As I was thinking about the blog this morning and what I could write for you to read that would be valuable, the thought came, 'keep it simple'.
While I was away in the beautiful Adironacks, I sat in on fourteen hours of Bible teaching, read two books and enjoyed several important, life-giving conversations. That's a lot of listening. Listening is receiving. Much of the best of the content came through simple yet powerful statements or questions.
As I furiously and excitedly (in my usual nerd-like fashion) took pages of notes (the older I get the less I trust my memory), I hoped for the opportunity to share them with someone else because of what it was stirring up in me. So here goes. I am praying that they speak to you today and you receive something meaningful. (Quotes are in bold. The rest are my comments.)
The Bible is the Voice of God. I mean seriously. We know this. But do we know this? Wouldn't we all like to hear the voice of God? We can. We have no excuse not to. All we have to do is pick up His Word and read it.
Give God's Word your full attention. It's the only book that matters.
Every time we are in God's Word we are getting a better picture of who God is. This means we can better describe Him to others. So good!
Nothing in the Christian life works without God's Word. Could this be why we are exhausted from trying to 'work it out' ourselves with no results?
Stop viewing yourself as the focus of life. We exist for the Glory of God. Ouch. I wonder if we should change our common statement for ourselves and wish for others from, "I'm looking forward to what God has for me" to "I am eager for God to show me how I can best serve Him with my life."
My life is the autobiography of Christ. This is going to take some examination. Is that how I live? Do others see His likeness in me?
Cultivate a spiritual awareness until it takes over your life. Sit with this one a while. We have all the power here - how much of Jesus do we want? We can have as much as we want.
The presence of evil will never undo or destroy the work of God. In light of today's world events, this is the greatest time to proclaim Christ. That is good news.
There is no such thing as private sin. To be a follower of Jesus means we live in community and our sins have repercussions. Our choices matter to others. This is not a curse. It's a gift - to live in such a way that it helps others to live well too.
Stop making excuses for your condition. Call sin sin. Sin
multiplies when you make excuses for it. Own your sin. You can't get
victory over that which you don't own.
Love Jesus more than anything.
Peace comes through acceptance of - not removal of - suffering. Not easy, but true. Suffering builds character too. We can't remove it all (or beg God to) and think we are going to grow.
God wants us to reach out to Him. He allows in His wisdom things to happen so we will. What a beautiful way to look at the hard, painful things that come into our lives.
The Christian life is an intentional life. It is focused on a relationship with Jesus - becoming Christlike. This statement is so huge to me. It's going to become the main theme beneath the questions I periodically ask my kids. In what ways are you becoming more Christlike? How is God asking you to change? What verses are you applying to your life? Because without transformation into God's character - what's the point? THIS is what it's all about.
We have erased holiness from the Christian life. Our fellowship with the Father is defined by holiness. Ask these questions: Who are we trying to be like? Christ? The world? Everyone else? More excellent questions for my kids (and myself).
None of us are naturally usable to God. We all require preparation. How are you and I being prepared to do ministry?
Everyone needs discipleship from older, wiser followers. We need to ask "How do you study? How do you grow?, etc." We have no business trying to live this life on our own when we have others we can ask to show us the best way. I like the way Andy Stanley puts it, "Wisdom is not learning from our mistakes - that's experience. Wisdom is learning from other people's mistakes." And not just their mistakes - their successes too.
_____________________
From two women I spent time with:
God would not lead you through a dark valley if there wasn't something of great value waiting for you on the other side. Good motivation to wait patiently and expectantly.
We have chosen (for our family) to live according to the standards set by God in His Word so that we can enjoy the blessing of God on our lives. Honestly, friends, when I heard this I thought, "That's the perfect mission statement. Following Christ isn't about rule keeping. We don't have to over explain. It's simple - we're living God's way so that He will bless us." Boom.
And that was just the first week. HA! All of these statements (and so many more) made an impact on me. They gave me occasion for confession, repentance, motivation to change AND also encouragement to continue putting my hope and faith in Jesus because He is so good. So worth it. And because His love for me is so big. Not to mention also because there are younger ones coming behind me who need to know these things.
I so hope you found something here to challenge you, encourage you, cause you to make some intentional decisions for your life and the well being of your family as well. I know there's a lot here, but even if we grabbed a few of
these simple statments and gave them attention in our lives I wonder
what would happen.
What do you say we make this a conversation instead of me doing all the talking? (I bet you're thinking, I thought she'd never think of that.) How about for fun you copy and paste something above that most resonated with you and post it in the comment section?
Friday, August 22, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
It's Good To Be Home
So, assuming you read this blog regularly, follow me on Instagram, am friends with me on Facebook or are just a plain old-fashioned real live person I talk to face to face, you might know that I left home for two weeks in August.
I try to do it every year with my family's company but this year was different. I was invited by some girlfriends to share a cabin at one of my favorite places on earth, the Word of Life Family Campground. This was our 2nd annual trip because last year we decided if something is very fun or a good idea, it should become a tradition. I couldn't turn them down. I didn't want to. God always meets me up in the Adirondacks and I knew He was calling me to come spend some time alone with Him. I was not about to miss that. (Please notice I have a great husband who is never selfish when it comes to letting me go when I need to.)
After I made those plans months ago, some new friends offered us a free stay in their year-round camper just a few feet from that cabin. Well, yeah, If one's good, two is better, right? This was the week I really wanted to be there anyway, because it would lead up to a very important event (Ben's graduation from Word of Life Bible Institute) and his subsequent homecoming (he will be home for just over two weeks - woohoo!) which required him to be picked up.
Unfortunately, Scott and Ally couldn't join me for the first ten days because of work and volleyball commitments. They did come for the last five.
In the meantime, I spent the first week juggling time and meals with my friends, my mother who was also vacationing nearby and Ben, of course. We went to the beach, appreciated the beautiful Adirondack landscape, found fun places to eat and even watched a movie outside on movie night. It was fun and relaxing. That's how I envisioned the first week to be.
The middle four days were to be my alone time and I planned how I would spend so much time by myself. I declared them my own personal spiritual retreat.
I came asking God for three things. Not three things you'd ask a genie for after rubbing his lamp but three things that I was wrestling with. Three things that were bogging me down and keeping me from experiencing peace and contentment. I needed the One who knows and loves me best to speak to me, to reveal what's been going on in my heart that up to that point was frustrating me.
I brought my Bible, old journals to read, books and new journals to write in. I planned to listen to great preaching, pray, read, listen, walk and wait. I knew it would take my focused attention, cleared schedule and hours of solitude to get me in a place where I could receive and I was prepared to stay in God's face until He addressed my three requests. I was not disappointed.
As usual, just as continually promised in His Word, He shows up when we diligently seek Him and in many ways like through the Scriptures I was reading, the messages being preached and even the gift of time with a spiritual mentor of mine. You may remember I went to visit her at her camp last summer too. (You can read about that here.)
She asked me what the three things I was asking God for were. As I spilled my heart out on her beautiful screened patio, she managed to carefully pick up the random pieces and wisely put them in order in a way I couldn't do on my own. She deciphered the puzzle and God used her to set me free. She gave me permission to make some hard decisions for my own well being.
He released me from wrong thinking, mangled emotions, lies I was treating as truth, and He wrapped me in a warm blanket of His love and attentiveness. I found what I was desperately looking for and hopefully came back changed.
Can I just stop a moment and encourage you to go directly to God and ask Him for what you need? Don't hold back. He wants you to come to Him because He has the answers you're looking for. He loves you and is here to help. Don't wait another minute!
By the time Ally and Scott arrived, I was ready for them. We had a good few days together. We even climbed Mt. Severence. I can't believe we have been camping in Schroon Lake for more than 10 years and never have. It was worth all the huffing and puffing to get to the top and see that glorious view.
While it was wonderful to have the four of us reunited, we all missed our other two. So we FaceTimed Drew and Brittany one night which was super fun. We loved seeing their happy faces, watching them interact (she's showing a new sassy side that I particularly enjoy) and listening to them giggle. I noticed when we were about to hang up that Drew had pretty much monopolized the conversation. The camera was always on him with occasional glimpses of Brittany. He even took us on a tour of his garage where he showed off some new purchases like a hose that shrinks when not in use. It was the cutest thing. (Drew, not the hose.)
I'm getting to the best part - about ten minutes or less after we ended the call, I got a text from my sweet, funny daughter-in-law that went something like this: "Not that we don't love Drew's company, but maybe next time we can just have a girls only FaceTime." Does she know how to speak my language or what?
By the end of the weekend, I was ready to come home. Because no matter how much you need to get away - and should - there's no place like home. Or your king-sized bed. Or your shower. Or carpet under your feet. Or your favorite comfy couch on which to sit and pray in the morning. Or your husband and daughter saying, "We're so glad you're home." And it's always good to bring home a college boy and all his stinky summer camp laundry.
I have so much more to tell you about that happened while I was gone (stuff that will benefit you, not just this family drivel), but for today, I just wanted to say hi and I missed you and bore you with some pictures of the main event.
Another happy milestone in the Burtis family. We seem to have had more than our fair share in 2014. I know I may have said or written this when Drew stood in this very spot - but it's a tremendous gift to have God write part of a parent's story (He changed my life for good at the BI in 1987) into their children's stories. He's done it again and I am overwhelmed.
I like to joke that when you attend the WOLBI, because the only curriculum is the Bible, you get it pumped through your veins for a year. (Who wouldn't want that?) Students are also simultaneously given all kinds of opportunities to serve the Lord (snow camp, sports, open air evangelism, singing, drama, summer camp, mission trips and so much more).
It's the best foundation for any one of us before we become adults and have to figure out how to live as a grown up out in the real world. I'm so very grateful that my sons have had this experience and that next Fall it will be our daughter's turn. Two down...one to go!
Thanks for indulging me.
I try to do it every year with my family's company but this year was different. I was invited by some girlfriends to share a cabin at one of my favorite places on earth, the Word of Life Family Campground. This was our 2nd annual trip because last year we decided if something is very fun or a good idea, it should become a tradition. I couldn't turn them down. I didn't want to. God always meets me up in the Adirondacks and I knew He was calling me to come spend some time alone with Him. I was not about to miss that. (Please notice I have a great husband who is never selfish when it comes to letting me go when I need to.)
After I made those plans months ago, some new friends offered us a free stay in their year-round camper just a few feet from that cabin. Well, yeah, If one's good, two is better, right? This was the week I really wanted to be there anyway, because it would lead up to a very important event (Ben's graduation from Word of Life Bible Institute) and his subsequent homecoming (he will be home for just over two weeks - woohoo!) which required him to be picked up.
Unfortunately, Scott and Ally couldn't join me for the first ten days because of work and volleyball commitments. They did come for the last five.
In the meantime, I spent the first week juggling time and meals with my friends, my mother who was also vacationing nearby and Ben, of course. We went to the beach, appreciated the beautiful Adirondack landscape, found fun places to eat and even watched a movie outside on movie night. It was fun and relaxing. That's how I envisioned the first week to be.
The middle four days were to be my alone time and I planned how I would spend so much time by myself. I declared them my own personal spiritual retreat.
I came asking God for three things. Not three things you'd ask a genie for after rubbing his lamp but three things that I was wrestling with. Three things that were bogging me down and keeping me from experiencing peace and contentment. I needed the One who knows and loves me best to speak to me, to reveal what's been going on in my heart that up to that point was frustrating me.
I brought my Bible, old journals to read, books and new journals to write in. I planned to listen to great preaching, pray, read, listen, walk and wait. I knew it would take my focused attention, cleared schedule and hours of solitude to get me in a place where I could receive and I was prepared to stay in God's face until He addressed my three requests. I was not disappointed.
As usual, just as continually promised in His Word, He shows up when we diligently seek Him and in many ways like through the Scriptures I was reading, the messages being preached and even the gift of time with a spiritual mentor of mine. You may remember I went to visit her at her camp last summer too. (You can read about that here.)
She asked me what the three things I was asking God for were. As I spilled my heart out on her beautiful screened patio, she managed to carefully pick up the random pieces and wisely put them in order in a way I couldn't do on my own. She deciphered the puzzle and God used her to set me free. She gave me permission to make some hard decisions for my own well being.
He released me from wrong thinking, mangled emotions, lies I was treating as truth, and He wrapped me in a warm blanket of His love and attentiveness. I found what I was desperately looking for and hopefully came back changed.
Can I just stop a moment and encourage you to go directly to God and ask Him for what you need? Don't hold back. He wants you to come to Him because He has the answers you're looking for. He loves you and is here to help. Don't wait another minute!
By the time Ally and Scott arrived, I was ready for them. We had a good few days together. We even climbed Mt. Severence. I can't believe we have been camping in Schroon Lake for more than 10 years and never have. It was worth all the huffing and puffing to get to the top and see that glorious view.
I'm getting to the best part - about ten minutes or less after we ended the call, I got a text from my sweet, funny daughter-in-law that went something like this: "Not that we don't love Drew's company, but maybe next time we can just have a girls only FaceTime." Does she know how to speak my language or what?
By the end of the weekend, I was ready to come home. Because no matter how much you need to get away - and should - there's no place like home. Or your king-sized bed. Or your shower. Or carpet under your feet. Or your favorite comfy couch on which to sit and pray in the morning. Or your husband and daughter saying, "We're so glad you're home." And it's always good to bring home a college boy and all his stinky summer camp laundry.
I have so much more to tell you about that happened while I was gone (stuff that will benefit you, not just this family drivel), but for today, I just wanted to say hi and I missed you and bore you with some pictures of the main event.
Another happy milestone in the Burtis family. We seem to have had more than our fair share in 2014. I know I may have said or written this when Drew stood in this very spot - but it's a tremendous gift to have God write part of a parent's story (He changed my life for good at the BI in 1987) into their children's stories. He's done it again and I am overwhelmed.
It's the best foundation for any one of us before we become adults and have to figure out how to live as a grown up out in the real world. I'm so very grateful that my sons have had this experience and that next Fall it will be our daughter's turn. Two down...one to go!
Thanks for indulging me.
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