Naked and unashamed

I had this thought last night while I was bathing my children. One of these days, Jay and or Josie will likely cross a line where they are somewhat ashamed of their nakedness. I can hear it now in the echoes of my own voice and the voices of my sisters growing up. “don’t come in here mom!! I’m naked! (that’s Ne-kid, not nay-kid)

I’m not sure what flipped the switch in me, although I’m glad it switched or else things would be weird, but something definitely switched.

Right now, I’m still cherishing these early years while they are still naked and unashamed. They are so much fun. They enjoy life without any of the entrapments of sexuality, puberty, self-consciousness, etc… I think Jay would gladly take up streaking if we let him. Naked just simply isn’t an issue for him.

In my tangled way of relating things, I thought last night about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They were Naked (that’s Nay-kid, not Ne-kid) and they were unashamed. They were completely comfortable in the presence of the creator without any shame, remorse, or regrets. They were in complete fellowship with Him.

As I thought about this further, I thought about what Christ has done for us as believers. He has forgiven us. He has cleansed us. He has restored the fractured relationship that existed between God and man. He has made us righteous!! Even in our sinful fallen state, we can be Naked and unashamed before God. We can come before him with confidence that we are redeemed, that we are accepted, we are His!!! Even in all of our imperfections, weaknesses, insecurities, etc…

So, the question remains for me. Why don’t I? Why am I still so often hiding in the bushes from God, like Adam and Eve did, because I am naked and ashamed?

We all need to be naked before God. Be real with Him. He sees through our “clothes” anyway!

Better things are coming...

I've really been struggling a lot lately and I have a friend that reminded me yesterday of one of the purposes of struggles in this life.

As CS Lewis wrote about in Mere Christianity, we are never to be fully comfortable in this world. A constant feeling of discontentment with this life (in varying degrees) is a reminder to us that we were not made for this world, but for another. It is that life and that world (the one to come) that we should fix our hopes upon and our attention upon. This will maximize our contentment here and now.

Romans 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Hebrews 12.. Encouraging words.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. 6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. 12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

God, be my Source!!

Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

I long for this kind of trust in God and God alone for EVERYTHING. I get the sense from reading this Psalm that even if the whole world crumbled around David, he really would not be shaken, but would stand confident and complete in God. For crying out loud, when I have a bad day or bad week, I often lose hope.

God, I long for you in this way. Help me to hope in you and nothing else so that even if my world is turned upside down, I will still be at peace in You. Remove this unrest from my soul and replace it with peace and faith.

Don't forget to love on somebody today!!

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

So Be it!!!

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Don't Forget to ask...

It's amazing how often we need to be reminded of the most basic things in our walks with God! Spend time with God in prayer and in His Word. Spend time with other believers who encourage you and build you up in your faith. Don't worry, God is in control. Etc...

I think I probably have one of the shortest attention spans on the planet. Today's reminder from His Word for me (and anyone for that matter).

If you need something, ASK FOR IT!!

Matthew 6:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

I'd like to think I'm a pretty capable person. I can do pretty much whatever I put my mind to, so I often forget how needy and incapable I am on the grander scale. I HATE HATE HATE to ask others for help. It's like a confession of weakness and I don't like to feel/be weak. Naturally, this prideful independence and self-reliance carries right over into my walk with God too. Shame on me:)

God, we need your help. We need you to pick up our heads and our spirits. We need you to give us our provisions for this day. We need you to help us love our spouses and Children. We need you to strengthen our faith in You. Will you give us today all that we need and remind us that there is NO shame in calling on you for help? Amen!

Confession of Sin

The scripture assures us that if we confess our sins, that he will forgive us of said sins... SO... Here Goes.

No doubt there is a long is of sins that I could choose from, but I think that my greatest besetting sin isn't lust, greed, pride, or anger. I do struggle frequently with these, but my greatest and most debilitating sin is... You ready?!?

It's Worry!! Hebrews assures us that without faith it is impossible to please God because those who come to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who seek him.

I have been worried sick the past couple of months about a laundry list of things.. The economy (national, local, and at my address). Getting our house finished and moving in. The health (or lack thereof) of my children recently. Pleasing my customers. What God has for me in the future. BIG stuff for me. I don't ever remember feeling as aimless as I do right now and it kills me.

Anyway, I woke early this morning and headed for Psalm 119 which I've been focusing on the past couple weeks, but I felt steered to the sermon on the Mount, so I went there and reigned in my focus desperately wanting God to speak to me clearly from his word. Well, it leaped of the page...

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Can it get any clearer than that? NO!

Why am I worrying? Because my focus is on what's here and now and not on the eternal. My heart is trusting in my own abilities to succeed and not on my Heavenly Father.

God, forgive me for doubting you. Forgive me for my lack of faith. Forgive me for doing what my own son does to me when he doubts my instruction and ability to protect him. Remove this fear from me and make me whole in my faith in YOU. I cry out to you, "I believe! Help my unbelief!"

Amen!

Jay hoola hooping!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZAeLe2SjCw

2008 in Rearview

I have to say that 2008 was probably one of the most eventful years of my short life. It started out with a bang. I had an emergency surgery on Jan 11, and a follow-up surgery on February 9 that really strarted the year off on the "wrong" foot so to speak. Since I'm self-employed and was less than a year into starting a new business, it was a struggle for us financially in an already less-than-great financial climate. As a matter of fact, if it hadn't been for some dear friends of ours and many from our church giving us very generous monetary gifts, we wouldn't have made it through that. WOW!! BIG thank you again to Steve and Betsy, Jeff Moore, Hope Praise Team, Mary Moore, and many others that chipped in. I'm still blown away by your generosity! Many others offered to help if we needed it, but we never had to ask for a dime.

There were a couple of really good things that came from this chapter in the year. We learned just how generous and loving our friends are for one. It also paved the way for my new business partner (Hootsie). From about September '07 through the end of the year, I had been working on my own and it wasn't exactly working all that great and it was certainly not much fun. Hoot and I were on a job together during my surgeries. He carried the load while I was down and still split things even steven with me. WOW!! It's been a fabulous working friendship ever since. I think I've found another one of those life-long friends in Hoot, but only time will tell.

Shortly after these events, we decided that it was time for us to move. We put our house up for sale and.... Nothing. We got a few really bad offers that were consistent with the market, but we believed that God was going to do something for us and HE DID. We got top dollar for our house in a buyer's market and we moved in with Sondra's family while we decided what was next. My deciding process seems to be slowing down as I can see old age from here...

In the deciding process, Jay started Kindergarten and boy has that been interesting. His learning is in warp speed and being in the community of 22 other 5 year olds awakened in him some "qualities" that we didn't know he had. He hasn't been in trouble a lot, but suffice it to say that he has been in trouble. Dealing with these issues has really taxed me a lot because I'm having a hard time reading his instruction book;) Regardless, he is blossoming into quite a fine young man. I'm amazed.

Josie turned two this year and the terrible came right along with them... She is a whiz kid. Still very physically and verbally advanced for her age. As a matter of fact, I dictated most of this blog to her as she typed it:) Thanks baby girl! Seriously, she is as bad as she is good and she is absolutely fabulous. Watch out world!

Sondra and I have been married 9 years this year and boy has it been a great ride. I'm still amazed that I've found someone to put up with me and actually like it most of the time.

The 5 month stay with Sondra's family was really a good one with no serious bumps in the road.

It took us quite a while to decide that building a house wasn't the right thing for us to do right now given the incredible deals available in the foreclosure market. So, we started shopping in that market and we found a GREAT house for an even better price. It's quite a bit bigger than we were planning to build and it needs some work, but when all is said and done, we should make a lot of money on this one. I'll post some before and after photos when we get to the after. We should be moving out in 3-4 weeks into our new home.

2007 and 2008 have been the years of change for us. Career changes, new children, church changes, breeched friendships, moving, extended family struggles, financial ups and downs, etc... We are excited to start a new year, in a new home, with a new church family that we are getting to know. It really does feel like all things are new for us and we are facing things with a refreshing optimism that God is moving us out of a drought of sorts and into a time of refreshing and restoration. Whew!!

In spite of all that has happened in 2008, whether good or bad, I am as reassured as ever that God is good and that He cares for his own. Thank you God for 2008!