Enjoying the View

With the long holiday weekend, we decided to go yesterday to Table Rock again and hike the trails. Luis has been itching to get back up there, and the kids couldn't have been more pleased. We decided to take a relatively easy trail, being our first time going and having Lily with us. I can't think if anything worse that being halfway up a mountain, miles from your destination, with an almost 2 year old who has reached her limit. So we opted for Carrick Creek trail, a modest 1.9 miles (The first half of it was completely uphill...I almost died!). I managed to convince Jonathan that all we needed was my one backpack, but I had to bargain with him and take his pencil and notebook, along with our water. When I found out that the pencil and notebook were for him to write down all the neat things he saw, I realized we had a problem. Jonathan is five (turns six in five days). He just finished Kindergarten. He loves to write words...but it takes him a long time to write them, while I have to spell every word out for him. Can you imagine being on a hike and having to stop every time he wanted to write something? M-U-S-H-R-O-O-M...A-M-P-H-I-B-I-A-N....I think you see my point. So, instead of squelching his idea altogether, I decided to make him our camera man. That way, he could take pictures of whatever caught his eye, yet keep walking. Well, I must have had over a hundred pictures from that hike alone. He took shots of leaves and stones, feathers and mushrooms. Anything he thought was interesting. Anything and everything because he's five...and to a five year old, everything is interesting and new.

"For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me." Matthew 18:2-5

Why is it when we become adults, we lose that childlike simplicity? Why do we complicate everything? If it weren't for Jonathan, I would have missed so many interesting things along the trail. Even Luis got in on it and spotted a rabbit and a fabulous huge feather that was camouflaged in a stream. Little things...things that would have been so easy to walk right by...but aren't those little things what make life so beautiful? Lily's hugs. Nani's phone calls. Ladybugs. Saturday morning pancakes. Soccer training with Dad in the back yard. Piggy back rides. Friday night movie night. Family. Love. I have to admit, I stress out a wee bit about lots of things...and don't get me wrong, I know there's a time and place for everything. I guess I just needed a reminder that it's OK to relax, laugh, and just let things roll. It was really nice to enjoy the view from 4 feet off the ground. Thanks for the reminder, my sweet Jonathan.

Super Power

A couple months back, we signed up for Netflix. We can watch movies and TV programs on demand through a wireless Internet connection through our Wii console. (Isn't technology amazing!?!) A few weeks ago, I found the complete set of one of my favorite TV shows from my childhood: Lois and Clark. I have always loved the Superman movies, as far fetched as they may be. Today, after coming home from church, we watched 4 episodes...a regular Lois and Clark marathon! If you are up on your Superman trivia, you know that he came from the planet Krypton, and has powers that humans could only dream of. In a particular episode today, Superman was fighting villains from his home planet, who had the same power he did. At one point, the military of earth decided to try to defend against these villains, and it was a sad display of weakness compared to the superhuman forces of those from planet Krypton. Believe it or not, even in the middle of watching this silly series, I had a revelation. I said to Luis that the way the military of earth tried to fight the villains of Krypton is the same way mankind tries to fight the real forces of evil that exist in today's world. I respect our military and all they try to do for peace, but the ideals they are fighting against are unseen evil that has been around through the ages. Why do we try to fight evil with our man made weapons? Many don't even know there are other weapons at every humans' disposal. Many people have lived their life, without even giving God a first thought, much less a second one. Imagine what kind of world this would be if we laid down our man-made weapons and picked up the spiritual ones that were created for us to use? Weapons like praise and prayer, worship and the Word.  Imagine how much power goes wasted because we try to do things in our own strength. How much energy we exert trying to accomplish something that could have been solved so much more efficiently and effectively if we let God work through us to solve them His way. "How very simplistic", you might be thinking...but the more that I learn of God through his Word, the more I realize that we, many times, are completely missing the whole point of what our purpose of this life is. I'll be the first to say that I get it wrong...ALOT. The Bible says that "though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds" 2Cor. 10:3-4(Amp). So very clearly, God is letting us know there are more effective weapons than the earthly, man-made might that we have become accustomed to.

How, then, do we make the transition from physical weapons to spiritual ones? Obedience. First, by surrendering our life and our will to the Lord Jesus Christ. Accepting him as the supreme authority of our life, and acknowledging that it is through Him we "live, and move, and have our being". (Acts 17:28). That is a vital first step, one that can't be skipped or minimized. But we must realize that it is just the first step...the beginning of a larger process. Many people stop here. They realize that their destiny for eternity is secured, but they never move forward to the next step, and consequently live a life of little power, small vision, and battles with little or no defense.

After making that first move toward God, we must recognize that we have been conformed by everything that is around us. We are people who are consumed with our physical senses and, in effect, we have come to always rely on them. 2 Cor. 4:18 says, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." To put it simply, the things that we see with our physical eyes (our senses) are here for a moment and will be gone, but the things that we do not see (that are spiritual) will last forever. Our human nature usually seeks logic, and the path of least resistance. So more often than not, what we see all around us with our physical sight gets our full attention and in essence, distracts us from the spiritual things that are of eternal importance. So how do we make the shift? How do we do away with our conformity of the physical world? We need to do 2 things. We need to change the way we think by learning through God's word (The Bible) how He sees us. (Romans 12:2 says. "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.") and we need to ready ourselves for spiritual battle. (Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.)

Lastly, we need to walk with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus came, His mission was to redeem mankind from the eternal separation which resulted from sin. But Jesus himself says that He was the door through which the Holy Spirit would come to us. (John 6:7). The only thing that is able to empower us is living life full of the Spirit of God. We are reminded in Galatians 5:16-17 to "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." This last part is probably the most difficult for those not following God to understand. It is so contrary to what we have been trained to do in every day life. Many people think of this step as something mythical...a scene right out of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings...but why do you think these books and movies have become so wildly popular in today's secular world? It is because they contain an element of truth...the portrayal of the spiritual realm that is foreign to those who have not chosen to connect with their Maker.

If we could just wrap our brain around the amount of power lies on the inside of us, even those of us who already believe and walk closely with God would be even more amazed than we already are at how God can make the seemingly impossible, possible. I am convinced that we were created for such a far greater purpose than most people ever realize. Like Superman, we have been given the gift of "super power" though the Holy Spirit to fight against evil that exists in the spiritual realm. Imagine what could be accomplished if more of us lived up to the full potential that God has placed within each one of us.

Be Still

When everything rages around us

When we want to fight

And attack

And defend

When it looks hopeless

And all seems lost

He calls us, at times, to do the illogical.

He tells us to

BE STILL.

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day. 

Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 

The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Come and see what the LORD has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields with fire. 

He says,

“Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

The LORD Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

It's my potty and I'll cry if I want to....

I was in Walmart tonight with Jonathan, and we were in the baby section. Of course, diapers and wipes were on the list...they are ALWAYS on the list. It's hard to believe that my little Lily is almost 2. I walked past the potty aisle, and decided it was time. I found the cutest little green frog potty, and from the looks of the happy girl in the picture, it's the best potty in the whole world! When I got home, I made a huge deal about the potty. I told Lily how it was "the special potty just for her". I placed it on the wall opposite the "big potty". I sat down in the bathroom, and Lily crawled up in my lap. She just stared at those big froggy eyes while they stared right back at her. By this time, Jonathan wandered in to join the potty party. Of course, Jonathan asked if he could try out the potty. He looked at my expression, and realized that this was not a community frog. So, since he couldn't use the potty, and it was obvious to all of us that Lily had no interest in it whatsoever, Jonathan decided to make the frog talk. Then he got a brilliant idea to make the frog growl and leap toward his little sister. Lily climbed up me like a tree. Great. Good thing I picked up a giant sized box of Huggies tonight, too.

 

 

This potty is for the birds....

In the Light.

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

Ephesians 5:13

I read this scripture today. It made me think about my own life. There was a time, when I was in NY that I lived a double life in the fact that I preached one thing with my lips, and lived another way entirely. Growing up in a Christian home, is a blessing. I am thankful for all the times I was "encouraged" by my parents to attend when I was a teenager, even though I had no desire to be there. In reality, I was in darkness. I was in hiding. I had a remarkable reputation for being such a "good girl", but in reality, I was far from it. It's really hard to live a double life, because the whole time, deep down inside, you know who you truly are on the inside, where no one can see but you and God.

Then I remember when God's light flooded my life. At first, it was overwhelming to look at my sin in the brightness of that perfect light. Somehow it didn't seem so bad in the darkness, where it was hidden from view...where no one knew about it but me. Now exposed, not for all the world to see, but for me, myself, to see just how far I had wandered from what was right, and pure, and good. Repentance is a powerful thing, and God has a way of gently exposing the darkness with His light, so we can then, in turn learn to live in that marvelous light. I remember the tears that freed me. I remember the rest I felt as the burden was lifted off. I remember the friends that prayed to break soul ties from my life.

I could have chosen to let it end there, knowing I was free, and saved my perfect reputation...but is that what God has intended? According to this verse, whatever he illuminates then becomes a light. Did God allow the pain and suffering of my choices so that I could one day be free, and keep it a secret? Once his light became my own, He sent me out, like a beacon, to guide others to the same freedom. I learned that in order for God to use me, I had to be transparent, because what good is a light that is shut up so tight that no one can even see it? I have had incredible opportunities to use my experiences to encourage and even divert people who were on the same path I was. Yes, at first it was humbling to admit what I had done, but the Bible promises that when we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up. I am not proud of some of the choices I made when I was younger, but I am thankful that God can take what was broken and make it new.

In that same Spirit of freedom that was extended to me, I make the choice tonight to lay down my weapons that I have held on so tightly to defend myself and those close to me from more recent issues. I realize that the Lord is my greatest defense, and He is the one who illuminates the truth, in His timing. I pray this prayer over myself, the ones who tried to defend me, and those I have been at odds with for years, and proclaim this is the year of rebuilding of the ancient ruins.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins

and restore the places long devastated;

they will renew the ruined cities

that have been devastated for generations.

Strangers will shepherd your flocks;

foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

And you will be called priests of the LORD,

you will be named ministers of our God.

You will feed on the wealth of nations,

and in their riches you will boast.

Instead of your shame

you will receive a double portion,

and instead of disgrace

you will rejoice in your inheritance.

And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,

and everlasting joy will be yours.