I do it all the time. I think about stuff while I drive. I spend hours every week driving, mostly to school and home again. If I happen to be driving somewhere that isn't school or home, I often realize that I have missed my turn along the way because my brain was working on something else and I reverted to habit, heading toward school or home.
I am a creature of habit. I embrace routine and tradition. Habits, routines, and traditions can be good and purposeful and fulfilling, but I am realizing that I have some habits that need to change! They no longer serve a purpose and they are not a wise investment of my time and energy. Albert Einstein is credited with this definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
On my drive home yesterday, I was thinking about how to step back from some old habits. I asked God, "How can I step back without losing my forward progress?" He responded instantly, "Change direction." I remembered all of those times that I missed my turn. In a sense, I was there again. I laughed out loud when God said, "Recalculating!" (I don't even own a GPS!) What do I do when I pass my corner without turning? I turn at the next corner and recalculate my route.
I'm grateful that God always has wisdom for me...and sometimes it even makes me laugh! I'm recalculating!
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
fall well
There is a skill to falling well and safely. I found classes, YouTube videos, and many written articles about the art of falling and avoiding injury. I really wanted to title this blog "fall like a ninja", but I've only been able to do that once in my life. I tripped on a sidewalk curb, and as I went down, my brain said, "roll, roll!" So I did. I rolled myself right back up onto my feet, and I have to say that I was amazed. That isn't usually how it goes for me. Usually, I go down in a blaze of glory resulting in scrapes and bruises that make me look like I've been fighting.
I read an article on the Bodyfix Method website by William M. Boland that said, "Each of us will fall. It's only a matter of time and circumstance. It's part of the human experience." That same article gives tips for falling safely. Tips that are used by stuntmen, athletes, and people like me. Bending knees and elbows, rolling, protecting the head, and landing on larger muscles are some of the more useful suggestions that I found.
I loved what this article said...we will fall...it's part of being human. We will fall physically and we will fall spiritually no matter how hard we try not to. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans (3:23), "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Sadly, this is our human condition, but we don't have to wallow in it. Ephesians 2:8 says, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." God sent Jesus to be the One and Only perfect sacrifice for all of our sins, once and for all.
When we fall, there is hope. Psalm 40:1-3 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There is always hope...in despair, depression, or fear...Jesus will come when we call! God has made a way for us to fall well...right into the arms of Jesus.
I read an article on the Bodyfix Method website by William M. Boland that said, "Each of us will fall. It's only a matter of time and circumstance. It's part of the human experience." That same article gives tips for falling safely. Tips that are used by stuntmen, athletes, and people like me. Bending knees and elbows, rolling, protecting the head, and landing on larger muscles are some of the more useful suggestions that I found.
I loved what this article said...we will fall...it's part of being human. We will fall physically and we will fall spiritually no matter how hard we try not to. The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans (3:23), "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." Sadly, this is our human condition, but we don't have to wallow in it. Ephesians 2:8 says, "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God." God sent Jesus to be the One and Only perfect sacrifice for all of our sins, once and for all.
When we fall, there is hope. Psalm 40:1-3 says, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There is always hope...in despair, depression, or fear...Jesus will come when we call! God has made a way for us to fall well...right into the arms of Jesus.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
stability and strength and joy
God spoke these 3 words to my heart at separate times in the last week, but as I studied each of them, I discovered that they are inextricably connected. These are words that I want to describe my life, and they are words about which God has much to say.
So often, and today is no exception, I do not FEEL stable or strong or joyful. And here is the crux of the issue...feelings. I give my feelings my full attention as though they were undeniable truth. God gave us our feelings, and they are part of what makes us human. But, because we are human, we are also sinful, and we allow our feelings to lie to us and lead us away from God, instead of to Him. I am a deep feeler...I feel my emotions to the extreme, but that doesn't mean that I have to give them the power to rule over me or toss me around like a buoy on waves of water.
We have many choices. Let our emotions drive us. Deny and ignore the emotions. Put up a facade of "all is well". Acknowledge the feelings and give them to God.
God wants us to find our stability and strength and joy in Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." We can strip off anything that is weighing us down (including our feelings) and give it to God with open hands. Jesus, I trust you with this.
Stability, strength, and joy are direct results of being in relationship with God and keeping our focus on Him. As with any human relationship, time is a necessity to build and maintain our relationships with God. Time in prayer (speaking AND listening), time in worship, time reading the truth God gave us in the Bible.
Here are some of the truths that I found.
STABILITY:
Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. (One of my favorite truths!)
STRENGTH AND JOY:
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
Psalm 84:5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (These verses have stability, strength, and joy!!!)
JOY:
Psalm 126:2-3 We were filled with laughter, and we sing for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy comes from being convinced of and overwhelmed by the love of God and remembering what He has done for us. First Thessalonians 5 sums it up nicely...always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances. Stability and strength and joy will follow.
So often, and today is no exception, I do not FEEL stable or strong or joyful. And here is the crux of the issue...feelings. I give my feelings my full attention as though they were undeniable truth. God gave us our feelings, and they are part of what makes us human. But, because we are human, we are also sinful, and we allow our feelings to lie to us and lead us away from God, instead of to Him. I am a deep feeler...I feel my emotions to the extreme, but that doesn't mean that I have to give them the power to rule over me or toss me around like a buoy on waves of water.
We have many choices. Let our emotions drive us. Deny and ignore the emotions. Put up a facade of "all is well". Acknowledge the feelings and give them to God.
God wants us to find our stability and strength and joy in Him. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith." We can strip off anything that is weighing us down (including our feelings) and give it to God with open hands. Jesus, I trust you with this.
Stability, strength, and joy are direct results of being in relationship with God and keeping our focus on Him. As with any human relationship, time is a necessity to build and maintain our relationships with God. Time in prayer (speaking AND listening), time in worship, time reading the truth God gave us in the Bible.
Here are some of the truths that I found.
STABILITY:
Psalm 62:2 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.
Psalm 40:2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.
Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. (One of my favorite truths!)
STRENGTH AND JOY:
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
Psalm 84:5 What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord!
Habakkuk 3:18-19 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. (These verses have stability, strength, and joy!!!)
JOY:
Psalm 126:2-3 We were filled with laughter, and we sing for joy. And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them." Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy comes from being convinced of and overwhelmed by the love of God and remembering what He has done for us. First Thessalonians 5 sums it up nicely...always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances. Stability and strength and joy will follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)