How Well Am I Doing As A Servant?

Self Assessment Time 

I’ve been thinking lately with the Ignite Conference coming up, “Pam, how well does your ledger look as a genuine servant of Jesus your Master?”  

Here’s the 'Top 10' assessments I've asked myself.  Beside each I've secretly marked either “Poor – Average – or Excellent.” 

I daily tear down that inner monument of “I, Me, Myself, and Mine.”

I greet Christ each morning with this question, “How can I serve You today?”

I exercise the art of being a forgiver AND a forgetter.

I pursue peace when I could otherwise pursue division.

I "check in for duty" each morning in a time of listening to my Master.

I rely on God’s power rather than my cleverness and natural talent.

I see the other person as more important than myself.

I understand in serving there’s a cost involved.

I embrace difficulties as divine opportunities.

I invest in my eternal bank account in order to one day hear, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.”

I never did like taking tests, but they always seemed to serve their purposes in pointing out areas where improvements and celebrations were both welcomed and appropriate.

  

My Polka-Dotted and Striped New Year's Friend

It’s amazing!  I get to talk to the King of the Universe.  When I write in my journal, a wonderful new chapter continues in my relationship with Christ. God speaks so that I can hear His secrets hidden in my heart.  It’s a strange type of communication, yet wonderfully felt.

In writing, God restores, gives direction, or soothes any unsettled places as I voice my innermost thoughts through pen.  An intimacy forms in these quiet word times.

In it, praise can be expressed or personal hurt or concern can be exposed where healing occurs.  Yes, amen! Amen.  God is strong enough to withstand the outburst of whatever I write!  Journaling indeed keeps my spiritual pipes cleaned out so the “flow can go.”  Then ultimately, divine worship rises to the top.  After all, that’s what I was created to do.

Take a look.  Here’s my wild 2012 journal cover. I wonder what words will be shared in these pages over the next 365 days. (if the Lord wills)

It’s January lst, time for me to write my first entry. 

So here I go. I’m headed to the lake for some alone time to kick off my relationship with my polka-dotted and striped new friend.  

THE WATER BOTTLE

This true story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa.

One night, I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator. (We had no electricity to run an incubator.) We also had no special feeding facilities.

     Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool the baby would be wrapped in. Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst. Rubber perishes easily in tropical climates. "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed.

As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts.” Your job is to keep the baby warm." The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle. The baby could so easily die if it got chilled. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

     During the prayer time, one ten year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God," she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon." While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added by way of a corollary, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?" As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen?"

     I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything. The Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from the homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if any-one did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator!

Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door. By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the verandah, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children. Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly.

     Excitement was mounting. Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas-that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle, I cried.

     I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of, the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly, too!" Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

     Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you, Mummy, and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

     That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child-five months before-in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

                                  "Before they call, I will answer!" Isaiah 5:24
                                                    -----------------------------

Friends, it's true. God's a giver!  He delights in giving "MORE" than we could hope or imagine.  So how can we maximize that truth for 2012?  Here.  Enjoy this:  "What's Your MORE For 2012?"

My Christmas Names for Jesus

Hey, friends.  For years I have kept a list of the names in the Bible placed upon the personage and character of the Messiah.  My list is well over 200 now! I love it.  Especially this time of year as we celebrate the indescribable dimensions of CHRIST, what a cool Christmas present to Jesus for His followers to thank Him for the gift of His presence to this earth and for who He is!

And who is that?

He’s the:

A = Anointed One

B = Babe wrapped in Swaddling clothes

C = Conquering King

D = Diadem of Beauty

E = Exact Representation of God

F = Friend of sinners

G = Guardian of my soul

H = Healer

I = Intercessor

J = Judge of the living and the dead

K = King of Kings

L = Lord strong and mighty

M = Messiah

N = Nazarene

O = Only Begotten Son

P = Prince of Peace

Q = Qualifier

R = Redeemer

S = Savior of the World

T = True Light

U = Upholder of all things

V = Victorious Warrior

W = Way

X = “X”cellent

Y = Yahweh

Z = Zealous

Merry Christmas, friend. What a joy to celebrate Jesus! Hooray! Christmas.  It’s Here.  Don’t Miss It! 

Customs, Traditions, and THE TRUTH

And Don't Forget the Mistletoe! 

Traditions are your links to the past. They are gifts from your ancestors that give you ideals to live by. No other traditions are more cherished than those celebrated at Christmas. Many families create their own. They’re fun, and they create a sense of belonging and security. In my family it’s a tradition that we read the Christmas story before we open packages.

Then there’s LEGENDS and old CUSTOMS.  These are non-historical in nature that are handed down from earlier times. They usually point to a noble outcome or a happy feeling of some sort; symbols such as the Christmas stocking, Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, Christmas cards, and Poinsettias.   


I had fun looking up these various signs that we associate with this season, and I found it interesting that most all of them point to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  This month on the Arise Facebook page, we’ll be sharing where these various icons and symbols originated.  And, by the way, don’t forget the mistletoe!


And then there’s THE TRUTH of Christmas – Jesus Christ coming into the world to redeem mankind into a relationship with God the Father.  This is the center and nucleus of the holiday. It’s birthed out of the very heart of THE ALMIGHTY and transcribed into God’s inspired love letter, the Bible.  Jesus is not a tradition.  He’s not a custom to practice.  He’s not a legend.  He’s the one and only Son of God, and indeed, the lover of my very soul!


So enjoy the festive elements that make Christmas such a spectacular time of year, and I hope you do enjoy the Arise Facebook morning posts in December.  It’s fun to see how every symbol of Christmas points to the supreme reason for the season: Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.

Are You Without Your Kids on Thanksgiving Day?

I have no memories of being with Jason and Sara on Thanksgiving when they were growing up.  They were with their dad.  Thanksgiving was NOT one of my favorite times of the year.  In fact, for a couple of years when November rolled around, I found myself sneezing and feeling achy, only to discover that I was allergic to Thanksgiving Day.  Until... that is until....I discovered something totally WONDERFUL!

Friend, there’s no getting around it.  It hurts that your kids are not with you on a holiday.  However, face the facts. You can’t change, fix, or reverse it.  So what can you do to make the day count?  You might have to ask God the same question I did, “Ok, Lord, my happy little image of Thanksgiving is shot; so what’s yours?”

 I’m sure God didn’t like it either that I was without my kids, but HE wanted to give me something FAR GREATER than the temporal 24 hour blessing of a memory with my children eating turkey and dressing.  HE wanted to bless me with an uninterrupted day with Him alone, where my 'sole and soul' purpose was to rest intentionally, on purpose, in the center of HIS will not mine.  So what was His will for me that day?

It’s simple (but kinda hard, too) - God commands: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In everything give Me thanks: for this is My will for you in Christ Jesus. 

“Everything???”  I thought.  “Even a childless Thanksgiving Day?”  So I took God up on the offer to pursue giving thanks ALL day.  I started a few personal traditions that I still do to this day.   It’s magnificent.  It’s stupendous.  It’s paid eternal dividends that far exceed lunch memories. It’s shaped my character.  It’s shaped my walk with Christ.  And ultimately, it’s shaped my own children’s faith now that they are married adults.  So listen up.  Here's my advice. 

(But first of all, let me mention, some of you reading this have lost your children to death. I’m totally speechless.  I’ve never lost a child, and such thoughts certainly put a new perspective on being without your kids for only “a day.”  Please know I have you in my heart.  May the Lord extend His comfort to you over the holidays and give you the grace to read articles like this one for goodness sake. I love you and certainly felt a little quickening to address you while I was writing this.)

Yet now, for the rest of you who will be away from your children for only day, here’s a few suggestions (and yes, please do keep things in perspective).

l. Never complain to your children or make them feel bad that they are with their dad and not you. Tell them to have a wonderful time as they leave.  Give them a little toy turkey to take with them and tell them to remember when they hold it to thank God for their family. (Even though you’re hurting, doesn't mean they have to.)

2. Get outside yourself that day.  Volunteer at a homeless shelter or somewhere like that. Ask God to make you a blessing to someone else.  One year I visited nursing homes and just went from room to room and said kind words. (In the name of Jesus I was enabled to do kind acts outside the realm of my own sadness.)

3.  Buy a journal and go to the park.  Be still.  Listen.  Look at the Fall leaves.  Record all the things you are thankful for.  You’ll be surprised how the Lord will bless you when you create a catalog of your unthanked blessings. 

4.  Make your children an “I Love You” banner for their rooms.  When they return they might be sad to have to transition into another household again.  Make their rooms a safe and warm place where they want to return to it.  Then share with them all the "cool" things you did on Thanksgiving and how God accompanied you in your day. Inquire about their Thanksgiving, but put a shield over your heart before you ask.  WARNING: IT WILL HURT... so get out your broom so you can quickly brush it right off your heart. 

5.  Spend time with family or friends.  And if you’re totally alone, give yourself a “Me” day.  One year I spent the whole day in the movie theater… alone – Yum yum.. I ate lots of buttered popcorn.

6. Whatever you do, play a game with yourself in your heart.  The game is…"Today, Lord, this is OUR day. I am going to verbalize one by one the specific ways you’ve been good to me and say thank you out loud."  You’ll be amazed at the unexpected goodness that will boomerang your way later.

7. Be filled with Joy!  Choose JOY.  Read my blog below!  You get to pick.  Choose JOY or choose DEFEAT.  And why would you choose defeat?

8. Ultimately, your children are absorbing the attitudes and lifestyle you model.  It almost happens by osmosis!  Make sure what’s coming out of you is Christ honoring.  It will serve you and them well in later years. I PROMISE PROMISE PROMISE!!

God bless you as you seize this Thanksgiving and make it uniquely special.  It’s hard, but God will enable you to do what He’s called you to do.  And in the end you will be able to say like I can now almost 25 years later that NOT having Jason and Sara Thanksgiving Day over the years is the “worse/best” thing that could have ever happened to me.

Love you tons and tons!

Choose Joy Ahead of Time

I was driving down the road today and accidentally  cut in front of another car.  He was in my blind spot.  I knew when I swerved back over for the car to pass by that he was going to "let me have it!"  And "let me have it" he did!  Thankfully, I had already choosen joy before he rushed up and lamblasted me with a very unfriendly holiday greeting. 


This time of year brings out the worst in people. Emotions run high and most people are living by what they feel not who who they know.

It sounds so trite to say “Choose Joy” in any situation, but you can.  It's a deliberate decision, an attitude, and it comes from asking the Spirit to fill you with whatever you need for that moment:  joy, patience, etc.  I instantly asked for self control because I knew I'd need it when he passed.   We have these attributes already in the well of our souls.  They've been willed to us by Jesus.  We just need to be quick to our feet and pull them up in a crisis.  


So here's the mindset of practicing JOY.    

 J = Joy  

 O = Zero

 Y = You 

Yes, nothing – ZERO – nothing – can separate you from the letting Jesus have His way in you when you're about to lose your cool.   So choose JOY.  That's my goal for the day.