Thursday's Thoughts from Heroes of the Faith



"Prayer does not consist in an effort to obtain from God the things that are necessary for this life. Prayer is an effort to lay hold of God Himself, the Author of life, and when we have found Him who is the source of life and have entered into communion with Him, then the whole of life is ours and with Him all that will make life is perfect." -Sadhu Sundar Singh

The Wurst Day of My Lif

I stood in the dollar section of Toys R Us, back when there was a dollar section. I was barely five years old, and my mom and dad told me I could get whatever I wanted. I picked out a little diary with a lock (muahahaha!) and two keys in case one got lost. The little plastic-coated book was covered with rainbows, butterflies and unicorns.

Here's one of my first entries word for word:

3 bsambr (I think I meant December...)
to DAY We'er Pooting re CHRisMis CHRee up today i Like it
so we're i Hop i get to poot som uv tHem on.
AftR We go to geeet IAN AND Levi's to geet THAR HARE cut
tHe END

If you just read that, not only am I amazed, but I'm giving you a standing ovation here in my living room.

Anyway, to make a long story short, almost every diary entry said this: "dear dairy, this is the wrst day iv ever had. the end" When you're only six and your little life is just about perfect, the problems that make days the worst days of your life are pretty darn small. (For instance, if your brother steals the lollipop that you had been planning to eat after dinner, that day instantly becomes the worst day of your life.)

Unfortunately, I was only inspired to write when things weren't going my way, so the entire book is comprised of little-bitty Lauren saying, "This is worst day of my life!" (Just so you know, if your writing style is similar, I wouldn't advise reading your first diary out loud to your mother, because she'll start crying. And I especially advise against this if you happen to be the sort of person who crys when you see other people crying. And I really, really advise against this if your dad is down the hall when you both start crying and he gets really confused when people cry. And I....well, you get the picture.)

Now, when I look back at this fancifully-covered book of six year-old depression, I am amazed by how easily I became upset. What in the world did I have to be upset about? I had everything I could ever need, not to mention the comfort of being held in the arms of my perfect Jesus. In the same way that my "problems" are now laughable, I'll bet my King is watching the things I worry about now and saying, "I see the big picture, Lauren, and, believe Me, there's nothing to worry about."

And now I shall end with another uplifting quote from "Lauren's Diary":

"21tH januarer
Dear Diray,
MY DAD is mene mene mene
.tHe. END."

Just Jesus

I could say something about the need for some New Year's resolutions.

I could say something allegorical about Christmas cookies or the fact that Christmas decorations are unnecessary.

I could say something about the need to go on a diet after too much fudge and how that's just like our need for a "spiritual diet."

I could say something about how the star on our tree reminds me of our need to shine the light of Christ.

Those are all very bloggy things to say.

But, for some reason, Jesus is pressing on my heart tonight something far simpler:

It's about Me- not just December 25th, but the 26th, and the 27th, and the 28th- and as soon as you let Me love you the way that I long to, all of the things you're afraid of and wondering about and worrying about and hiding away in your heart from fear will melt away.

All it takes is one glance of your eyes, My love, and I am smitten.
I need your love.
I yearn for it.
I yearn for you.

As much as I love the way that you think about Me and read about Me and talk about Me, what I really long for is for you to experience Me.

Don't just make time for Me, Lauren- let your day revolve around Me.




Let Me have your life, darling.    

Not "Home for the Holidays"

During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it's easy to think that life revolves around sugar cookies and holly. Frivolous worries fill our minds. Things like, "Oh, no! The fudge is too thick!" and "Ahh! The tree fell over!" have been expressed in our house over the past few weeks. These seem like major problems. After all, what would Christmas be without fudge and Christmas trees?

As my mind ponders those "problems" every year, I always come to the conclusion that Christmas has nothing to do with those things- those are just our human attempts to celebrate Jesus' birth. Still, it's awfully hard not to get caught up in the flood of tinsle that the television throws at us every year.

I was talking with one of my piano students yesterday about her plans for Christmas. She works at a nursing home and rehabilitation center. As nursing homes go, this one gets a pretty low grade- stark white walls and the smell of disinfectant make it feel more like a hospital than a haven. I knew that she sometimes works on holidays, so I asked her if she would be working on Christmas.

"Well, yeah, but I like working on the holidays because all of the residents are shut up there and don't get to see their families."

What an amazing attitude! I can't imagine working on Christmas, let alone in that drafty old place. Still, this humble young woman would rather be there than anywhere else because she is not caught up in self.

It doesn't matter what time of year it is- we need to be living for eternity.

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24   

Serve Wholeheartedly

"I think you might have 2's & 3's tomorrow," my mom reminded me. "You might want to check the schedule."

With a sinking feeling, I pulled out the paper. Yes, she was right. Great. I was going to miss the sermon, again just so I could watch a handful of crying, runny-nosed kids. I knew exactly what would happen. They would play with the same toys, knock over the same blocks, and cry about the same things. I would read them Bible stories from the same picture book, sing the same songs, and hand out the same stale animal crackers. Sure sounds like fun, doesn't it?

The next morning, I my attitude was only worse.

"Would you like to sit together during the service?" My friend said as we left our Sunday School class.

"Can't." I looked over my shoulder towards the classroom, where children were already being dropped off. "I've got 2's & 3's today. This is the third sermon I've missed this month!"

I made my way over to the classroom, and had an experience much like the ones I had every month. There were a few tears, they didn't want to glue down the cotton balls, they happily ate the stale crackers, they played with the play-dough. And, in the back of my mind, I was grumpy and wishing I wasn't there.

Not long later, I came across this verse:

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever he does, whether he is slave or free." Ephesians 6:7-8

I began to think about what the true purpose was for watching these children. Yes, I did it so their parents could have a break during the service, and to teach these little ones about Jesus. But the ultimate purpose? It is to serve Christ. And if I am serving Christ with a wimpy attitude, then there is hardly any point in serving at all.

Tomorrow, it's my turn to watch the 2's & 3's again. You know what? I'm going to serve filled with the Lord's power and joy.

Maybe you'll be serving tomorrow, too. Maybe you're teaching Sunday School to some restless, teenage boys. Maybe you're counting the offering, shelving the library books, working the sound system, playing the guitar, or serving the morning coffee.

It's easy to look at these things as mundane, to find them unimportant or even boring. But if we serve Jesus filled with joy, and as an act worship, think of what can change!

Tomorrow, let's focus on Christ, and serve Him with our whole heart.

What is Success?



We all have our own definitions of it, but here is Merriam-Webster's:

"the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame"

Really? I don't remember Jesus achieving that status. Not only was He not wealthy, but the fact that He was spat upon and hung on a cross made Him successfully complete the mission that He came to earth for- the reason that He was a baby in a manger in the first place.

He may have been famous, but it wasn't because He was rich.

He may have been respected, but not by everyone- that's for sure!

He may have been wealthy spiritually, but the Bible never mentions Him having a stash of money.

This past fall I began my own little business in lieu of going to college right away, and I'm loving it. I started with a goal, which was to make a certain amout of money in one month. I knew it might take me a couple of months to get to that point, but I was willing to take the time to get there.

I made almost twice my goal in my very first month. (Believe me, I'm not saying that to brag. All glory goes to God because He's the One who did it!)

"Now what?" I keep asking myself. "What am I living for now?"

Wait a minute...what am I living for now?

What was I living for then?

Money is great, but if we only live to make more of it, even with good intentions for what we'll use it for, what's the point?

Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

That's our ultimate goal. Even if we achieve success by everyone else's standards, Jesus is the One whose applause we need to live for.

"When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:22

Don't go away from this blog all depressed like the foolish young man. He was living for wealth, which will only fade away, but we have the excitement of knowing that the greatest joy comes from spending ourselves for the sake of Christ.

Soul Food

One thing we all seem to have in common, is a love for food. Really, it's pathetic. Whether we eat bangers and mash, beans and rice, or a hamburger and fries, we all seem to find comfort in food. We all know what we like and how we like it.

Christmas is no different. This very minute my mother is making gingerbread cookies, and the smell is wonderful! But the truth is "stinky". While children around the world struggle to stay alive, we gorge ourselves (myself included) with candies, cookies, and big dinners. Bookstores are filled with cookbooks, perhaps how to decorate cute cupcakes, but nothing about the fact that 25,000 children die everyday from hunger.

However, I'm not sharing this so we can feel guilty. Yes, take action to a line your food habits, but I'm thinking of something much more important--soul food.

Are you being fed by spiritual food? Or, are you being fueled by friends, pastimes, and fun? When you taste the feast God has prepared for you, you'll realize what you're missing out on.

Taste some spiritual food!

Open Heart Surgery

It's painful, but necessary.

...and I wouldn't recommend looking up pictures of it on Google.

At this time of year, I always look back over things and start to panic. My life flashes before my eyes, and I realize just how little I value my Jesus and my relationship with Him. By the end of the year, He's often become Someone on the backburner, and that's what makes me panic most of all. I know where He belongs, and I begin to understand why things aren't going quite right- because He's not there.

It's not that He has left me. That has nothing to do with it. It's that I promise to pray for an hour and then decide that I would much rather watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and munch on Christmas cookies instead, or I decide to fast sugar for a week and then cave at the sight of fresh fudge sitting on the counter. It's not that God praises my good works, but that I leave Him in the dust as I follow my own desires.

That's what scares me.

But, guess what?

He's not scared.

All I need to do is hand myself over to Him. My heart, in particular, has been clogged by all that I ingest by this world. I take it in and accept it as true- "What do you want? How do you feel? Because that's what's important." We even make Christmas about ourselves.

Christmas. 

And, the saddest part is, I'm afraid to hand myself over to Jesus. I willingly take in all that the world has to offer and believe it, but I'm reluctant to entrust myself into the hands of my dearest Friend.

Watch this video. Please? Pretty please? I promise you won't be wasting your time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viyoljLicqo&NR=1  

"It is what it is"...or is it?

I recently read an article full of tips for the parents of teenagers. The list included, "Don't be angry with your son when he calls in the middle of the night drunk and in need of a ride home," and "Just remind your daughter about the prevalence of STDs- don't expect her not to sleep around."

Unfortunately, these standards are not much lower than those that Christian parents use with their kids. I was just speaking with a woman whose daughter was dating a guy and broke up with him because he wanted to sleep with her. Soon after their break-up, he left for a year-long overseas missions trip.

Even more unfortunate is the fact that this isn't just a problem faced by teenagers when it comes to their romantic flings- it's a problem that Christians brush aside every single day.

All of the time I hear "it is what it is" spoken about all sorts of things. However, if you've ever read the Bible, you'll likely be able to remember the fact that Jesus never spoke those words. In fact, He wasn't ever satisfied with lukewarm, everyday, "blah" things. He was on fire for His Father, and that fire took over everything that He did and said. (He even cooked fish for His disciples, and I'll bet you ten shekels that it was pretty darn good fish.)

I was reading Psalm 115 the other day and the fact that we are Christ's only vessels came over me. We're it. Without us, He has no body. Sadly enough, though, often even with us He has no body because we're not willing to strive for excellence in our walk with Him and be His hands and feet to those around us.

It's worth noting here that our walk with Him is just that- a walk. It has nothing to do with how long we read the Bible in the morning or how long with pray at night, as important as those things are, because no one else sees them. What they see is our work. Saying that our alone time with God is the only important part of our Christian walk is like saying that a huddle is the only important part of a football game. No one pays hundereds of dollars for a ticket to sit and watch people huddle- they come to see the game.

You might argue that your job isn't spiritual, your school isn't about Christ, and the work that you do can't have anything to do with God. That's not important. I don't care if you're a plumber- God is all about excellence, and if what we do isn't excellent than it doesn't reflect Him. Thankfully, the opposite is true, too.

"Not to us, Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, 'Where is their God?'" Psalm 115:1-2

They say "Where is their God?" because we're the only way the nations can see Him.

Just Something to Ponder...

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. Isaiah 55:10-11