Last night, we decorated our Christmas tree. And, to help us get into the Christmas spirit, we had the Frosty the Snowman DVD going in the background. Now, I’ve probably seen that cartoon hundreds of time since I was a little girl. But, last night, one line just jumped out at me. I wasn’t really paying attention, so I don’t remember at exactly what point it occurred. At some point after Frosty woke up, he exclaimed, “I’m ALL living!” He said it with such a sense of wonder and excitement and enthusiasm. I just kept thinking: “How cool! He’s all living! He has a whole new state of being.” That phrase – I’m all living – has been stuck in my head ever since.
As Christians, shouldn’t we be exclaiming, “I’m all living!” as well? In Frosty’s case, it was the magic in that old silk hat they found that did the trick. In our case, it’s the Holy Spirit. I’m really not trying to compare the Holy Spirit to an old silk hat, but if you think about it, the Holy Spirit brings about that same sort of remarkable change in our spirits.
Colossians 2:13 says, “You were dead, because you were sinful and were not God’s people. But God let Christ make you alive, when He forgave all our sins.” After I heard Frosty, I kept wondering – when was the last time I got that excited about being alive – truly alive – in Christ? Do I walk around like “I’m all living!” or do I look more like the living dead? Sadly, it’s probably closer to the latter most of the time.
So, Frosty has motivated me to stir myself up and remind myself that “I’m all living!” Rather than walking around with my head hanging down just going through the motions of my day-to-day life, I want to take on life with all of the wonder and enthusiasm that Frosty portrayed – with the joy that comes from having a new life in Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thankful for... Salvation
As I wrap up my week of “thankful” posts, I’ve saved the best – and most important – for last.
Words are not enough to express my gratitude to God for sending his Son, Jesus, to this earth to die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for my sins so that I might experience eternal life with Him.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16
I’m thankful for the freedom that brings to my life.
“My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins. But everyone who has faith in Jesus is set free!” – Acts 13:38-39 (CEV)
I’m thankful for the peace that I can experience as a result.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7
I’m thankful for the healing that’s available to me.
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5
I’m so thankful that all of these things are freely available to all of us. All we have to do is believe.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him wil never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’.” – Romans 10:9-13
Words are not enough to express my gratitude to God for sending his Son, Jesus, to this earth to die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for my sins so that I might experience eternal life with Him.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16
I’m thankful for the freedom that brings to my life.
“My friends, the message is that Jesus can forgive your sins! The Law of Moses could not set you free from all your sins. But everyone who has faith in Jesus is set free!” – Acts 13:38-39 (CEV)
I’m thankful for the peace that I can experience as a result.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7
I’m thankful for the healing that’s available to me.
“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5
I’m so thankful that all of these things are freely available to all of us. All we have to do is believe.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him wil never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’.” – Romans 10:9-13
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Thankful for - My Country
Today I am thankful for my country. I am thankful that I have been blessed to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave. I am thankful that I live in a country where I am free to worship without fear. I am thankful that I live in a country that was founded by men and women of faith who understood the importance of setting aside dedicated time to give thanks to the Creator for His bountiful blessings in our lives. In the words of George Washington:
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me ‘to recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’
Now Therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the Twenty-Sixth Day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”
May God continue to bless the United States of America!
“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” – Romans 11:36
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me ‘to recommend to the people of the United States a Day of Public Thanksgiving and Prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’
Now Therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the Twenty-Sixth Day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.”
May God continue to bless the United States of America!
“For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.” – Romans 11:36
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thankful for... Technology
Today I am thankful for technology. I know it seems like a trivial thing, but really – how did people ever get along without e-mail? What did we do before cell phones? And, how did we ever stay connected without facebook and twitter? Technology has enhanced our lives in so many ways.
I often think of the early missionaries. When they were preparing for their journey to the other side of the earth, they would sometimes pack their belongings in a coffin because they knew that they would never be coming back. They would endure long, miserable months in a tiny ship sailing across the ocean. And, when they arrived, their only means of communication with their friends and family was to write letters which took months to make it back home. Contrast that to modern day missionaries. My husband travelled to Africa this fall. He hopped on an airplane and arrived the next day. And, while it was a long flight by our standards, the travel time could be measured in hours. While he was there, he was able to text me pretty regularly, post blogs about his trip, and upload pictures to facebook for all of his friends to see.
The world is becoming smaller every day, and the opportunities that we have available to us are endless. Technology enables us to stay connected, but it also provides the tools that are needed to generally improve our quality of life in so many areas.
When I think of the evolution of technology just in my lifetime, I’m amazed. I wonder what incredible things my children will see in theirs…
"Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name." - Psalm 18:49
I often think of the early missionaries. When they were preparing for their journey to the other side of the earth, they would sometimes pack their belongings in a coffin because they knew that they would never be coming back. They would endure long, miserable months in a tiny ship sailing across the ocean. And, when they arrived, their only means of communication with their friends and family was to write letters which took months to make it back home. Contrast that to modern day missionaries. My husband travelled to Africa this fall. He hopped on an airplane and arrived the next day. And, while it was a long flight by our standards, the travel time could be measured in hours. While he was there, he was able to text me pretty regularly, post blogs about his trip, and upload pictures to facebook for all of his friends to see.
The world is becoming smaller every day, and the opportunities that we have available to us are endless. Technology enables us to stay connected, but it also provides the tools that are needed to generally improve our quality of life in so many areas.
When I think of the evolution of technology just in my lifetime, I’m amazed. I wonder what incredible things my children will see in theirs…
"Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name." - Psalm 18:49
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thankful for... Provision
Today, I am thankful for provision for all of my physical needs. I think in this case, the old saying “you never know what you have until it’s gone” really applies. While you shouldn’t have to compare yourself to others in order to be thankful for what you have, in this case it can help to put things into perspective. Let me explain.
My husband has been called to take the gospel to remote parts of the world, and at one point he had thought that he would need to go it alone without a wife and family to tie him down. So, when he met me, he decided to put me through a missionary bootcamp of sorts to make sure that I could cut it outside of North America - since I’m such a delicate southern girl. However, he forgot about the whole Steel Magnolias phenomenon and was very pleased when I passed his test with flying colors. I laugh about it now, but I really did learn some very valuable life lessons during that time.
I learned that I take it for granted that the lights will come on when I flip the switch. I learned that I never have to think twice about whether I’ll have enough clean water to drink or enough warm water for a shower. I learned that air conditioning is one of God’s greatest blessings – especially when it’s 100+ degrees and 99% humidity! I learned that a readily available Western-style toilet is one of life’s greatest luxuries. Many of these things are just part of an assumed baseline standard of living here in the US. However, there are millions of people around the world who don’t have clean water to drink or enough food to eat or even a clean, dry place to sleep at night. After experiencing some of those conditions myself, I became acutely aware of how abundantly blessed I am.
So, today, I am thankful for my house and my car. I’m thankful that I have plenty of food to eat and plenty of clean water to drink. I’m thankful for my job. I’m thankful for all of the little luxuries that I enjoy every day – television, radio, all manner of technology,... I’m thankful for heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. I’m thankful that I can take a hot shower any time I want to – day or night! I am thankful that I have clothes to wear. And, I am thankful that even in tough economic times, I’ve always had enough for me and for my family.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Philippians 4:19-20
My husband has been called to take the gospel to remote parts of the world, and at one point he had thought that he would need to go it alone without a wife and family to tie him down. So, when he met me, he decided to put me through a missionary bootcamp of sorts to make sure that I could cut it outside of North America - since I’m such a delicate southern girl. However, he forgot about the whole Steel Magnolias phenomenon and was very pleased when I passed his test with flying colors. I laugh about it now, but I really did learn some very valuable life lessons during that time.
I learned that I take it for granted that the lights will come on when I flip the switch. I learned that I never have to think twice about whether I’ll have enough clean water to drink or enough warm water for a shower. I learned that air conditioning is one of God’s greatest blessings – especially when it’s 100+ degrees and 99% humidity! I learned that a readily available Western-style toilet is one of life’s greatest luxuries. Many of these things are just part of an assumed baseline standard of living here in the US. However, there are millions of people around the world who don’t have clean water to drink or enough food to eat or even a clean, dry place to sleep at night. After experiencing some of those conditions myself, I became acutely aware of how abundantly blessed I am.
So, today, I am thankful for my house and my car. I’m thankful that I have plenty of food to eat and plenty of clean water to drink. I’m thankful for my job. I’m thankful for all of the little luxuries that I enjoy every day – television, radio, all manner of technology,... I’m thankful for heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. I’m thankful that I can take a hot shower any time I want to – day or night! I am thankful that I have clothes to wear. And, I am thankful that even in tough economic times, I’ve always had enough for me and for my family.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – Philippians 4:19-20
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thankful for... People
Wow! Now that I’ve decided to write these “gratitude blog” posts, I’ve got so many things to be thankful for that I don’t know where to start! So, I think that I’ll start with people. I’m so thankful for the many wonderful people that God has placed in my life. Here’s a list that includes many - but certainly not all – of the people who are a blessing in my life:
My wonderful husband – I don’t know how I ever got along without him! He has given me encouragement to try new things and to stretch myself in ways that I never thought I could. And, he has given me grace when I have failed. I love him with all of my heart, and I know that he loves me the same. Our wedding ceremony included the following words, and I can truly say that my husband has continued to live up to this charge:
It is your duty to be to Tonya a considerate, tender, faithful, loving husband; to support, guide, and cherish her in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place she holds in your life; to constantly show her the tokens of your love; to shelter her from danger; and to cherish for her a manly and unalterable affection. It being the command of God's Word, that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His own life for her.
My precious children – I’m not sure if I ever really understood unconditional love until I had children of my own. My children bring so much joy to my life – even though there are days when I wonder if aliens from outer space have invaded their bodies :-) My children love me even when I’m a grumpy mommy, and that’s not an easy thing to do. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to love them and care for them and train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
My faithful friends – Proverbs 27:17 (The Message) says “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” God has placed so many good friends in my life – friends who have celebrated with me in the good times and mourned with me in the bad times – friends who are closer than family in some cases. I’m so glad that God hasn’t called us to live this Christian life alone. Instead, he has placed us in community so that we can “do life together.” That’s so much better than being a lone ranger!
My esteemed mentors – Where would I be without those people who have invested so much time and energy into my life? I’ve had mentors at many different stages and in many different aspects of my life, and they have all played a huge part in encouraging and guiding me to become the person that I am today.
The cool thing about God is that he has chosen to use people to accomplish his will on the earth. He didn’t leave Jesus here to do it all Himself. Instead, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower US to do His work. In John 14:12-14, just before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
I’m so very thankful that there are people who have chosen to be “Jesus with skin on” in my life, and I pray that somewhere along the way, I’ve been able to be the same thing for them.
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16.
My wonderful husband – I don’t know how I ever got along without him! He has given me encouragement to try new things and to stretch myself in ways that I never thought I could. And, he has given me grace when I have failed. I love him with all of my heart, and I know that he loves me the same. Our wedding ceremony included the following words, and I can truly say that my husband has continued to live up to this charge:
It is your duty to be to Tonya a considerate, tender, faithful, loving husband; to support, guide, and cherish her in prosperity and trouble; to thoughtfully and carefully enlarge the place she holds in your life; to constantly show her the tokens of your love; to shelter her from danger; and to cherish for her a manly and unalterable affection. It being the command of God's Word, that husbands love their wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave His own life for her.
My precious children – I’m not sure if I ever really understood unconditional love until I had children of my own. My children bring so much joy to my life – even though there are days when I wonder if aliens from outer space have invaded their bodies :-) My children love me even when I’m a grumpy mommy, and that’s not an easy thing to do. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to love them and care for them and train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
My faithful friends – Proverbs 27:17 (The Message) says “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” God has placed so many good friends in my life – friends who have celebrated with me in the good times and mourned with me in the bad times – friends who are closer than family in some cases. I’m so glad that God hasn’t called us to live this Christian life alone. Instead, he has placed us in community so that we can “do life together.” That’s so much better than being a lone ranger!
My esteemed mentors – Where would I be without those people who have invested so much time and energy into my life? I’ve had mentors at many different stages and in many different aspects of my life, and they have all played a huge part in encouraging and guiding me to become the person that I am today.
The cool thing about God is that he has chosen to use people to accomplish his will on the earth. He didn’t leave Jesus here to do it all Himself. Instead, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower US to do His work. In John 14:12-14, just before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
I’m so very thankful that there are people who have chosen to be “Jesus with skin on” in my life, and I pray that somewhere along the way, I’ve been able to be the same thing for them.
“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:15-16.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Fortune Cookies and Oprah
As a general rule, I don’t let fortune cookies or Oprah Winfrey have too much influence on my actions. However, today, those two forces have conspired together to inspire a series of blog posts that I want to write this week.
First, the fortune cookie… We had lunch today at a Chinese restaurant, and when I opened my fortune cookie at the end of the meal, I found the following bit of wisdom: “Do you see difficulty behind every opportunity, or opportunity behind every difficulty?” Hmmmm… I had to think about that one, and I’ll confess that I didn’t really like my answer. I’m not always the most optimistic person, but lately, it seems like I’ve been more negative / complaining / whiney than usual – and I’m not proud of that.
As I pondered those thoughts, my mind turned to the Thanksgiving holiday that’s coming up this week, and I wondered whether infusing my life with a little more thankfulness might help to combat some of that negativity. Enter Oprah Winfrey… A few years ago, Oprah promoted the concept of a gratitude journal where you spend some time each day writing down things for which you are thankful. I actually thought that was pretty good advice at the time although I never implemented the practice myself. So, this week, I decided to use my blog as a gratitude journal to help me focus on the many blessings in my life.
I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to become overly focused on the hard or frustrating or negative things in my life. Dealing with those things takes a lot of emotional energy, so it’s natural for your focus to be drawn in that direction. But, I’m learning that if I’m not careful, those things can drain me dry. And, the fact of the matter is, I actually have it pretty good right now. There are definitely areas in my life where I’m struggling, but laus deo (Praise be to God!) – the good in my life far outweighs the bad. And, I know that God is in control and has a plan for everything to work together for my good, even if it’s not clear right now.
So, I’m going to take some time this week to pause and count my blessings. And, I’m going to write them down as a memorial - to let the world know how good God has been to me and to serve as a reminder for me one day in the future when things aren’t going so well.
I challenge you to do the same.
“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.” Philippians 4:6-7
First, the fortune cookie… We had lunch today at a Chinese restaurant, and when I opened my fortune cookie at the end of the meal, I found the following bit of wisdom: “Do you see difficulty behind every opportunity, or opportunity behind every difficulty?” Hmmmm… I had to think about that one, and I’ll confess that I didn’t really like my answer. I’m not always the most optimistic person, but lately, it seems like I’ve been more negative / complaining / whiney than usual – and I’m not proud of that.
As I pondered those thoughts, my mind turned to the Thanksgiving holiday that’s coming up this week, and I wondered whether infusing my life with a little more thankfulness might help to combat some of that negativity. Enter Oprah Winfrey… A few years ago, Oprah promoted the concept of a gratitude journal where you spend some time each day writing down things for which you are thankful. I actually thought that was pretty good advice at the time although I never implemented the practice myself. So, this week, I decided to use my blog as a gratitude journal to help me focus on the many blessings in my life.
I don’t know about you, but it’s easy for me to become overly focused on the hard or frustrating or negative things in my life. Dealing with those things takes a lot of emotional energy, so it’s natural for your focus to be drawn in that direction. But, I’m learning that if I’m not careful, those things can drain me dry. And, the fact of the matter is, I actually have it pretty good right now. There are definitely areas in my life where I’m struggling, but laus deo (Praise be to God!) – the good in my life far outweighs the bad. And, I know that God is in control and has a plan for everything to work together for my good, even if it’s not clear right now.
So, I’m going to take some time this week to pause and count my blessings. And, I’m going to write them down as a memorial - to let the world know how good God has been to me and to serve as a reminder for me one day in the future when things aren’t going so well.
I challenge you to do the same.
“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.” Philippians 4:6-7
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
More questions than answers...
In keeping with the title of my blog, most of my posts have centered around little pieces of wisdom or tidbits of knowledge that I have gleaned from the things that I’m experiencing in my life. I’m going to change it up today and ask some questions around a topic that I am struggling to understand right now. If any of you are out there reading, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
My question hinges on the relationship between four different aspects of my life: vocation, calling, spiritual gifts, and natural abilities. I have a pretty good understanding of where I am with respect to each of those items individually. However, what I’m trying to understand is how – or if – those things should influence each other.
I always hear people say “You should be doing what you’re passionate about!” But, what if your passion doesn’t translate into dollars? Is there still a way to incorporate your passion into your vocation? What about spiritual gifts? Will you derive more satisfaction from your job if you’re doing something that leverages your spiritual gifts in some way? And, if you’re not in full-time ministry, how does your calling fit into all of this?
I, for one, don’t believe that natural gifts, spiritual gifts, calling, and vocation are mutually exclusive. I believe that they’re all an integral part of who or what God made us to be, and therefore, they can’t be considered in isolation.
For example, I’m in a vocation that seems to leverage quite a few of my natural abilities, and as a result, I’ve been fairly successful. However, I don’t find my job fulfilling. At least for the near term, I don’t see my vocation merging too closely with my calling. But, I do see the potential for incorporating more of my spiritual gifts into my vocation (teaching, for example).
I spend 40+ hours of my week pursuing my vocation, and I’d like to derive more satisfaction – more joy – more gratification, from my job. After all, that’s a big chunk of time to devote to something each week. I’m becoming more and more convinced that finding a vocation that incorporates some aspect of my spiritual gifts, working in tandem with my natural gifts, and in some way enabling me to devote more time to pursuing my calling, is where I need to be.
Any thoughts out there on how to achieve this goal?
My question hinges on the relationship between four different aspects of my life: vocation, calling, spiritual gifts, and natural abilities. I have a pretty good understanding of where I am with respect to each of those items individually. However, what I’m trying to understand is how – or if – those things should influence each other.
I always hear people say “You should be doing what you’re passionate about!” But, what if your passion doesn’t translate into dollars? Is there still a way to incorporate your passion into your vocation? What about spiritual gifts? Will you derive more satisfaction from your job if you’re doing something that leverages your spiritual gifts in some way? And, if you’re not in full-time ministry, how does your calling fit into all of this?
I, for one, don’t believe that natural gifts, spiritual gifts, calling, and vocation are mutually exclusive. I believe that they’re all an integral part of who or what God made us to be, and therefore, they can’t be considered in isolation.
For example, I’m in a vocation that seems to leverage quite a few of my natural abilities, and as a result, I’ve been fairly successful. However, I don’t find my job fulfilling. At least for the near term, I don’t see my vocation merging too closely with my calling. But, I do see the potential for incorporating more of my spiritual gifts into my vocation (teaching, for example).
I spend 40+ hours of my week pursuing my vocation, and I’d like to derive more satisfaction – more joy – more gratification, from my job. After all, that’s a big chunk of time to devote to something each week. I’m becoming more and more convinced that finding a vocation that incorporates some aspect of my spiritual gifts, working in tandem with my natural gifts, and in some way enabling me to devote more time to pursuing my calling, is where I need to be.
Any thoughts out there on how to achieve this goal?
Friday, November 12, 2010
Do Not Touch!
When I was boarding a plane yesterday, I noticed a round piece of metal attached to the jet bridge with big red letters that said “Danger! Do Not Touch!” At that moment, I was overwhelmed with the desire to reach out and touch that metal circle. I had to mentally slap myself on the hand to keep from doing it. I was thinking, “How could that little round piece of metal be dangerous? I mean, really, what would happen if I just touched it a little bit – really quickly? How bad could it be?”
I had a lot of other thoughts go through my mind after that – like “What in the world is wrong with me? Why I am I obsessing about that little metal circle?” And, then I thought – “Wow – I bet there’s a blog topic here somewhere!”
I think it’s easy for us to understand the desire to reach out and touch something that’s attractive in some way - like a beautiful Christmas ornament or a piece of crystal. Inherently, we know that there’s some risk there, but the beauty of the object is enough to make us momentarily forget about the risk. But, in this case, the risk – the danger – was literally written all over the object. And, yet, I still had to hold myself back from touching it.
What compels us to do crazy things – things that are obviously bad or harmful in some way? Why do we forge ahead when there are flashing lights all around us screaming “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” It’s the paradox of human nature, and it’s been plaguing us since the beginning of time.
Paul put it this way:
“What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? “
Romans 7:14-24 (The Message)
If we stop right there, things look pretty hopeless. How in the world can we ever live up to God’s standards? I mean, it sounds like Paul couldn’t even do it! How can we be “good enough” when there’s this constant battle raging in us and around us?
Never fear! That’s not the end of the story. Just keep on reading Paul’s letter, and you’ll find the following:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
And that, my friend, is some very good news!
I had a lot of other thoughts go through my mind after that – like “What in the world is wrong with me? Why I am I obsessing about that little metal circle?” And, then I thought – “Wow – I bet there’s a blog topic here somewhere!”
I think it’s easy for us to understand the desire to reach out and touch something that’s attractive in some way - like a beautiful Christmas ornament or a piece of crystal. Inherently, we know that there’s some risk there, but the beauty of the object is enough to make us momentarily forget about the risk. But, in this case, the risk – the danger – was literally written all over the object. And, yet, I still had to hold myself back from touching it.
What compels us to do crazy things – things that are obviously bad or harmful in some way? Why do we forge ahead when there are flashing lights all around us screaming “Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!” It’s the paradox of human nature, and it’s been plaguing us since the beginning of time.
Paul put it this way:
“What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.
But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? “
Romans 7:14-24 (The Message)
If we stop right there, things look pretty hopeless. How in the world can we ever live up to God’s standards? I mean, it sounds like Paul couldn’t even do it! How can we be “good enough” when there’s this constant battle raging in us and around us?
Never fear! That’s not the end of the story. Just keep on reading Paul’s letter, and you’ll find the following:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
And that, my friend, is some very good news!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Worship Wednesday - JOY!
When I was in high school, one of my youth leaders did a simple teaching that has stayed with me for lo these many years. He was teaching about joy, and he suggested that, in order to find true joy, we should think of the word as an acronym:
J - Jesus first
O - Others second
Y - Yourself last
If you keep that perspective, you'll find joy. But, if you get it backwards, then all you have is YOJ, and who wants that?!?
I don't know about you, but I occasionally go through times in my life where I have a little too much YOJ and not enough JOY. That usually means that my spiritual gas tank is getting low and needs to be filled up - which in turn means that I need to spend a little more time in worship, focusing on Jesus, and a little less time feeling sorry for myself and thinking about my problems.
Psalm 100 reminds us of the goodness of God and encourages us to enter into worship with joy. May the words of this Psalm help to refill your joy tank today!
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
J - Jesus first
O - Others second
Y - Yourself last
If you keep that perspective, you'll find joy. But, if you get it backwards, then all you have is YOJ, and who wants that?!?
I don't know about you, but I occasionally go through times in my life where I have a little too much YOJ and not enough JOY. That usually means that my spiritual gas tank is getting low and needs to be filled up - which in turn means that I need to spend a little more time in worship, focusing on Jesus, and a little less time feeling sorry for myself and thinking about my problems.
Psalm 100 reminds us of the goodness of God and encourages us to enter into worship with joy. May the words of this Psalm help to refill your joy tank today!
"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations."
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Worship Wednesday
I love concerts - always have. I remember going to concerts when I was in my late teens and early twenties, looking around the stadium, and wondering why the "old people" were at the concert. Well, last week, I went to see Chris Tomlin in concert at the State Fair, and when I looked around the stadium, I realized that I was now one of the "old people" at the concert :-) We actually went with a big group of folks who were all around our age. We filled up a whole row with "old people." And, we had a blast!
If you haven't had the opportunity to see Tomlin in concert, you should go if you get the chance. Not only is he a great musician - he's also a great worship leader. He drew the audience in and had us all participating. And, he shared some great thoughts around why and how we worship.
This Tomlin song is one of my new favorites. It was great to sing the words along with the others at the concert as a declaration that we would follow Jesus wherever He leads. I don't know if it will work its way into the worship sets at my church, but it has certainly gained a place on my personal playlist. Enjoy!
If you haven't had the opportunity to see Tomlin in concert, you should go if you get the chance. Not only is he a great musician - he's also a great worship leader. He drew the audience in and had us all participating. And, he shared some great thoughts around why and how we worship.
This Tomlin song is one of my new favorites. It was great to sing the words along with the others at the concert as a declaration that we would follow Jesus wherever He leads. I don't know if it will work its way into the worship sets at my church, but it has certainly gained a place on my personal playlist. Enjoy!
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