Living with Rhythm and Joy

Shortcuts

2010-10-22T14:57:00.004-05:00

" A shortcut says, 'God, I think I can reach this goal a whole lot quicker my way than your way.'" Pastor Rick Warren

I was planning to borrow my post today from a devotional I got in my email today from Pastor Rick Warren. His message was about shortcuts and how they don't work. Funny thing is, I kept trying to copy and paste his message here and it wouldn't work. After attempting this a few times, I chuckled to myself as I realized that I was trying to take a shortcut myself! So, here are my own thoughts on the subject:

Pastor Rick Warren says, "Shortcuts are always short-sighted. They distract you from getting to where you need to go and from what God wants you to do in your life." Shortcuts are a kind of temptation. We are often tempted to do whatever we can to reach our goals as fast as possible, but if we do that we will most surely miss out on some important lessons along the way. How often have we heard that life is a journey, not a destination? If we believe this to be true, then there is no point in taking shortcuts. We can't hurry our way through life experiences. We might as well settle in and enjoy the ride!

Redefine to find blessings

2010-10-17T12:44:00.003-05:00

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.

Mary Englebreit

It's easy to take some things for granted. When I was little, I just thought that everybody grew up in a family like mine. That everybody learned the same life lessons. As I grew up, I discovered that is not the case. One of the things that I learned growing up is that we can always redefine things in our lives. I learned that we have the power to make some things happen, but if something happens that we can't avoid, at least we can redefine it. If we tried out for something and didn't make it, at least we had the opportunity to try something new. If we played a game and lost, we had fun and learned how to play. I still redefine things in my life. It allows me to have a different perspective on circumstances that I can't avoid. It allows me to find the blessings in any situation.

Is there a circumstance in your life that you can redefine in order to see the blessing in it?

Why wait?

2010-10-14T13:14:00.003-05:00

What if you knew you only had 1 month to live? Would you change the way you spend your time? Would you make sure your loved ones knew how you felt? What would you do differently? Kerry and Chris Shook wrote a best-selling book titled One Month To Live on this topic. It has sparked programs in churches across the globe.

It is a thought provoking question. What would you do if you knew your days were numbered?

This leads me to question, "why?" Why would we need or desire to change how we live our lives if we knew we were going to die? Why are we not living that way already? I think we get caught up in the day to day stuff and get distracted by the things of this world. Knowing our days are numbered shifts our priorities. It puts our eternal life back in the forefront of our minds.

The great thing about asking this "what if" question is that it allows us to make that shift now while we still have time to enjoy it. It allows us to live a life that honors our values and embraces our passions! It allows us to live a life filled with joy right now!

Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

If this question has prompted you to think about how you would like your life to be, please consider posting a comment. I think it would make for a great discussion!

Reflection and invitation

2009-04-14T12:30:00.002-05:00

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."
I Peter 4:10

Some lists of spiritual gifts might include some additional ones but I think the 20 gifts that I outlined is fairly comprehensive. As you read through the list and get a basic understanding of each gift and what it looks like in practice, one or two may jump out at you as the gift that you have been given. Or you might go through the list and still feel lost in determining your own gift. Gifts are distributed and brought to the surface at different points in people’s lives. If you are interested in discovering the gift(s) that God gave you feel free to conatct me – I would love to help you find it! The gifts that I have been given come together to enable me to minister to others to help them discover their gifts, their purpose and find joy in living. Nothing brings me more joy than to know that I am using my gifts to glorify God by helping others!

Proverbs 16:3 tells us, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."

Shepherd

2009-04-10T08:10:00.000-05:00

Shepherd - the ability and desire to oversee the welfare of a group of believers.

People who have been given the gift of shepherding enjoy long standing relationships. They give of themselves in such a way that it strengthens their own faith. They tend to be patient, nurturing, relationship oriented and willing to spend time in prayer for others. They are good at remembering faces and names, and are tolerant of others’ weaknesses.

Jesus is sometimes referred to as a shepherd in the Bible. He is the shepherd and we are his flock. He was brought to Earth to care for us and nurture us - to lead the way for us to heaven. Paul gives Timothy some instructions on how to be a shepherd in his first letter to him:

"Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task, now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
1 Timothy 3:1-7

Evangelism

2009-04-09T08:13:00.001-05:00

Evangelism - the ability to readily share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women often become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the Body of Christ.

All Christians are called to share the gospel of Christ with unbelievers, but those who have been given the gift of evangelism tend to be more sensitive to when others are ready to receive Christ. They have the ability to insert spiritual truths into normal conversation and the ability to sense the timing of when to do so. They have a special way of adapting their message to meet the listener where they are - whether they are acquaintances or strangers. They are sincere, confident and respectful in their conversations and are often successful in leading others to Christ.

Paul calls us to be evangelists in 2 Timothy 4:2-5
"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

Administration

2009-04-08T08:31:00.002-05:00

Administration – the ability to understand clearly the immediate and long-range goals of a particular ministry and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals.

People given the gift of administration are good at organizing people, tasks, or events, as well as managing details carefully and thoroughly. They are able to create order out of chaos. These people are generally goal-oriented, conscientious, responsible and methodical.

The following passage describes a situation where the gift of administration was used.

"The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, 'What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?'

Moses answered him, 'Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws.'

Moses' father-in-law replied, 'What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.'"
Exodus 18:13-23

Helps

2009-04-07T07:35:00.001-05:00

Helps – the ability to enhance the effectiveness of the ministry of others

People who have been given the gift of helps invest their talents to help others in their ministry enabling them to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts. Often these people do not mind doing routine tasks, and are not looking for recognition. They enjoy attending to the needs of others. They are usually dependable, willing, reliable, willing and supportive.

“I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”
Romans 16:1-2

Apostleship

2009-04-06T07:52:00.000-05:00

Apostleship – the ability to begin and/or to oversee new churches and Christian ministries with a spontaneously recognized authority

Some would argue that the gift of apostleship is one that was only given during the time of Jesus. Others argue that this gift is just as relevant now as it was then. People who are given the gift of apostleship are leaders in developing new ministries or starting new churches. They are often recognized as an authority in this area.

Paul tells us through a letter written to all those who were living in Rome,“Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”
Romans 1:5

Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues

2009-04-03T08:40:00.003-05:00

Tongues – the ability to speak in a foreign language for the understanding of others

Interpretation of Tongues – the ability to translate for the person speaking in tongues so the everyone can benefit from the message

The gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues go hand in hand. When used in a group setting, an interpretation must take place, or else the one speaking the tongue should remain silent. Paul instructs us in 1 Corinthians, “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. ”
1 Corinthians 14:27-28

The results of the gift of tongues is shown in the book of Acts when 3000 people came to believe in Jesus Christ at the Pentecost.

“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 6:6-12

Discernment

2009-04-02T07:46:00.001-05:00

Discernment – The ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is really divine, human, or Satanic.

People who have been given the gift of discernment can often recognize the true motives of others and whether or not a person is communicating truth. They are able to distinguish messages and promptings to know whether it is truly God’s will for their life. People with this gift are often described as being insightful.

The story of Joseph in the book of Genesis tells us that Joseph was given the gift of discernment. It says, “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders.’”
Genesis 41:39-40

Miracles

2009-04-01T07:46:00.002-05:00

Miracles – the ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom God performs powerful acts that are perceived by others to have altered the ordinary course of nature

The gift of miracles is a supernatural intervention by God into specific circumstances in order to change the natural outcome. God only causes miracles to happen in order to bring glory to His name and further His church. Many people in today’s society believe that miracles don’t happen anymore. If you believe that Jesus performed miracles in Biblical times, then you must also believe that miracles still happen.

The Bible tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Healing

2009-03-30T07:19:00.000-05:00

Healing – the ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom God cures illness and restores health apart from the use of natural means

The gift of healing is a controversial gift in this day and age. Certainly there are some people who take advantage of others by manufacturing healings, but true healings do in fact happen. Some things to recognize are that miraculous healing only occurs within the limits of God’s will and only if it will bring glory to God and grow His church. God will often use medical science to bring about healing in a person through the gifts and talents that he has given to others such as doctors and research scientists.

There are many accounts of Jesus healing the sick or lame in the gospel. Often the gift of faith and the gift of healing go hand in hand.

"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’ Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment. "
Matthew 9:20-22

Faith

2009-03-27T07:55:00.002-05:00

Faith – the ability to have a vision for what God wants to be done and confidently believe that it will be accomplished in spite of circumstances

Faith is accepting what we cannot see but feel deep in our hearts. Faith is accepting God’s will over our own. Faith is believing that what God is asking us to do will always work out for our good. And faith is acting on what we believe. In Hebrews 11:1 it says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Being given the gift of faith means taking faith to a different level.

In Mark 11:23-24, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Knowledge

2009-03-26T08:18:00.001-05:00

Knowledge – the ability to discover and analyze truth for the benefit of others and to organize it in such a way that others can understand.

People given the gift of knowledge often spend their time with their nose in a book. They love to study and research. They look for solutions to problems through gathering information and researching. Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were given this gift.

“To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Daniel 1:17

Wisdom

2009-03-25T10:16:00.001-05:00

Wisdom – the ability to apply the principles of the word of God in a practical way to specific situations and to recommend the best course of action at the best time.

The gift of wisdom is an ability that God gives to some people to know how certain knowledge may best be applied to specific needs. Those with this gift are really good at applying spiritual truths to everyday life.

David longs for the wisdom of God in Psalm 25:5. He says, “guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long”.

Mercy

2009-03-24T07:38:00.001-05:00

Mercy – the ability to deeply empathize and engage in compassionate acts on behalf of others who are suffering physical mental or emotional distress

A person who has been given the gift of mercy has a heart to care for and encourage those who are not able to care for themselves. This person knows who to help and when to help. They often find themselves visiting and assisting those in need and feel the pain of the person they are helping within themselves. They are able to focus on the person in distress and reflect God’s love and compassion.

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. " Psalm 86:15

Leadership

2009-03-23T11:14:00.000-05:00

Leadership – the ability to discern God’s purpose for a group

A person who has been given the gift of leadership is able to set goals that are aligned with God’s purpose for the future. They are able to communicate these goals in such a way that others voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish them for the glory of God. These people are concerned with the big picture and delegate the details to those who have been gifted in the appropriate area. In Romans 11:36 is says, "for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things."

"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7

Giving

2009-03-20T08:10:00.001-05:00

Giving – the ability to contribute material resources with generosity and cheerfulness for the benefit of others and glory of God

God gifts certain members of the body to give remarkably greater amounts of their resources with great joy. These people have an acute awareness that all they have belongs to the Lord and they are merely stewards of it. They know that God will provide for their needs and richly bless them in their giving.

Paul relates to the Philippians in chapter 4 verses 16-19 “…you sent me aid again and again when I was in need... They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

The blessings that God gives us are meant to be shared with others.

Exhortation

2009-03-19T08:22:00.002-05:00

Exhortation – the ability to motivate others to respond to the truth by providing timely words of counsel, encouragement and consolation

The gift of exhortation is sometimes called the gift of encouragement. People with the gift of exhortation are often driven to give practical application to their insights. They find it natural to discover insights from personal experience, particularly when they are validated and amplified in Scripture. It focuses on personal and practical application of the message or truth being communicated.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, His disciples travelled across the area to share the Good News. At first they were just sharing with the Jews but then they opened up and started sharing with the Greeks as well. One of these disciples, Barnabas, went to Antioch when this news arrived at Jerusalem.

"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."
Act 11:23

The Good News of the gospel of the Lord is meant for everyone!

Teaching

2009-03-18T08:07:00.001-05:00

Teaching – the ability to clearly explain and effectively apply the truths of God’s Word so others will learn

People with the gift of teaching enjoy studying the Bible and related materials in order to communicate what they have learned to other Christians. They find it easy to organize and communicate a lot of information in a way that is easy to understand.

In Colossians 3:16 it says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…”

Service

2009-03-17T07:50:00.001-05:00

Service – the ability to identify and care for the physical needs of the Body of Christ through a variety of means

The gift of service focuses on accomplishing little tasks that may otherwise go undone in order to move the greater goal toward completion. The person who has been given this gift enjoys doing the little things and does them cheerfully. They would rather take direction from someone than tell someone else what to do.

In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

No gift is so small that it is not important to the Body of Christ.

Prophesy

2009-03-16T09:59:00.001-05:00

Prophesy – the ability to receive and proclaim a message from God

But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort
Romans 14:3

There were many prophets in biblical times. We are most familiar with Jesus who was a prophet, but there were also Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel to name just a few. It is the work of the prophet to receive and proclaim messages from God – he is to be a spokesman for God. The message that the prophet proclaims is to be from God and not from the prophet himself. There is some controversy about whether this gift is still given in current times. I think that God still gives this gift to people, but it is used on a more intimate level than that of biblical times; that it is used more in the context of a personal sphere of influence rather than globally.

Have you ever felt that God was speaking directly to you? How did you respond?

Purpose

2009-03-13T13:29:00.003-05:00

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart.
Colassians 2:2a

What is your purpose? Do you know? That is a big question - not an easy one to answer. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when figuring out your purpose in life. In part, you need to think about what you are passionate about - what drives you. You also need to consider your personality and natural abilities as well as how your life experiences have shaped you. In addition, God has given each one of us spiritual gifts that help serve the purpose He has for our lives. Ove the next few weeks I will introduce each one that the Bible lists and try to provide some understanding of them.

Frames

2009-03-10T09:53:00.001-05:00

"...every dead end we find ourselves facing in life only appears unsolvable inside a particular frame or point of view. Enlarge the box or create another frame around the data and problems vanish, while new opportunities appear."

Rosamund Stone Zander, "The Art of Possibility"

I learned this lesson well growing up. In my family of origin, when something happened that we didn’t like or we felt bad about, we got to have a “do-over”. Then we would get to do it differently and go on from there. That gave everyone a chance to be successful. Another lesson that I learned in my childhood was that of redefining situations. Oftentimes it is our frame of reference that defines for us whether a situation is positive or negative. When we come across something that is not the way we would like it, redefining the situation can provide a much needed new perspective. The Bible tells us that God works for the good of those who love him. He does not make it so that everything that happens in our life is good, but He does use everything that happens to our benefit.

The next time you run into a situation that is not the way you want it, try changing your frame of reference and see what happens!

New Beginnings

2009-03-02T08:08:00.005-06:00

New beginnings are exciting! Particularly when you have been wanting a change... getting married, having a baby, or starting a new career. It's important, though, to not get too caught up in the change itself, but to stay focused on the path on which God is leading you. For God has "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

I have part of a song stuck in my head this morning as I am writing this. I am going to share it with you in hopes that it will make you smile too!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Self-Control

2009-02-27T13:22:00.000-06:00

“If a man will understand how intimately, yea, how inseparably, self-control and happiness are associated, he has but to look into his own heart, and upon the world around.”
James Allen

Self-control really can affect your experience in the world. You cannot control everything that happens in your life, but you can decide how you are going to react to it. Attitude plays a big part in whether you are happy or discouraged, whether you view problems as challenges or obstacles, whether you see the silver lining or just the dark cloud.

Make a decision to view your life circumstances from a positive perspective and see what happens!

Gentleness

2009-02-26T12:46:00.002-06:00

The word gentleness conjures up in my mind the feeling of being held in the palm of God's hand, of being embraced by Jesus. It makes me think in my heart instead of in my head. It is almost synonomous with the feeling of being loved. There is something about having a parent or spouse or child communicate with you in gentleness that just really feels... (sigh)... nice.

Gentleness can bring peace to a place where there is tension. It can break down the wall surrounding your heart. Gentleness is strong like that.

Can you remember a time when you felt your tension melt away at the hands of gentleness?

Faithfulness

2009-02-25T08:43:00.000-06:00

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. – Psalm 100:5

One Bible dictionary describes faithfulness as steadfast, dedicated, dependable and worthy of trust. This applies not only to the faithfulness of God, but also to our faithfulness to Him, and to our faithfulness in our personal relationships.

Paul Carvel wrote “faithfulness lives where love is stronger than instinct”.

One of the closest Earthly relationships we can have is that of marriage. Without faithfulness to your partner and the sanctity of marriage, your relationship could be in danger. It is easy to want to give up when things get tough. A spouse needs to be steadfast, dedicated, dependable and worthy of trust in order to create a bond that can withstand even the difficult times.

What does faithfulness look like in your life?

Goodness

2009-02-24T07:54:00.000-06:00

What is goodness? I ran across a couple of quotes that I think describe it well.

“Goodness is love in action” – James Hamilton
“Goodness is the only investment that never fails” – Henry David Thoreau

When I first started thinking about this, I kept going back to definitions of kindness. And, there is some similarity there. But goodness is also about doing the right thing. Have you ever watched someone live their life and thought “wow, s/he is such a good person”? I have. I think that often about my husband. He is a good person. He always does the right thing whether or not it is the easy thing. Right has always been more important to him than easy. For him, doing the right thing is not about being good in someone else’s eyes. He strives to do the thing that is right in the context of his relationship with God.

Do you strive to do the right thing even when it’s hard?

Peace

2009-02-23T08:27:00.000-06:00

Continuing with the fruits of the spirit, today I am going to talk a little bit about peace. One of my favorite verses and the first one that I ever memorized says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7

This speaks to the truth that Jesus will carry our burdens for us if we let Him. All we have to do is ask. Once we give the things that we are struggling with over to God we will feel a great sense of peace. When we are at peace we are able to help and serve others with a glad heart. And when our hearts are at peace Jesus’ love is able to shine through and touch those around us.

In what areas of your life do you feel at peace?

Kindness

2009-02-20T08:13:00.002-06:00

“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”
Charles H. Spurgeon

There is what some might call a movement in this generation around doing random acts of kindness - doing something nice for someone without being asked. In fact, KTIS 98.5 FM has started the “Drive Thru Difference”. You can go to their website at www.ktis.fm and download a flyer. Then when you are at a drive thru you pay for the order of the car behind you and ask the cashier to give the flyer to the driver of the car and tell them that their order has been paid.

The biggest difference we can make in the world is touching another person’s life. I was made keenly aware of this when I was in high school. At graduation time I had an acquaintance sign my yearbook. This was a boy that I had known throughout high school but didn’t really consider a friend. When he signed my yearbook he wrote "You are filled with more joy and laughter than anybody I know. I went through most of high school in a bad mood, but whenever you were around I found it impossible to stay that way. You were a bright spot in a time which seemed forever dreary.” Since then I have been aware of the kindness a smile can offer to another person.

Can you think of an act of kindness that you can do for someone today?

Patience

2009-02-19T08:47:00.000-06:00

“Follow your heart, but be quiet for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart.”
Author unknown

Patience is an elusive trait. In my life it has come from life’s struggles and the passage of time. I think it is something that comes with time for most people. In Ecclesiastes 7:8 it says “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Although it is hard to be patient and wait sometimes, it is worth it in the end. Trusting in God and believing that He has a plan for your life makes it easier to be patient.

How do you find the patience you need when it feels like you have run out?

Joy

2009-02-18T08:05:00.000-06:00

Joy is the second in the list of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22. The meaning of Joy is so full and varied that a lot could be written on it. I imagine that I will write about joy many times throughout the lifetime of this blog. But today I want to share a passage with you that creates a wonderful mental image to go along with the word.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12

When is the last time that you felt so full of joy you thought your heart might burst?

Fruits of the Spirit

2009-02-17T07:43:00.001-06:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23

Stop and read this verse again, slowly, taking in every word before you go on. When I do that, I can’t help but feel myself smiling. The idea of feeling, of being these things, warms my heart. These are the qualities for which I would love to be remembered.

To me, this is a list of qualities that God desires for us to possess. It pleases God when we allow ourselves to experience and to share these qualities with others. I have noticed in my own personal experience that when the presence of God in my life is almost palpable and I am sure of the direction in which He is leading me, I enjoy these qualities in a greater fullness.

Which one of these fruits speaks most to your heart?

More on Love

2009-02-16T10:00:00.001-06:00

The bible talks a great deal about love. It is the first quality listed in Galatians 5:22 when Paul lists the fruits of the spirit. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves as well as to love our enemies.

In I Corinthians 13, Paul speaks about love again. He says, in part, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1-3)

Love is an important ingredient in our lives. To make an analogy, if you are missing the love ingredient in your recipe, you may still end up with bread, but it will not be as sustaining as it could be. We can go all the way back to when Moses led the chosen people out of Egypt to walk through the desert. God provided them with manna (bread) every day so they could survive. Without the bread of life, God, they would have perished.

If love is a missing ingredient in your life, walk to the foot of the cross and accept God’s free gift of love offered unconditionally to you!

Love

2009-02-14T14:26:00.003-06:00

Valentine's Day is a day for love. Often people who are in relationships use this day as a time to express their love for one another. Others, who are not in a relationship, often dread this day because they have feel they have no one to share their love with. Either way, whether you have a significant other in your life or not, know that you are always loved. God loves you! And He loves you more than you can comprehend, and forever, no matter what!

Paul expresses God's love for us this way in Romans 8:39, "neither height not depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Happy Valentine's Day! Jesus loves you!

Relief

2009-02-13T07:09:00.000-06:00

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

I was lying on my bed the other morning after my shower and this verse popped into my head. It is so refreshing! What a comforting thought to come to the cross and lay down my heavy burdens, knowing that Jesus will lovingly take them from me! Then I can go on with my day without carrying all of that extra weight on my shoulders. Why is it that so many of us have such a hard time doing this? Particularly when we could really use it? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that whether we accept it or not, Jesus is always there offering to carry them for us. Thank you Jesus!

How would your days be different if you visited Jesus at the foot of the cross every morning?

Pain

2009-02-12T08:04:00.001-06:00

There is a quote by author Kim McMillen that says "I learned that when I am feeling pain it is because I am living outside the truth."

Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life." John 14:6

When we are living out God's purpose for our lives we feel a certain contentment and joy in the knowledge that we are following God. It doesn't mean that things are always easy, but that we have the necessary provisions to get through the hard times. When we experience a painful struggle in our lives, we have usually slid back into the driver's seat of our lives and are not closely following Jesus. When we lean into God we are able to get through it and will come out better for it on the other side.

Are you ready to give up control and let God guide you on your journey?

Discouragement

2009-02-11T08:21:00.001-06:00

In my last post, I encouraged my readers to read their Bible and meditate on its word. When you are able to let go and let God direct your life, He will lead you in new directions. Sometimes these journeys can be scary and unclear. We doubt ourselves and become unsure about whether or not we are doing the right thing or going in the right direction. We question whether we are following God's plan for our life or we are just doing what we think is best. And when we come across an obstacle, we get discouraged - it is human nature. God knows this about us.

In Joshua 1:9 He tells us, "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." I find these words to be very comforting. If I internalize them it's as though I can feel the strength of God with me and I am able to go on.

Is there an area in your life that you can let go of and feel the presence of God, where He can take away your fears and encourage you?

Prosperity

2009-02-10T08:00:00.000-06:00

"Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be proserous and successful."
Joshua 1:8

God wants us to be prosperous and successful. Sometimes we find it hard to remember that as we struggle in our day to day lives. Not only does He desire for us to be successful, but He gifts us each specially in an area to be successful. He even gave us a road map: the Bible. When we rely on ourselves and our own ambitions to direct our lives, we often stumble and fall, and success seems just out of our reach. Or sometimes we reach what we thought we needed to be successful but find that we are still left wanting something more. When we read the Bible daily, and meditate on its word, then we allow God to speak to us and direct our lives. When God is directing our lives we find true success!

Where in your life are you feeling that success is just out of reach? Where can you let go and let God direct your path? Maybe you will find your success somewhere you never even thought possible!

Change

2009-02-09T08:11:00.003-06:00

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18:3

Change.

Some people live for change while others avoid change at all costs. Change, although it can be hard can be kind of scary, is required to fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives. Sometimes we think about making a change in our lives, but we don't actually take any steps toward that change. Sometimes we are ready for a change. Either way, unless we are uncomfortable in a situation or with our circumstances, change is not likely to happen. In this passage in Matthew, Jesus tells his followers that in order to get to heaven they need to change their hearts and 'become like children'.

Do you believe that you are benefiting by avoiding change in your life? Would you benefit more by allowing God to change your heart?

Growth Spurts

2008-12-14T13:27:00.005-06:00

The other day I was talking with my son (who is almost grown by the way!). We were talking about the difficult times that we sometimes go through in life. The difficult times, or trials, of our lives are times that we are growing spiritually and building character. They are important to the journey of life.

Even James talks about them as a means to become more like Christ, and that we should counts those times as blessings. In James 1: 2-4 he says "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

It occurred to me that we could call these difficult times spiritual "growth spurts"! Just like physical growth spurts they can leave us exhausted and are sometimes painful. But when they have passed, we can see how much we have grown.

When in your life have you experienced just such a growth spurt?

Act first

2008-12-12T10:27:00.000-06:00

"God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the holy spirit, and it is how your character develops."
Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life

A wise man once said to me "God can't direct your path if you're not moving." (Thank you Stuart!) It's true. Once we take responsibility for movement, then God can be responsible for the course correction.

Where are you stuck, sitting and waiting for God to "move you"?

Anxiety

2008-12-03T10:31:00.000-06:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7

This is one of the first verses that I memorized. Not so much because I was attempting to memorize scripture, but because it touched me so close to my heart. Feeling anxious is a very difficult thing. It distracts you from doing the things you need to do, the things you truly want to do. The good news is that God is willing and able to take it on for us! If we share our burdens with God, He will provide the resources we need to handle them. Sometimes that might mean that the source of our anxiety will be resolved, and sometimes it might mean that we will find the strength to deal with it. Either way, when we give our burdens to God He fills our hearts with peace.

What burdens are you hanging onto in your life that you could give up to God?

Suffering

2008-12-01T13:03:00.000-06:00

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:6-7

(today's post is borrowed from a sermon by J. David Hoke - Experiencing a Faith That Works)

This testing is proving our faith. It is refining our faith. It is producing in us the godly characteristics of the nature of Jesus Christ. Like gold passed through the furnace, these trials are having their effect on our lives. I understand that as gold is passed through the fiery furnace the impurities come to the top and are ladled off. The test of the purity of the gold is when the Goldsmith looks into it and can see his face clearly reflected. If that is true, it is a tremendous illustration of what God is doing in our lives. You see, we are called to reflect the image of God. We are called to be conformed to the image of Christ. God is not so much interested in whether we are comfortable or not. God is interested in whether we look like Jesus. And he is willing to do whatever is necessary for that to be accomplished.

What price are you willing to pay to look like Jesus?

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T09:53:00.003-06:00

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy"
Philippians 1:2-4

Today is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day at our house is a day to spend with my family. This tradition started many years ago. We lived 3 hours from both of our families and we got snowed in. My husband made the difficult trek to the local grocery store and got whatever he could find for us to make Thanksgiving dinner at our house. It turned out to be a wonderful day! We have since made this a tradition - although now we shop ahead of time! It has become a day where our whole family is home all day and we just spend time together. I look forward to it every year.

Part of our tradition includes going around the table during dinner, each one taking a turn sharing what he or she is thankful for. This year I am thankful that God brought my husband and me together and continues to be a central part in our marriage; I am thankful for each of my children and the specific gifts that they bring to the world; I am thankful that we are financially stable for the moment; I am thankful for Living Rhythm and Joy; I am thankful for the wonderful friends that God has blessed me with; I am thankful for my life coach, Stuart; I am thankful for my parents, siblings and their families. I could go on and on. God has blessed my life richly in so many ways!

What are you thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day 2008?

Free

2008-11-21T16:12:00.002-06:00

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

This passage is so freeing to me. It reminds me that God has a plan for my life, and it is good, pleasing and perfect. It gives me permission to let go of “the ties that bind” me in my everyday life and grab onto the blessings of the spirit.

There is a song by the Christian music group Newsboys called I Am Free. I love this song! The music is so powerful. Some of the lyrics go like this:

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you our hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams I am free
I am free

I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for you
I am free
Yes, I am free

Are you free today? What are the ties that bind you?

Smile!

2008-11-20T10:23:00.000-06:00

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
- Thich Nhat Hanh

I love this! I know that I sometimes find myself smiling for no reason other than there is joy in my heart! I love everything about my life! Other times, when I am not feeling so joyful, I try to find a reason to smile… Sometimes it is a bird flying in the sky, sometimes it is the colors of the trees. Sometimes it is the lowering cost of gas! But once I smile I start to feel a little better. The more I smile, the more others smile back at me and the positive energy multiplies. Then the smiles come more easily, and pretty soon I have worked my way out of a bad mood!

What is the source of your smile today?

Strong and Gentle

2008-11-18T11:57:00.000-06:00

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength.”

I just happened to run across this quote today. I thought it was good. Gentleness and strength... At first, they might seem like opposite words. But I think, as this quote suggests, that in fact, they go hand in hand. It made me think of a time long ago when I was dating a young inspired artist – who later became my husband. We were young college kids with little money, but because we just liked to spend time together, many of our “dates” included me watching him make pottery. If you have seen the movie Ghost you know that watching someone make pottery on a wheel can be a sensual experience. I remember watching him… he had these big, strong, working hands…and he would use them to very gently mold the clay and shape it into what he was seeing in his mind’s eye. It was always amazing to me to watch him use his strong working hands to so carefully make small intricate changes in the shape of the clay.

God is like that. He is both strong and gentle. He uses his strength and gentleness to mold us and shape us into the creation that he intended for us to be.

Where do you feel the gentle touch of God’s strong hands shaping your life?

Rest

2008-11-11T09:35:00.002-06:00

Just a quick note today to let my readers know that I have not been feeling well. I will put up a new post soon - just need to get some rest!

Mistakes

2008-11-06T13:29:00.001-06:00

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.
- Mary Pickford

We all make mistakes. It is part of being human. Mistakes and failed attempts are the things from which we grow. If you always do everything right and have success for everything you try, you are missing out on a lot of great living! Every mistake is a learning experience. We know what NOT to do next time!

That reminds me of some children’s books that I enjoyed as a kid, and again when my kids were little: The Berenstain Bears books by Stan and Jan Berenstain. In these books, Papa Bear tries to teach Small Bear how to do something – ride a bike or collect honey for example. Papa Bear ends up teaching Small Bear what not to do by example! In the end, Small Bear is able to accomplish what he sets out to do. All the learning happens by mistake!

What mistakes have you made in your life that have turned into a blessing to help you get where you are today?

Expression

2008-11-05T11:25:00.005-06:00

"I want to be the person who creates the space for others to want to do their best, be expressive, and creative, and loved for who they are."

I love this quote. It suits me. I could have said it. But one of the things that I like most about this quote is that it reminds me of my son.

As a teenage boy, my son has a lot of things on his plate and a lot of things on his mind. When he gets the chance to sit and think about his life and his world, one of the things that he has talked about is wanting to create a place where teenagers could just be themselves and express themselves in whatever way works for them. He would like to see kids playing music, or painting or drawing...whatever means lets them express all of what they hold inside. And have them do it in a "safe" place where they would feel free to express themselves without fear of judgement, and with the fellowship of other teens.

That is such a great vision! Do you have a vision for your life or your world? I would love to hear it!

Dreams

2008-11-01T14:09:00.001-05:00

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
St. Francis of Assisi

Don’t get lost in dreams that seem impossible. If your child said to you that he wanted to grow up to become a doctor, or a rocket scientist, what would you say? You would probably say “That’s great Son! Go for it!” Why then, when we have dreams for our lives, don’t we tell ourselves the same thing? We tend to dismiss our dreams by telling ourselves that we don’t know how to do that, or it’s too hard, or it’s too much work. But if we break it down into manageable tasks and do one thing at a time, anything is possible!

What is stopping you from seeing your dreams fulfilled?

Ah..ahh..choooo!

2008-10-30T11:58:00.005-05:00

If there is light in the soul,
there will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
there will be harmony in the house.
If there is harmony in the house,
there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
there will be peace in the world.
- Chinese Proverb

This reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book entitled Because A Little Bug Went Kerchew!. That is a cute story about the snowball effect that the little sneeze of a tiny bug had on the world around it. My kids used to love that book - ok, me too! Although this is a silly children’s book, there is a meaningful message to be learned from it.

It is overwhelming to think about creating peace in the world. It is much more manageable to think about taking care of ourselves. If we take care of ourselves, and create a happy, peaceful heart, we are more able to bring happiness and peace to our families. If our families are happy and peaceful, we are more able to share that with our communities, and so on. It all starts with a happy heart.

What is something that you do on a regular basis to take care of yourself?

I think I can!

2008-10-29T15:20:00.004-05:00

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
- Helen Keller

How inspiring! So often these days that thought process goes a completely different direction. We seem to think instead that I am only one person, what can I do? And so we do nothing.

I like Helen Keller’s take on this. Since I can’t do everything, I am going to do what I can. I cannot feed the whole world, but I can contribute a couple of hours a month volunteering for an organization that provides food for the hungry. I cannot create world peace, but I can do my part to be peaceful and tolerant of others around me. Peace in the world starts with peace within ourselves and reaches out to our sphere of influence.

Where can you do something to be a steward of peace, or somehow affect the world around you?

Your Future

2008-10-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. - Maria Robinson

Your past does not determine your future. There is an old saying that says “Today is the first day of the rest of my life!”

In coaching, we often start with taking a clear look at where you are today. Then think about where you would like to be. Much coaching work is done in the gap between those two spaces. This takes focus and a willingness to be realistic with where you are now, and a heart which is open to new possibilities. You can design your ideal future!

If you were to FULLY live your life, what is the first change that you would start to make?

Power of the Question

2008-10-26T19:20:00.006-05:00

As soon as you ask the question, the possibility exists.

That is so profound. Laurie Beth Jones tells us in Jesus Life Coach that "Any and all transformation takes place with the help of questions."

Sometimes simply being asked a question unleashes a dream we didn't know we had, or revives one that we buried a long time ago. Coaches use questions to help you discover what is important to you. Questions help you to understand your current reality and define what you desire for your future.

So, when you are 95 years old, what do you want to be able to say about your life?

Hard Times

2008-10-25T11:27:00.003-05:00

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

This is one of my favorite verses. I find comfort in the knowledge that the difficulties that I face are for my good, and will benefit me. My husband and I faced some very difficult times together early on in our marriage. At that time I was in the infancy of my spiritual journey. I knew about God and I believed in Him and in Jesus, but I didn’t know about having a personal relationship with Him. I remember going through day by day and just praying to God – thanking him for the blessings that He was giving us (sometimes I had to really search for those blessings!) and appreciating the trials inasmuch as I knew that we were growing through them and learning from them.

Later, after I really started on my journey, I found this passage. And I was so touched. I felt like it really spoke to me and provided me with some understanding for the difficult times that we had endured. And when things get tough again, I will go back to it. It gives me strength to keep going even though times are hard.

What gets you through the tough times? From where do you draw your strength?

God sees YOU

2008-10-24T11:29:00.001-05:00

"God sees clearly the real you - the healed you - the powerful you - the prosperous you - the person you dream to be - the person that you really are..."

-Laurie Beth Jones, Jesus Life Coach

God knows you. He knows the real you. The you on the inside that sometimes you don't even know. He created you! The Bible says that He knew your name before you were born; he knows every hair on your head. When I think about that, it blows me away! The idea that God, the creator of the Universe, knows me! And He loves me and sees beyond my sin. And I am perfect in His eyes. It makes me smile and the joy rise up from inside me to overflowing!!!

How would your life change if you saw yourself the way God sees you?

More on Gifts

2008-10-23T06:42:00.003-05:00

"God has given each of us a unique set of gifts. When we discover them , we delight in them. We enjoy using them. We appreciate others who are gifted in the same way. We find purpose in practicing our gifts and cultivating them"
- Tom Paterson, Living the Life You Were Meant to Live

I think this is so true! Personally I have found that when I am coaching, it doesn't feel like work at all! It is fun, and fulfilling! The time flies by! God has gifted me with the ability to be a coach. He has been preparing me for this for my entire life. I can remember waaayyy back when I was in high school and thinking about what my talents were. I couldn't figure it out. Other people were good at music, or acting, or math, or athletics. All I knew was that I was good at listening to people and encouraging them. My friends used to come to me when they had something on their mind. I was told often that I was a good listener. I thought to myself, "what kind of a talent is that??" Well, now that I am older and wiser (ha!) I know just what kind of a talent that is. It is a gift from God! And later on in life I learned about this thing called Life Coaching, and was thrilled to discover that the very thing that I was gifted with was something that I could use to help others. It makes me smile and be filled with joy every day!

What are your gifts? Where are you using them? I would love to know!!

Courage

2008-10-22T08:16:00.004-05:00

There is more than one kind of courage. There is the kind of courage that it takes to climb up the ladder and walk out onto the diving board, and there is the kind of courage that it takes to actually jump off!
borrowed from Jesus Life Coach by Laurie Beth Jones

Thinking about something, preparing for something, planning for something - that's all great! And sometimes, depending on what you are thinking about, it takes a LOT of courage. It takes a lot of courage to think about what you want to do with your life. Are you going to go to college, or backpack across Europe, or start a business? Do you want to stay in a comfortable job that pays the bills, or do you want to go back to school and start a whole new career? Do you dare offer yourself up to the person that you love to take care of them and be with them forever? All of those things take a lot of courage to even think about! And once you make a decision, it takes another kind of courage to DO IT!
Thinking about going to college is completely different than packing up your belongings and moving away to live on your own. Planning to quit your job and go back to school is completely different than actually walking into your boss's office and giving him your notice. Signing up for classes and entering that classroom for the first time is completely different than the idea of changing your career. Actually proposing to your girlfriend and telling her how much you love her and that you want to spend the rest of your life with her is completely different than planning the circumstances where you will say those words.
If we include God in all situations in our life and look to Him for guidance, He will give us the courage we need to do the hard things. Philippeans 4:13 says "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength."

Do you rely on God for the strength to do the hard things in your life? What does that look like?

The Vine

2008-10-21T09:42:00.004-05:00

"I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" John 15:5

It's a familiar verse for many. Jesus is talking to his disciples on the night of the Last Supper. He goes on to say "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:7-8

This is a verse that is so rich in imagery. Jesus is the branch, or the trunk - our strength. We are the branches. We get everything we need to sustain life through him. If we look to Him to give us everything we need, we will prosper and 'bear much fruit'.

It is often considered beneficial and forward thinking to "think outside the box". What if we were to "think inside the vine"? We will find the answers for our lives and discover ways to use what God has gifted us with to live our purpose and glorify God. Try this for a while and see how naturally the solutions flow as you stay connected to the Source of Life!

Gifts

2008-10-20T19:13:00.003-05:00

Gifts.

Everybody likes gifts. We like to give them and we like to get them. There is something wonderful about giving and receiving something that has been given a lot of thought. It makes both the giver and the receiver feel special. God has gifted each one of us with something uniquely perfect for us. He gave it a lot of thought. He had something special in mind when he gave us our gifts. Our gifts are perfectly suited for our purpose. When we use our gifts to fulfill the purpose God has for our life, we find joy!

Welcome!

2008-10-20T19:05:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Living with Rhythm and Joy! I hope that you enjoy this blog. I would like to use this blog as a way to share some quotes and ideas that are inspiring to me. I encourage you to share your thoughts as well.