Monday Morning Memo: A Birthday Celebration!

Thanksgiving is over and tomorrow begins all the craziness that December usually brings.  But of course, it is still 2020…so I’m confident that this December won’t look much like any other we have lived through.

 

I have confessed before that I have been known to be somewhat of a party pooper at Christmas time.  I’m one of those people who gets so irked that stores have Christmas decorations out in August and September that it makes me not want to put anything out by the time December rolls around.  Call me lazy…but if I do decide to make our home look somewhat like a holiday is on the horizon…I’m usually thinking about all the work it is going to take to put everything away…while I’m still putting it out.

But for some reason, this year has been different.  I actually put our tree up, decorated it AND I did it before Thanksgiving.  I know…call me wild and crazy.  I’m not sure why I did it early…other than I’m hoping I will enjoy December a little more, knowing my decorating is done.  And after the year we have all endured…maybe I just needed some extra beauty at which to look.   

 

There hasn’t been a lot of beauty this past year, has there?  We have spent the last ten months hearing a daily list of stats…those who tested positive, those who have recovered and unfortunately…those who have not survived.  It has been a daily reminder of what “could” happen to us or to those whom we so dearly love.  

 

On top of those stats, we have all witnessed friends and family members fighting with each other over masks, size of gatherings and elections.  As a result, I have talked with many who have dealt with depression during these past months…unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Sometimes, thinking positively about anything can become a chore.  But I’m realizing that we have to be intentional in focusing on those things that we know to be true.  For example, I’ve come to comprehend that thinking about an event that was miraculous, spectacular and life changing helps me focus on the truth.  It gives me hope that this babe, who was born in a stable, was part of a plan.  He was born for me and for you.  He was born so that He could die for our sins and He rose again so we can have eternal life with Him.  What an awesome time to celebrate and to share with others that this baby came to give us hope, even when darkness and negativity is all around us.

Will you go through each day in December in expectation of celebrating His birth, or will fear consume your every thought?  I would love to encourage you to keep your eyes focused on the precious babe that was born to give you hope.  Nothing is happening today that surprises Him.  He’s not wringing His hands wondering how we will make it through another day.  The reason for the season is HIM, and hopefully every time you think about His amazing entrance into the world, you will feel your pulse quicken a little bit…excitement will fill your soul…and you will look forward to the birthday celebration of your King!

I came upon the following words from the Mariners Church which spoke to me and expresses exactly how I am feeling.  I hope they will also speak to you as you intentionally turn your eyes towards the babe that was born for you and for me.

“Lord, I pray that Christmas would not sneak up on me this year.  I don’t want to arrive on Christmas morning with only my gifts wrapped and tasks accomplished.  I want a heart that is full and prepared for Your coming.  Help me this season to be active in waiting for You.  Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to understand the signs, beauty and the wonder of the One I am waiting for.  This season, give me an awareness of the carols, the cards, and the people around me.  Remind me of the truths of Christmas: with You all things are possible, even when I am like Zechariah and Mary with hearts that don’t understand.  When Your promises seem impossible.  God, remind me once again ‘with God all things are possible.’  This Christmas, fill my heart with the Christmas message.   Don’t let fear, pain and sadness steal Your promises.  I want to celebrate You as a promise-making and promise-keeping God.”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part V

As we wrap up our look into how we can choose to have peace even when chaos is all around us, I want to go back to one of the points I shared in our second week.   This point, along with all the others I have shared, came from Jim Lange’s book, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World. 

 
In the second week, I shared Lange’s statement: “Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”  This statement has continued to come to mind this past summer as I have asked myself over and over again where my focus is.  I have realized that when my focus is on me, the turmoil around me can easily become blown out of proportion.  When my focus is on me, it’s way too easy for me to start whining and asking, “Why is this happening to me?”  When my focus is on me, I can easily become panicked about my situation and I begin to bring my Jesus down to my size instead of focusing on how big and powerful He is.
 
I am learning that when my focus is on Him, it is so much easier to feel His presence in my life.  When my focus in on Him, I realize that He is all-powerful and able to handle anything that life throws at me.  When my focus is on Him, it is easier to see the chaos around me as something positive…something that He can use to make me look more like Him.  And, I also believe that when my focus is on Jesus, I’m a nicer person to be around which will hopefully entice those with whom I come in contact, to want to know my Jesus.
 
Do I feel like I have this area of my life completely under control?  No, I don’t.  I still have a long way to go to be the person my Jesus wants me to be.  Just ask my husband, who has to live with me, especially these past months when I had two discs go out in my back.  OK…maybe you shouldn’t ask him  This time has been hard.  And it has been easy for me to lose my focus and forget that Jesus is in control and that His timing and ways are perfect.  There have been days when I have become discouraged when my timetable for being in less pain has not lined up with His.  But the amazing truth is that my Jesus has been so faithful.  Even when I have been weak...He has been strong every. single. day.

​ 
By the way, why is it that we often don’t want anyone else to know we struggle at times?  Why is it that we want others to think we have it all together and we lead a perfect life?  Now don’t get me wrong…I don’t think we need to broadcast our every fault…but I think we need to be willing to let others know that we are a work in progress.  I believe we can make other peoples’ problems seem even worse to them when they compare what they are going through with our apparent “perfect” life.  I think this even plays a role in some of the anger and violence we see played out in our communities.  Some, who are facing serious difficulties, finally break and take their frustrations out on others because they want them to suffer as much as they are.  None of us are perfect and as Christians, we need to be willing to be transparent with those around us, so they can see where and to whom we turn when the bedlam of life is swirling around us.

 
I saw this definition of peace and thought it summed it up well.  Having peace doesn’t mean the world’s noise won’t be around us.  Having peace doesn’t mean we won’t ever be faced with a serious health issue.  Having peace doesn’t mean we won’t ever lose our job or have our spouse walk away.  Having peace doesn’t mean that we won’t have a child who makes wrong decisions.  What it does mean is that even in the noise…even in the chaos…even in the heartbreak…we can still have calmness in our heart.  Calmness because our eyes are focused on our Jesus and we realize just how big HE is.

 
John MacArthur said, “The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path.  The more you know Him and commune with Him, the more the Spirit will make you like Him.  The more you are like Him, the better you will understand His utter sufficiency for all of life’s difficulties.  And that is the only way to know real satisfaction.”  Do you want peace?  Get to know Jesus.  The more you know Him…the less you will want to take your eyes off of the One who can handle anything that life throws at you.

 

“When besieged, I’m calm as a baby.

When all hell breaks loose, I’m collected and cool.

I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing:

To live with him in his house my whole life long.

I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.

That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world,

The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic.”

Psalm 27:3-5 The Message

 

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part IV

Once again, we are looking today at what we can do to have peace each and every day.  As I have shared in the previous weeks, I began thinking about this in a more in-depth manner as I read the book, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World, by Jim Lange.

 
The first week we learned from Mr. Lange’s statement, “Chaos is a part of life that cannot be avoided.  We need to actually embrace the chaos because God allows it for our own good.”  The second week we looked at his words, “Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”   Last week we looked at the fact that we probably won’t have peace until our thoughts change from “Why is this happening TO me…to What is God doing FOR me?”

 
I think this week’s insight from Mr. Lange’s book is where the rubber meets the road.  I think it is something that if we really took to heart…if we really grasped this truth and believed it…we would experience more peace.  He says this, “This might surprise you, but worry and anxiety (or a lack of peace) is sin.  It dishonors God, because when we worry or have anxiety in our hearts, we are effectively saying that God is not big enough to handle it, or that we trust ourselves more than we trust God.  We are putting ourselves and our issues ahead of our Creator, which is the ultimate in pride and selfishness.”  
 
I have preached and written about this very truth and I have even gone so far as to say that when we worry, when we lack peace, we are acting like an atheist.  We are saying that we don’t believe there is a God big enough to handle our needs.  We are saying that we don’t believe His promises…that our pace is better than His pace...that our plans are better than His plans.   We are saying we don’t trust Him enough to allow Him to be our Shepherd.  And when we don’t believe…we won’t have peace.

 
It is so sobering to me when I think about the times when I have acted like an atheist.  When my actions show others that I don’t believe there is a God big enough to handle whatever life throws my way, why in the world would they want to have a relationship with my Savior?  If I don’t have peace; if I don’t show them that my faith and trust is in the One who gave His all for me, they aren’t going to want to hear about Him.  This is sobering…because these actions of mine can have an eternal consequence for those who need my Jesus.
 
Remember how God provided manna daily for the Israelites?  This story has always intrigued me because God could have provided them with storehouses full of manna that never would have spoiled.  He was more than capable of doing that.  But instead, He chose to feed them daily because He wanted them to trust Him for today AND for tomorrow…knowing He would provide whatever was needed.  I am sure He wanted them to learn to have peace, even when they knew they only had provisions for today.

 
I don’t know about you, but I know this is an area of my life I need to turn completely over to the Lord.  I, just like the Israelites, need to have peace knowing He has promised to provide whatever I need for today and He is big enough to also handle my tomorrows.  My Jesus needs to be enough. 
 
I hope you don’t struggle in this area, but if you do, I would love to pray for you.  I think it is important that we support each other in prayer as we strive to demonstrate and live out peace as chaos is swirling around us.  If you would like for me to lift you up to our Jesus, just let me know either by e-mail, luannfulton@gmail.com, or feel free to private message me through Facebook.
 
Our Jesus is enough.  When we live like we believe this…peace will come.

 

“I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

John 14:27

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part III

We are in our third week of looking at having peace no matter what chaos is swirling around us.  I began thinking about this in a more in-depth manner as I read the book, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World by Jim Lange.  My prayer is that something I share will help you in your search to have peace in whatever circumstances you find yourself.
 
The first week we learned from Mr. Lange’s statement, “Chaos is a part of life that cannot be avoided.  We need to actually embrace the chaos because God allows it for our own good.”  Last week we looked at his words, “Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”

 
This week I want to look at what often keeps us from embracing the chaos and focusing on Jesus.  From what I have observed, many people lack peace because of one central question they keep asking as they are experiencing hard times.  Over and over again, many keep asking, “Why is this happening to me?”  Of course, the question becomes personalized depending on the current type of turmoil.  “Why am I having to suffer physically?”  Why am I stuck in this lousy job, where no one recognizes my potential?”  “Why do I have a spouse and/or child who doesn’t love me the way I think I should be loved?”  And I could go on and on.

 

Mr. Lange addressed this in his book.  He said he has also observed this in others who have faced major difficulties in their lives.  He said that some of them acted as if their lives were over.  They fretted and complained about the horrible hand that was dealt to them.  In other words, they were super focused on what was happening TO them, which kept them stuck in the muck and mire.

 
He went on to say he had also observed some who seemed to be blessed in the midst of their difficult circumstances.  With these people, their tough situations proved to be the catalyst for something great in their lives.  He said, “The one thing in common with each of the people in this group was that, at some point along the way, their thinking changed.  They shifted from thoughts of Why is this happening TO me…to What is God doing FOR me?  They each recognized that God was working on their behalf, even though in the natural it didn’t seem like it at all.  They became dead to themselves in their circumstances.  Some of these, probably the more spiritually mature, went to this place quickly in the midst of their trial.  Others may have taken a bit longer.  But they each got there, and God was able to turn their lemons into lemonade.”

 
I think many of us would have a lot more peace if instead of immediately asking, Why me?…we would ask Why NOT me?  Why in the world should we be free of trials and chaos in our lives?  We read in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  Christ told us that we would have difficult situations in our lives, but He also told us that we should have peace.  Why?  Because He is greater than anything this world can throw at us…yes, even a messed-up election 

 
So instead of fretting, fuming, whining and feeling sorry for ourselves, what if we looked at our current situation and thanked the Lord for it.  What if we realized that He has us in our current surroundings for a reason and that through our chaos, He will be able to change us and mold us to look more like Him.  What if we asked Him to reveal what He is trying to teach us and then ask Him to help us act appropriately to His plan.  I’m guessing if we did this, we just might have more peace.

 
If I am honest, I am still a work in progress in thanking the Lord when I am in the middle of unplanned circumstances.  Some days I feel like I’m pretty successful at it and other days I fail miserably.  But He is slowly whittling away those things in my life that keep me from looking like Him…and if that means I have to face uncertain, chaotic times…then I know it is all in His plan.
 
Are you asking “Why me?” today?  I want to urge you to change that question to “Why NOT me” and then try thanking the Lord for what you are experiencing.  Ask Him then to reveal to you His plan in gentle whispers.  I believe you will begin to feel peace as His presence is felt in a powerful way and His Spirit fills your soul.  Give it a try.  What do you have to lose?

Monday Morning Memo: Choosing Peace Part II

As I shared with you last week, I came across a book several years ago entitled, Calming The Storm Within: How to Find Peace In This Chaotic World  by Jim Lange.  This book spoke to me in so many ways, and I hope something I share from it will help your search to have peace no matter what chaos is swirling around you.

One of Mr. Lange’s statements that jumped out at me was this: 

“Peace is something provided to us by God (which we need to both seek and receive) that enables us to have tranquility, or be okay on the inside, regardless of our circumstances.” 

 

While I know in my mind that these words are true, it seems like it is much harder to “live out” than it is to just agree with it.  I know that God does provide peace for us, but where I struggle is accepting His peace when I am in a place in my life where I don’t want to be.

 

As I wrote last week, His peace is always there but it is our choice whether we are going to accept it or not.  It’s easy to choose peace when life is running smoothly and all of our ducks are in a row.  But when we are thrown a curve ball and we are suddenly on a detour that we didn’t plan, it seems to be so much harder to choose His peace.  As I was contemplating as to why I struggle with this, the author hit me between the eyes with these words:

“Peace isn’t stolen from us – we choose to give it up when we refuse to give up control or when we take our eyes off Jesus.”

 
Refusing to give up control.  Ouch.  That hurt.  Anyone that knows me would probably agree that I can easily be a control freak.  I’m pretty particular and I like things to be done and go in the way I think they should happen.  So, when things in my life go haywire, I often tend to just tighten my grip on what is swirling around me.  As I read, I realized that when I do that, I am refusing to give up control because I think I can handle things better.  It is at those times when I am taking my eyes off of Jesus and putting them on myself, and nothing good ever comes from doing that.

 

Tomorrow our country will have a very contentious election…someone is going to win…and someone is going to lose.  Where we have our focus will determine our reaction, especially if our candidates don’t find themselves in the winning circle.  No matter who ends up with the most votes…God will still be on the Throne…and it is in Him that we need to put our trust.

 

Mr. Lange then summed it up with this one powerful statement:

“Any lack of peace that I experience is simply because

I am focusing on my issues and me rather than on Jesus.”

 

This is so true.  If I can fully comprehend this truth and remember it every time I feel my stomach going into knots, hopefully I will stop wherever I am and whatever I am doing and choose His peace.  It’s always there for me…always available…but it’s up to me to put my eyes on my Jesus and accept the peace He is offering.

 

How about you?  Are you living in chaos right now?  If so, whom or what has your focus?  If it isn’t your Jesus…I doubt you have peace and you need to remember, just like I do, that you are making the choice not to have it.  It’s always there for you…always available…but you have to be willing to turn your eyes on Him and choose to have the peace He so longs to give you! 

 

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 16:8