Solid Foods

                From the time my son was born, it seems like his eating habits have changed every week. Once we get into a pattern that I am comfortable with, he grows and his needs change. As frustrating as it is to continually rework our schedules and routines, I am encouraged with each change because he is one step closer to being able to feed himself. I look forward to the day when I can sit down at the dinner table with my husband and son and actually eat the food in front of me rather than just stare longingly at is as I spoon food into my son’s mouth. Though with each form of independence my son achieves, there is the heartbreaking realization that he needs me less and less and will one day be entirely self-sufficient.

                Hebrews 5 gives a comparison that parents are very familiar with. Verses 11-14 say, “We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.  Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.  Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.  But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.” The author clearly is upset with this group of people who are unable to feed themselves spiritually and “distinguish between good and evil.” They need constant explaining of the Scriptures in order to survive in their spiritual lives. This group is still depended because they are lazy and do not want to grow into independence. I think this happens a lot in our churches today both because we are lazy and do not want to learn to distinguish between right and wrong on our own, and because sometimes  we as spiritual leaders do not want to see those they have mentored become independent.

                Do I consider myself to be spiritually mature in Christ? Do I take responsibility for “feeding myself” and distinguishing between right and wrong on my own? Do I approach God directly or feel the need to approach Him through someone else? If I do consider myself spiritually mature, do I promote those around me to be independent or do I try to be their only source of spiritual guidance? Do I encourage others to seek the Lord and read His word on their own?

                Lord, please help me to be independent in my relationship with You. Teach me how to distinguish between right and wrong on my own and help me to encourage others to do the same. Amen.

Working for Rest

                When I first moved out on my own, I remember the first time I felt overwhelmed with the responsibilities of adult life. I did my best to save as much as I could while I was in college in order to pay off my loans when I finished school, but after paying bills and putting what I thought was a reasonable amount of my paycheck into my savings, I was left with only about ten dollars for food for the week. One day I came home and was excited to see that I had some mail until I opened up a property tax bill for my car. I did not know at the time that a state could charge you taxes for owning a car. I felt so betrayed by the world and all I wanted to do was crawl into my bed and hide from the letter I had just opened. I thought that this feeling must go away at some point as you get older, but I recently spoke with my mom who described having the same feeling because of a series of events she had just experienced. I think we all have times we would really just like to run into the arms of a loving parent and let all of our troubles disappear.

                This is how I imagine the “rest” that Hebrews 4 describes feels like. In this chapter, the writer explains that we are working in our lives toward the rest that the Lord will provide us when our life is done. In this life we must continue working to keep ourselves from disobedience. We are not left stranded to be tossed about the waves of life, however. The author comforts us with this verse: “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.” When feeling betrayed by adulthood, it is good to know we can take comfort in the promises of God.

                Do I turn to God’s promises when I feel taken advantage of, or do I seek my own revenge? How could the Word of God help keep me from disobedience? Do I believe that God will keep his promises for justice and rest?

                Lord, please remind me of Your promises in times of need. Help me to remember that Your loving arms are always open to Your children. Amen.

Afraid of a Shaddow

                Over the weekend I tried twice to bless strangers and found both times that my attempt at kindness was met with suspicion rather than grace or gratitude. In general our society is very slow to trust and I cannot consider myself exempt from this flaw. For example, one night this past week I found myself alone at the store after dark. This almost never happens now that I have a child with an early bed time; as a result, I was a bit uneasy as I wondered through the store. When I came out of the store and strolled across the parking lot to my car, I was convinced every person I saw was waiting for the chance to lunge at me and steal my wallet and groceries. When I finally made it safely to my car, I saw a family with young children loading up their groceries into their van. I will never understand how people can keep their children out so late! Those poor kids must be exhausted! I thought to myself. When I finally got behind the wheel and turned on my car I was humbled to see the clock on the dashboard read 7:05pm.

                Recently my husband and I have begun to read Hebrews which starts by attempting to drive out any lingering issues of disbelief in Jesus among the Jews. The first chapter addresses the issue of Jesus having the authority to forgive sins because he shares authority with God. The second chapter addresses Jesus’ humanity. The third chapter in Hebrews warns us believers not to give into the rebellion that is within our hearts. Verses 7-8 says, “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, i

f you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion…” This must have seemed strange to a Jewish reader because following Christ was seen as rebellion against the Jewish religious leaders at that time. The author of Hebrews is therefore making a very clear distinction between rebelling against man and traditions and rebelling against God.

                Am I then willing to rebel against traditions of man in order to follow God’s commands? God has told us to love others, but how does my suspicion of others (that is very socially acceptable and often ill placed) put up barriers in sharing God’s love? Is my lack of trust in other people from the Lord or is it something that I have adopted from other people? Is my suspicious nature something that I need to rebel against at times in order to follow God’s commands?

                Lord, please give me wisdom in approaching other people with Your love. Help me to be more trusting of others and also keep me away from dangerous circumstances. Help me to follow Your lead in spreading Your word. Amen.

Facebook Fumble

Someone who doesn't have trouble touching hearts

                For the most part I tend to avoid social media, but being a part of the generation of technology I do not avoid it completely. A few months ago, I read a status on facebook that said, “I would love to challenge my Facebook friends & family!!! I woke up this morning with an idea I wanted to share :) Here goes......Instead of posting on our own Facebook, let's go down our friends list and post an encouraging word to them or about them. :) I'm going to do it if anyone wants to join me! Let's put a smile on someone's face!!!! Your words may be exactly what they needed to hear.” This status keeps coming back into my mind and I think it is because I took up this challenge. I realized that I never reach out to anyone anymore, by phone or by facebook. I decided to start with some friends of mine from college. Three posts later I was done. I never got a message or post from the friend whose status I read either. It is not easy to love others the way we want to be loved by others.

ust an idea

                Today this situation returned to me once more while reading Galatians 5. Paul just finished explaining the struggle we have between wanting to serve our own desires rather than live freely as an adopted child of God. Then he says, “For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.” Paul makes a clear and powerful statement that if we do not love one another, we will instead destroy one another.

                My husband and I often discuses the selfishness of the society we live in and the generation we were born into, but taking my friends facebook challenge made me realize the part I play in society’s selfishness. If I am not putting forth effort to love those around me (even through social media) then I am part of the society that is devouring itself. I am part of the church that is consuming itself. How would I like to be loved by other Christians? How would I like to experience their friendliness and kindness? Am I reaching out in those ways toward those around me?

                God, please forgive me for my own hypocrisy and help me to become the loving face that I want to see when I encounter Your church. Give me sincerity and boldness. Help me not to fear rejection but to put my security in Your faithfulness. Amen.

Addictions and Heirs

               Since I was twelve years old I have had some level of caffeine addition in the form of coffee. At first I was just a social drinker who occasionally would share coffee with friends and family. Then I realized that my family drank coffee daily so I needed to drink it daily as well (in the name of being social). By the time I finished high school I was up to (the equivalent of) 4 cups a day. I recognized a problem and switched to decaf for a summer before getting a job at a coffee shop. When I started working at the coffee shop, I quickly learned that drinking decaf unacceptable and switched back to regular. It is easy to become addicted to having at least 4 or 5 cups a day when the guy you work with is going threw withdrawal pains after having “only” 8 to 10 cups.  While pregnant I could not stand coffee, but now it is once again part of my daily routine. When breaking addictions it is much easier to get rid of something completely than to try to moderate it. If I were to take all of the coffee out of my house and quit drinking it completely, I would probably successfully kick the habit. Instead I simply try to limit my intake and the result is my addiction continuing.  

                In Galatians 4, Paul points out that we do not have the luxury of completely ridding ourselves of our sinful desires and habits; instead, we must regularly make the choice to live in the freedom we have been given. He explains that we were slaves to inanimate objects of the physical world (in our day he might have used examples like Television, computers, paychecks, ect.) and our lives were driven and dictated by these things. Now that we have the Gospel of Christ, we have been promoted to being sons of God and heirs with Christ. This means that the physical things of this world have no power over our well being unless we give ourselves over to them.

                So what things do I allow to have control over me? What do I let destroy my happiness? What do I allow to make me worry? What do I allow to disrupt my since of security? What do I allow to affect my since of beauty and self worth? What do I allow to make me insecure? When I compare these things to the Almighty God who calls me His child I am ashamed to have given them so much control over me. Most of the things that I give control to in my life are not even living much less gods.

                Lord, thank You for making me Your child and freeing me from being a slave to the inanimate things in this world. Help me not to walk back into addiction and slavery but to remain in the freedom You have given me. Amen.