I don’t know about you but sometimes I feel like a Gerbil.  Come on. We wake up and hop on the wheel. Then when the day is done we hop into bed only to wake up and get back on the wheel.  The Gerbil syndrome is worst when we are not in right relationship with our Creator.  He makes life worth living.  It is God that knows man best, after all He created him.  God sets up laws for us to obey.  Forgive and you shall be forgiven, pretty cut and dry. (Matthew 6:14)  On the flip side, don’t forgive and you are not forgiven.  When Adam and Eve were in a state of sin they hid.  Sin has torment. No sin-no torment. (1 John 4:18)  It’s tormenting to run the Gerbil wheel.  When we are at peace we are at rest. So how do we find rest?  We find rest when we find Him.  How do we find Him? Seek Him. 

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Your heart is the center of your emotions. Our Youth Pastor said, “Our heart is the Board Room where God does business with us”.  This is so true. God deals with our hearts because out of our heart flow the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)  God did not design man to live the life of a Gerbil.  God called us to live an abundant life. (John 10:10)  It is the thief that comes to steal our life.  The devil is that thief that wants to steal, kill and destroy. 

Action step for the day: Get off the wheel and kneel.  Allow God into the board room and begin to do business.  Live the life God has for you and let the Gerbil run the wheel.

If you are a friend of mine or you follow me on Facebook you know that I am a big fan of Dr. Henry Cloud.  I re-post many of his post. In fact that is one of the reasons this Blog exist.  I was re-posting so much from others, many started to say, “We hear a lot of what Henry says but we’d like to hear more of what you say.”  So, as the complaints and encouragements started piling up I decided to give it a go.  Here is today’s quote from Dr. Henry Cloud:  

“What are you spending time and energy on that is keeping you from spending it on what really matters more?  Time for pruning.”  - Dr. Henry Cloud

Pruning is part of life.   Want more fruit in your life, then embrace pruning.  When I think of pruning I automatically think of an old man with wrinkled hands and a pair of pruning shears busy at work on his fruit trees; my grandpa.  He was always cutting things back, digging around things, replanting, re-potting, and most of all sharing with others.  He always had more than enough.  There was a child-likeness about my grandfather.  Things that some thought a nuisance my grandpa thought was useful needed, worth the effort, good to eat; take the dandelion.  He would go to what I consider a great deal of trouble for a mess of dandelions.  That means a batch cooked to eat. Oh and a batch means a couple of bowls full.

As a little girl I would go pick a whole handful of those little yellow flowers.  I just thought they were beautiful.  My mother would fill a glass with water and set my dandelions in the window and tell me how pretty they were.  I guess mommies are little like grandpa. What I am saying is when you get older and wiser you understand what’s important and what’s not.  You begin to purposely prune your own life so that you can be with those that really matter, and do what’s most important. 

Children are great at stopping to smell the flowers, take their shoes off, make friends, stare at a bug, ask questions when they don’t know the answer and be spontaneous.  Today while biking on the trail I hoped off for a minute to stretch and watch a man throw a toy into the river for his dog to fetch.  Caught up in the moment I didn't notice a little girl came over and handed a dandelion to my friend I was biking with.  She was maybe 4 or 5 years old.  When I started to strike up a conversation with her she said, “You better hurry and go ride your bike.”  Hummm, my friend gets a dandelion from this little cutie and I get a rebuke.  I’m sure she had her reasoning but she wasn't going to share it with me.  She pruned her time with me quick and off to do what little girls do.

John 15:2 (NIV) “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

If you want to be fruitful for God there will be times that you will need to do a little pruning.  It may be going through your closet or your house and gathering things to sow into the lives of others.  It may be not watching so much TV and instead spending time practicing that instrument, reading the Bible, listening to a CD or simply spending time with family or friends.  God is the master gardener and you? You are His garden.  Give Him permission today to prune away!

1 CORINTHIANS 3:9 (LB) “9 We are only God's coworkers. You are God's garden, not ours; you are God's building, not ours.”

Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV) “12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

I like this verse because its meaning is pretty much the center of what the Gospel and Bible is about. So many times we want to do our own thing, but it never works out. Jesus said that He is the Way (John 14:6), not one of the ways or the best way, but THE WAY. So when we go by what we see we may go in the wrong direction. And since we are all sinners, that direction is death (Romans 6:23).

What about when the way we think we are to go seems like a wrong way?  The signs we are getting are confusing? We need to follow Christ (the right way) which leads to everlasting LIFE (John 3:16), every day and in every action. I have noticed several things about the above scripture.  Some things are not what they seem. As humans we are not always the best surveyors of life—we need to follow someone who knows the way. A wrong choice can lead to death.

In my home town recently there was an accident on the Interstate, someone got on going the wrong way.  There were people killed.  Some were killed not because they were going the wrong way—but because someone else was.  It matters which way we go, not just to us but to the lives that are associated with us.  If you are the head of your family and you are going the wrong way chances are pretty high your family is too. If you own a corporation and you are headed in the wrong direction you are probably taking the employees with you. Regardless of the popular beliefs of our day “Doing your own thing” doesn’t work—doing the God thing does.

If you are confused today I encourage you to get in the Word but also get some wise counsel, for in that you will make the right turns in life that lead to the right destination.

Today was an awesome day. I had the wonderful opportunity of observing our preschoolers Children’s Church class.  One of my favorite teachers had prepared a great lesson.  The most wonderful thing about the class though wasn’t just the lesson though it was the icing on the cake.

I learned that when children have something to do with their hands (play dough) they talk a lot—about a lot of things.  A little boy was putting play dough on a plastic knife. It looked like a pretzel stick covered in chocolate and nuts.  When I said that looks like a pretzel on a stick he piped up and said, “It’s a knife.” He meant no disrespect and didn’t give his correcting me a second thought. He wanted to set the subject straight and that he did very well.  Here’s what I learned—children speak the truth without and caution, or agenda…just the facts. They mean what they say and just say it.  I wish grown-ups were like that.

Matthew 18:3 (BEV) “And said, Truly, I say to you, If you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven.”

After the time at the play dough table it was time to get active. I wondered why this teacher hadn’t done the lesson yet.  I watched them play the color game. Find something blue. When you find it--touch it.  Everyone runs, jumps, follow, leads, copies the other person and then finally settles into who and what they want to be. Once they knew how the game was played they settled down and instead of watching the other children—they became relaxed and looked for the color blue and everyone found something different.  They were individuals.  It was a metamorphous right in front of my eyes. I learned when we are insecure we try to be like others, or we become prideful or competitive, but when we are secure—we are free to be individuals.

Finally it was time for the lesson.  Coffee a filters, clothes pins and furry balls, glue and eye balls and put it together and you got a beautiful butterfly…well at least I think so.  While the glue is drying we all got a snack. It was a great day.  Oh, and the lesson was about butterfly’s. So while the teacher told everyone about how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly with the help of a little boy who already knew the whole story, the entire class was hanging on the teachers every word. The teacher ended by tying it all into our new birth experience as Christians. So she asked, “So what do we become we ask Jesus into our hearts and become born again?” A little red haired boy raised his hand and said, “New humans.”

Yep, I learned a lot today.  We are new humans. I hope you like the butterfly picture.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Ever feel as though you’re going to cave under the pressure of life? Ever wanted to just tell the world, “Get off my back?”  Maybe even muttered under your breath I need a vacation? Take a Breath.  Exhale.  For the next couple of minutes allow yourself to just be.

I want to talk to you about the Sabbath, a 24 hour period where you release yourself from working and doing.  Take a day where you don’t have to do anything.  This is a day where you don’t “should” yourself.  If it is work related then you are not allowed to do it.  A Sabbath is important.  God said even the dirt needs a rest every 7 years.  This may sound funny but the stuff we were made out of needs a rest so that leads me to believe we do too.

I know you are really important.  The office probably can’t do without you working all weekend.  The house will fall apart if you don’t clean on your only day off right? The emails, the phone calls, the paper work, the whatever can wait. Hire someone to mow the grass. God is not Pharaoh and He is not counting how many bricks you made today.  Some of us are or own Pharaoh.  We tell our self we need to do this or we are not successful.  We need to silence the Pharaoh within.  When we silence the voice of self-many times we will hear the voice of God.  Our creator wants us to take time to recreate—to be re-created, and made new.

Let go of the illusion that we are indispensable.  We are not Atlas.  Last time I check “He” has the whole world in His hands….not us!

Deuteronomy 5:15 (NKJV) “And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

Wearing, Bearing or Boasting In The Cross

It’s our fallen nature to be boastful. We begin boasting at a young age. “My Dad’s stronger than your Dad.” “I bet my brother can whip your brother.”  Oh, I know you were never one of “those kids”, well maybe not but I bet you knew at least one or two kids who were like that.  We all did.  Things should have changed by now.  If we are followers of Christ and disciples—meaning disciplined ones then by now we ought to be a bit further along than comparing what we have with what others have. Bearing the cross is totally different than boasting in the cross.

Luke 14:27 (NKJV) “27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”

Then there are those of us who don’t go around bearing the cross we choose to wear the cross.  We have T-Shirts with the cross on it. We have necklaces with all sorts of crosses on them. Some crosses have Jesus on them and others I guess they are resurrection crosses because Jesus isn’t on them. I know you know I am joking but there is a real point I am trying to make. Jesus did not call us to boast in the cross, wear the cross but He did call us to bear His cross.  We are to take it up daily. What does that mean? To bear the cross means to embrace an unpleasant situation or responsibility that you must accept because you cannot change it. In other words you will do what is right whether it is comfortable, popular or convenient because you honor God.

Jesus was teaching us self-denial and the way to salvation.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)” I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…”

No my Dad may not be bigger than your dad; and no my brother may not be able to whip your brother, but my Savior came back from the dead and because He did I willing take up my cross daily.  I choose to serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today.  I know that He is living no matter what men say. I hope you enjoy this song today and may it be a reminder to take up your cross….He did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZmcAf089Ks

 

Divine success is actually something we have the capacity to unleash within us. We were created with seeds of greatness. The seeds of success lie within us. God talks to us not about finding, but about BEING. He asks that we find Him so that we can BE who we really are. He asks us to BE the light…not find it. To some I may be successful.  To others of you I am an unknown and a no body.  Success is a destination we never really reach. There is always a higher high and a deeper deep.  We are created in God’s image and He is limitless. 

We (mis)spend so much of our lives chasing a dream instead of being the dream. We look around for what God has already deposited within. As a result, we miss significance in our hunt for success. And, I think we end up messing up our self-esteem and misaligning our true identity in the process.

I would not be where I am today if it were not for those who have gone on before me.  Those that cleared the way lead the way and taught me the way—those are the successful ones.  Jesus lead by example and told us that He was the way.

John 14:6  (NKJV) “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus was a huge success, and that is still an understatement.  In the verse above He tells us the way in which we are to walk and live. 

Want to be aligned for your assignment? Want to be aligned for success? Check out the BIG BOOK…aka—the bible.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

I heard the storm long before I could see what it was going to lay in its wake.  It sounded like a train.  We don’t have tornados in this area. It will blow over. Yet this little voice kept saying get in the car.  So I put on my hoody and head for the car.  Driving back from the trail the road was covered with broken branches and downed trees.  Every day we live by faith. The Lord is always speaking to us.  We may not see all that He is doing or even what He has in store but we can be assured He is working all things for our good.

Romans 8:28 (NIV) “28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. “

He nudges us to pray. He reminds us to call a friend.  He gave us His word to live by.  There are preachers on TV, radio, CD’s, and podcast.  There are authors that have written millions of books on various subjects.  The wind is blowing.  We are being warned and beckoned, wooed and awakened. 

Don’t give up.  Things are getting ready to change.  A new day is dawning.  Be happy that you are alive at this day and time for you are going to be seeing miracles of God.  Get your spiritual hoody on it’s about to get really good.

 

How many times have you shouted, “Hear me out?”  Probably more women than me will admit this; but hey guys you know you said it, whether it was under your breath or out loud more times than we women know about it. Part of being human is wanting, no actually needing, to be heard.  If someone will just listen to us and grunt, “uh huh” once in a while, we will all probably live longer.  We as humans need other human beings to talk to, but more than talk—listen.  One of the greatest things we can do for others is let them talk.  It’s a gift to listen.  It’s a greater gift to allow the other person to talk and not give our input, our opinion, our solution, our better than that, our one up.  It takes some growing up on the part of the listener to do this well.  In our immaturity, our insecurity, our competiveness or whatever you may or I may be dealing with a great deal of self-denial to just listen.

Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—“

We can often learn not only about others, but about ourselves, as we listen to others sort out their thoughts and share their feelings. It is really a privilege and honor that others would deem us worthy of hearing what’s on their heart and in their thoughts.  When we cut them off or present our interpretation we often come up totally missing the point.  The other person feels hurt or disrespected and we may have not even noticed.

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV) “To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.”

Let’s start the week off with a challenge to listen to others to hear what they are really saying more than trying to be heard.  Instead of shouting, “Hear me out”, let’s try to hear what others need to get out.  You and I may be very surprised what’s really in there that needs not just said…but heard.