Category: Life

Patience…not just for Doctors

Patience is a virtue they say, forgive me because i seem to have missed that day when they were handing patience out. Patience has always been a struggle for me and I always jokingly say that I once prayed for patience and got four children. Interestingly enough though I consider myself to be blessed by not only my children but by this family that God has blessed me with. They put up with me and sometimes that’s saying a lot!

How are you in the patience department? Do you get bent out of shape when your food you ordered at a restaurant takes longer than expected? Do you huff and puff at the minor inconveniences of life?

One of my biggest areas of discontent and struggle in the patience department is being on time. For me I have been taught that you don’t ever show up late, you arrive early but with four kids arriving early to anything would be a miracle. I really struggle with this and find it hard to have patience in the midst of those moments.

Whatever your struggle today, patience or otherwise, it is always healthy to take a step back from time to time and look honestly at yourself. Ask yourself “Am I proud of those moment when I huff and puff at things beyond my control? Am I really proud of my behavior when I lash out or am irritable?” Of course the answer is no, so what are we going to do about our poor behavior? Do you want to change, improve your life and physical/spiritual well being? Then we have to dismantle our impatience and stop fueling the fire of our tempers. If you are at all like me, I want to change I honestly don’t want my impatience and poor handle of my emotions to rule me.

Take a hard look at your life today, don’t sugar coat it or bury it but look closely at your life and begin today to make those changes…small steps at a time! Pray to the Lord for guidance and strength to be an overcomer in your struggles. He will guide you and remain at your side through it all. What have you got to lose but to try?!

-Just a thought.

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Imperfection made perfect

To be like Jesus…what does it mean to me?
How can I possibly be like Him?
I am broken
I am faulty
I am a habitual sinner
Yet His love
His Grace
His Hope
Brings me to the very face
of God,
and I am lost
I am no longer
I cease…
but ah, in my place
will be, not now
not in a moment
but will be
His reflection
looking back at me.
This is Holiness
this is where and who
I am called to be.

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Sloth

These are days
days spent with
arm over ear and temple
headache spilling
out and over the brim
of these eye lids
and the light
like splintered glass
breaks apart the
silence as it all
comes crashing in
the drapes drawn tight
but never tight enough
leak faster than
gossip told in
the presence of church ladies…
these are the days
when the world doesnt
stop rotating, while this heart
hesitating self-hating
the undulating tempest
of this temple of God
i guess this temple
needs a little work
some sprucing up wouldnt
hurt either…
still let me know
digest another pill
with cold tap water
and pay homage
to the couch surfer
one last time.

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Sometimes we let go

Sometimes we just let go
Hand over fist
A Judas kiss
Wrapped tightly in blankets
Comfort of angels
Wings enfolding
Pain unfolding
Sometimes we just let go
Arms upholding
Strength midst weakness
A friend through the mess
Tears like rivers
Fears collapsing
Cascading
Down around
Still letting go
Breathing one
Last time
Looking up
And out
His face
Love’s embrace
Peace, extreme peace…
Sometimes
WE
LET
GO.

Today…
Tomorrow…
Heaven knows
Not I
Nor you
Whose eyes
Shall be waiting
Be looking at us
Whose embrace
Whose face
In that place
When
We
Let
Go.

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Sometimes (it all comes down)

Sometimes like an avalanche
Sometimes gentle like a
warm summer breeze
Sometimes heavy like
A mourning cry
It all comes down
Like pouring rain…
It all comes down again

Sometimes harder than
It should be
Sometimes easy as
Pie
I don’t know why
But lately I’ve been asking it
Lately I’ve been praying it
I’m not faking it
But it all comes down
Like pouring rain…
It all comes down again.

Sometimes hearts are heavy
Sometimes broken into pieces
Sometimes hearts are full of caring
Sometimes empty as a season
Of regret
I’ve been asking it
I’ve been praying it
I sure ain’t faking it
But it all comes down
It all comes down
Comes pouring down
Again.

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Dear Posers: Stop Faking it!

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30 Msg version)

Are you tired of phonies? Tired of posers? Fakers who claim one thing and live completely opposite of their words? Me too! Not to sound hypocritical because I have my faults, I’m sure you have yours as well. I just can’t stand it when someone has this “holier than thou” attitude and acts judgmentally – going around convicting people of their sins and or pointing out other people’s flaws when all along they aren’t being honest with themselves. Sometimes I think people like that are so afraid of facing their own issues and struggles that it is just easier to point out the issues and struggles in others instead. The problem is I’m tired of these modern day Pharisees standing up and being the “poster children” for what a Christian represents. That model of Christianity is hateful, judgmental, and often hypocritical. It preaches raising the standard high but hardly ever addresses spiritual maturity, discipleship, personal accountability or holiness. This fundamental Christianity is hell bent on damning people to hell, protesting at soldier’s graves, slamming other “Christians” because of differences or because they don’t have the same translation of bible as they do, goading and harassing single parents because of their choice to live and raise their children alone…yet never attempting to try and understand their circumstances and situations.

I’m tired of this false representation of Christ in our world! It grinds on me like course sandpaper to the skin. Would Jesus really have acted this way? If this is what Christ-like love looks like, then I want nothing to do with it! That is not the Christ I follow! The Jesus I know, had more harsh things to say to the fakers, the arrogant teachers of scripture, the actors praying in the streets…He had more harsh things to say to these hypocrites than he had to say to the lost, the lonely, the downtrodden – the empty.

Why was Jesus so rough on these teachers and posers over others? Why them? For starters there is the obvious, they treated scripture blatantly incorrect. They twisted it to apply to everyone besides themselves. Who was to benefit from such usage of scripture? It certainly wasn’t God. The Pharisees, teachers of scriptures had so many laws that no one could go through a day without breaking at least one of them. On top of this inappropriate application of God’s word, there was also the irreverent attitude, a sense of importance and arrogance that accompanied their authority. Jesus even called the Pharisees hypocrites, vipers, whitewashed graves. He went on to say that they outwardly looked bright and clean, but inside they were full of dead men’s bones (Matt 23). That’s pretty harsh! The Sadducees weren’t off the hook either, Jesus declared that these teachers and scribes had made His Father’s temple a den of thieves (Mark 11:15-18).

Long story short, if we know better and still live contrary to what we preach we too are posers…we too are fakers. This above all things scares me. James 3:1 says that preachers and teachers of God Word will be judged more harshly. Why? Because if we claim to know God’s word and that of what He desires of us and do not hold ourselves first and foremost to His standards of living then we are truly in a heap of trouble. How dare any of us cast judgment on the sinner before we are on our knees daily submitting whole heartedly to Christ in every aspect of our lives? I’m not sure about you, but I do not want to be a faker for Christ…it’s all or nothing. When we as Christians can live like Christ, act like Christ and love like Christ, then and only then will we have the power to change this world around us for His glory.

Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. I am not advocating any kind of liberal application of God’s Word towards sin, accountability and loose living…what I am advocating and railing against is hypocritical, “you know better” behavior that is so pervasive in the modern church from pastors on down to laity in the pews. Godly living is required of His people! Without it, we are worse off than anyone who is still ignorant to God and in the darkness of sin within our world. Either act and live like Christ or get out of the way and stop the damage that you are inflicting on this world through your half and half lifestyle. It’s either you live for Christ or you don’t.

This for me is a very difficult pill to swallow so to speak. It is a very unpopular message…but I am convicted of it, I have been the hypocrite, the actor at times and I know God requires more from me. Yes God’s grace is sufficient, yet what we do with that grace once we know how to live is on us. Get on with it, live it and cast off the poser in us all.

Image

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On Pathways…past, present, future.

Perhaps time has been kind.  Often I think about this and wonder what or where I might be if roads, that I have been on had taken slight forks or curved and bent on out into the distance.  It’s not so much a shoulda, coulda, woulda; but more of a existential pondering of sorts.

My mind sometimes drifts to college days, when all my concerns consisted of getting homework assignments in on time and staying up way past my bed time to complete things long procrastinated on…as they say, those were the days…but not really.  Though friendships were bonded like gorilla glue to my fingers, I don’t recall glory days while on the campus of academia.  But I do wonder about this path, if I had trodden too softly in one placement of my feet where it may have taken me…or where I might be today should I had taken an earlier exit convening off into another destination.  As I’ve said before it’s not about regret, merely consideration…ponderings.

Which brings me to my next line of reasoning…here goes…brace yourself…ok: does God have a specific course for our lives?  My answer might surprise you…for me it would be no…that doesn’t mean faithfulness doesn’t play into it all or that I would have done anything differently.  But the God I know doesn’t work like that.  We aren’t controlled or forced to do anything, like some sort of pet on a leash…free will for us all means just that.  Our walkways, pathways, country roads and cobble stone avenues are chosen by us.  God may do some convicting, prodding, convincing and other means of conversation along the way, but these selections of ours…are just that.

Still, my path is wearing thin the treads on these running shoes, I am caked in the dust I’ve stirred up along the way…but I’m happy.  I may have a skinned knee or two, some scars to prove I’m by far not the most graceful sojourner on these travels…but I would be a fool if I have not learned a thing or two along the way.  I’ve learned that not all leaders are right, some as human as they come,  fall, make mistakes, and hurt our pride, souls and curve out pieces of our hearts…no one ever said it was going to be easy.  Still other leaders, their foot prints I follow along this path…they have loved and left impression upon who I thought I was and who I am striving to be…diamonds in the rough.  There are friends who befriend you for but a short time, perhaps with ill intentions, ambitions and selfish motivations then paths take different directions, some infect us for better or worse – all of it making us strong because of it.  While other friends, on journeys on their own come along side us, love us for who we are not who they’ve perceived us to be and better us by challenging us, sticking up for us and going to hell and back for us – these come but once or twice in a life time (I have found).   Isn’t it interesting what life brings to us from time to time?

I’m not sure where my path will lead me…but I’m content to be faithful, I’m content to keep on moving…But I won’t be content to settle, become static and/or fade away…no there are bigger fish to fry so to speak.  They say Iron sharpens Iron…I’m getting sharper everyday (I hope), and with these razor’s edges I hope I don’t cut myself, fall upon my blade tripped up by pride, arrogance or foolishness.  Yes I’m not sure where my path will lead me…But I will be faithful.  Steady as it comes.

pathways

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Community…love it or hate?

Let’s be honest, living in community isn’t easy. We all know it, but we don’t say it because it’s kind of a sensitive subject…it effects you and me. We live in community with a lot of people whether we know it our not. Your co-workers – community. Your family – community. Your church – community. Your Neighrhood – yeah still community.

How we interact sometimes depends on how a particular relationship is at that time…if there’s been a falling out or disagreement that community might be strained or awkward. But no matter how you slice it we live in community…unless you’re a hermit in the woods.

With that being said, community can either be a positive or negative experience. Just look in the bible at Acts chapter 2 for an excellent example of a positive experience in community. After the day of Pentecost the early followers of Christ began an amazing house church community in which things thrived and exploded. They shared everything with one another such as food and financial resources. There was harmony and the sense of love was overwhelming. This was and still is one of the most amazing examples of community working, active and thriving in all of history.

I could give examples of unhealthy, negative communities but all one has to do to see this is to flip on a reality television or even experience it (possibly) in a co-worker dispute or family disagreement. It happens.
We are all susceptible to selfish ambitions and pride…the question is do we want to change? Is change possible? Can we grow?

Community isn’t easy, blow outs take place…but is it possible to exist in an Acts 2 community in our world? I believe it’s possible, but in order to get there we have to take off our mantles or pride and selfishness and adopt an attitude of Christ-like selflessness and humility…when or if we ever get there watch out because THAT community will be a magnet to many who witness it.

But first…compassion, selflessness and humility. -Micah 6:8

Just a thought.

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Crushed, Mushed, Yet Persistent

crushing your head

Ok I admit it, I used to love this sketch, but today it reminds me of something more than just comedy…although HA! This sketch still makes me laugh.

“In every way we’re troubled, but we aren’t crushed by our troubles. We’re frustrated, but we don’t give up.”

(2 Corinthians 4:8)

This has been one of my favorite passages for a long time, and I’ll tell you why…one word ‘Hope’.  Not ‘hope’ in the sense of wishes, like “I hope it will be warmer tomorrow”, but rather the confidence in something so much more absolute and dependable.  The hope that is conveyed here by the apostle Paul is a confidence in God and in the mission of this great truth of Christ.

If someone who had been beaten for his faith could relate to such an emotion as hope, then there must be something to it for us as well.  Paul had been obsessed with eradicating these heretic followers of Christ when he was known as Saul, before the blinding celestial lights on the highway to Damascus came on.  His experience there transformed him into a “won’t back down” kind of missionary and evangelist.  He wasn’t in it for fame, certainly not fortune because there was none and his political and notoriety took a nose dive following his decision to declare Christ’s message to the known world.  Paul knew that this road he was on would lead him to his eventual death…yet he didn’t take the next exit off this highway.

It kind of boggles the mind doesn’t it?  This dude was beaten for his faith; he had been put in chains, and was serving Christ in various house arrests, ship wreaks, and eventually his ultimate sacrifice of execution.   If there was ever a “who’s who” of hard-core Christ followers, Paul would most definitely be on that list!  Yet in his difficulties, in his personal struggles and leadership struggles, he writes this letter of encouragement and hope to a church he hadn’t seen in a year.

The very first chapter he writes; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in ALL our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, which the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”(2 Cor. 3-4).

Not only was Paul confident in this hope that was in God, but he wanted others to know this comfort, confidence and hope too.  His love for others placed him in danger yet he didn’t quit, withdraw, or deny his allegiance to God through the Messiah Christ Jesus.

Have you been crushed, pressed on all sides?  Do you feel discouraged, let down, torn by life circumstances?  Have you considered throwing up the white flag and giving up?  You are not alone!  I’ve been there, might be there again tomorrow…I don’t know.  But what I do know is that this message that Paul wrote a looooooong time ago, is for me and you too!  We may not face certain death for our convictions or declarations of faith, but we do face trouble because of it.  Your struggle might be spiritual, physical or a little of both.  Whatever you’re going through today, you are not alone, and God does NOT want you to give up either!

I’ve never been or wanted to be on the “who’s who” list of Hard-core followers of Christ, but I know still today, God calls us to take giant stands for Him, and whatever comes of these convictions and proclamations…we won’t back down or quit.  This isn’t some call to arms, or some strange militia rant, this is a declaration of faith, and the knowledge that God will comfort you and me even in the most difficult of circumstances.

So stand firm, be bold, and don’t give up!

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