Take Root and Write

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

If a widow has family members to take care of her, let them learn that religion begins at their own doorstep and that they should pay back with gratitude some of what they have received. This pleases God immensely. (1 Timothy 5:4 MSG)

When I heard the weak and desperate voice on my phone early May 27, I had no idea that closing and locking my house door that day was symbolic of closing and locking a chapter of my life.

When the routine outpatient procedure to insert a pacemaker turned into a seven-day hospital stay including four days in surgical ICU, my mother-in-law's life had a chapter closed as well.

 And God directed it all, beginning years ago and continuing today:

. . .when He began the huge process of softening my heart to the needs of others.

. . .when He grew an interest in me towards health and nutrition, particularly for the aging process.

. . .when He presented my mother-in-law with the opportunity to purchase a house on three acres with a private second-story suite.

. . .when He guided the last of my children to a grown-up job and led all three on the road to independence.

This is God's Word on the subject: "I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out -- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen." (Jeremiah 29:11-12 MSG)

My Redeemer Lives! Am I Living Like I Believe It?

"Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
Who told the ocean you can only come this far?
Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?"

Everyday we have opportunities to display our faith in our Redeemer. Unfortunately, with all the noise of life going on around us, remembering who we are in Christ is not always easy. Too often instead of praising the Lord for our blessings, we narrow our focus so much that we can only see the problems.

I read recently that, in the Old Testament, the words "confidence" and "assurance" are different forms of the same Hebrew word. The inspired Word of God also adds the idea of "quietness" in the book of Isaiah. "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15 NKJV).

"The very same God who spins things in orbit
He runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory"

The concept that we seem to loose in our hectic days is that, as believers our assurance is not based on our own abilities. God's righteousness working in us causes the peace that allows us to rejoice in our victorious lives regardless of circumstances. "The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" (Isaiah 32:17 NKJV).

Speak An Encouraging Word

Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But a good word makes it glad.
(Proverbs 12:25 NKJV)

God tells us to cast all our cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and not to be anxious (Philippians 4:6). However, sometimes while we are caught up in the midst of a trial, it is easy to forget to go to the Source of comfort and strength. This is where a word of encouragement from another believer can lift us up.

The Scriptures exhort us to use our words very deliberately for the good of others. Paul tells us to speak only good words that build up, encourage, and edify. He tells us that our words are a gift of grace to the hearer.

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29),

The apostle Paul spoke encouragement on board a sinking ship:

"And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship" (Acts 27:22).

Jesus spoke encouragement when the disciples' boat was sinking:

"But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, 'Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid'"  (Matthew 14:27).

The Lord spoke encouragement when Paul was being persecuted:

"But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome'" (Acts 23:11).

Living Free...To Worship

I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for You
I am free

The Newsboys -- I Am Free

A few weeks ago I attended a Sunday morning service in a little country church where the sweet spirit of worship permeated the whole building. The joy of that one hour carried me through the next week, helping me be mindful to worship daily. There is great freedom in joining together to praise God without restraint.

I knew when we decided to go that was how worshiping with this particular congregation would be. While I am sure they are no different from the typical Bible-teaching church in most aspects, they hold close the words of Jesus:

"If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:26 NIV)

 For this group of Christ-bearers, to sit reserved and silent in church is an affront to the One who gave all for their freedom from sin and to be able to gather in His name. So Sunday morning worship is a celebration full of singing, praising, and testifying to the greatness of our God.

Choose to Rest in the Father Everyday

"Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10a NKJV)."

A child develops a chronic illness...

A spouse decides to pursue another relationship and leaves us alone...

How are we deal with the problems that come into life? Do we rage and stomp at the unfairness of it all? Do we weep and retreat into ourselves to hide?

"God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling (Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV)."

Psalm 46 is a song for us to sing during times of trouble. We can be so caught in the trouble of the day that we see no way of escaping the stress and pain. If we don't quiet ourselves when the trouble comes, if we just focus on the immediate pain, we can't hear or feel the comfort God has for us.

"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted (Psalm 46:4-6 NKJV).

We do not have to suffer alone. Jesus did that for us when He suffered alone on the cross. That was the only time in all of eternity that He experienced complete separation from His Father. After He rose from the grave and ascended to heaven, He left us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He is the still small voice that speaks comfort when our hearts are crushed. He is the still small voice that warns us not to make the wrong choices in response to trouble. He is the groaning too deep for words that cries out to the Father...

Choosing To Be Disciplined Everyday

"The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good."
(Proverbs 10:17 MSG)

I am an emotional eater. I am also a bored and thoughtless eater. When I am sad, I choose foods high in carbohydrates like chocolate, potato chips, and ice cream. When I watch TV or need other entertainment, I choose cheese and crackers, popcorn, and more chocolate.

There is nothing wrong with any of these foods in and of themselves. Eaten in small portions once in a while they are fine.

Failing To Be Disciplined

Cold weather and family issues gave me a one-two punch that knocked me right out of my healthy eating program. When I was actively engaged in healthy eating practices, I lost 12 lbs and dropped my cholesterol level 17 points.

My emotional eating for the past few months has made my climb back to fitness into a backward slide down a steep hill. Although I only gained 4 lbs back, I got all 17 cholesterol points back plus 42 more points.

I really had no idea what was going on inside my body. I attributed the slight weight gain to holiday cooking and chose to ignore my niggling conscience when I ate foods that were not part of my diet plan.

Imagine my dismay when I opened my recent blood test results as I walked from the mailbox to my house and read these words: "Cholesterol very high. should start medication. She has been reluctant to do so in the past. Will discuss at her visit in two weeks."

Needless to say, I am dreading my upcoming doctor's visit for two reasons. First, I am way too old to want to feel like I'm being called on the carpet. Second, I truly hate to use any chemical to maintain my health. I drink sage tea for colds, use my own homemade salve for wounds and bruises, and take completely plant-based, organic multi-vitamins.

Since no numbers were listed on the letter, I called the nurse for my complete results. My LDL (bad cholesterol) is pretty high, but my HDL (good cholesterol) is at a level that is considered protective, and my triglycerides are normal. My overall good-to-bad cholesterol ratio is excellent.

Finding Focus

If I choose to ignore the negative cholesterol numbers, my risk of heart attack will increase significantly. Because I didn't stay disciplined with my snacking and exercising, I have put my life and my family's well-being in danger. It is my responsibility to get back to doing the things I know will improve my health.

Discipline is a crucial part of maintaining physical health. It is absolutely essential to our spiritual health. It is very easy to become soul-weary with the day-to-day drags that we have on our lives. Even the good things, in excess, can cause us to be bogged down and depressed.

The only way to stay spiritually energized is to fill our minds with God. The way to do that is to spend time with him daily. Even five minutes spent focusing on a couple of verses from the Bible can give your day a positive and healthy start. Nourishing our souls with the Word not only feeds us, but our families and friends as well.

"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is.Blessed are you who run to him." (Psalm 34:8 MSG)

Choosing To Be Disciplined

My first reaction to my blood work results was dismay. My next was determination. I am determined to regain what I lost through undisciplined eating and then some. I want to be in the best shape of my life. The only way to do that is to be conscious each time I raise my hand to put something in my mouth and to set aside specific time to exercise each day.

We already have our recumbent exercise bike set up where I can ride and watch TV. My hands must hold the grips for me to pedal so they can't be used to shove chocolate between my lips. My grandson is getting a new bike for his birthday and that will require that I take him somewhere non-muddy to ride. I will have to walk (fast!) to keep up with him at the park.

I spent time the day I got my test results researching natural ways to lower LDL cholesterol and to increase HDL. I was reminded what I need to eat regularly: oatmeal, cold-water fish, avocados, apples, dark leafy greens, legumes, blueberries, nuts, and flax seed. I also need to avoid the things that led to my bad results: soft drinks, potato chips, and all the mindless snacking.

In the very same way, we can develop a plan for spiritual health. Most Bibles have a 'read-the-Bible-through' plan. There are many available online. If reading the Bible seems overwhelming, try listening to it on BibleGateway.com.The desire to immerse ourselves in the Word is intense when we are new believers. It fades with time and busyness. The only way to really keep or regain that desire is to ask the Lord to renew our desire.

"Every word you give me is a miracle word—how could I help but obey? Break open your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted your commands more than anything. Turn my way, look kindly on me, as you always do to those who personally love you. Steady my steps with your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me." (Psalm 119:126-135 MSG)

Our lives are meant to be lived, not just gotten through. It takes effort to live in the moment and enjoy the blessings amidst the chaos. Decide now to live and love with the strength of the Lord!

Choose To Be Generous Everyday

"Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart.The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God's, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures.There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors" (Deuteronomy 15:10 MSG).

During the past couple of weeks world attention has been focused on the devastating effects of Haiti's most recent earthquake. Multitudes of volunteers have stepped up to the task of helping the people in dire need of the most basic things to live. We've seen stories of miracles as victims have been rescued from crumbled buildings.

 Hundreds of millions of dollars have been donated to help the people of Haiti. Volunteers are working long hours in country. But after two weeks, the horror is still just as real as the first days after the quake. How can we reach out from our own lives to touch the people of Haiti?

Many agencies have set up donation websites. To be sure your financial help goes right to the people it is important to investigate before you write a check. The Salvation Army has had an aid presence in Haiti for more than 50 years. The Red Cross always responds quickly to needs across the globe.

"Always be generous, open purse and hands..."

Choose to Be Gracious Every Day

“To bear defeat with dignity,to accept criticism with poise, to receive honors with humility -- these are marks of maturity and graciousness.” William Arthur Ward (1921-1994), American author, pastor, educator

This whole new year lies stretched before us, shiny and unsullied. Into each moment of this year we can pour ourselves and make it what we wish it to be. The chance to start new is such a draw that we expend much energy pondering what resolutions we will make to take advantage of the twelve months stretched before us.

Setting goals is important to success, but it doesn't guarantee a victory. Even the best-laid plans will go awry because of circumstances caused by ourselves or others. When it comes down to the basics, the only time we have control over is the moment in which we are living. This is where our true character shines or shames.

Instead of physical goals, perhaps a better focus for our New Year's resolutions would be character development. We can find examples from the character of our Lord. One of my favorite studies on the character of God is The Practice of Godliness: Godliness has value for all things by Jerry Bridges. The first five chapters explain how we begin the journey to putting on the new self in Christ through our walk with Him. The next twelve chapters explains the true characteristics of God, and helps us understand what they look like in a life devoted to Him.

Being Full Of Thanksgiving Everyday

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6 NKJV).

As an amazing amount of events, illnesses, and obligations swirled around me for the past few months, giving thanks was not high on my response list. I have to admit that I barely even paused long enough to acknowledge that I needed help, much less to make my needs known to God. When the staggering, life-consuming things piled on top of me, rarely did I even squeak out a faint "Help!" Instead I plowed through, juggling everything while trying to balance on the tightrope that has been my life recently.

On the outside each ball (task, responsibility, etc.) seemed to stay aloft, smoothly rotating around and around. The couple of things that did fall, I pretended not to notice. I even tried to believe that no one else noticed either.

My reward for the hectic, overworked days? Stress. Stress that led to a weakened immune system which cultivated the perfect environment for a mid-Autumn cold with flu-like symptoms. That put a stop to the juggling/balancing act.

After a week of fevers, chills, and coughs of my own and taking care of a four-year-old who also had a cold, I finally became aware of what  my efforts to be superwoman had cost me.

Peace.

...and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).

Don't Waste Your Life! Part 1 - The Call

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Ephesians 4:1 NIV)

In June, I saw a computer wallpaper from Crosscards.com that has completely captivated my thinking. In bold letters it told me “Don’t Waste Your Life!” It was followed by the first verse of Ephesians 4. Had I been reading through Ephesians and come to chapter four, I probably would have skimmed over verse one and continued reading. On my own, I would not have connected the idea of not wasting my life with the words in the verse.

Don’t Waste Your Life!

I am at that unique point in my life where I have to redefine myself and decide what to do with the rest of my life. My daughters are grown and live together 20 miles away. My son is in US Marine Corps boot camp three states away.

I have an empty nest.

That which has defined me for the past 25 years is not longer true. I have finished raising my children. While I am still a mother, mothering is not my primary occupation. Yes, I am a grandmother (Nana!) to our 4-year-old grandson and provide day care for him when needed, but he has a loving mother who is the center of his world.

So what do I do now at age 46?

Suddenly I feel like I did at 18 and needed to decide on a college major. I have time to pursue my writing full-time. I even have a work-in-progress. While that may take up some of my day, there must be more than just that to the second half of life. Perhaps it is the constant desire I have always had to have “done something with my life” that caused the words on that computer wallpaper to have such an impact on me.

When I became a believer at age 12, church became the center of my social circle as well as the classroom for my spiritual growth. Because I was raised in a military family and then married a military man, our church families became our extended families as we moved around the country. And while attending and working in the church is good, good work itself is not enough for a purposeful life.

Enjoying Life Everyday

To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--this is indeed a gift from God.
(Ecclesiastes 5:21 NLT)

Ecclesiastes is the record of King Solomon's search for a purpose to his life - to life in general. He opens with the declaration that "everything is meaningless" (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT). He laments, "No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content" (Ecclesiastes 1:8 NLT). He looks at how we set ourselves up for disappointment by living with dissatisfaction,

"I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this...is...like chasing the wind" (Ecclesiastes 4:4 NLT).

If we just skim through the book of Ecclesiastes, we might conclude that this man lived a miserable life in spite of his power and wealth. Don't miss th assurance he gives us that God is in control, "I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God" (Ecclesiastes 3:24 NLT).

A close reading of Ecclesiastes returns us over and over to the underlying theme of the book. "I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life" (Ecclesiastes 5:18 NLT).

Our perspective of blessings is directly related to what we value in life. The more we value God and the relationships He puts in front of us, the more blessed we feel. Even if terrible things have passed through our lives, He can give us joy. We just have to reach out and take it from His hand. "And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life--this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past" (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20 NLT).

Choosing to Speak Life Everyday

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. (Proverbs 31:26 MSG)

Some of my most cherished memories are of lovely words spoken to me: "Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"; "You are going to be a mother."; "You are going to be a nana." All the blessings in my life have been accompanied by words that encouraged, blessed, and warmed me soul-deep.

Conversely, some of my most painful memories are of harsh, unkind words spoken to me or about me. And, unfortunately, some of my most embarrassing moments have come because of my own uncontrolled words. Most arguments in which I've been involved start out with words spoken in haste or disregard for the feeling of others. As a writer, words are the substance of my life. I am aware on an intellectual level the effect of words.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love,I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusted gate. (1 Corinthians 13:1 MSG)

God calls us to be aware of the effect of words on others. He doesn't give us any leeway for our own self-justification. He calls us to use His wisdom and patience when we speak:

"It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season." (Matthew 12:34-35 MSG)

Pastor Patrick Elliott, of Huntington, West Virginia, taught a sermon series on the power of words and the importance of restraint in opening our mouths. The series culminated with his admonition to ask ourselves this list of questions before we speak anything to anyone.

Finding Life in the Midst of the Storm

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace
and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

Stormy weather comes flashing through bringing high winds, hailstones, and lightning strikes, leaving destruction in its wake. Sometimes, the skies cloud over, the air feels heavy with moisture and no rain or wind comes to relieve the pressure building up. Other times, the skies are dark and the rain drizzles down, occasionally fiercely, but mostly just a constant pounding.

Problems enter our lives in the same ways, sometimes so devastating that we are left breathless without a coherent thought. Maybe once in a while the problems trigger a worry that builds with seemingly no relief. Most often the pain of problems and trials, one after the other, leave us beaten and tired and ready for change.

When we feel oppressed by problems, depressed from trials, focusing inward does not a help. We must draw our attention to the One who has a plan for our healing. “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12 NKJV)

God will always be available to us when we reach for Him. Even when the storm around us drowns out His still small voice, we must be assured He is there for us. “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV)

The time to prepare for the storm is before the winds even start to rustle. It is nearly impossible to nail a board over a window during hurricane-force winds. It is just as impossible to reach past the pain in the middle of a crisis and find God if we haven’t filled our hearts and minds with His word. The Woman’s Study Bible (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995) has a great list of verses to cover our hurting hearts with during the stormy times.

Seeing the Divine in the Every Day

"I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing;
therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His  voice,
and that you may cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days."
(Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NASB)

Most people are unaware that postal delivery of mail to our homes is a courtesy, not a right. The postal employees do a great job of trying to serve their customers and go to special effort to serve those medically unable to walk down their driveway to retrieve their mail. These special deliveries are called dismounts, perhaps in reference to the days of the Pony Express.

My husband, Steve, is a rural mail carrier, making his deliveries from his own vehicle over a 45-mile route and serving more than 500 customers. He has only a few stops that are dismounts, but we live on the “hills and hollers” side of the Mountain State, so some of those stops require extra effort to serve his elderly customers.

One of those dismounts is particularly difficult because there is no way of turning around easily in the customer’s driveway. And backing a mail car up is frowned upon as an unsafe practice, therefore, my husband is required to park across the highway, cross the road, and then climb the driveway to the customer’s house. Last week he had to really stretch the boundaries of reasonable customer service due to weather and road conditions.

The spot in which he parks his car is just beyond a steeply curved part of the highway with no view around the curve. Generally he parks, gets out of his car, and walks to the back to wait for an opportunity to safely cross the road, looking down the straighter side for traffic and listening for oncoming cars from around the curve. On this particular day, he was unable to hear any traffic sounds because of heavy rain. There was a car coming from the straighter side, but he decided he had time to cross before the car passed.

Living and Giving

 

 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”  (Deut 30:19 NKJV).
 
I’ve decided that for this Choosing Life article, I would like to continue on the subject of finances. I know this is not something people like to talk about, but maybe that’s why we should. Last time I wrote about personal responsibility in our finances; this time I would like to talk about using our finances beyond ourselves, our needs and our wants. 
 
It is important to be responsible with our money. This includes living within our means, not being a slave to debt, paying our bills on time, having both a long-term and emergency-fund savings account, etc. But I believe it goes beyond that. We are also called to be givers and to help others. When I say "givers" and "help others", yes I do mean actual money, but also physical, material items. 
 
 God is a giver. That is His very nature. It stands to reason then, that if we are made in the image of God, we should be givers too, of our time, talent and treasure. The Bible has a lot to say about giving, tithing, and helping the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. And Matt. 25:31-46 (the story of the sheep and the goats facing judgment) makes it clear that we will be held accountable for what we did or didn’t do to represent Jesus to the world, by being givers and doing good works.

Financial Fitness

 

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deut. 30:19).

With all the current doom and gloom economic news, I felt it would be a good idea to talk about choosing life in our finances. Times are tough, that’s for sure. Families all over America (and the world) are feeling the pinch. There are many reasons for this. Truth be told, some of these things we have no control over, but there are some areas in which we can make a difference.
 
It is common sense, and recommended by experts, to have an emergency savings fund equivalent to three to six months of salary set aside. We don't always get advance warning for emergencies, costly situations, or unexpected life happenings. Yet most families don’t have a month, or even a half-month, of salary saved. For most of these families it is a matter of priorities. Whether it is with their time, talent, or treasure, people make a way for whatever is a priority to them. And up till now, savings hasn’t been a priority to many people.
 
While it’s true that the majority of people and families live paycheck to paycheck, and beyond their means via credit, it's also true that this is a choice they make based on the priorities they have. Children often have a ridiculous amount of clothes and toys, while parents also have a ridiculous amount of clothes and grown-up toys. Is it really necessary to have a new big screen, flat-panel TV, or the latest version of a gaming system? What about cable with 400 channels, cell phones, or computers for each family member, a TV in all the bedrooms, and for that matter, do children really need to each have their own bedrooms? Or how about eating out frequently, regular spa treatments, or daily stops at Starbucks for a $5 coffee? Of course the answer to all of these questions is no, but these are the priorities many of us have had.

Speaking Life, Not Death

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deut. 30:19).

In a previous post we discussed what it means to choose life in our thoughts and, since our thoughts lead to words, I think we are ready to talk about choosing life in our words. Once again, it is important that we determine to control our lips, words, mouth, and tongue. This is made pretty clear in Prov. 13:3, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.”

All day, every day, we have the chance to speak words that bring life or death. Whether we are talking to our families, peers, co-workers, strangers, or even ourselves, the words we use will either tear down or build up. It says in Prov. 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This means everything we say either leads to life or to death and that which we choose, we will receive. If we choose to speak in a manner that is harsh, hurtful, condemning, gossipy, dishonest, or deceitful, we are then choosing death. But, if we choose to speak words that are encouraging, peaceful, healing, kind, lovely, and uplifting, then we are choosing life. We find this to be true in Prov. 12:18, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

It often seems that negative words are easier to say, take root much deeper, and are far more common. However, that doesn’t make it right. Most of us probably beat ourselves up a bit verbally, from time to time, but we shouldn’t. Whenever we tell ourselves, I’m so fat, stupid, lazy, ugly, boring, or sinful, we are choosing death. Anytime we call ourselves names or put ourselves down, we are speaking death over ourselves, and worse we are insulting God, who created us in His image and loves us with an everlasting love. This type of verbal assault isn’t usually only directed inward at self, but it typically is directed outward at others also. When we insult others, lie, speak maliciously, or gossip, to or about other people, we are speaking death not only to them, but also to ourselves! We should be ever mindful to control the words we speak, as it says in Prov. 4:24, “Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.”

Thinking Through Adversity

"This day I call heaven and earth as eyewitnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"  (Deut. 30:19).

Oh, boy, here I am. Many of you may be intimately aware of the truth that when you speak on or teach about something, that the message is for you too. That is something I’m walking through right now. This column is about choosing life daily, in our thoughts, words, actions, attitudes, habits, relationships, etc, because I seriously believe this. That doesn’t mean however, that I don’t go through things myself and have to make a conscious effort to practice what I preach, because I do, and I am.

Facing adversity is just one of those things we all have to experience in this life. And the reality is most of us don’t like adversity. Why would we? It hinders us from getting or having what we want. It can be frustrating, confusing, and painful. Sometimes it can be downright awful; something we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemy. But, facing adversity will make us stronger and better people if we let it. We can learn much through our adversity, if we choose to; things like compassion, mercy, perseverance, patience, and faith just to name a few.

Like it or not, we all experience adversity. We can overcome it or it can overcome us. Either way, it’s up to us. If we have a victim mentality, defeatist attitude, and hateful thoughts (toward ourselves or others), it is a pretty safe bet that the adversity will overcome us. However, if we have a victor mentality, positive attitude, and life-affirming thoughts, we will overcome it. This is thinking through adversity. It’s choosing life through adversity.

Choose Your Thoughts Wisely

 

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”  (Deut. 30:19).
  
 
When God created us, He gave us freewill – the ability to choose between right and wrong, life and death, blessings and curses. There is much power in choice, power we have for the life we live. Every day we choose the direction of our life by what we think, say and do, by the relationships we’re in, and by the attitudes we hold. All of these choices lead to life or death. Choosing life is a journey, not something we do once and it’s finished. It’s ongoing. It’s powerful. And, choosing life, or death, is up to us. 
 
Our thought life is the beginning of this journey. The manner in which we think leads to how we feel, what we say, the way we act, and the relationships we establish. It is imperative we have good, life-giving, positive thoughts. That’s not to say that we never have negative thoughts (that’s our natural inclination), but rather we don’t welcome negative thoughts and entertain them. For some of us, this comes easily. For others of us, it’s far more difficult.  The good news is we have the power of Christ to control our thoughts and change them. But we have to be proactive in this; it doesn’t just happen. This is addressed in Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
 
Let’s be honest, it’s a tough world out there. We are constantly hit by a barrage of words, images, attitudes, and expectations that imply we are not good enough, thin enough, rich enough, smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough, etc. Many of us have experienced this onslaught since we were children. Since this has been our experience, we often adopt and internalize all of this and begin the harmful process of attacking ourselves and others. Our thoughts are naturally polluted by the garbage that has been swirling around about us. Whether it is depression, bitterness, envy, anger, hurt, malice, hatred, obscenity, a victim mentality, or sense of worthlessness, thoughts like these lead to destruction and, if we entertain them, they lead to death. It doesn’t matter if these thoughts are about ourselves or others, either way we are choosing death.

Foundational Fitness

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”  (Deut. 30:19).
  
 
OK, so it’s the beginning of a new year and that means we’re talking about fitness–Foundational Fitness, to be exact. I’m not one who typically tends to make resolutions, because they just don’t work for me. But I do think it is important to reflect, assess, and adjust. In order to continue "choosing life", I have to reflect on where I’ve been and where I am. I have to assess the situation by looking for cracks or other flaws in my foundation. And finally, I have to make any adjustments, corrections, or improvements that may be needed to move forward. 
  
 My foundation is my relationship with Jesus. How can I really choose life if I’m not giving the appropriate attention to the Life Giver? I believe it is important for every believer to take time to really focus on their relationship with the Lord. How often is up to each individual and hopefully allowance is made for the Holy Spirit. But, it should be done. 
 
When we take the opportunity to examine our own hearts, our prayer time, praise time, worship time, quiet time, etc., and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to us areas we could or should improve in, He will. When we really observe the movies, books, and music we keep in our homes, are they acceptable or do a few of them give us a check in our spirit? If we do get that check, what do we do about it? Do we ignore it and hope it will go away (because eventually it will) or do we take action and remove it from our presence?
 
This is not about a list of rules. All of us have struggles and it is not my job to make someone do this or stop that. That is the job of the Holy Spirit and if we are in tune with Him, He will convict us. And if we’re willing, He will also help us do or stop doing whatever it is we are feeling conviction for. But only if we are willing.

'Tis the Season, Indeed!

 

 “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” ~ Deut. 30:19 
  
  ‘Tis the season, indeed! By now, I’m sure we’ve all been inundated with everything Holiday, a lot of which is probably without the Christ aspect. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we as Christians are in the world, not of the world. For us, Christ is (or should be) the reason for Christmas! So how do we choose life at Christmas time? By choosing to be mindful of and embracing the true spirit of Christmas.
 
I love to give and get gifts, for Christmas or any other time, for that matter. In fact, that is one of my primary love languages. I love unwrapping gifts, I love looking at all the pretty packages under the tree, I love the anticipation of unwrapping gifts, and I love seeing how someone I care about reacts to receiving a well thought out gift. All of that is to say this: I think that gift giving and receiving at Christmas is a lovely expression of our affection for the people we love. HOWEVER, we must never forget the true spirit of Christmas.
 
I’ve mentioned that twice now, the true spirit of Christmas. So what do I mean by that? I’m sure if you ask that to 100 different people you’ll get 100 different answers! But, to me, the true spirit of Christmas is first of course, the birth of Jesus, and second, being an extravagant giver. The birth of Jesus was a miracle and it paved the way for the redemption of mankind. The birth of Jesus was as great as it was humble – the birth announcement was given by angels, the gifts were brought by kings and first visitors were lowly shepherds. And the birth of Jesus was the perfect example of extravagant giving – from God the Father, to us, His children.  

Why Choose Life?

I am so thrilled to be joining the wonderful online ministry of Take Root and Write! I humbly and sincerely thank Noelle Mena for inviting me to be a part of her vision to compose words of encouragement, insight, and thought for women, to help build them up and always point them to Jesus. We are all on a journey, but that doesn't mean we need to journey alone! 
 
This column will be posted once a month, on every 4^th Monday. The topic of this column was very easy for me to select, because I passionately believe in the power of choice, and specifically the importance of understanding that our choices either lead to life or to death. And honestly, I think God does too. Each month I will focus the article on a different topic within the context of “Choose Life.” For instance, we can choose life in our thoughts, words, actions, attitudes, finances, relationships or associations, habits, politics, health or eating practices, and the list could go on. 
 

In life, we all face many different tests and trials. Some we may see coming, like finals or mid-terms, others may be more like the dreaded pop-quiz, but all are open-Book. Because of His great mercy and grace, God has given us the ultimate resource book for all of these tests – the Bible.
 
Everything we do, say, think, feel, believe, etc. either leads to life or to death. It says in Deut. 30:19, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Life happens all around us, and we can’t control the circumstances that confront us, for good or for bad. But we can control the way we react to those circumstances. We can control our attitude, and consequently our altitude. We get to choose whether we rise above our circumstances and soar like the eagle, or stay down in the dumps, wallowing in our circumstances like a pig that wallows in the slop of its environment.