Personal Discovery

  There is nothing quite so satisfying as personal discovery... at least that's my thinking. And, I might add, these discoveries are locked into our memories more intimately. They defining who we are, sometimes with more detail than any other mode of learning. It doesn't always need to be something 'brand new', it can be a deepening understanding of (fill in the blank). We do discover from others' experiences but when it is ours, the impact (both negative and positive) does become a part of us.

  I do admit to being a student-based life long learning advocate. For me, learning is incredibly enriching. I really am one who looks to learn. A day without learning is ... unsatisfying. Again, remember my context - it doesn't necessarily mean a new learning, it can be a fuller understanding, a new way of looking at (fill in the blank). Indulgent? Perhaps. But I prefer to think of it as a lovely mindset. This is especially true when I'm learning more about what the Lord is teaching. And that, without doubt, is one of His roles in our lives - what He chooses to do.

  A very simple explanation... when we were in the lower grades we learned that 2+2=4. But that wasn't the end of our math learnings. By the middle grades we had 'mastered' fractions, equations, word problems, etc. But even that wasn't the end. By the time we graduated high school we had probably learned algebra, trigonometry, and beyond. My point is that even in this we constantly built on what we learned. And, if we discover that a part of the learning wasn't mastered, we backed up until there was understanding and added that to the math foundation in order to advance and continue learning. This is also true, regardless of the 'subject'.

  When was the last time you took stock of what you believed the Lord was teaching you? Do remember that He is always with us and always teaching, it depends on if we listen and act on our understanding. Yes, you do have to do all three - listen, learn and act. Acting is a method to know. Without action how do we know what we've learned? And how will we incorporate this into who we are becoming? Applying is our 'test' to check on our new understanding and to discover what we don't know. It also proves to be a stepping stone to the next discovery.

  Personal discovery can become our stepping stone to advance in understanding and appreciation of the Lord, what He's teaching, who we're becoming and why, and using this as a launch pad to continue this adventure. We are on a journey to Be and Do. And we do learn in a variety of ways and from a variety of sources ... which is greatly enhanced when we take the time for our own Personal Discovery.

It takes time...

  and effort... and commitment. Whatever your 'it' is - it takes time, and effort, and commitment because it rarely is a simple walk in the park. If your 'it' is important to you, has value, you rarely find it handed to you on a silver platter.   What am I talking about?  Your important parts (attitudes, character) and the bits and bobs that make you... you. When you look at and define you, it is the parts of you that took time, that may have come from hard learned lessons that you can probably cite every aspects of what was happening and how you learned (fill in the blank). Rarely do we have the luxury of a serendipitous and uncomplicated life of discovery/learning.

  If you are important to you... And if what you want to Be and Do is important to you... And if you want your life to make a difference... then it takes time and effort and commitment. But you do need to grant yourself grace and mercy because you will occasionally mess up - sometimes even intentionally. Without grace and mercy you won't be able to fully internalize and incorporate all of your learnings into you because some learnings will be prickly or perhaps they seem to not 'fit' anywhere or perhaps some appear contradictory. But with every hard fought battle to become your best you, you learn a bit more about who you are becoming - and how you merge all of you.

  I appreciate that we all seem to be in a great hurry... to do??? to be??? to (fill in the blank)??? Do we really understand why? What's the rush? Wouldn't a slightly, every so slightly, slowing down (whatever you are ratcheting up) give us a greater understanding of what we are discovering? Give us the best way to incorporate? If you ever discover you seem to be learning the same lesson over and over, then it should give you pause to take the time to determine why this is happening. Perhaps you are learning a 'lesson' but not letting it become part of you?

  You don't have time to take the time? I would suggest you really don't have an option. You need to take the time so that you don't backtrack or wander off your path. I suspect we all have a front view of life - what's going to be happening next - but perhaps if we took the time to understand, to appreciate, to learn our current, then we wouldn't be wasting our time. Yes? Perhaps? Life, whether you have many years or only a few, should be savored and enjoyed to the fullest - moment by moment. If you rush, you won't. Who you are, are becoming takes time. Flavor your time, effort, and commitment with grace and mercy toward yourself as well as others and the fulfillment, joy, and all of the accouterments will enrich your living.

What and Who

  As I was writing and editing my next book, "Be-ing & Do-ing", I remember remarking to myself (yes, one can do this and not be a nut case) that we, not the Lord, we determine who we and others are by what they do... and how. How we go about do-ing our 'what' refines how we are viewed. But it seems that it is inescapable that we make assumptions about the character, the value of ourselves and others by the 'what' in our lives. Obvious? Probably but that isn't the point. Do we then limit that person, even ourselves, as to their interests, activities, abilities, etc.? Yes. We all seem to be a bit myopic (the second definition by Webster - "a lack of foresight or discernment") or maybe it's a form of self-preservation.?

  Rarely do we 'draw out' the other person as to their who, apart from their what. We typically discover, over time and interactions, the subtle nuances that many times surprise us about that other person. I wonder if we surprise ourselves by what we discover about us as well? I wonder if we see the potential in the other person or only what is presented (multi-dimensional v. one-dimensional)? Do we provide a safe (defined as non-gossip) person to share their more unique aspects? (Both questions are also directed to our own sharing of ourselves.)

  I realize that we all categorize, compartmentalize, and order what we see, hear, and know in order to make sense of our world. Yet, we all tend to narrow our definitions. Rather than 'fitting' people into our understanding, couldn't we allow the 'stimuli' to help define? Wouldn't a bit of thinking and acting outside the box be a more effective way to understand and expand our categories? Obviously I would contend that this is how we should function rather than either dismissing or ignoring 'abnormalities' by others to our categories. People are rarely an easy 'fit'. One of the questions should be... just how comfortable are we with this category reality about ourselves?

  When we pre-decide that someone (including ourselves) or something can't be done, accomplished we really need to be aware of why we believe as we do. Why is it you or someone can't do/be (fill in the blank)? Is it a lack of ability or a lack of our awareness? I remember one time that the Lord pointed out to me that I was limiting what His names meant and could do. Both aghast and intrigued, I asked in what ways was I doing this. He pointed out my definitions were limiting. He is Jehovah Jireh and Rapha (among His other names) but what I thought was 'provision' was far more. And what I believed was 'healing' encompassed a greater expanse than only physical. 

  When we limit ourselves, we also limit what the Lord can do with and through us. We also limit how we allow Him to Be who He is. Be open to all that You can Be and Do. Be open to the person next to you, that you have categorized, to also Be and Do. But especially allow the Lord to be Lord. Never forget the slogan... 'Let go and Let God'. You will be amazed at what will happen.

  

Health and Healing

  This may sound controversial but I don't believe God puts sickness on us to teach us something. That makes absolutely no sense. Think about it... exactly how much do you learn when you are moaning about not feeling well? My point precisely. I will agree that God can use the time we aren't well, but this is not His Plan A. Likewise, I believe the Lord is eminently logical and will use other methods to teach us. Think back for a moment, what is your primary best learning times? Do you see what you were doing, what was happening, etc. when you learned those lessons? This would be the types of settings (for you) that the Lord would employ to teach you (fill in the blank). I seriously doubt that sickness has anything to do with learning.

  Controversial #2. Healing is God's Plan B, Plan A is Health. Again, logical. Thank heavens He did provide for healing but wouldn't it make more sense for us to walk in health (and wasn't that what Adam and Eve experienced prior to the fall?) The issue is that we tend to not follow this plan. We don't exercise or eat foods that we know are good for us and we do veg out and eat those snacks that contain little or no nutrient value. It's not that we deliberately decide to become unhealthy, the lure is the problem. Simply taking supplements isn't going to reverse our situation though they may help us get those vitamins we do need. For Plan A to be in effect, for the most part, for most of us - this will require a lifestyle change. The question is... do we really want to pay the price for health? If not, we will pay the price for sickness.

  Controversial #3. Health and Healing is more than only physical. I would contend that the Lord's goal is for us to be Healthy - spirit, soul, and body. Ergo, 'body' is only one of the pieces to our healing and health. Do you ever check the pulse of your level of health spirit and soul, primarily soul? Exodus 15:26 - God tells His people, "For I am the Lord who heals you." That should end the questions or speculations. Heals, according to Strong's means: "to cure, heal, repair, mend, restore health". And if you don't believe that means your soul as well, why would God spend so much time on our physical healing and ignore our soul? I don't believe He would. It is our (soul) mind, will, and emotions that define who we are and they also 'get sick' and need healing.

  The lesson we need to remember is to Not limit God's names to our finite definitions. And I'll ask the question I've asked before... if God did put sickness on us to 'teach us' something, then why would He be Jehovah Rapha, our healer? Isn't that, minimally, being counter-intuitive or counter-productive?

Be not weary...

  This scripture has application in our lives far beyond the, undefined, context of "in well doing..." (Galatians 6:9) And yes I know we are not to add or subtract from the Word, but this is applying lessons learned and for me, one lesson I've learned is to not limit how to apply the lessons from the Word in our lives. For example: the definition of Parables - Webster: "a short story that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson; especially one of the stories told by Jesus Christ and recorded in the Bible." (my rationale for application) Granted this teaching by Paul is not a parable, but it is a valuable lesson. I think it needs to be applied.

    In our world of immediate gratification or at least the desire for immediate, we can lose patience and become quite weary (or grumbley). Though few may acknowledge it, we believe our prayers need to be answered immediately, what we feel we need should have immediate answers, etc. tends to be our approach. Not good and definitely not smart. Sometimes 'things' are dependent on other things that need to occur first. Still, we want what we want, when we want it, where we want it, and how we want it.

  Have you ever considered that God has more for you than what you are praying about? That when your perception of what needs to happen isn't happening, are you missing what is occurring? This wasn't the easiest lesson for me to learn... but I am getting better. Scripture demonstrates that there were a variety of ways the Lord healed. The method isn't the issue, it is that the Lord healed. When we restrict the Lord to only one way of responding, we may be missing what He is doing. Yes?

  I do know that there are some issues that we seem to be praying about f-o-r-e-v-e-r without any noticeable 'change'. Ours isn't always the responsibility to bring about the change, sometimes our responsibility is to be diligent in prayer. Again a lesson - many times it isn't that the Lord doesn't want to answer our request (remember the Angel's comment to Daniel), when it involves others - their rights have to be honored as well. 

  Especially, one would think, that praying for salvation for someone would be a 'slam dunk' - it rarely is. That person has their wants involved and they may be sitting with misconceptions or misunderstandings. Our role may be in coming against those deluding forces so that the light of understanding can occur. Sometimes it is someone else who will do the harvesting. But never discount your role... keep on keeping on till the desire of your heart is accomplished. At least that's my definition of 'the effective, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much' (James 5:16). It is well with my soul so... Be not weary.

Backslide(n)

  Describe you? Did this occur because of... an offense? bit by bit? Spiritual growth not a priority any more? Do you know what this word means? Or is it more of a vague, 'universally' understood/accepted definition? Do you know what it looks like, can you tell from the behaviors from yourself or those you believe to be in this state that backsliding is (has) occurring? 

  'Backslide' really is an insidious condition because this touches not only the life of the person experiencing this state but those people surrounding them, especially family. The more critical questions are - what can be done for the person (internally) and (how) can the body help?  Criticism is totally ineffective, in my opinion, because I consider backslide as a disease of the soul (mind, will, and emotions). I believe that after this 'diagnosis' a plan of health restoration needs to be individually developed. This is never a 'one size fits all' situation. This must be done involving the person afflicted because until they are ready for restoration... there is little we can do for that person except to pray for a renewed 'awakening' for them.

  While the behaviors made look the same, rarely is the cause/reasons for the condition the same for everyone. I also tend to think that most of us have experienced our own times of backsliding. But we need to understand the definition first. So what is it? We can see the evidences of backsliding but how do we identify it and can we see the symptoms before the 'disease' has control? 

  I would say that a good examination of the 'patient' identifies a person with a lessening love of and for the things of the Lord. Prayer time and studying the word has trickled into non-existence. The cares of the world have built up and taken over the time that once might have been spent in fellowship with the Lord. Fellowship with other Christians is another component in the analysis - that time spent with fellow Christians is minimal at best and rarely are the situations iron-sharpening-iron discussion. 

  Though only two examples, they are powerful ones to identify my definition of backsliding. For me, it's the relatively obvious behaviors that identify backsliding the easiest. There are also other aspects, most of them are internal - such as taking offense with what is happening in the church and/or leadership. A lack of understanding of the direction the church is heading and doing nothing about discovering why. Or someone in the church has betrayed or hurt you in some way that you can't(?) or won't(?) forgive. 

  As I said, I would suggest that backsliding begins in our soul - our mind, our will, and our emotions. Somehow something happens that we don't immediately address that only grows and becomes that festering sore that we believe will only be cured by backing away from what we perceive as the cause. What we need to do is to go to the Lord and seek relief and understanding or whatever it is that will assist us to resolve the situation because it IS resolution we should seek. 

  Scripture gives us countless examples of what we need to do, what our attitude needs to be. Backsliding recovery begins in us, in our hearts. We need to want to be restored if we are the ones backsliding. If we believe that the body is harmed when any member no longer fills their place then when we see the behavior from others indicating this, we need to be vulnerable enough to seek the person out to discover what's happening in their lives (1Corinthians 12:25-26). If our overtures are rejected, we should pray. Remember 1Peter 4:8 and continue to love.  

Nourishment

  We all realize that our bodies need nourishment in order to live healthy. No one wants to be ill and many of us know what foods are good for us and those that have little or no nutritional value. The problem is that it is those foods that have little or no value that seem to have the greatest flavor and are the most addicting. And yes, certain foods can be addictive... remember Lay's potato chips ads that tell us no one can eat only one. But all that is really a seduction to eat what we shouldn't because those foods that are healthy and nutritious also do taste good. But many times this will require us to be conscious of what we do eat.

  Does this analogy sound familiar? It should. Because what is true for our physical bodies is also true for our spiritual body... and before you ask, yes we do have a spiritual body that's being renewed. What we don't seem to appreciate is that we do feed our spiritual body daily but we don't always give sufficient thought to what we feed it. What's in front of your eyes? What is it you listen to? All that contributes to how you feed your spirit.

  In March, 2011, when I wrote about spiritual nourishment, some of the questions I asked are the same ones now. What are you feeding your spirit, your soul? Is it garbage in thus creating garbage out or are you feeding 'good things' in? Example: there are some people who are 'religious' about taking vitamins and minerals to keep their bodies strong and hopefully free of disease. My question is how do we do the same with our souls? It never is a question of 'if' because whatever we take in impacts in some fashion. Is our 'food' TV? newspapers? What is our source? 

  Just like you can starve your body without nutritious foods, you can starve your soul in the same way. If you don't take in nourishment, your soul will weaken. What kind of nourishment do you need?  Without a steady diet of reading the Bible I don't think other 'foods' will be utilized to their utmost (just like there are certain vitamins that should be taken together to enhance both). Reading the Bible is critical to maintain a strong and healthy soul and is the foundation.

  Those you associate with are also important to the nourishment of your soul. There is a study that shows that you tend to take on the same philosophies as those you associate with. What is it that those you associate with believe in? Scripture admonishes us to not forsake the gathering together. Remember steel sharpens steel - you are not to leave your mind on the doorstep when you are talking with others. Being imperfect we won't always agree but the discussions cause us to rethink, examine, and reaffirm what it is we do believe. Without the company of other Christians this is limited.  

  You do provide for your soul, the question is... is there any nourishment? If all you do is to take in all the violence that's now displayed on TV then minimally it will affect your view of the world. It also tends to validate that violence is the way to make certain your view is maintained. There's little nourishment to this approach. Nourishment includes associating with fellow believers, prayer, reading and studying scripture. It may seem 'unexciting' in the world we live but it is also the source of our health. Garbage in, garbage out does exist. What do you want to feed your soul? You do have options.