What is the deciding factor?

It's going to cost a lot of money. I don't want to spend the time doing that. It might not be fun.

What drives your decisions? Summer approaches. It's time to plan for vacations and summer jobs. Perhaps there is an opportunity for a mission trip or volunteer work. How do you decide what to do? What determines the final choices?

These last few days have been tough decision making ones for me. As I sought the Lord for wisdom, I became aware of some thoughts that were making it difficult to determine what God wanted me to do. Despite many hours of prayer, God seemed to be silent.

I asked myself three questions:

1. Could something be blocking His answer?

Many times our thoughts travel through our minds like elevator music. There's a 'song' playing in the background that influences our thoughts on an unconscious level. Indecision frustrated me until my inner ears focused on the 'lyrics' influencing my emotions. 'Lyrics' like, It might be a lot of work, I don't think I can do it, or I really don't want to.

Becoming aware of the thoughts that preceded my prayers was the first step to unblocking God's answer.

2. What was driving my decision?

Was God's will my number one priority, or had I allowed money, time, abilities or personal pleasure to usurp His lordship over my choices? Money warned me about possible lack. Fear eroded confidence in my abilities. Anxiety whispered it really wasn't something I would enjoy doing. I decided to silence them all. I saw them for what they were - idols or strongholds that were dictating my decisions. They were squeezing out God's still small voice and clamoring for my attentions. Indecision and lack of peace were the fruit of listening to the wrong messages.

3. Was I willing to do whatever God asked me to do?

Once those competing thoughts were identified, confessed and silenced, I waited peacefully for God's answer, unhampered by fear and anxiety. My unfettered commitment to obey His plans brought a quick answer. I am excited about that plan because those other voices are now silent. The next time I face a tough decision, I plan to tune in to the 'lyrics' in my mind, silence those written by my flesh, and commit to doing whatever God wants.

What drives your decisions?

Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to be agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed (Proverbs 16:3)

Toss the Cookies, Toss the Peanut Butter, Toss the Files

One of my desires is to have a pure heart. So periodically I find myself asking God to search my heart and show me what needs to be discarded. Has pride crept in? Selfishness? Unforgiveness? If so, repentance sweeps it away, and I ask God to fill the void with the opposite (humility, selflessness, forgiveness).

Sometimes a treat can seem very appealing (the latest movie release, a bestselling book), but when scrutinized through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, turns out to be a poisoned cookie (see the last post) or a Trojan horse - innocent in appearance but disguising a trap.

The news has recently alerted us that certain forms of peanut butter and products containing them are contaminated with a potentially fatal bacterium called salmonella. Hundreds of consumers have become ill after eating the tainted peanut butter, and a few have died. Stores have been tossing the peanut butter products and consumers have followed suit.

This past week we have been receiving envelopes in the mail marked ‘important tax return document enclosed’. I file them in our 2008 tax file until all have been collected and it’s time to prepare for April 15th. In that file folder I keep a photocopy of an article that details which tax documents to keep and for how long. After so many years, one is free to shred check stubs and receipts without fear of reprisal if audited by the IRS.

There is another file, one that no one sees…except the Holy Spirit. Although a brain surgeon can not find it, it lies hidden in our gray matter somewhere. It’s not stored on a CD or a DVD, although for some people it plays back over and over as if it were. It’s a record; a record of wrongs. Most of us can remember when so and so did such and such to us. Someone’s hurtful comments singed our ears. A close friend betrayed us. Someone we trusted gossiped behind our backs. We’ve all been there. We’ve probably all done something similar ourselves at one time or another. Into our mental file go the memories of wrongs, like records in a juke box. The next time we think about that person, or see the person, an invisible finger presses B 17 and it plays back the hurt as if it were yesterday’s hit song.

May I suggest that it’s time to toss the poison cookies, toss the peanut butter and toss the files? Those past hurts aren’t golden oldies, they’re reconstituted unforgiveness that eventually turns into bitterness and sours not only the relationship but our hearts as well. I know, I know. You’re saying, “It’s easy for her to spout forgiveness. She hasn’t experienced what I’ve been through.” You’re correct. But I have had my own garbage to throw out, and if left untouched, boy does it smell up my life.

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Matthew 6:14-15 is sobering and deserves our attention. Jesus said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Ouch. I sure want God to forgive me when I goof up. Don’t you? Well, let’s give the same forgiveness to our fellow sojourners when they blow it, too.

Romans 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

I John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

After we get rid of the peanut products, let’s toss the old records. Let’s forgive. Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and see if some spring cleaning is in order. Let's invite God into those hurts and allow Him to heal them (in some cases professional or pastoral counseling may be needed). We are the ones who will benefit from the clean up. God’s forgiveness is life restoring and a source of soul peace.

Race you to the shredder!

Is there poison in your cookie?

On frosty winter days I love to bake cookies. The aroma fills the kitchen and brightens my spirits. I look forward to that first warm bite of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie and the refreshment of a cold glass of milk. Mmmmm.

We live in such abundance in this country. We have the luxury of books, movies and freshly baked cookies. Compared to much of the world, we live like kings and queens. Recently we watched the movie, Ratatouille, in which the main character, Remy (a rat), is delegated to be the food taster for all the rest of the rats because he has a special gift sniffing out rat poison. Before eating any morsels, each rat presents its food to Remy, who determines if it is safe to eat or not – somewhat similar to when kings had food tasters to prevent being poisoned by the enemy.

God tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we are carriers of the presence of God. What we ‘feed’ ourselves affects the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and affects our lives as well.

I Peter 1:15-16
But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living. For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

Are we living holy lives even in the choices we make as to the books we read or which movies we see? “Character and conduct begin in the mind. Our actions are affected by the things we dwell on in our thoughts.” {author unknown} What affects our thoughts? The things we see or experience. That includes books and movies. They aren’t harmless forms of entertainment. Their content influences our thoughts and therefore our character and conduct.

Ephesians 5:1, 11
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead let your lives be so in contrast as to expose and reprove and convict them.

II Corinthians 7:1
….let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring our consecration to completeness in the (reverential) fear of God.

So how do we determine what is safe to ‘consume’? After Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He sent His Holy Spirit to guide and to teach all believers what is good and what is evil (John 14 and 16). In addition, the scriptures are filled with teachings on what is righteous and unrighteousness. If you want just a short snippet of guidance, read Ephesians 5.

So when it comes to our choices of entertainment, we have two forms of quality control. Just like a taste tester, if we submit those choices to God and ask for His wisdom, the Holy Spirit will warn us about what is poison (ungodly) and what is healthy (godly). God’s standards for choosing are in His Word – the Bible. The more we read His Word and learn what pleases Him, the easier it becomes to make choices that honor Him. We’re going to make mistakes. God knows that. He’s looking at our hearts to see if our intent is to please Him. God’s Word says that our hearts are deceitful and we can’t always trust ourselves to make wise choices - another reason for studying the Word and asking for wisdom.

If we call Jesus Christ our Savior, is He also Lord of our lives? Of all of our choices? Even books and movies?

Like a freshly baked cookie, does the latest movie or new bestseller smell good to you? Are you tempted to read it, before running it past the ‘taste tester’ (God’s Word, the Holy Spirit)?

Before you take a bite, ask yourself, ‘Is there poison in that cookie?’

Which side of the fence are you on?

Which side of the fence are you on?

Let me share a true story about a mom at my son’s Christian school. Three years ago she felt led by the Lord to set up a booth at our school’s Fall Festival. The sole purpose of the booth was to draw children and adults closer to God. Her first booth offered fair-goers the opportunity to post prayer requests on a large wooden cross. Then every hour, those who were gathered at the booth would hold hands and pray for the prayer requests, the school, and the nation.

Last year she created a large gold crown and affirmed the children’s identity in Christ by allowing them to choose a ‘gemstone’ and glue it on the crown. Malachi 3:17 says that we are His jewels.

This year I arrived at the festival early to help set up a booth, and the first thing that caught my eye was her booth. It was right in the center of the field with a large black and white sign that read “Got Jesus?” I couldn't wait to see what creative idea she had this year.

“Well the theme was….It’s as simple as black and white, either you serve Him or you don’t….It’s a daily choice.” What caught my eye was her very effective visual representation of the scriptures she chose. In front of the booth was a section of a picket fence. One side was painted white and the other side painted black. Children and adults could write their names on the white side of the fence indicating that Jesus is their Savior and Lord. On the black side they could stick a colored heart or cross to indicate someone they knew who was not yet saved. Above their heads was the scripture from Deuteronomy 31:11, “I have set before you life and death – choose life.”

Her second scripture was from Revelation 3:15, “I know your deeds that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other.” Again, the stark contrast of the black side versus the white side of the fence made it clear that we cannot sit on the fence. Each day we make choices that either serve God or serve Satan. It was quite convicting.

Her third scripture was from Joshua 24:15, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” She told me that as people approached the booth, she realized that she should not just assume that since this is a festival at a Christian school that everyone is saved. So she began to ask people if they had accepted Christ as their Savior. As a result of her asking, she led at least 15 people to the Lord that afternoon. Fifteen names were added to the white side of the fence instead of the black side. I was speechless.

She later told me that the following week a 4th grade girl came up to her at school and told her that she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart. So she took the child out in the hallway and asked, “Why?” The student said that two of her friends had committed their lives to Christ at the Fall Festival booth. After her friends told her that, the student had a desire all weekend to do the same. So when she saw this mom volunteering in her classroom, the student knew the time was right and asked the mom to pray with her. So right then the mom led this girl to the Lord. Immediately afterward the mom took the child back into the classroom and the student gave her testimony to the entire class. When the mom told the class that when someone comes to the Lord all the angels in heaven rejoice (Luke 15:10) all the students clapped!

What a difference one mom has made because she obeyed the Lord’s prompting three years ago to create a booth at a school festival that honors God. Sixteen people now have the reward of eternal life when they die. Her passion to serve the Lord at our school is truly amazing, and I wanted to share her testimony with you. She is an outstanding example of living a Christ-centered life.

Romans 3:23 says we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

John 3:17 says, “For God did not send the Son [Jesus] into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him [Christ Jesus].

The Bible says that God doesn’t want anyone to perish. Anyone – that means you and me. That means God loves all of us. It’s a simple matter of choosing today whom you will serve. It’s a free gift of grace, not works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says we are saved by grace through faith. This is not the result of anything we do, or we would have the right to boast about it. It’s a free gift of God’s love and grace – simply by believing that Christ died for us and paid the price for our sins. Why would anyone want to pass up that offer?

Which side of the fence are you on?

Praise Him in the Storm? You're kidding, right?

This afternoon I was sitting in my car waiting for someone and a new acquaintance came over to my car window to chat. Even though she is going through a difficult time with a family member, she was radiant. Her testimony is very enlightening. She has cried many tears over her difficult situation, but recently discovered how uplifting it is to read the Word of God. Now she is actually thanking God for her troubles at home because they caused her to discover a new, closer relationship to the Lord through reading scriptures. Instead of focusing on the trouble, she has allowed the trouble to focus her on God. As she discovers who God is through what He has written, she is being filled with faith. Her increased faith is carrying her through the trouble with peace and joy. She is truly a walking testimony of being salt and light. It was such a joy to see her radiate that peace as she spoke.

James 1:2-4
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking nothing.

Phillipians 4:6
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God's peace (shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace) which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Years ago I remember complaining on the phone to my spiritual mentor about a terrible situation I was in. "Can you praise Him in the middle of this?" asked my mentor. Praise Him? What for, I thought. He could have prevented this mess! But over the years I am learning that we will get through the situation with much more peace if we trust that God is in the situation with us, even when we don't sense His presence. When we praise Him, we are trusting Him. When we praise Him in spite of our situation, we are entrusting the problem to Him. Besides, which way do you want to face your trials? With peace and joy, knowing that He has the solutions if we will draw near to Him. Or with anger, bitterness and resentment?

There are several scriptures that tell us that God is hidden in the dark clouds.

Can you praise Him in your storm today?

Where did He go??

Where did He go?

Ever have those days/weeks when it seems like God got up and left? He just disappeared? For a while you were feeling like the two of you were tracking together and then poof! He just vanished in thin air? Where did You go, God?

Then if you mention it to someone, they might come at you with, “Well, who moved?” What they are implying is that perhaps you were slacking off in your quiet time with God. Or possibly you have unconfessed sin in your life. Hmmmm…. While it could be that, and it’s worth checking that out, if you do a thorough soul searching and turn up empty in those two categories, there could be third possibility.

It’s just possible that God did move! “What?” you ask. “That’s not what I learned in Sunday School. The Bible says He will never leave us or forsake us. Right? Well, that is correct. But what if He hasn’t left, but just moved down the hallway into another room? You’re still in the same house, but He’s moved elsewhere so that you will follow Him?

To continue with the analogy of the house – suppose you are a brand new Christian. Pardon me for mentioning the smallest room in your house, but for the purposes of illustration, when you commit your life to Christ it is sort of like you have met God in the bathroom of your life. He cleans you up of sin and declares you are forgiven. You now have a clean white board in your soul and He wants to start writing His plans on it.

You are so happy with your new gift of eternal life that you are content to keep checking it out in the mirror and running the living water over your hands. It’s a great feeling to know that when you die, you will spend eternity in Heaven with God. You start receiving quick answers to your prayers. Life is good.

But a day comes when the light in the bathroom starts to fade a bit and you begin to sense that you are the only one in the room. The newness is wearing off and you are beginning to have to wait longer to see prayers answered. Did God go on vacation?

What has probably happened is that while you were checking out your new eternal ‘do’ in the mirror, God slipped out the door and quietly walked down the hallway. He’s still in your life. He hasn’t left you or forsaken you. But you’ll have to open the door and step out into the hallway to sense His presence again. It’s for your own good, of course. He has other rooms to show you, other places for you to explore and other people for you to meet. But those experiences will not happen if you stay in that small room.

Practically speaking what am I talking about, you ask. How do you know which way He went? Was it left or right down the hallway? Here’s what works for me. First, just being aware of what is happening helps me not to take it personally and keeps me from getting angry at God. His heart is always to bless us and grow us up to higher levels of maturity and closeness to Him. So I have to consciously let go of my comfort zone – the place that I have been occupying for the last few months or so – and work at accepting that I need to ‘pack my bags’ like Abraham and go wherever God is leading me. Like Abraham, I just need to obey and start moving forward however God leads me. I am not saying this is easy. But there are blessings and a deeper knowledge of Him just around the corner, if I don’t drag my feet or whine and complain that I really wish we could just keep things like they were.

With a sigh, I begin to embrace the idea that change is coming. Sometimes that takes a bit of time. I go through my checklist – am I still having a daily quiet time with God? Am I spending time thanking and praising Him first before laying my burdens at His feet? Did He ask me to do something a few weeks ago and I never quite got around to it? (That really motivates me to get it done.) Is there unforgiveness in my heart toward someone? You get the picture.

If I cannot find anything amiss, then I have to tell myself to continue reading His Word and seeking Him. He’s about to move me to a new level of spiritual maturity if I don’t give up or get impatient and angry. He is trusting me with His silence. Can I trust that He is still watching over me even when it seems like He’s on another continent? It forces me to a new level of faith and trust that my needs are still being met. It forces me to stand on His Word in the midst of what seems to be heavenly inactivity.
Here are some scriptures that I run back to in those trying times. Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:6, 13, 19, Psalm 46:10 and Jeremiah 33:3. You probably have your favorites, too. I remind myself that He HASN’T left me even when I don’t sense His presence. I try to spend more time just sitting in His presence or meditating on a scripture that is comforting. And I just wait.

Patience is not something that comes easily to most of us, however in the waiting my spiritual ‘antennae’ are being sensitized in new ways. God has something new to teach me, if I will just be still and continue to seek Him. He has new responsibilities, spiritual gifts, or experiences in faith that He wants to bring to me, but I have to be willing to go down the hall into the next room and continue to seek Him until I find Him again. It’s all for my own benefit and His. His heart is always for our good and for His kingdom purposes to be accomplished through us. He just does it His way, not ours. And that’s great because as He says in the Word, “Man’s wisdom is as foolishness to Him.” His ways are higher (and better) than ours.

So where is God right now in your life? In the same room or down the hall?

A Gray Day

Today was one of those days that I couldn't wait until it was over. Ever have one of those? Personally I do not like feeling blue....so I called one of my children to cheer her up (she had a bike accident today). As I sought for words to encourage her - guess what happened? I received encouragement. After hanging up the phone I was reminded of a story (it might have been in Guideposts) of a woman who was riding in an airplane. Looking out the window on one side of the plane she saw storm clouds and a darkened sky, but on the other side of the plane it was sunny and bright. She commented that life is like that. We can look at the dark circumstances in our lives and focus on them or we can choose to look at the bright side and be thankful for our blessings.

I Thessalonians 5:18 Thank God in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks) for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ.

I don't think this verse means we thank God because something bad happens, just that He wants us to be thankful for who He is, and what He has done for us, even in the midst of trying times.

Sometimes when things are not going well, I pick up a newspaper. As I look at the headlines about the crimes, chaos and disasters I thank God that as bad as my day has been, it could have been worse.

Which side of the plane are you looking out of today?