I will keep obeying your Law
    forever and ever.
 I have gained perfect freedom
    by following your teachings,
     and I trust them so much
    that I tell them to kings. Psalm 119:44-46

I am a food addict.  I have struggled with overeating my entire life.  I eat when I’m happy.  I eat when I’m sad.  I eat when I’m stressed.  I eat when I celebrate.  I salivate over dessert magazines the way some women salivate over the “Sexiest Man Alive” issue of People magazine.  On vacations and holidays, food can often become the main event.  The problem with being a food addict is that, with most addictions, it leaves you feeling worse about yourself than when you started.

A few years ago, I stepped onto the scale and found myself maxing out at almost 200 pounds.  I had never been so heavy in my life, not even when I was pregnant!  I couldn’t fit into any of my clothes.  I was depressed.  I hated myself.  I felt like I had fallen asleep in the middle of my own life and I wanted to wake up again.  Over the course of the next year, I began a weight loss program called Take Shape for Life.  Through the program and support from my health coach, Tina, I was able to lose 60 pounds and have kept most of it off for over a year.

But more than the weight loss, I feel like I’ve come back to myself.  I’ve found again the woman God created me to be.  I’m more energized, more focused, more positive and fully awake.  Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle with eating.  There’s no magic wand that’s ever going to be waved to take away my desire for chocolate!  But through discipline (yes, I said the “D” word!) I’ve learned to control those cravings and truly only indulge when it’s appropriate–not after every meal!!

A few months ago I had the great privilege of hearing one of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott, speak.  She confessed that she was in the midst of a big writing project that required her to forgo sugar in order to better use her energies to complete her task.  She noted that she absolutely could go back to her hotel room and eat 15 Snickers bars.  But, she said, “there is amazing freedom in the discipline.”

“Discipline” is not a word we like to use much in our society.  It has too many punitive connotations.  It sounds too much like punishment.  But discipline and punishment are not the same words at all.  In fact, they’re quite the opposite.

Punishment is a negative consequence brought about because of an action.  It is reactive.

Discipline, however, is an action taken by choice in order to reach a specific goal.  Discipline is proactive.

In healthy eating, discipline is saying “I am going to choose to pass on the potatoes because the roasted vegetables are going to make me lethargic and I want to go shopping (gardening/swimming/hiking/back to work) after lunch.”

In healthy living, discipline is training our brain to adopt patterns and habits that are productive to doing the work God has placed before us. And when we train our brains to adopt those healthy patterns, i.e. discipline ourselves, then we have more freedom to live.  We don’t get caught up in negative cycles of guilt, shame, fear, or failure.  Discipline is not about denial.  Rather, discipline is about engagement at it’s best level.  Discipline leads to focus.  It leads to purpose.  It leads to productivity.

There is freedom in the discipline because we are consciously making choices in our lives that build us up rather than tear us down.  When I discipline myself to read Scripture daily, to pray daily, to worship in church each Sunday, then I am making the choice to draw closer to God.  And that, I think, can only lead to good things.

Most all of us have areas in our life where we need to engage in some proactive discipline.  My friend and health coach, Tina, is a wonderful resource.  I encourage you to spend some time on her website, which I have linked in three places above!! 🙂  In addition to great health resources, Tina also works as a professional life coach, helping people to live more fully into their purpose and potential.

The Psalmist wrote, “I will follow your teachings forever, Lord, because I have found absolute freedom within them.”

There is freedom in the discipline….let’s work on being free.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 God said, “Let the waters swarm with living things, and let birds fly above the earth up in the dome of the sky.”  God created the great sea animals and all the tiny living things that swarm in the waters, each according to its kind, and all the winged birds, each according to its kind. God saw how good it was. Then God blessed them: “Be fertile and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

 There was evening and there was morning: the fifth day.

 God said, “Let the earth produce every kind of living thing: livestock, crawling things, and wildlife.” And that’s what happened.  God made every kind of wildlife, every kind of livestock, and every kind of creature that crawls on the ground. God saw how good it was. Genesis 1: 20-26

My boys and I went to the Kansas City Zoo yesterday.  The zoo is one of our favorite places to visit.  Not only do you get a great workout from walking the the rolling hills, you get to see some amazing animals up close and personal!  Some of our favorite animals are Nikita, the polar bear, the kangaroos who actually roam free along the tree-lined paths, the lazy lions who lay and roar occasionally to the watching crowds, and the mighty gorillas who saunter magnificently through their and hilly habitat.  Although we have been to the zoo many times, I am always awe-struck at the beauty and absolute limitlessness of God’s creative power.  These animals are a true work of wonder.

And yet, I am always a little sad on our zoo visit days as I read over and over again how close to extinction these beautiful works of God are coming.  Animals that used to roam the wild in abundance are now critically endangered.  If the current rate of human consumption, industry and waste is not checked, then animals like tigers, elephants and gorillas will be a thing of the past.  And this, I believe, is a collective sin of humanity.  We Jesus People have failed in protecting and preserving the world that God so lovingly and painstakingly created.  We have allowed corporate greed and materialism to run unchecked, the result of which is that (as always seems to be the case) the least of these are paying the price.  So, what can the average person do to make a difference?

Here are some little steps each of us can take to reverse the cycle of natural destruction that is currently taking place throughout the world.  Information comes not only from the KC Zoo, whose mission it is to promote conservation and instill in people instill a life-long respect of nature, but also the World Wildlife Fund which works to build a world in which humans live in harmony with nature.  These little steps, if taken by many people, could have a maximum impact on saving many of the world’s animals.

1. Recycle as much as possible.  Recycling not only helps to eliminate waste, but goods made from recycled materials helps to prevent further destruction of natural habitats.

2. Use less paper.  The paper industry has led to massive amounts of deforestation throughout the world.  This deforestation robs many animals of their habitat, thereby driving them to the point of extinction.

3. Avoid buying items made with palm oil.  The production of palm oil is the biggest contributing factor to the disappearance of many of the world’s ape populations.  Palm oil is used in a variety of items from shampoo and lip balm to margarine and ice cream.  Look for products that use sustainable palm oil.  They contain an RSPO trademark.

4. Buy woods approved by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).  Consider asking your local retailers to sell wood and furniture approved by the FSC.

I know that these steps aren’t always feasible or practical.  Not all of us have the budget or live in a location to buy specialty items.  But I think, at some level, all of us are able to take little steps toward change that will, over time, make a big impact on the future of our world.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

P.S. There are SO MANY problems facing our current generation beyond animal endangerment.  Did you know that there are more people enslaved today than in the entire 300+ years of the trans-Atlantic slave trade?  Our water supply is steadily decreasing.  The climate is changing.  Poverty is growing.  Preventable diseases are spreading.  In the span of a generation we have done tremendous damage to all of God’s creation–humanity included.  Something as simple as buying a pair of shoes can become a moral and ethical dilemma.  It’s overwhelming.  But the fact that it all seems too widespread and overwhelming does not mean that, as Jesus People, we should stop trying to make a difference.  For me, personally, education is an important first step.  The more I know about a problem, the better equipped I am to take little steps forward toward a sustainable solution.

After a few days, Jesus went back to Capernaum, and people heard that he was at home. So many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them.  Some people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed.  They couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above where Jesus was. When they had made an opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven!”  Mark 2: 1-5

I heard a story once about a man who was stranded on the roof of his house during a flood.  As he stood on his roof praying for deliverance, a raft floated by.  The family called out to the man to jump onto their raft.  The man refused.  He was waiting for God.  Soon after, a police boat motored up close to the man.  The officers called for him to jump down to them.  The man refused.  He was waiting for God.  Finally, a rescue helicopter circled overhead.  A ladder was lowered and the rescue workers called down to the man to climb up the ladder.  The man refused.  He was waiting for God.  The rescue workers abandoned their attempt and the man soon drowned in the flood.  As the man stood before the throne of God he asked, “Why didn’t you deliver me?  Didn’t you hear me praying?”  God replied, “What are you talking about?  I sent you a raft, a boat and a helicopter!  Why didn’t you get on one of those?”

There are several different directions you could go with this modern day parable.  But for me, this is a parable about the dangers of inactivity.  I’m not talking about physical exercise, although that’s important, too.  I’m talking about that trap we Jesus People can fall into sometimes of using “waiting on the Lord” as an excuse not to live with purpose and meaning.

If we’re honest, most of us are looking for “something better” in our lives.  That “something better” has nothing to do with material things, although many in our society attempt to find meaning through material objects.  When Jesus promised his disciples an abundant life, he wasn’t talking about a big house, high-tech toys, vacation properties and a high yield stock option.  He wasn’t talking about workplace productivity, data systems, career advancement or academic and athletic success.  Jesus was talking to his disciples about himself as the Shepherd.  The abundant full life referred to a life lived in him–a life following him.  That’s our “something better”.

But how do we get there?  In looking at the account of the paralytic man, it seems kind of obvious.  We get to the something better by DOING SOMETHING!  Take a few moments to flip through some of the Gospel stories of Jesus’ healing.  There’s a common element running through each of them.  The people who desired healing DID SOMETHING.  They came to Jesus.  They took the initiative to physically place themselves in his presence.  In the case of the paralytic man, they literally raised the roof!  They didn’t wait  for Jesus to come to them.  Rather, they went to Jesus.

Over the past few years, I have been yearning for “something better” in my professional life.  I want to actively engage in women’s ministry.  I want to write Bible curriculum.  I want to teach at women’s events.  I’ve prayed every which way I know how for God to do something to make that happen.  But you know what?  I’ve done NOTHING myself!  I have been that man standing on the roof of a flooded out house waiting on God.  When all the time God has been saying to me, “DO SOMETHING!”  So here are my “DO SOMETHING” goals this summer:

1. Self-publish a small devotional book.

2. Create an advertisement to market myself (YUCK!) to conduct women’s spiritual growth events.

3. Become more engaged in women’s missions.

I don’t know that anything will come of it.  I don’t know that I will be successful at all.  But I know that I am ready for “something better”.  I know that I am ready to fully engage all of the gifts and abilities God has given me to help build his Kingdom here on earth.  I know that it’s time to DO SOMETHING.

So what about you?  What roof are you standing on today?  Are you looking to the skies for something better?  Or are you tearing the roof apart to DO SOMETHING?

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 The disciples had forgotten to bring any bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. ¹⁵ Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”  The disciples talked this over and said to each other, “He must be saying this because we don’t have any bread.”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you talking about not having any bread? Don’t you understand? Are your minds still closed? Are your eyes blind and your ears deaf? Don’t you remember  how many baskets of leftovers you picked up when I fed those five thousand people with only five small loaves of bread?”

“Yes,” the disciples answered. “There were twelve baskets.”

 Jesus then asked, “And how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up when I broke seven small loaves of bread for those four thousand people?”

“Seven,” they answered.

“Don’t you know what I am talking about by now?” Jesus asked.

 

“Do you get it?” my 7 year old asks as he tells me yet another original joke.  In truth, I don’t get it at all, but I’m thinking that 7 is a little young to burst the “I’m really funny” bubble.  So I smile and say, “Yes, I get it.  That was a good one.”

Recently, my husband attended a multi-denominational church service in which the speaker was admonishing the listeners because they just “didn’t get it”.  The speaker kept throwing out words like “truth” and “salvation” and “sin” and “wickedness”.   “Do you know why young people don’t go to church anymore?” the speaker asked.  “Because they can’t handle the ‘truth’!”

My husband, being the realist he is, thought to himself: “No, the reason young people don’t go to church anymore is because they’re tired of hearing perverted theology.”

As Christians, I think we miss the point of the Gospel message a lot.  And, if you look at the Scripture passage above, we’re in pretty good company!  Instead of practicing love, we practice condemnation.  Instead of practicing grace, we practice exclusion.  We set up barriers around God’s salvation and, effectively, attempt to put God the Creator into our own human created box.  In many ways, “Christians” have become today what the Pharisees were in Jesus’ time.  Our rules and regulations, our requirements for “salvation”, our petty arguments over what a family looks like or who can and can’t take communion not only alienate others, they alienate us from truly experiencing the abundant love of God!

 

We are missing the point, just like the disciples did thousands of years ago.  Look again at the Scripture passage above.

The disciples were traveling with Jesus across the Sea of Galilee.  They had just (and I mean literally just) witnessed Jesus use seven loaves of bread and a couple of fish to feed a crowd of over 4,000 people.  Jesus, as always, had had an altercation with the Pharisees who were constantly trying to test and question his authority.  His warning to the disciples was about the perverted theology the religious leaders were spreading.  But look at the disciples’ response.  They’re worried about bread!  They’re literally arguing with each other over who forgot to bring the bread!!

I love Jesus’ response to this argument: “Why are you talking about bread!?  Don’t you get it?”

 

When we look at the Gospel message, I mean really look at it, Jesus’ message is pretty clear.  Love God.  Love others.  Don’t judge.  Don’t condemn.  Don’t spew hate-filled messages.  Don’t politicize your faith.  Love others, especially those whom religious organizations have deemed “unworthy”.  Love God.  Love others.

When my husband and I attended the Storyline Conference this past February, author Donald Miller kept referring to people of Christian faith as “Jesus people”.  I decided that’s a moniker I would like to adopt.  I think being a “Jesus Girl” gets me closer to living the Gospel message than being a “Christian” does.  Because being a “Jesus Girl” is about practicing love, and that’s really the legacy I want to leave.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of growing to do.  Being a “Jesus Girl” is a lot of work in our narcissistic competitive culture.  There’s a lot of internal shifting that has to go on.  I have to stop thinking about “bread” and remember the point of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  Jesus came to save, and his salvation came from a place of love.  And that love is the same for you as it is for me.

So, I’m a Jesus Girl.  And I have to say, I really like the sound of that name! 🙂

 

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near’.”  Matthew 10:7

I have been reading through the book of Matthew these past few weeks during my morning Bible time.  Just for clarification, by “morning Bible time” I mean the 7 minutes or so I sit on the boys’ step stool in the middle of the kitchen floor reading my Bible and waiting for the coffee to brew on weekday mornings.  It’s not in-depth.  But, regardless of quantity, God is always there to provide the quality.

And so, last week I turned my eye to Matthew 10.  In this chapter, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples to teach and heal the “lost sheep of Israel”.  The disciples have been with Jesus for some time now.  They have witnessed the feeding of the 5,000, seen Jesus calm the raging sea, listened as Jesus has preached about the great love of God.  They’ve been given an in-depth, hands-on education and now are ready to “graduate” into the real world.  Look at the instructions Jesus gives:

“Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city.  Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.  As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment.  Workers deserve to be fed, so don’t gather gold or silver or copper coins for your money belts to take on your trips.  Don’t take a backpack for the road or two shirts or sandals or a walking stick. Whatever city or village you go into, find somebody in it who is worthy and stay there until you go on your way. “

I have read this passage many times, but on this particular day, the phrase that kept repeating itself over and over in my mind was, “…make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.'”  The kingdom of heaven has come near…  Think about that for just a minute.  On one level, Jesus is talking about himself as the Son of God.  He is the co-creator of Heaven and all of the powers of Heaven dwell within him.  All of his teaching, all of his healing, comes from above.  Therefore, his entire ministry is literally bringing the kingdom of Heaven nearer to humanity.

But then, Jesus gives those powers over to the disciples.  He tells them to go out throughout all of Israel (Jesus was very singular in his purpose on Earth–bring the Israelite people back to God) and he gives them HIS authority to teach and heal.  HIS authority–which is the authority of Heaven!  The kingdom of Heaven has come near.  And this time, it is the disciples who are bringing it nearer to humanity.

The thought occurred to me, as I was mulling over this passage, that perhaps, we too have the ability to bring the kingdom of Heaven nearer.  Because, as children of God, we have a share in the kingdom too.  I believe that Jesus calls us into the world, just as he did the disciples, to bring the kingdom of Heaven nearer to humanity.  I believe that we are called to go into this dark, broken and hurting world and to bring with us the cleansing, healing, redeeming and restoring power of LOVE Jesus so freely gave to all those who had need.

I’ve adopted a new prayer for my morning drive to work.  It is simply this: “Dear God, today, let me see with your eyes and act with your heart.”  I’m not perfect–far from it in fact.  But regardless of all my imperfections, Jesus’ call still remains.  “Tell them…the kingdom of Heaven has come near.”  And when I think of all the messages I could send with my life, sending the message of Jesus is my ultimate prayer.

“Tell them, the kingdom of Heaven is near…”

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and worn-out, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle, and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29

A couple of years ago, my husband and I decided to explore the Harry Potter world at Universal Studios in Orlando.  We got there early in the morning to avoid long lines.  As we had left the kids behind at Disney with family, we decided to hit all three of the roller coasters right in a row.  About midway through the third coaster, as my head was being banged from side to side and my stomach was lurching up and down, I really wanted to get off the ride!  When it was over, I stumbled from the car, looked at my husband and said, “I need to sit down!”  45 minutes and one Butterbeer later, I finally felt more like myself again.  But I was definitely done with roller coasters for the rest of the day.

The past few weeks have found me on a different roller coaster of sorts.   My mind has been swinging around and around trying to engage, create and problem-solve from several different areas.  I’m ready to jump off the ride, but unfortunately, we’re still in the middle!!  I needed a brain massage!  So,  I decided to take my husband’s Sunday sermon advice this morning and spend some time in meditative prayer.

 I sat on the little step-stool in the kitchen that is my Bible study spot and bowed my head over my Bible.  I worked hard to clear my mind and to focus on the image of the Holy Spirit wrapping itself around me like a snug blanket.  

As I floated for a few minutes, pushing aside all thoughts of people and situations I needed to pray over, I heard God asking me, “What do you need?”  And the answer that came to me was, rest.  The above verses from the book of Matthew floated through my conscious mind like wisps of campfire smoke coming up from the Spirit’s flame in my heart.  Come to me.  I will give you rest.

The context of this passage is the burden of the Law on the people of Israel.  The religious leaders were demanding more than the people could ever possibly give–making all sorts of rules and regulations no human could ever follow completely.  Jesus was attempting to simplify things.  He was imploring the people not to get caught up in the human rules and regulations of the church and worship.  Rather, he said, follow my lead.  Love God.  Love others.

Jesus is talking about a spiritual rest.  That is something we don’t do very well in our noisy, always engaged, frenetic society.  We want to go, to move, to do, to achieve until our lives begin to look like a grocery store check-list instead of the beautiful tapestry they were designed to be.  That’s not to say we won’t be burdened.  Living is HARD WORK.  A tapestry doesn’t come together with a few simple stitches.  But through it all, we have the gift of God’s presence, God’s love, and God’s grace.  It’s hard to see those things, however, when we don’t take time to find rest for our souls.

I don’t know what roller coaster life’s put you on right now.  But I want you to know, you’re not alone.  We’re all on this crazy behemoth together.  And while your brain might hurt from trying to problem-solve, or your heart might ache from grief and pain, or your stomach might  be doing flip-flops from anxiety and fear, know that God is right there with you.  Know that God longs to give your soul rest.  Know that He is right there beside you on this roller-coaster holding your hand.  So hang on.  Think about your tapestry.  God is not interested in checking things off of our life lists.  He’s interested in creating a work of art.  

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.  Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves.  My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” Common English Bible

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. Amplified Bible

 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Message Bible

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

Over the past year and a half, I have been substituting real sugar for the fake stuff.  I know, I know…there’s a hot debate right now about the pros and cons of fake sugar.  But, my scale tells me that fake sugar, for the most part, is better for me than the real deal.  And while I use it to sweeten my drinks and oatmeal, there is one area where I flat-out refuse to make substitutions, and that is in dessert.  I know there are tons of recipes out there for “delicious” sugar-free desserts, but I don’t want them.  Regardless of what any chef or nutritionist says, fake sugar in dessert tastes NOTHING like the real thing!  And if I’m going to indulge, I’m doing it right!!

The same principle is true in my study of God’s Word.  (Okay, I know this was a ridiculous transition, but would you really have kept reading otherwise?)   I love daily devotionals.  I have several great devotional books I go to for a quick read and they are inspiring and comforting and thought-provoking.  Heck, I write a devotional blog!  However, devotionals can only get me so far in my relationship with God.

I have a devotional book I use off and on throughout the year.  It is beautifully written with lots of lovely images of God’s amazing power and love and grace.  But sometimes, I need more than pretty.  Sometimes, I need something more than quick.  Sometimes, I need to immerse myself in God’s Word and to allow his Spirit to move within my heart and mind, speaking those words to me he wants me to take into the day.

When I take the time to sit in God’s presence, to soak in God’s Word for myself, independent of anyone else, then I am growing deeper into my relationship with God.  When I take the time to soak in God’s Word, to read more than a scattering of verses here and there, I get a better and bigger and more complete picture of who God is.  When I take time to meditate on God’s Word, to think and ponder over the text, I am better able to discern God’s plans for me, and to see how my little life can better fit into the grand scheme of things.

Sometimes, when I spend too much time depending on other people’s views of God, I feel a lose my own relationship with God.  A couple of weeks ago I picked up my daily devotional and started to read.  The words were beautiful and comforting, but instead of feeling fulfilled, I felt absolutely empty.  The devotional was meaningless to me.   So, rolling my eyes, I said “Whatever” and put it aside.  In that moment, I realized I needed to drink from that well I had been neglecting.  I needed the Word–not a substitute for it, no matter how lovely and well-intended that substitute may have been.

Since then, I’ve rearranged my schedule a bit to fit in some Bible reading time.  Instead of showering in the morning, I shower in the evening.  It’s a little change that doesn’t take much, but making that change has given me the opportunity to become grounded again.  The Word is my anchor–it is the way in which God and I communicate best.  I can’t do the tasks God has called me to do without it.  And although the book of Zechariah might not be as moving or relevant to my life as Paul’s letter to the Philippians, it still reveals to me some important qualities of God.  It shows me the absolute and complete love God has for His people.  It shows me how far God is willing to go to bring his children back to them.  It established God’s expectations for living.  And it helps me to grow in my faith.

The Word is an anchor for our lives.  Don’t substitute it out for something else.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

My son came to me with a joke the other day.  “Mommy,” he said.  “I have a joke.  How do you make time fly?”

“Hmm…I don’t know, G.  How?”

“You throw a clock out the window!  Is that funny?”

“You bet!”

In reality, we don’t have to throw clocks out of windows to see time fly.  It just does it all on it’s own.  One day blends into another and another and before you know it an entire week/month/season/year has passed!  Which makes me wonder, what am I doing with this time?  Am I making the most of this daily gift God has given me?  Am I using the gifts and talents God endowed me with to show his love to others?

The honest answer to that is, not always.  Maybe, not even often.

Advertisers and corporations tell us that life is made up of the big moments–amazing vacations, huge life events, bold and daring adventures.  And while those can all be impactful things, the vast majority of our time is spent among the little things.  It’s getting up and going to work each day, shuffling our kids to various activities, sitting around the dinner table and sharing the day, quiet evenings at home sharing a show on the t.v.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at my “little things”, I want to make them count.  I want my daily duties to be as intentional and meaningful as the big moments.  If the majority of my time is spent at work and home, then I want to make what I do in those places count for something.  I want to know, at the end of the day, that I did my best with all God placed before me.

Here’s a verse I’ve been pondering the past few days:

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.  “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blewaway. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.” Haggai 1:7-10

Haggai writes these words to the exiles who have returned from Babylon.  Instead of taking time to rebuild the Lord’s Temple, the people have become preoccupied with their own lives.  God is reminding them that He must come first.  It is He who will provide for their lives and their livelihood.  But first, the people must build His dwelling place.  

What this says to me, is that I need to live my day to day life with God at the center of my being.  And for me, I can’t do that if I am not spending quality time in the Word.  When I take time in the morning to enter into God’s presence and to fill myself with His Word, then time in my own life becomes more ordered and meaningful.

In taking time for God, I can make better use of the time He has given to me.

Am I perfect?  No way!!  Do I succeed in this endeavor every day?  Not a chance!!  Do I always make use of the time God has given me?  Nope!!  I sat on the couch and played Angry Birds for an hour and a half last night while watching the Olympics!  Not a great use of time.  However, I’m trying.  And I’m seeking, which is really the true beauty of our faith. God extends to us His grace every single day.  So open your day to God.  Open your day with God.  Because time flies, and it’s a ride I definitely want to be on.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

 

It was BEAUTIFUL outside yesterday!  The sun was shining, there was no breeze, and the temperature rose to a downright balmy 65!!   While we haven’t had much snow this winter, our temperatures have been dipping well below normal.  Arctic blasts keep coming in waves and we have been in the midst of the dreaded “polar vortex” sweeping down from the Arctic Circle.  To sum it up: it’s been miserable.  So when the sun peeked out to warm our little stretch of the Earth yesterday, we embraced it wholeheartedly.

 My youngest decided it was shorts and t-shirt weather, and while I didn’t completely agree, who was I to argue with the glory of the sunshine?  His one acquiescence to mama saying, “It’s not THAT warm outside!” was to leave on his snow boots.  And so, we trooped outside, each to our own happy golden pursuits.  My husband painted shelves in the garage.  My oldest walked around imagining some great adventure.  My youngest and I rode bikes and played Frisbee.

Resting on the swing set midway through the afternoon, I turned my face up to bask in the warmth the sun’s rays were radiating down.  This, I thought, is a promise.  Winter is going to end and light and warmth and life outside will resume once more.

In reflecting on this promise which Nature brings, I couldn’t help but think about God’s great promise of love.  “For lo, I am with you always,” Jesus said, “even to the very ends of the Earth.” 

“The mountains may shift, and the hills may be shaken, but my faithful love won’t shift from you, and my covenant of peace won’t be shaken”, says the Lord.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do you see God’s amazing promise of love for us?  God tells us over and over again in Scripture that He is here, that He will stay by our side, no matter what season of life we may find ourselves in.  So when the winter of life seems dark and unending–when one problem after another rises–when it feels like it would be easier to just give up, let go, lay it all down–remember God’s promise of Spring.  Remember God’s promise of life.  Remember God.

The Arctic winds howled through the night last night, bringing the frigid temperatures back once more.  Shorts and t-shirts were traded for sweats and coats and hats and gloves.  But it was easier, somehow, to go out in the bitter cold this morning because I carried with me that beautiful promise of Spring.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara

Love is kind and patient,
never jealous, boastful,
    proud, or rude.
Love isn’t selfish
    or quick tempered.
It doesn’t keep a record
    of wrongs that others do.
 Love rejoices in the truth,
    but not in evil.
 Love is always supportive,
loyal, hopeful,
    and trusting.
 Love never fails! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

My husband and I went to a Gary Chapman marriage seminar last weekend.  That, in and of itself, can be a risky endeavor!  My husband and I are human beings, so our marriage will never be perfect.  But, overall, I think we have a really good thing going.   We communicate well and trust one another and try to resolve conflict in a non-hostile manner.  We work together as partners and hold one another accountable.  So, the thought of delving deep into our relationship and potentially pulling out something we’d rather leave buried kind of worried me!!

However, the conference ended up being a really good marriage 101 refresher and we took home some information that will be useful in ministry, as well as about 5 books!

The idea that has stuck with me this past week is the risk involved in loving another person, whether it be a spouse, family member, friend, co-worker or maybe, even a stranger.  You see love, in the Christian definition, is about so much more than just a feeling.

When we love, I mean really love as outlined by Paul in 1st Corinthians 13 and demonstrated by Christ in his very life, we are putting our entire self out there to be rejected in a myriad of painful ways.

When we allow ourselves to love another person, and to show that love to another person, we are putting them first.  We are thinking about what they need, what they desire, how they communicate and respond and feel, how they need us to respond to them.  Then, we act on that, despite or in spite of what we would prefer.  And we act on that not so the other person will reciprocate and do the same for us.  No, we serve the other person because it is how we are called to love and to show God’s love.

What that means is that no matter how negative or confrontational your co-worker, sibling, spouse, child can be, you always strive to treat them with kindness and compassion.  You work to hear what they are trying to say, even if they’re saying it in a way that makes you want to grab a frying pan!

Practically speaking, the risk of loving another person involves keeping your mouth shut when you want to speak.  It involves not bringing up all of the past hurts you have endured because of their words or rejection.    It involves listening, even when you’re tired of hearing the same things over and over and over again.

The risk of loving another person also involves being willing to speak the truth in a loving manner.  Please note the loving manner.  If you find yourself attempting to hold someone you love accountable by starting with a “You always….” statement, it’s probably best to stop and reconsider.  Nothing sets people off like a great big “YOU…”! 🙂

My husband is actually really great at loving accountability.  It’s one of the things I love most about him.  When I’m reaching for the cookies/ candy bucket/ brownies/ cake icing, etc… he simply asks, “How does that fit in with your health plan?”  Or, simply states, “That’s not worth it.”  There’s no judgement or condemnation.  He’s truly trying to support me and hold me accountable for my healthy living goals.  And although I might cringe a little bit, I recognize the truth of his question or statement and understand that he’s really just trying to take care of me.  It comes from a place of love, and (let’s be honest) depending on my mood could be a bit of a risk for him to mention!!

Look again at Paul’s “Love is…” statements in 1st Corinthians 13.  They are beautiful and wise and selfless and good and so hard to live into every day!!  But what a different world we would live in if we could try to live into just a little of them!

So, will you risk rejection with me this week in offering love to those around you?  Even if they’re not supportive?  Even if they judge?  Even if they do not change?  Will you love them anyway?

The caveat to all of this, of course, is for those who are in abusive relationships.  I very firmly believe that if you are being abused in anyway, shape or form–physically, sexually, emotionally or verbally, you need to leave the relationship immediately.  There is a difference between someone being difficult to live with/work with/be in relationship with and someone who is an abuser.  If you know of someone who is in an abusive relationship, encourage them to reach out to those professionals within their community to get out of the abusive environment and started down a road of recovery.  

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:12-17

I am linking up today with other women taking the “Risk Rejection” challenge over at Amy’s Place.  I would love for you to come along and share in some other stories of wonderful and inspirational God driven risk-taking!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara