Wannabe cheerleader

 When I was a teenager I wanted to be a cheerleader.  My father didn't feel it would be right for me and forbid me to try out. I was so upset! I went crying to my mother about it and she told me to go ahead and try out without telling my dad, then if I made the team, we would deal with it when the time came.  (Yeah, she didn't win any parent-of-the-year awards for that one!)

 The try-outs were held over the course of 2 weeks and during that time I did my best not to engage in a lot of conversation with my dad.  I was afraid that somehow I would expose myself if I talked too much.  So I avoided him as much as possible and made sure I figured out how to get to and from practices without involving him.

I was thrilled when I made it to the final try-out.  One more to go and I'd get to wear the cute outfit and hang out with the football players! On the day of the final round I had to call home to let my mom know that I'd be late.  I went to the pay phone - yes, the pay phone, put in my DIME (that's how old I am!) and dialed my house.

To my horror, my DAD answered!!  That's when things began to unravel. First, I asked if my mom was there but she wasn't.  Uugh!  So, I told him that I needed to stay late.

And then he asked why.

I had to tell him.  I couldn't lie. He was upset. I blamed my mom, of course. He told me to go to the last try-out and then we would talk.  So with red puffy eyes I went and gave probably the lamest effort they had ever seen and consequently did not make the team.

In the beginning of this week I talked about throwing off the things that slow us down so that we can run our race unencumbered.  The resolution to LIGHTEN UP was inspired by the commission in Hebrews 12:1, but there is a second part of that verse that we must not ignore.

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.

God has set guidelines for us. They are found in the Bible.  He instructs us in His ways for our protection.  He is not trying to suck the fun out of our lives.  When we are tempted to go around His instruction we are on dangerous ground. The farther we get from communication with Him, the easier it is to rationalize that what we are doing is ok.  We must not avoid talking to our heavenly Father.  If our communication with Him is broken it becomes harder and harder to hear His voice. Lines become blurred and before we know it, sin trips us up.  It's that easy.

Thankfully, His grace is endless and sufficient.  No matter how far we are He is waiting with open arms, ready to pick us up and set us on our course again.  But wouldn't it be great if we could avoid the detour altogether?!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Next week: Resolve Week 3 - REFUSE TO SETTLE

Sometimes you need to say no to saying yes!

Every year we host a Christmas party at our house for my husband’s employees.  We look forward to our chance to serve his team.  For the last few years we have had a white elephant gift exchange which is always fun. They all try to outdo each other with funny gifts but the all- time winner for me was the guy who brought a hamster as his gift.  Yes, a live hamster!  My husband knew that my daughter would love it so he “stole” it.  Weeks later I was watching that silly rodent go around and around and around on her wheel.  She was getting nowhere fast. 

Do you ever feel that way?

Sometimes I find myself running and running but accomplishing very little.

When I first began this journey of FTGI I had the privilege of speaking with author and speaker Lysa Terkeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries for some words of wisdom.  (You can read about our God ordained connection here)  During the course of our conversation she talked about the need to be intentional about how we spend our time if we are going to pursue the calling on our life. 

Intentional.  I loved that word.  I still love it but it is also a challenge for a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of girl like me. 

As the years go by I find that it is more important than ever to be intentional about what I put my hand to and what I commit to. I need to make sure that the things I say “yes” to line up with my priorities based on what I believe God has called me to do.  If I don’t I could very easily get distracted and slow down progress on my assignment for this season in my life.  

So sometimes in order to LIGHTEN UP we need to strip down our schedule in order to focus. 

It may be possible to run so fast that it slows you down.

Lighten up ~ Choose to forgive

“When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive” Alan Paton

Unforgiveness is one of the heaviest pieces of baggage to drag around with you on your journey.  If we are going to run our race unencumbered we need to make sure that we are not harboring bitterness or anger toward someone that has wounded us. But how do you forgive someone that may not even be truly sorry?

When my daughter was a toddler and she would do something naughty like throw something at her brothers, I would do the motherly thing and march her over to apologize.  A forced apology is rarely sincere.  We still laugh today about how when forced to apologize she would give an icy stare, grit her teeth, barely open her mouth and say "Rorry" without any expression.  (that wasn't a misspelling ~ that was how she said it)

The boys would be incensed saying, "Mom, she's not really sorry!!"

She would go on her merry way having done her duty and they would remain all riled up about the injustice of it all.

My response to them would be, "Let it go."

In this life you will be offended and you can count on being hurt by someone at some point. The decision you will have to make in favor of your mental and emotional health is to forgive them and let it go.  If you don't it will slow down your forward motion.

But how? Here are some suggestions...

1. Prayer. Lots of it.  ~ Pray not only for strength to forgive but pray for that person's well being.  This is hard to do but it will help you to see past their fault to their need. You may even begin to have compassion for that person.

2. Have a ceremony ~ Write down who and what you are choosing to forgive and then do something creative to symbolize letting it go.  Burn it (safely in a sink).  Write it on toilet paper and flush it down the toilet...whatever helps you to visualize officially letting it go.

3. Say it out loud ~ It helps to hear yourself say it.  Say it over and over again.  I choose to forgive _____.

4.  Remember that forgiveness is a choice and an act of obedience to God.  It is not a feeling.  You may not feel any different at first but you will over time. Be patient with yourself, forgiveness is often a process.  You know you are making progress when you can think of the person without the offense being the first thing that comes to mind. 

Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Col 3:13)

Break free!

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.