Tag: jesus

  • Reckless Faith

    Reckless Faith

    “I love the recklessness of Faith. First you leap and then you grow wings.”


    The above canvas was made by my sister, Sara. I was reflecting on this Sloane Coffin’s quote and the word recklessness stood out to me.

    Webster defines recklessness as being “utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless.”

    Loving recklessness or unconcern for consequences is probably not the first thing I would jump up and say…yep that’s me!

    I tend to be someone who likes to make sure I am following the rules. I typically have things planned out. My mind is always analyzing the consequences of decisions that I have in front of me. I want to make sure I am doing the right thing for the right reason. Thinking about who may be affected and how.

    In my leadership training and development role, I trained leaders using several books. One of these was “First Break All the Rules” by Marcus Buckingham. It became one of my favorite leadership teachings.

    The rule follower’s favorite book, First Break all the Rules. Yep, that makes a lot of sense. NOT!

    Initially that is a fair assumption, but let me give you my reasons.

    Traditional management is a hierarchical style of management that emphasizes efficiency and control. It’s characterized by a clear chain of command, well-defined roles, and a focus on following rules and procedures. This book encourages leaders to break the rules on traditional management.

    It encourages us to change our old thinking to a new way. This new way encourages leaders to focus on individual talents and strengths. God has provided us with unique talents. Instead of trying to put in what God left out, try drawing out what God left in!

    There are several other great tips in the book, but I’ll leave that for your reading. :) I want to try and encourage a new way of thinking about faith.

    When I think about recklessness in terms of faith, it makes sense to me. There were numerous times in the bible that Jesus asked others to leave everything behind and follow Him. Think about that…how many of us, not knowing much about someone, would take that kind of leap of faith?

    “As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” ~Mark 1:16-20 (NIV)

    The disciples didn’t plan out what following Jesus would look like for them. They didn’t tell Him…wait…let me think this through! They took a leap of faith, trusted Him and grew wings along the journey.

    It requires us to trust in His upside down thinking. Not worldly thinking, but Jesus thinking.

    Jesus’ upside-down thinking involves identifying with the poor and oppressed. It also values those who are looked down upon in the world. God’s kingdom is different from the world’s kingdom. Those who are valued by God are not necessarily those who are valued by the world. 

    Taking a leap of faith requires us to be brave, to trust with all of our hearts. He calls to surrender our lives to Him, trusting He will help us grow and flourish as His faithful servants.

    At once they left…Without delay…they followed Him.

    I pray that I can live a reckless kind of faith. One that I will surrender all of my life to Him. I will take the leap He is asking me to take. I trust that He will provide me the wings I need to fly. I will soar in this life for Him.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • A Long Way From Your Heart

    A Long Way From Your Heart

    It is January and the temperature this week has been in the upper fifties! When that happens in Iowa, you must take advantage of it. So, I went on a walk and was praising God.

    For some reason, I started thinking about something my dad use to say. Whenever we would get hurt, he would try to make us feel better by looking at our hurt and saying:

    “You know what the good thing about this is, don’t you? It’s a long way from your heart.”

    Then he’d laugh while trying to get me to laugh and think about anything else but my hurt. As I’m sure many of you can relate, those dad sayings were frustrating at the time.

    Eventually, I understood his lesson behind the distraction. That no physical ailment could change my heart. That every hurt would pass and I would still be the same on the inside regardless of the outside.

    I’ve had opportunity to put that saying to the test in my adult life, and I’ve realized something about Dad’s theory…

    I realize that some hurts aren’t a long way from my heart. Some hurts reside there. But, they don’t have to change who I am inside.

    They don’t have to change my faith.

    Every lesson I learned before the hurt remains the same after.

    Nothing is different. God is the same. Love is the same.

    No matter how much my heart hurts.

    I get to choose my perspective. I get to choose between faith or fear; victory or victim; joy or despair; bitterness or hope. It is my choice and what I choose will decide the healing of my heart.

    Through the many hurts I have experienced, I have chosen to trust in Him. Trusting in Him, is an all or nothing decision. If I choose to trust Him, I can’t choose fear or bitterness. I can’t choose to be a victim or filled with despair.

    It’s an all or nothing decision.

    Going through divorce, cancer, and loss, didn’t change my choice to trust in Him. I know better, so I can’t pretend to be ignorant simply because my life was suddenly altered.

    Even in the hardest times, I trust that God has never changed. His grace surrounds me every moment of every day. He knows all, sees all, and understands all. I trust Him with everything. I can walk through this life aiming to fulfill what I realize I may never understand.

    This life may seem random to me, but it is not random to Him. And that is enough for me.

    It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. ~Ephesians 1:11 MSG

    I pray you know that you can make the choice for it to be enough for you too.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Unlocking God’s Presence in our lives.

    Unlocking God’s Presence in our lives.

    “Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

    My Grandma Florence (my mom’s mom) was nothing less than a prayer warrior. I remember my sister Sara telling the story of a night when she stayed with Grandma. She was awakened with a splash of water. She sat up in bed. Sara realized that Grandma was praying in the spare bedroom, where she was sleeping.

    This room was her “prayer closet,” where she would pray each night. She prayed for each of her family members as she sprinkled holy water in the direction each of us lived. She would pray for her soul and the souls of those she loved.

    As I was thinking about this story, I realized something about myself. When I have a want or a need, I seek out someone I can talk to. I do the same when I am overwhelmed or anxious. When I am worried or afraid, I look for someone to speak with (or complain with).

    That someone is not God. I eventually pray to Him about it, but He is not the first one I seek out.

    Can you relate?

    When I don’t seek Him first, I feel like I’m walking alone. The feelings of anxiety, worry, or fear, don’t go away. I am confused and unsure of my next step.

    I get many suggestions when I seek out others instead of God. These suggestions typically differ with the number of people I seek out. Which causes even more confusion.

    When I seek out God first, the journey isn’t always easy, but I don’t feel alone. He puts the correct people and things in my path that are part of the journey. I make choices and decisions that I feel confident are from Him.

    I need to speak to Him first about everything, in the midst of everything.

    Prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God. It’s the key to unlocking His presence, power, and provision in our lives. Prayer is not just a ritual or a routine; it’s a vital part of our Christian walk.

    Prayer is our way of communicating with God and expressing our thoughts, feelings, and desires to Him. In return, God provides us with peace and comfort even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

    Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

    Prayer provides us an intimacy with God allowing us to experience His love, comfort, wisdom, and guidance. It makes us wiser and more discerning.

     If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~James 1:5 (NIV)

    Prayer is essential for our spiritual growth. It helps us to mature in our faith, overcome challenges, and become more like Christ. In return, it helps us to overcome sin and temptation, enabling us to live a victorious and holy life.

     No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)

    As each of us enter into prayer, we must remember, prayer is not just about getting what we want. It’s about becoming who God wants us to be.

    If you are new to prayer, please remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to prayer. Here are a few tips that may help you in your prayer walk:

    1. Start with praise and thanksgiving. Begin your prayers by praising and thanking God for who He is and what He’s done. (Psalm 100:4)
    2. Be honest and authentic. Share your thoughts, feelings, and desires with God. (Psalm 51:17)
    3. Use Scripture. Scripture will guide your prayers, claiming God’s promises and principles. (Isaiah 55:11)
    4. Pray with faith. Trusting that God will answer your prayers and fulfill His promises. (Mark 11:24)
    5. Pray regularly. Make it a regular part of your daily routine, setting aside time to pray and connect with God. (Luke 18:1)

    Remember…prayer is the most potent instrument of action!

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Hiding Sonshine

    Hiding Sonshine

    My my son Thomas, now 31, was maybe seven at the time. His partner-in-crime and cousin, Alex, was about eight. And the third amigo? He was in his 50’s. And their grandpa.

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    Dad, Thomas and Alex

    It was Memorial Day weekend. We were all at a cemetery next to the small country church my mom attended as a child. We were placing flowers next to the headstones of loved ones who had gone to heaven before us. As with every year, we walked around the cemetery. We tried to remember who was related to whom. We also tried to recall how they were related to us.

    And off in the back corner huddled Dad with his two oldest grandsons. We could tell by the way Dad was standing. His hand gestures showed he was telling a big story. Believe me, those boys were paying close attention.

    Before too long, Thomas came running over to me, declaring, “Mom! You aren’t going to believe it! Grandpa used to hide sunshine in these stones!”

    We’d all heard the stories before. It didn’t take long to realize Grandpa had been telling inappropriate stories of his own youth. Stories to the youth whose ears were too young to be listening (according to me anyway).

    The intricate tale Dad wove was of long ago. It was a time when alcohol was outlawed. People made their own brews in bathtubs and bottled up liquor on the sly. He spoke of secret stashes and horse riding. He included anything else he could to make his true story a little more lively.

    Dad explained to these impressionable little lads that some of the headstones were hollow inside. He showed them the panels on the sides. These panels could be unscrewed. He told them about the times they would sneak into the graveyards. They hid their stashes of tub-brewed liquor inside the headstones of people who had long since left the earth.

    He told them of moonshine.

    Thomas told us of sunshine.

    And none of us corrected him as we all scolded Dad and knew it would do no good.

    My thoughts today are not of hiding the moonshine, but of hiding the “Sonshine.”

    In January of 2017, my journey with breast cancer began. I don’t talk about the journey much, and I’m not sure why. I’m not good sharing about me as I really don’t like attention. The memories are definitely hard, but by not sharing, I am hiding the “Sonshine.”

    By not sharing, I am hiding the opportunity to show you joy. The blessings that also comes from the difficulty. I am hiding the opportunity to disciple and share God’s goodness. Even in the most difficult times, He is good, all the time! He is the “Sonshine.”

    By not sharing, I am not providing the opportunity to let you know that I am here to listen. I can pray, comfort, or be whoever you need, for whatever you may be going through. Mine happened to be cancer. Whatever yours is, I would like to share the hope and joy that is still possible, even when life hurts.

    During the most difficult times in life, we may not always recognize the blessings. Burdens can make these blessings hard to see. It reminds me of the poem footprints.

    FOOTPRINTS

    One night I dreamed a dream.
    As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
    Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
    For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
    One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

    After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
    I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
    I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
    especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
    there was only one set of footprints.

    This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
    “Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
    You’d walk with me all the way.
    But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints.
    I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”

    He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
    When you saw only one set of footprints,
    It was then that I carried you.”

    During the hardest times in life, we must be intentional. Intentional in focusing on our blessings in the midst of the burden. We must be intentional because the blessings are often overshadowed by the burden.

    In 2017 it would’ve been easy to let the world pass me by. I thought that if everything was going to be taken from me, I might as well act like it.

    But my true intention in life is to be open to whatever God has in store for me. My biggest fear is that He has a purpose for me and if I’m not paying attention, I’ll miss it.

    So I pray for guidance and pray that I can be intentional in all things. Through my breast cancer journey, God has showed me an important role. I can fulfill the role of an encourager. I believe in people when they don’t believe in themselves. I believe in God’s plan when others lose their faith. I encourage and, hopefully, leave someone feeling better than when I found them.

    So, I pray that as you join me on this Choose Joy Adventure, you will be encouraged. Encouraged to seek out God in the blessings and the burdens. Trust Him even when He feels far away. Believe that He is not far away, but carrying you through it.

    The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. ~Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

    I pray the tales that we hushed dad from telling back then get told years down the road. That they will tell their own grandkids about their Grandpa Mike. How he weaved them stories of moonshine and filled their spirits with “Sonshine.”

    I’ll spread “Sonshine” to each of you. I will do this through stories of what I have gone through. These stories show how my relationship with God has deepened. This deepening happens when we choose to open ourselves up to Him and each other.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Unknown.

    Unknown.

    The unknown can be our biggest enemy sometimes. Unknown is the thing we put most of our focus on. The thing we spend most of our energy trying to control.

    I wonder if it’s actually more comforting for us to look ahead. We want to figure out the unknown simply because we feel a desperate need to avoid what we are facing today.

    Because let’s face it, today can be hard. We can be broke or we can be sick or we can be abandoned. We may be living in limbo in our marriages or in crisis with our jobs. We may be aching for our children and their needs. The right now can hurt so badly that the only escape is to get lost into the unknown. Get lost in the “what ifs” that give us the illusion of control.

    What if I take this job, or what if we lose the house. What if we make that move, or what if I get the raise, or what if I try this treatment.

    We can live in fear and dread the unknown, assuring ourselves of the worst. Or we can live in hope and see happiness ahead with Pollyanna eyes.

    But neither of them are truly right. Both are still guessing games of the unknown.

    The last couple of months have been filled with the unknown for me. I’m learning how to fully live right in the middle of the hard, in the here and KNOWN. What I know is that this is the life He has blessed me with. If this is my life, if this is where I am at, then this is where God is too.

    When I was little, my parents would take me and my 5 siblings fishing. In the bible, there are a lot of stories on fishing. In particular, Jesus telling the disciples He would make them fishers of men.

    I believe He calls us all to be fishers of men/people.

    Fishing is filled with unknown. The lure would be cast out into the water and sink to the unknown waters. We can’t see what is going on in the murky waters. We just sit and wait. Wait until we feel that nibble.

    That’s what life is like. We wait on God to give us the nibble. The next step He wants us to take on this life journey He has prepared for us.

    We start reeling in the next step to see what is on our life line. Sometimes we catch the big one. Sometimes we catch a small one. Sometimes we miss it all together because it either wasn’t set right or we reel too fast.

    Our choice is what we do while we wait on the nibble. He calls us to be still. To enjoy the time. To be content in Him and enjoy the journey.

    Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

    Sometimes we choose the opposite. We don’t like the wait. We get frustrated and reel too fast only to miss the blessings He has provided.

    Too many people miss the silver linings because they are expecting Gold. ~Maurice Setter

    So, what is the lesson?

    By trying to control the unknown of the future, I am wasting my time and energy. I am not fulfilling what God needs from me now, which means I’m wasting God’s time as well. I am also missing all the blessings He has provided, that are right in front of me.

    It all boils down to this:
    none of it is unknown to Him.

    I am going to trust Him, live for today, and wait for the nibble. How about you?

    With love and joy,

    Laura