"Dancing Through Life"

James 1:19 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Hello friends! I am eager to dive into the Word together again. So let’s jump right in!

When I was a little girl I enjoyed dancing. I never took classes or anything structured but I loved going into my bedroom, turning on my favorite song, and dancing. There was something so exhilarating about it. Of course, my stuffed animals always told me I was the best as they begged for an encore.

In high school I was swept away by the “Cha Cha Slide” and “Cotton-Eyed Joe” line dances that took my youth group by storm.

You’ve probably guessed that when Zumba came out I was a big fan (although I am terrible at it).

And the first time I danced with a boy was the evening my husband asked me to marry him (Wouldn’t you know that my first slow dance was to “Beauty and the Beast?” Insert everyone’s “aww” here).

With that short synopsis you have the extent of my dancing career.

I am sure by now you’re asking yourself why you’re wasting your time reading about my meaningless dance experience.

Isn’t it ironic how you always ask the right questions?

James may not have intended to do this, but in James 1:19 he provides us with the dance steps of life, as I my childhood pastor, Bob, called it. It’s a simple quick, slow, slow.

Today I would like to share my personal thoughts on this dance with you. 

The first step in this dance is being quick to hear. The work hear is a verb. It’s active. We make the decision to actually hear. Sure our ears take in sound all the time. But when you really want to hear something you focus on it. We should be quick to do this with God and with other people.

First, when you hear God speaking, through the Word or the Spirit, be quick to hear. Listen to what He is telling you. I am positive that it is important and to your benefit to hear His words. So stop what you’re doing and actively listen to His voice.

Second, when you’re talking to other people, be quick to hear them. So often we are consumed by our daily woes that we do not actually hear what people are saying to us.

When the barista says she has had better days and you reply “Good!” That’s a problem. You’re not listening.

When your husband tells you about His day at work, put down your cell phone and listen. Actively engaged your ears to hear him.

When someone asks you to pray for them, listen.

Be quick to hear. So many people are hurting and need someone to hear them. Therefore, we as ambassadors for Christ, need to listen like He does.

The second step flows directly out of the first. We slow down the dance a bit as we become slow to speak.

Just as dancing demonstrates, many of us have two left feet. The same goes for the James 1:19 dance. Friends, I am guilty of fumbling through this step so if you feel as though this is the one that trips you up, you are not alone.

Most of the time those of us that are quick to speak have good intentions. We want to help people -- share our wisdom with them. Or we do not see adults at all throughout the week so the minute we are in the presence of anyone over twenty we explode like a pressurized soda bottle sharing every detail of our life. Or we simply do not pay close attention to how often we dominate the conversation. We do not mean to take up every second but we do. We do not mean to redirect the conversation to our story but we do.

Remember, I told you that I am guilty so please do not feel like I am throwing you under the preverbal bus. I assure you that is the last thing I want to do. However, those of us who get this portion of the dance backwards tend to stumble our way through and end up with our foot in our mouth.

Words are powerful. When we gab on and on we run the risk of saying foolish things or alienating those we are in conversation with. This can ruin our opportunity to share the gospel.

Therefore, be slow to speak. Give others the opportunity to share their lives with you. You’ll never know the impact listening has on someone’s day. Also, if you’re the only one talking then you may never know when the chance comes to share the gospel. We might miss it if we are not slow to speak.

Being slow to speak provides us with the opportunity to listen. Just as in a dance these two steps flow in and out of each other. If we are slow to speak then we will be quick to listen. Isn’t it beautiful how that works out?

The final movement in this dance of life is the most difficult of all. For this step we must be slow to anger.

James instructs us to be slow to anger and gives us a reason (probably anticipating our rebuttal and complaint). Why are we to be slow to anger? Because anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Simple enough.

When we are quick to anger we glorify no one but ourselves. It doesn’t say that it is not right to experience anger as an emotion during certain times in our lives. It says to be slow to anger.

As followers of Christ we must practice self-control. This is a fruit of the Spirit. It is essential. Too often we attempt to defend our emotional impulses. We make excuses for why we yell at the driver in front of us, speak disrespectfully to our husbands or unlovingly to our wives, lose patience with our children, or run our fists into walls. Usually it is the other person’s fault. Or it’s our right to express ourselves. Perhaps, it’s just “one of those things.”

Friends, we are called to be slow to anger. If you have found yourself in any of this, like I have, than ask the Holy Spirit to make you slow to anger. As life presents you with opportunities listen to Him as He instructs you to control yourself and submit your emotions to Him.

This step is very important. When we are slow to anger we appear different from the rest of the world. Look at the society you live in. There are fights in open areas. People are shooting other people. Children are stabbing other children. Parents are abusing their children. Husbands are aggressive towards their wives and increasingly vice versa. Verbal abuse is becoming a common problem in the home.

Why?

Because our society gratifies itself. It lives for each emotional whim (that’s a different blog post all together). When the world is angry they are quick to express it. Let us be slow to it so that we may, in turn, glorify God. When we appear different, people will take notice, and it will present us with the opportunity to share Christ.

You see, that is the purpose of this dance. When we “quick, slow, slow,” through life, people will notice. However, we do not want them to notice us, what’s the point of that? No, we want them to notice Christ within us. This dance will capture their attention and which, in turn, will allow you to share why you dance and who you dance for – you’ll be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, help me to dance the dance of James 1:9. Would you make me quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger today? Help me to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit by being self-controlled. Please present me with the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus with someone as I live out your dance today. Amen.

Now… Let’s dance!

Alone

“Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:18

Have you ever felt alone? I mean totally and completely alone. In a room filled with people, you felt like the only person. You lived on an island all by yourself. Due to your loneliness, your heart filled the empty space with worry and fear. Daily circumstances became impossible because you had to conquer them alone. All by yourself. No one to call. No one to help you. No one to talk to. Just you. Poor, pitiful, you.

There was a man in the Bible who went through a period in time where He felt just like you. He felt completely alone. If that was not difficult enough, his queen wanted him dead. So now, he was on the run all alone. He believed what his lonely heart told him. It would be better to give up and die.

This man’s name was Elijah. Just to brush up on the story, Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in Israel. God used him to do some pretty incredible miracles. At this point in the story he has just proven God’s superiority to the prophets of Baal, an idol. These false prophets experienced the full power of God before being slain for their idolatry. No big deal, right? Wrong. These prophets were employed by Queen Jezebel, who personally worshipped Baal. She was not pleased to hear that her men had been annihilated. Therefore, she sent a message to Elijah threatening his life. Due to the timing of this message, Elijah was not prepared to receive it. He felt alone. He felt abandoned. He felt vulnerable. He was scared. So like any normal person Elijah ran away. His plan was to curl up and die before Jezebel could find him. 

So what happened?

Well, after four attempts, God finally got Elijah’s attention. He sent wind, fire, and an earthquake outside of the cave Elijah was hiding in. Yet, God didn’t speak to Elijah through any of those phenomena. No, Elijah heard the voice of our Creator, soft and still. God told Elijah the plan He had for him. Elijah was to train the next great prophet of God, Elisha.

The last bit of news God tells Elijah is what leaped off the page for me. He says, “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

What has Elijah’s problem been this entire time?

He’s felt alone. He felt as though he were the only one doing the work of the Lord and living righteously before Him. He was scared that Jezebel would find him and there would be no one to help.

But...

God informs Elijah that he is not alone. God will leave seven thousand people of God in Israel. Elijah had not been alone and would not be alone. There were seven thousand people that had not bowed down to Baal or cowered before Jezebel and her threats. They would help Elijah. They would take God’s message to those who had been deceived. Best of all, Elijah was not alone.

Too often we believe the lie of our heart that we are alone. We’re here on earth slugging through the muck and mire all by ourselves. No one understands. No one cares. No one...

My friend, you are not alone. God left seven thousand in Israel and He has left people with you. They fill the seats of your local church and are called the body of Christ.

No, they are not perfect.

Yes, they might let you down.

No, they cannot read your mind.

But...

They are God’s hands and feet extended to you. He has left them here to transform the world. That includes your life.

Do not walk through this life lonely. Not only is God with you each and every day, but also He has given you His church. Lean on them.

If you need help – ask.

If you need companionship – seek it out.

If you need support through grief or pain – allow them to love you.

No matter what you face, you are not alone. 

God has left millions here on earth that have not bowed their knees to Satan. They are with you.

If you don’t attend a church, please find one today. You need the church in order to survive. They are Christ’s body. With their hands they will hold you. With their hearts they will love you. With their feet they will support you. With their mouths they will train you. With their ears they will hear you.

If you attend a church but feel alone and without support, open your heart to the body around you. Do not be too proud to ask for what you need. Then receive it. You are not alone. Do not believe the lie.

Elijah almost lost everything because he believed the lie of his heart, but God rescued Him. He provided Elijah with support and hope.

God provides the same for you today through the church. There is support. There is hope.

You, my friend, are not alone.

Afraid of Change?

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage. Do not fear or be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This text is important throughout the Biblical narrative. Why is that? These words were spoken three times in the Old Testament. First, Moses spoke these words to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 31:6. He tells them to, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” The second time is the passage you read above when God restates these words to Joshua. The third time we find these words is in 1 Chronicles 28:20 “Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.” We now know that David was encouraging Solomon with the same words Moses used to encourage the people of Israel.

All three of these instances share two commonalities. First, the persons receiving the words were afraid of change – they feared God’s plan. Second, God, either directly or through His chosen mouth piece, spoke a command and exhortation to those persons regarding their situation.

In Deuteronomy, Moses was about to die. He would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land with the children of Israel. The people would have to carry on without Him as they crossed over into a land flowing with milk and honey. Although they were eager to see this place promised to them, they feared moving forward without their fearless leader who had carried them through each situation in the desert. They weren’t sure what life would look like without Moses. God tells Moses to reassure them that it was God who deserved their trust. He was the one who brought them through the desert and He would bring them into the Promised Land. They need only be strong and have courage.

In the book of Joshua, Joshua feared inadequacy. He was afraid that Moses’ sandals would be too big to fill and he would fail the people. Sure he had worked with Moses but was he ready to lead the people in the many campaigns ahead of them? God told Joshua multiple times to be strong and have courage. God would be the one to win the battles, slay the giants, and give the Israelites the land. God promised to be with Joshua wherever he went as long as Joshua was obedient.

In Chronicles Solomon was afraid of not being able to complete the temple. He feared failing God, his father, and the people. Why did God want him to build the temple anyway? It was not his plan. What if he did something wrong? David reminds him of this consistent truth – God will not fail you therefore do not fear.

So what is my point exactly?

I am glad you asked…

So often we fear stepping into God’s plan. We fear change. We long for God to speak but when He does we fear obedience.

Joshua 1:9 has been a verse that has brought clarity and encouragement to my life many times. When I was seventeen a dear friend of my mother wrote this verse inside a graduation card. It took root in my heart that very moment and hasn’t left me since. I was terrified when the time came to choose a college. This verse settled my heart as I packed my bags for Lee University and began my classes. I attended school there in perfect peace knowing God had led me to that campus. Then it was time to graduate and I was fearful of the unknown. This verse sprouted up in my soul as I walked across the stage and into a world filled with possibilities. I carried its truth with me as I married my husband and moved away from my childhood home forever. As I kissed my husband goodbye knowing He would be gone for six months I cherished the words spoken to the Israelites, Joshua, and Solomon: “Do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go…”

So, what are you afraid of?

A new job?

A new ministry?

Moving to a new town?

Sharing the gospel with your best friend?

Adopting a child?

Going on a mission’s trip?

A Deployment?

Pursuing the dream God has placed in your heart?

Whatever it is – Do not be afraid.

God is leading your life. If He makes an opportunity possible, take it. If He puts a road block on the path you thought was the one, turn around and find the path He has marked. If you do this – you will thrive because He will never fail you or forsake you. 

My Morning Mantra: Commit, Trust, He will...

Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

I recognize that each person reading this blog is at a different place in his or her journey. Some of you know exactly where you want to be and are heading in that direction. Others have been in the same spot for a long time and are looking for a change. Many of you walk through life each day not knowing why you are in the place you are and do whatever it is you do.

Like all of you, I have been in each of these phases at one point or another. To be honest, I’m exiting a season of doubting my purpose. I have sought out different options, made it right to the cliff of decision, and have slowly backed away. Each time sensing a lack of peace.

If you are currently navigating through the murky waters of indecision or indirection, please, open your heart and mind to God’s Word. He has much to say in regards to finding our path in this life. With this in mind let us take a look at Psalm 37:5.

I love the words of the psalmist, David, in this passage. They are perfect for those of us in a season of confusion, doubt, and/or lack of purpose.

He first writes, “Commit your way to the Lord.”

Fellow followers of Christ, before you make any decisions in life, commit your way to God. Too often we act first and consult God second. We must make it a habit to consult God first. We must commit our path, our whole life, to Him. Then, after you have asked the Lord for direction do what David says next, “Trust also in Him.”

Trust in the Lord.

Many believers get nervous when people start talking about “God’s plan” for them. Most of the time it is because they not sure if what the Holy Spirit is saying to them is actually Him or the bad pizza they ate last Tuesday.

Following the Spirit is a matter of faith. This is where you have to act. If you sense God directing you, act in faith. He will lead you. The Holy Spirit walks through life with us every day. He will not let you wander aimlessly down the wrong path. Trust His guidance and follow the directions He gives you through His Word and presence. This is not a magic formula. I am simply advising that you listen to the Holy Spirit. In my experience the Holy Spirit has given step by step direction: a nudge in the pit of my stomach, a thought, or a scripture verse that seems to leap off the page.

Finally, David tells us that “He will do it.”

David is a great testament to the power of committing your way to God. He was a ruddy looking shepherd. David's father didn’t think enough of him to bring him before the prophet Samuel when Samuel was looking to anoint a king from among Jesse’s sons. He was the youngest of his siblings, destined to work on the family farm.

Then, one day, David took food to his brothers who were fighting with the Israelite army. He saw the Philistine giant that everyone had been talking about. King Saul’s army was shaking in fear just as the citizens of Judah had reported. In that moment, David committed his way to the Lord. He determined that if God could help him defeat bears and lions in the wilderness, then He could empower David to defeat the giant. So David went to the brook and picked up five smooth stones. He took his sling, committed it to the Lord, trusted Him, and hurled the stone at the giant with all of His might.

Do you remember what happened?

God did it. The giant fell to the ground and Israel won the battle.

If you commit your way to the Lord and trust Him then He will do it.

He will illuminate the path that you have tried so hard to see but cannot.

Commit to His leading. Trust Him to reveal Himself to you. Because He will do it.

Therefore, if you are in a place of doubt trust that God does not lie. He will do what He says.

If you’re afraid, commit that struggle to the Lord and trust that He will empower you through His Spirit to overcome what troubles you.

If you are lacking direction, trust God and step out in faith. If you have committed your way to Him then He will do it.

No matter where you are in your journey with Christ try to remind yourself of Psalm 37:5 every morning: Commit, Trust, He will…

On Coffee and Cream

2 Timothy 1:6 "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands."

What exactly is going on in this passage? I am so glad you asked! Let's look at it together. Take a minute and open your Bible, turn on your iPad, or click on biblegateway.com and find 2 Timothy 1.

You'll find that Paul is writing to encourage Timothy. How do we know this? Just take a look at verse seven - Paul reminded Timothy that God had not given him a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind. Therefore, something had happened between Paul's first letter and this one that had shaken Timothy's courage. In this letter Paul takes a little time to encourage him. He did this by reminding Timothy of the heritage he had received through his mother and grandmother who were faithful followers of Jesus (see verse five). It is then that Paul says let God stir up the gifts that are inside of you, Timothy. We learn that there must have been a gift inside of Timothy that had settled down at the bottom and was no longer being used. Paul wanted to see Timothy allow God to stir it up.

That is what I want for you today.

Picture this: it's morning. You have woken up, walked down to the coffee pot, brewed your favorite coffee grinds, and poured that delicious first cup. You've added the perfect amount of cream, and perhaps a little sugar, while your taste buds salivate at the anticipation of that first sip. Then, in the middle of this process, the phone rings. Unfortunately, you must rush to the other room to handle the business before you. By the time you return to the coffee, the cream and sugar have settled to the bottom, and that perfect concoction has not come together to create that delicious sip you wanted to enjoy. So, you go to the utensil drawer, pick out a spoon, place it in the cup, and begin to stir. As you do this, the cream, sugar, and coffee become one beautiful, swirling unit that is now ready to satisfy your taste buds as you sip and indulge.

Our lives are similar to the coffee. God has made us. We are His favorite blend. He has a special purpose for us as He pours us into His cup for His use. The Holy Spirit adds the cream and sugar, or gifts, to that cup. It is ready for use. The problem is that we stay stagnant and do not participate in the plan God has designed for us. We prefer to stay on the counter instead of fulfilling our purpose. Most of the time believers want to be used for God's purpose but they, like Timothy, are fearful. Therefore, we sit, and as we sit on the counter, our gifts settle to the bottom of the cup to the point that we forget there were gifts placed within us.

Today is the day we can ask God to stir up the gifts within us.

Some of you are reading this blog and do just that. You share your gifts with the people around you and honor God by fulfilling your purpose. To you I say, "Way to go!" Do not be discouraged or grow weary. Allow the Holy Spirit to continue pouring into you so that you can pour out to others - just like a cup of coffee.

There are others reading this who may be like Timothy, a bit scared to use your gifts. May I encourage you today to go for it? God has not given you a spirit of fear but of love, courage, and a sound mind. You can do it! The Holy Spirit has placed that gift inside of you for such a time as this. If you are unsure of what that gift is, ask the Holy Spirit to tell you. He will. Go for it! Allow God to stir it up.

For those of us who have sat still so long that our gifts have settled to the bottom, I pray that God will stir those gifts up. God has a purpose and a plan for you. You have not been told that you are an encouraging person by chance. You are not hospitable on your own. You do not jump at every chance to serve others because you're a nice person. You do not have a skill or talent because you were slapped with a special skill at birth. Your gifts are not happenstance - they were specifically planned for you. Allow God to stir them up so that you can share them.

I challenge you to wake up tomorrow and drink a cup of coffee, not only because it is delicious, but also because it will remind you to share your gifts with the world around you.

Today you have the chance to be like Timothy and allow God to place His spoon in the cup that is your life, and stir!