Entrusted

Do you ever feel overwhelmed with the events of the day ahead even before it actually starts?

As I pray through a busy day in the morning, I consider the souls created in God's image with whom I will interact. 

Isn't that everyone, you ask? Yes, that's right.

Church ladies' breakfast in my dining room, guests, host and mom-to-be of a baby shower, dinner with two longtime friend couples; one we're living life together with and one we haven't spent time with in decades, and many hours in the car with my husband. 

I wonder how each meeting and conversation will go. 

Will I enter each room with enthusiastic outward gaze, "Yay! You're here!" or will it be about me, "Oh hey! Here I am!", tilting the room in my direction?

Will I be able to read these rooms, looking into eyes, asking thoughtful curious questions with care or let my insecurities into the driver's seat shrinking back wondering if anyone will really care to engage, and wait to be approached?

Will I be a better listener than talker (anyone else interrupt much)? 

What can I lend to each life? How can I encourage? Where can I bring merriment (new year's goal!)?

Will I know when to speak up with confidence or with discernment resist unnecessary comment?

Entrusted. (Definition: charged or invested with a trust or responsibility; in the care of.)

Regardless how each scenario plays out, one thing is plain. I'm about to be entrusted with many people this day. God will entrust them to me. Risky on His part.

Which brings another question, "How will I steward this day - these people - for His glory and the benefit of others?" This is the goal of an apprentice to Jesus, you know.

I pray. I ask my Father in heaven to equip me to be His representative (showing what He's like) and His ambassador (present and able to do any sacred work needed). To give me eyes to see and ears to hear what He sees and hears. First, instruction from the Bible on what is required of me this day (and what's not). Then, how to best care for each individual in my care.

For this day - and every day - is not about me or you if we belong to Jesus. Our plans revolve around Him - the very environment we live in - as Paul describes in Colossians chapter one.

Read this passage loaded with Old Testament language:

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 

For by Him, all things were created, in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, 

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created 

through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 

And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 

that in everything He may be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 

and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether in earth or in heaven, 

making peace by the blood of His cross." Col. 1:15-19

I know. A word nerd could go nuts with this passage. 

The main thing I want us to see today is that everything in our life is about Jesus and He's in it all. He started it all, sustains it all and rules it all. 

Did I mention all of it?

What if we framed our daily responsibilities and interactions around this truth? What if we begin to see the souls entrusted to us each day through Jesus' viewpoint? Asking Him, "What do you want me to bring to this one today?"

It will require our attention and intention and maybe some rewiring to revert our thought process outward, off self. 

Start with prayer. We can know this is God's will and therefore, He will help us do it. Win win.

Later in chapter three of Colossians, Paul gives us specific direction on the how to. 

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you...anger, wrath, malice, slander, 

and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off 

the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, 

kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 

bearing with one another...forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you...

and above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." 

Love is the main point, I think. To be loving in all things. Check your words.

One of my favorite authors, John Mark Comer, asks: "What is Christ trying to express to the watching world through your particular life?" What if in whatever we do or to whomever we speak, "we do (it) the way we imagine Jesus would do it if He were us... We must come to realize that following Jesus is the main point to life."*

Oh, you mean like we learned in the Colossians verses above?

At the end of the day, I took inventory of all the rooms I entered and conversations that took place within. I was surprised. Putting into practice listening and asking questions, I learned so much. And so many opportunities to encourage and speak hope and love presented.  

No personal agenda to include my opinion, no insecurity, no sucking the air out of the room with my self-driven neediness for attention or affirmation. 

It was glorious and I came away filled and better for it. No wonder the Bible teaches to "do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:3,4). Of course, so like Jesus. 

Entrusted. It's a Bible word peppered through the New Testament. It's a good word for us. Weighty. Risky proposition God has offered us for sure. Can we be trusted with what He's entrusted to us?

Will we receive it today and consider all interactions as assignments? Let's.

Bonus song for the day: Andrew Peterson | All Things Together (Audio Video) 

*Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer, p. 152,153,203

Here's to a New Year (a little late?)

 "January is the new week after Christmas." 

I don't know who said it or where I read it, but I kind of dig this.

I'm not sure about you, but after a bustling month of December and a glorious extended celebration (with our whole family) of Christmastide to Epiphany, New Year's in the middle was hard to give proper annual attention to. 

Finally settled back into routine just this week the initial inclination to feel behind dogs me. Why? Why do I allow this? Is someone watching the calendar or peering into my journal waiting for my resolutions, goals, intentions? Will I imminently fail 2025 if I don't have all my ducks in a row on January 1?

The answer is no, of course. I know you know this I'm just typing it here for my benefit.

I do, however, believe in the discipline of writing things down. A year-end inventory to exit one year with a feeling of completion is a good place to start and enables launching into the next with intention and vigor.

Don't click away if you aren't a fan of New Year goals/resolutions or whatever word makes your skin crawl. Trust me to the end that I have your best interest at heart!

At the finish of 2023, I recorded successes and failures of the goals set the previous year. I had to dig out my journal to find them. Lesson learned - not a good practice to just write the list once as some hopes were forgotten by February. 

Additionally, from the get-go I framed my intentions in hopes that keeping them in front of me would ensure a higher success rate. This was a good practice.

Did I still "fail" at about half of them? Yup. But because I set so many, I found a better probability of return.

It's good and right to keep track of successes which lead us to celebration and thanksgiving. Probably not too many of us record our failures alongside but I find it a kind of grace. A starting point for the next year. An evaluation asking, 'did this matter anyway?' Or a recommitment to give it another go. (Also, permission to not have to kill it every time, no one can reach this status.)

Lesson learned - second year in a row I vowed to use my cookbooks weekly and didn't. I have a myriad of them I love and cherish. But do I pull them out on the regular to select a tried and true? Ahem. Don't judge me. Who can resist the convenience and speed of Pinterest finds? At least I do that.

Consequently, perhaps I should resist carrying it over to 2025 endeavors. Does it really matter? Can life still be good and pleasurable and meaningful? My husband would respond, "That's fine - can we get rid of all these volumes now that take up so much space?" Get rid of my gorgeous hardbound recipe collection?!

Alas, this is why he and I will not be having this conversation.

What about you? Are you on it? Have you set in motion (in writing and action) some fresh initiatives for the year ahead? If you have, high five! 

Or do you rarely turn the annual page with a plan to guide you? I hope you'll consider trying something new. 

Remember it doesn't have to be so lofty it's unattainable. One of my favorite authors - whose book I read every winter - writes, "I scribble my list of promises. The ways I hope to be kind. To be gentle. To forgive. To try and try again."* 

Character, not production perhaps?

Maybe you, like me, just need a bit of quiet time to look back with gratitude and resolve for all 2024 meant to you (make adjustments in expectations of self and others) and some stillness to wonder and dream about the future with appropriate growth-inducing challenges.

Embrace January for this purpose - as long as it takes. Let it do a finishing and beginning work in your soul. 

Take a look at what you really want. How a life well-lived is defined as and move toward that with gusto. Don't worry about failure - it's imminent and shows you tried and that's a win.

Consider what might enrich your life. Add it. Subtract what won't. Make a little list. Check it twice. Frame it? Give yourself purpose and grace all year long.

I will steal more from my winter-appreciating mentor, a more contemplative direction:

Dear New Year, "...each new year demands my full and unwavering attention. Demands the full attention of all of us standing here on the cusp, filling our hearts and our imaginations with promises, vows, hopes, resolutions of the deepest kind.

I beg you, nascent year, to be gentle. I realize the gentle needs to come from deep inside me. I need to find the holy balm to steady me through rough waters to come. I'm bracing myself with double doses of those few things that have proven to be my salvation: prayer; silence; rampant and unheralded kindness; the rapt company of a rare few companions, deep in the act of holding up each other's hearts."*

Isn't that beautiful and pointed? You can steal it too. For a "successful" new year, we all need prayer, silence, kindness, a few trusted companions to hold each other up. Double doses! And Jesus to focus all our gaze on, our Savior, Brother, Keeper who prays for us daily (John 17:20-26). 

Revelation 21:5 teaches us, "He is making all things new."

May that be said of you and me in the year ahead. Amen?

Let's revisit this in twelve months.

*The Stillness of Winter by Barbara Mahany P. 96-97

Your Annual Reminder and an Announcement

     You know how I feel about delayed gratification. I don't believe in rushing what we are looking forward to - it'll come. This is why you'll never see me participating in any kind of Christmas in July - no music - no Hallmark movies. None of it. Christmas has its place. It will happen. It always does.

    
    However, preparing for Advent is a different story. After all, that's what Advent is about - preparing our hearts for Jesus' arrival. So right about now is the time to think about and plan for your Advent, which starts December 1st.

    About this time last year, I made an announcement here on the blog. If you missed it or need a refresher, read about it here.

    It was so exciting to launch this love letter I wrote to Jesus about Advent and Christmas and celebrating His birthday with intention and honor out into the world for others to read and join in. 

    Each day through the month of December I received a call or message or note from a reader or two or three. I kept them all.

    Today I'm mentioning that we've made some changes to my book - like including an action step for each day's reading - and a few other improvements (because I'm a Type A fanatic who can't leave well enough alone).

    We've just re-released my devotional and added - here comes the announcement - a Kindle edition! This was my business manager's idea. Some of you may know him, his name is Scott.

    So, here's what I'll be so honored if you would do today:

1. If you read Wonder in the Waiting last year and thought, "I know who would love this book" or "I'm going to get copies for all my friends next year", you could let them know soon how to get a copy (see below). Or better yet, order for them as a Pre-Christmas Gift (Chapter 6) or Thanksgiving Day favor. So fun, right?

2. If you attend a book club or small group, you might consider reading it together for the month of December. Spiritual endeavors are always more enjoyable with company.

3. If you or someone you know prefer a Kindle version, you could assist them in checking out that option. (see below)

4. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you could click on the link above, read last year's announcement, and decide to observe Advent with my company.

5. If honoring sacred holidays such as Advent is new to you or has somehow gotten lost along the way, throw caution to the wind, believe it's no coincidence that you are reading this blog today, and pick up a copy of my little book. I wrote it for you. 

    Then read one chapter a day for the month of December - leading up to the Best Day. I guarantee the wonder of Advent will be the best part of your Christmas celebration.

What's the easiest way to tackle any or all of these options? I'm so glad you asked!

•     The paperback and Kindle versions can be found on Amazon. 
• 
  
•     BUT, for paperback copies with a personal touch from me, I'd love you to order from my website. (Also, this allows me to see your names!)
• 
  
•     If you live locally, you can find books at Arrowhead Bookstore in Johnson City, NY or get in touch with me and I will deliver directly to you. No shipping!

     Last year's larger quantity offer still stands. "If you would rather buy in quantities of 5 or 10 or more because you think like me and desire to give them as Thanksgiving Day favors, or pre-Christmas gifts, or for your Book Clubs, Bible Studies, Sunday School classes or friend/family groups (great idea!), please send me a message at amburtis@yahoo.com and I will be happy to give you a special discounted rate!"

    Finally, of course, I must remind you that this is a time sensitive issue. You will need your copy(ies) in your hands before December 1st, so plan accordingly.

    Most of all, it is my hope and prayer that you will experience the wonder of Advent during your full, activity-packed December. That every day you will find time to be still and prepare room in your heart for Jesus in this sacred season.

    Thank you so much for helping me get this special message - this beautiful practice - into the hands of as many readers as possible. 

    May it be a blessing to all.

The Secrets Women (must) Tell

 I celebrated another birthday recently. I likely hit the halfway point of my life quite a while ago (unless I plan to live to 130) highlighting the fact I’m well into the last half of my life. Which forces an answer to the question of one willing to ask, “what matters most for the second half?”

The answer for me came swift and certain. I must tell what I know about Jesus, what I’ve learned and experienced through decades of studying and following His ways: tripping and falling; sinning and being forgiven; living in the blessings of obedience; being loved perfectly.  Also, what I’ve witnessed Him accomplishing in others’ lives and in the world and church. This is the stuff.

You can imagine my delight when I came to this passage while reading through the gospels during Lent; Jesus teaching the crowds according to Luke's memory in 8:16-18:

“No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you sit it up on a lampstand so those who enter the room can see their way. We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don’t become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.”

One of my favorite teachings from the Apostle Paul given to women directly is for the older women to teach the younger, which provides a classroom for the younger to learn from the older. Ladies, if you’re ever wondering what God’s will is for you – that’s it right there. Not a mystery, it’s printed in black and white – even what is expected to be taught and learned (check out the books of Timothy and Titus for further study).

I consider this often because a woman doesn't have to be a biological mother to influence or mother another.

You see, we are all modeling life to the younger generation whether we realize it or not, whether we feel like we are the olders or not. We intentionally share recipes, household tips, relationship advice, traditions, stories that mostly make us look good (unless we have a boss self-deprecating sense of humor). But we also blaze a trail of words, attitudes, behaviors, and habits. 

In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul tells us we leave a fragrance in every room we visit. I once heard it said we bring joy everywhere we go, too - either when we’re coming or going.

I personally was well-mentored by the many older women God put in my path mostly at church. I often testify I wouldn’t have made it through parenting a strong-willed child if not for a few of these to whom I would go vent my frustration. They’d bandage me up with stories and infuse me with God’s word before sending me back into the ring again with their prayers for support. 

I believe strongly in this ministry. God knew what He was doing and what His daughters would need when He set this up.

After coming to faith in Jesus as a teenager, eventually I learned the value of the Bible and I spent time reading, studying and obeying it. Soon enough my life took a whole new direction - one in which Jesus became the environment of my life. This Book of truth and wonder (I like to call it) has become my favorite possession.

It is a book of letters (one commentary says it’s more like a library, so many genres represented) from the One who knows you, loves you more than any other will. It’s God’s heart revealed - an invitation to know Him – in each of the sixty-six books inside. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, page one to the last. Did you know that?  

This Book. It’s ancient yet somehow alive and relevant. God wrote down everything He knew we needed to know. Why? So, we could know Him, know His heart, know His love.  

This volume is a miracle. It’s not going anywhere. It will be preserved for your daughters and sons. Your grandchildren. It is a treasure and not to be neglected. That would be foolish.

It is our job, however, to know it, love it, and pass that love and knowledge to everyone we know – who has ears to hear! Keep it a secret? No – this is a secret we tell! More on that in a minute.

One of my favorite passages is found in Deuteronomy, chapter 6. These were bedrock parenting verses for us as we raised our kids. We are still living and sharing them though ours are now 32, 28 and 27.

Let's listen in on Moses giving final instructions to the people of Israel as they enter the promised land without him. 

Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.*

What's the alive, relevant message to us today?

All the stories of God's faithfulness. Talk about it. Talk about it. Talk about it

Assume listeners want to hear, want to know. Every age of those coming behind, need to hear us tell the stories. Tell the faithfulness of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the next generation starting with those closest to us in our homes and widening out to all those God entrusts within our influence. 

Keeping all this wonder to ourselves is missing the mark of our purpose! Hide it under a washtub or shove it under a bed? I don't think so!

But what if we do? What if we keep it to ourselves? If we choose not to retell the stories from the Bible we know, the stories of Jesus’ life, the stories of our lives changed by Jesus, we are making the stories secrets.

Which begs the next question – if we don’t tell, what and who will replace these true stories as concrete truth to guide our loved ones and those God entrusts to us? 

I’ll tell you who – the world will. Disney will. Hollywood will. Taylor Swift will. 

We have an enemy – God’s enemy – who is firmly in control of the narrative conforming us to its anti-God, anti-Biblical image. Romans 12:1 tells us unless we are actively resisting, we are already being conformed to its image - willingly. 

So, what do we do? We tell! This is the time it’s ok to tell secrets!

Take on this attitude: I should always assume God is at work in those He brings into my life. Therefore, I assume they will want to hear what I’m going to say. 

When I do this, I normalize spiritual conversations and speak in Gospel language (not repetitive "Christianese" or tired talking points), trusting the Spirit to do the work in others He wants to do. Praying for timing, hearts ready to receive, reading the room for Holy Spirit clues, etc.

What a tremendous gift to influence the women in our lives, youngers and olders alike, as both God’s ambassador (the likeness of Jesus’ character) and His instrument of change in their lives. We are not here for less.

In my experience, not many older women sought me out to influence me. Mostly I had to do the approaching to make this biblical practice a reality in my life. This should not be so. 

I studied those women in my life, at church, noticing the ones who seemed to walk closely with God, know Him well, know His word well, were joyful, suffered well. I wanted them to teach me their ways. And I wasn't talking about recipes and household tips.

We olders have the experience, the knowledge, the wisdom, the secrets that must be told.

There’s nothing more important. We must steward what’s been entrusted to us - the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All of this life is all about Him. We can’t let lesser things take priority. 

We mustn’t become misers of what we’ve learned, what we know. “Generosity”, Jesus taught, “is what begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” God forbid we keep the secrets meant to be told. No, let’s bring everything out in the open. 

This is the stuff to consider on a Mother's Day holiday. All women no matter your age or birth history. Whatever amount of time we have, let's make it count.

Love God’s Word. 

Teach others to love God’s Word. 

Assume they want to know. 

Learn. Teach. Repeat.

The Selfies of Lent

I’ve been walking on this planet long enough now to have been young, raise a family to adulthood, and now be a spectator in watching what kind of a world my grandchildren are going to grow up in.

To use one of their favorite expressions, “it’s terrifying”. In context, let me declare a few things: I believe Jesus is all-powerful and God is in control of the kingdom calendar; nothing surprises either of them, or happens that is out of their jurisdiction. I also believe there’s nothing new under the sun, aka, this isn’t the worst display of sin and evil a generation has experienced.

That said, I have concerns. The preoccupation, no - obsession with self - is staggering. Social media and selfies prove my point. I mean, did we even eat out with a friend or attend a party or “have devotions” if there isn’t a pic to prove it?

When I see one self-recorded video after another demonstrating how to apply makeup, style a room, prepare a meal or entertain a toddler, etc, I sometimes silently wonder, “Isn't this a little much? Who does she think wants to hear from her so often about so many things?”

A more comprehensive definition of selfie is born:

Self-obsessed, self-loving, self-interested, self-absorbed, self-seeking, self-serving, self-sufficient, self-important, self-admiring, self-indulgent, self-concerned, self-conscious, self-hatred, and plain old, used to be the only one on the scene - selfish.

That’s a lot of selfies.

A practice consistent for spiritual focus during Lent is self-examination. (Another selfie!) Believers in Jesus should stop and take inventory; ask some questions.

The goal of Christ-followers is just that, to follow Jesus. "Come, follow Me" was and is still the invitation extended from the Master, Teacher, Jesus Himself.

Author John Mark Comer breaks the intended expectation down to three simple phrases:

·         Be with Jesus

·         Become like Him

·         Do as He did*

How are we doing?

·         How much time do we spend with Jesus? Every day, a couple times a week, once a week, once a month? Are we alone with Him, enjoying Him or is it just at church?

·       Are we taking on the characteristics of Jesus, becoming/looking more like Him in increasing measure? Showing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control – to name a few. Hint – one must know what Jesus is like – study what’s written about Him in the Bible – in order to be successful here.

·      Are we doing the things Jesus did? Do we love, serve, pray, teach, forgive? JMC suggests the true litmus test for growing spiritually is love – can others tell we are becoming more loving?

Oftentimes the way of Jesus is the opposite of the way of current culture. Paul corroborates this truth in Romans 12:2 when he teaches,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”**

There is so much goodness in that verse. It was a cornerstone parenting principle for my husband and I while raising our children, loving the way as Eugene Peterson translates it:

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”***

Yes, countercultural! One of my favorite words. That’s what I’m talking about, and isn’t that what we want? God wants to bring out the best in us – and our families – which could seep into the culture we inhabit.

An honest Lenten inventory and adjustment (if necessary) will help us achieve this. I even found some healthier selfies for us to replace the others with as well.

Self-denial, self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline, self-sacrifice, self-deprivation, self-forgetfulness, selflessness.

That sounds more like the way of living Jesus taught, doesn’t it? He left us an example worthy of following:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”****

 Oh that cross, soon to be remembered, lamented and celebrated in just a few weeks.

*Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

**Romans 12:2 ESV

***Romans 12:2 The Message

****Philippians 2:3-8 ESV