I have no idea where this question came from yesterday, but in the car one of the kids asked this question. It’s one of those questions only a kid would ask—and it’s kind of fun to think about (although it doesn’t really mean anything in the grander scheme of things).

Here are the answers our gang came up with:

1. Lindsay & Kyle: Agreed that heaven smells like laundry detergent.
2. Logan: Thinks heaven will smell like limes (gotta love citrus!)
3. Anita & I: Agreed that heaven will smell like newborn babies (the good smell)

What will heaven actually smell like? Who knows, but Logan said it best when we had all given our answers: “It will smell like that but better!”

So what do you think heaven will smell like?

P.S.: After I posted this I realized Kyle asked this same question back in January. I guess he didn’t get the answer he wanted then.

You lived in this world without God and without hope.
But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.
Once you were far away from God, but now you have
been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12b-13, NLT

I don’t know about you, but this verse describes me a “T”. I lived in this world without God and therefore without hope until God brought me near to Himself. Scripture is full of this idea that God has pursued us and done everything in His power to bring us to Himself. I don’t know why sometimes, but God wants a relationship with me and with you. It’s an awesome thought. I want to be near to God, but I can’t do that on my own. It took the ultimate sacrifice to make it happen.

I have been brought near to God by Christ. There’s a thought I needed for the day!

Here’s a video Nick sent me this week that drives this thought home another way…

I have started a new class for school and it is one I have been looking forward to for some tie now: Spiritual Formation. The class has kept me busy (you may have noticed the slow down in posts this past week), but it’s a good kind of busy as we talk about, learn about, and experience walking with Christ in our daily lives. It has been a challenge to my personal walk and an opportunity for growth.

This past week we’ve been talking about many topics (i.e.: God’s grace, the journey, struggles and trials, et al). But today a question that Jesus asked His own disciples has embedded itself in my spirit:

“But who do you say I am?”
Matthew 16:15, NLT

Paul immediately speaks up for the group and gives a great answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” and Jesus praises him for His answer. It’s a great passage, a great story, with a great message. But that wasn’t what stuck with me. Jesus wasn’t just asking His disciples this question. He’s asking me and He’s asking you this very same question: But who do you say I am?”

How about it? Who do we say Jesus is? What does my life say about Jesus? Do I speak Jesus at all? Do others know about Jesus though my life? And if so…what am I saying about Jesus?

And what do I really believe about Jesus? Who do I say and who do I think Jesus is? Who is Jesus to me?

My Redeemer. My Lord. My Savior. My Friend.

How about you? Who do you say Jesus is? Let’s hear it…

The theme for this post came to me from two different magazines I was reading yesterday (Discipleship Journal and Marriage Partnership). Two very different sources with the same message (and from two very different article topics). Here’s the thing…I don’t think the message is for me. It’s not that it couldn’t be for me (and perhaps it will be sometime in the near future), but my heart is telling me that I am supposed to write about this topic for someone else—someone who might be reading this right now. So I will be obedient to His leading and trust Him with the results (and if it turns out it was meant for me…that’s OK too).

Here are the quotes from the magazines:

The thought never crossed my mind that God might want to use my pain to turn my heart toward him. (MP, Fall 2008, page 16).

Most Christians believe that God will never give them anything—any hardship—that they cannot bear. They rely on what they read in 1 Cor. 10:13…The context of that verse, however, is key. Paul is speaking about the temptation to sin…most of us don’t read the verse that way. We think the apostle is assuring us that God will never give us a trial we can’t bear. The fact is, God will allow hardships in your life that you simply cannot bear…Yet there’s purpose in the pain…You can go through almost anything if you know the Lord of the universe is going through it with you. (DJ, Sept/Oct 2008, page 34-35).

I am only giving you a small piece of each article. I highly recommend that you read the second one in its entirety. It is entitled Borrowing God’s Smileby Joni Eareckson Tada and it is a great article. But even in these small excerpts you get the point.

Trails will come into our lives. We will have pain. You’ve experienced it. I’ve experienced it. I see it every day. It breaks our hearts. It hurts. We don’t understand it. But it’s still there and we often question why God allows it. Certainly don’t be fooled into thinking God promises to protect us from all pain and trials. Very much the opposite:

 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through,
as if something strange were happening to you.
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

It is through our trials and our pain that we become more like Him. It is then that our hearts are turned toward God. It is then that God gets to shower you with His love and grace and mercy. Are you going through a tough time right now? Do you know someone else who is?

Take heart. God isn’t surprised by it and He wants to use it to shape you into His image, turn you toward Him, and show you just how much He loves you. Now that’s a great message…and I pray that God will use it to minister to those who need it (you know who you are).

I confess up front that this post is largely a free-form of thought…to think through something by writing about it. Hopefully it helps my thought process. And feel free to add to the discussion; I value your feedback, thoughts, and ideas.

For the past few days I have been thinking about the objective for small groups. Don’t get me wrong…I absolutely believe in small groups. But what are they all about—really? What’s the purpose of a small group? What’s the goal, the objective? Why do we do small groups?

Most of the groups I’ve been involved in seem topically focused. They are about a specific topic or series the group is working through. This might be a book of the Bible, a marriage series, et al. Relationships are part of the group, but they seem secondary. If “I” don’t  like the study then I sit out a series or two until something comes up that I like…that speaks to me. (Note: I have not actually done that…but I know of others who have and I have certainly done it mentally).

I don’t think that’s what small groups are supposed to be about. They are supposed to be about relationships. Community. Walking through life together…spiritual life and life in general. Which might mean on of two things: 1) The study we do should be secondary (like it or not) or 2) Maybe the study should get tossed out the window and we spend time with each other…getting know one another, learning about each other, sharing God stories, etc. The answer probably lies somewhere in the middle of these two.

In any discussion on this topic I am drawn to the early church. How did they do it? What model(s) do we have in Scripture? The Acts 2 church is our model:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

They ate together. The learned together. They prayer together. God did great things in their midst. They shared their lives (spiritually and literally). They worshipped together. They grew.

That’s what I call community. And I don’t think they were too worried about what lesson plan they were following. They loved on one another. They walked through life together…and God blessed them for it.

That’s what I want our small group to be. I need to be a better leader and focus on this more and on the other “stuff” less. Maybe we need to put down the lessons and the series and focus on building community. Maybe we just need to be authentic, transparent, and share our God stories (and if we don’t have them figure out why). Just maybe…

My devotions this morning stretched me…it even hurt a little. I even struggled a little bit about writing a post about it, but then I remembered that this is the main point of the blog in the first place: to share my spiritual journey (the good, the bad, and the ugly). And it’s my fault anyway. I’ve been asking God to poke and prod and help me grow…He just gave me what I asked for.

The topic this time around? Faith.

It started with my devotional book reading discussing the topic of faith and our belief in God’s abilities and willingness to work in our lives (I warn you…this stuff is toe stepping material):

“We can believe that God might meet our need without any understanding of whether He wants to. And our suspicion of Him at this point is often the flaw in our belief.

“We know God can do great things on our behalf; we seldom believe that He will.

“We often tacitly acknowledge God’s omnipotence, His ability to intervene in our lives, even in very specific ways. But this is only half of faith. It has nothing to do with our experiences as long as it remains only a theological proposition. The other half of faith is understanding the mercy of God and His great willingness to intervene. This is what brings His glory from the realm of theology into the practicum of our lives. You want mercy and power? Expect mercy and power. And it will be done to you.” 
(At His Feet, page 300)

G-U-I-L-T-Y-!

I have long struggled with my lack of faith. I want to have faith…and I certainly believe that God CAN do some amazing things. What God exposed within my spirit this morning is that I don’t usually think God will, because I don’t trust His heart. I don’t trust God’s motive.

I know that sounds crazy..and it is a little bit. I know where it comes from, but my childhood is only an excuse. God wants to heal this within my spirit. He wants to free me from this lack of faith (or half-faith?). I desperately want to see the miraculous and the supernatural (not just for it’s own sake but to see God revealed and working as a result of my faith).

I do know that I’m not alone here. Even if others today don’t admit to this ailment I know that Jesus saw it plenty of time sin His ministry. He was constantly chastising people, including His disciples, for their lack of faith. And as long as they didn’t walk away from Jesus He was more than willing to help their lack of faith. If they showed an interest in growing and changing then He was there to help.

After my reading and prayer time this morning…after God had done some of His work on me…I felt a lot like the man in Mark 9:14-29 who has brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus for healing (after the disciples couldn’t to it because of their…well, you know):

“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

It’s that last line that has stuck with me all day (and that God is using it to change my heart and spirit on this topic):

I do believe — in God’s ability and power to do great and wonderful things

…but help me overcome my unbelief! — In God’s heart and motives…His willingness to work in my life.

I think many Christians suffer this particular malady, but God is working on me so that’s my focus right now. I am praying ans asking him to change my heart and restore my faith to fullness. Faith in God’s ability and faith in God’s heart. I’m a work in progress…

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:16-17, NLT

This is one of my favorite Psalms. It shows King David’s more “human” side. His repentant heart poured out to God after his sin has been discovered and revealed by a close friend. In the middle of his confession to God, he utters the words above.

They are very much like Hosea 6:6, which I have blogged about before. This question about what God really desires is intriguing to me. Even in the Old Testament God demands a sacrifice, but here again someone who knows God intimately knows that the ritual of the sacrifice (just following the rule) is not enough. God wants more. God requires more.

God wants more than just our obedience (although He wants that too). God wants more than our “just enough” religion. He wants more than a piece of our lives.

He wants it all…He wants our heart, mind, soul, and body (I think I read that somewhere).  This is not an easy God we are dealing with here. He doesn’t let us off the hook easy. He requires sacrifice…and then some. Giving Him my time, money, and skill is one thing. Giving Him everything is something else. And that’s what He wants. He wants me…and He wants you.

I am not even sure where to start this post. I have wrestled with God on this subject more times than I care to admit. But He won’t let it go…of course, He shouldn’t let it go. I’ve even talked to Anita about it. I have the best of intentions, but I am failing once again. And I’m failing at something that I cannot fail at…it’s too important.

So I am once again (not this is not the first time: Exhibit A) confessing my failure and asking for your prayers to do better…to ACTUALLY do better.

At the beginning of the year (or the end of last year if you want to be technical) I set out two resolutions for the year (you can read the entire post here):

1. Getting to Know God Better: This one has actually been a huge success…thank you Lord!
2. Developing better Family Devotional Habits: This one is where I am failing. I just cannot seem to make this one stick…and it is my responsibility. I can’t point the finger at anyone else. My only excuse? BUSY. How stupid is that? I can find time for all sorts of other things, but not one of the most critically important things in my life–my kid’s spiritual development????  W.R.O.N.G

So, I begin again. I admit that I am starting with a serious lack of confidence on my part. I am going to try to make things much simpler…no gimmicks, no “fancy” devotional book. I simply want to spend time as a family reading God’s Word, talking about it and Him, sharing what’s going on in our lives, andspending time with God in prayer together. I want my kids to know, love, andwalk with God—that really is the deepest desire of my heart.

Perhaps I am making it more difficult than it has to be. For sure, this is a spiritual battle (that I have lost up to this point). So I leave the results in God’s hands, but I have to get moving. Too much is at stake. Sigh…pray for me!

During my devotional reading this morning I had a “light bulb moment”..two actually…

Here was the first:

We see a strange phenomenon in our culture: Jesus is almost universally respected as a “good teacher,” yet His actual teachings—many of them, anyway—are almost universally reviled.

There is a lot of truth in that statement, and I had not noticed the oxymoron before. How can people say Jesus was a great teacher and then throw out everything he taught? Here is number two:

Much of Christian life is tension between two impulses: the desire to be liked and respected by the world, and the desire to know God and be like Jesus.

That’s toe-stepping stuff right there. I must admit to being guilty of this fighting this tension often in my own life and spiritual journey. I wish I could even say I think I am usually on the right side of the tension. Once again, more to work on in my walk with God.

In case you’re interested, the passage that these two quotes are in reference to is Matthew 10:17-25. And the devotional itself is At His Feet. I highly recommend this devotional if you are looking for one.