Do I have enough courage?

This is something I have been thinking about for almost a year – ever since my daughter went to Honduras.  I had no idea what she was going to experience while she was there and it was a good thing I didn’t know.  I may not have been as supportive had I known that she was going to be going places with armed guards.

As parents we want to protect our children.  In fact, I contend that we overprotect them.  We have been told that real Christians are blessed materially, have automatic protection from God, and are always safe.  Our young people today don’t believe this.  They are not searching for safety.  They are not nearly as interested in materialistic things as their parents.  They are seeking to use their lives to make an impact.  They are aching for a life that has meaning and not just things. 

As a parent, I want my child to live a long happy secure life.  I’m not looking for her to take risks.  However, that is not necessarily how God is leading her. 

Matthew 16:25 says “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”  As a parent, am I able to embrace this truth for my child.  Do I trust God with her care?

I have a biblical responsibility to nurture my child, to bring her up in a godly and safe environment. However, my fear about her safety is not an excuse for not preparing her to be used by God and it is not an excuse for not letting her go in the direction that she feels God is leading her.

It is my responsibility as her parent to pray for her.  I need to pray for her safety. John 17:15 says “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”  Do I have the courage to pray this for my child? Do I really want her “in the world”?  Or, do I secretively just want her removed from all possibility of danger?

What if God is preparing her for great adventures in His name?  What if she feels called fulltime to missions – am I prepared for that?  Is my preoccupation with her safety interfering with what God might be calling her to do?  Am I willing to stand by her and support her in all God has planned for her?

My daughter is preparing for her third mission trip this spring.  She will be spending a week in Guatemala.  I am praying that God will keep the group safe and allow them to complete the tasks that lay before them.  I am also praying that God will use this time in my child’s life to draw her into a closer relationship with Him.  I want her to seek God’s will for her life and then have the courage to follow Him in it.  That’s a tough prayer for me to pray … Do I have the courage to pray for that and to let go and let God work in her life?

 

The Long and Winding Road

I wrote yesterday about looking back on my life and seeing stepping stones. Seeing all the places God has led me in order for me to get the experiences I needed to be effective in the position I am in today.  God has always been faithful to lead me and provide for me.

What struck me today was the idea that the path has not always been straight.  Sometimes it seems like it was three steps forward and two steps back.  Sometimes the road was very crooked and wound around.  Sometime I took the long way to get where God wanted me to be.  Sometimes the path got rocky but that just caused me to trust God more.  The main idea here is that you have to keep your eye on God and trust that He knows what is best for you.

Habakkuk 3:19  “The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Isaiah 40:31  “those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Stepping Stones

There have been many times in my life when I’ve been able to look back and see God’s hand on my life.  I’ve been able to see how God led me to different jobs and how each one was needed to move me to the next one.  It is easy to see the stepping stones looking back.

I am now at a time in my life where I don’t know where God is leading me.  I know that my family is packing up everything we have and moving to rural PA when school is out.  I know that I must immediately have a job.  I know that my husband must immediately have a job.  I know that I have a condo and a house to sell in GA before I can think about buying a house in PA.  I know that my daughter is starting college in PA in the fall.

What I don’t know is how it is all going to work out.  As I look forward there are no stepping stones in sight.  I am sticking out my foot and taking a step in faith that there will be stone under my foot when I set it down.

I am confident that the Lord knows what is going on.  I am confident that he will provide for my family.  I know that God loves me and wants the best for me and my family.  I am confident that God is leading and directing us in this journey.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

We are committed to living our lives in a way that would please God.  We walk by faith in Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:7 

Proverbs 3:5-6  
“ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. “

Trusting is hard.  I want to see the stepping stones laid out in a path in front of me.

Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths   (Ps 25:4).
Direct my steps by Your Word  (Ps 119:136).
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;   (Ps 32:8).
God's word is the lamp unto your feet and a light to your path   (Ps 119:105)

Be Afraid but Don’t Live in Fear

 

Hmm.  With a title like this you are probably thinking I am crazy.  In the words of Lucille Ball, “Let me explain.”

I think Christians have lost sight of the idea that God is holy and that he cannot and will not tolerate sin.   We live with the philosophy that we can do anything we want and just confess it later.  We don’t have a healthy fear of God.   In Deuteronomy 5:29 God tells us to fear Him and to keep his commandments.  The relationship that you entered with God when accepted Christ as your Savior should be one of love but also one of obedience, reverence and fear.

Psalm 19:9 “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.”

Psalm 33:18 “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him”

Psalm 34:7-11 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

I could list a lot more verses like those above.  It seems very apparent to me that Christians have lost sight of the power of God, the holiness of God, and the idea that God is to be feared.

I know that some of you are thinking that this was just for the Old Testament people and not for today.  After all doesn’t Jesus love me?  Shouldn’t that remove the fear I have?  The writers of the New Testament continue the theme of fearing God.

Acts 9:31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

Acts 10:34-35  “Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Paul writes this in 2 Corinthians 5:11  “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”

In Philippians, Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

I’m afraid that today’s Christians do not fear God.  They do not fear Jesus.  They do not fear the Holy Spirit.  They come to Jesus for what He can do for them.  They come for what they can get out of it.  It is a need-based relationship.  That kind of gospel will attract lots of people but it will not transform their lives.  It is not until people realize the holiness of God and their need to fear and reverence him that their lives change.

Now let me balance that with a few other ideas. I don’t think God wants us to live in fear of the future or of others.

Deuteronomy 31:6  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We conquer fear in our lives with the Word of God.  When the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus simply quoted scripture. 

Hebrews 4:2 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword”

Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”

Let me wind this up by saying, study who God is.  Understand his character and his attributes.  When you begin to understand who God is, you can’t help but fear Him.  In that fear, you will also develop a great love for Him.  In his perfection and holiness, He loves us – his fallen creation.  How He can love someone like me is something I will never understand.  I live by faith in the God.  I love him and I trust him to go before me and to take care of me.  However, I must never lose sight of his holiness and his character and that demands my obedience and worship.

You Lost Me

I am reading the book You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church…and Rethinking Faith.

The main idea I have gotten from the book so far is that the problem is a disciple-making problem.   The church is not adequately preparing young people to follow Christ faithfully in their rapidly changing culture.  “Teenagers are the most religiously active group in America.  American twentysomethings are the least religiously active group.”  What has happened to them?  Why have they not remained faithful.

Young Christians are describing Christianity as hypocritical, judgmental, too political, and out of touch with reality.

Survey of Protestant young people ages 18 – 29

• Ever dropped out of attending church, after going regularly - 61%
• Ever personally been significantly frustrated about your faith – 51%
• Compared to age 15, less spiritual today – 31%
• Compared to age 15, less active in church today – 58%
• Went through a period when you significantly doubted your faith – 41%
• Went through a period when you felt like rejecting your parents’ faith – 35%

The author (David Kinnaman) breaks this group of “lost” young people into three groups.

• Nomads – walk away from church engagement but still consider themselves Christians
• Prodigals – lose their faith; describing themselves as “no longer Christian”
• Exiles – are still invested in their Christian faith but feel stuck between culture and the church

These lost young people have a favorable view of Jesus but they aren’t personally committed to the faith.  Many have not lost faith in Christ but have lost faith in the church.  They see the church as not culturally relevant. 

“They read and respect the Bible (for information) but they do not perceive that its words lay claim to their obedience (wisdom).”

I will continue to pray for our young people.  They are our hope for the future.

I’m a Quitter

I have been working long hard days this year.  Most have been 10 – 12 hour days and lots of nights and weekends.  I’m exhausted but that is what is required for me to do a good job at my work. Now we are working a man short and so instead of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, all I see is more long nights and weeks.  I am frustrated.  I am tired.  I can’t keep going …

I searched my life for things I could eliminate in order to make more space.  I needed to find some relief.  I know my decision is not a good one for the long term but for the short term, it is what it is.  I quit church choir.  I love to sing and choir is usually an enjoyable time for me.  However, practices are at 4:45 on Sunday afternoons.  I would get home from church, change clothes, eat lunch, do dishes, and it was time to go back to church.  I had to make some free time in my life.    Now I am taking Sunday nights for some “me” time.  Is that selfish?  Time to read a book or take a nap. Time to catch my breath before starting the next hard week.

I know that I need to be involved in ministry and I know that I am not currently doing much – outside of working with my students at school. My quitting was not because I had my feelings hurt.  Quitting was not because I was mad. I am not quitting church, just the choir. 

Is this a lack of commitment on my part or is it just necessary for my survival?  Am I justified in this decision or am I letting others down who were counting on me? 

I am still committed to the Lord and I am still committed to my church.  I just need a break for a while.  Am I taking the easy way out?  Why do I feel guilty?

Steve Jobs is dead …..

Steve Jobs is dead at the age of 56.  His death was a global news story.  He is known for  impacting the world through Apple computer.  He is largely responsible for the creation and evolution of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.  He had great wealth and vision.  What did he do that will affect eternity?  How did he spend his time? What can we learn from this man?

 

Steve Jobs was an amazing man.  God gifted him with creativity, drive, ambition, and a vision for the future.  He changed the way people interact with each other and with the world.  He was a college drop-out but a genius . After dropping out of required college courses, he “dropped in” on the ones that interested him.  Courses like graphic design and art.  His understanding of aesthetics and his love for art and calligraphy greatly impacted the technology that we have today.  Do all of his accomplishments mean that the world is better off today?  We have unprecedented access to information  but do we have greater understanding?  I don’t think so.  Mankind still struggles with the same things they have since the beginning of time. 

Below is an excerpt from Steve Jobs’ 2005 Commencement Address at Stanford.

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

While I have seen no evidence that Steve was a believer, ultimately that is between Steve and God.  We have no idea what went on in Steve’s heart, especially in his last days as he faced his own mortality.  It is important for us to know that it is possible to lead a successful life, to be the creator of incredible inventions, to impact the world and the way they communicate,  and yet that none of these accomplishments can earn him one minute in heaven. 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. “ Ephesians 2:8-9

Let Steve’s life and words remind us that life is short.  Don't waste it on things that don’t matter.  Pray that God will help you know what does matter.  Pray that the Lord will help order your steps and your priorities. 

Be thankful to God for giving us Steve Jobs.  There is no doubt that he had many gifts and talents.  Be thankful to God that he used those talents to provide us with wonderful tools and gadgets.  Then seek ways to use those tools to impact the world around you.