I'm Dysfunctional, You're Dysfunctional

"Dysfunctional" seems to be quite a catch word in our modern society. From marriages, to families, to churches...everybody and everything seems to be, to one degree or another, "dysfunctional." In light of this, I wanted to share with you a devotional by Elisabeth Elliot taken from her book "All That Was Ever Ours." It was eyeopening to me. I hope it is to you.

"P. T. Barnum knew what he was talking about when he said there's a sucker born every minute. He made money on it and so have thousands before and since. It isn't difficult to convince insecure people (who isn't insecure?) that they've been shabbily treated and deserved better. In fact they've been horribly treated and mistreated, misunderstood, misused, abused. Their families were dysfunctional (whose wasn't? whose parents did a perfect job?). No wonder they can't feel good about themselves. But here, folks, I can make you see that you're wonderful, really WONDERFUL. It's bad to feel bad about yourself, and it's the fault of all those awful people who wounded you. You can just walk away from them.

As always, we must hold up whatever the world is saying to the straightedge of Scripture in order to see if it's crooked. The "gospel" according to the self-gurus, by which many will testify to having been helped, is very simple and, I believe, very crooked. The pathway to fulfillment is straight and narrow, and it begins at the cross where (as in Pilgrim's Progress) Christian drops his burden: the burden of sin, deep-rooted, infectious, malignant, death-dealing sin, the terrible root of all those "bad feelings." "Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart, 'He hath given me rest by His sorrow and life by His death.' Then he stood still a while to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his burden."

Surprising it will always be to those who come to that Cross, and foolishness it will always be to those who don't. Rest comes by His sorrow, life by His death? Yes. "His purpose in dying for all was that men, while still in life, should cease to live for themselves and should live for him who for their sakes died and was raised to life. With us therefore worldly standards have ceased to count in our estimate of any man.... When anyone is united to Christ, there is a new world (or a new act of creation); the old order has gone, and a new order has already begun" (2 Corinthians 5:15-17, NEB).

That new order is a far cry from the notion of self-acceptance which has taken hold of the minds of many Christians. Any message which makes the Cross redundant is anti-Christian. The original sin, pride, is behind my "poor self-image," for I felt that I deserved better than I got, which is exactly what Eve felt! So it was pride, not poor self-image, that had to go. If I'm so beautiful and lovable, what was Jesus doing up there, nailed to the cross and crowned with thorns? Why all that hideous suffering for the pure Son of God? Here's why: There was no other way to deliver us from the hell of our own proud self-loving selves, no other way out of the bondage of self-pity and self-congratulation. How shall we take our stand beneath the cross of Jesus and continue to love the selves that put Him there? How can we survey the wondrous cross and at the same time feed our pride? No. It won't work. Jesus put it simply: If you want to be My disciple, you must leave self behind, take up the cross, and follow Me. George MacDonald writes, "Right gladly would He free them from their misery, but He knows only one way: He will teach them to be like Himself, meek and lowly, bearing with gladness the yoke of His Father's will. This is the one, the only right, the only possible way of freeing them from their sin, the cause of their unrest."

~by Elisabeth Elliot

Just the Right Size

Picture this: you are a small boy who is standing in front of the biggest, tallest, strongest, meanest man you have ever seen with only a sling and a few stones. The giant is taunting you, telling you that you are nothing but a dog to him and thousands of people are watching you. Most of them are on the giant’s side and the ones that are supposed to be on your side, think you are crazy because of what you think you can do. Now I think by now you can figure out who I am talking about. David and Goliath. We have all heard that story, we know it by heart and we tell it to our kids. I was struck by something this morning though (ha – no pun intended). I was listening to the radio on the way to work and Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns came on the radio. Now I LOVE this song. I have always been able to picture exactly what they were talking about when they mentioned Peter climbing out of the boat or David standing in front of Goliath. But toward the end of the song, in a portion that many probably don’t pay attention to or a part that the radio may cut off so they can get more songs in, is a line that says “but the stone was just the right size to put the giant on the ground”. Hmmm…that made me think. If the stones had been bigger, David might have felt better about what he was about to do because it would have felt heavy and solid in his hand. But it might have been too big to fit the sling, it might not have flown as far and so it might have just landed on the giant’s toe. If the stones had been smaller, it might have fallen out of the sling, it might not have even left the sling or it might have flown over Goliath’s head. But the stone was just right to do the job. People tell us not to worry because God equips us with what we need. But so many times we look at our lives and what we have or don’t have and we begin to doubt. Because we aren’t looking at our target, we are looking at those small stones. So let’s ignore those people who laugh at us reminding us ‘of all the times we’ve tried before and failed’. And listen to and believe the Voice of Truth, who tells us ‘a different story’. The Voice that says ‘Do not be afraid!’, that ‘This is for My glory.’

1 Chronicles 28:20 (ESV) - Then David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished

Psalm 79:9 (ESV) - Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!

~Avie DeMorat

Don't Call Me the Crocodile Hunter!

It started out as any other weekday morning. I showered, dressed, ate breakfast and prepared to leave for work. As I stood at the dining room table gathering my belongings to head out the door, I caught a slight movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned to see a huge iguana...ok, maybe it was a lizard...posed on top of a box that leaned against the wall. One thing you have to understand about me is that, even though I have six grandsons who could all pass for the Crocodile Hunter, they did not inherit that trait from their grandmother. I hate lizards!! They remind me too much of snakes, which I hate even worse than lizards. In the past my first instinct would have been to call Sarah to bring the boys over to catch this dumb lizard. But, alas, Beford, MA, is a little too far away for them to come and rescue Nina. And the other four "Crocodile Hunters" live six hours away. Still no help! So I knew that I had two choices. I could leave and go to work and hope the lizard would miraculously find his way out of the house while I was gone. One problem...how would I know for sure that the lizard was gone and not just hiding, awaiting the opportunity to attack his unwilling host...ME? So I chose the second option...try to coax the lizard back out the door from whence he came. So I opened the door leading into the back yard and began trying to "shoo" the lizard in that direction. Not a good idea. Did you know that lizards can jump?? And guess who was standing between where the lizard was and where he wanted to jump?? I found out quickly that I CAN JUMP TOO!! It didn't take long for me to figure out that this was not going to work. I realized that the only way I was going to get this lizard out of my house was to try to smack him with the fly swatter. I really didn't want to kill him for fear that my grandsons would disown me. But I didn't see any other way. So after chasing him around the living room I finally was able to sneak up on him and...SMACK! I got him. Fortunately, I just knocked him silly, but it was enough to allow me to pick him up (with the fly swatter, of course) and toss him out the door into the back yard. I'm happy (I think) to tell you that he survived and is probably now plotting his revenge. Why am I sharing my lizard story with you?? Because God used it to teach me a spiritual lesson. How many times has that Old Serpent, the devil sneaked into my house without being noticed? When I've caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, my first reaction is to chase him out on my own. That doesn't work any better than it did with the lizard! The enemy jumps at me and sometimes scares the pants off me. I've found that the only way to deal with the devil is with Help...the kind that comes from our Father. I need to deal with the devil in the same way that Jesus did...with the Word. I just need to smack him with the Word and knock him silly. Then I can kick him out of my house. I know he'll come back...but I'll be waiting for him!
Remember Eph. 6:10-17..."Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."
Happy Hunting!!

Visions of...Dirty Windows!

This past Sunday, in our Women in the Word Life Connections class, one of verses that we talked about was 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." We talked about this verse and what it really means for us. Then this morning, God once again gave me a very visual illustration (since He made me a visual learner!) of how this verse applies to ME. As I've talked about in previous blogs, we have a bird feeder in our back yard. And might I say that it is Grand Central Station for the birds of St. Marys most of the time. In fact, we have to fill the feeder EVERY DAY. I'm thinking that pretty soon we'll have to make a decision...do the birds eat or do WE eat. Anyway...I love to watch the birds. I sometimes sit in our swing in the back yard for hours just watching the birds come and go. They are beautiful and very unique...in their appearance, in their choice of seeds, in their chirping, in their tolerance for being watched. While I'm sitting outside in the swing, there's nothing to obstruct my view of the birds. But this morning as I was looking at the birds (and squirrels) out my dining room window I made a terrible discovery...my windows are very dirty! As I looked through my dirty window I realized that the beautiful birds, each with their unique qualities, looked blurred and distorted. They were no longer clear and distinct in their appearance. Oh, I could still see them...sort of. But I could no longer make out the subtle little differences that singled out each beautiful bird. Suddenly God reminded me of 1 Cor. 13:12..."we see through a glass darkly..." In our fleshly bodies, we're looking through "dirty windows." We can't clearly see the plan and purpose of God for our lives. We can't clearly understand why God allows some things to happen. We can't fully understand why someone we love is taken from us....or why we're suddenly faced with a terminal illness. Why can't God see things the way I see it!! Dear friend...God DOES see it the way you see it...but He sees SO MUCH MORE. He sees the beginning AND the end. He alone knows the plan and purpose He has for your life and the lives of those you love. And He is directing the steps of every believer and leading us on the path of that plan and purpose. Right now we see through "dirty windows." But, thank God, 1 Cor. 13:12 doesn't stop there! The rest of the verse says "...but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." In that day...the great "then"...when I see my Lord and Savior face to face, I SHALL KNOW. Then...I will understand. Then...I will see clearly. Then...my windows will be all sparkling clean!

I don't think it can be said any more clearly than from The Message:
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

What a day that will be! But till then...I think I need to wash my windows!

I Know How I Designed It

This morning a dear friend sent me an Encouragement for Today devotional from the Proverbs 31 Ministry. In light of the events of last week, this devotional spoke volumes to my exhausted heart and mind so I want to share it with you all. Please take time to read it and I pray it speaks to you as much as it did to me.

I Know How I Designed It
by Van Walton

"...we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus..." Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

My amazing husband can do anything. He's a fix-it man. There isn't anything he can't repair or create. He rebuilds damaged computers for family and friends, repairs weed eaters and garage door openers for neighbors, and rescues broken furniture from trash heaps. Recently he brought a chair home from a dinner party. It wasn't a gift and we didn't steal it. Someone sat in it and broke it!

After two days of taking the chair apart - performing what looked like orthopedic surgery to me, you know when pins and screws are inserted to keep bones and joints from further damage -- followed by a little gluing, sanding, and staining, the chair looked brand new.

"Wow!" I said, impressed.

"Sit in it and rock back," he encouraged.

"Rock back? I don't think so! What if I break it?"

"Oh, believe me. You won't."

"How do you know?" I asked, not convinced.

"I know how I designed it. I know the pressure points and how much stress it can take" he responded with a smile of confidence. "Go on. Sit in it and rock back."

I sat down and rocked back.

The chair was solid. I don't care who sits in it, or how they land in it now, it will not break.

I think about the times we don't believe we can handle any more stress. The pressure seems overwhelming and we cry, "Time out! I can't take any more!"

God responds, "Trust me. You will not be destroyed. I know your pressure points. I know how much stress you can take. I know how I designed you."

I cannot describe the peace I felt when I related the work of my husband's hands to the work of God's hand.

Of course He knows how much I can take. After all He is my Creator, the one who bent down by the river and fashioned me with His hands. He's the one who knit me together in the depths of my mother's womb, the one who is called the Potter.

He knows the exact temperature needed in the kiln to create the perfect clay vessel. He knows how hot the fire must be to separate the dross from the silver and gold. He knows how much pressure a diamond or emerald must withstand in order for it to come forth solid and brilliant. He knows how long the irritant must sit in an oyster before it becomes a pearl.

My Father knows exactly how much I can take. He knows because He designed me. With that realization I am able to trust Him and smile at the future, no matter how hard life is today.

Reminders

This has been a trying week for our church family at VBC. But once again God has used what we consider to be tragic circumstances to remind me of some very important truths.

1. Life is short and uncertain. We don't have any promise of tomorrow...or even the next minute.
2. I need to cherish every second that I have with those I love.
3. I need to be sure that I never take my loved ones or my friends for granted.
4. Every day I need to tell my family that I love them.
5. Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life...and our ONLY source of comfort in times that try the soul.

I don't want to miss this opportunity to tell my friends who may be reading this...I love you all dearly!

Little Adjustments

I have worn glasses or contact lenses since 2nd grade. I have tried all the styles. The ones I like best are the ones that actually fit on your face! My current pair is a bit more flexible than I’d like and I don’t think I wear them the same way twice. I’m constantly adjusting them. Their latest problem is loosening screws. Today, I was adjusting them when I decided to tighten the screws. Just a few little tweaks and they fit so much better on my face – like they were designed to do. The Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, “Just a little adjustment is what the Lord wants from you, too!” I’ve been concentrating so much on making big adjustments that little ones don’t seem worthy. He made His point and I’ll be making those small adjustments, too!
~by Sheila More