He chose YOU

Sometimes it's hard to believe that the Bible was not written in our current time.  The New Testament letters written by the apostles speak so clearly to our present culture; they are rich in wisdom and warnings.  As I read them, I find myself in awe of the timelessness of those spiritual truths.

The daily news and the Internet bring us every opportunity to be jaded by what's happening in our communities and in the world.  At times we may be overwhelmed by the thought of how to live in a godly way in our current times.  Tolerance is valued more than truth; relevance is esteemed over righteousness.   If we are honest, allowing ourselves to be drawn into those seemingly gray areas of life can feel easier than living uprightly.  But in his first letter, written to "God's chosen people who are living as foreigners," (1 Pet. 2:1), the apostle Peter tells us that this does not have to be so:

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.Once you received no mercy;    now you have received God’s mercy." 

                                                          (1 Peter 2:9-10, New Living Translation)

God has CHOSEN us to show forth His goodness, His love, His mercy.  We are His people. ( I especially love the part that says we are "God's very own possession.")  How can we not live a righteous, holy, and upright life?  How can we not live as light in a dark place?  There are people in your life and mine who right now are living in the first part of verse 10: "Once you had no identity as a people..."  We have been CHOSEN to show them who they can be, to extend goodness and mercy when they have not experienced those gifts in your life.

Do you believe it?  Do YOU feel chosen?  Friend, this is not like that time on the playground or gym class when we were the last ones to be picked for the kickball game - if we were picked at all.  Being chosen and being picked are not the same thing.  Vegetables are picked.  You, my beautiful friend, have been chosen.  But it's difficult to extend to someone else what we do not possess ourselves.  So let me invite you to join me and some amazing women this upcoming weekend at the "You Are Chosen" conference in New Port Richey, Florida.  Spend the day in God's presence.  Hear encouraging messages and stories from women just like you.  Celebrate the fact that YOU are chosen for just this moment in time!  Find a babysitter.  Grab a friend.  It's not to late to register and you can even come at the last minute if you have to.  I'll be looking for you!

Pancakes and the power of God

A few weeks ago I visited my brother, sister-in-law and nieces in Colorado.  The girls are 5 (almost 6) and 3, so of course I got to do fun things like play Princess Candyland, watch Frozen, have tea parties, read stories, dress Barbies....you get the idea. (Unless of course, you have boys, in which case you have no idea what I'm talking about.)

Yes, I woke up to this sight every day.

My first morning there was a Saturday and so of course, pancakes were in order.  I recruited the girls to help me and they quickly moved the nearest available chairs up to the counter.  We took turns cracking, pouring, and stirring, until at last it was time to add the special ingredient: chocolate chips.  (Their mom's idea.  Don't judge.)  Splitting the measurement in half so that each girl could have the chance to pour the goodies in,  I handed the 3-year-old her portion and told her, "Now sprinkle the chips into the batter."  Her worried little voice replied, "But I don't know how to sprinkle!"  So I stepped in close, gently placed my hands over hers and guided them to create a rainshower of chocolate chips around the bowl. Then big sister dumped her chips in, gave the batter a final stir and I began ladling it onto the griddle.

Those were some of the best pancakes ever.

Later on, as I reflected on that sweet experience, I realized the powerful spiritual truth of that moment.  How many times has God asked me to do something and I hesitate: "God, I don't know how."  I don't move; I'm paralyzed by my own perceptions.  But just as I gave my niece my "hand power" to sprinkle those chips, God gives us His power to do what He asks.  My niece did not resist me, she allowed me to help her.  When we yield to God, His Holy Spirit comes in close and takes over, granting us the ability to do what we feel inadequate to do: loving when it's hard, forgiving when we've been hurt, launching out into a new area of ministry.  In the kitchen that day, I saw with my own eyes a real-life example of Philippians 4:13, that Scripture we always quote but never really live like we believe:

"...For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (New Living Translation)

My niece felt she could not do what I'd asked her because she didn't know how.  When I gave my strength and knowledge to the situation, she was able to respond.  In the same way, when the truth of God's words and His mighty hand touches our lives, we can break free from our self-imposed paralysis and do what He's asked.

So my question for you today is, What is God asking you to do?  Allow Him to place His loving hands over your hands, your heart, your mind. You can respond to His instructions with confidence knowing He will empower you to do the difficult or impossible in your life.  I pray the results will be as sweet for you as they were for me.