Where Do You Stand?

Position is paramount in importance. I don't mean social position or even financial position. Those are superficial indicators at best. Really knowing who you are brings enormous power and peace.

For example, when my daughter, Elizabeth, was a toddler, my husband owned a restaurant. While she was very well-behaved, she just knew her daddy owned the place and she walked in with a toddler-sized attitude of authority. Without a moment's hesitation, she'd go behind the counter and even back into the kitchen to find her daddy and get a cookie. She never did this anywhere else. However, she was the owner's daughter, and even at her tender age, knowing this filled her with assurance. She had no doubt that she had every right to go in the back and find her father and get whatever she needed. She knew where she stood.

Not too many of us fully comprehend the privileged position we have in Jesus. How awesome to realize that because of Him, you are a child of God. He is your "Dad," the King, so that makes you a son or daughter of the King - a prince or princess. You are royalty. Get hold of this truth, and it will revolutionize not only your self-image, but your entire life. You can approach His throne in prayer with the same boldness and confidence Elizabeth demonstrated in seeking out her daddy.

There is incredible power in knowing where you stand. If you're on the altar directly to the left of the bride, you have the esteemed position of maid or matron of honor. You get to ride in the limo and sit at the head table. If your desk is in the very front of the classroom, you're the teacher and not one of the students. You get to make up the tests, not study for them and sweat over the answers. The maid of honor would look pretty foolish if she went around to all the wedding guests asking if anyone could give her a lift to the reception, when the limo was parked at the curb waiting for her.

We must look just as foolish to God when we hover at the very fringes of His Presence timidly attempting to approach Him, when we have every right to boldly walk up to Him, jump into His lap and pour out our hearts. You dishonor Him when you behave as if you were a second class citizen in His kingdom instead of a first generation, much loved child of the Most High. You have unlimited, unrestricted access to Him at all times and you insult His reputation when you act as if you don't, or as if He doesn't care about you.

Once the truth of this saturates your spirit and soul, it can't help but radiate from your very being in all you say and do. It has the power to forever change you from a cringing, panicky mess into the dynamic, dauntless prince or princess you actually are. You are a representative of your Father, the King. He desires for you to take full advantage of your rights and privileges. he never intended for you to scrape and scrounge for crumbs. No! He created you to be an instrument of His love, power and mercy to a world that hasn't yet met Him face-to-face.
Understand and believe that you carry within you, wherever you go, the power of the King of the Universe, and you'll never want to dishonor or disappoint Him. Consequently, people will be drawn to Him because of the peace and assurance they sense in you. It all hinges on your position.

Now, I ask you again, where do you stand?

Now!

I've been trying to be more mindful - aware of and being really present each moment of my day. I've actually found it to be quite an effort because I've been realizing how much of the time I am doing one thing but thinking about the next task on the list instead of fully focusing on that thing I'm doing. The same is true of conversations. Instead of really listening to what is being said, many times I find myself busy formulating my response - before they've even finished their thought!

In making the effort to remain focused moment by moment a thought occurred to me. Faith is actually a kind of mindfulness. Think about it. Hebrews 11:1 tells us NOW faith is. Faith necessarily requires that we believe we receive what we ask for - now. Faith says: I have it NOW. Faith is present tense - not future and not past. God Himself says, I AM. Not I was or I will be. He is right here, right now. Time as we know it doesn't exist for Him. He sees the end from the beginning and calls us to do the same thing.

Now is all we really have. We can put something off into the future and say we'll do or have it "tomorrow." But there is no tomorrow because every day becomes today! There's certainly no harm in planning for the future, setting goals. Those are actually very good things that give our lives structure.

I just think rather than focusing my energies on why something failed (looking back) or constantly reaching for what may happen someday (looking ahead), I am better served by simply being fully present right here where I am, right now. Perhaps that's what "walking by faith" means. I don't have to "see" what I am believing for. I don't have to see the change. Before any perceptible change happens in the natural, physical world, I count it done and go on!

Now. That's faith.

For Such a Time As This!

As I was driving recently the scripture from Esther came to my mind: 4:14 "...who can say but that you have been elevated to the palace for just such a time as this?" Of course that was Esther's uncle Mordecai telling her that God may have allowed her to become Queen specifically because He knew that she would be in the perfect position to save her people from destruction.

It occurred to me that it's true of every one of us! No, we are not all in positions of royalty or power. We are not all called to save an entire nation from destruction. But we have all been placed here on this earth, in the specific place we live, and at this particular time because we are meant to impact our little part of the world and the people we love and live with and come in contact with on a daily basis!

I know some people think they're just a secretary or just a mom or just a teacher. There is no "just" about it! God doesn't make mistakes. He doesn't do anything without purpose. His thoughts are always higher than ours and He knows the end from the beginning so He always knows best!

I think the key here is to be mindful. Pay attention to the people around you and the opportunities God places before you to be a blessing in some way. Maybe just your smiling face and genuine greeting this morning may change a person's whole day! Your positive attitude and excellent work ethic may just change the entire atmosphere at your job.

Maybe you are in a particular job at this particular time because you are meant to interact with a specific person - either for their benefit or for yours! I worked for a law firm years ago and my boss was a very difficult man. I remember leaving work more often than not with my stomach in knots and my head throbbing. More than once I felt like I had to just leave that job even though I really loved the people I worked with and made some lifelong friends. I put feelers out for another position and doors remained closed so I took that to mean I was to stay put.

I was asked by one of the other girls in the office to be in her wedding party. I was paired with her brother-in-law, whom I have been happily married to for 26 years! Had I left, perhaps I would not have been able to accept her invitation to be in her wedding party and would not have met my husband. God has us strategically placed - I believe that!

So if you are unhappy where you are or if you feel what you are doing is unimportant and are waiting for something better - change your outlook. Nothing is unimportant and everyone has a purpose. God has a plan for each of us. It's up to us to be sensitive to His leading and make the most of where we are right now.

That's basic.

Affectionate Care

I was blessed to be able to spend a week with my oldest son, who came home for a few days off. We walked the Newburgh-Beacon bridge together, staying in shape and also discussing websites and writing and other things he and I particularly have in common. It was such a wonderful time and I enjoyed every minute I was able to spend with him. I really appreciate that a 24 year old young man would spend a few of his vacation days at home with his family. That is not something you hear too often and I know just how fortunate his dad and I are that our kids enjoy being here.

We went to the Middletown Galleria on Labor Day as Chris had several gift cards he wanted to use to purchase some clothes for work. We enjoyed walking around and looking at the sales. He found several beautiful sweaters that were on sale for 50% off and after trying them on went to pay. I decided to wait out in the mall while he did. It was taking an awfully long time as he was the only one at the cash register when I left him there so I went in to see what was taking so long.

Evidently there was a problem with the gift card. As it was issued by American Express as a reward for money he'd already spent, the manager was on the phone with AE to get it straightened out. After another 15 minutes or so Chris came out with his sweaters. I asked what happened and he explained that the representative on the phone insisted on speaking directly to him and admitted that it was a problem on their end with the card but refused to authorize Chris's purchase, instead saying he would send him another gift card. Chris explained that this was unacceptable since this was a sale and a card sent to his apartment wouldn't help him today. The person didn't get it and refused to authorize the purchase. Chris was prepared to tell the manager that since that was the case he could not purchase the sweaters. But she told him she'd take care of it and he walked out with the sweaters and another $50 gift card being mailed to his apartment.

Later that day we walked the bridge and he made such a wonderful comment to me. He said that in the scheme of things, the sweaters on sale and gift card problem was such a small, unimportant thing - and if God cared about his getting the sweaters and another card, he knew God was on top of the really important things going on in his life like his career and job!

What a wise and insightful young man! I immediately agreed wholeheartedly and 1 Peter 5:7 in the Amplified came to mind: Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

It brought that scripture to life for me in a very real way as I could imagine our loving Heavenly Father saying, "I know how hard Chris works and he is such a good steward of his resources - I want him to have these sweaters."

That may sound silly to you - but it is so getting back to basics - God is good - all the time - and He cares about everything that concerns me - even what others might consider unimportant. If it's important at all to me - it's important to Him!

Speaking the Truth

We are told to speak the truth in love to each other (Ephesians 4:15). But where do you draw the line between being honest with someone and just sympathizing with them to make them feel better? While I try always to be mindful of not offending anyone or being harsh or hurtful, this is a difficult thing for me.

If you are like me and always want to leave people feeling better than when they met you, this can sometimes be a very difficult choice to make. Would it really matter? So what if you just "yes" them - agree and sympathize? How could it hurt anything? Besides you come off as the good guy - they get stroked and you look like a saint.

If you really care about the person - it's simply not an option. As parents, we are called on to do it continually. You probably have no problem whatsoever telling your child they cannot play in the street or pretend to cook with a real knife; or telling your teen they must be home by 9 pm or cannot go to a particular place because it is not safe. Pretty simple, straightforward and clear cut. So why is it so difficult to tell a friend a truth about something?

Well, part of it, I think is not wanting to hurt someone who is already hurting, but part is selfish - you don't want them to dislike you. Come on, admit it - you want to be liked. Period. We all do. But when you remove that desire from the equation and focus solely on the "truth" of the issue being discussed, it becomes a little easier.

I recently had to make this decision during a conversation with a friend who is experiencing serious family issues as well as health problems. She calls fairly often to tell me what's been happening. I realized that these calls were not only emotionally draining to me but nothing was changing. I was hearing the same story - just a different day - for years! I realized this command to speak the truth in love was one I was not obeying. I finally had to say that these calls simply rehashing and complaining about the situation were accomplishing nothing. She had repeatedly asked for suggestions on making some decisions and I shared what I thought. But she never did anything - except complain and sink deeper into the role of victim.

It was a painful conversation. I had to be honest and say what I felt she needed to hear. I apologized if I hurt her feelings but I couldn't have this same conversation myriad times for another ten years. Nothing will change unless someone takes a step. I pray fervently for her but she has not called since that last conversation. Perhaps she has found someone else to provide the sympathy she craves. Honestly I hope she really takes to heart what I said and is trying to make some progress. Regardless, I feel better that I didn't just tell her what she wanted to hear and leave her in the same condition.

This is definitely a basic - truth. We can't deal with any situation unless we get to the truth of the matter and deal with it. Nothing will change. Sometimes we have to be the agent of change in someone else's life. Be courageous - speak the truth, in love, and trust God to do the rest.

KISS

Keep it simple, sweetheart! That’s a catchy phrase and acronym. There’s a lot of truth contained there. We love to be complicated – it makes us feel we are somehow more sophisticated, smarter. We want to impress with our knowledge. Most of us can take the most straight-forward, simple thing and complicate it beyond understanding. And think we’ve done a good thing!

The very best and most important things in life are actually very simple. But when something sounds too “easy” we have a hard time believing it. For instance, take God’s plan of salvation. It is straight-forward and simple. Nothing complicated about it. God’s ways are simple and clear-cut. Most times our ways are convoluted and confusing.

Rather than making everything in life more complicated than it needs to be, I believe we should embrace becoming simple people. That description tends to have a negative connotation – people don’t want to be considered “simple-minded” but being simple is something entirely different. If you don’t like that term, how about being uncomplicated?

According to the dictionary definition, simple means, among other things: To be free from guile, innocent; free from ostentation or display ; sheer, unmixed; readily understood or performed. It is the opposite of complex or complicated.

Another definition for simple is “single.” When you have a single thing – there’s no question about it, no decision to make – it stands alone. The Bible tells us to be single-minded. Actually what the scripture tells us is that a double-minded man who constantly wavers and changes his mind every five minutes, will not receive anything from God. In another verse we are told to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Don’t complicate it! Say what you mean and mean what you say. God also tells us to keep our eye “single” in one translation. To me that says focus. Get to the heart of the matter and don’t complicate it with a lot of unnecessary information.

All the very best things in life are inherently simple. I don’t know about you but I want to be an uncomplicated person whose words are clear and sincere. I want people to know where I stand without question. I want my actions to match my beliefs. Simple. Not always easy but simple. I guess the bottom line is I want to imitate my Heavenly Father and KISS.

Are You Just Fooling Yourself?

It tends to amaze me how many people live their lives as if there are no consequences to their actions. You know what I mean - they overeat and yet are shocked that they are overweight; they eat a diet of processed, junk, fast "food" (and I use the term loosely!) and find it surprising that they have no energy or now have developed diabetes or some other illness; they never move their bodies except to change positions on the couch and are amazed that their clothes are tight and they barely have the energy to walk a block; or they smoke or drink and find it hard to understand why they are not healthy.

We are not stupid, yet we persist in fooling ourselves in this crazy way. The Bible puts it this way:

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. (Galatians 6:7)

Pretty clear. You may think you are fooling yourself and maybe in some way you are - simply because you choose to. But you are not fooling God. He created you and your body. He knows exactly how it works and how it will respond to what you do. It's your choice whether to care for it intelligently or to abuse it. And if you choose to abuse it, you take full responsibility for the result - whether you acknowledge what you're doing or not. It's a spiritual and a physical law.

Every action has a corresponding reaction. You eat fresh, whole foods and you nourish and fuel your body down to your cells. You eat junk and you simply put calories in that cause you to gain weight and starve your body down to the cells. You can become an obese person suffering from malnutrition!

Don't fool yourself. Be honest about what you are doing and why. Make choices that benefit you and get you back to basic health. Whatever you sow you will reap - either the rewards or the consequences - it's your choice.