Sold-Out

Sold Out-- No, in this case it does not mean that your friendly neighborhood grocery store is fresh out of that brand of toilet paper that is the perfect balance of not too scratchy and not too fluffy.

So...what does it mean?

A lack of apathy. When we are apathetic, we have a lack of enthusiasm, interest or concern. I feel like I'm talking in circles here, like when my little dog just can't quite catch her tail...but stay with me here...

When you are sold-out, you want to be more, do more, to live more for Christ. Not because of legalism.

No.

Jesus was clear that the pharisees did not have it right. And we DO NOT earn our salvation.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

We don't pay for a gift we receive, do we? At Christmas, do you watch your son open the new RC car he's been asking for for 10 months and then say, "Okay, I'm glad you love it--now, that'll be $38.95 plus tax and shipping."  No, you grin from ear to ear at his joy and hug him back when he thanks you. 

Jesus died to redeem us. When we receive His gift, we should want to please Him. Obey Him. Not take His sacrifice lightly or flippantly. REALLY know Him like a best friend. If you say that Cindy Lou is your best friend in the world, but never talk to her or spend time with her, you are not really best friends, are you? That would be slightly juvenile, wouldn't it? Like something my middle school aged daughter would do.

You and I should desire to know Him more all the time. To become more like Him. 

I've noticed my son picking up some new phrases and mannerisms from the other boys in his class at school. We instinctively conform to those we spend time with. We pick up ideals from the television shows we watch. 

In Romans 12, verse 2 it says, "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

So...what God is saying is that we are to allow Him to change us. That, in turn, causes us to more clearly be able to see His perfect plan for us. 

As Christians, we shouldn't look like the world. God's best usually looks backwards, upside down and inside out from what the world expects. Sometimes he asks us to do some pretty radical things. 

The question is, are you "sold-old" for Jesus? 

Do you say yes when He asks you to do something that seems counter-culture?

Do you hear Him speak to you? When I stop hearing Him so clearly, that sometimes means I'm not having regular conversation with Him--not reading the Bible, not praying and seeking His face, not worshipping Him at His throne.

Don't be apathetic. Be sold-out.

God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle?

"God won't give you more than you can handle." said the well meaning friend/acquaintance/coworker/f@cebook "friend"/great-aunt Millie...

But does He? Is that even a verse?

This phrase is thrown around a lot in Christian circles. So, where does it come from? And if God is so good, why is He doing this to me?

The actual verse reads, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

The verses that surround this passage are actually talking about the temptation to sin and to conform to the world around you. So, what does this have to do with when bad things happen to you? 

Let me make something clear--God allows hard things in our lives to 

1.) Cause us to trust and lean on Him more,

"We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NLT)

2.) Make us stronger and prepared for more later in life.

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2-4 NLT)

Do these verses sound like they are telling us that God won't give us more than we can handle?

No...but they do offer hope that when He does allow hard things to happen in our lives that He will be there. He is developing perseverance and maturity in us.

And when we flippantly say to someone who is hurting and feels like their whole world is crashing down around them, that "God won't give you more than you can handle."--they could in turn, blame God for doing it to them. They could say, "But this is MORE than I can handle...God, you're not holding up your end of the deal!" 

Wow...you wanted to make them feel better, right? Why not say, "God will give you the strength you need" (Philippians 4:13), or best of all, "What can I do for you?" 

For our family, the past year has been overwhelming at best and tragic at most. I can't tell you how often people have offered to help and I've said no. Pride. Or being overwhelmed. The "What can we do for you?" is met with a blank zombie-like stare. When things were the hardest, I did well to put one foot in front of the other. I couldn't think ahead to what we needed. So, from experience, jump in and do something. Insist on doing something specific. 

Listen. Offer a hug. Bring the grieving family a meal. Mow the single mom's yard *, offer free babysitting, and for goodness sakes--FOLLOW THROUGH.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:35-40)

*This in no way is a hint that I need my yard to be mowed. But if you want to help with something, I've learned to say yes. :)

Deep waters...

"He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:17-19)

When you feel like you are drowning, remember that the Lord has you. He delights in you. 

He delights in you.

You make Him smile. He loves you. He won't let you drown. Reach for Him.

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United

So Glad to Be Back...

Writing is cathartic. 

To me, at least.

Some bake (well, I do that, too), some shop, some go to the gym, etc. We each have our own way to heal and process. 

Inhale...exhale

Here goes.

What you won't find here is ex-husband bashing and gossip. Thank goodness.

What you will find here is inspiration, snippets of our family life, and thought-provoking scripture study. I'll likely throw in some orphan advocacy, too. ;-)

Thanks for joining me for the ride!