Great Expectations

When we choose to walk with God, we make the decision to honor Him in our daily lives.  His love is unconditional for us, and thank goodness it is because if His love was dependent on my behavior, I would be in trouble.  However, the Bible does mention some things that we can “do” that please Him, and if we love Him then we should want to please Him.

In Micah 6, the Israelites had been rebelling against God and had unthankful attitudes.  God wants to reconcile with them, and they choose to try and appease Him with sacrifices, but God tells them that He wants them to live lives full of fairness, justice, mercy and humility.  The evidence of their devotion to Him will be through their changed lives.

So, what can we learn from this?  How do these expectations look for us today?

• Examine carefully and choose to do the right thing.

Yes, as Christians, we should want to do the “right” things, but as human beings we are frequently being tempted in many ways.  What might be a weak area of temptation for me might be an area of strength for someone else.  God knows our hearts.  He created us.  He knows our strengths and our weaknesses, but we can overcome those weaknesses through Jesus Christ.

We need to know that God is able to help us overcome these weaknesses, and understand that through Jesus, He has made us able.  If you commit to tracing God’s hand during your day (the people we encounter, the situations we face), you will see Him guiding you to the right choices.  More often than not, we know when we are making a wrong choice (and sometimes we do it anyway), but that choice will not resonate in your spirit.  

It’s not always easy, but take a step back, examine the situation and do what is right in the eyes of God.

• Exalt Kindness and Mercy

God wants us to love mercy.  What is mercy?  It can be seen as the sister to grace.  It is the spirit of pardoning and forgiving and giving to others that are in need.  We were given this gift when our debt was nailed to the Cross and we gained this “undeserved favor” through Jesus’ sacrifice.

This takes effort and focus at times.  Our spirit needs to rule over our feelings, instead of our feelings ruling over our spirit..  Feelings can’t have rest, and if we aren’t careful and actively promoting loving kindness and mercy, spiritual apathy can set in.  

Instead of being calloused toward those who need help or a little extra forgiveness, rejoice in the fact that you have been called to help them and remain thankful that you receive this from our Father.

• Exercise Humility

We live in a very self-centered world.  It is easy to get caught up in what WE wants for ourselves, rather than what God wants for us.  Remembering that we are able to do things because of the gifts God gave us will help us remain humble and thankful for those gifts.  

Is it possible to live in a loving, caring and selfless way as Jesus did? Of course it is, but it isn’t as simple as it sounds.  Are you willing to set everything aside to help, love, and lead someone in the image of Jesus?  

These three commandants are like a cord.  Yes, we can do each of them separately, but they fit beautifully into one strand.  As if by committing to one requirement, the other two will more easily flow.  For instance, if we do what is right in God’s eyes, we are being merciful and are walking humbly with Him.  We are also walking humbly by putting others’ needs in front of our selfish desires to get revenge or be better than someone else.  If we walk humbly with God, we will be in tune with what it means to do right.

All three of these external behaviors must emanate from internal motivation.  The Holy Spirit lives in each of us that have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, and He can help us be strong in any area of weakness.  It isn’t a permanent condition in most cases, the need to constantly ask for humility, and a love for mercy as well as making the right choices is an ongoing battle as we navigate our way through this world hoping to honor God with our lives.

Don’t give up.  God isn’t going anywhere, and He will help us grow toward Him if we seek His will with our whole hearts.  Our salvation is not based on our behavior, but God desires for us to have changed lives in order to show His love to the world.

Passages to Ponder:

Micah 6:8- No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you; to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

I Peter 5:6- So humble yourselves under the mighty power of  God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.

Matthew 9: 13- Then He added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Kathy Derda, Susan Haynes, Kim McClure and Kristy Tolley

June Hope Chest- Don't Take Hope For Granted by Terri Millwood

 I use the word ”hope” a lot. We often use it as the root word for hopeful or hopeless or sometimes…..hopelessness. We throw that word around a lot. “I hope you feel better”, we text to a friend. “I sure hope tomorrow is better than today was”, we sigh to a co-worker.
   
  When Kim asked me to contribute to Sunflower Seeds, she told me that I would be sharing something from my own life experiences around the subject of “hope”. I discussed it with my husband, Mark, prayed about the experience to share,  and then recalled how blessed I have been. In my life, I have often taken hope for granted.

    Life for the Millwood family is often chaotic.  The on-going joke around our house is that somewhere in our genealogy, there must be a Murphy….as is the origin of Murphy’s Law.  You name it and we have probably experienced it….near fatal accidents, cancer, job loss, a house fire, a tornado, marital issues,money issues and chronic pain. Three of us….. my husband, my youngest son and I have all had back surgery.  If we were superstitious people, we might consider ourselves some of the most unlucky people on the planet. 

     I wish I could say that I have weathered it all with grace, but I am a control freak. I don’t like chaos and uncertainty.

 The most particularly trying time in our lives was when Mark lost his job. He applied for anything and everything to make it. This included mowing lawns, laying sod and fixing irrigation systems for our neighbors and friends. 

Eventually, he was hired by the Federal government. The position was over 350 miles away. It was well below his experience level, and paid less than half his former salary. We had no idea how we would make it.

        We had four children at that time and homeschooled 3 of them. My youngest was just 3 years old. I was a busy person. As an Air Force Reserve Officer, I was working part-time from home and a couple weekends a month. I volunteered for active duty assignments as much as possible to supplement our income. These assignments were never close to home and my kids often had to stay with my parents who lived 3 hours away. There were many times that I dropped the kids off at my parents (the halfway point from Mark’s job) and then Mark would pick them up for the weekend…..the two of us not seeing each other for weeks at a time. This lifestyle went on for 3 long years. It was taking a toll on our family and our marriage. We were  depressed, irritable, and exhausted.

      The housing market in Atlanta had tanked. We were upside down in a mortgage and our retirement funds were shrinking . We drained at least half of our retirement and maxed out credit cards. Often times, there was simply not enough money for food and I found myself at a church mission, with our children, getting a box to get us through until the next paycheck. Mark lived on microwave meals and packs of crackers while he was renting a room in a boarding house at his new job. He lost 40 lbs. 

      Through all of this, Mark’s grandmother was dying with kidney cancer. We were her only family within hundreds of miles. Actually, I was her only family, since Mark was not living in the Atlanta area. Some days began with the kids and I packing up computers and books and heading with Grandmother to the hospital at Emory University for a day of appointments. She and I were close and seeing her slip away was taking an emotional toll on me. Additionally, I was having my own health issues with multiple breast biopsies and physical therapy for another back injury.

      I was just worn out…mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

I remember the day that I collapsed on bathroom floor and just sobbed. I  couldn’t take it anymore. I don’t remember how long I laid there. What I do remember, was hearing a voice telling me to look up, an overwhelming sense of peace….a total surrender, a hope. 

I literally felt like I was being scooped up and lifted back to my feet. I knew everything was going to be okay. Maybe not the way I wanted it to be, but okay. I did not need to “hope” for the end to an illness, a better job for Mark, more money, less pain. These things were temporary and that kind of hope was an earthly hope.  

How had I forgotten to “look up”? I wasn’t seeing God in any of what was going on in our lives. I just wanted to get to the next level in life’s game of obstacles and delays.

     I don’t subscribe to the “name it and claim it” spiritual philosophy….. that if you just pray hard enough for something that God will give it to you. That idea puts us in control. Obviously, the one lesson that I have learned from my life, is that I am not in control. 

God is good and he desire is not to give us the life that we wish for, but a life that is even better than we can hope for. He is good all the time, even when life isn’t. I just had to quit looking a circumstances and start looking through them to Him.

     Hope for me is no longer the expression  of  what I want as a desired outcome. For me, it is the confidence of knowing, with certainty, that there is something better coming in the future. It is in sync with my faith. To quote author and pastor, John Piper, “In my life — and I think it is the intended biblical pattern — hope is like a reservoir of emotional strength”. This is a strength that we draw from when life is coming at us faster than we can handle and we take on more than is humanly possible.

        The life I have now is not something that I would have imagined 6 years ago. Simplicity is my new dream. However, only having lived through those hard times, could bring us to this point. We tried for so long to keep up with everyone else in Suburbia. It was stressful even in the best of times.  

Now, Mark  works 20 minutes away in a job that we never thought possible due to his previous health issues. However, dropping the 40 lbs from his microwave diet, led to a health improvement. He went from an stressful office job to being a Park Ranger… a dream job for him . From the years of frugalness and necessity, I learned to sew, grow and process my own vegetables and make bread…..and I enjoy it. The house, that we struggled to keep, now has equity. Although we can now afford the payments, we dream of buying a small homestead. 

        In our lives, God had placed many people along the way who served God by serving us. It was a huge blessing to see the hands and feet of God in action. Our desire, in all of this, is to be used by God, in a way that would glorify Him, as we show hope to others.

In July of 2013, we traveled to China to adopt my youngest son. If someone would have told 39 year old Terri that she would be the 45 mother of a 4 year old son from China with Spina Bifida, married to a Park Ranger and trying to buy a farm, I would have laughed. It was not anything that I had hoped for. It is better.

What Is Stealing Your Peace?

What do you think of when you hear the word “peace”?  

It might be the peace sign made popular in the ’60’s.  It might be total silence, or some might see a picturesque scene of nature.  The dictionary equates peace with tranquility.  Tranquility is defined as “being free from agitation of mind or spirit; free from disturbance or turmoil”.  Now, that sounds good.  Wouldn’t it be nice to go through life with no agitation, disturbances or turmoil?

Life isn’t easy.  It just isn’t, and just because you give your life to Christ doesn’t mean that everything is going to start being lollipops and rainbows.  However, one big difference between a believer and a non-believer is the way difficulties are dealt with.  That comes down to one reason.  We, as believers, have the Holy Spirit living in each of us, and He is a provider of peace and strength.

God, our Father, will give us the strength that we need to get through each day, and that will result in living a more peaceful life.  We have to strive for it though.  It won’t just be dropped into our laps.  The main thing we need to do is give up our power and start to become aware of the things that steal our peace.

What steals your peace?  

• comparisons
• competitions
• judging or being judged
• anger
• regret
• worry
• blame
• guilt
• fear

That is a list of ugly words that will not bring peace into your life, but instead agitate and irritate and cause turmoil in your life.  

Living a life where you’re constantly judging others or yourself in some kind of competition and comparison game will never allow you to be happy.  

Putting yourself in situations with people who anger you is not good for you physically or spiritually.  

Many believers tear themselves up with regrets over their past, blaming themselves or maybe other people for the mistakes they made.  That guilt can be overwhelming and heavy.  

Worrying about tomorrow and being afraid of what will happen next are things that will overtake your thoughts and be blown out of proportion in your imagination.  

So..what are you going to do about it?  Look UP instead of around.

When your co-worker gets the promotion instead of you, look UP and believe that there’s a reason for it, and that you are needed where you are.  

When a conversation begins to take a sharp turn toward an argument, look UP and walk away until you’ve had time to calm down.  

When you see someone from your past and that nagging tug of regret starts to form in your gut, look UP and believe that Jesus took that away from you.  He went through an enormous sacrifice to forgive you of those mistakes, we have to forgive ourselves too. We just have to.  

When your kid is struggling with life or there’s a big change coming in your future instead of letting that take the form of frustration that can affect your relationships, look UP and believe that He has it under control, and frankly, He doesn’t need your help in that area.

Sounds easy, right? A lot of times it isn’t.  Even the disciples who lived with Jesus and learned from Him on a daily basis doubted sometimes.  It takes strength to look up instead of around.  It takes strength to accept things for what they are, and hope for understanding when the answers aren’t coming as quickly as you would prefer.  It takes strength to push away those feelings of regret and guilt.  It takes strength to live a life of peace.  

So, look UP and ask for the strength to avoid those bad behaviors listed above, and to focus on the One who has a plan for your life.

Peace!

Passages to Ponder:

Psalm 29:11- The Lord gives His people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.

John 14:27- I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.  So don't be troubled or afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7- Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Contributors: Kim McClure and Marla McDonald

But, What Will I Wear?

Each morning, we choose what to pull out of the closet and wear.  One of the deciding factors is usually what we have to do that day.  Spending a day working in the garden requires different clothing than spending a day shopping (or at least I hope so).  The weather also plays a factor, because the environment we will be spending our time in will effect us as well.

Similarly, I have days that are going to require me to stand a little stronger in my faith than others just because of what I have on my agenda. Will I spend most of the day doing things I love to do and with people that I love, or will it be one of those days when I have to deal with situations that challenge me and people that might just rain on my parade? 

What am I going to wear so that I can live a decent life for all to see?

In Ephesians 6:13-17, Paul tells us how to suit up and get ready for any day, any challenge, any temptation.  “Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Let’s look at this piece by piece.

The Belt of Truth: 

We might choose to wear a belt to cinch our waist or because we think it’s cute, but the practical use for a belt is to keep our pants up in order to avoid embarrassment or tugging at them all day.  Similarly, putting on the belt of truth can keep us from being embarrassed or letting negative thoughts tug at us all day.  When negative thoughts start to creep in, take that thought captive.  If it’s a lie, recognize it as such, remind yourself what the truth really is and then make the lie bow down to the truth.  When those thoughts start, cinch up that belt, take a moment and ask God to send you clarity about the truth of the situation.  It can help hold you up.

The Breastplate of Righteousness:

Choosing a top or sweater is an important decision because a lot of times it’s the first thing people notice.  God’s righteousness is what we want people to notice about us, isn’t it?  So, let’s put it on every day.  Being righteous doesn’t mean that you’re better than anyone else, it means that you keep your morals and virtues consistent with what God wants. 

The Sandals of Peace:

Who doesn’t love shoes?  Sometimes, they make or break an outfit.   When you find yourself dealing with challenging people or situations, remember that you are wearing shoes of peace and try to make sure that they complement your lifestyle.  Following Christ requires sacrifice.  In some cases, that means keeping your thoughts to yourself or even swallowing your pride in order to keep peace in a situation.  Is it any wonder that shoes wear out quicker than any other article of clothing?

The Helmet of Salvation:

Wearing hats isn’t a popular trend in today’s society, but this figurative helmet can be the most important part of suiting up every day.  You see, we have an enemy and he wants to get in our heads and tell us that we aren’t good enough, that we don’t deserve God’s love, that we should just give up.  Protecting your head with the knowledge that you are saved by God’s grace and the sacrifice of His son is crucial to successfully living a Christian life. By the way, you aren’t good enough, and neither am I, but He loves us and saved us anyway!

The Shield of Faith:

Wearing a jacket or coat can shield you from the rain or from frigid weather.  Wearing sunscreen as a  shield from the sun protects you from harm too. Putting on your shield of faith can protect you from situations that just keep coming.  Sometimes, it feels like the rain just won’t stop, or you’re going to burn up from the heat.  Whether you’re in a situation that is burning hot with emotion or the environment is a bit chilly, don’t stop believing the truth.  Eventually, this  bad situation will end and goodness will return.

The Sword of the Spirit:

Handbags are important pieces in a wardrobe.  Carrying one allows you to have whatever you need in one place, right at your disposal.  The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.  It has whatever you need to hear, know, and remember right at your disposal.  Pick up that Bible and read it.  Choose a life verse that speaks to you and memorize it.  Repeat it over and over and over…..You will be blessed.

Passages to Ponder:

Romans 13:14- Instead, clothe yourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

2 Corinthians 10:4- We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby and Kim McClure

Life Verses Bring Victory

Life brings challenges to everyone.  I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I face the same challenges over and over and wonder why I didn’t learn this lesson the first ten times it came up.  Each person’s situation is unique and every one of us is fighting a battle of some kind.  Some of us can do it with a smile on our faces most of the time, while some of us struggle to get out of bed and face the day.  No matter what challenge is coming at you, you have the most powerful weapon available in God’s Word.

The Bible provides a lamp to guide your feet and a light for your path.  Have you ever tried to walk somewhere in complete darkness?  You bump into things and stumble and could even get hurt, but when the light comes on, you can avoid most of those things.  It changes lives by guiding those who read it and transforms not only them, but also the people they come in contact with.  It is alive!  It is powerful!  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, and exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

We can use this power source by knowing what it says, and by choosing a life verse for ourselves.  A life verse is a passage from the Bible that speaks to you.  It is something that you can say aloud when you feel challenged, and you are reminded of the truth.  Having a life verse can be a gift like no other in times of struggle, because God’s word never changes even as our world does.

When you’re feeling discouraged, and are having trouble seeing past a situation, try Karen’s life verse.  Isaiah 43:18-19 “But forget all that- it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.  For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?  I will make a pathway through the wilderness.  I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”  This passage can see you through some of the worst times because He tells us that He is already doing something new!  He will make a path for us through any situation and make something good out of it.  Even in the desert, we can praise God because with Him, the end of something is truly the beginning of something else.  Rather than lament the past, we can give glory to His name, because everything He touches is fruitful.

When you find yourself worrying about what is going to happen next, try Julie’s life verse.  Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you’, says the Lord.’They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you hope and a future,’”  If you are someone who tends to be highly anxious, you can find comfort and rest in the knowledge that God’s plans are always for your good.   Hang in there. 

When you’re feeling anxious, try Jodi’s life verse.   Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  Then you will experience God’ s peace which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  This can free you from a life of anxiety.  By saying it aloud, you can retrain your mind by deciding to pray about things instead of being afraid of them.  He will, indeed, fill you with unspeakable peace if you practice this.

When you’re dealing with people , try Tammy’s life verse.  Romans 12:18 “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”  We should strive for peace, and not initiate conflict.  This can help remind you that you are only in charge of yourself and not the actions or thoughts of anyone else.

When you’re feeling unsure, try Michele’s life verse.  2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”  Reading this aloud has great power to get you through trials.  Power, love, and a sound mind are gifts from God. Believe it!

When you’re feeling confused or torn, try Maria’s life verse.  Philippians 1:9-10 “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”   Being able to differentiate between what’s important and what isn’t is a gift that will bring you peace and help your walk with Christ grow as you walk uprightly before God.     

          

When you’re feeling fearful, try Kim’s life verse. Joshua 1:9 “This is my command- be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Saying this aloud can remind you that God is with you.  There is no need to be afraid of anything new.  God wants us to be confident and reassured as we rely on Him through faith in His plan. He’s got this!

When you’re feeling like you want to give up, try Shawna’s life verse. Galatians 6:9“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”  This is a great verse when you need motivation.  Most of the time, people use “reaping what you sow” as a warning of consequences of bad decisions, but this also speaks of the benefits/results of doing the right thing and not quitting.

When you’re feeling weak, try Brooke’s life verse. Philippians 4:13 “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”  It is Christ who makes us strong when we are weak.  His plan is your plan.  He made you for it.  You CAN do all things that He made you for.  Simple. Mandatory.  Live it.

Feel free to adopt one of our life verses, or search out one for yourself. We would love to hear what you choose.  Say it aloud and with confidence.  You will not be disappointed!

Passages to Ponder:

Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is alive and powerful.  It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow.  It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Colossians 1:6- This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world.  It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

Psalms 119:105- Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Julie DeTemple, Jodi Dunbar, Tammy  Holtzapfel, Michele Killion, Maria Kucharczuk, Kim McClure, Shawna Nelson and Brooke Radnor

The Power in Our Priorities

As my children get older, I find myself looking back a lot and wondering what I forgot to teach them.  Some of that is evident as I watch them make mistakes, and while I know that it is necessary to let them  suffer the consequences of poor decisions, it isn’t an easy thing to do. 

We have children and it seems like we start asking them as soon as they go to school, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”.  High schools expect incoming freshmen to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives before they register for classes, so that they can be assured to be on the “right track”.  They are 14 years old.  I know several people that are 44 years old and don’t know what they want to do with the rest of their lives.

As a nation we are achievers, strivers, and accumulators.  The American Dream is really a wonderful thing, to be able to see that virtually anything is within our reach if we just work hard enough is amazing.  There is nothing sinful about being successful in your career, as a matter of fact, it honors God when you work hard and set a good example in the workplace, but success can be addicting and just like any addict, it’s possible we will do whatever it takes to get it and keep it.

   

There are a lot of demands on our time, and unless we make God a priority, He will be the one that gets neglected most easily.  Spending time reading the Bible daily or finding 10 minutes of quiet time to pray and listen get shifted from today’s to do list to tomorrows.  I speak from experience. Been there..done that. 

Don’t be shocked when God does something to grab your attention and shift your focus back on Him. 

When He does, will you blame Him for it while throwing a tantrum?  Lots of us do.

 But, sometimes that’s what it takes.

God wants us to be relational.  He wants us to reflect His light onto the rest of the world.  You might interact with many people every day, but are you building a relationship with them?  Look for people who need to see God’s light and reach out to them. 

Ask God to provide you with a friend or mentor who will pray with you and for you, while loving you as He does.  This person and those prayers will open your eyes to the parts of your life that might be separating you from growing in your relationships with the Lord and with your family.

What do I want my kids to be when they grow up?  My first thought, now, doesn’t go to a career.  I want them to be happy and confident in their own relationship with God.  I still want them to be independent and support themselves financially, but those things don’t bring true happiness.  Only God can do that.

Passages to Ponder:

Mark 8:36- And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Matthew 6:33- Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

Psalm 39:6- We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.  We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

Contributors:  Karen Bromby, Michele Killion and Kim McClure