Perspective

I am one who has always loved my uninterruputed sleep but over the past 7 months of being pregnant, I'm coming to grips with the fact that I might not see one of those uninterrupted nights for at least a decade...so I'm trying to make the best of these quiet moments. Although I wish I could say that I have spent the time in prayer and meditation (which has happened), I have also learned that the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" runs nightly from 2-4 am and Oprah's re-runs air from 1-2 am. But what I want to blog about is a time late last week when I was reading my Bible and God showed me such a powerful life lesson that it has stuck with me throughout the week. It's the simple story of David and Goliath. A story I often just skim over because I know the story inside and out. Yet this time, I really read it. I'll pick up the story in 1 Samuel 17:22 - David has just entered the Israelites camp and has heard Goliath mocking the army. For 40 days, Goliath had been doing the same thing. David saw the Israelites run in "great fear" of this man. He also heard them say "Do you see how this man keeps comning out? He comes out to defy Israel....". David responds to them (I believe in disgust and amazement of their lack of faith) by saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" What God showed me in this passage is Perspective is everything. The army had been dealing with Goliath for 40 days. Goliath had basically sucked the life out of the Israelites and they were living in fear. They also began having "group think" - they all began thinking alike. David on the other hand, just entered the situation and saw things completely different. He was outraged that someone would speak out against His God, the Living God and I think he was ashamed at his brothers and the Israelites that noone would stand up to this mocking fool. He had no fear of him. How often do we end up in a "groupthink" pattern of life?? We have been beaten down by the realities of life and we allow others words to penetrate our hearts. Instead of believing the truths of God, we begin believing in the words of man and in what we see. Not only do we need to fight against these kinds of habits personally but we also must have people who we allow speak into our lives that have that fresh perspective-- a God truth perspective!! We cannot grow in our faith without the kind of perspective David had...

The Season of Change

I look out my office window and see several trees in the yard. The biggest one has a bunch of empty branches spreading out to the east and west. But here and there are some dead leaves on the branches, hanging on for dear life, blowing in the wind, refusing to let go. It's as if they are in denial about the fact that they are dead, that they don't have a chance, that their future is doomed.

Looking at those doomed leaves reminds me of an illustration I read by R.A. Torrey. He was writing about the difficulty we as Christians sometimes have as we are in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Sometimes we have old habits, behaviors, or thoughts that we just can't seem to get rid of. We try everything to get rid of that part of our old life - we pray, we read the Bible, we fast, we ask someone else to help us. And some days we have victory. Some days it feels like we have finally been made free, and we are certain that we will never struggle with that part of our old selves again.

And then the next day comes, and we fall again, and now we feel worse than before. So we work even harder at conquering the "old man" that refuses to leave. We may continue with that pattern for years, having times of victory and freedom, only to experience the disappointment and shame of falling again. R.A. Torrey said those old habits and behaviors and thoughts are like those leaves on the otherwise empty branches. They don't know they're dead, they don't know that there's no hope. They are still hanging on for dear life.

But then the seasons change. It's March and time for winter to leave and spring to come, in all its glory. It's time for change, a time for NEW LIFE. The life-giving flow begins to emerge from the roots of the trees, up the trunk, the whole way to the tips of the branches. And before we know it, evidence of that new life becomes apparent. Those old dead leaves that were so brave and strong and persistent are no match for the new buds that are on their way! They have no choice but to make way for those new buds. They, in their deadness, must bow and surrender to the new leaves, so full of life and vitatity.

Even though all of the bending and swaying those branches did all winter long may have resulted in most of that old life being cast down and thrown away, nothing that tree did could make some of those stubborn dead leaves give in and let go. But when the time is right, when the tree just allows that life giving flow to touch the ends of those branches, that's when the rest of the old leaves lose their grip.

It's not wrong to pray and read the Bible and fast and be accountable to others as we allow God to change us and make us in the image of His Son. But it's the life-giving Spirit that is really doing the work. It's not in our power to change some of the "old man" that just won't give up. But it IS possible through the life-giving power of the Spirit. Take heart. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Wait for the spring to come. It's a season of change, a season of life. And it's on its way!

The Elite

I'm reading a great book: Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology by Eugene H. Peterson. It is full of truth and challenge. My mind is coming alive in application of spiritual truths in new ways. It is taking me a long time. :)

Peterson talks about the concept of spirituality and its prominence today, especially among circles outside of religious institutions. This has a positive effect of stirring up a hunger for things lasting, eternal, but is accompanied by the negative result that individuals are defining for themselves what the eternal or spiritual is.

He identifies four inaccuracies that accompany this sense of cultural spirituality:
1. Elitism
2. Self-help
3. Cultural Fuzziness
4. Shrunken secular horizons

We're going to look at each of these in our monthly Site Directors meetings. Today, we talked about elitism as it relates to helping people. Even we, in the Church, can tend toward this attitude if we fall into the lie that spiritual things have limited accessibility. Ever categorize someone based on their vice? Limit someone's potential because of his past? Relegate someone to a certain place to get help for "those" types of issues? Evaluate your own level of spirituality based on someone else's low-level of functioning? We must and can guard against this by renewing our mind with the Word.

Peterson takes us to the book of John, chapters 3 & 4, where the accounts of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well are recorded. As I read the juxtoposition of these to people to each other, in history and literally in how they are recorded consecutively, I was struck and reminded with sweetness, that things spiritual are accessible to all. I saw the beauty of Christ's response to both of these people: loving, truthful, hopeful, calm, dignified. And I thought of our response to those who come to us in need. Do we follow in His footsteps?

Peterson points out seven things from these accounts to remind us that the Christian life is accessible to all:

1. PROFESSIONAL AND LAY PERSON; INSIDER AND AN OUTSIDER
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman using similar metaphors with each (water, wind, birth)
INTELLIGENCE is not a factor in understanding the spiritual

2. MAN AND WOMAN
Nicodemus was a man; the Samaritan at the well was a woman.
There is NO GENDER PREFERENCE for the spiritual

3. CITY AND COUNTRY
Nicodemus meets Jesus in city, the place of sophistication, learning, and fashion
The Samaritan woman meets Jesus in the country on the outskirts of a small town
GEOGRAPHY plays no bearing on spiritual perception or aptitude

4. ORTHODOX AND HERETIC; RESPECTABLE AND DISREPUTABLE
Nicodemus was a respectable member of a strictly orthodox sect of the Pharisees
The Samaritan woman was a disreputable member of the despised, heretical sect of the Samaritans
RACIAL BACKGROUND, RELIGIOUS IDENTITY AND MORAL TRACK RECORD do not gain a person entry or keep a person from things spiritual.

5. NAMED AND ANONYMOUS
Nicodemus is named; the woman is un-named
REPUTATION AND STANDING are not factors in accessing the spiritual

6. INITIATING AND RESPONDING
Nicodemus starts the conversation with Jesus with a religious topic
Jesus starts the conversation with the Samaritan woman by requesting a drink
SUBJECT MATTER and WHO INITIATES the conversation play no role in the opportunity to approach the
spiritual

7. HUMAN REPUTATION AND DIVINE REPUTATION
Nicodemus risks his reputation by being seen with Jesus
Jesus risks his reputation by being seen with the Samaritan woman
Accessing the spiritual has little to do with PRESERVING REPUTATION OR CONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR


So I read about Nicodemus and the woman and I see the people we try to help; I see myself; and I remember:

• People may come to us, or we may go to them-either provides an opportunity to carry out our mission.
• Often a person’s first expression or response does not reveal their truest need.
• Discernment is vital: in identifying the true need; in timing our response to it; and in the method we use to communicate
• Being human=being in need of truth.
• The "why" or "how" behind a person's actions is not nearly as important as the fact that he/she is standing in front of you, in need, the "now"
• God's Spirit is the usher into things spiritual, nothing else

There are no elite when it comes to accessing the things of God, and for this I'm thankful.

Some things never change!

I'm all about change - I have to be to work at the Network of Hope, because we're all about change. But sometimes too many changes can come at once, even for me. That's when I'm glad that some things NEVER change. When I'm feeling like I'm in the whirlwind, and everything around me is blowing wildly, I have to stop and take hold of some of the things that are not changing around me. Here are a few examples of my favorite things that never change:

God's love - "But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children. (Psalm 103:17)

God's Word - "Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89)

God's kingdom - "How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:3)

God's protection - "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, 'Destroy him!'" (Deut. 33:27)

Those are just a few truths that keep me grounded when everything else seems to be changing. I can also count on God to:

accomplish what concerns me (Psalm 138:8)
forgive me of me sins (I John 1:9)
complete the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6)
be with me (Hebrews 13:5)
help me through my trials and temptations (I Corinthians 10:13)

Aren't you glad some things NEVER change?????

NOH in the News!

Network of Hope is featured in the February issue of the Pittsburgh Senior News. Upon reading it, I am humbly reminded about how fortunate we are to be surrounded by so many dedicated, caring people who volunteer daily to improve others' lives. Thanks to PSN for such generous coverage and for so accurately and articulately capturing the mission of NOH. (The article is on pages 4-5).

A new member of the NOH Team!

I wanted to introduce you to my son, Javen. This picture was taken a few weeks when he was 20 weeks old. Every part of his body has already been formed and to think that God has already ordained his days is an amazing thought!! I have never felt such awe and love as I did that day -- I can't even imagine what is will be like when he is actually born...which should be at the beginning of June!!

Modeling Growth by Neil Anderson

One of my good friends sent this to me and it is worthy for all to read. I hope you not only enjoy this read but that you really put it into practice!!

MODELING GROWTH, by Neil Anderson
James 1:22 ~ Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves
I am learning about pastors and missionaries across the country who are preaching against the very sins they are committing themselves. Nationally known Christian personalities who vehemently condemn immorality have themselves been found to be hiding an immoral lifestyle. Those of us who are called to preach or teach God's Word must put it on first. We must get on our knees before God as we prepare the message and say, "God, is this Scripture true in my life?" If not, we had better be honest enough to say to those who hear us, "I wish I were a better example of this passage than I am, but I'm still growing in this area." To proclaim the Word of God as if it were true in your life when it's not is a lie.
Those of us who receive the Word are also vulnerable to self-deception if we fail to put it into practice. We hear a sermon or a lesson and say, "Wow! What a great truth!! and hurry off to share it with someone else without processing it ourselves and applying it to our own lives. James said that hearers of the Word who are not also doers of the Word deceive themselves.
Why are we afraid to admit it when our lives don't completely match up to Scripture? I believe it's because many of us have a perfection complex. We think we have to model perfection and not admit to something less. But we can't model perfection, because we're not perfect; we can only model growth. The people around us need to know that we are real people in the process of maturing. They need to see how we handle failure as well as how we handle success. When we model this kind of honesty in the Christian community, we greatly reduce the possibility of the deceiver gaining a foothold.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times I have placed the quest for earthly perfection ahead of growth in You and Your Word. Help me model growth in my life today.