Digging deeper

Matthew 7:24-27 describes one of the Bible's most famous parables about the two men who built houses--one on the rock and one on the sand. We all know how it ends, right? When the waves came crashing in the wise man's house remained while the foolish man's did not. While I remember this story being taught in my Sunday school classes as a child, I don't remember ever discussing the parallels in this story to my own life. This is something that we often do as adults, finding more meaning in parables the older we grow.

Tonight, I learned several things about this parable that I hadn't bothered to think about before. The rock can represent Christ or his word. The sand represents the world. The storm represents the ultimate test of our faith: judgement. So far these are parallels that I had made before, or something similar to them. But here's the new part for me--what do the men represent? First, let's look at what they have in common. Both men in this parable are building their houses, and since we're looking at symbolism, let's say these houses represent the lives they are building based on their relationship with Christ. Both men heard the same words from Christ. It can be assumed that both men built their houses (lives) in similar locations and experienced the same storm. Well, what's different then? The result!! When the storm came one house remained while one washed away.

When applying these parallels to our own lives there are several things we can learn. As Christians we are hearing the same Word of God. After hearing from God we all set out to build our lives based on God's teaching that reflects change, correct? But our lives look different and can be built on different foundations depending on our obedience and adherance to God's word. While our lives look similar from the outside, they may be stunningly different on the inside. This difference will allow varying results to occur in our lives as Christians same as it did with the houses in the storm. If we truly build our lives on God's word, then our lives should look different as we bear godly fruit and become more Christ like; when judgement comes we can stand confident knowing that our lives were different because of Christ. If we attempt to build our lives but choose to only have the shell of a Christian life, choosing a worldly foundation, then we too will find that our lives are washed away when judgement comes.

Now here's where I want to take this a step further--I think we have a responsibility to each other as Christians to make sure that we are all building on the right foundation. Sometimes it's easier to maintain a shell that makes it appear like honest change in our life has occurred and that we are bearing fruit for God. But how do we know that our friends, neighbors, colleagues and Sunday school peers are truly building their life on a godly foundation? This is where we have to dig deeper and build relationships by asking sincere questions and truly caring about those in our lives. It's really easy to come home at night and shut the garage door while your neighbor is shouting hello. Why don't we take the steps to build relationships, both with those we think are Christians and with those who are not? It's hard to discuss matters of the heart with people if you don't know the daily matters they struggle with. Make an effort-dig deeper so that you know what foundation your family and friends are building on.

The Ultimate Gift

Have you ever watched a movie that totally inspired you? I just watched The Ultimate Gift and it did just that--I know, kind of sappy and really cliched, but it's true. The movie brought me to tears as the main character had to learn about different gifts--the value of work, friendship, money, laughter, and family to name a few. I am in agreement with the film's writer, those are all gifts but the ultimate gift to all of us is the gift of life in Christ Jesus. I am so thankful for my salvation and even more thankful that nothing in this world can change or compromise my eternal life. I am thankful for the gift of enjoyment that God has so richly and generously bestowed upon me. In honor of the enjoyment I have been given, I am going to list some things that I enjoy...may God be honored in this list for He has blessed me with them all.

-Sunsets (in Arizona, Florida and anywhere in between)
-I selfishly enjoy the silence that envelops me when I wake before anyone else
-Working--indoors, outdoors, it doesn't matter; there's a lot to be said for something earned through your own sweat
-Food: eating it, talking about it , reading about it and even thinking about it
-Listening to my niece Gracie learn to talk
-Watching my nephew Pete run from the fridge to the couch in the living room (he learned this game from his elder siblings)
-Holding Jake on my lap when he reads to me
-Seeing Dylan smile her toothless smile
-The smell of a horse after a long day's work
-The smell of freshly cut grass
-The smell of sunblock--oh it brings back memories of my childhood
-Morning chats with my mom
-Cooking with Gretchen (my sister-in-law)
-Watching my mom and dad together now that all of us kids are grown and out of the house
-Receiving a letter from Martin, my Compassion kiddo
-Knowing I share my heart for God with someone
-Preparing food to serve others
-The intoxicating smell of coffee
-Watching Gator football and Wildcat basketball
-Grocery shopping
-Eating hamburgers and sandwiches with one hand
-Scrapbooking
-Those little cartons of milk that you got to drink out of in elementary school
-An unexpected hug from a student

“But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
1 Samuel 12:24

A drop of faith

I want to share a portion of a devotion from Dene Ward that humbled and inspired me:

"That reminds me of a woman 2000 years ago who understood the value of leftovers. Her little daughter was demon-possessed, so ill she could not travel, but her mother had heard of someone who might be able to help, who even then was in hiding from the crowds on the border of her country. It took a lot for her to seek him out, first leaving her sick child in someone else’s care, then approaching this Jewish rabbi, a type who had either reviled or ignored her all her life; but a desperate mother will make any sacrifice to save her child.

"Sure enough, even though she addressed him by the Messianic title, “Son of David,” he answered her not a word, Mark 7:22,23. Still she persisted, and this time she was insulted—he called her a dog. Oh, he was nicer about it than most, using the Greek word for “little pet dog,” kunarion, rather than the epithet she usually heard from his kind—kuno, ownerless scavenging dogs that run wild in the streets, but still he made her inequality in his eyes obvious.

"This woman, though, was ready to accept his judgment of her, Even the dogs get the crumbs, sir. Moreover, she understood that was all she needed. This man, whose abilities she had heard of from afar, was more than just a man, and even the tiniest morsel of his power was enough to heal her child, even from a distance."

Do I have enough faith to believe that even a drop of God’s power and strength could change everything in an instant? I like to think so, but is it true? I’m doubtful that it is. I put God in these boxes that limit him based on my worldly tendencies and inclinations. Why? Because I am short sighted and weak. I do have short and very sweet glimpses of God’s hugeness and it’s those brief moments that keep me coming back for more.

Lately I have really been struggling with the purpose of my recent challenges and struggles with parents but this put it in perspective. Am I humble enough to accept God’s plan for my life, even if it’s not what I expect or want? I haven’t been. I’ve been saying that I know there’s a plan in all this but have really struggled to lay down my frustrations and confusions over everything. Have I approached God with contentment and confidence, knowing that if God wanted to and needed to He could change the circumstances in my life that seem to be a thorn in my side? Nope. I want to accept the circumstances of each moment with complete contentment knowing that God designed that moment for me. That it is his best for me.

I pray that you move through today with such confidence and hope in the same God that the desperate mother sought out.

Open...open...open

Do you remember those old K-Mart commercials where the lady stood at the window and repeated "Open, open, open" until the store opened to customers? Well, the open I'm talking about isn't quite the same. I've been listening to this song called "Open Me" by Shawn McDonald. I've had the CD for several years now but it wasn't until last week that this song struck a chord in my heart. The lyrics follow:

"Would you open up my eyes so I can see? Would you open up my ears so I can hear? Would you open up my mind so I can know? Would you open up my heart so I can love you more?

"I want to serve You, my God. I want to give you everything. I want to serve You my king, I want to serve you my Lord, I want to give you everything.

"Here I am with my arms open wide. Asking for You to come up, up inside. Won't you make me new? Won't you make me true? Jesus, Lord, won't you make me like you?"

I've really been wanting to want Jesus more--kind of funny, wanting to want. Sometimes I struggle with even having the desire to want Jesus more. Do you? When I really break that thought down and try to picture what wanting Jesus more looks like, it's then that I get stuck. (That's usually what happens when I try to figure God out.) But this song really put it in perspective for me. Yes, I can want to want but I need to seek God out to help me see him, hear him, know him and love him more.

From the inside out, from the roots up, I want to become more like Jesus. I know my actions, attitude and words don't always portray that (not by God's standards they don't) and that is why I praise God for his mercies that are new each day. For his patience that has no end in sight. For his desire for me. It blows my mind to know that God wants me.

Anyway, this post is a bit off. I pray you honestly want to be more open to having God in your life. Like the crazy K-Mart lady--don't you just want to kneel at Christ's feet begging him to open up to you? To pour himself into you? To make himself known to you? Ask him to open you up.

Obedience

Obedience. What images or thoughts does that word conjure up in your mind? It makes me think of my parents. Or my nieces and nephews. Most often I think of this word as it relates to parenting. That makes sense then that God desires obedience from us, his children. It's an interesting concept that has been brought up several times in thoughts and emails over the past week.

In all of our relationships, God demands that we live in an obedient manner to him. We are to be kind, no matter what. We are to forgive, no matter what. Bottom line, we are to consider others' needs before our own. We are to love, period. There is no "except when" statement in any of these. We often get in this pattern of thinking that asks "what about me then?" Or, "how long am I supposed to do this?" God's answer is a resounding, "FOREVER." We are to love, serve, forgive, and be kind forever. Regardless of the reaction or reciprocation of those around us, we are to live lives in pursuit of God all the time. God doesn't say, "I only want you to love this person as long as they are nice to you." God wants us to love forever, regardless of the actions of anyone around us.

A friend from church emailed this audio clip out from a marriage counseling session. The topic is obedience as it relates to marriage but the concept of obedience forever can be applied to every area of each of our lives. http://www.chris-bence.com/temp/Marriage.mp3

Mi Casa es Su Casa

You asked for and now you have it....only five months later! Check out mi casa!!!

1st picture: The front view of my house.
2nd picture: This a picture of the big grassy space that served as runoff storage during a huge storm--the field sits just northeast of my house.
3rd picture: My kitchen...
4th picture: Just to the right of the kitchen sits my dining room...
5th picture: Still rotating to the right is the living room.
6th picture: My backyard--small jungle or what?? I am tackling this task this weekend with my shiny new lawn mower (thanks mom and dad)!

My classroom

Here is the Buckeye Ag Facility in all it's glory. Our building sits just north of the rest of the school , unattached and out of the way. It's nice, I like being isolated (just kidding)! I feel so blessed to teaching in this program and below you will see why with pictures of our greenhouse, tractors, covered arena and livestock pens, and a couple of views of my classroom. I also included a picture of my the most recent bulletin board I did--I was pretty proud of it.

This is the south wall of my classroom. You can't really tell but all my students sit at table to the right of this picture.