Chapter 7: "Wash One Another's Feet"
I have to admit, I'm already having a difficult time trying to compose my thoughts on this chapter. When I read the title I thought, "Lord, Puh-LEEZE help me get through this! You know I don't even like feet!" Now, I knew it wasn't going to be a literal take on the chapter's title, so the fact that I already thought in the negative caused me to pause. What's the big deal? Why did I automatically assume this was going to be something I didn't need - no, WANT - to do?!
When the author says, "Sometimes God asks us to serve in an assignment that is way outside our comfort zone or area of giftedness. He may do this to stretch our faith or to teach us a valuable lesson." This spoke to me. This year I've been serving in Kids' Life. As Michelle T. will tell you, this "service" has been pretty difficult for me. I like kids, I have a kid - how friggin' hard can this be? Hard, let me tell you. And each time my Sunday came 'round, I felt like calling in sick. I believe the Lord asked me to serve in Kids' Life to teach me the lesson of selflessness. See, in every other church I've belonged to I've always been involved in the music ministry. Always. That's what I do; I'm a singer. It's easy for me to get up in front of people, open my pipes, and blow. This time, however, it was different. God made joining the Music Ministry more challenging and, instead, called me to do something completely NOT easy or comfortable for me. So, on the Sundays I serve the wonderful children of OLF (and I believe my service is to the children more than their parents), my prayer each time is that I see the face of Christ in every child, and that they see the Christ in me. My prayer is to be as loving, gentle, and generous of spirit as He is. In listening to God's will and accepting this service, I've grown and have come to see outside myself and what makes me feel good, to being accutely aware of the needs, wants, and desires of all the beautiful children in my class. By listening to God, I've been immensely blessed to hold some amazing little babies.
Chapter 8: "Walk With Integrity"
Last night when I was talking to Kori, we both remarked that this book really has nothing new to offer. "Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, Worship, Evangelism" - all are components of Christianity that new Christians learn, and "seasoned" Christians take for granted.... and herein lies the rub. We "seasoned" Christians take for granted the elements involved in streghthening our relationship with Christ and forget that we need to practice them as much as anyone else. This chapter revealed this to me by smackin' me upside the head!
I know all about integrity - doing the right thing, at the right time, the right way. Let's go back to the previous chapter's blog when I talked about always being in some kind of music ministry. This current chapter forced me to ask "why?" Why did I always do the music ministry instead of outreach or youth ministry or administrative services? It's then that I realized it was because that's what I wanted to do. I never asked the Lord where I should serve; I just did what I wanted to do. I like to sing - not for the attention, mind you - but just because I simply love to sing. In all these years of music ministry, my reason for praise got lost in my need to just hear myself - does anyone know what I'm talkin' about out there?! I did what I wanted to do and called it "God's will"! Talk about a 'God Complex'!! My integrity was compromised as soon as I assumed God's will was the same as mine, instead praying "Thy will be done."
So now, I'm grateful for the reality check of this chapter. Thankful for the smack upside the head that's caused me to look at my behaviors and motives, and has convicted me to be full of integrity instead of just full of it.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Part 3 - Follow in Jesus' Footsteps
Wow! Like Monique I have had a hectic/hard week....so to speak. I am so late in posting this - please forgive me.
Chapter 5 - Pursue Peace
Reading this chapter came at a difficult time for me. Work has been extremely challenging the last few months and a situation I was not expecting turned ugly right when I was reading this chapter. I had been mulling the challenge of "loving others as Jesus loves me" from the previous chapters. So now on to peace. When you begin reading the chapter, Katie sounds elementary. Okay, pursue peace....why wouldn't you? I mean, hello? But as you dig deeper into the chapter, the peace she describes is a bit different than what first came to mind. Because of the struggle I was going through at work with a junior associate, my mind immediately went to "absence of conflict." Do you feel like Katie's friend Danielle who was caught up in the busyness of life which was always demanding "More! Faster! Bigger! Better!"? Or have you been struggling to find your unique purpose by figuring out what great gift God has given you like Katie's friend Becky?
Perhaps the most important thing to get from this chapter, having started at a place of wanting to know oh so badly our purpose, is to peacefully appreciate the tasks we do here and now, and not feel so driven to figure out the long range plan. Praying throughout the day has become more and more a part of my life over the years. And it has made a whole lot of difference. When you are sitting in your office talking to God while you work and as you mull decisions you must make, you have a sense of peace and calmness. Katie talks about wanting to learn to listen to God throughout the entire day. I want that as well. I seek it. I am far from where I need to be. I sometimes get in a rush and forget Him. I sometimes shoot off the hip before I have talked to Him about it. And I know this is a practice I need to continue working on. Being able to bring God into the craziness and busyness of your life is so important. My life of busyness comes with other challenges (I'm sure yours do too) and I love it when I remember to listen for Him. The talking to Him is not so hard............it is the listening sometimes that is a challenge.
As I read through the various guides of pursuing peace, I realized how much of my life crowds out these opportunities. For example, practicing silence. For me, I practice silence by waking up and sitting in my bathroom. Doing nothing. I just sit there in the quiet. My husband does not understand it at all. I also like to come downstairs, open the windows in the breakfast room and just sit there looking out of the window into the backyard. There is something about my spirit that just craves those quiet times with no noise, chatter, or TV. But as much as I crave these times, lately it seems like I have no time to practice silence. The pace of my life is stealing away so much from me.
Now stopping the endless mind chatter - that is hard for me. My mind is always racing. Which of the guides do you know you need to work more on? I know shutting up my mind chatter, purposely changing my pace, and avoiding peace killers are three that I need to make a concerted effort to incorporate into my pursuit for peace. Katie ends the chapter talking about Mary and Martha. We all know the story. I grew up in church and have heard the story and teachings and read the story myself multiple times. I understand the principles. But I have always empathized with Martha!!!!!!!!! Someone has to do the cooking, the cleaning, the mending......someone has to work. After all, Jesus was a guest and they had to provide him a meal. So if Martha was out there with Mary, would the meal have miraculously prepared itself? I have always thought Martha has gotten a bad rep out of this deal - she was trying to take care of Jesus' needs in her own way. And oif course Mary was just going to sit there at Jesus' feet, drinking in all the wisdom she could and not help.....but I am sure she would have enjoyed the meal Martha was working hard to prepare. Of course this probably tells you a lot about me - I am a worker. I do. I do, and do, and do, and do. But the truth is, Martha could have invited Jesus into the kitchen while she worked. And cerytainly, she should not have chastised her sister for desiring to be with Jesus. And that should be an attitude I should focus more on as I struggle with my busyness and daily tasks.
Chapter 6 - Repent and Turn away from all your offenses
One of the things I ask from God is that He show my the things that are hidden in my heart. Somtimes I have to chew on what He shows me.....sometimes I try to justify it, I try to explain it away......There are things we know we need to deal with in our lives as stumbling blocks, and then there are others we don't know about and assume are not there. The ones I don't know about are the ones that scare me. I do trust God with my frailties and do frequently reflect on my thoughts and actions. My desire is not to have a block between my relationship with God. My character is important to Him. I am an ambassador and I should reflect His love and grace and kindness. I frequently fail in that regard. Each day starts with a challenge to do better. The key here is not just recognizing where we fail, but making a commitment to change from a place of true sorrow. So ladies, it is the change that marks our true repentance.
This chapter is such a personal chapter that I can only encourage each and every one of us to spend some time in here mullling our stumbling blocks and resolving to deal with them. Pride? Conceit and arrogance? Impatience? Cursing? Lying? GOSSIPING? Manipulating? And the very familiar corporate theft? What forms do these common sins come into your life? How can they be avoided? Thankfully, whatever it is, God can lead us and "handle" our sin. And remember, we won't be perfect. But we keep on trying and working on it. And focus on the flip side of the sin.
As you went through the questions, did you find that there was a particular weakness God was nudging you on? (See Katies No. 5 on personal pathway questions).
Chapter 5 - Pursue Peace
Reading this chapter came at a difficult time for me. Work has been extremely challenging the last few months and a situation I was not expecting turned ugly right when I was reading this chapter. I had been mulling the challenge of "loving others as Jesus loves me" from the previous chapters. So now on to peace. When you begin reading the chapter, Katie sounds elementary. Okay, pursue peace....why wouldn't you? I mean, hello? But as you dig deeper into the chapter, the peace she describes is a bit different than what first came to mind. Because of the struggle I was going through at work with a junior associate, my mind immediately went to "absence of conflict." Do you feel like Katie's friend Danielle who was caught up in the busyness of life which was always demanding "More! Faster! Bigger! Better!"? Or have you been struggling to find your unique purpose by figuring out what great gift God has given you like Katie's friend Becky?
Perhaps the most important thing to get from this chapter, having started at a place of wanting to know oh so badly our purpose, is to peacefully appreciate the tasks we do here and now, and not feel so driven to figure out the long range plan. Praying throughout the day has become more and more a part of my life over the years. And it has made a whole lot of difference. When you are sitting in your office talking to God while you work and as you mull decisions you must make, you have a sense of peace and calmness. Katie talks about wanting to learn to listen to God throughout the entire day. I want that as well. I seek it. I am far from where I need to be. I sometimes get in a rush and forget Him. I sometimes shoot off the hip before I have talked to Him about it. And I know this is a practice I need to continue working on. Being able to bring God into the craziness and busyness of your life is so important. My life of busyness comes with other challenges (I'm sure yours do too) and I love it when I remember to listen for Him. The talking to Him is not so hard............it is the listening sometimes that is a challenge.
As I read through the various guides of pursuing peace, I realized how much of my life crowds out these opportunities. For example, practicing silence. For me, I practice silence by waking up and sitting in my bathroom. Doing nothing. I just sit there in the quiet. My husband does not understand it at all. I also like to come downstairs, open the windows in the breakfast room and just sit there looking out of the window into the backyard. There is something about my spirit that just craves those quiet times with no noise, chatter, or TV. But as much as I crave these times, lately it seems like I have no time to practice silence. The pace of my life is stealing away so much from me.
Now stopping the endless mind chatter - that is hard for me. My mind is always racing. Which of the guides do you know you need to work more on? I know shutting up my mind chatter, purposely changing my pace, and avoiding peace killers are three that I need to make a concerted effort to incorporate into my pursuit for peace. Katie ends the chapter talking about Mary and Martha. We all know the story. I grew up in church and have heard the story and teachings and read the story myself multiple times. I understand the principles. But I have always empathized with Martha!!!!!!!!! Someone has to do the cooking, the cleaning, the mending......someone has to work. After all, Jesus was a guest and they had to provide him a meal. So if Martha was out there with Mary, would the meal have miraculously prepared itself? I have always thought Martha has gotten a bad rep out of this deal - she was trying to take care of Jesus' needs in her own way. And oif course Mary was just going to sit there at Jesus' feet, drinking in all the wisdom she could and not help.....but I am sure she would have enjoyed the meal Martha was working hard to prepare. Of course this probably tells you a lot about me - I am a worker. I do. I do, and do, and do, and do. But the truth is, Martha could have invited Jesus into the kitchen while she worked. And cerytainly, she should not have chastised her sister for desiring to be with Jesus. And that should be an attitude I should focus more on as I struggle with my busyness and daily tasks.
Chapter 6 - Repent and Turn away from all your offenses
One of the things I ask from God is that He show my the things that are hidden in my heart. Somtimes I have to chew on what He shows me.....sometimes I try to justify it, I try to explain it away......There are things we know we need to deal with in our lives as stumbling blocks, and then there are others we don't know about and assume are not there. The ones I don't know about are the ones that scare me. I do trust God with my frailties and do frequently reflect on my thoughts and actions. My desire is not to have a block between my relationship with God. My character is important to Him. I am an ambassador and I should reflect His love and grace and kindness. I frequently fail in that regard. Each day starts with a challenge to do better. The key here is not just recognizing where we fail, but making a commitment to change from a place of true sorrow. So ladies, it is the change that marks our true repentance.
This chapter is such a personal chapter that I can only encourage each and every one of us to spend some time in here mullling our stumbling blocks and resolving to deal with them. Pride? Conceit and arrogance? Impatience? Cursing? Lying? GOSSIPING? Manipulating? And the very familiar corporate theft? What forms do these common sins come into your life? How can they be avoided? Thankfully, whatever it is, God can lead us and "handle" our sin. And remember, we won't be perfect. But we keep on trying and working on it. And focus on the flip side of the sin.
As you went through the questions, did you find that there was a particular weakness God was nudging you on? (See Katies No. 5 on personal pathway questions).
Friday, October 12, 2007
Section 2: Chapters 3 & 4
Chapter 3
I have to be honest. I had a hard week and didn't get to read these chapters as early as I had wanted to. So, when I sat down to read them, I was at work, trying to take a short break to eat lunch and read my chapters. I was feeling frustrated with work and the constant stream of "same-ness". How ironic to read on the very second page that the mundane things of life are the very things that help us serve our purpose! God values today and the gifts He's given us to use today.
I am guilty of being a woman who doesn't know her own unique gifts and how those apply to fulfilling God's purpose. I truly never felt like I had talents. I am so wrong! I do have talents; unique, God-given talents that are just mine! Now I have to discover what they are and how to use them to fulfill God's purpose for my life.
I especially enjoyed reading about how our everyday roles are important. When we go about our routine each day, God is using that to fulfill His purpose! I felt sympathy for Katie and couldn't imagine how it must have felt to lose your job 18 days before Christmas and then to make life ok for the kids and to see how this would turn out for the good. It was refreshing to read that Katie couldn't see how it would work out until later when she looked back on that time.
Katie gave us some steps so we could do what matters today. We have to set our priorities, take care of ourselves, not panic and seize the moment. Are you working on these areas to grow and fulfill God's purpose?
Chapter 4
"...Love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35
This step was much easier to read for me. I felt like it would be much easier to get through, until I realized how much I don't show love to people. Ouch!
I can be the sassy girl in the store line to the cashier or the impatient driver behind a slow moving vehicle. I truly don't like myself when I am doing these things and I have tried to work on this. Now I understand that I can't do this myself without loving people as Jesus commanded. I also understand that this is something that I will always be challenged by in my life.
Katie tells us that we are to focus on loving as Jesus loves because our love for him will grow. That deepened love for Jesus will lead us to worship and to establish healthy relationships with others. Those relationships will support us during the hard times in life. I have lived this love before and desire to live it again.
When we lived in Tulsa, we were part of a very large Sunday School class that had 50 couples. An average of 40 couples per week came to class every Sunday! That class was so large that we had our own President, Treasurer, Activity Director and Care Committee. Steve and I had been a part of the class for two years when my dad suddenly passed away. I was 5 1/2 months pregnant with Levi (my first child) and we were 13 days from moving into our first home. We had to go home to Phoenix for my dad's funeral. When we came home, that Sunday School class had come to our home and finished all of our packing! They had everything labeled, stacked and organized just as I would have had it! In addition, they drove us to/from the airport, sent cards for months and brought us food. Even now as I type this, I am overwhelmed by the love they showed us.
I want to be the person that is there for others unconditionally and with the love of Jesus! To do this, Katie's steps include: making a loving difference and noticing when you are doing it, get connected at church (sound familiar?), offer forgiveness, develop relational habits and pray for the unloving and unlovable.
I have to be honest. I had a hard week and didn't get to read these chapters as early as I had wanted to. So, when I sat down to read them, I was at work, trying to take a short break to eat lunch and read my chapters. I was feeling frustrated with work and the constant stream of "same-ness". How ironic to read on the very second page that the mundane things of life are the very things that help us serve our purpose! God values today and the gifts He's given us to use today.
I am guilty of being a woman who doesn't know her own unique gifts and how those apply to fulfilling God's purpose. I truly never felt like I had talents. I am so wrong! I do have talents; unique, God-given talents that are just mine! Now I have to discover what they are and how to use them to fulfill God's purpose for my life.
I especially enjoyed reading about how our everyday roles are important. When we go about our routine each day, God is using that to fulfill His purpose! I felt sympathy for Katie and couldn't imagine how it must have felt to lose your job 18 days before Christmas and then to make life ok for the kids and to see how this would turn out for the good. It was refreshing to read that Katie couldn't see how it would work out until later when she looked back on that time.
Katie gave us some steps so we could do what matters today. We have to set our priorities, take care of ourselves, not panic and seize the moment. Are you working on these areas to grow and fulfill God's purpose?
Chapter 4
"...Love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35
This step was much easier to read for me. I felt like it would be much easier to get through, until I realized how much I don't show love to people. Ouch!
I can be the sassy girl in the store line to the cashier or the impatient driver behind a slow moving vehicle. I truly don't like myself when I am doing these things and I have tried to work on this. Now I understand that I can't do this myself without loving people as Jesus commanded. I also understand that this is something that I will always be challenged by in my life.
Katie tells us that we are to focus on loving as Jesus loves because our love for him will grow. That deepened love for Jesus will lead us to worship and to establish healthy relationships with others. Those relationships will support us during the hard times in life. I have lived this love before and desire to live it again.
When we lived in Tulsa, we were part of a very large Sunday School class that had 50 couples. An average of 40 couples per week came to class every Sunday! That class was so large that we had our own President, Treasurer, Activity Director and Care Committee. Steve and I had been a part of the class for two years when my dad suddenly passed away. I was 5 1/2 months pregnant with Levi (my first child) and we were 13 days from moving into our first home. We had to go home to Phoenix for my dad's funeral. When we came home, that Sunday School class had come to our home and finished all of our packing! They had everything labeled, stacked and organized just as I would have had it! In addition, they drove us to/from the airport, sent cards for months and brought us food. Even now as I type this, I am overwhelmed by the love they showed us.
I want to be the person that is there for others unconditionally and with the love of Jesus! To do this, Katie's steps include: making a loving difference and noticing when you are doing it, get connected at church (sound familiar?), offer forgiveness, develop relational habits and pray for the unloving and unlovable.
I pray that the love of Jesus will shine through me! I will walk spend much time on this step in the weeks to come!
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