When You’re Free, Live Free

(This is a follow-up from https://100fold.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/handicapped-with-god/).
When you are free, live free

Life is full of opportunity. And, life requires a little trying on your part.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
— Romans 12:2

What does it mean to “prove” what is good and acceptable and perfect? The word “prove” is “dokimazō“, which means “to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals” or “to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy”.

How would that look in your life? To me, I had an example of this, where God came through in an unexpected, but sensible way.

I used to be in a band and I put some energy and thought into bringing the band back together to produce an album of our “hits”. 🙂 I tried very hard, had some buy-in into the idea. But eventually nothing came of it. I was sad, but thought to myself (not sure I told anyone) This is the end of my music career. just “Point of fact”-ly.

But God had different plans.

My plan didn’t work, but what I learned is that what I’d done was really proving God’s will for myself. Was this God’s will? Maybe. Maybe not. How will you know? By proving God’s will. Testing it. Trying it. Scrutinizing it. Sounds like Romans 12:2, doesn’t it?

At the end of my trial, God did give me a gig singing, which I do now happily. Just because what I tried didn’t work, God saw my heart behind it and was able to find His Will in my attempt. I tried and was able to prove the G.A.P.

Good. Acceptable. Perfect. Will of GOD. Go for it!

Handicapped with God

Maybe you’re one of those who are still waiting for God to tell you what to do. Maybe you’re one of those who are waiting for God to tell you where to go today, who to talk to – maybe even what to eat. Had you ever considered – is that a handicapped?

I once heard someone say that – beside putting on socks and getting dressed – they checked in with God on every decision in their life. Whether this was literal or not, it made me think: Is this really how God envisioned our lives to look?

I’m drawn to Genesis, the beginning of… us. God’s call to us – during our perfection – wasn’t one of “play it safe” or “keep close to me at all costs”. (Have we bought into the lie?)

And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field;
— Genesis 2:8, 15, 19, 20

This isn’t the picture of a “lifeless” reliance on God, but rather it’s the picture of permission to … go and live. Adam wasn’t created just so God could then run his life. Instead, Adam was created to enjoy life with God. A full sharing (versus, full control or ruling over):

Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
— 1 John 1:3b

Do you see the difference?
There are times in our lives where the best thing we can do is be lost without God and then respond by desparately clinging to Him. My own past includes me in that statement.

BUT when you are “created” just like Adam, living new and being transformed, what should your life look like?

Stop Living Like You’re Missing Out

You know, I think of myself as a good guy. And maybe even a good Christian. And yet I have to ask myself What are you doing? What are you about?

Unfortunately, I don’t always know the answer to that question. I could say I’m all about my family and all about my God and all about my work, etc. – fill in the blank. And, probably, a portion of what I’m saying would be true. I am all about those things and more, but is there anything left? Is there anything I’ve held back?

Stop living like you’re missing out.

My reaction: Ew, what was that? God was right. And I was agreeing with him. Part of me was. Part of me desperately longed for Him to be right and therefor for the housecleaning that God would encourage for me to have follow.

This is huge to me. And something I didn’t really know how to put words to. I’d felt these sorts of feelings. Had these sorts of thoughts. But I couldn’t put into words the feeling or emotion or posture of my heart. But God could – and now I am able to ackowledge and process through this stumbling block in my life.

What does it mean to living a life “like you’re missing out”? I looks like non-commitment. A little bit like entitlement. It lacks trust. It wonders and dreams about things it shouldn’t wonder or dream about. It’s hardly thankful or only partially thankful. It lives two lives, or mostly one life and preparing for a second life. It’s not “here”, but “there” – where the grass is greener, the sky bluer and the weather nicer. It chases a life and worldview that doesn’t exist.

Ew.

That’s a lot of not very nice stuff. And all of that was/is in me (I’m at the early stages of processing this all, starting the journey last night on the way home from work). I’m not finished yet. And am so thankful and blessed to be able to say that.

What does it look like to stop living this way? It looks like maturity. Like becoming serious about life and the state of your life. It’s about not having the wool pulled over your eyes. It’s about knowing what’s really important. It’s about being thankful. It’s about seeing life as a gift and a blessing – something to enjoy, not “survive through”. It’s about seeing value in everything: life, time, people, work, travel, snow, wind, etc.

It’s really about being free. No more trying to balance between the “have” and the “have not” in our lives – it’s about freely enjoying the life – all of it, every dark corner, every tough challenge, all of it – with joy and vigor. Hm, “joy” – maybe that’s what this is.

It’s a journey, but I’m so blessed to have God helping me with this. Praise, God.

Fail Like It’s a New Year

And I’m not talking about New Year’s Resolutions and being oh so dramatic.

I recently saw a funny post about having resolutions you could actually keep. And most of them were fairly lame, everyday encounters with life that most of us would keep anyway. But the “joke” was in that having a low bar made it so much easier a pill to swallow because of the low expectations.

What if we could dream (ah-ha) and still live free of failure (ah-ha)? What if we didn’t have to be governed by the “checks” on our “checklist” but rather had a giant safety net for when we didn’t quite make it – would that change how we made goals and planned for the future? What would 2014 look like?

Are you ready to fail and not care if you fail?

Okay… so before we get all dreamy-eyed and blue-skied… let me first say that I’ve dropped the ball on some fantastic goals. Last year, a church I attend had a great planning and life goal setting event. Which was awesome. And, at the event, I had some great realizations and goals. Great things to get accomplished for myself, for me as a parent, me as a minister of God (which we all – Christians – are, by the way), me as a husband, etc. This was all great – here’s some key info I learned at the day-long event:

1. Think about Areas of Your Life you want to Improve
2. Write out a vision of what you want the Areas of Your Life to look like in 15 years (more time out, than less)
3. Break down how that vision can become a reality through small steps, small investments
4. Put things on your calendar that make you (force you) to go through with your executing your plan
5. Realize your dreams!

Okay, so that’s all good and dandy. But for me, I never got to the calendar. I wanted to, I really did. I wanted to see all the change I’d been “visioning” for me and those around me. But I never made it to the calendar.

And what followed, do you think?

You probably guessed it, feeling bad. Feeling bad all year… I missed January, then February and March, etc. It wasn’t a huge “you really stink!” sort of a bad feeling, but more of a disappointment with myself. Some of that emotion/discomfort can be good. But being buried by it isn’t.

No one wants to be fear motivated, even if it looks like it works. Is that really the Gospel? Change or die? (That’s a joke, by the way.)

I think God’s way is different. Christ’s way is simpler:

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30

Sounds too good to be true? Maybe that’s just what we need this year.

Maybe that’s what my 2014 needs a little more of.

I Don’t Want to Die

And I don’t think anyone really does. Yet, that’s part of Christian living – to die.

Coincidence Beyond Belief

Do you believe in God? Do you believe in coincidence? Have you ever experienced a coincidence that you attributed to God? Does God work in that way?

Parents! You’re Going to Mess Your Kids Up

What is the goal of parenting? I’m a parent of two wonderful children. I’m so grateful for all that I’ve been blessed with as them as my children. And I just hope I when I mess up – that I don’t mess their lives up too badly.

Living with an Eternity View

I’m starting to come around. There’s more to life than what I can see and taste and touch and hear and feel. There’s more to life – and that more is God. And the Life I now live.

And then what?

Wisdom of the World

You know when God puts something on your plate that doesn’t make sense to do? You remember that feeling, right? I still am trying to get a handle on it – how do you react when the Creator of the Universe puts something – illogical – in front of you?

What Are You Hiding Behind?

I was running the other day as part of training for an upcoming manly event. I also like to spend time during my run talking with God and telling Him about things in my life, etc. problems, areas of concern or joy, etc.

It was during this last run, though, that God asked a very direct question – what are you hiding from?