Two Talents

A few weeks ago I was blessed to have a friend over for the day. Her husband and I grew up together, and she I had gotten to know each other better through doing a book study via Skype. I was looking forward to spending the day with her and her four children.  But I was also nervous.  I look up to her in many ways; she seems to have it all together when it comes to managing her home and being the wife and mother God has called her to be.  I, on the other hand, well, have a long way to go.

Comparing ourselves with others isn’t something we intentionally set out to do.  We know that it usually promotes either pride or self-deprecation.  But still isn’t it human nature to have those thoughts pass through our minds from time to time?

I find these thoughts making an unwelcome entrance sometimes.  In areas where I am strong, they take the form of pride.  For instance, one of my strengths is being a disciplined person. And when someone mentions struggling in this area, it’s easy for me to think, “Well, I’ve got that one covered.”  (But to be honest, if I ever got out of the habit in my regular disciplines, I’m sure I’d be struggling the same way.)

On the opposite end, in areas where I am weak, I find that I berate myself when I see how someone else is doing it better. I’m particularly hard on myself when I watch mothers who don’t work outside the home.  I start going down the road of how I don’t measure up.

I have to think that I’m not the only one who fights these thoughts (or gives in to them).  Perhaps it’s just human nature for us to look at others and compare.

One morning, out of nowhere, a particular Scripture passage came to mind. It’s the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. If you’re familiar with the passage, you may think of it the same way I did: The moral of the story is that we are to take what we are given and work to increase it, to give back to God instead of just sitting on it.

But I had never really considered the beginning of the passage where Jesus describes that each person got different numbers of “talents.” (in other words, a type of currency)  One servant got five, one got two, and one got one.  I started thinking that possibly another point of the story is the sheer fact that the talents weren’t distributed evenly. If the only point of the parable was to show how two servants were faithful and one was not, couldn’t the same point had been made had all three servants received two talents? 

Therefore, perhaps we need to look a little closer at the fact that God gives “talents” in different measure.

Perhaps we should all view ourselves as having two talents.  We can always find someone who has “less” and we can always find someone who has “more.”  What matters is not how much we have but instead what we are doing with what we are given.

I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I’m going to make my focus to be faithful with the “two” talents I’ve been given and stop giving into my mind’s temptation to look to my right and left and compare.  I am responsible for what I’ve been given. (Of course, when we’re faithful with what we’ve been given, we will be given more, with which we are to be faithful.)

And one final thing I noticed.  The master had the same response to the servant with five talents as he did the servant with two. “You have been faithful with little.”  He didn’t say to the one with two, “You’ve been faithful with a little,” and to the one with five, “And you’ve been faithful with a little more.”  It was ALL little in the big scheme of things.  But despite how little it was, both servants were commended as “good and faithful.”

May I be faithful with my two talents.

The Ultimate Comparison

When I was getting ready for the arrival of my first child, I was fully prepared for life after Baby. His schedule was already set in stone, and I knew what to do and what not to do.  How come? Because I had the Baby Bible, known to some as Baby Wise. After all, I had several suggestions that this was THE ultimate baby manual. (Even the clerk at Hastings told me how great it was as I was checking out.)  I ignored my mom and mother-in-law’s concerned raised eyebrows at my predetermined set schedule with no regard that Baby might not cooperate.  After all, they didn’t have all this great information. The Baby Bible hadn’t been printed when they had their babies. (How in the world did they manage?)  A few weeks later, these sweet mothers compassionately withheld their “I told you so” when Baby Drew didn’t exactly eat, sleep, and play on cue despite my “by the book” leadings. 

After a few weeks, I realized that Baby Wise was a very useful book, to be considered along with my mother’s instincts.  Getting him on a schedule was great.  Letting him cry himself to sleep as an infant was not.

Today Drew is almost 5, so my attention is now captured by parenting books.  I have read several that were very helpful.  Just this morning, I saw a review of a new parenting book that seemed very promising.  After reading the review, I was tempted to do the “aha!” thing, thinking maybe this was the parenting book to end all Christian parenting debates.  Then I read the comments on the review and saw some who were as intrigued as I was and some who had valid arguments the other way. 

So what is one to do?  We are in an age where we have all the information we could ever want at our fingertips.  If we want to find something new to try with our children, we can find it. If we want to find something to justify our present viewpoint, we can find it. If we want something to prove that someone else is doing it wrong, we can find it.  You name it, we can find it.

What we fail to miss, even as Christians, is that “THE” parenting book exists in all of our homes. We probably have several copies, in fact. It’s the Word of God itself.  Sure, it doesn’t tell you how to get your infant to sleep through the night in 8 weeks, and it doesn’t tell you how long and when (or if) you should use time outs with your toddler.  But still, it is sufficient.  The Gospel itself – that we’re all sinners and in need of Christ to save us from our sins – stands alone needing nothing added. (After all, the grace of the Gospel is our child’s greatest need anyway.)

That being said, of course I am going to read parenting books.  Of course I’m going to click on parenting articles. Of course I’m going to peruse parenting blogs.  But, I’m going to make a point of putting on a little more discernment.  I’m going to seek out various points of view before I make an assumption that one is right. I’m going to be open that what is right for your child might not be right for mine. And vice versa. But above all,  I’m going to compare what I read with Scripture. 

I’m also not going to assume that I know all I need to know about Scripture.  Anyone can prooftext their position (i.e. find Scripture that underscores the point being made).  When a writer is quoting Scripture, it’s easy to take him or her at his or her word.  I’m realizing, however, that my responsibility is to be in the Word daily, and more importantly, read it more than any other book.  That way, I can “test everything” I read by what I have been reading in Scripture. 

God is funny sometimes.  I may not be able to quote the entire Bible, but what I read this morning might just have application in what I read later. (Case in point, a Scripture quoted in an article I read today was the exact Scripture I read this morning.)   Nothing can go against the Holy Spirit-inspired Word.

And it’s that Word that we must go to. It’s that word that we must compare all other works of writing. Even this one.

The House Upon the Rock

The wise man built his house upon the rock, his house upon the rock, his house upon the rock.... The rains came down and the floods came up and the house on the rock stood firm.

Are you singing along? Are you doing the motions?

As I came upon this familiar passage in my reading of Luke, I found myself humming along with this song I learned as a child. But in the midst of my nostalgia, something else in that passage jumped out at me.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like...” Luke 6:46-47 (ESV)

The passage goes on to talk about the man who built his house upon the rock, compared to the one who built his house on the sand.

I don't know about you, but when I was learning about this passage as a child, the focus was on the foundation, the Rock. We are to build our lives on Christ, the Rock, the ultimate firm foundation. And when trials come, we'll stand firm.

In fact, the very first phrase says just that, but all these years, I've missed the next two phrases and thus the whole context. The one whose life withstands trials not only has Christ as his foundation, but he also does what Christ said to do. “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them.” (emphasis mine)

1. We must come to Christ. Check.
   
2. We must hear his words. Check.
   
3. We must do them.
   

Hmm. Okay. So what words is he talking about? In general, he is talking about all of his words, but specifically in this passage, he is talking about his words in this sermon, specifically the Sermon on the Mount.

So here's what I did. I took my handy little blue Bible-friendly highlighting pencil and went through Luke chapter 6 and Matthew chapters 5-7 (where Matthew's account of the sermon on the mount is found), and I highlighted every imperative phrase. For those of us who might need a grammar school recap, an imperative is a “command” statement.

Keep reading.

That's an imperative statement.

In looking at these passages, what is Jesus commanding his disciples to do in order for their figurative houses to stand firm?

Jesus addressed topics, such as anger, reconciliation, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, how we treat others, giving, praying, fasting, materialism, anxiety, judging others, prayer needs, how we should handle lawsuits, how we should address others' sin, how we should address our own sin, and more. There's a treasure trove of guidance in these chapters that one can read in one sitting.

These aren't just tips that Jesus gives. This isn't a “motivational sermon” designed for His listeners to pick and choose what applies to them that day.

It kind of reminds me of when I tell Drew to do something that I know is for his own good, but he, in his limited judgment, decides whether or not what I say is a good idea. I am amazed (but I shouldn't be) that he can't see that my perspective is larger than his. I see things he doesn't. I wish he would just TRUST that I have his best interests at heart, and my commands are to protect him and lead him in the right direction.

Similarly, Jesus knows that for our house to stand firm in the midst of trials, not only must it be built on Him, but we also must hear and heed His words.

Facebook and Heaven

Of all the great benefits of Facebook, I have to believe that one of the best is that it gives us just a tiny glimpse of what Heaven will be like.  Just this week - through Facebook - I experienced one of those glimpses.

I'll start at the beginning. I committed my life to Christ when I was in the fifth grade.  Although the actual moment of my repentance and salvation I remember vividly, I don't remember many details after that. One experience, however, came to my mind just a couple of years ago when I was doing a Beth Moore study.  I was to chart my life and name significant spiritual events that God used to shape my life.  As I was doing this and reflecting back on the early years of my faith, God brought to mind one particular Wednesday night.  I had brought a friend to church with me, and at some point, she and I were in the sanctuary by ourselves, and I shared Christ with her. I don't remember what motivated me, I don't remember exactly what I said, and I don't remember her response.  All I remember is that I shared.  A year later, she and her family moved, and I hadn't been in touch with her since.

Fast forward almost twenty years, and I received a Facebook friend request from her.  We caught up with a few emails and then, like most facebook friends, we keep up with one another by reading status updates. As time went on, I noticed that many of her status updates were of her faith:  Bible verses, testimonies, her experience at her church.  Eventually my curiosity got the best of me. I didn't recall her being raised in church, and I wanted to hear her testimony. 

And she was glad to give it!  Like me, she didn't recall many specifics of our conversation that night, but she shared that at that time she felt herself seeking God more and him seeking her.  She started going to church with her landlords while she still lived in our hometown.  Then a few years later, after she had moved from our hometown, she got involved in a church, was mentored by her youth pastor, and came to Christ in faith. 

A couple of years ago, another significant event occured in her life.  One day she was caring for her grandmother in the nursing home, and her grandmother, her grandmother's best friend, and her mom each came to faith in Christ. 

Today she and her husband - who also wasn't raised in church - are raising their son in church and are faithful in following God. 

How thrilled I was to read her testimony!  But it also went beyond that for me.  It served as a reminder that our being obedient to Christ in sharing him with others doesn't always produce the fruit that we will see right away.  The point is that we are obedient.  And the point is, it's not about me or what I do.  It's about what God does. It's my job and privilege to obey; it's his job to bring the person to himself. 

Which brings me back to Facebook and Heaven. If it hadn't been for Facebook, I probably wouldn't have known about my friend until our reunion in Heaven.  I can only hope that throughout our lives we have been and will be obedient to Christ.  And someday we'll get to meet again more people like my friend, whose lives God changed, in part because we were obedient.  Obedient in sharing the gospel.  Obedient to giving to ministries that send others to share the gospel.  Obedient to the ultimate calling we have as Christians: to share the message of salvation through Christ Jesus.

Because we never know what seeds we're planting - or watering - and that God is causing to grow.

Sharing in Spite of Fear

Although my hands weren't shaking, they might as well have been.  The butterflies in my stomach slowly started to calm.  I am embarrassed to even admit the reason for my nervousness.

I just had shared Christ with a coworker.

Don't get me wrong.  I have shared my faith plenty of times, but usually it was in the context of one of the following:

1. a mission trip
2. a church function
3. a religious conversation where the topic happened to come up

And although sharing our faith can involve overcoming some serious fear no matter what the context, this situation had my knees shaking.

I had been praying for "Amy" since she started working in the same office as me a few months prior.  I talked about church and tried to be the best example I could be, in the hopes a topic about God would come up.  I had tried to build a relationship with her, hoping that the better we got to know one another, the better opportunity I would have.  Interestingly, the more we worked together, the harder it became.

Yet lately God has been making me really uncomfortable with my laissez-faire attitude about sharing Christ.  Jesus didn't wait for opportunities.  He initiated conversations.  He didn't tell his disciples to be a good witness because they might be the only Bible some might read.  He told them to go and tell.

Yet this conviction didn't make all my fear disappear.  Recently I had to take my husband in for a surgical procedure.  True to my introvert nature, I just wanted to study for my next lesson I would be teaching at church and maybe read a magazine.  My plans did not involve being ready to share my faith with the hospital worker who wanted to small-talk.  Perfect opportunity.  And just like Jonah, I ran the other way.

After intense conviction over this lost opportunity, I repented and asked God to give me the opportunity to initiate a conversation with Amy, my coworker.  Still fearful, I was determined to obey this time.

Before heading to work this morning, I received a text that the other coworker who is in the office with Amy and me wouldn't be coming in.  I then realized that Amy and I would be alone in the office.  God brought to mind phrases from Ephesians 6 I had read this morning.  "Stand firm...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." "Pray that I may declare [the gospel] fearlessly."  And to top it all off, a song came on the radio at that moment with the words "Don't forget why you're here."

So at the first opportunity, butterflies and all, I shared with Amy.  She was receptive, and although she hasn't made a decision yet, I pray for her, that she will come to know Christ's saving grace.

And as the butterflies started to calm, I was at peace.  I obeyed.  I did my part.  Now it's the Holy Spirit's turn to do his. 

That is, until the next opportunity arises.

A Different Perspective on Repentance

I have to be honest. This is not one of those blog posts where you read the first few lines and then your curiosity is heightened to where you just have to read more. This is instead a blog post of a subject that has been steadily on my heart for the past few weeks, and I feel I must share. If it makes a difference to just one person, it's worth it.

If a survey were conducted in Christian circles as to what comes to mind when the word "repentance" is mentioned, what do you think would be the most common answer? I feel we tend to think of the unsaved accepting the saving grace of Jesus Christ by repenting of their sins. We might also think that it's a process that Christians who have "backslidden" come to when they rededicate their lives.

While those are certainly true, I think we miss so much by limiting repentance in that way. A lifestyle of repentance should be an active part of every Christian's daily life.

Let me explain.

I'm a perfectionist when it comes to some things, especially my Christian walk. I want to do everything right and leave no room for error. I recently realized that this attitude was a hindrance to my walk.

You see, in the past, whenever I realized I had sinned, my unconscious thought process went something like this, "That was wrong, I need to do better next time." Rarely did I find myself going to God and confessing, let alone repenting. Looking back on that, I was no better than a Pharisee, trying to earn the jewels on my crown by works. I kept washing the outside clean, but my inside wasn't cleansed.

Second Corinthians 7:9 says it perfectly: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

So how do we live a life of repentance? Although I'm still learning this myself, I start with coming to God with the specific sin of which he has convicted me. I confess that this sin (an ungodly thought, a word, an action, a mindset) is a sin against God. Then I ask him to cleanse me of this sin and show me what the godly thought, word, action, or mindset should have been.

The amazing thing about repentance is that through it, God changes me. I'm no longer trying to live in my own strength but instead by the Spirit living in me.

Another benefit of a lifestyle of repentance is godly humility. If I am coming to God on a regular basis with how I have sinned against him, my mindset toward others changes. I don't pass judgement on them. Instead I see both of us as sinners in need of repentance. If I feel led to confront a brother or sister in Christ like Matthew 18 says ("If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."), I can do it in love and grace.

Repentance. I believe it truly is the beginning of a Christian's life being transformed on a daily basis. And it yields eternal fruit, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of those around us.

Flesh Woman

Focal Verses: "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25a)

Sometimes spiritual growth can be joyous. Sometimes it can be painful. For the past few weeks since writing my blog “Repetition,” I have gone through a growth of the latter kind.

Little did I know that when God laid upon my heart the song, “Empty Me,” he was preparing for something well beyond the scope of the example listed in the “I Get It” blog. I am taking a risk of being transparent in this post in hopes that through my experiences, God may touch you as he did me, albeit the hard way.

Through my prayer of “empty me,” God didn’t spare my feelings when he pointed out some areas in my life that need his transformation. However, in my flawed self, I had quite a bit of trouble with these realizations.

You see, I’ve come to realize that my view of myself isn’t rooted where it should be. Instead of realizing my value because of God’s love for me and his Son’s sacrifice for me, I vary from extreme to extreme. If I feel like I’ve got everything under control and I’m being a “good girl,” I feel on top of the world. But point out a flaw in me, and I fall into a downward spiral. I wonder how in the world have my friends stuck around this long? How has my family put up with me--and even more inconceivably--loved me? And for heaven's sake, who am I to think that I am in any position to be teaching a Bible study?

It’s inconceivable for me to think that God can use me if I have any areas of sin or weakness lurking under the surface. Whereas some people perhaps shy away from any kind of leadership position in the church or ministry for this same reason, I started questioning everything I’ve been doing in that capacity. In either case, it all boils down to one thought. I’m not good enough.

Alas, nothing could be more true. I’m NOT good enough. God doesn’t expect me to be good enough in my own strength. That’s why he gave me his Son to redeem me and his Holy Spirit to convict and change me.

As I was seeking answers to my struggles these past few weeks, God reached down and touched me in only a way that He can. This time he did it through the book Having a Mary Spirit. After thoroughly enjoying Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver, I asked my sister-in-law for that author’s next book for my birthday. Only God knew what perfect timing that book would be.

God gently reminded me that there are two forces at work inside me. Paul sums it up in the verses following his famous tongue-twister passage in Romans 7: “I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (Romans 7:21-23).

I had to realize that no matter how hard I try, I am always going to have, as Weaver puts it, “Flesh Woman” contending for her place in my heart. And what God wants me to do about that is to first of all recognize her. Turning a blind eye to her presence in my life isn’t the way to become more like Christ. I must recognize her and with the power of Christ fight against her. And if I lose a battle, I confess and repent and move on. I can’t get stuck in the wrongful thinking that just because Flesh Woman is part of my life, that doesn’t mean that she IS my life.

I’m still struggling with many of the areas God has revealed to me. But instead of wallowing in hopeless despair, I can now see myself the way God sees me: completely unworthy, yet completely valuable to him.

I was putting Drew to sleep one night, and it was as if God whispered in my ear, “Do you see how much you love Drew? Is it because of anything he has done? No, you love him because he’s your son. Do you love him any less when he misbehaves? Of course not. And aren’t you proud of him when he does what is right? That’s how I am with you. I love you unconditionally, and I’m proud of you when you choose my way. But your weaknesses don’t make me love you less.”

Thankfully, God understands that our sanctification (being made holy) isn’t an overnight deal. It’s a process. We can rest assured in Philippians 1:6: “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

The Heart of Music

Focal Verse: "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." (1 Corinthians 10:23)

I was listening to K-love this morning on the way to work, as I normally do, and MercyMe happened to be live in the studio. Right as I was about to arrive at work, they sang one of their hits, "So Long Self." I love that song and listened to it so much when I was pregnant that I was sure Drew would come out of the womb with the lyrics memorized (or else he could have been traumatized by his Mom singing along with MercyMe the line that says "there's no room for two so you are going to have to move"). As I was listening to the song, I was reminded of how much Christian music has meant in my Christian life over the last two decades.

As I was pondering this, I recalled the number of conversations lately I've had, discussing whether it is "okay" for us as Christians to listen to mainstream music.

Now before I continue with that thought, I have to admit that in my much-younger years, I was a big fan of Paula Abdul, M.C. Hammer, and Vanilla Ice. I sang "Cold Hearted Snake" way before I had any idea what I was singing. But when I was around middle school, I was introduced to some Christian music that blazed the trail to the contemporary Christian music we have today - specifically D.C. Talk, Carman, and Steven Curtis Chapman. Even now when I hear some of the Christian songs of the 90s, I remember how this music really helped me stay focused in my impressionable teen years. I can't count the number of songs that God has used to make a profound impact on my life.

So back to my original discussion. Is it "okay" for Christians to listen to mainstream music? When I get into these discussions, I try to point out that it's not always a matter of whether it's "permissible," but whether it is "beneficial."

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23: "'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissible'—but not everything is constructive." I can't count the number of times when the Holy Spirit has brought a truth to my mind through a song that I didn't realize I knew. Many Christian songs are based on Bible verses or even have Bible verses in the lyrics, so in essence listening to some types of Christian music aids us in memorizing Scripture. I also look at my mindset. As I listen to uplifting, encouraging music, it keeps my focus on God and the things of God, and it helps me have the right attitude and perspective in other areas of my life.

I'm definitely not critizing all mainstream songs. After all, some of my favorite songs were songs I shared with my dad - "Centerfield" and "We didn't start the fire" to name a couple. And where would we be without songs like "Butterfly Kisses?" But we must be vigilant. I think when we listen to a mainstream song, a good rule of thumb is if we're having to rationalize how it won't affect us, that should be our cue that maybe we should turn the station.

Consider another verse that is well worth memorizing. This verse provides a measuring stick for all kinds of thoughts and behaviors, but it can definitely be applied to the music we listen to: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).

The thing that most people don't understand about Christian music is that it has come a long way since classic hymns and southern gospel. You can find just about any genre of music you enjoy in the realm of Christian music. Even mainstream movies like The Transporter and The Chronicles of Narnia are using songs from artists like TobyMac and Jeremy Camp, respectively. That tells you that even the secular movies are seeing that the style line between Christian and secular music is less defined. The difference between the two is the message and the "beneficial" effect it will have on our lives.

One other thing. As I was listening to MercyMe this morning, I couldn't help but feel a bond with this band I have never met. It's a Christian bond that even through the airwaves, I felt that I wasn't alone. Listening to Christian music gives me that extra encouragement I need in the midst of a secular workplace.

So, if everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial, will we make a conscious effort to choose the beneficial?

Every Opportunity

Focal Verse: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)

She was leaning against the counter, obviously very upset. As she let out her frustration to us, she ran her fingers through her bouncy brown hair. A pretty woman, probably in her 30s, the wear of traveling showed on her like I'm sure it did us.

She, my mother-in-law, and I were in the Chicago airport at 11:30 p.m., mistakenly sent there by the airline on our way to Orlando. We, along with six other people, had just been told that our flight to Orlando had left an hour ago, and the St. Louis airport had made a mistake sending us here. So, they were going to put us up in a hotel and help us get a flight to Orlando the next morning.

I could tell that this woman was about to air her frustration to the airline employee across the counter, even though none of this was this airline employee's fault and she handled the situation in such a way that only a fellow worker in customer service could appreciate. I was determined to handle the situation calmly, probably in an effort to protect this airline employee from this woman's anger. It seemed to work; this lady calmed herself and even later asked us how we were able to stay so calm in the situation.

"Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1 Peter 3:15b)

That was my opportunity. No, I didn't feel led to share Jesus at that moment, but I did sense that God was telling me to talk more to her; after all, we would be traveling to the same hotel and would get opportunities to talk. Yet I failed. We waited for a long time together for our shuttle to the hotel, but I just didn't pursue more conversation. I can list the reasons but none of them compare with what I knew I needed to do. When we were in our hotel room, I decided I was going to try to find her and talk to her more the next morning because we would be on the same flight. I was hopeful. But then at the last minute, our flight got changed and I never saw this lady again.

How many of us cringe when we hear the word, "Evangelism?" What thoughts and feelings does it evoke? Perhaps we think of evangelistic training techniques, such as Win Our World (W.O.W.), apologetics, or the Roman Road. We may think of knocking on someone's door we've never met, trying to share with them Jesus. For most of us, "evangelism" evokes an insecurity, maybe even fear, within us, that moves us to shy away from it. If we've ever done a spiritual gift class where "evangelism" was one of the gifts mentioned, we reason that evangelism isn't my gift, so I don't have to worry about it.

But true evangelism goes beyond cold visits and boot camp-like training. Sure, the training techniques can be helpful, and Scripture memory is useful, but true evangelism isn't encompassed in a method. It stems from being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and making the most of an opportunity that he brings our way.

When I was planning to talk to this lady the next morning, I had no fear as I would have, had I been knocking on a stranger's door. I simply intended to talk to her, asking God to give opportunities in everyday conversation. The one thing I've learned about God is if we care to take the time to pray for opportunities to talk to people about him, he will answer. One time in my workplace, I started praying for one of my employees, that I might get to talk with her about Christ. It was amazing that while I was praying for this, how many religious conversations came about. I did get a chance to talk with her and with others in my office. Yet I notice when I get too bogged down in daily life and don't pray for these opportunities, they simply don't come as often.

I feel like we need to stop evading evangelism like the plague. Evangelism in its essence is simply talking to others about the hope we have in Christ. It's not as hard as it sounds, for God promises us that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say: "for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say" (Luke 12:12). Also consider the words of Paul: "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).

One other thing to remember. It's not about us! Jesus said the only way someone will come to faith in him is through the Holy Spirit: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him" (John 6:44a). God does the work. We only provide the vessel.

Yet our vessel must be willing to make the most of every opportunity that God brings our way.

Decisions, Decisions

Focal Verse: "During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD" (2 Samuel 21:1b).

My husband paced across the hotel room in Mansfield, Texas, going back and forth between a big decision we had to make. After having been laid off in January from the company he worked with for the last 3 years, he landed his dream job at a company in Jacksonville, Arkansas. It was over an hour commute, but it was worth it for him. Then the unexpected came. The corporate office decided to close down the Arkansas branch, and as it turned out, Matt could either take the layoff or move to their Texas branch, over 6 hours away.

We decided to drive to Texas and visit the area, trying to seek God and his will concerning this dilemma. It was tough. We didn't want to move away from our entire family, but we wanted to be yielded to God's plan for our lives. Still, the decision wasn't easy. We didn't get that "feeling" that one way or another was right. Ultimately, we decided not to move and trust God with the rest. We believed that if Texas was where we were supposed to be, God would have made it crystal clear to us.

Some decisions are tough. But some are not. As I was studying the book of Ruth for our Mom's class this week, I stumbled upon a very real truth about some decisions in the very first verse: "In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man (Elimilech) from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab" (Ruth 1:1).

My first instinct was to think that God may have used this famine to move Elimilech's family to Moab, so his future daughter-in-law Ruth would eventually come to Israel, marry Boaz, have a child, and ultimately become an ancestor in the line of Jesus Christ. However, after further study, I realized that this wasn't the case. I'm afraid too often we can look at a good result and attribute the entire process to God's divine plan, when in reality, God has used yet another case of our bad decision to create something of beauty. Now, that's something to praise God about...that centuries before Romans 8:28 was penned, God was busy acting it out in the lives of people in the Old Testament.

Back to Elimilech. There was famine in the land. He was afraid for his wife Naomi and two sons, so he decided to move to Moab for "a while." While his instinct to provide for his family can be admired, his decision lacked concern for the will of God. Elimilech made his decision without considering what God had said about such matters. In Deuteronomy 23:3, God had specified that no Moabite may enter into the assembly of the Lord. This was said because of the sin and idolatry of the Moabities; according to Numbers 25:1-3, the Moabite women had turned the Israelite men to idolatry. In Deuteronomy 7:3, the Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with people of the pagan nations. Again, this was because of their idolatry and because God knew that they would lead his people astray.

Elimilech didn't seek the counsel of the Lord before he made his decision to take his wife and his sons go to Moab. If he had, he would have been able to see that God's law forbade the intermarrying with pagan people, and by moving there, he would be exposing his sons to the temptation of the Moabite women.

It's easy to overlook this simple decision Elimilech made. After all, his decision brought about the great story of Ruth, whose actions are an example to us all. Yet we forget that before Ruth made the journey with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, to follow her God, Elimilech died, and his sons died at a premature age, childless. Naomi returned to Israel a widow who had lost her two sons and had little hope. It was God in his sovereignty, who used a bad decision to bring out a glorious result. He worked in spite of Elimilech's decision, not because of it.

Contrast our focal verse today, where a 3-year famine occured in Israel. Unlike Elimilech, who simply made a decision without regard to the Lord, David sought the face of the Lord.

When we are faced with a decision, the first thing we should do is follow in David's example and seek the Lord. In doing that, we should test our options agains the word of God. God will never call us to something that blatantly goes against his word. We should also ask God to reveal our motives. Perhaps the decision isn't wrong in and of itself, but perhaps our motivation is contrary to the pure and dedicated life he calls us to.

The bottom line is that some decisions are easy when we test them against the word of God.

And what about the others? I'm still working on that. Stay tuned. :)

How Did I Get Here?

Focal Verses: "From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 13:3-4)

How did I get here? No, I'm not talking about how I felt last week when our airline mistakenly sent us to Chicago when we were headed to Orlando. I'm actually talking about how, one day, I can feel like God and I are walking joyfully side by side, and then another day, I realize he isn't as close as I remembered him being.

As disturbing as this can be, I'm afraid it's quite common. It is in my own life, anyway. It can happen for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is sin. If we're walking closely with God, allowing sin - unconfessed - in our lives, most definitely will create a space between us and our fellowship with God.

Another culprit in separating us from the closeness of God is not spending time with him. We can allow the busyness of life get in the way of our precious time with him, and the next thing we know, we aren't enjoying that intimacy with him that we did. Of course, that in itself can lead to our weakness to resist sin.

When we have one of those "How did I get here" moments, we have an excellent example in Scripture how we can get back to that closeness with God. Right after God called Abram (Abraham) and Abram set out to Canaan as God commanded, he built an altar between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord.

Then the Scripture says that Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine. Abram, because he was afraid, lied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and said Sarai was his sister so as to protect himself. Of course it is easy to wonder what happened to Abram's great faith that we see only a few verses before. (But like Abram, we can - and do - trip up just as easily.) Shortly after, God intervened and Abram was sent away from Egypt. I'm sure Abram's faith was shaken, so what did he do? Look back at our focal verses for today. He went back to the last place he experienced the Lord, the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier.

Before I get to the point here, I want to point out the same lesson from another patriarch, Abraham's grandson Jacob. After Jacob fled from Esau, God appeared to him in a dream at Bethel, where he restated his promise to build a nation through him. (Genesis 28) In the course of time, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and had his children, and God told Jacob to go back to Canaan. During this trip, his daughter Dinah was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon avenged her rape by killing every male in the city. After such tragedy and violence, you have to know that Jacob was questioning God's decision to use his family line. Yet God is faithful even when our circumstances seem uncontrollable. Genesis 35:1 says, "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"

In both of these cases, you can see that the place we need to go when we feel estranged from God is to the place where we last encountered him.

Maybe it wasn't too long ago for you. Just a matter of days. What changed in that short time? Did sin creep in? Did you let other things crowd out your time with God?

Maybe it has been years. Maybe it was at a church camp in youth group or a small-group Bible study in college. What was different in your life then than now? Were you seeking God wholeheartedly then and now you are keeping a few corners of your heart just to yourself?

Maybe it has been since your surrendered your life to Christ and have yet to launch your exciting relationship with your Savior. I would encourage you, if this is the case, to get involved in a small group or seek out a trusted Christian mentor, where you can be discipled.

Or maybe you have no idea what it's like to be "close" to God. If this is the case, perhaps you have never come to the point in your life where you realize your need for Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins. Maybe you have never fully committed your life to him. I'm afraid many in our churches and even in our society believe everything we're supposed to believe, but never make a personal commitment to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." If this describes you, please don't hesitate to seek out someone who can help you in your decision to commit to Christ. Feel free to even email me.

The bottom line is that God made us for a relationship with him. A living, walking, active relationship with him. And when we find ourselves out of close fellowship with him, the first thing we need to do is go back to the last time we encountered Him.

Pray Without Ceasing (Real Life)

Focal Verse: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)

I remember reading this verse in high school and thinking, "Well, how in the world is that possible?" Pray without ceasing or pray continually as the NIV states it. Reading it over and over I still couldn't figure out why God would put such an impossible command in the Bible. So I put it aside in my mind figuring I'd learn how to do that another day.

I recall such explanations as, "It means to continually have the mindset of God in your everyday life." Okay. That was a little more believable, but still a bit out of touch with my reality. I even recall in my young adult years, having my quiet time in the morning, fully intending to conversate with God at various times during the day, and laying my head on the pillow at night feeling that God was by my side all day long. Yet in reality, I found myself laying my head on my pillow wondering where my good intentions went. I wondered how in the world I had managed to leave God at the same place I met him that morning.

You can probably relate. And, like me, you have the best of intentions but just can't seem to grasp how to put that verse into practice. Now, I'll warn you, I don't have the secret code. I don't have a guaranteed method. But I have made progress and hopefully my experience will help you.

My progress has been born out of adversity, I must admit. If you've read my other posts, you know my family has been in some turbulent times in past months. My seeking to have God a part of my whole day has come out of desperation. I simply couldn't make it through each day without seeking him more than just in the morning. I'll warn you. If all is well in your life, this may be a little difficult. When we're not facing trials, it's easy to depend on ourselves and not see a need for a daily relationship with God. But the need is there all the same.

Having a set-aside time alone with God every day is vital. What kind of relationship could we have with a spouse or any other close friend only speaking to them once a week, if then? It certainly wouldn't be a thriving one. So the first thing to do is set aside a time to spend with the Father. It doesn't have to be a long time. Many people start at just 5-10 minutes. I choose the morning. It's the one time of day that I am free of distraction. I make my coffee and start my time with God. It's just like any close relationship. Back when we were in college and were roommates, my friend Tiffany and I used to cherish our "coffee talks." I would make cappuccino back then (sometimes bake cookies), we'd sit together, and talk. Even today when either of us needs some "girl time," one of us suggests coffee. It's our catalyst to an intimate conversation between friends. In the same way, I look forward to my "coffee talk" with God each morning. My routine is to have some sort of Bible study. Sometimes I do a Beth Moore study. Right now I'm reading Women of the Bible. Sometimes I put the study guides down and just read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. The key for me is variety. I change things every so often to keep myself fresh. I ask God to speak to me through His Word. Then, I pray about what he might bring to my heart. I pray for my family. I pray for him to be with me during my work day. I confess any known sin. If he has brought a verse to my heart, I pray that verse. There's no scientific formula. The main thing is being sensitive to God's leading in this time. The last thing I want to do is make my quiet time another thing on my "to-do" list to check off. When I start leaving my quiet time the same way I began it - unmoved - I start examining my heart. Is my mind distracted? Do I need a change in my routine? What is keeping me from a lively conversation with God?

I choose the morning because it's best for me. Morning may not be best for you. You might be more focused after the kids go to bed at night. The only time you might have is on your lunch break. Maybe it's on your commute to work and you can listen to a Bible study on CD or MP3. (Isn't technology great?)

Now, these other ideas I'm going to suggest are simply what has helped me to stay in more consistent communion with God. Pray about these ideas as well as others that work for you.

Scripture Memory. It seems like a pastime, but Scripture memory is as important as ever. I've found the easiest way for me to memorize Scripture is to put it on my mirror for me to go over as I'm getting ready in the morning. When we memorize Scripture, we're essentially acquiring weapons in our daily battle. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He'll bring that Scripture to your mind just when you need it.

Inspirational Music. Listening to inspirational music on my commute to work helps me to stay in the mindset in which I need to be. If I'm listening to a Christian radio station, God has a way of "playing" the songs that I need most. In addition to my commute, I am also able to listen to Christian music at my computer at work. This keeps Christian songs in the background while I'm doing my daily tasks.

Be Mindful of Prayer Opportunities. I'll be going about my day, and I'll think of someone. That's normal. But now instead of just thinking of that person, I'll pray for them. For instance, I thought of my friend Tiffany this week and remembered her asking for prayer for her husband as he was taking a difficult course this summer. So I'd pray, God, be with Chris today. Help this classwork come easier for him, and give him the strength to persevere.

Take Every Thought Captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At times I get overwhelmed, and sometimes I start to let bitterness creep in. One of my weak points is after I get home from working 9 hours, and after I cook dinner, clean dishes, put up laundry, and do anything else needed, I start to get bitter and have a tendency to want to take it out on my husband. So when that bitterness creeps in, I have started to pray, Father, this is how I feel. I want to take captive these thoughts, so help me understand the way I should react and feel in this situation. God always answers that prayer! Even if I may not like the answer, I see my situation in the light of the holiness of Christ and I get a whole new perspective.

Tear Down Strongholds. If there is anything in my life preventing me from that close communication with God, I try to analyze it and take it out of my life if necessary. For example, I got hooked on a certain reality TV series that consumed my thoughts and kept me from the pure thoughtlife God wants for me. It was a hard break, but I stopped watching it mid-season. Now that was a big sacrifice! But by doing that, I was able to not only clear my mind of those thoughts but also make more time for my family and other things I felt I needed to spend my time doing.

These are just a few suggestions based on what I've learned in past months. Don't get me wrong and think I am a success at these 100% of the time. That is most definitely not the case. Today in particular I failed at the "Taking Every Thought Captive" part. But you see, I know the goal isn't perfection because we'll never attain it this side of heaven. The goal is the journey. The blessing is seeing where I am compared to where I was. The blessing is seeing God respond in the quiet whispers of my heart because that day I took the time to listen. The blessing is knowing that although today didn't go as I had planned, there's still tomorow.

When we start making "praying without ceasing" too complicated or give up before we even start because the task seems impossible, we completely miss out. God wants our relationship, not to be a part of our daily to-do list. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Our daily walk with God is not to be a burden, but a blessing. And God just waits to bless us for our obedience and our yearning to know him more and more.

The Treasure in Our Closet

Focal Verse: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103

A few weeks ago, my toddler came down with a cough. Not uncommon for him, we attributed it to allergies as usual. We medicated him with prescription cough and allergy medicine and waited for it to go away after a few days.

Two and a half weeks later, we were getting concerned. The medicine, along with other over-the-counter allergy and cough medicines a nurse suggested when we called the week before, wasn't helping. So at my husband's insistence, I called to get Drew in to see his pediatrician. I was transferred to a nurse I haven't talked to before, who told me that the peditrician was booked that day (a Friday). She told me to put a humidifier in his room. No matter how many times I tried to protest - but it has been almost 3 weeks!...but we have given him every medicine suggested!... but he has been coughing for almost 3 weeks! - she became more adamant about the humidifier and told me that if they did have an opening, the doctor would tell us the same thing.

I was not a happy first-time mommy after this conversation. A humidifier? We got one when Drew was a baby and used it a couple of times, but it never seemed to help then. It was just a waste of time and energy. But reluctantly, I dug deep into our linen closet and pulled out the thing. I wasn't even sure how to work it, so my husband had to help me. I'll try this over the weekend, I thought, and when it doesn't work, I'm calling to get him an appointment on Monday.

On Saturday, Drew's coughs miraculously became less and less frequent. By Sunday he was even better. Amazing! I let my baby cough for almost 3 weeks trying everything I knew when the one thing that was needed was right there in my closet.

I think that's sometimes how we view our Bibles. We start having problems in our lives, and we tend to try everything we know. We talk to friends. Immerse ourselves in our hobby. Eat for comfort. Drown out the world in a good TV show. But even after we've tried all of those things, the problems are still there. We don't even think that the solution may be in our closet...or in our car since we only get it out on Sundays anyway.

We don't even think of our Bibles because, well, we've tried it before, and it never worked. Maybe we've tried reading the Bible through but got stuck somewhere between Leviticus and Numbers in all of the laws and learning who begat whom. Maybe we're still using a version that bears no resemblance to how we speak and learn. Whatever the reason, we've given up on really believing that the Bible could ever make a difference in our lives.

If you are like many who can identify, you may wonder how you can get started really allowing God to transform your life through his Word. Like I had to do with the humidifier, you need to dust off your Bible. First, I believe it is important to evaluate the version you're using. If you're using a version with old engligh language, you may want to go to a more understandable translation.

Second, make a plan. Here are some suggestions, but feel free to enlist the advice of a pastor, Sunday School teacher, or an associate at your Bible bookstore:

1. Select a daily devotional. Many churches have these available for free every month.
2. Start reading the Psalms. You can start with Psalm 119, which has lots of verses about the importance of the Word of God in everyday life.
3. Read Proverbs, a chapter per day.
4. Choose one of the letters of Paul. My favorite is Philippians.
5. Read the Gospels. What is a better way to get to know how to be like Christ than to study how he lived?
6. Consider a Chronological Bible. This puts the chapters of the Bible into the order that scholars believe they actually happened. I particularly enjoy reading about David and reading his Psalms in light of the circumstances by which he wrote them.
7. Delve into a Bible Study. Beth Moore's studies are amazing but the lessons take longer than others. Priscilla Shirer's studies equip you to study the Bible on your own, and she suggests verses to study yourself.

Remember, the purpose of reading the Word of God isn't so you can do your duty to God for that day. If you read chapter after chapter but close your Bible gaining nothing, what difference did it make? Even if you only read a few verses but God tells you exactly what he has for you that day, that's an effective Bible study! Before you start reading, ask God to reveal what he wants to say to you. God longs to speak to us! He only wants us to listen!

If we truly take in and breathe the Word of God, we will be changed.

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Sweet Spot

Focal Verse: “The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others” (1 Cor. 12:7 CEV).

I just finished reading Max Lucado’s book Cure for the Common Life. Before opening the cover (and after only reading the title), I fully expected the book to be about contentment. After all, whom of us after living the same routine day after day, week after week, doesn’t need a healthy dose of contentment?

After opening the cover, however, I discovered that my assumptions were incorrect. While contentment is something we can all use a little more of, Max went beyond teaching us to be content with where we are and gently pushed his readers to reevaluate whether we are living in our sweet spot.

Sweet spot. According to Max, our sweet spot is “a zone, a region, a life precinct in which you were made to dwell. He tailed the curves of your life to fit an empty space in his jigsaw puzzle. And life makes sense when you find your spot.”

You see, God didn’t create us to tarry on in a mundane life, day after day, just to get by. He made us to live in our sweet spot, where we will use the talents and interests he gave us to glorify him and to have fun doing it!

Do you know your sweet spot? If not, look at your life. What do you do well? What brings you joy? You’ll find your sweet spot when you identify the things you do well that you also love.

Once you’ve identified your sweet spot, realize that God created you in this special way to glorify him. “The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others” (1 Cor. 12:7 CEV).

Sure, God will call us to do things on occasion that aren't necessarily in our sweet spot. But he will also equip us for those tasks. I'm convinced he has called us to "live" in our sweet spot, and "visit" those places that aren't.

Let me give you an example. My "sweet spot" is studying, writing, teaching, and organizing events (not to be confused with organizing the house, as my husband would quickly point out). If I had it my way, every second of every day would be spent on these tasks, and I would be happily serving God in the area he called me to live. But there are times when God calls me to do things not in my sweet spot. For instance, when Drew was a few months old, I noticed that the same three couples were rotating in our church nursery during the morning worship service. I felt bad that these couples were missing out on worship every three weeks. Now I'll tell you that although I love my baby, working in the nursery is far from my sweet spot. But I saw the need and my husband and I agreed to put ourselves on the rotation. It wasn't easy. In fact, it got harder. When we signed up, another couple dropped out, and at the same time there was a "baby boom" of sorts in our church, so four people ended up having to be in the nursery most weeks. This meant that those of us who helped in the nursery ended up working in it 2 out of every 3 weeks, which was not a fun job for me. Yet, the need was there. God was bringing in new couples with babies, and this was a ministry we needed to help with.

Yes, sometimes true servanthood will require sacrifices and it won't always be the most desirable tasks. After all, I doubt Jesus felt that feet-washing was his sweet spot. What if he allowed someone else to take on that task while he continued in his sweet spot of teaching? If we see a need that God calls us to meet that doesn't fit with our sweet spot, we are not to excuse ourselves from the responsibility.

But I'm convinced that God called us to spend most of our time and energy serving in the areas in which we were equipped. As Paul says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (Romans 12:6-8).

By identifying our sweet spot, we first recognize that God is the author of it. He is the one who gave us these talents, abilities, and desires, for His purpose. Then we can seek where God wants to use these gifts. Finally, when we are living in our sweet spot, we are enjoying the life God created for us and we're serving and glorifying Him. What could be sweeter?