Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Are you B.A.D.?

This will not be news to some of you, but I REALLY struggled in Jr. High and high school. I felt like I didn't fit in. I didn't feel accepted except for my small group of friends and even some of those depended on the day. In today's current language, I had "low self esteem". Still do some days. I try to rah rah girls with encouragement now as they tread those same waters. I try to remind them that this is a blip in time in the whole scheme of things....but it sure doesn't seem like it when you're going/growing through it. Looking back I have since learned that lots of us felt that way. Some just covered it up better than others. Maybe some of us still do.

Fast forward to yesterday and I'm at McDonald's with my daughter. I go to pay for my order with my trusty debit card and the word quickly flashes across the screen: ACCEPTED. There are days I don't feel like I accept myself.....and I'm accepted by my bank and McDonald's?

How have I forgotten? Yikes. I let today's worries and concerns move me far from the truth. I am accepted every day, every way by God. Through that acceptance, I am to accept others. Release them from my expectations.

Romans 15: 7 (NIV) Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Then I get home and check Facebook for a few minutes (ha!). A friend's status shuffle refers to B.A.D. : Blessed and Delivered. I made it: God's B.A.D. girl - Blessed, Accepted, Delivered. In this case, bad can be good. So, are you? B.A.D. I mean.

Do not fall for the doubts that can easily plague us. Move beyond self esteem. Remember you're already accepted. Get it past your head and emotions and into your heart and soul. God's already there just waiting for you to show up!

1Peter 2:9-10 (The Message) But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Whatever?!?!?

Seems like almost everywhere you go (but ESPECIALLY in houses with teens), you hear "whatever!" as a response. Often it is stated with an eye roll or 2 when someone asks him/her a question and they get frustrated or don't seem to care about the issue.

I thought about this just a couple of days ago as I read through Philippians and ran across the verse with whatever and a nice list of things to think about....and I was going to write about it. However, sometimes procrastination has a purpose as explained below the verse.

Philippians 4:7-9 (NIV) 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 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. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Tonight while watching TV a blurb came on about Sarah Palin, Down's Syndrome and the show Family Guy. Hmmmm. Interesting combination. Apparently, the show Family Guy recently showed an episode of a Downs girl with Palin-ish glasses that stated her mom was the former governor of Alaska. Later there was a song and dance about Downs Syndrome.

I am not a fan of Family Guy anyway, but this was sinking to a new low....even for them. However, star fans of the show stated there is such a thing as "First Amendment Rights" and "free speech". The show creator, Seth Mac Farlane stated that the show is "an equal opportunity offender". I'm sure there are some people who will just say "whatever!??!?".

To me, and I hope to others also, this is a wake up call to the verses above. The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, but we are responsible for what we fill our hearts and minds with. Sometimes that means walking out of a theater or turning off the TV or reading something else. So start looking for whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Are you in the ARK ?......or the Dinghy?

Ever feel like one of those punching bag toys with the weighted bottom? You get punched by whatever circumstance is going against you, and that silly faced thing pops back up. Then you get smacked a few more times and the air goes out a little....and you don't pop back up as quickly. You're proud of yourself for making it back up, but life stands there and down you go again. You whine a little, but make it back up. Then you look around and see what other people are going through and you figure out you need to quit whining.

I have figured out that when I feel like this the most, it is the times I am counting on me to pull me back up instead of depending on God to protect me from life's blows.

I have not been very successful at balancing my life and responsibilities. I read a book that freed up my thinking by suggesting we seek buoyancy instead of balance.

A definition of buoyancy: the ability to recover quickly from depression or discouragement

There are 2 ways to stay buoyant and float above the turmoil.

One is the ark where we are promised and provided safety by God. It's a large, stable vessel that will help keep us from tumbling through the choppy life waters that we face. It's roomy so we can invite others to ride along with us.

The other is the dinghy that follows behind the ark. It is still attached to the larger, safer boat, however it does not provide much protection from the wind and waves or whatever else comes along. It's smaller and there is not enough room for others to join you...so you go it mainly alone.

Where are YOU riding these days? I know where I WANT to be, but I know I've been trying to do it on my own. Riding in the ark is a privilege, but there is always an open invitation to get back on board.

Genesis 7:1 (NIV) The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

Praying that you find your ark, get in, realize you are not alone and prepare to float. Ahhhhh.......