Under the Influence

Have you ever stopped to consider the people that influence your life? Or on the flip side, the people you influence? Every year I ask the Lord to give me a theme for the year, and I don't have my verse yet (but it's only the 28th) but the word INFLUENCE keeps permeating my thoughts. So, I began thinking about the people that have influenced me. I quickly divided the people into two groups: 1)people that I know and love dearly 2)people that either I have never met, or only know from a distance, yet they exert great influence on my thinking and behavior.

If I wrote about those of you that I know that have influenced me, you would quit reading because it would be so long and of course it would include many of you reading! So, I thought it would be fun to share mine, and see who your influences are that you haven't met! That means this blog is interactive so be thinking about your top influencers that you have NOT met! Here we go in no particular order:

1. Jars of Clay

If you know me well, this is no surprise, but over the last ten years, they have influenced me through music more than any other group. I have had the pleasure of meeting the guys from Jars a few times and I will tell you the day they followed me on Twitter, I did fangirl and screenshot it. But other than the few conversations I have had with the guys, and a batch of yummy vegan cookies from them, most of what I know about them comes from their concerts, their writings and the Twitter feed. This photo is really old (2006) and they have matured very gracefully, and most have much shorter hair, but I'm ten pounds lighter in this pic than the most current one, so I'm acting like it's ThrowBack Thursday even though it's Saturday.

One of my favorite Jars songs is Jealous Kind from almost ten years ago. The lyrics haunt me today still:
One hundred other lovers, more, one hundred other altars
If I should slow my pace and finally subject me to grace
And love that shames the wise, betrays the heart's deceit and lies
And breaks the back of foolish pride 

Who can write like that I ask you? Pierces me every time I hear it (ok sing it) when I think of the love Jesus has for me!

Another aspect of Jars I really respect is their desire and action to serve so many unfortunate and impoverished. If you are not familiar with BloodWater: Mission you should check it out! Great ways to give and serve the least of these.

2. Dave Ramsey

I fell in love with Dave during the first class I took from Financial Peace University! I have never met Dave personally, but I feel like I know him from the class, reading his blog, and following him on Twitter. His influence on my thinking about money and my resulting behavior, is nothing short of astronomical. Life-changing I tell you. I use Dave's principles (based on all Biblical principles) about money in my Economics classes daily. I try my best to teach my students all about wise money management and how to THINK and ACT differently about money, saving, spending, and blessing others. They may not remember monetary policy when they leave my class, but they won't forget Dave! A couple of my kids have even tweeted him and got him to retweet them! Yeah, they got some extra credit!

3. Beth Moore

I have lost count of how many of Beth's Bible studies I have done and/or led a group through. But they ALL influenced me in some way, and God used each one of them to teach me something unique. I have met Beth a couple of times in passing and in the pictures above she was signing a book to my firstborn, Kendall, after she taught a Bible study. This is a sweet book about a young daughter of the King of a land and of his unconditional love for his disobedient princess daughter. It's a beautiful picture of Christ and His love for us and gives great hope to all of us princesses! Beth's study "The Patriarchs" probably influenced me more than any other in two ways. One, it gave me a great appreciation and love for the Jewish people and their rich heritage. Second, God used it to confirm several promises in my life that changed my life forever.

I have never had a real sit down conversation with Beth, (though I did try to run into her at the airport in Houston, but I ran into a former student instead...stalker? I think not!) but if I did, I would probably have a hard time conveying to her how much influence she has had spiritually in my life even though we have spent no time together personally.

On another note - just as much as we are influenced, we also influence others. May we be very cognizant of that face and careful in how we influence. Wouldn't you love to make someone else's Top Three Positive Influences?

Ok - your turn! I told you this was going to be an interactive blog! Let's keep it positive - list only positive influences in your life! You can comment here on the blog, or on the Facebook page, or on Twitter, but I would love to hear back from your experiences!

Why Did They Cheat?

It's a disappointment every teacher experiences at some time: some of my students cheated on my test. It became very obvious as I graded the test that a handful of students made uncharacteristically high grades on this test that was a bit tougher than normal. Evidently, some student(s) helped themselves to the key of the test which was in a folder on my desk, used their phones to take pictures of the key and then they proceeded to text the answers out. With the help of my assistant principal, we resolved the issue and since the integrity of the test had been compromised, the test had to be given again.

As you ponder the situation, the question becomes, "why did they cheat?"

In all fairness, I think there are multiple answers to that question. A few students acted in desperation because they currently have low grades and they saw this as a last ditch effort to bring their grades up. Some cheated, not because they didn't know the material or have good grades, they didn't trust themselves when they had the chance to use the answers. For others, the temptation was just too great. And of course, it was much easier than actually studying and learning all the information.

Are you and I any different than my students? Why do we think we always need all of "the answers" to everything life throws at us?

Sometimes in the earthly realm, there are no answers for questions like, Why does my child suffer?, Why do I have cancer?, Why did my marriage fall apart?, Why can't I find a job?, or the ultimate question, Why didn't God heal _______________?

Sometimes there is just no answer key to these questions. And we have to learn to be ok with that.

On the other hand, there is ALWAYS one answer: JESUS. Ephesians 2:14 tells us that Jesus is our Peace. When you can't find an answer to a question, you can find Peace in the absence of answers.

Jesus - the answer to your financial problems. Jesus - the answer to your health problems. Jesus - the answer to your marital problems. Jesus - the answer to your children's problems. Jesus - the answer to your career problems and any other problem you encounter. He is the ONLY answer.

Jesus was not randomly sent to earth to turn water into wine or heal the blind. Jesus was answers to those problems, but He is so much bigger. He is Salvation, Grace, Refuge, Provision, Healer, Strength, and Power.

If you are not living a life where Jesus is all those things to you and more, you are cheating yourself out of the life that was intended for you to live. You are no different than my students searching for answers in the wrong places. Rather than learning, they took the easy way out - and ultimately failed. Every time you search for answers and relief in shopping, eating, drinking, coveting, gossiping, relationships, or anything else, you are CHEATING yourself out of the most intimate, sweetest relationship possible.

If you aren't currently searching for Jesus, He is not hard to find! The Shepherds watching their flocks by night were the first to search for Jesus. The Scriptures in Luke 2 say when they hurried off seeking Him, they found Him! When you seek Christ, He doesn't make Himself hard to be found.

Search, seek, and study the Word made flesh. If you find yourself questioning and pondering on this and not quite sure what to do with it - talk to someone you KNOW is a Bible-believing friend or comment here. Don't cheat yourself on what is the most important test in your life!

Thankfulness is a Verb

So it's the time of year we pause to focus on the people and things for which we are thankful. I have watched with interest as people have been listing on Facebook their "thankful" list. It is definitely a positive action to recognize our blessings and things we often take for granted such as health, friendships, or our jobs. But I got kinda curious as to what giving thanks ought to look like from a Biblical perspective. And what I found is that not only is Thankfulness is an action verb but we are instructed on HOW to give thanks. I hope the next few minutes gives you a different perspective on Thanksgiving.
Psalm 100 is very brief but it spells out five ways to give thanks:

1. Shout triumphantly to the Lord. Yes, shout means shout. That poses a problem for many conservative evangelists. Shouting doesn't seem reverent or worshipful. But it is public and your faith in Christ should be public. We give a shout out to our favorite teams or people...why not your Savior?

2. Serve the Lord with delight or cheerfulness. My "do" people like this one! Here serve means to expend considerable energy or intensity in a task. So...we are expressing thankfulness when we serve others to the point that it sometimes drains us. I was really thankful I don't have a two year old after I served in the two year old room last Sunday. They were precious and hysterical to watch in action and I glad to enable a weary mom to attend Bible study. But, I was also glad to return them to their rightful owners. I have also served in teaching Bible studies and speaking at women's events where I had nothing else left to give when I was done. I found myself thankful for what I watched the Lord do in those situations that I could never have done.

3. Know that the Lord is God. To know means to acquire information by experience. What is your experience with God? Who is God to you? I have experienced the Lord not only as Savior, but also as Redeemer, Defender, Provider, Husband, and the list goes on. This knowledge has been acquired over time through daily life experiences much like growing an earthly relationship. Verse 3 says that we are His. Did you know that? Do you acknowledge it? When we acknowledge the One that created us and sustains us we are expressing thanks.

4. Enter His gates with thanksgiving. Enter means to come back from a prior point. Have you drifted far away? Has your relationship with God waned? If so, simply enter back into relationship with Him using points 1-4. He hasn't moved anywhere. Give a confession of thankfulness that He never left you.

5. Give thanks and praise His name.  Sometime this week, instead of telling the social media world, sit quietly with the Lord and tell HIM your thankful list. I love when my children thank me for something - it tells me they acknowledge my sacrifice to provide it. How much more would it please our heavenly Father to hear our thankful list? Praise His name specifically. One day all will bow and acknowledge only His name - go ahead and start practicing!

But what if you are struggling to find your thankful list? For many the holidays are reminders of hurts, loved ones no longer with us, and struggles that threaten to drown us. You have to KNOW (#3) that your God is good no matter what. If you are searching for that, I challenge you to start slowly with #1 and work your way down the list. That word SHOUT in step 1 also means the beginning of a battle cry. Fight your battle knowing that God is for you and not against you. He wants to be all you need in this season. He's tough enough to take your hurts, doubts, and fears. Turn your focus off those feelings and onto Him instead.

As for me...my thankful list is pretty long, but know that I am thankful for You!

Blessed or Blessed OUT?

It seems recently everywhere I turn, the opportunity arises that I have to make a choice on how to respond to someone. This is a lesson the Lord taught me the hard way a while back, which means He's going to hold me accountable for this one. I KNOW what the correct response is when someone speaks harshly or unkindly to me, or treats me opposite of the golden rule directly or indirectly.

I also know what my flesh cries out to do: retaliate with words of my own or defend myself or my actions! But as my Pastor reminded me this morning: I can be filled with the Spirit or I can be filled with my stinky flesh - well, he didn't say stinky flesh - but that's exactly what it is when I need to be right or I need to get the last word.

But that is the direct opposite of what Jesus expects of me....in Luke 6 Jesus said to "love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and to pray for those who mistreat us." Then in Romans 12, Paul reminds us to "bless those who persecute us and bless and do not curse."

If you have ever been the direct recipient of someone cursing you, it is excruciating, frustrating, and certainly a source of anger. I know the normal human reaction to such treatment is BLESS someone OUT instead of just blessing them. Don't you know that is where that phrase of "blessing someone out" had to originate?

But instead, Jesus commands me to love and bless. Sigh. To be honest with you, when I first started practicing this I had to say, "Ok Lord, as an act of my will and because You commanded me, NOT because I WANT to, I bless "___________." And you know what? After a dozen or so times of this exercise, it got a little easier...kinda like when I exercised my physical muscles, they got stronger. Well, my blessing muscles got a little stronger too. As my blessing muscles got stronger, it got easier and easier. Not only did it get easier, but I started seeing a change in the mean person. That could ONLY be a God response to bending my will to His.

I'm not to the point where it is total instinct to respond this way to a mean person, but this exercise does quickly comes to mind. I have also been able to share it with my children when they run across mean people in their paths. Blessing instead of blessing out? Who would have ever thought the power that existed in just a simple blessing over someone?

So, if you find yourself in a situation with a co-worker, neighbor, friend, or family member where you just feel persecuted and treated unfairly, love them and bless them instead of what would be a normal response, and watch God do something amazing in your blessing muscle and in their reaction back to you!

I Messed Up...Again

I knew what I was supposed to do, but I got busy! I knew on Monday of last week that I was feeling the gentle pressure of the Lord to speak a word of encouragement to a "sister-friend" at school. I knew she had been through a tough, ongoing physical ordeal, and that I needed to just remind her that she has had in the past, and continues to have, an incredible impact on the lives of many of "our kids." (They become "your kids" when you spend 90 minutes a day with them for 18 weeks!)

But I got to work on Tuesday and immediately started putting out fires that could have waited...fires that I could have put out after I went and encouraged my friend. But I didn't. I was disobedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit. And there were consequences to my disobedience.

When I finally did make it by her classroom TWO DAYS LATER, she was emotionally distraught. She was in a negative situation that wasn't getting better. And I couldn't speak the words that I knew I was supposed to at that point. There wasn't room for the words she so desperately needed at that moment. And I KNEW I had messed up...and it hurt my heart. It hurt my heart to see my friend hurting - physically and emotionally. It also hurt my heart that I had disobeyed God when I KNEW what He told me to do.

I didn't intentionally disobey. I just got distracted. And distraction cost me the opportunity to bless someone I dearly care about, and it cost her emotionally. Yes, I did get to speak to her eventually and she was still blessed, but I missed it in the moment that she needed it most. Actually, the Lord was sending me to her BEFORE she got to such a desperate point, where I possibly could have prevented her meltdown. I know the Lord forgives me and He can clean up my mess, but I didn't give the Lord or my friend my best...just the leftovers.

I don't want the Lord to have to clean up my messes. Instead, I want to hear "Well done good and faithful servant." So, I'm sharing this with you so you won't make the same mess I did. If the Lord impresses on your heart to speak to someone, be gracious and give to someone in need, or to stop to help someone, don't delay! Do it immediately! Deuteronomy 28 reminds us that blessings will overtake us when we are obedient and likewise, curses are the result of disobedience.

Hmm...being blessed or being cursed? You don't have to think too long on that one do you? I would prefer to being overtaken by a blessing any day of the week. So...in an effort to make it up to my school friend - and to any of you that I have also missed blessing- please let me speak one over you now:

"The Lord bless you and protect you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace." Numbers 6: 24-26

Blessings over you my friend!

Show You Love

Why is it that we so desire to love and to be loved? Is the desire for love really innate? Or are we taught it by Disney and Nicholas Sparks? Is there any possibility that there is a pure, true Love? Why do we believe that human relationships can fill the void we seek? Even if you go all the way back to Adam and Eve, and Adam's love was all Eve knew (it wasn't like that were a lot of men from which to choose!), Eve still went looking for something else.

Jeremiah 31:3-4 answers some of those of those questions if we dig into the real meanings.
"....I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness. Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, and go forth to the dances of the merrymakers." NASB

After spending time studying this I am convinced that just as there is no other God than Jehovah, there is no other Love like this one! To put this in context the Israelites had been taken in exile and Jeremiah remained with the remnant to minister to the broken and devastated few.

I don't know what your life has looked like the past, but I do know if you live long enough you will experience some sort of exile in your own life: whether it's spiritual, physical, financial, or emotional, we all endure some type of hardship that allows God to prove His love to us in that circumstance, if we only have the eyes to recognize the love! God's love could arrive in so many forms - a friend, financial assistance, peace in the midst of turmoil, even just a rainbow at the right moment.

Jeremiah describes God's love as everlasting - meaning perpetual. The only other thing perpetual like that in my life is laundry! At some point we might actually reach the bottom of the laundry basket, but we cannot possibly reach the end of God's love because it doesn't exist.

The Lord goes on in verse 3 to tell us that He has "drawn us with loving-kindness" This translates as be guided or directed with a focus on active involvement. It also can mean the dragging of an object along. Do you realize that there have been times in your life that you didn't even realize that God's active love was guiding you, protecting you, and nudging you gently along? And then, there are times when we are fully aware that God is dragging us into something or away from something. That doesn't always feel like unending love.

As I reflect back though on my childhood, my parents often prodded me along and then they also dragged me along or away from things that were not in my best interest, though I didn't understand at the time. God's love is much like that loving parent maneuvering us where He wants or doesn't want us to be. That is almost unfathomable in our human minds. Many have said they loved - and stopped - or never really did to begin with, or loved selfishly. But God doesn't. His love is a pure and unadulterated love. Who doesn't want or need to experience that type of love?

But, He doesn't stop there! God's love is so great that He doesn't only flood us with love, but He promises to rebuild what has been torn down in our exile. In verse 4, the word build translates as to form something new using previous materials. Dear One, God takes your mess that perhaps you or another created, and He tears it down and rebuilds your life the way He wanted it to look at along - in a way that reflects Him!

As a celebration to Him and His work, He tells us that we are to go forth with our tambourines and dancing! The idea of going forth means that we are to go with purpose! Our days shouldn't be wasted with nothingness, but they should be an intentional reflection of the power of God to save, heal, restore, and clean up the messes in our lives.

The dance is something else however...yes it means to dance (I'm picturing the Cha Cha Slide) but that word also translates as writhing in birthing pains. What in the world? Birthing a baby HURTS! And the pain continues until the mother is healed....hmmm....so perhaps we have to experience some type of pain in our lives in order for the rebuilding process to take place? Oh that we could learn of God's love just in the happy times, but my experience tells me that I learned far more of God's love in the pain...and more of His faithfulness in the healing and rebuilding.

So wherever this post finds you - hurting, healing, hoping....remember God's love is bigger, stronger, and wilder than anything else you can experience.

"I'm going to show you love in every language, I'm going to speak with words that need no form. I'm going to give you what you never had before." Jars of Clay - Show You Love