A New Lens

I am currently reading A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers for the second time, it is part of the Mark of the Lion Series (a must-read in my opinion).  As I am reading, I am now reading through the lens of a new mother - which really I have noticed everything is through that lens, which  makes me much more emotional than I was before regarding things, if that is even possible.  Through this lens, though, I am keenly aware of the culture that I am raising my daughter in.  There are some good things, but there are many disheartening things as well.  Only the Lord can grant E and me the wisdom we need to raise a beautiful, innocent little girl in this society for His Glory.  And that thought comes to my mind as I sit next to her and read this book, because as Rivers talks about the Roman culture there are many similarities to what our day looks like presently.  I don't know how much research she did on the Roman culture during the time soon after Christ, but it sure comes across well studied to me, and I've always thought of America as having some dangerously similar characteristics to Rome.  Here is what she says:

"Rome tolerated every abominable practice, embraced every foul idea in the name of freedom and the rights of the common man.  Citizens no longer carried on deviant behavior in private, but pridefully displayed it in public.  It was those with moral values who could no longer freely walk in a public park without having to witness a revolting display.  What happened to the public censors who protected the maority of citizenry from moral decadence?  Did freedom have to mean abolishing common decency?  Did freedom mean anyone could do anything they wanted anytime they wanted, without consequences?" (Rivers, p. 215)

In this context this doesn't sound as harsh as it does when quoted, but honestly I don't think we are too far from this the way our culture is going.  Christ said it would get worse and worse before He comes, so I am not surprised at where things are - but it is just another reminder of the urgency for people to hear the Gospel and to hear how the things they think grant them "freedom" are idols and put them in bondage if they are anything other than Christ Himself.  May He grant us, the Church, the courage to stand and speak of the True Freedom that can be anyone's who surrenders to Him.

Quick Note on "A Society of Commentators"

After telling E about my previous blog, he brought up a great point.  He said, "You know, after knowing you for a while now, I don't think I would really call you an optimist.  It's just that you're really nice..."  And so began an interesting discussion on what that looks like in our culture.  And I think he is right - a lot of times niceness or happiness is translated into optimism to those that we don't know very well.  Not that it is a negative thing to be optimistic, I am speaking mainly to the previously discussed misconception that optimistic people are less deep or naive because of their positive outlook on life.  In our culture I think there are a lot of people who come across as very optimistic or positive, but very well may not be optimists at all but are just very nice.  The reality is, the depth that people get to know each other just is not what it once was in our culture.  We've become very polite but not very deep, I would say even in the Church this is truer than it should be.  Anyway, it is an interesting topic that I am keeping in mind as a meet new people - to remember that we are always more complex than we come off at first, and I'm among many that needs to get better at getting to know people on a deeper level.

A Society of Commentators

Have you ever noticed that we live in a society full of commentators?

You go to Starbucks on the way to work - and someone comments, "Oh you got some Starbucks this morning, huh?" - Well, yes, in fact, that is why I am holding a cup of it in my hand. 

Or, you buy a new outfit or get a new haircut - and several women comment, "Oh, you got a haircut!" or "Oh, that looks new, did you just get it?" or "Oh, look at you!"  

Most of this well-intentioned, I know.  But sometimes, doesn't it get repititious having people comment on little details?  Sometimes I just want to enjoy that I got Starbucks as a treat and I'd rather no one took notice of it!  Is that weird? 

Does this come from living in a society where we are constantly getting new things and we have just programmed ourselves to comment on things - whether meaningful compliments or not?  Is it a lesson in how much we waste our words on things that are not very important, perhaps?

Maybe it is because I am pregnant that I am overly sensitive to these things.  While I actually feel I have gotten a "get out of jail free" card in how few comments I've gotten overall and how few touches from the lady I've never met before - I anticipate it much more heavily when the baby actually arrives.  I'm gearing up for people thinking she is a boy out of ignorance;  for people who don't like her name and think that they have a God-given right to tell me so; for people who have all kinds of opinions on the way we care for our child...the list goes on.  And I'm sure other parents would agree with me in having many stories where they've encountered this.  One thing that is a great benefit of walking through a new season, like being pregnant or becoming a parent or getting married, is that you do become more thoughtful overall to what you say to someone in that season once you've walked through it - though parenting seems to be somewhat of an anomalie in this way to some, particularly strangers. 

These kind of thoughts are from the pessimist in me that people don't really expect.  Overall I'm optimistic - but I would hope that I am not an ignorant optimist.  I think cynics of the world see optimists as ignorant or dumb a lot of times, thinking foolishly that the world could be something it is not in reality.  But I think many optimists are more like myself than many would think from first glance - a sort of optimistic realist.  I try to test things I see and think through them, and obviously this topic is one of those things I am thinking through from not as optimistic an angle.

We will see how it turns out - and in the end, I am praying that God would grant me the grace to respond however I need to in order to honor Him amidst negative or positive comments toward our little girl and our family.  People are still people, after all, and I've been guilty of the very thing I've written about no doubt.  Sometimes it's just nice to raise awareness of nuances in our culture, even if for my own benefit :)

"If we get overlooked for affirmation or promotion, so be it.  Let's just do our jobs.  

If we get elevated and celebrated, so be it.  Let's just do our jobs.  

Let's pursue a walk with God so close that the spotlights of this world - be they for us or against us - are eclipsed by His enormous shadow cast on our path."  

- Beth Moore, Esther Bible Study Workbook

Word of God - II

"Think how thankful you are that God wrote something you can hold to your chest, rocking back and forth, when your heart is shattered and your sight too blurred to read.  Every Bible is the Word of God, but with no ears to hear it, hearts to love it, or hands to warm themselves by the fire of it, man is tragically lost to it." 

 - Beth Moore, Esther Bible Study Workbook

As I was studying the book of Esther this week alongside Beth Moore, this quote stood out as such a gem to me.  It is true - I am again brought to a place of such gratitude that we have the Word of God!  Though I can't imagine what would compare to living in a time where God was guiding as a pillar of fire or Christ Himself was healing people as He walked the earth - I am thankful I do live in a time where I have the whole Word of God to study, reflect on, and find living, active, life-giving words for my life in Christ.  

To God's glory, my sister gave her life to Christ recently - and God just straight up used His Word to reveal things to her that brought her to a humble place before Him.  Praise God for softening hearts that end up loving the Word!  And for those that are in the tragic place of not seeing its value at all, or see it as less valuable than it truly is, may God pursue them as He did my sister to reveal so much of who He is and who we are in light of Him through His awesome Word.  

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, 

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Fearless.

Unknown as of yet to the blogging community, we are expecting a little one in April and we are SO excited!  Carrying life is truly a miraculous thing from God – there are so many things along the way of pregnancy that have stopped me in my tracks and just made me rejoice at how awesome God is. 

 

Also in the journey of pregnancy, one thing my hubs and I have learned is that it is possible to know too much.  With technology nowadays, we have so much information at our fingertips regarding childbirth, parenting, etc. than ever – and with that, also a lot more opinions.  Filtering through for facts has become somewhat of a battle.  Some information is helpful – but we have found there is definitely a healthy limit on how much we seek to know and research.  Mainly, because as we learn more it can be a breeding ground for fears and anxiety to creep in about the topics we study.  It has been a good lesson and as we near the end of the blessed season of carrying a life in the womb we are trying to apply it to the new season we will be entering. 

For me in particular, I am trying to apply it to the “brief” but rather important event of…delivery.  I’ll never forget what my sister-in-law said when I asked her if she was scared about delivering their first – she answered “no, I’m not scared, because fear will only make the pain worse”.  Wowzers.  What a strong response, full of choice and truth!  So, I have been dwelling on that much of my pregnancy – coming back to the truth that I don’t need to be anxious for anything, even something so intense as birthing a child.  My prayer in response to this has been simple: Lord, make me fearless.  

There are so many wonderful Truths that have impacted me as I pursue this fearlessness in the Lord, and I have noted some here.  Praise God – I can be fearless, I can charge into anything with confidence in Christ knowing that He will be with me and He is for me.  

May you be encouraged by these Truths as well, no matter what type of challenge you are facing that requires a new level of fearlessness for His glory.

Isaiah 41:8-10
⁸ But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
⁹ you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
¹⁰ fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 139:11-12
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
    and the light about me be night,”
¹² even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

1 Peter 3:4-6
⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. ⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

2 Timothy 1:7
⁷ for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Romans 15:13
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.