Truth-tellers

Resolve Week Two:
I resolve to lighten up.  
To read about the other resolutions...click here 

The other day I was running a little late to a bridal shower (not unusual for me.) Because of my terrible time management skills I had to rush to get dressed and wrap my present so I was relieved that I had only gotten there 10 minutes late.  Upon arriving the host served me a drink and I began mingling with the guests.  After greeting quite a few people a friend came up behind me and whispered that my tag was hanging out of my shirt.  I thought it was the tag of the maker of the shirt, but no, it was the entire price tag that I had neglected to remove in the rush.  So there I was mingling at the party with a big old Macy's tag hanging down my back!  So embarrassing!  But I was so grateful for the friend that had let me know and had saved me from going through the whole party that way.

In those kinds of situations we welcome the truth-tellers in our lives.  The friend who will tell us when we have something in our teeth or an outfit really doesn't look good on us.  Those kinds of friends are not afraid to cause us momentary embarrassment to save us from further humiliation.

However there is a type of truth that is not so easy to receive from a friend.  The kind of truth that validates the common expression "the truth hurts." Many times it is easier for a friend or someone close to us to see the baggage that we are carrying around.  But when our defense mechanisms kick in we can become very good at convincing ourselves that we are all right and don't really need to make any changes. I've tried to make it a habit that if I receive feedback that sounds like criticism, no matter the source, I will try to peel it back to see if there is any truth to it. 

We know who the truth-tellers are in our life and we should seek out their council.  If I am avoiding telling one of my truth-tellers something that is going on in my life, it is an indication that I may be heading in the wrong direction.

I thank God for the people in my life who I can count on to tell me the truth, even if it hurts.  I have to constantly remind myself to welcome their input.

A good friend and truth-teller should be:
 (take note if you are a truth-teller to someone else)

1. Trustworthy - You need to know that you can trust that person to tell the truth about you to you, but not the to rest of the world!
2. Faithful - You want truth-tellers to be willing to stand by you as you work through the issues you may be facing. It's unusual for change to happen overnight.
3. Loving - The manner in which hard truths are told should be loving and full of grace.

Take a quick minute to pray and ask God to provide you with good friends that will run alongside of you on your journey ~ if they are doing their job they will ensure that you travel light!

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." Proverbs 27:6

Excess baggage.

Resolve Week Two:
I resolve to lighten up.  
To read about the other resolutions...click here 

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

Over the years I've worked for several airlines and have been able to observe the difference between passengers that travel light and those that are encumbered by excess baggage.  The recent trend of airlines charging for even the first piece of luggage has caused more and more people to opt to carry on their baggage.  I've seen people at the check-out counter claiming that their 2 year old is carrying on a bag that weighs more than the child itself in order to save the baggage fees! 

The passengers that choose to lug around their overstuffed carry-ons take longer to get through the security checkpoint, have a hard time getting down the narrow aisle of the plane and have to fight to find a place to store the bag once they arrive at their seat.  

On the other hand the passenger that has no baggage or pays the price to check it in and get rid of it breezes through security and boards the plane without complication.  

There is no doubt about it; the person that travels light completes their journey with more ease than the traveler that is dragging along a lot of baggage. 

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to take the "traveling light" approach to life.  We are encouraged to strip of every weight that slows us down. That can be so many different things.  Sometimes when we have been hurt or betrayed we carry those wounds with us on our journey, nursing them and wasting precious time.  Those wounds can result in unforgiveness adding to the heaviness that impedes our progress.  If the unforgiveness is directed at ourselves then it converts into guilt and shame, burdens we are not meant to carry.

Sometimes the things that slow us down are obvious.  Others not so much.  Fear, doubt, worry can all be excess baggage. As you read this you may already know what it is that slows you down.  Then again you may have been carrying it so long you don't even realize it's there anymore and you may have to dig a little deeper in order to recognize it and get rid of it.  

Either way if we are going to accomplish everything that God has called us to do and if we are going to become all that we that we were created to be we have to lighten up!  It may require letting go and paying the price no matter how difficult. When we do, we will find we have the stamina to run our race to win! 

I've been working on off loading some stuff I've been carrying around.  I am praying that this week you will be willing to take steps to check some baggage and lighten up in preparation for the next phase of your journey.

He sees me free!

Freedom is probably my favorite word.  

Definitely in my top ten of favorite words. 

When I close my eyes and think about what it means to be free 

I find myself unconsciously taking a deep cleansing breath,

and my whole body relaxes.

When I hear the word freedom in a song it gets me all choked up. 

It is a longing in the deepest part of every human being ~ to be free.

I can't think of a better way to end this week of talking about how God see us than to simply say

God sees me free!

 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery"  Galatians 5:1

 Walk in freedom...Have a great weekend!

Coming Next Week:  RESOLUTION #2 

I resolve to lighten up! 

Getting rid of the things that threaten our freedom.

What does God see in me?

Last month a bunch of us made 5 resolutions. If you weren't with us feel free to jump in now.  You can review them here.  This week I am blogging on Resolution #1 which is:  

I resolve to see myself as God sees me. 

One of the biggest obstacles to overcome in order to keep this resolution is the temptation to compare ourselves to other people.  This temptation exists for men and women alike, however, in the realm of comparing physical appearance and measuring beauty I don't think anyone could argue the fact that women have it way worse. We are bombarded with an endless stream of images and messages luring us to measure our worth by what we look like.  So let's all feel sorry for ourselves for a second.

Ok that's it...now let's get over it and fight to keep ourselves from falling prey to it.
The onslaught is not going to end anytime soon so...

Let's stop buying into it.  (we could make that Resolution #1a !)

 "God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”   1 Samuel 16:7

In context, God was correcting Samuel's thinking.  I need that sometimes ~ a little readjustment of my thinking. Samuel was trying to figure out who God's anointed one was based on looks and physical ability alone.  But God had chosen David because of his heart. He was described as a brave man, a warrior who chose his words well.  A man after God's heart.  He also happened to be handsome but it's interesting that God went out of his way to point out that it did not factor into His decision to choose him as His anointed one.

I love that David was chosen for his heart and yet this same man wrote the Psalm that cried out,

"Create in me a new heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit in me" Psalm 51:10

That Psalm was written out of David's brokenness from making a mess of things and succumbing to temptation.  But the good news that everyone needs to hear is in Psalm 51:17.  The word tells us that God will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

God sees straight through to your heart and no matter what condition it is in, if your desire is for it to be clean, He will wash it white as snow.  Now that is beautiful.

You ~ the Warrior

Some days I wake up feeling strong.  I love those days! But other days I feel like Gideon did when God addressed him as a mighty warrior ~ not so convinced.  Some days no matter how I try to push through and put on the full armor of God I just feel like this..

                                              Overdressed in a clunky outfit!

When God told Gideon that He was going to use him to save Israel, He told him to go in the strength that he had and then he said these four words...

"I will be with you." 

Those four words make all the difference in the world.  It is the difference between operating in our own strength or operating with whatever strength we have and then allowing God to fill up the space in between.  That is the true meaning of His power being perfected in our weakness. 

There is an old song by Twila Paris (I'm dating myself!) called The Warrior is a Child

It goes like this...

Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
Strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I go running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Cause deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child

I think we all feel like that child at times.  No matter how strong we appear on the outside. But He is right there with us calling us to be strong in Him and the power of His might. 

Rest in the knowledge that He is with you today and this is how He sees you!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6: 10-13

RESOLVE Blog Week One!

Well, we are 2 months into the new year and usually by now I have long forgotten my resolutions or have chosen to block them out of my mind if they had anything to do with diet or exercise!  But this year is different.  This year I made some resolutions at our first GNO of the year (along with some of you) that I am trying hard to keep top of mind.  

At our kickoff event for FTGI this year I challenged everyone attending to make 5 resolutions for this year that will keep us moving towards our dreams and will help us to live a fulfilling and successful life. I would love to extend that challenge to anyone reading that may not have attended and encourage you to come on this journey with us.  At the end of the evening last month we each made these declarations....

1. I resolve to see myself as God sees me

2. I resolve to lighten up! 

3. I resolve to refuse to settle.

4. I resolve to be fearless 

5. I resolve to never give up!

The message of the evening was inspired by the story of Gideon.  I have spent a lot of time entrenched in his story because I can relate to him on so many levels. When we are introduced to Gideon in Judges 6:11 we find Gideon threshing wheat in a wine press.  He was trying to stay hidden because his tribe was under constant attack.  He was not able to do his job in the normal way because if he did he would be an open target for his enemies.  

Have you ever been there?  You have a job to do (one you thought God asked you to do) but circumstances just keep making it more and more difficult to accomplish!   I have definitely been there.  I remember even recently having a little bit of an attitude with God ( I know that's shocking) because I was trying to carry out a task I knew He had called me to do but it seemed like all the powers in the universe were coming against it making it more and more difficult.  I just felt like giving up.  I knew it was not ultimately what I wanted to be doing forever but I did believe that it was what He was asking me to do in that season.  So I found myself asking..."if I am here, doing what you clearly told me I should be doing then why is it SO hard?" (hence, the attitude)  But reading Gideon's story encouraged me.   I don't want to read into the text too much but I find it interesting that it was during Gideon's time of persistence under persecution that the angel of the Lord showed up out of nowhere.

There, in the drudgery of the work at hand...work I'm sure he didn't feel like was his ultimate calling in life...work that he probably would have traded places with anyone for... there, in that place of faithful persistence God finds him.  But here's the thing.  God did not just accidentally stumble upon him.  He actually saw him all along.  I believe that God was developing character in him that would sustain him for the much larger assignment God had for him.  It is often during those character proving times of hardship that God is preparing you for a bigger assignment.  But we want to just get through it as fast as we can.  I know I do.  

But the angel of the Lord showed up and when he addressed Gideon he said, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior."  MIGHTY WARRIOR? Gideon must have looked around as if to say, "Are you talking to me?" Gideon did not see himself as a mighty warrior.  In fact he let the angel know that he was, in fact, the weakest in his clan and not only that...his clan is the weakest of all the clans.  The weakest of the weak!  And yet God saw something that Gideon himself could not see.  God knew the plans He had for Gideon.  He knew that His power would be perfected in Gideon's weakness.  

So Gideon had to start seeing himself as God saw him.  If he continued seeing himself with his own eyes he would see only his weakness, his fragility and his faults.  He would never have been able to accomplish the big assignment that was waiting for him.  And the salvation of a nation depended on it.  

It is so important for you to start seeing yourself as God sees you not only for your sake but for the sake of the lives that you will impact when you are living the life you were created to live.  

For the next few weeks I would love to have the privilege of encouraging you on your journey to live by these resolutions.  I'm going to take one resolution a week and expound on them and see where it takes us...

I would love to interact with you so feel free to leave your comments.

Lots of love fellow warriors!!

The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.”

Judges 6:11-12      

Daydreaming

As a child I used to get in trouble in school for daydreaming. I often heard things like, "Earth to Tracey" or "Hellooooo???" in an effort to get my attention that had wandered out the window.  I remember during gym class being in the outfield of a kickball game and my classmates being mad at me because I missed the ball.  I was in an "outfield" of my own!  Daydreamers often get labeled as "flighty" or "drifty".  I was affectionately nicknamed "Spacey Tracey" because my mind was often off dreaming instead of attending to the task at hand.  

My "spaciness" or absentmindedness has carried over to adulthood and is often a nuisance because it results in lost car keys among other things and sometimes lost time but I have learned to embrace it.

If you can't dream it, you can't have it! 

One particular daydreaming episode involved my hubby.  I was in 10th grade and the marching band was rehearsing outside my French class window.  They were playing "Laughter in the rain" by Neil Sedaka (hey - it was 1981 ok?) Anyway, I had a serious crush on my now husband and remember my mind dancing right out the window following the notes of the band and envisioning him and I holding hands and laughing in the rain, getting married and having wonderful children.  You can laugh all you want but 26 1/2 years later here we are!!  And I keep dreaming.  Dreaming of him and I surrounded by our happy children and grandchildren to come all living out the lives God intended for them.  It's more than daydreaming to me - it's vision.  And keeping that vision in front of me has given me perspective during the not so fun times.  It reminds me of the big picture and what I am working towards.

On the other hand I am very aware that not every dream comes true.  I had a dream in my younger years of gathering at my mother's house on Sundays for dinner with all the family around and lots of laughter and love. But life stole that dream.  So here's what I had to do.

I dreamed another dream.

I remember one particular Mother's Day feeling a little sorry for myself but knowing that I couldn't stay in that place. It's an ugly place to be. I made a decision that since I couldn't experience those family dinners from the perspective of me going to my mom's house that I would dream a new dream.  A dream where my family would gather at my house and there would be lots of laughter and love. I decided to treasure the memories of my time with my mom but to continue making new ones.

This past Christmas trying to serve 24+ people at my Christmas dinner table and the volume at crazy decibels I had to remind myself... You dreamed this! And I wouldn't trade it for anything.

What I love about living this life of faith is that God continually plants new dreams inside of us.  These days I dream of ways to spread the message that I believe everyone needs to hear.  The message that there is a God that loves them and sees them and is for them not against them and is just waiting to make their dreams come true. 

Well this blog definitely went in a different direction than I intended it to but I am going to go with it and believe that someone needed that encouragement today.

Take some time out today to dream a little.  If a dream has died - dream a new one today!

As always, I'd love to hear from you.  Sometimes speaking a dream out loud is the very first step towards it becoming a reality...so what are you dreaming??

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

Psalm 37:4