Let God Get You!

When our 18-month-old grandson Raphael visited a few weeks ago, I loved playing the game of "chase." But Raphael made a new kind of game, "Chase and Catch." As I crawled on my hands and knees toward him, chasing him, every once in a while amidst much giggling, instead of running away from me, he would stop, and peek over his shoulder, waiting with giggling anticipation when I would reach him and tickle him. It was the cutest thing ever!

He loved being caught.

This morning as I enjoyed that memory, I thought, why do I run away from God? He wants to catch me and love on me. Why do I fear Him when everything He does was set up in the beginning of creation when He announced about His creative efforts, "It is good." Though not everything seems "good" to me in my limited vision, it really is. And He is chasing me, wanting to woo me to His loving arms. He may even tickle me! He may even tickle you!

Quilt of Holes

This is not original with me. I tried to find the author but all I found were websites who had posted it. But it's a very powerful metaphor and story. I hope your quilt is full of holes!

Quilt of Holes

As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along
with all the other souls.

Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many
piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together
into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how
ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant
holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been
difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day
life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of
all.

I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny
hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color
and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and wa
s disheartened.

My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, t hreadbare and
empty, like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to
thelight, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding
up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked
upon me,and nodded for me to rise.

My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly
fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been
trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me
my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often
struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the
strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in
prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.. I had often been held
up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to
the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin be neath the
judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.

And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to
accept it for what it was.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who
stared at me with wide eyes.

Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Li ght flooded the many
holes,creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before
me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over
your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me
shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.' May
all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

Free Gift Requiring All

As Christians we often say salvation is a free gift. But as that phrase came to my mind this morning, I thought, "It's a free gift that requires everything." I realized how oxy-moronic that is. It's free but it requires everything. With salvation, I signed up to give God control over every part of my life, to surrender totally to Him, to desire His desires and give up my own. Wow, it's not sounding so free now.

But this is really important to tell "aspiring" Christians. When we share the Gospel, we need to make it clear that this is a free gift that requires all. I think too often we have offered the opportunity of someone receiving Christ as their Savior and we stress the free part. "You don't have to do anything. You don't have to earn it with good works." And that's true. But maybe we're giving a wrong impression. It's free...but are you prepared and willing to give up your own ambitions? It's free...but are you prepared and willing to take on God's ideas as your own? It's free...but are you prepared and willing to count the cost?

I've been afraid to do that. I'm afraid they might back off. They might not think it's a great idea afterall. But without me telling the truth, I'm giving a wrong impression and that could create a still-birth--A spiritual birth that dies before it lives. Some of my "converts" have done exactly that. Would it have made a difference to tell them about the surrender part? Maybe I did.
But for sure, if we stress it, we can be confident that if God is the one calling them into His family, they won't back away. It'll be a live birth and they will live powerfully with Him.

I hope I remember this the next time I share the Gospel.

Recommended Lipstick

Wow, I'm either getting bold or stupid but I'm going to recommend a lipstick. I didn't think it was possible but I've found the perfect lipstick. It actually stays on all day. REALLY! all day! I really didn't think it was possible. It stays on solidly without portions wearing off.
It's L'Oreal's Infallible Never Fail Lipcolor Compact. There's two kinds with the "Infallible" name. I get the glossy one, the other is an actual "lipstick." So look for "lipcolor" not "lipstick."

I put one coat of the lipcolor on and let it dry. Then put on another layer and let it dry. Then use the "conditioning topcoat". The topcoat wears off but it easy to just reapply over the old lipcolor--which stays on.

My friend who recommended this doesn't use the topcoat but I prefer the silky feel of the topcoat. It's a greasy feeling to her.

So, see what you think. Us girls gotta stick together.

Also, if you're looking for a most-difficult-to-wear-off eye liner, I've found one in Matchbox's waterproof eye liner. I've never been able to find something like it before. Other eye liners I've tried wear off and smear within 5 hours.

Well, enough of my advertisements. I promise I haven't gotten paid for this. hahahahaha

Blocked Vision and Spiritual Formation

I picked up Audrey from her day care yesterday and driving home, I was in the left hand lane waiting, when it appeared there weren't any cars coming--except for the huge truck that was turning left from the opposite way. Audrey spoke up, saying, "You can go now!"

But her vision was blocked by that huge truck. There was actually a truck coming behind it toward us and if I'd turned we might have collided.

I thought about how our human vision is blocked and only God can see all that's happening--the oncoming trucks.

I'm reading Dallas Willard's book, "Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ." It's personally a call for holiness for me and also a great resource for (hopefully) the book we'll be writing called "Heart Change." It's about holiness through spiritual transformation.

Spiritual Formation is a big important concept right now amongst Christians--and of course, has been a concept for hundreds of years. Thankfully, there's a big interest in it now also, because it's at the core of how we become like Christ.

One of Dr. Willard's main points (and how to do it) is that we all have already been "formed" through the experiences of life and how we responded to them--and what we concluded about life, God, ourselves and others, through those responses. And now as Christians, we need to be "re-formed."

He writes, "The most despicable as well as the most admirable of persons have had a spiritual formation." (pg 19). In other words, both Hitler and Mother Theresa had spiritual formation. Their souls, spirits, wills, minds, and feelings were "formed." You and I have been "formed."

Then later, Dr. Willard identifies that we, as Christians, as called to "spiritual formation (or, really, reformation)" (pg 30) or transformation.

In a way, you could say we need to "un-formed." We need to be un-formed from our previous views, perceptions, assumptions, ideas, images, perspectives, and feelings, INTO the way God views, perceives, assumes, thinks, imagines, and feels. This is sanctification.

The connection to waiting to see what's behind the truck? Well, I admit, it's still a little vague to me. But just as Audrey had to release control and wait until I turned, we need to trust God, release control, and believe He knows better. Then we can more and more be re-formed about what God values. Audrey could have grabbed the steering wheel and put her food onto the accelerator but that would be dangerous. Yet, isn't that what I do with God and isn't that when I'm staying in my old formative ideas, perceptions, etc?

God knows everything. If I trust Him, my mind, heart, will, soul, spirit, etc. will be re-formed more and more. Because, really, holiness is primarily rooted in our ability to trust God.