You have two different types of shoppers, in my opinion. The strategic shopper and the instant gratification shopper. Let's review the characteristics of each:
The strategic shopper is a careful observer of options and a hesitant decision maker. If the strategic shopper is in need of a green shirt, he or she will go to 800 different stores and try on every green shirt they can find, surveying price, fit, and shade of green, always hesitant to commit because there's always the possibility that at the next store they will find something better.
The impulse shopper goes into any store on any given day and may hit up the sale rack, finding a number of good deals, and walking out of the store with a blue skirt, purple heels, and a necklace. Which are all great buys and may or may not be needed or worn, but the impulse buyer is more likely to forget that the entire reason they went to the store was to get a green shirt, and now their budget has been spent. Alas, the green shirt will have to wait...
Most of us fall into both of these categories at different points in time, but I would say that we all tend to lean one way or the other as a general rule. I think the way we shop says a lot about the way we live our lives. Are we the strategist, that seeks and analyzes, surveying every situation before we act or commit, to the point of continual indecision? Or are we impulsive, looking at whatever is directly in front of us, and assuming that because it's there and seems too good to pass up that we should commit to it?
Both of these personality types are good and bad, having both strengths and weaknesses. To the strategist, I believe God spends most of his time trying to teach us to trust, to act, to not rely on logic and second guess everything, but to heed every opportunity. To the impulsive, God may be teaching us to wait, engage in prayer, ask for his guidance, to not be deceived by anything that's put in front of us.
There's got to be a fine line between the two. Because just as God knows our personality, because He created us, the enemy has studied our personality too, and is always searching for the areas of strategy and impulse in our lives so that he can lure us into a place that's either going to keep us from acting, or lure us headfirst into something that may look pretty but that we really don't need and may distract us or prevent us from attaining what we do need.
God has called us to grow and learn, and be fishers of men. And we obviously don't want to give the enemy too much credit. But the enemy is a fisher of men too. He is constantly shopping through the fishing lures at Academy Sports, thinking to himself "this white spinner lure would be perfect for val, this one will keep her involved in distractions, or maybe this jig lure will keep her second guessing herself so she doesn't do anything."
We all have areas of strategy and impulse in our lives, maybe we're strategic in finances and impulsive in relationships, or vice-versa. We only must keep in mind that we're going to be tested and tried in these areas, both by God who is trying to grow us and speak to us through them, and the enemy who's trying to use them against us. So next time you feel like you should go to 10 more stores stores searching for that green shirt, or you are distracted by the purple heels that you really don't need on your journey for the green shirt. Ask yourself where God is trying to call you to waiting or action, and where the enemy may be tempting you to do the opposite. Happy shopping!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Ripple Effect
What we do in life echoes in eternity - Gladiator
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
How often do we think about how much our actions really effect others? When we make decisions, or go about the course of our day, do we really take into consideration that everything we do can ultimately have a huge impact on those around us.
Everything in our lives is a product of the way we put our faith in action or our lack of action in the same area. Remaining submitted to God and His will, not only has a huge impact on our own well being but the well being of others.
Have you ever thought about the Pastor who falls, maybe he gets caught cheating, maybe he's caught in a lie, obviously the consequences are huge to him personally and spiritually. But have you ever stopped to think about the people he mentored, the people he lead to Christ, the marriages he ministered to, and all of the people inspired and challenged by this man?
Each one of us has the same responsibility, is called to the standard of a leader. We are all called to live our lives in a way that shares the love of Christ, that is pure and holy and upright. Because what we do, doesn't just effect us.
Everyone you encounter on a daily basis can be influenced positively or negatively based on the way you act out your faith. The person in the checkout line at Walmart that sees you wearing your churches t-shirt, will be influenced by your attitude and demeanor. Your best friend that's new to the faith will be influenced by how you execute yours and heed the Holy Spirit. The person that your dating that knows your a Christian but sees you fall into sin, or falls into sin with you. Your accountability partner that needs to be asked hard questions, and you don't. The person you dated and made promises that you didn't keep. The family that you've ministered to or lead to church that sees you making careless or emotional decisions. The people God wants you to minister to in the future, that need you to heed the holy spirit to find your way into their lives. The person you are supposed to marry, who will be your partner in ministry, who needs you to be walking in Gods will so you can meet. The person in your small group. The person you cut off in traffic. Your parents. Your co-workers. Everyone.
We tend to live our lives in such a selfish state that we convince ourselves that our setbacks, weaknesses, and sins only effect us. When in reality, and in the face of eternity, it's everyone else who really matters. We've been given grace, we've been redeemed, we've been given a plan for our lives. We've been given more than we could ever imagine or deserve already. And yet instead of surrendering to the will of God and walking in obedience, we so often choose our own paths and attitudes, based on our own limited knowledge or fickle emotions. It burdens my heart, because I am so guilty of it too.
It's like when you throw a rock into a lake, all of the water around it shifts outward. Every action we take, or refuse to take effects the people around us. But we've been given grace, freedom, power, and authority in Christ. And to whom much is given, much is required. We are called to a higher standard, we are called to walk in humility and put others first. We are called to prayerfully consider our actions, decisions, and emotions and submit them to God...because our heart, relationships, success, ministry, and purpose aren't the only things on the line, everyone else's are too.
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
How often do we think about how much our actions really effect others? When we make decisions, or go about the course of our day, do we really take into consideration that everything we do can ultimately have a huge impact on those around us.
Everything in our lives is a product of the way we put our faith in action or our lack of action in the same area. Remaining submitted to God and His will, not only has a huge impact on our own well being but the well being of others.
Have you ever thought about the Pastor who falls, maybe he gets caught cheating, maybe he's caught in a lie, obviously the consequences are huge to him personally and spiritually. But have you ever stopped to think about the people he mentored, the people he lead to Christ, the marriages he ministered to, and all of the people inspired and challenged by this man?
Each one of us has the same responsibility, is called to the standard of a leader. We are all called to live our lives in a way that shares the love of Christ, that is pure and holy and upright. Because what we do, doesn't just effect us.
Everyone you encounter on a daily basis can be influenced positively or negatively based on the way you act out your faith. The person in the checkout line at Walmart that sees you wearing your churches t-shirt, will be influenced by your attitude and demeanor. Your best friend that's new to the faith will be influenced by how you execute yours and heed the Holy Spirit. The person that your dating that knows your a Christian but sees you fall into sin, or falls into sin with you. Your accountability partner that needs to be asked hard questions, and you don't. The person you dated and made promises that you didn't keep. The family that you've ministered to or lead to church that sees you making careless or emotional decisions. The people God wants you to minister to in the future, that need you to heed the holy spirit to find your way into their lives. The person you are supposed to marry, who will be your partner in ministry, who needs you to be walking in Gods will so you can meet. The person in your small group. The person you cut off in traffic. Your parents. Your co-workers. Everyone.
We tend to live our lives in such a selfish state that we convince ourselves that our setbacks, weaknesses, and sins only effect us. When in reality, and in the face of eternity, it's everyone else who really matters. We've been given grace, we've been redeemed, we've been given a plan for our lives. We've been given more than we could ever imagine or deserve already. And yet instead of surrendering to the will of God and walking in obedience, we so often choose our own paths and attitudes, based on our own limited knowledge or fickle emotions. It burdens my heart, because I am so guilty of it too.
It's like when you throw a rock into a lake, all of the water around it shifts outward. Every action we take, or refuse to take effects the people around us. But we've been given grace, freedom, power, and authority in Christ. And to whom much is given, much is required. We are called to a higher standard, we are called to walk in humility and put others first. We are called to prayerfully consider our actions, decisions, and emotions and submit them to God...because our heart, relationships, success, ministry, and purpose aren't the only things on the line, everyone else's are too.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Pretty Words
"We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check." James 3:2
"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every carless word they have spoken." Matthew 12:36
How carelessly we use words... Most people when discussing this topic tend to focus on the negative words we speak, how destructive and hurtful they can be to the person who hears and receives them, but have you ever considered that the "positive" words we speak, should be spoken with equal caution and care?
The best illustration I can find for this is dating relationships. Most everyone can look back at a past relationship and see how carelessly words can be spoken. Maybe someone told you that they would love you forever, or that you were "the one." Maybe you planned on what you would name your children or where you would go on your honeymoon. Maybe you were the one making promises, maybe it was the other person in the relationship, perhaps both. But as the relationship is in the past, we all know how that turned out- with broken promises and broken hearts to follow.
I know that in past relationships, whether recent or long gone, people tend to look back and say "He/she was such a liar" or maybe "I only thought I loved her/him." Often time we speak pretty words to others based on emotions or circumstances, and obviously all pretty words aren't bad. But there comes a point where we have to reach a level of maturity that recognizes the power in empty words.
I know that I can say that in relationships, I don't speak words carelessly. I have never told someone I loved them and not meant it. But I have made promises that I was unable to keep, either due to circumstance, selfishness or that persons inability to let me keep those promises. I have always valued words, because I want the words spoken to me to be true.
I have always considered love a very black and white thing. You love someone or you don't. To me, love is also a consistent and infinite thing. If you love someone, you will love them the rest of your life, or you never loved them. But what does love really look like?
If someone tells you they love you all the time, but never make any effort to get to know you or spend time with you, does that equal love? If they are never willing to put you first, or sacrifice for you, does that equal love? If they always talk and never listen, does that equal love? If they never call or text, does that equal love? If they never open up the depths of their heart to you, does that equal love? I don't think so. It's funny because there are different love languages, and actually a primary one of mine is "words of affirmation," however I'm learning that no matter how many words I speak it's actions that really count.
I wonder how many times we speak pretty words to God and have no action to back it up. Of course we want God to do what He said He would do in his word, but we can sing songs of our love and make promises to him that we may or may not put into action. How often have we told God we loved him, adored him, or worshiped him and then haphazardly walked out of that service feeling better, but not putting those words into action in our lifestyle? How often have we told God that we were surrendering everything to Him, and then resumed the worries and stress of our life immediately after? How often have we told God that we were committed to His purpose, and then ignored opportunities he presents us or continued to make decisions based on our own logic or will? How often have we promised God that we would never (fill in the blank here) again, only to walk away and commit the same sin again?
All of the things that have hurt us in past relationships and friendships, are things we do to God every day. We look at the people who hurt us with anger or contempt and call them a "liar" or if we were the one who did the hurting we justify our actions based on where we were at the time. But God ALWAYS receives us with love and forgiveness, no matter how many times we try to smooth things over with pretty words and prove ourselves unfaithful. God made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Gods word is ALWAYS TRUE.
I hope that as I'm learning this, that my words to God, won't be pretty, but true. That my words won't hold the weight of my worship to God, but that my actions will. I want God to know that I love him because my lifestyle shouts my love for Him from the rooftops. I want my love for God to be a pursuit. I want to love Him the way that I hope my future husband will love me. I want to love God in a selfless, sacrificing, public spectacle kind of way.
If we can ever get to the place where we realize that true love is action, that loving God means action, that loving others means action. That kind of love is beautiful and unimaginable and brings a harvest of joy. My prayer is that my words will be guarded. That God will help me forgive the people who's "pretty words" have hurt me. That the people who I've hurt in the same way will forgive me. That there will be healing and caution in the future. That if there are promises I still have the opportunity to keep, that God will show me how to back them up. And most importantly that my life would be my worship to God, not just my words.
Currently Reading: The Power of the Blood of Jesus by Andrew Murray
"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every carless word they have spoken." Matthew 12:36
How carelessly we use words... Most people when discussing this topic tend to focus on the negative words we speak, how destructive and hurtful they can be to the person who hears and receives them, but have you ever considered that the "positive" words we speak, should be spoken with equal caution and care?
The best illustration I can find for this is dating relationships. Most everyone can look back at a past relationship and see how carelessly words can be spoken. Maybe someone told you that they would love you forever, or that you were "the one." Maybe you planned on what you would name your children or where you would go on your honeymoon. Maybe you were the one making promises, maybe it was the other person in the relationship, perhaps both. But as the relationship is in the past, we all know how that turned out- with broken promises and broken hearts to follow.
I know that in past relationships, whether recent or long gone, people tend to look back and say "He/she was such a liar" or maybe "I only thought I loved her/him." Often time we speak pretty words to others based on emotions or circumstances, and obviously all pretty words aren't bad. But there comes a point where we have to reach a level of maturity that recognizes the power in empty words.
I know that I can say that in relationships, I don't speak words carelessly. I have never told someone I loved them and not meant it. But I have made promises that I was unable to keep, either due to circumstance, selfishness or that persons inability to let me keep those promises. I have always valued words, because I want the words spoken to me to be true.
I have always considered love a very black and white thing. You love someone or you don't. To me, love is also a consistent and infinite thing. If you love someone, you will love them the rest of your life, or you never loved them. But what does love really look like?
If someone tells you they love you all the time, but never make any effort to get to know you or spend time with you, does that equal love? If they are never willing to put you first, or sacrifice for you, does that equal love? If they always talk and never listen, does that equal love? If they never call or text, does that equal love? If they never open up the depths of their heart to you, does that equal love? I don't think so. It's funny because there are different love languages, and actually a primary one of mine is "words of affirmation," however I'm learning that no matter how many words I speak it's actions that really count.
I wonder how many times we speak pretty words to God and have no action to back it up. Of course we want God to do what He said He would do in his word, but we can sing songs of our love and make promises to him that we may or may not put into action. How often have we told God we loved him, adored him, or worshiped him and then haphazardly walked out of that service feeling better, but not putting those words into action in our lifestyle? How often have we told God that we were surrendering everything to Him, and then resumed the worries and stress of our life immediately after? How often have we told God that we were committed to His purpose, and then ignored opportunities he presents us or continued to make decisions based on our own logic or will? How often have we promised God that we would never (fill in the blank here) again, only to walk away and commit the same sin again?
All of the things that have hurt us in past relationships and friendships, are things we do to God every day. We look at the people who hurt us with anger or contempt and call them a "liar" or if we were the one who did the hurting we justify our actions based on where we were at the time. But God ALWAYS receives us with love and forgiveness, no matter how many times we try to smooth things over with pretty words and prove ourselves unfaithful. God made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Gods word is ALWAYS TRUE.
I hope that as I'm learning this, that my words to God, won't be pretty, but true. That my words won't hold the weight of my worship to God, but that my actions will. I want God to know that I love him because my lifestyle shouts my love for Him from the rooftops. I want my love for God to be a pursuit. I want to love Him the way that I hope my future husband will love me. I want to love God in a selfless, sacrificing, public spectacle kind of way.
If we can ever get to the place where we realize that true love is action, that loving God means action, that loving others means action. That kind of love is beautiful and unimaginable and brings a harvest of joy. My prayer is that my words will be guarded. That God will help me forgive the people who's "pretty words" have hurt me. That the people who I've hurt in the same way will forgive me. That there will be healing and caution in the future. That if there are promises I still have the opportunity to keep, that God will show me how to back them up. And most importantly that my life would be my worship to God, not just my words.
Currently Reading: The Power of the Blood of Jesus by Andrew Murray
Friday, July 15, 2011
Are we missing it?
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us" Ephesians 3:20
This is a verse that many Christians stand on when they need faith, trust and inspiration during times of trial. Most of us think, "More than I could ask or imagine....AWESOME, I'll sign up for that!" However, I wonder if we aren't missing the main portion of the verse: "According to His power that is AT WORK WITHIN US."
Most of us know that, as we are made in the image of God, and God is a trinity (Father, Son, Spirit), we are also made of three parts Spirit, Soul, and Body. Our Spirits are redeemed by God when we are saved and God sends His Holy Spirit to reside with ours and give us guidance, wisdom and power to walk through daily life, fulfilling our purpose. Soul is the combination of our mind, will, and emotions, and the body is our physical body which houses our Spirit and Soul.
The Soul and Body, unfortunately, have a tendency to cause us quite a lot of trouble. Because, unlike our Spirit, which is made new instantly, Soul and Body are changed by God over time. It's a process of God ordering our circumstances to break our Soul and Body. It sounds harsh, to use the word "break", but it's a process of discipline. God the Father disciplines his children, just like an earthly parent disciplines their children so that they can learn and grow. The problematic point is receiving this discipline for what it is, an act of love. The world fuels our Soul and Body on a daily basis. Every thing around us screams at us to follow our emotions, logic, or will, and we can become so focused on body, everything from eating disorders to addictions can torment us. It's a constant tug-of-war between God and the world around us. God knows that he must order our circumstances to break down these things so that our Spirit can come forth and lead.
I wonder if we forget that in order for us to be in a place to recieve Gods amazing blessings and plans for us, Gods power has to not only be inside us, but it has to be able to flow forth freely from us. It doesn't matter if we house the power of God inside us, if our Soul or Body is calling the shots, and our spirit is trapped inside, we aren't going to be in a place to receive more than we can ask or imagine from God.
Imagine a cardboard box covering a lightbulb. Obviously it would be impossible to tell whether the light was on or off, unless there was a hole or break in the cardboard for the light to seep through. Now if we took that same box and then proceeded to punch holes all over it and tear it, the more damage we inflicted on the box, the more the light would shine through. But essentially, until the box is destroyed, they light can never flow forth in a pure and unhindered way.
I feel like this is where most of us are in our spiritual walk. The light flows forth from us in some areas, while in others, we are still hindered by our own will or logic that seems to always step in. Even when we have heard from the Lord, so often our own logic or strong will can cause us to take matters into our own hands or be disobedient.
What if we really submitted to the Lord EVERY DAY, saying "My choices are wrong, my logic is wrong, my will is wrong, I submit myself to Your discipline and I receive it. Have mercy on me Lord that I may truly trust in You alone." This is when God can finally work effectively in us to destroy our flesh so that His power, that is already inside of us, can flow forth into our lives and put us in the place to receive things that we can't imagine.
I know that I personally am not there yet, and I've got quite a long way to go. But I can look back over the past few years, at the tests and trials I've been through, and I can see where God was ordering my circumstances to strengthen my spirit in different areas. I can see the part of me that was lead in Spirit and I can see all of the failures of disobedience or self-reliance caused by my Soul or Body. But I know that only God can change and mold me, and that as I submit to Him and his discipline that only then am I in the position for His power to really come forth inside me and work in my life, and that by KEEPING this posture of submission that's when God will begin to bless me beyond what I can imagine, and I can imagine a lot...
Currently Reading: The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee
This is a verse that many Christians stand on when they need faith, trust and inspiration during times of trial. Most of us think, "More than I could ask or imagine....AWESOME, I'll sign up for that!" However, I wonder if we aren't missing the main portion of the verse: "According to His power that is AT WORK WITHIN US."
Most of us know that, as we are made in the image of God, and God is a trinity (Father, Son, Spirit), we are also made of three parts Spirit, Soul, and Body. Our Spirits are redeemed by God when we are saved and God sends His Holy Spirit to reside with ours and give us guidance, wisdom and power to walk through daily life, fulfilling our purpose. Soul is the combination of our mind, will, and emotions, and the body is our physical body which houses our Spirit and Soul.
The Soul and Body, unfortunately, have a tendency to cause us quite a lot of trouble. Because, unlike our Spirit, which is made new instantly, Soul and Body are changed by God over time. It's a process of God ordering our circumstances to break our Soul and Body. It sounds harsh, to use the word "break", but it's a process of discipline. God the Father disciplines his children, just like an earthly parent disciplines their children so that they can learn and grow. The problematic point is receiving this discipline for what it is, an act of love. The world fuels our Soul and Body on a daily basis. Every thing around us screams at us to follow our emotions, logic, or will, and we can become so focused on body, everything from eating disorders to addictions can torment us. It's a constant tug-of-war between God and the world around us. God knows that he must order our circumstances to break down these things so that our Spirit can come forth and lead.
I wonder if we forget that in order for us to be in a place to recieve Gods amazing blessings and plans for us, Gods power has to not only be inside us, but it has to be able to flow forth freely from us. It doesn't matter if we house the power of God inside us, if our Soul or Body is calling the shots, and our spirit is trapped inside, we aren't going to be in a place to receive more than we can ask or imagine from God.
Imagine a cardboard box covering a lightbulb. Obviously it would be impossible to tell whether the light was on or off, unless there was a hole or break in the cardboard for the light to seep through. Now if we took that same box and then proceeded to punch holes all over it and tear it, the more damage we inflicted on the box, the more the light would shine through. But essentially, until the box is destroyed, they light can never flow forth in a pure and unhindered way.
I feel like this is where most of us are in our spiritual walk. The light flows forth from us in some areas, while in others, we are still hindered by our own will or logic that seems to always step in. Even when we have heard from the Lord, so often our own logic or strong will can cause us to take matters into our own hands or be disobedient.
What if we really submitted to the Lord EVERY DAY, saying "My choices are wrong, my logic is wrong, my will is wrong, I submit myself to Your discipline and I receive it. Have mercy on me Lord that I may truly trust in You alone." This is when God can finally work effectively in us to destroy our flesh so that His power, that is already inside of us, can flow forth into our lives and put us in the place to receive things that we can't imagine.
I know that I personally am not there yet, and I've got quite a long way to go. But I can look back over the past few years, at the tests and trials I've been through, and I can see where God was ordering my circumstances to strengthen my spirit in different areas. I can see the part of me that was lead in Spirit and I can see all of the failures of disobedience or self-reliance caused by my Soul or Body. But I know that only God can change and mold me, and that as I submit to Him and his discipline that only then am I in the position for His power to really come forth inside me and work in my life, and that by KEEPING this posture of submission that's when God will begin to bless me beyond what I can imagine, and I can imagine a lot...
Currently Reading: The Release of the Spirit by Watchman Nee
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