Radical Womanhood

New Year's Resolutions

Happy new year, one and all. I pray you find traces of God's Spirit at work in every aspect of your life this year!

So ... it's January 4. Which means we should all be on day four of our diets, gym commitments, budgets, and cheerful attitudes. Yes, we are an army of "resolutionaries" -- at least for one whole week in January. 

But not me, not this year. I definitely need all that I've listed above, but shortly before the new year, I was pondering my new year's resolutions and felt the distinct interruption of the Holy Spirit. You know how that goes. You are busy thinking thoughts about yourself, your goals, your accolades, or even your fears, anxieties, and hurts, when all of a sudden you are aware of a complete thought descending on your soul that is not about you. It is usually a gentle correction, at least in my experience, but it is with utter authority.

In this case, as I pondered self-control and how to grow in it, the impression I had was this: "You won't grow in self-control unless you grow in the knowledge of My holiness." Bam! There was the root of my failure in self-control, totally exposed. My definition of self-control had been something accomplished by my own effort -- here's where we get real -- and done for my own glory. Oh, I wouldn't have actually voiced that to you if you asked, but that was my functional theology. 

The New Testament clearly presents self-control as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, meaning it must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Not by self. It is the opposite of fear, according to 1 Timothy 6:7, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Fear incites us to hoard, reject, lash out, and distrust others. But with the Spirit of God, we have power to love others and control ourselves. And with that empowered self-control, we find freedom:

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:13-23)

Walking is a biblical euphemism for the daily actions and utterances of our lives. It's the one-step-at-a-time revelation of what we believe and trust. Therefore, I simply need to resolve to walk by the Spirit, right?  I will make fabulous lists of what that looks like, be accountable to my prayer partners for my choices, and read lots and lots of books on self-control. But in the heat of the moment, unless I am aware of the holiness of God, I won't see self-control as all that serious. "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." 

The flesh and the Spirit are at war, in conflict with one another. Simply put, my flesh doesn't take the holiness of God very seriously or it would surrender and stop picking a fight it can't possibly win.

Therefore, my only New Year's resolution is to immerse myself in this topic with the heartfelt prayer that this is one resolution worth keeping after January.

How People Change

I seem to start a lot of blog posts this way these days: "Sorry for the silence on this blog, but I've been busy with (fill in the blank)." Today is no exception. I was at the True Woman Conference in Indianapolis last week when I realized I had neglected to post anything for days. It seems I only have time to live life or process it, but not at the same time. However, I can't afford to let busyness undermine the processing, because it's in the reflection and contemplation that I am able to stop spinning my wheels long enough to examine the overflow of my heart and take my "spiritual temperature," so to speak.

One book I recommend for that process is Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane's book, How People Change. It's been out for a few years now, but its counsel is ageless. The book addresses the "gospel gap" in our lives, our counterfeit hopes, what entangles us and why, our new identity in Christ that leads to new potential, and much more. I found the trajectory of the book to be interesting, as well, as it begins with the individual and moves on to the church. As the authors note, change is a community process, but often we tend to think of it as the community's efforts to change the individual. This book ends with how the church itself often needs to be renewed in applying the hope of the gospel in all its activities and efforts. 

In the first chapter, the authors address what they term the "gospel gap" in our lives that leads to three kinds of spiritual blindness. If you find yourself in any of these descriptions, then I believe you will find much hope in the counsel that follows in the rest of How People Change. Here is an introduction to the ideas you will find in this valuable book:

First, there is the blindness of identity. Many Christians do not have a gospel perspective on who they are. For example, Phil was a good theologian, but his personal identity was more rooted in knowledge and achievement than in the gospel. This lack of gospel identity shows up in two ways. First, many Christians underestimate the power and presence of indwelling sin. They don't see how easily entrapped they are in this world full of snares (Gal. 6:1). They don't grasp the comprehensive nature of the war that is always ranging within the heart of every believer (Rom. 7). They're not aware of how prone they are to run after God replacements. They fail to see that their greatest problems exist within them, not outside them.

My work with teenagers has convinced me that one of the main reasons teenagers are not excited by the gospel is that they do not think they need it. Many parents have successfully raised self-righteous little Pharisees. When they look at themselves, they do not see a sinner in desperate need, so they are not grateful for a Savior. Sadly, the same is true of many of their parents.

Many believers also fail to see the other side of their gospel identity: their identity in Christ. Christ not only gives me forgiveness and a new future, but a whole new identity as well! I am now a child of God, with all of the rights and privileges that this title bestows. This is important because each of us lives out of some sense of identity, and our gospel identity amnesia will always lead to some form of identity replacement. That is, if who I am in Christ does not shape the way I think about myself and the things I face, then I will live out of some other identity.

Often in our blindness, we take on our problems as identities. While divorce, depression, and single parenthood are significant human experiences, they are not identities. Our work is not our identity, though it is an important part of how God intends us to live. For too many of us, our sense of identity is more rooted in our performance than it is in God's grace. It is wonderful to be successful at what God has called you to do, but when you use your success to define who you are, you will always have a distorted perspective.

Second, a "here and now" gap in the gospel also causes us to be blind to God's provision. As Peter states, in Christ we have been given "everything we need for life and godliness." Why does he use two words here, both "life" and "godliness"? The second word is meant to qualify the first. If Peter had simply said that God has given us everything we need for life, it would be easy to add the word "eternal" before it. This is how the passage is often interpreted. We find it much easier to embrace the gospel's promise of life after death than we do its promise of life before death! But when Peter says that God has given us everything we need for "godliness," we know that he is talking about life now. Godliness is God-honoring life from the time I come to Christ until the time I go home to be with him.

Peter is saying that we cannot live properly in the present unless we understand the provision God has made for us. Many believers are blind to the fact that this provision runs deeper than the commands, principles, and promises of Scripture we normally associate with the pursuit of a godly life. It is even more fundamental than the conviction of the Holy Spirit or our legal forgiveness. God's provision for a godly life now is literally Christ himself! He has given us himself so that we can be like him. . . 

Without an awareness of Christ's presence, we tend to live anxiously. We avoid hard things and are easily overwhelmed. But a clear sense of identity and provision gives us hope and courage to face the struggles and temptations that come our way. 

A third form of blindness that a gospel gap produces is blindness to God's process. The New Testament is clear that our acceptance into the family of God is not the end of God's work in us, but the beginning. God has not called us to a life of "I have spiritually arrived" or "I am just waiting for heaven." Rather, he calls us to a life of constant work, constant growth, and constant confession and repentance. Making us holy is God's unwavering agenda until we are taken home to be with him. He will do whatever he needs to do to produce holiness in us. He wants us to be a community of joy, but he is willing to compromise our temporal happiness in order to increase our Christ-likeness.

Any time we find ourselves in difficulty or trial, it is easy to think we have been forgotten or rejected by God. This is because we do not understand the present process. God is not working for our comfort and ease; he is working on our growth. At the very moment we are tempted to question his faithfulness, he is fulfilling his redemptive promises to us. After all, it's not like there are only some people who really need to change. Change is the norm for everyone, and God is always at work to complete this process in us.

Paul Tripp and Timothy Lane have years of counseling experience to back up the teaching and observations in this book. It includes lots of personal stories and illustrations to show how people can grow and change as they apply Scriptural truth to daily life. As the authors note, "we all live on the continuum between slavery [to the deceitfulness of sin] and freedom." We don't have to remain where we find ourselves on this continuum. There is much hope for change in the gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Seven Days with Seven Friends

Here's an article that appeared recently on the True Woman blog. It was written by my friend, Kimberly Wagner, about the Colorado vacation/retreat I mentioned previously on the blog. I thought you'd enjoy seeing our photo of whitewater rafting that she included. But more importantly, I think Kimberly has developed a helpful list of factors that contribute to in-depth friendships. Your comments on this "friendship ingredient" list are welcome; please feel free to add to it, as well.

Laughter, tears, long-running jokes, shared memories, arm-in-arm victories, whispered prayers, late-night discussions, good food, long walks, refreshment in the Word, and bearing one another’s deepest hurts –- all ingredients that forge enduring bonds of friendship.

One of life’s sweetest rewards is the intimacy and joy experienced through the unique fellowship known only by those who abide in Christ. Koinonia. Iron sharpening iron kind of relationships. Hearts entwined by one-souled unity of the Spirit. Deeply loving, respecting, protecting, and nurturing relationships which provide a safe place for transparency and honest communication.

Recently I had the opportunity to spend some “retreat time” with six dear friends, and one thing I brought back with me is a greater appreciation for long-term friendships. Some of us have walked side-by-side through seasons of bitter loss and deep grief. We’ve spoken truth to each other, interceded in prayer, held late-night vigils on the phone, and carried one another’s burdens for years. Godly friendships provide stability when encountering the white-water rapids of life.

Whenever I spend time with these women, I always leave with a greater appreciation for all they’ve taught me. Holly’s served as a friend and example for years, leading me into a deeper understanding of grace; demonstrating steadfast perseverance while under pressure. Mary Ann is a model to me of a woman who chooses her words wisely; refraining from expressing every thought that enters her head! Through the years God has used Carolyn to share Scripture verses that have applied personally to my life (she also was the first person to show me what a blog is!). Jennifer has been precious to my heart, ever since our first encounter at the cafeteria when she was a seminary student. She’s exemplified faithfulness as a friend and prayer warrior. Mary blesses us all with her intellect, keen insight, and ability to address critical issues in a Christ-exalting manner.

And finally, Nancy. Only the Father knows how valuable her friendship has been to me. I am eternally grateful for the volume of truth she’s poured into my life throughout the years. She has truly been a faithful friend.

Although we live scattered across the continent, and vary in ages, marital status, and seasons of life, we are united by our passionate pursuit of Christ and desire to live for His glory. Hearts bound together through the sorrows and joys of spiritual battle.

I often hear from women who desire friendships that go deep and last long. For what it’s worth, I have a few thoughts on ingredients which are helpful in cultivating this kind of relationship:

• A listening ear 
• An open heart 
• Tenderness 
• Confidentiality 
• Loyalty 
• Humility 
• Sensitivity to the Spirit 
• Devotion 
• A sense of humor (especially a willingness to laugh at yourself) 
• Grace for “life interruptions” 
• A heart that forgives quickly and frequently 
• Letting go of things that don’t really matter while holding on to things that do 
• Patience 
• Forgetting the worst and remembering the best 
• Humbly confronting when necessary 
• Speaking truth in love–always 
• Serving as a faithful encourager 
• Taking time to cultivate a long history together 
• Commitment to prayerful intercession

If you are longing for this kind of friendship, don’t wait for someone to befriend you; take the first step by asking God to lead you to someone who needs a friend. Be this kind of friend (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16-18). -- Kimberly Wagner

You Made Me Sin

Summer is for re-runs, and so Boundless is running an article I first wrote for them back in 2006. But I bet it will be fresh for quite a number of you because this blog's readership has grown in the last few years. It was pretty fresh for me, too. For one thing, I couldn't remember the real names of the couple in this piece! Thus, the identities of Jake and Siena are forever classified. For another thing, I was convicted by my own words. Blame-shifting is a classic human, sinful response and it easily rises up in the proud heart. Here's the opening segment:

_____________________________________

When I opened my door to the persistent knocking, I encountered emotional turbulence that was nearly tangible. With an impatient scowl, "Siena" (all names have been changed to protect the guilty) announced, "I don't think this is going to work." Then she sailed past me and flopped on the sofa. Piling pillows protectively around her, Siena issued her next proclamation: "We have WAY too much conflict."

I studied her for a moment, then sat down and asked, "Tell me about the last one."

Siena rolled her eyes and said, "We drove around for half an hour looking for the restaurant where we were supposed to meet a bunch of his friends from work. As usual, Jake forgot the directions. He always leaves half of his possessions and various bits of important information scattered in his wake wherever we go. It makes me absolutely crazy! So I'm trying not to mommy him, but I'm thinking, 'Just call the restaurant already!' But he can't — because he doesn't remember the name of it. He says that when he sees it, he'll know it. So then I say, 'Why don't you just call one of the guys who went?' But guess what? He doesn't have any of their numbers in his cell phone. When we finally found the place, everyone was already eating. It was such a waste of time. And then get this — Jake tells me on the way home that he thought I over-reacted and that my anger ruined the evening! Ah-mazing!"

As I listened to Siena, I had the urge to extend an imaginary remote control and put her on pause to examine her story. Why? There are two large red flags waving here, but they aren't about Siena's boyfriend. They are attached to the plank emanating from Siena's eye. Both are extremely common.

So let's use that remote, rewind the conversation, and go to the heart of the matter.

What's in the Sponge?

Jake thought Siena over-reacted to his forgetfulness. Siena disagreed. With only two people's perspectives to consider, this conflict might never get resolved.

Fortunately, the Bible brings another perspective to bear that will sort this out. The solution is found in what Siena has been storing up in her heart. In Luke 6:43-45, Jesus talks about this as roots and fruits:

"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

In other words, our words (and thoughts and actions) are the evidence of what is stored up in our hearts, the fruit of what is rooted inside of us. The circumstances of our lives simply reveal what's taken root in our hearts. When pressed, we either ooze the fruit of the Spirit or the fruit of sin.

Author and biblical counselor Dr. David Powlison uses the sponge analogy to help us understand this passage. If you hold a wet sponge in your hand and squeeze it, water will hit the floor. Most of us would come along and look at the puddle staining the carpet and wonder why someone squeezed the sponge. But Dr. Powlison says this passage in Luke shows us the squeeze only revealed what was already in the sponge. If the sponge were dry, the squeeze would not have elicited any water. The problem wasn't the squeeze; it was the contents of the sponge.

In the same way, when we get squeezed by the circumstances of life (an inevitability), we ooze the overflow of our hearts. We usually don't like what we see, so we blame the squeeze. We blame the circumstances. "I wouldn't have reacted that way if I hadn't been tired." Or, "I only said that because I was hot, thirsty, and uncomfortable." That's our default setting: blame the circumstances.

But Jesus tells us the overflow is what's already in our hearts. Being tired, hot, thirsty, or uncomfortable are only "revealers"; they aren't the reason we react in anger. We're angry because anger has taken root in our hearts.

[Read the rest of the article, "You Made Me Sin," on Boundless.org.]

The Sacrifice of Silence

In all my years (all 29 of them ... heh), I have never gotten into trouble for holding my tongue. Not even once. 

Unfortunately, I have often regretted the words I have spoken. 

Therefore, I was attracted to the title of Laurel Robinson's Boundless article today: The Sacrifice of Silence. In this piece, she explores what sacrificing one's right for an immediate reply or defense can produce in terms of peace and godliness. Here's an excerpt. 

This Lent, a friend of mine committed to a practice I found fascinating: she vowed to refrain from rushing to explain and defend herself, even when she felt she might not be fully understood. This discipline was inspired by the well-known prayer attributed to St. Francis, which includes the line: "O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek ... to be understood as to understand."

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19)

Since Ash Wednesday, Marie has been attempting to submit herself to this discipline daily, particularly with Gary, her husband of three years. The results at home were almost instantaneous. The first time Gary said something that Marie felt was "snide" toward her, she remained silent. Normally, she might have retorted with a scornful remark or with an indignant "that was rude!" Then, the argument would have escalated, and the next two hours would have been robbed of joy, tainted by coolness toward one another.

After a few moments of her prayerful silence, Gary apologized for his statement. Marie was shocked. He had seldom apologized lately. He knew his words had been hurtful, and her silence gave him the chance to reconsider. Instead of the all-too-common bitterness, there was a relative calm, and the two were able to continue to enjoy one another's company.

James wrote to his fellow believers, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19)." Frankly, words spoken thoughtlessly do not bring about a righteous life, either. They only distract others or puff us up with pride or self-importance.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us that there is a proper time for every activity, including "a time to be silent and a time to speak." Surely there are times when it is brave, and prudent, and right to speak up: to defend an innocent person, or to speak the truth boldly to people who are deluded by a lie. However, I wonder how many times in a week the "speaking up" we do is for our own benefit and comfort.

You can read the rest of the article at Boundless.org. I really like how Laurel illustrates what a quiet and gentle spirit looks like in the area of speech for married women. I'm wondering how many of you also have similar testimonies? If you have seen the Lord working in the same way in your restraint, please share your stories with us.

Walk Humbly

 Are you looking for a Christmas gift for someone who seems to have every material advantage but could use some spiritual encouragement? (I think that would safely cover most of us, especially if we look at ourselves in light of the rest of the world!) Or are you looking for something that will help your family devotion times? If so, then I recommend Walk Humbly, a CD of 20 Scripture verses set to memorable music to aid in Scripture memory. 

Walk Humbly is written and produced by Mark Altrogge, a prolific songwriter best known for the classic worship song, "I Stand in Awe." This CD is his ninth in his Hide the Word series of Scripture memory CDs and I think it is his best! You can check it out on his website for Forever Grateful Music.

Portraits of Gratitude

In her latest book, Choosing Gratitude, Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes, "Undeniable guilt, plus undeserved grace, should equal unbridled gratitude." That's the gospel response in a nutshell. And recently, I've had two occasions to be overwhelmed emotionally by people who emulate that kind of gratitude.

About three blocks from my church is a spot where an apparently homeless or impoverished Hispanic man with arm braces is often seen begging. The first time I encountered him, my mind was in a whirl with all the challenges of starting (and funding) a new business. Money was tight and I was acutely conscious of the burdens of cash flow. I was in my car with a friend, who was talking on the phone, when we pulled up to the intersection where this man stood with his cup. I inched the car closer to him and offered him the last of the money in my wallet. And instead of the perfunctory thanks that I am accustomed to receiving from the beggars who populate my area, this man immediately lifted his eyes and feeble arms toward heaven and loudly began expressing his gratitude in Spanish. 

"Gloria a Dios!" he exclaimed. "Gracias, Senor! Muchas gracias!" 

This heartfelt display of thanks went on for quite some time. And I burst into tears immediately. My friend in the car, who hadn't been paying attention to this scene, was puzzled by the tears and didn't know why I was crying so profusely. It took me awhile to explain it to him. In fact, every time I tried to tell this story for weeks afterward, I welled up.

I thought maybe I was being an emotional female until another friend of mine told me about meeting this beggar. He and his wife were driving through the same intersection when they encountered him. And they, too, were moved to tears by his gratitude. 

What a powerful effect true gratitude has on others! 

Then yesterday, I had the privilege of being the bearer of an anonymous gift to a couple in my church. Someone else among my friends knew this family and how the husband had recently been diagnosed with ALS and was in a wheelchair. So this friend asked if I would be the conduit for an anonymous blessing. I didn't do anything more than deliver an envelope of cash, yet I am convinced I received the greater blessing. Why do I say this? Because years of being soaked in the gospel have made my friend, John Spiro, a true worshiper of Jesus Christ. Even in his wheelchair, John overflows with gratitude for the blessings he has already received in his wife and children, his church, the ministry opportunities he still has, and the promises of heaven that await him because of what he has received in Jesus Christ. And he asked me to convey to the givers that they were definitely hearing from the Lord, for he and his family had been praying for provision.

During our conversation, John mused about how churches today no longer have cemeteries on their grounds. Those graveyards were signposts, reminding congregants that they were pilgrims on this earth, sojourning to another place. Now he feels that he and others with terminal illnesses serve that tombstone function in modern churches. And it's good to do so, because the reality of death loosens our grip on earthly trinkets. (John still has his sense of humor, though, joking about how he could have been a rolling tombstone for the church's costume harvest party. We had a good laugh about that!)

What is similar in both of these stories is that both this man on the street and my friend, John, bear outward signs of physical suffering. Though you do see these items on first glance, those are not the lasting impression. Instead, both of these men are portraits of gratitude--more aware that what they have received in Christ far surpasses the momentary afflictions they endure now. 

Undeniable guilt, plus undeserved grace, should equal unbridled gratitude. Amen.

(P.S. My friends and I are not content to just give the Hispanic man money and leave it at that. Given our limited abilities to communicate in Spanish, we are trying to connect him with a Spanish-speaking congregation that is a sister church to our own to see if he has anyone else to help him.)

Photo: The Spiro family. Clockwise from top left: Gabriel, Kathy, Joseph, John and Amanda.

Make Every Effort To Be Self-Controlled and Steadfast

At the beginning of the year, I was reading 2 Peter and was struck by a verse that I thought might be what the Lord would have me focus on in the coming year. Halfway through the year, I was reading through 2 Peter again and found myself struck by the same passage. It says:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8)

This passage assures us we have been granted precious and very great promises through which we become partakers of God's divine nature, as recipients of His divine power. For this very reason, we are called to develop qualities that will prevent us from being ineffective or unfruitful in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

What struck me is the way some of these qualities are listed--knowledge must be supplemented with self-control and self-control with steadfastness. These are not the qualities of our age. Self-control and steadfastness are dusty qualities from a previous age. We like brotherly affection and love, but not the virtues that require self-denial or hard work. And by "we," I do mean "me." I like to gather facts and data, to grow in knowledge about a topic, but I am less enamored of doing the hard things that are required to be self-controlled and steadfast. Yet those areas in which I'm least likely to apply myself are the very areas where my witness is undermined or ineffective.

Can I discipline myself into these virtues? Hardly likely. These virtues are the result of faith and they characterize those who will have lifelong fruitfulness. But they are not the result of self-effort. They are the result of those who daily look to the One who can grant to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Yet, paradoxically, we are called to make every effort to develop them--we aren't to grow slack and presumptuous about our fruitfulness.

So let's encourage each other today with the Lord's faithfulness in what He calls us to do. What I'd like to know is how you've seen others pursue the Lord for self-control and steadfastness. What testimonies do you have about God's grace at work in your friends or family? Let's celebrate these evidences of grace together.

A Spiritual Diagnosis

I've long joked that I am the Nation's Foremost Practicing Hypochondriac. I hold no medical license, but my training comes from Discovery Health and other medical programs, as well as numerous general interest medical articles. I'm good at retaining odd facts about various diseases and suggesting these diagnoses to others when they complain of some ill feeling. And I'm quite skilled at Googling medical information. I like to brag that my diagnostic success rate among my "patients" is fairly high. (No clinical studies are available to prove this claim, however--just my selective memory.)

When it pertains to spiritual health, however, I only need to listen to myself to make a credible diagnosis. I have noticed that my poor spiritual health is broadcast to all the listening world when my speech is full of criticism and complaining. And I suspect I am not alone in this. In fact, I have even asked a few friends to ask some pointed questions of me when they hear this kind of ingratitude gushing forth. Mindful of that, I appreciated what my friend, Lydia Brownback, wrote about joy:

Joy. It’s what makes Christians stand out from the world. Along with the gift of Christ himself comes everything we will ever really need. Our security is guaranteed. Our provision is sure. Our path is guided. Undoubtedly we pass through seasons of difficulty and sorrow and uncertainty, but real joy isn’t conditioned upon our circumstances. So why are we gloomy much of the time? We don’t have to be gloomy. We should most certainly not be gloomy! But all too often our thoughts and words are punctuated by grumblings and bad moods. We look at what we lack rather than all we have. 

We are privileged women, not only spiritually but temporally. That is part of our problem. We are over-privileged. Available to us is a pill for every ailment, government aid for financial difficulty, and thirty choices of breakfast cereal in the grocery aisle. On top of that we have free access to the Word and the people of God. Because those things are so easily had, we have come to see our privileges as rights, and such an outlook is a joy crusher. Everything we have—health, freedom, friendship, family, job, government protection—is a gift, not a right. Remembering that truth when things go wrong keeps joy alive.

Crisis Prep 101

(Following is an excerpt from my current article on Boundless...)

It's not easy to follow our national news these days. There's a free-floating sense of dread in these reports: Will the various bailouts work? How can we afford them? Will the economy recover — or collapse entirely? How many jobs will be lost before we hit bottom? Whose will be among them?

Peppered among the higher-profile financial stories are reports of increased opposition to Christian activity or beliefs. A pastor is arrested for praying outside an abortion clinic. A military chaplain is not allowed to pray in the name of Jesus. A little girl is reprimanded for talking about her pro-life beliefs in class. A church service is interrupted by obscene protesters.

At first glance, these kinds of reports may not seem to be related. But both lead to some kind of loss — loss of fortune or loss of freedom. Faced with the possibility of loss in either category, believing Christians can panic ... or we can prepare.

Preparing for difficulties might seem odd, but it is a biblical concept (Luke 21:34-36). Throughout history and even in many nations today, Christians face loss and persecution for their beliefs. American Christianity's recent history of prosperity and comfort may be the exception, not the rule. In fact, the apostle Paul warned Timothy that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). As theologian Iain Duguid notes:

Believers around the world know this from experience, yet here in the prosperous and supposedly tolerant West we have come to expect our lives as Christians to run smoothly and successfully, at least if we are faithfully following the Lord. We think that the slogan "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" means that our lives should be protected by God from any form of unpleasantness. This is a false belief, however. Persecution comes to us in a variety of forms and from a variety of directions, yet it is something that we should expect constantly to mark out our lives in a fallen world. It may come in the form of mockery and isolation at school, or conflict or trouble at work, or simply being regarded as peculiar and strange people, but one way or another we should expect to suffer abuse for the sake of Christ.¹

I've heard many wise pastors say that the time to prepare for a crisis is before it happens. When faced with a sobering diagnosis, the loss of a job, the rejection of an unbelieving friend, the criticism of a non-Christian culture — these are not the times you want to dig deep into your faith only to discover shallow roots.

Crisis management is not the time to do an in-depth study on God's character, lovingkindness, and sovereignty over our lives. You have to have that kind of knowledge ready on tap for the day of crisis.

The Roots of Endurance

Many believers who have gone before us have done this kind of preparation by studying God's Word in depth before trouble comes. They rooted themselves and their families in the biblical essentials in order to stand fast and endure to the end. They steeped themselves in God's perspective and promises so that no one would say of them, "Oh, ye of little faith."

I particularly like how Reformation activist Martin Luther prepared his wife for widowhood. Not only did he make financial arrangements for her, he also tended to her soul. 

[Read the rest of "Crisis Prep 101" on Boundless.org.]