Who Cares What Others Think?

"Stop trusting in mere humans, 

   who have but a breath in their nostrils. 

   Why hold them in esteem?"

Isaiah 2:22

How often to we neglect our relationship with God because of others? How often do we doubt our faith because someone says something that causes us to second guess our beliefs? 

I know that I am guilty of putting too much power in the hands of people. My entire day is made or destroyed by those around me. My faith can falter because of something someone says. My quiet time with God gets postponed or forgotten because I have an "important" appointment with my Facebook friends. 

Yes, people are important. Yes, God has called us to love others and has created us to be social beings. However, our first and foremost priority is to Him. If we trust God and cultivate our relationship with Him first, we will gain wisdom and clarity in our relationships with others. Suddenly we'll know how to love others, who to trust, and who to walk away from. Without trusting God first we'll be forever being tossed to and fro in our faith, relationships, and self-esteem. 

We don't need the approval of others. Our faith doesn't need the approval of others. We need to be secure enough in our relationship with God that we can stand firm and not be shaken by the latest opinion, "fact", or theory. 

Sunday Sprint: Better to be a Nobody

"Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant 

   than pretend to be somebody and have no food."

Proverbs 12:9

In this society and in this age it seems like everybody is fighting so hard to be a somebody. In seeking fame and fortune and in the pursuit of "somebodyness" so many people lose everything. This verse reminds me that it is better be content with an "ordinary" life--to have all your needs provided for and a even few small luxuries--than to be in constant pursuit of fame, prestige, fortune etc. and end up losing it all.

Too many people make the foolish choice to pursue prestige by stockpiling fancy cars and big houses and other material things only to lose it all when that stockpile of debt buries them. We need to stop looking longingly at the "somebodies" in town and learn to be happy with the blessings God has given to us.

I honestly think that most people will be a lot happier if they choose to live in a thankful frame of mind than an envious one. 

Thank you God for all your blessings. 

Every Good Teacher was a Student First

"... if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? ... You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Romans 2:17-24

I've posted this passage on TDS before and studied it in terms of hypocrisy... but today this passage had new meaning for me. Today this passage spoke to me in terms of my desire to be a witness for Christ. I have this deep desire to live for Christ... to live a Christian life on a daily basis... to teach others about my faith. And yet, this passage made me stop and reflect... am I ready to teach others? 

As a student teacher I've gone through rigorous training and education to get to the point where I am trusted with a class full of young minds. I had to go through five years of post secondary education, three practicums, and numerous evaluations. Despite all of this training and apprenticeship there are still days when I feel pitifully unprepared for my duties as a full-fledged, certified teacher.

And yet... I feel like I should be going out and teaching the masses about Christ without any formal training? To be the voice on the most important Lesson there is? 

Now, I'm not saying that every Christian needs to go out and get a doctorate in theology before they should open their mouths to teach a friend about their faith. However, I think that I have made the mistake of neglecting my "soul education" and attempting to skip right ahead to teaching others. 

I need to make sure that I have the proper "certification" before I start teaching others. To be a "certified" Christian, I need to make sure that I've been receiving my education from God: apprenticing under Christ and listening to the evaluations of the Holy Spirit. If  I ignore the teachings of my Professor, I will fail miserably in trying to teach it to others. If I brush off the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit, I'll find myself headed in the wrong direction very quickly. 

I am eager to lead and teach... but eagerness without training is a recipe for failure. I remember the very first day I stood in front of a class of students as their student "teacher". I had very little training. It was my first year of college. I was eager--oh-so eager--but I fell flat on my face. I fumbled through the lesson, I jumbled my words and by the end of it I had students staring back at me with very confused looks on their faces... a few even scoffed at me. 

If I try to take the lead and teach people about my faith without being "certified" by the Spirit, I'm only going to confuse people (at best) and push people away (at worst). I need to take a step back and make sure that I've been a good student---intent, reflective, and teachable. 

God,

Teach me. 

Spirit,

Certify me.

Christ,

Mentor me.

Amen. 

"...do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

Matthew 10:19-20

"...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

Acts 4:31

Getting Advice

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, 

   but with many advisers they succeed"

Proverbs 15:22

Anyone who has been following these blogs know that I am a planner. I like to know what the next step is. While I do have the ability to improvise, my improvisation always fits into a larger plan. 

A constant struggle for me is to consolidate my planning/organized nature with faith. If I am planning every step of my life and I have goals extending decades into the future, then where does God's guidance come in? Where does obedience to the Spirit come in? 

I think that there are many ways that too much planning can be unhealthy... however I don't think that being organized is, at its core, a bad thing. Ultimately, because of the gift of Free Will, we have to make a decision at some point! I've already discussed in past blogs the importance of prayer, scripture, and reflecting in making life's decisions in accordance to God's will... but I think that God also places people and resources on the way for us. 

God has equipped each of us with different strengths, knowledge, and talents. I believe he did this because God is a God of community. He wants us to serve and rely on one another. If each and every one of us had the same talents and wisdom, there would be no need for fellowship. Instead, we each have weaknesses that can be aided by another person's strength and vice versa. 

Sometimes getting advice is the best thing you can do. God can work through the words and counsel of those around us. We just need to be willing to listen and to be wise enough to discern good advice from bad advice. Getting feedback from a handful of trusted people on the big decisions in our lives can have a huge impact on the success or failure of our plans.

We don't have to live life on our own. 

Sunday Sprint: Live From the Inside Out

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Matthew 23:27-28

Any Stumbler like myself is all too aware of the fact that sometimes Christians' inner lives are incongruent with their outer lives and vice versa. If we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit, our lives should and will exude His Fruits. 

If we are trying pass off our own "counterfeit fruit", it will be quite obvious to those around us that what we're peddling isn't the "real deal". We should have motivations to match our actions, and actions to match our place in Christ. We should live Godly lives from the inside out. There should be no room for hypocrisy and no room for apathy. 

This Stumbler has a difficult time letting the Holy Spirit fill her up to the brim and overflow in her actions. It is so tempting to just take control of my own life and attempt to "fake" a Spirit-led life. The sad fact of the matter is, we all fail miserably when we try to counterfeit holiness and righteousness. We look and sound like frauds. We stink of deceit. Anyone---especially atheists---can sniff out a hypocritical Christian from a mile away. 

My prayer is that God would fill me with His Spirit so that my motivations would be His and that my actions would reflect a heart that is drenched in His Love. "Fake it 'til you make it" just doesn't cut it with God. 

The Truth Hurts

 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;
   show me where I have been wrong.
 How painful are honest words!"

Job 6:24-25

I don't know about you, dear reader, but one of the things that I am most often guilty of in my prayer life is refusing to listen. Sure, I will pray "teach me, Lord!".... but I forget to stop and listen to my God's response. I'll keep talking.... chattering away at the God of the Universe as I continue to pray (I guess that's a disadvantage to praying in one's mind/heart...no need to stop for breaths! Oh, Lord... forgive your chatty daughter!). 

I think that Job spells out the fact that my refusal to stop and listen is rooted in fear. To listen and to be open to teaching involves being open to criticism. Now, I should be well accustomed to the benefits of constructive criticism... as a high school English teacher, I often expect my students to listen to my constructive criticism of their work--after all, that's the only way they'll ever improve! Anyone who has ever been a student knows that accepting criticism is an important part of growth. We didn't enter grade one with the ability to write insightful essays and literary criticisms! 

Yet, when the tables are turned and I'm expected to be at the receiving end of criticism from my Heavenly Father, I get antsy. I offer up the cursory request to be taught... only to rush on to the next prayer request. I am afraid of what God will tell me. What faults He'll find and point out to me. 

But ignoring my faults doesn't help me grow. A student can get their essay back and immediately stuff it into their bag without glancing at their mark or the teacher's feedback. Sure, they offered up the request to be "taught" by handing in their essay... but if they refuse to look at their grade and feedback,  they are setting themselves up for stagnation at best and continual failure at worst. 

I don't want to superficially ask my God to teach me while attempting to hide my heart from him and plugging my ears. I want to grow. I'm realizing that growth always involves some growing pains... but I also know that there is no better source of honest, loving criticism than from my Perfect Holy God. 

God's truth hurts like a disinfectant in a festering wound. It's a good hurt. A cleansing hurt.

So, this Stumbler is going to stop tripping over her own ego and is going to try listening to her Father's advice. Sometimes the best thing we can do in our prayer life is to stop talking. 

God...

Teach me. 

I'm listening... really.

-Me

Ignition Sequence Initiated: Blast Off in 3...2...1...

"For as churning cream produces butter, 

   and as twisting the nose produces blood, 

   so stirring up anger produces strife"

Proverbs 30:33

"But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

Colossians 3:8

There is one emotion above all others that seems to just stick to me. This emotion roots itself in my heart and won't let go. My heart burns with an acidic fire. I try to calm myself and shake myself free from its grasp... but anger just doesn't seem to let go of me very easily.

Today was one of those days. I had a bad day. I had a student push the right buttons (or, I suppose, the wrong buttons) and I lost my temper. Harsh words were exchanged and I left the school in a sour mood. Looks like this Stumbler is tripping over her own feet again. *sigh*

I wish that I was able to control myself so diligently that my temper never reached the boiling point, however I'd settle for the ability to shake anger quickly. I hate how my entire day or week can be ruined by a single episode of anger. The situation that riled me up will sear itself into my memory and plague me in my quiet times. The situation will replay in my mind over and over again---each time the anger is as real as the moment it initially happened. 

I am reminded of a quote that I often recite to myself:

"Holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and hoping someone else dies"

I know that dwelling in my anger is dangerous and fruitless... but too often it seems like my anger is holding onto me, not the other way around. But God has warned about the danger of selfish anger. Anger destroys a person from the inside out and their victims from the outside in. 

I want my actions to point people to God, not emphasize my sinfulness. An angry Christian is a faltering Christian. Today I stumbled. May God forgive me and set my feet back on solid ground. May He soothe my angered heart like aloe soothes a burn. 

Tomorrow is a new day. I'll forgive my student for his thoughtless words and I'll extend my apology for my harsh response. Tonight I'll be doing some "soul weeding" to uproot this stubborn anger.

Deep breaths in; prayers whispered out. 

Ultimate Sacrifice

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

John 15:13

Whether you agree with war or not, I think we can all agree with the above verse. Today I wanted to take the time to remember those who have fought and died for me and my country. There have been countless men and women who have fought in wars and sacrificed everything so that I could live in a country where I was free... free to speak my mind, free to go to school, free to worship my God.

While it seems like the fighting never ends and it doesn't always seem like we're fighting for the right reasons, today is not about declaring our support for war. Today is about declaring our gratitude for those who died to give us a better life.

Similarly, I am reminded of the One who also sacrificed everything---my true Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus lay his life down so that I could be truly free---free from sin, free from condemnation, free to enter into a personal and intimate relationship with God. Jesus devastated his enemy with his love for us. 

Be thankful for the earthly freedoms your soldiers earned for you with their blood. Remember their sacrifice.

But today, also, be thankful for the complete Freedom your Saviour bought for us with His untainted blood. Remember His Sacrifice. Remember his Triumph. 

Lest we forget. Lest we grow apathetic. 

Reflections

"As water reflects the face, 

   so one’s life reflects the heart"

Proverbs 27:19

This first jumped out at me a couple days ago in my personal time with God. It left me wondering...what kind of heart is my life reflecting? Does my life say that I have God's Holy Spirit taking up permanent residence within my heart? Does my life reflect a heart of faith, hope, love, peace, joy, and patience? 

As I reflect on my reflection, I begin to realize that my life does not always give a flattering reflection of my heart. Some days I am afraid to approach the shoreline to see the reflection of my heart in the shimmering waters of my life. All too often my life shows the reflection of an angry, bitter, resentful, impatient, selfish heart. It's enough to make me avert my eyes and walk away in shame. 

I'm slowly beginning to realize that my life will show a much more appealing reflection if I allow the Holy Spirit to dress my heart. When I let him take my heart and have complete control over it, it doesn't take long before my life begins to show a much better reflection. Suddenly there is a glow on my face and my actions show a heart dripping with the ripened fruits of the Spirit. 

You know, I have never ever regretted a day lived in the Spirit. I have never felt bad or ill-tempered on a day that I followed the Spirit's guidance. It is strange that my wayward heart so adamantly insists to go it's own, sinful way. But no more. I truly hope that waters of my life reflect a Godly heart from now on. 

Sunday Sprint: Privileged Relationship

 “In that day,” declares the LORD, "you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master.’

Hosea 2:16

"For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name—"

Isaiah 54:7

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."

Revelation 19:7

The Bible often compares the relationship of God and Christ to the church as that of a marriage. God wants a real, passionate, intimate relationship with all of his people. He is madly in love with his church. Are we, as members of that church, returning those affections? Can we honestly say that we are madly, passionately, and intimately in love with our God and our Savior? 

Wedding bells are ringing. Are you ready? 

Drawing Near to God through Scholarly Pursuit

"...the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD" 

-Ezra 7:9-10

"... let the wise listen and add to their learning,  and let the discerning get guidance...The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction"

-Proverbs 1:5,7

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"

-2 Timothy 3:14-16

While God is always going to be beyond our understanding, sometimes the best way to enter into His presence is by intellectually seeking to understand Him and His ways better. While I don't often sit down and devote the time and energy I should to this pursuit, when I do it is always rewarding. 

The key to pursuing God intellectually through study, is to first understand that God will never be completely understood. How can a mortal mind fully comprehend the Divine that created it? It is also important to keep a sense of awe, reverence, and respect while in the midst of studying. It is common trap for theologians and scholars to fall into the false idea that they "get it" and understand everything there is to know about God and the Bible. Some may be deceived into thinking that they actually "know it all" and their interpretation is the "right" interpretation.

However, many others have found and will find God through scholarly pursuit. They find God by studiously seeking to understand their faith so that they can establish a strong foundation for their belief and therefore be able to teach others. They find and enter God's presence by seeking to understand His will. 

As a teacher, one of the most rewarding experiences for me is to see the "light bulb" moment in my students eyes. This is the moment when a difficult subject or topic finally "clicks" and comprehension washes over them. I imagine that God feels the same delight when he sees us, his children, finally begin to understand him and his ways a little better. While we will never understand everything about God, those tiny moments of illumination give us the boost we need to continue pursuing him. A little wisdom goes a long way. 

God is the Great Teacher. To find Him, sometimes we just need to be willing to take the time and effort to go to "class" and study with Him. 

**This post is in my "Drawing Near to God" series inspired by Gary Thomas' book Sacred Pathways. 

Drawing Near to God through Contemplation

“Remember, LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.”

-2 Kings 20:3

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

-2 Corinthians 3:18

"Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them"

-Psalm 111:2

"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

-Luke 2:19

con·tem·plate

 

[kon-tuhm-pleyt, -tem-] 

verb, -plat·ed, -plat·ing.

–verb (used with object)

1.

to look at or view with continued attention; observe or study thoughtfully

I don't know about you, but when I stop---really stop---and think---really think---about everything God has done, is doing, and will do... it's enough to bring me to my knees with tears in my eyes. Contemplating my Father... my God... leaves me in awe. It leaves me humbled and grateful. It leaves me (to be cliché) ... breathless. 

My God is AMAZING. He made the something as vast as the Universe, as humble as mud, and as amusing as a proboscis monkey (see below)

Contemplation is one of the ways I find God's presence best. But it requires a lot of time and quiet for me to find Him because there is so much in this world to distract me and get in the way. Worries about tomorrow...a "can't miss" T.V. show on... a pile of chores that needs to be caught up on. It is so easy to become sidetracked from the most important thing in my life---my relationship with God. 

However, when I actually take the time to scold myself, put things in perspective, and take a timeout with God... soul-changing things happen. God draws near to me. He opens his heart and pours out his love, mercy, and peace and absolutely drenches me in his Spirit. My heart soars, my mind reels, and my soul is renewed. 

During these times, when I focus on God and ponder everything he's done... the only words that seem to form on my lips are: thank you. It seems like such a pitifully insignificant thing to say to the God of the Universe... but it is all my overflowing heart can get my baffled mind to say. 

Thank you, God.

Thank you.

-Me.

Think about it. Really. 

**This post is in my "Drawing Near to God" series inspired by Gary Thomas' book Sacred Pathways.