Monthly Archives: January 2010

January 11, 2010 · 6:00 am

What’s In the Bucket?

The other day, I heard my friend, Kim Heinecke, say, “What’s in the well comes up in the bucket.”  This rings true in probably every area of our life. 

Kris can fly an airplane, because he invested into learning how to fly.  He achieved all of his ratings, surrounded himself with other pilots, and flew as often as he could to become good at what he does.  He invested a lot into his aviation well. 

If I want to learn how to knit, I’ll probably read a book on knitting, spend some time with my skilled mother-in-law, and practice the hobby until I become proficient. 

Whatever we invest ourselves into and how we invest ourselves will come up in the bucket.  If I invest into gossip, criticism, and negativity….my bucket will come up looking pretty dirty.

But.

If I want to be prepared for any spiritual attack (or spear)….

If I want to respond to people in a way that is pleasing to God….

If people come to me and need spiritual guidance or counsel in their relationships….

If I want to live a life without fear and a real understanding of what it means to place my hope in Him….

If I want to comprehend that the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead is in me….

If I want to be happy….

If I want to be content….

Then I have to invest into His word.  I have to spend time with Christ daily.  I have to seek Him above all else.  I have to love Him with all my heart, soul, and mind – a love so deep and so invested that it is obvious to every person around me.

So, when the enemy comes rushing at me like a flood, he will not move me.

Because, what’s in the well will come up in the bucket.

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January 8, 2010 · 6:00 am

A Perfect Example.

A final thought on throwing spears….

Jesus Christ was the perfect man. 

Blameless.  Accused for things He did not do.

But, He did not defend Himself.  Not even on His way to the cross.

Isaiah 53:7 says, He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.  He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.  And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.

When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, He simply responded by asking anyone without sin to throw that first stone.  The only person who could have thrown a stone was Jesus Christ himself. 

And, He didn’t.

What do I do with my spears?

I think I know the answer.

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January 7, 2010 · 8:38 am

A Little Reminder.

Guest Blog:  Mike Oliver

Mike and his wife, Shari, pastor Coastal Community Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.  Mike is one of my mentors, and he also cooks my favorite peas whenever I visit.

Sharing with a friend last night, I reminded him of something we all know but fail to rest in way too often.  After hearing his circumstances, I remembered what I tell myself from time to time and reminded him this simple truth… “God is your source”.

We tend to lean on what we do and what we know.  We become secure in our ability to be “self-sufficient “.  The difficult part of self-sufficiency is the word “self”.  It may just be me, but too many times our friend “self” shines like a rock star then suddenly shows up INsufficient.

God reminded us through this passage in Isaiah:

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1

When we are making the cash and rolling at work and home, we get this independent feeling and false sense of security that WE have done it all!  Here lies the foundation for two ugly emotions to roll.  One is pride.  We get this haughtiness and sense of accomplishment.  The other ugly emotion is the bookend of this play.  After you have placed confidence in your self-sufficiency and hit the inevitable wall of lack, fear comes in and puts demands on your “self.”  And, in the end our “self” is found wanting!

Don’t get me wrong, God places gifts in our lives to have success in life, and if we are smart, we use our talents and time to honor Him and live in fruitfulness.  But we are thinking best when we know there is only one who is all sufficient.  This thinking gives us two better bookends of emotion. One is humility, always thanking God for fruitfulness.  And, the other is trust, giving us an anchor in times of need.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  2 Corinthians 9:8

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January 6, 2010 · 6:00 am

What Do I Do With This Spear?

I struggle with injustice.  I find myself wanting to make wrongs right.  I want to defend.  I want to set the record straight.  I want to pick up the spear thrown at me and throw it right back.

And, I have done just that before. 

But, if we look at the life of David, we see a man who trusted God enough to not return the spears. 

I’m not speaking of those times we feel righteous anger.  A righteous anger can be a desire to defend helpless children being abused or to stop human trafficking.  This is very different from what I’m talking about.  This post is also not a means of addressing bullying as so many of you expressed to me personally yesterday.  Perhaps, the issue of bullying is one I can write on soon with the help of many whose children have experienced it.  I just don’t feel equipped to speak on that issue as effectively as it should be addressed.  And, my heart breaks for those dealing with it on a daily basis. 

This post is meant to address when people speak against our character.  When we are criticized.  When we are persecuted.  When our actions are questioned. 

It’s very hard for me to not want to return the spears.  But, after reading Gene Edwards’ A Tale of Three Kings, I see a heart in David that I want.  Although he was hunted down and tortured by King Saul, he never retaliated.  Oh, he certainly had opportunity to.  But, he didn’t.  Had he returned Saul’s spears, he would have become like him. 

I don’t want the heart of Saul.  I want the heart of David.  What I do with those spears will determine exactly what kind of heart I will have. 

David’s torture by Saul occurred in his pre-king days.  But, he didn’t know he would be king one day.  Not at this time.  Edwards writes, “These were David’s darkest hours. We know them as his pre-king days, but he didn’t.  He may have assumed this was his lot forever.”

It wasn’t his lot forever.  He would one day become king. 

It’s not our lot forever either.  Not as long as we walk in humility.  And, according to Edwards, not as long as we…..

“One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily-mastered art of spear throwing.  Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers.  And three, keep (our mouths) tightly closed.”

I’ll be the first to admit, keeping my mouth tightly closed is not one of my strengths.  Can I get an amen, Kris Takle?

But, I’m working on it.  God wants me broken.  Humble.  Patient.  *GASP*

If you’re struggling with forgiveness, brokenness, or spear-throwers, I highly recommend A Tale of Three Kings.  It’s an easy read but heavy on the heart.

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January 5, 2010 · 6:00 am

Careful What You Say. What You Write. What You Type.

I’m pretty sure I’ve written on this topic before.  After talking to a friend about a text message her daughter received, I felt compelled to write about it again. 

When I was around 10 or 11 years old, I sat down and wrote a letter to a girl who was a few years older than me.  It was an ugly letter.  I was upset with her for seemingly taking away my best friend.  I said things like, “You think you’re it.  You’re not.” 

The letter never reached her hands.  My parents found it first.  Thankfully.  Let’s say they were less than happy.  A lot less. 

They sat me down and read the letter to me.  I can remember my dad using the word “arrogant” to describe my character in writing that.  They addressed my spiritual life.  They addressed my character.  They addressed it all. 

You see, my parents cared about how I treated other people – regardless, of how they treated me.  And, revenge is another post I plan on sharing soon.

Fast forward to 2010.  My friend shares with me how her daughter received a very demeaning text message.  She was asked to forward that text to others.  She didn’t.  Her mother saw it first.  But so many parents today turn a blind eye to, or even worse, join in with the cruel words their children and teenagers communicate to others. 

They write ugly messages on someone else’s Myspace page or Facebook wall.  They send nasty text messages.  They leave behind them a path of destruction for that victim to walk through. 

And, it’s grossly wrong. 

We as parents must be more concerned with our children’s character and spiritual growth than we are with their talents in school or sports.  We must be aware of the words coming out of their mouths and being typed by their fingers. 

We simply must.

The girl I wrote that letter to would commit suicide a few years later. 

So thankful I didn’t leave her in my path of destruction.  And, thankful I had parents who cared about my character.

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January 4, 2010 · 6:00 am

Don’t Make Noise. Make A Difference.

Why yes, of course, I missed you.  Did you miss me?  Taking the last week of the year to spend solely with my family just seemed like the right thing to do.  I’m glad I did.  But, I did miss talkin’ to y’all.

There are plenty of photos from this season I could post, but this one is my favorite.  It’s Anna Takle, day one, at my parents’ house, in search of gifts that read her name.  One day, I’m going to miss little bodies under a Christmas tree, shaking their presents with smiles planted across their face.  It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

But, I’d like to experience many wonderful times of this new year.  I heard my dad recently share on how many of us make New Year’s resolutions to work out, eat less – even though, it profits us little.  However, resolving to pursue Christ above all else, love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind profits us much.  I’m letting that be my New Year’s resolution. 

So often, we focus on things that bother us.  We let those things take up more space than our love for God.  How wrong is that?  A couple of days ago, Mark Batterson posted this on Twitter:

“quit criticizing and start creating.   don’t focus on what’s wrong.   do something right.   don’t make noise.   make a difference.”

Wow.  That’s what it’s all about.  The only way we are ever going to get to that point is to stop being so dang negative and start loving God.  Really loving God.  And, pursuing Him as relentlessly as Anna pursued her gifts. 

I bet we might just discover a few gifts, too. 

That’s my resolution. 

Yours?

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