This is a celebratory weekend as Courtney is graduating from Grand Canyon University.  Needless to say we are very proud of all of our daughters but this weekend is about Courtney who is our first to graduate from college. Courtney is graduating at the age of 20 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology,  Summa Cum Laude (this means she’s really smart). Courtney’s determination and dedication these past few years have be inspiring to me.  I’m not sure she knows it but I think she’s a really wise person.  She is a great writer and I enjoy reading her blog confessions of an x-introvert.  She also has a mesmerizing voice and is a budding musician. Check her out on YouTube

 

In August she will be  moving to San Diego where she will be participating in an internship with Origins on the campus of UC San Diego.  She will be sorely missed. However I am excited about going to visit her as San Diego is one of my top three favorite places to be. Congratulations Courtney, I am so proud of you and know God has amazing plans for your life.

 

 

It’s been over a year since I last blogged and there are numerous reasons why.   Regardless, the catalyst that compelled me to begin again was the encouragement and training I received while attending the Mom’s Heart Leaders Intensive Training August 5-7, 2010 in Colorado Springs. Many thanks to the Clarkson family/ministry for their vision to equip and encourage moms to return to God’s design for the family.  Once I am able to fully process the wonderful events of this training I promise to share more.

However, God impressed on my heart to share the below as an encouragement to my older daughters, the future generation of leaders on college campuses, and whoever else reads this.

When my older girls, Caryn (21) and Courtney (19), were young, I had them memorize 1 Timothy 4:12-14 (NIV) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

I desired to give them a vision for greatness and I wanted to set a God standard for them. This past year they have lived out this verse well despite people questioning them including their parents, church leaders, and friends. When questioned, the girls would respectfully reply, “We answer to someone higher and must walk in obedience to His calling.”  They are devoted to Jesus and it was not important to them to be understood by others.  They have a vertical focus verses a horizontal/worldly focus. The cost has been great as they have lost some friends and have been misunderstood. However, their obedience has been such an example to me and I have been humbled by the steadfastness to their calling.

God graciously reminded me of 1 Timothy 4:12-14 last Wednesday night when I had 25+ college students, including the girls, who were attending the Austin Student CPx training, into our home. I thought I would have them over to bless them with a meal and ended up being the one blessed.  They arrived around 6:30pm and by the time they left after midnight I was exhausted but my soul was honestly refreshed.  I wish I could say my motives had been pure but I was still trying to understand this two-year-old ministry called Student CPx. Last year my daughters went through the Student CPx 10-day training in Austin and made many radical changes in their lives. They decided to leave our traditional church of 3,000+ to start a house/simple church. To start a conversation they would go up to strangers and say something kind to them.  They would even asked to pray with those injured for healing. These actions opened the door to share their love of Jesus to individuals who typically might not ever walk through the doors of a church. I believe because their faith was genuine they were showing love by their actions and others received it.  I didn’t understand their actions or what they were doing at the time.   However, I knew both girls passionately loved Jesus, sought Him daily through His word, prayer, journaling, and quiet time.  Honestly I envied all the time they spent in His presence. It was because of their discipline and spiritual foundation we, their parents, could trust the direction they were being lead even though we did not fully understand it.  Did they sense our faith was not good enough for them? It was hard to not take their decision personally as a criticism for how we brought them up and I deeply missed worshiping together as a family. However, I saw the joy they exhibited as well as their wisdom and commitment they had while continuing to meet in their simple church regardless of the skepticism they encountered.  I think with any new movement there is an apprehension as to whether it is legit but all new ministries have to start somewhere.

Fast-ward to this past week as Student CPx was back in Austin conducting their 2nd training but this time Caryn and Courtney were helping to facilitate, serve, and lead it. When asked If I would prepare a meal I thought why not have them into our home which would allow me to meet some of the students and maybe get a better feel for this ministry especially since Courtney was now part of their traveling team and both were more fully invested in this ministry. Yes, Courtney will be traveling around the US to various college campuses this Fall with Student CPx.  Currently she is in Phoenix and then will head to Portland to encourage and equip students.  God indeed has called her out of her quiet, timid, and guarded self. She is a self-professing “x-introvert.”  Check out her blog to follow her adventures http://courtneywerner.wordpress.com/

Today I write having a much better understanding of the ministry my girls are serving with. I not only have peace but excitement for the impact they are having on college campuses. Last Wednesday I had several students share with me the impact the girls have had on their lives. It was hard not to be proud of how God is using them. Many friends have asked me what Student CPx is and I never really knew how to answer until now. Briefly, it is a 10-day experiential training school designed to give students the tools and experiences to plant networks of simple churches on their campuses.

The students I met were not ordinary; they were extraordinary.  The reality of the lyrics from the song Hosanna flooded my mind as I watched and listened to these students share:

I see a generation

Rising up to take their place

With selfless faith

With selfless faith

I see a near revival

Stirring as we (they) pray and seek

We’re on our knees

We’re on our knees

These students were passionate about their love for Christ. They bubbled over with joy. I was deeply moved as they sent out one of their own as he was leaving the next day for college. He would be ministering on his campus in KS among Native American Indians. You could sense the love and confidence with which he was being sent. These students were real with their emotions and not caught up in how they looked to anyone other than their Father. They indeed taught me with their life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. It will be exciting to see what these students do on their campuses and elsewhere around the world.

Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.  I will not lie that this week I have found it hard to rejoice God in all things. I have shed more tears than I ever thought possible.  I have been counseled by some to let go and others say be joyful.  Honestly, I go between the two but I must refocus my thoughts on God’s past goodness.  So why the “boat load” of tears and the title ” terrible, horrible, very bad week”?
 
Monday I received the news that my dad’s cancer is quickly spreading and is now located in the liver.  He is in stage 4.  Their hope is that the cancer will not go below T11 in the spine as that is when you loose bladder control.  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesbienvenu
 
Tuesday we decided that it would be best to drive to La. for Christmas so I can spend some time with my parents. Traveling during the holidays is always stressful for me but add a move on top of that!  Obviously this is not the Christmas I had envisioned.  Where is the peace and joy I desired to rest in?
 
We called the potential buyer for BiM as we had not heard an update and they basically told us they have decided to wait until Jan/Feb to make a decision.  Things could have been so much smoother had they had the integrity to call us when they started down that road.  Thus more WAITING!!! In my mind it is time to move out of our 1300 sq. ft. apt. and reclaim all of of our possessions in storage as five months is long enough. I’m not quite sure what God was desiring for us to learn from this experience.  On the bright side it will be great fun when we go though our 3 storage units and get our winter clothes, pot & pans, etc… I am sure it will be a purging process as if I can do without something for 5 months as chances are I do not need it.  Since Wed. we have been scrabbling to find a house to lease for 6-9 months.  The house I decided on when we contacted the agent had a contract so we had to look again. Thankfully we signed papers today on one in Mueller and hope to hear a yes back today. I feel a little fearful we will not get it given the week.
 
On Wed. I brought our cat Tigger to the vet since we are going out of town and I sensed something was not right.  After lots of tests an x-ray showed a tumor.  Needless to say this now created lots of emotional upset. The girls could not put the cat to sleep unless they knew for sure they had done everything for her.  Thus the vet sent the cat home that evening as surgeries are done on Friday.  Once we entered the house the cat could no longer walk without falling over which created more sadness for all of us.  However, the girls never lost hope that things would be ok.  So when the call came today at noon that Tigger had pancreatic cancer and her life was indeed over incredible sadness overcame us all.  You never realize the love you have for a pet until she’s gone. Cayley is thankfully at a friends and I hope we can all be strong  for her as she is has had trouble sleeping and crying at just the thought of the cat dying.
 
We finally got our van back this week from an accident we had coming back home the weekend before Thanksgiving.  It took 4 weeks to fix the sliding door and passenger door. The driver had been drinking and lost control of his SUV plus had no insurance.  I praise God every time I think about this incident as we were surely spared from far greater tragedy given the speed and drinking being involved.
 
Jon’s hard drive crashed Wed. but thankfully was under warranty and the list of small and usually overlooked irritants all were magnified given the already heavy load on my plate.
 
We leave tomorrow for Louisiana to be with our parents.  It will be nice to get away.  I am thankful for the season to daily redirect my focus from me to He who came as a child to die a sinners death.  Jesus is the reason for the season.  Below is a devotion I recieved earlier this week that has provided much comfort.
Being an Overcomer
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
12-16-2008

“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Ps 13:1-2).

Have you ever heard someone jokingly say, “It’s not easy being me?” This expression is poking fun at their unique personality or challenges they face in life. Well, it wasn’t easy being King David.

His life was a life of extreme highs and extreme lows. He was a shepherd, a political leader, a builder, a prophet, a businessman, a warrior, a lover, a giver, a murderer and a worshiper. He must have been criticized by others as being hypocritical in his early career. In each of these roles he achieved things for God but he also failed God on many occasions. He had a creative-type personality, which is often very passionate with many mood swings. We see this side of him when he unabashedly danced before the Lord in front of his subjects almost naked (2 Sam 6:14).

When David wrote his psalms he was honest about what he was feeling. When he feared his enemies he expressed it. When he could not understand why God was silent, he expressed it as in the psalm above.

However, David never stayed in the place of despair. He often ended his psalms like this one. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me” (Ps 13:5-6).

David chooses to focus on what God has done for him, not what He has not done. If you are waiting for a breakthrough with God, be honest with Him about your hopes and dreams. However, also affirm your faith and trust in Him to accomplish His purposes through your life. Be an overcomer.

 

• - Wisdom and discernment during the negotiations for both Jon and Andy
• - For patience during the process as this is a big company that isn’t as nimble as BiM
• - For how the proceeds of the sale should be allocated to glorify God (knowing it all belongs to Him)
• - That God would use this transaction to open up the hearts of BiM employees on the west coast 
• - That all the glory for this acquisition would go to God

See July 13th entry. Life threw a curve on June 2nd when I discovered we had to move and the wonderful relaxing summer I had planned would consist of packing and figuring out where to go next.

Life can be so hard.  Life can be so frustrating. Life can be so …..life!  We all face disappointments, delays, setbacks, financial woes, etc. but that’s part of life!  The issue is not that life is going to be hard as that is certain but how will we respond when it is hard and we are thrown a curve.  Will we respond with bitterness and upset or will we exude contentment- with calmness, cheerfulness/joy, and peaceful acceptance?  Contentment doesn’t come naturally nor is it easily learned.  In fact Paul said “I have learned to be content in Philippians 4:11” Contentment is a process that one must desire to learn. Would you like to live a life that isn’t dictated by your circumstances? Would you like to be able to say as Paul did I too have learned to be content?  Or be able to say, Psalms 131:2 MSG I’ve kept my feet on the ground; I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content

 

As I have learned to be content I’ve allow God to pry my fingers open to let go and let God.  I am today freer from worry, fear, and insecurity experiencing more joy as I learn to trust my heavenly Father – and trust “my world” into His control. Life will disappoint us sometimes, but our Heavenly Father never will. No matter what life may bring, for the believer there is a happy ending in store.  Contentment begins with God, and His unfailing love for us.  When we are satisfied by His love, our joy will last for the rest of our lives.  Psalms 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  Our control robs us as when we take over and try to control what happens, we take our focus off the One who is in control and put our eyes on our circumstances.   As we place our focus on the one who is in control of all things and is king over all then contentment is possible.  Read with me 1Timothy 6:15 God is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters.

 

J.I. Packer says “Contentment is essentially a matter of accepting from God’s hand what He sends because we know that He is good and therefore it is good.” Contentment is accepting God’s sovereign control over all of life’s circumstances.  It’s easy to accept the good in our life but if God is sovereign than we must be willing to accept the negative also.  Let me share four lessons I have learned traveling the road to contentment.

1) First lesson I have learned contentment is a choice on how we look at life.  1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain. Do you see contentment as great gain?  I think that Paul is reminding us that we really don’t need anything to have contentment as we came into the world with nothing and we will leave this world with nothing.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

 

Linda Dillow in her book Calm My Anxious Heart wrote:  Two women looked through prison bars

One saw mud, the other saw stars.  Our choice is will we focus on the mud or lift our eyes and see the stars?  We all have the circumstances that appear to be prison bars. 

EXAMPLE: we sold our dream house to finance Jon’s company a little over 6 years ago.  This was to be only for a few year but three moves later we are still leasing.  This weekend we will be going from a 3,000 sqft house to a 1333 apartment.  I choose to view this as an opportunity to draw closer as a family as the bigger the house the more spread out and off alone upstairs the older girls.  They will be gone before I know it we get to live like we are on vacation for the next two month or until God directs us to our new home. 

 

2) Second lesson to contentment is found in changing the way you see the situations – looking at the bright side or finding the silver lining.  A few foundational truths that have helped my outlook are found in:

A) Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future You can be content with your life and your future knowing God has plans for your life and He has given you hope.  Our family clings to this truth and we have it hung on our wall as a reminder. 

 

B) Your perspective on how you view life is better when you remember that even your trials have a purpose in your spiritual growth. Your perspective makes all the difference in the world and it influences how you respond to problems.  Is the glass half empty or half full. Let’s look at  James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Also 2 Corinthians 4: 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

There is nothing that happens in life by accident.  My life has been transformed mostly because of the hardships and trials of life.  Life is a series of trials.  Every time you solve one, another is waiting to take its place.  Not all are big but all are significant in God’s growth process for us.  Trails draw us closer to God.  I desire that God uses each situation to conform to His imagine and teach me to be content.  On this side of heaven nothing will ever be perfect.  We are to be faithful in circumstances we find ourselves.  Trails are a test of our resolve. Trails strengthen our character and can glorify God is we allow them to.   

 

3) The third lesson I have learned is that the journey to content is a two part process.  I am responsible for my part and God will be faithful with His part.  Turn with me to Philippians 4:4-9.  I will go verse by verse and lay out the various parts.

 

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Our part is seen in v. 4- 6

o       Rejoice

o       Do not be anxious or (worry)

o       Pray

o       Give thanks

 

I find it amazing that Paul begins this exhortation saying to rejoice not once but twice.  When Paul wrote this he wasn’t living the carefree life you might expect. He was in prison, had been beaten and was alone.  Not the American life of comfort but yet he said he had learned to be content, tells us to rejoice and not worry.  The secret of contentment is Christ in us, not us in a different set of circumstances.  Our anxiety should be the very thing that gets us on our knees to pray specifically as well as with thanksgiving. 

 

What is worry?   “to strangle” or “to choke off”  and that is exactly what worry and fear in the mind does; it chokes off the creative flow from above.

 

Worry is a route which leads from somewhere to nowhere.  Don’t let it direct your life. Take God’s advice found in 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 

What a comforting promise.  As believers why worry as scriptures tells us we have a God who is our refuge, strength, He will meet our every need and is there when we need him, He is our hiding place and so much more. ( Ps 9:9, 32:7, 46:1-3; Phil 4:19)

 

George Muller said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”  True as when we worry aren’t we saying “God you can’t”  If we are walking in anxiety we’re not walking in faith. 

 

Let me differentiate between anxiety and depression as I learned from Minirty and Meir clinic.  Anxiety is linked more often to the future, “What if” and depression is past focused.  So anxiety is a mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of real or imagined danger or misfortune.  Anxiety causes us to react when necessary [a child running into the path of an oncoming car – anxiety is good as we react to protect the child] but how much time and energy is wasted over perceived danger? Jon’s company might never sale, our financial situation will not get better, we will not be able to pay for the girls college or weddings, I or my children might have cancer, etc… by the way the girls are both in college one with a full scholarship given by a friend and the other one has most of her school paid.  

 

A French philosopher Montaigne said “My life has been filled with such terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.” 

 

Other quotes/stories I like are:

• Worry is like a rocking chair it gives you something to do but gets you know where.
• “Fear and worry are interest paid in advance on something you may never own.” i.e. There’s a story that is told about a woman who was standing on a street corner crying profusely.  A man came up to her and asked why she was weeping.  The lady shook her head and replies:  “I was just thinking that maybe someday I would get married.  We would later have a beautiful baby girl.  Then one day this child and I would go for a walk along this street, come to this corner and my darling daughter would run into the street, get hit by a car, and die.” 

 

Sounds silly but isn’t this the way we often respond when we worry?  We take a situation or event which might never exist and build it up all out of proportion in our mind.  I did the very thing this past May as I had to have gall bladder surgery and I let my mind drift to not waking from the surgery, leaving behind Jon and the girls, to the point I had tears as I wrote in each of the love journals.  Contentment is ultimately a shift in attitude than a change in circumstances. 

 

More importantly anxiety and worry are wrong and sinful because of reasons given above (lack of faith and trust). Also Jesus commands us not to worry 5 times alone in Matthew 6:25-34 Worry is a faith problem – as we do not trust God when we worry.  It is our duty and privilege to rejoice in God, and to rejoice in him always; at all times, in all conditions; even when we suffer for him, or are afflicted by him. ^  1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

 

God’s part is seen in v. 7

• Peace

The good news is if we pray instead of worrying we will experience God’s peace.  So if you feel anxious and fearful vs. being content ask yourself have you done your part (are we rejoicing, praying, and praying with thanksgiving?)  It’s easier said than done.  I know first handed as there have been many times that I would follow this formula and my mind still dwells on the “what ifs” “whys” or “if onlys” of a circumstance.  In fact as I prepare for this I’ve prayed many times this month and these past years for the potential buyer of BiM to make an offer and my days have turned into weeks, months and years and we still have no offer.    However, when I choose to pray vs. worry about our future financial situation or whether BiM will be bought I experience peace. EXAMPLE – last Friday when we finally heard from the potential buyer it was not the price we had hoped for, not the time frame, thus we have months of waiting ahead of us with great uncertainty.  Share about walk, talk, and then prayer time together and as family as the peace we all experienced.

 

4) The fourth lesson I have learn is that when the peace begins to dissipate I choose to “REMEMBER” the promises of God and His past goodness to me.  The best way to survive life when a curve is thrown your direction is to remember who God is and what He has done in the past for you. Psalm 77:11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. And Jonah 2:7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.  This year I started a study on how often we are told to remember in scripture.  I have been surprised by the number of times I have circled the word remember and I will remember in my bible.

Deut. 8:18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

Deut. 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

Each year in writing I summarize our high and low points of the year.  As milestones or answered pray is realized I write them down in form a thank you.   You know what I’ve realized?  When we are in the midst of a storm or dark period it is hard to remember the many blessings we have experienced thus the importance of writing them down. 

 

Continuing on with Our Part as seen in v. 8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

 

• Maintain a positive thought life.

 

One verse has done more to transform my life than any other and is found in Proverbs 23:7 As a man think in his heart so is he.  Our thought life has such an incredible impact on us.  In Romans 12:2 we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  So what exactly is excellent or praiseworthy?  I hold before you a love letter filled with wonderful promises found starting in Genesis all the way to Revelation.   This is what we need to dwell on as it is the remedy for discontent.

 

Our part and God’s part in v.9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

• (our part) We have to practice what we have learned and heard
• (God’s part) God’s peace will be with us.

 

When I hear the word practice I think about something you have to do over and over to learn and become proficient at and this is true with contentment for as we practice peace and content will follow.  It is then we can say in any circumstance that it is well with my soul.   

 

Paul tells us we are to practice “these things,” it is our choice to

• Give our anxieties to God
• Pray specifically
• Pray with thanksgiving
• Dwell on the positives.

So do you practice substituting prayer for worry, positive for negative thought life, and are you experiencing the God of peace?  It’s your choice to practice these things.  

 

 

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  ^5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ^6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ^7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ^8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ^9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. 

 

The Israelites have been wandering for many years and finally they are about to enter the Promise Land.  Moses demands their diligent attention to the word of God, and His statutes and judgments that were taught them.  The book of Deuteronomy shows the blessings of obedience and the curse of disobedience. God warns them to not be influenced by the sin of idolatry 4:16-17 Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, ^ so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape;    Idolatry would be everywhere they went and would greatly mess up their lives.  God knew the Israelites were going to be influenced by the many people and different cultures they encountered so over and over He implores them to let His words, promises and past deeds to not only influence them but also their children and future generations.   As I prepared for this it occurred to me that Moses wasn’t just talking to the Israelites he was probably extremely passionate, emotional, and almost pleading with them as he knows how important obedience was.  Everything depended on their obedience – life itself, possession of the Promised Land, victory over their enemies, prosperity, and happiness. 

 

^ Imagine that you are passionately sharing the above with a loved one.  I thought of my daughters and how I would be pleading with them. Hear/listen Caryn: The LORD OUR God is the only one you need. Caryn love the LORD with everything you have. Make Him number one.  Please study His word daily to know what He expects of you and to know Him.   Remind other you love to keep God first and foremost in their lives by the example you live wherever you are. Share God’s goodness whenever possible. 

 

The above passage is often taught in the context of parenting and home education but I want to challenge you to consider that this passage applies to us as teachers and Christ bearers. We all have someone who either looks up to us or will look up to us.  I’m sure you can think back to someone or something that greatly influenced you. I can vividly remember the first Christian couple/parents who discipled Jon and I after accepting Christ.  Their influence on my life was huge as I did not want to have children because of my childhood baggage but how this couple interacted with their young boys, as well as each other opened my world up to parenting and marriage unlike anything  I had experienced growing.  Likewise, the influence of those responsible for my care and nurturing negatively tainted my view on marriage and parenting.  We all have been influenced and have influence on others whether we realize it or not.  Through our influence we impart values, stimulate creativity, develop compassion, modify weaknesses, and nurture strengths.  We can open life up to another individual.  And we can open an individual up to life.  So what exactly is influence?   It is ability to indirectly control or affect the actions of other people or things. The meaning of influence therefore depends on who or what is being affected, and to what end.  

 

Here is a video called Children see – Children do  it is put out by an Australian children’s rights organization as a public service announcement.  It is easy to think that kids are not paying much attention to what the adults in their lives do and say.  However, I think you will agree otherwise.

http://www.thethinkingblog.com/2007/06/children-see-children-do.html   Make your influence positive but how?  As Christians we have the greatest privilege to influence others for Christ which is what I would like to focus on today.

 

Influence first begins with YOU v 5 ________ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  Then we are to take Gods words He speaks, and write them “on our hearts.” God says in various passages, “You are My people; I love you.  I have chosen you; I am always with you, I will protect you.  I am only asking you to obey Me for your good.  We need to make God’s words a part of our lives by letting His teachings reshape our values, attitudes, and our ways.  We are to love God ourselves and take His words to heart.  Because God’s people are His, He wants them to walk in the world in the way that benefits them, separating themselves from evil.  Once our lives are influenced by the goodness of God and His word we are to talk about them in the context of daily life, and so make them real to others.  Through our lives we set an example for others to follow as we no longer are merely hears of the word we are doers as well.

 

I will next will share the how, where, when and what of positive influence. The next step to positively influencing those in your life is accomplished HOW?  In Deuteronomy 6:7 we are instructed to impress (teach or talk) to our children diligently using the relationship-based model because to “teach” in the Hebrew culture meant building a relationship, spending time with a person in order to learn from watching him and interacting with him. WHERE? “When you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Today this may look more like as you drive all over town, at bedtime, during mealtimes and the many other teachable moments. WHEN?  Basically we are to be teaching and impressing truth 24/7.  Our children will learn from us – good or bad, positive or negative, be of God or the world.   Former NBA star “Sir” Charles Barkly said “I don’t want to be a role model”. Silly, that’s simply not our choice. We only have two choices in the matter; to be either a positive or negative role model, but it’s one or the other!  

 

 

WHAT?

1) We are to teach and impress primarily that Jesus is Christ as seen in Acts 5:42 which says Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute  

2) Scripture is truth – as opposed to fables, false doctrine, and genealogies (1 Tim 1:3).   

3) lastly we read in (2 Tim. 3:16-17 ; All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.)   So we are to use the Scripture to:

1)    establish doctrine by declaring what is right;

2)    provide reproof by defining what is wrong; 

3)    make corrections by telling how to change wrong to right;

4)    to instruct in righteousness – applying truth to life’s circumstances.

The ultimate goal for the teacher is to see her students engage in good works.  Jesus is the example of what a teacher is to be and how to influence others.

 

Moving on in v. 8-9 Godly influence must be consistent.  v8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  Moses’ command here is a symbolic one, intended to emphasize the value of one living for god in their personal life represented by hands = (action/what you do/how you live) & forehead = (one’s thoughts); their private life/home life (doorframe of the house); and their public life (gate).  The idea here is that of consistency as one’s life of influence should not simply be to live for God in public, but in private, as well as in his personal affairs.  Who are you when no one is looking? People will know you are a Christian by the way you live your life.   If one is going to make a godly impression upon others, his life must be characterized by godly example and consistency. You see, it is unreasonable to expect others to listen to your advice but to ignore your example as people normally pay more attention to what we do, rather than to what we say. 

 

Scott Adams, the cartoonist of Far Side said, “You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.”

 

Each day we are in immediate danger of falling prey to the influence of American culture.  The remedy is allowing daily influence from God’s word to penetrate our lives in order to counteract the bombardment of worldly influence.  Remember Godly influence must be Christ centered, it begins with you, and is consistent.  I challenge you to consider whether you are allowing God’s truth, His past goodness, and promises to influence more than the worldly god’s?  What god’s are you allowing to influence your life? Maybe it’s prosperity, successful, beauty, power, prestige, etc.  Choose today who or what you will be influenced by.    Make your influence not only positive but Christ centered.  

I am fearful of heights. In January Jon and I attended a retreat with several teachers from our church (Austin Stone Community Church). Part of the day on Saturday was spent doing group team building exercises on a ropes course.

What happens when you have a group of teacher/leaders together? You quickly learned if you want to succeed as a group that having to many chiefs creates chaos and confusion. Also good communication is important for success. The last task was optional and my personal challenge (as I fear heights). I was quickly hoisted toward the top of a pole about 40 feet up by those on the ground. I held in my hand a rope that determined when I would fall. I held onto this rope tightly with both hands as a begged to be let down for several minutes. Why was I terrified even though 10 people had done this before me with enthusiasm? Did I mention that they were all much younger and many without children? It’s crazy what fear does to our minds. Remember earlier I mentioned that this was about team building. As I was whining for them to let me down they were encouraging and cheering me on. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thess. 5:11 Left to myself I would not have let go of the rope but being spurred on by the others I eventually had to let go. I will not lie as it was crazy free falling like that but by the second swing WOW! it was exhilarating and then even peaceful swinging around. However, once was enough for me.

This made me think about the many things people hold tightly onto (relationships, money, job security, children, etc.) As a parent of three girls (19, 17, and almost 7) thankfully many years ago Jon and I came to understand that our children were temporary gifts from God. They did not belong to us rather were on loan to us from God and we would eventually have to let them go.

The more you trust and pray for God’s involvement in your child’s life, the less possessive and reluctant you will be to release them into His hands. For me I have had to let go on many fronts already and am still learning to let go of seeing my child as an extension of myself; Let go of the desire to control her; Let go of my expectations for my children; Let go of rescuing them from failure; Let go of my need to be appreciated (this is the hardest for me); Thankfully letting go is a gradual process and we are given many opportunities to practice from their first baby steps, going off to Kindergarten, getting their drivers license, graduating from high school, going to Africa for 6 months, college, etc… I know I can let go because they belong to Him and that gives me great peace. Below is a poem I came across in “Give Them Wings” by Carol Kuykendall. May you be encouraged.

Letting Go: A Relinquishment Foundational to Our Faith

To let go doesn’t mean to stop caring, it means I can’t do it for someone else.

To let go is not to cut myself off,it’s the realization that I can’t control another.

To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.

To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To let go is not to try to change or blame another; I can only change myself.

To let go is not to care for, but to care about.

To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.

To let go is not to be protective; it is to permit another to face reality.

To let go is not to deny but accept.

To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.

To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes.

To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can be.

To let go is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To let go is to fear less and love more.

— Anonymous

  “The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift not a right.”  ********  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:6-7

There are things in life that happen and we question why.  Such has been the case this past month, i.e. The company not being bought, continued financial struggles, friends struggling with health issues at a such a young age, aging and memory loss of a loved one, and even the unexpected death of a young (42) man leaving behind his wife and two young daughters on Christmas morning.

Early yesterday morning as I lay awake at 3am I asked God, “why did you allow BiM to get to the very end (all paper work signed and ready to go) and then not allow the company to sale?”  God is big and I think he is ok with our honest questions (see the Psalms). It was so cool when Jon called me at 9am to let me know that the once interested company who at the last minute said, “not at this time”  is now up for sale – a big deal stopper.  Thus was the WHY behind the no.

However, there are many things in this life I will never fully understand but I know God is in control and I can trust His best for my life.  Psalm 63:8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.  Jeremiah 17:7 blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.