It's been awhile since I've written a post about a life lesson with spiritual application. Oh, do I have one for you today!
My daughter, Rachel, has been driving for a few months now. Everyday she drives herself and her sister to school, then she drives herself to and from swim practice six days a week. She knows two ways to get to swim practice, but any deviation from her departure or arrival location and she has no clue what way to go. Both her father and I have impeccable sense of direction, so we are unsure where her lack of direction comes from ;)
Today she ran an errand after school and on her way home she came across stand still traffic. Mind you, she was a mere two miles away from home, so she was definitely on her own turf. Patience is a fruit she has yet to manifest consistently. Instead of waiting through the traffic she decides to turn off onto another road.
Now that's all well and good with one slight problem, she doesn't know where she is going! Should she? Yes. Remember, she was only two miles from home.
My phone rings. "Mom, there's a wreck and traffic wasn't moving, so I turned off and now I don't know how to get home." Hmmm...I didn't hold back my frustration, unfortunately, I slammed her with it...you see, this happens more often than I would like...we get a phone call with her lost and us having to talk her through directions to get back to a point of reference she is familiar.
Ok, so you're probably thinking a GPS would be a perfect Christmas gift. I agree, but back to the spiritual lesson Holy Spirit showed me from this.
How many of us in our Christian walk find ourselves on the path being directed by Him? We know we are going the right direction, we can hear and see Him beckoning us forward. We have vision. Inevitably somewhere along the road we can count on a few bumps, a few obstacles, challenges, distractions, etc. The truth is He has not moved, He is still calling us forward, but because of the "bump" we lose our focus and for any number of reasons we decide to take a different path. Problem is without vision (direction) we don't know where we are going and get lost.
Thankfully, Holy Spirit is always there to help us get back on the right path. Just as I was on the other end of the phone directing Rachel back home.
I shared this analogy with Rachel and she laughed and said, "that's so me!" I encouraged her to slow down, think things through and just because she comes across traffic congestion doesn't mean she needs to turn and go another way, especially if she doesn't know another way!
In our Christian walk I think the "bumps" are opportunities. Opportunities to encounter and know Him, trusting Him to guide our steps. Through this process comes maturity.
Have you gotten off the path? No reason to panic. Simply ask Him where to go from here. He'll show you what steps to take!
Holy Spirit I thank you for Your direction. I thank You for Your patience with me when I decide to take a detour. I thank You for always lovingly pointing me back to the Father. You are my global positioning system (GPS) and though sometimes I may feel lost, I'm not, because I am secure in the palm of Your hand and this makes MY SOUL SING!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
My thoughts on Election 2012
Unless you're living under a rock, you know today is November 6th. It is Election Day in these great United States of America. The day we, the people, go to the polls and cast our vote for the man we want to lead our country for the next four years.
I make no claims that what I am about to share is theologically, politically or even socially correct. I'm not looking for agreement, but merely sharing my heart.
Yes, I voted, early actually, for which I am grateful. It is not the point of this post to tell you who to vote for...in fact, I hope to write this post with complete impartiality.
My heart is grieved today. I woke up with a heaviness, a deep sadness. Not because I fear the outcome of today's election...I am actually quite at peace there. My heart is grieved because the body of Christ is impaling each other and this time it's over Republicans versus Democrats.
I have lost count of the numerous posts on social media over the last weeks with believers demonizing (for lack of a better word) those on the opposite side. Many times believers accusing believers. Posing questions like, "How can a believer vote for a man, when he is for killing babies, anti-Israel and pro same sex marriage?" Or, "Jesus said to help the poor, my candidate does that." "I'm voting for the man most consistent with Biblical values." Of course they go on to claim that God's man is their man.
Now, I've been nice with these examples. I've seen far more vitriolic posts than these. Some posts are finger pointing, some are angry, some are sarcastic, some are arrogant, but the underlying current in much of them is fear. Fear that if their man is not elected their future is less than secure.
Do you fear your future? If I look at the current economic and moral culture around me, I might fear my future, too. So, instead, I choose to look to the kingdom of heaven, believing 'on earth as it is in heaven'...my eyes focused on Jesus. I can assure you He's not a Republican or a Democrat. He's also not wringing His hands in heaven, wondering if us silly people will get it right.
Body of Christ, are our tirades, accusations and such doing anything to influence people or are they just making them bitter toward the God we are suppose to represent? Last I checked the best way to influence people is by building a relationship with them and sharing our hearts, without an agenda. When unbelievers see us going at each other, judging one another for their party affiliation, they want no part of our God.
Like I stated in the beginning, I'm merely sharing my heart. I believe loving and honoring one another doesn't come with a pre-requisite of agreement...that's the point of this post. As the body of Christ we need to focus on loving each other, I don't think demonizing people for their beliefs is a very effective means of communicating love.
My Soul Sings because I have peace that is not of this world. My Savior was put into office over 2000 years ago and He never changes. His ways are just and His law is love. He has assured me of my victory, my hope in Him is secure. He is for me. No man can separate me from my identity in Christ. There can be chaos and confusion around me, but within me there is a peace that calms the fiercest of storms. I serve a good and perfect King, His name is Jesus. I hope you know Him. He loves you very much!
Get out there and vote! Personally, I look forward to tomorrow morning when all this tension is hopefully behind us. I will pray for whomever is elected to lead this country...cause he's going to need them!
I make no claims that what I am about to share is theologically, politically or even socially correct. I'm not looking for agreement, but merely sharing my heart.
Yes, I voted, early actually, for which I am grateful. It is not the point of this post to tell you who to vote for...in fact, I hope to write this post with complete impartiality.
My heart is grieved today. I woke up with a heaviness, a deep sadness. Not because I fear the outcome of today's election...I am actually quite at peace there. My heart is grieved because the body of Christ is impaling each other and this time it's over Republicans versus Democrats.
I have lost count of the numerous posts on social media over the last weeks with believers demonizing (for lack of a better word) those on the opposite side. Many times believers accusing believers. Posing questions like, "How can a believer vote for a man, when he is for killing babies, anti-Israel and pro same sex marriage?" Or, "Jesus said to help the poor, my candidate does that." "I'm voting for the man most consistent with Biblical values." Of course they go on to claim that God's man is their man.
Now, I've been nice with these examples. I've seen far more vitriolic posts than these. Some posts are finger pointing, some are angry, some are sarcastic, some are arrogant, but the underlying current in much of them is fear. Fear that if their man is not elected their future is less than secure.
Do you fear your future? If I look at the current economic and moral culture around me, I might fear my future, too. So, instead, I choose to look to the kingdom of heaven, believing 'on earth as it is in heaven'...my eyes focused on Jesus. I can assure you He's not a Republican or a Democrat. He's also not wringing His hands in heaven, wondering if us silly people will get it right.
Body of Christ, are our tirades, accusations and such doing anything to influence people or are they just making them bitter toward the God we are suppose to represent? Last I checked the best way to influence people is by building a relationship with them and sharing our hearts, without an agenda. When unbelievers see us going at each other, judging one another for their party affiliation, they want no part of our God.
Like I stated in the beginning, I'm merely sharing my heart. I believe loving and honoring one another doesn't come with a pre-requisite of agreement...that's the point of this post. As the body of Christ we need to focus on loving each other, I don't think demonizing people for their beliefs is a very effective means of communicating love.
My Soul Sings because I have peace that is not of this world. My Savior was put into office over 2000 years ago and He never changes. His ways are just and His law is love. He has assured me of my victory, my hope in Him is secure. He is for me. No man can separate me from my identity in Christ. There can be chaos and confusion around me, but within me there is a peace that calms the fiercest of storms. I serve a good and perfect King, His name is Jesus. I hope you know Him. He loves you very much!
Get out there and vote! Personally, I look forward to tomorrow morning when all this tension is hopefully behind us. I will pray for whomever is elected to lead this country...cause he's going to need them!
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