Eight Weeks Later...

By now most of us would rather forget those New Year's resolutions we made eight weeks ago. Hopefully our friends and family have forgotten them too. Yet even though we struggle to make our goals a reality, we can't seem to let them go. So how can we make the next few weeks more productive? Yesterday, I was reminded of an obvious, but elusive element for progress. 

I woke before daylight and thought about my choices for the day. After praying, I decided not to make the two hour drive to a writer's conference. I had planned on going for weeks, but reluctantly let circumstances change my mind.

I can spend time at the library instead, I told myself. Then drive out, walk on the beach, and commune with God. The thought of an ocean breeze and discussing this year's writing projects with God, convinced me I'd made the right choice. 

Two cups of coffee later, the phone rang. I caught enough of my husband's conversation to know my plans were about to change. Soon we set out for an hour and a half drive in his truck. But not to gain inspiration for writing. He wanted me to help clean up a business rental for a client. The tenants moved   out and left the place a mess. Preempted again! 

We can resolve a thousand times to accomplish a goal, but until we make it a priority, it will never happen. That doesn't mean we can't help others or be spontaneous when an unexpected opportunity comes up. But when we truly prioritize our dreams from God, it keeps us from letting everything else push
them aside for weeks, months, or even years.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works , which

God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).   

We want to believe God has a specific plan for our life. Still we can't help but wonder, which causes us to wander from pursuing the reality of it. Even so, Jesus is the head of the body, the Church, and He has preeminence (Col. 1:18). Is that the truth and power we so easily misplace? The Lord's preeminence means He is first in rank and influence. 

Are we influenced by Him more than by anyone or anything else? 

As we learn to live a "yes" answer to that question more, our dreams from 
the Lord will get preempted less. By doing and enjoying those good works He created for us, we acknowledge Christ's preeminence in our lives. 

   

   

What Do We Expect?

I don't usually watch football. In fact I just had to check google to find out if Super Bowl
was one word or two.  But since Super Bowl is only once a year I decided to watch the
last five minutes with my husband. I didn't expect to see one of the greatest plays in history.

Everyone's heard about it. Patriot rookie, Malcolm Butler, swooped in and intercepted the
ball from the SeaHawks with only 20 seconds left in the game. His incredible play won his
team the victory. But his explanation for the play was even more amazing.

 "I had a vision that I was going to make a big play and it came true," Malcolm said after
the win. "I'm just blessed." In a later interview, Butler said that he prayed for their team, as
he often does, and gave God the credit for his abilities.

There's something more important here than who won the Super Bowl, though thousands
of fans may disagree. Malcolm Butler had a vision of making a big play and paid attention
so he didn't miss his chance.

As Christians we get into ruts where we don't expect much from God or ourselves. During
those times, everyday life feels like a treadmill in a stuffy gym. No blue skies or fresh air,
nothing miraculous or unexpected. And so we stop paying attention. Imagine how many
opportunities we don't even notice. What can we do to catch more of them?

It starts with communication. Prayer means talking with our heavenly Father, the One who
moved heaven and earth to call us His children. It's about talking to Him but also listening.
Most often He speaks to us through His Word.

The next step is expectation. Like Butler, we need to believe in our God-given ability to
do what He calls us to do no matter how unlikely. Yet, we don't want to limit God to our
ideas. We don't know the best outcome because we can't see the future. Better to pray
with expectancy, rather than specific expectations, and trust God for the right answer.

We also need concentration. Treadmill living makes it hard to pay attention, or stay in the
game. The things we do over and over encourage an autopilot mentality. That's a
dangerous way to live if we want to catch the incredible opportunities God has for us.

"Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you 

not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness 

and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19)

Football is optional in life's big picture. In fact some of us won't watch another game until
next year's Super Bowl. But when it comes to the new things God wants to do in and
through us, I don't want to miss a single play, do you?
 
  

What Are We Afraid Of?

"It's too bad they have to call it that," 6 year old Lily said. "People will be scared of
God and they won't like Him."

My  granddaughter and I had just read how the King of Egypt ordered two midwives
to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth. To disobey Pharaoh's commands was a life
threatening choice. Still, the midwives continued to help deliver Hebrew babies and
let all of them live. Why?

Because the midwives feared God (Exodus 1:17).    

Their fear of God took away their fear of Pharaoh. Lily and I were impressed with
Shiphah and Puah's willingness to go against the king's orders. From a young age we
learn about the importance of courage in this life. Sooner or later we all need to take a
stand for what's right. Interesting how God fear becomes courage when we act upon it.

But as Lily pointed out, the "fear of the Lord" doesn't draw a crowd. Our first reaction 

to it compares more to our response to okra with mustard greens than say, apple crisp 

alamode. Nothing against okra or mustard greens. I'm sure they're nutritious and even 

tasty in their own way. Even so, most families don't eat them every week or even once 

a month.  

So is the fear of the Lord among many Christians. This fear comes across like the cod
liver oil of Christianity. something most likely good for us, but when it comes to learning
more about it, ahh... maybe another time. But that's only because we don't know what
we're missing.

Like Moses and the burning bush, the Lord drew me to the fear of Him 20 years ago,
and I've been fascinated by it ever since. Some of the amazing things I've learned fill
the pages of my new book, "The Neglected Journey." (Amazon Kindle) A reader
friendly book with relatable, family examples and gentle humor. Yet even though I've
been studying and writing about this fear for years, it feels like I've just scratched the
surface. Proof that when it comes to the things of God, we're all lifelong students at best.      

       

What Are We Waiting For?

Perhaps we aren't waiting for someone to say, "Go pursue your dream." (As I mentioned in the last post.) Still, the years keep passing and we don't get much closer to living our dreams. For many of us, it will take more than January to jar us from the procrastination and discouragement that fits us like a well-worn jacket. So what is stopping us? 

Like my sister, some people regret not finishing their degree. She would like to turn back time and take those higher education opportunities serious. But for her and others it may seem like it's too late for an educational makeover. 

Speaking of too late, others of us are closer to the finish line than the starting line as it relates to the work of our hands. How can we consider a new pursuit as we near the age when most people retire? If we'd just made better choices when we were young and strong.  

In the Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey points out the third thing we often let stop us. In a conversation, George asked Clarence the angel how he could help him get him wings.

       "By letting me help you," Clarence said. 
       "You don't have eight thousand bucks on you?" George asked.
       "Oh no, no, we don't use money in heaven."
       "Well, it comes in pretty handy down here, bub." George said.

We can't disagree with George, money does come in handy. But God reveals there's something we need more than education, physical strength, and cash. 

"Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom,

let not the mighty man boast in his might,

let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him 

who boasts boast of this, that he understands 

and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises 

lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; 

for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. 

(Jeremiah 9:23, 24)  

• Do we let the lack of a university degree stop us when the Creator of the Universe promises to help us? (Psalm 32:8)
• Do we think having lived half a century or more disqualifies us from pursuing the new things nestled in old dreams? Yet God promises to renew our youth like the eagle's (Psalm 103:5).
• Does a low income stir inferior feelings that hold us back when all the silver and gold belongs to our heavenly Father? (Haggai 2:8)  

Taking God's lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness personally is the catalyst that breaks us free. Allowing Him to exercise these blessings on our behalf, changes everything, including our outlook. And it all unfolds as we get to know Him a little more each day. He loves it when we do new things - the good works he prepared for us before we ever took our first step.