Lent Day 27: Withholding nothing

Giving 100% of self is one of the hardest things we do. Whether we are protecting ourselves because of insecurity, past hurts, or other "reasons," we don't allow ourselves to be fully vulnerable.

Jesus gave everything for us. I'm thinking today about what giving everything back to him and to others would be like, and how it would feel. Are we willing to expose our "self" to draw near to God? Do we trust his protection by serving him without reservations?

Jesus said: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15:9-14 NKJV

Are you holding anything back? Am I? After reading Philippians this morning, I can only wonder at the God who held back nothing for himself, but lived and died among us. With us. On our behalf. Amazing.

Read more:

"The Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below. Joshua 2:11 NEV

*Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up," says the Lord; "I will place them in the safety for which they long." Psalm 12:5 NEV

*Jesus said, "When the Advocate comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment." John 16:8 NEV

*Jesus Christ, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness, and being found in human form. Philippians 2:6-7

*In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, we offer, in stunned humility, our gratitude and praise for your complete act of sacrifice. You gave yourself even for sinners like us. Truly, you are the Son of God.

God of love, send your Spirit upon us and renew our hearts, minds, and souls. Help us to rid our lives of the sins which keep distancing us from your will. Restore us to practice your word and be good and faithful servants. Amen.

Lent Day 15: Who am I, anyway?

How do you see yourself?

• As a hopeful individual? or as a person with dashed dreams?
• As a failure? or success?
• As a gifted participant in life? or as someone who "never gets it right"?
• As part of a community to which you contribute? or as an outsider?

The way we view ourselves 

influences our responses to life. 

On the negative side:

• If you see yourself as unworthy, you may become a doormat who lets others run roughshod over you (with all the resentment that entails). Or do you blame others when you don't reach your goals? Do you begin your resentments for ill treatment with, "If-only ... ?"
• If you see yourself as a disempowered minority in gender, ethnicity, education, or another qualifier, you may look for offense - often where none is intended. OR have you become an overachiever who tries to get noticed "in spite of" that quality?
• If you see yourself as entitled, you may become a bully. Do you treat others as servants for your wants and wishes?
• If you see yourself as a victim, you may take affront at any slight. Do you refuse to forgive those who deliberately (or otherwise) hurt you, gathering the sins of others into a heap of self-ruin?

On the positive side, walking in freedom, we have been forgiven and set loose from our failures.

• If you see yourself as God's child, you have a Heavenly Father who delights in you. Do you enjoy those around you as God's co-creations?
• If you see yourself as servant of God, you will happily serve others in His name. Do you gladly help others out?
• If you see yourself as worthy of God's attention, the attention of others will only be a bonus if it happens. Are you content with God's approval and surprised when others applaud you?
• If you see yourself as an overcomer, you will rise to meet every challenge with God's help. Do you look forward to new things?

So, how do we change our persistent perceptions?

Covey's Habits (Click for link)

1. Find significance in being yourself. God made you. God loves you. God gives you purpose and meaning.
2. Boost your work with your personality and gifting. If you stock shelves, work an assembly line, are a scientist or an artist, build into your work the things you love. Talk to people (or pray for them) if you're an extrovert. Build your muscles if you're doing physical routines. Learn new things if you're a scholar (wherever you are). Design better ways to do your work if you're gifted in creativity or administration.
3. Look for ways to enhance the work and profile of others. Speak well of people around you. Tell them when they do good work. Let others shine.
4. Bring your spirit as well as your mind and body everywhere you go. Be honest about what you believe without being preachy. If others share their journey of faith (or lack of it), share something about your own walk with Christ. Part of wholeness is bringing all of your self along, wherever you are.
5. Look for the best in your circumstances. Surely there's something good about your life, right where you are now! Count your blessings, name them one by one, says the old song. 
6. Share your gratitude with others. Tell other people what makes you happy and things you are thankful for.

Start today!

Read more:

*But you, O Lord, do not be far from me; O my strength, hasten to help me! Psalm 22:19 (NKJV)

*Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked." Psalm 94:12–13 NLT

*He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5 NIV

*The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Faithful Lord, help us to remember that when evil surrounds us and when dark thoughts bubble up within us, we can rely on your strength to set us right and see us through. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Need inspiration? Start something!

I rarely tear up. However, births and growth (spiritual and otherwise) make my eyes well up. An unexpected sources of inspiration - and happy tears - showed up at Apartment Therapy this morning.

If you're a regular reader, you know my view of humanity: each person is unique, wonderful, and gifted. God made us as we are. He likes us! and sets us loose to use our talents, training, and experiences in our location.

WE get to choose, each day, to: 

• develop self and enjoy life to the max, OR
• stay small and hidden to live an unfulfilled, fulfilling life.

Need inspiration on being true to yourself while helping others? Click here for the story of an amazing Before & After by an ordinary couple. She works with refugees and he works in construction.

The abandoned house falling into ruins across the street? She sees the opportunity. He has the skills. She has the network. He has friends who can help.

Before and After - Ruin to Refuge

Together they roll up their sleeves and get to work. The result? Pure joy. Win. Win. Win. Check out the full story here.

What's your gift to the world? Here are a few ideas to help you find a place and passion that can change the world (on a small or big scale):

1. Start with who you are. God made you. He likes you. He put you where you are. Tests like Strengthsfinder 2.0 and Myers-Briggs can help you examine your strengths and passions. Ask your friends and coworkers for their view on what's important to you, too.
2. Look around you. What needs doing? More particularly, what needs doing that excites you or gets your mind churning with possibilities?
3. Ask God's advice. He's strong enough, smart enough, and willing to steer you in the right direction.
4. Find people to help. Ideas, skills, and willing hands are all around you. Don't drop an idea or go it alone if a project seems beyond your ability. Look for partners who will boost what you do into reality - or something bigger still!
5. Take small steps toward making a difference. This might mean talking things over with others, planning a project, getting out your hammer and toolbox, preheating the oven, walking to the neighbor's home or office, or assembling cleaning supplies.
6. Get to work. Jump in and DO IT. God made you to create and contribute to the world. (If you were unimportant or irrelevant, he would have made someone else like you and put him or her where you are.) Yikes, it's really YOU through whom God wants to show up this time, in this place. Get moving!
7. Admire the results. Be happy when God uses you. Savor the satisfaction - even God admired his work every day of creation. (While he comments that sun, moon, starts, plants, and animals are "good," he rocked it out of the park with "VERY GOOD" when he made us. Cool!)

Please share your contribution or projects in the Comments below. We'd love to know how you - yes, you! - fit into the world around you. Thanks!

Read more:

*Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. Proverbs 24:27

*See, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

*"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Moravian Prayer: Father in heaven, we recognize that you are the Alpha and Omega, you are the beginning and the end. We also know that you have no ending and will be with us forever. You who are, who were and are to come, be all power and glory in Christ our Almighty Savior. Amen.