Learning Along The Way

Short List

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This is week 5 of my Lent devotional experience. It has been good and hard at the same time.

This week’s theme focus is on something that I have been working on for years (and am still learning to be at ease with)

Intercessory Prayer.

That may sound like something for monks and nuns but it’s not really.

To intercede simply means to go before a judge on behalf of another. In this case it means that we go before God’s throne and pray for others and not just our own needs.

Imagine what your life would be like if you weren’t focused only on yourself.

Praying for the needs of others helps me in so many ways: I am learning to develop the sense that Paul wrote to us in his letter to the Philippians: ” do not think of your needs only but consider the needs of others, think of others more importantly than yourself”. I also gain greater perspective on my own life by thinking about and considering others’ needs; my own problems sometimes simply don’t occupy my mind when I am thinking about the needs of others and the difficulties others are facing.

Years ago I heard a speaker use this illustration: imagine that we carry a backpack of our problems and were asked to lay the pack down in the center of the room to let go of them for awhile. She then said imagine going to the pile of backpacks and choosing one that wasn’t your own, a surprising thing would happen. We would see the problems of others as larger than our own and we would want our own familiar load back again. The speaker further challenged us to be looking to the needs of others as a way to change our perspective on the load we carry.

Probably because I have battled the poor me syndrome for as long as I can remember this illustration was a good one for me. Someone else might not have gotten anything out of it. But I did. And I have tried to live with this perspective since then.

It is such a privilege to be asked to pray for someone. I imagine walking into the Throne room and sitting down with Jesus and telling Him about my friend or someone I heard about and what they are facing and asking Him to help them know that He is with them in this hard time, asking Him to strengthen them as they need, asking Him to comfort them in their loss. Interceding for others is what Jesus does ALL the TIME. Why not join Him?

 

Sunday Celebrations: Honoring the Work of St. Patrick on This Day

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Ibind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

You may be of Irish decent and already know the true history of Patrick of Ireland.

Like many things at the hands of revisionist historians, the original work of Patrick has been assaulted by today’s cultural whims.

Who was this Patrick? Why does he have a day attributed to him?  Why all the green beer?  How do they relate?

The words above are attributed to the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick which later became and song which later became a hymn.

I am not going to tell you the history of Patrick of Ireland but if you’re curious, you can find it here.

I will tell you some of the things I have learned about him over the years.

He was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland.

He loved Jesus and wanted others to know Him truly.

He spent his adult years learning the Scriptures and then took it to the people who had been his masters.

God used Patrick mightily to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to all of Ireland.

How did we go from telling people of Jesus Christ to drinking copious amounts of green beer to “celebrate” St Patrick?

Ironically like most of cultural elements in America, this became an exploited holiday that was once only a religious remembrance.

The first St Patrick’s Day parade was On March 17, 1762; Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.

Now annually, the St Patrick’s Day parade in NYC is the largest parade of its kind in the world.

If you are interested in learning more of the cultural progression from sharing Christ with the lost to drinking at the break of dawn check out this site.

The work and words of Patrick of Ireland are worth celebrating today, this Sunday in Lent.

He made personal sacrifices so that others could have food and shelter.

He demonstrated his love for Jesus through actions as well as words.

He helped those he served among.

That is a character worth copying.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

(photo credit M. Dahl)

Reflections on the Cost of Being Frugal

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This past week of Lent has been very challenging for me.  Not because the theme has been frugality.  But in thinking of all the ways my husband and I have battled the culture and its influences for over 20 years in this specific area has really caused me to see what some of the costs have been to live a frugal life style.

And the hard part is the battle of resentment toward others. For being misunderstood.  For not seeing the value in the long run and ridiculing us for our choices.  For whining at me to “aw come on just this once” in trying to get me to go against my DH and his leadership.

It is not easy to see my black heart.  In fact it sickens me.  Oh how I need saving from myself!

Yes, we have chosen again and again to be like salmon. Going upstream against the current of culture. Making quiet sacrifices for the benefit of our sons and those who are less fortunate than ourselves.  I am not talking about these sacrifices for any one of you who read this to think “Wow what a super Christian Lisa is!” or even for you to think I am tooting my own horn and then say “How dare she point out all that she has done!”  Nope.  I am simply counting the cost of a frugal life.

I have died daily.  I want nice, brand new clothes. From Nordstrom or Dillards or Bloomingdales.  I want to remodel the bathrooms and use expensive materials and not do the work myself.  Actually I want to buy a bigger house already done up to the nines with acreage so I can have horses.  I want a new car every three years with all the bells and whistles.  I want. I want. I want.

Blegh!

I retired early from teaching; 1993 was the last year I was full time employed in a school district.  At that time I laid down my identity as a teacher to take up the identity of a stay at home mom.  Going from two professional salaries to one caused some upheaval for me.  Ask my DH.  He’s a saint to have stayed committed to me and this marriage.

This one was just 4 and 1/2 years old when I left teaching.  His smiles and fun loving personality made being at home and helping in his classroom at school a joy!

During his next two years there was a baby to come who went on ahead to wait for us and then this one joined our family.

Two sons.  So blessed.

Lots of work, folding, cleaning, reading, singing, camping, changing, growing, praying, learning, repeat.

The sacrifices of stuff compared to the time I had with them was the cost of a frugal life.

 

As I was folding the socks today and praying for the feet of the one still at home, it hit me.

The cost of a frugal life has been spent on the character of these two men.  I was struck by the realization.

And then struck by my own pettiness in holding onto the hurts from being misunderstood for our choices.  The cost of a frugal life has been real.  It has been external.  It has been temporal.

The money, career, prestige, and stuff will burn.  Who these men are toward God, His people and each other is eternal.

All I can do is say Thank You Lord for using what was hard for me to do without to in turn benefit others in ways I may never know.

Cycling By

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This week of Lent has been hard; further confirming how I need a Savior.

I am lazy.  I look for ways out of doing what is hard.  I rationalize.  I excuse.  I want what is easy and comfortable.

This photo above was taken in 2011 when my dear husband (DH) and I took a two week trip to France for our 20th wedding anniversary.  Looks fun doesn’t it?

It was and is fun to ride a bicycle.

I reminded myself of that this week as I made myself ride my bike to work and back each day.  6 miles round trip.  Mostly flat and about 22 minutes (slow cycling!)

I pushed myself both for the exercise and for the practice of frugality which has been the theme this week of Lent.  Spend less/ give generously.

I love giving!  But I also love my comforts.  Driving 3 miles to work takes 7 minutes.  Do the math: it takes 3 times as long for me to ride as to drive.  But what is time except a non-renewable resource given to us to steward?

So I challenged myself to get on my own bike and get going.

I am happy to say I followed through.  Not a huge financial savings fuel wise but a big step in the right direction for me to use this bike for my transportation as I was doing in the fall before the time change and colder, wetter weather.

No excuses left but laziness and poor time management.

And you?  What have you been learning about yourself as you are going through this season of Lent?

Pulling Back the Covers

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I love the beginning of a new day.  Really.

The one difficult step to get me going is pulling.back.the.covers.

If I don’t do that right away I will stay in the same place too long!

I see this photo as a picture of God pulling back the covers on the morning.

The theme of this week in my Lent devotional of Frugality: Less Spending/More Peace is like pulling back the covers.

What drives me to spend more than I know I should? What is guiding my actions in those times? What is consuming my thoughts?

When I actually commit to pulling back the covers I get right up and get going.

When I truly see what is behind my spending habits I am able to make conscious decisions with money.

It is a tool.  Not an idol.

What happens when you pull back the covers on these thoughts?

 

 

Blessings of Simplicity

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I just want to sigh.

This streamlined, simplified closet with the entire wardrobe color integrated and interchangeable, does my heart good.  Thanks to Staci Gerardi of November Sunflower for this peaceful image!

To me this image epitomizes simplicity.  And frugality.  Less is More.

The 3rd week of this Lenten season has focused on Simplicity: Less Stuff/More Freedom

This week I have been silent here.  Not because I haven’t had anything to write about.  I have been dealing with myself before God.

I hang on.  I struggle with letting go.  Stuff holds memories.  What happens to the memories if I let go of the stuff?

Having Stuff also represents other false selves: wealth, status, security.  Stuff can serve to insulate us from our inner life which might be too painful to deal with. Stuff can distract from relationships.

Stuff owns us; not the other way around.

SO this week I went through each cupboard, closet, drawer, shelf and bin removing stuff that no longer serves a purpose in my life.  Some landed in the trash, some went specifically to other people whom I thought might be blessed by an item, and most went to Mission Thrift, a local store I like to support.

There is so much more to do.  But I began the physical process.

Now about the spiritual process.  I faced fears I didn’t realize I had: what if I need that? What if we can’t financially replace that?  What if one of the kids wanted that? (least likely issue by the way!) What if by not having that item I forget? (I’m forgetting a lot more these days anyway…both wisdom and forgetfulness arrived with gray hair!)

I hear the Lord speaking to me in His Word: “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God that passes all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4: 6-7)  And over a few more pages: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

So I give away the fears, the stuff and give thanks to the One who originally provided the means to receive the stuff in the first place and Who knows my every real need and will provide for me all the Way until I see Him face to face.

Less Stuff/More Freedom

Amen and Amen

 

 

 

Sunday Celebrations: Wonderful Wedding!

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This weekend my husband and I drove 6 hours south to attend a young friend’s wedding.  This was the backdrop for their ceremony.  Outdoors, among God’s wonderful handiwork of oaks, sage and grasses.

He was the center of the wedding.  I pray He remains center of their marriage.

Marriage is God’s thing, our Pastor Tim says at each wedding I have heard him officiate.  This was not one of his ceremonies.  The pastor who was there invited each person to recognize this wedding, this marriage, was not just about two people; it was (and is) about the community of life in Christ.

A wedding is a celebration of the beginning of a marriage.  We all have a responsibility to the newly wed couple.

To celebrate with them on their wedding day.  And so much more.

To pray for them.

To intentionally invest in their developing relationship when things get tough by pointing them to Christ and back to each other.

To laugh with them, cry with them as the years go by.

To help them find answers to big questions.

To pray for them (yes I mentioned that before but we can’t ever pray too much!)

To eat cake with them on their wedding day (isn’t it beautiful?)  (The cake topper was designed by my friend Lisa Leonard.  You can find it and more lovelies on her site.)

To toast them.

To love them as Christ loves us and help them love each other in the same manner.

Weddings are joyful beginnings.

Marriages are meant to be joyful marathons.

Stronger daily.  Trusting more.  Yielding more.

Weddings remind those of us who are married why we said yes to our spouse in the first place!

And why we’d say yes again.

We’re reminded to pray for each other more.

Seek wise counsel when we are trying to answer life’s big questions.

Rely on one another more.

Support one another more.

Have fun together…more!

I love weddings.  They are so hope-full!

Been to a wedding lately?

 

Less Really is More

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Yesterday I didn’t post, I experienced.

This week of Lent the focus has been the spiritual discipline of fasting. This discipline challenges me. I don’t remember a time when I truly fasted for spiritual reasons. I remember lots of attempts and just as many failures. Medical fasts yes, spiritual, no.

I think I was afraid. Not sure of what, but fear is something that I felt as I read the first entry in my Lenten devotional, Less is More. Maybe i feared failure again? As the week went on I faced the unknown fear head on; fasting differently each day ( one meal, a couple of days and then two meals). Thursday night I purposed to fast through until dinner Friday.

The devotional question on Friday was a contemplative one: How does fasting connect us with the life of God, the lives of others?

It’s a great question.

Being invited into the Life of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is an invitation open to all Christ followers, but how much do I treasure the invitation? Am I so constantly busy that I can’t slow down enough to hear or see?

Yesterday I slowed. The day was fairly routine; I walked the dog, pulled weeds, did laundry, cleaned a portion of the house, did dishes. Nothing spectacular. But it was different. God was in it with me in a new way.

Every time I try to write what the day was like, words escape. Here’s one: Joy-filled. Peaceful. Good. Self-control. Yes, I experienced the Fruit of the Spirit in new ways. It was definitely worth it.

When hunger rumbled, I thought about Haiti. I thought about Sri Lanka. India. Inner city LA. The homeless in our community. Children around the world. My hunger was temporary; theirs often ending only when they see the Face of God.

This experience was blessed. I will endeavor a fast again.

What have been your experiences with fasting?

What Does the Mirror Show?

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I have inherited this beautiful mirror.  It is over 100 years old.  If you look closely you may notice the mirror itself has dark lines going across it horizontally; the silver on the back has worn off in places.

People have suggested I get a new mirror for the frame.  For some reason, I haven’t thought it necessary.

It reflects.

Isn’t that what a mirror is supposed to do?

As I look into it I imagine all the faces of family members that I have never met; wondering what they looked like,  what they were like.

What were the styles of their day?  What were the cares they wore?  Who was uppermost in their heart?

Lots of wondering. So I haven’t changed the glass.

As I consider why I haven’t changed the mirror I realize something else, something about this mirror that is similar to what I am experiencing in this season of Lent: the image is distorted.

I don’t see myself, my flaws, my bad habits, my petty annoyances or anything about me with any degree of accuracy while my mirror is distorting me.

But if I look long at the mirror of Scripture I see how much I need a makeover; to be made new by the work of the Holy Spirit.

This week of Lent is about doing without. Doing without the ways I hide from this work.  Doing without props that keep me hidden.

About fasting.  Less consumption/More compassion.

The mirror of Scripture has shown me my need for Christ.

As I look deeply, I don’t receive guilt or condemnation though. I receive compassion.  Forgiveness.  Grace.

What does the mirror you look at show you?

 

Return to Me

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I love this quote, this card.  It was given to me by a dear young friend who graciously said this “had my name on it”.

She sees me this way.  An honest person.

This season of Lent I am being confronted by my lack of honesty.

I face the easier things to confess and change and turn a blind eye to the deeper issues of my heart.

This early morning I saw a plea for me to get honest.  All the Way.

See if you can see it too:

“Yet even now, ” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.”

I rend my garments when I make external changes that I see need to be made: changing my habits ‘to be healthier’, reading more, writing more, making time to be with people.

I do these things.

I.

Yet…

“even now, Return to Me with ALL YOUR HEART.”

With actions that demonstrate to Him my sincerity, my willingness to be humble and accept that I believe the lie that I am in charge of my life.

It’s not important what others think about me.  It’s important what God thinks about me.

“rend your heart and not your garments.”

Inward change is not my work.  My work is calling it like it is.

“Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”

This is what I receive in return for admitting what is and agreeing with God about it all. Not a bad exchange, eh?

Return to Me.

He’s calling you too…

Follow Me…

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