Free To Run the Race

Some of us are running the Christian race with lead weights wrapped around our ankles and we wonder why we are not growing to be like Jesus or why we are not sensing God’s freedom. We have been carrying a joy stealer! Look at the Apostle Paul’s life - persecuting believers, holding garments for those who stoned Stephen. He could have experienced guilt and shame that would have disabled him, but he chose to shed those weights so that he could move ahead with freedom and joy. His secret is in Philippians 3:13b-14, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

“Forgetting” does not mean that we have amnesia about our past – the hurts, grief, guilt, grudges, shame, and successes; “Forgetting” is choosing to not allow the past to manipulate, control, and have power over us anymore – it means to “let it go.” Isaiah 43:18 says, “Forget the former things. Do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing.” By forgiving ourselves and the people who have hurt us, we experience freedom from Satan’s paralyzing power of self-condemnation, low self image, victimization, and all of the garbage that we have carried.

While we can learn from the past, Jesus gives us His power to “let it go.”

What do you need to let go? A success that makes you complacent? A hurt, grudge, guilt, or shame that drags you down, gives you a low self image, and robs your joy? Ask Jesus to help you let it go; write the “weight” in a letter and burn it; throw a symbolic rock in a lake to bury it – Freedom comes from looking through the windshield instead of focusing on the rear-view mirror.

Cheering you on ~ Bob

The Little People in My Life

Lydia, age 5, celebrating her first day of kindergarten.

Katie, age 3, gardening with "Ma."
(Do check out the feathered tiara, pink sequined princess dress, and large filthy work gloves.)

Andrew, age 21 months, stepping into some big shoes.

Joyfully ~
Linda

From Pen to Paper - Legacy

Another birthday approaches. As the years fly by with increasing speed, I am starting to ponder what my legacy might be. Oh God, may the legacy I leave as an individual, as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a friend, and a counselor be Psalm 112. Enable me to:

fear You

delight in Your commands

do good deeds

be generous

be compassionate

be righteous

lend freely

conduct business fairly

not be overcome by evil

Oh God, may this be our legacy ... as a couple, as a family, as a ministry ... to our children, grandchildren, and the generations to come. To our friends and those who know us. To those we minister God's grace to.

You, Lord - YOU be our legacy. As I move ahead with these who you have blessed me with, let us know how to build something meaningful together, and unify us at the deepest heart level as we do so.

Reflecting ~
Linda

Giving & Receiving Support

A great resource has crossed my desk in recent days, due to the medical challenges facing one of the women I met during the recent Inheritance of Hope retreat. Care Pages provides a great link between families in medical crisis and their circle of supporters. You are able to create an on-line community where people can check in to see how their loved ones are doing. Easy to navigate, with privacy safeguards, this site allows the family to leave up to the minute updates online instead of spending valuable energy making phone calls, sending numerous emails, and telling the same story over and over again. A great venue to give and receive emotional and spiritual support.

If you're in a medical crisis, or are in the community of someone who is, do check out this innovative service.

Appreciating Technology ~

Linda

Some of the Women in My Life ...

My daughters, Kristin (30) and Jennifer (28).

Sensitive, thoughtful, family oriented, fun, hard-working,

and mature in the faith

... in their very own delightfully unique ways ...

My sister, Marilyn.

A true survivor of life and ministry, an incredibly hard worker,

a teller of side-splittingly funny stories.

My mom, Elsie.

Humble, gentle, kind, optimistic, an encourager,

a blessing to all who know her.

I'm blessed beyond measure ~

Linda

Paul's Parting Plea

What are the last critical words that you would say in a letter to those you loved? Paul’s great concern and plea was for unity among believers. His final words to the Romans were “Watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles (skandala) in your way” (Romans 16:17).

This was not his first request for unity: “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another" (1 Corinthians 1:10); “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3); “Put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 4:3); “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him” (Titus 3:10).

Undoubtedly, one of the strongest tenets of the Christian faith - unity - is that which is totally opposite of the world’s fighting and quarreling, self-centered desires to be seen, hair-splitting, and their demand to be right. Paul was echoing what Jesus prayed for believers in John 17:23, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

How can you promote unity between believers?

What personal preferences can you let go for the sake of unity?

Since one of the greatest evangelistic tools that will bring people to Jesus is their observation, “Wow, they really love each other,” how are you making this come true?

Points to ponder with you,
Bob

What Children Want Their Parents to Know

1. When you are angry at me or must discipline me, please do not be angry at me tomorrow.

2. Treat me with respect, especially when my friends are around. If I am misbehaving, please take me to a room where there is privacy to discipline me.

3. Your attitude towards me will probably be what I believe God's attitude is towads me.

4. I know what you really think of me by the way you treat me when no one else is around.

5. Help me to seek the truth about my life and in my life. Teach me to value truth more than acceptance.

6. Please lovingly correct me when I do something wrong. That way I can learn the difference between right and wrong.
~ Rein

Wishing I understood these truths more deeply when my own girls were little ~

Linda