me that God's faithfulness will always guard and protect me.
I especially value the image of God's faithfulness being my shield. A shield is not something you use to protect your rear end as you run away from the enemy. Rather you hold a shield in front of you as you move forward in the face of the enemies attack. No matter what circumstances of life or the enemy of my soul throws at me, I am reminded that as God's child, I am to never retreat. With His faithfulness as my shield, I am to press forward until I see God's faithfulness overcome in my enemy.
I was just thinking that may be today someone feels like they are in a battle. Your enemy is hammering away at you. You are feeling tired and beaten down. You are tempted to retreat or even worst just give up and let the enemy win. Please receive Psalm 91:4 not as empty words on a page, but as the living word of God that it is..."His faithfulness is your shield." Don't run! Don't stop! With his faithfulness before you press ahead. Don't give up until you see God come through. He will. It is coming. Press on!
This is a verse that has provided me with much encouragement and hope. It is one that seems to always come to mind just when I need it. It reminds me that God's faithfulness will always guard and protect me.
I especially value the image of God's faithfulness being my shield. A shield is not something you use to protect your rear end as you run away from the enemy. Rather you hold a shield in front of you as you move forward in the face of the enemies attack. No matter what circumstances of life or the enemy of my soul throws at me, I am reminded that as God's child, I am to never retreat. With His faithfulness as my shield, I am to press forward until I see God's faithfulness overcome in my enemy.
I was just thinking that may be today someone feels like they are in a battle. Your enemy is hammering away at you. You are feeling tired and beaten down. You are tempted to retreat or even worst just give up and let the enemy win. Please receive Psalm 91:4 not as empty words on a page, but as the living word of God that it is..."His faithfulness is your shield." Don't run! Don't stop! With his faithfulness before you press ahead. Don't give up until you see God come through. He will. It is coming. Press on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)