Artprize Trash

I love art and love that Grand Rapids hosts such an amazing event. During my time viewing the different entries this year I had trouble picking my favorite. In the days following my visit to Artprize, a theme emerged in the images that kept coming back to me.
Trash. Yes, garbage; I am not usually drawn to that style of art, yet, the beauty from these disposable items spoke to me beyond the environmental impact of our choices.
I was amazed at the "Tired Old Crow" with worn out tires that spent their "useful" life firmly connected to ground now transformed into feathers, agents of flight, of this giant bird. Don't we all long for this kind of transformation? In those areas in our lives where we have spent years trying to "get off the ground," don't we still hold hope we will suddenly soar?

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come."

Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Worrying in Reverse: from fear to faith

Sometimes while chugging down the track of life, I am overwhelmed by the weight of my circumstances causing me to pick up speed as I roll down hill past the fork of faith, headlong into the tunnel of fear, anxiety and worry.
Sometimes sheer energy and inertia pull me along unable to switch tracks. Tormenting possibilities and fear filled questions flood my mind. I have learned to harness those racing thoughts and reverse the direction; a slow backward chugging where I force myself to ask the questions that will pull me uphill until faith comes. "What if things turn out better than I could ever ask or imagine?" (Ephesians 3:20) "What if in my current weakness a perfect power is found?" (2 Corinthians 12:9) "What if there is hope?" (Jeremiah 29:11) "What if I am loved deeply? What if victory is already mine?" (Romans 8:37-38) "What if I can trade in this fear for peace?" (Proverbs 1:33) "What if true enduring joy is available?" (Psalm16:1) "What if I will be guided each step of the way and find direction?" (Psalm 37:23) Soon the slow, labored, backward, uphill chugging brings me to the fork of faith and I can begin to gain momentum and speed in the direction of progress as I am fueled by God's fresh mercy and grace.

Swim Suit Season

When is the last time you looked in the mirror? Not just a quick glance, but really checked it all out, from every angle, in a full length mirror?
(Think swim suit shopping). Did you see somethings that needed toning, areas to increase, decrease, rearrange? Was it easy to forget that image of yourself? Did you forget what "problem area" you wanted to improve?

James 1:19-27 challenges us to take that kind of long self-examining look in the mirror of God's Word.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."(James 1:19-27 NIV)

We understand that we need physical exercise to be physically fit. But we need to exercise our faith by living out God's word in our lives. Most of us spend considerable time and money planning fitness goals and developing exercise routines and habits. We even have personal trainers to assist us if we desire. What if we put that same kind of energy and attention into having our actions reflect our faith? What if we planned time and resources to love on widows, kids and the poor in our areas? What if we cared as much about reflecting God's image as we do about our body image? I think the Kingdom of God would become more visible. I want to make changes in my life to prioritize spiritual health. As I look at the list of spiritual fitness indicators in the verses above I have some work to do. Talking (or writing) will not get the job done. I need daily habits and routines to shape this change in me. I need personal trainers to push me and remind me of my what God's Word requires. I will need to rearrange time and resources to accomplish this. The results will be worth it and the rewards eternal.

Finding Joy

Ever lose your joy? Do you have times where life seems dull and mundane? Me too.

God's invitation in these moments is to live life in the moment. Love the mundane. Find Him in everything and experience the joy of being present and alive. Make the choice to love life today. Find ways to enjoy this day, live in this moment, and make life count right now as it happens.

Don't feel like working out? Thank God you are healthy enough to move and use your body to increase in health. Struggling with an addiction or unhealthy habit? Let this weakness remind you of your dependence on a God who's power raised Christ from the dead and can bring new life to your situation. Got mounds of seemingly endless laundry? Let it remind you of God's cleansing work in your life, fresh starts everyday, the continual need to return to God daily for renewal and cleansing. For me reading poetry slows me down and brings into focus the easily overlooked, questions undeveloped, philosophies yet to be pondered. Poetry transforms the ordinary into something captivating and beautiful. Maybe for you it is music, nature, etc...Whatever is getting you down ask God to reveal truth to you and speak encouragement from the very thing that is threatening to steal your joy.

We miss the cumulative joy (or experience the cumulative sorrow) because we live for the "big" moments and simply exist through the day to day majority of our lives. In what way can you chose to enjoy life at this moment?

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12 NIV)

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 KJV)

Valentine from God

God never gives up on me. God is kind to me. God doesn't envy. God doesn't strut or have a swelled head. God doesn't force Himself on me. God is not easily angered. God keeps no record of my wrongs. God does not delight when I participate with evil but He rejoices when I walk in His truth. God always protects me, is always trustworthy, always looks for the best in me, and God sticks with me to the very end. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

That is the best Valentine's Day present I could ever hope for! Because of the amazing way God loves me, may I also extend that same love to all those around me. Happy Valentine's Day!

Becoming Childlike

I recently spent time in a Sunday School class for 3 and 4 year olds. The energy and joy was impressive, but I was most in awe of the patient lead teacher, and how she could take a room full of little ones literally going in all directions and engage each one all at once. After lesson time the teacher asked review questions and the majority of the children would reply "Jesus" or "God" regardless of the question. Teacher: "what city was Paul in?" Children: "Jesus." I remember smirking to myself about how "programmed" children can become and how mindlessly they assume every answer in Sunday School is "Jesus" or "God." It crossed my mind the odds are in their favor that eventually their canned responses will be right.

But today, as I reviewed my Bible study on 1 Corinthians 1-7, and heard Paul's response to so many various topics, and it occurred to me that I need to become more childlike. Paul tells the Corinithians struggling with divisions, Jesus is the answer. Is there contension? Jesus. Is there pride? Jesus crucified. Self-Absorbed? Jesus. Need wisdom or direction? Holy Spirit. Are you critical and judgemental? You need God's power. Dealing with sexual sin? Holy Spirit. Marriage advice? Jesus. Single?Jesus. The list in the Bible goes on and on. Question after question, and the best answer is Jesus.

When did I forget this beautiful, simple, yet profound truth? If I am honest my question and answer time is more like this: Is there contension? Gossip. Is there pride? Disguise it. Need Wisdom? Google. Need Direction? GPS. Have a bad day? Chocolate. Have a good day?Chocolate and coffee. Lonely? check facebook. Need to talk? Call husband. To recover this childlike wisdom I must run to Jesus with all my needs, desires, disappointments, hopes and dreams. God's word is timeless, I can trust Him.

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Learning to swim

Few successes in life are as obviously glorious as learning to swim. Whereas before you were on the edge of death by drowning. Within weeks or months you can slip into the same cool waters once marked by struggle, splashing, sinking, panic and with minimal effort slide along the surface. Strong kicks and graceful arm movements with forward momentum replace exhausting thrashing.
I want to learn to swim in my current areas of struggle. I want to feel the water that currently sucks me down, and threatens to consume me become the water that supports me as I lazily float. I long to use the properties of the waters I now wrestle endlessly to propel myself to a destination beyond my reach.

Matthew 14:25-33
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Seeing clearly

"To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion." John Ruskin

"Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me?" declares the Lord.
"Should you not tremble in my presence?" (Jeremiah 5:21, 22a NIV)

I have trouble seeing clearly spiritually. To see clearly one must first look at what one wants to see and pause until that thing comes into focus. I want to have clear spiritual vision, but I am often distracted by many things. I need to fix my eyes on Jesus until everything comes into focus. I need to see through the lens of God's word. "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law." (Psalm 119:18 NIV)
Life is difficult and ugly and without proper perspective it can be heartbreaking and overwhelming. Life is also beautiful. When this beauty is pursued as an end in itself, it can be empty, self- serving and short-lived. This is not the abundant life God has for us. (John 10:10)
Writing is a way for me to examine my thoughts. This blog is a way for me to experience accountability through community as I orient myself toward God by searching my thoughts and heart and aligning it with God and His word while inviting you to join me in the quest to have eyes to see and ears to hear.

"Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear." (Isaiah 32:3-4 NIV)
""I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."(Isaiah 42:6, 7 NIV)