Callused to it...

Have you ever had a part of your body (feet, finger or hand) develop a callus? It can be an unsightly thing to behold and perhaps even an intriguing wound to pick at. That crazy obsession to peeling off layers of dead skin, only to discover your true skin lies beneath it. You might not even recognize that you have a callus until you realize you have lost feeling in that area of your body.

I've once played around with a callus on the bottom of my foot (sick, I know) by sticking a needle-like pin into the skin to see whether I could feel the prick. I tried tickling that portion of my foot to see whether it would evoke some type of laughter or giggling out of me and sure enough, it did not. So many layers of dead skin had piled up that I was completely unresponsive to just about anything that came in contact with the callus.

I was listening to James McDonald (as my routine each day on the way to work) one morning and he was speaking on Romans 6 and he came across verse 5 which says,

"If we shared in Jesus' death by being baptized, we will be raised to life with Him." (CEV)

Pastor James talked about how often we get excited about the fact that Jesus died to forgive us for our sins and how grateful we are for such a sacrificial act. And while that truth is freeing, what's more is that Jesus didn't just stay dead. He rose to conquer death and as an act that exemplifies the power we possess to live a life free from the very things he died for.

To bring that thought home, I thought about the things I personally struggle with. It's easy to tell a lie. It's even easier to justify a lie by saying there's no harm in a little "white lie" and thinking it won't hurt anyone. Prior to trusting Christ as my Savior, I was powerless when an opportunity to lie arose. Justifying it away proved that something in me knew it was wrong, but deciding NOT to lie was not even a thought because the justification explained it away or the desire to say it was right there (why deny it).

But after trusting Christ to take away the penalty for my sins (that disobeying His ways truly brings), God deposits within us a power (the same one that raised Him from the dead) that frees us from the desire and will to do something as simple as lying. His power not only convicts us when an opportunity arises, it even convicts us when we want to explain it away. It bares a bit more heavily on us when we make the choice to lie anyway and (hopefully) encourages you and me to confess it and ask God for forgiveness. But the most exciting thing is, what was once a one-way street has turned into a two-way street. When that same opportunity to tell even the littlest of lies arises, we have the power to say "no- i'd rather tell the truth and face the situation" and with every decision, telling the truth and denying the chance to lie, becomes easier and feels more freeing.

Jesus' resurrection gives you a Spiritual callus (if you will) to the things (desires, words, attitudes, motives, actions) that once brought you pleasure but bring God grief. His Spirit empowers us to feel at type of numbness to lying, cheating, stealing, giving into our lusts, gossiping about others, cursing others and much, much more! It makes us unresponsive to such probings by piling up a dead-ness to those things. It causes us to lose feelings attached to those behaviors and attitudes, until we are immersed in consistent desires to please the God who loved us so sacrificially.

Woman...Interrupted

       There I was living my life as a single, doing whatever I wanted to do. Coming when I pleased, going as I desired. If my friends had an event, I didn’t have to answer to anyone to decide whether or not I’d go, or what time I would be home. No responsibilities to anyone other than myself, my job, my money, my bills. Life was grand, or so I thought. I was at my social and personal climax- living in the place of my dreams. A little cozy spot with just the right carpet, a bar and my favorite amenity- a grand size garden tub perfect for bubble baths. The community pool was elegant and had an accompanying party size grill area where I had already hosted a few small socials. The clubhouse was perfect for an upcoming soiree I had planned out in my mind and the gym was a perk in terms of convenience for my weekly workouts.

I was most comfortable with my life and then it happened...

I stepped into my shower to decompress after a long day and the thought that had crept up into my mind a few times weeks before, found its way back into my empty thoughts. But this time I couldn’t dismiss it. Tears streamed down my face because I knew a call was on my life that I could no longer escape. I tried to push back the tears, but the lump in my throat had already taken up residence and seemed to fuel more tears and I secretly surrendered to the notion that I was being called out of my cushy life and into a selfless abandonment. One that would cause some sacrificial decisions. I couldn’t, at the time understand, why me? Of all the people in the world, why me? Of all the ways this could have transpired, why when I’m at my most satisfied place in life? A week or two went by with no answer and the desire to be obedient was overshadowed by life’s current realities. Until a phone call came one night as I sat in my closet tidying up. The person on the other end of the phone had no idea I had been crying when I answered the phone and yet only after a minute of small talk, said words I didn’t want to hear but knew were right from the Lord. She told me to surrender to whatever it was I had been running from and the waterworks came harder because I knew it was time. Like Jonah, I could no longer ignore it.

Reluctantly, I surrendered to a series of events that began to unravel and set this plan into motion. Once I settled into my new place of residence, I initially grumbled with complaints and questions of why. But again, my questions went unanswered and so I continued to make the best of a less than favorable situation. It took a few months, but in my new place, I began to see life from a lens I would have never seen had I remained in my selfish palace where I sat on my own throne. Suddenly, in part, it was clear to me- there were needs that God wanted to meet and He desired to use me as His vessel in meeting such a need. Isn’t it funny how life has us disillusioned to believe that when it’s all about us, things must be at their best? Nothing can be farther from the truth. God doesn’t NEED to use us, it’s His Sovereign choice.

God used Esther to deliver a group of people when she didn’t initially want to be used. He used Jonah to deliver a message to a group of people He desired to redeem, despite His initial desire to refuse to take that message to them. So why use us? Perhaps there’s a sanctifying that occurs when God does His redeeming work through us. I can attest to the fact that I have experienced a purer sense of living and yet an accompanying feeling of abasement by watching God fulfill His purpose through me. One that could not be experienced had I remained in the mirror primping over my own life.

If you find yourself in a Esther or Jonah situation, let me just encourage you to surrender to the prompting of the Spirit within you. Not only is there no use in running, but there’s no better experience than letting God do His perfect work in you as He uses you to move on the behalf of others.

New Project for 2018

I'm proud to announce and would love your prayers and support for...

A Hope Deferred Season

This is my sophomore book project, expected to be completed by March 2018. The book is soon to be complete but is still in the editing phases. I am also excited about the cover design which is in the works. Possibly the most trying components are the query letters and proposals that must be written and submitted for publication companies to underwrite it. 

My first book, Dating Deceit, was a project I self-published via CreateSpace- a company that partners with Amazon. This time, I'm taking another leap of faith and looking for a company willing to publish the book and place it on the physical shelves, in stores. Proposals are no easy tasks, so pray for my strength and wisdom needed to write it. That a company would find favor when reading both the query letter and proposals and desire to publish this piece. 

I am truly grateful for the ability and time as well as the passion to write and see dreams and desires I have blossom into fruition. Nothing but God's grace and divine intervention has carried me this far. Praying His favor and continued mercy as I move forward for His glory! My prayer is that lives would be impacted and hope springs eternal in the hearts of those who pick up the book. That their faith will be renewed as they find encouragement needed to not give up. 

Can A New Year bring A New Me?

Right around December 26th we begin to hear the age old cliche' "New Year, New Me!" begin to pour from the minds and mouths of our friends. Our Facebook timelines are filled with people's resolutions and expectations of the upcoming new year. Perhaps its the feeling in the air- the feeling of new beginnings that spur new opportunities and inspire chances to start over. Whatever it is, and regardless of how noble and inspirational the thought- the idea is comprised of cancerous thinking from a mindset that we can change our own lives.

You might be able to usher in a new habit of working out, eating differently or spending more time with your family. These new habits might start off strong and might even last for a sustained period of time. After all, nothing is wrong with a resolution that occurs in the form of writing down a dream or marking out a plan and holding yourself accountable to such a change. Keep in mind, however, that we can just as easily fail in a diet, falter in keeping with our routine of attending the gym and things can distract us and give us valid justifications for why we aren't as able to spend time with our family as we planned. In the same way, saying that we will curse less, be more committed to our spouses, treat people better might be great resolutions. They might look good on paper and enlisting our friends to hold us accountable might prove to last for a time.

But Romans 7 calls these efforts and attempts, whether they occur beginning in January or otherwise, futile attempts to maintain a set of rules or adhere to a law of sorts (vs 15). Friend, understand that the ability to live the Christian life does not occur by proclaiming we will be a "new me". Rules have no power and similarly, resolutions (as great and noble as making them can be) have no power. For this truth remains, nothing good dwells in our flesh (vs 18a). Think of all the good things that are on your resolution list and re-read that statement from Romans 7:18. We don't even have the ability to do those good things we've resolved to do. Yes, we have the desire to do those good things, but not the ability to carry it out (vs 18b NIV) is what scripture says.

I desire to be nicer to people who hurt me.
I desire to quit smoking.
I desire to stop being so hot tempered.
I desire to walk away from this selfish lifestyle.
I desire to be a better son/daughter/spouse/grandparent.
I desire to be more disciplined to save money.
I desire to tithe.
I desire to wake up every day and run a mile.
I desire to watch my words when i'm angry.

All great things you may or may not have desired from time to time. And yet scripture cancels our trained way of thinking that just because we desire it, we cannot will ourselves into behaving in these new ways. We don't have the ability to live the Christian life, much less be a "new me" at the turn of a new year. After all, despite popular belief of both those who scoff at the Faith and those who are drenched in religion, Christianity isn't about trying or working harder; it's an intimate personal relationship with Jesus -who is alive living His life (by His Spirit) through us. I know you might believe it's the Spirit's role to help us speak in tongues or fall out or whatever other visible evidences you've seen on television. But the book of Acts doesn't give the only account of the Spirit's abilities. It is the Spirit's role (in the Trinity) to convict us of what to do, what to say, how to handle issues because we don't know how to do what God asks us to do (John 16).

It's even a popular belief that "When we know better, we do better". Well actually, knowing better doesn't exactly mean we will do better. Yes, we do need to grow in our learning, but information isn't the key to change; although it is a catalyst for it. Paul says there's a law (knowledge) in our minds, but because we are so programmed to do wrong, trying to change ourselves without submission to God will exhaust us!

James McDonald, in his book, Lord, Change Me, states that Biblical change begins when we admit our problem is a heart problem. Can you and I own that we are broken because of sin?

Repeat after me:

I admit, I am not programmed to will myself into being a new me. I am so weak and feeble, I need help to do what's right. 

 Then, after such an admission-we must turn by realizing that only God can change our hearts.

Repeat after me:

God, grant me the desire to be different and help me to partner with you so I can be more loving towards people especially my enemies; help me walk in victory over my selfish and sinful desires; control me by your Spirit so that I don't lose my temper, say words that hurt and empower me to live for Your eternal purposes rather than my own personal self-gratifying pursuits. 

Rather than pridefully claiming, yet again, this cliche statement about the new you that will arise from 2018, I challenge you to instead commit to partner with the Lord in His desire to bring about the change He desires for you. Embrace whatever His Spirit convicts you of, each day. Yield to His gentle leading and watch as the New You that has already taken form (2 Corinthians 5:17), takes on continued newness through the changing seasons of your life- not just at the start of a new year.