I'm Back!

Wow! Has it really been that long since my last (and first) entry? Where has the time gone?

As a homeschooling mom of one (a four yr. old boy), much of my time has been spent in rousing games of Go Fish and Higglytown Heroes. I have also spent a good deal of time printing out lessons and activities centered around the Thanksgiving and Advent seasons. Hence, my thoughts of late are also centered around such concepts as giving thanks, being thankful, the whole giving vs. receiving battle that circulates every year about this time....

Even as adults, we so often look to what we don't have, forgetting all too easily how much it is we do have. And if that's not a problem there's also the "What do I get for [so-n-so] for Christmas?" Our gifts and measurements so often seem to center around "things". Now, I like a good gift just as much as the next person, but I'm beginning to realize that the reality of having things is not all that it's cracked up to be.

My family and I live in a two bedroom apt. approximately 900 some-odd squ ft. Many people look at us and think, "Boy, they need a house! More room, bigger kitchen, fenced yard...." Granted, it would be nice to have those things- maybe (bigger means more upkeep and more expense)- but I have a slightly different take on "things". We go to Mexico every summer to build houses for families of 3-8 people (give or take) who live in make-shift shacks (gargage doors, tarps, odd plyboard, dirt floors). The spaces they live in are, at the biggest, the size of my bedroom. Even the places we build for them are smaller than our apt. So I look at my own place and now I don't think I need more space. I realize that, truly, we need less stuff!

So my challenge to you as we approach this holiday season, is to take a good long look at your life and be thankful, rejoice at what you do have. And maybe, rather than giving more things this year to people, find ways to bless them with yourself. Offer to help your neighbor/friend with a project. Buy the kids a zoo pass and then go with them. Give your wife the day off (a favorite of mine!) away from the kids and housework. Fix your husband his favorite meal, or give him coupons redeemable for a foot massage. You get the idea.

Who needs more stuff? We need each other!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. "(John 15:13)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)

"In every thing give thanks...." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Identity Crisis

Here's something for us all to chew on.

In Robert S. McGee's book, The Search for Significance, he states the following:

"The fear of rejection is rampant, and loneliness is one of the most dangerous and widespread problems in America today. Some estimate that loneliness has already reached epidemic proportions and say that if it continues to spread, it could seriously erode the emotional strength of our country. Loneliness is not relegated only to unbelievers. Ninety-two percent of the Christians attending a recent Bible conference admitted in a survey that feelings of loneliness are a major problem in their lives. All shared a basic symptom: a sense of despair at feeling unloved and a fear of being unwanted or unaccepted. This is a tragic commentary on the people about whom Christ said: "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35)."

Ninety-two percent of Christians? That is a staggering number and evidence to me of an identity crisis among our people. I believe that if we truly understand who we are in Christ, and truly understand the nature of God, the feeling of being unloved, the fear of being unwanted, unaccepted would dissipate like the morning dew. If we are to take God at His word then several things must be true.

1) I am wonderful (this means you). "...I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:14) The problem is, our soul seems to have forgotten...or else we're not listening.

2) I am forgiven. Have you ever known God to do anything half-way? I am reminded of the illustration that God has taken our sins, thrown them into the deepest ocean and has put up a "no fishing" sign. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness....And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins..." (1 John 1:9, 2:1-2). "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1)

3) I am royalty. "...you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ..." (Romans 8:15-17)

4) I am chosen. "...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him...(it was His unchanging plan to adopt us) as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will..." (Ephesians 1:4-6, NAS, NLT)

I could go on, and probably will as I journey to discover my own identity, for I am not without the same struggles listed in McGee's book. I will close this one entry for now, however, and I leave you with one more quote from The Search for Significance (chp. 4, God's Answer: Justification).

"When God considers you, does He deceive Himself in some way or does He know who you truly are?

If He knows who we truly are, then why do we preface His understanding of us with phrases such as "in God's eyes we are righteous" or "forgiven" or "loved" or "pleasing" and so on? Are we trying to say that God is not living in reality? That He is somehow involved in self-deception? Is He just some old grandparent type who wants to overlook the faults of His grandchildren? Either He really knows who you are or He doesn't. Playing with words this way keeps us from experiencing the reality of who we are. It also dishonors who God is.

The second question is, If you think of yourself differently than God thinks of you, who is mistaken, you or God? How often do we allow our minds to overrule what God says is true? Keep in mind, you were made by and for God. He has placed within you needs that only He can meet. If we try to have these needs met by another person or persons, we will end up frustrated, angry, and unfulfilled."

Until next time....

Welcome to My Blog

Hi! Welcome to my page of ramblings. This blog is my attempt at several things, one of which is to oil my rusty writing hinges. I am also on a journey of discovery, and I invite you to come along for the ride. Perhaps amid my ventures, you too, may discover some things about yourself, about the world around, about the world to come. I welcome your comments along the way. I welcome you.