The Secret to Contentment
My small group is starting a new study this fall, one we actually chose several months ago. Its funny how God’s timing works because this book, Calm My Anxious Heart, is perfect for me right now. That was very clear tonight as I read the first chapter. When we chose this book, six months ago, I had no way of knowing that it would be the right book for me.
As I read through the chapter this list was given for the ‘prescription to contentment’ jumped out at me. If we lived by these five guidelines how different would our lives be?
1. Never allow yourself to complain about anything – not even the weather.
2. Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
3. Never compare your lot to another’s.
4. Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
5. Never dwell on tomorrow – remember that [tomorrow] is God’s, not ours.
It definitely challenged me. One thing I always wrestle with is the line between contentment and hope – how do you hope for something but not be moved out of a place of contentment. That is definitely a polarity to manage and I continue to seek understanding in this matter.
A MUST read – The Hole in Our Gospel
I just finished The Hole in Our Gospel and cannot tell you how strongly I want to recommend that you read this book. Richard Stearns, president of World Vision does an excellent job of painting a very clear and real picture of the condition of our world. While the facts and statistics he provides are very disturbing, he provides excellent documentation for his data. The picture he clearly paints for the reader is disturbing, yet he inspires you to become active an make a change in our world, whether in your own neighborhood or around the world.
This book challenges the individual and the church as a whole to examine ourselves to see if we are truly living out the gospel God has called us to. As he says – are we living out a revolutionary gospel that is good news for the broken world? That is what God has called us to, and if our lives are not a demonstration of that we are living out a gospel that has a hole in it.
Friday Night Fish Fry
Lent was not something ever participated in growing up. In Upstate NY, I observed Lent to consist of the Friday night fish fry and no chocolate, but beyond that I really had no idea what it was about.
The past few years I have been investigating what is behind Lent and why it is observed. This year I decided to participate in Lent. For me, that took the shape of deciding to give something up during the Lenten season and intentionally preparing my heart and mind for Easter.
What to give up was the big question. For me giving up chocolate, coffee, or candy was not going to direct my attention to God any more than any other day I am trying to watch what I eat. After a lot of thought I decided to give up sarcasm. The one thing that comes to me like second nature, I would deny myself of and in the process shine a light on an area that I know needs to change to be more Christ-like.
I have been using two different books the last few weeks. The first is The Journey to Peace by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and Show Me the Way by Henri Nouwen.
This past week I came across this prayer in Show Me the Way. It expresses in words much better than I can why I chose to participate in Lent.
How often have I lived through these weeks without paying much attention to penance, fasting , and prayer?
How often have I missed the spiritual fruits of this season without even being aware of it?
But how can I ever really celebrate Easter without observing Lent?
How can I rejoice fully in your resurrection when I have avoided participating in your death?
Yes, Lord, I have to die – with you, through you, and in you – and thus become ready to recognize you when you appear to me in your resurrection.
There is so much in me that needs to die: false attachments, greed and anger, impatience and stinginess.
O Lord, I am self-centered, concerned about myself, my career, my future, my name and future, my name and fame.
I see clearly now how little I have died with you, really gone your way and been faithful to it.
O Lord, make this Lenten season different from the other ones.
Let me find you again. Amen.
Teenagers
I don’t think anything has challenged me in life like the last 6 – 8 years. That’s a long time and I have been through a lot of different trials in my life. Now, I must admit that I have some amazing kids. Scott and Rachel are great and for the most part I love and enjoy being their mom. BUT, the challenges that they bring and have brought as teenagers makes me want to pull my hair out…if I had enough to do so.
Right now my house is quiet, not because I am alone but because someone is sulking because she (who will remain nameless) is in trouble. Busted for being dishonest and not being where she said she was on a Saturday night. Now, dishonesty is the one thing I will not tolerate at all, EVER. Had to much of it in my life to ever turn a blind eye again. Besides that, it is one of the most important components of character, good character.
The guilty party feels that I have been to harsh, that I am wrong and being ridiculous. If I give someone gas money to help, then you best not lie to me where you drive the car. The sentence is as follows: pay me back the money I just used to fill the gas tank, two weeks of car restriction (school and practice) only AND possibly not being allowed to take her car on our spring break trip. Harsh, I don’t think so.
Thank you for listening to my rant. I figured venting here, a place where very few people read would be much better than all the other things I would like to do to her 
Giving It Up
Lent was not a tradition that was part of my religious experience growing up, but the past few years it has really intrigued me. Growing up in an area that was predominately Catholic, I was very familiar with Lent but not sure what it mean beyond giving up chocolate and eating fish on Fridays. As a waitress in upstate NY I know all about the Friday fish fry!
I have done some reading and research on what Lent is and why it is observed. This year I decided to observe Lent because after reading I really felt that its purpose is truly to be a tool to prepare us for Easter. Unfortunately, like many ‘traditions’ it has lost its value because it became a ritual.
The Lord has been stirring several things in my heart and it seemed right to observe Lent as a continuation of those things. How could I go wrong remembering and preparing my heart? A large part of Lent is giving up or denying yourself of something for the next 40 days. It did not seem that giving up some type of food was going to help me prepare my heart for Easter so after much thought and prayer it came to me.
I need to give up sarcasm. Sarcasm runs through my blood like plasma. It has defined who I am and is like second nature to me. Not sure I am really proud of that. During this time hope that I become sensitive to how much I use sarcasm and begin to put an end to it.
If you read this, are around me in the next forty days and hear me making a sarcastic comment please feel free to call me out. This is going to be hard and definitely not something I can do on my own. (my good friend Jarrett did this for me today).
I am excited to see how God uses this time as I allow him to carve this out of my heart.
In search of adventure
Last year at this time I was on the verge of a very full, on the edge of crazy, 6 months. I was about to travel to Sweden twice for Passion World Tour, my sister’s wedding was approaching and it was Scott’s senior year. Most people felt it was crazy and yes, it probably was. But it was full of adventure and new experiences which I love and seem to thrive on. It was a great year but definitely took a toll on me.
This year I find myself in a unusually quiet season within my personal life. Work is definitely full as do.justice is approaching along with several other events that will occupy my time, but it is not the same. That is work and I have learned over the past few years that there is more to life than work.
So I find myself looking for some kind of adventure, travel, some excitement. Something new. I know myself well enough that my natural response is to start filling up my time with stuff just to keep me busy. However, I am wondering if God has created this space for me to be still, spend more intentional time with Him and to prepare me for the next season of adventure. I am choosing to believe that is the case and to be content. I have to admit it is hard!
Book Review – For the Tough Times
As I have mentioned before I have been reading books for Thomas Nelson and reviewing. My latest read was For the Tough Times by Max Lucado which is a short (only 79 pages) but yet very powerful book. Lucado has a very distinct writing style, and while not always my favorite I found it perfect for this book. In today’s world, with our economy upside-down, people losing jobs every day, and then with just regular life occurrences, death, heartbreak, illness, most everyone has as some point asked ‘Where is God?’ in all of this.
Lucado does a good job in reminding the reader who is actually in control, that when the cloud of pain and problems blocks our view we need to remember to look beyond the cloud to the God who is always and never stops being in control. His writing style is comforting which is exactly what you need when your heart is full of pain and you are looking for answers. As you read you are reminded of these important truths – God is good, God loves you, God hears you and God will act on your behalf.
This book is an easy read and if you find yourself in a ‘tough time’ I recommend you take a look. It is an excellent reminder that God is active even when it feels like life is out of control.
Hopeful
Tonight is the night before the Presidential Inauguration. Tomorrow, Barak Obama will become the 44th president of our country. Regardless of your opinion of President Obama, it is hard to resist the energy and excitement in our country right now. I don’t think I remember a time when I have seen so many people united and excited about something and that alone is exciting. Our first black president – I am proud to be alive to see this and know that it will be one of the most historical events in my lifetime.
Now I am not sure that everyone’s excitement is grounded and based on reality. Barak Obama is not a saviour and is not the answer to our problems just because he is the first black president. But, I believe that he is a genuine person and wants to see change for our nation and the people in this country. Change is hard and those who resist can put up a good fight. I hope that the changes he brings are good and don’t bring more problems with them. I am hopeful.
I came across a letter written by President Obama to his daughters and it reminded me that he is just a man, a dad, who has hopes and dreams for his children. He is just like any parent, but he has been given the opportunity to use his gifts, talents and intellect on an national and international scale to make those hopes and dreams become a reality. We should not forget that we also have the same opportunity everyday to make a difference for our children just on a smaller scale – in our communities, cities and local governments.
So, on the eve of the inaugration I wish you well Mr. President. I am sure I will not agree with all your decisions over the next four years but I am praying for you and will do my part to make our country a better place.
PS – read the letter he wrote to Sasha and Malia. It’s was worth the read.
Remembering
Tonight was a great night because I spent it in a room with some of the most amazing people I have and will ever know. Tonight was the Passion World Tour dinner and most of the team leaders from the Passion World Tour, along with the Passion staff came together to remember and celebrate this past year all that God did around the world.
This past May I was part of a 3 person team which helped organize the Stockholm stop on the tour. In the middle of the planning and right up to the day of the event I really wondered what I had agreed to do. It was crazy. I have planned many events, each usually stretching me and in the process I learn many new things. Planning an event for one or two thousand people in another country put that on a whole different level. But, that all changed the moment the event started.
There are so many things I would like to tell you about, the list is endless. I would like to tell you about Jeremy Coward and his amazing photographs, the beautiful city of Sweden, the song God of this City sung by Chris Tomlin in each city, stories of lives that were changed, what it felt like during the opening video in Stockholm, the amazing people I met, there is so much and then more. The Passion blog captured each city in word in picture and is the best way for now to get a snapshot of the tour.
It is an experience I will never be able to put into words so I will not even begin to try except to say that it humbled me, brought me to tears and reminded me of how BIG my God is. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
These pictures are some of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen.. (taken by Jeremy Cowart – check out his work. It is amazing)
