Giving Up More Than Stuff for the Sake of Jesus

I’m a bit late.

Ash Wednesday was last week, the beginning of the Lenten season. 

It’s long been a tradition in some denominations of the church to ‘sacrifice’ something in ones life for the sake of Christ, as we walk the road with Him, up until Resurrection Day – Easter Sunday.

I hear and overhear people talking about what they are ‘giving up’ for Lent.  Chocolate.  Soda. Popcorn.  Straightening their hair.  Curling their hair. 

And people (including my children) are asking me, “What did you give up for Lent?”

I haven’t given up anything. Yet.  Sure, I could afford to give up dessert (although, truthfully, there may be an ulterior motive involved), or fixing my hair a certain way, or sacrificing a particular snack for Jesus.

But this year, it just isn’t resonating with my soul.

It seems – well, and I mean no offense by this – it seems cheap.

And although I can’t be certain, I’m starting to think that Jesus may appreciate something a bit deeper than our sacrificing stuff for His sake.

It’s not that I don’t think He cares about our willingness to give up something for Him, it’s just that I think what Jesus is really about is our heart.

And so I’m wondering (and maybe you’d like to wonder along with me?), what if we give up something deeper, something more meaningful, something that will change us to be more like Jesus?

What if we give up worry?

Or give up doubting the Lord?

Or give up controlling others?

Or give up complaining?

What if we give up judging others and criticizing?

Or give up comparing ourselves to someone else?

Or give up fearing our future?

Or give up our bitterness?

What if we give up having things our way?

Better late than never, as the old saying goes.  I’m still working on asking the Lord which one I might consider giving up this year. Sadly enough, there are more than a few from the list above that I can choose. 

This is not going to be easy ...

What about you?  

I've Got to Get to Weeding ...

The gardens in my yard are overgrown.

I look at them through my back window and sigh.

I’ve got so much work to do today – so much weeding.

Oh, sure, some of the good plants are thriving after a Spring splattered with more days of rain than not, but it’s not those healthy, thriving, green plants that I am focused on.

It’s all the things in between, that should not be there – AKA weeds – that my eyes are drawn to. They are towering over and trying to choke out my pretty plants.  They are competitive, persistent and sneaking. They try to vie for a place in my yard.

I’ve got to work on weeding.

I’ll do it today.  The kids will help me.  We’ll all probably grunt and grown about it, but we’ll feel pleased – accomplished – when we are done.  Well, at least I will.

As I sat down this morning, facing (literally, at my desk) in the opposite direction of the weeds, so I would not get distracted by the work I had to do, I opened God’s Word for time with Him.

And as I read His truths, I’m convicted of my worry.

My worries – they are just like my weeds.

They come in and try to choke out the good things.

They take up space, grow faster than I would like, and often tower over the other things that are trying to grow. 

They get in the way of me seeing the truth, remembering the promises, resting in the comfort of the One who loves me.

I don’t know where the always come from, but they sure do spring up -- little weeds, big weeds, ugly weeds.

Ugh.

Jesus talks about the worries of this world getting in and choking out the Word (Matthew 13) – the Word of truth, the Word of hope, the Word of comfort.  I can see how it happens, and it’s not what I desire.

Weeds --  and worries -- they get in the way, but they do not have to stay.

Looks like today, I have some work ahead of me. I’m working on weeding out weeds and weeding out worries.  Good thing I have the Gardener. With His help, I’m getting down on my knees and rooting them out. 

How about you?

Postage Stamp Insecurities

I felt my insecurities sticking to me again, like postage stamps on a letter.

I mulled them over in my mind, trying to figure out why they were there and trying to get rid of them. Who knows where they came. I hate how they feel. Maybe you know what I mean.

Finally, I realized today that trying to figure them out by myself wasn’t working. Maybe I should actually talk to God about them, instead. (Why does it take me so long to go to Him, sometimes?)

And here’s what I felt Him impress upon my heart:

#1: Yes, you do have insecurities. Lots of them. I am aware of your struggle with them.

#2: May I remind you that you are “secure in” my love?

#3: I am going to use them to send my message to the world that needs hope and love.

No wonder I kept feeling like they were postage stamps! Maybe that’s exactly what God was trying to tell me, but I was so busy talking to myself, that I didn’t get it. (Common problem of mine. Working on it!) As I accept my security in Him, He is going to use insecurities to send a message to the world about His love.

In acknowledging the reality of the presence of my insecurities, I can be authentic. I can be vulnerable. I can be merciful. They keep me humble. What’s the big surprise about having them, anyway? I know that I’m not perfect and don’t have my act together, and I also know that God can use my weaknesses for good.

I can choose to stop fighting with them and just let them go. I don’t need to dwell on them. I need to dwell with the Lord and rest in my security with Him, for as Deuteronomy 33:12 says, “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

So, dear reader, acknowledge what your insecurities are, surrender them to God and let Him use them to speak in to the hearts of others. I believe that He may just use these “postage stamp like insecurities” to send a message of hope to a hurting world – around the block or around the world.

Caulking the Cracks

“What’s the mouse count today?” I kidded with my elderly friend.

“Three,” she said. “I’m hoping we got them all. The neighbor caulked around the stone outside where there are some cracks, so hopefully they won’t get in. I think I’m at peace again.”

Well, I don’t know about you, but from time to time, some pesty vermin start scurrying around inside of me. When I develop cracks in my foundation, they sneak right in and try to make themselves at home. Little critters (and sometimes not so little ones) like fears, doubts and worries, make their way through openings in my heart. The cracks are usually a loss of my confidence in the Lord and His love for me, especially when my foundation is shaken by crisis and trial. When I hear the pitter-patter of their little feet, I need to caulk up the cracks with the firm filling of God’s truths.

I wish that the cracks would never come, but they do. However, knowing that we have the perfect caulk helps, as long as we remember to use it and apply it properly. God’s Word is a great healer and a great barrier to unwanted “vermin” in our lives. The more time we spend with the Lord in prayer and in His Word, the less we have to worry about these cracks forming or getting big enough to let in these unwanted visitors, but when they do – God and His truths are present and able to take care of the cracks and give us peace, again.

The Fog of Worry

The white lines of the road seemed to dash past me on my left, as I drove down the highway. I could not see much of anything else. The dense morning fog saturated the air. Only mere shadows of things were visible, making it hard to determine road signs and familiar markers. I knew they were all out there, I just couldn't see them, and perspective faded away. Within miles the fog dissipated and my ability to see in to the distance was restored. The colors were again clear and vivid. I could see down the road and be prepared for bumps in the road, exits and even, potential detours that just moments before had been challenging to predict.

So it is with worry and anxiety. I can get stuck in the fog of it. I don’t really intend to, it just seems like it creeps up on me, and I creep in to it. Quickly, I feel the confined claustrophobia of worry. My perspective fades. I miss out on the vivid scenery around me. The colors of life are less bright, and my ability to be prepared for bumps in the road and the ways I need to go are inhibited by an overwhelming sense of worry.

Worry – it can be over one big thing or made up of a gazillion (is that even a word you may ask? The dictionary actually says it is and defines it as “an extremely large, indeterminate number”) little drops of matter that form a mask, a film, a screen. It inhibits our vision of God and of our circumstances. It overtakes us and blocks our ability to trust and rest and be restored by the Lord.

God knows that we are prone to it – it is the mistrust in us that messes with our minds and hearts. He encourages us, though, to not worry. He has it all covered – our worry need not do the covering. We will not add a single hour to our day by doing so (Matthew 6:25-34) and it will only result in anxiety, not productivity or peace.

Dear reader, when we find ourselves overcome by worry, we need to turn our attentions to God through His Word and in prayer, trusting in Him. It is a challenge. There are really big things that do bring us concern; life is full of uncertainties and responsibilities. Trust them to the Lord, ask Him what you should do and what you need to place in to His tender care. Over time, you will see that He does make all things clearer. He will lift the fog and will lead you, prepare you and gently care for you.

PS -- Lest anyone thinks I do not struggle, I really need to heed my own advice today. So, off I go to cooperate with God in clearing the fog ...

My Thoughts about Worry

Tonite I was brushing my daughter's hair, after taking out a series of corn rows that were braided in her hair. She wore them for about 3 weeks, and we could not believe how much hair was in the hair brush when we were done taking them out - handfulls of hair. We really lose alot of hair each day, and when they are not allowed to fly free -WOW - they really accumulate!

In addition to thinking about the hairs on our head, a friend dropped off a bouquet of lily's. I decided that God is trying to get my attention and speak to me about my worrying.

I did some research and an average person's worry is focused on several things:
Things that will never happen - 40%
Things about the past that can’t be changed - 30%
Things about criticism by others, mostly untrue -12%
About health, which gets worse with stress -10%
About real problems that will be faced - 8%.

Isn't that interesting? Only eight percent of the the things that we worry about are real problems that we face. The first two we can't even do anything about.

God has some things to say about worry, in the bible, and lily's and hair remind me of two of them.

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown in the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or ' What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" Matthew 6:28-34.

Matthew 10:30 reminds us "Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

We can learn of one of the solutions to worry in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

We are more valuable than lilies and sparrows, whom He cares for tenderly, and He even knows every hair on our heads. That is pretty detailed, intricate care. I am humbled by that. So therefore, I will try to cast my cares upon the Lord, and not reel them back in, but leave them at His feet entrusting them to His loving care.

Hearing His Heart Beat

When we lean against a wall, weary and worn down from physical exhaustion, we trust that the wall will hold us up. We relax our bodies and shift our weight so that our own legs are not holding us up alone; the wall is helping.

When a child leans in to its mother's chest, it rests. Is is vulnerable and safe. It lays its head upon her chest and is soothed by her breathing and her heart beat.

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields them all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders" Deuteronomy 33:12.

The truth is that there may be alot to be concerned about in our lives. There may be alot to be anxious about, but my continual desire is that I would learn how to relax and rest in the arms of the Lord. He calls to us, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

The bible tells us that we can cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). I don't know about you, but often times I do not feel like I have the energy to cast or hurl or throw my cares, and if I did, they seem too heavy to do so.

But God has other options when we do not even have the strength to cast ... we can just rest, and be still. So I try and just lean in to Him, resting my heart between His shoulders, where I can hear Him breath and be assured that his heart beats for me. Does it take away the reality of my cares? Not necessarily, but it does help me to remember who God is how much He really does love me.

He loves you, too, dear reader, with an everlasting and abounding love. My prayer for you today is that you would embrace that love, and rest in it.