I received a correction from my daughter last week. I think it's awesome when she speaks up and tells me what I know is true. I was about to take on something that was outside my gift and call. It's easy to do. It reminds me of the old story of the little red hen who couldn't find anyone else to do it so she did it herself.
I believe that we are gifted with powerful spiritual gifts. Because they are powerful, they can be dangerous in the wrong hands. They are meant to be guided by a wise father. A spiritual gift can be a skilled scalpel or a butcher knife depending on who has control.
With that in mind, I believe it is way important to listen to the LORD'S leading. That to me is our call. It could be a big call like a call to mission work. But you could also feel called to make a phone call or clean house. Walking in the LORD'S leading is an art that I am trying to learn better that's for sure
That's why my daughters correction was such a gift. How delightful to have my kid say, is that what God is leading you to do? Awesome! The answer, no, I got carried away with the urgency and forgot to listen. So, listening now.
God is so tender even when we mess up. I am stepping back yet again and letting Him fill the void instead of me. He is much better at it :)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Frustrated!
I work with hurting women. Most are women of HUGE integrity. Most put my own faith and love of the LORD to shame. They cling to Jesus because they have to. When you are stripped of everything that was truly important to you, what else can you do?
I've been there. It was a rude awakening to learn that life was not something that I could control. I have never felt more shame than when I "failed" to save my marriage. But the place where I felt MOST shamed was in the church.
We raise our daughters to expect that Cinderella/ happily-ever-after ending, one that only prince charming can give us. But when prince charming turns out to be not so charming, we leave our daughters swimming in a pool of shame. We have laid it upon women to make prince charming... happy.
Think about it. Why do we teach our girls what we do? Why do women wear perfume, makeup, form fitting clothing? Are we teaching our girls to be prey? Are we trying to be lures trolling for some prince charming to catch us? Are we nothing unless we are loved by some man?
Then when we do "catch" that prince charming what does he "expect" from us as women? I know too many women who feel trapped in a world where their men feel entitled to them as if they were a purchased sex slaves. It is a appalling! Is no one appalled???
Most of the women I work with who fight a terrible battle to save their marriage, lose it because they are the only ones fighting. It is out of their control. You can not make another human being choose life. Nor are you to blame when they do not! Eve didn't make Adam take of the fruit. He knew what he was doing (Genesis 3). Something became more important to him than God and he paid a huge price for that reality.
When I lost what to me was the most precious thing I had, my marriage, I felt sub human, I could feel the stinging shame of a woman carrying the scarlet letter. I had a big red 'D' that I carried around with me everywhere I went. I was divorced... a failure, flawed. I was no longer a princess because the prince had rejected me. ugh!
The thing is, my thinking was perpetuated in the Church. Though I had no control over a man who chose to be unfaithful to his wife. I couldn't make myself attractive enough. Did I make mistakes... yes! But, the truth is... he just wanted fresh meat. How does that make me unfit to teach or serve as a Christian? Why am I the one singled out as the failure?
That happened years ago. I have been happily married for over 30 years but I am still afraid of people who would shame me because of someone else's choice. It's been over thirty years and I still see women who lose their church the day they lose their marriage. It is so mean, and wrong. Please Church, consider your ways!
I've been there. It was a rude awakening to learn that life was not something that I could control. I have never felt more shame than when I "failed" to save my marriage. But the place where I felt MOST shamed was in the church.
We raise our daughters to expect that Cinderella/ happily-ever-after ending, one that only prince charming can give us. But when prince charming turns out to be not so charming, we leave our daughters swimming in a pool of shame. We have laid it upon women to make prince charming... happy.
Think about it. Why do we teach our girls what we do? Why do women wear perfume, makeup, form fitting clothing? Are we teaching our girls to be prey? Are we trying to be lures trolling for some prince charming to catch us? Are we nothing unless we are loved by some man?
Then when we do "catch" that prince charming what does he "expect" from us as women? I know too many women who feel trapped in a world where their men feel entitled to them as if they were a purchased sex slaves. It is a appalling! Is no one appalled???
Most of the women I work with who fight a terrible battle to save their marriage, lose it because they are the only ones fighting. It is out of their control. You can not make another human being choose life. Nor are you to blame when they do not! Eve didn't make Adam take of the fruit. He knew what he was doing (Genesis 3). Something became more important to him than God and he paid a huge price for that reality.
When I lost what to me was the most precious thing I had, my marriage, I felt sub human, I could feel the stinging shame of a woman carrying the scarlet letter. I had a big red 'D' that I carried around with me everywhere I went. I was divorced... a failure, flawed. I was no longer a princess because the prince had rejected me. ugh!
The thing is, my thinking was perpetuated in the Church. Though I had no control over a man who chose to be unfaithful to his wife. I couldn't make myself attractive enough. Did I make mistakes... yes! But, the truth is... he just wanted fresh meat. How does that make me unfit to teach or serve as a Christian? Why am I the one singled out as the failure?
That happened years ago. I have been happily married for over 30 years but I am still afraid of people who would shame me because of someone else's choice. It's been over thirty years and I still see women who lose their church the day they lose their marriage. It is so mean, and wrong. Please Church, consider your ways!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
The year of Jubilee
I am amazed at the global decline. It seems like every nation is having a debt crisis, not to mention individuals in each country having a crisis of their own. It got me thinking about God's solution to the debt crisis. Every 50 years all debts were canceled. I was called the year of Jubilee. What would happen if we canceled all debt everywhere every 50 years? What would happen if all debts were canceled today? Gosh, I wonder how much joy that would bring? What would your life be like if it was debt free? I know there are many of you who are, but those of you who are not, imagine what the year of jubilee was like? Imagine.
Imagine if there was no fear of default in Europe because forgiveness of all debts was planned. But then maybe we would just start it all again. Spending what we do not have so that we will be more than comfortable. We have started to use money to avoid pain. We have lost regard for the impact our choices make on the next generation. I'm not sure there is a way out without divine intervention. I am starting to pray for a year of Jubilee
Imagine if there was no fear of default in Europe because forgiveness of all debts was planned. But then maybe we would just start it all again. Spending what we do not have so that we will be more than comfortable. We have started to use money to avoid pain. We have lost regard for the impact our choices make on the next generation. I'm not sure there is a way out without divine intervention. I am starting to pray for a year of Jubilee
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
The Image of His Son
Romans 8:29 says, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. I hear a lot debate about what it means to be predestined. I don't want to enter into that debate but if we stay on that part of the verse I think we miss the important part. That being conformed to the image of His Son. How does that happen? Do you feel conformed into the image of His Son? Yeah, me neither, I have so many glitches. I wish to be presented as a spotless virgin, Christ's holy bride but it will take a miracle!
That's just it. It does take a miracle. I can't make myself glitch free. I can only let it happen over time. It's God's work, and God's timing. He conforms us into the image of His Son. How awesome is that?
Talking with friends last night, each with their own set of glitches, we marveled at the path to holiness, that being the daily choice through tough circumstances to choose Christ, to choose Him when things aren't going our way, when it looks like His path only leads to death and loss. Holiness is what God makes of our choice to trust in Him no matter what the circumstance.
That's just it. It does take a miracle. I can't make myself glitch free. I can only let it happen over time. It's God's work, and God's timing. He conforms us into the image of His Son. How awesome is that?
Talking with friends last night, each with their own set of glitches, we marveled at the path to holiness, that being the daily choice through tough circumstances to choose Christ, to choose Him when things aren't going our way, when it looks like His path only leads to death and loss. Holiness is what God makes of our choice to trust in Him no matter what the circumstance.
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