December 10, 2013

Rushing the Sunrise, Post #6

I hurry. The world hurries, especially this time of the year.  Do we want to wait on anything anymore? We instant message, sod grass, FedEx packages and can hardly wait for our computers to boot up.

I used to hate to wait. Waiting, though, is part of life; it’s Biblical. I read one statistic that the average person reluctantly waits more than three years of life before turning 70 years old. What are we doing during that time?

No matter what stage of life we are in, we are waiting on some dream, someone, some thing, or some day.  It seems as if so much of my life has been waiting–on seasons to change; waiting on dreams; waiting on true, Godly love and marriage; gulp….even waiting for my wedding night before having sex (which certainly ain’t easy)!

For 12 years, it has been on my heart to write a book on waiting since I struggle with it so much. Perhaps by writing about it, we can discover together how to optimize it more and find true contentment.

Within the  rough draft pages of my first book lie authentic stories on wading through my impatience; ideas on purity and other revelations; and hilarious, sometimes painful, mistakes I’ve made. Each chapter right now ends with  “heavy wait” reflective questions, and “Light” wait answers of scripture as we seek and wait inwardly, outwardly, and upwardly.  Let’s not rush the sunrise. Savor every moment. I know it will be worth the wait.

I need your help in crafting the book’s hottest content and its impact. Please forward this Post to as many friends as possible to comment on this blog post. By answering any or all of the following questions as a blog comment, I will give away two $25 Target Gift Cards this week to two random people who comment by Monday, December 16th. Your comments may also be included in the book when it gets published.

Reflect:

1)      What are you waiting for?

2)      How do you deal with waiting?

3)      Why does waiting bother you?

4)      What has been worth the wait?

5)      How have you/your faith grown from waiting?

6)      Do you tend to rush the sunrise?

7)     Any other advice or thoughts about waiting?

Renew:

  • “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” –Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV 1984)
  • “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” –Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)

Recharge:

  • In the Advent season, how will you savor the moments more as we wait for Christmas?
December 3, 2013

What Do You Want For Your Birthday? Post #5

December is a month for some significant birthdays in my life. My precious Mom’s birthday is December 6th, and we are throwing her a party this weekend. Two dear high school friends’ birthdays are December 2nd and 13th.  I just attended a sweet friend’s surprise 65th birthday party yesterday. The birthday of one of my Godly mentors is December 26th.

Oftentimes, I ask those I really love a simple question before their birthday: “What do you want for your birthday?” If you are like me, I just want to ensure I honor my loved one in the most meaningful way. Isn’t that what we want for our birthdays…to  know we are loved and cherished?

The most significant person in my life, really in this world, celebrates His birth each December 25th. Isn’t it wonderful that we all adorn our homes in Christ-mas finery and decorate the inside and outside with bright lights in honor of His birthday?  We bake treats, buy gifts and send cards to our most significant loved ones , friends, and coworkers (and even strangers), and go above and beyond to volunteer and do “random acts of kindness” this time a year. Why? Perhaps it truly is all part of His birthday celebration, honoring the Light Of  The World.

However you may feel about Him, one fact is irrefutable. History sets its time stamp of demarcation with Jesus’ birth—BC, “Before Christ”, and AD, “Anno Domini,” Latin for “In the Year of Our Lord.”   Even the Old Testament prophesied Jesus’ birth (especially in the book of Isaiah) at least 700 years before He was born! Isn’t it fitting that we give Him our best as we celebrate His birthday?

When I was growing up, we baked a birthday cake for Christmas Day and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. I will always remember those sweet memories. Let’s create more fun, meaningful birthday memories for the King of Kings.

So, on this December 3, 2013 AD, in the year of our Lord, 22 days before His birthday, I  encourage you to ask Him a simple question:  “Lord, What Do You Want For Your Birthday?”

Then listen…

I can almost hear His still, small voice, can’t you?

“Your Heart, Dear One. That’s all I want. Your Heart.”

Reflect:

  • How will this Christmas birthday celebration be different from years past?
  • How can we listen and act more intentionally after asking the question, “Lord, what do You want for your birthday?”

Renew:

  • “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” –Colossians 3:23
  • “I am sending Him—who is my very heart—back to you.” –Philemon 1:12.
  • “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the Truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply from the heart.” –1 Peter 1: 22

Recharge:

  • After asking, seeking, and listening, what intentional actions in your life have you been prompted to take?
  • Consider baking a birthday cake on Christmas Day and singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus. Let’s party!  
  • Please leave a comment of what is on your heart.

Resource:

November 26, 2013

A Tale of Two Seas: A Thanks-Living Challenge, Post #4

I love Thanksgiving. I am so proud of our great country, of President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, during the Civil War, who set aside the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday, proclaiming “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

How will you and your family spend this Thanksgiving holiday?

We are blessed with so much, yet we want so much more. We take and take some more. So often, our hearts are wired for discontentment.   To illustrate the point, this tale of two seas comes to mind.

Do you remember learning about The Dead Sea in school or church? The Dead Sea is really a lake, not a sea. It is so high in salt content that a human body can float easily. Supposedly, a person can almost lie down and read a book!  The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35 percent—almost 10 times normal ocean water salt content.

All that saltiness means there is no life at all in the Dead Sea. No fish. No sea animals. No vegetation. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. This sea, though, is teeming with rich, colorful marine life, plants, and fish. More than 20 types of fish live in the Sea of Galilee.

Guess what the source of water is for both seas? Both the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee receive their water from the River Jordan. How can that be?

The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee, then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee, keeping the Sea vibrant and healthy, chock full of marine life.

The Dead Sea, though, is so far below sea level, the water has no outlet. It flows in from the River Jordan, but does not flow out. Figures estimate that more than seven million tons of water evaporate from the Dead Sea daily, leaving it too salty and full of minerals for any marine life to survive.

This “Tale of Two Seas” offers a valuable life lesson on giving and giving thanks. On letting the Living Waters flow through us, not hoard  the life, blessings, gifts and talents we have been freely given.

I challenge you to turn this Thanksgiving into Thanks-living. Not just one day of the year, but every day.

I challenge you not to shop on Thanksgiving or even Black Friday. Marinate in the blessings of what we already have instead of buying more and more and more. Let Christmas shopping wait. Savor the laughter and making memories with your family and friends this weekend. These are gifts unable to be bought.

I challenge you to curb the television watching or even turn it off (sorry, football fans)! Listen to each other, to the music of the loved ones’ voices. Dance. Make your music.

You are the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful body flowing with life, Living Water. Let it flow.

Happy Thanks-Living, dear friend.

Reflect:

  • How will you transform Thanksgiving into Thanks-Living?
  • For what, for whom are you thankful?

Renew:

  • “Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth.” –Psalm 98:7-9.
  • “Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” –Psalm 100:4.
  • “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him.’” –John 7:37-38.

Recharge:  

  • Please start a Gratitude Journal this week and  list at least three blessings daily. It could be a warm house, your health, laughter, cozy coats and boots. Keep going. You can do it.
  • Please let me know of some of your many blessings.

Resources:

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