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Category Archives: Spiritual Growth

Building a Rock-Solid Legacy of Faith

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Four generations of my family gathered this week at my parents’ home. My mom and dad longed to see their first great-grandchild, but cannot make the long highway drive to go to him. So, I traveled from Houston to Dallas, picked up my daughter Kelley and her one-year old Micah, and together we made the trip to Shreveport.

legacy of faith

My mom, daughter, father, and grandson

It’s a little weird being in the middle of the generational line. I am that proverbial “sandwich.” On one side, I’m pressed by the bittersweet journey of watching my aging parents and all that comes with the process. On the other, stands the joyful excitement of walking with my daughter and son-in-law as they parent my first grandchild.

Cord of Faith

As I contemplate this inevitable life role, I am thankfully aware of an invisible, but strong, cord running both directions. From my parents through me to my daughter and beyond, flows a current of faith in Christ our Savior. It binds our hearts and lives together now and into eternity.

My mother and father’s commitment before my birth to obey God’s call to parents initiated this faith flow. They took God’s Word seriously.

4 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 on 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. Deuteronomy 6:4-9, NIV

My parents’ obedience not only pointed me toward a saving relationship with Christ, it also fostered a desire to continue this legacy of faith as my husband and I raised our own children. And now Kelley and Jeremy embrace the same responsibility with precious Micah.

Leave a Spiritual Legacy

In honor of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, this post is the first in a series about building a legacy of faith in our families. For the rest of May, we will see what the Bible says on the topic and consider practical ways we can foster faith in Christ in the heart of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and anyone else God has placed into our lives.  I’d love to have you along for the journey!

Did your parents work to pass down a legacy of faith to you? If so, what difference did it make in your life? Have you committed to passing along your faith to the next generation?

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Some Rambling Thoughts about Excess and Where They Might Be Leading

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Warning. I’m going to ramble today. I’m not sure where my thoughts are headed, but I know God wants me to explore them.

Over the last few years, I’ve grown increasingly uncomfortable over not only the excess of our culture, but also the excess in my own life.

Some of the signs of my personal excess? Jeans a bit too tight, spoiling food in the fridge, and caffeine addiction. Empty rooms in the house, but no empty hangers in the closet.

excess, materialismThe contemplation escalated when my husband set a tentative retirement date. We began talking more about the details. Where will we live? How much money will be required for our twilight years? What kind of house do we “need?”

The conversations with my husband sparked additional thoughts. How much is enough? How do we define “need?” How much should we keep and how much should we give?

Same message of “excess” from different directions

God has repeatedly called the issue to my attention. About a month ago, I saw Mike Huckabee interview Francis Chan. The pastor talked honestly about his own journey to downsize his family’s life. To make room for others and their needs.

Last week the ladies Bible study coordinator at church handed me a copy of “The 7 Experiment” by Jen Hatmaker to review for possible use. I knew immediately it wasn’t a coincidence. Here’s the description on the back of the book:

Fight back against overindulgence, materialism, and greed by joining Jen Hatmaker in “The 7 Experiment.” This 9-session Bible study will teach you how to stage a mutiny against excess in seven critical areas of life. Food. Clothes. Possessions. Media. Waste. Spending. Stress. Come honest and ready to untangle the clutter in your life. Discover how temporarily disengaging from excess can allow God’s heart to break through your stuff and open your eyes to the things that really matter.

Hmm. I think she’s got something. “Stuff” can easily get in the way of real, spiritual substance.

Warning about excess from God’s Word too

This morning I read this from the pen of Peter:

As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in His divine nature. So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life.

2 Peter 1:3-5a, NLT

God calls us to lives of holiness through a growing knowledge of Christ. But the “decadence” or “corruption” of the world can easily get in the way.  Our desire for physical things enslaves us. It holds our thoughts, time, and energy captive.  The craving for “more” feeds the diseased condition of our souls like sugar feeds yeast.

At the least, the clutter of “excess” distracts us from doggedly pursuing the things of God. But the potential for much worse crouches near. Ignoring those in need. Being consumed by greed and selfishness.

I don’t know where this exploration is headed. I long to want to follow wherever God leads. Will it be a physical reduction of the material things in my life? Perhaps. Will it include purposefully seeking out those in need? Likely. But, I’m not sure yet of all the ramifications.

Let’s talk about this today:

  • Have you had any of the same thoughts?
  • Do you see excess in your own life?
  • How does our materialistic culture affect our faith?
  • And most importantly, what do we need to do about it?

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Deep Roots, Abundant Fruit

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Earlier this month, my husband and I visited New York City. The ultimate tourists, we took in a concert at Madison Square Garden, two Broadway plays, a walking food tour through Greenwich Village, and a Yankees game.

One of the highlights of our time in Manhattan was the four hours we spent Sunday afternoon exploring Central Park. Although we did not plan it, our trip coincided with the blooming of the cherry trees.

Meditating on God's Word, Psalm 1The first cherry trees planted in Central Park were brought from Japan about 100 years ago. Today, two different varieties stand on a gentle slope named Cherry Hill, overlooking a large lake. People come to admire the blooms and relax on the scenic hillside.

Year after year, the trees bloom in season. Year after year, the people enjoy their beauty.

The site of the blooming cherry trees reminded me of one of my favorite passages of Scripture.  The very first psalm likens those who delight themselves in God’s Word to a tree that bears its fruit each season.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners of sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3, NIV

Those Central Park cherry trees don’t worry about whether they will bloom and produce fruit each year. Yet they do because their location provides everything they need to fulfill their God-ordained purpose. Their roots soak up water and nutrients from the surrounding soil. The result is beautiful and fruitful.

We don’t have to worry whether our lives will be of use to God or benefit others. If we simply “plant” ourselves in God’s Word and soak it in, He will fulfill His purposes in and through us.

Green leaves. Beautiful blossoms. Nourishing fruit. The natural result of a life rooted in God’s Word.

Where are you planted? Do the roots of your life go deep into the eternal truths of God’s Word? What can you do to purposefully grown your roots deep into His Word?

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You Do What You Think

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If “you are what you eat” is true, then I’m a big ‘ole chocolate-covered coffee bean.

Yes, I consume a lot of chocolate and coffee. And while I also eat lean meat and fresh fruits and veggies, I’m sure I would be healthier if I cut back on my favs!

Everyone recognizes our diets directly affect the health and working of our bodies. And while we may not eat right 100% of the time, most of us try to do what’s best for our bodies overall.Our thinking dictates our behavior

We Do What We Think

But are we as careful with our spiritual health? The Bible shows a direct correlation between what we put into our minds and our spiritual health. The way we think directly affects our character and behavior. The apostle Paul put it like this:

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is. Romans 12:2, NLT

In order for the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ, our thinking must first be changed. If we fill our minds with the “wisdom” of the world and its ways that’s exactly what will come out in our character and behavior.

An Example from My Own Life

Years ago I started reading a popular detective book series. I noticed from the beginning that the language was less than acceptable for a believer who shouldn’t allow “any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). But the stories were engaging and, after all, just because I “read” it didn’t mean I agreed with it or would ever say it, right? So I kept reading.

Somewhere into the third book of the series I noticed with horror that sometimes when an emotional situation arose, one of those words I had been reading on the page popped into my mind. Thankfully they didn’t come out of my mouth, but I have no doubt they would have if I continued to read the books.

God quickly and clearly showed me the connection between what I allowed into my mind and what would eventually come out in my behavior. I threw those books away. Lest you think me “super spiritual” I confess that I don’t always obey God so quickly. However, I am thankful I did this time. I would have been crushed if one of those words came out of my mouth in front of my children – or my pastor!

Let’s Be Transformed, Not Conformed

What our culture considers “good, moral, and acceptable” is a far cry from the truth of God’s Word. When we watch, read, and participate in things out of line with God’s truth our thinking becomes desensitized. As our thinking shifts and conforms to the world our character and behavior will follow.

We will do what we think.

Let’s ask God to show us where our thinking is out of line with His truth. Let’s ask Him to transform our thinking and improve our spiritual health. Let’s start today!

What things in our culture do you feel have the most negative impact on believer’s thinking? How can we guard ourselves and allow God to renew our thinking and align it with His?

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The Sacred Cow of Busyness

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What is your usual response to this question: “How are you?”

Many – if not most of you – probably answered with something like this: “Fine. Busy.”

I hear it every day – sometimes out of my own mouth. Over the last few years, I’ve noticed the shift. It seems we can’t be “fine” unless we are also busy. And most of us are busy. Really busy.

Busy and Proud of It!

We’re up before the sun, pound the pavement or the keyboard all day long, and spend the after-work hours doing housework and helping with homework or cheering at ballgames and volunteering. We’re crazy busy and proud of it.

Our American culture values busyness. We tend to see a “busy” person as someone who is in demand, talented, and indispensable. “Busy” is good. Downtime is bad.

Fed Up with Flat FaithThe Danger of Busy

So what’s wrong with “busy?” Everyone is doing it. It’s just the way these days, right?

Our society encourages us to push the limits of our time, resources, and physical ability in order to do more, make more, and be more. And we teach our children to do the same.

Often, these limit-busters are positive, beneficial activities. But over-pursuing has a price. We’re too busy for unhurried conversation with our families. Too busy for physical rest and renewal. Too busy to foster existing relationships or develop new ones.

But the greatest danger of “busy” is little room remains for God. No time to soak in His presence. No time to seek His guidance. No time to respond to God when He calls. No time to develop deep intimacy with the only One who can meet our every need.

Dethrone the Idol of Busyness

I’m not saying we should run our calendar through the shredder. God’s plan us includes good works. But God also designed our bodies. He knows our limits. He created us with the need to rest, refresh, and relate.

God desires our lives to be “full,” not busy. “Busy” is packed with activity – some purposed by God, but a lot purposed strictly by us. “Full,” on the other hand, describes a life filled up with the plans, purposes, and peace of God. A “full” life will be characterized by relationships, service, good works, and time. Time to focus on things that matter for eternity.

I challenge you to do something that could change your life, your relationships, and your faith. Commit to moving from a “busy” life to a “full” life. You can start by seriously evaluating the way you spend your time. (Download this PDF for guidance in evaluating your time commitments.)

Once you’ve made some time cuts, make a fresh commitment to your relationship with God. Regular time with Jesus will help you leave “busy” behind and fall headlong into the full, abundant life He promised!

Would you describe your life as “busy” or “full?” What activity takes up the most time?

 

This post is based on a topic from chapter three of “Fed Up with Flat Faith: 10 Attitudes and Actions to Pump Up Your Faith.”

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