Lessons from Boot Camp: Installment #1

One of my instructors at the gym is training for a competition. She encouraged the rest of us to join her during the preceding four months to get at fit as we possibly could. The ultimate goal would be losing pounds, particularly body fat percentages, and gaining both strength and muscle. Her husband, Joe, kindly offered to start teaching boot camps during this time to help us towards our goals. The challenge started back in December and will continue until April so we are more than half way through. To motivate us further we gave our group an identity and named the challenge, "Operation Bikini"; our goal is be the best we can be by swimsuit season. So far, I have lost 10 pounds and >3% body fat.

My church is just finished a sermon series called "Hallmark: When you Care to Live Your Very Best." The inspiration for the series came from Psalm 24:
Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
   Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
   who does not trust in an idol
   or swear by a false god.
This series challenged us to examine our hearts in some key areas so that we can live our very best for God. We looked at having hearts that draw God's attention. We examined what scripture says about living without offense, without stubbornness, with a sense of urgency and finally today being fully alive by dealing with un-forgiveness. Our goal has been to cleanse our hearts of anything that is holding us back from our best so we can ascend to what God has in store for us; the series will be capped off by a night of worship aptly entitled "Ascend." I will be singing with the choir.
 You are probably wondering where I am going with this. Back to boot camp. When we first began the challenge, the group was quite large. Many people joined with good intentions. The fact of the matter is that boot camp is hard work....just like life. Some of what we are asked to do, both physically, and spiritually is not fun. Right from the beginning there were folks who would say "I Can't do that" without even trying it yet. They spoke defeat into their circumstance and sure enough they couldn't achieve it.God reminded me what I already knew in church today. Our words have power; giving them breath means giving them life. Negative thoughts that are then put into audible words will affect your future. The truth is, that they actually counteract what God is trying to accomplish in your life.

• "It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."Matt 12:37 MSG
• " Don't bad-mouth your leaders, not even under your breath,
     And don't abuse your betters, even in the privacy of your home.
     Loose talk has a way of getting picked up and spread around.
     Little birds drop the crumbs of your gossip far and wide" Eccles 10:20 MSG

I realized today that part of what might be causing me to 'wait on God' in my circumstances to accomplish his desired end in my struggles is....me. I am working against what he wants to accomplish with my words; the bible clearly says that even conversations that Greg and I have in privacy of our home can affect my success. Not unlike boot camp, what I speak over my circumstances, has a huge impact. This is sometimes harder than it appears. So as Beth Moore says, FAKE IT UNTIL YOU FEEL IT! If you can't find positive words in your heart, then speak scripture (God's words) over your situation. Eventually the feelings with follow as you get stronger than you  thought you could be. It's kind like when we would run at boot camp and say, "skinny jeans" through pants of breath.
Greg and I had a great conversation after church. We have made a commitment not to complain, speak negatively, or curse our circumstances or the people involved in causing it, even in the privacy of our own home. I may still have to wait on the Lord to change my circumstances, but I certainly don't want the hold up to be me. Amen.

Wasted Talent: Reflections on a Recent Death

This week a very well known celebrity, Whitney Houston, died. Presumably the cause was a lethal mixture of alcohol and drugs. Her death produced a lot of public response because she possessed enormous musical singing talent. One could legitimately say she had one of the most talented voices in this generation; I remember listening to her albums as a young adult and many of her songs elicited quite an emotional response from the listener. My favorite might possibly be, "I Will Always Love You" from "The Bodyguard."; chokes me up every time. Whitney first learned how to sing in church. Her mother, Cissy Houston is an accomplished gospel music talent. To many observers there is irony in the fact that the night before Whitney died, she is recorded singing "Yes, Jesus loves me." on stage appearing quite intoxicated. Such a vocal talent, tragically wasted; a unique gift that was snuffed out by the slavery of addiction. it begs asking some questions. Somehow she grew up singing about Jesus, but yet her life ended the way it did. How did this happen?  I think this is why her death evokes something in us. It is supposed to.
I'm currently doing the Beth Moore bible study on the book of James called "Mercy Triumphs." The book of James is not for those interested in reading Bible-lite; it is not a book with those 'feel good' verses we love to claim. Rather, James plans to get in your business from the very first line. The basic premise of James is: To the extent you live it, is the extent you believe it. Yes, James believes in God's grace and the power of forgiveness of sin. However, James makes it perfectly clear that once God has shown you the available freedom in his word, if we don't live it out , it is because we don't believe it in our heart. When I really think about it, I have to admit he is right. James puts it like this:
"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25
In this passage James tells us it is possible to be a 'forgetful listener'. The example of Whitney Houston might be an extreme one, but the truth is we are all capable of this.  It is possible to look intently into the word of God, even be deeply moved by it (like hearing one of Whitney's songs), and yet walk away and never put it into application. It is possible to be a saved Christian but still live a life in bondage because we never believed what the word said applied to us nor that it had the power to change us. In my bible study Beth tells us the Greek word used for "look intently" in this passage actually means to bend down/stoop and peer intently into something.

 It reminded me of the scene from Lion King where Simba looks at his reflection in the pond. Rafiki tells Simba to look into his reflection and there he sees who he was really meant to be...a reflection of the king, his Father. (Mufasa). This is no different for you or I. When we look intently into God's word, God will show you....you. The you who you are now and the you that you are supposed to be...a reflection of the King of Kings, Jesus. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Corinth 3:17-18
Every person was placed here by God for a reason. Each of us has a gift/talent that is meant to be expressed. Whitney's gift was singing capable of evoking/expressing emotion. What is yours? What is mine? One could argue her gift was meant for worship; the enemy certainly has a motive to snuff that out. The tragedy of her life, a gift wasted, is also one we should all learn from. Each of us is deposited with a gift; but that gift is meant to be expressed to show the glory of God. The bible calls this our "fruit". It is very clear. We are supposed to be known by our fruit, not our talents.  As humans, we are fallible. We make mistakes; we make bad choices. If God is the potter and we are the clay, we are some cracked pots for sure. But if God has placed his light in us, it's only through those cracks that the light is visible to others. Don't waste your gift because of your struggles. Look intently into God's word and let him change you from the inside out; this is where true freedom is found.
"Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.  If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us." 2Corin 4:6-8

Keeping Alert

As I mentioned in my last blog, it has been a year since our lives dramatically changed. God has definitely been with us, watching over us constantly and carrying us through. But in some ways, we are still waiting for rescue. A year seems both short and long at the same time. It is an effort to stay in the Spirit; God's word says that those who "wait on the Lord, will renew their strength. They will not grow weary." The flesh, however, easily grows tired of waiting.
I stumbled on a good example of this in my bible studies. I am currently reading the Message translation. One year bible on line provides a daily reading of old/new testament, psalms and proverbs. As I was reading about the first Passover when God 'rescued' the Israelites from Egypt the wording struck me. It said,
"At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, God's entire army left Egypt. God kept watch all night, watching over the Israelites as he brought them out of Egypt. Because God kept watch, all Israel for all generations will honor God by keeping watch this night—a watchnight." Exodus 12:40-42.
My mind instantly flashed from the first Passover to the last one recorded that God was earthly present at...the Lord's Supper. Not coincidentally, it soon followed in my daily reading.
If you recall, Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room. While they celebrated communion, Jesus prepared them for what was about to happen (his crucifixion). Although it was going to be a difficult circumstance, the end result would be monumental in achieving God's will and advancing his kingdom. It was the rescue they didn't even know they needed; it was the rescue for all of us. They left the dinner and went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.
" Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, "Stay here while I go over there and pray." Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, "This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me."
 Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, "My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?" When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
 He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, "My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I'm ready. Do it your way."When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time."Matt 26 MSG
It occurred to me that the night the disciples fell asleep was supposed to be the 'watchnight'. It was the Passover; because God watched over them they were supposed to honor him by keeping watch for him. But yet, their flesh was too weak. This spoke to me. I want to persevere with the type of faith that continues to wait for God. I don't want my impatience for rescue to tempt me to take short cuts that will ultimately not lead me to God's will for my life. I don't want comfort to supersede my calling...'like an old dog by the fire'. God has shown me that comfort is not always in our best interest; see my last blog post. To be the kind of follower God calls us to be, we have to stay alert despite our stressful circumstances for what he is preparing to do in our lives. Romans 5 puts it this way:
"We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit." So I continue to wait for rescue in my captivity.
Psalm 130: 5-7:
I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
   and in his word I put my hope.
 I wait for the Lord
   more than watchmen wait for the morning,
   more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Training in Babylon

Today has officially been one year since my life abruptly changed. Looking back, I can honestly say that God has taken my circumstances and ultimately worked them for my good. (Romans 8:28) Although my circumstances haven't changed much in the past year, I have. And that I wouldn't trade for the world.

Let me give you a couple pictures to illustrate. This was me one year ago. Ugh.

I was very comfortable with my life. To use a familiar saying in the South, "I was fat and happy." Literally. But God knew that my comfort was not working for me both literally and spiritually. So, he forced me to move. At first, it was painful. I had to give up my routine, my house, my church, my friends and worst of all...my habits. All the things that I relied upon for solace, comfort, and daily sustenance were suddenly stripped away. But, I have learned that was ultimately the point. God has taught me to live a new way. To survive, I literally had to stop relying on things and start relying on Him. This meant a radical change in my daily diet, which begins each morning by feasting on his word. I have literally clung to it for its promises, my hope, and my salvation as I have walked these last 365 days. Instead of worldly things sustaining me, it is Jesus. Only Jesus. "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.." John 6:35

Gradually other healthy activities have replaced my former routines. I have literally thrown myself into working out and living healthy. It has helped me to cope, endure, and persevere through this trial. And true to this blog, has helped to illustrate many spiritual principles that often can be related to physical challenges. His word tells us that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance produces character. Character produces hope.

This is me now. I have lost twenty pounds with the intention to lose much more. This in itself makes me proud. However, I am more proud of what I have gained. I am stronger in many ways than I have ever been. Building both spiritual and physical muscle by feasting daily on the diet the Lord had planned for me. Reflecting back, in many ways it reminded Greg and I of the story of Daniel. Daniel was taken into 'captivity' in Babylon. He had a choice what he was going to eat on a daily basis....worldly pleasures, or the strict diet of God's supply.  A diet of worldly pleasures might taste good going down, but in the end Daniel knew the results of 'fat and happy' was a lie.  He chose the latter. After the test, he looked better (than his peers, amen!) and ultimately received the hope from God he needed to persevere through the rest of his captivity. My prayer is that it is the same for me.
"Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”  So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 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 1:13-17

Every year I have asked God to provide me with a bible verse for the coming year. This year, I believe it is Philippians 1:19-20. "For I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body." Thank you Lord that you are faithful to complete all the good work that you begin in us. I pray that I will continue to persevere with courage and that 2012 will be our year of deliverance, both from our physical captivity, and our spiritual chains that have held us back from fully proclaiming Christ. May 2012 be a year of hope; I think confidently I can say, we're looking better already.