Day 3: Release The Burden

Your beliefs and your audience determine a lot of what you do.  

I’ve become a passionate student of digital photography.  When I was able to purchase a full-frame camera and a subscription to Photoshop and Lightroom my life changed forever.  Many of my spare moments are spent taking and editing pictures.  But what if there wasn’t a place to share these photos. If I couldn’t post them and see how many likes or comments they receive.  Would I still spend as much time creating these pictures?

As a musician I’ve learned a lot by observing the changes in myself and those around me over the last 20-30 years.  When you are young and have a dream you are willing to make great sacrifices to achieve it. You take lessons, attend workshops, work into the wee hours in a recording studio.  You travel and stay in less than ideal circumstances because you have a dream…one day if I work hard enough and smart enough I’ll become a great musician. I’ll be able to buy my mom that car she always wanted or perhaps get the dream house for my family.

But then you turn 50.  You may have become well known but you aren’t rich.  Now what? Do I keep paying for the lessons? Do I keep making the phone calls to attempt to get the bookings?  Do I keep writing songs and making recordings or was that only if I could become rich and famous?

Part of healing is learning what is important.  Perhaps the best thing you can do today is pause, disconnect and figure out what really serves you well.  You may discover you have been putting a lot of energy into things that don’t create a better place for you or the ones you love.

Jesus was angry with the religious leaders of his day who made religion into a yoke that made life burdensome for others.  Yet, they were quick to make sure they altered there beliefs when it came to their own benefit. In Matthew 23 he rebukes them saying:

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer.

“Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’

“Don’t let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don’t set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do.

Matt. 23:1-9 The Message Bible

Today I release the burden.  I look upward and inward. I choose to create what satisfies my Father, blesses others, but resonates with me. And I let go of chasing the burdens others have sought to weigh me down with.  I am healing so I can fly again.

Day 2: Healing Takes Time

There is a time for everything,

 and a season for every activity under the heavens:

 a time to be born and a time to die,

 a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 a time to kill and a time to heal

Eccl. 3:1-3

Losing weight and healing take time.  But a common problem we seem to encounter daily is a lack of time.  We are overwhelmed with responsibilities. But to heal we need rest.  So we have to prioritize healing.

When we make a list of things to do we have to rank their importance so we make sure the most important things get done.  Having a healthy body should be high on the list. One popular idea about fitness is the idea of the 4 minute workout. One reason it’s such a popular idea is how unbelievable it is.  Just seeing such an outrageous claim makes you click the link to read about it. And unfortunately, the surface story that there was a study by Dr. Izumi Tabata that shows that an exercise program of 4 minutes a day of HIIT(High-intensity Interval Training) gave greater results than a more traditional steady-state approach would lead you to think that there is an easy way out.  

What you don’t hear about is the fact that in addition to 4 days per week of 4 minute extremely high-intensity workouts, the group also did a 10 minute daily steady-state warm up and one day of 30 minute steady-state work out as well.  So the combination of both was more effective than just steady-state.  

Fitness takes time.  And healing takes time.

Today I promise myself and God to schedule a time for rest, healing, and fitness today.

I’ve devoted the next 100 days to focusing on and sharing insights about healing.  I hope you will enjoy the read. If you find something helpful please use it and share it with your friends as well.  And if you have a relevant insight please share it in the comments. Thank you. Enjoy the journey!

Day 1: When Less Is More

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 RSV

Have you ever wondered how many friends is enough?  When we were introduced to social media as a way to cultivate business we were encouraged by the pundits to gain as many followers as possible.  How many is enough? I listened and started building away on several platforms.

I have over 5000 friends/followers over several platforms.  While I recognize the value of having potential clients to buy books or CDs or attend a concert or workshop I would settle for having a few close relationships that I can be real in.  Intimacy is uber important!

The longer I live the more I treasure quietness.  I’m grateful for moments where I’ve performed for 30,000 or 70,000 people.  I long for more moments where I’m a caring and listening ear for someone who values my attention and where I can be the same.  And if I had to do it all over again I would spend more time having those moments and be happy with ¼ of the followers or fans.  I’m grateful for them but I want to give my best in the most meaningful way to those who God has allowed me to cross paths with.

Because we are constantly being marketed to we feel this urge to have more things to be happy.  It doesn’t work that way. Shawn Achor wrote a book (The Happiness Advantage) that explains well how happiness isn’t the result of getting a certain amount of stuff or achieving a certain amount of success.  We must choose our happiness and we can have it now and enjoy it along our journey.  Things don’t give us happiness.  Happiness is a choice we make.  Stop believing that “more” will bring you happiness.

The bible encourages us in many places to be content and not live a life consumed with the pursuit of money.  When we unplug from the advertisements and messages around us we can start to believe that God has given us what we need to enjoy life.  And one of the most important lessons we can learn is that life is best when we choose daily to depend upon Him and trust Him. After all he said he would never leave us or forsake us.

So today I choose to be happy as I am, where I am with what I have.  I am blessed. Thank you, Father.

The Good News

What is your ideal world? What would your dream household look like? What would it be like if you worked in your ideal work environment?

Better yet, what is your ideal you?

My ideal me is the balance of justice and mercy. My ideal me knows the right thing to do in every difficult situation. My ideal me is loving but firm. My ideal me loves to have fun but is serious and gets down to business when it’s time to get work done. But my ideal me treats others with respect.

Imagine someone told you that you could be your ideal you and live in your ideal world. Wouldn’t that be exciting? Wouldn’t that be “Good News?”

The problem comes with the details. Some suggest that heaven is that ideal world where you will also be your ideal. So if the plan of salvation through believing in Jesus Christ provides us with a ticket to heaven and our new self, that seems initially like good news….but good news for the future. What about right now?

The word in the bible εὐαγγέλιον that is translated gospel means “good news.” The concept that men have sinned (Rm.3:23) and deserve death (Rm. 6:23) but that God came to die on the cross in order that men could have forgiveness of sins (Jn 3:16) and be adopted as sons and live eternally with him is usually what is meant today when christians refer to the gospel. The good news that God has provided a way for you to live in His ideal kingdom and become your ideal you has value for today as well as tomorrow.

When we accept God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ he gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit. His Spirit teaches us what we need to know. His Spirit convicts us of what is right and what is wrong. And His Spirit gives us the power to change.

This truth is expressed in Ephesians 1:3-14.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b]predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Many today tire of the church’s talking about the power of the gospel because they keep bumping into those who use the gospel as a way to put down others, and who don’t allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to change them. It’s not good news if it’s not good news.

I recently lost someone who reminded me most times we spoke about the good news of God’s love for me. He told me that God was a father looking to take care of His children; Longing to spend time with them, eager to encourage them, offering to help even in the most embarrassing or seemingly hopeless situations. He told me that God wasn’t concerned with how good I thought my offerings of art or service for Him are. Like a dad receiving an abstract piece of art from his preschool daughter that others might consider ugly, He absolutely loves us offering up to Him what we have and who we are. It’s His job to embrace us, empower us, embolden us, and improve us.

So, as my friend Kishore often told me, God has a vision of the you that you haven’t seen yet or dreamed yet. Spend some time getting to know Him better and ask Him to show you some of His dreams for you. The fact that He longs for those moments is truly good news!

GOT IDOLS?

Have you ever wondered how God’s people could worship idols?  I mean you come from being miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt, marching through the middle of the parted red sea, being lead by a pillar of clouds, receiving miraculous heaven sent food called Manna, and seeing enemies defeated by miracles that you can’t take credit for.  But now you would instead choose to worship a piece of wood or stone that has been shaped into the image of an animal or human being?

After the death of King Solomon God’s people were divided into the Northern Kingdom-Israel, and the Southern Kingdom-Judah.  In order to prevent people in Israel from going down to Jerusalem to the temple to worship, Northern Kingdom King Jeroboam set up two golden calves, one in Dan and one in Bethel.  The king was interested in keeping power over his subjects. But he choose to erect a type of idol that had lead to severe punishment to his ancestors. Why do that?

From my study I’ve concluded the following:

Idol worship was popular because it released one from the obligation to be under the authority of God or the priests.  If you weren’t happy with restraining from impulses to do things that you had been taught were wrong then why not worship the idol that wouldn’t condemn your actions? Often an idol that you yourself created.

Idol worship was popular because it was sensual.  As the rites surrounding idols were fashioned it allowed sexuality on earth to be linked to rain production in the heavens and therefore prosperity through abundant crops here on earth.  

Idol worship was popular because no longer did you worship a deity who was righteous and required devotion and sacrifice.  Instead you had a god who was like you and didn’t get in the way of you doing what you want to do with most of your day.

Today our idols are both carved images and deified celebrities.  Our “Holy Days (Holidays)” aren’t celebrations for our Heavenly Father but rather parties for ourselves. Our energy, our pleasure, and our time are absorbed on those who can not give us the key to eternal life.

Are you worshipping any idols?

Thanks for reading.  Please continue to pray for this ministry and a big thank you to those who have contributed!

 

Can you imagine what it is like to grow up in our world today? If our children weren’t distracted by an exponentially greater amount of entertainment choices then we had imagine how scared they would be.

School Shootings

As a teacher in a public middle school I am always mindful of the fact that what was decades before inconceivable is already in the collective consciousness of our children.  When they are angry or frustrated they may consider options of response that weren’t even on the table just a few years ago.  The result is that no one feels at ease in an environment that used to be considered sacred.

Church Shootings

In May 2018 Aaron Earls wrote concerning the recent increase in school and church violence:

The Washington Post lists 220 school shootings—59 of which involved at least one fatality—since the Columbine attack on April 20, 1999.

During the same time period, there have been 18 fatal church shootings. The deadliest was the 2017 shooting at First Baptist Sutherland Springs in Texas, with 26 deaths including an unborn child.

And then there was this:

The Pittsburgh synagogue shooting was a mass shooting that occurred at Tree of Life – Or L’Simcha Congregation^[a] in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 27, 2018, while Shabbat morning services were being held. Eleven people were killed and seven were injured. (Wikipedia)

Our children realize that violence is coming to places that once were considered safe.  This creates a huge burden.  They have become burden walkers.  They may not talk about it with you but they think about it in the quiet moments.  But there is so much more to their concerns.

If we talked about the increase of natural disasters, harmful effects of greed on our food supply, a powerful few making decisions that hurt the seemingly powerless many, and so many other issues we could easily write a book about this burden that our children face. Maybe we have dealt with our anxiety by immersing ourselves in social media or music. Maybe we are taking it out on a punching bag in the gym, or maybe we overeat and gaze endlessly into our television screens.  We need to find help for them and for ourselves if we would make it through these trying times.

Therefore we MUST equip them with the faith that has kept our forefathers.  I listen daily to my mother’s stories-really testimonies, of how our Heavenly Father has taken care of her.  I am encouraged by her faith and the stories of how the Holy Spirit gives her ideas that solve her problems.  And then I marvel at the strength she has to face incredible difficulties.  When she works seemingly tirelessly to take care of my ailing stepfather I am amazed.  She says her strength all comes from her relationship with her Father in heaven.  I want what she has…and I want my children to have it too.

In the 12th Chapter of Revelation we learn that the there was war in heaven and that the devil was defeated and cast out.  He now is here on earth and angry because he knows that he has a short time.  So he takes it out on us.  He wants to hurt us so he attacks our children.  He attacks our families.  He moves his servants to create toxic environments that will destroy God’s beautiful image in us.

But there are a few who stand tall despite his attacks.  Verse 11 of Chapter 12 says “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”  Those who overcome the devil and his angels are those who accept the salvation and power that is theirs by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Not only that, but they share their stories much like my mother does with those they interact with about the powerful God they serve and the mighty love he shows that takes care of their every need.  And they aren’t afraid to die for their faith in Him.

Burden Bearers

So why don’t we lift the burdens of our children?  Jesus said:

^{28 “}Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am^[a]gentle and lowly in heart,and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

When we give our lives to Him he agrees to take our burden.  He carries our load.  Then our responsibility is to look to Him and follow his lead.  He in turn promises to give us rest.

Acts 1:8 tells us:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Jesus promised the gift of his Holy Spirit to his followers of all generations.  This is the source of power and the wisdom that we need.  God’s Holy Spirit will help us.

So let us give our burdens to Jesus and trust Him.  Let us teach our children to do the same.  And then let us take up His yoke and follow Him!