Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It's easy to have faith when life makes sense, when the stars align to find your bank account, your closet, your social calendar, and your heart full. But this rarely, if ever, happens. No, most of the time, faith must be found when circumstances are less than ideal. I am thankful to serve a God who realizes the struggles of life, that there will be daily challenges but He speaks to us in the midst of the tumult. He realizes that there is plenty of reason to be anxious but beckons to our hearts to give that to Him. And He promises peace, a peace that passes understanding. He gives us the ability to stand in the center of the storm and find a peace that isn't logical but is based in a much greater truth.
Last night, Kenny and I shared a glass of wine as we looked out on a bleak and dreary Nashville and I said we should toast. It seemed silly in the midst of a world that somedays feels like it is crashing down on us but we toasted anyway. "To continuing to hope even when it is hard"...peace that passes understanding.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Promise of Rest
The Lord promises rest for the weary. What a gift on a day like today.
I find that I've grown so tired lately. The entertainment industry seems so fascinating and exciting to those outside of it. What they don't know is that it is tiring and trite and insincere. I grew up in a town where good people where just that: good. They were kind and honest, hardworking and true. What you see is what you get. Yes, most city-dwellers would look at these simple folks and judge them as lesser, as if they lack the depth and interest of the metropolitan elite. But there is a depth that comes from having pride in what you do and who you are, of making decisions because they are the right ones, of treating people with kindness and respect because all people: rich, poor, young, old, ALL people deserve that.
Today, I look expectantly towards a trip home as it gives the chance to surround myself with good and genuine people. To have people invest me because it's me and not because of what I may be able to do for them. To have people say they are going to do something and actually do it. To be in a place of peace and solace and rest. To hear the Lord in a still, small voice as I nestle in my childhood home with people I love, "Come to me, all ye who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
I find that I've grown so tired lately. The entertainment industry seems so fascinating and exciting to those outside of it. What they don't know is that it is tiring and trite and insincere. I grew up in a town where good people where just that: good. They were kind and honest, hardworking and true. What you see is what you get. Yes, most city-dwellers would look at these simple folks and judge them as lesser, as if they lack the depth and interest of the metropolitan elite. But there is a depth that comes from having pride in what you do and who you are, of making decisions because they are the right ones, of treating people with kindness and respect because all people: rich, poor, young, old, ALL people deserve that.
Today, I look expectantly towards a trip home as it gives the chance to surround myself with good and genuine people. To have people invest me because it's me and not because of what I may be able to do for them. To have people say they are going to do something and actually do it. To be in a place of peace and solace and rest. To hear the Lord in a still, small voice as I nestle in my childhood home with people I love, "Come to me, all ye who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."
Monday, December 8, 2008
Is Your Word Any Good?
My former pastor asked a question during all of the major services that he conducted as our church. He would ask parents presenting their child for baptism or the individual joining the church or the couple taking their wedding vows, if they gave their word to raise the child well, or serve the church well or love their new spouse well. Inevitably, they would say yes. And then he would follow-up with the real question: Is Your Word Any Good?
That question is increasingly pertinent in my life as I realize how carelessly promises are made and broken. If our word is truly are bond, I feel like most relationships are holding on by a thread.
I work in an industry where words are tossed out without regard for the authenticity. And I've grown so weary of it. I am tired of careless commitments and insincere promises. I have come to a place that I desire to quantify almost anything anyone offers me these day. I just want something that is real. Don't offer false, hollow words or empty flattery, they are but a clanging symbol. Give me something that is true but I fear that most people do most people even know what is true anymore. I wonder what has happened in our society to make us so comfortable with lying, especially when we can rationalize them as we deem them the little ones...promising to call even though you know you won't because you want to appear nice, saying that you will follow-up on something when you have no intention of doing so, all of the hollow words we throw out knowing full well there is no depth behild them. We've come to a place that we are more concerned with seeming than being. We want to seem nice, seem helpful, seem interested, seem kind. We are in the game of controlliong perceptions but, unfortunately under those terms, we all lose.
I long to see a restoration of integrity in our culture where our words hold value and merit, spoken out of truth.
That question is increasingly pertinent in my life as I realize how carelessly promises are made and broken. If our word is truly are bond, I feel like most relationships are holding on by a thread.
I work in an industry where words are tossed out without regard for the authenticity. And I've grown so weary of it. I am tired of careless commitments and insincere promises. I have come to a place that I desire to quantify almost anything anyone offers me these day. I just want something that is real. Don't offer false, hollow words or empty flattery, they are but a clanging symbol. Give me something that is true but I fear that most people do most people even know what is true anymore. I wonder what has happened in our society to make us so comfortable with lying, especially when we can rationalize them as we deem them the little ones...promising to call even though you know you won't because you want to appear nice, saying that you will follow-up on something when you have no intention of doing so, all of the hollow words we throw out knowing full well there is no depth behild them. We've come to a place that we are more concerned with seeming than being. We want to seem nice, seem helpful, seem interested, seem kind. We are in the game of controlliong perceptions but, unfortunately under those terms, we all lose.
I long to see a restoration of integrity in our culture where our words hold value and merit, spoken out of truth.
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