by Cathy Baker | Faith |
v. craved, crav·ing, craves:
1. To have an intense desire for.
2. To need urgently; require.
3. McDonald’s Chocolate Chip Frappe
I don’t know about your dictionary, but mine highlights the third definition in perky bright yellow and I have the hips to prove it, unfortunately.
During July and August my desire for these 18 Points Plus desserts skyrocketed to a full-blown craving, slurping down several per week. (My entire daily allowance is 29 points.)
I realized at the end of August, on the way home from a Weight Watchers meeting, that I had spoken about the frappe with such exuberance that someone overhearing my conversation may have mistaken my topic for Jesus. My heart sank as I felt helpless to do anything about this new-found craving.
In that moment, the Lord reminded me of the study I was preparing to teach. The subject? John 15, the Vine and the Branches: Abiding. Remaining. Depending. None of which I was doing when it came to caring for my body.
It was time for a “Come to Jesus” meeting. I began by asking for forgiveness in neglecting the body He had given me and ended with a simple, yet life-altering question: Would You take this craving away?
I knew I didn’t have the power to resist the gravitating pull of the frozen concoction. Past
attempts to override the frappe rocket had crashed and burned,
scattering debris of discouragement and failure in my mind and spirit.
But this time was different—because that’s what abiding in Christ does—it changes everything. For the first time, I asked Him for help in this particular area of my life. Finally, I leaned into the powerful connection He provides — receiving it — and resting in His ability to say no to the craving.
And that’s exactly what He has done. Since the end of August I’ve had one frappe (this week). I enjoyed it. But as B.B. King would say: The thrill is gone. And most importantly, the craving has been taken away and replaced with an eagerness to fuel my body with healthier foods.
All of Him, none of me. Oh, the power of abiding.
Thank You, Jesus.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Our focus on Summit’s core values continued yesterday. Below are snippets from Kyle’s compelling sermon on the value of biblical community. I encourage you to visit Summit’s site to hear the sermon in its entirety.
Matthew 22:34-40
His religious audience knew from Deuteronomy 6:4 that they were to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind—but others? Jesus ushers in a radical change when He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
- We have little to do with who moves in next door, works in the cubicle close by, or beats us to the Target cash register after a long day at work — but that’s Jesus’ point. We’re not only to love those who look like us, smell like us, or talk like us — but everyone. God has placed us where we are for divine possibilities.
- “Jesus makes it very clear that spiritual formation is about relationships. Relationships with God and with others.” – Scott McKnight, The Jesus Creed
- Jesus would pay the price on our behalf so that selfishness could be put to death. We are empowered by God’s Spirit to live a new life with wholehearted devotion, freeing us to follow hard after God. By God’s grace, we can know Him, love Him, and love others in a way that He desires. Awaken these desires within us!
In response:
1. We need to actually live connected.
“We
think we’ve chosen our friends, and in reality, a few years of
difference and dates of our birth, a few more miles, the choice of one
school rather than another, any of these chances might have kept friends
apart. But for Christians, there’s strictly no speaking of chances. A
secret master of ceremonies has been at work in your life. Christ who
said to his disciples, “You have not chosen me but I have chosen you,”
can truly say to every group of Christian friends, “You have not chosen
one another, but I have chosen you for one another.” At this feast, it
is he who has spread the board, and it is he who has chosen the guest
list. It is he who sometimes does and always should preside. Let us not
forget our host as we eat.”
-C.S. Lewis
2. Resist isolation. Does our commitment to biblical community reflect God’s commitment to community? We’re not talking about church attendance but living connected to those who God will use to shape us into being more like Christ.
3. Live for one another.
“In many cases, we may, by the rules of the gospel, be
obliged to give to others when we cannot do it without suffering
ourselves…If our neighbor’s difficulties and necessities be much greater
than our own, and we see that he is not like to be otherwise relieved,
we should be willing to suffer with him, and to take part of his burden
on ourselves; else how is that rule of bearing one another’s burdens
fulfilled? If we are never obliged to relieve others’ burdens, but when we can
do it without burdening ourselves, then how do we bear our neighbor’s
burdens, when we bear no burden at all?” [Jonathan Edwards, Christian Charity, The Works of Jonathan Edwards]
Because people matter to God, they matter to us.
What “neighbor” will God place on our paths this week to love as Christ loves us? Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that we might put the Gospel on display.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Piper at the Park [30 seconds]
Living across the street from a city park has its perks. One of which we noticed soon after the move to our old house: swing sets. Brian and I talked of what it would be like to some day stroll across the street with our grandchildren to watch them swing and play.
Eight years later…the first swing-time with Pappa (Brian) and Grammy (Yours truly). I think her giggle and the delight in our voices says it all. A dream come true.
And one day soon, we’ll have the pleasure of swinging sweet Judah when he arrives from Uganda. Another dream awaits…
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Some observations from yesterday’s service, preached by Jason Malone, no doubt led by God’s Spirit:
- When we steward with open hands, we are putting the gospel on display.
- We believe that doing life with other people that love Jesus Christ — for the sake of those that don’t know Jesus — is essential in our own transformation and living on mission with our God.
- Having access to people isn’t the problem, connecting is.
- It’s not bad to want to go to church to worship, to learn, or to connect, but if our ultimate reason for going to church is about “me” — it’s insufficient. When we treat church like a vendor of services, it is such a limited picture of what God has for His Bride.
- God is asking us to connect with others for the sake of other people. The Church has neglected “for the sake of other people”. Why? It’s messy. It will cost us something. It’s a lot of work. But when we cut this off we are usurping God and becoming a spectator, a consumer.
- Casual connections are good, but they are not life-giving—and we, as the body of Christ cannot settle for less. Why? Because the gospel is at stake.
When we live in isolation:
- We lose perspective. We need other wise voices to help bring life into balance.
- We fear intimacy. If someone knew the “real” us, they would reject us.
- We become selfish. If our life is defined by or priorities and desires, we become self-centered.
- We have poor health. 7,000 people over a period of 9 years were observed. Those who were isolated were 3 times more likely to die. Even those who drank and smoke outlasted those who were isolated!
“Our relationship with others is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful—Christian community is the final apologetic.” – Francis Schaeffer
To listen to the sermon in its entirety, visit Summit’s site here. It should be posted by Wednesday.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
In celebration of the first day of Fall, I’m sharing a re-post from 2010, as it still rings true today.
It doesn’t feel like the season for:
Roasted marshmallows
Apple cider
Kaleidoscope leaves
Cool breezes
Pecans
An abundance of candy in fun-size packs
Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin
Colorful mums
Pumpkins
Mountain trips
Fresh apples (especially Honey Crisp!)
Long sleeves and weathered jeans
Warm fuzzy sweaters
But it is that season, according to the trusted calendar, even though we are experiencing temperatures in the low 90’s.
It does not feel like fall, but the calendar says it is. Which am I to believe?
The
same question is sometimes asked, although rarely audible or even
consciously, when we are faced with believing how we feel versus what
the Word of God says.
While God created emotions to complete the
whole person, it’s easy to get swept away by them—only to be swept up in
the deception that can sometimes follow.
Just as the calendar
has the final say as to when we are truly embarking on the fall season,
so God’s Word is our final say as to what is true—regardless of how we
feel.
- I may not always feel His presence, but God says He will never leave nor forsake me (Heb. 13:5)
- I may not always sense His working in my life or those around me, but God says that nothing can thwart His plans (Job 42:2)
- I don’t always trust Him as I should, but God says that even when I am unfaithful, He is faithful. (2 Tim. 2:13)
-
I can feel defeated, useless to the Kingdom, beaten up by all my
weaknesses, but God says that in Him, there is in no condemnation,
regardless of what the enemy says. (Romans 8:1)
Emotions can be
a beautiful expression of our worship to the Lord. In fact, if we are
rarely moved by the words we read or sing, or if we can watch a
resplendent sun rising from the east without a pause of praise welling
up from within, we may be in need of an emotion intervention. It’s all
about balance.
So, while it may not feel
like my favorite season of the year, I rejoice in the fact that it is
indeed fall, and that summer has been left in the dust of 2010 (and my
grass along with it). I may have to break out my long-sleeved shirts and
fuzzy sweaters in celebration of this truth!
Care to join me?
