The Comparison Thief

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. — Galatians 6:4

Last week, as my daughter prepared for her Earth Day chapel presentation on creation, we talked about various aspects of creativity, including what stifles it. When I said, “comparison is the thief of creativity,” she replied, “Wow! I’m definitely putting that quote in my powerpoint!!”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized the deep damage that comparison does to us emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, and physically. It is indeed a thief of creativity, but it also robs us of so much more.

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Who's calling you?

“AJ, COME HERE!!”

My son AJ turned and put down the rake. Sweaty and tired from his backyard landscaping project, the last thing he expected was to hear our beloved neighbor across the street calling him so harshly. “There must be something wrong,” he thought. And there it was again.

“AJ, COME HERE NOW!!!”

Bewildered, AJ sauntered across the street and saw Kim in her front yard, hands cupped aside her mouth, bellowing, “AJ, COME HERE!”

“Kim, is something wrong?”

Her eyes landed on AJ, and when she saw the expression on his face, Kim broke out in hysterical laughter, hands on knees, almost rolling over into the driveway. It was several minutes before she was able to compose herself enough to squeak out the story. She was dog-sitting, and AJ-the dog had run away down the street.

AJ-the son,  greatly relieved that she was calling AJ-the dog, ran off to retrieve the missing pet.

There’s an important lesson we can glean from this light-hearted case of mistaken identity.

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Forget it! Or Remember?

Happy New Year!

On Jan. 1st, I updated my facebook status to read:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" Is. 43:18-19

Seemed like the perfect verse to usher in the new year along with Paul’s words from Phil 3:13-14 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Seems like starting a new year gives us opportunity to do a lot of forgetting.

Yet I also recall verses that tell me to do just the opposite – remember!

Repeatedly in Scripture the Lord urges His people to remember – His covenants with them, what He has done for them (and us), what they (and we) had been, how they (and we) angered God, how He forgave.

In fact, Isaiah himself who wrote “forget the former things” also wrote:

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9

So what’s a girl to do? 

Forget or remember??

Well - a little of both.

Alas, I find myself remembering things that have little value, hurtful things, foolish things, things that should be long forgotten. These are the things that Isaiah says to forget – “do not dwell in the past.” In Paul’s description of the race of life, these things are weights that drag us down and keep us from pressing on toward the goal.

What we are to dwell on, to remember, is the God that is like no other. The One who redeemed us when we were unworthy, the One who sustained us when we couldn’t go on, the One who grants us peace beyond understanding, the One who helps us to love the unlovable and who loves us unconditionally, the One who made us and REmade us.

So in 2016, what will you remember? And what will you forget? 

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He's With Us!

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,and they will call him Immanuel"(which means "God with us").Matt. 1:22-23, Is. 7:14

My friend experienced a horrific family tragedy not long ago. Yet miraculously she glows with the grace of God. When I told her this, she simply shrugged and said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing. So I'm with Him."

Another friend with ongoing family heartbreak told me about a sermon that spoke to her, and said, "There's a miracle coming out of that mess!" That sermon's title? "Emmanuel, God With Us."

Mary of Nazareth, an unwed pregnant teenager. Her betrothed, Joseph was about to divorce her when an angel assured him that this miracle Child would fulfill the prophesy that the virgin's child would be named Immanuel meaning “God would with us.”

Yes, He came to be our Savior, to redeem us.
Yes, He came to set an example.
Yes, He came to give us life, abundant life.

But, He also came simply to be with us.

To be with us in the tragedy, providing grace and peace through the storm.
To be with us in the joy, multiplying it and giving it meaning.
To experience life with us that we might experience life with Him. Glorious!

Are you with Him?
Because He said that if you're not, then you're against Him. Ouch!

So if you don't sense that you are WITH Him - seek Him without delay.
Seek Him with your whole heart.

Repent of anything that would hinder His presence in your life.

He came to be with us.
Anything less is less than best.

From Jesus Calling ~ "When you sit quietly with Me, the process I went through is reversed in your experience. As you identify with Me, heaven's vistas open up before you - granting you glimpses of My Glory."

I pray your CHRISTmas is filled with His presence, the greatest present of all!

"He will be calledWonderful Counselor,Mighty God,Everlasting Father,Prince of Peace....Immanuel."Isaiah 9:6, 7:14

True Thanksgiving

Every year come November, the turkeys start their frenzied twittering. A level of anxiety invades their farm. And in many homes across the United States, moms start their frenzied cleaning, shopping, polishing, all in preparation for the least commercial holiday on the calendar – Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I relish in the preparations, knowing that all the extended family will descend on my home, each year making new memories. It’s been our tradition for as many years as I can remember.

Homeward Bound

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Heb. 13:14

A few years ago, my friends traveled the world. Along their journey, they had some great experiences, and some not so great. But at each stop along the way, they purchased various souvenirs – clothing, jewelry, household items. One purchase was a beautiful but large Italian mirror. They couldn’t carry it with them and so had it shipped home. That decision led to other purchases from further destinations being sent home. When they finally arrived home, they had a house full of treasures awaiting them.

Eventually, those treasures lost their newness. The mirror chipped, the souvenirs collected dust. Fortunately for my friends, those tangible items weren’t their true treasures.  Still, they relished the memories made, the relationships forged, the lessons learned.

A Dream Fulfilled

And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21

Jesus said these words to His followers, bringing their attention to the fulfillment of the vision, promise and prophecy of His coming. I share that verse now because yesterday a vision, promise, and prophecy about Lauren's future was fulfilled in your hearing (or reading ;D). 

Yesterday the Greenhouse Arts Center opened its doors to cultivate the dreams of the next generation and encourage these little dreamers to make a difference in their world.

Of Birth and Death

The picture above is at the WTC memorial.
The rose was placed on Bruce's birthday.
This photo honors both his birth and death. 

Today is one of those days where you can’t help but remember the exact moment when you heard the news. You know where you were, who you were with, what you were doing. I was standing in my kitchen watching the smoke billowing from the World Trade Center, a building I worked in for 11 years.

Each year brings another anniversary of a day that changed the world as we knew it, a day we commemorate the lives that were lost.

How To Hear From God

In his 2^nd letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encouraged the church again to stand firm in the face of persecution. He urged them to “keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.” The Thessalonians heard from Paul both in person and by letter.

Likewise, we hear from God both in person and by letter. <<Click to tweet>>

Supernaturally, by the Holy Spirit, we can experience the presence of God. We sense His leading. We feel His peace. We are strengthened by His power. We can hear from God in person.

We also hear from God through the Bible, His love letter to us, His children. The words in the Word are “living and active.” They are not merely ink on a page. They speak directly to our hearts in miraculous ways.

The danger is when our relationship with God is unbalanced, focused on one OR the other. 

Top Ten List: Garden Lessons Learned

In my last post, I shared about a lesson learned one day last month when I spent the afternoon attacking a garden patch that had been sorely overlooked. The lush green foliage deceptively hid its true identity - a massive pack of weeds. Entering into the belly of beast, I had no idea the many lessons I was about to learn. Here's my Top Ten in random order:

1. There is no "before" picture. Why? First of all, I wasn't expecting a spiritual lesson. I was just planning to do a job that I hated, but had to be done. Yet God found me there. When we remain open to hearing His voice, we may hear from Him in unexpected places. 

Get Out!!!

The muggy air was so thick the weatherman described it as “air you wear.” I absolutely didn’t feel like going outside, especially since my task that day was to tackle the overgrown weeds in the garden. But my schedule didn’t allow for another day, so out I went. 

And I’m so glad I did. I learned so many valuable lessons that day that I started taking notes so as not to forget. While I was outside up to my elbows in dirt, neighbors passed by, either by car or walking. I looked a mess and felt a little self-conscious, but the lessons learned were well worth it.

One of those lessons was simply the act of going out.

The Real Scandal

Every day it’s a new scandal, a new divisive issue.

• Race issues.
• Gender issues.
• Abuse issues.
• Political issues.

You know the names. The places. We see and hear them all day, every day. Our newsfeeds overflow with opposing points of view. We share the ones we agree with, furthering the furor. We discount the opinions of others without attempting to understand them.

And I have to ask the question, cliche as it is. What would Jesus do?

Memorial Day - A Day Of Remembrance. And Honor.

Memorial Day isn’t about barbeques or three day weekends. It’s about remembering those who gave their lives in service to our country. It’s about sacrifice and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

What Is Faith?

So often we are living in the aftermath of an event that left us full of tears. Now we’re in a dark time, experiencing the pain of suffering, despair, heartache.

Much like the disciples must have felt on the Saturday after the crucifixion.

They waited in their despondency, unaware of what was to happen the next morning; the joy of new life, resurrection, rising from the ashes of pain.

And that’s where faith grows.

How Can I Know God's Will?

The question of the day – most every day – for those who desire to follow God. How can I know God’s will?  Choices are not always crystal clear no matter how strong our desire to follow God’s plan. The Apostle Paul provides a clue in two of the choices he made.  

Hang In There!

Easter Sunday morning, there was still a little pile of snow tucked into the garden beside my driveway. The recent rain, wind and warmer weather washed away much of the snow; yet there still remained piles of graying white. For months they sat like giant beached whales. Mounds of snow, at the edges of fences, by the sides of highways, in corners of parking lots. For the entire winter, our lawns were cloaked in white.

Each of those snowflakes that fell en masse last January were so delicate, it’s amazing that they are still present in April. What can we learn from these fragile flakes that have such staying power?

Not So Great Expectations

On Saturday, I heard barely a peep about the snow, just that 2-4 inches were expected. We got 12-14 inches.

But on Monday, the coming snow was all anyone could talk about on TV, radio, social media. Blizzard warnings and expectations of 18-24 inches, whirred people into a frenzy.

It turned out to be the storm that wasn't. Oh we did get snow, about 8 inches in my area, but the storm stayed farther east than expected and hit areas farther north.

"Jan. 27, 2015 will go down in the annals of history as the day New Jersey came to a standstill for a blizzard in another state." nj.com

Forecasters blamed it on "sinking air" and gushed apologies. “My deepest apologies to many key decision makers and so many members of the general public,” said Gary Szatkowski, meteorologist-in-charge ... “You made a lot of tough decisions expecting us to get it right, and we didn't. Once again, I'm sorry.”

From politicians to business owners to school superintendents to stay-at-home moms, we all made decisions based upon expectations: closing services and roads, early dismissals from schools and businesses, buying more groceries than we could consume in a month.

People complained when we were expecting snow.

Then they complained when we got less than expected.

What was it that fueled these complaints? Not the snow, but rather the expectations of it and their response to those expectations.

It's not just about snowfalls. It's about life.

Disappointment is a direct result of expectations that aren't valid. <<Click to tweet>>

How Can This Be?

Has a phone call or conversation ever delivered incomprehensible news and you wondered, “How can this be?” You’re not alone…

Call It What It Is

Last week, my family and I toured the High Line in NYC. It’s an old dilapidated elevated train that was to be torn down until a community group came to its rescue. It’s now an exquisite park with gorgeous foliage and sweeping views of New York City.

The most recently completed section, the north end, is starkly different from the rest of the park in that its restoration intentionally left what the park architects call a “self-seeded landscape.”

 

When my husband saw the unkempt disarray, he joked, “That’s what we’ll call our backyard weeds now – our ‘self-seeded landscape.’”

But no matter what you call it, you can’t change the truth, and the raw truth here is that the “self-seeded landscape” is really just a mass of weeds.   

What if....

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Mark 10:21-22

“Follow Me.”

What if the rich young ruler made a different choice? What plans did Jesus have for him that he missed? 

Jesus offers us the same opportunity. 

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