Reciprocal Blessing...

Romans 1:6-7, 10-12

And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people...One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.

Paul is a man of intentionality. He uses his platform as an apostle to communicate with passion and purpose in all he teaches. Notice the key words of this passage: included, called, belong, loved. He begins to paint a picture for us of the forethought of God in enveloping us in His family. We were not just an afterthought. We were known before the foundation of the world...and He adores us. 

Paul not only desires for us to understand our special place in God's heart, but the intentionality that God built into our interactions with one another. First, look at the heart that motivates Paul. He writes that he longs to see the other believers. Second, look at the purpose for his longing. He desires to share a spiritual blessing intended to promote growth in their walk with the Lord, and to encourage them in their faith. However, he also yearns to be personally encouraged in his faith.  

Imagine what the body of Christ would look like if we all lived with a longing to spend time together in order to help one another grow in the Lord and be encouraged in the faith? Think of all of the marriages that would be saved, the hearts that would find healing, the doubters that would find answers, the parents who would find a listening ear and words of wisdom, the students who would feel cared for and understood. The outcome is limitless because the God who has called us has equipped us to do all that He has asked us to do for one another. 

Today...find someone with whom you can share the reciprocal blessing. 

The least of these...

James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I made a special friend the other day. I would have missed the joy of this friendship had I not been listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. His words were distinct and clear..."whatever you do for the least of these...that you do to Me." 

Her name is Lucille. She is a 93-year-old African American woman with gray hair bundled under a head scarf. Her eyes are yellowing and look worn. Her smile displays her many years as it showcases the empty places where teeth once existed. She must depend on a cane to walk, and even with the sturdy cane her gate is unsteady. Her heart is overflowing with thanks. She loves the Lord and she loves everyone around her. I know this because as I sang hymns about seeing Jesus, she sang along with a spirit longing for Heaven. 

The greatest gift Lucille gave me that day was the gift of loving and serving her. I came face to face with Jesus. It's amazing to me that I don't do this more often. It's the Bible come to life in its purest form. And Lucille, she thought the world of me. She could not stop telling me how much she loved me and how kind I was. She told everyone we ran into that I was her new friend....someone who was willing to be kind to a stranger. 

Her words still give me pause. Why was she so amazed at my actions? Wouldn't anyone who loves Jesus pick up an elderly woman struggling to walk down the road in 90 degree weather? How many Bible verses do we need to learn before these kinds of actions become commonplace for those of us who claim to follow Christ? I'm thinking about that. I hope you do as well. Imagine the difference we could truly make in the world if we weren't too busy for "the least of these"?

Jesus or the Holy Spirit...you choose!

I know...that can sound bad. But before you turn away, listen to what I'm really trying to expose. Have you ever had the thought....if Jesus was walking right beside me physically than I would really be able to be okay, or accomplish something, or walk away from temptation? I confess that I have too. But today I finally realized what a ludicrous thought that really is.

Take a minute to imagine the disciples throughout the gospels. They had Jesus physically with them and yet were making poor choices, being self-focused, expressing anxiety, doubting Him...to name a few. Why do we believe we would be any different today? 

When we ask for Jesus' physical presence, what we are also requesting is the removal of the Holy Spirit. Think about it. The disciples had Jesus, but if He ever instructed them to go ahead to another town, or went off to pray, their lives took a perilous turn. They were completely dependant on being able to SEE Him in order to have confidence, peace, or a knowing of how to handle the people or situations that came their way. Jesus was their very lifeline. If He removed Himself from them, they felt cut off. Abandoned. 

Not so with us. We have the Holy Spirit. And with the Holy Spirit comes continual confidence, peace, empowerment, wisdom, strength, guidance. Why would I substitute the temporary presence of Jesus for the eternal presence of the Holy Spirit? I do not want to be dependant on Someone being with me physically so that I am able to succeed and be all that I am to be. I want to be able to pray, search the Scriptures, and depend on the still small voice of guidance from deep inside to lead and direct my steps. 

It's simple. When we ask for the physical presence of Jesus, we set ourselves up for a regular anxiety attack. We are dependant on what we can see and if we cannot see it we lose all confidence. If we rely on the Holy Spirit, we realize that we are never alone. He never leaves us. We will forever walk in confidence, strength, peace, and wisdom. 

So next time we are tempted to think we are lacking, remember that we lack nothing. We have exactly Who we need to live the confident, victorious life. 

Discerning the call...

One of the wisest truths I'm attempting to live is "a need does not constitute a call". Those of us who have a hard time saying no will understand why this truth has the potential to impact the very core of who we are. It's simple, yet revolutionary! Ephesians 2:10 encapsulates it well: We are God's masterpieces....and HE has designed good works in advance for us to do. 

They key to freedom is in realizing that it is HE who does the calling. It is not the roar of the crowd nor the whisper of the needy, but the sovereign plans of a loving and balanced Creator that guides our pathway to service. 

How many days, months, years have I labored at things in the flesh? You say...the flesh...is that not too harsh? No...it is truth! When I step outside of His call, I cease to be His messenger. I am a messenger for ME...showing off my gifts, talents and abilities.

Ponder these verses...

2 Cor 3:5 - It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

2 Co 4:7 - We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

John 15:5 - Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

It seems rather clear...if I say "yes" to those things that are not in God's plan for me, than I rely on my own strength and power. HE alone qualifies me, strengthens me, empowers me, and ensures that what I do will be fruitful. It is only when I say no to to the good things in life, that I am free to do the GOD things in life. 

We do not serve b/c we are needed, we serve b/c we are called. Called by God. None other will do.

The Delusion of Feelings...

After spending time with one of my struggling students, I realized the depth to which feelings rule so many of us. We want our feelings to change so we can be okay. We want God to take away our feelings so we can finally be free of those things that plague us. We believe that our circumstances will not change until our feelings are less intense. How different would we be if we realized that feelings are delusions that cannot be counted on to shape our reality? 

What if we clung tightly to the truth that never changes...the truth that has the power to conquer the feelings that overwhelm us? It seems so simple when we understand that the "peace that passes all understanding" is not a feeling. For so long I believed that "peace" equaled having my feelings under control. How freeing it was to grasp that peace is a mindset...a place of resting in what we know to be true? 

We can have peace when we trust...believe...have faith. Peace is not a band aide or a quick fix. It comes after a deliberate thought process...wrapping our minds tightly around the truth. We must bask in His sovereignty, His goodness, His promise to work "all things together for the good". I long to live at peace and rest. This longing has driven me to understand more completely the object of my faith, and the truth found in His Word. Take a moment to define peace. Your answer might surprise you...and then compel you toward truth.

Defining success...

What if we truly understood that the process was more important than the results. What if we lived enveloped in the truth of our weaknesses. After all, do we really believe that we can control anything in this world besides our attitude? How would we be different if we acknowledged that what the world touted as success was not truly success? 

The world would have us believe that if we could proffer the resounding accolades of men, then we have achieved success. What if success is defined differently? What if we understood that our motives played a key role? Who do we "win" for? Is gaining glory for ourselves the most satisfying endeavor of life? It almost seems preposterous to imagine, yet we live that way mostly, don't we? Simply putting it into words makes the whole of the effort appear vain...futile...or empty. Let it soak in...I am bathing in the thought of this daily.

The joy of being there...

Katie Brazelton listed some tips for effective Life Coaching on her site the other day. As the Lord has called me to shepherd/coach others, I have experienced the power of several of the truths that she shared. It is one of the most exhilarating feelings to sense the pleasure of God as I interact with those seeking to understand His love and find His purpose for their life. 

I am learning the depth to which a listening ear and an open heart can penetrate the places of pain that need healing and hope. What a joy it is to actively listen to not only what is being said, but to the cries of those things struggling for a voice. It is truly a powerful thing to be able to ask the open-ended question that allows a person to discover the truths that God longs for them to hear. What a precious gift we give when we help unfold the layers that veil the path to discovery. I am humbled and awed that God should choose to use any of us to accomplish His purpose of touching this world with His life.