christianity – Page 29

Checking the Brain Wires

²Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV)

I did a goodsearch on “brain transformation” and learned about the interesting and extensive science dedicated to this concept: brainwaves and rebuilding after traumatic brain injury.

I followed that up with a goodsearch of “renewing your mind” and was taken to a multiplicity of sites focused on the biblical passages associated with changing thought patterns and attitudes.

The Message tells us: Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.

I like the Phillips translation: Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within.

So from this I glean the world wants to shape us, and wants that shape to be so natural we respond without even thinking. And what is our best defense against this?

The renewing of our mind. Letting God do the rewiring work. Work that is from the inside out.

One of the first things we need to allow God to show us is the lies we have believed. If we are to know the truth that sets us free, we have to identify the lies we have allowed to shape us.

Here’s the biggest problem with those lies: they sound like truth. Consider the lies the serpent told Eve. The serpent twisted what God had told Adam just enough to make it sound logical…just enough so Adam would doubt what he knew. He bought the lie and we’ve been paying ever since.

Definitely not funny “haha”…

So our challenge today is to start the process of not living in the lies.

PRAYER: God who wires us and wants to shape us, forgive us for our easy believism, our willingness to trust the lie without testing it or taking it to you. Will you begin to show us the lies we have bought in to…and rewire and mould us to you. AMEN.

What Do You Think?

As I sit on my porch at dawn with a cup of tea, I find I am deep in a sea of sound. The birds’ sweet song fills the air with such mirth that my heart brims with joy. The crisp, fresh air seems to come at me in waves rich with the dew’s kiss.

Each sense seems to be tuned to the full love of God for all in His world. I can’t help but join the song: “Then sings my soul, my Christ, my God to Thee, How great thou art!”

These words share the truth of the Psalm scribe’s pen:

¹O Lord, our Lord, your great name fills the earth! Your fame flies to the end of the skies. ²You have taught kids and babes to tell of your might, you stop the mouths of your foes and all who fight with you. ³When I look at the night sky, see the work of your hands—the moon and the stars you set in place—⁴what are mere men that you should think of them, your works that you should care for them?

⁵Yet you made them a bit less than God and put a crown of worth on them. ⁶You asked them to care for all you have made, and put all things ‘neath their rule—
⁷the flocks, the herds and all the wild beasts, ⁸the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all that swims in the seas’ waves.

⁹O Lord, our Lord, your great name fills the earth!

To pray: Hear my song of joy this day and take my gifts of awe. You are true and great. I find rest in the fact that I am your child.

(I wrote this devotion a few years ago. I misunderstood the instructions, but liked the result enough to keep it. My goal, as I understood it, was to write a devotion using only one syllable words. What I ended up doing was really thinking through what the Psalmist was trying to say about God, and about his relationship with God. I share it with you to encourage you to do that hard work of “having the mind of God.” We’ll talk more about that this week.)

No More Frogs

One of God’s favorite words is Today.

Today if you hear his voice….

Today is the day of salvation…

Give us this day (today) our daily bread.

Jesus preached on this so we would get it right: Don’t worry about tomorrow!

So it probably shouldn’t surprise us the enemy is all about tomorrow.

(I don’t think they were this cute or friendly, but you get the idea.)

My favorite story to illustrate this is in Exodus 8. This is where we read the story of the plague of frogs. There are frogs E.V.E.R.Y.W.H.E.R.E. In the bed. In the stove. Under the cushions. In your sink.

You can’t walk without squishing one.

Moses asks, “Have you had enough.” Pharaoh wants them gone. Moses asks when.

Now here’s where it gets interesting. One would think Pharaoh would jump at the opportunity and use his authority to tell Moses get them gone right now!

But, no. He says, “Do it tomorrow.”

WHAT?!

Why on earth would he want to spend another moment, let alone another day, living his life overrun by frogs?

I don’t understand…but I see it all the time. What makes us think tomorrow is a better day than today to change? Why would we choose to live with self-inflicted pain and sin one more day? I don’t know…but we do.

So here’s the challenge for the week. Pay attention to what you put off, whether it’s a minute, an hour, or a day. And let’s chose to live by God’s word whenever possible.

We’re living for today!

PRAYER: God of the present. God of today. Help us to not put off what we know we should do. Help us to waste what we have (today) by reaching for something that may never be ours (tomorrow). Make us uncomfortable with the the things we keep in our life so that we won’t put off changing. Very few of those things we hold on to are worth the pain. Show us where we’re hoarding frogs, and help us get rid of them today. Amen.

Taste, Test, and See

A few days ago, my wonderful husband surprised me with a trip to Chipotle for dinner. He had a gift card. We love that we can buy a meal and turn it into two or three.

Lots of other people love Chipotle, too. The line was pretty long, but we don’t mind the wait. I used the time to scan the menu board. Here’s what caught my attention:

I never noticed this before, probably because I get the chicken every time. I was intrigued…but not enough to risk my dinner and next day’s lunch on something I wasn’t sure about.

As we were just about to check out, an unusual boldness bubbled up, and I asked the gal slathering the guacamole on my bowl if I could have a taste of the sofritas. It was no problem for her. She passed a cup to the sofritas scooper, he put a very large scoop in the cup, stuck a plastic fork in it, and handed it to me with a smile.

Once we were seated, I tasted the new stuff. I started with a little nibble. I had never heard anything good about tofu. I watch a lot of Food Network and Top Chef shows and no one ever says, “Oh goody, tofu!” Not without sarcasm.

The texture was a lot like the chicken I always get, and with all the spices…I couldn’t tell it wasn’t my regular fare.

But I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t tried it.

Did you know that God wants us to give him a try?

Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him. (Psalm 34:8, NET)

When I came to faith I likened it to the old “Nestea Plunge.”

https://youtu.be/3pPR004UWQo I thought I had to fall into God totally.

God knows that doesn’t work for everyone. So try him. The old hymn says, “For I’ve trusted, and tested, and tried him, and I know his promise is true.”

Scripture includes several examples of times when God wants his people to take steps towards him. I learned the joy of giving because of God’s invitation to test him: “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all.” (Malachi 3:10, NET)

So whether it’s the beginning of our faith journey, or at a new learning juncture, God wants us to know he can be trusted. He will pass the test.

PRAYER: God, thank you for knowing sometimes we need to sample your greatness before we can take the plunge. Thank you for your goodness and faithfulness in all the areas of our lives. Amen.

Springtime Snow?

I was so excited to celebrate I wore spring colors and grabbed a light weight sweater. Before I left for work I took the dogs out for their morning duty

and it was snowing!

The deflating of my spirit could be felt all the way to Cleveland.

This has been one of the top five coldest and snowiest winters in the last thirty years. And I was ready for it to be done.

But it was snowing.

Can you relate?

As I was driving to work, I was just about to express my displeasure to God in prayer, when it occurred to me it’s still the first day of Spring! An occasional snow squall or ice storm or even freezing rain will happen–because that’s what Spring is.

Spring is the greening time: grass and trees. Spring is rain that brings flowers…and mud. We get to the end of Spring and we’re praying for summer’s warmth and fun. And then we want Autumn’s cooler temps and glorious display of color.

But without winter..without that season of rest and death…there would be no Spring.

So I hear you thinking, “What on earth does this have to do with Lent or seeing God?”

Well, I recall Job mused on this and his response to his wife’s disgruntlement with the way things were going down was, “Shall we take the good and not the bad?”

Pretty gutsy for a guy who lost everything, was covered with boils, and surrounded by some unsupportive friends. But it’s probably because in spite of it all, he learned this truth: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

The apostle Paul also got it. He’s the one who said: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

Notice this: it doesn’t say all things are good. Paul is clear that this amazing, lavishly loving God, is able to make all the things–good, bad, or otherwise–work together for our good.

And here’s what I know about Spring snow: it doesn’t last!

PRAYER: God of seasons, change, and time. Forgive our reluctance in accepting the disappointments of life and not seeing your hand at work in it ALL. Help us to trust that you are working, using ALL things for our good and your glory.

Romper, Bomper, Stomper, Boo

I look forward to #TBT. Are you familiar?

On social media, #TBT stands for Throw Back Thursday. When you see it on Facebook it’s usually followed by a picture from someone’s youth or childhood.

Get ready to travel back.

When I was a kid, I learned right from wrong watching Romper Room. Before I had ever heard of the Ten Commandments, I knew the Do Bee Song by heart.

But the thing that had the most meaning for me from that show…was the Magic Mirror.

I would sit in front of my TV waiting…hoping for Miss Nancy or Miss Sally to say my name.

And she never did. Ever.

I felt unnoticed. I wanted to know somebody saw me.

Then I found this scripture:

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1, NLT)

God loves us that much. But wait, there’s more.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3:1, NIV)

He knows our names because we are his children. His extravagantly, lavishly, unfailingly loved children.

So you can have your Magic Mirror. I knew it wasn’t real anyway. Thankfully, God’s love is.

Buying Happiness?

I’ve always heard, “You can’t buy happiness.” But this morning I was scrolling through potential apps for my NookHD+ and I came across this:

And not only can I buy happiness, but I get another app free.

When I started writing this post I wanted a graphic of the old happiness quote, so I went searching. I found countless quotes suggesting you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy something (chocolate, bikes, coffee, books, or tea…and those were the family friendly options…) that’s pretty close to it. Most of them were cute and maybe a bit tongue in cheek, but this one really troubled me:

Really?

The problem with happiness is that it is typically associated with a particular circumstance or emotional response to an experience. What God promises is something far deeper and way more lasting: joy. That’s why James could write: ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4, NIV)

We don’t need an app or a t-shirt to help us find joy. And we certainly don’t need to steal it.

As Jesus was facing his final hours, he prayed. John records it in his gospel (see John 17). In that prayer, Jesus spoke to God. But he did it so the disciples could hear. He said, ¹³“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. (John 17:13, NIV)

And what was this joy Jesus was speaking about? Knowing God. Being in relationship with God.

There is no app for that. No one or no thing can take the place of making that relationship happen for us. Just us…and God. Truth is…it’s already been bought and paid for. It’s yours and mine for the asking and the living.

Knock Three Times

⁷“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 NIV)

Not this

Or this

But this

Prayer, connection with God and the things He has for me, involves these three things. Asking. You’ve probably heard that there are no “dumb” questions. At our house we say the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

In a lecture on prayer, one of my mentors said, “People so often complain about “unanswered prayer” but fail to recognize the “unprayed answers.” The latter seems to be the exception. God always answers our prayers: sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes not yet. The answers we get may not always come as we have asked or expected, but when we ask, he answers.

Seeking. There are times when finding the answer requires us to become involved in the process. Sometimes we have to put feet to our prayers to meet up with the answer. If we will move, we might find we are closer to the answer.

Knocking. When we are knocking on the door, typically we looking to connect with whoever is on the other side. God created us for relationship. We really do need each other. There is a reason the writer of Hebrews tells us not to give up meeting together and reminds us we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. God’s answers to our needs often come through the hands of others.

So when we find ourselves struggling to find God’s answer to our questions or his provision for our need, let’s employ the A.S.K. method and watch for how he will respond.

PRAYER: God, in our quiet moments today hear the cries of our hearts, as we bring before you our own needs and intercede for others. Open our eyes to many ways you answer and our need to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. Amen.

Stye In Your Eye

Yesterday it was barely noticeable. I thought maybe a stray eyelash or hair was in the corner of my eye. At other times my eye just felt extremely dry and like there was sand in it. This morning when I woke up the pain was still there and I knew…I had a stye.

I went to images to bring you a picture, but I changed my mind. If you want to see one you can go look. The only kind I have ever had is the tiny white dot. Some of the ones shown were huge and I couldn’t imagine the pain. The little bitty ones like I get are bad enough.

Before I was nine years old, I had four corrective muscle surgeries on my eyes. I don’t like things in or around my eyes. I’m extremely sensitive.

I sat down and tried to write today’s devotion. I knew I had to quit complaining about the relatively minor pain. I went to work on my attitude and perspective. The first thought I had was, “At least it’s not a log.” (Remember my booger post from a few days ago? God can even use a stye.)

³“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5, NIV)

Early in my faith journey I read a book about the Sermon on the Mount (How to Be A Christian Without Being Religious by Fritz Ridenour). The author discusses this whole plank verses speck issue. And I learned the phrase “Plank Eyed Saints.” I didn’t hear it again until I was listening to Casting Crowns song “Jesus, Friend of Sinners.” (I’ve attached the song at the end of this post.)

I don’t know how the conversations have been around you, but I find it difficult some days not to be drawn into “plank-based” conversations. Perhaps you’ve heard them too. They’re negative and judgmental. Folks spout facts and figures, and make pronouncements on all sorts of topics…about all kinds of people. Their opinions know no boundaries.

And grace is nowhere to be found.

Would it be amazing, if instead of grousing and complaining, we would just admit we’re confused and maybe even afraid. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if instead of a posture of false bravado we assumed a posture of prayer? If instead of judging we took them to the One who has all the answers and the true means to solve the problems.

Wouldn’t it be.

PRAYER: God, it’s Monday and typically there are more planks on this day than any other. Forgive us for thinking we could possibly take the speck out of anyone else’s eye, and help us to determine to deal with our own issues, fears, and needs before we go looking at those of others. Help us to see and feel and dive fully into your love today. Amen.

Procrastinating With Questions

We’re getting close to Easter. Can you feel it? Do you feel more “ready” for it than you have before? Are you moving beyond the familiar to SEE Jesus in new ways, different places?

Take John 3:16, for example. It’s quoted, tattooed, worn on t-shirts, and seen at every major sporting event…but can you put it in context? Do you know any of the verses surrounding it?

I turned to chapter three of John’s gospel and read it in the message and a new phrase leaped off the page at me. As the conversation unfolds, Jesus tells Nicodemus what he must do, but Nicodemus is full of questions–very pharisee-like. Finally, Jesus tells him: Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. (John 3:11, The Message)

Ouch. This habit of questioning may have been used by the Pharisees a lot…but they don’t have a corner on the market. The longer I can keep someone engaged in dialog or conversation, the more I act like I “don’t get it”–the longer I have before I have to DO it. If you can’t recognize this in yourself, maybe you recall how your children could come up with a hundred questions to avoid doing their homework or cleaning their room.

Here’s a quote that might help us put this in perspective: “If you ask too many questions, you will find no answers, only more questions.” (Monica Fairview)

I know the danger here. Someone is going to think I’m saying, “Don’t ask questions.” I’m not. God is able to handle our questions and curiosity. But we know when we cross the line and venture into “Procrastination Land.” That’s what God’s message is for us: Don’t go there.

And we’re not procrastinating to avoid making our bed or finishing our math. No, the stakes are higher. We’re avoiding change. We’re clinging desperately to the familiar to keep from having to release control. Just like with Nicodemus, God is calling us to action or deeper surrender, growth or faith.

So today, let’s determine to leave the security of our questions and trust God to really love us. That is what it says in John 3:16, after all.

PRAYER: God, thank you for loving us…so much, that you gave. Help us to move beyond our questions and procrastination so that we too can give…give our lives to you more fully, deeply, completely. Amen.

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