Thursday, December 31, 2015

A New Year... with Accountability

"A New Year", I like the thought that come with this expression. "starting over",  "a second chance", and "a fresh start" are also ways that express the idea that no matter what has happened in the past you can "Begin again". 

Let's face it, if you are like me, you start out with high expectations and lofty goals only to be discouraged with in a  few months (or weeks) from "beginning" (if you even get started in the first place).

Exercise programs are interrupted by the need for sleep. Scolding your children less is dismissed by their constant misbehavior. Keeping the house clean is stifled by life happening every day...in your house. 

So, you get the point, it is hard to make a "resolution" and keep it. Am I saying that it is senseless to try? No, of course not. There are many things in our life that we want to and need to improve. The question is "How to do it?".

It is easier to fail at keeping a goal when we make a commitment, then try to keep it on our own. Obviously when we do this no one knows when we fail, well almost no one that is. We know of our failure and sadly, our failure does not always drive us to start again and succeed. In fact, when we fail at something, it is often easier to simply say that we will try again later (and never get back to it) or say that it wasn't all that important in the first place. But what if it was something that really is important? What if it is something that will help strengthen us so we do not relapse in illness or depression? 

Have you thought about making a commitment and finding accountability?

In the Christian community, such as a mission organizations, they often recognize the need to have "accountability partners", someone that you are accountable to for any number of Christian disciplines. They have found that when you know someone is going to ask, "So how much time did you spend in God's Word this week?" that it motivates you to get into the Word. 

You see, it is not a matter of having someone in your business as much as it is recognizing your own frailty as a human, as well as your desire to succeed. If you are very self committed and never give up, awesome, you go. If you are like me, having lofty goal but are very distracted, then asking someone to "walk along side you" during your journey will help you meet the goal much easier than trying to do it on your own and failing.

There is a beautiful verse in the Bible that sums up having accountability when you are trying to keep a commitment (make a change) in Ecclesiastes 4:9, "Two are better that one, because they have a good return for their toil".

So go ahead make that New Year's Resolution and succeed in keeping it by having someone, you trust, to hold you accountable!


Wednesday, December 23, 2015

The Faith of a Parent

Anyone who reads the history of the birth of Christ is awe struck by the incredible courage of Mary and Joseph who were facing insurmountable odds.

As you read beyond the blessed event you will also find, in Luke 2:25-38, the history of two passionate elderly people, Simeon and Anna.

Four people of amazing faith.

Mary, a young virgin chosen by God to be the mother of His one and only Son, Jesus. (Luke 1:26-38)

Joseph, a just man engaged to a women who was pregnant with a child that was not his own. (Matthew 1:18-25)

Simeon, a righteous man who had been waiting for years to see the Messiah. (Luke 2:25-34)

Anna, a prophetess, married young, widowed young, and at eighty-four years old was found worshiping in the temple day after day. (Luke 2:36-38)

Each person had tremendous faith. Mary's faith suspended her through a premarital pregnancy, possible ridicule, and the distant thoughts of what it would mean for her Son to the Savior. Joseph's faith strengthened him to wed Mary instead of "divorcing" her. Simeon's faith allowed him to hold on to a promise that he learned as a child and of a promise given to him by God to not die before seeing the Messiah. Anna's faith also proved worthy as she too saw the Messiah, rejoiced, and shared with those around her about the promise fulfilled.

I am in awe of each one of these faithful, righteous people but that makes me ask myself, how can they have such faith? Where did such faith come from? As a mother I wonder if maybe the parent's of Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna played a part in their faith.

Israel was told to teach their children about the Lord God through memorials and through their example and the children were taught the Torra (the first five books of the Old Testament). One of the most beautiful parenting verses in the Bible was given to Israel. It says, "You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." (Deuteronomy 6:7)

The faith of a parent in good times; in bad or difficult times; when there is plenty and when there is very little, all build trust in the mind of a child which leads to faith. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

Imagine your faith having the power to impart to your child the ability to own a faith that would allow them to be like Mary, Joseph, Simeon, Anna, and many others in the Bible that we are in awe of because of their faith?

Where could one start in building faith (both in yourself and in your child)? Know His Son Jesus Christ, first and for most, as your Lord and Savior. Trust God. Follow God. Remain faithful to God. Live out your faith in front of your children, rejoice in front of them as to God's faithfulness, and show them how to live in courage when things are not the way you had hoped.

Also, remember that even when a parent does everything they could to raise children to have a strong faith, that as an adult, they will make the choice to remain faithful. They may also choose to walk away from God, but God, in His faithfulness will draw them back to Himself.

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)






Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Sorrow and Joy Walk Hand in Hand

Christmas this year has shown itself a difficult one for me. 

Our son spent his first Christmas with his wife last year. That was our first Christmas in twenty-three years, that our little family of four was not  together.

As I hung the ornaments on our eclectic Family tree this year, I thought about were each one came from and who had helped in adding to our colorful evergreen. With these memories came the thought of next year and not have either of our children with us as our daughter sets out on her own.

With each ornament came memories and thoughts; memories of the past and thoughts of the future. I realized, at that moment, that sorrow (of what has changed and passed on) and joy (what was ahead for my children as they start their own families and establish their own traditions) were walking hand in hand through my mind. 

A sense of sorrow, loss, and disappointment was meeting up with the joy that comes in what is ahead; in the trust that your hope holds on to, that a good life ahead is not in vain. 

As my thoughts wondered they came upon the reason for Christmas in the life of a Christian, Jesus. As we read of His entrance to the earth as a human baby, we see Mary his mother, having thoughts of "sorrow and joy" in Luke 2:26-38. The sorrow would have come with the realization that an engaged women should not be found with child before she is married and the joy (that overtook any sorrow) was knowing that she was carrying the Son of God.

Joseph also had thoughts of "sorrow and joy" as he learned of Mary's special circumstances knowing of the shame that could follow them both the rest of their lives (Matthew 1:18-25). Yet, as with Mary, Joseph was willing to put aside the thoughts of sorrow for the joy that came in knowing that a angel of Lord  told him that the coming little one was God's own Son.

Jesus Himself, in Isaiah 53:3, is called a man of sorrow, yet for the joy (Hebrews 12:2) set before endured. Sorrow and joy at times walked hand in hand in the Savior's thoughts.

Wow, God is so good! I can see in the example of two simple people and in the life of my Savior that even though, at times, sorrow and joy walk hand in hand it is alright and as long as I am willing to trust God. So don't allow the sorrow to over take you when it come but instead be willing to look forward to the joy that is ahead. 




Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Day Dreaming instead of Living

Have you ever watched a bird and wished that you could fly or watch a horse running free in a field and wanted to feel that freedom of reckless abandon?

What about whittling away time dreaming about the person you love and your future with them or allowing your thoughts wonder through plans of what you would do if you only had the money.

I know I've been guilty of ""day dreaming", actually, most of my life. Taking the time and mental energy to think about something I would like to see come to pass without any promise or reassurance that it will or could ever happen.

Ever since my husband and I have been married we have talked about the "what ifs" of opening a Bed and Breakfast on a large plot of land with a large pond and gardens to wonder in. A place that we could offer discounts to pastor and missionary families to relax and reflect. I now day dream about a small scale farm where I could raise small live stock and garden to care for them and us. Maybe even combining the  two.

See what I mean about using time and mental energy to think about something that I would like to see come to pass without any promise or reassurance that it will or could ever happen?

What's my point? 

Recently God convicted me about day dreaming. Why? Well it was in regard to not living life to it's potential because of my dreams of what could/might be and at times, how it all seems impossible (causing a feeling of defeat) were interfering with doing what He has called me to do here and now. 

Do I know what He wants me to do? Well, yes and no. I know He wants me to love Him (Dueteronomy 6:5). He wants me to love others (John 13:34-35). I believe He wants me to serve in my Church to see fellow believes strengthened so the Gospel goes out to those around us (Hebrews 10:25). Of course there are many other things that He wants from me but as far as a "job" or "career" I have no idea. 

Should I stop "day dreaming"? That is a question I am sure I will continue to wrestle with but the one thing that I must do is live in the "now" instead of in the "future". God is in control of my past, present and future. He knows what I am doing now; what I will do soon after I post this; what this evening hold for me; what tomorrow holds for me; what next week hold for me; what next year holds for me...am I making it clear? He knows. 

I must trust that He knows and that He will bring to pass what He has for me and that it will be what is best for me (Proverbs 3:5-6). If I live in a day dream that may or may not come true I will miss what is in front of me now. I don't want to miss the now moments, do you?