Unexpected Expense

"One day," I always say. "One day I'll learn how to manage my money better!"

These words typically follow a financial blunder on my part; an instance in which I thought I was doing good and then swiftly realized that my account balance didn't add up correctly. Darnit. I blame the automatic withdraw for all my problems. :-)

At the beginning of this year, I went through a 13-week course on financial peace that was offered by Dave Ramsey and hosted by my church. I learned so much and made good progress. No more credit card debt, I think that's worth celebrating! But I still struggle. I can complain that it's because I don't make enough money or because something "always comes up," but the truth is that I should plan my life and finances according to what I make and with a plan for the unexpected expenses (which, if you think about it, aren't that unexpected...Christmas comes at the same time every year you know).

This morning, as I was once again lamented an upcoming expense that was "unexpected," I began to think about Christ. The Bible speaks about Christ's sacrifice as the payment for our sins. That He canceled our debt. That He paid the ultimate expense. I sat here just overwhelmed with these thoughts... I mean, how can I complain about my monetary expenses that are not significant in light of eternity (except that how I handle them should honor God) when my mindset should really be focused on things above.

God didn't have an unexpected expense when He lost His Son to death for our sins. God the Father and God the Son knew the high cost of this act. It was planned for all of time, every aspect of our human condition, of history, and of our future was taken into account. And when the moment came to make the payment, He didn't waver. There was no going back, no searching for additional funds, no credit, no remaining balance. He paid it all.

In light of this, my life should change. My daily actions should reflect my heart's condition - which is debt free because of Christ! So the next time I feel that life is asking too much, more than I can afford to give, I pray that my Spirit remembers first that my life is not my own and all I have to give is all I need to give for God's glory every day.

Ephesians 5:19b-20, NIV

"Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I'm sitting in the kitchen of my unusually quiet house and listening to my favorite Christian music and reading the Bible. I'm not sure that I could exactly define what Paul meant when he said to "make music in your heart to the Lord," but I think it must be something like what my heart is doing right now.

Galations 6:1-3, The Message

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

I have a sore back most mornings. It's the result of a strained muscle in 2006 (note: don't go jump on a bed to scare a friend and then fall on the floor, it hurts!). Because this stiffness prevents me from moving about my daily routine in comfort, I find myself going through significant effort to avoid moving in a way that I know will hurt. I look ridiculous, and whatever I'm doing usually takes twice as long, but I succeed in avoiding the pain.

These verses says "stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed." When I read this, I realized that I'm incredibly selfish and self-protective. My habit of exerting more time and effort to avoid discomfort has overlapped into my spiritual life. Too often I am unwilling to go out of my way to assist another believer or someone I see in need. I let my comfort and schedule dictate whether or not I will show grace and mercy as God commands. This is shockingly similar to the appalling behavior of the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan.

I've never wanted to be in the place where I ask those in my life to show me grace and mercy, but are unwilling to bend down and offer it myself. As much as it might hurt or be inconvenient, I need to follow Christ's example and share their burdens. I'm deceiving myself to think that I can accept it and not have to give it in return.

So I'm going to continue to take care of strengthening my back muscles and building up strength while also practicing the spiritual discipline of overcoming the desire to walk past those who are oppressed and need grace and mercy.

Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

If my life were a book

In the few moments of quiet that I've had in the last couple weeks, I find myself coming up with chapter titles to the book of my life. It might seem silly, but I literally drive from one thing to the next and think to myself: "When I write my memoir, this chapter will be called ____." I amuse myself too much sometimes. Anyway -

Maybe one day I will have the time to add words underneath these titles. But in the meantime, here are a few for your entertainment:

Cooking for One

Red-faced and Running

Cubicle Blues

Left Behind

Don't Tell Me: To Say No
Don't Tell Me: That I Can't Do It
Don't Tell Me: You Understand
Don't Tell Me: To Wait
Don't Tell Me: Anything
God is Annoying Me
I've Got Peace Like a Volcano
I wish I was an Ostrich
Pride is Here, just waiting for the Fall
It's all Eve's Fault
Unread Books
Just Me and .
Star of the Freak Show
Rock and Roller Coasters

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

I spent a long time yesterday reading through scripture, trying to find a verse that would bring comfort to a grieving friend. I wanted something that would tell my friend everything that I was at a loss to say in my own words. Discouraged at not being able to find the "right thing," I closed the bible and moved on to a different thought.

Then, later last night, I read a blog about suffering. In that blog was the verse that I didn't realize I needed, Hebrews 13:8. It may not have been able to provide the words that will give all the answers or help anything make sense, but these words are true and just as applicable.

Thank you Lord for being our consistent Savior. When things don't make sense, help us to remember that you're the same. Love you God. Goodnight.

Psalm 19:7-9, The Message

The revelation of God is whole

and pulls our lives together.

The signposts of God are clear

and point out the right road.

The life-maps of God are right,

showing the way to joy.

The directions of God are plain

and easy on the eyes.

God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,

with a lifetime guarantee.

The decisions of God are accurate

down to the nth degree.

Last night after hearing a friend speak her heart and share her convictions about what God is asking her to do, I couldn't help but think a lot about obedience. It's not easy. I admire my friend for recognizing what the Lord wants her to do and realizing that she must obey - the trick is that it's going to be very very difficult for her.

I was thrilled to see that a verse from Psalm 19 was the "verse of the day" on www.biblegateway.com today. Reading these words on the validity of the Word are just the "push" I think we all need when it comes to obedience. We can't go wrong if we obey.

I don't know if this speaks to you and where God has you right now, but regardless, I would encourage you to act on that "nudge" from the Lord. He knows what He's doing.

I miss you

Dear Blog,

I miss writing each night. I don't know why I've been away. Although, come to think of it...I began a new job, my not-so-small group multiplied into three, I have traveled, begun a small freelance writing job, and read two books. Oh.

Nevertheless, when I don't write to you, dear Blog, I'm also not spending the time in the Word that I want to be. As such, I'm not only suffering mentally from not processing all my thoughts - but I'm also suffering spiritually. And my spiritual health is important. Perhapys I shall begin staying at work a few minutes past my shift each day. Just long enough so I can compose a blog for the day.

Wait for me, my friend. I'm on my way back to you!

Katie.

Proverbs 2:1-8, New Living Translation

My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.

I seek things all the time. At work I seek the right words to use in my letters and I search for ways to do my job better. At home, I look for that lost sock, a misplaced container of leftovers somewhere in the fridge, and ways to keep things clean. In other areas of life, I seek things like the right greeting card for a friend, the perfect price of gas to fill up my car, new activities and events to attend with friends, and ways to prevent boredom. I am a seeker of all these things.

Ultimately, however, I want to be a seeker of Christ and Him alone. I read this proverb listed above and I am ashamed that my energy is spent more in seeking the temporary things of the world than it is in the eternal things of the Lord.

This is the same journey I've been on for years. I know its only going to continue, but hopefully it will at least get better! :-)

Seasons of Change

The changing of the summer to autumn is my favorite time of year. As if there hasn’t been an autumn before, I get excited about drinking apple cider, taking walks with leaves falling from trees, carving pumpkins, and reveling in the cool weather. I was giddy today thinking about these fall activities. This is the kind of change that I enjoy. This kind of change doesn’t necessarily require me to do anything other than add more layers to my wardrobe.

Unfortunately, there is so much more that needs to change than just the natural rotation of seasons. The seasons of friendship need to change when life takes you down an unexpected turn or through a natural progression of life stages. Your life often goes through a changing of seasons when you transition from a location or a job. The spiritual seasons of my life aren’t on a regular schedule and we need to wake ourselves up from hibernation when we’ve been sleeping too long.

Especially on my mind today is the type of change that we have control over. We must change the trends in of injustice, of hunger, of gossip, of complacency, and of hatred. I am tired of seeing myself stand by, this season must change. In light of what Christ did for us, how can I go idly go through life? My heart echoes the words here in David Crowder’s song “Surely We Can Change”:

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn't hit

And I don't know
What to do with a love like that
And I don't know
How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

And the problem it seems
Is with you and me
Not the Love who came
To repair everything

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something

Oh, the world's about to change
The whole world's about to change

Matthew 4:18-25

After small group tonight I wanted to reword this passage in my own words, as if I were a character in the story. So here is my attempt:

As Jesus walked along a well-traveled and familiar place, He saw a young woman working at her job. Jesus said to her, "Join me. I'll show you how to go beyond your normal work and life an eternally focused life. Together we'll show others about love." The young woman immediately agreed and changed her entire life in order to follow Him.

A little further away, Jesus and the woman came across more people who were working, going to school, and pursuing their normal routines. The same offer was made and everyone abandoned their old lives as they knew them and followed Jesus.

From this point on, these individuals walked with Jesus throughout their community. Everywhere they went, the spoke of truth and the love of Christ. People were healed both physically and spiritually as a result. God was glorified.