Dear Sons & Daughters Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Catherine Nelson

I pray for my children all the time. I know that you do the same for yours. I pray for their safety, their health and their friendships. I pray that they will find success on the tests that they take and for their success in the gym and on the court. I pray about their college choices and their future spouses and children. I have been able to witness God answering those petitions with “yes’s” and “no’s”.

Our family has been able to rejoice in the blessings of having relatively healthy kids. They are doing fine in school and have great friends, but they have bombed exams, wrecked their cars, lost their games and their tempers. They have had broken bones and broken hearts. My prayers for them change as much as the seasons do, but the one prayer that I pray daily is that each of them would come to know and love Jesus Christ.

All four of our teens are in different places in their spiritual lives, but just like me… and just like you… they all need more Jesus. As their mom, there is nothing I desire more or pray more about than my hope of spending eternity with them as my very own brothers and sisters. I long for an eternity where our greatest desire and privilege is to spend all our time in a Jesus praising relationship. This promised and beautiful joy-filled heavenly adventure is what we were all made for. Our chief end is to glorify the Lord and enjoy Him forever. I will relentlessly pray for their spiritual lives until the day I die. I am certain I will also continue to pray for their relationships, health, safety, tests and all the other circumstances that fill their daily lives.

I am obviously looking forward to heaven, but while I am still here, I haven’t always been great about in rejoicing when God says “No”. I can paste a smile on my face and quote Romans 8:28 just as quickly as anyone else who’s circumstances are laterally discouraging, but I sound like Eeyore:

“Well… God said “No” about something I have been praying really hard about  (sigh) and of course, He is good and something better will come out of this because God knows better. Even if I NEVER know what the good thing is… I trust God. (sigh)I love Him and He knows it. He knows what is best for me… lalalalala (sigh)” Romans 8:28 is a comforting verse and there is powerful truth preached in it, but I think that it is often applied like a Band-Aid when well-meaning Christians cannot make sense of a painful situation.

Romans 8:28 offers so much more than the glossy fix of a Band-Aid. When you break it down, it is the most encouraging answer to my greatest prayer of “Just Give Me Jesus.” This petition that I pray daily for my kids is answered so beautifully in this well-known verse:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.” (NIV)

I love God and the “good for me who loves Him” is to become more like Him. God is good. I know it. If I love God, I want to know Him and I want to become conformed to his image. There is nothing I should want more, and there is nothing I should want more for my children. His purpose in creating me (and you) is that we would glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. God gets the glory when we become like his son. He uses everything in our lives for our good with that purpose.

When we petition God for anything, He hears us. He hears and cares about every single one of the prayers we offer up to Him. Every answer He gives is His perfect way of conforming us to Christ. God uses ALL things for the GOOD of those who love Him and are called according to His Purpose. So….. your kid bombs the ACT: Good! God is using it to conform her to Christ. Your child arrived safely home when you prayed for travel mercies: Good! God is using this to conform him to Christ. When we grasp how big God is and how He hears all our prayers and uses ALL THINGS for good, it becomes much easier to rejoice. We can replace our Eeyore voice with a song of jubilation, because there is nothing we should desire more than to become more like Jesus. There is nothing we should want more for our children than for them to know and love Jesus more everyday. All of this is truly good stuff.

 “What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who buy something, should live as if it were not theirs to keep;  those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” 1 Cor 7:29-31 <abbr> (NIV)

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:36-38 (NIV)

 

This month I had the privilege of attending a National “Fly-in” in Washington DC. I accompanied my husband and dozens of paving contractors to the Capitol in order to encourage members of congress to support and approve funding for the infrastructure bill. I only had one job, and it was to observe and listen. It isn’t often that I am asked to be quiet, but on this particular day while rushing from senators’ offices to the offices of our congressmen, in one of the busiest places in our country, where everyone has an opinion, I got to play the role of the fly on the wall; I was fascinated. I witnessed the contractors poignantly express the urgency to invest in highways and I watched the elected officials calculate. Because I did not need to spend anytime constructing a reaction, I saw very clearly who cared about our plight and who didn’t. I saw congressmen tolerate the appointments with no intention of supporting our cause because they had their own passion projects and I noted when one congressman met and matched our zeal for the infrastructure bill. When our day on the hill was finished, I was able to clearly synopsize for the group who I believed had their back and who clearly did not. I got a clear picture because I shut up and listened.

I am learning to listen, and I have a lot of learning to do. I really can’t tell you how many times I have heard one of my exasperated children say, “Mom, I told you that already”, or “Mom, don’t you remember? I reminded you 3 times this week!”. I am guilty of tuning them out while I busy around my kitchen or only give them partial attention while I try to catch the headlines on the nightly news. I also am guilty of simply enduring their prattle (and I use the word “prattle” intentionally. They are teenagers, for goodness sake) while I create arguments and teaching analogies to make a strong point to manipulate their decision-making. In all of these examples, I am blatantly guilty of not listening.

The most frustrating pattern in my life as a non-listener is in my relationship with the Lord. Every morning, before I go to Him in prayer or journal or read my Bible, I try to spend 10-15 minutes totally quiet and listening. Every morning, I end up filling the space with distracting thoughts, expressions of guilt, and to-do lists. That “still, quiet space” that everyone’s spirit needs is very small in my very busy day. When I am quiet and I am disciplined enough to shut up and listen, I receive so much blessing. Those precious moments are intimate and nourishing and they require humility and discipline.

Jesus was much busier than I am and He had a whole lot more to say, but He made quiet time before the Lord His priority. He was God and knew The Father better than anyone and yet He wouldn’t go a day without being quiet and committing Himself to that sacred silent time.

The practice of shutting up and listening does not come naturally to us, but just because it is difficult is no reason to give up. The greatest blessings almost always seem to come from the more challenging lessons. As I am learning to listen, I have found that all my discipline and good intentions of trying to be quiet are not enough. I must humble myself and admit to the Lord how big a struggle this is for me. He already knows it and has provided me a helper in the Holy Spirit to encourage me and guide me. Our evil and clever enemy wants nothing more than to keep us from really getting to know God. He is great at distraction and confusion and guilt and He knows the danger his mission is in when we get intimate with the one who will crush his head.

Dear friends, learn with me how to shut up and listen. We will be so blessed as we let go of all our self-importance and invest in getting to know the people in our midst. We will be so blessed when we stop and listen to our kids. Our kids have things to say and as experienced and as seasoned as we are, our kids really can teach us a thing or two. We also have the benefit of knowing how to pray for them and guide them if we really are aware of what their concerns, questions and passions are. Lastly, we will be so richly blessed if we shut up and listen during our time with the Lord. He loves us, and he wants to hear what we have to say, but y’all…. He already knows. He knows our minds and hearts; He created them. As much as we have to say to Him or praise Him for, we have that much more to get to know about Him. Be disciplined to prioritize this still and quiet space with the King of Kings. Be blessed to let Him reveal Himself to you.

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV)

“She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” Luke 10:39 (NIV)

Dear friends, as always, I would love to know what you think. How have you learned to make listening a priority… with accquaintances, your kids and the Lord? Thank you. XO c

Our family has found itself wading through a season of heartbreak. Everyone has these seasons and no matter how long the duration, we all need comfort. This morning, as I practiced being quiet before the Lord, His Spirit kept gently whispering the words of Psalm 23 to my hurting soul. I spent the rest of my time in prayer breaking down these well-known verses line by line. I would love to encourage each of you to find some time to break down your favorite passages in scripture. What does it say? What does it mean? What does it mean to you? I hope my time in Psalm 23 will enrich your day. Thank you for sharing my journey.

The Lord is my Shepherd. You are strong and you know things that I don’t know and you see things that I can’t see. You are MY Shepherd. You count me as one of your own. You know that I am hurting and you have picked me up and held me tight against your beating heart. You know this is what I need right now.

In my little sheepish brain, I think I need what all the other sheep seem to have, but you know better. You know what I need. I want you.

I am so tired of failing. I am so tired of teaching my children the same things over and over again and watching them ignore me.I am so tired of watching them suffer. I am exhausted with the schemes of the devil and his evil and foolishness. You offer me rest.

You make me lie down in green pastures. Your rest is beautiful and full of peace. You lead me beside the still waters. I love how you brighten my countenance by revealing your glory in nature. I love your mountains and harvest colors and especially the water. I am so drawn to praise you when I see the ocean. I love knowing that your spirit hovered over the face of the waters from the very beginning and that you knew how the still waters would bring me joy.

Please, God restore my soul. It cries out for you, and only you can restore and mend all this brokenness.

You have shown me what is right and led me in the path of righteousness. You delight in obedience and you have given me a helper in Your Spirit so I can stay on this narrow path. You are glorified when I obey.

Today, I have found myself in a dark valley. The enemy is doing a number on me. He is trying to steal my peace with his accusations and forecasts of loss and destruction. My natural instinct is to be so scared and weep, but you are with me. You promise to stay by my side and never leave. You are my shepherd and from your vantage point, you can see all this evil; you promise that I don’t need to be afraid of it.

You use the crook of your staff to keep me on the safe path and out of the grip of the evil one. Your rod is a weapon. You keep it with you to fight off the evil for me. You fight for me and keep me safe. I am so comforted by this. You are a mighty warrior who fights for me. You believe I am worth fighting for.

There is an enemy attacking my family. Your enemies were so evil and they attacked and lied about you. They mocked you and killed you. You didn’t deserve it. You forgave them. You have forgiven me. With your help, I can forgive my enemies too. Because I am forgiven, everything has changed. I am a new creation and you want to celebrate this truth. You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You love me and you love to celebrate that I am your daughter. You have not only prepared a feast for me, but also a home in heaven. My inheritance is sure. (Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Micah 7:8).

You anoint my head with oil. My life in you is all about prosperity and joy. You have so much “good stuff” that you can use it to remind me I am extravagantly blessed. You pour it over my head and it covers me from head to toe.

Because I have you, I have everything. I have more than everything. My cup overflows with blessing. In a season of heartbreak, thank you for this reminder. The pains and losses of this world grow strangely dim in the light of your glory and grace. I am so blessed. I am a daughter of the King of Kings.

The evil one wants me to believe that things are not going to be OK. He wants me to feel the heavy breath of despair and loss following me and breathing down my neck, but you know what lies ahead for me. Goodness and mercy are following me. You have my back, and you will all the days of my life. My future is bright!

My time on this earth is short, but one day soon, I will see you face to face. My future in your house is certain and I will dwell there with You forever!

AMEN!

I got involved in a conversation earlier this week where I was asked if I thought The United States should get involved in the ISIS/ Syria crisis. My off-the-cuff answer was that I hoped the solution was already established in our compliance with our NATO membership and agreement of the statutes within its treaty.

As a general rule, decision-making can be made easier if a structure on how to deal with a problem is established before the problem surfaces. When an organization is not clear about where they stand, and a crisis occurs, emotions, fears and insecurities detract from the fluidity of decision-making.

The NFL has been submerged in a dilemma on how to deal with their athletes who are accused of domestic and child abuse because they had not pre-established how to handle this atrocity. On the other side of the coin, the schools my children attend have no hesitation in dealing out Saturday schools, the exercise of writing out “The Rules of Civility”, suspensions and even expulsions. There are zero-tolerance policies that alleviate the stress of negotiation and governing.

On the same evening of my ISIS crisis conversation, one of my teenagers chose to break a Nelson family rule. I was heart-broken and very unsure of how to handle it. We all knew the rules. We all knew the consequences. It should be as clear as black and white on what I should do, because it had been established beforehand. Pat was out of town and having learned from past experiences (and the wisdom of John Rosemond), I decided that “bringing down the hammer” could wait. Waiting was the right decision.

My family is not a school, business or an organization. My family is a group of 6 people united in relationship. We have rules and there are consequences when the rules are broken, but there is always room for mercy.

As Christian parents, our call is to model the behavior of God…. our “Abba Father”. I found myself in a parenting situation that pulled me into prayer and the privilege of seeking wisdom in Scripture. I was reminded how for centuries in the Old Testament, God established rules for his chosen people. These beloved Israelites knew the rules, but they habitually disobeyed. God used Moses and the prophets and the judges to tell His children the foolishness of their disobedience and God did discipline them, but He was consistently merciful. He never wiped them out because of their foolish disobedience. He knew they were weak and He loved them.

Showing love to our children must include discipline, but I am certain that showing love to our children doesn’t follow a formula. I am learning from experience and from making mistakes. I am growing in my understanding of who God is and what He is like. I am so very thankful that He is a God of mercy.

The rule breaking my teenager did is really not any different from the rule breaking I do. I am so often foolish, stubborn and selfish. My spirit longs to be free, but my flesh is so weak. In His mercy, God has convicted me of my sin, disciplined me and been steadfast in the way he pushes, chisels and molds me. It is never pleasant, but always full of His mercy and love toward me.

When Pat got back in town, we were able to talk with, pray with and lovingly discipline our teen. We know that we must be consistent in order to be trusted, but we have also learned that in families mercy should always be factored into our discipline. I would love to know what you think or if you agree or disagree. Please let me know. XO c

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18 (RSV)

 

“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” Exodus 33:19b (RSV)

 

“Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:12 (NIV)

 

Dearest friends, athletes and parents of athletes,

I am confused. Do not expect this post to be tidy or insightful. I am writing, because I need to hear your thoughts and learn from you. I haven’t figured out how to parent athletes, but I have figured out some things I have done wrong. One of the great joys in having a platform and of living in the age of social media is the ability to engage in conversation. I enjoy “doing life” with you, and today, I am asking for your thoughts.

By some standards, my teenagers are good athletes. They have made elite teams, been captains, MVP’s and BOP’s. They can flip and dunk and spike, but it does not make them happy. We live in a world that is obsessed with sports and athleticism. I watched NBC nightly news last night and 10 minutes of the 30-minute program dealt with the scandal in the NFL. One Third!!!! My children have been sucked into this sport-centered vacuum. They spend their afternoons and summers practicing drill after drill and missing out on mission trips, pool days and family vacations. We spend lots of money and time investing in their talents, and I spend a huge amount of time wiping their tears and giving them the sulking space they need after a bad game or practice. The frustrations and disappointments in sports tend to outweigh the celebrations and achievements. They often feel like they have failed at everything if they have failed in the gym.

I carry a lot of the responsibility for this lack of balance in my home. It is an unstated top priority that Sports come first. We rarely have family dinners. I have skipped ministry opportunities in order to keep my nights open for my game attendance. We have skipped worship because of volleyball and basketball. Whether I say it out loud or not, my children see by my actions that sports are of the highest importance. I have been so misguided that I have used scripture to motivate them when they lack passion for their sport. I have used the parable of the talents and compared them to “5-talent workers” who have been given the privilege and responsibility to double their talents for the master’s pleasure and glory. I have screwed up a lot.

We have all heard about the benefits of team sports and the value of learning to lose and how to be a good winner. We tout how sports teach leadership and discipline and team work, but we overlook the ego it feeds or the confusion of identity it fosters. My kids are on top of the world when they have a big night on the court, but it is so fleeting. The ache of losing and sting of reprimand last much longer.

As grown ups, we celebrate and post about our kids’ achievements and we put on a brave face in defeat, but rarely do we applaud the losses and life lessons learned on the bench.

My heart broke when I received that text last night, but not because my daughter may have lost her spot. My heart broke because she thanked me and was worried about my disappointment. I am crying now as I share it with you. I don’t think my kids question my love for Jesus, or their dad or for them, but I am broken that they doubt my pride in them when they fail.

I fail all the time, and so often I come to the cross with doubt. How could God continue to show me grace and love helping me up when I fall? Scripture assures me that God will not run out of love for me. He is steadfast and faithful when I am faithless. He is proud of me because I belong to Him. My achievements are not what have warranted my favor with God. I am so thankful for this painful lesson from my kids; in their developing young minds, they think I love them less when they fail…. Nothing could be farther from the truth. I love them. I claim them on the court and on the bench. I am proud of them because they are mine.

If you have dealt with this in your family, please share with me what you have learned. If you haven’t, celebrate. I have so much to learn and need your prayers. Thank you for doing life with me. XO c

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b (NLT)

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Earlier this year, I began a new way of praying for my children. First, I praise the Lord for all the promises He has made about their future, and I pray about that future. I pray for the spouses who will be united with my children and their children and their future jobs and ministry. I follow up my “future prayers” with praises for their past. I get to celebrate God’s faithfulness in their lives concerning their health and friendships and schools and camp and mistakes and growth. Finally, I pray about their present. I praise the Lord for the day they are living today and petition Him for their current needs.

Because Mary Moore is the youngest in our family, I pray for her last. The prayers for the older 3 have a lot of consistencies, (differences too), but Mary Moore’s past was so radically different than the first 3, and as a result, her present has more challenges. I was convicted today in how I pray for her future….

For those of you who do not know, Pat and I adopted Mary Moore from Russia in the fall of 2001. She was 10 months old and weighed 8 &1/2 lbs. when we brought her back to Memphis. The things she suffered in utero and in the orphanage are not uncommon to those of many Russian orphans. As a result of her disadvantaged start, she deals with challenges today. She faces physical, social and academic obstacles as a routine.

It brings me such joy to praise the Lord for his faithfulness when it comes to Mary Moore’s past. He began breaking my heart for Russian orphans in 1989 when I spent a summer there as a Young Life missionary. He was doing the same thing in my husband’s heart before we even met. God’s plan for our family was to have 3 amazing biological kids first and when the time was right, He clearly called us to pursue the adoption of this precious child. He orchestrated every step and every day of that journey and chose us to rescue her and embrace her as our own. I love praising the Lord for her past. I love thinking about it and talking about it. I am blessed to be her mom and help her with the challenges she faces today. I know God hears my prayers for her and cares deeply for my daughter and I am quick to say that I trust Him and have faith that His plan for her future is perfect, but I lamented today that my actions and prayers invalidated my profession of real faith and trust.

When I pray for the older 3, it seems to be expected that they will go to college, have careers, get married, have kids, and have ministry opportunities. I bank on it, but when I pray for M2’s future, my petitions are much more guarded. I pray about these future things for M2, but add on, “It’s OK, God, if you say No. Your way is perfect. Your plans are great, so if you decide that she lives at home forever and doesn’t…,well, that will be great too, because you know best.”

WHAT THE WHAT????

It is 100% true, that God’s way is perfect for all of my children and all of us, and we should rejoice in his plan for our lives. He is God. He loves us. He can do anything and His ways are the best ways, but He certainly doesn’t need me to dumb down my requests. Am I really that lacking of faith, that I dilute my prayers because I think I understand the situation better than God does? How can I celebrate the miracle of M2’s past and God’s faithfulness so radically displayed in it and then not boldly approach the throne with a heart full of joy and expectation for the present and future? I say I trust Him, but do my actions say something different? Who am I to think God needs my help or permission in anything?

I am confessing these things, because I am not alone. I love the passage in Mark 9, where the father of a sick boy approaches Jesus for the healing of his son. This faithful dad trusts Jesus can heal his son, but the circumstances of his present and future seem so bleak, that his trust gets cloudy. When Jesus asks him if he believes that He can heal the boy, the dad humbly replies:

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24 (NKJV)

Dear friends, we all need to examine how our actions and prayers line up with our proclamations of faith and trust. We need to repent of the foolishness of limiting God. Ask Big. When God says “No”, your big request just got a big answer of blessing. If God says “Yes”, you get the special blessing of seeing your big requests answered by your Big God. His answers of “Yes” and “No” are not determined by your standard of what is normal or worthy.

Model the behavior of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. Jesus used her as an example to pray and never give up. She just would not give up until the judge answered her. Follow the example of Jacob, who when he wrestled with the angel declared,

“I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Gen 32:26 (NKJV)

Our God is faithful. He has shown you his faithfulness in your past. He is faithful today and because He never changes, He will be faithful in the future. When we are faithful to praise Him and submit our petitions to Him, we get to witness just how powerful and loving and awesome He is.

When I was a young girl (pre-kindergarten), I was in a really horrible carpool. Once everyone was picked up, the oldest girl in the carpool would whisper to all the other children whom they were to gang up on for the day. Everyone agreed and then called the targeted child names and showered her with the insults that only mean little girls can manufacture. The ganging up included pinching and hair pulling and it didn’t end until you were dropped off back at home in the afternoon. I still remember the relief when it wasn’t “Gang up on Catherine Day”. I also remember participating in the subversive attacks when I wasn’t the target. I took no joy in calling names, but I knew that if I didn’t participate, I would be back on the chopping block the next day. It was awful.

I hope you are horrified reading this account and also hope you have no way to identify with the pain. I am sorry to tell you that it still is going on. I am not aware of any carpools or clubs that identify themselves as “Gang up Groups”, but I have watched my children weep over being ostracized and gossiped about. I have heard lies spread about my family and it has infuriated and crushed me. Sadly, I know that we also have been instigators of gossip and exclusion. It is crazy to me how quickly a conversation can turn to gossip. I believe my guilt lies in just listening to it. Even if I never utter a negative word in an unhealthy conversation, I have given this gossip-beast ammunition by not walking away.

When it was “Gang up on Catherine Day”, I didn’t tell my parents; I just kept it inside for fear I might sadden or disappoint them. Today, when it seems the world is ganging up or rejecting me, I am quick to take it to the Lord, and that is the same counsel I give my children and anyone who will listen. School has just started and team selections and sorority rush…. and the dreaded carpool. There are dozens of situations on our calendar that can serve us doses of pain and rejection, and there are just as many opportunities for us to include and embrace the brokenhearted.

If you or your children feel ganged up on, please remember that there is one who will always listen and can offer you the balm that your pain so desperately needs. Let Him know how you are hurting and receive his healing touch.

If He has been gracious enough to open your eyes to those hurting around you, praise him and model his behavior by embracing the broken, and for goodness sake, if you are aware that a conversation you are involved in just took the ugly turn to gossip town, shut it down or at least walk away.

“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.” 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)

 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)

My nephew just turned one. I absolutely adore him. It has been a treat to watch him learn to walk over the past few months. Until recently, he wasn’t very steady on his feet, and his parents would hold his wrist, hand, or forearm to steady him and help him walk. As much as he wanted the ability and freedom to walk alone, he couldn’t and he couldn’t get away. His parents were stronger, steadier on their feet and knew what was best for the toddler as he tried to walk. In a sense, my young nephew was “yoked” to his parents as he took on the task of walking.

A Yoke is a wooden bar that allows two animals to be teamed up so that they might effectively work together. We all have work to do. We all have responsibilities, challenges and difficult steps to take. Many of us, like my nephew, want the freedom and ability to do it alone. We foolishly believe we are capable and steady enough to do it our way.

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus sees how heavy the burdens are of the people who are trying to live perfect lives. He hurts for them and tells them this healing truth:

28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Life is hard. Work is hard. Becoming who we were created to be is hard too. We are called to use our gifts for God’s glory and pursue holiness and peace with all, and we do not have to do these difficult things alone. If we yoke ourselves to Christ, we will have hard work ahead of us; the yoke by definition is a working instrument, but we will be yoked to someone stronger and with more pulling power. We will be yoked to the very capable one who will share the heavier part of the load. He has already walked the walk and finished the race. He will steady us on our feet and he won’t let go. His yoke is easy to bear and his burden is light. Let him share the heavy burdens you are trying to carry; He wants them. He wants you.

Yesterday, I was going through the photo stream on my phone when I came across dozens of pictures of a movie star my young teen daughters have a crush on. I don’t understand technology enough to get why these appear in my photo stream, but I enjoyed the giggle of picturing them mooning over the heartthrob of the day. I have heard them talk about this boy as if they know him. They know his birthday and favorite food. They binge watch the show he stars in. They read magazines and information web sites to learn all they can about him. I am certain they would cry, scream or faint if they ever saw him in person. Their friends would hear about their life-changing encounter for years to come if they ever met this young man.

I have heard Christian friends hope and pray over the years for a “Beatific Vision”. The expectation of audibly hearing God’s voice or receiving a visit from an angel is an encounter they believe they need to have their spiritual life set on fire. I understand the longing; can you even imagine how wonderful? I would surely react with the same crying and fainting display of a teenage girl.

In the Old Testament, we see Adam, Moses, Jacob and others have their lives radically changed by beatific visions, and we learn how all the “B.C faithful” studied the law to gain understanding of God. They wanted to know Him, but they made lots of mistakes and got off track in their understanding because they did not have the full vision and understanding of who God is. When Jesus came to earth and began his ministry, the mystery was revealed.

“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God.” John 13:3 (NLT)

“But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.” 1 Cor 8:6 (NLT)

 

On this side of the cross, we do not need a beatific vision. God has revealed himself through His son Jesus Christ. We can know all we need know about him. We can study what he cared about, how he acted, what he was passionate about and how he lived. We have testimonies and accounts from dozens of witnesses in the New Testament who lived and walked with him. They recorded it for us so there would be no more mystery. We can be absolutely sure. We have been given God Himself in the Holy Spirit to live in us and help us understand.

My girls truly feel like they know the young heart throb, but they cannot be sure. It is entirely possible that there is a PR team who has showcased this boy to be something that in reality, he is not. We Can know God, but many of us approach reading our bibles like my teenagers approach the dreaded summer math packet. We need to model the lovesick behavior of a teenage girl in our desire for God. We aren’t stuck with the hollow resources of Teen magazine or IMDb.com. We have the inspired word of God.

One day we will see him and hear him and be physically embraced by him, but if our spiritual lives today need a boosting, then we need to get into his word. There is no substitute, and we will be filled.

This morning, I dropped Mary Moore off at a bus headed to cheer camp. M2 was so excited and I as I stood there, towering above all the tiny parents and cheerleaders, I was amazed at this new cheer world. Everyone spoke in loud, crisp shouts. There were bows on everyone and everything and even though it was 5:30 in the morning, they all hopped and zipped around without breath or pause. M2 fit right in.

M2 has wanted to tumble and cheer for years. We accommodated her request a little over a year ago with tumbling/gymnastic lessons, and decided to dive into the cheer world 2 weeks ago. This week, I was reminded of a video M2 had posted years ago, when she begged for gymnastic lessons. She was teaching the cyber world how to do a back walkover and her first point of advice was “to just not think about it, because if you do, you will fall on your head. ”.

M2’s advice should encourage us all in our practical and spiritual lives. We have a tendency to over-think things that we really know how to do by instinct. This morning…after I detoxed from the cheer immersion… I read the account in 3 of the gospels when Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John to “Follow Him.” In each account, the fishermen “Immediately followed Him” (Matt. 4:22). They “left their nets at once and followed Him” (Mark 1:18). “As soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus” (Luke 5:11). The disciples didn’t over-think it. They heard his voice and his calling and they knew it was the only choice. They didn’t think about the fish or what to pack or what they were leaving behind or what would happen next. They didn’t make excuses or rationalize, and they didn’t worry about falling on their head. They had decided to follow Jesus… No turning back, no turning back.

We also know what to do in our pursuit of following Jesus, but we often over-think it. We hear the small still voice of the Holy Spirit, but we dismiss it as a wandering thought. We see a need, but we don’t try to meet it, because it interferes with our schedule or our comfort zone. A friend is brought to our mind, but we don’t call or reach out, because it seems weird or too vulnerable to connect. We miss the victory and blessing because we are thinking too much instead of just doing it.
M2 continues to bless and amaze me. She is so open to try new things and love new people. She just does it. We would all be in a sweeter place if we followed her example of “Just don’t think about it.”

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Mark 1:17 (NLT)