The Meandering Mind of a Christian Woman

Have you ever tried to rush God?   It is sort of like passing the slow driver only to have him pull up beside you at the next stop light.   When I am trying to rush my life, I can hear the still small voice saying, “My grace is sufficient for you.”   In addition, I am usually so distracted in my rushing that I simply say, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.”   Do I really know?   It is a constant battle for me, obviously, I can’t just sit back and wait for some things to just fall into my lap, and I must proceed with doing something, right?   What if the thing I am rushing toward, is not in God’s plan for me?   (It is not always crystal clear.)   By the time I recognize this fact I have quite often gotten myself tangled in some mess and muddied the waters of my life.   Then I sit down, feel sorry for myself and ask God why? Life really ought to be lived purposefully, thoughtfully.   In order to do that I really shouldn’t rush into anything...

            So, it hasn’t been the best year of my life, quite honestly, I’m ready to welcome 2013 with open arms.   When life isn’t going my way I’m inclined to cut myself slack, it begins with little things like “I deserve this candy bar.”   It progresses to “I really need to sleep in today; I’ll go to church next week.”   It can even continue to cheapening my prayers to a simple, “You know what I need God.” I keep telling myself I still have faith, I still believe Jesus is my savior. However, each of these moments of cutting myself slack is like running up the balance on a credit card, the individual purchases seem reasonable and harmless but the next thing you know you’ve maxed out your credit card.   These are the deceptions that Satan employs to pull us away from the Christ-centered life.   When we come to our senses, we are so far from the path of life we feel powerless and ashamed (more of Satan’s t...

            If you have ever taught a teenager to drive, you have an awareness of the loss of control that comes with handing over the keys. You may even know the dashboard gripping terror that can be part of being the passenger in the car of a student driver. Over time though, the new driver gains experience and your trust and you realize that their driving is just fine, it was really the change of perspective you needed to adjust to.   Moving from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat requires trust, even with an experienced driver. It is difficult to hand over the control of the steering wheel when one has control issues such as me.             It struck me today that living the Christian life is a lot like being in the passenger seat. It comes with a feeling of being out of control and you may very well be out of control but God never is.   You’ve probably s...

            We have had breezes that last few days.   There is something about a cool breeze, any breeze at all for that matter, which refreshes.   In New Testament Greek, the word for spirit and wind (aka breeze) is the same word.   I am often reminded of the Holy Spirit and comforted by the wind.   It serves as a reminder that there are things we can’t see exactly but we can see their effects, we can feel their presence.   The Holy Spirit is a rather subtle entity though, often times moving behind the scenes, it requires one to be acutely aware of little details.   I often recognize the Holy Spirit at work “after the fact” when I perform my own retrospective observation of a situation.             Love is another such entity.   We are not always aware of it in the physical sense but we can see its effects. I suppose we shouldn’t be surpr...

            I have been cleaning today. I have a cabinet where I place things I don’t think I should throw away but I’m not sure where to put them, it is akin to a junk drawer (c’mon, everyone has one of those). As I have sorted through papers and cards, I have uncovered some gems of memories that brought smiles and laughter.   For instance, I found a letter from my daughter pleading her case to “abstain” from school one particular Friday. In general, I found a great many papers that have no meaning to me; I haven’t laid eyes on them for anywhere from months to years, I’m pretty sure I have discarded the equivalent of a young oak tree today.   I am pleased with my ability to part with these things but it raises a bigger question, why did I feel the need to hold onto them in the first place?             This leads me to question what emotional clutter am I hanging ...

            I have mentioned before that I am an aroma sort of girl.   This morning in my bible reading I once again came across the verse in 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16 “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.   To one we are the smell of death; to the other the fragrance of life.   And who is equal to such a task?”             It raised the question in my mind, what do life and death smell like? When I think of the smell of death, it isn’t too difficult to come up with odors; rotting fruits or vegetables, perhaps the dead skunk in the road smell.   Since I own two dogs, I am continually faced with the challenge of trying to keep my home smelling fresh, while it isn’t a smell of death, it isn’t a smell I care to live with either. We desire fresh scents, we desire life.     ...

            Romance novels have a way of making a girl blush.   In general, a woman appreciates the concept of being swept off her feet, and treasured and protected by a strong man.   Lately, I have been mulling over the idea of Jesus as a lover, (Got your attention, don’t I?) hear me out before you get outraged.             The most intimate relationship anyone can share is that of the lover. It is intensely personal, a lover sees you in your most vulnerable conditions. A lover loves you in your most vulnerable conditions.   Being a lover requires trust.   Being a real lover places the other’s needs before your own.   Doesn’t that describe Jesus?   Shouldn’t that describe Jesus and his place in your life?   How could one be any more vulnerable than stripped bare, humiliated and hanging on a cross?       ...