I like road trips. There is something about hitting the open road that appeals to me. I'm not necessarily a fan of taking them with six children, to be sure, but when I'm alone or with my husband, there is nothing better. I love the newness of stopping to get snacks from the gas station, listening to my favorite music (for more than one song), enjoying a People magazine (if I'm not driving), and just watching the world go by.
There comes a point in every trip when the newness wears off, my back starts to hurt, the coffee has run through me, the sugar buzz is over, and if I have to hear that darn cd one more time... It is time to take a pit stop, eat some protein, drink some water, stretch, and run in place. It is time to take a break, to regroup, to refresh.
And so it is in my spiritual walk. The Lord calls me to a task...have a boatload of children, or homeschool, or raise a special child...and I run with gusto to complete it. I am excited for the journey. I am blessed just to be chosen.
After awhile, my strength begins to wane. I am tired, uncomfortable, and just a little cranky. The newness has worn off and I begin to wonder why I left home in the first place. This is not the journey I thought I started off to take.
I need a pit stop. It's time to take a break, to regroup, to refresh.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galations 6:9
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
I feel it again...that stifling, caged, not-good-enough feeling I get when legalism is being heaped on me. I'm so grateful that I can recognize it now and don't need to live there anymore.
I wonder why we do this. Why do we insist on listing rules and taking away grace and replacing it with burden. Freedom is so beautiful, I think it must be painful for some to see. They are blinded by what they do not understand and respond harshly to the person who's reflecting it. Because they've not tasted it, they fear that no one should.
Should.
That's how legalism is packaged...all bundled up in neat little shoulds. You should do this, you should do that, and you, most certainly, should NOT do that. If you live a different life, free from the package that was presented to you, then, sadly, you have missed the mark. But don't worry, I am certain that some more "mature" member of the Body of Christ will be watching and will be more than willing to put you in your place.
I think that we, American Christians, have too much time on our hands. If we have time to nurse our petty offenses, to think of shoulds that even God missed, to put people in their rightful places, then we are missing out on the glory and the intent of the gospel.
There are some who feel that I am a sinner. They would be surprised to discover that I agree. As the t-shirt reads, "I am the wretch the song was talking about." I am a reprobate sinner completely without hope apart from Jesus Christ. The cell of bondage is my rightful home. Without Jesus, that is where I'd dwell. I did dwell there for many years, long after I met Him, even. I ventured out of my cell but not very far and for not very long before returning to my place of twisted comfort.
But, now I'm free. That freedom cost something...something precious, and, until I was willing to truly embrace the cross, a prisoner I remained. I will be attempting to repay that debt, without success, until the day I die.
And I will not be dragged back into the cell of bondage, even by well-meaning Christians who refuse to leave.
I wonder why we do this. Why do we insist on listing rules and taking away grace and replacing it with burden. Freedom is so beautiful, I think it must be painful for some to see. They are blinded by what they do not understand and respond harshly to the person who's reflecting it. Because they've not tasted it, they fear that no one should.
Should.
That's how legalism is packaged...all bundled up in neat little shoulds. You should do this, you should do that, and you, most certainly, should NOT do that. If you live a different life, free from the package that was presented to you, then, sadly, you have missed the mark. But don't worry, I am certain that some more "mature" member of the Body of Christ will be watching and will be more than willing to put you in your place.
I think that we, American Christians, have too much time on our hands. If we have time to nurse our petty offenses, to think of shoulds that even God missed, to put people in their rightful places, then we are missing out on the glory and the intent of the gospel.
There are some who feel that I am a sinner. They would be surprised to discover that I agree. As the t-shirt reads, "I am the wretch the song was talking about." I am a reprobate sinner completely without hope apart from Jesus Christ. The cell of bondage is my rightful home. Without Jesus, that is where I'd dwell. I did dwell there for many years, long after I met Him, even. I ventured out of my cell but not very far and for not very long before returning to my place of twisted comfort.
But, now I'm free. That freedom cost something...something precious, and, until I was willing to truly embrace the cross, a prisoner I remained. I will be attempting to repay that debt, without success, until the day I die.
And I will not be dragged back into the cell of bondage, even by well-meaning Christians who refuse to leave.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Oh Jesus, come quickly
I just read a blog post about The Family Guy and Sarah Palin's response to the show's treatment of a character with Down syndrome. Palin seemed more upset over the fact that the character stated her "Mom is the former governor of Alaska" than anything else. I don't know what I think of all of that, BUT, one of the commentors on the blog post wrote, "Oh Jesus, come quickly."
Something in my spirit just went "grrrrrrrrrr." Really?! We're calling for Jesus to come quickly because we're offended by something on television? Never mind that babies are being killed in utero, children with special needs are being abused and neglected to death, children are being trafficked into the sexual slave trade, and thousands of children are being orphaned and left to fend for themselves by AIDS in Africa. But, don't worry about all of that. We want a free pass out of here in America, because someone might say something that will hurt our feelings.
Most people say that when they see evidence of evil or injustice in this world, and I can't help but think, "If this is the only evidence of evil or injustice we Christians in this country notice, then we need to get out more." There is something seriously wrong with a soul that wants to throw in the towel because of something they watched on FOX television.
I'm just sayin'.
Something in my spirit just went "grrrrrrrrrr." Really?! We're calling for Jesus to come quickly because we're offended by something on television? Never mind that babies are being killed in utero, children with special needs are being abused and neglected to death, children are being trafficked into the sexual slave trade, and thousands of children are being orphaned and left to fend for themselves by AIDS in Africa. But, don't worry about all of that. We want a free pass out of here in America, because someone might say something that will hurt our feelings.
Most people say that when they see evidence of evil or injustice in this world, and I can't help but think, "If this is the only evidence of evil or injustice we Christians in this country notice, then we need to get out more." There is something seriously wrong with a soul that wants to throw in the towel because of something they watched on FOX television.
I'm just sayin'.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I'm not sure what this is...this thing that's welling up inside of me. I cannot put words to the level of emotion I'm experiencing on a daily basis. My heart is stirred and I have no explanation. I don't know what He is doing, but I know that my life will never be the same.
My heart is broken for all the hurt and injustices and need in the world. The plight of the children with Ds on Reece's Rainbow are at the crux of my broken heart. Those children need to be rescued before their time is up. Proverbs 24:11 says "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death. Don't stand back and let them die." I take that seriously and yet, throwing money at the problem doesn't seem like the answer. Maybe I say that because I have so little to throw.
Adoption is so strongly on my heart and I believe there will one day be fruition of that desire. Today is not that day.
Those who have survived the sex slave trade and are desperately trying to make a new life weigh heavy on my heart, too. As do those surviving the AIDS crisis in Africa and those traumatized by the quake in Haiti. So, so many needs. All halfway around the world.
Why am I not seeing the needs in my own backyard? Why is my heart the heaviest over things I can do nothing or little about?
These are the questions that keep me awake at night.
My heart is broken for all the hurt and injustices and need in the world. The plight of the children with Ds on Reece's Rainbow are at the crux of my broken heart. Those children need to be rescued before their time is up. Proverbs 24:11 says "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death. Don't stand back and let them die." I take that seriously and yet, throwing money at the problem doesn't seem like the answer. Maybe I say that because I have so little to throw.
Adoption is so strongly on my heart and I believe there will one day be fruition of that desire. Today is not that day.
Those who have survived the sex slave trade and are desperately trying to make a new life weigh heavy on my heart, too. As do those surviving the AIDS crisis in Africa and those traumatized by the quake in Haiti. So, so many needs. All halfway around the world.
Why am I not seeing the needs in my own backyard? Why is my heart the heaviest over things I can do nothing or little about?
These are the questions that keep me awake at night.
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