Follow // Five Minute Friday

Five Minute Friday (#FMFparty) gives writers a word prompt. We are encouraged to write whatever comes to mind about that word in just five minutes.  No editing, no perfection, only writing from the heart.  To find out more, visit http://katemotaung.com/five-minute-friday/.  This week's word is "follow".

In a noisy world where everything vies for our attention, we lose so many sounds that were once prominent in our lives. We lose the sound of productivity as we get sucked into another five minutes of reading Facebook statuses or tweets while not realizing that we've been engrossed for 45 minutes already. We lose the sound of individuality as we try to emulate those we feel have arrived or have achieved something great as if they are the only ones that know the way. We lose the sound of our voice as we hear other Christians gossip and ridicule us as we try to stand up for what is right and live according to God's Word.

And in all of that, we lose the sound of God's voice because we've become accustomed to hearing whatever is speaking the loudest to us at that time. We lose the sound of His voice because we lose sight of His face, His ways, and His grace. We mask His lasting peace and joy for temporary happiness and instant thrills that this world gives us because following Him requires more of us than we are willing to give especially over an extended period of time. It's easier to remain a surface Christian and pull our act together in front of other Christians for a few hours each week than it is to live ever radically for Christ as we draw lines in the sand and sift all the noise of this world through Philippians 4:8.  "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Yet in John 10:27, Christ says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." I love this verse because it's a statement of fact. If we are truly God's sheep, we will hear His voice and we will choose to follow Him. Hearing God's voice and remembering how sweet it is always prompts action, obedience, and love. His voice has a way of canceling out those things that have no lasting value and don't honor Christ if we choose to hear Him. God's voice calls us out from among our peers, beyond our church services, and over our mere "religion" into a real relationship where following Him becomes our natural response to His voice because we desire nothing else but Him.

Top 5 Recurring "Themes" for Spring 2015

There are seasons in my life where God keeps hammering the same lessons or "themes" into my life. These themes are weaved into conversations with friends, songs on the radio or at church, reading the Bible, whispers from God during prayer times, social media posts, sermons, and even random signs or billboards. Oh yes, I've been around the block a few times with these themes, yet they are taking on new meanings as the fog of the past that clouded my vision for so long is finally lifting. 

1.  Experience Perfect Love instead of being a slave to perfection and the fears of failure and not living up to your potential.  I John 4:18--"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

2.  Someone needs to hear your story. I Peter 3:15--"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." Be authentic (genuinely you) always, but be wise in your transparency (who sees all of you). "Be careful to always be authentically you, because our public lives should always be a reflection of our private lives." ~Lori Wilhite & Brandi Wilson 

3.  Cling to the promise in the verse that keeps popping up everywhere.  Be secure (confident) and patient in your calling and know that God will finish what He has started in His time. Philippians 1:6--"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."
 
4.  Know who you are in Christ.  Galatians 6:14--"For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate."  Ephesians 1:4--"Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love."

5.  You are waiting for the perfect circumstances, people, and/or ministry and missing out on everything that is right in front of you. "Go" is a present tense word that means "right now". Be available in this very moment to do whatever God has assigned to you. Rather than resist the fact that you don't have a carefully crafted plan for your life, learn to enjoy the variety of opportunities, people, skills, and abilities that God has blessed you with.  Marvel in that amazing training ground that He is providing for you through your church and homeschool organization. There are people all around you, even in those places, that need God so be open to God's leading no matter what it looks like. Isaiah 6:8 -- "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"

So Why Can't I?

A few weeks ago, I began wondering why this person can take a vacation and not have to check in but I feel like I have to all the time.  Then I was wondering how that person could leave everything behind to have a spur-the-moment family day and not think twice about skipping out on a meeting.  Then I got to wondering why could another person have all that time with their children but then I keep getting asked to squeeze more into my packed schedule.  And I wondered, "When does it stop?  Why can't I go on vacation and leave everything behind?  Why can't I take family days and turn off my phone/email?  Why can't I say I no to activities when my calendar is bursting at the seams?" And then it hit me, I can!!!! 

When I honestly answer the "Why can't I?" question, I see what is at the root of it.  From there, I can make the necessary changes to live out the answer to that question. My "Why can't I?" answers lie in self-imposed busyness, the inability to say no, and the fear of failure, fear of disapproval, and the fear of missing out on opportunities. And when you line that up with God and His Word, it becomes so obvious where I'm missing the mark once again.  And I see where I desperately need God to infuse every single step, every single word, every single thought!  (See Phil. 4:5, Ecc. 3:1, Heb. 3:13, Gal. 1:10, Matt. 6:24, I John 4:18.)

One thing that I've been understanding lately is that we teach others how to treat us.  And in that, I've been discovering that no one is going to outright give me permission to take a break. No one is going to stand there and make me take time for myself and for my family. And generally the same people that are quick to tell me that I need to slow down and put my family first are the ones that have no shame in throwing more on me.  And, they are the ones that know how and when to call in a break for themselves without guilt and without the need to check in. Hmmmmmm...it really makes one stop and analyze what's going on and why.  In retrospect, people keep asking me to do things because I always say yes. They keep giving because I keep taking. And they keep offering because I keep doing regardless of cost. Frankly, I'm a quick, definite yes!

However, there is nothing wrong at all with people asking me to do things.  There are definitely things I want to do and love doing and would never even know about if I wasn't asked!  But there comes a point when it's time to grow up and realize that I am the only one responsible for my yeses and nos. I am the one responsible for setting my limits and boundaries. These things just don't happen without my intentional intervention. And I have to understand that life is a marathon, not a sprint.  It's a journey, not a destination, and just insert what other cliche fits here.

There truly is merit to pacing ourselves. I'm always eager to jump into everything with both feet and give 100%, but I'm discovering that it's okay to enter into things slowly. We have to pace ourselves because when we run at full speed ahead, we easily run over God without meaning to. When we constantly say yes without thinking about it, we are saying no to the God-ordained pace for our lives. And when we say no to God's pace for our lives, it's where we find that we are living out of ourselves instead in Christ. It's where we find ourselves striving so hard to fulfill everyone's expectations (including our own) that we project those expectations as coming from God when in reality, He never once asked for our striving. It's where we follow our plans and hopes for each day rather than take time to seek God for what He wants us to accomplish each day. That's where we're getting it wrong. 

Great freedom comes from living out of the "I can!" answer to the "Why can't I?" question when the "I can" is rooted in our view of God and His plan and pace for our lives. 

Trees & Seasons

“His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither and whatever He does shall prosper.”  Psalm 1:2-3

Have you ever stopped to consider the untold lessons that are in a tree?  Most days, trees are just trees, and I fail to notice them until one really stands out.  What makes that tree catch my eye?  Is it the towering height, enormous girth, twisted shape, or some unique feature that distinguishes it from all others?  Or, is it the vibrant color of the leaves, the sheer volume of leaves, or the total lack of leaves that make me take a second glance?  Or do I notice trees more in the newness of spring as little buds begin to form on branches?  Or do I notice them more in the summer when I need a cool place to rest?  What about the fall when trees seem like they are on fire with bright hues of orange, yellow, and red; or the winter, when they stand there lonely and bare? 

As trees greet each new season, one fact remains:  a tree is still every bit of a tree—strong, solid, even beautiful—in the bareness of winter as it is in all of its glory in the heat of summer.  No matter the season, the tree stands tall and firm.  It thrives.  It grows.  It weathers all types of conditions that beat against it, from the strong storm gusts to the pelting sleet and rain to the parchment that comes from the hot summer’s sun.  The very core (trunk) of the tree remains sure regardless of the season.

Though the tree stands solid and sure, there is a lot going on within its branches and leaves.  The leaves are ever-changing, ever-cycling, and ever telling a story of God’s purpose and design.  In the spring, we see new life as tiny little buds begin to appear on the branches.  This new life signifies a rebirth, restoration, growth, change, and hope.  In the summer, the leaves reach maturity and provide much needed shade all the while photosynthesis is going on in the background to help the tree grow, reach its peak, store food for the winter, and thrive.  It signifies work, energy, reward, and even rest.  In the fall, the leaves change color and they let go of the tree because weather conditions are just so that they cannot keep feeding the tree. They served their purpose and are now leaving to make way for the next set of leaves.  In the winter, trees revert into dormancy where everything slows down inside of it.  It focuses its energies on surviving the winter and does what it can to protect itself from the harsh winter elements. 

All of this reminds me so much of the seasons of our lives. Merriam-Webster defines ‘season’ as "a time characterized by a particular circumstance or feature; a suitable or natural time or occasion; an indefinite period or time; a period of the year characterized or associated with a particular activity or phenomenon." 

We all experience seasons where we jump into something new and experience the joys and challenges of new ideas, opportunities, and relationships.  We begin to live out of our capacity until what we expend goes way beyond our capacity but strive so hard to hang on.  At that point, we begin to lose those things that we didn’t want to lose.  Sometimes it’s little things but sometimes, we lose the big, irreplaceable leaves of life like our family, friends, and even God.  Our life empties itself, leaf by leaf, of the things we once loved.  We are left still standing, but we are standing empty and bare.  We retreat and wonder where we got it wrong.  We try to recover from running at 100 mph for so long.  We try to restore relationships that were let go when we were too busy to notice, yet we realize the problem was with us all along.  We find ourselves in a dormant period where we have done everything but the very thing God wants of us...and that is to be still and to know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). 

Slowly, as we lay dormant before God, we see the promise and hope of new buds.  But it's still not the time for them to sprout just yet.  We must learn to stay still and let Him work, let Him bring the growth, let Him restore us to our capacity.

While nature works in quarterly, predictable seasons, our lives ebb and flow in a myriad of seasons.  A season of education, a season of new love, a season of parenthood, a season of the empty nest, a season of retirement, a season of health, a season of sickness, a season of sadness, and a season of joy.  As much as we want it to, we can’t make these seasons conform to a calendar or time frame, nor can we make them conform to each other's seasons.  Each season is as unique as each individual, as unique as every tree, as unique as every leaf.

Maybe instead of fighting our seasons so much and wishing our seasons looked like the others around us, we should simply stand solid and sure as the trees do in our yard, letting God work in and out of us the purposes that He desires.  In this way, our outward “leaves” have a chance to tell the story of Him and in the most beautiful way that commands others to see Him.


“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

The Proverbs Challenge -- Day 1

Growing up, my dad told me that "A Proverb a day will keep the Devil away."  He encouraged us to read one chapter of Proverbs each day of the month since there are 31 chapters and 31 days.  I often begin the month well.  But mid-month, life gets super busy and my reading slacks off.  Guilt usually kicks in a week later so I have time to at least catch the last few chapters of Proverbs before a new month begins. 

Recently, I encountered two women who handwrite the Bible.  At first, it seemed really odd but they stressed the sheer amount of concentration and discipline that is required to write out God's Word.  They read it and then say it in their mind as they are writing it and then reread the entire chapter.  They shared how copying the Bible awakened them and transformed their relationship with God with each book they copied. The more I learned about it, the more I wanted to try it...but next month.  Then next month became the month after and so forth.  However, today, September 1, seemed like a good day as any to try the Proverbs challenge. 

My main goal with the Proverbs challenge is to cultivate a spirit of priority and discipline.  It's easy to read through a few chapters of the Bible every day and to pray while on the go, but it's harder to slow down long enough to internalize God's Word and to have those extended prayer times without any distractions.  I have been in a rut and want something fresh rather than study through another devotional.  I want God without all the extras and nothing gets one back to the basics like copying straight from God's Word.

Proverbs is one of those "hindsight is 20/20" type of books for me.  It is filled with wisdom that I wish I had put into practice because it would have saved a lot of tears, heartaches and mistakes.  I tend to cross-reference Proverbs with life lessons so there are notes and dates of painful life lessons in the margin next to their corresponding Proverbs so I don't forget those lessons learned (it's like a diary of sorts).  However, there are so many vital lessons in Proverbs that spare a person of trouble if heeded, so I figured this would be my chance to learn without all of the hard lessons time around.  There was no other place to begin aside from time in prayer and simply sitting down with a fresh notebook and my Bible.  

As I began copying Proverbs 1, I was waiting for this big, huge life-altering revelation to jump out at me.  Instead, I got distracted by what it must have been like to be Solomon, David, Moses, Paul or Peter.  They were close enough to God to hear Him and to pen the facets of His heart.  It almost felt too sacred to continue writing out Proverbs 1 because I know how unholy, how human I am.  At that moment, God reminded me that He chose imperfect beings to write down His Words.  These men were human in every way yet God redeemed them and had a plan to use them despite their imperfections.  He had a relationship with them and used them right where they were at.  But the key is that these men were living in such a way that they were attuned to God's voice.  Very thought-provoking.

About halfway through Proverbs 1, I thought about all the things my child and I have read together over the years in our missionary studies.  We've spent a lot of time talking about the 10/40 window and just how many unreached people groups there are that do not have a Bible in their own language.  I couldn't help but echo some of the prayers we've poured out for these people groups.  I kept thinking of the Bible translators who have a vision and calling from God to learn a new language so they can copy not only Proverbs but the rest of the Bible, word for word, in a language that has never seen the Word of God.  What a responsibility and challenge for these translators especially as they feel the urgency to spread God's Word but are confined to a slow, tedious process. 

After handwriting Proverbs 1, I read it in Matthew Henry's commentary only to be reminded of the truths and the why behind the Book of Proverbs.  I have a feeling that this handwriting journey is just a beginning--a place to rediscover the wonder of the Scripture with each word that is written down and an opportunity to reconnect with God in openness and hunger.  As it comes to mind, pray that God will speak to me through this challenge and that I may learn discipline through this process.