Pushing Through Our Faith

It's one thing to talk about what we believe. Many of us are true scholars when it comes to the tenets of our beliefs.

In Bible college, many of my classmates were downright smug that they could recite the kings of the Old Testament in order and describe the history of the ancient prophets.

Me, I still had to look up the location of Hezekiah in the index when pressured.

I've become aware of what a challenge it is to actually act on what we say we believe, especially when hard times hit.

Then, along with the rest of us (even those who have to 'cheat' by looking in the Concordance) most biblical scholars find themselves shaking in their boots at the prospect of believing it.

Lately, I've found myself really having to lean heavily on the words I nag my clients about:

God is Sovereign;He knows what's going on,
If God is God He will guide and protect,
Scripture says He knows your heart and He will provide your needs,

And the big one:
It has nothing to do with who you are, and everything to do with Who He is.

I've had to sit tight in situations that would normally make me run off and hide.

Lately it seems like all the encouraging words (the things I really believe) are being replayed in my mind despite my personal misgivings.

I've had to invoke the relationship God has promised me through His Word, especially the part about not having the spirit of fear (II Tim. 1:7). I've had to release my grasp on my opinions and emotions, fold my arms and allow God to show me what He can and plans to do in my life.

That last statement is funny, really. I wish I was as 'hands on' with housework, paperwork, and other tasks I'd rather not do as I am with wanting to have involvement in what goes on in my own life.

So, the challenge is not for God to prove that He can do what He says He can do.

The challenge is for me to let Him.

Anniversary of a Big Day

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to mention that yesterday, January 20, 2011 marked the 32nd anniversary of the day my hubby officially proposed.

I accepted.

For some reason, this date means more to me than our actual wedding date of June 8, 1979.

It began the true adventure of what commitment and bonding really means. From the excitement of announcing the engagement and waving my diamond ring around to the utter despair of planning a wedding with no money and too many opinions, the emotions ran both hot and cold.

Truthfully, at times they still do.

But I have to give a big shout out to my wonderful husband, Don, whom I both adore and want to slap upside the head most of the time.

I, on the other hand, am a saint(ahem).

Through Don I learned commitment, tolerance (ahem ahem), integrity and true humility.

The last 32 years have been healing and challenging and I look forward to the next 32 years with him as my best friend, devoted mate, and support system.

I learned how to remain faithful to God despite tribulation and in spite of downturns in our circumstances. I learned to give love and receive love.

Hopefully I've taught him a few things along the way.

So, here's to you, Babe. I dedicate the next terrible kung fu movie I watch to you.

It's true!

Ambition or Faith?

We walk a fine line between ambition and faith. Faith tells us to walk through open doors and take steps of trust in areas where God leads us. Ambition tells us to work every angle and push doors open by sheer will and hard work.

I struggle with the concept of ambition vs. faith quite often. Is God telling me to move ahead and market myself and my ministry or is it simply my own ambition?

I know myself; I know that I enjoy reaching people and touching lives that need encouragement and hope. But I've burned out in the past trying to do everything for everyone and all it really resulted in was lost time. And I'm left with the question: Was I operating by faith or ambition?

Many people in my age group (those who have been in the workforce for longer than 10 years) find themselves asking this same question. Many times they decide to keep striving, keep moving onward and upward in their quest for meaning in their lives. They find themselves in jobs they learn to hate because it pays well and has good benefits. Lifestyle choices convince them that they have to keep running on the hamster wheel of work and stress to maintain it.
When they get exhausted they resort to retail therapy, expensive vacations, toys, and finally, to therapy in the hopes of finding relief.

Is this what Scripture intended when it stated, "If a man does not work, neither shall he eat."?(II Thessalonians 3:10).

I don't think so.

Our faithfulness to God requires us to be obedient. Absolutely. But our society tells us that money will buy cool stuff and a great life, which is not necessarily true. Many folks I know have lots of money and are not as happy as we think they are.

This last week I asked several clients and friends if they thought God was subtle in their lives. Did they have to strive to hear God and feel panic that they had to stop everything to hear His 'still, small voice'?

Every one of them said no! God was not shy in any of their lives in guiding them into the right decisions for them. If anything, each one had to force themselves to sit back and relax until God led them. In the meantime, no one went without blessing- not one!

It reminds me of a conversation my daughter Kari had with a classmate in high school:
C: "So, Kari, do you have a job?"
K: "No, why do I want a job?"
C: "So you can get a car."
K: "Why do I need a car?"
C: "So you can get to work."

See the quandry? Are we to work too hard doing something we don't like to earn money to pay for stuff we're too exhausted to enjoy?

I want a legacy of proper investment in my life. That investment doesn't necessarily involve new cars (I'd love a new car!), or great vacations (I'd love a vacation, too). It does include being healthy enough to bless God and others, to have enough money to tithe, pay my bills, and donate a few bucks here and there when needed.

The answer to the question of ambition vs faithfulness = Which of the two choices bring contentment?
I Timothy 6:6 says, 'For godliness with contentment is great gain.'

I've decided to focus on contentment; God will certainly (and NOT subtly!) guide me in the work I am to do or to leave for someone else to accomplish.

Enough deep thought- I'm going to take a nap.

Attitude is Everything

I do quite a bit of marriage counseling. Since Don and I have been equally-yoked for 30 years now I guess folks can see the 'married' brand on my forehead. Don says it's the broken look on his face. I told him I thought that expression was rapture...
It's thrilling to guide couples as they muddle through pain and disillusionment to obtain healing in their marriages. My goal is to encourage them to defer to the Lord for strength and wisdom, knowing that He will lead and guide them.
Many people only have the strength of their commitment to their marriage vows to keep them moving ahead. Others don't; they drop off early, stating that it's too late, they've been too wounded, the trust is gone.
It's important to note that it's not just unbelieving couples who don't hang on; often I see professing Christians too blinded by their pain and, yes, pride to hang in there through the difficult times inherent in marriage renewal.
For example, recently I had two couples in back-to-back sessions facing the same ultimatum: is this marriage worth the hard work necessary for restoration?

One couple pushed the 'yes' button. The other chose 'no.'

I'm certainly not judging either couple; they both had valid reasons for their decision.
But what intrigued me was that the currently unbelieving couple chose to honor their vows.
The Christian couple broke down.
It's a reminder to me that we need to nurture our relationships in order to keep them healthy. We can't let ourselves become cocky about our lives and our mates; rather, we need to continually monitor our attitudes and behaviors. Otherwise, we risk creating a chasm that we (or our mate) may be too exhausted or wounded to clambor over.
We can't be arrogant about our faith either. Just as good relationships draw you closer to God, difficult relationships can pull you away.

It's all in the attitude.