Thursday, August 31, 2017

Prayer for Faith

A book I refer to often is titled, The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions by Arthur Bennett. In it I witness rich language that reveals sound theology based on Scripture, deep and abiding worship, biblical meditation, and dedicated devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I pick up this book to read one poem, it takes time to process each word and phrase because it digs into my heart and soul, making a profound impact on my attitude towards the Christian religion. These God-centered prayers illustrate a strength of character I do not possess. Therefore, it aids in my practice of prayer and in my devotion to studying Scripture. The prayers in this book play a significant role in my spiritual growth. I highly encourage you to get one for yourself. 

In the mean time, read these words and soak in the meaning behind them:
"Help me honor you by believing before I feel, for great is the sin if I make feeling a cause of faith."

One of Jesus' twelve disciples coined a term many of us may be familiar with, "Don't be a doubting Thomas!" Unfortunately for him, his doubt in Christ's resurrection serves as a wonderful reminder to Christians today. John told the story of Jesus' resurrection beginning in John 20 when Mary Magdalene noticed His body missing from the tomb. Jesus appeared to her and she told the disciples exactly what had happened. Later Jesus appeared to the disciples in a locked room, Thomas was not with them. When they reported what happened to Thomas he said, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." (20:25) He doubted the word of the others. It wasn't until eight days after this that Jesus once again appeared to them, again behind locked doors! Jesus told Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." (20:27-28) Thomas believed and after saying so Jesus' response should solidify our faith, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (20:28-29)

We have witnesses who recorded the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - a story, they claim, saves those who have faith in its events. History has proven that these authors died for what they claimed to have seen. The disciples for example: Peter was crucified on the cross upside down. Andrew was scourged, and then tied to a cross. It took him two days to die, and while he hung there he preached the gospel to those who passed by him. James was beheaded. Philip was scourged. Thomas was speared. Thaddeus and Simon were both crucified. (source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/killing-jesus/articles/how-did-the-apostles-die/)

Why would these men die such tragic deaths - which historians prove true - for a cause not worth death itself?

They died for their faith in Jesus Christ, because of what they witnessed Him say and do. Then they wrote it down and shared it with many others. They wrote it down for future believers such as ourselves. So that we are those who Christ says are blessed because of our faith in what we have not seen.

John's purpose for writing down signs Jesus performed was written in John 20:30-31, "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written  so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." So that you can read those words and have faith that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write down exactly what happened based on what he witnessed, encourage our soul and give us perseverance during this life - and for our death. Do not mistake faith for a feeling.

Faith is not a feeling. 

Faith is built on truth.

Jesus died on the cross. He was buried in a tomb. And based on countless witnesses, and the apostles who wrote about Him, we have faith that He defeated death by rising again. So we either take what Jesus says about Himself as complete truth, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) or we take him to be a crazy man. Because that is a huge claim. He claimed to be God, John 8:58. He claimed to be the truth, not a truth. He claimed to be the way to God, not a way. He claimed to be the life, not a life. These are huge claims, claims that we must take by faith.

So when I read prayers like that, I pray for a faith built on the authority of Scripture. I pray for unwavering faith in the truth found there. I pray that God reveal His purpose in each word, each sentence, each paragraph given so that I learn more about Him. I pray for encouragement and perseverance. I pray for a faith that honors God - not based on what I feel - but what I know. I pray for a faith that helps me live and die well.

And I know that Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose again. Every leap of faith I take from that point on is because I rest in that truth.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Tuesday's Top Ten [Mom's Cleaning Tips]

My mother is a professional cleaner. She owned her own business cleaning homes back in the day and it continues today with high end condos. Whenever I scrub my house I hear her chanting in my ear those tips I once found so annoying, but came especially helpful in high school when I cleaned hotel rooms (and now as I manage my own home). I abandoned these cleaning tips in college and a few years following graduation; probably because I was over it. My poor husband suffered through disaster after disaster in our first few years of marriage and every college roommate probably grew tired of me as well. Sorry! Eventually I became fed up with living like a slob and the hours I had to spend cleaning when I did grow tired of it; and finally embraced my mom's cleaning concepts. (Still, not at her level. Like I said, she's a pro.)

Rule #1: Clean from top to bottom. This is common sense because that's how gravity works. Whatever you wipe at the top will come crashing down to the bottom. If you wipe the bottom first, you'll end up cleaning it twice. And when I say "top" I mean ceiling. The ceiling in my kitchen hasn't been touched in years and you can tell. Grease splatters in amazingly high places. A duster with an extension is especially handy for those cob webs in corners. Also, do not forget your ceiling fan.

2. If you can touch it, you need to clean it. This may seem like a duh, but you will be absolutely amazed how many finger prints I wipe off our walls every week. Walls are gross places when you have a toddler. This list could be extensive, but it seriously does not take long. Light switches, door knobs, handles, arm rests, buttons, book covers, etc. etc. Whatever you touch, needs a wipe down.

3. Clean the hidden places. Just because you can close the door on something (or it is above your eye level) does not mean it should be ignored. I remember my mom telling me that you can judge cleanliness by the hidden places: microwave, drawers, linen closet, under the couch, refrigerator shelves, the tops of the frames on your wall, etc. "Don't forget to dust under the decor!" (And yes, if this was a chore she gave, she would always check.) Please, for heavens sake, do not look too closely inside my kitchen cabinets. They haven't been touched for... well... a while... and we'll leave it at that.

4. If you think it's clean, it's probably not. "Don't be satisfied with a once-over!" If I had to complete a list for mom I always had to ask myself, will this pass mom's inspection? Now my question has changed slightly, would this pass a mom inspection? 

5. If you're not huffing and puffing you're not scrubbing hard enough. I often thought of my mom during basketball practice when my coach would remind us, "If you're not exhausted after playing defense, you're not defending well enough! Defense is not a time to rest!" Cleaning is not a time to rest! On the days I scrub, I don't worry about a work out. I know I'll get a couple hours in and my arms will be on fire.... On the days I do scrub next to my mom, I have a hard time keeping up with her. She's super woman who fuels on coffee.

6. If you can do nothing else, clean your floors. You would be amazed at how a general pick-up and a quick sweep or vacuum will do wonders for your home's overall appearance.

7. Make your bed. I don't always follow this one. But I've heard it said that the first thing most successful people do when they get out of bed in the morning is make it.

8. Go to bed with a clean kitchen. This rule makes sense because this room is the center of every home. But here's a bout of honesty: this one I don't always follow, but my mom does. She cannot sleep if there's a dirty dish in the sink! I like this rule in the morning when I wake up to a clean kitchen, but when I'm tired and ready to relax... grrrrr... I want that inner-mom-voice to shut up.

Thanks to my mom's super-human-cleaning-powers I've learned a lot, but I have learned the last two all on my own (I hope mom is proud):

9. Magic Erasers are actually magic. If I encounter something that can't even be scrubbed off with one of these suckers and a bit of elbow grease, well, it's there forever. And that's a rare occasion. I buy these things in bulk.

10. Overstuffed = Overwhelmed. If there's too much stuff and items are falling out of whatever bin/drawer/basket/etc. you've put it in - it's time to go through it and trash, sell, or donate the extras. It's not worth having a mess that you can't even properly pick up. Less stuff = less mess = less stress.

Do not mistake my sharing this list with expecting or having perfection. My home doesn't always sparkle. I have two children who love making messes and hate cleaning them up. Ele loves to throw dirt on her legs as she sits in it and I had "Don't wipe your boogers on ______!" repeated to my Briella Bean for many years of her little life. (The blank space held places such as curtains, walls, furniture, pillows, etc.)

While I truly believe in loving and enjoying life, I do not believe in living like a slob. For five or six years of my life others had to endure, with great patience, my sin in allowing life to get too messy. I sincerely apologize to those who had to live with my hoarding, disgusting self. With that in mind, I try to balance life with cleanliness, and I do not always do it perfectly. I do believe in hard work and serving your family. Sometimes making messes fits perfectly into both categories. I encourage you not to live for perfection, because that is impossible. Instead, I encourage you to work hard, serve your family, teach lessons, make memories, point them to Christ, and then clean up afterwards.

Some of the best advice I soaked up from Deb who disciples me is this: serve your family so well that you hit your pillow at night from pure exhaustion and satisfaction of a job well done. Laziness is never rewarded, hard work, however, brings profit. Consider the ant, Proverbs 6:6-11 and observe those around you, for you will learn much:
"I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man." Proverbs 24:30-34
In other words, look at the home of a sluggard, of a woman lacking sense and see that it's overgrown with germs, the floor covered in dirty clothes, scattered toys, and dirty dishes. Note that a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and you will reap the consequences. Work hard and the fruit of your labor will be noticed without you having to draw any attention to it. People will take note and will learn from you. What will they learn?

My mom taught me the value of hard work. What will you teach your children?

Friday, August 25, 2017

I am so glad I hemorrhaged.

This October 1 marks five years since I nearly lost my life.

My Briella Bean was only ten days old and had it not been for my mother-in-law attempting to wake me from a nap I would not be here today. There are so many perspectives of that day from those around me. From a friend who did my paperwork at the local hospital, to the doctor on duty that day, from those who can tell me exactly where they were and what they were doing when they found out I was being shipped out on flight for life. I enjoy hearing this story from their perspective because I begin to understand how much they care for me.

That's one reason I'm glad I hemorrhaged.

The main reason, however, goes much deeper. Before Brielle was born I struggled with wanting to be in control, down to the very minute of her birth. I wanted everything to go a certain way. I believed a natural delivery was the only way to go and I wrote about it in such strong language that I now see it as a pride issue. As I reviewed posts written before the birth of my first child, I was so ashamed of this person writing and posting and sharing these words, that I had to take a break from blogging and determine whether or not this was something I should continue.

I truly believe God used this incident to humble me.

I do not like the person I was five years ago, or even ten years ago before the gospel came alive for me and changed me. Thankfully, God has done a marvelous work in my heart. He continues to work in me and I've realized that the biggest growth, the times when I'm drawn closest to Himself, is in times of pain and heartache.

Seven units of blood,
Two units of plasma,
One flight for life,
One ambulance ride,
Two surgeries later,
Five years of reflection,
Countless perspectives shared,
One amazing learning experience,
And I am incredibly thankful that I hemorrhaged.

It was painful, but through it I learned that God does not waste pain. He used it to draw me closer to Himself and there is no greater purpose than that. For that is why Christ died. It wasn't just to save His own from the hell we all deserve. He died so that His own will spend an eternity with God. While we walk this earth as Christ did, we cannot - we will not - evade the cross. If we, "take up our cross and follow Jesus" (Matthew 10:38) we too will suffer. For how can we call ourselves followers otherwise? To take up our cross means certain death. Death to self. Alive to Christ. And while our faith remains faith, until the day our faith becomes sight, be thankful in sorrow. Find the joy of putting Jesus first, others second, yourself last - especially in hard times. Be glad in suffering.

For it is in suffering that I learned more about myself and who I am in Christ.

Here's something you must know. Being glad for an experience does not take away the hardness of it. It defines your identity. It solidifies what you believe. Pain draws you closer to God as you wait for that glorious day when you finally shed the weight of pain and peer fearlessly into the eyes of your Creator.

Be glad for pain, even as you weep.