The Challenge - Day 7

Nancy Krehbiel has been my friend since I was in my early 20s (when we were roommates). Since she is the one responsible for me doing this challenge (sharing a verse that is important to me for seven days), I thought a proper ending would to be to talk about friendship. The kind of friend I want to be and that I want to have is talked about in the book of Ecclesiastes. (Which I think has turned into one if my favorite books of scripture. Fitting that I love the wisdom of the flawed....and Solomon certainly was. It's encouraging to someone like me.....maybe I can be wise, too!)

So anyway, Solomon says...

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)

 

And in another translation...
 

"You are better off to have a friend than to be all alone, because then you will get more enjoyment out of what you earn. If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (CEV)

One of the top three things God has given me in my life are my friends. They are glorious. A rainbow of colors and beliefs, totally flawed and yet totally perfect. They make me understand how God can love us, in spite of knowing who we really are.

Being single I think perhaps my friends take on an additional role in my life. It's hard to maneuver through this world alone. Being an introvert, they become even a bit more significant. My nature would have me holing up and avoiding all of the terribly terrifying situations that come from having to "get out in" people. In these situations, my friends serve as my anchors. (Or maybe sometimes I am their anchors. When particularly nervous I practically attach myself to their person. They pretend they are not ready to drown.)

But in this day of electronic media and all its cruelty, being too busy to think things through, and waning social skills, we sometimes fail to detect who our real friends are. Our friends are those folks who are picking us up and not letting us stay down on the ground.

Sometimes this is difficult to detect. They're acting nice to us, saying great stuff, they're supportive and reinforcing within us the things that we believe to be true. But what if we are believing wrong? What if we have gotten off course? What if we have lost our way? What if we have fallen? Are they helping us or hurting us?

If you are in a bad place and some one is keeping you there, they are not your friend. Picture yourself having fallen on the ground with a broken ankle and someone saying to you "I am so sorry this has happened to you. It has to hurt. It looks like it may be broken.  I remember I broke my ankle once. It about killed me when the doctor set it. I'd hate for you to go through that." And they let you continue to let you lay there. The ankle continues to swell, you continue to be on the ground and in pain, and yeah....it's almost as though you were alone. But worse....because you're not. They want you to stay exactly where you are, because of their own fears. They don't realize you are in pain, and will be in worse pain the longer you stay where you are. They can't look beyond themselves.

The real friend is going to assess the problem and say "Let's get that checked out." They're going to gently get you in the car, get you to the emergency room, and get that ankle on the road to healing. They want you to feel good for the long term. They want your ankle to heal. They want you to be whole.

We fall. Often. It's OK....we're human. Are your "friends" there for you, constructively helping you up and helping you out? Do they show up when you need them, or are they nowhere to be found? Do they even notice when you have fallen down?

I'm the "tough love" type. I admitted in an earlier blog this week that my nature is to want you, yes all of you, to pay consequences when you do something wrong, sometimes at the expense of mercy. But mercy is important. Oh there is nothing wrong with us having to pay consequences, and a real friend will guide you and support you through the process, but they also care about your pain, embarrassment, and humiliation.

Friends are those who know your truth, but love you and support you in spite of it. (Yes, there are people in the world you can trust in this way.) If you cannot share your truth with them, the whole ugly truth about yourself, maybe they're not a friend. Or maybe you're not.

Your friends know you broke that ankle because you chose to wear five inch heels you weren't used to....and may point that out to you as they are picking you up (well, most of my friends would feel the need)....but their first thought is for your good. They want you to be a healthy high quality person living a healthy high quality life. They still pick you up. They will not leave you on the ground, but they will also not be your crutch when there is nothing wrong with the ankle. They may tell you to pick yourself up, if they realize you are on the ground due to a dramatic pratfall. But they will be there, giving you what you need, even if it's not particularly what you want.

If your life is not better, if you're not better, for having known them, then maybe they just aren't your friend. If they're not it's OK....no need to necessarily cut them off...you need friendly acquaintances, too. Maybe they need a friend like you to teach them. Maybe they haven't experienced real friendship and are trying to get it right. but haven't quite gotten the hang of it. Be there for them.

But the mutual friends....those who have mastered the art of friendship...notice them. (Also notice when they step away....it may be for a reason.) Friends are treasures that should be there for you....and you should be there for them. In a good way.

To Nancy and all of my other friends.....you know who you are....thank you. You help me up and build me up. But how about no other challenges for a while? Well, except for those of you who need to be challenged....I challenge you. Share a Bible verse that is meaningful to you for seven days. Go!

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:

 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV)

 

The Challenge - Day 6

Yes....still working in that challenge Nancy Krehbiel gave me to share a Bible verse that is meaningful to me for seven days. So.....Day 6.....

"The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord." Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)

Or in another translation....

"One day the Lord told Jonah, the son of Amittai, to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, 'The Lord has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!' Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord. He went to the seaport of Joppa and bought a ticket on a ship that was going to Spain. Then he got on the ship and sailed away to escape." Jonah 1:1-3 (CEV)

....And thus began one of the best known stories of the Bible. Does it sound familiar? Not just about Jonah, but can you relate?

I'm a rebel by nature. I actually think we all are, though it takes on different forms. Some of us are the openly defiant types. But even those who are quiet and seem to do no wrong...we don't know what rages in their soul. I suspect they are dealing with their own rebellious nature but just in a more quiet way. We are often running fools. God sometimes wants us to do things that we don't want to do and we avoid it like the plague.

We know what happened to Jonah....he eventually became whale food and learned that perhaps when God speaks you listen. Even if it's something you really don't want to do. There from the belly of the whale, in a sea of digestive juices, he prayed. He was humble. God rescued him instead of destroying him, and he was vomited from the whale intact. 

Finally he went and told the people of Ninevah what God has said. What he was supposed to do in the first place. The people listened and changed. Even the king repented. God was moved by the true changes he saw in the people of Ninevah and he changed his mind. Ninevah was saved.

You would think that Jonah would have been thrilled that he had positively impacted people's lives. Pumped up. Excited. But no. He whined. God didn't do what he first said he was going to do. He didn't handle the situation the way Jonah expected. God was merciful instead. Just as he had been merciful with a rebellious Jonah. But Jonah couldn't see that. We don't see that. There often is a part of us that is only happy if the end result is the way we would have written the story. We want mercy...we want everyone else to get what they deserve.

I relate to Jonah, but don't think I'd like him much if I met him. He didn't learn. He was dramatic and full of self pity, and often lacked compassion. But still, in between his running away and whining, he was used by God. How much more would he have been able to do if he hadn't rebelled and learned from his mistakes?

If life seems unfair, read Jonah. You just might see yourself and learn a bit faster to stop running away from your responsilities, put an end to your rebellion, and approach your tasks with passion. You can't escape God. And you might find that even if you don't get your way, a world where grace abounds works out pretty well for all of us rebels.

"One day the Lord told Jonah, the son of Amittai, to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, 'The Lord has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!' Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord. He went to the seaport of Joppa and bought a ticket on a ship that was going to Spain. Then he got on the ship and sailed away to escape." Jonah 1:1-3 (CEV)

The Challenge - Day 5

And it is Day 5 in my challenge by Nancy Krehbiel to share a meaningful verse for seven days.

In general, I'm not a fan of public prayer. Oh, there are times I feel it is lovely and appropriate, but most of the time I think it is watered down and meaningless, done for show and not for good purpose. It's not about communicating with God in any real way, but instead to show off, show our piety, or placate immature Christians.

Yes, that's kind of a strong statement, and I'm OK if you don't agree with me (I'm always OK if you don't agree with me)....but do you normally feel in such times that you have actually shared hearts with those around you, focused on something important, and petitioned God together? Is it just me who feels a bit yuck afterward? A bit like Charlie Brown's teacher was talking and I can't decide whether I agree or not?

Matthew gave us some direction for prayer, where he actually cautions us against these kinds of prayers.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.." Matthew 6:5 (NIV)

Or in another translation

" When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward." Matthew 6:5 (CEV)

My friend John was asked to pray at a corporate function years ago. Well, sort of. He was asked to pray, then cautioned against being "too Christian." Oh, those weren't the words used, but he was essentially told to be inoffensive to those of other beliefs. We had a bit of fun with it.....coming up with prayers that would be inclusive to all beliefs and would be inoffensive to as many as possible. Or maybe offensive to everyone. They made us laugh...well, in a very dark way. In the end, he decided he just couldn't do it. He had to take a stand against the spirit of the request and say no. It made us wonder why we even had prayer at such an event if we weren't even sure what God we were praying to.

The very next verses in Matthew say...

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:6-7 (NIV)

Or in another translation

"When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers." Matthew 6:6-7

God doesn't need big and pretty words that go on interminably. He wants hearts turning to him. 

Yes, we are supposed to pray together, but that is supposed to bond us in heart and mind and spirit as we plead with God specifically. It isn't supposed to be a big display of how holy we are.

I admittedly roll my eyes when people start talking about how our government has taken prayers out of schools. I personally think God is probably pleased that a lot of anemic prayers are not being offered up that have absolutely nothing to do with him. Prayer still happens at schools when Christians take time to do it. My guess is that some of the most meaningful prayers of all time are taking place today. No one can take your right to pray away....but you don't have to be a public spectacle. How about praying for the students and teachers and administration as you sit in carpool lane? How about getting into a habit of praying as you drive by that specific school every day? How about praying for your company as you go to work every day, or as you all come together for a big seminar? How about praying for the police department as you pass it, or our justice system as you drive by the courthouse? Hear a siren and pray for those involved in whatever crisis may be going on or as you are driving by the hospital praying for those experiencing pain and hopelessness? What if you pray for our leaders as they do their jobs, if they are of your chosen political party or not? Walk around town, see the people who make up our community, and lift up a prayer on their behalf. Don't you think that perhaps God honors these times more than when you stand in the middle of the assembly?

Prayer is not a spectator sport....but it can help us all get to the finish line. God doesn't just work in answer to our prayers, but they can be powerful instigators to get him to act specifically. Probably because he wants our attention on him....he wants us to see him do great and amazing things. It's not about your many beautifully crafted words, not about how many see you do it....it's about the state of your heart. Empty yourself, and let God fill you up with his words. Talk to him....and listen for his answers. Prayer changes things....but mostly it changes you.

"When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words." Matthew 6:5-7 (NIV)

The Challenge - Day 4

Those who know me know I'm a big believer in fun. I get a bit impatient with some people....OK, some of "these people" include some of you....because they (you?) seem to feel like it is something to feel guilty about. Some Christians act like a somber spirit and holiness are synonymous. Nope....I don't believe it, and it's not supported by scripture either. So ease up....wrinkle that face in a good round of hysterical laughter....and enjoy this great and marvelous world.

King Solomon had some issues. A fun guy to read about, a fun guy to read from. His life twists and turns a lot...takes you on a journey. I identify with one of his issues....he's always, painfully, trying to wrack his brain and figure everything out. His book of Ecclesiastes is at times depressing, but then also encouraging. Here's one part I particularly like and want to share today...

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NIV)

Or in another translation..

"So I think we should get as much out of life as we possibly can. There is nothing better than to enjoy our food and drink and to have a good time. Then we can make it through this troublesome life that God has given us here on earth." Ecclesiastes 8:15 (CEV)

 

A secret about me. I struggle with this sometimes. (A few folks have just laughed out loud.) But really, I do. I have a strong intense side....Kim the introvert, Kim the thinker. That side wants to sit around and puzzle on all of the great issues of life. That side is the worrier. If left to my natural inclination, I would worry about everything, including every aspect of not only my life, but the lives of everyone else. Some of you make it difficult to abstain.

But God....

I've learned that trusting God is saying "no!" when these anxieties tend to take over. I've learned it is treating life as a precious gift. I've learned that our world is this amazing smorgasbord and we get to run around and test and try and enjoy ourselves silly. Eating, drinking and being glad....that is not only very, very good....but why God built us this fabulous playground.

We have responsibilities. Many are serious. We should take them seriously. We have heartache and let's face it, people break our hearts continually, and it is so sad, maddening, and frustrating. It can suck our energy, our hope, and our joy. But if our whole life is wrapped in the serious....if we are living stress....perhaps we need to make a change. Perhaps we aren't acknowledging the power of God and watching him at work. Maybe we're not stepping aside and letting him go ahead.

We all struggle with life periodically. It certainly has its peaks and valleys. Certain areas of my life aren't satisfying. They don't bring joy to my days...or I should probably say "enough" joy to my days. They make me forget what my priorities are and add darkness to my world. I'm working on leaving the darkness behind and living in the light.

Some of this discontent can simply be changed by how I approach my life. Sometimes you need to make changes to your life, sometimes you need to make changes to your attitude. I'm fortunate that most of my life is fun. It's designed that way. But these things that plague me, the things that most often bring me to my knees, are often not the things that I would put to the top of my list of life's priorities. Let me say that again in a slightly different way, because I think some of you may relate. The top anxiety producers in my,life aren't even the things that are most important to me. How crazy is that? So...in some ways that should make it easy to sort out....yet many of us know it is so, so difficult.

Did you laugh today? Did you notice beauty? Did you connect with people you like and respect, people who encourage you and light up your spirit? A light heart travels easiest through the darkness of life.

Eat, drink, and be glad, then joy will join you in the toil. I think perhaps, if we put our mind to it, that we can do that. Whatcha think? Here's to life!

"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NIV)

The Challenge - Day 3

And it is Day 3 of Nancy Krehbiel's challenge to me to share a Bible verse that is meaningful to me for seven days.

I've never been able to do pull-ups or chin ups or anything of the sort. I remember in junior high knowing I could never win the President's Physical Fitness Award. Pull-ups were a requirement. I knew they were not a possibility for me. The other things I had a hope to accomplish...but never the pull-ups. It was a weakness...one that I never felt there was a possibility to change. Almost anything in the athletic realm seemed to be out of my grasp, as a matter of fact. Athletic things were at the top of the list of my weaknesses....a list that was quite long in my mind.

There are a few verses in 2 Corinthians that changed my outlook on my weaknesses. Paul, who even by his own admission had few weaknesses, was the guy who wrote them. Right before this particular passage Paul said God allowed Satan's angel to torture him so he wouldn't feel quite so proud. What form did the torture take? He didn't tell us. It really isn't the point, because the commonality for all of us is that we have something that torments us. Something that makes us feel weak. When it attacked Paul, here's what he said....

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)

Or in another translation...

"Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. But he replied, 'My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.' So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (CEV)

We all suffer in this world. In some way, in some fashion, it's guaranteed. The first instinct is a very loud "Why me?" It's painful, it feels unbearable and we plead for God to take it away. Often that doesn't happen (at least in our time frame....which is usually NOW!) and we are left to endure. It's easy to feel over-burdened...and sorry for ourselves.

But God...

God allows us to feel the weight of our weakness for a reason. He wants us to cede our power to his. He wants us to trust him to take them and turn them into his strength. He wants us to acknowledge him, see him, learn from him, and lean on him. He wants us to replace our thought of who we are with all that God can make us. He wants us to have a life-changing experience. To give up our weakness and gain his power. To not be weak, but instead be strong.

Our YMCA has a pull-up machine where you can adjust the resistance so the machine takes over. Put enough weight on there, and the machine will practically do your pull-up for you. Actually enough weight and it will more than do it for you. The funny thing is, even if I have the resistance down to almost nothing, when I use that machine I get a workout. If I haven't been on it in a while, my muscles end up being sore. I'm not doing most of the work, sometimes any work, but it sure looks like I am. My body is being used and made stronger.  I get the benefit of the help it can give. When I cede my weakness to the machine, I can become strong. The more and more that I use it, the more my body can do. Will I one day be able to do a pull-up on my own? It hasn't happened yet, and honestly I am not even close, but I now know it is a possibility.

God's like that machine. He will be our strength when we are weak. Be it physically, emotionally, or spiritually.....God can handle it. The weaker we are, the more room for him to work. Like Paul, sometimes we just need to change our perspective and brag on our weaknesses....because if we allow it, they give us a front row seat to see God's strength in action. So....just so you know....I think I am weaker than you. Lucky me.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV)

The Challenge - Day 2

My friend Nancy challenged me to 7 days of sharing a Bible verse (or verses) that are meaningful to me. Up for Day 2....

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 

a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Proverbs 6:19 (NIV)

Or in another translation...

"

Here are six things God hates, and one more that he loathes with a passion:

 eyes that are arrogant, a tongue that lies, hands that murder the innocent,

 a heart that hatches evil plots, feet that race down a wicked track, 

 a mouth that lies under oath, a troublemaker in the family." 

Proverbs 6:19 (CEV)

I love a good story, the more dramatic the better, and because of that I am sometimes drawn to gossip. You too? I suspect so. Even if you pretend not to be interested.

Hearing of the drama of other people's lives enthralls us. We often believe it to be true without questioning it. We are so quick to destroy the lives and reputations of others that it amazes me. It's as though we're living a version of the Hunger Games and cheering on neighbors as they kill neighbors... for our personal entertainment.

Now, I don't think we necessarily set out to destroy lives in talking about such things....but it happens quite easily. Good people spread gossip. We take "facts" told to us by other people as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, without question. We judge them as guilty, without the benefit of a trial. We would be shattered if it was done to us. What's really sad is that it probably has been done to us or to those we love. We don't seem to learn from it. We don't give others the consideration that we would expect. We don't treat others with the same kindness we would like applied to our own loved ones.

What do we look for in ourselves and others to see if this is a problem? There is a great list here.

Haughty eyes - Often a gossip is quite convincing. They (we) will look you straight in the eyes and tell you something is true. Their evidence? Well, if you question them you may find it is a bit spotty. Phrases like "I just know." "Someone told me it looked as though this was true." "I had a feeling." "I put two and two together." I'm definitely a believer in intuition....but I know not everyone has it, those feelings don't always prove to be true, and probably we shouldn't buy everyone's "feelings" as truth. Sometimes when we think we have it all figured out, we really don't. Keep those haughty eyes in check.

A lying tongue - In your life, what is truth? Is it fact, or rumor? Is smoke always fire? Do you accept all as fact, until someone proves it isn't true, or the opposite? Because someone says something as truth, you don't have to believe it without question. In fact, you are foolish if you do. When words leave your lips (or your fingers), are they really the truth? Does that matter to you? Our tongue can be our most destructive weapon....we need to take care that we don't speak without thought.

Hands that shed innocent blood - Blood is not just shed by swords or other obvious weapons. Some of the worse bloodshed is the person who condemns an innocent. I sometimes have to put myself in my place by reminding myself that it is very probable I would have been at the foot of the cross condemning Christ. I hope seeing that mental picture of myself keeps me from doing the same thing to other people. Sometimes it does, but I haven't gotten it perfected.

A heart that devises wicked schemes -We can be a manipulative people. Unfortunately that manipulation is not usually used for someone else's good. Funny, that. If we are spending our time coming up with ways to destroy the lives of others, it may be time for a heart check and a redirection of its use. As the creative type, personally I could be really good at "wicked scheme planning" if I were to put my energy to it. I try to keep my energy headed in different directions. Sometimes that is difficult. Constant heart checks, and a plan for how I want my heart to act, help.

Feet that are quick to rush into evil - What direction are we headed? Is it taking us toward good things or evil? Are we running with the mob without really knowing what the mob is all about? Do we know what the mob is about is wrong, but joining them anyway? Or are we the lone ranger type and rushing into it all in our own? Our feet head where our brain tells them to...we need to keep our brain headed in the right place so our feet follow,

A false witness who pours out lies - I've been a reporter before, covering an event that another reporter has covered. When I read their story I thought "Where in the world were they?" It's like we saw totally different things happen. What would a reader believe to be true?

I'm also a big reader and I have always been a fan of the "unreliable narrator." The unreliable narrator tells the story through their own perception, or through what they want you to believe as the truth. When it gets down to it, what they say is certainly not truth and may be a total distortion of the facts or just enough of a distortion to really confuse your mind. They're not just in books....we're all unreliable narrators at least some if the time. Sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. An unreliable narrator can be very convincing, and make you feel like a fool. So can a false witness. Even worse is when you realize you are one yourself.

A man (or woman) who stirs up dissension among brothers - We know the pot stirrers. Let's just call them bullies. They don't go away with childhood. Sometimes they just get better at it. Those people who want others to join them as they go against someone? As they attack their character or their reputation? You have the power to say no. If you fall in step with them, you are responsible for the destruction. If you are leading the pack, you are responsible for the carnage...and are negatively impacting our world.

These things are called out as things that God hates...things he finds detestable...things he loathes with a passion. Strong words. Are those the things you want to spend your time doing? As I think about it, I have to agree with God. Personally I don't want these things to mark my life story. They can inch into your life subtly and become who you are in no time.

One of the messages for my church this Sunday was that sometimes, if we are living as Christ lived, as God wants us to live, we will sometimes be at odds with those who we love. For me, if God hates it, I want to hate it, too. That doesn't always come naturally to me. It may not come naturally to you either. I am sure I have done, and maybe still do, these seven things. It's easy to get caught up with the drama and want to be part of it. For myself, I decide what kind if drama I want to support. I want to live a life that leads to good things, not destruction...and I want to encourage that in others..

My goal is to have eyes that shine light, a tongue that tells truth, hands that protect the innocent, a heart that looks for new ways to love, and feet that run to goodness. I want to be a reliable witness to truth and I want to promote peace in my family, in my friendships, in my church, in my community, in my country, and in my world. 

I commit to these things even if I am the only one who will, but together we can make a greater impact. Care to join me?

"There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 

a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers." Proverbs 6:19 (NIV)

(Join me in the Bible verse challenge - seven days of sharing verses that are meaningful to you.)

The Challenge - Day 1

So if my friend Nancy got the challenge right (she was challenged by someone in French), for seven days I am supposed to share a Bible verse that is meaningful to me.  I figured it just may be a good little exercise for me, so why not do a 7-day marathon blog of these verses? A good way to make me focus and think on them.

I'll use Nancy as the inspiration for my first verse. When we were roommates in Greensboro in our little houses on Silver Ave. and Spring Garden (in our early 20s....not that long ago), Nancy had a sampler on our living room wall that I believe a friend had made her. It was a verse in Micah.....not a book of the Bible read often by a lot of people, but perhaps it should be. The verse was...

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NIV). 

Or in another translation...

"The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God." Micah 6:8 (CEV).

I love this verse, however you translate it. The last words of the verse were the ones on the sampler. The call to action. What great words to be reminded of daily! This book of the Bible was written by the prophet Micah and was a message particularly for the people of Samaria and Jerusalem, but so much of the story applies to us today. The leaders at the time were encouraging people's focus to be on other things besides God. When a person's focus is not on God, it leads us away from our purpose. 

Micah talks of idol worship, which we often pretend not to understand in today's times....but what is idol worship besides saying something or someone else is more powerful than God? Why else would it frustrate God so much? When our eyes are enamoured elsewhere, we don't notice who he is. When we don't notice who he is, we miss out on much of what he has planned for us to see and do. That is always going to be better than our own way. A tour guide who has seen and knows the world (and especially one that made that world) can lead you to much more exciting places than you stumble upon yourself.

The issues the people were dealing with then are not much different than those we are dealing with now. Does this sound familiar? 

"So listen to my message, you rulers of Israel! You hate justice and twist the truth. You make cruelty and murder a way of life in Jerusalem. You leaders accept bribes for disobedient decisions. You priests and prophets teach and preach, but only for money." Micah 3:9-11 (CEV)

But God....

He made it simple for them. For us. If they (we) looked to him, they (we) would know the secret of living a good and fulfilling and truly important life. He "required" this. He "demanded" it. It must be important.

"See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God."

The next election is teeing up in the U.S., and we get to choose our leaders. Yes, I know most seem like a bunch of buffoons at the moment, but truth is that God will have skin in the game. It's a privilege to be involved. Don't be too quick to judge someone based on political party, because of their work or church or family resume, or because of their pretty words. Think about those leaders in the Bible that God chose, that proved worthy to the task. Often based on their past history or current demeanor they would not have been our choice, now, would they? But how do they make their decisions? What will be their guide?

In our world, in our country, in our lives, our thoughts need to be on justice (I like the synonym "fairness" or "right"). What is right? What is true? What makes sense? What is righteous?

I had a business class once where we would play a game where the teacher would give us a situation and ask us the questions "Is it legal?" "Is it moral?" and "Is it ethical?" You would think the answers should all be consistent. They weren't. That game fascinated me. (I think I have talked about it in a prior blog....and reserve the right to talk of it in the future!)  It totally captivated me and the three hour class would fly by. I used to add a question at the end, for stretching my own mind and because I thought it was in the end most important, "Is it right?" It wasn't an easy exercise. Give it a try. Pick up any news story....you can probably find a subject for which those questions will give interesting answers. We really all should be thinking these things through on an ongoing basis.

I may surprise you by revealing I am more of a justice girl than a merciful one. I try to work on the mercy, with varying degrees of success. But this verse says mercy needs to come first. It says we need to love it. Not have a loving feeling for it....truly commit to making it an active priority. So, let's define "mercy" as compassionate treatment. How do our decisions actually touch people? They may be "right", but are they "compassionate"? Do we consider all of those impacted before we make a decision? 

Oh, we definitely don't need to throw justice out of the window and apply some sort of namby pamby mercy....but justice must be administered with mercy coming first. With compassion. With loving kindness.

Then there's obedience. What does God say about any particular issue? As we study the God of scripture, what is he about? What matters to him? We aren't supposed to just obey him, we're supposed to humbly obey him. I always think that "humbly" should be defined as "it's not all about you". We need to look at God, and not just in our mirror. We need to make it personal, though. If we don't learn about God for ourselves (studying God in our own relationship and not just relying on the second hand experience of others), how can we obey him? But if we are thinking of ourselves first, is it possible to obey God humbly?

This is a great verse for our times and for our decision making. God has shown us how to live best. We  don't make decisions with careless abandon, but instead we stay by the side of God, always knowing we have more to learn. We consider mercy for all involved, loving over our own emotions. And we act justly. Always. Personalize it....it wasn't written just for those in Samaria and Jerusalem, for leaders and rulers. The truth endures today. This is a verse for you....and me.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NIV). 

(I think I am supposed to nominate two people a day to join me in this little exercise, but being the rebel I am, and encouraging that in others, I don't want to force anyone. I'll just say this. If you need to think about and/or share a few verses in your Facebook world, consider yourself challenged. You don't have to get as wordy as me and blog on it....unless you want to...or even share it on Facebook. You can just think on them yourself or share with one or two around you. Go where God leads you. But sometimes a challenge can take you to interesting places. If you're not accepting an occasional challenge I think you're missing out on an interesting part of life. Plus there's nothing like talking about something in public to help you refine your thinking...and sometimes make you exercise courage. As a reminder....today we're going to try walking humbly next to God. That means being open and teachable, but also knowing God, our greatest defender and only true judge, is standing beside us.)

The Inner Mirror

The dilemma. It's raining, I didn't plan for it, and while I have an umbrella in the car (one that should have already been replaced a year or so ago, but could keep some of the rain off me...if the wind doesn't blow more than a slight puff). I also have an armload of things I need to carry into the building. I wait a few minutes for the downpour to subside. I check my phone. I check the time. Finally my window of time has run out. I have to make a decision. My decision is to just go. To leave the umbrella, get wet, get myself and my stuff inside in one trip, and deal with the consequences later. It's always the choice I make, though it doesn't seem to be the norm, or necessarily the right one. I spend more time bedraggled than the average woman. Doing anything else doesn't seem to make sense to me at the time. Sometimes, afterward, I wonder if perhaps another choice would be better. When I look in the mirror....or someone looks at me in pity, I get the message. It's not pretty. Yep, possibly not a good decision.

I think I missed  part of the gene of self-awareness. Oh, I am aware of some things. What I think, what I believe. I'm definitely aware of my faults....some blown out of proportion, some justified in my brain, some insecurities planted by other people.

But I have realized I don't have a great grasp of my personal appearance. Am I wearing something inside out? Very possibly. Did I just put mascara on one eye? It happens. Did I just put in one earring this morning? Well, the phone rang. I got distracted. The bad thing is that I probably won't discover these things on my own.

It's why I prefer friends who are blunt but kind. I'm not sure if I prefer they be detailed oriented (in which they would notice) or not (in which they wouldn't.) 

Several of these friends will always eye me as they greet me and it's like a mother looking at their first grader before they head off for school. They tuck and pull and straighten and may even get out the wet wipes. (Not all of these friends are women. I have a love for Renaissance men and am lucky to have some as friends.) Embarrassment about this sort of thing has faded with time.... I now can usually accept it with amusement and see it as a gift of someone who cares. OK, maybe my cheeks are still a little pink. It may or may not be the blush I badly applied.

There is a side of me that would like to be different. Who would like to be the polished type. One who thinks it is a priority to iron clothes before I wear them and not just hopes that body heat will get rid of the wrinkles. I usually hope that everyone thinks I started my day looking way more put together, and something tragic happened along the way. This "put together" Kim doesn't seem to happen.

I'd like to figure out what people leave behind so they can carry the umbrella. When I carry the really cute umbrella like they carry (which I don't currently own, most of mine are freebies sporting an insurance company logo), I would like to look the magazine ad, carefree and relaxed and enjoying the rain...not like someone currently fighting a battle and losing. Cute rain boots....yeah, if I had them they would not be in the vicinity if it actually rained. They would sit beautifully unused in my closet. It's not worth the investment. But I love yours!

I don't check throughout my day to see how I look or consciously notice if something is out of place...it just doesn't occur to me. I have no internal mirror. My brain isn't trained that way, no matter how many times I realize the glaring consequences. Yes, it can make me cringe if I think about it. Those of you who always seem put together leave me in a state of awe. I don't look at it as a possibility for me, for some reason. Will that change? I doubt it. It's not like I just gave up, as I have heard some women say...l don't think it has ever been part of who I am.

One of the great things about being unaware of the way you look? Usually you don't notice those who are rolling their eyes when they notice the fiasco before them. Well, you notice....but it doesn't even occur to you it could be related to you. (People have bad days and sometimes those eyes just roll naturally!)

The truth is if I happen to look OK when you see me, chances are it is by accident. Or someone dressed me. The mirror in my mind is a bit warped. But maybe you already knew that.