When Gentleness Floats
I grew up in a home where we exchanged all kinds of favors - back rubs, arm tickles and back "treasure hunts" to name a few. To this day a soft brush touches my heart and not just my skin.
God asks us to touch the world with gentleness. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:5. I wrote about the soft caress of gentleness today at Keeping it Personal.
Come on over there and check it out... http://keepingitpersonal.com/2012/07/evidence-of-gentleness/
Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Reveal Me
When Ryan Seacrest mouths, "Your next American Idol is...", I scoot to the edge.
When Ty Pennington shouts, "Move that bus!", I reach for a tissue.
The big reveal is thrilling...as long as it isn't mine. It is safer to keep my emotions and thoughts bussed in. No risk is required when I watch someone else reach for their dreams.
For too long in relationships I chased expectations. I tried to do, be and say the right thing to please my parents, men, girlfriends and even strangers. I would not risk revealing my true inner self. I know I'm not alone in this. How often have you heard someone utter, "She shared too much," with a look of pity. Sharing too much. Getting too emotional. These receive quick criticism. I've rarely heard someone denigrated for sharing too little.
Are we satisfied with plastic relationships? Do stilted, measured conversations meet our heart needs?
As we continue our series on life transforming prayer, what if we dared to take the lead in authenticity? What if we prayed for the courage and boldness to say, "Lord, reveal me?" He will be our shield as we expose our inner self. He will protect and guard our hearts. We will experience the joy of authentic, God-intended relationship.
What is your go-to mask?
Plant Workers
Peacemakers who sow in peace, raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:18
"I'm really sorry." I muttered it three times in less than two minutes. She had messed up my drive thru order but I was apologizing. The words came easily, without effort. I did not want to leave my passing encounter with her angry at me. Why did I feel the need to profusely apologize? More importantly, why I am so quick to apologize to a stranger and so slow to seek forgiveness from my loved ones?
I want to sow the seeds of peace within my home. I want the halls of my home to ring with harmony. I want to raise a harvest of righteousness.
Preparation
Just as the fields are prepared prior to planting so must my heart be prepared for peace. That preparation begins with Jesus over orange juice. It is my secret time with Him early in my day that tunes my heart strings toward harmony.
Planting
Like seeds dropped in fertile ground, I plant into the hearts of my family each day. Sometimes what lands there is contentious and provocative. When I first prepare my heart, I plant peace.
Pampering
Have you ever noticed how gardeners nurture their crop with tenderness. They diligently monitor for signs of illness, pests and drought. I need to invest the same care into my relationships.
I was so quick to heal wounds with a stranger. Greater care should be given those I love - I shouldn't just be quick to offer my apologies; I should be quick to offer my forgiveness. When you freely offer forgiveness, you harvest harmony.
Every one of us will drive thru today. Our stop at the window of our loved one's souls will plant in their hearts because we're all plant workers. Will we plant strife or peace?
What is one healthy way you heal relationships in your home?
Highway Robbery
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthian 12:4-7
Packed up for a Christmas like Santa's overflowing sack, we made our way from Alabama to Kansas for Christmas. Our "sleigh" included car topper stuffed with presents. Mr. Claus (i.e. my dad) made a last minute mall stop and came out to find his pack stolen.
Sometimes our gifts get stolen but the their thief isn't a grinch and the gifts belong at the foot of crossed beams not a decorated tree. We rob ourselves of spiritual gifts.
Stolen by Envy
I don't remember exactly how my parents went about replacing those presents last minute but like every Christmas miracle they managed to pull it off. I'm certain those eleventh hour substitutions weren't identical to the originals but I don't remember a single relative complaining about what they opened.
They didn't complain because they didn't know what they were missing. Their eyes were focused on what they did receive and not on what they didn't.
Envy deprives us from enjoying our own gifts. When we get start looking at others, our own abilities seem lacking. But when we peer only in our own box, we are completely satisfied with its contents.
Stolen by Inactivity
This week we've traversed the country with a little car topper of our own. Our hump makes the car easily identifiable across a parking lot but I've made sure it remained empty when we weren't actually on the highway.
Just possessing a luggage compartment does no good if it's kept empty. This is like gifts God gives us that we are too scared, timid or insecure to use. Inactivity steals our gift's effectiveness as if they were never there.
Let's stop committing highway robbery. Open your sack. See what's inside. God's perfect gifts are planted inside.
Why Cleaning Your Plate Isn't Enough
Pursue righteous, faith, love and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22
Clean your plate. It was my mother's 11th Commandment. Obedience to this order came with big rewards...and I'm not just referring to an expanded waistline.
Cleaning your plate meant favored child status.
A clean plate was a happy plate and I delighted to make my parents pleased. Today when my plate gets full, my first reaction is to clean it. A clean plate is a happy plate.
We chase joy as we whack activities from our schedule.
We dart after peace as we organize our desk or scrub our floors.
We hunt contentment as we slash responsibilities from our life.
As we clean our plates, we take the first step toward freedom from over commitment. In the elusive quest to get more out of life, cleaning our plates is not enough. An orderly life gives us a framework to honor God but it does not draw us closer to His heart.
We need to step out of our busy schedules and into the presence of God.
When we pursue Him, joy chases us.
When we pursue Him, peace darts into our hearts.
When we pursue Him, contentment hunts us.
There is a bigger reward than cleaning your plate.
If you stepped out of your busy schedule and into His presence, what do you think you'd experience?
Not Restored - Renewed
I am on vacation this week, so I'll be featuring a mixture of old favorites and new writing here on Jesus & My Orange Juice. I'll still be on Social Media and responding to comments though so feel free to leave a comment.
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May your love and your truth always protect me.
Psalm 40:11b
Every time I looked at my hand it was like a thousand rainbows has descended from the sky and landed on my finger. When my sweetheart asked me to marry him, his invitation was accompanied by a ring so beautiful it seemed more a dream than his proposal. Its' beauty was more surface than sure, however, and after just eight years of marriage my setting needed serious repair.
The jeweler's evaluation was not positive. They could repair it but not restore it to its' original condition. My setting had been battered and would never return to the designer's intended level of beauty. Thankfully, my ring is insured and my insurance company is willing to protect its' investment. They will pay to have my setting replaced rather than risk the total loss of the stone set within.
My life was in need of serious repair. I had been battered and I could not return to my Designer's intended level of beauty. Thankfully, my life is insured and my Insurer is willing to protect His investment. He sent a Replacement for me to make my life something entirely new.
I want to I approach life like I value the gift of the Insurer. His invitation is accompanied by a life so beautiful it seems like a dream. I long to take the time to thank Him in moments both easy and stressful. I want to delight in the way His grace dances around and in my life like a thousand rainbows.
I seek to protect His investment. I desire to guard my words knowing they shape the beauty of my world. I want to hedge my family with prayer. I want to know His heart so He will revolutionize mine.
The Insurer does more than restore. He Re-News.
Where do you need renewal today?
Life Transforming Prayer - Lord Lead Me
She brought home a C...it feels like the teacher graded my parenting.
She threw herself into the floor of the department store...every scream surfaces in my heart as failure.
I used to keep a ledger of my performance as a parent. Every day and moment my mood vacillated with my imaginary standard of perfection in parenting. I'd been taught to hold my children with an open hand but appearances kept clenching a fist around my heart.
How did I loosen my grasp? With allowing these words to slip from my lips - Lord, Lead Me.
Lord, Lead Me...keeps my gaze on the One who establishes my worth.
Lord, Lead Me...keeps grace at the forefront of my heart.
Lord, Lead Me...keeps God in His rightful place.
Will you join me as we continue this Tuesday series of Life Transforming Prayer?
Lord, Lead Me.
Lord, Lead You.
Lord, Lead Us.
What is the area of parenting you most need to turn over to God's care?
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