10/31/05
PEACE LIKE A RIVER
How many of you remember a song that goes, "I've got peace like a river in my soul"? Tending your soul sometimes requires nurturing peace in your life.
In Lysa Terkeurst's book Radically Obedient, Radically Blessed, she describes the concept of peace like a river. She states:
In Isaiah 48:18, the prophet writes "If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would be like that of a river,your righteousness like the waves of the sea.'"
God chose a unique word-a river. A river is active, not calm, and is directed in its path. Women are also. The river doesn't "get stuck" with the rocks in its path. It flows around them, all the time smoothing their edges. How often we, too, smooth the rough edges of our days. Beth Moore says "to have peace like a river is to have security and tranquility while meeting the unexpected turn's of life's journey."
Tend your soul by trusting the Almighty-spend time turning the rocks of your journey into remembrance stones of what God has done for you. Spend time cultivating peace in your life by spending time with HIM. He wants to give you His peace (John 14:27).
11/07/05
One of the greatest sources of comfort and joy is God's gift of Friendship.What to think about:
1. Do you have a lifelong friend? what has kept the two of you
together?
2. Do you have a best friend now? What makes that person so
special?
3. What is your biggest struggle in the area of friendships and
relationships? How can you grow?
We Need Each Other!
Did you know that friendship fights stress? Shelley Taylor, Ph.D., professor of psychology at UCLA says about women... Social support brings down our blood pressure, signals our adrenal glands to stop pumping out corticosteroids, and viola! We feel less anxious, less overwrought, less overwhelmed. We may even live longer as a result of coping this way!
Do you have enough friends in your life to stay healthy? Emotionally? Mentally? Spiritually?
One of the most dramatic stories of friendship in the Bible is that of David and Jonathan. David, once King Saul's favorite, has become the target of the king's growing madness and wrath. Jonathan, torn between the love for his father and his friend, ultimately obeys God and at great personal risk and cost, protects David on numerous occasions. David reciprocates that love by sparing Saul's life on two occasions-and blessing Jonathan's children and grandchildren.
Sometimes friendship expresses more intense love than we share with our family. But without exception, all of us need the support of someone we trust and whom we can share our joys, sorrows, challenges and heart with.
A true friend is someone to cry with as a comfort in times of trouble; someone to laugh with in order to rekindle joy; someone to pray with to lift our spirits; someone to argue with as we challenge each other to grow and be our best; someone to forgive and be forgiven by as we learn about God's redemptive love for us; someone to grow old with as we become women of wisdom and grace together. In other words, friends are good for the soul!
-Soul Matters for Women-
Psalms 139:14 in the New living Translation says, "Thank you (God) for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-and How well I know It!"
As we approach Thanksgiving, how many of us thank our God, our Creator, for making us so wonderfully complex? I bet we've never thought of it that way. Women's complexities often get them in trouble-they talk too much; they do too much; they analyze "Stuff" too much. But the Bible models for us to be thankful that we can hold a job, raise a family, share a lunch with a friend, be on numerous committees, and still have time for Bible Studies, prayer groups and other things. Perhaps we should be thankful for these complexities.
Let's do it-Thank Him for your ability to multitask. Thank Him for the numbers of people you can influence on a daily basis-you can make an eternal difference in their lives. Thank Him for each opportunity you have to lend a hand to a child, a friend, or a senior citizen. Thank Him for your strengths and your weaknesses. Then thank Him for the other equally complex women in your life. The fact that they call you friend is an added blessing from God.
Thankfulness tends your soul! It shifts your perspective. "Giving thanks always for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 2 Thessalonians 5:18
December 5, 2005:
Did you know that there are books called "Lists to Live By" compiled by Alice Grace, Steve Stephens, and John Van Diest? Can you imagine what they are? The authors define a list as:
What are the lists that you live by? What lists do you follow? A To Do List? A List of Scheduled Activities? A Grocery List? A Christmas card List?
Do you follow a list of rules like the 10 Commandments found in Exodus 20:1-17 or maybe a Do Good List found in Romans
12:9-18? St. Paul gave us a great list. Here it is - food for your soul:
In the holiday season, lets follow these lists and keep Christ in Christmas!
The Twelve Days of Christmas - Gifts From Jesus
Author: Carroll Robertson
On the first day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: Salvation full and free.
On the second day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: everlasting life, and salvation full and free.
On the third day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the fourth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the fifth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the sixth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the seventh day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the eighth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the ninth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: mansions up above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the tenth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: a street of pure gold, mansions up above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: a thousands tongues to sing, a street of pure gold, mansions up above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Jesus gave to me: eternity to praise, a thousands tongues to sing, a street of pure gold, mansions up above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting love, and salvation full and free.
Happy New Year
Author Unknown
Take 12 fine, full-grown months
See that these are thoroughly cleansed from
All old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate and jealousy.
Cut these months into 30 or 31 equal parts.
(This batch will keep for one year.
Do not attempt to make more than one batch at a time....
Many people spoil the entire lot this way.)
Into each day, put 12 parts of faith,
11 of patience, 10 of courage, 9 of work
(Some people omit this ingredient and spoil the flavor of the rest),
Eight of hope, seven of fidelity, six of open-mindedness,
Five of kindness, four of rest
(Leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad...do not do it)
Three of prayer, two of meditation.
And one of resolution.
If you have no conscientious scruples,
Add a teaspoon of good spirits,
A dash of fun, a pinch of folly.
A sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.
Pour love liberally into the whole, and mix with vim.
Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat.
Garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy:
Then serve with quietness, unselfishness and cheerfulness.
Happy New Year!
Everyone usually starts the year with resolutions, goals and hopes of what 2006 will bring. Have you thought about what the new year means? 365 days minus a few to make a difference, grow your faith, help a neighbor, or follow a dream.
A recent radio broadcast with Chuck Swindoll brought into focus several things we should remember as we face the day, set goals and increase our relationship with God and others. Ponder the points and apply them this week as God leads.
Lamentations 3:21-28 speaks of several principles that we as women of faith need to remember.
So this week as you start your day, incorporate at least one of these principles. Remember 2 Chronicles 16:9-He will strengthen and support you.
In "Soul Matters for Women" one of the lessons for life asks the question "Are you ever discouraged because you are tired?" Who couldn't answer yes, yes, yes. Well, if misery loves company you are in good company. The Bible tells of many in God's word and His service that are tired and weary. Think about Moses (Numbers 20:2-13) or Elijah (1 Kings 19:3-9) or even Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42). All of these were heroes in the faith but needed God, the Giver of Life to renew their spirits.
Isaiah 40:29-30 gives us God's promise that He will renew our strength. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. As Ken said in his sermon on Sunday, let's don't get distracted from these promises that God provides in His word. We will get tired and weary at times but we have a God that can fix that. Trust Him to do that this week.
Have a great week renewing your strength-physically and spiritually!
When you open your heart and home to friends, family and acquaintances, you truly minister on behalf of God. An old Danish proverb says "The road to a friend's house is never long." Have you ever thought that you have a ministry when you invite a person to lunch, to dinner, to coffee? God may be using you to share His love with that person. The time you spend preparing and arranging for that event is a gift you give the person or family that you have invited.
The Bible tells us to fellowship with each other in order to encourage one another in our walks of life. 1 Timothy 6:18 tells us to be rich in good deeds. The Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren has as one of our purposes as Christians to care about and fellowship with the family of God. Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:1-2 also remind us to follow our hearts and practice hospitality. God promises in Matthew 10:42 to reward us when we reach out to others.
So this week connect with a friend you will be used and you will be blessed for taking the initiative. Who knows that person may be just who God wants to use in your life to bring about other unexpected blessings. Have a great week-include a friend!
Another version of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "The Love Chapter"
You are my friend and I love you. Because I love you....
I will be patient with you as God continues to mold you into the image of His Son. You are
on His timetable so I will not demand that you live up to my expectation or worse yet, become like me.
I will be kind and gentle with you; considerate, tender, and compassionate. And I will cheer the loudest when you win because, after all, friends are supposed to do that.
Because I love you, I will do my best not to talk so much about myself, get too full of myself, or act in such a way that would be rude
or insensitive.
I will try not to always get my way. This is difficult for me because so many times I'm immature and selfish. But I really do want to hear your ideas, thoughts and suggestions.
Because I love you I choose not to be so easily angered, But if you should hurt me in some way, I will forgive it and forget it. This only seems fair considering all the times you have done it for me.
And if you fall, I will not feel taller just because you're down. Instead, like the noble lions of the Serengeti who stand guard over a fallen companion. I will watch over you and protect you until you are able to stand again.
I believe in you. I believe you can do anything and be anything God wants you to be.
I hope for you the very best in life. I hope you'll dream big dreams and that one day, you'll see them come true.
Our love and friendship will endure forever because it was born in the heart of God and He is eternal.
I am truly blessed because at the time when I needed it most, but deserved it the
least, God gave me a most precious gift...friends like you!
"If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has not one to help him up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
This week as women of the church we have been asked to Rekindle Our Faith and God will help us with that. How?
As you go about your daily work this week,
remember God wants you to come to Him with your joys and your sorrows and
He will walk with in them. What A mighty God we Serve!
See you at The Spa Girls!!!!
How often have you heard someone say "I want my Ducks in a row"? How often does that desire lead to disappointment? It seems that those ducks want to go everywhere but in a row. How does God deal with disappointment and do you come to Him with your disappointment or are you afraid to bring it to Him?
His word says in The Message translation of Matthew 11:28-30 say,
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on Religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how
I do it. Learn the rhythms of grace."
God wants us to come to Him with our disappointments and receive His grace. He doesn't care
whether our ducks are in a row or if they have flown away. He wants us to receive His love and mercy and trust that He will help us through life's disappointments.
So the next time you are in Toys-R-Us or Target or Wal-Mart buy a couple of Ducks to remind yourself to come to God regardless of how your ducks are
doing. He is ready and waiting.
Deborah Collins has told the Hummingbird Story for numerous years. She makes the comparison of today's busy women and the hummingbird. "We are always on the go and as God's beautiful creations we are multi-colored and multi-faceted. Just as the hummingbird needs to feed on the sweet nectar of flowers as much as 50 times a day in order to survive, the busy woman needs to feed on the sweet nectar of God's word on a daily basis."
How often do you feed on His Word? We have had the privilege of listening to the staff of our church read us Mark as the Lenten devotional. Those short passages of scripture can give us perspective for the day-His perspective. It can be early in the
morning, driving to lunch or before bedtime when His word can speak to our souls.
We are blessed with pastors who teach and live God's Word! Have you thanked them? Our church has short term and long term Bible Studies-are you enrolled? Your soul can be tended by group study of the Bible. Others' knowledge and sharing at Bible studies can enrich our lives and give us strength for the journey.
SO... your mission should you decide to accept it is-gather some friends- pick a topic or a book of the Bible and
study, study, study. You will be blessed and move closer to the Lord as you study His word.
Learn to Laugh:
How many of you remember the Mary Poppins scene where they are singing "We love to laugh"? The message is about laughing-some people laugh through their noses or teeth or whatever. What happens is when the tea party attendees start to cry, they fall to the floor, but laughing causes them to rise to the ceiling. Isn't that what the Bible says? Proverbs 17:22
states: A cheerful heart is good medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones. Do you want to be healthy or have dry bones? I will vote for the first. So here are some other verses that command us to laugh.
Proverbs 12:25
Proverbs: 15:13
Proverbs: 15:15
Proverbs: 15:30
Genesis 17:17
Genesis 18:12
Psalms 2:4
Psalms 126:2
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Perhaps Sarah and Abraham lived a long life because they did laugh. And then they named their son Isaac which means laughter. How do
you think they felt when they called for dinner and "laughter" ran in or they came out of their tent and saw "laughter" playing in the fields?
When we are feeling down, our energy is zapped ,but if we would employ this idea of laughter, our spirits would rise because endorphins are released. Those endorphins have been found to be more powerful than morphine. Watch a funny movie! Tell a friend a joke! Smile, Smile Smile-it takes less muscles than it does to frown. So to use an old slogan-Don't worry be happy.
Ladies:
Thought you might like a recent report from Thelma Wells- our February
blessing. Portions of this were printed in the Women of Faith Newsletter in April:
I've never really liked to sleep in pajamas, but I managed to sleep in flannel ones when it was cold. They were comfortable, especially when we went to the lake. (It seemed much colder there than in the city.) However, in the summer of last year I wandered into one of my favorite stores and there they were: pajamas with bling bling on them. Sequins around the hem of silk pants and little cotton tops trimmed with sequins also.
Now, many of you know I like "stuff' on my clothes. Seldom do you see me without some kind of shiny or silky stuff on my suits. I've been that way all of my life.
So these bling bling pajamas were on sale and I just decided to get all of them. I thought I'd give them as gifts or something. Little did I know that I was going to need every one of them during my recuperation period. (Keep praying God continues to heal her.)
Honey, everyday almost, I get up, clean up, and put on the bling bling pjs in
pink, green, black, blue, orange, and other colors. They are so cool! They make me feel better and I think they look good on me, too. They're comfortable and classy.
When you're in the house and can't go anywhere or don't want to go anywhere, maybe you need a little pick me up. Put on something that makes you look good and feel good. It will put a twinkle in your eye, a smile on your face and get you some much needed compliments.
The next time you see some dressed up pajamas, buy yourself a pair. On your ME DAY put them on. Read a book, watch tv, play the piano, write a letter, write a poem, paint .... just do your favorite thing and feel good all over. Your joy will be contagious and people around you will believe that the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). You deserve it!- Thelma
Wanted to share a great Purpose Drive Life Devotional with You:
By John Fischer
I have a friend who wrote me about a fridge magnet she put on display for her family. It reads: "Let's put the "fun" back in dysfunctional."
Now, I happen to know this lady is separated from her husband and trading kids back and forth between them, so when she says "dysfunctional," you have the idea she knows what she's talking about.
Well, what could possibly be fun about her situation? Not much, maybe, but I could hope she can find something , because it would be awful to be so enslaved by your circumstances that it is impossible to find any "fun" in your "dysfunction".
So here is some "fun" you might want to put in the middle of your "dysfunctional" life;
There is nothing too big for God to handle. (Matthew 19:26)
There is nothing too bad for him to forgive. ( 1 John 1:9)
He could change your fortunes in a day if he wanted to. (Daniel 2:21)
If he doesn't, there's a good reason why. (Proverbs 16:9)
He not only loves you, he is delighted with you despite all your dysfunctions, and revels in every moment you spend with him. (Song of Solomon 2:10-13)
He will give you strength and courage for whatever you may yet to have gone through. (Romans 8: 31)
Someday, from your mansion in heaven, you will look back on this day and smile, because you will realize that your light and momentary troubles were achieving for you and eternal glory that far outweighs them all in comparison. (2 Corinthians 4: 17-18)
There. Think you can manage a smile? This "fun" stuff isn't just wishful thinking. It is real, and it exists in spite of everything around us. Kind of like the "fun" in dysfunctional that I bet you didn't even know was there until now.
Heat Index by Patsy Clairmont-Women of Faith Speaker- Excerpts only
Texas getteth hot! The Lone Star state knows how to heat it up. How hot? Well, the ants wear sunscreen and the birds eat sun-fried worms.
But amiss the scorching hot, parched land is an example for us all-Myrtle-Crepe Myrtle. She is our bouncy, flouncy girlfriend who struts her stuff right down the boulevard, petticoats and all and shakes her lovely branches in the sun.
Crepe Myrtle is a flowering shrub that provides an oasis of color in the state's beige setting. It grows up to 35 feet and has branches that spew color of pink, white, mauve, and lavender blossoms through the summer.
God bless you Myrtle. For when everything is shriveling up, you are shouting hallelujahs. Her ability to stretch her blossoms to the heavens and dip down to kiss the earth is a dream for the landscape.
I can learn from her. To bear up beautifully like Myrtle when life heats up and dries out is scriptural. The prophet Jeremiah puts it this way "For She shall be like a tree....And will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease bearing fruit."(Jer.17:8)
Myrtle bears fruit under pressure. I personally droop when nor watered. When left on my own, my tendency is to laugh sporadically, love selectively, and live reluctantly. What a narrow existence that leaves! Instead I should think of friends that bring out the hallelujahs in me and stretch my arms toward heaven, knowing that I can bloom and blossom and bear fruit pleasing to the Master Gardener! Thank you Lord for the visual of the Crepe Myrtle!
Jesus is the good Shepherd of His Sheep. Psalm 23 is well known to most of us and can bring comfort and direction when we need to be reminded. His relationship to His sheep is vital for their survival, health, and well being. His voice is one of clear communication, of tender mercy, of wise direction, of protective care, and of loving-kindness. His voice is one of intimacy. He doesn't call His sheep collectively, but individually. He knows the name of each sheep, and each need and characteristic. Jesus knows you by name. he knows your heart and sees your need, and He will care for you.
John 10:27 says-My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. Are you following the gentle Shepherd?
Diary of a Bible
Author Unknown
January: A Busy time for me. Most of the family decided to read me through this year. They kept me busy for the first 2 weeks, but they have forgotten me now.
February: Clean up time. I was dusted yesterday and put in my place. My owner did use me for a few minutes last week. He had been in an argument and was looking for a reference to prove he was right.
March: Had a busy day first of the month. My owner was elected President of the PTA and used me to prepare for a speech.
April: Grandpa visited us and he kept me in his lap and read 1 Peter 5:5-7. He seems to think more of me than others.
May: I have a few stains from flowers being pressed in me.
June: I look like a scrapbook stuffed with clippings.
July: They put me in a suitcase to go on vacation but I have been in here 2 weeks.
August: Still in the suitcase.
September: Back home and two comic books are on top of me. Wish I was read as much as they are.
October: They read me a little bit today. One of them is very sick. Right now I am in the center of the coffee table. I think the Pastor is coming for a visit
November: Back in my old place.
December: The family is getting busy with the holidays. Guess maybe I will be covered with presents. Wonder if they will read the Christmas story?
Don't make this Your Bible's Diary.
Just Breathe
by Dr. Cindy Ryan
A line of poetry jumped off the page.
Poet Mary Oliver wrote, Are
you breathing just a little and calling it a life?
Do you ever find yourself simply breathless? I find myself sometimes rushing through my days frantically checking “to do’s” off the list. The pace gets especially fast at this time of year as summer winds down and we gear up for back to school.
As I try to get all our activities posted on the family calendar, register the kids for school, pay all their assorted fees, buy school supplies and school clothes while still juggling home, work, family and friends…I catch myself not breathing much.
Sometimes, I even have to make myself stop just so I can take a few deep breaths. How about you?
Oxygen is free and you and I need it. But did you know, Biblically speaking that we also need to breath some of God’s air? Theologian Henri Nouwen writes, “Prayer…is God breathing in us….” Amazingly, the Hebrew word for God’s spirit is ruach which translates as air or breath.
Nouwen says God’s spirit or breath has the power to take away our narrowness or anxiety (usually the things we worry about are pretty narrow, aren’t they?). God’s spirit can make everything new for us. When we pray, we receive a new breath…a new life.
Ephesians 4:30, The Message, puts it this way, God’s
Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part
of your life, making you fit for God.
Don’t take such a gift for granted.
We have the gift of God’s breath in us! Can you imagine then, each prayer filling us with God’s life-giving breath? Can you imagine each prayer opening us to God’s wide and varying possibilities instead of our same old narrow busyness and anxiety?
Can you imagine the difference if we were filled with more of God’s breath and less of our own?
God, how
could we forget to breathe?
How could we breathe just a little and call it a life?
Gentle God, we sense your spirit yearning to fill us and
offer us something amazingly new.
Help us God, just to breathe.
Amen.
P.S. On Thursday, September 21, 2006, I hope you will join me at the fall Kick-Off Event for The Well. My soul sister, Christian artist Lindsey Kane (www.LindseyKane.com) will be sharing her music and I will be speaking on this topic—how do we move aside and let God breathe in us? You will want to bring your girlfriends and your female relatives and co-workers. Let’s gather at The Well and just breathe. Oh, and go ahead and get your tickets soon; last year The Well’s Kick-Off Event was a sell out!
Who
Is In the Way Now?
by Dr. Cindy Ryan
I get so frustrated when people get in my way, do you? The oh-so-slow-driver who pulls in front of me on the highway; the person who leaves their shopping cart in the middle of the aisle at the grocery store while they ponder each and every spice; the pet or family member who gets underfoot when I’m preparing a meal; the one at the fitness center who takes too long on the last weight machine I need to use—they all frustrate me and challenge my patience.
But you know what frustrates me more than all of those people? It is when I get in my own way—I think they call it being your own worst enemy. Hopefully you know what I’m talking about. Its things like:
Putting one more charge on the credit card after resolving to trim away the debt.
Skipping the workout for no good reason.
Procrastinating on that report at work or that project at home.
Choosing to miss worship or drop out of Bible Study.
Finishing off that Krispy Kreme donut that the kids didn’t eat.
If it is so easy to get in each other’s way and to get in our own way, I wonder if it is possible that we can get in God’s way too. If it is, it most likely happens when we find ways to tune God out, to become blind to God and to not pay attention.
We can get in God’s way by letting our lives be so full of everything else that there is simply no space in our attention or our senses for God.
The Bible mentions waking up, paying attention, opening our eyes and ears over and over and over. The Biblical writers knew how easy it is for us to get in the way of God’s spirit. Paul writes, …make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing. Romans 13:11, The Message
God,
could it be true? We might actually be getting in the way of your spirit moving in our
lives. We might be the ones running around oblivious, dozing off just as
you are about to move in us. Forgive
us, wake us up…move us aside, God, so that your Holy Spirit can
breathe in us. Amen
P.S. I invite you to join me on Thursday, September 21 at as we kick off the The Well ministry for the school year. This is a ministry designed to help women re-charge and refuel their souls. We will enjoy a wonderful meal, the music of Lindsey Kane (www.lindseykane.com) and I will be speaking on the topic, Move Me Aside, Lord. Invite the favorite women in your life—friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors—this is a community ministry. Buy your tickets soon, last year’s Kick Off event for this ministry sold out early!
- Cindy
Oriented
Only to Self
by Dr. Cindy Ryan
In the medical world, a set of phrases help to describe a patient’s mental status. One of those phrases describes the patient as “oriented only to self”. This means the patient is not tracking time, place and people very well and is basically unaware of the needs and issues of others.
The first time I heard a patient described as “oriented only to self”, I laughed and said to the nurse, “Aren’t we all?” To me this phrase goes way beyond a medical description of mental status and begins to diagnose a deeper spiritual condition many of us live with.
It is the “all about me” syndrome. It is that tendency we have to sincerely believe we are the center of our universe and that our current needs, wants and desires matter more than anything else. You hear us talk like this all the time. “I need a dessert.” “We need a pool in our backyard.” “I need a vacation.”
How we can move from an “oriented only to self” place in life to something radically different? We are not alone in the struggle. For generations Biblical writers, theologians and other faithful people have been asking the same question in a different way. Fervent prayers have been prayed through the years asking for God’s help in this struggle. Mother Theresa said it this way, “Pray that I won’t loosen my grip on Jesus even under the guise of ministry to the poor.” Even saintly, dedicated Mother Theresa knew how easy it is to loosen our grip and let our orientation become only about self (even when we are doing ministry!)
Paul’s letter to the church at Rome in The Message translation states, “Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God….if God has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of God.” (Romans 8:5-9, selected) I don’t know about you, but I’d love to work on altering my mental status. I want to move from an “oriented only to self” status to an “oriented toward God” status. I’m sure I will need God’s help to do it.
God, move
me aside. Let my life
be all about you, not all about me.
Amen
P.S. I hope you are making plans to attend the Fall Kick-Off Event for The Well. This ministry is designed to allow women to “fill up” on spiritual refreshment. On Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. plan to gather with other women from our communities, enjoy a wonderful catered meal and the music of Lindsey Kane (www.lindseykane.com). I will be speaking on this topic…Move Me Aside, Lord. Don’t let the tickets sell out before you get yours…I can’t wait to see you there!
- Cindy
Do You Take The Christ Out of Christmas?
Amid the hustle and bustle of the season, how often do we see XMAS this and XMAS that? While abbreviations save time and space, this abbreviation takes Christ out of Christmas. Considering the true meaning of the
season - Jesus' birth - perhaps this shortcut is not a good idea.
Take the extra moment it takes to write the whole word CHRISTMAS and take the time to see "Christ" in the season. See Him in children's songs, bike projects, in mission fields, and in Christmas carols. Make it a point to spend time with the Christ Child - both alone and with your family.
Make as much to do about the nativity scene as the Christmas tree.
Read the Bible version of Christmas as often as you read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" or "The Nutcracker"
Review the Christian Symbols like stars and candles and how it relates to the true Light of Christ.
Share Christ with someone this season-remember HE is the reason for the Season.
Let's put Christ into Christmas. The woman at The Well met Christ and went away from the Well with Him first in her life-let's do the same. Merry CHRISTmas.
Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life by Chuck Swindoll
In the days of February, when we think about hearts and love, each day try one of these items!
Sounds like one extended gift of ourselves to others-that's Christianity, isn't it?
Faith In Your Fear by Jon Walker
“But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27 NIV)
Across the breadth of the Bible, God consistently sends the message, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
The Bible reveals that God knows we tend toward fear, particularly as we respond to uncertainty and change. Yet the Bible also reveals that God is the only thing in this world – or out of it – that is certain and unchanging.
Is it possible we have more faith in our fear than we do in God? No matter how complex life becomes, it still comes down to the basic choice. Will we place our confidence in the All-Powerful, Supreme Being and Sole Authority of the Universe or will we place greater confidence in our fears? Although the choice is black-or-white basic, God knows it’s not simple. It involves a challenging stretch, and that’s why God continually reminds us, “Fear not, for I am with you.”
God is clear that our abilities, our resources – even a belief in the myth of luck – will not be what strengthens us for the journey. (Philippians 4:13) We fear we can’t do the things God calls us to do, and we fear that God will not protect us or provide for us – and so we choose to fear, embracing the unholy lie that our circumstances are bigger than the One True God.
And we place our faith in God on the altar of our own perceptions, as opposed to placing our perceptions on the altar of unflinching faith. If you’re like me, you often fear what’s behind the curtain of God’s call, and God – frustratingly – won’t let me peek behind the curtain:
So what?
Question to consider: Ask a friend if he or she sees a part of your life where you show more fear than faith – and then ask God to help your unbelief. (Mark 9:24)
© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved. Jon Walker is a pastor-advocate living in Southern California and the former pastor of communications at Saddleback Church.