Sometimes, I really dislike the person I can be. Today had one of those moments of pure disappointment in myself. Ironic thing is that I should have seen it coming. Beautiful thing is the Spirit caught me before I made a complete idiot of myself. Let me back up and start at the beginning...
This past week my quiet time has really hammered the issue of pride. Yep, I am cruising through the book of Proverbs. I kept reading over and over about the Lord's hatred of pride and his pleasure in the humble. Even the book I was reading for pleasure touched base on it as well. Now, I know that when Jesus says something repeatedly to me, I need to step it up a notch and pay special attention. Weird thing is, I really couldn't find issues of pride that were glaring and I confessed any little issue I could see, making me think I might be creating some confession just to make sure I covered my bases! Seriously, I have been pretty beat up by life over the past week and wasn't feeling particularly good about anything. Then it happened almost like a vapor coming in the room. I was dealing with an issue of unrepentance in another believer and getting rather frustrated at the continued lying when that little crack opened up and I started to get self righteous. I started hearing my self talk say things like, "So and so knows better than that. They know God's word." or "Why don't they just clue in here and get right?" Oh boy. As I puttered around my office, the Holy Spirit does what He does best...smacked me upside the head with the log that was in my own eye. Immediately, all of those "God hates pride" messages flooded my soul. Busted. Big time! What made me even sadder was the fact that I didn't have a shred of grace for the situation... just how does one who loves Jesus with all she has, clings to Him because He is her only hope, and wants to be an encourager of souls have such an evil streak??? Even worse...how do I not have mercy and grace when I have done far worse?
No, I am not beating myself up...just being real. I love that my relationship with my Father is such that conviction comes quickly and deeply in this instance. I love that He got in my face about an ugly heart attitude. I am so happy that He forgave me and replaced those feelings of smug self righteousness with ones of 'been there, done worse, God showed me grace and mercy and I want to do the same.' Being a daughter of the King is nothing short of wonderful!
1 Timothy 1: 15-16
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [a]who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Saying no
Psalm 31:22-24
22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy
when I cried to you for help.
when I cried to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
22 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.”But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help.
This verse was my mantra starting in October of 2011, yet I didn't realize it then. It was during that time that Jesus was calling me to start the journey of saying no.... hardcore. Again, I didn't realize this at the time...I was just a frazzled mess in virtually all areas of my life. I knew things were not working doing it on my own, so in my panic and alarm, I was screaming out to God. I couldn't see Him. Now, I know because of the Word that He is always there, so I had to do some deep soul searching. I knew deep down that doing life my way was what was blocking my vision. (will I ever fully get past this???!!) So I surrendered. Yet again. He heard. Then He asked me to say no in the first area ~ my finances. I took a very hard look at what was the root of the problem and it was me. I hate to say no to me...I am talking "I will throw a hissy fit and pout" kind of response to saying no to myself. Through a financial program and accountability, I started to really experience a freedom in this area unlike I ever have in the past.
The next area was a bit deeper and hurt a whole lot more...enabling. I am not sure why, but I have always been a fixer. I love to resolve issues. Problem with this is two fold. First, I am not the Holy Spirit and it's not my job to fix people. Second, I often lose sight of what the Lord wants me to do for myself because I am too busy "fixing" others. In my pride, I thought I was 'helping', but when it comes down to it, I was fixing. This tends to be a big issue with those I love deeply. I hate to say no to them. I want to protect them from hurting, and in the process, I can get in the Lord's way of growing them. Ouch.
Like peeling the layers of an onion, He asked me to go further with Him. The next area was even deeper and the revelation came through the most random of situations. I was asked to fill in for a friend in discipleship. I was reviewing the lesson and it talked of temperance and how the Lord sees it and rewards it. My heart was ripe for that lesson because it hit me hard. I started praying that night for help, telling the Lord that I want to please him in this area of my life.
So what have I learned from this process that is still ongoing?
23 Love the Lord, all you his saints!The Lord preserves the faithful
I have a deeper love for the Lord than I ever have. It's like a friendship or marriage that has weathered difficult times ~ it's sweeter as you endure together! He has literally shielded me from some pretty rough storms over the past four months, and continues to do so even today. He's preserved me in my faithfulness to be obedient.
but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
Make no mistake, I still struggle with pride and He is faithful to remind me of that when I decide to take control again. I've had some bumps along the way (not sticking to my budget as planned, saying yes to an enabling situation when I clearly should have said no, going rogue on an issue that wasn't mine to commandeer! Thinking, saying, doing what I knew was wrong to do.). He's faithfully chastised me, disciplined me, and forgiven me. He also gave me a visual that is burned into my mind and soul of the effects of disobedience in a believer's life. A while back, I ran into a peer with whom I'd always had a great, respectful relationship. This person has chosen to willfully walk away from what they know God's word says and do their own thing. The change in this person devastated my heart. They walk stooped over, deep crevasses mar the face, a pervasive sadness haunts their features, the usually upbeat conversation that we'd have was replaced by a hollow sadness to their voice and they couldn't look me in the eye. I was heartbroken when we parted. I prayed all the way home for the situation and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart saying, "This is what the effect of pride and sin does to a person, Carla. Our friend is bearing consequences and burdens I never intended for them to bear. My heart is breaking too...keep praying for them!" Yes, God allows us free choice, but there is a consequence to defying God's word. Yes, He is faith and just to forgive those who repent, but the effects may be life long. There is no doubt that my friend's life will ever be what it was. Yet...
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Just this week, I am experiencing great fruit to being faithful to the no. I've said no several times over the past months. Sometimes it literally hurt my heart to do so. For days...weeks..yes, even months!! But I know He wanted me to. In the no, my heart found courage. In the no, my heart was protected from the barbs of the enemy's attack today. In the no, I am walking towards pleasing Him with my temperance. In the no, I am allowing His Spirit to work the miracles and changes that I am praying for in the situations that I can't change or fix. In the no, I am pleasing my Lord because I am living a life of trusting Him.
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Chase
If you've read much of my stuff, you know that I am pretty crazy about my dog, Coco. She is a constant source of companionship, joy, and instruction. Yep, I said instruction. Coco's responses and antics in relationship to me are so very often a visualization of my relationship to the Lord. Other times, she is a visualization of my shortcomings. This past weekend was one such picture.
I've been taking her for walks because both of us need more exercise. We often walk on or near the golf course that is just north of my house. Coco loves to track...if it's got a scent, she is checking it out. On Saturday, she got onto a squirrel scent, then spotted the creature digging up what I can only imagine was the ultimate nut because the beast did not look up at all from his frenetic unearthing. Coco spotted it, bowed her head into the 'pounce position', and clickity-clacked across the road toward it at full speed. As is the normal chain of events, the chasee will then take off running, Coco will give it a bit of a run for it's money, then stop, turn around, look at me for that affirming "You are such a hunter!" atta-girl, then happily prance with her helicopter tail spinning in pride. Well, that didn't happen this time. Mr. Squirrel was still after the golden nugget, totally ignoring the looming doom. Coco was in as fast of a run as her arthritic, surgically repaired legs could carry her and was upon it when he looked up in shock. For that split second you could tell that neither of them quite knew what to do! Coco skidded to slow down so she could think about what she would do with the nasty thing once she pounded on it, which gave him the split second to start to scurry towards a nearby tree. The look of confusion on my puppy's face was priceless. She just wasn't sure what to do, so she ran after again, chasing it around the tree about 3 times before the critter decided to head for higher ground! Of course, after it was treed came the look at me for the atta-girl, then the prancing commenced.
I've been thinking about this a lot over the weekend. Coco's actions mirrored my all too often pattern. There have been countless times I have went after something ~ ministry, relationship, career ~ for the pure thrill of the chase. I rarely considered the cost of what I would do once I obtained what ever was in my scope. Many times, I came to find that it was not at all what I'd envisioned, if I'd even thought it through. I rarely calculated the hard work that would be involved after the chase. I rarely looked at the big picture of how the 'prize' would play out in my life, or the lives of others. It was simply the adrenaline thrill of the chase. Funny thing, most of the time, I never got an "atta-girl" from my Master. Most of the time, He was hurting at the consequences that I was enduring because I didn't look up, ask Him for direction, wait on His plan. Oh, the lost opportunities, fruit and hurt that have been born out of those mistakes. Yet, the opportunities, fruit and wisdom that has come out of the hard lessons learned!! While I would love to have some better outcomes, I am so thankful that His mercies are new everyday! I am thankful that He forgives, lets me come to Him with boldness, and He showers grace on me. I am thankful that I know Him!
Micah 7:7
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
I've been taking her for walks because both of us need more exercise. We often walk on or near the golf course that is just north of my house. Coco loves to track...if it's got a scent, she is checking it out. On Saturday, she got onto a squirrel scent, then spotted the creature digging up what I can only imagine was the ultimate nut because the beast did not look up at all from his frenetic unearthing. Coco spotted it, bowed her head into the 'pounce position', and clickity-clacked across the road toward it at full speed. As is the normal chain of events, the chasee will then take off running, Coco will give it a bit of a run for it's money, then stop, turn around, look at me for that affirming "You are such a hunter!" atta-girl, then happily prance with her helicopter tail spinning in pride. Well, that didn't happen this time. Mr. Squirrel was still after the golden nugget, totally ignoring the looming doom. Coco was in as fast of a run as her arthritic, surgically repaired legs could carry her and was upon it when he looked up in shock. For that split second you could tell that neither of them quite knew what to do! Coco skidded to slow down so she could think about what she would do with the nasty thing once she pounded on it, which gave him the split second to start to scurry towards a nearby tree. The look of confusion on my puppy's face was priceless. She just wasn't sure what to do, so she ran after again, chasing it around the tree about 3 times before the critter decided to head for higher ground! Of course, after it was treed came the look at me for the atta-girl, then the prancing commenced.
I've been thinking about this a lot over the weekend. Coco's actions mirrored my all too often pattern. There have been countless times I have went after something ~ ministry, relationship, career ~ for the pure thrill of the chase. I rarely considered the cost of what I would do once I obtained what ever was in my scope. Many times, I came to find that it was not at all what I'd envisioned, if I'd even thought it through. I rarely calculated the hard work that would be involved after the chase. I rarely looked at the big picture of how the 'prize' would play out in my life, or the lives of others. It was simply the adrenaline thrill of the chase. Funny thing, most of the time, I never got an "atta-girl" from my Master. Most of the time, He was hurting at the consequences that I was enduring because I didn't look up, ask Him for direction, wait on His plan. Oh, the lost opportunities, fruit and hurt that have been born out of those mistakes. Yet, the opportunities, fruit and wisdom that has come out of the hard lessons learned!! While I would love to have some better outcomes, I am so thankful that His mercies are new everyday! I am thankful that He forgives, lets me come to Him with boldness, and He showers grace on me. I am thankful that I know Him!
Micah 7:7
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Leash Lady and taking on the "s" word...submission.
The other day I was riding through town with a friend when I saw something that was rather odd looking to me walking across the crosswalk. There was a couple walking their two dogs. The woman was in front walking a large lab/retriever mix and walking behind her was a man with a chihuahua type ankle biter. I commented to my friend that the whole scene looked backwards and odd to me. Her reply has been on my mind and in my heart ever since. She said, "It wouldn't seem backwards to you if you knew the couple. I do and she definitely is in charge!" In my mind's eye, I could see the invisible leash she had strapped to his neck as she drug him along in life. I am sure if you have read many of my blogs, you know that I subscribe to the truth of the Bible and I believe that God created order and authority lines as a way of giving us guidance to peaceful and abundant living. Just like chain of command is imperative in organizational structure, so is line of authority in family structure. I've known women who have blatantly refused to allow their husbands to lead. Scary stuff and it becomes a life of constant battle. I've known women who have to lead because their husbands refuse to do so. Sad stuff because most women in that position would love nothing more than for their guy to take the reigns and lead the family. The worst scenario to me is the manipulative woman who poses as one who submits on the surface, but deeper study exposes a puppet master behind the scenes using whatever means to get her way. Fortunately, there are some great, godly women who consistently do it right and I enjoy watching them build their men and families up...my Mom is one who immediately comes to mind!
A lesson I learned from thinking about Leash Lady was to take a hard look at my relationship with Jesus. I hate to think of how many times my walk with the Lord probably looks like I am trying to be the Leash Lady. I have headed in a direction of my own will and decided to 'drag' Jesus with me. I would make a decision to pursue something or someone and tack a prayer on the already "cemented in my mind" choice. Other times, I would try to find scripture to support my decision, instead of allowing His word to mold the choices I faced. I hve even come so far as to allow Him full reign in parts of my life (usually the areas I felt safe that He would leave as is!). However, He doesn't work like that and fortunately, that is not the end of my story! Through some sifting, growth spurts and set backs, I am being more and more driven to give Him the reigns of all areas of my life. He is calling me to be set apart for this time with Him alone and I am excitedly nervous about it. There are so many 'what ifs' in my heart, and one by one, He is addressing them. The peace that ensues from this is indescribable. He wants me to take that step of faith to jump into an adventure that only He can create uniquely for me. But, I know that without complete trust in Him, it won't be the ultimate adventure. I so want to obediently follow where He leads. I don't want to be the Leash Lady.....
Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
A lesson I learned from thinking about Leash Lady was to take a hard look at my relationship with Jesus. I hate to think of how many times my walk with the Lord probably looks like I am trying to be the Leash Lady. I have headed in a direction of my own will and decided to 'drag' Jesus with me. I would make a decision to pursue something or someone and tack a prayer on the already "cemented in my mind" choice. Other times, I would try to find scripture to support my decision, instead of allowing His word to mold the choices I faced. I hve even come so far as to allow Him full reign in parts of my life (usually the areas I felt safe that He would leave as is!). However, He doesn't work like that and fortunately, that is not the end of my story! Through some sifting, growth spurts and set backs, I am being more and more driven to give Him the reigns of all areas of my life. He is calling me to be set apart for this time with Him alone and I am excitedly nervous about it. There are so many 'what ifs' in my heart, and one by one, He is addressing them. The peace that ensues from this is indescribable. He wants me to take that step of faith to jump into an adventure that only He can create uniquely for me. But, I know that without complete trust in Him, it won't be the ultimate adventure. I so want to obediently follow where He leads. I don't want to be the Leash Lady.....
Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Monday, April 2, 2012
500 days til the big 5-0!!
You ever get an itching to just do something different in your life? Boy, am I there right now!!! Don't get me wrong, I am VERY thankful for the full life I have and enjoy all the blessings the Lord has showered me with all of these years. Yet, I am ready for an adventure...one that only God can lead and one that I know beyond ANY doubt that He is calling me to. The bubbling up from my soul is almost uncontainable! I just happened to log onto my blog and found that as of today, there are 500 days and 13 hours until I turn 50. Let the adventure begin today!!! Stay tuned...
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Lapidoth
Recently, I have been taking a class on how to study the Bible. One of the activities we had was to do a biographical study on a character assigned to us. I was more than thrilled when I was assigned Deborah. I have always loved the story about her in Judges 4 and 5. She was a judge for the nation of Israel ~ and the only female one they had! This study opened up several subtle nuances about her that I had never picked up in reading and I have an even deeper respect for her now than before. As is often the case, when I study something intensely, I am often left with some questions that I just cannot answer. Deborah's life was no different. One of the several burning questions I have is 'What was her relationship like with her husband?'
At the onset of the story, we are told that Deborah was the wife of Lapidoth. This is the entire extent of the discussion of her marriage. No words on what kind of man he was, how he felt about her 'job' as a prophetess and judge, what he did for a living, etc. Just his name. However, I know my God does not put one thing in His Word that isn't important. So, Lapidoth has significance. I have to admit that when I get something stuck in my head, it often rolls around there until I can put some order to it. So, I started with what I had ~ his name. The Hebrews were all about the meanings of names. Lapidoth means 'torches'. Hmmm...light. Somehow, I wonder if this man was a truthful force in his wife's life. I know all too well the stress that comes with authority. Sometimes, I just need a male perspective to help me drill down to the point of an issue. You see, the Lord made me (and really all women) to have wonderful emotions that often help us to empathize with a situation. And sometimes those emotions can impede us from making the tough call. I can picture Deborah and Lapidoth sitting at the table with their morning coffee discussing what was on the docket for her day. Often he'd just listen, but just as often she would ask his input. He was her trusted adviser.
I also like how the Lord words their relationship: wife of. Semantics are important. This guy was not Mr. Deborah. She was his wife. Now before all of you independent women get your undies in a bunch, let's be honest. This isn't talking about ownership, but relationship. She belonged to him in relationship. Isn't that what any of us really wants...to belong? He was her man. From my study of Deborah, I found that she was a women who was quite adept at God's desire for us to submit one to another. When she was leading another man, Barak, into battle, she spoke to him in a way that encouraged and left his respect and dignity in tact. I believe that this had to start first with her submission to the Lord, then to her husband. She had her priorities in the right order. The nation of Israel was blessed because of her right choices...just as a business, family, or ministry can be if we have our priorities straight.
Finally, I believe that Lapidoth was a man's man. He must have been a man that was not intimidated by his wife's position or power. He must have known who he was in the Lord's eyes and was probably like the Proverbs 31 woman's husband ~ a man who was confident of his position at the gate and proud of his wife's accomplishments. I do believe that Deborah's attitude had to help solidify this.
This study has impacted me to change some things in my life and the study of Lapidoth is no different. I have started praying for my Lapidoth. While I am thriving in my single life, there is a desire to have a husband in my life that will lead me to be an even better minister for His glory. So, I pray for a man like I envision Lapidoth to be. I am also praying for myself. I want to become the kind of woman that my Lapidoth can be proud of and that I will be the kind of woman that will help him be the man God calls him to be.
At the onset of the story, we are told that Deborah was the wife of Lapidoth. This is the entire extent of the discussion of her marriage. No words on what kind of man he was, how he felt about her 'job' as a prophetess and judge, what he did for a living, etc. Just his name. However, I know my God does not put one thing in His Word that isn't important. So, Lapidoth has significance. I have to admit that when I get something stuck in my head, it often rolls around there until I can put some order to it. So, I started with what I had ~ his name. The Hebrews were all about the meanings of names. Lapidoth means 'torches'. Hmmm...light. Somehow, I wonder if this man was a truthful force in his wife's life. I know all too well the stress that comes with authority. Sometimes, I just need a male perspective to help me drill down to the point of an issue. You see, the Lord made me (and really all women) to have wonderful emotions that often help us to empathize with a situation. And sometimes those emotions can impede us from making the tough call. I can picture Deborah and Lapidoth sitting at the table with their morning coffee discussing what was on the docket for her day. Often he'd just listen, but just as often she would ask his input. He was her trusted adviser.
I also like how the Lord words their relationship: wife of. Semantics are important. This guy was not Mr. Deborah. She was his wife. Now before all of you independent women get your undies in a bunch, let's be honest. This isn't talking about ownership, but relationship. She belonged to him in relationship. Isn't that what any of us really wants...to belong? He was her man. From my study of Deborah, I found that she was a women who was quite adept at God's desire for us to submit one to another. When she was leading another man, Barak, into battle, she spoke to him in a way that encouraged and left his respect and dignity in tact. I believe that this had to start first with her submission to the Lord, then to her husband. She had her priorities in the right order. The nation of Israel was blessed because of her right choices...just as a business, family, or ministry can be if we have our priorities straight.
Finally, I believe that Lapidoth was a man's man. He must have been a man that was not intimidated by his wife's position or power. He must have known who he was in the Lord's eyes and was probably like the Proverbs 31 woman's husband ~ a man who was confident of his position at the gate and proud of his wife's accomplishments. I do believe that Deborah's attitude had to help solidify this.
This study has impacted me to change some things in my life and the study of Lapidoth is no different. I have started praying for my Lapidoth. While I am thriving in my single life, there is a desire to have a husband in my life that will lead me to be an even better minister for His glory. So, I pray for a man like I envision Lapidoth to be. I am also praying for myself. I want to become the kind of woman that my Lapidoth can be proud of and that I will be the kind of woman that will help him be the man God calls him to be.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Passion
Since the end of our Fabulous February Photo of the Day event, I have found myself with nothing to really write about. Sometimes it is just that way for me. Sometimes I need just some quiet to think, read, think some more, read more...well you get the picture. One thought has been consistently coming to the forethought of my mind ~ passion. I find people's passions to be very interesting, and very telling about who they are as a person. No, I do not judge them based entirely on this one thing, but I really believe it gives me an open window into what makes them tick.
Just scan your news feed page on Facebook any given day and you will most likely clue into issues that people are passionate about. Politics, religion, lifestyle choices, relationships, injustices, humor...it runs the gamut. In fact, KONY 2012 has picked up some real steam in the past 24 hours with a video (which I haven't viewed yet) that went viral and has incited the passions of young people to right a wrong. Millions have viewed it, with many deciding that they must act. While I don't know the details of the issue, it is exciting to see young people passionate about something bigger than themselves ~ adults, we could take a clue sometimes! :D
This has me asking myself, "What am I truly passionate about?". How do I really judge that? Some say that you can judge a person's heart by their checkbook. Oh boy. If you looked at mine lately, you'd say I was passionate about eating out. Not really. But, if you look deeper there is a clue to what I am passionate about. When I was balancing the old checkbook and mumbling about eating out, it dawned on me that all but a very few of those meals were ones where I'd met with another person for ministry, encouragement, fellowship, or just plain old fun. That clued me in to one passion ~ people. I do enjoy people. I love learning about how they view life, what makes them happy, what makes them angry, what fuels their passions. I love to encourage their hearts (often through their tummies!). I love to laugh with them over old stories of antics we'd been involved in or future adventures to embark on. I want to be an influence in their lives.
Another area that I looked at was my social media involvement ~ my Facebook posts. While I used to be a lot more political than I am now, one might say that I am passionate about it by the number of Fox news articles I happen to post. Nope. It's not about the politics...it's about the character of the person for me. I was sad and thrilled when Mike Huckabee stepped out of the presidential race for 2012. Sad because I respect the character of that man. His character is built on his relationship with Christ. I was thrilled because his decision to step down was IN SPITE of what the world said- go for it. He sought the face of his Savior and came away from that encounter knowing that the Lord did not want him running. He said no. He is one of the very few good political stories that I've posted. Most have been examples of the character-less individuals who are running this country. They sit on both sides of the aisle and I despise their greed. And I fear that it could easily be me making self serving decisions if I were in their shoes.
A final area is my blog. What do I find myself writing about, thinking about, talking about? That's easy...the Lord and His Word. He has grown me so much and His Word has peeled away layers of wrong thinking and I find myself just having to talk about it. Not because I've arrived, but because He deserves so much glory and gratitude from my life. I've been told that it appears as I have it together. Trust me, appearances can be deceiving. I am truly a mess on the inside most of the time. However, I don't camp out there. I embrace that I am a work in progress, that He sees me through the cleansing blood of His Son, and that I am a daughter of the King. That's pretty special. I have come to a point in my life that I welcome Him in to make the changes needed ~ it's not usually an easy thing to allow. It's always a huge blessing in the end. His Word is invaluable in the transformation. I just finished a word study on honesty. I am still working through all the implications of that study, but it has so convicted me that immediate change has occurred where I was lacking character in this area. God's word...it never returns void.
So, what am I passionate about?
Influencing the hearts of people to develop godly character through Jesus Christ and His Word.
Think I found my new life mission statement......
Just scan your news feed page on Facebook any given day and you will most likely clue into issues that people are passionate about. Politics, religion, lifestyle choices, relationships, injustices, humor...it runs the gamut. In fact, KONY 2012 has picked up some real steam in the past 24 hours with a video (which I haven't viewed yet) that went viral and has incited the passions of young people to right a wrong. Millions have viewed it, with many deciding that they must act. While I don't know the details of the issue, it is exciting to see young people passionate about something bigger than themselves ~ adults, we could take a clue sometimes! :D
This has me asking myself, "What am I truly passionate about?". How do I really judge that? Some say that you can judge a person's heart by their checkbook. Oh boy. If you looked at mine lately, you'd say I was passionate about eating out. Not really. But, if you look deeper there is a clue to what I am passionate about. When I was balancing the old checkbook and mumbling about eating out, it dawned on me that all but a very few of those meals were ones where I'd met with another person for ministry, encouragement, fellowship, or just plain old fun. That clued me in to one passion ~ people. I do enjoy people. I love learning about how they view life, what makes them happy, what makes them angry, what fuels their passions. I love to encourage their hearts (often through their tummies!). I love to laugh with them over old stories of antics we'd been involved in or future adventures to embark on. I want to be an influence in their lives.
Another area that I looked at was my social media involvement ~ my Facebook posts. While I used to be a lot more political than I am now, one might say that I am passionate about it by the number of Fox news articles I happen to post. Nope. It's not about the politics...it's about the character of the person for me. I was sad and thrilled when Mike Huckabee stepped out of the presidential race for 2012. Sad because I respect the character of that man. His character is built on his relationship with Christ. I was thrilled because his decision to step down was IN SPITE of what the world said- go for it. He sought the face of his Savior and came away from that encounter knowing that the Lord did not want him running. He said no. He is one of the very few good political stories that I've posted. Most have been examples of the character-less individuals who are running this country. They sit on both sides of the aisle and I despise their greed. And I fear that it could easily be me making self serving decisions if I were in their shoes.
A final area is my blog. What do I find myself writing about, thinking about, talking about? That's easy...the Lord and His Word. He has grown me so much and His Word has peeled away layers of wrong thinking and I find myself just having to talk about it. Not because I've arrived, but because He deserves so much glory and gratitude from my life. I've been told that it appears as I have it together. Trust me, appearances can be deceiving. I am truly a mess on the inside most of the time. However, I don't camp out there. I embrace that I am a work in progress, that He sees me through the cleansing blood of His Son, and that I am a daughter of the King. That's pretty special. I have come to a point in my life that I welcome Him in to make the changes needed ~ it's not usually an easy thing to allow. It's always a huge blessing in the end. His Word is invaluable in the transformation. I just finished a word study on honesty. I am still working through all the implications of that study, but it has so convicted me that immediate change has occurred where I was lacking character in this area. God's word...it never returns void.
So, what am I passionate about?
Influencing the hearts of people to develop godly character through Jesus Christ and His Word.
Think I found my new life mission statement......
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