Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Faith of Their Own

Chris and I get so tickled observing our own characteristics in our chilren. Chris swears that Mary Cate is a "little Lisa" and I know Jack is just like is father! I'm not sure who Ellie is. She's one of kind!

It's great to raise our children in the pattern of our likeness to some extent. Chris and I carefully teach our kids to Love God, Love Texas and Love Texas Tech - ha! However, we need to be careful as we train them in the ways of the Lord, to make sure they are establishing their own unique relationship with Christ as well.

I was raised in a great Christian home. My parents modeled Christianity for me. I had an amazing youth minister. I had Bible knowledge and knew how to pray the "right" way. The problem came when I moved away from home. I realized I had been living on my parents and youth minister's faith. I didn't have a very strong relationship with Christ on my own. When I moved out from under my parents umbrella of faith, I stumbled when tempted.

Now that I'm a parent, my prayer is that as I am living out my faith in front of my kids that they will begin to establish their own relationship with Christ. I pray their personal faith would be so strong that their relationship with God supersedes all else in their life - even my influence! I pray their relationship with the Lord would truly be their own and not an extension of mine or anyone else's.

When my time on this earth is through, may my children's faith be strong enough to keep them "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord", 1 Corinthians 15:58.

So teach your kids how to make grandma's banana pudding; brain wash them to cheer only for your alma mater; share your own personal faith stories but then may we encourage them to pray on their own, search the scriptures for themselves and trust God to speak to them in an individual and unique way that is just for them.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Rescued!

Not to make a bad joke, but you'd have to be living underground not to have heard about the Chilean miners who've been trapped 2300 feet below the earth's surface for more than two months. Their rescue is nothing short of a miracle. We've all watched the news with baited breath as each one is slowly brought up and we've all cried watching them reunite with their families. Have you not imagined yourself or your husband trapped, away from you for 70 days with little hope of ever seeing them again? What a celebration to see them alive!

The miners have experienced a physical entrapment yet we are hearing stories of God's Spirit keeping them spiritually free. While stuck in that pit, at least some of the men, experienced God in supernatural ways. The Spirit of the Lord encouraged them and lifted them to new heights. Our loving Father set their spiritual feet on solid ground.

This story is classic God. While I've never been in a physical pit, I have certainly been in a spiritual one. Before God rescued me, I was helpless in my sin. My old ways of thinking, my selfishness, pride and dysfunction had me buried. Try as I might, I could not get out of that pit on my own. I could get a new attitude. I could try to bring other people down in the pit with me. I could deny the existence of the pit, but at the end of the day - I was still stuck.

In Psalm 40, the writer shares a story we can all relate to: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 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." Is anyone else out there shouting "HALLELUJAH"?! Girl, you can't get out of that pit by yourself. Your best friend can't get you out, money can't get you out, self-determination can't get you out! ONLY God!

What do you think these miners are saying when they set their feet above ground for the first time? What do you think is the state of their heart when they breath in that fresh air? Again, Psalm 40 says, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

I'll bet those men are singing a new song all right. I know when God rescues me I can't help but sing praises to my God. This 'salvation' experience of the miners is causing many to see and fear the Lord. You cannot deny the power of God when you see someone who once was lost but now is found.

God has saved me from a pit more than once and I imagine He'll be saving me from a few more before my life on earth is done. Every time He saves me, I know Him better. I trust Him more and I sing a little louder. We praise Him as we watch Him pull these miners out of the pit and we must look to our own lives and recognize what God has done for us as well.

Today, my friends, look and see what our God has done. If you're in a pit, wait patiently for the Lord. Keep crying to Him. He will lift you up and put a new song in your mouth. He's the ultimate search and rescue!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

It's All Good!

I have a dear friend who uses this term when things aren't exactly 'going in her direction'. It's her way of smiling in the face of adversity. She doesn't want to complain or burden anyone. She puts on a good face and tells herself, "It's all good"!

It's the kind of phrase that can really stick with you. We, women, carry a lot of weight on our ever-crowded shoulders. We honor our husbands, care for our children, hold down jobs and support our staff. We volunteer, try to exercise, return calls, respond to emails, drive carpools, and fold laundry into the night! Yet when things get a little crazy (when are things not crazy?), we don't want to let anyone down so we force a smile and say, "It's all good".

Is it all good for you right now? What's on your plate that you wish you could scrape into the garbage disposal? What's that one extra responsibility you would love to unload? What do you do when it gets to be too much? Where do you turn to get reassured and regain your strength? God's got a word for you...

1 Corinthians 2:9, "...No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." Dig that! God has prepared something for you that is greater than anything you could dream possible. In this day and age where I feel like I've seen it all and heard it a thousand times, here comes God, once again reminding me that He's Bigger & Better than anything this world can dream up.

God is prepared to bless your socks off! The only requirement is to love Him. It's easy to lose focus of what is True. The trials of this life do not have to break our hearts. The responsibilities we each carry can be used by God to make us stronger not weaker. I believe if we love God first and keep Him as the center of all we are then anything is possible.

God has made you a promise, girlfriends. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has in store for you. The Man's got plans! Entrust yourself to the ultimate Life Coach. Hand over those hopes & dreams; those doubts & disappointments. Give the Divine Visionary full reign and soon you'll know on a supernatural level - "It's All Good!"