Whats my assignment?

Assignments.  This word keeps appearing in random ways.  So you have to ponder what is your assignment?  Is it your family, your job, your hobby, your ministry, your serving, your passion.  Or maybe we never really know.  Maybe we’re like Mission Impossible.  Each day there is a tape left for us (yes God places it in our head) that says:  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, involves…..

If you google Mission Impossible you get….An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.  

Ooooh….so my mission each day as assigned by God, if I choose to accept it, is highly sensitive and if I fail, die or am captured no one will really know what mission I was on?  That sounds about right. 

So we get in our heads that we have a distinct mission – we may even know what it is.  Particularly if you work at a church as I do … “obviously” my assignment is clear.  But maybe not.  Maybe our “assignment” is not a big picture thing.  Maybe, just maybe, it’s the little interactions, the water cooler conversations, the conversation over the neighbors fence or over a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  Maybe it’s even that text of support you send or receive from a friend.  Maybe our “assignment” is to care for Gods children as he places them in front of us in both big ways and in little ways.  Just a thought.

Dancing with Jesus

Today I went to the funeral of a two year old. I watched her father, a 24-year old Marine, talk about his daughter with such grace. I so love “my” military families and although it makes me sound old, I am so proud of them as I watch them journey through life. No parent should ever experience the loss of a child. It is not how it should be. We should come into this life, live 95.3 years and die quietly in our sleep. But that is not always how it goes. It is actually rarely how it goes. One day you are playing in the park with your child, or snuggling on the couch or watching a movie together and the next day, they are gone. I can’t imagine the hole left behind.

After my father’s death, my mom always said it is not something you ever get over, it is something you learn to live with. Those words have always stuck with me. After my mother’s death, they rang even truer. The pain of loss remains, the hole remains. We build lives around it, we go on, we thrive, we live, we have joy again … but the hole is there. The hole that only that person, that friend, that parent, that child can fill. Over time I think the hole fills with memories and stories making it less painful but none the less it is still a hole.

Today was one of those days that I feel so blessed to be part of North Coast Church. I stood and listened to our Pastor talk about the loss and gently move the family thru the service, thru the reception, thru the burial. His words were powerful. His message was of hope. He spoke about how temporary our life is here…how this is just a blip in eternity. In the bible Peter writes about living in the tent of this body. Our body is just a tent…temporary. Chris said how much stock do you put in a tent? Do you build a driveway to it, put patios around it, install a Jacuzzi…no it’s temporary. You never plan to stay in the tent, you always plan to move on to a “real” place to live…that’s eternity. Everything here is temporary…a blip.

I felt blessed today. I have attended funerals my whole life, a lot of them in fact. Standing out by the graveside, kind of watching from the side, I experienced one of those moments that will have lasting impact. Hard to put into words but something along the lines of out of all the deaths I’ve seen and all the funerals I’ve attended, today I felt such peace in knowing, truly knowing, that eternity is there for us. In a way I always think we are waiting for God, but God is also waiting for us, we just leave our tent behind and go. Something profound in that.
So today I grieve with this couple and I share in the joy that their little girl is with our God, dancing with Jesus.

Listening While You Clean Grout...

Are you listening? I remember when I first began my walk with the Lord. Although I had believed in God my entire life, I had always seen Him as more of a universal power. A giant energy source that could be “tapped into.” Sort of like a generator. When life wasn’t going well or needed to be recharged just tap in, hook-up, channel some of the power and there ya’ go. Then the power went out, the generator shut down and there I was sitting in the dark, on my own, trying to charge my own life. Through the dark God reached out, once again as He had so many times before, but this time I reached back and found a new life. When I first stepped into a real relationship with God, an intimate relationship, personal, one-on-one, I was amazed. Every time I came to church it was like He was speaking directly to me. Whatever the pastor said spoke volumes in my life, in to my heart. God was so LOUD. He was changing me moment by moment, day by day. It was exhilarating in so many ways. Seriously? This was the God that had always been there? Patiently waiting for, patiently pursuing me while I was messing around with this idea of a giant generator God. Duh.

So life continues to change, I continue to grow and change, but God is not so loud now. Or is He? Am I just not listening? Do I now have “most” my walk down so maybe I don’t listen as well? Or maybe the big things have changed and we are now down to the “little” things that maybe I don’t need as much of God’s help with. I can handle the little things, can’t I? Is God really asking that I turn everything over…even the little things? So now when He speaks, now when change is required…is it because it’s the little things that maybe it does not seem so loud? Abide in Him….Follow Him….Follow Him….Follow Him….in EVERYTHING. LISTEN. God is still very loud, every day in every thing…LOUD. He hasn’t stopped changing me, He hasn’t stopped moving my life…we are just down to the little things and I am not listening as intently as I did in the beginning. It’s sort of like the countertop is clean and we are now working on the grout. I hate cleaning the grout….

A Challenge from Darkness

In talking with a friend tonight, she mentioned that she sometimes feels she is filled with darkness. “Inside me, it’s all darkness. “ As I listened I wondered, in some fashion or other aren’t we all filled with darkness, at least until we are filled with light? We live in a fallen world, a world consumed with darkness, controlled by our sin nature…the not so good side of us. Most our lives, we spend cautiously avoiding the dark corners inside. We cover them up, hide them, pretend they are not there. At times they can consume us resulting in anger, depression, loneliness, addictive behaviors….the darkness alienates us and can become a cancer of the spirit. But we hide anyway.

So what changes the darkness to light? Truth. God. Light.

In the simplest terms, if I can face the blackness inside me and realize that I alone cannot change it, then I can begin the change. For most my life, I truly believed that I “walked in the light.” However in truth the darkness within me was at times all-consuming. It was not until I “walked with the Lord” that I truly allowed the light to fill me. It happened when I realized that I couldn’t remove the darkness, only God can. Then the darkness suddenly transforms into light! Part of the process is realizing that we do not have to be ashamed of the darkness; we all have it…all of us. If you think you don’t, take a flashlight and look in the corners. It’s there and God knows it. So how easy is that? He already knows, so let Him deal with it.

So here are a few more things I am working on with the women I meet with:

Challenge 1. Invest in friendships. Who are your friends and why? Are you truly invested? Do your friends challenge and sharpen you or are you playing it safe?

Challenge 2. Take 15 minutes a day to stop and take stock of the evidence of who you are (not what you do.) What evidence is there in the day that you are Godly, that you are kind, that you are the hands and feet of Jesus? The Core of Godliness is not merely doing what God wants, it is knowing God. In what way did you show that today?

Challenge 3. Stop before responding – do not respond in anger. Evaluate the response you are about to give and choose to……redirect, stop or continue. Be intentional in your words. Pray before you speak. Do your words glorify and represent God well?

Challenge 4. Reflect God’s love daily. Be willing to take the time, put forth the effort when God is choosing to use you. Have awareness to see opportunity and to respond to what God places in front of you.

Challenge 5. What am I putting first before my God? Be glad with what I have and let God be God.

Challenge 6. What attribute is God trying to show me of His character? He is so multi-faceted…..kind, loving, advocate, judge, father….be more appreciative of who our God is. What am I hiding (or think I am hiding) from God? What am I doing to love well and to offer hope?

If you intentionally focus on the six challenges above...it won't leave much room for the darkness.

Live Intentionally

Every other week I meet with a group of women...our goal is to work on our walk.... to endeavor to become more Godly women. I thought this would be fun information to share with you. We focus on four areas:

1. Be aware of who we are becoming
2. Live intentionally daily
3. Do little things with great love
4. Remember the Awe of God.

Two things we are currently exploring:

First from a Spiritual Assessment by Fred Smith: Do I have a Quiet Center in my Life? Okay ladies – this is a BIG one!

Francois Fenelon, who walked with God three hundred years ago, said, “Peace is what God wants for you no matter what is happening.”

I press this point to myself because it is important in my life. Oswald Chambers says, “In our Lord’s life there was none of the press and rush of tremendous activity that we regard so highly, and the disciple is to be as his master.” There is an important difference between the fast track and the frantic track. It is not God’s will for me that I be frantic. When I was heading the operations of a manufacturing corporation we had an excitable manager who, whenever he got confused, called a supervisors’’ meeting to display it. After one of these fruitless meetings, I gave him my favorite little verse” “When in trouble, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout.”

This harriedness is epidemic in our society. Unless we are running on empty, we don’t feel we are normal. The other day I heard a prominent minister say that this next week that he had a breakfast meeting every morning. I wanted to say to him, “This is not the way to live. This is not the way to have a family. This is not the way, to me, to be a man of God.”

The late Senate chaplain Dick Halverson was helpful to me by suggesting that Jesus didn’t have a day planner; he simply “went about doing good.” When he was on his way to raise a dead child, he stopped to help a woman with an issue of blood. He didn’t prioritize raising the dead over helping the sick. He simply went about doing the good that came his way.

Jesus had the quiet center. Do I have it too? Peace is the evidence of God.

And the second thing to ponder:

Attitude is everything. Yes, Everything. Choose your attitude
It is more vital than events. It's more important than what's happened. Because attitude determines whether we are happy or unhappy, fulfilled or empty, the positive perspective assures us that we can never fail. A hopeful attitude guarantees internal success. Attitude- the altitude adjuster determines whether we fly high or low, crash or soar, glide or slide.

Anybody can have a positive attitude when things are going well. What really matters is how you act when things are going badly that determines the strength of your character. An appropriate attitude means feeling hopeful in challenging times. Stop yourself. Count your blessings. Look for the good. Here are the magnificent 7 ways to improve your attitude, and therefore your God walk…i.e. being a Godly women.

1. Choose to be Enthusiastic
Corporate presidents voted it the most valuable personality trait. It's the biggest single factor in successful selling. Think enthusiastically. Talk enthusiastically. Become enthusiastic by acting enthusiastic. Your thoughts and actions establish your level of enthusiasm. I think you can also glean a lot of your enthusiasm by keeping your eyes on God and knowing He is active, very active, in your life.

2. Be Alive to Everything You Do
Walk fast. Put a bounce in your step. A good smile radiates enthusiasm. Put spirit into your speech by varying the tempo, raising and lowering the pitch, changing the tone and modulation. Force yourself to act with enthusiasm, and soon you will feel enthusiastic. As in fake it until you make it (one of my mother’s favorite sayings)

3. Broadcast Good News
No one ever made a friend or accomplished anything worthwhile by transmitting bad news. Good news, on the other hand, promotes good will and spreads enthusiasm. The message, "Hey! I've got good news" gets the attention of everyone. Take sunshine to school or work. Always aim to make the person you talk to feel better than they otherwise would. I like this thought…it eliminates gossip, griping and complaining – what would that do to your Godliness?

4. The Power of Visualization
Imagination powerfully influences successful outcomes. When imagination and willpower compete, the imagination always wins. Force of will never keeps you striving for success, but proper visualization will. All peak performers visualize success. Before you try to do anything, close your eyes and visualize yourself doing it well, ask for God’s help and guidance…when really struggling ask for His intervention. God can do it perfectly so let him work through you.

5. Positive Self-Talk
What did you say to yourself today? Did you moan and groan about everyone at school or work? Did you complain about your co-workers and boss to to your friends? What we think is 100% reflected in how we feel. If all we think about is negative thoughts, our actions will be negative. Remember "I'm a God’s child. He wants me Healthy! Wealthy! Happy! I do what I ought to do, when I ought to do it, whether I want to or not! No Debate! I do the good work. I saw this saying this week:

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

6. Love Others
How can we become more loving? By bringing encouragement, optimism, and hope to all that we meet. By helping others feel comfortable in our presence. By spreading joy and goodwill. By being concerned about the wishes and desires of others. By understanding, caring, accepting, and forgiving. By becoming more concerned about helping others achieve their individual desires, than our own.

7. Never Miss 1 to 6 Above

Great food for thought....more to come....

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole; JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh; JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year; JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies; JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited; JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa; JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap; JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly; JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO; JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"; JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys; JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree; JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in Christmas.
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas 2009
And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the New Year.

God-time

So, when it comes to God, can you spend too much time with Him. Too much time seeking Him? I work at North Coast Church. Three to four times a year, the leadership team plans a staff day…sometimes it is as simple as lunch, others a training of some sort. Once bowling. And, we spent one day at Green Oak Ranch playing games, building cardboard forts that impersonated vehicles and throwing, as well as dodging, water balloons.

So a week ago we were all called together to give us direction for our next all staff time. As we sat together waiting for what adventure we would be sent on, we were told to take a Sabbath. The following Wednesday the church would be closed and we were to spend our time in a day of rest and renewal. A day to seek God, a day to just listen. Listen? You mean it not about me talking?

I had planned on spending the time alone (with God) but then thought I’d just let God lead me. I ended up beginning my day with my sister. At times, she is one of my more challenging relationships so I felt lead to begin time with her. I have a friend who is Jewish – he once told me before the day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), you have to get right with man before you can get right with God. I think about that a lot. When I seek God, when I ask God for blessings…I stop to think am I right with my world, right with people in my life. Anyway, I met my sister at the Prince of Peace Abby in Oceanside. We first attended their mass (with the monks). Very cool. Beautiful, beautiful Abby atop a hill over the airport and then the monks…. I find monks so intriguing – so Godly. And they sing, as monks often do! After mass we went their one mile station of the cross prayer walk, stopping at each station reading the corresponding scriptures and discussing them on the way to the next station. My sister’s biblical knowledge is amazing. She has always been so much smarter than me. Sailing thru college, while I crawled on my hands and knees. Anyway, I would love to have her knowledge of the bible. I have good people knowledge, she has great book knowledge. So I am rambling. We spent three hours at the Abby, and then separated for the remainder of the day.

We then separated and I went to Torrey Pines, hiked the trails. Nothing real significant but spent time on the trails, listening to worship music and just being in “awe” of all that God has created. Spent a lot of time just listening, just sitting and some time reading Louis Giglio’s The Air I Breathe..subtitle Worship as a Way of Life. How we worship, what we worship and why. And how God both wants and designed us to worship Him. A day spent seeking God, something I need to do and will try to do more often.

So my recommendation for you, find time…an hour here, two hours there…set it aside to just be…just be with God…sit in His presence. No expectations, just let God lead you.