Know Him, Love Him, and Live Life with Him

We recently went on vacation with my family. As we were leaving for the airport, I ran back inside to get a book. I haven’t read a whole book since, well, since before Caleb was born, but I figured with built-in babysitting for the week, this might just be my chance. I grabbed “The Shack.” I’m sure some of you have read it. It was very popular a few years ago...with good reason. It’s a really interesting book, peppered with lots of biblical principals and thought provoking conversation. But what stuck with me the most was the re-iterance that being a follower of Christ is about relationship. It’s not about routine. It’s not about tasks. It’s not about a checklist.

Being a follower of Christ is about knowing, loving, and living life with Christ.

All too often people think, “if I read my Bible everyday and pray before meals, I’m being a good Christian.” Or, “if I attend and serve at church every weekend, I’m doing what I should be doing.” But that’s not what it’s about. That is not what Christ wants from us. He wants relationship with us. And relationship doesn’t look the same for every person, or every day.

Some days, for me, living life with Christ means that I spend an hour in Bible study first thing in the morning. Some days it means that I listen to worship music throughout the day. Some days it means that I’m in prayer throughout the day. Some days it means that I spend extended time teaching my children biblical principles. Some days it means being still during nap time, and just listening to Him. Some days it is all of those things.

Being a follower of Christ is about knowing, loving, and living life with Christ.

The point is that it is organic. It changes. It is Spirit prompted, not “to do” list prompted. Bible study, prayer, fellowship, corporal worship, and serving are all very important. They help us grow. They help us know Him more. They are each forms of worship. But what is most important is that we live in concert with Christ. Follow Him.

Heavenly father, I pray that I don’t get caught up in the things that I think I should do, and instead, focus on having an authentic relationship with you. Help me to avoid being complacent and stuck in a routine of worship, but rather, show me daily how to truly know You, love You, and live my every moment to glorify You.

Choose to be Righteous

I was recently talking with a dear friend of mine. She was distraught about a broken relationship. As I sat there hearing her side of the story, I couldn’t help but notice the statements of justification peppered throughout. I was instantly reminded of a nugget of wisdom that has changed my life.

Choose to be righteous, instead of just right.

In her case, she was completely justified in the things that she did and said in the situation. The things she said were true, and her actions would be widely considered appropriate. But what did that leave her with? A broken relationship and piercing heartache. Sometimes we must choose to be righteous instead of just right.

God commands us to choose the righteous road. “If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.” Conventional wisdom would say that we would be perfectly justified in choosing to react differently. But we are not judged by conventional wisdom. We are called to be righteous, instead of just right.

Lord, give me the self-control to seek your wisdom and guidance before speaking and acting. Give me the clarity to recognize the righteous road and the strength to choose that road, even when my flesh is urging me elsewhere.

You are Needed

I experienced something new today. As I was holding Adalyn, staring in the mirror making faces at her, I noticed crow’s feet. I’m sure they have been there for a while, but I’ve never noticed them. In that moment, it became apparent to me that I’m getting old. Yes, I know at 30 years old, I’m still young. But I’m getting old. Time is flying. I suddenly became gut-wrenchingly aware that before I know it, I am going to be standing before our Lord, accounting for my life. Morbid, I know. But true. It really got me thinking about how I am using this life God has given me.

It’s probably not a coincidence that these thoughts came on the heel of Vision Night with Craig. If you joined us for Vision Night last week, you heard Craig say repeatedly that we are all ministers. We are all needed. We are needed to serve in our church. We are needed to serve outside the church. We are needed to pour into children. We are needed to pour into other women. We are needed to share the freeing news of Jesus Christ with those who don’t know him. We are needed to intercede for others.

Everyday the Lord places before us opportunities to serve him by serving others. I know I am missing opportunities. All too often I get caught up in daily activities (yes, I suffer from Martha syndrome) and don’t have eyes to see the opportunities He has blessed me with. People he has placed in my path. Situations He has placed me in.

So what should I do to stop missing the opportunities? For me, the first step is to pray for eyes to see. Before my feet even hit the carpet, I need to have my heart and mind focus on God. Maybe that means waking before the kids and doing my quiet time first thing in the morning. Whatever it means, it needs to happen. I am only given one life to live and I want to make my Heavenly Daddy proud of how I used it.

What about you? You are needed. What is God calling you to do? How are you using the life God has given you? What steps can you take today to start living in His will?

Lord, give me eyes to see the opportunities you place before me. I long for my life to honor you. Reveal to me the areas where I am not being a good steward of the gifts, experiences, and opportunities you have given me. I pray that one day you will look at me and say, “well done, good and faithful servant.”

Moment-by-Moment Obedience Part II

A few weeks ago there was a sermon at our church about generosity. Although the pastor was mainly talking about financial generosity, it really got me thinking about being more generous in every way of my life. Of course, with our money, but more importantly (for me anyway), with my time. I immediately began recognizing all the times I missed opportunities to show God's love. Sometimes it was out of pure selfishness (i.e., "I don't feel like taking the time."), but more often it was out of procrastination and busyness. I would get so caught up in whatever I was doing, and would think, "oh, I'll do it in a little bit." But before I knew it, I would either forget or miss my opportunity.

I was convicted.

I wrote a blog not long ago about moment-by-moment obedience. Yet, here I was, not being obedient. I needed to change. This change was two-fold. First, I decided that I from here on out I was going to act (so long as it is a godly action, of course), assuming that every time I am prompted, it is a prompting by God. I think it is better to act with a heart of obedience than constantly questioning whether it is God or not, and missing the opportunity to walk in faith. Now, let me just clarify, I'm not talking about drastic actions. I'm talking about things like giving when I see a need, inviting a stranger to church, emailing someone when I think of them, reaching out to someone who may need a friend.

The second change I have made to live in moment-by-moment obedience, is to act immediately upon prompting. This means I now stop what I'm doing and send that email, or talk to that person, or write that check. Not only has this change helped me not to miss opportunities, but it has also helped me to shift my thoughts outwardly. Instead of constantly being consumed with what I have to do, I am more in tune with what God would have me do.

You would not believe what an incredible difference these two changes have made in the short time that I have been doing them. There is no doubt in my mind that I am acting in obedience. I am more in tune with the needs and people surrounding me than I have been in a long time (perhaps ever). I truly see what a blessing it is to live in obedience to Him.

Lord, thank you for opening my mind and heart to the areas where I need to change. Help me to live in moment-by-moment obedience to you, not concerned with my fleshly apprehension and selfishness, but abandoned to a walk in faith. Amen.

My Treasure

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Luke 2:19

I have a 17 month old little boy. He is amazing. He's kind and gentle, fun and loving, smart and helpful. The list goes on and on. I love everything about him. I relish in each of his new discoveries. I remember his first smile and laugh. His first word. The first time he kissed me. When he learned to feed himself with utensils. When he learned to do a puzzle by himself. I beam with pride every time he starts dancing when his daddy plays a song. When he raises his little hand during worship. When he replies "God" when we ask him who loves him the most.

I treasure all these things in my heart.

Can you imagine what it was like to be Jesus' mother? The pride and joy she felt? When Jesus was born, and the shepherds shared all that had been revealed to them about the precious baby that was lying in the manger, Mary's response was to "[treasure] up all these things and pondered them in her heart." How amazing that must have been; to hear affirmation that the child she was blessed with is the Messiah!

Then later, when Jesus was a young boy, he went missing from his parents for three days. They eventually found him, with the teachers in the temple courts. "Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers." Again, Mary couldn't help but be filled with pride and joy, and "[treasure] all these things in her heart."

I love these two passages. What I love even more, is that the Bible goes on to say "[a]nd Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

This simple sentence speaks volumes to me. It is a reminder of what an honor and responsibility raising children is. Sure Mary was irritated that it took 3 days to find Jesus, when he "should" have been with them the whole time. But she didn't dwell on it or punish him, breaking his spirit. Instead, she saw the big picture. She saw the value in what he was doing, and she treasured it. As a result, she helped enable Jesus to grow into the man he was sent here to be.

Lord, help me to see the big picture. Help me not to get caught up in the daily tasks and challenges that face me, but see eternally. Give me the strength and wisdom to raise my children in a way that enables them to grown in wisdom and stature, and in favor with You and man. Help me to teach them in your way, not just my words, but by my actions. Help me to prepare them to lead a legacy that loves and lives for you. Amen.

The Runaway Bunny

We went to the neatest local bookstore this evening. While I was browsing the children's area (because that's the only reading I do these days), I started thinking about one of the books we have on our shelf at home. It's called The Runaway Bunny. I've only read this book to my little guy a couple of times, because I didn't really like it's message. It begins:

Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.
So he said to his mother, "I am running away."
"If you run away," said his mother, "I will run after you.
For you are my little bunny."

Then the story proceeds with the bunny thinking through all the places he would run away to, and his mother responding with how she would chase after him. Until it ends with:

"Shucks," said the bunny, "I might just as well
stay where I am and be your little bunny."

For 16 months (since my precious son was born), my thought on this book was that it planted the thought that when we're unhappy we can just run away. And although the bunny abandoned the thought at the end, I didn't like how he didn't actually have a change of heart, but rather conceded in defeat.

I still don't like how it ends, but as I stood there in the bookstore thinking about it, I realized it is actually a really neat picture of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. How many times have we tried to run away. How many times have we tried to be something we are not, to hide from what we really are. How many times have we thought there was something better out there. But every time, there was our Father, chasing after us. Giving us unconditional love. Ignoring our rejections and always opening the door for us to come back.

What a gift. As Christmas approaches, I pray we will all reflect on the true meaning of the holiday. Our Father loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for our sins, so we don't have to live apart from Him. I don't know where you are right now. I don't know if you are running, or hiding, or living in complacency. But know that our Father is chasing after you. His door is always open (Matthew 7:8). He longs for us to turn back to Him. Don't wait another moment. Live in His grace.

Moment-by-Moment Obedience

A few months ago my husband received a Facebook message from an old friend from middle school, someone he had not spoken to in over 20 years. This old friend told Brian how he remembered Brian praying with him after class one day, and that moment has never left him. I think about that message often. How amazing. Brian took a few minutes to walk in obedience to our Lord, and changed someone's life. It would have been so easy for Brian to have rushed off to his next class, or spent the few moments chatting mindlessly with his friends. But he didn't. He saw a need, and chose to meet it.

You would not believe how common this story is with my husband. I have been witness to dozens of people stopping him to tell him how he has impacted their life. Not just through leading worship, but through his prayers, the time he has spent with them, and his evident walk with Christ. Brian walks in moment-to-moment obedience.

Brian's life is a constant reminder to me of the importance of taking every opportunity to share Christ's love. Regardless of how small the act seems, I must remember that when I am walking in obedience to Him, I have no idea of the impact I may be having. All too often I find myself caught up in the day-to-day tasks of being a stay-at-home wife and mother. I shudder to think of all the opportunities I have missed. With friends, with the cashier at Braum's, with those I sit next to in church.

Lord, I pray that I am reminded daily of what is truly important in life. That I will live in moment-by-moment obedience, choosing to glorify you with all of my thoughts and actions. Lord, use me as Your vessel.