This prayer was written by one of my best friends Ruthie Forgey. A copy of this prayer is framed in my hall. I read it for the "ump-teeth" time as I passed by it this afternoon. It seemed to speak to me in a new and fresh way. I have been listening to a series by Chip Ingram "Living on the Edge" called "Good to Great in the Eyes of God". One message in this series is centered around "Praying Powerful Prayers". The four points that Chip concentrated on in this lesson were as follows:
1.) Powerful prayers are deeply personal
2.) Powerful prayers are promise-based instead of problem-based
3.) Powerful prayers are birthed in brokenness
4.) Powerful prayers are God-centered
This prayer, just like Soloman's when He prayed for wisdom, is a powerful prayer that thrilled the heart of God. I know that it thrilled the heart of God because He has not only given her a gift of supernatural compassion, He has provided her with a place to pour out that gift on the hurting and broken. She is now a minister with the Salvation Army in Cleveland, TN.
I hope this prayer blesses each and every one of you in the same way it has me...
Our Heavenly Father:
Today I pray for a compassion that supersedes anger...that dissolves disgust.
I pray for a compassion that encourages forgiveness and promotes tolerance.
I pray for a compassion that is slow to condemn and quick to love.
I pray for a compassion that inspires excellence, but is kind to imperfection.
I pray for a compassion that nurtures the wounded and is gentle with the broken.
I pray for a compassion that has a short-term memory for impulsive infractions, and a long-term memory for acts of selflessness.
I pray for a compassion that releases guilt and sends shame running.
I pray for a compassion that has unconditional positive regard and longevity.
I pray for compassion that calms chaos and offers hope to the hurt.
I pray for compassion that is full of courage and seeps into the darkest of places.
I pray for a compassion that is behavior-based rather than feeling motivated.
I pray for a compassion that delights the heart of God.
I pray for a compassion that can love the unlovable, honor the dishonorable, and recognize that most, if not all of us, are doing the best we can.
Amen.
(Author Ruthie Forgey)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Vision for the New Year
This is the material I have prepared for next week's Bible study. Our study in the last few weeks has revolved around Godly goals and Vision.
As we start a new year, I would like to challenge us all to make it our passion to seek God radically this coming year. Bring Him into every moment and every circumstance. Orchestrate our life so that your prayer time does not look any different than any other time of the day. By doing this, our ultimate calling…the plan God has for your life will find us like a magnet. As we GET TO KNOW GOD and develop a deep relationship and friendship with Him, our lives will change so we reflect MORE OF HIM and LESS OF US in everyday life. That is our ultimate calling, the one we share with all other believers…to reflect Jesus to them, to be His hands and feet on this earth.
As we begin this year, I challenge you all (and also myself!) to declare that this is the Lord’s favor and to seek Him with an intensity that is RELENTLESS. I pray that we become God-Stalkers not just God-Chasers. We communicate constantly with the Holy Spirit and bring Him and His truth into each and every moment. I also pray that we get a hunger and a thirst for His Word that is insatiable! His Word changes us from the inside out. Even if we only have a few minutes, one or two verses can quench a thirsty spirit. It is time that we make God our first priority and not just give Him the time we have left over after a busy day. He is our day…He gives us life and breath. It is so important that our time and energy start to reflect that. Everything changes when we start to put God first…our attitude, our thoughts, our words, our entire life becomes transformed as we start to think “God’s thoughts” and not our own.
I urge each of you to pray about the things that God is calling you to do in the next year. I believe ABOVE ALL He is calling us to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Now I would like for everyone to take some time and write the next year’s vision statement. In Habakkuk 2:3 God instructs us to “write down the vision in big, block letters”. He also tell us in (Proverbs 29:18) “Without a vision, the people perish”. Let’s start taking God at His Word. I challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit exactly what your vision statement should include. I am enclosing a vision statement worksheet and also a link to a website that will help you find out your spiritual gifts. These tools will help you line up your vision with God’s vision for your life. Have a blessed New Year and time of reflection.
The Vision Statement describes the future we intend to co-create with God. Describe how the world would be improved, changed, or different if our vision was successful in achieving its purpose. The Vision Statement provides direction and inspiration. Dare to dream the impossible! God’s specialty is working miracles and using His strengths in our weaknesses. Do look at your past experiences, talents, spiritual gifts and core values to lead and guide you. But remember that God is bigger than all those things! He can lead you to a dream that far surpasses anything you will be capable of doing alone. If the dream seems WAY to big…it is more than likely a God-Sized vision that only He can bring to pass. All He is looking for from us is a “Yes, Lord!” Our willingness and submission is all He requires.
After writing your vision statement, come up with short-term and long-term goals that will lead you toward that vision. They should be SMART....specific, measureable, attainable (with God’s help), relevant and time-sensitive. As a steward of our resources (time, energy, etc.), our day should reflect where we are going. Time and energy should be devoted each and every day to achieving God’s vision for our life. Even more importantly, we should pursue God and His vision will find us!
Example:
My vision is that I will co-author with the Holy Spirit a Bible Study titled “Rebuilding the Temple”. It will center of how people can rebuild their mental, spiritual and physical health through a study of God’s Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit I WILL write this Bible study and teach it in my home by the first part of this year. I will write one week at a time until it’s completion. I will also be present in each moment and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading each and every day. I also feel the Him challenging me to go on a “negative thought and word” fast. I will take negative thoughts captive and only think LIFE-GIVING THOUGHTS. In the same notion, I want all the words that come out of my mouth to be life-giving. All my words should heal, bless or prosper!
Spiritual gifts assessments:
http://www.crossroadscco.com/clientimages/26980/spiritualgiftstestjanuary2008.pdf
http://www.d-m-m.org/support-files/giftstest.pdf
As we start a new year, I would like to challenge us all to make it our passion to seek God radically this coming year. Bring Him into every moment and every circumstance. Orchestrate our life so that your prayer time does not look any different than any other time of the day. By doing this, our ultimate calling…the plan God has for your life will find us like a magnet. As we GET TO KNOW GOD and develop a deep relationship and friendship with Him, our lives will change so we reflect MORE OF HIM and LESS OF US in everyday life. That is our ultimate calling, the one we share with all other believers…to reflect Jesus to them, to be His hands and feet on this earth.
As we begin this year, I challenge you all (and also myself!) to declare that this is the Lord’s favor and to seek Him with an intensity that is RELENTLESS. I pray that we become God-Stalkers not just God-Chasers. We communicate constantly with the Holy Spirit and bring Him and His truth into each and every moment. I also pray that we get a hunger and a thirst for His Word that is insatiable! His Word changes us from the inside out. Even if we only have a few minutes, one or two verses can quench a thirsty spirit. It is time that we make God our first priority and not just give Him the time we have left over after a busy day. He is our day…He gives us life and breath. It is so important that our time and energy start to reflect that. Everything changes when we start to put God first…our attitude, our thoughts, our words, our entire life becomes transformed as we start to think “God’s thoughts” and not our own.
I urge each of you to pray about the things that God is calling you to do in the next year. I believe ABOVE ALL He is calling us to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). Now I would like for everyone to take some time and write the next year’s vision statement. In Habakkuk 2:3 God instructs us to “write down the vision in big, block letters”. He also tell us in (Proverbs 29:18) “Without a vision, the people perish”. Let’s start taking God at His Word. I challenge you to ask the Holy Spirit exactly what your vision statement should include. I am enclosing a vision statement worksheet and also a link to a website that will help you find out your spiritual gifts. These tools will help you line up your vision with God’s vision for your life. Have a blessed New Year and time of reflection.
The Vision Statement describes the future we intend to co-create with God. Describe how the world would be improved, changed, or different if our vision was successful in achieving its purpose. The Vision Statement provides direction and inspiration. Dare to dream the impossible! God’s specialty is working miracles and using His strengths in our weaknesses. Do look at your past experiences, talents, spiritual gifts and core values to lead and guide you. But remember that God is bigger than all those things! He can lead you to a dream that far surpasses anything you will be capable of doing alone. If the dream seems WAY to big…it is more than likely a God-Sized vision that only He can bring to pass. All He is looking for from us is a “Yes, Lord!” Our willingness and submission is all He requires.
After writing your vision statement, come up with short-term and long-term goals that will lead you toward that vision. They should be SMART....specific, measureable, attainable (with God’s help), relevant and time-sensitive. As a steward of our resources (time, energy, etc.), our day should reflect where we are going. Time and energy should be devoted each and every day to achieving God’s vision for our life. Even more importantly, we should pursue God and His vision will find us!
Example:
My vision is that I will co-author with the Holy Spirit a Bible Study titled “Rebuilding the Temple”. It will center of how people can rebuild their mental, spiritual and physical health through a study of God’s Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit I WILL write this Bible study and teach it in my home by the first part of this year. I will write one week at a time until it’s completion. I will also be present in each moment and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading each and every day. I also feel the Him challenging me to go on a “negative thought and word” fast. I will take negative thoughts captive and only think LIFE-GIVING THOUGHTS. In the same notion, I want all the words that come out of my mouth to be life-giving. All my words should heal, bless or prosper!
Spiritual gifts assessments:
http://www.crossroadscco.com/clientimages/26980/spiritualgiftstestjanuary2008.pdf
http://www.d-m-m.org/support-files/giftstest.pdf
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Treasures and splinters
I have just arrived home from a conference entitled "Deeper Still". It was a wonderful time with one of my favorite peeps. In the afternoon session Beth Moore talked about "Treasures". The message was from Luke 2:51. To begin with I would like to share with you the definition of "treasure":to guard, to keep, preserve, keep close or defend.
Here are the main points from her talk (this is pertinent, I promise)...
1.) There are treasures out there (in life)
2.) They are not my treasures until they make it past my defenses
3.) Treasures strung together can bring healing
4.) Our treasure gets lost in the same trash as our time
5.) We will miss our most expensive treasure if we look past our hardship and pain
6.) When you feel like you don't see the treasure, look for Jesus (He will always lead us to our treaures)
One particular statement in her talk has "busted something loose" inside me. She said "each and every treasure involves a heart risk". I have many treasures in my life. I feel that God has blessed me in so many areas but there is one in particular that deals me fits. My greatest treasure in this life is my sweet baby girl. She is pure joy. The rush of vulnerability and emotion that she has brought into my life is something that I did not see coming. Quite truthfully, I have been ill-equipped to deal with it. The love that I feel for this child holds the potential to either be my place of greatest healing or the place of my soul's greatest devastation. Each time I look at this little treasure I feel a rush of unconditional love and paralyzing fear. For to lose her would be a place (I have convinced myself) that there would be no recovery. With regard to my love for her there is absolutely no protection for my heart. I am totally exposed.
As I drove home last night I was praying for God to show me what all this is about. I poured out my heart to him and asked him (begged actually) for Him to help me with my unbelief. I know at the core that this is an unbelief/trust issue. I woke up during the night last night and started to pray about this yet again. Asking him to show me where this fear is originating and why I feel so incredibly terrified and vulnerable in the same package with this unconditional love.
God in His infinite wisdom gave me the answer in a visual that he knew I could understand. He showed me a little puppy with a splinter in his foot. Puppies are "ill-equipped" to deal with such things. They know the splinter hurts and they run around in their limited understanding trying to figure out how to make the pain stop. Puppies cannot open drawers. Nor can they read for that matter...they have no idea what medicine is going to bring about the healing that they so desperately desire. The pulling out of the splinter may cause pain for a moment but healing will begin immediately. If left alone, the splinter will cause an infection, a place of constant pain and discomfort. Without the puppy sitting still and submitting that the Master knows best, the pup's paw will never heal. Well here is a news flash...I have got a mad case of the splinters! God informed me that there are areas in my life that I have not allowed Him to heal. The world has no means of providing the healing that only He can offer. He has assured me that "in this season" He is going to give me a gift of supernatural healing and peace for my splinters. A perfectly wrapped present just for me (and anyone else who needs it for that matter). His perfect love casts out fear (1 Cor 13). So perfect love cannot co-habitate with fear. Well guess who is getting the eviction notice ASAP! My love is not enough to do it...but HIS love can send fear packing! Sayonara Mr. Fear, you have been a bad friend to me.
These nasty splinters come about as a result of unresolved pain, loss, dissapointment or grief. Fear of loss has robbed me of many of my greatest treasures and I am taking them back. This is most certainly a case of God giving me beauty for my ashes (Isaiah 61:3).Instead He is going to give me healing for my splinters and faith for my fear. Now those are the gifts that keeps on giving! Merry Christmas!
Splintered paws in the air,
Heather
Here are the main points from her talk (this is pertinent, I promise)...
1.) There are treasures out there (in life)
2.) They are not my treasures until they make it past my defenses
3.) Treasures strung together can bring healing
4.) Our treasure gets lost in the same trash as our time
5.) We will miss our most expensive treasure if we look past our hardship and pain
6.) When you feel like you don't see the treasure, look for Jesus (He will always lead us to our treaures)
One particular statement in her talk has "busted something loose" inside me. She said "each and every treasure involves a heart risk". I have many treasures in my life. I feel that God has blessed me in so many areas but there is one in particular that deals me fits. My greatest treasure in this life is my sweet baby girl. She is pure joy. The rush of vulnerability and emotion that she has brought into my life is something that I did not see coming. Quite truthfully, I have been ill-equipped to deal with it. The love that I feel for this child holds the potential to either be my place of greatest healing or the place of my soul's greatest devastation. Each time I look at this little treasure I feel a rush of unconditional love and paralyzing fear. For to lose her would be a place (I have convinced myself) that there would be no recovery. With regard to my love for her there is absolutely no protection for my heart. I am totally exposed.
As I drove home last night I was praying for God to show me what all this is about. I poured out my heart to him and asked him (begged actually) for Him to help me with my unbelief. I know at the core that this is an unbelief/trust issue. I woke up during the night last night and started to pray about this yet again. Asking him to show me where this fear is originating and why I feel so incredibly terrified and vulnerable in the same package with this unconditional love.
God in His infinite wisdom gave me the answer in a visual that he knew I could understand. He showed me a little puppy with a splinter in his foot. Puppies are "ill-equipped" to deal with such things. They know the splinter hurts and they run around in their limited understanding trying to figure out how to make the pain stop. Puppies cannot open drawers. Nor can they read for that matter...they have no idea what medicine is going to bring about the healing that they so desperately desire. The pulling out of the splinter may cause pain for a moment but healing will begin immediately. If left alone, the splinter will cause an infection, a place of constant pain and discomfort. Without the puppy sitting still and submitting that the Master knows best, the pup's paw will never heal. Well here is a news flash...I have got a mad case of the splinters! God informed me that there are areas in my life that I have not allowed Him to heal. The world has no means of providing the healing that only He can offer. He has assured me that "in this season" He is going to give me a gift of supernatural healing and peace for my splinters. A perfectly wrapped present just for me (and anyone else who needs it for that matter). His perfect love casts out fear (1 Cor 13). So perfect love cannot co-habitate with fear. Well guess who is getting the eviction notice ASAP! My love is not enough to do it...but HIS love can send fear packing! Sayonara Mr. Fear, you have been a bad friend to me.
These nasty splinters come about as a result of unresolved pain, loss, dissapointment or grief. Fear of loss has robbed me of many of my greatest treasures and I am taking them back. This is most certainly a case of God giving me beauty for my ashes (Isaiah 61:3).Instead He is going to give me healing for my splinters and faith for my fear. Now those are the gifts that keeps on giving! Merry Christmas!
Splintered paws in the air,
Heather
Monday, September 27, 2010
Uncomfortable, Comfort Zones
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone".
A few months ago I found myself in a most uncomfortable, comfort zone. I looked around at my life and realized that I had completed the "I will be happy when I______" LIST. You all know the one. It looked somthing like this:
1.) I will be happy when I finish all my education.
2.) I will be happy when I get married to a man who is funny, cute, has not been in prison, has a job and is an Auburn fan (4 out of 5 is not too bad)
3.) I will be happy when I have a baby
4.) I will be happy when I can go to Target without the fear of bouncing a check
5.) I will be happy when I have a garage (all successful, grown-ups have garages)
6.) I will be happy when I can raise bulldogs (I own two, raising them is now off the list after doing more research...gross! Google it.)
6.) I will be happy when I get to teach/encourage people (some would say "sandpaper" people) for a living regarding their health
As I sat there looking into the eyes of my sweet baby daughter, I remember thinking...oh-no, this is my last item on the "I will be happy when ___" list. What now?!? Please hear me out. This is the transparency that I was talking about in the earlier blog. What do you do when you have accomplished everything you "thought" would bring you happiness? To my shock and surprise, I was still not happy. So I did what any red- blood American woman would do...I had a small nervous breakthrough. My friends and I do not call these breakdowns. We call them breakthroughs. It only lasted a few hours. I cried and ranted and then cried some more. I think my husband offered me a wet rag or something. Men don't really know what to do during these situations. They treat these situations like hostage negotiations...better to be handled by phone from another part of the house. Anyway, it was over very soon and that was that.
Now, as we all know, part of this was whacked out hormones and another part was a little "holy cow, what do I do with a baby?!?" The largest part was God telling me "sweetheart, when are you going to understand that NO ONE and NOTHING is ever going to fill up the place inside of you that I created for ME? As much as I loved my little Charlee, it was still not enough to fill up the God-shaped hole that had been placed in me by a loving Father ensuring that I would always search for Him, never settling for anything other than Him. This is where we get into sooooo much trouble. God puts within us this craving that only He can fill. Erwin McManus calls it a "soul craving". It keeps us yearning for Him. We are unable to be satisfied by anything less. Although, we always give it the old college try! Whether it be with alcohol, achievements, relationships, drugs, food, you name it...and it is never enough. Whether you call it a soul craving, a holy unrest or a uncomfortable, comfort zone...it keeps us yearning for the one who has actually been pursuing us all along.
I am still not absolutely positive regarding the whats and hows of what God is doing in my life in the long term. It might be writing a Bible study, a book, or maybe just to continue to write this blog and raise my little angel ...who knows?! The difference is that God is teaching me to enjoy the process. He is teaching me to abide with Him in THIS moment. Don't get me wrong...we are most certainly moving, at a very rapid pace as a matter of fact. I feel as though He is not letting me in on too much of the "big picture" right now. Probably because I have a tendency to say "ok, thanks God, I think I can take it from here". Most often times He finds it necessary to keep me in the dark until we get to our next stop. For this particular leg of our journey together He has been kind in giving me a beautiful vision to hang on to while I am waiting "patiently" (if you know me, that is laughable). He gave it to me one morning as I was watching my daughter crawl to my huband and hang onto his leg one day before work. She was crawling at warp speed to get to him. He scooped her up and danced around the room as he always does. She giggled with delight (as she always does). She had no idea where he was going nor did she care. He is Daddy, she trusts him and she wants to go! As I was watching this scene play out God gave me an image of how He and I are to do "our dance". I am to climb up on His strong Daddy feet, look up into His sweet, loving eyes and just hold on. I have no idea where we are going and I really don't care. I am to keep looking up at His face and trust him. As I hear the music start to play, I don't have to know the steps. He knows all the steps and quite frankly, is a most excellent dancer. He even makes the dance loads of fun. He created me and knows that I love to twirl, dip, laugh and giggle. He knows that I like music with a little more "flavor", never have been a fan of Lawrence Welk. The dance will most certainly be a rollercoaster ride but there's no need to worry. I am safely in my Daddy's arms. After all, this is all that I have to know for sure, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Cor 2:9) I may not know the next step or the next stop...but I do know it is gonna be gooooood!
Dance on,
Heather
A few months ago I found myself in a most uncomfortable, comfort zone. I looked around at my life and realized that I had completed the "I will be happy when I______" LIST. You all know the one. It looked somthing like this:
1.) I will be happy when I finish all my education.
2.) I will be happy when I get married to a man who is funny, cute, has not been in prison, has a job and is an Auburn fan (4 out of 5 is not too bad)
3.) I will be happy when I have a baby
4.) I will be happy when I can go to Target without the fear of bouncing a check
5.) I will be happy when I have a garage (all successful, grown-ups have garages)
6.) I will be happy when I can raise bulldogs (I own two, raising them is now off the list after doing more research...gross! Google it.)
6.) I will be happy when I get to teach/encourage people (some would say "sandpaper" people) for a living regarding their health
As I sat there looking into the eyes of my sweet baby daughter, I remember thinking...oh-no, this is my last item on the "I will be happy when ___" list. What now?!? Please hear me out. This is the transparency that I was talking about in the earlier blog. What do you do when you have accomplished everything you "thought" would bring you happiness? To my shock and surprise, I was still not happy. So I did what any red- blood American woman would do...I had a small nervous breakthrough. My friends and I do not call these breakdowns. We call them breakthroughs. It only lasted a few hours. I cried and ranted and then cried some more. I think my husband offered me a wet rag or something. Men don't really know what to do during these situations. They treat these situations like hostage negotiations...better to be handled by phone from another part of the house. Anyway, it was over very soon and that was that.
Now, as we all know, part of this was whacked out hormones and another part was a little "holy cow, what do I do with a baby?!?" The largest part was God telling me "sweetheart, when are you going to understand that NO ONE and NOTHING is ever going to fill up the place inside of you that I created for ME? As much as I loved my little Charlee, it was still not enough to fill up the God-shaped hole that had been placed in me by a loving Father ensuring that I would always search for Him, never settling for anything other than Him. This is where we get into sooooo much trouble. God puts within us this craving that only He can fill. Erwin McManus calls it a "soul craving". It keeps us yearning for Him. We are unable to be satisfied by anything less. Although, we always give it the old college try! Whether it be with alcohol, achievements, relationships, drugs, food, you name it...and it is never enough. Whether you call it a soul craving, a holy unrest or a uncomfortable, comfort zone...it keeps us yearning for the one who has actually been pursuing us all along.
I am still not absolutely positive regarding the whats and hows of what God is doing in my life in the long term. It might be writing a Bible study, a book, or maybe just to continue to write this blog and raise my little angel ...who knows?! The difference is that God is teaching me to enjoy the process. He is teaching me to abide with Him in THIS moment. Don't get me wrong...we are most certainly moving, at a very rapid pace as a matter of fact. I feel as though He is not letting me in on too much of the "big picture" right now. Probably because I have a tendency to say "ok, thanks God, I think I can take it from here". Most often times He finds it necessary to keep me in the dark until we get to our next stop. For this particular leg of our journey together He has been kind in giving me a beautiful vision to hang on to while I am waiting "patiently" (if you know me, that is laughable). He gave it to me one morning as I was watching my daughter crawl to my huband and hang onto his leg one day before work. She was crawling at warp speed to get to him. He scooped her up and danced around the room as he always does. She giggled with delight (as she always does). She had no idea where he was going nor did she care. He is Daddy, she trusts him and she wants to go! As I was watching this scene play out God gave me an image of how He and I are to do "our dance". I am to climb up on His strong Daddy feet, look up into His sweet, loving eyes and just hold on. I have no idea where we are going and I really don't care. I am to keep looking up at His face and trust him. As I hear the music start to play, I don't have to know the steps. He knows all the steps and quite frankly, is a most excellent dancer. He even makes the dance loads of fun. He created me and knows that I love to twirl, dip, laugh and giggle. He knows that I like music with a little more "flavor", never have been a fan of Lawrence Welk. The dance will most certainly be a rollercoaster ride but there's no need to worry. I am safely in my Daddy's arms. After all, this is all that I have to know for sure, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" (1 Cor 2:9) I may not know the next step or the next stop...but I do know it is gonna be gooooood!
Dance on,
Heather
Monday, August 23, 2010
Fruitcakes
I saw a bumper sticker a few years ago that read "It is not God I have the problem with, it is his fan club". Yikes! That stings a little but I totally get it. There are most certainly days where I understand why people are not wanting to buy what I am selling.
I once heard T.D. Jakes say in a sermon "the real Christians that you need to watch out for are the ones that seem to have it all figured out". You know the ones, everything looks great on the outside while the inside looks like my spare bedroom when unexpected company is on its way. So many Christians seem to have all the answers. We are innundated with pastors and Bible teachers who are just a little too good to be true. They lead a life that seems so unattainably perfect that to even THINK about living up those those standards is exhausting! Then we get disillusioned to find out they are just as neurotic and human as the rest of us. Whether they are struggling with pride or cooking up meth in their bathtub...the lesson is the same... we are all broken, imperfect and in desperate need of grace.
I am not sure if you realize this or not, but we are all a little crazy (or my friends and I like to say..we are not crazy, just a little unwell). As a matter of fact, I have never known anyone who was not a little off their rocker or as the great Jimmy Buffet would put it "there's a little bit of fruitcake left in every one of us". As long as we are on this earth, we are not going to be perfect. Everyone you come in contact with during the day is going to be struggling with something, EVERYONE. Be compassionate, kind and yes, transparent when the Holy Spirit prompts. We need to stop acting like we have it all figured out and get real. Who knows someone might start buying what we are selling.
His salesman in training,
Heather
I once heard T.D. Jakes say in a sermon "the real Christians that you need to watch out for are the ones that seem to have it all figured out". You know the ones, everything looks great on the outside while the inside looks like my spare bedroom when unexpected company is on its way. So many Christians seem to have all the answers. We are innundated with pastors and Bible teachers who are just a little too good to be true. They lead a life that seems so unattainably perfect that to even THINK about living up those those standards is exhausting! Then we get disillusioned to find out they are just as neurotic and human as the rest of us. Whether they are struggling with pride or cooking up meth in their bathtub...the lesson is the same... we are all broken, imperfect and in desperate need of grace.
I am not sure if you realize this or not, but we are all a little crazy (or my friends and I like to say..we are not crazy, just a little unwell). As a matter of fact, I have never known anyone who was not a little off their rocker or as the great Jimmy Buffet would put it "there's a little bit of fruitcake left in every one of us". As long as we are on this earth, we are not going to be perfect. Everyone you come in contact with during the day is going to be struggling with something, EVERYONE. Be compassionate, kind and yes, transparent when the Holy Spirit prompts. We need to stop acting like we have it all figured out and get real. Who knows someone might start buying what we are selling.
His salesman in training,
Heather
Friday, July 30, 2010
Walk it out
No, the title of this blog is not referring the the rap tune of the same name. (Although, I am sure all of you jumped to that conclusion...those who know me know that I have always been a huge fan of the hip-hop genre). Nonetheless, I am referring to a saying I once heard in a Sunday School class that went as follows: "You may be the only Bible that someone ever reads". How scary is that?!? I shudder to think of how many people that I have disillusioned through the years had they been reading my "scriptures". (Thank God for GRACE!)
A dear friend of mine died this week. Since his passing, I have spent some time thinking about the above statement and how perfectly my friend exemplified it. He taught me more about true faithfulness than anyone I have ever known. My friend Buddy Gilliland was born 77 years ago with severe cerebral palsy. He attended the same church that my family attended for the the vast majority of those 77 years. Buddy was a walking testament of God's love and the power of attitude. His speech was compromised but if you listened closely you could figure out what he was saying. I assume he got accustomed to repeating himself over and over to those of us who had a hard time understanding him. Most often times, Buddy would give you a big smile and laugh when you simply could not seem to grasp what he was saying...essentially letting you off the hook. He certainly would not want you to feel bad for not being able to understand him...that was Buddy.
Buddy would hitch a ride to my Grandmother's little country store and sit for hours at a time. He would greet everyone that came in the store with a big smile and wave. He was a master at the art of finding great joy in the small things. A pack of gum and a Dr. Pepper would light up his whole world. Buddy should have been the spokesperson for Dr. Pepper. If only we would have had the internet back when he was younger. We could have emailed the tape of Buddy taking his first sip of Dr. Pepper for the day to the Coke company. I am sure the company would have abandoned the lame logo "I would like to give the world a Coke" in favor of Buddy's big ole grin after taking a pull from that magic can.
As he grew more and more disabled I would go to his mother's house a few miles down the road to visit. More often times than not Buddy would be sitting in his room listening to sermons or praise music on tape. He also loved to sit by the road in his wheelchair and wave at passing cars. He had joy in the moment and it was most certainly not of this world. Buddy had the peace and also the joy that passeth all understanding. I know that is not in the Bible but it has been my experience that it is easier to find peace in the common moments than joy. If God's peace is supernatural the I think God's joy is SUPER- supernatural.
I cannot imagine how hard it would be to have a perfect mind that is trapped in a body that quite simply...will not cooperate. I cannot fathom the amount of work it took for him and his sweet parents to make it to church each Sunday. My brain cannot comprehend the amount of pain and discomfort he experienced on a daily basis. He had every excuse to be bitter. He had every reason to be angry at God. He made the choice to trust God and His infinite wisdom. He chose to believe that his cerebral palsy was not an accident or that God just happened to be on vacation that day. God allowed Buddy to touch many lives through his wonderful example of a life well lived. He did not have the luxury of using words as a crutch with regard to his testimony. Buddy had to depend on the power of his example to be the Bible that everyone who knew him was blessed to have read. There is no doubt in my mind that on this past Monday evening my friend was met at the the pearly gates by Saint Peter (probably holding the huge diamond and gold encrusted goblet filled to the brim with the most syrupy, sweet Dr. Pepper ever to have passed human or heavenly lips) . A perfect homecoming gift before hearing what we all hope to hear one day..."well done, my good and faithful servant!" I can only imagine his smile as he hears those words come from the the God he knew so well.
I feel so incredibly thankful to have been a privy to the beautiful dance that was the life of Buddy Gilliand. You will be missed my sweet friend. See you in a few.
A dear friend of mine died this week. Since his passing, I have spent some time thinking about the above statement and how perfectly my friend exemplified it. He taught me more about true faithfulness than anyone I have ever known. My friend Buddy Gilliland was born 77 years ago with severe cerebral palsy. He attended the same church that my family attended for the the vast majority of those 77 years. Buddy was a walking testament of God's love and the power of attitude. His speech was compromised but if you listened closely you could figure out what he was saying. I assume he got accustomed to repeating himself over and over to those of us who had a hard time understanding him. Most often times, Buddy would give you a big smile and laugh when you simply could not seem to grasp what he was saying...essentially letting you off the hook. He certainly would not want you to feel bad for not being able to understand him...that was Buddy.
Buddy would hitch a ride to my Grandmother's little country store and sit for hours at a time. He would greet everyone that came in the store with a big smile and wave. He was a master at the art of finding great joy in the small things. A pack of gum and a Dr. Pepper would light up his whole world. Buddy should have been the spokesperson for Dr. Pepper. If only we would have had the internet back when he was younger. We could have emailed the tape of Buddy taking his first sip of Dr. Pepper for the day to the Coke company. I am sure the company would have abandoned the lame logo "I would like to give the world a Coke" in favor of Buddy's big ole grin after taking a pull from that magic can.
As he grew more and more disabled I would go to his mother's house a few miles down the road to visit. More often times than not Buddy would be sitting in his room listening to sermons or praise music on tape. He also loved to sit by the road in his wheelchair and wave at passing cars. He had joy in the moment and it was most certainly not of this world. Buddy had the peace and also the joy that passeth all understanding. I know that is not in the Bible but it has been my experience that it is easier to find peace in the common moments than joy. If God's peace is supernatural the I think God's joy is SUPER- supernatural.
I cannot imagine how hard it would be to have a perfect mind that is trapped in a body that quite simply...will not cooperate. I cannot fathom the amount of work it took for him and his sweet parents to make it to church each Sunday. My brain cannot comprehend the amount of pain and discomfort he experienced on a daily basis. He had every excuse to be bitter. He had every reason to be angry at God. He made the choice to trust God and His infinite wisdom. He chose to believe that his cerebral palsy was not an accident or that God just happened to be on vacation that day. God allowed Buddy to touch many lives through his wonderful example of a life well lived. He did not have the luxury of using words as a crutch with regard to his testimony. Buddy had to depend on the power of his example to be the Bible that everyone who knew him was blessed to have read. There is no doubt in my mind that on this past Monday evening my friend was met at the the pearly gates by Saint Peter (probably holding the huge diamond and gold encrusted goblet filled to the brim with the most syrupy, sweet Dr. Pepper ever to have passed human or heavenly lips) . A perfect homecoming gift before hearing what we all hope to hear one day..."well done, my good and faithful servant!" I can only imagine his smile as he hears those words come from the the God he knew so well.
I feel so incredibly thankful to have been a privy to the beautiful dance that was the life of Buddy Gilliand. You will be missed my sweet friend. See you in a few.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Faithful in "small things"
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.(Luke 16:10)
You will never convince me that God doesn't have a sense of humor. He and I have many running jokes. One of His favorite (not mine) is when He tests me to see if I will be faithful in the "small things". By small things I mean REALLY small things. The other day, for instance, I had mistakedly placed a travel-size tube of "Boudreaux's Butt Paste" diaper rash ointment under my daughter's carrier at Target. Only when I reached the car and lifted my daughter out of the shopping cart did I spot it and realize that I had not payed for it. I thought "here we go again, God". I am going to be honest, this one was not easy. It was a TRAVEL SIZE for heaven's sake! I already had my girl in the car and Target was my last stop of the day. Did I mention that it was 100 degrees and crazy humid that day? Well it was, and I was parked at the end of the parking lot. I cranked up the car and told God that it was too dangerous for my girl to have to be out in this heat and I promised to mail Target a check for the diaper rash cream. I had formulated my plan of action in my head about how I was going to call them back when I got home and tell them what happened. I would then mail them a check for the amount of the cream. Nope, no peace with that option. I continued to drive in circles in the Target parking lot. (Secretly hoping that God would send me a sign by giving me a front door parking place). That did not happen and after putting a mile or so on my car riding around the Target parking lot, I made it inside to pay for the "butt paste". It would have been too easy to pick up the Desitin that day but NOOOOOO.......
Another such test arrived during a quick trip to TJ Maxx. This particular incident involved a pair of underwear that the cashier had forgotten to ring up and put in my sack. I guess I was in a far more spiritual place that day because I only sat in my car for a few minutes wondering if I really "HAD" to go and make it right. When I arrived back in the store the line was out the wa-zoo. I waited in line twenty minutes or so and finally made it up to the counter. I am so annoyed at this point and keep reminding God that he needs to make sure to recognize what an ordeal this is...thinking that maybe he would give me a little extra credit. As I reach the counter I pull out my "merchandise" and the reciept. Before I could even begin my explanation the lady running the register launches into a rather loud (or so it seemed)soliloquy on how TJMaxx does not allow people to return underwear. Really God, Really?!? I am sure He is laughing as this scenario plays out. I interrupted her to explain that I had not paid for the underwear. She looked a little puzzled and I continued to explain that I guess the cashier had missed them and I realized it when I reached the car. That is when she looked at me and said "girl, you came all the way back in here and waited in line to pay for a pair of CLEARANCE underwear?" What do you say to that question. "Yes I did and GOD BETTER BE NOTICING!!" is what I was thinking.
It would have been so much easier if it was something larger and more expensive like a shirt or a TV. That is an easy call! That is never my test, it is always some small insignificant item or task. It usually pretty simple just involving a few extra steps like taking the shopping cart to the holding area and not leaving it in front of my car (even if I am sure it won't roll into someone else's car)or returning clothes that I have tried on back to the proper rack (instead of hanging them on the first one that I see). On occasion, I think God needs a laugh and will let me make it out of the store with some stolen butt paste or clearance underwear.
You will never convince me that God doesn't have a sense of humor. He and I have many running jokes. One of His favorite (not mine) is when He tests me to see if I will be faithful in the "small things". By small things I mean REALLY small things. The other day, for instance, I had mistakedly placed a travel-size tube of "Boudreaux's Butt Paste" diaper rash ointment under my daughter's carrier at Target. Only when I reached the car and lifted my daughter out of the shopping cart did I spot it and realize that I had not payed for it. I thought "here we go again, God". I am going to be honest, this one was not easy. It was a TRAVEL SIZE for heaven's sake! I already had my girl in the car and Target was my last stop of the day. Did I mention that it was 100 degrees and crazy humid that day? Well it was, and I was parked at the end of the parking lot. I cranked up the car and told God that it was too dangerous for my girl to have to be out in this heat and I promised to mail Target a check for the diaper rash cream. I had formulated my plan of action in my head about how I was going to call them back when I got home and tell them what happened. I would then mail them a check for the amount of the cream. Nope, no peace with that option. I continued to drive in circles in the Target parking lot. (Secretly hoping that God would send me a sign by giving me a front door parking place). That did not happen and after putting a mile or so on my car riding around the Target parking lot, I made it inside to pay for the "butt paste". It would have been too easy to pick up the Desitin that day but NOOOOOO.......
Another such test arrived during a quick trip to TJ Maxx. This particular incident involved a pair of underwear that the cashier had forgotten to ring up and put in my sack. I guess I was in a far more spiritual place that day because I only sat in my car for a few minutes wondering if I really "HAD" to go and make it right. When I arrived back in the store the line was out the wa-zoo. I waited in line twenty minutes or so and finally made it up to the counter. I am so annoyed at this point and keep reminding God that he needs to make sure to recognize what an ordeal this is...thinking that maybe he would give me a little extra credit. As I reach the counter I pull out my "merchandise" and the reciept. Before I could even begin my explanation the lady running the register launches into a rather loud (or so it seemed)soliloquy on how TJMaxx does not allow people to return underwear. Really God, Really?!? I am sure He is laughing as this scenario plays out. I interrupted her to explain that I had not paid for the underwear. She looked a little puzzled and I continued to explain that I guess the cashier had missed them and I realized it when I reached the car. That is when she looked at me and said "girl, you came all the way back in here and waited in line to pay for a pair of CLEARANCE underwear?" What do you say to that question. "Yes I did and GOD BETTER BE NOTICING!!" is what I was thinking.
It would have been so much easier if it was something larger and more expensive like a shirt or a TV. That is an easy call! That is never my test, it is always some small insignificant item or task. It usually pretty simple just involving a few extra steps like taking the shopping cart to the holding area and not leaving it in front of my car (even if I am sure it won't roll into someone else's car)or returning clothes that I have tried on back to the proper rack (instead of hanging them on the first one that I see). On occasion, I think God needs a laugh and will let me make it out of the store with some stolen butt paste or clearance underwear.
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