A Word to the Wise

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“Life is the sum of all your choices.”
Albert Camus

This morning, the C4 group began our new year considering King Solomon’s life.

A few takeaways:

  • Solomon’s response for wisdom benefited his kingdom (1 Kings 3). Receiving godly wisdom (James 1:5) always benefits those around us.
  • Solomon marveled at the BIGness of his God…and the fact that He would listen and respond to his prayers (1 Kings 8). Our prayer life – or lack thereof – reveals whether or not we truly marvel at the same.
  • Solomon began strong but finished weak (1 Kings 11). The culprit? Spiritual compromise. What may seem like a “pebble” called compromise one moment can quickly become a stumbling block called sin — and the next thing you know… (James 1:13-15)

What could someone learn from watching our lives? I’ll grab my steel-toed shoes if you grab yours!

Where to Begin?

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“I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp;
I know what I want to do, but I don’t know where to begin.”
Stephen Bayne

Plan my days.
Where to begin?

Organize the house.
Where to begin?

Prioritize my (God’s) time.
Where to begin?

Get fit. Eat healthier.
Where to begin?

A multitude of writing ideas buzzing (pun intended) in this head of mine.
Where to begin?

Conquering fears.
Where to begin?

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzz………

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

I Was Dreaming of a White Christmas…

by | Faith | 1 comment

But no more!

Christmas afternoon wrapped itself in a crisp white blanket of snow and quickly became the gift that kept on giving throughout today as we were able to:

  • Catch Andy Stanley’s New Year’s message from 2009. My favorite quote: “It is always a mistake to decide what you want to do before deciding who you want to be. “
  • Enjoy a movie marathon.
  • Stay toasty by a blazing set of gas logs (the perfect backdrop for reading my new book by Sage Cohen, “Writing the Life Poetic”).

I don’t remember the last snow that fell on Christmas Day as I was only a year old (1963), but rest assured, Christmas 2010 will go down in my history book as one of the best Christmases ever.

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la

Jesus is my Savior, Not My Santa

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As a little girl, I remember standing in line to see the big man dressed in red. He was larger than life and more jovial than most – and for good reason. He made everyone’s wishes come true. Ah, childhood.

Let’s face it. My climb on to Santa’s lap was done so with one mission in mind: To present him with “the” list — my list of wants, wishes, and desires. That’s all there was to it! A little exertion on my part, a quick rundown of my list, a cherry lollipop in hand, and I was on my way. All was right with the world.

I thought those days were behind me… until this past week, when I became all too aware of how many of my prayers began with:

“Show me…”
“Reveal to me…”
“Please heal…”
“Lord, bless…”

I had unknowingly traded a place at my Father’s feet for a place on “Santa’s” lap.

Granted, Jesus tells us throughout the New Testament to ask — there’s nothing wrong with asking. However, I would suggest that there is something very wrong in approaching our holy God much in the same way we once approached a minimum-wage ordinary man dressed up in a costume (and usually with a fake-o beard): a moment with Him, followed by a quick rundown of all our wants/desires, an expeditious departure from His presence, and a warm fuzzy feeling to boot (after all, we’re adults, who needs lollipops?).

I am resolved to never trading in a place at my Father’s feet again. Though warm fuzzy feelings are never a guarantee, the true presence of a holy, loving, forgiving and merciful Father is — and that’s more than this daughter of the King could ever ask for or imagine.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

Merry Christmas to all!

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