In our backyard we have two side yards. The yard on the north side of our house does not get any sun, so in the rainy Northwest it often becomes the muddy play area where my daughters find worms, slugs and other wiggly creatures. The south yard is larger and we have planted grass on this side. But because it is not in direct view from our sliding glass door or windows it often gets neglected. My husband and I recently went out and noticed that weeds had grown in this side yard. A very large blackberry bush was in the middle off these weeds.
We decided to take an evening and clean out the weeds. Armed with rakes, shovels, clippers, and a wheelbarrow for the debris, we headed out to tackle the job. Some of the weeds came up easily. The roots were not very deep or they hadn't been around long enough to establish a firm hold. Those were quickly disposed of. Some were a but harder. They required that we put on our gloves, find the base and pull them up. We had to check and make sure we got all of the roots. A few of these middle weeds had started to grow large. Their roots were large and they were starting to become firmly established. But with a little more effort we were able to remove these as well. Finally we came to the Blackberry bush. First we cut off all of the branches. These were full of thorns and our arms became scratched as we disposed of the limbs. Soon our yard was looking really nice. But we were not finished. To the passerby our yard looked clean and empty of weeds but to us we still saw the root bases that needed to be dealt with. We found the base of the blackberry bush. It was very large and firmly rooted. Using our shovel we started digging it out. We cleared the root and placed our shovel underneath it. that is when I discovered something completely unexpected. This think root had roots shooting out all over our yard. As we pulled up the main root we found off shoots.
As we followed these offshoots to make sure everything was up I was struck how similar this project was to sin. Many times we leave areas of our lives neglected. We reason that no one sees this part of my life so I don't have to worry too much about it. All of us have areas of our lives that we are more susceptible to temptation. Our enemy knows these areas too. We have to get out our tools and go to work. Not by ourselves but with our heavenly Father. Some of the sins will be easy to get rid of. They have not had time to take root. Others will be a little harder. We will have to really pull and make sure we get all of the root. But some sins have had a long time to take root and have spread their tendrils into other areas of our lives. Maybe its lying and we started just by telling little lies but it has grown and now we lie to our boss, souse, friends and family. Perhaps it is with our internet use. We know we should not go to certain sites. At first it was only once or twice a week. Now it is daily and we spend time plotting how to spend even more time. Maybe it is our anger. or spending, or overeating. Whatever the sin is you can not remove it by yourself. Only God can help you. He may send friends into your life to hold you accountable. He may require that you give something up. He will pull the weed and follow the tendrils until it is fully extracted.
A wise person knows that a clean life is the best way to live. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
A Wise Shift
So often in our lives we look at our circumstances. The pile of work on our desk that keeps getting bigger. The children that are about to get out of school for the summer. The lack of communication in your marriage. The illness our doctor just found. The addiction we can not seem to overcome. And we become overwhelmed and discouraged. We can not see a way out, the task is too large. Our spirits fall. We do not know what to do.
I was recently reading 2 Chronicles chapter 20. It was a great example of what we can do when we feel overwhelmed by life. The people of Judah have learned that a great army is on the way. The king called all of the people together to pray. The first step we need to take is to pray. This may seem simple and too easy but if we are facing sure defeat God is the first place we should turn.
Admit to God that you are overwhelmed. As the king and the people prayed they said , "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." if you are a control freak like me admitting that you do not know what to do is hard. Admitting that you are feeling defeated and powerless against the circumstance.That you can not fix this on your own is a freeing feeling. I can do all things (love when I do not like, forgive when I have been wronged, be patient when I am in a hurry) through Christ who gives me strength.
Next find some encouragement. After they had prayed a man in the crowed called out, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the horde. For the battle is not yours, but Gods." Amazing. Do not fear the horde of paperwork, the horde of children, the horde of silence, the horde of illness, nor the horde of addiction. You will not be defeated by the Horde. The battle is not yours but Gods. you are not fighting this battle alone. You don't even have to fight it. It is Gods and he is not afraid or discouraged.
If you know someone facing a struggle find a verse and e-mail it, text it, leave it on their voice mail. Often times we do not know what people are facing but be an encourager. Scripture is full of encouragement. Pick one and share it. Write it out an place it in a spot that you will see. Be encouraged the battle belongs to God.
The army goes out the next morning and is told to take up their positions, stand firm and watch the deliverance the Lord will give you. The army had to show up. We can not stand by and expect a magic solution. We have to do what we need to.We have to go to work. We have to take care of the children. We have to love our spouse. We have to look at our medical options. We have to seek recovery. But we are not responsible for the outcome of the battle. The deliverance comes from the Lord.
Finally, the army sings praises, not after the battle there was too much to plunder, but as they were waiting and facing the enemy they sang, "Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever." Praise even if the horde grows bigger. Praise even when you feel discouraged. Praise.
This is not a magic cure that if you follow these steps your problems will vanish. They may not. But you will have surrendered, been encouraged and praised. Your focus will shift from the Horde to the Lord and that is a good place to be. And that is a wise shift.
I was recently reading 2 Chronicles chapter 20. It was a great example of what we can do when we feel overwhelmed by life. The people of Judah have learned that a great army is on the way. The king called all of the people together to pray. The first step we need to take is to pray. This may seem simple and too easy but if we are facing sure defeat God is the first place we should turn.
Admit to God that you are overwhelmed. As the king and the people prayed they said , "For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you." if you are a control freak like me admitting that you do not know what to do is hard. Admitting that you are feeling defeated and powerless against the circumstance.That you can not fix this on your own is a freeing feeling. I can do all things (love when I do not like, forgive when I have been wronged, be patient when I am in a hurry) through Christ who gives me strength.
Next find some encouragement. After they had prayed a man in the crowed called out, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the horde. For the battle is not yours, but Gods." Amazing. Do not fear the horde of paperwork, the horde of children, the horde of silence, the horde of illness, nor the horde of addiction. You will not be defeated by the Horde. The battle is not yours but Gods. you are not fighting this battle alone. You don't even have to fight it. It is Gods and he is not afraid or discouraged.
If you know someone facing a struggle find a verse and e-mail it, text it, leave it on their voice mail. Often times we do not know what people are facing but be an encourager. Scripture is full of encouragement. Pick one and share it. Write it out an place it in a spot that you will see. Be encouraged the battle belongs to God.
The army goes out the next morning and is told to take up their positions, stand firm and watch the deliverance the Lord will give you. The army had to show up. We can not stand by and expect a magic solution. We have to do what we need to.We have to go to work. We have to take care of the children. We have to love our spouse. We have to look at our medical options. We have to seek recovery. But we are not responsible for the outcome of the battle. The deliverance comes from the Lord.
Finally, the army sings praises, not after the battle there was too much to plunder, but as they were waiting and facing the enemy they sang, "Give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever." Praise even if the horde grows bigger. Praise even when you feel discouraged. Praise.
This is not a magic cure that if you follow these steps your problems will vanish. They may not. But you will have surrendered, been encouraged and praised. Your focus will shift from the Horde to the Lord and that is a good place to be. And that is a wise shift.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Bog
Psalm 40: 1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
You are walking through life, it seems smooth. There are no pits that you can see. You have a plan, you have your future mapped out. Your singing a song. The song about all you have accomplished. All you have done for others, done for yourself. Suddenly you slip and find yourself sinking into the slimy bog. You struggle, sure that if you can reach a limb or branch you can climb out yourself. As you reach, you sink a little deeper. You begin to panic. You struggle more, and sink more. Finally you stop. You feel panicked. This time no one is going to come. This time the slimy pit is going to overtake you. You realize that since you have stopped struggling you are not sinking as fast. Up to your chest in muck and mire you know that help needs to come soon. How did this happen so fast? I was on solid ground just a little while ago. You begin to cry out, "Help me, anyone. Please help me." Now up to your neck you are sure that this time you are not going to be rescued. This time the bog is going to overtake you.
But then the Lord turns, hears your cries and walks over. He looks at you, slowly sinking, and without a word reaches down into the slim and pulls you out. He places you on a safe place. Strong ground that is far enough away from the bog their is no chance of slipping back in. You are crying, upset and ashamed. Your covered in the residue from the bog. He begins to clean you up. He scrubs the slim off your feet. Gives you a new set of clothes. Washes your face. You look down and notice that your clothes are white! There is no more reside. No more dirt or slim. A new look. New shiny clothes. You begin to sing a new song. A song that tells about the Lord who rescued you. All who hear it look to your Savior.
How often do we find ourselves stuck in a bog. Sometimes a bog of our own sin and bad choices. Sometimes the bog is distress, sadness and hopelessness. We struggle trying to find a way out. We plan, scheme, or force an issue. We make promises and we hope that this will help us escape. But we sink further. And finally we resign ourselves to be overtaken by the bog. We become desperate and we cry out. The Lord hears our very first cry and turns. He sees us. Not the bog, not our surroundings. He sees you. He comes and without difficulty he reaches in and lifts us out. He places us in a safe place. He cleans us up. Finally he replaces our song of sin, of sadness, of anger and of hopelessness. He helps us refocus. We stop looking at ourselves and we see Him. Our songs change. They point to the only one who could have rescued us. The only one who could change our situation is God.
Whether your bog is a marital problem, finances, family issues, or sin the only way out is by crying out to the Lord and waiting patiently for him to see you. He will, the bog will not overtake you.
You are walking through life, it seems smooth. There are no pits that you can see. You have a plan, you have your future mapped out. Your singing a song. The song about all you have accomplished. All you have done for others, done for yourself. Suddenly you slip and find yourself sinking into the slimy bog. You struggle, sure that if you can reach a limb or branch you can climb out yourself. As you reach, you sink a little deeper. You begin to panic. You struggle more, and sink more. Finally you stop. You feel panicked. This time no one is going to come. This time the slimy pit is going to overtake you. You realize that since you have stopped struggling you are not sinking as fast. Up to your chest in muck and mire you know that help needs to come soon. How did this happen so fast? I was on solid ground just a little while ago. You begin to cry out, "Help me, anyone. Please help me." Now up to your neck you are sure that this time you are not going to be rescued. This time the bog is going to overtake you.
But then the Lord turns, hears your cries and walks over. He looks at you, slowly sinking, and without a word reaches down into the slim and pulls you out. He places you on a safe place. Strong ground that is far enough away from the bog their is no chance of slipping back in. You are crying, upset and ashamed. Your covered in the residue from the bog. He begins to clean you up. He scrubs the slim off your feet. Gives you a new set of clothes. Washes your face. You look down and notice that your clothes are white! There is no more reside. No more dirt or slim. A new look. New shiny clothes. You begin to sing a new song. A song that tells about the Lord who rescued you. All who hear it look to your Savior.
How often do we find ourselves stuck in a bog. Sometimes a bog of our own sin and bad choices. Sometimes the bog is distress, sadness and hopelessness. We struggle trying to find a way out. We plan, scheme, or force an issue. We make promises and we hope that this will help us escape. But we sink further. And finally we resign ourselves to be overtaken by the bog. We become desperate and we cry out. The Lord hears our very first cry and turns. He sees us. Not the bog, not our surroundings. He sees you. He comes and without difficulty he reaches in and lifts us out. He places us in a safe place. He cleans us up. Finally he replaces our song of sin, of sadness, of anger and of hopelessness. He helps us refocus. We stop looking at ourselves and we see Him. Our songs change. They point to the only one who could have rescued us. The only one who could change our situation is God.
Whether your bog is a marital problem, finances, family issues, or sin the only way out is by crying out to the Lord and waiting patiently for him to see you. He will, the bog will not overtake you.
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