Learning Along The Way

I haven’t posted in a little over a week. Life is full more than usual right now; international company, new job outside the home, college son home for a few weeks, etc. No excuses, just my reality.

So today is Tuesday. A regular day with meals, laundry, a little decluttering, and a job outside our home. Oh and a class to take for new skills. And a sick teen still running a fever. And a visitor from another country coming into town on the train tonight. Full for sure. The question percolating in my brain: how to walk in grace throughout my day?

My heart’s desire is to glorify God in all I do. The reality of my life is steps and missteps. A pastor whose teaching I sat under for many years said “we don’t live this life perfectly. But what are you characterized by?” That question stuck with me. Truly our evaluation of our day will be flawed; we don’t see ourselves as accurately as an outside perspective and not as thoroughly as God sees us. So how do we move toward the goal: “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”.

We learn to breathe.

Now I know that probably sounds a little ridiculous but bear with me. Let’s follow this train of logic. If we are filled with the Spirit of God (which a believer in the atonement of Christ is) then we are empowered to live a life which is pleasing to God. If He has given us all that we need then we are equipped to live a life which is pleasing to God. So since we have both strength and tools our job is to apply them. That’s where learning to breathe comes in.

I am not talking about our normal oxygen intake here; I am talking about learning to breathe prayer. For years I have legalistically struggled to apply Paul’s writing in Thessalonians and continually come up short. Which then has given the enemy of my soul a place to lie to me about my faith. I hope you are not there, but if you are, take heart! Their is grace for us not condemnation!

Learning to breathe. Inhale slowly focusing on the presence of God; exhale slowly saying or thinking a phrase like “in Your strength” or “by Your grace”. I first heard about this type of prayer from Jan Johnson a few years ago. Ancient tradition calls this centering prayer. The point is for us to refocus on God and not on our circumstances; for us to be like Peter when he first got out of the boat–looking at Jesus and not at the waves.

This day will be full; my to do list and God’s divine appointments (interruptions!). I will only get through it by His grace and in His power. Breathe in, breathe out….

Let me know how your breathing is coming!

I don’t normally post on the weekends but this story needs attention. Please pray for Kate. Her story and situation are found here.

Join the chorus of believers lifting Kate to the throne of Grace, begging God for a miracle in her young life.

I don’t know these people but found out about her need here.

Thank the Lord for how He is using the internet to connect His children for such a time as this…..

Happy Friday!

Here’s where I will be today and some of this weekend. It is my favorite way to connect with the Lord; out in His creation.

Hope you make a time and place to be alone with God along the Way!

As we Americans get ready to celebrate the 233rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, I thought I’d give us a couple of things to ponder.

Have we so embraced the concept of independence as a right that we cannot see ourselves as subject to anyone? Of course I am thinking of our submitting our wills to the will of God in our lives. How can I be both independent physically and dependent spiritually? When there are two apparently opposing issues like these our pastor calls it “living with the tension”.

So as you barbeque, picnic or however you celebrate, ponder how best
to celebrate your dependence on a good God who lavishly loves us and
desires our allegiance.

Have a fun Fourth! Have some pie and ice cream for me!

Are you hungry for more in your life along the Way? Do you have this confusing feeling that “by this time I thought I would be more Christlike” or “…over this sin problem” or “…showing more of the Fruit of the Spirit”? You are NOT ALONE! I know we have more in common than you might realize in longing for more of the abundant life Jesus has promised. Different faith traditions call this longing by different names, but the basic idea is spiritual growth. Let’s explore how this happens together along the Way, shall we?

I had the privilege of attending a fabulous conference coordinated by the Renovare Institute last week. The title and theme of the conference was “The Jesus Way: recovering the lost content of discipleship”. All the keynote speakers were amazing and there were too many wonderful workshop titles to choose from! I did come away feeling so full of hearing, experiencing, and learning that I was worn out.

I have been pondering what of all I heard would be the best place to begin to process with you. I decided the workshop that connected some dots for me between history and present day is the place to begin. The title of the workshop called out to me: “How we lost the Way: Learning from the Historical Neglect of Spiritual Formation” It was presented by a professor from Talbot Seminary who did a fabulous job filling in the gaps of my church history.

I won’t take the time to re-teach the workshop but I want to say that there is huge benefit to understanding the path of the Church through history; the good, the bad, the distracting. Knowing history can help prevent the repetition of the mistakes of history. Knowing history also helps with perspective for modern day.

Today our churches look to fill the sanctification gap that we feel inside with programs that fill time but not the gap. Many of us decide we will work hard; get busy for Jesus! Get involved with ministry. Maybe this will fill the gap we feel inside. Others of us decide we will perfect ourselves through will power: “I simply won’t behave that way, or think those thoughts.” Problem there is we are going forth in our own strength and understanding. None of these things are getting us closer with Jesus though. In fact most are simply distractions from simply being with Him.

What is working for you these days? What ways do you find you experience abundance in Christ? Please share!

Our cat loves our son, but most of all she likes cozy places. Arwen decided to crawl into the jeans on the floor, up into the pant leg and stay there! We had to take a photo of our crazy cat being cozy at bedtime….

Have a Fun Friday!

I am privileged to be attending a conference in San Antonio this week hosted by the Renovare Institute. The title of the conference is The Jesus Way: conversations on how Jesus is the Way. I heard Max Lucado challenge us about fear last evening in his welcoming address. “Fear never accomplished anything” was a point he made. Think about it; fear paralyzes us from action. Fear makes us focus inward not toward others. Fear would be one of the most frequent things Jesus told us NOT to do or be!

I also heard Eugene Peterson speak last evening. His points were to challenge us to recognize that the name of Jesus and the metaphor of the Way are both personal and participatory. We meet Jesus personally and to follow Him as the Way we cannot be bystanders. We must get involved in the life He sets before us; not waiting for a better set of circumstances to come along, but getting into the lives of those who cross our path along the Way.

Won’t you join me in being intentional in your relationships, knowing that our great Creator God has a plan in your life and through your life?

Blessings abound!

Happy Father’s Day to all you men blessed to have influence in your children’s lives!

I miss my dad. Tell yours you love him and thank him for the things he has taught you so far…..

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