Remembering...

Yesterday would have been my Granny Agnew's 87th birthday.  She was one of those people that if you knew her, you instantly loved her.  She was filled with mercy and grace, and had the best sense of humor and an infectious giggle.  When I was with her, I felt like I was the center of the universe--and to her...I probably was because when I was around, everything seemed to stop so she could spend time with me.

Mildred Agnew was a woman of strong faith and love.  She loved her family and her God with all of her heart.  That love spilled out to everyone who knew her.  As a child, I remember sitting in the living room, and her reading bible stories to me...David and Goliath, Jonah and the Whale, and Sampson and Delilah.  We would sing songs, and have the best times together.

Granny Agnew loved to walk.  She would take me with her on her walks around the neighborhood.  At the age of 64, she would walk about 5 miles a day, up hills on a little country road on the edge of town.  As a child, I remember going on those walks and talking about how pretty everything was.  We had some of our best talks on those walks.

When I got old enough to like Barbie dolls, we would sit in the floor, and I would pour all of the clothes out on the floor, and we would dress those dolls up and play.  Somehow she always did what I wanted, and while some may consider that being spoiled (which with her, I probably was), it made the time that we had together special.  Because of that, I knew that I was loved.

We had a special friendship, one that I don't necessarily see with kids growing up today.  You see, my granny was a friend, but looking back, I can see that she was a big mentor in my life.  A lot of the time that she poured into me was fun, but it was also having a hand in shaping the woman that I would become.  As a child, she read to me constantly, and when I learned to read, we would read together.  I think that gave me my love for books and learning.

She used object lessons about whatever was happening that moment to teach me about life--although I probably did not realize it at the time, she was preparing me for my adulthood and knowing how to handle the things that life would throw my way.

My grandmother came down with cancer when I was in Jr. High.  I remember sitting on her bed, when she was so sick.  I looked at her and said "This is not fair.", and I meant it too.  It was not fair that she was suffering so...but she looked at me and told me "Who are we to tell God what is fair...when I go to the doctor for my treatments, I see little children, and think this is not fair, because they have not had a chance to grow up and have fun like other kids..."  Although I never knew the impact of those words at the time she said them,  I remember them twenty something years later and remember them when things don't seem fair.

The bible tells the older women in the church to mentor the younger ones.  I am so lucky to have had some great women to mentor me.  My mom and Granny Agnew probably were the two biggest influences on my life, my attitude, and the way I look at things.  I have been blessed to have such people in my life to guide and shape who I am, and today I thank God for putting them in my life to show me the way.

**The pictures of the Daffodils and Marigolds were chosen because Granny Agnew always had these flowers growing underneath a tree that was up from the garden.  We would sit under that tree and talk...or eat fresh homegrown strawberries.  When I see them, I always think of her!

A Lesson from the Master

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus entering Jerusalem during kicking off the Holy Week.  I was thinking about that this morning, and one thing really hit me right between the eyes.  Palm Sunday was a day when everyone was praising Jesus.  They were excited to see him, and anxiously waiting to see him work.  The people expected great things, and welcomed him as he arrived to the Holy city to celebrate Passover.

What strikes me, is less than a week later, Jesus is being dragged from the Garden of Gethsemane and dragged before the religious court, before Pilate, before Herrod.  His disciples (who would probably be listed as his best friends on this earth) have all scattered and deserted him.  He is questioned.  He is accused.  He is brought before the people (probably many of which who were in the crowd during Palm Sunday shouting Hosanna and waving their palm branches) who in returned shouted for his crucifixion. He was beaten beyond recognition, and brought back before the people who called for a man known to be a murderer to be released from the death sentence than the sinless Son of God who spent his life healing, serving, and teaching the people about God.  He was tortured, spat upon, humiliated, scorned, and ridiculed.  How could they be so mean?  Where was their compassion?  How could people be so cruel and bloodthirsty?


It is easy for me to point a finger.  How horrible!  Those people saw Jesus.  They  sat with him, worked alongside him.  He had probably even healed some of them.  He had spent three years sharing his life with his disciples, and yet one of them betrays him---while the other eleven  flee from him to save their own necks. But, as I look at these people and shake my finger at their lack of love, compassion, and loyalty, I am condemning myself.


I see myself in that mirror. How many times have I not made that stand--in fear of what others thought.  How many times have I turned my back, knowing that someone really needed help?  How many times have I praised God for the things that were good, and when things start taking a turn for the worse blame Him and complain about my uncomfortable situation.  How many times have I been wronged, and yet been unforgiving of their actions?  


When I look at this story, the thing that really hits me is Jesus' reaction.  Jesus never confronted Peter for denying him, and He was aware of the denial.  He never asked where his disciples went.  He never scolded the people who were calling for his crucifixion.  He never told them that they were acting like ungrateful brats.  Instead, He endure and called for their forgiveness on the cross amid the climax of his pain and torture.


You see, Jesus saw us as we really were at that moment.  His words said it all, "Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing." That to me, is a radical reaction when you take into consideration all that Jesus had gone through at that point.  Jesus looked upon them (and us) with the compassion, grace and love that they lacked...and decided to forgive them, even though he had been  continuously hurt during this circumstance.


 When we get caught up in the moment, we really do not know what we are doing.  The people were frustrated with Roman oppression.  They wanted someone who would overthrow those powers.  What they did not realize was Jesus' mission was to free them from more than the Roman soldiers...He was there to free them from Satan, and eternal death.  He was freeing them from sin, but the people were too caught up in the moment to realize it.


I think Jesus' final acts were a lesson straight from God's heart on how we are to react when things go wrong.  We are to endure, and stay the course of the mission that God called us to do.  Christ saw his work as too important to be interrupted by the pettiness of the actions of others.  He forgave and moved on, and that is just what we need to do.

Goodbye Status Quo

I am wanting something more.  I want a powerful relationship with God.  I want to hear God and see Him moving in my life.  I want to see a miracle....but I don't like the tough spot where God's miracles always happen.  I want God's word to come alive, that its words and wisdom jump off of the page and slap me upside the head so I know beyond a shadow of a doubt what I am supposed to do.  I want to emerge through the dry wilderness that I have been traveling through for the past three years as a women who is stronger in her faith, stronger in her love for her Savior, and more faithful and obedient to her God.

I don't want the  "status quo" version of Christianity  where I just occupy a pew on Sunday morning and live the rest of the week like the rest of the world.  I want life altering, world changing, miracle seeking, obedience driven, love motivated kind of life. I want something radical. I want more of God and less of me...and I am going to get it.

Now this is not something that is going to fall into my lap.  It takes work and commitment.  It takes time and faithfulness.  It takes committing myself to studying God's word.  It takes comitting myself to prayer.  It takes me shutting up and allowing God to say and move in the ways that He wants without interference from me.  It takes handing over the mess that I have created and trusting and allowing Him to make something beautiful out of it.  

In short, I want to be transformed into the woman that God wants me to be, and I am placing my life, my plans, and my dreams into his hands to do as he wishes. This may mean that my already busy schedule may have a few added divine appointments, and it may mean some useless things get stripped away so that I can effectively do what He wants for me to do.  My life is not my own...it was bought with a price, that Jesus paid on the cross, and I want my life to be worth that price he paid.

Life Outside the Comfort Zone

I like to play it safe.  I like the predictable, the normal
and the routine.  I like to plan things, and usually have plan A, plan B and plan C before committing to  doing anything.  Planning is safe, and keeps me comfortable and gives me a sense of control.
I like the comfort zone, and if it were up to me, I would probably live my whole life there if God had not shaken me from my normal status quo a few years back.  During this period of shaking, I was rattled to the core.  I was challenged to rethink my desires, my priorities, and the way I did almost everything. I was challenged to see God in a totally different way.  I was forced to rely on His strength and power, and for someone who likes to be in control and be self-sufficient,  it was the most challenging thing I have ever gone through (well...in many ways, I am still going through it).

Sometimes we get a little too settled in our comfort zone.  We get complacent.  We get lazy.  We get apathetic, and we even get blinded to the things that we see and do everyday.  When we are shaken, we begin to see things a bit differently.  We begin to notice the things that have been long overlooked...and we see there are things to be done to make the world around us a better place.

God never called us to be comfortable, but he did call us to go out into the world.  He calls us to step out of our comfort zones in faith and to do His work to bring Him glory.  We are called to step out...even if it means that we are stepping out alone.

When we step out of the comfort zone, it stretches our faith.  It makes us acknowledge that we are no longer in control--and it allows God to freely use us to accomplish His work in the lives around us.  When we step out, we see our gifts grow, we see our faith stretched, and we see how faithful God is to equip us for the task at hand--no matter how inadequate we may feel.

Once you experience life outside the comfort zone, you begin to see God work in your life, and  in the lives of  those around you.  When you partner up with Him and see him work and experience His power--you can never be satisfied with the status quo and returning to the comfort zone.  You will desire to look for ways to be used, ways to grow, and you will come to expect a life lived in the abundance and power that only God can give.

Life outside the comfort zone is not necessarily easy, but when you are in the center of God's perfect will, you will be in the safest place that you could possibly be.  Will you commit to do what God is calling you to do, even if it means leaving behind the familiar comfort zone that you have grown so accustomed to?  I hope so, because God has so much in store for you to see, to experience, to feel.  He wants to see you grow in ways you never imagined.   He has a special plan in store for you...and all you have to do is commit to take that first step towards Him.  Are you ready?  He is waiting on you...holding out His hand to help you all along the way!

In His Name

My husband is working on a mission's project with our church today.  The project is called "A home in His Name".  People who can not afford to fix their homes, and are unable to qualify for programs like Habitat for Humanity are led to our church for help--with no strings attached.  So far, our church has demolished two homes and rebuilt them for two families in our community.  People who have skills to work on the home, do--and the church hands over the keys to their brand new home a few weeks later.

Today they are prepping the lot to begin building a home for a third family.  I just think that it is amazing that through these projects, our church is providing something amazing for a family, with no costs and no strings attached.  I think things like this really show what the church is called to do...to make a difference in the lives around them--whether or not the family is a member of the church.

As Christians, we are called to serve outside the church.  We are called to make an impact on everyone around us.  It may not be building a house--because let's be honest, I am not gifted in building.  I have difficulty putting together a bookshelf from Wal-Mart.  There are things that I can do.  I can encourage others.  I can use the skills that I have to serve a family in need. 

Everything that we do as Christians, is done in Jesus' name...whether we like it or not.  After all, the name Christian means "little Christ".  When I think of that, I really wonder if the way I act, am I making Christ little or big in my community?

I really want Jesus to be BIG in my life.  I want to be able to do something great for Him.  I want to do it so that He gets the glory--and He is made big in the lives of others...because I was willing to step out and do something in His name and for His glory.

I really would like to be a part of this building project....and who knows, maybe they will need some painting done in the next few weeks.

Lessons from a Familiar Story

I have always loved the story of Jesus healing the crippled man at the pool (John 5:1-18).  I love how Jesus notices the man in his hopeless situation, and how he takes time out of his busy schedule to talk to and heal this man.  To me, it shows me so much about Jesus' character and the priorities he set during his ministry.  I think it is also a good lesson in what our character and our priorities should be as Christians.

The setting for this story is that Jesus is in Jerusalem during one of the Jewish feasts on the Sabbath.  As he is walking near the temple, he notices a particular man, among many diseased, sick, and crippled man who had gathered around the pool.  They were there, because legend had it that an angel would come down to the pool, and stir up the waters.  The first one into the pool after it was stirred by the angels would be healed.  

This particular man had been there for thirty eight years, waiting for his miracle.  He had no family, and no friends.  He was crippled, abandoned, helpless...and essentially hopeless, yet he still sat by the pool...waiting for his miracle.  What a sad situation for this man to be in.  

Jesus goes up to the man, the first thing he asks is basically,"Do you want to get well?"  

The man replies by recounting his situation to Jesus, that he has no friends or family and that every time the pool is stirred, someone else gets into the pool before he does.  The poor man was helpless.  Seeing his hopelessness, Jesus heals him and tells him to get up and take his mat and walk.

At this point, we should all be happy.  After all, a man who had been crippled for 38 years, a man who could not help himself, was finally free to move about on his own.  He could walk!  

But...the religious people of Jesus' day were not happy.  A law had been broken, because no work was to be done on the Sabbath. The man was questioned about why he was carrying his mat on the Sabbath, and healing was evidently in their eyes, work.

The laws regarding the Sabbath would allow you to do certain things, like help and animal who was in danger, so why is this a problem?  After all, we are talking about a human life being forever changed...isn't that what the Sabbath is supposed to be about, resting in God and getting spiritual healing?  Well, the Pharisees did not see it this way, and gave the man and Jesus a hard time.

Another thing I noticed, is that Jesus had compassion.  Jesus was probably on his way to the temple, after all, it was the Sabbath, and a special one at that...it was a feast day.  There was a lot of preparation involved in preparing for those extra special holy days.  In the midst of all that he was involved in, Jesus still had time to notice the man and heal him.

How many times do we hurry through our busy days and not notice someone who is alone, hurting, and hopeless.  Jesus' top priority was doing God's will, and a big portion of that was helping others.  Jesus regularly took notice of specific people with a desperate need when he was busy with other things.  Jesus set his priorities in a way that showed that other people were a priority, and treated them with love and compassion--rather than the interruption that they were.  How many times do I fail to do this?  More than I can count and want to admit.

Christianity is about the relationship that we have with God, and our fellow believers.  It is about those relationships more than the rules. Sometimes we have to jump in and do the work at hand to help others, after all, isn't that what Jesus did?

Distractions

Last winter, my husband and I got a gym membership at our local city run gym.  It is a great place to work out.  When we joined last year, I went daily.  Each afternoon, my husband and I would religiously go after work.  At first, I could only do a couple of miles on the elliptical.  I was doing good to get in a good, solid workout.  I stuck with it, and over the course of a few weeks, I was doing 8 and 9 miles everyday between the bike and elliptical.  I was working out for a good hour to an hour and a half every night.  I lost weight, and I felt better than I ever had.  I was honestly amazed at the confidence that I found in setting and reaching goals--and pushing myself to see just how much I could do.  I actually enjoyed and looked forward to working out with my ipod blasting my favorite high energy tunes.

Somewhere, distractions crept in.  A new job, a different schedule, one night missed here and there...and well, the habit died.  Now, I am in the process of trying to make exercise a daily habit again.  Distractions are the biggest killer of good habits, and we are in a fight to keep up good habits.  I think that could be why Paul compares the Christian life to a race.

Therefore let us also, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, put away every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with endurance the race which is set before us.
(Hebrews 12:1)

Cultivating Christian habits are just like running a long term race.  We have people all along the sidelines cheering us on (and if you are like me, you need a loud cheering section just to keep you motivated to keep moving).   We have to throw off everything that could distract us and slow us down.  We have to get rid of the things that trip us up, and hunker down and run the race.

The Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon.  We are called to be in the race for the long haul.  We start off with a deliberate pace, and keep putting one foot in front of the other--step by step and stride by stride we run the course that God has laid out before us.

When we set out running, we are going to be hit with distractions.  Satan does not want our focus on God and making Godly habits.  He will throw obstacles in front of us just to get our minds sidetracked.  If you are like me, once you are sidetracked, well it is all downhill from there.  The habit that we worked so hard to make, has become something we seldom do--or if we do it, we do it half heartedly because of the discipline that we lost from not being consistent.  I think that is why it is so important to stay focused--and why we need to stay immersed in Bible reading and applying it to our lives.

When we make that appointment to be with God reading His Word, we can daily seek his will and make sure we are focused on the goals and opportunities that lay before us.  We have to constantly look at where we are and where we are going--all while enjoying the opportunity to spend time with God in a loving relationship.

Christian disciplines are not something that should feel like a chore, or something that you daily check off of your to do list.  It is a relationship, and like every relationship, you have to discipline yourself to do the things necessary to deepen the relationship.  Although it is work, you enjoy the time you invest in the relationship.  That is the same way I see spending time in prayer and Bible Study.  As long as you keep the focus on building the relationship and learning and applying Biblical truths to your life, you will look forward to the time you can spend doing them--even though it takes discipline.