Tag Archives: Worry

The God of Inconvenience

10 September 2012

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Whatever the inconvenience, remember that these can be occasions for you to glorify God.

The past two months have been difficult for our family. We welcomed an 8½-year-old girl to our home. Although we have experience as foster parents, we were not expecting the challenges that a child with higher level of care requires. We were under the impression that we were providing respite care (a couple of days minimum), but God had His plan. Regardless, we decided to take the additional training to get certified as Intensive Treatment Foster Parents. Taking those 40 hours felt like a huge inconvenience. My plans were to continue studying and preparing for my licensing exam and we had some other things we are working on as a couple. With this new goal in mind, all my plans were put aside.

How many times have you felt that God has inconvenienced your life? Maybe you felt inconvenienced when your neighbor asked you to take care of their dog for the weekend. Maybe it was when your co-worker’s car broke down and needed a ride home, which is opposite direction of your home. Maybe you felt inconvenienced when your pastor asked you to host the next prayer night in your home. Whatever the inconvenience, remember that these can be occasions for you to glorify God… it’s about putting yourself aside in order to allow God to come between you and someone in need. It really is about glorifying God with your life.

Despite of all my excuses and personal plans, God’s timing is always perfect. Having her in our home is not a coincidence – it is God’s perfect plan. Although our world has been turned upside down, we trust that God is doing a great work in her and in turn building our character. Today, I invite you to be open to the inconveniences that come your way. Look at them as opportunities to reflect the light of Christ. After all, Christ experienced the ultimate inconvenience for you to have eternal salvation!

Rest in His Word: Philippians 2:5-7

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing,
 taking the very nature of a servant,
 being made in human likeness.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

  • What is God trying to teach me with this inconvenience?
  • Have I been too full of myself to notice others in need?
  • What is one thing I can intentionally do today to help someone?

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What’s in Your Cup?

2 July 2012

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We need to empty our cups in order for Him to fill them with His thoughts.

There is a story about a university professor who came to a Zen master to ask him about Zen. Nan-in, the Zen master, served him tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. “It is over-full. No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I teach you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

How many times do we fill our lives with things and leave no room for God’s thoughts to fill our hearts? I have been guilty of filling my cup with too many things for the past two weeks; having an 8 yr old girl placed in our foster home has been a challenge. It’s difficult to focus on the bigger picture when you are in the midst of daily struggles. It’s in those times, that we must step back and hear God’s voice. But first, we need to empty our cups in order for Him to fill them with His thoughts. Following is an exerciseI hope helps you empty your cup from the daily grind of life and allow you to hear God’s voice*. Here’s the worksheet: (The Empty TeaCup)

  • With a journal in hand, take a minimum of at least 30 minutes for some quiet time.
  • Imagine your life as a cup, overflowing with opinions, ideas, perceptions, and all the activities in your life. Write all the distractions you can think of in and around the cup below.
  • Present these distractions to the Lord. Pray that he will empty your cup and fill it with his view of life – of what’s important to Him. Write down any thoughts on your journal.

Rest in His Word: Psalms 16:5

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

  • Thank God for your cup (your life) today.
  • Make sure to be intentional about living out some of the thoughts God gave you today.
  • When the unhelpful thoughts creep up again, remind yourself of what’s important to God.

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*Inspired by Spiritual Formation: Following the Movements of the Spirit, Henri Nouwen

Story taken from: 101 Zen Stories, a 1919 compilation of Zen koans from the Meiji era (1868-1912) in Japan.

Expand My Territory: A Lesson from the Fish Tank

3 May 2012

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When we allow God to use our territory for the benefit of another, He will surely expand it and bless us even more.

A couple weeks ago, I was feeling a bit insecure… As I sat in the waiting room of the spa, I was admiring a huge fish tank full of colorful fish. One of the staff members came to feed the fish and dropped food inside. The balls dropped all the way down to the sand. Immediately the big fish swam toward the food. I noticed a small fish that kept coming out from the protection of the ferns. It would peek its head out. When it felt safe, it would come out and take a bite. Suddenly the big fish would arrive again and the little fish would go back to its shelter. This went on for a while. Finally, the little fish was no longer afraid to eat side by side with the big fish. I was mesmerized by the behaviors exhibited in these fish. Now, don’t start thinking that I was psychoanalyzing the fish. Rather, the fish were giving me therapy.

God began to talk to me. No, not in an audible voice, but rather my thoughts took me to my feelings of insecurity; fear of the future, apprehensions about my capabilities, anxiety that somehow it would not be enough. I felt like that tiny fish – afraid to come out of its little cave due to the uncertainty that if I let another fish in my tank, I would fail at keeping my territory. Then, the first lesson came… I learned that although it may seem that the big fish were eating all the food, even the little fish were satisfied. God reassured me that there is plenty for everyone. You see, as the big fish took bites, bits and pieces of the food dispersed throughout the fish tank. The amount of food the little fish received was just enough for its size.

Then the second lesson came. The Lord allowed me to see (literally) how he was expanding my territory, but in order for this to happen I had to take the risk like that little fish. As the little fish began to take small risks, it practiced feeling uncomfortable around the bigger fish. Eventually, it was courageous enough to stay and eat with the big fish. I thought, “Although others may have big titles or may seem above us, we are all the same. What matters is how we live out our life for Christ.” When we allow God to use our territory for the benefit of another, He will surely expand it and bless us even more.

Today, if you are feeling like a little fish, I hope these thoughts bring hope into your heart. God is in control. He will surely supply all your needs according to His riches and glory (Philippians 4:19).

Rest in His Word: 1 Chronicles 4:10

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

  • Write down the fears you may have and ask the Lord to replace them with His peace.
  • Are you feeling like a little fish today?
  • Why don’t you take small risks that will help you practice toward the bigger goal?

Let it Roll!

26 April 2011

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When trouble comes, remember what God has done because He will continue to be there for you. We change, but God does not change.

Trust is a difficult concept for many. After all, others fail us. Our expectations are not met. We don’t seem to believe we measure up to God’s standards. So, it’s easier to put up walls that appear to guard and protect us. In reality, these walls keep us from seeing things the way God sees, which is the truth. We can also become so consumed by the problem before us, that we miss out on God’s blessing in our lives.

Let’s begin by examining a word we often use, but take the meaning for granted – commit.

The word commit is defined: (1) to put in trust or charge; entrust, (2) to carry into action deliberately (purposeful), and (3) to pledge (state of being given) or engage oneself.

Now, the Hebrew word for commit is ‘Galal’ which literally means to “Roll” – as though getting rid of a burden. When we roll an object on a smooth surface, it will roll away and the only way it comes back is if it is retrieved – if we walk to it and pick it up.

We see the word commit used in Joshua 5:9, “Then the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.’ So the place has been called Gilgal to this day.” Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew word to roll (Galal). In Hebrew, lg gal signifies to roll; and the doubling of the root, lglg galgal or Gilgal, signifies rolling round and round, or rolling off or away.

Why do I bother with this information? During Joshua’s time, the Israelites left Egypt, all the males were circumcised, but after wandering in the wilderness for 40 yrs, the new generation, who would enter the Promised Land, had not been circumcised. This was a problem as they were about to celebrate the Passover, which required all males to be circumcised; for without this they could not be considered within the covenant, and could not keep the Passover (the seal of that covenant). From this time Gilgal became a place of considerable importance in the sacred history of the Israelites. Here is why:

  • They camped and rested the first night of their entering into the Promised Land.
  • Joshua circumcised all the people who had been born in the wilderness.
  • It was the place in which Joshua had his fortified camp, and to which he and his army constantly returned after each of their expeditions against the inhabitants of the land.
  • It appears to have been the place where all the women, children, cattle, and goods, etc., were lodged, probably during the whole of the Canaanite war.
  • They celebrated the first Passover they kept in the Promised Land.
  • There the manna ceased to fall.
  • There the ark was fixed till, after the conquest of the country, it was removed to Shiloh.

This place, Gilgal, was a very important and significant place. To me, it signifies a Turning Point in the lives of the new Israelite generation. Today, I want to invite you to “Roll” your life to God – trust him with your present and future. Let’s see how we can do that…

1. Commit Your Way – Psalm 37:5-6 (NASB)

“Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.” (my emphasis)

Commit Your Way: What does “your way” mean? The travel or course of our life – Our ACTIONS! It’s also our way of being or character – Our BEHAVIORS and INTENTIONS!

Trust in Him – How can we trust? We can begin to trust when we know God’s character. Get to know who He is, what He has done. It makes it easier to trust in someone you know and have a relationship with.

Take the Promise – He will do it. Do what? He will make sure that your righteousness will be known. He will bring the truth to light. No need to defend yourself – he is Judge!

Remember – When we are going through tough times, it helps to remember what God has done for us in the past and keep it in our heart and mind. When trouble comes, remember what God has done because He will continue to be there for you. We change, but God does not change. You are entrusting your life to a God who is all powerful, all knowing. He knows you more than anyone else, even yourself. He knows what is best for you. He tells you, “No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” Joshua 1:5 (NLT)

This psalm encourages us to “roll” our WAY – how we conduct our lives and the concerns we have for what happens in our lives upon the Lord.

2. Commit Your Works – Proverbs 16:3 (NASB)

“Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.” (my emphasis)

Commit Your Works – Here, the way or course of our lives is not the focus. Instead, it’s the deeds that we do. Works: activities in which we exert energy, performance, what we produce!

When we commit or “roll” our works to the Lord, we are acknowledging that our ways (intentions) are not the best, but that His are. So, it’s saying to God that He knows what’s best – that we leave the outcome of our labor to Him. When we do this, we are trusting that our efforts to produce in this life, whether others appreciate it or even notice at all, are pleasing to Him.

Please God – See, it’s not about what others think – it’s about what is pleasing to God. We can get so caught up in what others are going to say, that we end up not doing anything at all. When we please God, our plans will succeed! When we include God in our plans, we can be confident and have peace of mind that God is with us. See, God tells us “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11

This psalm encourages us to “roll” our WORKS – how we produce in our daily lives for God’s pleasure upon the Lord with assurance that we will succeed.

3. Commit Yourself Wholly – Psalm 22:8 (NASB)

“Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”  

Commit Yourself Entirely: Don’t give God only parts of you – Give God your all! Meaning all of your entire mind, body and spirit! Nobody else can help you commit or “roll” your entire life to God.

Realize You Need God – Without God, nothing has meaning. Our greatest example of a meaningful life and death is Jesus. Matthew 27:43 says, “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” These words were uttered at Jesus as he was being crucified. They knew that Jesus TRUSTED in God. It was evident in the way Jesus lived and by his actions as he was beaten and despised. Do you trust God with your entire life? Jesus committed all his ways, his works and his entire life to His Father! God was faithful to Jesus – He will do the same for you.

This psalm encourages us to “roll” ourselves WHOLLY – giving of ourselves entirely to God who delights in our trust in Him.

Rest in His Word: Psalm 25:4-5

“Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Savior. I trust you all day long.” (NCV)

Heart Checkup:

  • What are in my life can I begin to commit (roll) to God?
  • Have I trusted God with my ways, works and myself? If not, what steps can I take today to begin the process of trust?

Imperfectly Perfect

23 May 2010

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In this life, count on being disappointed because we live in an imperfect world, with imperfect people. Yes, count yourself in.

Striving for excellence and having high standards can help us achieve goals in life or they can become obstacles in the way of our happiness. The problem arises when we confuse striving for excellence to being perfectionists. I encountered this at the beginning of the year when my husband gave me a beautiful ring for our ten year anniversary.

We were in Barcelona, Spain, celebrating our anniversary, when my husband gives me the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. It was shiny and beautiful. After a while of admiring it (ok, scrutinizing it), I noticed two diamonds were different from the rest. Mmm, I thought. This is out of place. I wonder if he noticed or if this is part of the design. So, very casually I mention it to him. Of course… it was a flaw in the design.

The first thing we do when we arrive home is take it back to the jeweler. Well, this process was very long to say the least. Every time they said the ring was ready, we would have to leave it due to other problems. We sent the ring back a total of three times. It took about three months total to get the ring back – it was never fixed due to my perfect standards. I remember thinking to myself, why does it bother me so much that this ring is not fixed?

Then, I realized that I was putting too much attention to this ring because it signified a lot for me. I mean, 10 years of marriage is a great milestone. But after much thinking, it hit me! My marriage has not been perfect, so why should my ring be perfect? Wow… I was trying to have a perfect ring to make up for the imperfect marriage. So now, I call it my imperfectly perfect ring. And it is a constant reminder to not focus on the outward appearance, which will fade, but on the true intentions, significance, and inner beauty that this ring signifies for our marriage.

Yes, you read right – my marriage has flaws. It is a work in progress. You see, sometimes we want to change things or people to accommodate to our standards and expectations. In this life, count on being disappointed because we live in an imperfect world, with imperfect people. Yes, count yourself in. Do you put so much pressure on yourself to meet high standards, later on influencing the way you think about yourself or others? If you answered yes, you may be striving for perfectionism, which leads to unhappiness and feeling unfulfilled.

The good news is that in God’s eyes we are perfect. Because of our union with Christ, we are declared Not Guilty – this is an unchangeable truth for those who believe in Jesus (Colossians 2:8-10). As we trust in Him, we grow and mature spiritually – this is changeable as it depends on our daily walk – but we are growing toward perfection (Philippians 3:12). Finally, when we arrive to His eternal Kingdom, we will be made completely perfect (Philippians 3:20, 21).

Rest in His Word: Matthew 5:48

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Heart Checkup:

  • What does it mean for us to be perfect like God our Father?
  • Do you have very HIGH expectation of yourself or very LOW expectations?
  • From where or whom did you learn those expectations from?
  • What do you think God will say about the expectations you have set for yourself?

The Tree of Life

3 May 2010

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Failures and difficulties will manifest in life; it’s our attitude that will determine the outcome.

Life can feel dry, unproductive and meaningless when the unexpected happens – when life hits and you are not ready. You weren’t ready to hear your husband was unfaithful. You weren’t ready to hear your wife has cancer. You weren’t ready to hear your child is using drugs. You just weren’t ready…

We can feel so far away from God. We feel far away, but God is always near. What if we turn our thoughts to him, instead of focusing on ourselves? What would happen? This can be scary. Somehow we believe that by thinking and worrying we are in control. But are we? Are you?

It is not an easy task to search God in the midst of the unexpected. The key is in delighting in God’s Word… meditating in it… savoring every word… keeping it captive in our hearts and minds! Psalm 1:2-3 says this: “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

Failures and difficulties will manifest in life; it’s our attitude that will determine the outcome. God knows what is best for you. He knows His word will nourish and satisfy your thirst. If you feel dry, won’t you ask God to rain on your heart?

Today, I encourage you to write your pain, your dryness, and your meaningless thoughts. Write the date – and be ready to be amazed at what the Lord will do. There is power in words… release them and give those worries to the Lord! Revisit these thoughts in the future – this will remind you of what the Lord has done in your life.

Following are my thoughts during a painful time in my life. Today, I can say that it pays to keep our focus on the Lord. Truly we are trees planted by streams of water!

The Tree of Life

As the rising Sun caresses your skin

And your beautiful feet firm on the ground

The air dances with your hair

And my nose receives the sweet aroma of your greatness

I observe as the ant supports itself with your life

Going up and down your belly so patiently

Trusting that God will supply it constantly

I’m inspired by your strength and courage

By not moving day or night

And at the same time I’m jealous for not producing life

As you do so graciously

Rest in His Word: Psalm 92: 1-5

“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!”

Heart Checkup:

  • What thoughts are consuming my time and energy?
  • Why haven’t I given these worries to the Lord?
  • What worry thoughts can I give God today?