Marriage: The Secrets
We just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary two days ago. I wrote this post back when we celebrated 15. It still holds the same value today as it did a couple of years ago. While there is no secret pill to take to have a …
Month: July 2019
A Disappointing Me
A friend told me I am a tough one to crack. I am guarded. This surprised me a bit. I consider myself a people person. If I’m a people person, how can I be guarded. Her words had value. They were not met with a …
Going Rogue
Peter. Let’s talk about this guy. Peter was in the inner circle with Jesus. He hung with the crew that eventually changed the world. A group of misfits bound together by a king; a king that looked nothing like royalty. Can I be honest? Peter was a hot mess.
Peter cut a soldier’s ear off. (John !8:10)
Peter was quick to take out the sword instead of trust the Savior. (Matthew 26:52)
Peter denied Christ. (John 18: 15-27)
Here’s the deal about Peter. His given name was Simon. Andrew, Peter’s brother, brought him to Jesus to show him that they had found the Messiah (Savior).
He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”…John 1:41-43
The very first thing Jesus did when he met Simon was change his name to Peter. Peter (also know as, Cephas) means “rock.” After he changed his name, Jesus told Peter the significance of this name change.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.Matthew 16:16-18
The significance of this story is HUGE. It is also not lost on me. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter BEFORE Peter did anything to qualify himself to be the rock which the church was built. If anything, Peter was going to go rogue a few times before he got himself together all while being the rock which Jesus saw fit to build his church.
Incredible.
So often we wait until we are fixed before we feel we are qualified.
Jesus is calling us to something, but we deny him because we aren’t ready. Like Peter, we are a hot mess. But when I read about how Jesus changed Peter’s name BEFORE he did anything to become a fitting choice to be the person Jesus uses to establish his church, I see hope.
You see, Jesus calls us WAY before we are ready. He calls us BEFORE we are qualified. He calls us when no one else knows our name. He does this because he knows our potential. He knows what he can do and through us even when we don’t think it’s possible. Jesus knows we are going to screw up. He knows we are going to fall. Yet, he calls us anyway.
If you are doubting yourself, stop. If you are feeling that nudge from Jesus but have convinced yourself there is no way he can be calling you, claim that for what it is: a bold faced lie.
Think about the repercussions if Peter had told Jesus, “Hmmmm…can we wait on this name change thing. You see, I am not ready, fit, or qualified to be this rock you are talking about so let’s give this name to someone else.” Think what Peter would have missed! I don’t want to miss it!
Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter before he was ready. Jesus hit start well before Peter knew what was going on. Peter stumbled and fell and stumbled some more, yet that did not deter Jesus’ for Peter.
Jesus is calling you. He wants to change your name. He knows you are a hot mess but wants to use you anyway. What lies are you believing today? What story have you told yourself that’s keeping you from living out his mission and purpose in your life?
It is time you let Jesus change your name.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
Predictable: God Came in like a Wrecking Ball
Do you know what’s easy? Making my boys’ beds. Well, maybe not the one who has a red tint to his hair. I don’t know what he does when he sleeps but it looks like someone wrapped him up in all his blankets and lovies and then they exploded. What’s easy for me is knowing I am going to wake-up at 6am tomorrow. I will change into workout clothes and then begin to open the blinds and curtains around the front of the house. I will meander into the kitchen and turn the coffee pot on. I will then open the roman shades in the kitchen and feed the dog. After that, I will grab backpacks from the boys’ lockers in the garage and work my way to making breakfast. After that’s all started, I will head upstairs (not after turning on the lamp on my way up) and open the door to my two littlest cherubs. I will kiss their warm squishy cheeks and sing a little ditty. I will then head downstairs and get breakfast out on the bartop. I will pull lunches and water bottles from the fridge and put them in backpacks. Somewhere in the midst of this, I will take my first sip of coffee. Glorious. I will then wet my hands and fix the middle and the youngest’s bed-head. We will wash up and head out the door to wait for the bus. After those two are off, I will come back in and take a minute to enjoy the fabaulousness that is my warm cup of coffee and read a little Scripture. At 7:30am, I will kiss my middle schooler goodbye as he heads out the door (thankfully, he still doesn’t mind his mom doting on him). I will gather myself and head out the door to the gym.
Predictable. I like predictable. Monday through Friday, I know what to expect. Feels good. I’ve got my rhythm and routine down. I like it. It’s easy. It flows. I may be tired. The boys may not always be chipper. But, I know what’s coming. Ah. Control.
You know what’s not easy? When something messes up my routine. You know what I don’t like? Being interrupted. I’ve got my groove, man. Let me be. I’m in a zone.
You know what God likes? The unpredictable. Blah. I mean, I know it’s good for me but c’mon. A routine is good for me too.
God’s pulling me out of the norm. He’s using his wrecking ball and coming in hot.
I have done a good job avoiding this mess. I can dodge and distract like a ninja. You want me to do what? Well, I have to clean the ovens, line the cabinets, and dust the baseboards. BRB.
I am learning that a little demolition is good for the soul. Sometimes we need a good wrecking to grow. Other times we need it to move us onto bigger and better things. Oftentimes, we think the good we are experiencing is it. This is life. What we fail to see is that while we are attached to the good, we are missing the great.
A little demolition is good for the soul.
I’m going to have to let go of some things; some things that bring me comfort, joy, and familiarity. I am going to have to move to from the known and predictable into uncharted territory. That’s hard and scary BUT so so worth it!
God’s coming in like a wrecking ball and I am ready for some walls to come down. Bring it!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Love & Blessings,
Meg