Dancing in the Rain

Several weeks ago I was having a “blue” afternoon. Nothing major was going on, I was just bogged down by mundane routine and everyday frustrations. I was sitting in my office working and trying to fight off the grey cloud that I felt hanging over my head, when it started to rain. I really LOVE sunshine, and the rain just added to the heaviness in my heart.

A few minutes after it started to rain, something outside my office window caught my eye. I turned my desk chair to see the movement and was instantly captivated by one of the most precious sights I’ve ever experienced. Our neighbor’s 12-year-old daughter was dancing in the rain…she was whirling and leaping with her face upward and her arms outstretched—soaking up every drop of rain possible. Her ballet moves were beautiful, but it was her innocence and uninhibited enjoyment of the rainy moment that was so compelling. Something in my heart longed to dance with her.

I wondered if I had somehow missed the opportunity to “dance in the rain,” to see the beauty in everyday moments and embrace whatever life brings with joy. Had I allowed the circumstances of life to overwhelm the best part of life—God’s presence? Psalm 16:11 says, “You fill me with joy in your presence.” While my 12-year-old neighbor may have just been dancing in the rain, she inspired me to embrace God’s presence in spite of the storms and to dance. (If you want to read more verses on joy, go to biblegateway.com and keyword search the word joy.)

Love God? Love People.

Recently I’ve been so challenged by Jesus words in Matthew 25.

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 

 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' 

I’ve been challenged to encounter every person as if I’m encountering Jesus Himself—realizing the way I treat others is how I am treating Christ. It is so important the way I interact with a server who doesn’t get the order right… or the child who uses our yard for mud wrestling… or a friend who is caught in some sin… or the homeless individual who approaches me in a parking lot…

In every encounter, I have the opportunity to show the grace God continually extends to me and the love He showers on me. Or I can respond selfishly with judgment, criticism, and disregard. But the more I experience His grace, love, and kindness, the more it naturally flows from my lives to others. God has helped me to understand that my love for Him is seen most clearly in my interactions with others.

This challenge isn’t just with those I encounter outside of my home. I’ve actually felt a strong conviction to treat my husband in the same way I would treat Jesus. And it has completely revolutionized what I think as I am interacting with him. To be honest—our relationship is more precious than ever before!

The Meditation of My Heart

One of the first verses I memorized was Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Have you ever struggled with the “meditation of your heart”? I know I have. There are times when I tend to dwell on circumstances that seem overwhelming. And when my thoughts are not what they need to be, the words of my mouth reflect the fear, doubt, confusion, and despair that worry produces. No matter how hard I try to keep it from happening, my mouth just pours out what my heart has been meditating on.

I’ve only found one thing that really helps the meditation of my heart. And it is found earlier in Psalm 19:7-8—
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statues of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

His Word revives us, makes us wise, gives joy to our heart and light to our eyes!

When my heart seems to rehearse the difficulties life brings, I am gently reminded to turn my heart toward God. As I meditate on Him, not my circumstances, my attitude and words reflect His goodness. Allowing God’s truth to be the meditation of my heart has the ability to turn exhaustion into restoration, confusion into guidance, despair into joy, and discouragement into light!

I Love Valentine’s Day!

It’s so much fun planning simple ways to tell my friends how much they mean to me. And I still buy Valentines for my adult kids—they’ll never out grow Valentines, Easter baskets, or Christmas stockings as long as I’m around. :)

But of course, the very best part of Valentine’s Day is the special time alone with Mike! He just called me from our favorite bed-and-breakfast—The Castle Inn at Riverside. He’s down there, making our reservation and picking out our room. I have the best husband ever! I can’t wait for our get-a-way later this month! YAY!

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of lavishing love on those we care about. First John 3:1 tells us, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” I believe He still sends us love notes too! Sometimes He sends His love in the giggle of a child, an embrace of an old friend, a beautiful sunset, a yummy meal, a quiet moment in His Word, or peace in the midst of heartache. I hope to recognize all of the moments He lavishes His love on me and my family—especially this weekend.

May my heart be so full of His lavish love that it can’t help but spill out on others!

Don't Be that Guy!

My husband is in the middle of a sermon series entitled, “Don’t Be that Guy!” He is looking at some of the lessons we learn in the lives of the “bad guys” found in the book of Luke. This past Sunday he walked us through the story of the Prodigal Son and examined the older brother (Luke 15:11-32). Mike called him the “I deserve better” guy.

While the older brother had always done the right thing—he stayed home, worked for his father, and didn’t waste his inheritance on wild living—his self-centeredness caused him to miss out on a great celebration, and so much more.

Listen to how the Message translates verses 25-32—

"All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day's work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, 'Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.'

"The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. The son said, 'Look how many years I've stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money on whores shows up and you go all out with a feast!'

"His father said, 'Son, you don't understand. You're with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he's alive! He was lost, and he's found!'"

I love the father’s words, “You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours.” How had this son done all of the right things, but miss the joy of relationship with his father and the blessings of being his child?

Could it be because he thought he deserved better? Notice his words to his father. Basically he said, “I’ve never done anything wrong, yet you’ve never done anything for me!” Really? Could this son be that perfect? And has the father really neglected this son? It sounds like he had provided very well for him.

I wondered how many times I have been like the older son. I’m not talking about being upset when others get a party. But how many times have I missed the joy and blessings of being a child of God, simply because I was so focused on myself and what I thought I was lacking.

I don’t want to miss a moment of the celebration! I’m determined to really enjoy the relationship God offers me. And I don’t want to take ANY blessing for granted—I want to recognize His goodness and be truly thankful!

If you want to hear Mike’s message, go to www.maranathawichita.com.

Loving God More Than Your Husband

Recently I answered an e-mail from a precious young friend, and I thought there could be someone else struggling with the same issue. My friend wrote:

“How do you love God more than your husband? Or desire God more than your husband? Before I met my husband, I committed to give my heart completely to Jesus and to just dwell in His love. But since we’ve been married, I have struggled to do that. Even my husband has noticed that my love for Jesus seems to have faded. I feel that I am just lukewarm, just living life, and I hate it. I have asked God to rekindle that flame that once burned in my heart. And I am beginning to make myself push beyond my own selfish comfort zone. I don’t just want to desire God; I want to move on to seeking Him out. Will you please pray that my heart will desire and love God above my husband? And that I’ll know how to love my husband too, and not choose sides?”

My reply:

I will pray for you! You are definitely taking the right steps—asking for a renewed hunger and humbling yourself before God. Here are just some thoughts about loving God more than your husband:
1. First of all, God knows that you are human—and that your husband is human and right there before you in flesh and blood. Naturally, we can be more captivated by what we can see and touch than what we have in faith. God completely understands this weakness!
2. As a wife you are to love your husband and give yourself unreservedly to him, and by doing that you are loving God!
3. But it is so important to keep these truths in focus—God is your Creator, your Redeemer, your Savior, your Guide, your Sustainer, your Strength, etc. And your husband is not.
4. However, you must know and live out this truth as well—your husband is your MOST important human relationship! He is your closest friend, life companion, lover, encourager, etc.
5. As you earnestly seek God and allow His Spirit to fill your life, your love for your husband will grow stronger every day, and your ability to have a wonderful, intimate relationship with him will as well.
6. Try not the think of it in a comparative way. Love God and seek Him with all your heart, and love and care for your husband like he is an extension of your own body.

I hope this helps! Love you!

Maintaining a Balanced Life

“The man who fears God will avoid all extremes” (Ecclesiastes 7:18, NIV).

It is quite interesting that the book of Ecclesiastes follows the book of Proverbs. Both are written by the wisest person who has ever lived—Solomon. Yet at a first reading, these books may seem like a contradiction. In Proverbs 4:7, Solomon says, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” The entire book is teaching us how to attain wisdom and live a disciplined life.

Yet in the first verse of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” He goes on to say, “Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes was written at the end of Solomon’s life. He had lived a life of great extremes—if one wife is good, then hundreds are even better; if one palace is nice, then many are better; if knowledge of plant life is helpful, then knowledge of everything is best. Yet as Solomon aged, he saw the futility of the extremes and realized that life is meaningless apart from God (12:13).

Solomon tells us that there is a season for everything (3:1-8), and he encourages us with these words: “[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is a gift of God.”

In chapter four, Solomon says, “The fool folds his hands and ruins himself. Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” I believe he is describing the extremes of one who is lazy and one who is a workaholic. The lazy person may see the futility of grasping for wealth, yet he accomplishes little and disappoints those who depend on him. While the workaholic is driven by greed, he lives a life with full hands and an empty heart.

I believe Solomon would want us to understand that we should live disciplined lives that are balanced—working and resting, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing, embracing and refraining. Some women may tend to work, weep, mourn, and embrace projects, and truly neglect opportunities to be refreshed. And at the other extreme, there are women who neglect work in order to only rest, laugh, dance, and refrain.

Here are some practical ways to make sure we are living a balanced life:

· Work when it is time to work.
· Sleep when it is time to sleep—try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
· Play more games—especially with those you love.
· Pray every day—and make sure there is a time of silence for listening to God.
· Take time to express thanksgiving and praise.
· Take time to celebrate the good things—every good thing is from God.
· Read more books—watch less TV.
· Call your family often.
· Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and take a walk every day.
· Don’t waste time on complaining; smile more.
· Don’t over commit; know your limits.

So how about you? Are there extremes in your life? How can you grow more balanced? Consider reading Ecclesiastes and writing down the ways you can avoid extremes.