Today's lesson from Rob Bell was one of my favorites. It was called "Shells." It was about purpose. The focus began on Jesus' ministry here on earth. Because Jesus was human, he could not be all things to all people; he could not be in all places, all the time. So Jesus had choices to make, and he had priorities to keep in mind, just like we do. He didn't stay in one place (and neither did Paul, by the way) even though there was more work to be done in every place He visited. His destination of the cross was always on His mind and directed His thoughts and actions throughout His time here on earth.
So the lesson for us is living with purpose, making good choices, focusing on God's best plan for us. One thing Rob said that was really good was that if you know what you're going to say yes to, that enables you to say no to a lot of other stuff. If you are too busy and have a hard time saying no, you would be best served by taking stock and deciding what is going to take priority in your life and focus on that. Then you have a good reason to say no to all the other stuff that can get you off track. And another good thought from Rob was that the enemy of the "best" is often not the "worst", but the "good." We can get caught up in doing all kinds of good things, but they may not be the best for us.
Now this may change in different seasons of your life. I know when I was raising my kids, my focus was on them...meeting their needs, developing their character, giving them lots of life experiences. So I made choices based on that priority in my life. Now I make other choices because my kids are grown.
Rob closed with a story about one of his boys. They were at the ocean and picking up shells, when they saw a starfish floating out in the water. One boy went after it, and they urged him on. But he went just a short way and turned back, kind of agitated. They sent him back out again, but he returned, crying out that he couldn't do it. When they asked him why, he said, "My hands are full of shells."
What are your hands full of? Are you sure this is God's best for you? Take stock. Make changes. Go for what is best.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The People You Touch
There's so much good to do in the world. I have had an amazing week. I can only praise the Lord for all that He has allowed to let me be a part of this week.
On Monday I had an appointment for a regular checkup at my doctor. On the way in, I rode the elevator with someone who worked at the hospital. She saw I had a book and asked about it. Although I didn't think she would be particularly interested in what I'm reading right now, I did get a chance to suggest A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. Next I went in to my appointment where I was seeing a nurse practicioner that I hadn't seen before. During the course of my exam she began to ask me about my kids, and when I told her about Kathryn being in Wichita, she said that her daughter was 21, and she was afraid her daughter would get married and move far away. I spoke up and told her that I thought it would be a mistake to hold on to her daughter too tightly, that she needed to let her go and grow up and be independent. At the end of the exam she said, "I think I needed to see you more than you needed to see me. Thanks for seeing me."
Next I went to get my car worked on. At the dealership I saw an old friend who works there and had a great conversation with him. As I waited, a retired teacher came in waiting for his car and we had a good long conversation too.
Later in the day I went to see a friend who was in the hospital and got there just as he was being discharged. I got to walk out with him, and I was glad I got there in time to talk to him and let him know I was thinking of him.
For supper I was able to take a friend out for her birthday. I got her Gigi's cupcakes and we ate at El Metate. I think she had a great time.
On Tuesday we went to Nashville and got the great news about Will's heart. We went out to eat and had a great conversation about Will's future. Will has lots of interesting ideas rolling around in his head, and I am excited to see what is going to become of them.
Wednesday we had Kids Club. Lots of good things always happen in Kids Club.
Thursday we got to go to church and pray. It was a special time.
Friday I spent some time with my family.
Saturday I took my niece to see Alice In Wonderland. It was great to spend the afternoon with her.
So you see, there's a lot of good to do in a week. There are people to be with and words to be said. It was a wonderful time. Hope your week was half as good as mine.
On Monday I had an appointment for a regular checkup at my doctor. On the way in, I rode the elevator with someone who worked at the hospital. She saw I had a book and asked about it. Although I didn't think she would be particularly interested in what I'm reading right now, I did get a chance to suggest A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. Next I went in to my appointment where I was seeing a nurse practicioner that I hadn't seen before. During the course of my exam she began to ask me about my kids, and when I told her about Kathryn being in Wichita, she said that her daughter was 21, and she was afraid her daughter would get married and move far away. I spoke up and told her that I thought it would be a mistake to hold on to her daughter too tightly, that she needed to let her go and grow up and be independent. At the end of the exam she said, "I think I needed to see you more than you needed to see me. Thanks for seeing me."
Next I went to get my car worked on. At the dealership I saw an old friend who works there and had a great conversation with him. As I waited, a retired teacher came in waiting for his car and we had a good long conversation too.
Later in the day I went to see a friend who was in the hospital and got there just as he was being discharged. I got to walk out with him, and I was glad I got there in time to talk to him and let him know I was thinking of him.
For supper I was able to take a friend out for her birthday. I got her Gigi's cupcakes and we ate at El Metate. I think she had a great time.
On Tuesday we went to Nashville and got the great news about Will's heart. We went out to eat and had a great conversation about Will's future. Will has lots of interesting ideas rolling around in his head, and I am excited to see what is going to become of them.
Wednesday we had Kids Club. Lots of good things always happen in Kids Club.
Thursday we got to go to church and pray. It was a special time.
Friday I spent some time with my family.
Saturday I took my niece to see Alice In Wonderland. It was great to spend the afternoon with her.
So you see, there's a lot of good to do in a week. There are people to be with and words to be said. It was a wonderful time. Hope your week was half as good as mine.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Today
Our lesson for today from Rob Bell was entitled "Today." He begins by relating the story of Mary Magdeline. She was an amazing woman. She had been possessed by seven demons, and Jesus delivered her. From that time on she was a faithful follower of Christ. She embodies the story Jesus tells in Luke 7 about the men who had debts. The one who had been forgiven much, loved much. No wonder she was there all the way--through the trial, through the cross and at the tomb on Sunday morning.
When she saw Jesus in the garden she started to hug Jesus, and he tells her, "Don't." She had assumed that now that He was alive everything would go just like it had before His death. But He is telling her, "Things have changed." Things always change. Rob says, "Life isn't static. It ebbs and flows."
And we find we aren't who we were. Some people realize this with great regret because they are always looking at the past with longing. They wish they still were who they used to be. But to be happy about who we have become is a great gift. It is God's plan for us to grow in all areas of our lives, and to become more like Christ. I am so glad I can see progress in my life, and I revel in the fact that God is not finished with me yet. "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."
Many people are tempted to live in the past because of guilt they have and choices they continue to feel bad about. The disciples could have wallowed in the past. Nothing had turned out as they had expected. Now Jesus was back and some of them weren't at all sure it was even Him. Some returned to fishing. Peter could have totally turned away after his denial of Christ. But they all eventually accepted Christ's forgiveness and obeyed His command to be His witnesses to all the earth. They moved on.
Some parents have a hard time moving on. They continue to hang on to their children long past the time when their children have become adults. They hold their children back in their desire to see them remain close by. Rob says the thought process that keeps us from this trap is to be so fully present in the moments you have with your children as they grow so that you don't miss a thing.
Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
God wants us to realize that things will always be changing. We have to trust Him and His promise to be with us and to bring to pass miraculous things in our lives that are beyond our imaginations.
When she saw Jesus in the garden she started to hug Jesus, and he tells her, "Don't." She had assumed that now that He was alive everything would go just like it had before His death. But He is telling her, "Things have changed." Things always change. Rob says, "Life isn't static. It ebbs and flows."
And we find we aren't who we were. Some people realize this with great regret because they are always looking at the past with longing. They wish they still were who they used to be. But to be happy about who we have become is a great gift. It is God's plan for us to grow in all areas of our lives, and to become more like Christ. I am so glad I can see progress in my life, and I revel in the fact that God is not finished with me yet. "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."
Many people are tempted to live in the past because of guilt they have and choices they continue to feel bad about. The disciples could have wallowed in the past. Nothing had turned out as they had expected. Now Jesus was back and some of them weren't at all sure it was even Him. Some returned to fishing. Peter could have totally turned away after his denial of Christ. But they all eventually accepted Christ's forgiveness and obeyed His command to be His witnesses to all the earth. They moved on.
Some parents have a hard time moving on. They continue to hang on to their children long past the time when their children have become adults. They hold their children back in their desire to see them remain close by. Rob says the thought process that keeps us from this trap is to be so fully present in the moments you have with your children as they grow so that you don't miss a thing.
Isaiah 43:18-19: Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
God wants us to realize that things will always be changing. We have to trust Him and His promise to be with us and to bring to pass miraculous things in our lives that are beyond our imaginations.
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