Show Up To Your Life
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 It’s time. It is time you show up to your life. Too many of us are sitting on the sidelines …
Month: September 2018
Pray Before You Post
I walked into the gym and set my bag down. I was in a separate room off the main floor. The room is like a small warehouse. I like it because it’s usually quiet and I can zone out. There were a few guys in …
Let It Snow
When my middle guy was three, he said it couldn’t be Christmas unless it snowed. Anytime we talked about the impending holiday, he would tell us in his sweet little voice that it absolutely not come until it snowed.
Guess what?
It snowed that year.
On Christmas Day!
Not only did it snow, we got buckets of snow that year on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. This is a dig deal here in the Dallas area because it doesn’t snow often. Somehow, that cute little three year old was convinced that Christmas could not come until it snowed. And he was right.
What if we believed God this way?
What would change in your faith?
In your life?
What if no matter what, you believed God?
Our faith would grow immeasurably. We can believe regardless of circumstances. We can walk through valleys with confidence. We can believe when unbelief seems like the easier choice. We can have hope when life seems hopeless.
Believing God.
In all situations.
At all times.
Because He is worthy of our trust.
Believe God today like my three year old believed it would snow on Christmas Day. You never know how He will show up. All you need is to believe.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Don’t Lose You
When Jackson was a baby, I would hop into my car on my lunch break and rush to his day care to see him. I had thirty minutes with my baby and I needed every last second. I was a mess of a new mom …
Mob Mentality
Identity. Buzz word. Identity is a buzz word these days. Everyone is talking about identity. Young adults, teens, and kids are all searching to find who they are. Adults are finding their labels in political affiliation, religion, non-religion, or where the land on the topic …
Hang ‘Em
What makes Twitter light up?
When do TV ratings go off the charts?
How do things become trending topics that everyone is talking about?
When someone has done something wrong and the mob goes after them.
As much as we hate to admit it, we are a mob society. We look back at the times when punishment was flogging or hanging and we cannot believe it. Yet, I wonder how different we are from our ancestors. Someone does something wrong today and there is no room for retribution; no space for redemption.
There is a well-known character in the Bible named Jonah. We all know Jonah as the guy who got swallowed up by a whale. If you attend church, you may also know that he was swallowed because he did not obey God. He was called to go to the city of Nineveh, but Jonah wasn’t having it. So, he got on a boat and headed in the opposite directions. God, being God, brought on a huge storm sending Jonah overboard.
What isn’t talked a lot about in this popular Bible story is the end. Jonah ended up back in Nineveh. Let’s be real: you can’t run from God. So, Jonah tells the people about God and they end up changing their ways. So, God had compassion on them. Jonah did not like this. He wanted them to be held accountable for the wrong doings. But, God had other plans and did not follow through on the destruction He had once promised.
Jonah sulked under a tree angry at God for not doing anything to the people of Nineveh. He wanted some sort of consequence. Instead, God gave them grace. Jonah and God had a little chat while he sat under that tree (Jonah 4). Jonah was angry with God. Ironically, God had mercy on Jonah providing him with a leafy plant that grow over him creating shade in a very hot environment. Jonah was still mad.
We can shake our fists at Jonah and roll our eyes. We can be all judgmental and talk about how we’d never do that. But, if we are being honest, you and I have been Jonah a time or two. We’ve desired some kind of penalty for others’ wrong-doings. And when the punishment didn’t come, we sat and sulked praying it would.
I don’t want to be Jonah sitting under the tree angry that the people actually repented.
I don’t want to miss an opportunity to witness grace.
We have a decision to make. We can celebrate with God when someone turns towards him. Or, we can sit in our anger and plot revenge. I choose grace.
Jonah missed it. He absolutely missed an opportunity to witness the power of a loving God right before his very eyes. Instead, he chose to sit in his distaste for what God had done: given grace and mercy to the people He loved. I wish we knew what happened to Jonah. The story ends with Jonah angry wishing he was dead and God reminding him of His grace that his so wide and deep it covers all. We don’t have to know the rest of Jonah’s story to make a choice for how we want to live our lives. We can learn from him and decide the next time the top news story tells us to hang someone out to dry, we choose grace.
There is always space to right our wrongs.
There is always room for others to make things right.
There is always space for grace.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Find the story of Jonah here: https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=Book+of+Jonah+&qs_version=NIV
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Cultural Christianity
I think there is one thing we can all agree on politically: the United States has been nothing short of wonky in the political arena in the last few years. We have fallen off our rocker. Am I right? Don’t worry. This is not a …
In-n-Out, Kaepernick, & Satan
The title sounds like the start of a joke: Satan and Kaepernick walk into In-n-Out. Ha. I won’t go there. But, I am going to talk about these three. I woke up in the middle of the night the other day. I instantly began thinking …
The Giver
I’m a giver. I don’t say this to brag. It’s just who I am. I would much rather serve others than be served. It makes me extremely uncomfortable to let people do things for me. I know I drive people crazy and probably make them feel uncomfortable because I just cannot let go and let them help me. It’s a fault of mine and I own it.
You know what’s hard? Being a giver. It can be exhausting and extremely lonely. You do things for others without expectation of anything in return. But, when the love isn’t returned, it stings. You are stuck between knowing you don’t do this to receive accolades, while, at the same time, feel undervalued.
“But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24
Here’s what I am learning as a giver: Jesus made me this way. He created me to have a desire to serve others. If he made me this way, then I must trust that He knows how to fill my tank. When I am running on empty feeling tired and alone, when I am waiting for that thank you note or for someone to notice when I am struggling, I need to shift my gaze. I am looking for fulfillment in the wrong place. I am looking to people instead of the One who fills.
If I am not careful, my desire to be recognized by others for the things I do can overwhelm me. My vision will be skewed and my attitude will shift from giving to resentment. My longing for recognition will stunt my service.
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7
Thank yous, accolades, and recognition should have no bearing on my service. A servant’s stance starts in the heart not the exterior. If you are more Martha and less Mary, don’t fret. God made you this way on purpose and by design. Use your gifts of service to bless others without longing for people to bring you your reward.
Being a giver is an honor. Does it get tiring? Yes. Can it be overwhelming? Absolutely. Would an occasional “thank you” be nice? Of course. But that shouldn’t be what drives your service. Jesus is the force behind your gift. Don’t forget that.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10
He hasn’t forgotten you. Keep serving. We need YOU!
Love & Blessings,
Meg
