Monday Morning Memo: Uncluttered and Focused

I was looking for something in my files the other day and came across a post I wrote several years ago on Memorial Day.  The words are even more pertinent today than they were then…and my thoughts haven’t changed.  So I decided I would share them again this year.

Memorial Day. This is the day when we remember the people who died while serving in our country's armed forces.  I so admire those who have been willing to serve our country so sacrificially.  They not only chose to start a life journey where they would have to leave friends and family, often placed in situations that were far from being comfortable, but then gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life so that you and I can have freedom. We are free because of those who have been brave.

What deeply saddens me is that so many have given their lives for our freedom…but we are now losing many of our freedoms, not because of those outside our country, but because of those inside our country.  Bit by bit…day by day…decisions and mandates are being forced on us that are jeopardizing our freedom to follow the Biblical truths that we hold so dear. Our country, which was started on Christian principles, is now so far from where it began, that it is almost unrecognizable.  The mantra that is now being shoved down our throats is that “everything goes” …as long as Christianity is not included.

The day is here my friends where it isn’t only the soldiers that serve our country who need to be brave, but we also, as Christians, need to be brave.  Our religious freedoms are being taken away, and we need to be willing to stand up for what we know to be the truths given to us by our Lord and Savior.  It will not be easy and it won’t be the popular thing to do, but it is what we have been called to do.  

I was reading this past week in I Chronicles 29 in the version The Message.  I came across these words of David:

“O God, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this generous spirit alive forever in these people always, keep their hearts set firmly in you. And give my son Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so that he can obey what you command, live by your directions and counsel, and carry through with building The Temple for which I have provided.”

David asked that God would give Solomon an uncluttered and focused heart so he would have the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God would call him to do. David recognized that it wouldn’t be an easy road but knew that as long as Solomon kept his eyes on His God and his heart pure, God would be with him every step of the way.

We serve the same God that Abraham, Isaac, Israel, David and Solomon served and what He did for them…He can and will do for us.  Our job is to make sure that our hearts are where they should be and that our eyes are focused on Him.  He will then give us the strength, wisdom and courage to do what God is now calling us to do. 

Today I want to remember those who were brave and gave their all for me.  I do not want their ultimate sacrifice to be wasted by not giving my all to make sure our nation returns to its Godly heritage.  Let’s make sure that those who are coming behind us will have their Christian freedoms…because we were brave.

Monday Morning Memo: Nicknames

My reading this past week took me to Mark 3, where the names of the twelve disciples are listed.  To be honest, I usually just skim through this section of scripture…because I never really thought their names were that big of a deal.  But when I read them this time, one of the verses really stood out to me. It was verse 17 where it says, “James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them ‘Sons of Thunder’).”  I don’t know about you…but I think it would have been awesome to have Jesus give me a nickname.  I mean, how cool would that be?

That is, as long as it referred to a positive attribute of mine.  I would have been thrilled if scripture would have listed my name, and then clarified that Jesus nicknamed me “Patient LuAnn”…or “Daughter of Peace”…or even the title of my first devotional book, Image Seeker. Any of those would have been amazing.

Unfortunately, many of my attributes aren’t so positive.  If you have read Image Seeker, you may remember that growing up my nickname was Walter Cronkite…yeah…not really what a young girl wanted to be called.  But the name was fitting…because I did talk a lot and I always wanted to beat my siblings in telling news to the world.  In other words…I received the nickname because I was a blabber-mouth!

That “label” is probably ok when you are 10, but it’s not so pretty at the age I am now. My lack of patience probably isn’t something I would want Jesus to refer to either if He gave me a nickname.  Moreover, neither is my sometimes cynical attitude very becoming.  What if scripture referred to me as “Impatient LuAnn” or “One Who Blabs” or “Skeptical One”. Maybe I should be thankful that Jesus didn’t list a nickname for me in scripture.

Of course, those around me probably have nicknames for me and I’m confident some of those aren’t real flattering either.  The sobering fact is that the world is watching me…and you…and will label us by what they see us doing and saying.   Will they see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?  Or will they hear us saying one thing…but living out something entirely different?

Now we know that we won’t always make others happy and our ultimate goal should be to please our Savior.  Each of us are a work in progress, and fortunately, Jesus loves us enough to keep chiseling away at those attributes that aren’t very pleasing to Him.  I think as we look more and more like Him, others are bound to see His reflection in us and will hopefully want what we have. Maybe then they will give you and me the nickname that we all should be striving to receive, “Christ-Follower”.

“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, 

because my servants must be where I am. 

And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”

John 12:26

Monday Morning Memo: Expectations

The word that has been rolling around in my head the last few days is “expectation”.  It seems to me that we spend much of our life in “expectation”.  When we are growing up, we live in expectation of becoming a teenager, of being able to drive, of graduating high school, and then going to college.

Many of us then live in expectation of finding a good job, finding a mate, getting married, having children, and then being blessed with grandchildren.  We now have five, amazing, adorable, multi-talented grandchildren and believe me…we waited in expectation for each of their births! 

Is there anything wrong with living with expectations?  Of course not.  I think it is good for us to have events to look forward to.  Sometimes it is those anticipated happenings that give us hope and a bright outlook and so it is often good for us to look forward.

But, and you knew there would be a “but”, the problem occurs when we are only living for future times and wasting today.  We can become so focused on our future “possibilities” that we miss the certainties of the present.  How many parents spend years just waiting with expectation for the day when their kids will be in school, only to miss the precious moments of today?   How many people can’t wait until they get that perfect job, and neglect the opportunities they have today to make a difference in the lives of others?  How many adults wait with expectation for the day when they can retire, grudgingly enduring today and making everyone around them miserable in the meantime?

I think we need to remember that there are short-term times that we should approach with expectation.  If I truly want to be more like Christ, I should begin each day in expectation of spending time with Him.  I should be excited.  I should be hungry to learn what He has to teach me.  And believe it or not…I should even have more expectation to meet with Him than I do to see what is posted on Facebook!  

If I desire to look more like Christ, I should also wait with expectation for the times when I gather in His house and hear from one of His messengers.  I believe that I should anticipate and look forward every day of the week to what He has to teach me during the next time of worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  That means that on Monday morning, I should already be praying for and looking forward to the next Sunday.  Now some of you may be thinking…are you crazy LuAnn?  I should spend the next 6 days in expectation of next Sunday…just because I’m going to church?  Well, if we can wait with expectation for months and even years for events that have no eternal significance...I happen to believe we can do it for 6 days J

I have a challenge for you this week.  Every morning when you wake up, approach your quiet time with the Lord with expectation. Enter into His presence expecting Him to work within you and through you.  Each day during your quiet time, tell the Lord that you are already looking forward to next Sunday.  Begin praying for your Pastor that the Lord would work in him or her throughout the week as he or she prepares their sermon.  Begin praying that during your time of worship, you will hear Him whispering in your ear and be open to His leading.

I believe that if we live today with expectation…God will begin to work within us in a mighty way.  I’m excited to hear how He is speaking to each of you and how your life is changing because of listening to Him.  He is expecting to meet with you today…will you be there? 

“I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promises.”

Psalm 119:147-148

Monday Morning Memo: I Wonder...

I love to talk. That statement will not be a shock to those of you who know me personally.  I’m very rarely at a loss for words…whether they have meaning or not…I usually can think of something to say.  Sometimes this is a blessing and sometimes a curse, because too much talking can easily lead to putting my foot in my mouth by saying the wrong thing.

It probably doesn’t help that people actually pay me to talk.  Isn’t that crazy?  I am paid to stand in front of them and do what I love to do.  That just blows me away.  When I think about it, I feel humbled and incredibly blessed.

I was thinking about this last week when I read a section of scripture in the Bible. Matthew 17:1-5 says, “Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone.  As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.  

Peter exclaimed, ‘Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.  Listen to him.’”

You see, Peter and I have a lot in common.  I think he loved to talk too, and in this account, he couldn’t wait to jump in, take charge and tell Jesus his idea.  Yep, that would be me.  But did you catch what the scripture says right after Peter shares his thoughts? It says, “But even as he spoke”.  So, before Peter is even done talking, God interrupts him and tells him to be quiet and listen to what Jesus has to say. 

Wow.  I wonder how often God has tried to get across to me that I should shut up and listen because Jesus has something important to tell me…but I’m too preoccupied with trying to get my point across to Him. How often do I just keep rambling on and on and I neglect to hear what He has to say to me?  Maybe what I’m trying to tell Him…wouldn’t seem so urgent…if I was listening to what His thoughts were first. 

It makes me wonder what our world would be like, if more of us made a point to do more listening to our Heavenly Father.  I can’t help but think it would be a better place…a place with less stress because our thoughts and ways would be more in line with what He wants for us.  Maybe we wouldn’t get off course so easily, if we listened before we talked…listened before we acted. 

Today I’m going to try to talk less and listen more.  I really do want to know what Jesus is trying to tell me.  Plus, it just might give my husband a break too…so I’ll be killing two birds with one stone J