Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 152 - Month At A Glance Scripture focus: One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. Luke 6:12 NIV In this month's devotionals, I hope we were challenged to consider what it means to be "good." I pray we thought long and hard about what it means to experience "success." I asked us to reconsider our definition of a big dream in light of God's prevailing purposes. I suppose I suggested that sometimes what we so desperately desire and feel is "right" must be set aside in order to step as God speaks. I really, really hope that these devotionals communicated the essence of messy spirituality (Mike Yaconelli's term) and our need to be gracious and gentle with ourselves and others. I wonder if the subtlety of the message shined through the rhetoric. Did you sense the possibility of a passionate life, where you fight for victory AND maintain your equilibrium no matter the perceived outcome? Will you allow for the possibility that success may not always equal a win? Failure, fatigue and criticism: all ways God might choose to spell success. Why? Because sometimes loving like God means we must be willing to risk our reputation, energy and need to be liked for the higher call of love. And what about all this talk about loving like God? Did you stop and pause to prepare? Who came to your mind when you paired love and suffering? Lousy loving brings one kind of suffering, but I'm asking us to consider the kind of suffering that happens when we love like God. Lots of biblical characters demonstrated faith AND messy lives. At any moment, my friend the homeless drug addict can choose to love like God. All across the country people who profess to love God and others are in fact, judging others and making a terrible mess of representing the life of Jesus. Talk about confusing! In summary - I want us to understand that we don't explore the limits of our own abilities, trusting God to do in and through and with us, what we never could accomplish on our own without suffering failure, fatigue and criticism. In order to develop this kind of inner strength, we've got to become more concerned about what God believes about us than we believe about ourselves - or others assume is true. I suppose the thing I want for all of us is a firmly grounded loyalty and trust in God. This dynamic duo will allow us gentleness and compassion of spirit for our own messiness, and the messiness of others. This completes the one hundred and fifty second day of this devotional series; I pray you are nearer to God as a result of the steps you've taken this week. Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 16 in the morning; John 19 in the evening

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Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 151 - The path to peace Scripture focus: Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:12-14 NIV During a Saturday Night Celebration Service, we entered into a lively debate about the meaning of "good." Mainly, the word itself triggered a lot of shame and self-doubt. People who haven't been able to perform up to the world's standards and manage to maintain an appearance of "goodness" freak out when someone dares to suggest that they might want to consider becoming a "good" person. I understand. There are plenty of areas in my life - no matter how much I desire a different outcome - that I've learned to expect defeat. My husband regularly defeats me at tennis. Annihilates is probably a better word. One summer when his shoulder was completely useless, I was filled with hope. I made us play tennis practically every night. Figuring that a one-armed man could be beaten, I took my best shot. That crafty guy still managed to squeak out more victories than defeats. I love to play tennis with my husband. We enjoy a night under the lights with a cool breeze skimming over our sweaty limbs as we battle for the next point like our livelihood depended upon it. My dilemma is this: which do I love more - playing the game of tennis with my husband, or victory? If victory is my desired outcome, than I must abandon the game. I've chosen to love the game more than the outcome. This frees me to enjoy the battle without becoming overly concerned about the score. I've discovered that I can win some points. Once in a while, my cross-court backhand works. Occasionally, I leave my man standing flat footed in the middle of the court. More times than he cares to admit, he flubs an easy shot into the net. His serve is sometimes awesome, but I've even been known to win a few points off of his double-faults. I can love the game of tennis and celebrate the victories in the moment, without needing to win the set. All of us desire to love our lives and see many good days. We won't always succeed at keeping our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking lies. We will sometimes be drawn to evil like a moth to flame. And we may desire to do good, but sometimes find that we don't even know how to accomplish our best intentions. We may seek peace and even pursue it, only to run smack into conflict. So I don't exactly know how to do "good" all day every day. But I'm loving the game. I'm enjoying the process of asking myself the question, "What do you mean by good today, Lord?" Most of us can't beat Pete at tennis (I do hear he's very vulnerable right now on the golf course) but I'm not so sure winning was ever on God's top ten list of prevailing purposes anyway. It's my prayer that for today, we get in the game. Ask the hard questions. Anticipate the sweet victory of a well placed shot. Go for it! Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 14 and 15 in the morning; John 18 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless Word

Day 151 – The path to peace

Scripture focus: Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:12-14 NIV

During a Saturday Night Celebration Service, we entered into a lively debate about the meaning of “good.” Mainly, the word itself triggered a lot of shame and self-doubt. People who haven’t been able to perform up to the world’s standards and manage to maintain an appearance of “goodness” freak out when someone dares to suggest that they might want to consider becoming a “good” person.

I understand. There are plenty of areas in my life - no matter how much I desire a different outcome - that I’ve learned to expect defeat. My husband regularly defeats me at tennis. Annihilates is probably a better word. One summer when his shoulder was completely useless, I was filled with hope. I made us play tennis practically every night. Figuring that a one-armed man could be beaten, I took my best shot. That crafty guy still managed to squeak out more victories than defeats.

I love to play tennis with my husband. We enjoy a night under the lights with a cool breeze skimming over our sweaty limbs as we battle for the next point like our livelihood depended upon it. My dilemma is this: which do I love more – playing the game of tennis with my husband, or victory? If victory is my desired outcome, than I must abandon the game. I’ve chosen to love the game more than the outcome. This frees me to enjoy the battle without becoming overly concerned about the score. I’ve discovered that I can win some points. Once in a while, my cross-court backhand works. Occasionally, I leave my man standing flat footed in the middle of the court. More times than he cares to admit, he flubs an easy shot into the net. His serve is sometimes awesome, but I’ve even been known to win a few points off of his double-faults. I can love the game of tennis and celebrate the victories in the moment, without needing to win the set.

All of us desire to love our lives and see many good days. We won’t always succeed at keeping our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking lies. We will sometimes be drawn to evil like a moth to flame. And we may desire to do good, but sometimes find that we don’t even know how to accomplish our best intentions. We may seek peace and even pursue it, only to run smack into conflict.

So I don’t exactly know how to do “good” all day every day. But I’m loving the game. I’m enjoying the process of asking myself the question, “What do you mean by good today, Lord?” Most of us can’t beat Pete at tennis (I do hear he’s very vulnerable right now on the golf course) but I’m not so sure winning was ever on God’s top ten list of prevailing purposes anyway. It’s my prayer that for today, we get in the game. Ask the hard questions. Anticipate the sweet victory of a well placed shot. Go for it!

Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 14 and 15 in the morning; John 18 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 150 - More big believing Scripture focus: My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Proverbs 3:21-26 NLT Common sense and discernment provide us protection from fantasy living and delusional thinking. Common sense allows us to dream big without making dream fulfillment our life's goal. Discernment balances our thinking. It calms our minds. Discernment reminds us that man may plan, but God determines the outcome. Hanging on to common sense and discernment frees us from needless disappointment. They keep us safe and progressing. We realize our part in God's plans - step as he speaks - and we leave the destination up to him. We go to bed without fear, because our hope isn't hanging on an outcome - but on God himself. We sleep soundly because most of what is really important that needs to happen for dream fulfillment is in God's hands, not ours. We rest soundly because we understand that we're his servants, and our only charge is to follow his lead. Our feet don't stumble because we're not running ahead of the will of God. And when we do stumble, God's made provision for that possibility too. Sudden disaster and destruction may be scary, but they don't have to produce shame assaults on our spirit. When we do have regrets about our shameful ways and iniquity, we know where to go for healing and restoration. Honesty enables us to realize that sometimes we've behaved badly, even wickedly. But even our predisposition to fall short of the glory of God is nothing more than an encounter with God's mercy and grace for those who understand the character of God. The Lord provides us security because he intercedes on our behalf. We may flirt with the trap, but by the grace of God, he provides us a way out. Big believing isn't dependent upon better behaving. It hinges on believing in the one God sent to save. Trusting in ourselves and our own strength to fulfill big dreams is foolishness. And really hard work. It leads to soul dehydration, feelings of insecurity, serious stumbling, fearful living, fitful sleeping, destruction, and serious entrapments. Which kind of life sounds more appealing? Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 13 in the morning; John 17 in the evening

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Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 149 - Big Believing Scripture focus: What is impossible for man is possible for God. Luke 18:27 GNB One of the great mysteries of God to me is his patience. Perpetual relapse disheartens us all. In fact, some people say that a few people are "constitutionally incapable" of finding their freedom from addiction. At least that's what someone told me in reference to my friend who relapses with alarming regularity. I realize that this is an experienced perspective. I understand the concept in theory. In my heart, I hear the words What is impossible for man is possible for God. I'm a big believer in not working harder on someone else's recovery program than they themselves are willing to work. Without this boundary, I might fall into the pit of codependency. I embrace the concept of letting go and letting God. In my heart, I hear the words What is impossible for man is possible for God. Big believing reminds me to never judge who may or may not be constitutionally incapable. I don't get to write people off simply because they break my heart. Nor do I live with the illusion that I have something within me that will cause another person to wake up and smell the coffee. All sorts of impossible things are possible for God. This kind of big believing paired with an accurate appraisal of the one who is really doing the work means we can love large without going codependent. We can love with limits. In fact, we must love within the limits of our humanity and the limitless potential of God's power - or we're playing God. Big believing requires that I not audaciously dare to attempt what only God can achieve. Big believing allows for room to hope and limits our need to control. But it must never limit our willingness to dream. Unfortunately, we get this big believing and big dreaming confused. Sometimes we start dreaming on behalf of others. Other times we get confused and think big dreams are about personal fulfillment and recognition. What if we took a different tact? What if we realized that God is in the business of fulfilling big dreams and using people with only a modicum of belief to make it happen? Instead of beseeching God for a big dream that we think might be fun to achieve, why don't we ask God to show us our part in his story? We believe big when it comes to trusting God's purposes to prevail but we limit our need to decide what that dream looks like. We recognize that all sorts of cool stuff is happening, but we may not see clearly how our small, plodding, daily disciplines are vital to the completion of the mission. I may or may not have his prevailing purposes in mind when I dream big dreams. I accept and embrace the reality that my best intentions may be missing his mark. Cool. I get that. So if I pursue a big dream, and I figure out it was my dream not God's, I can let it go. I can move on without regret. But on the outside chance that our big dreams have collided in perfect harmony with God's prevailing purposes - we must continue to dream big. May you dream big today, trusting that faith the size of a mustard seed is plenty big enough for God to use. What is impossible for man is possible with God. Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 11 and 12 in the morning; John 16 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 148 - A New View Scripture focus: Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. Isaiah 61:7-8 NIV One of our NorthStar Community friends is back out on the streets. His discouragement was palatable one recent Sunday morning as he beseeched me to tell him something that might make a difference in his life choices. The questions reeked of shame and disgrace. My friend currently wakes up on a street corners and spends his day doing whatever it takes to get his drug of choice - even if it involves robbery and iniquity (if he's still alive). I so wish my friend had a new view of his life. I've had meetings downtown a couple of times this week. As I ride down the streets, my eyes search the alleys and street corners. I am looking for my pal. I ask God to put him in my path. I wonder what my friend would think about my moment-by-moment prayer vigil on his behalf. In his shame and disgrace, I suspect he might conclude that if he got in my path, I might run him over with my car as divine retribution for his shameful behavior, his disgraceful choices, and his many moments of iniquity, piling up one on top of another. I have a different perspective. I want him in my path so that I can bestow a blessing upon him. If I had the opportunity, I'd tell him that last week our service wasn't the same without him. He's more willing to share his suffering in public than most. And his honesty refreshes us. We're "less" when he is absent. My friend isn't a good guy because he behaves well. My friend is a child of God, and it is that truth that puts him in the chow line of double portions, inheritances, and everlasting joy. My friend will never experience peace until he realizes that the gift of peace has no strings attached. He doesn't have to get his act together in order for God to love him. God loves him because God has his act together. This kind of understanding will require a moment of clarity - a divine intervention by the living God. So although my buddy hasn't crossed my path this week, I'm praying God will cross his. In the meantime, we wait with hope. And we wonder - this guy so wants to be free. What's holding up the miracle? Unless and until we realize that God wants us in his path - not to run us down, but to bestow a blessing - we'll follow our friend down the path of shame. People who expect to get run down when they act up stay stuck. Lord, help us have the courage to walk this path by giving us a new view of you - our Savior and Lord - one who came to seek and to save those who are lost. Our friend is lost to us today. May we continue to hope, heal, and prepare for his return. When he comes home to his little community, we need to be prepared to continue the risky business of loving him like God does. Could it be that learning how to love like God is the double portion of blessing - the everlasting joy - the best inheritance of all? Jesus once commented that the poor will always be with us. I suppose he would say the same thing about the homeless, hopeless and helpless among us today. His commentary was not a sad statement of the world's condition - it was more a preamble to his greatest commandment - love others well. So although you and I may never cure the ills of this world, we must become a people who love in response to suffering. Recommended reading: 2 Samuel 9 and 10 in the morning; John 15 in the evening

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