Go to the Woods

"I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck all the marrow out of life. To put to route all that was not life; and not when I had come to die discover that I had not lived." -Henry David Thoreau

I love that book, I love that quote. It always makes me stop and take a breath and evaluate my life.

Live. Deliberately.

Two little words with SO much passion and power.

I have a friend who is struggling with both of her parents battling cancer right now and neither prognosis is very good. I woke up this morning thinking of her and Thoreau's words came to mind.

Live Deliberately. Suck the marrow out of life.

It's a great idea right, I don't think anyone ever reads these words and thinks "eh, that guy was full of crap..." We all want to get the most out of life but between our jobs, dirty diapers, carpools and everything else life throws at us living deliberately takes a back seat pretty quickly, it seems impossible.

But the bible tells us that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10) I think He surely wants us to avoid the idea of coming to die and discovering we had not lived.

My parents moved here in November of 2009 and by July 2010 we had lost my father due to complications with bladder cancer. As I look back time and time again over those last few months and all the moments my family shared, all the precious memories we are left with, I realize I was living deliberately-by God's grace.

See I am pretty self focused most of the time, sucking the marrow usually involves what will make ME happy. But family was very important to my father and he passed that on to me which in turn gave me a desire to include both my and Steve's parents in every second of Ben's life possible. That is a gift from God, one I assumed for so long was just "my family loyalty" but now from this side of things I realize it was an avenue God used to bless me because I was open to it-even though I never realized it was Him. I wonder if I had been spending more time with with my heavenly Father during those days, more in tune to His leading, how much more marrow I might have sucked out of that time with my earthly father.

I know life moves fast and we all have obligations, not to mention things we just want to do. But it really is gone before you know it. So here is my challenge: go to the woods-just once a day. Pick out one moment of everyday; one moment with your kids, your spouse a friend or even that goofy co-worker and just stop to savor that moment. Be thankful for it, really breathe it in and let it become a sweet memory you can carry. It doesn't have to be something extravagant, sometimes the most simple moments are the sweetest. Just live it. Deliberately.

If you want more about getting the most out of life I recommend reading:
The Bible
Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
One Month to Live by Kerry & Chris Shook

A Day of Darkness

My father passed away last July. We lost him very early on a Saturday morning so I had that whole day to live with the reality that he was gone and my life was changed forever. Yet I remember waking up the next morning dazed and disoriented, the truth hanging so heavy over me yet still feeling that it was just a dream because the idea of my father really being dead was just not something my mind could fully grasp.

Today, I can't help but wonder if that's how the disciples and Jesus other followers felt that Saturday morning after the crucifixion. The Bible doesn't really tell us much about that day but we know they had been scattered the night before so I imagine that they all slowly made their way back together, back to the last place they had been with their friend and teacher, we know Mary Magdalene found them together- "their eyes wet with grief" (Mark 16). And we know that the women were taking care of the practicalities, preparing the spices for his body.

But I wonder most about Peter. He had been told that he would be the rock upon whom Jesus would build His church, yet He was also told he would deny his Saviour three times-and though Peter vehemently denied this was possible he of course did just that-and during the worst moments of Jesus' life to boot. So how must he have been feeling that next day? Crushing grief along with a heart breaking guilt. Do you think he talked about it with the others or merely sat in a corner alone. Feeling unworthy to even be among them at that point?

I know that's how my sin can make me feel. The last few months I have been on a path seeking God in a way I never have before and it has drawn me deeper and deeper with Him. I have experienced some of the most beautiful and fulfilling moments in my entire Christian walk and seen some amazing changes within myself as a result. Yet the past few days have found me very irritable and grumpy, very short on patience which has led me to be snippy with my husband (who is not a Christian) mean to my 2 1/2 year old son, and just simply not someone anyone would want to be around at times.

Isn't that a kind of denial of my Saviour? When I allow my flesh that much control so that I make others miserable and wreck any kind of witness I might be for my husband? So I too am struggling with some guilt today over my behavior. But the beauty of this relationship with my Jesus is that I don't have to. He died to cover my sin once and for all. No sacrifice is ever again needed to cover my iniquities. My responsibility in this is to recognize my sin, own it through confession, and then trust in God's word that His mercies ARE new every morning and today I get another chance to live a life that honors my heavenly Father.

And you can bank on this because the Bible declares it over and over: "He was wounded and bruised for our sins, He was beaten that we night have peace; He was lashed and WE were HEALED!! Isaiah 53: 5

So what about poor Peter all alone there in his pain and failure. Jesus knew how he would feel and the next morning when Mary Magdalene encountered the angel that told her Jesus had risen he said to her "Now go and give this message to the disciples including Peter: Jesus is going ahead to Galilee. You WILL see Him there, just as He told you before He died!" Jesus wanted to be sure Peter knew nothing had changed, that he was still beloved by his friend and saviour and in His ultimate mercy; Jesus made sure Peter was called out by name to prove it to him! (Mark 16:7-8)

So what is it you are wrestling with today, what guilt and sin is dragging you down and convincing you that you are not worthy of our Saviour's love? Friend let me assure that Jesus is asking His followers to proclaim this message to the world : "I have gone ahead to my Father's house but you WILL see me there! Tell everyone, including (insert YOUR name here)!"

His death was for ALL people EVERYWHERE and his blood covers every sin. Come to Him this weekend, let Him assure you that He is Risen, that you are forgiven!

Frozen in Time

This is a common sight around our city-old empty buildings that have been left to rot and ruin. It's so heartbreaking because there are so many fabulous old buildings that bring so much character to this town, if only someone would breathe new life into them...make them useful and productive again. Something that can serve the community once more. But so many of them remain like this. Frozen in time.

But here's the thing. The people here are the same way. I mentioned before this is a town that seems to be drying up and dying because all the young people flee so it's full of citizens of the older generations and they of course tend to be stuck in their ways and see no real need for much change. Again, heartbreaking when they are missing out on so much more life, and here's a perfect example:

The church I attend is a Muskogee institution, it was built in 1903 and I think some of our members helped start this church!(Okay so they were infants and their parents helped start it, but you get the idea some of these people have gone to this church their whole lives-literally.) My Mom always jokes about a member of her Sunday School class who is always fussing about our preacher's "antics." Now we are beyond blessed to have a spirit filled believer leading this church. Lance is younger, so he has a lot of fresh, new ideas that break a lot of the typical molds (we are Baptists, if that tells you anything!) But I never leave a service he leads without feeling inspired and closer to God. He is also very accessible and very transparent in his weakness and shortcomings. In short this man is one of the most genuine men of God I have met in my life.

But back to my Mother's classmate, as funny I have found these comments in the past I find them funny no more because you see, I thought this person was just a bit uncomfortable by some of the things Lance does, but after a conversation they had with my mother last night I see that it's much deeper than that. This person really dislikes his teaching, and wishes he would go elsewhere. Knowing however that he is here to stay-at least for the immediate future-they refuse to seek out another church that might better suit their needs because they have attended this church since they were a baby.

Frozen. In. Time

I grieve for this person because I cannot imagine they are getting fed at all with that attitude so what is becoming of their relationship with God? Is there any growth, any new life? Or is it becoming stagnant? And it makes me grieve for the church because I see the potential it has to impact and change this city-but how can we as a body become all that God has in store for us if many of the congregants are hanging on so tightly to the past and not willing to trust God enough to take a chance and break out of their comfort zones?

Today is Good Friday. Christ made the ultimate sacrifice in the face of great opposition from leaders who were more determined to hang on to the past, the law and their assumptions rather than experience a personal encounter with the God they claimed to serve. Sunday we get to celebrate the Resurrection, the fulfilment of the law which broke all the molds, called people out of their complacency and ushered in new life for us in our relationship with God while on earth and eternal life thereafter.

So I ask you today, are you frozen in time or are you looking for more? If you don't already know him, find a church this Easter, and find Jesus. He alone can breathe new life into you, make you useful and productive. A person with purpose who can serve those around them; and I promise-you won't miss the past one bit.