“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds.”                                                                                                                                               Hebrews 10:24 (NRSV)

There was an occasion where I had to meet with an attorney for business reasons. The attorney was representing someone else. Throughout our conversation, the attorney was condescending, offensive, and persistently pushy. He managed to push all of my buttons. He knew just where to press to push me close to the edge – close to my breaking point. He provoked me to anger. Consequently, I left the meeting feeling broken, mad, and disappointed in myself. 

Of course, later I realized that was the intent. In trying to get what he wanted for his client, the lawyer was willing and knowledgeable enough to know all the right buttons to push in an effort to find the right combination to set me off. 

Now, the scenario with the lawyer is a rare occurrence – thank goodness. But, in other everyday situations I find myself provoked in much the same way, and I am sure that there are times I am the one doing the provoking as well – especially at home.

With those I am closest to I know exactly which buttons to push to get different responses. At times, I continue to push as I would the button on an elevator that fails to stay lit. Pressing and pressing. Most of the time it isn’t intentional. I don’t realize what I am doing until it is too late. The end result is an argument or hard feelings. 

When I consider provoking others and what that means, the first thought is negative: fights, arguments, taunting. The dreaded pushing of buttons. It wasn’t until I encountered this scripture that I understood to provoke someone could be a good thing. 

According to Hebrews 10:24, we should consciously make an effort to incite and provoke others to love and act in favor with one another. 

We always mention random acts of kindness. Maybe those shouldn’t be so random. We need to look for ways to push buttons that cause others to respond lovingly. Pay it forward. 

With this new knowledge, I pray that I will be more conscientious of how I draw reactions from others. I want to provoke goodness from those around me. I also pray others will push my buttons. The buttons that will make me a better person, one who responds with love and grace. 

Pushing buttons has definitely taken on a whole new meaning for me. 

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.”                                        2 Corinthians 5:7 (NASB)

I can’t remember which Indiana Jones movie it is but in one of his many conundrums we see the main character teetering on the edge of a cliff trying to figure out how to get safely to the other side. He only has seconds to make a decision and looking down Indiana cannot see the bottom of this ravine. By happenstance, he kicks a rock which falls into the abyss with no sound of it ever hitting the bottom.

What will our hero do? How will Indiana Jones get out of this situation? 

At the moment when you believe he is doomed, against the better judgment of many cautious viewers, he takes just one step from the ledge. To our disbelief – and relief – Indiana has done it again. He tosses dirt in the distance to reveal what was hidden, a safe passage out of this deadly situation. There is an invisible bridge to the other side of that seemingly bottomless pit.

Wow! What a leap of faith! He couldn’t see the bridge, but he knew it was there. It had to be there. There had to be a way to get to the other side.

Believe it or not – We can learn some valuable lessons from the character, Indiana Jones. We learn about passion, determination, and faith. 

The character has passion that fuels each of his adventures. He too was on a holy journey, just like us. He was driven by curiosity and the search for answers. Where is your passion? What fuels you on your daily journey?

He also shows great determination. He never gives up, no matter how rocky the road may be – remember that huge boulder that almost ran over him? Are you determined enough to press on toward the greater goal even in the face of your greatest fear? He was – snakes, it had to be snakes!

And of course, we see this character demonstrate the meaning of faith. Remember the invisible bridge? Do you have that kind of faith? Enough faith to take that first step toward your goal – even when you don’t see the support that is surely there for you?

The scripture tells us – we walk by faith. That means we have to walk, move, set out knowing that God is there to support us. God is our invisible bridge. He is there bridging the gap for us, making a way for us out of our chaos, supporting us each step of the way even when there seems to be no clear answer or path.

So today, I encourage you along your journey. Make it a faith walk. 

If you are not sure which way to go, if there seems to be no way out, go confidently in faith through prayer. Take that first step and feel the firm foundation under your feet. Feel the support of our God each and every step of the way. 

Remember: Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there. 

God is your invisible bridge. Let Him bridge your gaps and support you in your next leap of faith.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”   2 Corinthians 4:18

“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”               Psalm 105:4 (NIV)

As I encountered various people one day, I made an interesting observation. People rarely make good, solid eye contact.

It impressed upon me the most at the drive thru of a fast food establishment. I promptly pulled up to “the first window” after placing my order. There I was met by a gentleman who took my debit card and gave it back with a receipt without ever looking directly at me. Then at “the next window” a young lady handed me my bag of grub while saying “Have a nice day” in my general direction but still never looking me in the eye.

At that moment, I realized we so often plod through life, day by day, taking very little time to truly see those around us. It seems true eye contact is reserved for those job interview moments, the moments when we really need something from someone, or for those times when we become excited or interested in something.

Experts say making eye contact is a sign of confidence. Have we become so unsteady in our days that we fail to do these little things? Little things that make a huge difference.

How often do you stop and truly make eye contact with those around you? Haven’t noticed? Well, take some time today to be more aware of how often you do this. I bet you will be shocked at how little you really do this one small thing.

Most of the time we are keenly aware of avoiding eye contact, like when we are ashamed, embarrassed, or doing something we know is wrong. Most likely you can easily recall one of those moments, like when you look down and walk away to avoid talking to a certain person. Be honest. I know – I’ve done it too.

Now think of it on a spiritual level. How often do you make eye contact with God? I know you can’t see Him, but – on a spiritual level – do you seek His face? Do you go straight to Him in times of joy and pain? You should. 

Or do you avoid eye contact with God? Do you turn away from God – ashamed of something you’ve done or worried He will call you to do something out of your comfort zone? You shouldn’t.

Don’t avoid God. Nothing we say or do is unforgivable in His eyes and He will equip us for what He calls us to do. Just as we need to be more connected and responsive to people, we need to connect with God – face to face.

We need to look to Him for strength and seek His face always. That is the most important eye contact to make daily. 

I am no expert, but I think that will make you more confident when you come face to face with others.

“As the eye of the slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows His mercy.” 

Psalm 123:2

“… And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”       Ephesians 3:17 – 19 (NIV)

Deep and Wide … Consider these two terms. What comes to mind? 

To me, deep are my troubles. I sometimes find myself over my head. ‘Up to my ears in alligators’ so to speak…up to my knees in mundane tasks, or I’ve just had it up to here!

Wide? Wide are my hips! Wide is the gap I feel between me and my spouse, family, and friends when I feel isolated by my concerns.

Today, when I think of deep and wide I tend to think of the things I find overwhelming. The things I find myself drowning in. The things pulling me under. The things swallowing me whole; however, there was a time when the meaning was different.

As a child there was a song we sang at church and in youth group about God’s love… Deep and Wide. You may know it. It goes like this:

Deep and wide, deep and wide
There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide.
Deep and wide, deep and wide 
There’s a fountain flowing deep and wide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXHJg6Y53Oo

We would repeat this verse getting faster and faster and sometimes we sang it over and over eliminating more words with each repetition putting in hmmm so that at the end we were merely humming the tune. The song came with fun hand motions as well. Very upbeat and fun.

So simple. Definitely uplifting.

In reading Ephesians 3:17-19, I realize this should be the focus. Instead of how deep are my troubles… The depth and breadth of God’s love.

Deep … The love of my family and friends. The depth of my love for others.

Wide … How wide are my blessings?! The width of the arms that encircle me with love. 

Instead of finding ourselves overwhelmed by the worldly, temporary things that threaten to consume us, we need to be overwhelmed by the love given to us – first by our Lord and Savior and then through others by Him.

Deep and Wide – there is a fountain overflowing onto you!

Up to my ears in alligators? No way. Up to my ears in Hallelujahs!

“I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”      Psalm 69:30 (NRSV)

Music is very important in our lives. I would venture to say that we all have a few songs that are special to us. Maybe a break up song reminding us of our first heart break, a happy song used for celebrating, or a love song reflecting the innocence of that first love. When I listen to the radio, songs from the past bring a flood of memories – good and bad. 

As a literature teacher, I assigned my students a project when they completed reading a novel. The project required them to create a soundtrack for the book we read. They had to choose one song that best represented each chapter of the book and explain why it was the best choice. I was always excited to hear those soundtracks. Each was unique with very thoughtful reasons behind each song choice. So much meaning can be found in just 3 minutes of music and lyrics.

Music is important in the Bible too. There are numerous verses referencing song and singing not to mention whole books of songs like Psalm and Song of Solomon. We are called to “make a joyful noise” to “sing to the Lord” and to “praise God with thanksgiving.” 

The history of music is deep and rich making it no surprise that it is at the center of many things we do. We celebrate with music: birthday songs, wedding marches, and graduations with pomp and circumstance. We include music in sadness as well during funerals. Most of us don’t get in the car without turning on the radio or visit the pool or beach without our music on some sort of device.

Considering my appreciation and love for all types of music, I wonder what a soundtrack of my life would include. Would it reflect my love of God and His immeasurable love for me? Would it sound self-centered and greedy? 

I imagine when listening to my life’s soundtrack you would easily be able to hear the high and low points in my journey. Unfortunately, I can’t say it would always reflect a Christ-centered life; however, I hope that I have enough life left to change that. I hope to add more tracks focused on God and how He is working for the good in my life. 

What will the soundtrack of your life include? Is it filled with praise and thanksgiving or self want and self pity? 

Consider what God would want reflected through your life – what meaning does it hold? I am positive there is a song out there for it!

“Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.”

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT) 

My husband always had perfect vision … Better than 20/20 even. 

Until, he turned 40. 

For some reason, many people begin to experience difficulty trying to read small print close up after that magic age. He thought he might be immune to that fact of life, but he wasn’t. 

Much to his dismay as he moved through the early part of his 40s, it became more and more difficult to read the words on a page. Everything was blurry. He finally became so frustrated that he gave into the idea that he needed reading glasses. 

Being the loving, supportive family that we are, on his next birthday we gave him an entire set of reading glasses, one for all the major rooms of the house. Little did we know our little joke really contained a lot of truth. He constantly misplaced his glasses. He would yell through the house, “Has anyone seen my glasses?” Generally this question continued increasing in intensity the longer the hunt lasted. Life could not go on until those glasses were located.

I wish I had kept track of the amount of time we spent over the years looking for his glasses or how many times I had to assist in the search. To be honest we had many great laughs at his expense (and obviously still do).

I, on the other hand, have always had poor vision. So I never commiserated with his pain and agitation. Until now. Even with corrective lenses, the words on the page are blurry. Now, I too need reading glasses. I don’t leave home without them. They make things so much more clear. Consequently, there have been a few search and rescue missions for the spectacles on my behalf as well. 

So we are quite the pair (no pun intended), my husband and I … Before we leave the house I always make sure he has his glasses and that mine are tucked away close by. It has become a habit. 

Such a simple thing that makes life easier.

I wish I relied as much on The Lord. When things in life are unclear, I should automatically reach for God. But I don’t. Just like my vision, I take Him for granted. 

For much of my life I have just known God is there – His strength sustaining me with little or no effort on my part. However, as I have grown in age and life has become more complicated, sometimes I am not sure where God is. When the circumstances of life shift things out of focus, I strain to regain clarity. Ultimately, it is then – when life becomes so blurry that I get frustrated – I find myself looking for God. As it turns out, He is right there. Right where I left Him. Just like my glasses. The problem is I do not faithfully seek Him first. 

Just like I need my reading glasses to correct my blurred vision, I need to continually seek God, His strength, and His focus for my life. Only then will my life become more clear. 

My prayer today is that I always search for God first and that this practice becomes a habit. I want to focus my life through Him. 

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

                                                                                                            Lamentations 3:40 (NIV)

(This week I announced my intent to retire at the end of August from a career in public education. For close to 30 years, I have been blessed with opportunities to share my passion and love of learning with others. Over the years my goal and purpose has been to engage in meaningful work to positively impact those I serve and represent … (at the risk of sounding corny) to make a difference. Isn’t that what most of us want? To be a positive influence. To leave things better than we find them. Yet, sometimes, we can get stuck and think that just one person can’t make that big of an impact. Today, you may be thinking what you do doesn’t really matter; but, I am here to tell you it does. More than you know, what you do touches the people you encounter. I am being reminded of that myself. Today, consider “The Power of One.” )

The young girl fidgeting in her desk stiffly holding the chunky pencil as she carefully maneuvered the awkwardly large writing instrument across the page. She struggled to put the right words on paper. Her assignment?  Write a paragraph describing your favorite meal.

As she started the closing, she wrote, “I just couldn’t wait for the desert!”

She proudly presented her finished product to the teacher who upon close examination spotted one mistake. The teacher pointed out the omission of a letter that altered the entire meaning of the story. The student had omitted an “s” – just one letter. Consequently, was the young girl really excited about finishing the meal to take a trip to an arid environment: a desert? Or did she actually have a sweet tooth which made her crave that apple pie: a dessert?

Just one little letter made all the difference.

As an adult, there are still times when I have to stop and think carefully about words like that. 

Lose or Loose? Did I lose my mind or did I break loose of what was holding me back?

Just one little letter. The power of one.

Just like that one letter can completely change the meaning of a whole sentence, just one thing can alter the meaning of a life. 

Do you ever feel like something is missing or that something just isn’t quite right? Then take a closer look at what is going on in your life. You might be missing one little thing that will change the meaning. 

Maybe you need to add something to your life to make things right: quiet time with God, purposeful prayer time, join a group at church, or make time for family or friends. Or maybe you need to omit something: one less committee, one less day working late, one less negative thought, or one less project.

Small changes can make a big difference!

Another perspective about the power of one is the power you have in the lives of others.

You make a difference in the lives you touch every day. What meaning do you add to their lives? 

What can you do to make sure that you have a positive impact when you are added to a sentence in the story of someone else’s life?

It all adds up – letters make words, words, make sentences, sentences make paragraphs, paragraphs make essays. By adding or removing just one little letter, you change the message.

Take time to check out your life, just like you check your writing. 

You could move from idle to ideal in no time!

“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”   2 Corinthians 13:5

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                       Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

Over the years my husband has owned several different vehicles. One of his favorites is a four-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler. A fun thing for us to do is to take a drive in the mountains and occasionally find an off road trail to explore.

We have one of those maps that show off road trails so we use it to seek out an adventure. Looking at all of those squiggly lines that highlight various paths, it is difficult to anticipate what to expect. We have no idea what type of terrain we will encounter. Will it be rough or smooth, steep or flat, rocky or muddy, narrow or wide? You get the picture.

So we blindly choose a path. Sometimes we choose wisely and sometimes we choose poorly. 

Over the years, we (O.K. – I) have become more cautious in choosing a path that is just right. Adventurous enough for my husband and smooth enough for me. 

On these journeys we find the time and rest we need to reconnect with nature and each other.

While in some remote locations, it is not unusual to find ourselves at a crossroad trying to decide which way to go. We look ahead just enough to see that someone else has forged a path clear enough to navigate before deciding which way to go. The assurance that someone else has traveled this way too gives us the confidence to move forward. 

It is when there is no clear path that we (OK – I, again) become anxious and worried. At that point for me, it is clearly time to turn back.

Our journey in life is a lot like being off road. In the best situations, the path may be rocky enough to be exciting yet clear enough to navigate. We also come to many different crossroads on the adventure. To find the right path you don’t have to look very far. Look to your road map – The Bible – and find the signs that lead you in the right direction toward rest and peace of mind in the Lord.  

Just like my off road map and those squiggly lines, the pathway before us may seem unclear. It may be smooth or rough, steep or flat, rocky or muddy, narrow or wide. You just never know until you start in that direction. When you get to the point that you find there is no clear path, you can always turn back to stay on course. 

So grab your map and be adventurous – Go off road with God. Take this interesting journey – called life – with the confidence and security that you always know the way back home. 

“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”          Matthew 6:27 (NASB)

Everyone is good at something. Some people are good at fixing things. Some people are good at singing. Some people are good at sports; and there are some people who seem to be good at just about everything!

I am good at something too: Worrying. I often tell people who are close to me that worrying is what I do best – and it is true.

I worry about the little things. When I have family and friends over to our home, I worry that the house isn’t clean enough, that there won’t be enough food, that people won’t like the food, that people will get bored – the list goes on and on. Almost daily, I worry that I say things wrong and that I might hurt someone’s feelings. I worry about making a wrong decision. You know, if I could lose weight sweating over the small stuff, I would be a size 2!

Then, I worry about the big stuff: or what I think is big stuff. Will my children make good choices? Will they be successful? I worry about things that will not happen for several months. Will everything turn out OK? I have come to realize two things. In reality, most of the big stuff I spend my time worrying about 1) may never happen and 2) I have no control over.

So, as I read the scriptures, I begin to wonder – Why worry?

In Matthew 6:25-26, we read, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?”

Let’s face it. Worrying is a waste of time and energy. I pray about my worries yet I often refuse to really let them go – to just lay them at the foot of the cross and walk away. I know that is what I should do. Time and again, when I have successfully done that I have found a true sense of peace. Yet, I continue to worry.

The Bible says, “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

Easier said than done. As time goes on, I am getting better at laying my immediate worries aside and remaining calm; however, I still get stuck doing what I do best when it comes to those I love the most. It is so hard to sit back and watch those you love make decisions that you believe are bad – but that’s the point. We don’t really know. Do we? Our worry can be born out of our past experiences but we cannot assume that what happened to us will happen to someone else. So, why worry?

We are not in control – even when we think we are. But God is. He is in control and He longs to remove the worry, anxiety, and stress from our lives.

Be reminded: “… seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

I think it is time for me to find a new talent, something else to be good at. Not an easy task, but I am willing to try.

What do you do best? Is it a true talent or just an empty proclivity for an unproductive action – like worrying? If that is the case – I encourage you to continue to walk and talk with God until you are able to tap into your true talent. That’s what I am going to do.

“The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”    1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV)

She laid broken and still on the pavement with tattered bags and her eclectic belongings scattered around her. The strangers who happened by stared coldly, walking at a distance so as not to get too close. Would anyone stop to help this nameless, faceless, homeless soul?

At another time and place, a similar scene unfolded with a very different outcome. She laid broken and still on the pavement with the contents of a large designer handbag and neatly packaged purchases of worth strewn nearby. Several strangers purposefully move closer to offer assistance and reach out to help. Who wouldn’t stop to help this soul?

Two very similar situations with very different reactions. The only real difference here was the outward appearance of the two. One less desirable to society than the other and one more privileged. 

I admit it. I’ve done it. I have walked away, averted my eyes, found a reason to be somewhere else when there was something or someone unpleasant that I did not want to face. Have you?

Why is it that so much value is placed on the surface when we know the real gold, that which is most valuable, is buried deep within? 

I think I know the answer. It’s easy.

It’s easy to make quick judgments and move on. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of past experiences. It’s easy to look the other way.

Let’s face it – The example Jesus gave us through his life was hard. 

To live like Jesus is hard. To get involved and truly see others is hard. It’s hard because it means becoming involved.

It’s easy to judge people at face value. It’s hard to look at their heart … But that is what God teaches and challenges us to do.

Considering today’s verse, challenge yourself. Look hard.

Look on the heart of each person you meet. Look past the hard exterior, the harsh demeanor, the ugliness that sometimes takes over and find the heart. 

It will change yours.