tattoos on ash wednesday

today while in the restroom, a little boy who had to be about 3 years old came up to me and asked if i had a tattoo on my forehead. i loved his innocence and curiosity, all rolled into one. i quickly thought of how to respond. this was my chance to tell someone about Jesus. even though i had imagined i would usually be witnessing to someone older, i still needed to let God use me in this instance.

i told the little boy it was a sign to represent Jesus. then his mom chimed in explaining that today was ash wednesday and people put a mark on their foreheads to remind them about Jesus. it was a sweet conversation and i'm so glad i was there where God needed me.

now, i sit at home still thinking about this. i think about how blessed i am to openly wear a sign of Christ, reminding me and those i come in contact with of His great sacrifice for us all. i also wonder how i can use that sign that i will wear just for today, throughout my lenten journey.

can i take that simple conversation and allow it to lead me closer to God?

will i allow God to use me in ways like that again?

my response is that i hope so...that my eyes, ears, and even heart will be open to simplistic things-
just like what happened today.

...from dust you came, to dust you shall return (genesis 3:19)...

follow the leader

remember the game we used to play as a child? the only good part about it was being the leader. it wasn't as fun being the follower, unless there was the hope of one day leading the pack. as an adult, i feel like i can still play that game...except i still want to be the leader, when the greater One is there to lead.

it's easy with life situations to do this. take the lead over from God and then when things are tough or even going smoothly, i can give the lead back to God for awhile. and this game continues on into adulthood.

you see, i can take the lead because God won't fight me for it. He won't push me out of the way. He just graciously steps aside, knowing that i will fail, but loving me through it anyway.

so now it's my turn to give up the lead. if i say God is my leader, i need to commit to it and follow through with my words.

i know i will just be in the pack with everyone else,

but that's where i should be.

the know it all

okay, i'm not talking about myself when i title this "the know it all" because i am far from that. i like to think i do know it all, but am constantly reminded that i don't. and for that, i am grateful. however, i'm sure that we all know someone who tends to take on that role, as annoying as it might be.

take for instance peter in luke 5:1-11. peter is trying to tell Jesus that he can't catch fish because they already tried to do so all night long, to no avail. did you catch that? peter is trying to tell Jesus something. i love this because it makes me smile as i am reminded of how much i am like peter. i think i have the answers, instead of being open to Jesus' teaching.

peter then decides to let the nets down to try and catch fish, as Jesus requested. and as peter does this, i wonder what the thoughts are that are running through his head. peter knows that it's impossible to catch fish right now, but because of Jesus it becomes possible.

it's the impossible becoming possible.

and all done because peter let Jesus in. he became open to Jesus, humbled himself, and was taught.

and i wonder if i'm open like that.
i think i am, but in reality am i really?

are you open to experience God like that?

words of wisdom

today my friend reminded me that "perfection is found in the atoning grace of God, not in societal thinking."

why is it then do we get so caught up in what society values and thinks? i know it's because we tend to crave acceptance and validation of others, instead of worrying about getting those things from God. all of this makes me realize that i need to be reprogrammed to think differently.

when Jesus was out ministering, we know that He was with the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the ill/diseased. i am reminded of how others viewed Him for doing that. then i think of how Jesus saw perfection in those people. which made me wonder, do i do the same?

do i see perfection in all people, or do i only see perfection in the ones that society values?

am i so quick to judge others, instead of viewing them as God does?

and i know i don't see perfection in all people. i know i worry about how others will view me for accepting someone or something. and sometimes that worry even taints my point of view. i'm too caught up in gaining approval from others, instead of gaining approval from God.

which makes me realize that today, i need the Spirit to mold me and my heart to help me to do this. i need God to work in my life, to remind me of what His perfection is and where i can see it. and my prayer is that the grace of God can open all of our eyes to His perfection and beauty that He sees in each and everyone of us.

after all, we were created in His image (genesis 1:27), should we see others as anything less?

God moments

if you're anything like me, you have those moments in life where you know God was there giving the right words or actions to another person, just for you to experience. today, that happened to me.

i had been recently praying about something in my life, not knowing the direction. clarity came today, when a few simple words were spoken from another person. the ironic thing is, i didn't realize it until much later in the day. once i did, i felt peace knowing God was there.

today, i am thankful for that moment God gave to me,
and i pray that you may be open to one as well.

...stuff

in our culture today, we always want more or the best of something. it is almost as if we're programed to crave the latest technology, clothing, automobiles, you name it. i fall victim to this as much as anyone else.

when it comes down to it, don't we actually have less, even though it looks like we have more?

here's what i mean, we constantly want more....stuff. and it's just...stuff, that's filling some pain or void in our lives. a temporary fix to some problem, covering like a band-aid. but as we all try to fix ourselves this way, what is really being destroyed in the meantime?

for me, it's time to hear the voice of Jesus on my heart. He wants that deeper relationship with me, with you. and as i start to acknowledge that voice, it starts to get louder. i have to remember to let the voice be heard, to not shut it out because He's better than all this...stuff we have.

so, are we all willing to let this stuff go and grab onto something more deeper and more meaningful in life?

fear

fear is a powerful thing. it's not a huge revelation, nor is it anything new to many of us.

we can allow it to control us,
to determine our path in life,
and even become a stronger voice than God.

and why do you or i allow this to happen?

it takes courage to fight fear head on. to take hope in the future and trust in God. and sometimes it is very hard to tap into that courage, to find it deep within ourselves. because sometimes it's buried so deep within us that we have forgotten how to use it.

but when we walk through those hard times, God is with us. isaiah 43:2 states, "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

i find comfort in that fact that God will be with me, that He'll be with you.

so whatever fear or fearful situation you are battling right now, take comfort knowing that God is there with you. He's told us..

"I will be with you"

so, are you with Him?