Monthly Archives: October 2009

Hello, My Name is Eve

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I’m human and therefore have habits or addictions I’d like to give up. Diet Coke. An insatiable desire for sweets. Chewing gum. Chips. Do you know how many times in my life I’ve given up caffeine only to go back to it later?

Er. It’s so frustrating. Why don’t I have the willpower to just quit?

I realize I am just like Eve in the garden.

“Did God really say you must not” [fill in your vice here]?

Well, no God didn’t say I must not drink Diet Coke. I’m imposing these restrictions on myself. I think “Why am I so hard on myself? What harm could Diet Coke do to me”? But it certainly isn’t doing me any good since there’s nothing of nutritional value in Diet Coke. What kind of fuel is artificial sweeteners, caramel color and other chemicals for my body?

“You won’t die.”

You’re right, I won’t die as soon as I drink a Diet Coke or eat a malted milk ball. What are the long term effects though? Those malted milk balls won’t look so good on my hips.

“God knows your eyes will be opened.”

That’s where the entitlement comes in. I deserve my vices because God wants us to enjoy the pleasures of this life. I deserve them because I’ve been good in so many other ways — I went running or I didn’t eat that piece of cheesecake for dessert last night. I’ve had a hard day, I should be “kind” to myself by buying some chocolate. As soon as I think about foregoing my morning Diet Coke or malted milk balls in the bulk candy aisle, I begin to rationalize why I deserve my vices. It’s almost laughable the way I justify giving in.

Oh, I’m so Eve.

This changed for me a few weeks ago when I read Romans 13:14: “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.” (NLT)

That verse has stuck with me. In another translation, that verse says “make no provision for the flesh.” I’ve been providing for the flesh every time I buy Diet Coke. Geez, don’t buy it and I won’t drink it. Don’t go down the candy aisle every time I’m at Target and I won’t buy the malted milk balls. Seems so simple. I took that approach with chips – I stopped buying them a long time ago.

Now when I’m at Target I find myself quoting the verse from Romans to help me avoid the candy aisle and not give in to the temptations. And you know what? I feel a sense of victory when I leave without my entitlements. It’s gratifying. Like I’ve won a prize. Each time gets a little easier.

Course, now that I’ve aired my temptations here, I really have to avoid the candy aisle. Accountability. It’s wonderfully challenging.

What is it that you have been accommodating in your life? How could you weed out the vices in your life by changing your thinking? How could you turn to God for strength to overcome?

Do Something!

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I’m guilty. I admit it. I will talk about doing something for months without taking any action. The sporadic nature of my blog postings is proof of that tendancy. Week after week this past summer, I longed to write more, I needed to “find the time” to write. It fills me and hopefully encourages others as well. And yet, I continued to put other tasks higher on the priority list. I had so many excuses.

Finally, I did something. I set my alarm for 5 a.m. with the intention of writing. Something crazy happened. I woke up. I mean, really, I was awake. I did my Bible study lesson and then began writing. God met me there and gave me the words to write. I made it through the day without falling asleep, too. Amazing!

Well, seeing as day one wasn’t so bad, I went for two. It worked again. And again, and again.

Can you believe I get up at 5 a.m. every weekday to give myself time for Bible study, writing and exercising before my workday begins? I never would have believed it either.

You see, when we take a small step for God, he honors that effort and encourages us in it. In Joshua 3, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant had to step into the Jordan River before the Lord drew back the water for everyone to cross. They took a step of faith and God honored that faith by holding back the river’s waters.

This summer I was stuck in discontentment because I wasn’t writing – I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose. When I made one small effort, God did – and is doing – the rest. I set the alarm, he wakes me up, gives me the topics and focus to write, and provides the energy for me to make it through the day. He makes it easier for us to do his work by stretching our time, reordering our priorities, or showing us what may be unnecessary timewasters in our lives.

If you’ve had the best of intentions to serve God or to explore your calling and yet haven’t acted, will you take one small step today? Sometimes God just needs us to demonstrate our heart’s desires with actions and not just words. He wants us to do something. What’s the worst that can happen? Better yet, what could God do in you or through you if you did do something?

Proverbs 14:23: Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty! (NLT)

What’s Your Purpose?

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Remember back in high school when you recorded your life’s ambition for all of history in your school yearbook? I do. My highest ambition was to marry my high school boyfriend and live happily ever after. Clearly, I was wrong.

Last week in my study of the book of John a verse jumped out at me: John 3:27, which in the older New Living Translation version reads: “God in heaven appoints each person’s work.” John the Baptist was explaining his work was to point people to Jesus. Just this morning, I read in John 4:34, “Then Jesus explained: ‘My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.’” (NLT)

It is clear that God has work for each of us to do – a purpose for us – that was established before we were born. A purpose far greater than marrying, working to accumulate wealth and possessions, achieving happiness. Consider these additional verses in comparison with the two from John:

Ephesians 2:10: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ecclesiastes 6:10: Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.

I know that my purpose is to write. It took me nearly 40 years to realize this was the work appointed for me. (I totally relate to the Israelites who wandered in the desert for 40 years searching for their destination.) While I wrote for a profession for many, many years, I never wrote for God before. Once I started writing devotionals and later this blog, I came to understand this was my calling. It’s being confirmed for me in many ways, mostly through the fulfillment and joy I feel when I blog or work on my devotional book. Since I started writing here more frequently, God’s presence and lessons around me are more evident. I see him in nearly everything and everywhere. While my writing may help others, it’s also drawing me closer to God.

Are you still trying to understand what your purpose is? Life may feel empty until you discover your purpose. Consider where your passions and your skills intersect, and think about how they can be applied for greater good — to encourage others, to alleviate injustices, to draw people to Christ. Pray for clarity and wisdom in discovering your true calling. And remember, everything we have, material goods and immaterial things like our skills, were given to us by God for a reason. It’s only when we use them for the purposes he preordained that we’ll find contentment and fulfillment.

Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,: says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Being Pursued

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I have the privilege of serving God as a small group leader in Alpha, a 10-week class where anyone can come to learn more about the basics of the Christian faith. We discuss topics such as who is Jesus, how and why to read the Bible, who is the Holy Spirit and what does He do, and does God still heal today.

I love this ministry because it meets people right where they are. You don’t have to be a believer to attend. You don’t have to know everything about Christianity. You don’t have to regularly read the Bible or pray. Come as you are.
For someone more mature in the faith, the course may seem too basic. But God holds our attention and encourages us by seeing what He does in others.

One woman in my group is learning about Jesus and the Holy Spirit for the first time. It is incredibly cool to see the way God is pursuing her and revealing his love for her. So many situations are occurring in her life that she would before have considered “coincidence.” Now she realizes God’s behind those chance meetings, conversations and little blessings throughout her day.

For me it has been an absolute joy to watch her seed of faith blossom into a flower. The more she learns, the more she’s drawn in. Her growth is exciting to watch and encourages me in my faith. It reminds me how real God is and what it was like when God first pursued me. I couldn’t get enough. All I wanted to do was learn more about Him.

Do you remember what it feels like to be pursued? To be pursued by God? Has your enthusiasm for things of God faded? Go spend some time with someone who is giddy for the Lord or just new in their faith. Let some of the Spirit and excitement overflowing from them refresh you — it may be just what you need when you’re feeling a little dry.

Maybe you don’t know that unmistakable feeling of being pursued by God. If that’s the case, maybe you want to check out an Alpha course near you.

Ephesians 2:8-9: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (NLT)

Romans 8:29-30: For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (NLT)

Don’t Back Down

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What a weekend! The David Crowder Band, Sara Groves and the Alpha Holy Spirit retreat. Whew! The messages and music shared truly shined the light on God — or rather God’s light shined through each.

Sara Groves at Hosanna on Friday night was a huge blessing. I enjoyed the company of a sweet friend and the peace-giving music of Sara. The theme for the evening was suffering. I didn’t know that when I bought tickets to attend. How relevant that theme is to all of us.

We don’t like to suffer and we avoid it at all costs. We quickly try to alleviate any discomfort we may face. As women, we want to fix everything – and fix it fast. Sometimes that’s just not possible. Sometimes God allows suffering in our lives to help us grow. To stretch our faith. To learn to let go and trust him for our protection, to provide for our needs and to resolve a situation as only he can.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Maintaining a focus on what’s eternal will help us keep perspective and persevere through our trials and the trials of those around us.

How do we respond when someone close to us faces a hardship? Sara challenged Friday’s audience to not back down from another’s suffering, whether it’s someone close to you, the poor half a world away, or the homeless in our neighborhoods. Sara spoke of her committment to help girls sold into sex trades in other countries.

All too often, we don’t know what to say or do when someone we know is in the valley, struggling to take one more step or one more breath. Some of us, including me, have pulled away out of fear or busyness only to let our friends and loved ones ride the rough waves alone. We don’t want to be uncomfortable or we’re afraid of saying something inappropriate, so we avoid someone who is suffering. What’s that about? We/I basically walk away from someone when they need us the most? “Don’t back down,” Sara said. Be willing to walk alongside your friends when they face illness, job loss or marriage difficulties. Set aside yourself and your own personal comfort to be a light for Christ, demonstrating the strength found only in Jesus. As I said last week, everyone needs an “Emmett” to help them endure life’s struggles. Who might need you to step up to the plate and be her Emmett today? Don’t back down from her trial. There may be divine purpose in her suffering for both your friend and you.

Kim Meeder Shares Recurring Theme: God Will Use a Willing Heart

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“It’s easier for God to take willing heart and make it able than to take an able heart and make it willing,” Kim Meeder.

Earlier this week, I wrote about the people who took the stage at Women of Faith last weekend. It occurred to me that they were everyday people who faced the same problems, fears, insecurities, doubts as the rest of us. They were on the stage teaching others because they were open to what God wanted to do through them. They had willing and obedient hearts.

That theme was echoed yesterday by Kim Meeder, author of Hope Rising and founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon. Kim shared repeated examples of how God took what appeared to be broken and useless, and redeemed it. He took the barren cinder lot on which Kim and Troy built the ranch and brought it life (with Kim and Troy’s hard work). The scorched evergreens that Troy replanted on their land from a fire-ravaged location now bear green limbs. Kim and Troy and the staff at Crystal Peaks have watched God repeatedly take what they’ve offered to him and turn it into something beautiful.

Kim’s personal story is powerful. She was orphaned at age 11 after her dad murdered her mother. Her horse – Firefly – was God’s tool to rescue Kim her from the pain and help her cope day-to-day. Many years later, her tragic story would help her relate to a despondent 15-year-old girl who came to Crystal Peaks with impenetrable walls around her heart. Side-by-side, Kim and the teen brushed a horse while the girl told of the almost unfathomable circumstances she faced, including the murder of her father. God used Kim’s story to help her young friend learn how to trust and heal.

Kim concluded her comments yesterday sharing about her sister, who, for the second time in her life was removed from everything she knew because of abuse, this time at the hand of her husband. After her mother’s murder, Kim’s sister contemplated suicide. It was the simple smile of a girl at school that convinced her that there was hope and a reason to live. In this case, God used a simple smile, a gesture of kindness, to redeem Kim’s sister.

God can use the smallest things – a smile, a phone call, flowers, and even our brokenness and mistakes to bring hope, healing and life, Kim said.

“Nothing you ever do for him will be useless,” she said.

That means a lot to me as I write in service to him. I offer him my heart, my ability to write and the knowledge of scripture he’s given me, and trust him to use my devotions and random thoughts to help others right where they are.

 What can you offer to God today? He will use whatever you give and create something amazing.

Ernie’s Endurance

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(c) Amy S. Lewis, 2009

I am often amazed at Ernie’s endurance. We’ve ridden for six hours at a time without him slowing down. He continues to lead the pack, and when he’s not, he nervously trots and prances. Many days, I wish he would tire. Even when he’s sweated up, he maintains his stride. I love that about him. I never have to worry about him plodding along like a plug.

His endurance is an example to all of us in our faith. When times get hard, it’s easy for us to ask God why he’s allowed hard times. We’re tempted to resort to complaining, self pity or worldly answers. We may even turn our backs on God.

Just like Ernie continues to walk with his head held high and step out even hours into a ride, we also need to hold fast to our faith in difficult times. It’s in those times that our faith is tested and strengthened. We need to have the endurance – the perseverance – to press on and press into to God. When we tire, we must lean on God.

Ernie gets relief when we reach the trailer, but he doesn’t usually have much indication that the ride is almost over. He doesn’t know if we’ll ride for another 10 minutes or 10 hours. And yet his endurance doesn’t wane. We, too, get relief and refreshment through the blessings God has for us along the way or when we make it through a difficult time. It can be a challenge to keep our faith. We get burnt out, or prayed out. That’s when we need to persevere the most because our lowest point often precedes victory. If you give up today, you may not know how God may deliver you tomorrow.

When your faith is low and you feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle, turn to scripture, prayer and godly friends to help point you in the right direction and restore your focus.

 1 Corinthians 9:26, “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.”

 2 Timothy 4:7: 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (NIV)

 Questions for reflection:

  1. What one activity can you do today to draw near to God and help restore your faith?
  2. How would you describe your faith when times are difficult? When life is busy? When God seems distant? When life is going well?
  3. Recall a previous trial in your life. Was there a dark night that preceded a breakthrough? Describe how you felt during that dark night. How did you feel after your victory? What would have happened if you had given up?

Missed Opportunities

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Last weekend was beautiful here in the Twin Cities. The sun was out. It was warm again. After the snow earlier in the week, the return of fall was very much welcomed. When the snow comes early, we’re reminded of what the next four months holds and begin to dread winter’s hold.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take advantage of the nice weather by riding my horse. I was at Women of Faith all day Saturday. Sunday I went to church and had Alpha training. My boyfriend and I did squeeze in a walk at the park for a few hours. But I missed the opportunity to spend some time with my horse. Those opportunities will be fewer and fewer as we head into winter. I lament my missed opportunity — and hope to learn from it.

Tomorrow, Kim Meeder, founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, will be in town. I admire Kim for her heart for God, animals and kids. I’ve been debating about going. I have lots of reasons not to go, mainly I have to work.

This is a chance for me to learn from my missed opportunity of this past weekend. When will I get a chance to hear Kim speak again? I could meet her, have a book signed and give her a few words of encouragement that she may enjoy hearing. Perhaps hearing Kim will give me insight into my own work for God? I won’t know if I don’t go. So, I’m going to register first thing this morning and then make today as productive as possible so that I can fully invest my heart and mind into Kim’s comments tomorrow.

I hope you’ll take my lead. I’m not always good at recognizing opportunities that I’ll later regret missing. This time I did. What missed opportunities in your life weigh on you? Missed time with your son, daughter, mother or father? A chance to ride a new place? Trying your hand at a new event? Pushing yourself to the next level in competition? Sharing Christ with someone you love? Don’t let opportunities like these slip away, whether they’re once-in-a-lifetime opportunities or seemingly everyday opportunities. Life is too short.

Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT): “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
      Remind me that my days are numbered—
      how fleeting my life is.
 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
      My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
      at best, each of us is but a breath.”

This week: Kim Meeder, David Crowder and Sara Groves

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There’s lots of events this week that have caught my attention. Perhaps you’d be interested in:

Kim Meeder, author of “Hope Rising” and  “Bridge Called Hope” and founder of Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch, will be speaking Thursday, 11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m. at a fundraiser for Tree House Youth. She has inspired many by her faith and her rehabilitation work with neglected and abused horses, and emotionally hurt children. Cost is $60. Visit: http://treehouseyouth.org/Events/WomenOfHope_2009.asp for more information.

David Crowder is coming to Hosanna! on Thursday evening. Visit www.echoministries.com for tickets and more info.

Sara Groves will share her talents at a special Women’s Gathering at Hosanna! on Friday night. Cost is $10 and includes dessert. Visit www.hosannalc.org for more information.

Who’s Your Emmett?

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We all face challenging moments, whether its having a difficult conversation or something more long term like a serious illness or unemployment. Each gives us a demonstrate our faith, to grow our faith and to stretch our character.

I could piously say that Christ is all you need to endure trying times. Theoretically and theologically he is. Humanly speaking, however, we often need reminders to trust God and not our emotions. We need encouragement to get through the valleys when all we see are the overwhelming circumstances that surround us.

Lisa Welchell, most known for playing Blair on the 80s TV show “The Facts of Life” spoke of this at Women of Faith this past weekend. She shared a conversation she had with her mom about how she made it through a period of testing. Her mom’s response, “Emmett.”

Emmett was the person Lisa’s mom called when she thought she couldn’t go on, when she was ready to give up. Emmett pointed Lisa’s mom to God and scripture when her faith was tested. Emmett gave her a place to cry. Emmett encouraged her when her courage to do the inevitable was weak. And Emmett held her accountable.

Do you have an Emmett in your life? Do you have someone who is willing to tell you even what you may not want to hear? Someone from whom you’re willing to accept correction? Someone who’s opinion you value because she brings a Godly perspective?

Sure, God is all we need to get through life’s ups and downs – but God often works through people. We weren’t meant to walk this road alone. Sometimes our difficulties are God’s way of showing us our need for others, strengthening our relationships and stretching our character as well as our companions. Think of horses who have been separated from their pasture mates. The separation anxiety is often strong and apparent — bucking, kicking, whinnying — because horses are herd animals. They need their buddies and so do we.

So, who’s your Emmett? If you don’t have an Emmett, will you seek to develop that kind of relationship with someone? It’s a  relationship built on mutual trust, respect and faith in God. It is a give-and-take relationship. It is a relationship that requires vulnerability. It’s risky but it’s worth it. We all need an Emmett — she is a gift to us from God. Accept his gift.

2 Timothy 3: “Pursue faith and love and peace, and enjoy the compansionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.”