Wrestling Satan

"Satan's ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie is truth."
~ Neil Anderson ~

He's good. He's really good. I don't even believe the lie and still fall prey to it.

Sunday morning, singing worship songs, my mind wandered to a recent hurt and it was all I could think about. I tried pushing it out. I shut my eyes and tried to focus on Him, but didn't do such a hot job. The tears were right at the surface. "God this still stings. What do You want me to do about it? What steps should I take?" All questions about ME in a time for adoration of HIM. Realizing my self-centeredness made me even more weepy.

This is not an isolated incident. I do it all the time. I think of myself first. When my immediate reaction to any news is how it will affect me or how I'd feel if it happened to me, have I been taken captive by Satan's lie? Is my selfishness an indication I want to be the god of my own life?

But this is only human, you may say. Yes, but only because Satan got Adam and Eve to believe they could know as much as God, be like God, maybe even BE God. Had they not fallen victim to Satan's lie, egocentricity wouldn't be the human condition.

WOW, do I need help with this. Lord, bring the burning coal for my mouth. What d'ya got for the rest of me?

Oh wait, you covered that, didn't You, with Your Son's blood. Thank You, Jesus. Never have I needed a gift more.




Go to Fruit in Season to see more ideas on this quote.

Walking on in faith

A long night. Tossing and turning. Dreaming, waking. No real crisis, but a general sense of anxiety. Are You there, Lord?

Redeeming the time in the wee hours of the morning didn't help. Familiar Bible passages that usually do the trick did not calm. Earnest prayers, but no peace. Be still and know that I am God. Quiet and concerted focus on God alone, yet the heaviness lingered. I miss You, Lord.

There was seeking, but no finding.

Even so, life went on. Tasks were accomplished. People attended to. Decisions made. The day passed without incident. Is it possible. . .could You be there all along without me feeling You?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Whether we feel Him or not. Whether there is joy or pain, laughing or tears, calm or nervousness.

. . .weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Or a few days later.

. . .you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Thank You, Lord.


Photo courtesy of Agent Magenta at flickr.com.

Be who you are

"You act more like a Christian by your influence on the lost, then the saved people you impress"
~ Dr. Alvin Reid ~

Influencing the lost. Impressing the saved. Both sound like a lot of pressure. If I consciously have either in the forefront of my mind, I already feel defeated. For me, the best way to act like a Christian is to be united with Christ. I will have no effect whatsoever on anyone without His divine touch in me, without His Spirit guiding me.

Okay, now I feel better. We've established the ground rules. We are all ineffective without Him.

Now I know this quote is a statement about how we Christians spend more time trying to look good to each other than we do loving others, but it naturally pulls my thinking to evangelism. I'm not crazy about the word. It sounds so ominous and scary and CHURCHY. Talking about evangelism makes me uncomfortable. I'm afraid my witnessing (another scary, ominous, churchy word) will come off like a telemarketer and I'll immediately turn people off. I imagine people rolling their eyes and looking for any excuse to get away.

So I've started thinking of it differently. I figure God made me who I am for a reason. Instead of "witnessing to the lost" (ooh, there's another word for the scary, ominous, churchy list), I should try my best to be myself with everybody. The sharing of my faith should be an outpouring of His Spirit within me, a natural flow of His work in my life, not a dreaded chore. I've decided the best way to approach it is to assume whoever I talk with will understand exactly where I'm coming from. My words concerning God's influence and power in my life should not change depending on who I am with, should they? Truth is truth, right? For instance, let's say I'm standing in line at the grocery store, chit-chatting with the person in front of me about the weather. I like snow because the softness and stillness is soothing to me. It's God sending down a blanket with the message, "Hey, slow down. Sit with Me for a bit." Whether the person in front of me is a Christian or not, I should tell them how I really feel, unashamedly. If they are a Christian, they will appreciate it. If they aren't, they will walk off wondering what I meant, which one day may lead to a conversation about faith. It's win-win. They may think I'm a kook, but I will have made an impression, right? Letting people see our honest thoughts and feelings is honoring, whether they "get it" or not. It says, "I trust you." We love (and maybe even influence people) by showing them how Jesus is part of our everyday. It doesn't matter if they agree or understand. That's the Holy Spirit's job. We are to show them Christ.

It's all matter of me being me without fearing what others will think (This will be a life long lesson--WOW, do I have a hard time with this!). I have to remember I am His creation, whether anyone else thinks I am wonderfully made or not. You are too, my friend. Don't be ashamed of who you are. You are no fluke. Your being, your personality, everything about you has been intentionally designed. You are needed. Love others by being who God created you to be. Don't hold back.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."" (2 Corinthians 3:17-4:1)


Reflect God's glory to all, Christians and non-Christians alike, by being you.




Visit Laurel Wreath for more takes on this quote.

Have you subscribed?

Have you noticed the "Subscribe me!" button to the right of this page? It's there to simplify your life. Are you tired of clicking to the site to see if there's a new post? Save some time and have new posts e-mailed directly to you. When you type in your e-mail address, you will be sent a verification to sign up. Then, in the wee hours of the morning, the magic of the internet will search the past day to see if I've added anything to the blog and automatically drop any new content into your mail box. No new post, no e-mail. Of course, you'll still have to go to the site to leave a comment or read the comments of others, but the e-mail can take you there in a jiffy. If you get tired of getting the e-mails, you can unsubscribe any day by following the directions at the bottom of any mail received. It's easy! It's fun! It's hip! It's almost too good to be true! (Yeah, yeah, I know, a little over the top, but am I tempting you?) Come on, live a little. Join the thousands of happy people, well, hundreds. . .okay, okay, handful of happy people who are a part of this blog family. Sign up today!

Wanting to cultivate

I had lunch with my mom today. My mom is great. She is smart and fun-loving and thoughtful and giving and beautiful. Growing up, whenever people would tell me I looked like my mom, it was the hugest compliment. I hope I age as well as she has--no gray eyelashes on this woman! Last year, when she went to ask a few questions about Social Security issues, she was actually asked to show some identification to prove her age! She is an incredible person in her own right (there's many more posts there), but she always makes me feel like a million bucks, like there's no one on the face of the earth quite as amazing as me (see how awesome she is?!). I found myself jabbering on incessantly with her today. She made me feel confident and capable, which, if you read this blog regularly, you'll know is not always the norm for me.

On the way home I wondered why I can be so animated with some people like my mom and with others be so boring and quiet. Why can I be at ease with some and intimidated by others? Why is it easy to spill my guts with one person, yet put my guard up with another? What makes the difference?

In looking for the answer, I thought about other people who bring out this feeling in me. When I was dating my husband I liked him because he was one of the first men I knew who enjoyed my sense of humor. He would actually listen intently and chuckle, like he thought I was cute or something (go figure!). He still makes me feel special when he laughs at my silliness. I see the same look in my kids' eyes as they try to call me "old school", yet smirk favorably and shake their heads at my goofy comments. "Mom," they say with a giggle (and sometimes a blush). Approving smiles of friends put me at ease, giving me permission to be who I am without reservation. The acceptance makes me feel so alive. In the presence of people who love and appreciate me and my uniqueness, I absolutely thrive.

I don't think I can be alone in this. I'm assuming you've felt this too. Which makes me wonder, what do I need to do to make others thrive? How can I show them the kind of love and appreciation that will make them flourish? How can I make people feel comfortable enough to let their real selves come out and shine?



I suppose first I have to know them. I have to hear their words and remember them so they know I was really listening. I have to look for THEM, not their outward appearance, but their heart. I have to find the good. I have to appreciate where they have been. I have to love them in my smile and show my appreciation in my eyes (a pat on the arm may not hurt either). Do you suppose this is how people felt in Jesus' presence, the love and acceptance appreciating their uniqueness? Is that why people were drawn to Him? Is that why WE are drawn to Him?

I know it's a tall order, but I want to love others this way. I want to give them permission to be themselves and watch them thrive. I know I'll probably fail more than I succeed, but I'm going to give it my best shot. How about you? You want to revel in the joy of another?

Photos courtesy of pesotum and orhan at flickr.

Wisdom

"Let us learn to discern whether the words spoken against us or against God or against the truth are merely for the wind--spoken not from the soul, but from the sore. If they are for the wind, let us wait in silence and not reprove. Restoring the soul, not reproving the sore, is the aim of our love."

~ John Piper from "A Godward Life"~

I freely admit my guilt. I have gone off at the mouth. I have uttered things that would have been better left unsaid. Though I normally choose my words carefully and with much thought, I made a colossal mistake this past year and deeply hurt people I love. The pain I caused punched me in the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I was forced to look hard at who I am and what God has called me to do. My confidence was shattered and my inward being crushed. It was not pleasant, not at all.

But my greatest blunder became my greatest blessing when the same people I hurt were willing to let my words be "for the wind." They put their own pain aside to restore me. It couldn't have been easy. It had to be a conscious choice on their part (more than a few times) to forgive and continue loving me. Their grace provided my healing. It was absolutely sacrificial and the greatest picture of love and mercy I have seen in very long time. Their willingness to forgive and move on allowed God's work to continue, unmarred by conflict. It helped me press on, better from the experience.

Such sacrificial love is a huge gift, both to me and to our Lord. It provides unity in the body of Christ and inspires me to be better. How can I ever repay these people? By doing the same for others when they hurt me. It is true words cut deep, but holding on to them serves no greater purpose in the cause of Christ. I need to adopt Proverbs 19:11 into my daily thinking: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense." People of character and maturity are able to do what is best for all. I pray I learn this lesson. I have seen first hand how the ability to let some words be "for the wind" has dramatic effects in restoration. I sincerely thank those of you who have done this for me. I will never forget it.



See some other impressions of this quote at Joy in the Morning.

Ironic

I know I'm still using the old version of Blogger, but does anyone else find it funny that the spell checker flags the word "blog" or any form of the word?!

Distinctive Notes Bible Study

Twice a month my husband does a short Bible study geared towards musicians and artists on his website Distinctive Notes. Each time we talk about it I find original thought I want to blog about. Since I never get around to it and because he is a big boy who many people don't realize is a really smart guy, I decided to let his words speak for themselves. Read what he has to say about art (and artists) being polluted by the world.

Tell me one thing

Tell me one thing, Lord. Why are we here? Why put us here, longing for something we can't have yet? There are so many days I don't feel cut out for this world, so many days I wish I was more. I want to act better, look better, BE better. But I'm not. Oh, I can improve and I try, but I will never be what I want because I am human. I will always be lacking. I suppose I should be thankful for that because it makes me very aware of my need for You, but honestly, tonight I am not. Tonight I am tired of trying, tired of doing what is right, tired of yearning to understand. Tonight I fall before You and ask You to make something of me, of my puny human efforts that never seem enough. I want to feel Your acceptance and love. I know I don't deserve it, believe me I know, but just this once could You let me see?

It's hard living on earth, Lord. Give me enough of You to press on.

Aghast, but not without hope

I was doing my hair when I spotted it. I could hardly believe my eyes. Wait a minute. . .is that? No. It couldn't be. . .could it? Oh, please no, not another nail in my coffin.

I thought I saw a gray EYELASH.

Because sometimes my black hair shines a funny blue color in the light, I thought my eyes might be playing tricks on me, so I got a little closer to the mirror. I scooted as close as I could to the nearest light bulb and looked long and hard.

My fears were confirmed. It was only about an eighth of an inch long, but it was there, on my left lower eyelid. . .a tiny gray eyelash.

I'm finally getting used to the gray hairs sprouting out of my head, but EYELASHES?! No one told me my eyelashes would turn colors!! If it were on my head, I'd waste no time yanking the sucker out, but an eyelash, well, you can't have too many of those, right? Besides, mascara would cover the gray anyway.


A friend told me this week I need to learn to grow old gracefully, which made me realize I have a problem with vanity. I guess I thought growing old gracefully was for old people (whose camp I haven't put myself in, yet), but I didn't think about how you get there. It's not like you wake up one day and say, "Hey, I'm old now, so I better be graceful about it." We learn to be graceful by embracing the changes in our bodies as they happen (does anyone else feel the urge to hurl right now?).

I'd rather think of growing old gracefully as accepting the changes, ALL the changes, not just the ones I'm not crazy about. I need to remember though my physical body is deteriorating, my mental, emotional and spiritual facets are getting better all the time. Growing older is not all bad. Yep, I said it and I'll say it again, growing older is not all bad. There is more to it than what meets the eye (and changes the eyelash!). As 2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us, "we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." I may be slowly decaying on the outside, but my inside is becoming spectacular.

So I will not lose heart. I will look at my little gray eyelash and smile. I will make it a reminder that something greater goes on within me. God is working on something beautiful there and what is done inside lasts forever. My little gray eyelash won't. Happy aging, friends!

Photo Credit: quinn.anya at flickr.com

In Other Words

"Wherever you are spiritually whatever you have been through emotionally, you are already wrapped in the Lord's embrace. Held close by nail-scarred hands."
~ Liz Curtis Higgs~

My head knows this is true. My knowledge of Scripture confirms it. Godly people I respect and admire concur. It is pretty and appealing, causing me to imagine a compassionate Father holding me in His lap as I weep. It's a beautiful picture of love, one I desperately want to grasp.

But. . .sometimes I just don't feel it.

In the dark I plead, "Lord, where are You? Why? Why are we doing this? Where did I mess up?" I second guess myself. I second guess my God. Some days His path does not seem worth the pain. I ask Him to show up in a big way and the day goes on as usual. I pray for His comfort and still I cry into my pillow. If He is really there in the tough times when my faith is weak and my emotions raw, why can't I feel Him?

Though I don't feel His embrace, it is still there. "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart. . ." (Isaiah 40:11)

Though it may take me a few days or weeks or months or years to work through the present crisis, He is near, holding on tight. "The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

Though I can't physically feel His hand on my head imparting His blessing, it rests there nonetheless. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11)

Though I can't see my way out of the dark, He will see me through. "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34:17)

These promises are not idle words, they are HIS word. They are TRUTH, whether we feel it or not.

Therein lies real faith, real, enduring, steadfast faith--believing when we cannot see, believing when we cannot feel. This is what separates the men from the boys, (the women from the girls?), the faithful from the faithless. Trusting when we can't feel His presence puts our faith in the big leagues. I may not feel, but I can know and knowing His Truth provides stability in the darkest of days. May we embrace the times we can't feel Him as an opportunity to show God how serious we are. May we rest in Truth.

Thanks to Iris for hosting this week's "In Other Words". Check out some other takes on this quote by visiting her at Sting My Heart.

Ouch! Now what?

It's hard to live with people. There is no way to get into each other's heads. We can't predict how one may take our sense of humor. It's difficult to completely understand another's perspective on any given issue. We don't know where someone has come from or what experience may have caused a sensitive spot for them. And so, in our encounters with people, even those we love, we are bound to hurt each other. It is rarely intentional, yet, I think, inevitable. We are human.

I discussed it with a couple of friends, who felt hurt by the words or actions of someone close to them. "What do you do with those feelings? How do you get rid of them?" we asked. "I know the Christian thing is to forgive and move on," one woman said, "but I just can't shake the feelings."

What do you do when you get your feelings hurt? Do you say something? Do you let it go? I've thought about it all week and wondered at the best way to handle it. I have asked God over and over again, "What am I supposed to do with the feelings?" His response was not what I wanted to hear and will be even harder to put into practice, but here goes. . .

I am not innocent. I have inadvertently hurt, no doubt, lots of people. How would I want them to react to me? Would I want them to stew about it and not let me off the hook?

Reject the "right" to be hurt. Maybe what they did or said was unjustified, but maybe there is an ounce of truth in it. This requires you to suck it up and make the other person more important. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3) Why are MY feelings most important? SHOULD my feelings be most important?

Have the humility to be hurt. "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:29-31) If someone's going to be hurt, why NOT me? Should it be the other person instead? Is that a way to love others? It may not seem fair and we may not like it, but if we model Christ, we need to remember He chose to take our pain.

Don't assume anything. Don't assume the worst. Rarely is someone jabbing you on purpose. A hasty comment may be only that, words said before being thought out too well. I completely blow at this. I've got to quit making something of nothing. Being sensitive in this way totally exposes my pride. If I take things personally, I must think everything is about me, right? Oh, brother, Tami, get over yourself!

Forgive and forgive and forgive. Do I really need to quote the verse about 70 x 7? Enough said.

Trust the people you love to be honest with you and if you have doubts, have the courage to bring it up. I often waffle over whether I should tell someone when they've hurt me. I've decided most of the time it only serves to make ME feel better, not necessarily resolve the situation. However, if the hurt is damaging your relationship, maybe it is time to say something. In doing so, it is important not accuse and to admit your part in the problem. Once it is lovingly put out there, the big elephant can be taken out of the room. You can reconnect in honesty and move on.

Maybe we don't have to get rid of the feelings. Maybe we need to put them in the right place. Maybe we need to deny them. Maybe that is what humility is about, doing what is right despite how we are feeling.

I leave you with the scripture that has been bouncing around in my puny brain all week.

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18)

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14)

(Photo courtesy of jimfrazier at flickr.)

Wanting my words to count

My daughter and I saw Charlotte's Web last week. It was absolutely beautiful. Everything appeared as I imagined from the book--the sights, the sounds, the innocence of Fern. It was all so wholesome and charming. I was hooked from the start. The animals' speaking was so realistic, Wilbur simply adorable and Dakota Fanning completely endearing as Fern. Before ten minutes had expired, I found myself smiling and wishing for such simple times.

Of course I couldn't help but love the ending that incorporates the very last lines of the book. "It's not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both." What a great eulogy! I hope it could be said of me at my funeral.

But the line that really caught my attention is one I have been scouring to find in the book for days, without success. It happens in the last conversation between Wilbur and Charlotte. He is thanking her for all she has done for him and Charlotte says, "Wilbur, I only wrote what I observed in you. You are the miracle." That's what I want to do, I thought. That's what I want this blog to be about, showcasing the miracle of Christ and pointing others to Him just as Charlotte does for Wilbur. She takes no credit for the mysterious messages in her web. She only wants those who read her words to notice her friend. I can only be a true friend and a good writer, like the famous spider, if I concentrate on displaying my Dear Friend, Jesus.

So here's to 2007. May it be a year where my words bring attention to God and not myself. I pray we learn from each other and grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN!