I’ve been studying Knowing God by Name by Mary Kassian this fall. As I write this, I have not finished it, yet it has already far exceeded my hopes and expectations for knowing God more intimately. While I am enjoying all the topics of this study, there is one concept that keeps running though my mind. While God indeed knows us by name, He also wants us to know Him by name, and I find that concept captivating.
Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3:13-15(NIV) –
Ex 3:13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Ex 3:15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
In these verses we learn that God has a name that He wants us to know. This Hebrew word sounds like “I AM” and is translated that way in verse 14. However, in verse 15 we see the more usual reference to God’s name as LORD (the word lord in all capital letters). This came about due to the fact that the Israelites considered this name too holy to even say aloud, so whenever it was encountered in scripture, the word for Lord was substituted. This carried forward into our English translations with the difference between the two underlying Hebrew words marked by the capital letters. While the Israelite had the correct Hebrew word in front of them to remind them of God’s Holy Name, I have sometimes lost sight of this by seeing only the word LORD.
So, a couple of things occur to me, that help me widen my thinking. First, when I see the word LORD in all caps, I need to remember, this is the Name of God, not just a generic reference to a lord. It’s kind of like the difference between saying “the Queen of England” versus “Queen Elizabeth of England”. There is a personal reference there. I should remember that the author was making sure we knew exactly which God he was referencing. This is not someone else’s god, but the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is being referenced by name.
Second, I am fascinated by the notion that God bothers to give us His Name. The sharing of names, takes us from strangers and the impersonal, to the overtures of relationship and personal knowledge. When you meet someone, one of the first things we do is share our names. It helps us to make a connection. Strong’s notes that God’s Hebrew name is often used in conjunction with covenant and personal relationship. I’ve often been told “LORD” is a reference to the God of Covenant. That makes sense, since when we enter a covenant or contract relationship, we give our name or signature as part of the pledge to honor the commitment. God has shared His Name with me to invite me into a relationship with Him, to know Him intimately as He already knows me. The tenderness of this gesture simply overwhelms me when I stop to think about it.
So, next time I read LORD in my Bible, I want to think of more than just Lord, I want to remember it is God, being called by name, so I will know who He is.
Choose Joy!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Feeling Relief
It’s been about a month since God rescued us from the semi (see previous post) and since then, I have often found the event in my thoughts. It took a few days to get beyond the sheer shock of the event and I’ve been amazed by the myriad of directions my mind has taken.
One of the first things I noticed was how much easier it was to believe God and have faith in Him. I have lost track of how many times I have thought, “If God can save us from a semi, this is a piece of cake!” Our human nature wants proof that someone is trustworthy. God was so mighty in His demonstration of His protection, I can easily find my faith to trust Him to handle the next thing I’m facing. I have delighted in the opportunities to testify of his faithfulness in this event, maybe even too enthusiastically, but He is so amazing, it’s just hard to resist!
One of the other things I noticed was the sense of relief I’ve felt. This one has caused me to stop and question what I’m feeling. I’m finding that relief exists on many levels. First, I’ll be real honest. I am a pain weenie. So, I am relieved beyond words that God spared me the pain of an automobile accident that day. I know He would have been with me during all the pain, but I’m extremely relieved and grateful that I was spared. Then I think about Ken and Alex, and my gratitude that they were spared pain goes even further.
Next, I realized I was realized in thinking about Alex and Ken, it would have been very difficult if only part of us had survived an accident. God made us for eternal relationship with Him, and our human relationships share that DNA. We don’t like separation and endings. We want permanence in our relationships. Whoever was left here was going to have to deal with the separation from those that went home. That’s even more pain, this time the emotional kind. So again, my relief and gratitude soar.
Finally, we didn’t die. I felt relief, but soon realized that meant I didn’t go home. I feel this wisp of longing go through my soul when I think about that. Was it wrong for me to feel relief about still being alive? As a mere human, I cling to the known and am apprehensive about the unknown. God placed into us the desire to live and an instinct for self-preservation. So, I think it is normal to feel this way. I know I don’t want to feel like someone I knew years ago, that so badly wanted to go home to heaven, that being here on earth was almost depressing. They were hard to be around sometimes. I don’t think that’s what God wants for us, to live here, miserable and waiting to go home. We are here for a purpose, which gives me my big reason that I think it is ok to be relieved to still be alive. God still has things for me to do. I have a purpose to fulfill for the kingdom. God loves me enough to allow me to participate in His plans. I don’t just have to sit by and watch Him do His thing. He values me enough to allow me to jump in and get messy doing the work of the kingdom, a very good reason to be alive indeed.
So, occasionally, I’ll feel that wisp of longing, wondering what it might be like to be home with Jesus, but then I’ll return to the business of living. Right now I have some assignments to work on, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, writer of this blog, and shortly after our rescue, I found out I get to teach again this fall. God is good, all the time. Period. Amen.
One of the first things I noticed was how much easier it was to believe God and have faith in Him. I have lost track of how many times I have thought, “If God can save us from a semi, this is a piece of cake!” Our human nature wants proof that someone is trustworthy. God was so mighty in His demonstration of His protection, I can easily find my faith to trust Him to handle the next thing I’m facing. I have delighted in the opportunities to testify of his faithfulness in this event, maybe even too enthusiastically, but He is so amazing, it’s just hard to resist!
One of the other things I noticed was the sense of relief I’ve felt. This one has caused me to stop and question what I’m feeling. I’m finding that relief exists on many levels. First, I’ll be real honest. I am a pain weenie. So, I am relieved beyond words that God spared me the pain of an automobile accident that day. I know He would have been with me during all the pain, but I’m extremely relieved and grateful that I was spared. Then I think about Ken and Alex, and my gratitude that they were spared pain goes even further.
Next, I realized I was realized in thinking about Alex and Ken, it would have been very difficult if only part of us had survived an accident. God made us for eternal relationship with Him, and our human relationships share that DNA. We don’t like separation and endings. We want permanence in our relationships. Whoever was left here was going to have to deal with the separation from those that went home. That’s even more pain, this time the emotional kind. So again, my relief and gratitude soar.
Finally, we didn’t die. I felt relief, but soon realized that meant I didn’t go home. I feel this wisp of longing go through my soul when I think about that. Was it wrong for me to feel relief about still being alive? As a mere human, I cling to the known and am apprehensive about the unknown. God placed into us the desire to live and an instinct for self-preservation. So, I think it is normal to feel this way. I know I don’t want to feel like someone I knew years ago, that so badly wanted to go home to heaven, that being here on earth was almost depressing. They were hard to be around sometimes. I don’t think that’s what God wants for us, to live here, miserable and waiting to go home. We are here for a purpose, which gives me my big reason that I think it is ok to be relieved to still be alive. God still has things for me to do. I have a purpose to fulfill for the kingdom. God loves me enough to allow me to participate in His plans. I don’t just have to sit by and watch Him do His thing. He values me enough to allow me to jump in and get messy doing the work of the kingdom, a very good reason to be alive indeed.
So, occasionally, I’ll feel that wisp of longing, wondering what it might be like to be home with Jesus, but then I’ll return to the business of living. Right now I have some assignments to work on, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, writer of this blog, and shortly after our rescue, I found out I get to teach again this fall. God is good, all the time. Period. Amen.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Not Today
This blog’s purpose is to declare God’s praises, and today I have some serious praises to declare.
Ken, Alex and I left around lunch time on Saturday for a vacation to Atlanta around a visit to the Georgia Tech campus. It was overcast all day and we drove in and out of light rain all afternoon. We were right at exit 154 on I-85 south in Georgia, less than an hour from Atlanta, in a light rain, when as we cleared a hill, we saw cars coming to a stop quickly and Ken managed to get our car to a stop safely at the end of the line.
A quick look in my side mirror saw a passenger truck coming up much too fast and I worried they wouldn’t be able to stop in time. They were not, but the driver had the presence of mind to move to our right into the emergency lane and avoid hitting anybody as they came to a stop about a car length beyond us. We all had a good scare.
Sigh of relief, until I look back again and this time see a semi coming at us way too fast. I’m not sure what to expect when all of a sudden Ken begins to pull the car to the left and forward as quickly and as far as he can as he blurts out, “We’re going to get hit.” What I hadn’t seen at this point was that the semi trailer was fishtailing in the rain and was jack knifing and was coming straight at us.
All I can think is “this is it” and am bracing for impact and I call out “Oh Lord’ and before I can say “help us” the semi blows by us on the right in the emergency lane, very very close to us. The trailer is following getting closer and closer, and I mean mere inches at this point. I’m sure we’re at least going to get our side clipped pretty badly. Amazingly, we are not hit at all. The semi continued barreling by the van in front of us that was probably not expecting anything and hit only their right side mirror, before coming to a stop several car lengths further down the road. I think the first thing I said was, an astonished “we didn’t get hit”, moving into shock with “we could have died”, immediately followed by “God saved us today”. He gave my husband the presence of mind to get the car as far left as possible, those 2-3 feet were the difference we needed, and he gave the semi driver the skill to get his truck straight before reaching us, even though he had to let up on the break to do so, and he was wise enough to try to avoid us to the right. Personally I think God had to lend a hand straightening that truck up that quickly, it just doesn’t normally happen that way.
It turns out just about 30-40 cars in front of us an accident had happened with several cars and semis involved, probably much like we were able to avoid. We had to sit for quite a while with traffic completely stopped while emergency personnel continued to pour in. We finally went up the exit ramp to take a detour, since they had shut down 85 at that point. On our lovely Georgia country back road detour, we passed a church with a sign that said “Jesus Saves” out front. I had to laugh in my still state of shock and say, “Yes He does! Today He saved us!” I truly thought it was my time to meet Jesus face to face. Only God’s decree “Not Today” could have saved us.
God is so good. That morning while we were leaving our neighborhood I did my usual prayer for our safety on our trip. This morning for some reason I did it aloud for Ken and Alex to hear, praying for our safety and specifically that we not have an accident. Ken added his agreement to our prayer. God heard, God answered. He could have called us home, but “Not Today”.
Glory to God Most High. He alone is worthy of all praise and adoration. He holds my life in His hands, and cherishes me as His prized possession. His love for me is unfailing. He is good, He is wise. He is the one true God. I love you Lord, more than I can say, and while I long to see you face to face, it looks like I still have some thing to do for you. Make me usable and a delight to you. Thank you for your protection over me and my family. You are good all the time, all the time You are good. You are God, and I am yours.
Ken, Alex and I left around lunch time on Saturday for a vacation to Atlanta around a visit to the Georgia Tech campus. It was overcast all day and we drove in and out of light rain all afternoon. We were right at exit 154 on I-85 south in Georgia, less than an hour from Atlanta, in a light rain, when as we cleared a hill, we saw cars coming to a stop quickly and Ken managed to get our car to a stop safely at the end of the line.
A quick look in my side mirror saw a passenger truck coming up much too fast and I worried they wouldn’t be able to stop in time. They were not, but the driver had the presence of mind to move to our right into the emergency lane and avoid hitting anybody as they came to a stop about a car length beyond us. We all had a good scare.
Sigh of relief, until I look back again and this time see a semi coming at us way too fast. I’m not sure what to expect when all of a sudden Ken begins to pull the car to the left and forward as quickly and as far as he can as he blurts out, “We’re going to get hit.” What I hadn’t seen at this point was that the semi trailer was fishtailing in the rain and was jack knifing and was coming straight at us.
All I can think is “this is it” and am bracing for impact and I call out “Oh Lord’ and before I can say “help us” the semi blows by us on the right in the emergency lane, very very close to us. The trailer is following getting closer and closer, and I mean mere inches at this point. I’m sure we’re at least going to get our side clipped pretty badly. Amazingly, we are not hit at all. The semi continued barreling by the van in front of us that was probably not expecting anything and hit only their right side mirror, before coming to a stop several car lengths further down the road. I think the first thing I said was, an astonished “we didn’t get hit”, moving into shock with “we could have died”, immediately followed by “God saved us today”. He gave my husband the presence of mind to get the car as far left as possible, those 2-3 feet were the difference we needed, and he gave the semi driver the skill to get his truck straight before reaching us, even though he had to let up on the break to do so, and he was wise enough to try to avoid us to the right. Personally I think God had to lend a hand straightening that truck up that quickly, it just doesn’t normally happen that way.
It turns out just about 30-40 cars in front of us an accident had happened with several cars and semis involved, probably much like we were able to avoid. We had to sit for quite a while with traffic completely stopped while emergency personnel continued to pour in. We finally went up the exit ramp to take a detour, since they had shut down 85 at that point. On our lovely Georgia country back road detour, we passed a church with a sign that said “Jesus Saves” out front. I had to laugh in my still state of shock and say, “Yes He does! Today He saved us!” I truly thought it was my time to meet Jesus face to face. Only God’s decree “Not Today” could have saved us.
God is so good. That morning while we were leaving our neighborhood I did my usual prayer for our safety on our trip. This morning for some reason I did it aloud for Ken and Alex to hear, praying for our safety and specifically that we not have an accident. Ken added his agreement to our prayer. God heard, God answered. He could have called us home, but “Not Today”.
Glory to God Most High. He alone is worthy of all praise and adoration. He holds my life in His hands, and cherishes me as His prized possession. His love for me is unfailing. He is good, He is wise. He is the one true God. I love you Lord, more than I can say, and while I long to see you face to face, it looks like I still have some thing to do for you. Make me usable and a delight to you. Thank you for your protection over me and my family. You are good all the time, all the time You are good. You are God, and I am yours.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Listening and Obeying
I’ve been studying and meditating in Ephesians lately, and today felt lead to read chapter 2 in another translation than my default NIV. So I opened my copy of the Message and its wording of verse two just seemed to jump out at me.
Ephesians 2:2 (The Message)
“You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.”
This sounds just a bit too much like how I’ve often lived my life. How many times have I listened to advice from a bad source, wallowed in my unbelief in God’s ability or desire to work in my life and acted in disobedience? How many times have I just gone with the flow because it is what everyone does?
I like to think that these days I try to look for more Godly and wise sources of advice and pause to question my unbelief. Honesty says that consistency in acting this way is not where should be, so this seems a call for me to stop and look hard for things where I’m letting the world guide me, and remind myself to believe God, not just in Him, but believe what He says when He says He has the plan for my life and has it under control.
Control seems to be a buzz word for me recently. Lately, it seems I’ve been so busy that all I do is talk at (maybe not even to) God, but seldom take the time to stop and listen to Him and really have a conversation with Him. Why do I always fall away from what works and go back to worldly ways I know don’t work? By finally taking some time to slow down and listen today, He’s even reminding me that’s exactly what He wants me to do. I want to follow His advice and plan, then I need to do a better job at listening to Him. In Him, I always find sustenance and peace, the things I need most when it gets busy.
I suspect this verse might hit a nerve with many of us, but maybe it’s a different nerve for you. Is there anything you need to take a closer look at today?
Choose Joy!
Ephesians 2:2 (The Message)
“You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.”
This sounds just a bit too much like how I’ve often lived my life. How many times have I listened to advice from a bad source, wallowed in my unbelief in God’s ability or desire to work in my life and acted in disobedience? How many times have I just gone with the flow because it is what everyone does?
I like to think that these days I try to look for more Godly and wise sources of advice and pause to question my unbelief. Honesty says that consistency in acting this way is not where should be, so this seems a call for me to stop and look hard for things where I’m letting the world guide me, and remind myself to believe God, not just in Him, but believe what He says when He says He has the plan for my life and has it under control.
Control seems to be a buzz word for me recently. Lately, it seems I’ve been so busy that all I do is talk at (maybe not even to) God, but seldom take the time to stop and listen to Him and really have a conversation with Him. Why do I always fall away from what works and go back to worldly ways I know don’t work? By finally taking some time to slow down and listen today, He’s even reminding me that’s exactly what He wants me to do. I want to follow His advice and plan, then I need to do a better job at listening to Him. In Him, I always find sustenance and peace, the things I need most when it gets busy.
I suspect this verse might hit a nerve with many of us, but maybe it’s a different nerve for you. Is there anything you need to take a closer look at today?
Choose Joy!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thanksgiving and Praise
It often takes me a while to really get my head around a subject, so I often find that God will have me spend a long season of time on one particular topic, teaching me to understand it and incorporate it into my life. The topic of praise is one of those seasons. Recently, God reminded me of this time with a fresh perspective of a verse, giving me a “picture” I could use to visualize of the concept.
When I started hearing about praise again and again (a sure sign I have something to learn), my first thoughts on the subject were that I do a pretty good job of it. I try to acknowledge what God is doing in my life and thank Him for the things He has done for me. So, sure enough, almost the very next thing I read was about not confusing praise with thanksgiving, exactly what I was doing.
It seems I’m not alone in the confusion. When prompted to praise God, I often hear others immediately jump right into thanking Him for what He has done. So, I am in good company. I can understand how we get confused. In a quick search, I found 15 verses that use praise and thanks or thanksgiving in the same verse. Sometimes it seems what is being praised in one is being thanked for in another.
So what is the difference? Thanksgiving is gratitude and acknowledgement for what God has done. Praise is simply acknowledging who God is. Put another way, even if God never did another thing for me, I would still have reason to offer praise, because by His very nature, He is worthy and due all praise. I too often had used the terms praise and thanksgiving interchangeably, like running them together as one big word. I needed to break them apart.
Recently, during worship at an event, the worship leader referenced Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
This is one of those 15 verses I found. But that day, with the worship leader pausing between the first line and the second, I saw a new picture. The fact that God has made it possible for us to even enter His gates and draw near to Him in fellowship is a reason for great thanksgiving. The fact that He did this for us and the way He did this through the death of His Son Jesus, should move us to profound gratitude. Then, once we have entered in, and come into His courts, drawing closer to Him, His presence should simply overwhelm us and become the center of our focus. When we do that, we cannot help but offer praise and worship, because of the magnitude of his majesty and glory. We don’t have to look at what He has done, who He is, is enough.
To improve your praise, you have to practice praise. So, I’ll share with you an exercise that was put before me in something I read, I wish I could remember where so I could give them credit. Just to let you know, I didn’t do very well at first. For five minutes, go to God in praise and only praise. You cannot use the words thanks, thanksgiving, gratitude, or anything else that is showing thankfulness. Need more ideas or examples, check out the Psalms. The writers were experts at both. As you look at them, see if you can spot the difference between the two. And finally, just enjoy being in the presence of God. He is tickled pink you want to be with Him.
This wasn’t the end of my praise learning. One question Satan threw at me very early on to try to trip me up was “What’s the point of all this praise?” But that’s another post.
Choose Joy!
When I started hearing about praise again and again (a sure sign I have something to learn), my first thoughts on the subject were that I do a pretty good job of it. I try to acknowledge what God is doing in my life and thank Him for the things He has done for me. So, sure enough, almost the very next thing I read was about not confusing praise with thanksgiving, exactly what I was doing.
It seems I’m not alone in the confusion. When prompted to praise God, I often hear others immediately jump right into thanking Him for what He has done. So, I am in good company. I can understand how we get confused. In a quick search, I found 15 verses that use praise and thanks or thanksgiving in the same verse. Sometimes it seems what is being praised in one is being thanked for in another.
So what is the difference? Thanksgiving is gratitude and acknowledgement for what God has done. Praise is simply acknowledging who God is. Put another way, even if God never did another thing for me, I would still have reason to offer praise, because by His very nature, He is worthy and due all praise. I too often had used the terms praise and thanksgiving interchangeably, like running them together as one big word. I needed to break them apart.
Recently, during worship at an event, the worship leader referenced Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
This is one of those 15 verses I found. But that day, with the worship leader pausing between the first line and the second, I saw a new picture. The fact that God has made it possible for us to even enter His gates and draw near to Him in fellowship is a reason for great thanksgiving. The fact that He did this for us and the way He did this through the death of His Son Jesus, should move us to profound gratitude. Then, once we have entered in, and come into His courts, drawing closer to Him, His presence should simply overwhelm us and become the center of our focus. When we do that, we cannot help but offer praise and worship, because of the magnitude of his majesty and glory. We don’t have to look at what He has done, who He is, is enough.
To improve your praise, you have to practice praise. So, I’ll share with you an exercise that was put before me in something I read, I wish I could remember where so I could give them credit. Just to let you know, I didn’t do very well at first. For five minutes, go to God in praise and only praise. You cannot use the words thanks, thanksgiving, gratitude, or anything else that is showing thankfulness. Need more ideas or examples, check out the Psalms. The writers were experts at both. As you look at them, see if you can spot the difference between the two. And finally, just enjoy being in the presence of God. He is tickled pink you want to be with Him.
This wasn’t the end of my praise learning. One question Satan threw at me very early on to try to trip me up was “What’s the point of all this praise?” But that’s another post.
Choose Joy!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Insecurity and Pride
I went a Beth Moore Simulcast this past weekend on insecurity. The topic is one that no one really wants admit to, but most of us deal with. My biggest take away from the event seemed to really shed some light on how some of my insecurities have been spring out these days. For me, insecurity does not produce humility. While this may not seem obvious on the surface, looking at it from a different way helped me. Insecurity does not protect you from pride. If it did, then, if humility is the opposite of pride, then insecurity would protect you from pride by keeping you humble. Insecurity doesn’t do that. It keeps you frustrated, frozen, fearful or in some other way ineffective. Humility isn’t supposed to make you ineffective. Beth pointed out that insecurity is really twisted up pride. Insecurity is still all about me and how I’m feeling. That is pride in a nutshell, making everything me centered.
I’m just going to put it all out there. So how does that apply to me? Lately my insecurities have looked like a “beware of pride” attack, especially as relating to this writing I’m supposed to be committed to. It is one thing to lead a group in Bible Study using someone else’s materials, or to write the occasional blog entry, but I really feel the calling to dig into a subject deeper, and write a little more in depth, maybe even ending up with a study when I’m done. There’s where my insecurities jump in. What makes me think I can, should, or even have the right to do that? I’m too sinful, tarnished, uneducated, or otherwise unqualified to think I’m capable of doing that. Fact is, some people may even think that about me. But should I let that matter to me, or even worse stop me? The real truth is that I am all of those things, but I still feel God has led me to do this. Maybe all I’m supposed to get out of this is a message for me. I would love to have something to share at the end, but what I have to keep reminding myself of is that God gets to make that decision. I do the work, He builds the result.
Thanks for reading my rant. Sometimes the best way to fight something is head on, shining a bright light of truth on it. So, here’s where I need to focus. I am loved, I am forgiven, if God has called me, He will equip me. The success of the results is His to judge. My standards are not the measuring stick. So, if you want to give me a little accountability, next time you see me, ask me how it is going in Ephesians.
Choose Joy!
I’m just going to put it all out there. So how does that apply to me? Lately my insecurities have looked like a “beware of pride” attack, especially as relating to this writing I’m supposed to be committed to. It is one thing to lead a group in Bible Study using someone else’s materials, or to write the occasional blog entry, but I really feel the calling to dig into a subject deeper, and write a little more in depth, maybe even ending up with a study when I’m done. There’s where my insecurities jump in. What makes me think I can, should, or even have the right to do that? I’m too sinful, tarnished, uneducated, or otherwise unqualified to think I’m capable of doing that. Fact is, some people may even think that about me. But should I let that matter to me, or even worse stop me? The real truth is that I am all of those things, but I still feel God has led me to do this. Maybe all I’m supposed to get out of this is a message for me. I would love to have something to share at the end, but what I have to keep reminding myself of is that God gets to make that decision. I do the work, He builds the result.
Thanks for reading my rant. Sometimes the best way to fight something is head on, shining a bright light of truth on it. So, here’s where I need to focus. I am loved, I am forgiven, if God has called me, He will equip me. The success of the results is His to judge. My standards are not the measuring stick. So, if you want to give me a little accountability, next time you see me, ask me how it is going in Ephesians.
Choose Joy!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Snubbing Happiness
The other day I saw a commercial that expressed a sentiment I’ve heard many many times, from the parent’s perspective talking about their children – “I just want them to be happy”. As I sat and listened to this, I just had to conclude I didn’t agree with the thought. If you want to get some strange looks, try saying “I’m not about making my kid happy.” So what is wrong with me that I don’t want my child “just to be happy”? Am I anti-happiness, snubbing my nose at it? Actually, I don’t think I’m that cruel, although I often think of myself as the “mean mom”. I do not want my child to be unhappy in his life, but I don’t want him to live his life based on happiness. What do I mean by this?
I don’t want “being happy” to be the major deciding principle in my child’s life. Decisions should not be made primarily on the basis of how happy something will make me. Life has troubles, trials and suffering as part of it. To lead a life based on happiness implies something is bad when these trials come, when in fact we are facing what everyone faces. If we never face difficulty, we loose the opportunity to develop the skills, maturity and character needed to navigate these very situations and become compassionate people. Another problem with making decisions based on a happiness factor is that we begin to expect happiness, think we are owed happiness, begin to feel entitled to happiness, and expect others to be responsible for making us happy, all things that are a sure recipe for self-centeredness, disappointment, and disaster. When we make choices based on happiness, we risk not making the best choice simply because it might be too much work, too inconvenient, or isn’t enough about us.
So what do I want for my child? I want him to experience the love, joy, and peace that come from having a life based on a personal relationship with Jesus. I want him to love and be loved. I want him be wise and to know the secret of being content in all circumstances. I want him to have a sense of purpose and the satisfaction of fulfilling that purpose. I want him to have a sense of compassion, and the maturity and strength of character to face adversity without crumbling under it. I also want him to have many moments of happiness in the midst of all this, not as the objective, but as an overflow.
To be honest, it is so much easier to be the dispenser of happiness. It makes me popular, there is little resistance or aggravation. Right now, I am raw with the burn of being the bearer of discipline for poor decision making. In this moment, knowing I’m building my child’s character is scant salve for the pain. I cling to the promise of joy in fruit yet to be born as wisdom in my child. It is not terribly satisfying at this particular moment. I confess that there have been times when I have failed and given into the happiness dispenser. The problem I’ve discovered with that path, is that the sick feeling I develop in my stomach is worse than what I originally avoided, the feeling of failing my child.
I cannot protect my child from the world, so I must prepare him as the day draws ever closer when he will leave and have to face it on his own. I want him to succeed. I do hope he finds much happiness along the way, and the confidence to face things when happiness is not to be found.
I don’t want “being happy” to be the major deciding principle in my child’s life. Decisions should not be made primarily on the basis of how happy something will make me. Life has troubles, trials and suffering as part of it. To lead a life based on happiness implies something is bad when these trials come, when in fact we are facing what everyone faces. If we never face difficulty, we loose the opportunity to develop the skills, maturity and character needed to navigate these very situations and become compassionate people. Another problem with making decisions based on a happiness factor is that we begin to expect happiness, think we are owed happiness, begin to feel entitled to happiness, and expect others to be responsible for making us happy, all things that are a sure recipe for self-centeredness, disappointment, and disaster. When we make choices based on happiness, we risk not making the best choice simply because it might be too much work, too inconvenient, or isn’t enough about us.
So what do I want for my child? I want him to experience the love, joy, and peace that come from having a life based on a personal relationship with Jesus. I want him to love and be loved. I want him be wise and to know the secret of being content in all circumstances. I want him to have a sense of purpose and the satisfaction of fulfilling that purpose. I want him to have a sense of compassion, and the maturity and strength of character to face adversity without crumbling under it. I also want him to have many moments of happiness in the midst of all this, not as the objective, but as an overflow.
To be honest, it is so much easier to be the dispenser of happiness. It makes me popular, there is little resistance or aggravation. Right now, I am raw with the burn of being the bearer of discipline for poor decision making. In this moment, knowing I’m building my child’s character is scant salve for the pain. I cling to the promise of joy in fruit yet to be born as wisdom in my child. It is not terribly satisfying at this particular moment. I confess that there have been times when I have failed and given into the happiness dispenser. The problem I’ve discovered with that path, is that the sick feeling I develop in my stomach is worse than what I originally avoided, the feeling of failing my child.
I cannot protect my child from the world, so I must prepare him as the day draws ever closer when he will leave and have to face it on his own. I want him to succeed. I do hope he finds much happiness along the way, and the confidence to face things when happiness is not to be found.
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