Conversations in the car

Is honesty a hard character trait to come by? It has become clear to me through prayer and real self searching that I am not always the most honest person.

Shocked? I was.

No, I don’t have a problem with lying. And, no, I probably haven’t been deceiving you or leading you on. Yes, I really am your friend, and things I share with you are most likely true. Where’s the dishonesty, then?

Really, it’s been with myself. And with God. In an effort to better our relationship I’ve been thinking a lot about how to be more honest with God about what is going on – how I’m really feeling or what I’m really thinking. And that forces me to be honest with myself.

And it’s not always pretty. Or easy. Or nice. And I’m uncomfortable with that.

So in an effort to practice “honesty,” that’s what I told God in the car today. And it wasn’t so bad. It was real, and that felt good.

Is there something you’ve been putting off telling Him, because you hate to admit it to yourself?

Psalm 24: A Psalm of David

the question, “Who is this King of glory?” kept coming to mind this morning…

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, 
     the world, and all who live in it;

 for he founded it upon the seas 
     and established it upon the waters.

 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? 
     Who may stand in his holy place?

 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, 
     who does not lift up his soul to an idol 
     or swear by what is false.

 He will receive blessing from the LORD 
     and vindication from God his Savior.

 Such is the generation of those who seek him, 
     who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
     Selah

 Lift up your heads, O you gates; 
     be lifted up, you ancient doors, 
     that the King of glory may come in.

 Who is this King of glory? 
     The LORD strong and mighty, 
     the LORD mighty in battle.

 Lift up your heads, O you gates; 
     lift them up, you ancient doors, 
     that the King of glory may come in.

 Who is he, this King of glory? 
     The LORD Almighty— 
     he is the King of glory. 
     Selah

this needs to be stored in my heart and memory.  does anyone have a favorite translation to suggest for memorizing this psalm?

Jesus: Security Guard

I’d like to share a bit of what God has been teaching me lately through my vocation – my work in the auto industry as an engineer.  As many of you might be aware, times are tough for the Detroit Three…for various economic reasons.  And, to be honest, the dynamic of my work environment has changed dramatically over the past few months.  Low morale, hightened urgency, insecurity.  Just. Not. Enjoyable.

My company has been working to cut 10-15% of their white collar costs.  Cost cutting sounds very neat and tidy, but what it really means is people losing their jobs.  Roughly 1 in 10.  And yes, I’m a little nervous about it!  Looking ahead into uncertainty can elicit fear, anxiety, and uneasiness.  But through this time, God has been faithful to walk with me through my workday.  Everyday.  My ears have been shielded from many negative conversations, and at key moments I’ve been blissfully unaware of much of the ick going on around me.  He has sustained me, reminded me that my security is in Him.  He’s brought to memory examples of his past faithfulness to help me endure the current season in my life.  He knows me.  He knows that I need Him, and He is gracious and willing to help.

I’m in “constant prayer” mode as soon as I walk in the doors, wondering who’s desk I will find newly empty.  Will I be handed a box today, and walked to the door?  Who’s family needs prayer today, as they get the bad news phone call?  Emontionally draining.  But with God as my stability, I also see a group of people needing hope.  This “crisis” close to home has opened my eyes to the crisis easily ignored.  The people of my city who need the same hope that only a Savior can offer.  Eternal hope.

Being more drained than usual has given God the opportunity to fill me up in more ways than I knew how to let him.  What a crazy journey I’m on.  How can I wish it were over, and be excited that it’s happening, all in the same thought?  I am more firmly grounded on my savior, the Rock, the guard of my security.

Looking forward to the weekend of ministry ahead, and the workweek of ministry to return to.  God is good.  Better than I deserve.

Has God used a “crisis” or similar time to teach you something?  What was it?  How did He show His faithfulness?

Right between the eyes…

The  most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing you ought to follow at all costs. There is not one of them  which will not  make  us  into devils if we  set it  up as an absolute guide.  -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Book One

Have you ever been prayerfully struggling with something, and no matter what book of the Bible or other study resource you happen to turn to, they all say the same thing?  Now, call me crazy…(CRAZY!)..but I don’t think its coincidence. 

And it’s comforting to me to be hit between the eyes over and over with this, because I know God hears me, and He’s trying to teach me something.  What relief, that he hears.

 

Every word of God is flawless; 
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.  Proverbs 30:5

Unrest and M&Ms

I am not rested unless I spend time with God every day.  I’ll sleep through alarm clocks. I’ll be generally grumpy, tired, and unsettled all day, regardless of how much sleep I actually get.  This is God’s way of getting my attention, and I’ve only recently made the connection between the God time – sleep time – tired factor . 

Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” 

Exodus 33:12-15

I don’t want to lead anything, I don’t want to go anywhere, without Him.

______________________________________

So I spent some quality time with my creator, and regained focus.  On my way home from church I stopped at one of the markets on the way.  I didn’t know at the time, but I had an appointment with a woman named Pamela.  She asked me for change on my way in.  I’m normaly cashless, told her so, and went into the store to buy what I needed.  Persistant Pamela asked me again when I exited, even asking me to check my car. 

“What does she need?”  So I asked her.  She said she needed some pennies for lunchmeat and cheese to eat.  “That I can do..not the pennies, but the food.”  We went inside, and I got her food and a drink.  She watied outside while I checked out.  In perhaps a childish gesture of love, I added a bag of m&ms to the meager dinner.   I prayed with her outside of the store, asked God to protect her, help her find a safe place to sleep, and help her know who He is.  She needed Jesus more than the food.  I hope she saw Him in me. 

And I hope she likes chocolate.

 

A Mere Professor

Already challenged today, and it’s not even noon yet. 

Choosing professors wisely is essential in college.  They have the ability to make or break your educational experience.  Though out of school for over a year, painful memories remain of the semester of Statistics I went through, actually passing the class with a 40%.  Whoa nellie.  After that, I never turned down advice on choosing professors.

Merriam-Webster’s first definition of professor is “one that professes, avows, or declares” something.   And a good general definition of profess is: “to declare or admit openly or freely”.  So a professor is someone who declares something openly.  In academia, professors have doctorate degrees, and declare mathematical theorems or elements in classical British literature.  But you don’t have to work at a university to be a professor.  In fact, you most likely are one.

For instance, I profess knowledge of materials science.  I profess love for my husband.  I profess affection for the Green Bay Packers.  And I profress Christ as the Son of God.  I’ll declare these things freely in any setting.  That makes me a professor.  Ok, so what?

Well, I was reading today in Judges 3, and was intrigued by vs. 1-7.  The nations which remained after Israel was to have driven them all out of the promised land were used by God to test his people.  I clicked over to the Matthew Henry commentary available in youversion.com, and was hit between the eyes by what he had to say about this:

Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen the graces of believers in their daily conflict with Satan, sin, and this evil world. They must live in this world, but they are not of it, and are forbidden to conform to it. This marks the difference between the followers of Christ and mere professors. The friendship of the world is more fatal than its enmity; the latter can only kill the body, but the former murders many precious souls.

Go back and read that again.  (I had to.)

Professor is a title I’ve always associated with the well educated.  A title of respect and privilege.  But today the Holy Spirit as asked me to examine myself.  Am I a “mere professor” of Christ…?  Does he get my lip-service only?  Do I have the appearance of Biblical education, but not a heart devoted to Christ?  This professor is not someone to be respected.   Being a “mere professor” of Christ makes you a “mere hypocrite” (if there is such a thing). 

Ick.

Yeah.  That has been me.  Praise God for his grace and forgiveness. 

Seeking the world’s enmity.   Following Christ. 

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16