It's Okay Now

Peace, Joy, Love and Faith require divine intervention.

I can never love God more than He loves me and I find that every day  I need him more than I did the day before. Relying on His plans rather than controlling my own requires Him… and more than yesterday, I need him today.  I mentioned Isaiah 30 in my last post and since then, I’ve been stuck in that chapter.

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help.” Isaiah 30:18

Easy to say… but waiting for God when we really don’t know His divine happy ending and if it’s what we really want… well, that requires us to rest in our trust that He really is faithful.

This song has been rocking my world every since the BFF’s hubby told me about it yesterday… Listen and enjoy.  Kim Walker gets me every time…

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This past week I was able to spend time with my closest childhood friend, Rachel. We’ve stayed in touch for the last 20 years, while she’s lived in Canada and I’ve been in the States.  Destination: Winkler, Manitoba. Turns out people live there! This was my first time to the city and with all of my heart, I hope it’s not my last.  While in Winkler, I didn’t have access to my cell phone and my Internet connection was spotty.  For the first time in years and years… I completely unplugged.

Several years ago, I went to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta where Rob Bell talked about “unplugging from an online world”.  His talk focused around how we are inundated with information, radio waves and noise of every kind so that when we need need to hear God, it’s often just too loud.  I remember that talk so clearly and many times since have attempted to clear out the noise and hear God. It’s been good, but there was something different this week.

This week was just so peaceful.  I was surrounded by people that loved each other and loved Jesus. I was surrounded by people that had hearts to serve others over themselves. I was surrounded by old friends and new and quickly grew to respect and adore everyone.  I didn’t read my Bible for hours or spend hours in prayer… I simply quieted my surroundings and had time to listen and serve.  And today as I sit in Dallas with my life laying before me and my calendar for next week completely filled… my heart is rested and full.

There is a verse in Isaiah 30 that contains the phrase “in quietness and trust is your strength”. The way I feel in my heart right now has me thinking about that verse.  Once the noise has cleared, it seems much easier to look to Heaven and know that when my heart is quieted and my trust is renewed… my strength is found.  Tomorrow, I’ll start work and life will follow behind that. I’m looking forward to that, but the rest in my heart… I pray that remains for awhile. There is nothing sweeter than hearing the voice of my Lord gently leading, gently directing and gently showing me the way… And I know that of the things that I am asking about – one day, I’ll clearly hear him say, “this is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Yes. I recommend unplugging completely from time to time… It’s refreshing.

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We’re all so different.  That’s why we need togetherness.

Togetherness… not sameness.

It’s all very logical to be sure.  Different strengths and weaknesses in a group of people naturally result in a stronger community. The only catch is… it is the differences that provide the breeding ground for judgment, insecurity, animosity and so many negative things.  Yet, if we have the resilience to breakthrough and overcome the negatives, differences are quite possibly the greatest strength a community of people possesses.

We all need each other.  Sometimes that is hard.  But it’s always worth it in the end.

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What do I believe about God?

I believe in God who loves with more love than we could ever fathom.
I believe in God who redeems hearts and people.
I believe in God who fights for the concerns of the orphan and the slave.
I believe in God who through his Son set all of our hearts free.
I believe in God who offers peace and joy beyond circumstances that warrant it.
I believe in God who interrupts life with blessings.
I believe in God who fights evil and teaches us to stand for Truth.
I believe in God who is just and whose love demands justice.
I believe in God who knows the best outcome for my life, even when I cannot see it, nor understand it.

I believe in a personal God.
My God who speaks to me.
My God who turned my sadness into joy.
My God who set me free from fear and hate.
My God who provided for my needs when all logical thought provided no way out of the pit I was in.
My God who has given me purpose.
My God who has given me hope.
My God that gave me Jesus.
My Jesus that provided for me salvation… salvation from my sin. Salvation from my own worst self.  And my Jesus that provided for me the Holy Spirit.

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  – Ephesians 3:14-19

What we believe about God matters. Faith isn’t about what you are believing in but it’s who you believe in…

What do you believe about Jesus?  Who is God to you?

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It’s not always as it seems…

He was mean, quite honestly, and half the things that he said hurt my feelings… painful.
She was rude and pretty much acted like the world revolved around her… obnoxious.
He was arrogant, and his arrogance was like nails on a chalkboard… infuriating.
She was pious, and acted as though she was the only one that knew the right answers… belittling.

Yet…

He was one of the most giving people I knew and would have taken a bullet for me in a heart beat… loving.
She was wise and beneath her calloused layers, she gave me profound opportunities and offered me hope… encouraging.
He had a heart for people and when he gave to the poor he gladly gave generously, not sparing anything… humbling.
She loved people with all of her heart and her desire to help others would often leave her neglecting her own needs… sacrificial.

It’s not always as it seems.  Beneath every layer of good, bad and ugly, you’ll find a human heart and a human spirit.  And that’s what I love.  It may not be the outward layer that I see at first glimpse, but beneath that layer, I love what’s there… beneath that layer, I love you.

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My little brother sent me these lyrics… They are undoubtedly liberating…

These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine

Blessed are the poor
Blessed are the weak
Blessed are the ones
Who can barely speak

Blessed in your hurt
Blessed in your pain
Blessed when your teardrops
Are falling down like rain

Blessed when you’re broken
Blessed when you’re blind
Blessed when you’re fragile
When you have lost your mind

Blessed when you’re desperate
Blessed when you’re scared
Blessed when you’re lonely
Blessed when you’ve failed

Blessed when you’re beat up
Blessed when you’re bruised
Blessed when you’re tore down
Blessed when you’re used

These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine

Blessed when you’re heartbroke
Blessed when you’re fired
Blessed when you’re choked up
Blessed when you’re tired

Blessed when the plans
That you so carefully laid
End up in the junkyard
With all the trash you made

Blessed when you feel like
Giving up the ghost
Blessed when your loved ones
Are the ones who hurt you most

Blessed when you lose your
Own identity
Then blessed when you find it
And it has been redeemed

Blessed when you see what
Your friends can never be
Blessed with your eyes closed
Then blessed you see Me

These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine

Blessed when you’re hungry
Blessed when you thirst
Cause that’s when you will eat of
The bread that matters most

Blessed when you’re put down
Because of me you’re dissed
Because of me you’re kicked out
They take you off their list

You know you’re on the mark
You know you’ve got it right
You are to be my salt
You are to be my light

So bring out all the flavor
In the feast of this My world
And light up all the colors
Let the banner be unfurled

Shout it from the rooftops
Let the trumpets ring
Sing your freaking lungs out
Jesus Christ is King!

Jesus is my Savior
Jesus is divine
Jesus is my answer
Jesus is my life

These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine

Give us ears that we may hear them
voice that we may sing them
life that we may live them
hope that we may give them
hearts that we can feel them
eyes that we can see them
thoughts that we may think them
tongues that we may speak Your wordsTweet

It dropped 30 degrees on my car ride home.
Then the wind began to gust and snow began to drop… like crazy.
I left Dallas in a T-Shirt I arrived in Kansas in my North Face and by Christmas Day, we were snowed in at our house.

When the weather changes, clothing changes.  When seasons of life change… so do people.  And that’s okay.

I’m getting ready to turn 30 (How do you make screaming emoticons? I need one right there…) This birthday has had me reflecting on a lot of things and the biggest is change.

“If you love them, let them go.”

There is something to be said for “holding loosely” seasons of life and even people in each season.  We hold loosely  not because we don’t love those we do life with nor because we want anything to change, but we want to be ready when it’s time to step into the great unknown.  Each dream and each calling on all of our lives will require a change from immaturity to maturity.  Sometimes it’s a 30 degree drop in 2 hours where all the sudden the season is different, and sometimes it’s gradual.

In Relationships, Good Change Can Mean…

• Dynamics in friendships change.
• You don’t see people as much as you used to.
• Schedules begin to naturally conflict.
• Life just looks different because it shifts and adjusts.

…and that’s really, really okay.  In fact it’s good.

For all of us, let’s remember that we want our friends to be prepared for every new season that is awaiting them, even if it doesn’t include us in the same capacity.

For those of you I’ve walked with, I hope that you know that I will do all I can to be your biggest supporter and your greatest cheerleader, because I believe in you and your dreams.  And of course, my ever-ending-never-fading loyal self would love to be your best friend in every season, but maturity tells me that more important than that… I want you to walk in obedience to where God is leading you.

And for me… I go back to Dallas tomorrow… and am hoping that the temperature will take a little ride up another 30 degrees because I’m cold.

As a quick disclaimer, this email is unrelated to any relationship in my life, but is more of reflections on change.

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Life can get sour and sometimes it happens quickly. Dreams are broken. Hopes become distant and fading. Desires get dismissed.  As much as I’d love to paint you a beautiful picture of the perfection that life could be, it just isn’t.  And when life isn’t perfect and we’re facing dead-on the presence of a broken dream, it can be painful.

When I went to buy this domain name a while ago and decided to call it “It’s Okay Now” those are the things that went through my head.  Life happens… and how amazing would it be if we could be able to look at the past and say, “it’s okay now…”  But the truth is that life happens and when we are in the middle of it… It’s easier said than done.  Hope needs to be rekindled and dreams need to be rebuilt… Today I’ve been thinking for a long time as I drove from Texas to Kansas for the holiday, so we’ll see how well I can even convey my thoughts.  This is probably a more candid post of my thoughts more than anything.

Wikipedia (quite possibly my most favorite domain on the Internet) says that hope in a theological context is one of the three virtues (faith, hope and love). Hope is not a physical emotion, but a spiritual grace. That is what separates it from positive thinking.  I am thankful for hope, because it’s something that I can’t work up on my own. I do believe that it is a spiritual grace, which means that when the emotion depletes, God will restore it… and I know for me, He’s been so faithful to swoop in and restore.

I Will Plant Myself at the Gates of Hope

We choose hope too.  And sometimes we have to fight for it.  When the doubts come, we sometimes have to find our Truth and declare part 2 of the verse:  “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12)

God is Faithful. He can’t not be.  So on days were the sun seems to be a bit dimmer and the pain a bit stronger, remember the character of our God and plant yourself at the Gate of Hope.

“Expect to have hope rekindled.  Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.  The dry seasons in life do not last.  The spring rains will come again.”

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

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Remember when President Obama was running for election? Everyone had something to say about it. I remember it well… I was sitting at Paradise Bakery in a back cove working on my laptop, engrossed in a spreadsheet.  Suddenly, out of nowhere this guy was standing in front of me with an Obama pin asking me who I was going to vote for. I was completely caught off-guard.  At that point it wouldn’t have mattered if I was Obama’s Campaign Manager, what mattered was that he was being rude and abrasive.  But, I was sweet and told him “no thank you” to the pin he was offering.  He then pressed on, “Who are you voting for?  Why are you voting for them?  Did you know this? Did you know that?” In my head I’m thinking… “Dude! All I know right now is that you’re in my space and being completely inconsiderate!”

… and then it hit me… abrasive evangelism…

Abrasive Evangelism

For those of you that have grown up in the Church, you know what I mean.  A few well-intentioned, zealous people head out to evangelize on the streets, in the malls, etc.  Many times it’s very proper and well-done, soup is handed out, conversations naturally arise, people are served and befriended, and that’s not what I’m talking about… The Obama guy reminded me more of tactics I’ve seen where people will go up to strangers in malls, restaurants, etc. and want to strike up a conversation… and it’s just out of place. Please understand, I am not making a bold statement telling anyone what to do or what not to do.  God leads many directions, and I am not one to be so arrogant as to say what God will not and will not do, but hear me out.

With my experience with the zealous Obama pusher, I came to understand how it must seem. No matter how amazing the message might be, when presented in an inconsiderate, intrusive way, it makes it very hard for the Message to be heard.

The other evening as I was reading in 1 Peter my heart quieted as I read these words that clarified it for me:

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

1 Peter 3:15-16

I think that says it well. When Christ is set apart as Lord in your life and living for Him dominates your everything, it will show. It will show everywhere you are because it colors your life… peace, joy and hope cannot be hidden.  When people ask about it or when it comes up in conversation, you will naturally give a reason for the hope that you have – with gentleness and respect. It represents our Message better anyway.

Thoughts on Real Life Evangelism

Sometimes I wonder if the reason people can be abrasive in evangelism is because we feel like somehow we are solely responsible for the salvation of others.  And we feel as if we don’t “evangelize” then one day God and his golden hammer will hit us over the head.

Here’s the deal… I have to believe that when the Bible says, “the Holy Spirit draws all men unto Himself” that means exactly that.  “We are his instruments” which means we are to live a life that exemplifies the presence of God and his mercy for us and for our friends… The opportunity to talk about our Hope naturally should frequent our lives, because it is the Hope that colors our everything. Gentleness and respect are easy when you have set apart Christ as Lord and are allowing His goodness to flow through you.  When the opportunity comes (and it will) you’ll naturally give the reason for the Hope that you have and people will understand and respect it, because it matches what they’ve seen in you.

Those are my thoughts from my untheological mind.

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So, there is this new TV show that is coming out. It’s called Men of a Certain Age.  I haven’t seen an episode, but have only heard the clips that play as I’m jammin’ to Pandora during work.  I’ve got to say, although I have not seen an episode, I do have a soap box and get ready… I’m climbing on it.

The script on the commercial is something like this… “She changed, I changed and so we went our separate ways.”  They are apparently men that are entering the “Second Act” of their lives… the mid-life. Maybe I’m a romantic or an idealist, but the whole premise is frustrating to me because in that one statement that justified the end of the “1st Act” and the beginning of the 2nd was just selfishness.  I guess, the reason it frustrates me is because I’m certain that it’s true. I’m certain that few couples would say that 20 years into their marriage, they are married to the same person they met in their twenties. However, I think that the beautiful thing about marriage is that 20 years into your marriage you could look at the spouse and say, you changed, I changed… and here we are… stronger and better. I think that the only way that probably happens is when you have:

… two people that choose to serve the other
… two people that choose to prefer the other
… two people that take care of the other
… two people that actually do change, but the focus of the change is to become better people individually.

Maybe that’s idealistic… But, that’s my soapbox… Climbing off now.

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