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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
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.
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.......
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.......
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Spectrum of Concern
per webster: Concern:
to have an influence on (obsolete : to be of importance)I usually try to avoid the news. I get frustrated when I see things I can't fix. Just makes me feel overwhelmed. If I don't look, I don't have to become involved or be concerned with other issues...besides I already have enough issues of my own (in my not so humble opinion). However, I listen to the radio and browse the internet quite a bit so I hear news stories....good, bad and ridiculous, which can be hard to ignore.
Of course, there has been the ongoing reports of the earthquake in Haiti. I believe this to be a major concern. Amazingly, there have still been a few survivors rescued even after a week. The pictures are devastating, however, in many, the people still smile.
And then there's the groundhog thing by PETA. Seriously? That is the best thing they can come up with to spend their time and efforts on? They feel the groundhog should be replaced by a robotic groundhog because of being in captivity and all the bright lights, crowds, etc. on Groundhog Day.
There are many other examples of issues people are concerned about. Abortion, school funding, lack of jobs, health care, etc. The list is long. It seems people mainly become involved or concerned when it is something that directly affects them. Otherwise, oh well, that's someone else's battle.
I find it interesting that the definition of concern meaning "to be of importance" is marked as obsolete. It seems to have been replaced by "to have an influence on". What concerns us helps us make decisions on where/what to spend our money and time. I think I want to merge the two definitions. I want to be concerned about being an influence on things of importance.
I guess the point of this is I don't want to preach about what to be concerned about. Just think about where you fall along the spectrum of concern. Depending on the issue you might be from I don't care to this matters a great deal to me or somewhere in the middle. I think my goal for today is to find out what really matters to me and put my efforts, time and money there.
Blessedly, we are never far from God's concern for us. We are "of importance" and God can have an "influence on" us. Keep your eyes open for where your concerns lie and watch for how God's concern for you shows up in your life. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being most important, we are 10s on God's concern spectrum.
Psalm 91:10-12 (NIV) 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Switch View
I have a confession to make. I like online games. A LOT. I have wasted too much time playing. I can tell myself it is to help me relax, which is true....but it also keeps me from dealing with "stuff" I need to deal with. One game site even lets you earn play "$" so that you can donate it to help causes. Makes me feel not quite so guilty. Problem? You have to play awhile to make it worthwhile.
However, one never knows when a spiritual lesson is lurking amongst the seemingly pointless things in life. There's a game I like called Mah Jongg Toy Chest. Maj Jongg in general is a game where you match tiles to make them go away and clear the board. Trick is you can only click on tiles that are not surrounded by other tiles. Eventually, I run out of matches I can see. However, the game creators provided a help. There's text at the top that says "Switch View". When that is pressed, the board switches and the tiles are at a different angle which usually reveals more matches....and play continues until there are no more available matches....or time runs out.
When the view is switched, the perspective changes. I looked up perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance (urge you to maintain your perspective and to view your own task in a larger framework — W. J. Cohen)
I read a story/e-mail one time about people who could not agree. So the teacher put a person on each side of a ball where each person could only see their side. They had to convince the other person they were right. One side was black, one was white. There was no way they could agree....until they switched sides and saw it from the other person's view.
Life is a lot like that. However, I am reminded often that I am not seeing the whole picture. God has left just enough of the details out that I have to trust and have faith that His perspective is enough. Once in awhile, I get a small glimpse of changes I need to make to keep moving forward. A reminder that I need to switch views.
Philippians 3:14-16 (NIV) 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
PS The prize on Maj Jongg Toy Chest if you get all the matches? A big penguin waddles out and you get extra points for the remaining time. I know....God's plan is MUCH better!
Father, Thank you so much for the ability to sometimes catch a view of the vision you have for us and others you bring into our lives. May we keep pressing toward the real prize. We seek your wisdom and your viewpoint to keep us moving onward and upward.
However, one never knows when a spiritual lesson is lurking amongst the seemingly pointless things in life. There's a game I like called Mah Jongg Toy Chest. Maj Jongg in general is a game where you match tiles to make them go away and clear the board. Trick is you can only click on tiles that are not surrounded by other tiles. Eventually, I run out of matches I can see. However, the game creators provided a help. There's text at the top that says "Switch View". When that is pressed, the board switches and the tiles are at a different angle which usually reveals more matches....and play continues until there are no more available matches....or time runs out.
When the view is switched, the perspective changes. I looked up perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance (urge you to maintain your perspective and to view your own task in a larger framework — W. J. Cohen)
I read a story/e-mail one time about people who could not agree. So the teacher put a person on each side of a ball where each person could only see their side. They had to convince the other person they were right. One side was black, one was white. There was no way they could agree....until they switched sides and saw it from the other person's view.
Life is a lot like that. However, I am reminded often that I am not seeing the whole picture. God has left just enough of the details out that I have to trust and have faith that His perspective is enough. Once in awhile, I get a small glimpse of changes I need to make to keep moving forward. A reminder that I need to switch views.
Philippians 3:14-16 (NIV) 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
PS The prize on Maj Jongg Toy Chest if you get all the matches? A big penguin waddles out and you get extra points for the remaining time. I know....God's plan is MUCH better!
Father, Thank you so much for the ability to sometimes catch a view of the vision you have for us and others you bring into our lives. May we keep pressing toward the real prize. We seek your wisdom and your viewpoint to keep us moving onward and upward.
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