The Lord has been challenging me to grow in a few areas lately.  One of them is in the area of loving others.  I tend to be a rather shy, private person.  I don't have many close friends, and I have had a lot of people describe me as reserved, and even cold.  I know that God wants me to love others.  It's a part of His Great Commandment:

" Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."  (Matthew 22:36-40)

And elsewhere Jesus said,

"I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another.  Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.  By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]."  (John 13:34-35)

I knew it wouldn't be easy.  I knew that when we ask to become better at loving, God specially gives us the unlovely and the unlovable to stretch us and help us to grow.  I knew that I am generally selfish.  I knew that He would give me tests, and that I would sometimes struggle...

But I didn't expect to blow it so badly the very first day!  A friend who's in town from overseas called my dear hubby and asked to use our place to gather a bunch of their friends together while they are visiting here in town.  No problem.  I readily agreed to that.  But then, they called and asked me what food they should bring.  I snapped off a comment to my husband that I'm not organizing this thing.  I don't even know who all they're inviting and who can come, so how could I possibly organize what food everybody brings?

Well, this got my dear hubby angry.  He threatened to call the whole thing off and tell them to use another place.  I scolded him, "Don't be like that."  And he challenged me, "You can be however you want to be, but I can't 'be like that'?!?" 

He was right.  I could have been nicer.  I could have just said I hadn't thought about what food to bring, or just told them to bring whatever food they've been missing while living overseas, or just said, "Have everybody bring enough food to feed their family.  It doesn't matter what it is."

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.  Three of the saddest words in the English language.  (Never mind that they're not real words!)  They are words that reflect regret.  Shame.  Blame.  Conviction and condemnation.

Will I ever get it right?  Will I ever learn to stop, think, and choose to have the heart of Jesus Christ, who came, "not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45)?  Will I ever be able to love like Jesus who, "being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!"  (Philippians 2:6-8)

I realize that I am totally incapable in my human capacity to love like that.  It is only with God's help, that Christ can love through me when I am able to yield myself to His control. 

Oh, Lord, even knowing the struggles that this prayer will bring, teach me to love!

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"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  So don't try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."  (James 1:2-4, The Message)

I don't know about you, but I don't like tests.  Oh, I don't mean mid-term exams or finals, standardized tests, multiple-choice, true-false, or even essay tests.  I can live with those any day.  No, I'm talking about those tests that God sends us to help us grow.  You know, those tests.  And, yet, James instructs us to consider it a sheer gift when God sends us those kinds of tests.  Personally, I prefer a nice bottle of lotion from Bath and Body Works or a new book, maybe a pair of earrings.

A gift.  A gift?!?  I still find it hard to see it as a gift, but I have to admit that after the test is over, I can look back and see that, yes, I have grown, usually in ways I never imagined.  But I still find it hard, when I'm faced with this particular test-gift, not to struggle.  I have to admit, I usually want out of that situation-- as quickly as possible.  But this particular gift of God usually requires time to do its work.

I personally don't really like it when my faith-life is forced into the open to show its true colors.  Because I rarely like what I see.  You mean I still haven't got any more patience than that??  You mean I'm still grumbling and complaining like the children of Israel in the wilderness?  Sometimes, I feel rather despondent when my true colors show through--because those true colors are usually the ugly stains of a sinful and selfish heart.

So, here I am, God, sin-stained heart and all, offering it all up to you, and asking you to bleach out the stains as only You can.  Help me to "...do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that I may become blameless and pure, ...[and] will shine among them like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2:14-15)

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Have you ever been struck down by this savage malaise?  I'm working hard to try to overcome a bout with this horrid disease!

I noticed it when I started to hear my children whining and complaining more than normal, using words that were shockingly reflective of things that I know have come out of my mouth.  And I was convicted.  I knew from whence this deadly illness had come--it had begun with me!

I guess I'm not the only one who occasionally suffers with this dreaded illness--the Israelites sure had major problems with it during their 40-year journeys through the wilderness.  Unfortunately, the knowledge that I'm not alone in this isn't very comforting.

Once you're struck with this ailment, it's not always easy to get over, especially if it has taken a while to discover the diagnosis.  You become accustomed to complaining, and get into the habit of looking at everything through a negative lens.  I recognized it a short time ago, but have still found myself seeming to wallow hopelessly in the muck and mire of my own lousy attitude.  Yes, I really struggled this time to get out, even after I recognized the problem.

What is the treatment?  A good strong dose of Romans 12:1-2: allowing the Holy Spirit to renew one's mind. 

A daily tablet of Philippians 4:8 goes a long way to both curing the ill, as well as preventing any future recurrence:

"Finally, my brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is praiseworthy, think about such things."

I decided to take a healthy dose of the above, and, as I went out today to run errands, I began thanking God for the time, energy and money to do them.  I enjoyed meandering through a surprisingly quiet and empty grocery store, selecting from a beautifully wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables and really fresh fish.  I was so pleasantly surprised to find no queue at the checkout, and no queue at the taxi stand. I was so thankful for the helpful taxi driver who got out of the taxi to help me to unload my shopping cart into the trunk of his car, and I enjoyed admiring the beautiful formations of the clouds in the sky as I rode home.  I wished the taxi driver to have a lovely day as I paid him, and chatted with my helper and children as we put away the groceries together. 

I am thanking God even now for helping me to begin the journey back to a healthy view of life through Christ-colored lenses.  Hopefully, this marks the beginning of the road to recovery for me... Have any of you been suffering from "stinkin' thinkin'" lately??

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Recently, I've been really busy.  If you stop by this blog regularly, you've probably noticed that my entries have been a bit sparse lately.

I was sharing with a friend today about my busy schedule, and she shared a few great nuggets of wisdom, so I thought I'd pass them on to you.

There needs to be a balance between what fills us and what drains us.  Some activities fill us up, spiritually, emotionally, or even physically, while other activities drain us.  For example, I'm an introvert, and my husband is an extrovert, so what fills me up may be different that what fills him up.  Take cell, for example.  My husband's role as a congregational pastor requires him to visit the various cells within our congregation.  Now, for him, being an extrovert, meeting up with new people every week and getting to know them a little bit better is great!  He comes away from a meeting like that energized and excited. 

Now, me, on the other hand, I am an introvert.  I draw my energy from time alone.  Going to visit a different cell every week, and walking into a room full of new people that I don't know, and enduring a whole evening of meeting new people, answering questions about myself, and chit-chatting with others--well, let's just say that to me that is sheer torture!  It is extremely draining on me.  I am energized by an afternoon alone in the quiet of my room, reading, surfing the internet, listening to music or a good teaching podcast.  That makes me come alive!

In order to run at my best in this busy time, I need to make sure that I can balance those activities that drain me with those activities that fill my tank.  If I'm doing more draining things than filling up activities, I'm headed for burn-out or breakdown.  Likewise, if I'm heavy on filling up activities, and am not giving out somewhere, I'm also in danger of physical, emotional, or spiritual obesity, which has its own set of problems and is just as unhealthy as overdoing it on the draining activities.

Makes sense, huh?  The key is balance.  So, I need to examine my life and schedule and see what activities are filling and which ones are draining.  Am I balanced, or am I getting too full or too empty?  That's where I'm at right now--the examining stage. 

Lord, teach me to live in balance.  Help me to make time in my schedule to fill my tank.  Then, help me to give all that you have blessed me with to bless others.

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Being a blessing to all the peoples of the world.  Sound familiar?  It comes from Genesis, God's covenant with Abraham, when God promised Abraham that He would make his descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore.  God also promised Abraham that his descendants would be a blessing to all nations.  What does all this have to do with me?  As believers, we are all spiritual children of Abraham.

We are undertaking the Old Testament Challenge right now in our church.  By the end of this study, which will take us most of this year, we will have read through the entire Old Testament, listened to weekly sermons on it, and discussed it in our small groups.

Today, as my homebuilders' small group met, our leader asked us to think of a personal application for this.  How can we be a blessing to all the peoples of the world?  And the Lord just dropped a word in my heart for us, homebuilders, or homemakers.  We can be a blessing to all the peoples of the world by raising our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.

Sometimes, as stay-at-home moms, we are made to feel inferior, that we almost have to apologize for what we do.  But, we have such an important purpose: raising our kids.  As we teach our children godly values in a sin-sick world, we are preparing them to make a difference, each in his or her own little corner of the world.  And, who knows what our children may become?  One of us may be raising a future President of the United States, or a future evangelist like Billy Graham, or a future judge or senator.  We may be raising a missionary or pastor who will lead thousands to Christ, or who will be involved in the start of a great revival that will sweep across the world.

We do not know what our children may one day become.  We do not know what our children may do one day.  But we have them today, to love, to influence, to nurture.  And as we, raise thse children, one by one, all over the world, to be Kingdom people, they, in turn, can rise up and become a mighty army of influence in our world.

Sometimes, it's hard to see the big picture because of all the little puzzle pieces.  Don't lose sight of it!  We have a powerful part to play in the Kingdom of God.  Already, our children are having an influence in their own little corner of the world, as they think, speak, and act in a way that brings glory to God as they interact with their peers.  And God has chosen us, Moms, to play this vital role.  We have the privilege of being a part of God's plans and purposes in this very unique and special way!

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This week, in preparation for a series of Christmas messages my husband and I are doing at church, I have been studying the song of Mary, found in Luke 1:46-55.

Did you know that when William Temple was Archbishop of Canterbury (1942-1944)  he instructed missionaries in India never to read this passage, called the Magnificat, aloud in public whenever unbelievers were present, because in a country like India, with its caste system and poverty, this portion of Scripture, taken out of context, could cause an uprising?

So, what was it that was so revolutionary about this song, sung by a poor young Jewish maiden?

Somehow, Mary knew that the birth of her son would turn the world upside down, and she describes some of these revolutionary changes in her song.

Listen to these words (Luke 1:51-53):

"He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty."

The coming of Christ upsets the proud of this world.  It lifts up the humble.  And the gospel goes out first to the poor, the hungry, the needy, the hurting, the homeless, the forgotten people of the world.

Jesus' coming would revolutionize the world, by transforming lives, one life at a time.

And God chose to begin this revolution in the most unlikely of places with the most unlikely of people.  He didn't choose to send Jesus as a conqueror to Rome.  He didn't choose to send him as a king to the Temple in Jerusalem.  Instead, He chose to send him as a baby, born in an obscure village.

Jesus took a lowly, downtrodden girl, and raised her up to receive the highest possible honor a Jewish woman could hope to attain.  Jewish couples fantasized that they might one day parent the long-awaited Messiah.  But God didn't choose a rich family, or one well-established in Jewish society.  He chose what was probably the most unlikely person one could think of for this honor, a poor young teen, stigmatized by her illigitimate pregnancy.

And with this humble, insignificant birth, the world's greatest revolutionary was born!  The world may not have realized it, but this was the beginning of a revolution that would turn the world head over heels!  Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

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We are preparing for a 6-week trip to visit my family in the USA.  The countdown began weeks ago, as my daughter asked for a calendar, and numbered the days, counting up from the day we leave.  We're  now down to less than 2 weeks!  (12 days, if you want to get specific!)Hurray!

I got out the big suitcases today.  Then, I pulled out cooler weather clothing that we had in storage, and had the kids trying things on to see what still fits, what can be passed down to a younger sibling, and what is simply too small for everybody and needs to be passed on to a friend or to charity.

I also just finished writing a freelance article on travel tips.  No matter where you're going or how long or short your trip will be, planning and preparation are important.

All my focus on this travel theme in the various aspects of my life has gotten me thinking.  There is a good life lesson to be learned here.  Life is preparation for our final journey.  If we want to be ready, we need to prepare now.  Each day should be lived as if it is my last.  My focus should be on things eternal, not on temporary things. 

So, what's important?  My family.  Have I hugged my kids today and reminded them how precious they are to me?  Have I taken time out of my busy-ness to read to Bubbles, to help Roboboy find the book he was looking for and couldn't find, to listen to Dancing Queen talk about what's on her mind? 

My spiritual condition.  Am I walking in communion with God?  Are there things in my life I need to deal with?  Am I living out the daily disciplines necessary for spiritual growth?

The eternal destination of those around me.  Have I prayed for loved ones who still don't know Christ?  Have I shared His love with anyone today?  Have I showed kindness to anyone?  Have I prayed for the lost all around the world, and for the missionaries who have sacrificed to win them?

How about you?  Made any travel plans lately?

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My husband and I teach our church's membership class.  We had a new class last night.

I really love teaching this class for a number of reasons.  One of them is that it gives me a chance to get to know some of the newer people in our congregation.  In a church that has nearly 3000 in attendance every weekend, I'm always thrilled for a way to get familiar with a few more faces in the crowd!

But by far the main reason why I love teaching this class is that I am totally 100% sold out on the local church.  Somebody (I confess I don't know who!) once said, "The church is the hope of the world."  Oh, how deeply I believe this!

Jesus commanded His church to be salt and light in this world.  (See Matthew 5:13.)  Now, I'm sure most people see the point of the light analogy.  We're to be light in a sin-darkened world.  But, the analogy of being salt is so rich, it deserves digging into.

Why would Jesus command us to be salt?  Well, let's take a look at some of the qualities of salt.

First, salt is a preservative.  As Christians, when we live lives that are morally upright, upholding godly values, we are adding a preservative to a world decaying with sin.  Christians are preserving a little taste of what life could have been or should have been before the fall.  Not that our lives are perfect, mind you.  I'm not so naive.  But we are models of the lifestyle God intended for mankind to have: honest, wholesome, hardworking, righteous, obedient lifestyles.

Salt also has a healing quality.  Christians can share the love of Jesus with those who are hurting around us.  As we reflect the love and compassion of Christ, we can help to heal the wounds of those who are sin-sick and hopeless and helpless.  We can offer loving concern, binding up the wounds, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, of those who are damaged and wounded by the harsh realities of a world gone out of control.

Another characteristic of salt is that it causes or increases thirst.  As people around us see Jesus shining in us and through us, they should be attracted to what is different in us.  They should want what we've got, and then we can direct them to Jesus who is the Living Water that can cause them to never thirst again.

And, of course, salt adds flavor.  Do you realize how many people are worn out and just plain tired?  The sinful lifestyle that might once have seemed so exciting to them has been revealed for what it is: bland and lifeless.  Yet, Jesus promised His followers not just an ordinary life, but abundant life (John 4:4)!

I get so excited when I realize that God chose to use us, imperfect as we are, to be the light and salt in the world.  He doesn't have any plan B.  We're it.  So, we'd better get busy being salt and light.

And, the church, when we're doing it right, becomes not just a single flame of light, but a beacon shining brightly on a hillside, lighting up the world all around, offering hope and help to all.

Yes, the church is the hope of the world!

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