Be A Sheep!

I was a sheep yesterday.

I didn’t plan to be a sheep. After a particularly long work day, I planned to put my feet up, zone out a little on Facebook, and maybe get to bed early in preparation for a big event the next night.

But a tiny sentence on Facebook set in motion other plans. A friend asking for prayer indicated she was down, at “rock bottom.” Struggles that had been increasing in the past year now threatened to sink her.

Who do YOU Say I am?



photo credit: Brianna Campos

When the enemy tears at our souls, he uses tactics to convince us that we aren’t worthy. He entices us to compare ourselves to other people, to focus on our flaws, to remind us of our failings. We see an obscured picture of the truth that God wants us to see and to possess and to act upon.

The truth is that God is very clear about who HE says we are:

To continue reading, click on over to visit with me at Circles of Faith OR at Laced With Grace.

i am a Servant

Jimmy is a simple man. In pretty much every way. Occasionally cantankerous, he stands guard over his domain - the church’s kitchen - keeping the younger generation safely outside its borders. He stands at the sanctuary’s entrance, anticipating his opportunity to usher the offering and communion plates. He has few wants and fewer needs. To some, he’s almost invisible, and he prefers it that way.
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On retreat one year, Alice and her senior friends were struggling at the food line. At least, so it seemed to me. Alice’s cane hooked over her arm as she slid the heavy plastic tray along the metal bar. I rushed over to carry their trays.
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Gently, Alice assured me she needed no help from me.
“When we get to the end, Jimmy will be there.”
And sure enough, when the gals got to the end, Jimmy was there ready to carry the trays to their table. He had been doing that for every meal. Where had I been?

The impact of Alice’s statement took me from the dining hall to the pearly gates. When Jimmy gets to the end, he will be there. He is a faithful servant seeking nothing in return, investing his talents in the lives of others. It was to those who had invested their talents that the Master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”


“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: … taking the very nature of a servant.” Phil. 2:1-7

Unlike biblical times, we are a servants by choice, not of a harsh master, but of a loving and kind one. In fact, our Master knows what it is to be a servant. He said that He Himself came not to be served, but to serve, and He set an example for us to follow. It is not hard to serve our Lord and Master because of His character.

The great price He paid for us gives us security, freeing us from worry. A servant doesn’t need to worry about where his next house payment is coming from, where his next meal is coming from. The servant knows that the Master has taken care of all that the servant needs, maybe not every desire, but certainly all the needs. A servant is a demanding full-time, life-time job, but with wonderful long-term benefits.

Being a servant means relinquishing control to the Master. In today’s culture where it is almost fashionable to be a “control-freak,” it goes against the very fabric of our society to voluntarily yield to another’s wishes. But 2000 years ago, faced with the daunting charge of birthing and mothering the Son of God, young Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” She surely had other plans - to be married to a godly carpenter, honorably raising a devout Jewish family, respected in her hometown. However, in identifying herself as a servant, she surrendered control and set aside her desires to satisfy those of her Master.

To be a servant, we don’t need to have all the answers or abilities. In fact, we find God’s strength more glorified when we serve Him in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). The old adage goes, “God is not looking for our ability, but our avail-ability.” He wants a willing servant that He can work through.


Check out this list:

the 3 patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; Moses; Joshua; Ruth; Hannah; Samuel; David; Solomon; Elijah; Nehemiah; Job; Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego; Daniel; Mary; Jesus; Paul; Peter; James; Timothy; John...
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This list could be a Who’s Who of important, influential people in the Bible, yet each one was called or called themselves a servant of the Lord. As you embrace the identity of a servant, what might your future hold?

"Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10



i am an Ambassador

The first day of school brings a cacophony of sounds - humming engines of school buses; children laughing, yelling, crying; moms laughing, yelling, crying; and Donna’s loud cheerful greetings.

Donna is my neighbor, my friend, and part of our neighborhood Bible study. One day, Donna announced that she just got her dream job - the crossing guard at our local elementary school, the school she attended as a child. I just love that of all the jobs in all the word, this was her dream. Through heat waves, cold spells, rain, hail, sleet and snow, and beautiful days too, Donna mans her post with a smile.

But she is more than a crossing guard. She is our neighborhood’s ambassador for Christ. Her focus is not just the physical safety of the children. Week after week, Donna brought prayer requests to our study group. Often she brought a friend, sometimes a parent she met at her post. If a neighbor was sick, she spread the news so that we could provide assistance. She could just focus on the required elements of her job, but instead she sees beyond the physical to the spiritual needs.

What is an ambassador?

"An authorized messenger or representative. Often, a diplomatic official, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative."

An ambassador is someone who lives in a place other than his or her true home and serves to represent that true home to others. Ambassadors must live in foreign, maybe hostile, environments and convey the virtues of their native land, encouraging others to travel there, to invest/trade there, to move there. As Christians, our home is the kingdom of heaven. We are to encourage others to make the kingdom their home as well. We must represent the kingdom in a way that draws people unto our King.

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors...” 2 Cor. 5:20

Perhaps we assume that it is someone else’s job to be an ambassador. A minister or a Sunday School teacher or a traveling evangelist. Someone better equipped to handle God’s Word. But in this paragraph, Paul says “if ANYone is in Christ, he is a new creation. … WE are Christ’s ambassadors, God is making his appeal through US.” Through you and me. If God can use a donkey and a crossing guard, I have to believe He can use me, and you too. We don’t need to preach a sermon. We just need to share our experience. “All I know is this - once I was blind, now I see.”

I am a Christian today because someone was His ambassador to me. Is there someone you can bring God’s grace to? 

i am a Shepherd

You might think for a shepherd post, I’d choose to highlight my pastor who is indeed an awesome shepherd of our flock. You might pick your pastor too. Maybe that’s why I didn’t. We often associate the job of the pastor with the identity of a shepherd. In fact, we often confuse our profession with our identity. Randomly ask someone “Who are you?” and the answer might be “I’m an accountant... a teacher... a stay-at-home mom... etc...”

The truth is our identity is not what we do, but who we are. And who we are is what determines what we will do. For example, if we are a shepherd, we will care for our sheep. Not because it is our profession, but because it is how we are made.

In the weeks to come, I will be sharing “people posts,” posts about people who demonstrate a particular biblical identity. And I do believe there will be some surprises, unexpected choices. In fact, every one of the people you will read about was shocked that I asked to write about them. Like Dee Silva. Dee is the front end manager of a local gourmet food store, and my kids’ first boss.

I shop in the Market Basket often. It’s on my way to work, church, and just about everywhere I go. It’s also chock full of excellent produce, meat and specialties. So in high school, when my kids were interested in earning a regular paycheck, it was the first place they applied.

It probably wasn’t the job best suited for my kids. One is a dancer who hated being stationary behind her cash register. The other is superactive and hated being tied to a strict schedule. Yet, from a mom’s point of view, the job was ideal - largely because of their boss.

From Day 1, Dee was and is interested in the youth in her employ. She is compassionate when needed, and she disciplines when appropriate.

My kids haven’t worked there for several years, yet when I ran into Dee a few weeks ago, her first question was, “Today is Lauren’s dance performance, isn’t it?” It was. How did she know??? Facebook. Dee keeps us with her lambs even after they no longer are in her employment. After my son returned from his mission trip this summer, on fire to begin a nonprofit ministry, Dee spent time with him sharing her wisdom about the proper steps he needs to take on his journey.

When my friend asked me if I’d recommend the Market Basket as a suitable place for her daughter’s first job, it was a no-brainer. Dee would be my choice for any first boss.

One dictionary definition of shepherd is: a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people. I could have picked a mom who nurtures her cubs or a coach who encourages his team, a babysitter or a CEO, a writer or a salesclerk. Perhaps I could have picked you.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples. While sharing breakfast on the shore, He issued a commission to Peter. After Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” and Peter responded, “You know I do”, Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Peter was given his mission. Later, the apostle Paul stated that he acted as both a caring mother and an encouraging father to the Thessalonian church. Likewise, you and I are exhorted to care for those Jesus loves, the weak, the unfortunate, the new believers.  It is not just the pastor who is the shepherd.  All of us are called upon to shepherd the lambs of Jesus, leading them to safety, protecting them from their enemy, helping them to grow, knowing them by name.

He is the Good Shepherd …

The Shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. John 10:14

Who even shepherds the stars!

He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Is 40:26

We are the little shepherds called to care for His people...

Feed My lambs. John 21:15

who am i ???

As some of you know, the subject of my book (still a work-in-progress) is who we are in Christ. There are many books on the names and titles of God, but precious few on who He says we are. Each chapter of my book looks at a different identity that He calls us - an ambassador, the bride, a part of the body, a child, clay, salt, light, a servant, sheep, a shepherd, etc. Since God is called the Great I AM, I call these identities "little i am's." 

You know, it's hard to type a little "i" since Word automatically changes my little "i" to a capital "I." It takes constant effort to repeatedly undo that "I" and insert the lower case "i." To me, this illustrates the constant struggle to keep God (capital I AM) on the throne and not me (little i am).

But the Great I AM made us "little i am's" in His image and for His purpose. By maintaining a sense of who He made us to be, we are encouraged and become more confident to do what He wants us to do.
- When I feel alone and cut off, it helps me to remember that I am a branch of the Vine.
- If I'm under attack, I recall the weapons at my disposal as a soldier of the most high Commander-in-Chief.
- Should I feel crushed under my circumstances, I'll remember the refining process used by the Potter.
- When I feel unloved, I'm comforted to know that I am loved unconditionally by my Bridegroom.
- If I feel I cannot go on, I learn to press on like an athlete running a marathon.


Over the next few weeks, I'm excited to share what I'm calling "People Posts" based on random people in my life who through their character or circumstances exemplify a particular God-given identity.  Stay tuned. You never know, you could be next :)

Battle Cry - Part 2 - The Word

Two weeks ago, I shared part 1 of my observations of the Battle Cry teen event. You can read what I shared about the worship experience here. Today, I want to share a few insights I gleaned from the teaching that was offered at Battle Cry.


During the opening message by Ron Luce, "Smitten With Love," a waterfall thundered on the enormous video screens from floor to towering ceiling. The roaring water continually cascaded, its power inescapable. Encouraged to figuratively stick our toe in and immerse ourselves in the waterfall of His love, I felt drenched from head to toe.


The message that God is “wooing” us was a bit lost on the teens, but went straight to my  woman’s heart. God wants to capture not just our attention, but to capture our heart with complete commitment to Him, no dating others! After courting, sweethearts get married and then they live together, not separately.


And after we say “I do” we are to dwell together, not have divided lives. Newlyweds completely reorient their lives, and as believers, we are to reorient ourselves completely to our Bridegroom. The Lord didn’t send a love note. He sent us Himself.


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Ron’s closing message, “Who You Gonna Listen To,” was one that resonated loudly with both the teens and me. Of the many voices that scream at us, you must choose to listen to love. When you listen to the wrong voices, your identity is stolen. Since this is the very topic of my book, I was hooked, especially by the videos that punctuated his message. One in particular showed a teen getting ready for school. He opened his dresser drawer to pull out some clothes. Then he rummaged in the bottom of the drawer and pulled out a handful of passports, each one with a different identity. One day he went to school as Mr. Smooth, another day it was Nervous Ned or Locker Room Loser or Dark Magic. But the last passport bore the name “Re-bourne Identity” (which happens to be one of my possible book titles!!!), and the audience boomed their applause.
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It was a totally awesome video, but I realized it stopped short of my topic, so I’ll be hunting for some videographers to make a sequel! You see, my book is about the identities that we assume after we are re-born. We are new creations in Christ, but often live defeated lives, not bearing our true identities: We are children of the King, joint heirs with Christ, ambassadors for the kingdom of heaven of which we are citizens. We are soldiers engaged in battle, athletes running a marathon, branches of the life-giving Vine. We are instruments fit for the Master’s use, His workmanship fearfully and wonderfully made, clay in the Potter’s hands. We are a vapor, sheep, salt and light. I could go on, but you get the idea.


The message summation is this - You must choose which voice to listen to. You must choose to listen to love. If you encountered God this weekend, then on Monday, BE the love encounter. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34 You don’t need to love many, but love one and make a difference.


Stay tuned tomorrow. I have a few more morsels to share from Nick Vujicic. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!


And if you haven’t yet left a comment regarding my book giveaway from last week, please be sure to so I know if you’re interested in the drawing. It’s an awesome book about “finding our true image in the mirror of God.” Contest ends Wednesday.

Mourning to Gladness

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13


Well, I wasn't exactly mourning. That's way too strong a word, but I sure was disappointed.

Yesterday at my son’s high school was the final chapel of the series based on my book-to-be. It has been a terrific series, and the finale of this last chapel was a wonderful presentation by the students in the class. As James softly played the piano, one by one each student in the class came on the stage, alternately from the left and right. Each one spoke a different “i am . . .”, read a Bible verse and carried or wore a symbol representing that identity. Fourteen in all portrayed clay, child, bride, soldier, part of the body, instrument, ambassador and so on. To wrap it up, I came up last and shared the final “i am” - “Here I am . . . send me. . .” During my conclusion, I shared the words I had first shared 7 weeks ago:

“I am not who you think I am.
I am not even who I think I am.
I am who God says I am.”

The whole presentation was very moving, and it was videotaped so that we could put it on YouTube and be an encouragement to others (including you!). Well, we thought it was videotaped. You see, in order to be taped, it is necessary to push the “REC” button, and the guy doing the recording did everything but press “REC”.
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My heart sank when I heard the news. I tried to be cool about it, but secretly I was so-o-o-o disappointed.
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Until later that night.
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My son called me over to see something on the computer. He was checking Facebook (what else is new??) and pointed toward the middle of the screen. There amid the many photos and newsy updates was a picture of a girl from his school, and what do I see next to her picture in the “what’s on your mind” box: “I AM NOT WHO YOU THINK I AM. I AM NOT WHO I THINK I AM. I AM WHO GOD SAYS I AM.”
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Oh, God is so good!

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The class wants to re-enact the presentation to properly film it in a few weeks, so hopefully you'll be able to see it. But whether or not that actually takes place is not quite as important to me now. To know that the message reached at least one, hopefully more, was such a blessing. To have this young lady declare it boldy to the world, at least her part of the world, is such a testimony to importance of this message.

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Isn't it funny how we can feel so disappointed one minute, then soaring with gladness the next? All because we see God working. Oh, may we remember that He is always working!!

Susan

W O W - What an Outrageous Weekend!

W O W - With Outstanding Women!

I'm so thankful for the wonderful time I spent with the women from the PVCA retreat this past weekend! They are a beautiful bunch, inside and out. And we were in a beautiful place, inside and out! Many thanks to Nancy, Pam and the committee who worked so hard all year long to put together such a blessed experience.

We strolled along the ocean.

And rested on the jetties.

We ate (mostly)

delicious meals.

And had lots of laughs.
(That's Heather!)

Time was spent in small groups and large groups, dining, laughing, sharing, catching up with old friends and getting to know new ones. So many inspiring stories were shared with both humor and tears.

The small group leaders did a fabulous job helping me to present the message about who we are in Christ. They shared about what it means to be an ambassador, the bride, a servant, salt, a soldier, an heir, a sheep and a branch of the Vine, about what prevents us from living as we should and what can we do to get back on track.

On a side note - I noticed that many of the group leaders shared that fear was a factor, so I want to invite you to attend High Mountain Church's Ladies Tea (June 6th) where I was asked to speak on what subject -- fear! Fear is something that I have wrangled with all my life, and it seems that I'm not alone. Especially in these dark days, with the economy and spiritually, fear hits very close to home. But take heart - "perfect Love casts out fear!!" "God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and self-discipline."

Back to the retreat - One image that will stay with me was when little Alex (our very special male attendee) heard his aunt's voice and turned his head, looking up at her with eyes brimming with adoration and a smile to match. It reminded me that His sheep know His voice, and when we hear His voice, we must turn toward His direction with joy.

Aunt Nettie, Alex and mom Amanda

At the very end, the entire group turned toward the wall of windows facing the bay (and the mainland in the distance) and sang "Shout to The Lord." It was a holy moment, one which bridged the sacred to the secular.

As we leave the Spirit-filled weekend, may the lessons that God showed us strengthen us to know who we are because of who He is and to be His representatives back in our realities at home, work, church, school, wherever He's placed us.

Susan

i am ... Excited!

As many of you know, I have been writing a book that is tentatively titled,

"i know You are . . . but what am i?"

It's about what I call the "little i am's". God is the "Great I Am", so we are the "little i am's". Each chapter will explore the concept of who God says we are - for example, i am . . . an ambassador, an athlete, a soldier, the bride, salt, light, and so on.
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After a whirlwind year last year, my progress on the book itself has been SLOW. I put it aside for a while to learn more about how to write and about the publishing industry. But now, I'm back! I had some outside influence to bring this front and center once again. My son!
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In his Bible & Worship class at school, he and his classmates are assigned the task of putting together the chapels for the entire school. As they were brainstorming a theme, he suggested the "little i am's". The students chose it, and I am now "consulting" with the class to present this material to the entire school. It is a thrill for me that they expressed interest in this subject, and I am taking it as a confirmation that God wants me to continue with the vision I have for this book project.
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I attended the class this morning, and they are such a great group! I offered some advice, but mostly I wanted to hear what their ideas were. A schedule was developed for which topics will be on which day, and they are lining up speakers for each presentation - 6 in all (an athlete, a soldier, etc.). My son, AJ, will be sharing the message about what it means to be clay in the hands of the Potter. (Can I say I'm more than a little proud?)
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I will be sharing the introductory message this Thursday 3/5/09 at 9:40 am, and while I am so excited, I must be honest - I covet your prayers. I so want to be relevant to the student body (and staff). And while I love teaching and sharing in small group settings, being on stage is just never a comfortable spot for me.
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And while I'm at it, can I be so bold as to also ask for prayers for the book I am writing? My sole desire is that discovering our true identity in Christ will be encouraging and empowering to the reader. Please pray that I will be focused on the task and that my writing skills improve to present a worthy product. I also am exploring publication in magazine articles. Thanks so much in advance!!

Isaiah 62:2 “The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”

Isaiah 43:1, “But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”

Susan

Salt and Ice

The first snowstorm of the season! So beautiful! So dangerous! My husband and I were at our office, keeping very busy in the morning as our patients changed their appointments to try to make it home before the worst of the storm. By the time we were making our way home, the worst had passed, but the roads were terrible. Thank God for 4 wheel drive! Anyway, as we crossed from one town into another, the state of the roads would change depending upon how each town treated the roads. Then on one road near our home, the road was practically clear! It was apparent that the town had salted that roadway early on and throughout the day. The salt had thoroughly melted the frozen snow and ice.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciples, "You are the salt of the earth. " As salt is used to thaw the frozen roadways, our job is to thaw frozen hearts.

Salt was a precious commodity in Bible times, used to preserve food and provide flavor. It has healing properties, produces thirst, and was so valuable that people were often paid in salt (sal-ary). All these qualities relate to us as disciples as well. We are to be a preserving factor in society, adding flavor to people's lives, being a healing influence on those around us and producing a thirst for God.

Jesus warns, "But what good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out." Since salt is a very stable substance, it is impossible for salt to lose any of its properties. So what did Jesus mean? In His day, the way that salt lost its "saltiness" was to become comingled with other substances, like sand. In other words, as salt, we are to remain pure, and to be the one having a positive effect on others, to be the influencer.

Let the salt we so commonly use every day be a reminder for us to "be the salt of the earth".
Susan

Betrothed

All over the country, men and women have just been elected to national, state, county and local government positions. However, none of these newly elected officials will take office for 2 - 3 months. They are legally committed to their new position, but are not officially serving in that office yet.

In the Bible, there was a betrothal period in which the bride and groom had made a binding legal commitment to each other, but were not officially married yet. This is why the Bible says that Joseph considered quietly "divorcing" Mary when she was found to be miraculously pregnant, even though the formal wedding had not yet occurred.

When we become Christians, we are in a betrothal period with our Bridegroom. We are committed to Him, bound to Him, serving Him until such time as our formal wedding to Him takes place. We represent Him here on earth. We are cared for by Him and are under His protection. One day, we will be completely united with Him in glory, but until that time we live this life with Him as our Bridegroom.


Let us keep Him in our thoughts throughout our day, each and every day. Let us experience Him beside us and inside us. Let us live with the joyous expectancy a bride feels as her wedding day approaches. It's a time of preparation and work, but always keeping our focus on the joy set before us.


Susan