Honest Reflections

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)

Win God’s prize for your race.

Each of us has a path.  God designed us for different purposes, accomplished with unique gifts.  Jesus helps us uncover the gold within each of us.  Embracing who we are in Christ is how we win the prize.

Like egg whites, folded into dough, Jesus folds into us.  Baker’s fold ingredients into the mixture maintaining the original structure while improving it.  Dough becomes lighter and fluffier as the air pockets increase.  In the same way, our lives lighten as we lay our burdens at Jesus feet.  Air moves into our lungs as we inhale His presence into our lives.  Lighter, freer with each layer we fold into Him.  

“And now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.” Soren Kierkegaard

Embracing Jesus helps us embrace ourselves.  As we begin to understand the depth of His love for us, we change.  For me, I stopped fighting and started living.  Instead of trying to change my circumstances, I work on accepting them.  My belief in God’s sovereignty means He knows exactly what is going on in my life; I trust He will use it for good.  Believing that statement lightens my load.  Allowing God to take control means I don’t have too.

God’s sovereignty allows me to accept my imperfections.  My past mistakes help others learn, connect, and grow.  My niece will never do certain things in her life because she knows what happened when I did them.  None of us know who and how we are influencing others with our actions.  When we are honest about our imperfections, it helps others accept theirs. 

God’s sovereignty is wrapped in unconditional love.  Knowing God loves me, despite all of my many sins, overwhelms me.  Confessing my sin to others allows me to say, “And yet He still loves me.”  God’s blessings overflow in my life, I’m not worthy of any of them.  Yet He still gives.  He humbles me with gentleness, He nurtures me with care.  As I fold deeper in Him, the more I’m aware of His amazing love.

My birthday weekend was a gift from God.  Plans changed last minute.  Perfect weather, company, and food.  God topped it off with a beautiful outdoor serenade.  When asked if I enjoyed the trip, my answer is simple.  “God is a lover, only a lover plans a trip that intimately.”  Why? The details that made the trip perfect were details only I would love.  

God loves each of us intimately.  He’s polishing our gold.  He’s leading us to the prize.

Question of the Day:

What gold is God polishing in you today?

Further Reading:Isaiah 66 NIV, Philippians 3:4-21 NIV, Psalm 74 NIV, Proverbs 24:15-16p pe NIV

“But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;  I will tell of all your deeds.” (Psalm 73:28 NIV)

Get near God.

My favorite analogy is my parents.  Back in their day, cars and trucks had bench seats.  Young couples dating would sit side by side, as close as they could.  Eventually, after establishing themselves as a couple, they move apart.  Mom by her window, Dad by his as he drove.  One day, Mom says, “Why don’t you put your arm around me like you did when we were dating?”  Dad’s response, “I’m not the one who moved.”  He was still sitting in the driver’s seat; she was the one who scooched over into the passenger seat.

God’s still driving.

God hasn’t moved.  If you’re feeling disconnected to Him, check your position.  Have you moved away from God as you become more familiar with Him?  Is life going well right now, so you don’t feel the desperate need to reach out to Him like you once did?  Keeping close to God means we have to sit next to Him.

When Jesus taught, He walked in front, His students followed.  Remember, during that period, they wore sandals, walking on dusty roads.   Following closely means getting Jesus’s dust on you.  We have to pursue Jesus.  He remains the same; we’re the ones who float in and out.  To encounter His dust, we have to get close.

Even today, when something good happens, it’s easy to forget God’s part in it.  For me, relationships help me stay close to God.  In the flesh, my response isn’t what it is when I bring God into the equation.  When I seek His will before my own, life is better. Unfortunately, sometimes I prefer the passenger seat instead of next to Him.  And sometimes, I take the wheel and kick Him out of the car completely.

Your relationship with God is dependent on you.  How much time you spend chasing Him will determine its depth.  

We Are Marshall is a movie.  The story is about the college’s football team that perishes in an airplane crash.  Recruiting a new coach, the town and school rebuild after the tragedy.  Trying to gain special permission to have a team, the coach challenges the administration when told they’ve received no response from football’s governing body. Jack Lengyel, the coach, poses this question to University President Dedmon:  “Now, I am going to bet… that you didn’t propose over the phone.”  In other words, you need to go in person and talk to the powers that be.  The president followed Jack’s advice; he went in person, the season saved.

We can’t phone in a relationship with God.  Instead, we have to get close, letting His dust cover us as we draw near.

Question of the Day:

Have you moved away from God today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 62:6-65:25 NIV, Philippians 2:19-3:3 NIV, Psalm 73 NIV, Proverbs 24:13-14 NIV

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)

Humility is the absence of pride.

For me, humility is remembering Christ died for everyone.  More importantly, that one person you can’t stand, He died for them too.  When we view the world through the lens of Jesus, it changes how we react to people.  Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross was to pay for the sins of the world.  Those sins include mine and yours.  Even the tiniest of lies for the best of reasons is sin, according to God’s word.  None of us are above the law, only Jesus. 

Value others through Jesus’ eyes.

Pray this simple prayer:  “Jesus, let me see them as You see them.”  Start picturing what you think Jesus would do.  My favorite is the woman caught in adultery, dragged naked before Jesus.  Gently, Jesus kneels to the ground and starts writing.  One by one, the crowd disburses until all are gone.  When He stands, He forgives her and tells her to sin no more (John 8:1-11 NIV).  The reason I love this story, I imagine Jesus writing the sins of those around Him in the dirt, ones I’m sure I’ve committed.  That thought humbles me as it identifies my pride.

Pride and humility can’t coexist.  No matter who you are, the ego is something we all battle.  Arrogance isn’t only for the wealthy.  Human condition means we naturally value ourselves over others.  When offended, my first reaction isn’t love; I want them to pay for the hurt.  But that’s not what Jesus wants for me.  He wants me to follow His actions: 

“When He was accused by the chief priests and the elders, He gave no answer.”  (Matthew 27:12 NIV)

When falsely accused, Jesus said nothing.  He’s teaching me to do the same.  Most people don’t intend to cause us harm.  Instead, they are making the best decisions they can in their circumstances.  We never know what is going on in someone else’s world, but God does.  That’s why praying will reveal answers.  God knows what is best for each one of us.  

In college, my calculus professor taught me a lesson I haven’t forgotten.  I was trying to talk my way into a passing grade.  His response still rings in my head: “Sometimes you need a pat on the back, sometimes a kick in the butt.  You need a kick in the butt.”  Yep, I sure did.  Failing his class was the kick in the butt I needed to turn my life around.

Value others through Jesus’ eyes.  Start by praying for them.  He’ll show you the rest.

Question of the Day:

Who can you value in prayer today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 60:1-62:5 NIV, Philippians 1:27-2:18 NIV, Psalm 72 NIV, Proverbs 24:11-12 NIV

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3 NIV)

As you grow older, you experience more loss.  Memories become all you have left of people you love.  Physical mementos are reminders of times past.  Praising God for shared moments is natural.   If we didn’t love deeply, we wouldn’t grieve deeply.

“It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone.  John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent

Early in my dating relationship with my husband, he won another piece of my heart with these words: “You’re worth the risk.”  His heart knew the pain I could cause him.  He was willing to take the chance.   He understood that when we invest our lives in someone else’s, the potential for pain increases. But the light they shine into your life, no matter how briefly, is better than not seeing it at all.

Let the light shine.

Don’t avoid relationships to avoid pain.  As Christ-followers, we are meant to live in community with others:

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

Once we experience a heartbreaking loss, self-protection kicks in by kicking people out.  Hurting people hurt others; we’re all suffering in some way.  Instinctively, we think if we stay away from people, we can avoid pain.  That thought is a lie.  People help us heal as we allow them to love us in our pain.  Repairing our brokenness requires opening ourselves up to the light of others.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:4 NIV)

Jesus is the light that shines through people.  Each one is shining differently.  As we journey through life, the amount of time differs with each person.  Some will travel your entire life with you, others a brief moment.  No matter how large the flame, it travels with you forever.  No two torches burn identically; every memory unique.

We can’t avoid the pain of loss, but we can embrace the joy of life.  Live in the moment and cherish the people God gives you.  Work to create memories that will last a lifetime.

For my 51st birthday, we created a memory.  We rode our bikes 52 miles, splitting it between two days.  One mile for each year, one for good measure.  Friends went with us; we spent the night in Richmond.  Everything about those 24 hours is memorable, from the beautiful scenery and good conversations to Poe’s Pub and Church Hill St.  All of us carry those moments with us the rest of our lives, no matter where we go.

Create moments in life not quickly forgotten.  No one knows the length of life’s journey. Thank God for the memories you have, and those yet to come.

Question of the Day:

How can you create a memorable moment today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 57:15-59:21NIV, Philippians 1:1-26 NIV, Psalm 71 NIV, Proverbs 24:9-10 NIV

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV)

Prayer is your most potent weapon.

Reaching out to the Creator in conversation is more potent than any human-made tool.  If we connected with God as much as we connect with our cell phones, can you imagine the impact on this world?  What if, every time you picked up your phone, you used it as a reminder to pray?  Whoever you’re connecting with through the cell, pray for them.  Our phones are an extension of who we are today.  If we use them as a reminder to pray, God becomes part of us as well.

Prayer pinpoints the battle.

When we take time to pray first, God centers our minds.  Prayer reminds us our battle is not against flesh and blood, but the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). Our eyes look past what we can see for what is unseen.  Instead of letting anger wedge itself into our relationships, we respond with grace.  We build instead of destroy when we use prayer as our weapon.

God’s armor clothes us as we look to Him for strength:

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground…Stand firm…with the belt of truth…the breastplate of righteousness…the gospel of peace…take up the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV)

Wars fought with physical weapons have no winners.  Each side loses brave warriors as they battle to “victory.”  Wars end because resources to fight run out, not because they give up. If someone is committed enough to give their life for a cause, they don’t quit easily.  Jesus is the Master of living up to His commitments.

“…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)

Jesus is the friend who sticks closer than anyone.  He died for you because He loves you.  When we access the power of the Holy Spirit, we do it through our relationship with Him:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—” (John 15:16 NIV) 

God has given us His Spirit to guide and direct us.  When we pray, His Spirit helps us communicate.  Words aren’t necessary; God understands our groanings.  As we unburden ourselves to Him, His Spirit renews within us.

Prayer is the weapon to choose first in today’s battle.  Whatever the mountain is, start the climb with God.  Let Him lead you to victory.

Question of the Day:

Have you used prayer in your battle?

Further Reading: Isaiah 54:1-57:14 NIV, Ephesians 6 NIV, Psalm 70 NIV, Proverbs 24:8 NIV

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:6 NIV)

Empty words are rampant in the world.  News media are biased; the truth is hard to find. How are we to know what are empty words and what isn’t?  God’s word.

Applying God’s word to your life illuminates truth.  My most potent example: saying no to premarital sex; when I did, the truth revealed he was only interested in sex.  If you are female and want to find out the character of the man you’re dating, don’t sleep with him.  The truth shows quickly. A man who respects your boundaries is worthy of investing your heart. One who pressures you is thinking of himself more than he is you.  Empty words revealed.

Focus on known truth.

To begin to identify the empty words in your life, focus on what you know is true.  For me, truth starts with Jesus. The reality of His ministry is my reality.  His death and resurrection enables me to have life to the fullest.  As I seek Him through God’s word, applying His teachings to life situations, my faith deepens.  Jesus becomes more and more truth to me the harder I chase after Him.  As I do, He reveals what words are empty.

Scripture’s beauty is its applicability.

For instance, before cell phones, my high tech landline was programmable. As a way to memorize scripture, I recorded this verse as my “Wake-up Call” each morning:

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NIV)

When I answered the phone each morning, my recorded voice read this passage.  During that time, I found life hard to “rejoice and be glad in it.” Hearing this reminder changed my outlook. Positive words filled my mind first thing, altering my mindset.  As each day passed, the scripture became more ingrained in my mind, changing my world view.  My lens to the world became God’s word.

Years later, the same verse still applies.  Truth is found in the passage:  God created today, just like He created that day long ago.  God’s word isn’t empty.  Filled with wisdom and knowledge, they reveal the empty words of the world around us.  Now, the scripture means so much more to me than it did then.  When I rejoice, it is more heartfelt than ever, my gladness overwhelming. 

Journeying with God daily deepens the meaning of His word. Applying His wisdom to your life reveals the truth.  Empty words become easy to spot.

Question of the Day:

What empty words have God’s word revealed in your life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 51-53 NIV, Ephesians 5:1-33 NIV, Psalm 69:19-36 NIV, Proverbs 24:7 NIV

“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” (Psalm 69:1 NIV)

Life’s overwhelming moments can feel like water up to the neck.  You’re breathing, hanging on, head bobbing above the water, but it’s hard.  Battling day in and day out is exhausting.  Daily chores are monotonous.  On and on life goes.  Each day a little harder to fight.  Hope seems long lost, but is it?

Finishing a tennis lesson recently, a young mother told me she had no hope.   She had just witnessed her child overcome a massive emotional obstacle minutes before on the court.  Yet she was hopeless.  What I said to her was, “Hope is in the moment.”  We had experienced hope moments ago when the breakthrough occurred.  Patience, perseverance, faith, love all worked together to produce hope.

Treading water is sustainable.

If the water level is up to your neck, more than likely, you’re treading water.  When someone treads water, beneath the surface is what matters.  Typically, your arms form a “T” with the body.  For sustainability, legs are moving in a slow rhythm, like riding a bike.  Not too fast, not too slow, at a comfortable pace. What you can’t see keeps you floating.

God’s what people can’t see. Jesus formed a “T” with His body for us on the Cross. Time spent seeking Him is what keeps you afloat.  Letting go is lifting up:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)

Forgive me if I overuse this verse.  People often do.  But there’s a reason to refer to this one often; it gives hope.  When we are tired and burdened, we want to rest.  Jesus provides us with rest when we give Him our worries, our fears.

Finding a physical way to give your burdens to Jesus helps.  For me journaling allows me to rid myself of my fears.  Each morning, after I read my Bible, I handwrite a note to God.  Paul’s word guides my process:

“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.” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV)

Thank, give, receive.  Each morning He’s waiting to hear what I have to say like a young parent, when their child comes to them with their heartaches.  Lovingly, God cares for our hurts and provides our needs.  With Him, we stay afloat.

Question of the Day:

Who is keeping you afloat today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 48:12-50:11 NIV, Ephesians 4:17-32 NIV, Psalm 69:1-18 NIV, Proverbs 24:5-6 NIV

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV)

Wisdom looks deeply.

Social Media is a way of life.  More than likely, you’re reading this post on one of the many sites that exist.  But are you looking past the picture, even past the video?  We have to seek wisdom by looking beyond what the eye can see.

For instance, in one of my classes, I had to create a video.  My vision was an advertisement for Arm and Hammer Baking Soda.  But before I came up with this idea, I found what looked like a cool trick on the internet.  The magic, “if done correctly,” caused a metal fork to bend in ionized water.  The entire thing was a hoax and I fell for it.  Before I invested in the things needed, I should have researched the facts more.  

Wisdom looks beneath the surface.

As Christ-followers we have to look deeper.  We can’t make quick judgments from appearances.  In order to gain a better picture, we have to ask the right questions.  Paying attention to what people say and post is important.  Look for the balance, is there happy and sad, or is it all happy?  If it’s all happy, they’re not telling the whole story of their life.  You’re making judgments from appearances with only half the truth.

The other day, I posted a picture on my personal account.  A selfie from a bike ride with friends, I was smiling and happy.  But the picture was two days old, in real time I was weathering the storm of an anxiety attack.  When I posted the picture, I pointed out how easily we can draw the wrong conclusions.  If you had only looked at the photo, you wouldn’t know I was battling anxiety.

The truth is, life is a balance of good and bad.  On any given day, you experience both.  Today is only half over at the time of this writing.  Good and bad have happened.  The morning started with a tennis lesson with a new student, good.  After the lesson, my Achilles hurt from the exertion causing me to limp, bad.  Some days, the good outweighs the bad, some times it’s the other way around.  Good and bad happens daily.

Years ago, I had a bad moment.  I can’t remember what happened.  But I do remember what my friend said when I was telling her about the event.  She told me, “Don’t let one bad moment ruin your entire day.”  I have never forgotten her advice.  When bad moments happen, her words float through my mind.  She is absolutely right, don’t let a bad moment ruin your entire day.

Seek wisdom and understanding by looking deeper.  Don’t judge by appearances, instead look for the balance.

Question of the Day:

How can you look deeper today?

Further Reading: Isaiah 45:11-48:11 NIV, Ephesians 4:1-16 NIV, Psalm 68:19-35 NIV, Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  (Ephesians 3:16-17 NIV)

God strengthens you from His glorious riches.

Glorious riches aren’t big mansions, million-dollar paychecks, and fast cars.  Glorious riches are good health for you and your loved ones, food in the pantry, and a roof over your head.  

A few years ago, my husband and I stayed in a motel during remodeling.  Under new ownership, the place stood dormant for years.  The closed swimming pool popped out of the ground after years of neglect.  Words to describe our room: peeling paint, rusted fixtures, sketchy bed, 1990’s T.V.  But we had a place to sleep.  God met our needs. His glorious riches are not always what we think.

Needs aren’t wants.

What we need in life are different from what we want.  When I was a kid, I wanted a new family.  Four brothers, one sister, I was next to the youngest.  My brother’s treated me like a brother more than a sister.  Sometimes, that’s good, others not so good.  Back then, I would ask God for a new family.  But now, I praise God every day for my family.  They are the most upright, hard-working people I know.  I’m thankful for each of my siblings more than words can express.  They help me learn and grow through life.  God knows what you need.

Since my journey began as an adult chasing Jesus’s heels, I’ve experienced hard times.  My heart is grieving losses I never thought I’d have.  God taught me the difference between need and want. God gives, and He takes away (Job 1:21 NIV).  Death is inevitable; the mortality rate is 100%. The date and time is the unknown for all of us.  Because God has given me and has taken away from me, I understand the meaning of need.  In the depths of heartache, I needed Him to lift me.  Each day when anxiety tries to steal my joy, I focus on His word to get me through.  Only in His presence can I find His victory and peace.

We all need God’s presence to strengthen us.  Life’s pressures heighten, our energy weakens.  Each of us are battling.  Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.  God is invisible in the spiritual sense, yet real.  We can’t see the air we breathe, yet it exists.  Bluetooth signals, invisible yet true.  We believe in things we don’t see every day.

Even though you can’t see God’s presence, He’s strengthening you. He’s your biggest cheerleader, your most adoring fan.  God is lifting you, encouraging you, rooting you on from the sidelines.  All from the wealth of His glorious riches.

Question of the Day:

What glorious riches has God given you?

Further Reading:  Isaiah 43:14-45:10 NIV, Ephesians 3:1-21 NIV, Psalm 68 NIV, Proverbs 24:1-2 NIV

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.” (Psalm 67:1-2 NIV)

Networking is key.

Part of the reason God blesses us is so that others’ are drawn to Him through us.  We are God’s network.  

Raised in a business family, and with an undergraduate degree in Business Management, I understand networking.  According to Investopedia: 

Networking is the exchange of information and ideas among people with a common profession or special interest, usually in an informal social setting. Networking often begins with a single point of common ground.

Blessings are common ground.

Why someone wouldn’t want God’s blessing in their life, I don’t know.  Most people understand a gift from God when they receive it.  As we thank Him for what He has done for us, we reflect His goodness to the world.  As people witness God’s work in our lives, they begin to desire it for themselves.  His network expands with blessings.

As Christ-followers, our network is the world.  Whoever we interact with on a personal basis, God loves.  If we need a point of agreement as we draw them into the network, it is God’s love.  The same attachment He has for us, He has for others.  We may not think they are worthy of God’s love, but then, neither are we:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 NIV)

Asking God to bless your life is okay.  He wants to bless you.  My husband and I pray daily for God’s blessing and favor in our lives.

“We should seek God’s blessing so that our gladness in God will spread to all the nations.” Pastor Steven J. Cole

God wants to bless you.  Ask Him to bless your life, your family, and your friend’s lives.  Watch as He pours into your life in ways you can’t even imagine.  Recognizing blessings comes in all kinds of forms.

This morning when I was getting dressed, I thanked God for my legs.  The fact I can walk is a blessing from God.  Having a roof over my head, clothes to wear, and food to eat is something not everyone has.  A thought ran through my mind, “What if we started our day by thanking God for the things we take for granted?”

All those things we take for granted are blessings—each of them is a ray of God’s light shining in our lives. Yet we aren’t even glad for them.  God’s blessings aren’t the things we think: large bank account, big home, fancy lifestyle.  God’s blessings are the people He gives us to journey through life with each day.  He provides daily for us so His light can shine.

Question of the Day:

Have you asked God to pour His blessings into your life?

Further Reading: Isaiah 41:17-43:13 NIV, Ephesians 2:1-22 NIV, Psalm 67 NIV, Proverbs 23:29-35 NIV