Do it anyway?

Following is hard. Signing on to be the follower might even be considered a little nuts. That's what I think sometimes when I look at the military. I'm so glad for the people who sign up, but I think to myself, "I could never do that." The blind obedience that is required-- you pretty much give up all your rights. Where you go, what you do, even what you eat, all those things are decided for you. It's little like going to prison, though honorable, and the uniforms are definitely cooler. But you cannot discount the similarities and I have thought more than once, "I could never do it."

And then I think, is following Christ so very different? Because it shouldn't be. Much like those who enlist in the military who make a pledge to follow and agree to unconditional obedience, that's what following Jesus ought to resemble.

The bible says it like this, "bought at a price." When we say "yes" to Jesus we pretty much sign over the rights to our lives to Him. There's a popular Christian song right now that says something to the effect of "Where You go, I'll go; where You stay, I'll stay; when You move, I'll move, I will follow You." That's what saying "yes" to Jesus is supposed to be like.

And when I think about that, I think to myself, the military might be easier. Because in the military if you fail to "follow" the consequence is swift. You'll know it quickly, and you'll suffer accordingly. Getting back on track is something I'd be swiftly convinced to agree to. Not following would bring greater suffering than following, and I would acquiesce.

And in the military, I suspect the objective is clearer. Goals are defined, the desired result is more clear. I cannot always say the same when following Jesus, at least not in the way I would like to have goals, results and objectives clearly defined. In the military the picture is narrow, in Christ,the vision is broad, more broad than I can even comprehend.

Sometimes God asks us me to do things, and I don't understand. I look and I don't see the results I think I should, and I wonder why I'm doing them.

When you don't see an impact, do you do it anyway?
When you don't see a benefit, do you do it anyway?
When you can't grasp the purpose, do you do it anyway?

These are the questions I find myself struggling with.

I wrote a book. It's a good book, a story that I know has purpose and needs to be told. But I sell a couple dozen and then it seems like nothing else comes of it. And I wonder, what I felt while I was writing, the leading, the directing, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was it Him? Or was it just me?

Passion, purpose, talents and gifts-- all coming together, is it God's hand? His plan? Where are the results?
Are lives being touched?
Is it providing for my family?
Is it making an impact?

If I don't have the answers, or if the answer seems to be "no," do I do it anyway?

If it magnifies what seems NOT be happening and NOT going right in my life, but He still seems to be leading, directing, inspiring-- do I do it anyway?

I'm writing my second book-- more to the story of the first book that's "out there,"-- maybe or maybe not making a difference. It has social value, and the potential to touch a life, but I may never see it. So do I do it anyway?

The real question is, "how do I not?"

God leads, I have to follow, even if I don't understand. He never promised that I would. Even if I don't benefit, because it's not really about me. Because it might minister-- even to just one, and that is by definition what ministry is, at least the way Jesus did it.

So do I do it anyway? Yes, I must. Because it's all about Him. And if it brings Him any glory, then it was worth it.

And when I'm wondering why I'm doing it, that's what I need to remember, because following in obedience-- that honors Him.

100 Verses -Weeks 28 & 29

The next three weeks of the Challenge are a portion of our book titled "Fullness: The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Lives." And the next two weeks verses are four consecutive verses from the Book of Ephesians. And because everyone learns and memorizes differently, instead of breaking them down over the two weeks, I'm going to give you a single passage, and we'll take two weeks to learn it.

And don’t get drunk with wine,
which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit,
Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
singing and making music to the Lord in your heart,
Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
Ephesians 5:18-21

It's kind of daunting, I know, when you look at the whole thing together, but if you break it down into pieces it loses some of its meaning. So I want to give you the "whole steak," but you cut it up for yourself however it makes it easy to "digest."

So chop it up, and chew on it the next two weeks. I will re-post this post (maybe I'll have more insight then?) next week, but this is our passage from now until Easter Sunday.

Blessings!

100 Verses - Week 27

We are officially beyond the halfway point, which is kind of exciting, and something to be proud of. For those of you who are still here and still participating, lean in, close your eyes, imagine now I am giving you a firm pat on the back. Can you feel it? Try harder to imagine it, you deserve it! It is such a wise choice to choose to fill your heart with the Word of God. Good for you!

Speaking of wisdom, this week's verses both come from what is known as "The Book of Wisdom," AKA the book of Proverbs. So let's get right to the point and here are this week's verses:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7

A gentle answer turns away anger,
but a harsh word stirs up wrath."
Proverbs 15:1

The 100 Verse Challenge is based on Robert J. Morgan's book "100 Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart."

The Hallway to Grace

On the way to work I was on the freeway and this arrogant guy cut me off. He came onto the freeway and cut across like four lanes and cut right in front of me. Then he pulled over into another lane and sped off as quick as lightning. Had to be some young jerk who thought he owned the road.

After work I was headed to get Jake from school and the car in front of me was going a good 15 miles an hour slower than the rest of traffic. Totally oblivious to the flow of traffic, the woman just drove at her own pace without any regard for the rest of us on the freeway. She had to have been too old to have had any business driving on the freeway. She was undoubtedly a menace- to herself and the rest of us.

But wait.

What if the guy in the morning was a young father who just got a call from his wife that their baby was sick? His wife was in a panic, the little one was having trouble breathing and she was begging him to meet her at the hospital right away.

And the woman. What if her car started to make a funny rattle just as she pulled onto the freeway. Elderly and frightened, she didn't want to get stuck on the freeway alone, so she was driving as slowly and carefully as possible just trying to get to the next exit, praying all the way.

The truth is, we don't know. But for me at least, my inclination is too often to assume the worst. I look at what I see on the surface, and I make assumptions like I shared in the initial descriptions of these common scenarios.

What about when these "freeway-type scenarios" happen in every day life? Maybe it's not in your car that you feel cut-off or disregarded, but rather in your "merging moments" in life. A friend cuts the conversation short when you call? A casual acquaintance doesn't acknowledge you when you cross paths in the grocery store. Someone passes you in the hall at church and doesn't say hello. Which direction do you go as you read into the situation?

Have your actions or intentions ever been misunderstood? Have you ever been denied the benefit of the doubt? It's not a very good feeling. I know how that feels, and yet I find myself so often guilty of denying others the same as well.

Is it a courtesy? A gift? I know for me, I hold onto it like a treasure. The truth is, I find it difficult to offer it to most. It's easier with strangers, or people I don't know well than it is with people I do. Why? What is it that makes us (me?) experts on others that causes me to hold back the benefit of the doubt. Why is the inclination to the negative?

Maybe it actually is deserving. Maybe often, even most often, people don't really deserve the benefit of the doubt. But you know what I have begun to realize? When I hold back the benefit of the doubt, I not only potentially harm the other person, but I harm myself as well. When I hold back the benefit of the doubt, it's as though I am shutting the door to grace.

I want to be a woman of grace. Someone once spoke a word of prophecy over me about "a posture of grace," and it has stuck with me, mostly because I know I'm not there yet. I want to be, but I'm not. But perhaps the "benefit of the doubt" is the key that opens the first door to a hallway that actually ends with me becoming a woman of grace.

This I know, there is far more freedom in assuming the best about others. Too often when I take hold of and dwell on a perceived offense, I weigh myself down just as much, if not more, than I attach a weight to the other person.

I know there's a risk. Assuming the best about others and giving people the benefit of the doubt- the treasure of it- opens the door to getting hurt, or being made a fool of. But it's a risk worth taking, because it's a choice of not only grace, but of love.

I do believe the hallway to being a woman of grace is long; and there are probably dozens of doorways along the way that will try to distract and deter me from the destination, but it's a start, and the key that opens the door to this path is simple- don't be so quick to judge, so quick to assume, so quick to decide- but rather, leave room for the grace, and in a loving way, CHOOSE to give others the treasure, the benefit of the doubt.

Maybe this post was just a good reminder for me, but maybe not.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29

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100 Verses - Week 26: Time & Money

How a person spends his time, and how a person spends his money says a lot about them. Open their datebook or their checkbook and you will quickly have a good idea of where their priorities lie. Both of our verses this week relate directly to God's instruction about these matters, time and money. It interests me how touchy people can get about these topics when it comes to church and religion. But this week's memory verses make t very clear that God really does have something to say about how we spend our time and money. But then again, why wouldn't He? They have so much to say about who we are.

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart-- not out of regret or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

I've heard this verse quoted before with the intention of making the principle of tithing obsolete. "...as he has decided in his own heart" is NOT license for ourselves to determine how we ought to obey and serve God. And truthfully, if it's your first thought to "go there," I would already take it as a sign that you are not in fact a "cheerful giver" if you are already looking for an out about how you ought to give. It's a sharp edge, don't get cut on it. Everything we have is God's to begin with, and He asks for it "back" not of His need, but out of our own.

It's for the good od our heart that God keeps us open handed with our goods, for the more tightly we grip things, the harder our heart has to work to beat the rhythm of God.

Likewise our time is not our own. And God intends that we spend it wisely, and with one another. So many people claim to be commando Christians, working alone, walking out our faith walks solo, and that was just never God's plan. There is strength in fellowship, and that's why God tells us to make it a priority.

Not staying away from meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:25

"As the day approaches" refers to Christ's return, and if you do your homework, you know more and more people will fall away from the faith in the last days. It's called apostasy, and it's the reason why believers belong in a good Bible teaching fellowship, for growth, strength and accountability. We need to be together, worship, word and breaking bread for the good of our faith. And because God says so. So if you are not a part of a healthy congregation and actively attending and participating, I highly recommend you make some changes.

So as you are meditating and memrizing these verses this week, take sometime to consider, if someone got a look at your checkbook and your datebook, what would it tell them about you?


The 100 Verse Challenge is based on Robert J. Morgan's book "100 Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart."