When this blog was started, I committeed myself to one entry per month. I was doing better than that, then January hit, and there was a crisis and it seemed like God was inspiring me to use song lyrics to blog about faith and things.
Fast forward ... crisis over ... there are still great songs out there (Born Again, Hold my Heart, and anything by TFK/FM Static - its just so bouncy!) but yet I find myself blogging less. I said to myself, I'm just not "inspired", but you'd think that not being in a crisis or helping a friend through a crisis or witnessing a crisis on TV would be incredibly inspiring. I mean whats more inspiring than being safe and happy and contented?
This past Sunday my pastor spoke on the Bible Basics of Knowing God's Will (I do the sermon slides so the title does have to be in that initial upper case :o). And it got me thinking about writing ...
I used to think that if God wanted me to write, then He would just fill my head with stuff and I'd translate it to paper (or pixels as the case may be). After all, thats how most of this blog came into being. But maybe that thinking is backwards - maybe if I want to write for God I ought to just write ... its not rocket science after all. I don't have to be all profound and whatnot.
Maybe God knows I love to write and have been doing it since junior high - with notebooks filled with stories no one will ever see - and here is one opportunity to write and actually have people read it [waving to our "fan" now].
And what could be more inspiring than an opportunity to do something I love and maybe pass on a little of God's love and life experience along the way.
Hmmmm ... I'm kinda feeling inspired now. I bet there is a song lyric for that!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
So where's your stupid?
Its been a while since I've posted. I'd like to say that I've been busy researching the next great idea in the Christian blog-o-sphere, or that I've been so deeply involved with my Bible studies and my small group and my deeply profound quiet times that I haven't had time to to write about it - I was too busy doing.
Unfortunately none of those is true ... I've just been doing other stuff, things that may or may not have kingdom value (although I am still trying to figure out how to make card making a ministry!)
One of the things that does take up my time is reading blogs - mostly paper crafting ones, but a few Christian bloggers who alternate between profoundly serious and hysterically funny. John Acuff is one of those - he writes at Stuff Christians Like.
Today he wrote about when he takes small steps toward stupid.
This was one of the profoundly serious and deeply moving entries he does on Wednesdays. Got me thinking ... what are my steps toward stupid?
Do I discount them or am I just a better Christian than Mr. Prodigal John - sorry I can't even write that without snickering. I know I discount them - brush off the adventures into thought patterns that are of no value and can become damaging to both myself and to those around me.
That's my biggest step - living in my head. Thinking thoughts that have no bearing on reality. That leads me right to stupid ... to that place where I miss a step and get caught in free fall. Or worse yet take a hit and spiral down to that dark and airless void that lives at rock bottom.
To avoid this I know I need my quiet times. I need to be in serious prayer. I need fellowship. When its a struggle I need accountability.
So where's your stupid?
Unfortunately none of those is true ... I've just been doing other stuff, things that may or may not have kingdom value (although I am still trying to figure out how to make card making a ministry!)
One of the things that does take up my time is reading blogs - mostly paper crafting ones, but a few Christian bloggers who alternate between profoundly serious and hysterically funny. John Acuff is one of those - he writes at Stuff Christians Like.
Today he wrote about when he takes small steps toward stupid.
This was one of the profoundly serious and deeply moving entries he does on Wednesdays. Got me thinking ... what are my steps toward stupid?
Do I discount them or am I just a better Christian than Mr. Prodigal John - sorry I can't even write that without snickering. I know I discount them - brush off the adventures into thought patterns that are of no value and can become damaging to both myself and to those around me.
That's my biggest step - living in my head. Thinking thoughts that have no bearing on reality. That leads me right to stupid ... to that place where I miss a step and get caught in free fall. Or worse yet take a hit and spiral down to that dark and airless void that lives at rock bottom.
To avoid this I know I need my quiet times. I need to be in serious prayer. I need fellowship. When its a struggle I need accountability.
So where's your stupid?
Monday, June 1, 2009
Indescribable
Watched a video this weekend called Indescribable - it was a talk by Louie Giglio on the Indescribable tour (Thanks Ben for bringing the video along on the camping trip!).
It was all about creation declaring the glory of God. He showed examples of pulsars and nebulae and centers of star systems from the Hubbell space telescope. Mr. Giglio made the comments that each time we create a larger/better/ more powerful telescope we see more things that we've never seen before - how God is encouraging us on so we can see just how great He is, how creative, how powerful.
Mr Giglio also mused about how the sounds emanating from a pulsar could just as easily be that star calling out "He is great! He is awesome! He is God!"
Later after the video our little camping group was sitting down by the lake. The geese were all stirred up - honking and calling to each other. Someone in the group (I think it was Ben again) started calling out "He is awesome", "He is great", "He is ..." fill in the blank with a character trait of God. It was so cool to think that all the commotion may have really been creation declaring the wonders and power and majesty of the Creator.
I used to think "oh just be quiet" when I heard the birds making noises in the morning. After all they were waking me up - usually quite a while before I wanted to be awake!
But after this weekend I think "yes you are right - He is awesome and powerful and good and just and ..." and I join in the chorus and sing along, praising my Creator.
It was all about creation declaring the glory of God. He showed examples of pulsars and nebulae and centers of star systems from the Hubbell space telescope. Mr. Giglio made the comments that each time we create a larger/better/ more powerful telescope we see more things that we've never seen before - how God is encouraging us on so we can see just how great He is, how creative, how powerful.
Mr Giglio also mused about how the sounds emanating from a pulsar could just as easily be that star calling out "He is great! He is awesome! He is God!"
Later after the video our little camping group was sitting down by the lake. The geese were all stirred up - honking and calling to each other. Someone in the group (I think it was Ben again) started calling out "He is awesome", "He is great", "He is ..." fill in the blank with a character trait of God. It was so cool to think that all the commotion may have really been creation declaring the wonders and power and majesty of the Creator.
I used to think "oh just be quiet" when I heard the birds making noises in the morning. After all they were waking me up - usually quite a while before I wanted to be awake!
But after this weekend I think "yes you are right - He is awesome and powerful and good and just and ..." and I join in the chorus and sing along, praising my Creator.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Just Be
Its been a while since we've posted here. Life just got busy ... you know how that goes. Work and church and small groups and service projects and homework and kid activities and ... the list goes on and on. It never seems to end if you add laundry and housework and pretty soon yard work into the mix.
But with all that's going on its good to take time out to spend time with God. Take a walk - not a power walk, more of a stroll. Look at the trees and flowers and chirping birds ... be amazed by all the differences our creative God built into the world around us.
Think about how they came to be ... God spoke them into existence. A single word from the Creator and everything was.
Don't get so busy that you forget that.
Dont get so busy that you miss God's love in amongst all the scheduled appointments. He's got a sunrise (or sunset) just for you. Take some time to enjoy it and just be ...
Friday, March 27, 2009
Your Love Remains
Your Love Remains
Words and Music by Steele CroswhiteWhen I don’t feel it
When I don’t give it
When I don’t want it…your love remains
When I don’t see it
When I am sinfulWhen I am winning…your love remains
When I am waking
When I am working
When I am resting…your love remains
When I am doubting
When I am fighting
As I do worry….your love remains
When I am tired
When I am broken
When I am resistant…your love remains
When I am lonely
Or when I’m surrounded
When I am uncertain…your love remains
When I am tempted
When I am mourning
When I am waiting…your love remains
When I am restless
When I am indifferent
When I am un-focused……your love remains
When you renewed me
When you restored me
When you redeem me…your love remains
When you come claim me
When this life is over
In your arms forever….I will remain
When I am working
When I am resting…your love remains
When I am doubting
When I am fighting
As I do worry….your love remains
When I am tired
When I am broken
When I am resistant…your love remains
When I am lonely
Or when I’m surrounded
When I am uncertain…your love remains
When I am tempted
When I am mourning
When I am waiting…your love remains
When I am restless
When I am indifferent
When I am un-focused……your love remains
When you renewed me
When you restored me
When you redeem me…your love remains
When you come claim me
When this life is over
In your arms forever….I will remain
I think I could add "when I am wrestling" and "when I'm rebelling" to the list.
Sometimes its the simple truths that impact us the most. God will never leave us or forsake us. No matter how we feel, no matter what we think. God loves us!
I think Steele's song says it all. God bless!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Think On These Things
...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things --Philippians 4:8
Often times I find myself having arguments in my head ... representing both sides. I can get pretty angry imagining what people might say. "Practicing" I used to call it. Or "Rehearsing". So I'd be ready ... but I don't think its good to be "ready for a fight" like that. It just whips up the negative emotions that might already be present. It keeps that grudge or that slight alive in your mind and that gives Satan a foothold.
Instead we are encouraged to think on things that are noble and pure, excellent, praiseworthy. The Bible falls into that category and because I want to be in the word more I've been going through Philippians pretty much since January. I just keep reading through it and getting blessed with new nuggets of wisdom each time.
There was 1:9 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight"
and 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"
Then I found 2:3. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
I wanted to write down all of Chapter 3 ... I haven't found just a single verse in that chapter that seems more impacting than the others. The whole thing just hits me in the heart.
And of course 4:8 .... the more I've been reading the deeper it seems to get. I've never read the Bible over and over. I'll read it, but not dwell on it. I'm kind of digging the "dwelling" part.
I'm not going to expound or exhort on these verses. I'll let you ponder them for yourselves. Maybe for you, like for me, they will just address where you are at the moment you are reading them and offer guidance and direction.
You may be surprised there isn't a song lyric in this blog. But there is a song to go with this one ... Think On These Things by Petra (from the No Doubt CD).
I'll let you look that one up yourself (http://www.metrolyrics.com/think-on-these-things-lyrics-petra.html)
Often times I find myself having arguments in my head ... representing both sides. I can get pretty angry imagining what people might say. "Practicing" I used to call it. Or "Rehearsing". So I'd be ready ... but I don't think its good to be "ready for a fight" like that. It just whips up the negative emotions that might already be present. It keeps that grudge or that slight alive in your mind and that gives Satan a foothold.
Instead we are encouraged to think on things that are noble and pure, excellent, praiseworthy. The Bible falls into that category and because I want to be in the word more I've been going through Philippians pretty much since January. I just keep reading through it and getting blessed with new nuggets of wisdom each time.
There was 1:9 "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight"
and 1:27 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel"
Then I found 2:3. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
I wanted to write down all of Chapter 3 ... I haven't found just a single verse in that chapter that seems more impacting than the others. The whole thing just hits me in the heart.
And of course 4:8 .... the more I've been reading the deeper it seems to get. I've never read the Bible over and over. I'll read it, but not dwell on it. I'm kind of digging the "dwelling" part.
I'm not going to expound or exhort on these verses. I'll let you ponder them for yourselves. Maybe for you, like for me, they will just address where you are at the moment you are reading them and offer guidance and direction.
You may be surprised there isn't a song lyric in this blog. But there is a song to go with this one ... Think On These Things by Petra (from the No Doubt CD).
I'll let you look that one up yourself (http://www.metrolyrics.com/think-on-these-things-lyrics-petra.html)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Falling Up
Do you ever put people up on pedestals? The more highly you think of them, the more you idealize (or should I say idolize) them, and the higher the pedestal goes.
Until it falls.
Until your hero comes crashing to the ground in a rush of humanity, because the one you put up
there to admire is, after all, human.
I was convicted on that recently when I realized that I was making an idol of a friend. I thought the world of this person and when the fall came it shook me to the core.
The fact that this person sinned seemed inconceivable ... but how unrealistic is that. And how unfair. We, all of us, have sinned (and fall short of the glory of God) and God's grace covers us all. Jesus sacrifice paid the price for every one.
So this time instead of wallowing in whatever you wallow in when you are disappointed, I gave it to God. Don't think that was as easy as it sounds, though. I wrestled with it - knowing mercy was needed but in my heart wanting justice instead.
But God is gracious - He took my doubts, my concerns, my fears, my disappointments and whispered "Trust me". I fell up into the arms of my Savior and received the peace the truly does surpass all understanding.
As I learn to trust more deeply and more consistently what I know is true, I know that peace will stay - for all the storms that surely lie ahead.
Until it falls.
Until your hero comes crashing to the ground in a rush of humanity, because the one you put up
there to admire is, after all, human.
I was convicted on that recently when I realized that I was making an idol of a friend. I thought the world of this person and when the fall came it shook me to the core.
The fact that this person sinned seemed inconceivable ... but how unrealistic is that. And how unfair. We, all of us, have sinned (and fall short of the glory of God) and God's grace covers us all. Jesus sacrifice paid the price for every one.
So this time instead of wallowing in whatever you wallow in when you are disappointed, I gave it to God. Don't think that was as easy as it sounds, though. I wrestled with it - knowing mercy was needed but in my heart wanting justice instead.
But God is gracious - He took my doubts, my concerns, my fears, my disappointments and whispered "Trust me". I fell up into the arms of my Savior and received the peace the truly does surpass all understanding.
As I learn to trust more deeply and more consistently what I know is true, I know that peace will stay - for all the storms that surely lie ahead.
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