Monday, November 7, 2011 - How to Begin a Week

"What is desired in a man is kindness." 
Proverbs 19:22

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good."

Luke 6:45

"You yourselves are taught by God to love one another." 
1 Thessalonians 4:9

How to Begin a Week (ahem):

1) Give it to God: openly, honestly, and passionately.  

"Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!"  Psalm 32: 1-2 (NLT)

2) Give yourself away to others in acts of kindness: sneakily, anonymously, coolly and matter-of-factly. 
"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. . .  But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, Who knows all secrets, will reward you." (Matthew 6:1 and 4)
     Although they sound completely opposite, these two ways of giving go hand in hand. Have you been embarrassed by people who made a huge deal over something they've done for you? They're saying you "owe" them and telling other people how great they are.  It's the dreaded bribery/broadcast combo and God's not impressed.
   What an interesting week this could turn out to be if people caught us smiling because we'd been sneaking around the house, the office, the church, our neighborhoods and communities to perform kindnesses of all kinds in mysterious ways for the unsuspecting people in our lives. 
Father, You created us from Your great Love, to know You and to love each other. Guide us to give in creative ways. Fill us with the gifts of Your Spirit so we can't help but give and love each other. Take our eyes off of any rewards for ourselves, but let us feel the glow of Your Light brightening within us each time You're pleased.
In the Name of Jesus, Who gave everything to an unsuspecting world

Sunday, November 6, 2011 - Real Life

"Tell them ("those who are rich in this world") to use their money to do good. 

They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, 

always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 

By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life."  

1 Timothy 6:19

We watched the 1999 sci-fi classic "The Matrix" last night which is filled with spiritual parallels and references.  The story centers around a small band of revolutionaries who've discovered  that rogue technology controls the world by controlling the minds of billions of unborn humans.  To escape the slavery of the Matrix, Neo ("new") must decide to continue living in the sensory world of his mind, or to see truth unveiled.  Once he's seen the truth, he can't go back. He's born "again" as a fully grown human who grows, learns, strengthens, and trains.  Doubts and setbacks, the difficulty of his path, and missing the glitter, though fake, of his old life, all bring on bouts of temporary weakness. However, the photo above depicts the defining moment when Neo "sees" the the truth the Matrix has hidden from him. It's at this point he begins to fulfill his purpose of opening the eyes of people still blinded by and enslaved to the Matrix.  

Satan blinds people by keeping us busy and preoccupied with things that don't matter in the end, but will disappear and be burned away. 

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God."

2 Corinthians 4:3-5

Once we've seen the Light, seen the Truth, we're born again and there's no going back. Our purpose is to help remove the blinders from other people, to reach out to them and love them. Otherwise, we're still caught up in darkness, blind, and living out what seems real but ends disastrously. 

"But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness 

and walks around in the darkness. 

They do not know where they are going, 

because the darkness has blinded them." 

1 John 2:11

"I command you to love each other." 

John 15:17 (NLT)

"I was hungry and you fed Me.  I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink." 

Matthew 25:35

Lord, take the world's hold away from us. We're steeped in materialism and status. We've marinated in embryonic self-centeredness like everyone else so long that Your Words, Your Commands seem unreal and muffled.  Help us shake loose the power of darkness and turn fully to Your Light, Truth and Way. Show us how to love others out of darkness and into Your Truth.  It's easier to float downstream but strengthen us to make that 180 degree turn against the flow.
In the Name of Jesus Who lifted the veil and showed us the Truth

Saturday, November 5, 2011 - FALL BACK!

"This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." 

Psalm 118:24

Bummer.

     Two Facebook friends celebrate their birthdays today and I thought "How great to have a birthday on a Saturday, but it's an extra blessing for them to celebrate on Fall Back Saturday when they get an extra hour of sleep to recuperate from too much cake."  Good for them; a double-blessing day. 

But, from where I'm sitting:

     It's foggy and chilly outside, the perfect morning for a comforting cup of coffee, but I broke my carafe yesterday so it's hot tea instead. Bummer.  

Nick was supposed to go on the Fall Retreat with the youth group, but he's home sick this weekend - again. Bummer.

We "clean forgot" an important dinner last night due to Nick's last minute change of plans. We feel sick about it. Bummer.

Today's the day to decide on some dreaded details, make some lists and complete some paperwork when I'd intensely love to sit by the fireplace with some coffee, but . . .  Bummer.

     "Whoa, there, Robin! Fall back, soldier! You're about to march right past the pity party into a full-out grump gala. THIS day was sent by the LORD as much as yesterday when He answered your secret prayer and gave you breakfast out with your family. God ordained  THIS day as surely as He sent Thursday when you, Tom and Nick laughed until you cried. God sent this foggy morning with hot tea and tedious tasks for a reason, even if only to remind you of your blessings and to sharpen your gratitude for them. Get with the program, girl."

     Instead of morning sunshine greeting us through the curtains, sometimes the sun shines through at the end of a day as we realize how He guided us, accomplished His work, answered our prayers, strengthened our faith, and evaporated our dismal outlook.  Those  days remind us that sometimes we have to unwrap a lot of bummers to find the gift, to find the blessings. If it's one of "those" days, click here and listen: Blessings, by Laura Story

     Father, I can't wait to see how the day unfolds, but for now, please, help me remember "This is the day the LORD has made." Help me rejoice and be glad in it, regardless of what it seems to hold at this point. Lift the fog and remind me again that You work in mysterious, other-worldly ways.  Answer every need in Your time and way and help me trust You to do so with a joyfully comforted heart! You are the LORD, Who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone (Isaiah 44:24)  You design our days to bless others through us.

     In the Name of Jesus Who slept peacefully through the storms

Inspired by Live Love, by Max Lucado, and by the song "Blessings," by Laura Story

Friday, November 4, 2011 - Circle of Trust

     Two basic differences between the French and English languages are the gender articles (for example, "la," "le," and "les") and the fact that adjectives come after nouns in French instead of before nouns as in English ("la cuisine francais" vs. "French cuisine"). These differences represent a world of cultural differences from humor to etiquette between any two nations. Depending on our personalities, differences either kindle our fascination or provoke distrust.

    "My thoughts are completely different from yours," say the LORD.

"And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 

For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts."

 Isaiah 55:8

     God says there's a world of difference - no, a universe of difference - between our ways and His. Do these differences lead us to question His every move and to be suspicious of His Love and Faithfulness when things seem to fall apart before our eyes?  Or are we fascinated by the differences, spellbound by His superiority, and awed by His authority? Do we study the differences to replace our ignorance with understanding?

     Psalm 33 describes the circle of trust God wants us to enjoy with Him:

"Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise Him. . . 

For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything He does is worthy of our trust." 

Psalm 33:1 and 4

It may be simpler to understand if we turn the word order around like we do to translate another language. The circle of trust always begins with the Lord: 

1) "the word of the LORD holds true," 

2) therefore, "everything He (God) does is worthy of our trust." 

3) and it's always "fitting to praise Him"

4) by singing "with joy to the LORD" 

     Steps 1 and 2 never change, but are we holding up our end of this circle of trust or are we still questioning how well God holds up His end?

Father God, You deserve people who accept Your Faithfulness without question. You are worthy of our trust yet we give You grief and doubt instead. Forgive us and guide us to do what is always fitting for Your children to do: praise You with songs of joy. Help our unbelief and help us not to break this circle of trust.

In the Name of Jesus, "the radiance of His (God's) glory and the exact representation of His nature" (Hebrews 1:3 NASB)

Thursday, November 3, 2011 (Happy 13th Birthday, Nick!) - What a Beautiful Reflection on You!

"We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 

It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. 

Our only power and success come from God."

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NLT)

     "It's what's on the inside that counts." Yes, and, when we least expect it,  what's on the inside leaks right on through to the outside. Pent-up anger and bitterness can't be covered with expensive cosmetics, fake smiles or false piety.  Emptiness, fear and worry eek out to dim our eyes and furrow our brows. When darkness, apathy, or jealousy take root in our hearts they grow to cast shadows on the people around us.

     On the other hand: 

"Those who look to Him are radiant; 

their faces are never covered with shame."

Psalm 34:5

When we soak in God's healing and transforming Presence, He works from the inside to the outside, from our core to our expressions. The more we allow Him to work in us, the more radiantly we reflect His Glory. We're like those glow-in-the-dark stars that absorb light to glow in the dark: they shine brightly at first, but lose their power after a while if they don't soak in more light.   

"And as the Lord works within us, 

we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more."

2 Corinthians 3:18

The more we open ourselves to God, the more He shines through us as the One in charge of recharging us.

Light of the World, we open our hearts and minds to Your cleansing, healing, transforming Power today. Holy Spirit, please shine in us and may we naturally radiate Your Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-Control.  All our personally produced facades and lights prove thin masquerades. We want You. We want True Light and godly Love within us to pour out to the people You place in our paths.
In the Name of Jesus, the One people heard speak with authority, not like their other religious leaders who spoke as if their teachings were second-hand.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 - I Clean Forgot

"What I want instead (of animal sacrifices) is your true thanks to God; 

I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High. 

Trust Me in times of trouble and I will rescue you and you will give Me glory." 

Psalm 50:14-15  

"For You are great and perform great miracles. 

You alone are God." 

Psalm 86:10

  The sign for "forget" in sign language is to swipe your right hand across your forehead to symbolize that whatever might have been there left the premises.  This sign portrays a good old Southern phrase, "I clean forgot." To sign "remember" you hold your left fist in front of you, thumb up, while bringing your right thumb from your forehead to meet the left thumb. This sign signifies pulling something out of your mental file cabinet to look at it again.  (If I mangled the explanation, click here to watch a video of a really sweet teen-aged guy teaching these signs: How to sign "forget" and "remember" )                  
     Our spiritual short-term memory makes each immediate challenge appear bigger than any we've ever had to face.  This false perception leads us to question and doubt whether God can handle this one or not.  If we don't counteract the questions and doubts in time, they can cause us to clean forget every past hurdle God has knocked down, every wall He's burst through, the seas He's parted and calmed, heavy fog He's lifted, sicknesses He's healed, doors He's opened, mountains He's leveled and blankets of peace He's used to cover and comfort us.

     How can we prevent clean forgetting and be better rememberers? We can follow King David's example and recite and repeat what God has done from the beginning as well as what He can do now (see pretty much any Psalm by David).  When we share answered prayers, we're sealing in the memory. When we ponder and review each miracle God performs in our lives as it happens, we etch it into our memories before the cement hardens. When we revisit all the ways God's grace and personal ministries have strengthened us, we build immunity to spiritual short-term memory loss. 
     Father, You're incapable of being incapable! Mighty God of miracles, You perform daily miracles we appreciate for seconds because the next challenge looms ahead. Don't let us file these faith-shaping events away. May we guard and treasure Your Words and Your Ways as defenses against doubt. Cleanse our hearts of sin but clutter our minds with memories of every time You've ministered to us.
In the Name of Jesus Who never forgot what His Father-God could do


Inspired by Live Loved, by Max Lucado

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 (11-1-11) - Volunteered Attention

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. 

He delights in every detail of their lives.  

They stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hands.'' 

". . . Once I was young, and now I am old. 

Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread."

Psalm 37:23-24

     Nick reminded me of something I started learning a long time ago: one of the greatest gifts we can give other people is our full attention.  

     People who crave your attention loiter in your peripheral vision. Many of them don't feel worthy to ask for it so they remain aloof. Others don't know how to ask nicely so they "act-out" by creating drama, imagining a crisis, making demands based on spiritual "rights" as your brothers and sisters in Christ, or maybe they simply sulk to get the attention they crave.  Others  bend over backwards to please - to the point of discomfort on our part. Our survival instinct says "Run, Forrest, run!"  Run from the phone, the door, emails and texts!  We pull up our drawbridges and hope they give up and move on.  Something like this was happening to me one night when Nick asked me, "Why don't you email her first? It means the most when somebody you respect says "hey" first or when you say "hey" and they answer you like they're glad to see you."  Out of the mouths of nearly 13-year-olds!  

     He brought to mind the lesson I began learning when I was 34: It usually takes less "volunteered attention" to satisfy people than the kind they have to wrestle from us. I had wasted a lot of energy running from needy people and found that my "volunteered attention" satisfied the need to be significant to someone. How many times had my own heart been soothed and encouraged because someone I loved or wanted to know better took the initiative toward friendship  - or at least to be friendly.  Our hearts are soothed and we feel more equipped to do the same for others when our cups are full. 

     God sets the example of ultimate and supernatural "volunteered attention" in the verse at the top of the page (Don't try this extreme version at home; it's a God-only ability.):  He "delights in every detail" of our lives and He's the only One Who has the Power to do something about them. He says, "Needs? Bring them on!"  "Venting? I'm listening!"  "Pity party? I'll bring the popcorn."  Day or night, He's the go-to Friend Who gives us His full attention anytime. We can't bore Him or use up His compassion. He holds our hands to keep us from falling when we stumble, and best of all, He counsels us and helps us lower those drawbridges so we can again be useful in His kingdom as attention volunteers. 

    Lord, we're selfish creatures - always pulling into our shells or pulling up the drawbridges when others need us, but using every technique in the book to get other people to meet our own needs.  Forgive us and help us to bring every opportunity, burden, detail - to You for Your counsel.  You are our safe place - Thank You! You are the every-need God.  I'm so thankful our ONE God answers all requests and we don't have to keep up with which god or saint to pray to for different needs.  You delight us because You delight in every detail of our lives. We open ourselves for Your complete attention and we give You our complete attention.  

In the Name of Jesus Who took time to give His complete attention to demon-possessed and disease-ridden people alike