Articles by Sarah Stirman at Heartlight

How Beautiful

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0500

She drove to mid-week service in a stupor. Stress of the day and physical weariness consumed every fiber of her being. She tried to relax, breathing slowly and praying.

The praying became pleading, "Lord, I am honored to participate in my ministry -- signing for those who are hearing impaired, but Father I am so physically weary. I know it needs to be done tonight. I know others are depending on me for their worship experience. Father, let me remember that it is for You. It seems like it's for others, and taken for granted that I will do it; but Father, let me always remember that it is service to You. Continue to lead me to serve You faithfully."

She made it to the church building and wandered inside, smiling wearily at the church family she encountered. Her heart still prayed; her body still weary.

With a few blissful moments before duty was required, she reveled in the singing voices around her. With closed eyes she joined in the songs of praise and prayer, still pleading with the Lord for a clean heart (Psalm 51:10-12). With the first few lines of the next song -- "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris, see full lyrics below -- she was sure the Lord was speaking directly to her:

How beautiful the hands that served
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful the feet that walked
the long dusty roads
and the hills to the cross.

How beautiful
is the body of Christ.

She began to pour forth praise that she was a part of the body of Christ, that she was able to serve, and that the Lord was reminding her through these words, which come from HIS word (Isaiah 52:7), that serving hands are beautiful hands to Him. The tears flowed freely as the song continued:

How beautiful the radiant Bride
who waits for her Groom
with His light in her eyes.

How beautiful when humble hearts give
the fruit of pure lives
so that others may live.

How beautiful
is the body of Christ.

How beautiful the feet that bring
the sound of good news
and the love of the King.

How beautiful the hands that serve
the wine and the bread
and the sons of the earth.

How beautiful
is the body of Christ.

Yet again, the Lord was so faithful to pour out His Spirit and fill her empty soul. Not only did He give strength to the weary (Isaiah 40:29), He reminded her that she was beautiful in her service to Him! And every woman loves to hear that she is beautiful.

The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord (Psalm 45:10).

He was enthralled by her beauty. The beauty was the beautiful hands that were serving Him. The beautiful, serving hands would honor Him and praise Him for the rest of her days.

PARIS TWILA lyrics

Sarah (Riley) Stirman graduated from Abilene Christian University with a degree in Elementary/ Special Education. She currently lives in Abilene, Texas with her husband, Troy, who works for Abilene Christian University. Troy and Sarah have been married 13 years and have 2 children: Ashley, 10, and Riley, 8. Sarah works part-time for Big Brothers Big Sisters of West Central Texas.

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

God is So Big!

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 00:00:00 -0500

It's Vacation Bible School season. A magical time of Kool-Aid and cookies, sheep made from juice boxes and cotton balls, and lots of marching and singing about being in the Lord's army. Plump little fists will raise the scrawny arms they are attached to as little souls sing, with gusto, "My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY!! There's NOTHING my God cannot do!" We will all smile and sing with them. But do we really believe it?

As my children's faith began to emerge, I would answer very typical questions as they tried to comprehend the incomprehensible: the bigness of God. "Mom, is God bigger than our house? Bigger than that big coliseum? NO WAY!!" Of course, we impress on our children that God is bigger than the biggest mountain and all of the oceans of the world. In fact, He's bigger than the whole world, bigger than the universe.

One of John's statements has, for me, the ultimate trump card in the bigness of God: "For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything" (1 John 3:20).

I pray that is as encouraging to you as it is to me. I struggle and wrestle with this earthly vessel and all of the nature of the flesh that comes with it. I have realized I simply can't do it, I simply can't win that battle. Then the good news: God is greater than my heart.

God is greater than the selfish wants and wishes of my heart: all of the need to have MY schedule go MY way instead of listening to God's leading.

God is greater than the regrets and worries that sometimes overtake my heart: the "what if" or "if only ..." that starts an enormous snowball of doubt and mistrust.

God is greater than the stones of unforgiveness that I drag around in my heart.

God is greater than my heart's need for approval and applause on this earth.

The list goes on and you may have your own list. That God is greater than my heart is gloriously good news to me. However, the difficult part is that God gave me the option of allowing Him to be big in my life or not.

At spiritual peaks in my life, when I am resting in the shadow of His wing, I can see that I only know and see the hem of His holy garments. I am reminded that to simply abide in Him and His love will allow Him to do far greater things with me than I would ever do on my own. But because my feet are still on this earth, I allow the "daily-ness" of life to burden and overwhelm me so much that eventually I confine the Lord to a shoe box in my mind, tucked away in a corner where I know He will be if I ever need Him (as if there is ever a moment on this earth that I DON'T need Him!!).

Oswald Chambers put it beautifully: "It is the dull, dreary, commonplace day, with commonplace duties and people, that kills the burning heart unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus."^*

Abiding in Jesus! That is the secret! Jesus told us over and over that was the key to bearing fruit (John 15:1-17) and he responds to whatever it is I think I am doing on my own with this important reminder: "... apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Not "not very much," not "only a little," but "nothing" is exactly what I'm accomplishing when I'm not abiding in Him!

I will pray for my "daily-ness" to become abiding in Him. Then I will raise my fists and sing, "My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY!! There's NOTHING my God cannot do!"

And in my heart I will know it to be true.

^*(Oswald Chambers quote from "My Utmost For His Highest", March 22)

Sarah is a member of The Coffee Group, part of the Heartlight Network. Find out more about The Coffee Group at http://www.thecoffeegroup.net

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Lightning Storm

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:00:00 -0500

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! ... The LORD Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. (Psalm 46:1-7 NLT)

On a spring night in Central Texas, a craving for a sweet indulgence drove the two of them to the local Dairy Queen. He with a chocolate shake, she with a "Peanut Buster Parfait," they drove to the local softball complex where he sometimes played softball for the church team and she would sit with other ladies and cheer him on.

There was no softball game that night and the park was perfectly empty, save the two of them. They were there because it was a wonderful vantage point to see the oncoming storm. She had grown up with thunderstorms as a lullaby and he knew of her love of watching a storm. They sat in the car and ate their ice creams and talked about what the future may hold for them as the lightning danced across the skies and the thunder answered in reply. They dreamed of places they would like to live and jobs they would like to have. They dreamed of children they may one day have and what they may be like.

Their love was so very young -- untested by time or trials. She knew she had no idea what God may put in their path, but she knew He would be there to carry them through it. She also knew without a doubt that God had sent her this man until "death do they part" and she couldn't imagine loving him any more than she did that minute.

Recently, the universe aligned so that two incredibly rare events happened at the same time: Troy and I had a date and Abilene got a thunder storm. As we drove around the loop of Abilene holding hands and watching the lightning -- without having to answer questions like "Does it lightning on Jupiter?" -- I was transported back to that evening 12 years ago when we drove to the Lions Park softball field in Temple, Texas, to watch the lightning and dream.

I thought of all that has happened in those 12 years and the different people that we have become. On the outside, we're wearing larger clothes, and have more gray hair and wrinkles -- but I pay good money so that you can't see my gray hairs! :) -- and we have been through the deliveries, potty training, first days of school, and team sports of our children. We have been to too many funerals. We have lived through and rebuilt after natural disasters as well as spiritual disasters. We've experienced bounced checks, late fees and overdraft notices, as well as untold financial blessing. We have gone from having "his friends" and "my friends" to being part of church families that bring whole families as friends for us all. We have gone through valleys when we clung to each other, as well as valleys that we had to get through alone.

I still know, without a doubt, that Troy is precisely the man God would have me go through life with. Mainly because Troy has learned, like I have, that God is the most important One to go through life with. I look back and I do see hurts and heartaches, but even those are buried in my memory under mountains of blessings.

Together we can sing "Still" by Reuben Morgan:

When the oceans rise and thunders roar,
I will soar with you above the storm.
Father, you are king over the flood.
I will be still and know you are God.

Yes, I still know without a doubt that God sent me this man until "death do us part" and I can't imagine loving him any more than I do this minute.

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Run the Race

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

This passage from the book of Hebrews has always been one of my favorite verses. In the few-and-far-between seasons of my life when I am a runner, I love to meditate on this verse as I run. Life is a race -- A marathon! -- and I am so encouraged to think of the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds me.

The phrase in the version with which I am familiar reads "the sin that so easily entangles." This phrase kind of tripped me up. To me it sounded as if sin is a creeping vine that seems friendly, enticing, and harmless until you realize that you’re in too deep and helplessly stuck.

While I know that’s true of sin in so many ways, it didn’t fit with the running analogy to me. Most runners I know avoid running through foliage. Also sin, in my own personal experience, is much more like a wrecking ball in the cartoons than it is like a vine -- creeping or otherwise. By the time I have identified the sin (wrecking ball), I am lying flat on my back, complete with stars and birdies circling my head, wondering how I got there.

However, more recently I have come to think of this phrase in a new way. I am struggling with forgiveness -- even somewhat struggling with laying down the badge that identifies me as "someone wronged." I know this is not the life Christ has called me to embrace, yet I battle with finally laying down this burden of another’s sin. I have prayed and thought and meditated about why this is so difficult to let go.

I recently prayed asking God to let me run this race victoriously. That’s when this verse came to mind: I must throw off the sin that so easily entangles! Sometimes I cling to my past sins and let them weigh me down. Sometimes I cling to another’s sin against me and let that weigh me down. It’s impossible to run with perseverance the race marked out before me if I am clinging to all of the burdens of the past -- my own or anyone else’s. Christ calls me to run victoriously and I can’t do that with my hands full of old junk. It hinders me and I must lay it down if I want to run the race ... victoriously.

The apostle Paul gives us this victory thanksgiving: "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." (2 Corinthians 2:14) I love to think of the "triumphal procession" as the time we are being led in as a victory parade after we have finished our race victoriously. We already know who wins this race. Now, let’s run it victoriously!

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

How Great the Father's Love!

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600

I overheard a young mother recounting her nighttime ritual of laying her head on her pillow and asking herself, "Did I love my family enough today? If something happens to me tonight will they know exactly how much I loved them?"

As an "older and wiser" woman -- and more skeptical and a bit jaded, I suppose -- my first instinct was to laugh: "Well, of course you didn't love them enough! How silly!" Jesus conceded that though we are imperfect parents (He literally called us "evil"!) we still do the best we know how! (Luke 6:11-13) Chances are, I did NOT love my family enough today or on any day.

Her question, however, haunted me. I continued to turn it over again and again in my mind. The question seemed a bit less daunting and a lot less accusing if I rephrased it: "Could I love my children more, could I love my children better, tomorrow?"

Well, Lord willing, I will be given tomorrow with my family. And yes, I will try to love them more completely tomorrow. However, none of us is promised tomorrow for our families or ourselves.

I have wept with mothers who have kissed tiny foreheads for the last time to send them to "The Land Where There Is No Tomorrow." I have prayed and pleaded with mothers whose children have been precariously close to the edge of "The Land Where There Is No Tomorrow." Those women know what it is to lay their heads down at night and ask, "Did I love them enough ...?"

My husband and I have tangoed around the line of calling it quits on "happily ever after." With our new resolve for our marriage, I am painfully aware of how fragile a marriage can be. I am fully aware of his choice to be here. I am intentional about daily letting him know that I appreciate his choice and all that he is to our family. Thankfully, I have not faced the horrific loss of one of my children. But, I think I have failed to be intentional about letting them know how thankful I am for them, as well.

The old apostle John, near the end of his life, reminded us, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1) My loving Father has LAVISHED His love on me. Surely, that lavished love should run over and splash on my family.

One small thing I am realizing more and more is that as my children grow, the frequent opportunity to touch or hug them is diminishing. I don't lift them in and out of car seats or high chairs any more. I don't help them in and out of the bathtub, wipe their faces, or even brush their hair for them any more. They are no longer at an arm's distance or underfoot all day, so I must be intentional about meaningful touch for my children. I know that my arms ache when my husband is not in town to hug and touch me. My children need touch and love even more!

I also realize that sometimes I really have to try to listen carefully to what my children say. I am frequently guilty of multi-tasking which, I've come to realize, means doing several things poorly at the same time. It really doesn't take very long to sit, look into their eyes, and really hear what they are saying -- and sometimes, if I am really listening, I can even hear what they aren't saying. I think about how much it means to me when someone has obviously heard what I said and then later asks me about it. I want my children to know they are valuable enough to get my full attention!

Another thing that I've realized that means a lot to my kids is to simply sit together and hang around together. Of course, the TV should be off for this -- although it's also a good idea to know what they're watching and talk to them about it. My kids like for me to talk to them about my day, as well as listen to them about theirs. We dream and scheme, hope and plan.

Meaningful touch, intentional listening, and being together are not huge undertakings. They take a very little amount of time -- my kids really like to limit how much time they hang out with me anyway-- and they require no money at all! I just have to be intentional about doing those things.

And tonight I will wonder, "Could I love them more tomorrow?"

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Give and It Will Be Given to You

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600

I heard a report on Christian radio recently that stated while 2/3 of Christians believe that tithing is a "biblical mandate," churches report that only 5-10% of their members do it. I can't decide if that means that the remaining vast majority -- those that believe in the "biblical mandate" but don't tithe -- are okay with not following the mandate, or just don't comprehend that their beliefs should be reflected in their actions.

While my family participates in tithing our income, I don't particularly care for the word itself. It's just a matter of semantics; but in my mind, today's society has transformed the word "tithing” to mean you are going to separate out what you feel is required to give to God -- and that's all.

Tithing, to me, calls to mind a small pile in the corner of what to give to God. "Here, let me section this out, Lord. This little bitty percentage? No, under the mortgage, less than the food budget, less than either car payment -- yes, that 5th line is yours. Not bad, huh? Well, now that I've done my part I can check that off until next month.”

Please stop reading for a moment and list all of the things that you have handled better than the Lord -- any situation, relationship, or decision that you did better without the Lord's help. Go ahead, I'll wait. I'll be humming the theme song to Jeopardy while you think on that ...

So, how is the list going? Mine is fairly short. Actually, mine is non-existent. The Lord has been faithful and shown me again and again that His way is ALWAYS better. I want to give the Lord complete reign over my life and in every aspect of it. My tithe to the Lord -- and I don't just mean my financial tithe -- is my reminder that all of my life is given to Him to control.

My family absolutely believes in giving to the Lord's work, but I pray we never stop at just 10 percent. The other 90 percent also came from the Lord. While it may not go to a non-profit institution or be given to church work, it will be used for the Lord's work.

My home is to be used to house and raise the Lord's children he so graciously has "loaned" to me for a time. My house will also be used to welcome His children -- believers and non-believers alike -- to nourish and care for them.

My vehicle is a blessing from the Lord to be used to take me, and anyone else that will fit into it, to do what the Lord has placed on my heart. I pray that all of the resources the Lord has given me that I will, in turn, hand back to Him and say, "What would you have me do with this?”

I want to do more than just "tithe” my time to God. When I rise early in the morning to soak in God's Word and pour out praises and petitions to Him, I don't conclude my time with Him by saying, "Whew! Glad that's all I have to give Him today!” No, I start there to fill my heart with His word, but strive to "pray without ceasing” as I walk with Him throughout my day. Sometimes He has to break into a jog to keep up, but He's always there!

Please don't hear me saying not to tithe! What I'm trying to say is that a tithe should just be the beginning of giving God all that you have. Your tithe is not only obedience to God, but a symbol to yourself that you will also give the Lord the rest of your time, money, talents, and gifts.

Jesus said, "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving -- large or small -- it will be used to measure what is given back to you." (Luke 6:38)

Do you really want the Lord counting pennies when he gives back to you?

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Battery Life and Shining Lights

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600

My new MP3 player goes with me everywhere: work, the gym, a walk in the neighborhood, and frequently the grocery store. I will pause the player while I talk to someone and have been known to then take it off and forget that it's even turned on. Fortunately, I invested in an MP3 player that has an automatic shut-off feature. However, I think I have come to realize that the automatic shut-off feature works like this: when the battery is completely dead, the player will shut itself off. Now I just carry a stash of batteries in my purse and gym bag.

I was changing out the battery yet again and laughing at the not-very-handy automatic shut-off feature when I realized that humans have basically the same feature: we know it's time to take a break, go on "pause," only when we are forced to slow down due to illness, injury, or complete emotional exhaustion.

I am nursing a sprained ankle. I gave my ankle precisely 72 hours of tip-top care and rest and then said, "That's enough! It's time to get back to work!" That didn't work very well, so I set off as fast as my crutches could carry me -- back to the break-neck speed of life in my home. Then my 8 year-old came down with the flu. Neither he nor I have done a very good job of staying home and resting. Even when we are forced to slow down, we don't do it very well.

In a recent Bible class, we discussed the following question: "What activities keep you from drawing near to God?" We settled on this answer: all of them put together! Involved in this discussion were people active in church and our community. We spend our days and evenings in meeting after meeting, interspersed with other wonderful activities and ministries. In the middle of it all, we can scarcely remember why we do it. I confessed that the hectic schedule and running through life is a tug and temptation to keep up with the world that is stronger for me than many other temptations.

It certainly isn't how Jesus conducted his ministry. John 6 gives us a snapshot in time when Jesus was at the top of his game: people were flocking to him to be healed and hear what he had to say. Thousands were gathered when he fed them all from a little boy's sack lunch. The divine leftovers were enough to fill a basket for each disciple to hold and feel the weight of his abundant blessings. People noticed and declared: "He must truly be the Prophet that is coming into the world.” (John 6:14 ERV) What Jesus did next completely baffles me: "Jesus knew that the people wanted him to become king. The people planned to come get Jesus and make him their king. So Jesus left and went into the hills alone." (John 6:15)

There were thousands of people around him. Dozens, if not hundreds of them, needed a physical ailment healed. All needed to hear his words. But Jesus knew his task on this earth, and he knew who had sent him. He knew he would be useless to all without time with his Father.

Jesus told us, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16 NASB) What if I'm not plugged into my power source, or have so little power I look like a flashlight on its last drop of battery power? I MUST fiercely protect my time to recharge and spend time with my God so that I may be His light so that others may see Him in me.

In order to do that, I will have to look a lot different from the people around me -- even the people at my church. My children may not play every sport available. I will have to sacrifice my pride of being sure that no one else will organize the fellowship meal as well as I would. I may have to humbly admit that fewer activities -- even the activities that I suggested and/or planned -- at my church and more real time with the Lord is what will allow me to be His light. I will finally have to realize that truly knowing Him, not continually DOING, will lead me to be His light.

Maybe then I will "withdraw to a mountain by myself" before I completely run out of power!

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Embellishment Opportunities

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0600

I recently tackled a "do-it-yourself" project far outside of the areas of my expertise: I painted a Scripture on my daughter's bedroom wall. In preparing to do that, I rationalized to myself that it was only words and I'm good with words. I know how to write on paper, a wall can't be too different, right? I knew enough to mark the bottom line of the words with masking tape – my years as an educator writing on the chalkboard have revealed to me my tendency to gravitate my words toward the ground. I very lightly penciled the words where I wanted them to go.

Paint in hand and masking tape in place, I embarked on my project. It didn't take too very long at all to realize that a heavily textured wall was far different from my yellow legal pad as a writing surface. The paint became bumpy and out of line, making an enormous mess. My scripture looked as if I were using my feet and a broken crayon instead of painstakingly painting each letter.

After I had finished one word, I could stand it no longer and opened the can of the original wall color -- we had just recently painted the room and I HIGHLY recommend having the wall color on hand for this project. I took my tiny touch-up brush and began correcting my mistakes. Soon I realized that was the fun part. With just a few little strokes, the "bumpity" mess I had thrown on the wall transformed into the precise wording I had originally envisioned. The touch-up was definitely crucial to my masterpiece.

Soon I painted with abandon, having a grand time getting the words on the wall, knowing that the key to a beautiful finished product was in the touch-up. One time I heard Frank Bielec, a designer for the TV show Trading Spaces say, "There are no mistakes in life. There are only embellishment opportunities." I had plenty of embellishment opportunities on the wall, which called to mind the embellishment opportunities in my life.

As I painted I began to think of the people in my life that are my touch-up brush. Steve sees me as an award-winning writer, Tammy sees me as a brilliant mind, and Troy sees me as the complete package: beautiful woman of God with a loving, compassionate heart. I am immensely blessed to have people that see me as a masterpiece because their love covers over the embellishment opportunities I create. The family and community of God has afforded me a safe place to be the real me, warts and all.

Because of the security provided by the love in their eyes, I am able to live and love with abandon. I'm having a grand time as I envision the finished product God will create of me. I hope and pray that I may see others as a Masterpiece of the Master's making, after the touch-up of His love has perfected my view of them!

No person has ever seen God. But if we love each other, then God lives in us. If we love each other, then God’s love has reached its goal -- it is made perfect in us. (1 John 4:12 ERV)

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Holy, Please Hold the Adventure

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Our church has a precious tradition on "Senior Sunday." On the day that we honor our graduating high school seniors, we also commission our first-graders. The elders present the little guys with a Bible all of their own. The year my now-10-year-old was in first grade, she happened to receive an "Adventure Bible." A regular Bible, but geared towards kids with insights into the "adventures" of following God.

This year, she decided she had outgrown that Bible.

"I need a new Bible, Mom."

"What's wrong with your Bible?"

"I want a 'Holy' one, not the 'Adventure' one."

I hope she understood my huge smile and suppressed laughter to be joy at her interest in reading God's Word. As I repeated the story often, I realized that most of us really want our relationship with God to be like that.

I dearly love my worship times -- worship in the Sunday morning assembly, with my family of believers, praising and worshiping together as well as worship alone with my Bible and my God as I recount all of the ways He has blessed me. I do love the Holy moments with God.

I could really do without all the adventures -- the adventure of dangling on a ledge wondering if the Lord will rescue me, the adventure of careening into blackness wondering how much further I could possibly fall, the adventure of being alone in a crowd of people that don't understand why I possibly worship a God that demands so much of me.

However, experience tells me I can't REALLY have one without the other. A safe, blissful faith is a faith unchallenged and unchanged. My own adventures on my faith walk have shown me that they aren't just for adventures' sake -- not at all like a crazy roller coaster ride where you just end up back where you started, only a little shaken. No, adventures at the foot of His throne are Holy adventures, stretching, molding, and forming me into His more perfect instrument, while constantly reminding me of His faithfulness through it all.

In 2 Corinthians 11, Paul recounts some grand adventures he experienced:

Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 NLT)

If this were on the Christianity recruiting poster, I would probably pass.

What do you think that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3:16-30) thought as they marched up to the furnace while the soldiers around them were dropping dead from the heat? I'm sure they thought that wasn't exactly the adventure they had in mind when they awoke that morning. Can you imagine Daniel's thoughts as he was led to the lion's den? (Daniel 6:10-28) Daniel could probably have done without quite so much adventure himself. Yet his testimony of faith rings true with both the holy and the adventure! "Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God." (Daniel 6:23 RSV)

So, when I want to say to God, as my precious daughter said to me, "I want the holy life, not the adventure life!" He will gently reply, "Child, the holiness is IN the adventure. Trust in Me. I promise you the adventure of a lifetime!"

Website: The Cleft of the Rock

Ouch! You're Stepping on My Toes

sarahstir79605@yahoo.com (Sarah Stirman) — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0600

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (James 4:13-17 NIV)

I looked up these verses in James 4 to laugh at myself about my week that, by Friday, did not AT ALL look like I thought it would on Monday morning. A day of puttering around the house finishing up some work assignments, punctuated with holiday baking and a leisurely trip to the gym turned into all morning at the doctor's office getting a 9 year old wrist x-rayed, an afternoon of chasing paperwork, and an evening of basketball practice with a grand finale of my 8 year old son and me pushing my disabled SUV out of the middle of the road. My day and week did NOT go as I had planned.

I turned to these verses to remind me that two thousand years ago, James said, "I told you so!" But, I didn't exactly get a warm fuzzy laugh from all of these words. I did laugh at the American Standard Version of verse 15: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that." What a nice reminder that not only are we not guaranteed to do what we want on this earth, we aren't even guaranteed to be breathing! Remember, only if the Lord wills it, you will BOTH live AND do what you plan. A double blessing I rarely acknowledge.

Verses 16 and 17 are what really get me, though: "As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil." My natural reaction is to argue -- my parents will tell you that it should not be shocking that I will even argue with scripture: "I am NOT boasting! I'm just planning. I like to be prepared. I like to have my day planned!" But that little voice -- that I believe to be the Holy Spirit -- whispers to me: "There is no room in your plans for God's will. You have filled your schedule entirely too full to listen to His bidding. Do you really think that YOU are in charge of your schedule? That's boasting."

Verse 17 -- what's THAT about? Why is it right there in Scripture? "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Ouch. It's probably right there because God's bidding, that I am too busy to hear or see, is the good that I ought to do and don't take time to do. People cross my mind that I should visit and with whom I should pray, phone calls I should make go unmade, errands for others that I know need to be done are left not done. The good I know I ought to do hasn't been done. This is a bad idea, no doubt, but a sin? Yes, a sin. I must confess.

I looked up this Scripture to smile at God's majesty. He stepped on my toes!

Father, forgive my boasting as if I have control of my day, life, and schedule. Gently lead me to daily lay my life at your throne and listen to Your direction. And, Lord, forgive my heart that is intent on my busy-ness, and too distracted to see the hurting around me. I have become a religious leader on the road to Samaria, skirting the wounded souls in my path so that I may be about my own business. Continue to lead me in Your way, simplify my life, and open my eyes to Your will and Your children.

Website: The Cleft of the Rock