Our Struggle

Yesterday I confessed I essentially signed a non competition clause when I chose to follow Christ.  Thus placing myself under His guidance and authority.  However, it is so much more than that.

My husband and I are raising three incredibly different children. They do not look exactly the same. They don't process things the same.  And they each excel in something different.  They each enjoy their independence. They each respond to different forms of discipline.  And they each react differently to other members of the family.

So it is in the body of Christ.

Paul talks about being gifted by the Holy Spirit. Supernatural gifts to use in serving other believers. In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul discusses the need for diversity of gifts within the body.  And here is where that non competition clause comes back into play. Just as my 2 year old tries to best his older brothers, believers need to be cautious of competition.  Whether they are competing for the approval of God or of man, competition here can be harmful to the individuals as well as the whole body.  Essentially we should be helping one another rather than hurting one another, whether in word or deed.

Here are a few things from Colossians 4:2-6 that can help us keep perspective.

1. Devote ourselves to prayer.  Not something we should do out of religious duty but out of desired relationship. We should readily spend time persisting in prayer. Consistently meeting with Almighty God with a watchful mind and a heart of thanksgiving.


2. Live wisely. Spiritual wisdom comes from God alone. Job 12:13 (NLT), "But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his."  In order for us to live wisely, we must first spend time seeking wisdom from God, which points us back to 1.


3. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive. Our words, speech or account should be full of grace...kindness, thanks and goodwill.  They should also be attractive.  Full of tenderness that draws others to Christ, not ourselves. Which again takes us back to prayer.

Perspective is key when it comes to competition. Paul tells the church at Ephesus, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  As the church we need to begin seeing our brothers and sisters as family and not competitors. When we signed that non compete mentioned earlier, it wasn't just with God for headship but also with believers for the approval of God and of man.  There is nothing that one of my sons can or will do that will make him receive any more of my love than either of the others.  No matter how much they vie for my attention and approval, not one of them will receive more than the other.  So it is with the adopted sons and daughters of God.


What is direct, or indirect, competition doing to your relationship with Christ and with the church? Have you devoted yourself to daily communion with Christ?

Stained

Most of my life has been spent in the same region of this beautiful United States. Hot summers and mild winters. Churches on every street corner. A place where we sip tea from Mason jars and "bless your heart" is always a proper response. It's just a hop, skip and a jump to the mountains or the beach. A place where strangers acknowledge you when they pass you on the road. It's the place I call home.

My parents built their house about 50 feet from my dad's parents' back porch. That red brick ranch style house still stands. My dad's brothers, well, they all lived within walking distance. And when my grandmother passed, that house, beautiful and old, they buried beneath the earth and made a circle drive. I spent the best years of my life playing too close to the creek, the one I tried to float my sister down in a cardboard box. Chicken houses and cane pole fishing. Many nights spent with Brandi and Mandy. Camping in the backyard and listening to NKOTB. The world was an adventure and who cares what I was wearing. Grass stained knees and dirty shoes. The occasional bug bite and scraped elbow. Life was mine to enjoy. To live to the fullest. I can't imagine it any other way.

Now, I have three little rug rats of my own. Bare feet in the green grass. Running around in the hot summer sun, red faced and sand speckled. Not a care in the world. A plastic pool filled with water and little boys fully clothed. Sitting a top that red lawn mower, going no where and everywhere at the same time. Nap time's refreshing gives way to flying tempers and unmeant words.





I sit and watch, listen and laugh. Never fully realizing that these memories are staining my heart and changing my perspective on things. On me. These children, heavenly gifts, are moving me past self and into the very heart of Almighty God. Opening my understanding of His goodness and grace. His design, as a parent, to hold on and let go at the same time. To watch us come with stained knees and hands. To gently lifting our chin, wiping away tears and removing the stains. But not the consequences. Watching us shine in the light of The Son. Knowing this is who we are and what we were made for. Drawing us ever closer to His heart.

So this summer, I'll step back a little more and wait. Watching the wonder in the eyes of my boys. Allowing them to be drawn in to the very heart of God. Right along with me...

Defining Success

Joseph, the pride of his father and envy of his brothers.  A young man whose future was already planned.  He'd spend his days along side his brothers tending his father's flocks.  Moving from hillside to valley, providing protection and necessities for them. Having his every need taken care of by his father.

Then in just a moment his entire life flashed before his eyes.  At the request of his father, he set out to find his brothers, checking on them and the flocks in their care.  As he traveled, wandering hillside after hillside looking for them, he never imagined the fate that lay before him.  His brothers, who were quite older than himself, saw him from a distance.  Taking notice of his cloak, they recognized him. Jealousy had already taken root in their hearts and now gave birth to hate.  They plotted his death.  Never once considering the hurt they would cause their own father.  In a last ditch effort, they decided not to kill him but to let him die.  Thus not having blood on their own hands.  Hate gave way to greed.  As they saw a group of merchants traveling to Egypt, they decided to sell their brother.  Forever ridding themselves of his presence and annoyance, or so they thought.



Joseph had prided himself with the visions he had in dreams.  He knew he was favored by his father and rubbed salt in the wounds of his brothers by sharing these dreams.  Now, separated by miles from his family, his only hope was to trust in the God of his father.  The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.  His life had been spared by his brothers and was now in the hands of his master.  God's protection brought Joseph to Egypt and into service in the house of Pharoah's captain of the guard, Potipher. It was there the God of Jacob made Joseph successful and opened the eyes of Potipher to see the ability in Joseph.  And Joseph trusted in the only thing he could claim as his own, the faith he placed in his Creator.

There is so much more to this story.  It is a one of redemption and forgiveness.  One that takes betrayal and pride and learns to see passed the temporary to the bigger picture.  Joseph had nothing else he could do but to lean on Almighty God and not on his own understanding.  He had to trust the God who allowed these events to take place had a greater purpose.  That the God who allowed his slavery could also make him second in command of Egypt.

Trusting God in the difficult times is, well, often difficult.  Don't we often see the here and now and not the bigger picture?  We want to make the offense our reason for ____________________(fill in the blank with whatever emotion suites your fancy).  Instead of trusting the God who brought us to this point and can bring us through it as well.   Whatever you are facing, will you do like Joseph and lean on The One who knows and sees the bigger picture?  Joseph didn't have it all figured out and his idea of success had probably been shattered.  Praise God that His protection covered Joseph and covers us as well!

Today I will allow Christ to be my guide. Accepting His definition of success, I will serve others - and not just the ones I choose.  Sharing the Hope that I have with all who ask my reason for it, and probably even more!