Disarming Temptation
I still experience invasions of fear, hate, worry, lust, self-seeking, and weaknesses in the flesh. But I see that the real damage is done when I think that “I” should be able to resist those invasions or be capable of not reacting to the duality I still witness. In that moment, I fall into the abusive pattern of independent thinking and I feel obligated to respond to a “should” or a “should not.” Condemnation quickly follows. The “shoulds” stumble me every time I buy into the lie that says that I should be watching myself, fixing my life,...
Read MoreExpansive Boundaries
The more I recognize myself in union with Christ the more comfortable I am with myself. I tap His expression in me and it incites me to be who I am. When identity is at rest then personal boundaries emerge to safeguard false identifications with other people, causes, or roles. Definition comes to the foreground as the branch draws life from the Vine. People perish for lack of vision. Vision is more than a goal to lose weight, run a marathon, write a book, or to organize clutter. Vision is about seeing who I am. As His image in me takes shape I find a worthy reason to be myself. Apart from...
Read MoreReceiving
Where there is unbelief, there is no rest. Unbelief keeps me working in the hope that one day “I” will accomplish enough to be worthy of rest. But rest is not the result of work, it is the result of faith. Rest occurs when I trust that all the work is already done even though I wasn’t the one to do it. External behavior reflects my inner posture. Can I rest in the quality of the work done by someone else? How often do I feel the need to follow up behind them to make sure the job was done and done correctly? True rest comes to me when I do not think of myself more...
Read MoreGrace-filled Seasons
Some seasons can be long and painful and may cause me to question the unquestionable. When that which is supposed to be unsinkable sinks, the repercussion can feel catastrophic. Think “Titanic” where the first reaction is denial. If I will not consider that the ship is flawed then I will disregard my own instincts and label myself defective. But what if the ship is faulty? What if a religious system becomes a sinking vessel and survival requires me to jump ship? Why does it seem that religion does not foster the same gracious embrace of spiritual seasons as is extended...
Read MoreOne Another
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10 NIV Psalm 149:9 tells us that the Lord is the honor of all His saints. Therefore, we honor Him as we honor one another. Both love and honor are born in the heart. As my heart yields to honor, the words of my mouth echo the love in my heart. Other directives linked to the phrase “one another” include: love one another, prefer one another, receive one another, serve one another, forbear one another, teach one another, forgive one another, comfort one another, edify one another,...
Read MoreConflict of Distinction
People are very different from one another. It’s less painful to believe that we accept (even appreciate) differences than it is to notice the subtle nuances of our intolerance. It’s common to draw a comparison to portray a distinctiveness in ourselves. If too critical, we may temper the comparison by insisting there’s nothing wrong with our differences, and yet the closing comment will usually rest with our gratefulness for being who we are…by comparison. Judgment hides itself well in the soft light of comparison. Some judgments seem less poisonous than others. For instance, Mike...
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