Monthly Archives: September 2013

When You Wish Upon A Star

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I grew up a Disney kid. The original Disney Mouseketeers were a bit older than me, but not that much. The original Disney World in California was pretty new and Disney-themed movies were readily embraced as a clean, safe, wholesome view for the entire family. Life as a child was filled with wishing on stars, wishing wells, saying “birthday wishes” before blowing out candles, following leprechauns and wishing for a pot of gold, and all sorts of other Disney ‘magic.’ (That is a whole other blog topic!)

I’m not anti-Disney and I don’t mean to pop any childhood fantasies, and I am all FOR fostering creative imagination. But it has given me pause to reflect on how our “cute” childhood traditions actually sometimes convey a subtle and pervasive belief system that has lasting effect on us. When whimsical, mystical fantasies become our mantra, we act these out in opposition of the truth of real hope. As with any message that is not based on truth, it has an erosive effect that acts COUNTER to faith-based beliefs. We recently were discussing how this leads us to maintain meaningless superstitious comments like “good luck”, “good wishes”, “knock on wood,” and such. Comments like these seem harmless enough but in fact betray evidence of a faith-based life.

It is kind of like a nervous giggle in response to something we know deep down isn’t right or beneficial.

Some of you may be thinking, “Wait. Hold on. It’s not that big a deal. Let kids enjoy being a kid, even if it means believing in things that are not true. They can learn later on it was just pretend.” You might be right. I know there is much debate among believers about the Santa and Easter Bunny stories. But I see how pervasive some of this thinking has been in my life and how it continues to sneak into my language from time to time. And perhaps it even influences how we pray, with more of a ‘wish’ than a real expectation that God is actually listening and is already orchestrating His answer! I don’t think it is something we should regard with condemnation, but maybe it is a point of awareness and a teaching moment to be true to ourselves, and to let our thoughts, our speech and our actions respond according to the truth of real hope, and not fanciful and superstitious wishes.

Everyone believes in something. Let’s continually examine our faith and live like we believe it. Just make sure it is strong enough to lean your whole life on, now and for eternity, and that it serves as a faithful teacher to others, especially the children. Live real.

“Let God be found true.” Romans 3:4

The Integrated (Not Balanced) Life

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Have you ever tasted two cakes made from the same recipe and discovered that one is much tastier and more satisfying to the appetite than the other? Or gone to the same restaurant and ordered the same meal at two different times and discovered what a difference the touch of the chef makes?

As much as we often talk about having the right ‘ingredients’ in our life or the proper “life balance”, I’ve often struggled with that concept actually working very effectively. We try to get “enough” of this and that in our lives: enough work, enough family time, enough time for chores and hobbies, hopefully some quiet time, time with friends, time with God, and time to reflect on the impact of our life and our dreams. And it IS wise to make sure we prioritize our thoughts and actions to make sure these vital elements aren’t robbed by other worthless endeavors. But have you ever felt this ‘balancing’ act leaves life feeling torn apart into pieces rather than made peacefully whole?

Wilbur Reese wrote a tongue in cheek poem years ago about wanting to buy just three dollars worth of God:
Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep,
But just enough to equal a cup of warm milk, or a snooze in the sunshine.
Just ecstasy, not transformation.
The warmth of the womb, not a new birth.
A pound of the eternal in a paper sack.
(Excerpts)

We might be better to replace the ambition of a perfectly balanced and compartmentalized life with a blended, integrated life, lived with one purpose throughout our various activities, a life of integrity and passion, intentionality and consistency. As Myron Rush pointed out, the enemy’s greatest lie is to convince us we can separate our ‘secular’ and our spiritual lives with a little bit of one and so much of that. The truth is we have just one life to live fully and with consistency.

Like making bread or cakes, the FULL amount of ingredients of life must be blended, not just ‘balanced in proper proportions.

“Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

Remember

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In one edition of an old Wizard of Id cartoon a man walked into the pharmacy saying he wanted to pick up his memory pills. The pharmacist answered, “I gave those to you yesterday.” To which the man replied, “I want my money back!”:-)

Memory problems are often no laughing problem. They can present real dilemmas. When we lived in Australia, we met a real gentleman, who had spoken seven languages fluently before a stroke took that away one day, leaving him with only rudimentary communication abilities in his primary language. Recently in the news, a man who spoke English all his life, woke up one day speaking only Swedish; doctors couldn’t figure out a cause and he subsequently immigrated to Sweden to start a new life, unaware of any family he might have elsewhere. Another man, after surgery, couldn’t remember being married to the beautiful woman standing by his hospital bed. When Marcia’s dad was alive she would have to remind him who she was. It would come back to him in a few minutes…until the next visit when she would lovingly help him remember again.

Have you ever contemplated what it would be like to experience such a scenario where you couldn’t remember the most important things in life? If you had a choice of being able to remember one or two things what would you ask God to always retain in your memory? I know what mine are. Today is a good day to commit to a lifetime of important memories!

Years ago Dr. James Dobson commented that God designed our brains to never forget. That even in devastating situations like Alzheimer’s, the brain remembers, especially the most important things, but a problem is caused that inhibits accessing the information. Disease, stress, and being preoccupied with too many things may contribute to “memory loss.” But what causes us to “forget” our path in life and our true loves? How is it we are able to “walk away” only to later need a long and difficult journey back to the point we rediscover our heart’s desire?

God prompts us all throughout His Word, “REMEMBER. I AM the Lord Your God.” It seems we have a penchant for going our own way throughout the day, and sometimes throughout periods of our life. We forget to go to Him first with problems. We forget that His purpose for us to draw close to Him, not just to get through difficult times. There have been times I have forgotten that I am really a strong and eternal spiritual being with a very fragile and temporary physical body, not the other way around.

Why does a daily habit and lifetime pursuit of ‘remembering’ God make a difference? Isn’t this the key to remembering everything else that is important to our life pursuit? To truly love my spouse, my children, *and* those around me?

Let’s commit to remembering God throughout the day so He can shine His light on the other important aspects of our life!

Focus

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Recently, a movie about the end times reminded me that we are sometimes so preoccupied with our day-to-day life that we become quite unaware or numb to our future and of the current events that will affect us all. All our plans for the future could be interrupted at any moment. The opposite seems also true: we sometimes become so wrapped up in worrying about the future, perhaps to the point of paralysis, that we lose the power to live today to the fullest. I don’t know about you, but there have been times I have fallen on both sides of that fence.

We made a determined choice very early with this cancer experience that we weren’t going to let it control us or let it determine who we are. That proved to be a vital goal, however achieving it has been sometimes very challenging because difficult circumstances demand a certain amount of attending to. Many times I have not done well at all toward this, but I am doing better.

If you are dealing with a long-term trial, you know what I mean. It may require a considerable amount of your time and attention just to attend to the very real issues that present themselves. But at the same time, too much focus on self is a very slippery slope that draws us away from resting in God’s presence and also draws us away from mutually beneficial interactions with others. It IS hard to surrender/deny self and it is a daily challenge. But getting away from self and focused on others and time with God, remembering the hope we have in Him…perhaps these are the best relief we can find to our own sorrows and our path to peace. At the same time it opens the door for others to discover that same peace.

It seems we always have this tension between attending to our needs and our need to look beyond our immediate sphere and attend to the events and people around us. I think that is why God designed us to need to spend time with Him daily and throughout the day. We need breaks not just from our work, but from our striving to control our life, breaks to see our life in perspective of His plan.

I hope your day is filled with times to regain focus, to reconnect with God, and to invest in others. Maybe a “focus” sticky note would be a good reminder.

“In you oh Lord I put my trust. Show me your ways. Guide me and teach me.” Psalm 25

Encourage One Another

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There are a number of “one another” passages in the bible that we are encouraged to carry out. One of them is “encourage one another.” I have come to realize over the years and especially this last year with cancer/Leukemia, that everyone needs encouragement. How important it is that we treat others with kindness because everyone is facing a tough battle of some kind. Even if you are a person of great faith, encouragement spurs you to press on in your pursuit of the object of that faith.

I remember when a young friend of mine was dying of cancer at Mercy Hospital 20 years ago, we took up 24 hour prayer vigils to stay in the room with him. When he was awake he said he really valued us reminding him of scripture and hymns. It was a real battle for the mind for him, between the medications and the pain, to stay sane and to remember God’s promises. I have likewise really appreciated the scriptures others have brought to my mind during this journey.

We are so thankful for those who have and continue to encourage us through our journey with Leukemia. Some came at some expense to others; others just required a caring heart. Here is just a sampling of encouraging acts:
Personal visits!
Handwritten notes of encouragement
Reminders that people are praying and people praying (being remembered is big!)
Phone calls and texts and emails to “check in”
Relaxing music CD
A preloaded iPod shuffle
Someone called and asked if they could visit…with milkshakes! Another with ice cream.
A desert, snack assortment, meal, or fresh made bread…even a potluck dinner that was fun!
iTunes gift card (music can have healing properties)
A gas/grocery card and other donations
A handmade shawl for warmth
Pet care while we were in the hospital
People helping out without us having to think of something. They just stepped forward. Someone raked our front yard; another fixed a door; another mowed our lawn all summer, another completed an electrical project for us. I want to remember when I get stronger, if leaves are falling or there is snow on my drive, it is falling on someone elses too!

How many ways can YOU think of to encourage others around you? I’d love it if you’d add a comment/reply to this blog with your ideas!

It is all part of seeing others through God’s eyes and living a life of passion and meaning! Be encouraged… YOU make a difference in others’ lives!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

How To Build A Life

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I was reading a short article about a couple of entrepreneurs, Seth Goldman and Barry Nalebuff, who started the organic Honest Tea Company and are also the co-authors of “Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently and Succeeding.”

I was interested their foundational principle:

Have an unshakable belief in your product. Build something you’re passionate about … build something you believe in, not just something that you believe in 50 percent of the time.

Doesn’t that strike at your inner core about the essence of how we should build our lives…by knowing and living what we believe in 100% of the time. In my former job, not just a few of my conversations with my employer surrounded the topic of how business analysis, objectives, and strategies best represented our core values, in both small and big decisions, and in not only business but our personal interactions as well. Of course, just like real life, we don’t always get this right, but knowing and living your core values matters!

In business and in life, we have a choice of course. We can momentarily turn away from our core values to achieve what seems like advantageous short-term gains. We can ignore those values and take the easiest path available to us that avoids conflict (temporarily). Or we can embrace our true beliefs with intentionality and use them as a moral compass to guide us through challenging environments. This latter choice is a definition of faith-based living. We live by faith in what we believe, all in, without reservation. To borrow martyred missionary Ed McCully’s phrase, we live with ‘reckless abandon’ for what we believe 100% in. In his case, it was reckless abandon for Christ, whatever the cost.

Do you have an unshakable belief in something that you are so passionate about 100% of the time? One that motivates you to intentional daily actions based not on convenience or entertainment but on the intentional path set by your moral compass? One that guides you steadily through difficult waters and fills you and others with great joy during smooth sailing? One that matters most of all at the end of this life and the beginning of the next?

Really believe God and choose wisely, friends. He believes in you.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

“I should have…”

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A large sign for the Peace Corps in the Chicago airport used to read, “Never have to start sentences with ‘I should have.'”

Today is a good day to build on your life foundation.

What is it that at the end of your journey, you want to make sure you DON’T say, “I should have?”

“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Things pets teach us

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Is it just me or have you also noted how God seems to have created animals with a special ability to display His splendor and grace, especially in relationship with us humans? The YouTube video “Proof That a Lion Never Forgets” and “The Friendly Lion” are two short but quite touching accounts of reunions of lions with their rescuers years later, well worth a short view.

I have always been impressed with the way God created dogs and cats to display at least what appears to us as unconditional love and acceptance, forgiveness and appreciation. Have you seen the video of the dog going absolutely bonkers in adoring the return of his master from the war? Wow, that we should be so overjoyed at the thought of spending time with our Master!

Additionally, I’ve noticed that pets have often dealt with pain and sorrow with a more ready acceptance of the facts than I might typically muster. Of course, I don’t know really what goes on in their hearts and minds, but it always seemed to me that God gave Teako, Felix, Ulysses and our other pets the grace to carry on, and seemingly with a certain resolution and contentedness even when hurt. Have you noticed that with your animals?

He gives that same ability to us, and much more, but it seems that maybe we struggle more with the process. I know I have in this past nine months. But, as you know, He is good to never leave us, even if we FEEL He might have. His faithfulness and promise of lasting hope for the future and power to over come now is exceedingly real and personally offered to us. Honestly, some days we have done better than others at acknowledging and accepting this. But the free offer is always there.

And if God was so gracious to display His extraordinary love and kindness and gentleness in the heart of a beloved pet or a wild lion, imagine His desire to fill you today with His same gentle love.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.” Titus 3:1-2

Two Views

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Have you ever noticed how some people appear to be so blessed with good health, wealth, close friendships, good jobs, homes and more? (It is indeed a dangerous and slippery line of thinking so we won’t stay here long.) But really, do you ever think that and ask, “Why don’t I have MORE?” (As if more of the world would really make us happier.)

And have you ever had God suddenly flip the switch of your thinking to consider, “Why is it that MOST the world has so very little? And so very much pain, barely eking out a meager existence at best with no evident opportunity to escape the bonds of poverty and despair? And why do I have SO MUCH?” I am free to live in relative comfort even with Leukemia, receive good medical treatment and access to safe and affordable food and water and shelter, worshipping in freedom, while other Christians are persecuted and tortured, even to death. It certainly gives us pause for consideration about our complaining and a prompt to give thanks for our blessings – every single day!

But is it good enough to settle with, “There but the grace of God go I?” Are the words of Isaiah meaningful to us today? “And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” (Isaiah 58:10) And in chapter 61 (excerpts): the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor, to bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, a garment of praise instead of despair. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from the darkness for the prisoners. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.”

Doesn’t that last image convey the message of a legacy based life? Whether we are focusing on the financially and physically poor of the world, or those around us who are bound up in their broken-heartedness, the image of our role in strengthening and encouraging others is a powerful one of real transformation. It speaks of our role in aligning with God to help others become oaks of righteousness, a planting for the display of God’s splendor!

What legacy do you want to leave? It is built in our day by day living and how we consider those around us and those around the world. Even if we think we have little, we have really so much to share and to pour into the legacy we leave. Live well today, friends.

Follow Your Heart?

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Have you ever received or maybe even given this advice? You’re facing a difficult decision, fraught with anxiety and not sure which direction to turn, and someone comes up and says, “Just follow your heart.” Is this good advice?

If we trust our hearts to be good and just and wise, we may consider this to be a good alternative to the confusion of following our minds. After all, there is this thing called “irrational rationality” that is created when we think and think and finally convince ourselves something is right when it is not. Say the word ‘rationalize’ really slowly and you will come to hear “rational lies” that we and others tell us. So in that context, listening to our heart may seem a good alternative. But what does God say about that?

Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Acting out of passion is zealous but not always wise. Can you remember times when you or a loved one acted out of the passion of their heart and regretted the outcome? I have done this, even sometimes when doing a good thing, but rashly and not getting God’s counsel on the matter first. And I have followed my heart to bad things too.

Psalm 139:23 offers a measured approach: “Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.” The one who created us, knows our thoughts when we rise and when we lay down. He knows the condition of our hearts and He alone can reveal to us and convict us of our innermost thoughts and motivations. His point of view clarifies truth when all around there seems to be confusion. He brings peace to our heart when it seems at war. He stills us and leads us when we feel like we are being rushed and pushed in different directions, He calms us when we are obsessed, and convicts us of both the wrong and the right in our hearts.

Isn’t it GOD’s heart we need to pursue and not our own? After all, His heart pursues us! We were on His mind when He laid the foundations of the earth, He created us and knit us together in our mother’s womb, He sent His son to rescue us while we were still sinners. There is no getting our act together and THEN coming to God. He came out running after us while we were still astray. God has a heart that loves us more than we can imagine and His love never fails. His heart has good plans for us, plans for real hope and a good future.

Don’t follow your heart; follow God’s heart.

“You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with ALL your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13