This is my third entry this week; I think that’s a record!
I have been thinking lately about how beautiful it must be to the Lord when we stumble awkwardly to follow His will…
You know the time you nervously handed your troubled co worker a Bible…
Or that silly confession you told even though you thought you might get laughed at or berated…
Like the time you walked all the way down from the balcony to the front of the church just to receive prayer…
Or when you sweat through a prayer for your friend even though you hate to pray out loud…
Feelings do not determine holiness. And you know looking back, the times when the Lord has actually been pulling me closer have been the times when I have had the most questions about my efforts to follow Him and know Him.
“Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up.” James 4:10
Showing posts with label Snippets of Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snippets of Grace. Show all posts
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
Wise Whispers
Happy Monday! Yesterday I had such an overwhelming experience at church. It was almost as if God spoke directly to me as Matt preached. The last two weeks came together as God’s route to repentance in my heart. It was so beautiful and kind of Him. I was thinking about my blog friends and how grateful I am that they have found church homes that they love also. It is truly a blessing to leave the world for an hour or so to worship and be vulnerable with God’s people.
And to top it off last night ended with a great lesson from the Dog Whisperer! I know there have got to be other Ceasar Millan fans out there, right? He trains dogs, but seriously his patience and lessons about being assertive really speak to me. Last night he had to work with three unruly dogs. After being bit twice which actually ripped his shirt and broke skin; then dealing with too crazy hyper dogs for hours he actually lost his cool! His closing remark was… (sounds even better if read with an accent) “I’m exhausted! I feel like I went here from Mexico and came back. I’m not going to question why God send me the challenge, I’m just going to thank Him for it.”
Lord, I have once again tried to take your place in my life. I grow weary of punishing myself for unmet standards you do not ask me to keep. Help me to take this day or even just this moment not as I think it should be but as you would have it. Flood my heart with gratefulness and praise for You and your grace, Lord help me return to you. Amen.
And to top it off last night ended with a great lesson from the Dog Whisperer! I know there have got to be other Ceasar Millan fans out there, right? He trains dogs, but seriously his patience and lessons about being assertive really speak to me. Last night he had to work with three unruly dogs. After being bit twice which actually ripped his shirt and broke skin; then dealing with too crazy hyper dogs for hours he actually lost his cool! His closing remark was… (sounds even better if read with an accent) “I’m exhausted! I feel like I went here from Mexico and came back. I’m not going to question why God send me the challenge, I’m just going to thank Him for it.”
Lord, I have once again tried to take your place in my life. I grow weary of punishing myself for unmet standards you do not ask me to keep. Help me to take this day or even just this moment not as I think it should be but as you would have it. Flood my heart with gratefulness and praise for You and your grace, Lord help me return to you. Amen.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Something to think about...
CODEPENDENCY AND CHRISTIAN LIVING
On the surface, codependency messages sound like Christian teaching.
"Codependents always put others first before taking care of themselves." (Aren’t Christians to put others first?)
"Codependents give themselves away." (Shouldn’t Christians do the same?)
"Codependents martyr themselves." (Christianity honors its martyrs.)
Those statements have a familiar ring, don’t they? Then how can we distinguish between codependency, which is unhealthy to codependents and their dependents, and mature faith, which is healthy.
Codependency says:
I have little or no value.
Other persons and situations have all the value.
I must please other people regardless of the cost to my person or my values.
I am to place myself to be used by others without protest.
I must give myself away.
If I claim any rights for myself, I am selfish.
Jesus taught the value of the individual. He said we are to love others equal to ourselves, not more than. A love of self forms the basis for loving others. The differences between a life of service and codependency take several forms.
Motivation differs. Does the individual give his service and himself out of free choice or because he considers himself of no value? Does he seek to "please people"? Does he act out of guilt and fear? Does he act out of a need to be needed (which means he actually uses the other person to meet his own needs; the helpee becomes an object to help the helper achieve his own goals).
Service is to be an active choice. The person acts; codependents react. Codependents behavior is addictive rather than balanced. Additions control the person instead of the person being in charge of their own life.
Codependents have poor sense of boundaries; they help others inappropriately (when it creates dependency on the part of the other person rather than moving that person toward independence). They have trouble setting limits for themselves and allow others to invade their boundaries. A codependent’s sense of self-worth is tied up in helping others; Christianity says that a person has worth simply because he is a human being God created. Ones self-worth is separate from the work one does or the service one renders.
Codependents have difficulty living balanced lives; they do for others at the neglect of their own well-being and health; Christian faith calls for balanced living and taking care of oneself.
Codependent helping is joyless; Christian service brings joy.
Codependent are driven by their inner compulsions; Christians are God-directed and can be free from compulsiveness, knowing that God brings the ultimate results.
As I thought about this article it brought to light some anger I have with churches. I defintely feel that codependents have been taken advantage of in the very place that should be shedding light on this life sucking sin disease. Then it just made me sad. There are so many ways to stay busy and blinded in this world. Lots of prayer and accountability are required to make sure we are serving Jesus and not some idol or unmet need. And most of all let's just admit our need and listen to him when he says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
On the surface, codependency messages sound like Christian teaching.
"Codependents always put others first before taking care of themselves." (Aren’t Christians to put others first?)
"Codependents give themselves away." (Shouldn’t Christians do the same?)
"Codependents martyr themselves." (Christianity honors its martyrs.)
Those statements have a familiar ring, don’t they? Then how can we distinguish between codependency, which is unhealthy to codependents and their dependents, and mature faith, which is healthy.
Codependency says:
I have little or no value.
Other persons and situations have all the value.
I must please other people regardless of the cost to my person or my values.
I am to place myself to be used by others without protest.
I must give myself away.
If I claim any rights for myself, I am selfish.
Jesus taught the value of the individual. He said we are to love others equal to ourselves, not more than. A love of self forms the basis for loving others. The differences between a life of service and codependency take several forms.
Motivation differs. Does the individual give his service and himself out of free choice or because he considers himself of no value? Does he seek to "please people"? Does he act out of guilt and fear? Does he act out of a need to be needed (which means he actually uses the other person to meet his own needs; the helpee becomes an object to help the helper achieve his own goals).
Service is to be an active choice. The person acts; codependents react. Codependents behavior is addictive rather than balanced. Additions control the person instead of the person being in charge of their own life.
Codependents have poor sense of boundaries; they help others inappropriately (when it creates dependency on the part of the other person rather than moving that person toward independence). They have trouble setting limits for themselves and allow others to invade their boundaries. A codependent’s sense of self-worth is tied up in helping others; Christianity says that a person has worth simply because he is a human being God created. Ones self-worth is separate from the work one does or the service one renders.
Codependents have difficulty living balanced lives; they do for others at the neglect of their own well-being and health; Christian faith calls for balanced living and taking care of oneself.
Codependent helping is joyless; Christian service brings joy.
Codependent are driven by their inner compulsions; Christians are God-directed and can be free from compulsiveness, knowing that God brings the ultimate results.
As I thought about this article it brought to light some anger I have with churches. I defintely feel that codependents have been taken advantage of in the very place that should be shedding light on this life sucking sin disease. Then it just made me sad. There are so many ways to stay busy and blinded in this world. Lots of prayer and accountability are required to make sure we are serving Jesus and not some idol or unmet need. And most of all let's just admit our need and listen to him when he says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Satisfy My Desires
It’s been awhile! I have so many things to say and not enough time to write them all. When I have time I am going to do a quick update on Mason and his “favorite year yet!”. He is so cute and is really blooming this year. I really wanted to journal what happened last night just as a reminder to myself…
Yesterday was just a really challenging day. Several things happened, but I really can’t blame the way I felt on anything around me . The only way I can describe it was that my mind was under attack. The day seemed so long and so taxing. I tried my best to get myself out of it, praying and returning to scriptures, but nothing seemed to work. By the time the day was over I was really beaten down and feeling very hopeless. Then something happened... God gave me a great gift, it wasn’t something I could hold in my hand or even something that was really visible. It was more of a renewing, suddenly the darkness lifted and I could think clearly again. It was so beautiful and I knew in my soul it was from God. I felt like He was showing me, I’m here even when it doesn’t feel like it, even when your mind cannot understand me or what I’m doing, I’m here. It seemed almost like a lesson that next time my mind goes to that dark place, even when it lasts longer than a day, maybe I can rest on the fact that at the end is something really beautiful. Something He has just for me. I love this verse, (Is 58:11) the whole chapter actually.
“And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
I used to think it was just for missionaries and the like, but I decided to keep it for my own. It’s pretty hot, where I am…
Yesterday was just a really challenging day. Several things happened, but I really can’t blame the way I felt on anything around me . The only way I can describe it was that my mind was under attack. The day seemed so long and so taxing. I tried my best to get myself out of it, praying and returning to scriptures, but nothing seemed to work. By the time the day was over I was really beaten down and feeling very hopeless. Then something happened... God gave me a great gift, it wasn’t something I could hold in my hand or even something that was really visible. It was more of a renewing, suddenly the darkness lifted and I could think clearly again. It was so beautiful and I knew in my soul it was from God. I felt like He was showing me, I’m here even when it doesn’t feel like it, even when your mind cannot understand me or what I’m doing, I’m here. It seemed almost like a lesson that next time my mind goes to that dark place, even when it lasts longer than a day, maybe I can rest on the fact that at the end is something really beautiful. Something He has just for me. I love this verse, (Is 58:11) the whole chapter actually.
“And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
I used to think it was just for missionaries and the like, but I decided to keep it for my own. It’s pretty hot, where I am…
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Who Me?
Awh, denial... Darn pink elephant! Everytime it's exposed I am shocked, surprised, mortified, and embarrassed. Well, today it was exposed again and I still felt all those same emotions, but instead of rolling up in a ball and crying I started laughing. I mean big, full laughs. Maybe it was just the way it was delivered or something else. Whatever it was my immediate response was laughter and now I can't stop smiling. A line from the song Amazing Grace came to mind.
"T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed."
I can't put it into words, but in that moment Grace was there.
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