Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

So I am really not in the Holiday frame of mind.  The time seems to have just snuck up on me and is going at warp speed and I am far from ready.  I was trying to decide why the holidays seem to bring so much stress when they should be a time of joy and relaxation.  I'm sure there are many answers depending on who you ask as to why they are stressed out over the holidays.

Maybe they don't think they have enough time to get everything done.  Or enough money.  Maybe they know there will be someone judging what they do and how they do it.  Maybe its that the plans that were made will get changed or not go perfectly.  Maybe its just hard to do the holidays because life has thrown us a curve ball and someone isn't going to be there that we want to be there.  Or grief, or loneliness.  All of these things can add to the stress of the holidays. 

I know for me its a little bit of an introvert thing - too many people.  It's not that I don't enjoy the people I know I will see but I know it will take more energy and that causes me a bit of stress and exhaustion before the fact.  There is also the expectations that we put on the holidays.  That everyone will get the perfect gift or have the perfect meal and no one will get their feelings hurt or whatever we expect that doesn't quite work out.  All of those things take the joy out of our holidays.

Thanksgiving and Christmas and even New Years should be a time of overwhelming joy.  But we let our emotions and life interfere with the reality.  The reality is that we all have the same amount of time and we all have different expectations and we all have different emotions.  The Holidays should be about worship.  Thanking God for all we have been blessed with and for His Son who came as a baby and a New Year to start again.  When we take the focus off the little stuff - how many gifts are under the tree - do we decorate before or after Thanksgiving - do we travel - do we not - then we can focus on what matters.  Being kind and grateful and loving and worshipping the one true God.

That's not easy to do.  We just want everything to be perfect and we let that overwhelm our emotions.  We have to take the time to get with God.  He can redirect our focus.  He can help us find rest and enthusiasm about the days.  Don't sweat the small stuff this year - try to let it go and just seek the One that it should all be about.  Focus on the King - the reason we are thankful and celebrating. 

Psalm 100:4 (NIV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Clearing the Fog

This morning I woke up to heavy frost and fog. The fog was thick and hard to see through at points and thin and grey at others. Then I finally came out of the fog and it was clear and beautiful. 

I've spent time in the fog. Days, weeks, months and even years where I felt like I was just going through the motions and looking back with no strong impression of the time and wondering where it's gone. 

Other times I've experienced great clarity.  Where it seemed like each day was clear and concise and I could see what was important and what wasn't. 

Today made me think about the difference. Why are there times that I feel like I'm living in a fog and others that seem clear? I can only speak for myself but I think it has to do with the Son. Just as the sun burns off the fog so the Son (Jesus) brings clarity to the days.

I have to be intentional in spending time with Him and in focusing just on today. If I get caught up in the land of yesterday or tomorrow then my vision gets foggy and I can't see what's real. Living outside of the fog requires intentional focus on God and today that's the only way to live in the light - to spend time with the Light. Jesus is the light and when we seek Him then and only then can He expose the dark and burn off the fogginess in our lives. Focusing our minds and thoughts on Him brings clarity to the days. 

John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

  

Finishing the Puzzle

What is it that causes fear?  Why do I struggle with the worry or anxiety that sometimes seems to plague me?  I think there is always something that can cause me fear.  When I was little it was the dark - I didn't really like the dark. I didn't like open closet doors that appeared dark and scary.  As I've grown up I actually enjoy the dark to a degree and especially like it to be very dark when I sleep.  I still am not as comfortable with open closet doors and I get regularly teased about that but now it's much more than the dark that causes me to fear.

It's the unknown.  Not knowing something causes great fear.  When I don't know what the next step should be or where my people will end up or where the payment for the next bill or what might show up on the next physical that I truly get afraid.  I'm sure it goes back to being in control. 

I love puzzles.  I love seeing all the pieces going into place and building something cool or beautiful.  Life is a lot like puzzles.  Each choice, each decision, each part of our lives builds a picture.  The difference between putting a puzzle together and letting our lives build one is we don't have a picture to go by on the lid.  It's that picture on the lid that drives us to complete the puzzle.  We know when we are finished we will see it all together.  Life doesn't work that way.  We don't have any clue what the finished picture will be.  We don't know how that bump in the road or crooked piece fits into the picture of our life.  And that is where the fear comes in.  Can we make the pieces fit so that the picture is beautiful or will it be a jumbled up mess of pieces that never comes together? 

That's where faith comes in. Do we trust God with all the pieces of our puzzle?  Because you know what - He is looking at the lid with the picture on it.  He knows.  He can see every piece fitting together until we are fulfilled with Him in eternity as a the perfect design He intended us to be.  He holds the box and all the pieces and with every choice we make He picks up the piece and gently puts it where it belongs slowly building the beauty that He sees in us.  When we let Him.  That's the key - trusting and obeying and letting Him place each piece where it fits the best. 

So let go of the unknown and the crazy mixed up pieces of your life and let your God who has the box lid in hand fit you together the way that finishes the puzzle in beauty. 

Matthew 10:26 (NIV)  “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."

Only One Call

If you could only make one call at a time when life seemed difficult, who would it be?  I am really being hammered right now to remember that the first call or conversation I should have when I'm facing tough times is with God.  Before I spill my guts and ask for help from anyone else I need to take it to Him first.  He loves when we cry out to Him and search His word for help.  He gladly sends answers which may very well come from another believer.  But our first call should be to Him. 

If we truly trust Him to control our lives and lead us in the right path we should go to Him first.  This is probably one of the things I struggle with the most.  You see - I'm a control freak.  I like to schedule things out and know what is going to happen next.  Regretfully my life doesn't always go the way I plan.  I don't get to decide what other people should do or how they should act or where they should go.  I only get to decide about me.  The first thing I have to decide is that God is in control and then let Him do just that.  Control - guide - direct and show me what He wants me to do.  I can't be god to anyone else and I can't make choices for them.  What a boring world it would be if everyone did things exactly like I think they should and the way I want. 

God made us all different and we each have to determine our path - hopefully with Him at the center and us becoming more like Him.  But that doesn't mean we all become the same - just as we each have unique personalities we have unique ways of putting Him first and becoming like Him.  When it's all said and done who I am shaped to be is unique in Him and He will have the last say.  So first I need to go to Him and then get out of His way and let Him shape me and those I love exactly the way He wants. 

For a control freak mama that can be hard.  But today - right now - I know my God is a big God and has a plan for everyone in my life - and He doesn't need my help.  Thank goodness because I can't be god.

Matthew 6:33-24 (NIV)  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I Am Not Ashamed

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.  In today's culture I see so many mixed messages about Christianity and what it means and I struggle with some of those messages.  I believe that Christ lived and died to save me from my sin.  He came to this world, sent by the Father to walk with us and teach us so that we might spend eternity in heaven and when He left, He left the Spirit to comfort us and to guide us.  He came so that we might become more and more like Him in our daily walk so that when we die and join Him in heaven we will be like Him fully.

Today - what does that mean?  Some seem to think we have to be perfect today.  Living a perfect life, achieving all that we should and not letting anyone see our faults.  Others seem to think we should show all our faults and accept each other without question.  Some think love is the only answer and that should be our answer to everything.  I agree with some of this.  I think that we should be a reflection of Christ in all that we do and say. 

When we love like He did we go to the broken and hurting and do what we can to help them.
Matthew 25:39-40 (NIV)  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ This isn't always easy because we look at the outside and see the differences and we judge.  We are afraid that they aren't like us and we can't help them or that they will take advantage of us and be a danger.  Christ loved all of the broken and was betrayed by one He was closest to.  But we aren't Him and we will always struggle here. 

I think that we have gone from a culture of love and acceptance to one ruled by fear and by mass judgment.  We are quick to defend those who think like us or look like us or love like us. But we forget that even though Jesus loved and walked closely with sinners He never left them in their sin.  We are to love but not overlook what is sin.  We don't treat people differently because of their sin but we don't ignore it either. 

I grew up in church and I've seen the religious hyprocrites who lived white washed lives on the outside but the behind the scenes lifestyle was so different.  They cast judgement and aspersions on those not like them.  I've seen the other extreme where they loved so unconditionally that they overlooked blatant sin as if it didn't matter.

Matthew 23:28(NIV) In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

I think that culturally today we can't find our balance.  We either judge or love.  But if we are showing Jesus then drawing others to Christ should lead them to change.  Jesus didn't leave people alone.  He encouraged them to grow and develop which means the Holy Spirit will confront their sin.  We aren't to be the Holy Spirit to them but we can help them by discipling them and hold them accountable.  I believe to grow like Christ we need accountability partners who will be honest and open with us and with love show us where we may be falling.  We should be set apart and different and we shouldn't be ashamed.  In today's culture we may be ridiculed and argued with because we believe sin is sin.  We don't go around pointing out the sin but loving them to the point that they see and come to know Christ so He can do the work that we can only pray for.  I pray that God is always showing me the sin in my life and teaching me to love like Him so others will recognize the sin and learn to be like Christ. 

John 8:11 (NIV)  “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” We love and accept but we still have to recognize that we all are flawed.  Like Christ sent out His disciples we need to remember -  Matthew 10:16 (NIV) “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

 

Trying to be Thankful

Sometimes its hard to be thankful.  We get caught up in all of the life stuff happening around us and we just take things for granted.  We don't pay attention to even the smallest thing to be thankful for - that we can take a breath of air and we are alive.  Beyond that there are so many opportunities to give thanks but so often I get caught up in the things going on each day or fear of what might happen that I forget to actually give thanks.

It's almost Thanksgiving and honestly I just can't believe the year is nearly over.  The closer to the end of the year the more I feel a bit overwhelmed with what comes next.  A variety of different things I've read lately have all pointed to the importance of being thankful for everything.  Even the bad or scary things.  To be thankful that my kids have grown up and are about to change directions is hard.  I am thrilled at the young people they are becoming but so fearful of the next steps.  Not so much for them although I do pray they make wise choices and stick as close to God as they can but fearful of how our lives will change.  The differences that will occur and how we stay connected even when we are apart.  It's hard to do and yet so much easier than it used to be. 

Growing up we moved often and friends fell by the way side once you were out of sight and out of mind no matter how hard you tried to write letters or keep in touch.  Life intruded and the relationships kind of just went away.  It's sad really, when I think of all the people I've known and met and how many I couldn't even begin to name today.  I think that is the fear that permeates my ability to be thankful.  I don't want to lose the connections - not just with my kids but others that I consider essential to my life. 

Just as being thankful requires intentionality in my life so do relationships.  In today's culture we have some advantages - social media and telephones that allow us to see who we are talking to.  It is truly a different world and the opportunity to stay connected is easier than when I was growing up but it still requires intentionality. 

I was reading in my Priscilla Shirer Bible Study - Breathe yesterday and she mentioned how to have peace (no fear - calm in the midst of the storm).  We have to use thankful prayer to combat anxiety and fear and just the overwhelming sense of life.  Philippians 4:6-7 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." When we offer thankful prayer to God and acknowledge all that He has done, is doing and will do for us then we can have peace about the tomorrows and be thankful for what we have. 

I have to always remember to stay in the moment not looking too far ahead but looking up to the Father who holds us safely in His hands.  Thankful prayer - always rejoicing and always thanking. 

Superman

“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.” John 7:18 NIV

Recently I was thinking about how some people seem to have a big presence. When they enter the room their personalities seem to be bigger than life. Almost superhuman. I was trying to decide what it is that makes those people seem that way. 

Many people appear bigger than life because they seem confident and maybe they are louder or talk with authority while others seem to just take over a room with their presence. What's the difference?  

I have found that some people put on a confident air to cover something - an insecurity, a weakness or some perceived flaw. Those people may command attention but don't exude presence. They may seem bigger than life until you get to know them and recognize the truth. Those people are probably struggling with pride issues that they have never fully addressed or they are more worried about who is watching them and are superficial in their personalities. 

The people that I find truly can take over a room are those who have a confidence not just in themselves but they recognize their value and worth. They aren't concerned with what others think. They don't feel the need to be loud or in charge or overbearing or cocky.  They just seem to draw people. 

It's the quiet strength and assurance that seems to be transparent and reach out to others. I believe it is in knowing who God made them to be and striving to be like Him that makes them truly a presence. I know a few of them and it is their joy for life, compassion and appreciation for others as well as their kindness that is a draw.  

Those who aren't genuine and present big and confident can provide false advertising. Once you get to know them you may just find a mean person who doesn't care for anyone but themselves. I've known some of these as well and as much as you initially are drawn to them it doesn't take long to realize the mistake. 

Talking with my son this morning in the car we started discussing the differences in the actors who played Superman and which ones worked. It brought to light that appearances can be deceiving.  Just like Superman - he was confident at times and meek and mild mannered at others. Yet he exuded, even as Clark Kent a genuine concern for people and quiet strength.  

When you find the people who are genuinely seeking a heart like God the pride and selfishness is less. Not that they are perfect but the draw is deeper.  

I'm praying today for wisdom to see and strength to be more like Christ every day. 

“In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Psalm 10:4 NIV