Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday Jumbles
--This has been week two of a pretty nasty infection that seems to be feeling perfectly at home in my lungs (yesterday it was choosing wallpaper and picking out a china pattern) so I hope you aren't expecting much in the way of deep thought or witticisms. I haven't had something that put me down like this in ten years, so I am not used to this. I am woman. I'm invincible. I am...absolutely full of it.
--I did manage to get to the theater and catch the new Star Trek flick which I absolutely loved. My dad is a huge fan so I pretty much grew up on the U.S.S. Enterprise. Given my extensive background in all things Star Trek, I thought it was a great movie and even though I didn't get to see Ricardo Montalban bare-chested wearing a really bad wig, it was a total Trek experience. You still won't catch me anywhere near one of those freak show conventions of theirs but I will love James T. Kirk until the day I die.
--Fav quote of the week: "It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~J. K. Rowling
--I am headed to my annual youth group reunion weekend on Jekyll Island. All of us who were in Youth Group together meet every year and act like we are sixteen again. I love good friends that are there for a lifetime...what a gift! Have a big weekend. See you Monday.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Rooted in Knowing
What do you do when your faith has been stretched to it's perceived outer limits?
How do you wrap your mind around a dead end when you have been walking down a path of obedience?
Are there Christians with superhero-like faith that never doubt and never feel crushed by the way things appear?
What does a Christian do when they are exhausted by the unexpected turns in the road and they think that just one more will push them over the proverbial edge?
What do you do when all of your questions directed to God go unanswered?
My good friend, Oswald Chambers, has this to say: "Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God's character, we do not yet know Him."
Psalm 73:25, 26 & 28 "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides you, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good.
Hosea 6:6 "I don't want your sacrifices, I want your love. I don't want your offerings, I want you to know Me."
It all comes back to trust which is rooted in knowing. And this "knowing" is a lifelong pursuit. When we feel that we have no strength left with which to pursue, to desire, to know Him...well, He becomes that, too. In our weakness, He is strong.
Today, I need Him to be strong.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Are You A Family On Purpose?
I have spent the past week on my couch watching movies and trying to get well. I cuddled up with my youngest son yesterday and we watched "National Treasure 2-Book of Secrets." The second "National Treasure" flick was about finding another enormous treasure but it was also about clearing the Gates family name after false accusations threatened to ruin it. I love both of these movies because of the rich history and the love of country. And I also love Ben Gates' determination to preserve the good reputation of his family's name.
In my family, we have taught our three sons that wherever they go and whatever they do, they do not just represent themselves. They also represent the Taylor family, and our God whose name we all wear. One way we have made that concept more tangible is by developing a family purpose statement which we have posted on the wall in our family room. It is crucial to establish a family identity while your children are young so that as they grow up and other people become increasingly more influential in their lives, they have something to fall back on. A strong family identity gives kids a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves and also a sense of stability. If we are going to have a purpose statement in our business plans, in our governments, and for our churches, how much more important is clearly laying out who you are as a family and why you exist as a unit? What about your family? Who are you and what do you stand for? If we don't give our kids a sense of purpose, someone else will.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday Jumbles
--This week at Giant Perspectives, one of the leadership blogs I read, Jeremie Kubicek had a great, short video perspective on Followership. I have always said that an effective leader must first become a loyal and faithful follower. But he says it better. Take two or three minutes and check out what he has to say about it.
--Fav quote of the week: "I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult." ~Rita Rudner
--It has been a fun-filled week at the Taylor house. Our van broke down. Again. Our lawnmower completely bit the dust. We bought a new lawnmower. And one of the computers crashed. My big man fixed the computer. I love my big man. And I have been sick with a yucky cold most of the week. My friend and lover, Nyquil, has totally let me down every single night and I am remembering fondly the days when I could breathe through my nose. Return to me, dear, open nasal passages, return to me!
--Even worse than the above events of the past week is the fact that I just learned that our dead lawnmower was self-propelled. SELF-PROPELLED! This little piece of information would have come in handy years ago....
--My youngest son turned 10 this past Wednesday and I was suddenly jolted by the reality that I can no longer blame this extra twenty pounds I carry on the fact that "I just had a baby." Great! Now what will I say.......
Do have a lovely holiday weekend. I will most likely spend mine at the pharmacy looking for a new decongestant. Thank you and amen.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
How Do You Measure?
How do you measure the worth of what you do for God?
Do you count the number of souls you have won?
Do you count the number of trips you have made to the nursing home or the prisons?
Do you measure it by the growth you see in the life of the one you are mentoring?
Do you measure it by the positive feedback you receive from those to whom you minister?
Is it measured by the amount of your private giving and secret service to others?
Is it measured by how you feel about what you do to serve God?
Oswald Chambers had this to say about it:
"The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private, profound communion we have with Him." (emphasis mine)
I have to agree with him. And I cannot get away from this verse that I have quoted so many times.
"I don't want your sacrifices, I want your love. I don't want your offerings, I want you to know Me." Hosea 6:6
And so I ask myself, "Am I giving Him what He wants?"
Are you?
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