Category: Uncategorized

Brain Stimulation and the New Year

On By sashakatzIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Just as I was planning for the new year, I ran across an article in Real Simple Magazine, Happy New You!, where the author Miranda Silva quoted Sandra Bond Chapman, a cognitive neuroscientist . . . The brain is stimulated by two things: innovation and motivation. It hates predictability. It shuts down.” The statement sounds like a challenge to me. It sounds like sound research is telling me to calendar in the good stuff. The fun stuff. The stuff that I collect info on but don’t always find the time. In other words, if your type A and busy, it sounds like a very reasonable justification for doing something out of the necessary. I don’t think it gets better than that – – if you are type A and busy.

Along these lines, I haven’t quite decided what I am going to do this year. I went back to an adult ballet class just before Christmas. It has been 15 years since I danced and I really loved it. I love the connection between the body and the brain. I love remembering all of the French words. And, it was very fun. I suppose without really thinking about, that is one of my old new things for this year.

I have a sermon swimming through my brain. It’s taking me a few minutes to pull the preacher, thoughts and verses together, but I remember clearly: What is your one thing? In light of your talents, callings, surroundings, what is your one thing? I wish I could remember more, but I recall saying to my dear friend Shannon not long after hearing the sermon – – Try not to be pulled in any direction, but the go in the direction the Lord is leading you to. This year, the Lord is leading me to be a good friend. To care about my brothers and sisters and show them in lovely ways, encouraging ways. To me, that is very fun, important work. The fun part is coming up with creative, personal ways to touch a friend. The important part is that we all need each other. There is nothing worse than not pouring into a friend when the Lord made you to pour in at that very moment.

If I had to define what I love about Christianity, it’s the moment where you encouraged and loved just where God planned you to and the other person knows it. Whatever happens in that moment is what makes Christianity real to me. Whatever it takes to get there, to that connection point, I want to be there as often as I can. Seems that Sandra Bond Chapman’s comments make a lot of sense. Innovation and motivation keep us inspired. Be creative in what moves you in the new year. I don’t think there could be a more perfect way to start 2014.

This Sunday Morning

On By sashakatzIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This Sunday morning, I was thinking about time. All of the things that I would like to do that I haven’t done recently, but would really like to do. My list of things is not laundry or cleaning, or really even reading another good book. I was thinking about all of the wonderfully, Godly things happening all over all of the time. All of the Godly opportunity. I wish I had more time to do them all. There was no guilt in my thoughts or heart. Really just a healthy consideration of all the great things there is available to do to serve God. And the gentle understanding that there is one lifetime to pack it all in.

I wish I was an octopus doing eight things at one time. I wish that I could go listen to a speaker on childrearing. I wish I could walk another charitable 5K with my family. I wish I was passing out love bags with my kids. I wish I was mentoring young women alongside my mom. I wish I was doing more bible studies with my kids. I wish I was volunteering more at school. I wish I was planning to go on a missions trip. I wish I could write a kind note to everyone on my mind. I wish all of these things and, rather than curse time, I feel a breadth of peace.

As I am thinking about all of these things, I sense in my heart an acknowledgement of the time that God has afforded me. I sense that He will afford me all of these things in time. I listen closely as I feel Him tell me all is well and there is a season in which to accomplish all. I am thankful for the body of Christ as we each act out our faith as God leads.

I think about a contrast my pastor sometimes makes between the man who is not ready to die and the man who welcomes the end of his days. The first man grips onto life in the face of death. The first man is fearful of the future and regretful of the past. He is not ready to die. The second man has peace and sound recollection of a life well lived. This man anticipates the face of Christ and gently lets go when it is his time to pass from this life to the next. This man is the person I wish to be. This man ran to the opportunities God placed in his heart and in his path. This man walked the seasons of his life with faith and trust in the Lord. This man knew that all is well in God’s timing. I wish to be this person.

My Rock is Not a Copy

On By sashakatzIn FemmeFuel by Sasha Katz, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Sometimes I feel convinced that this world is the real thing.  I think that I have seen the best and the worst.  That I have seen the possibilities of what may, might and won’t be.  That I have seen what is repairable and what cannot be fixed.  These realities appear very finite. These realities speak to limits.  When I am convinced that the world is the real thing, reality feels heavy and physical. 

In His wise and loving way, He turns me eyes upward and directs me to His glory.  To what is real.  I am reminded that our current lives are only a copy or shadow of what is real.  What is real is the kingdom of heaven where our true selves are visible in our glorified bodies.  Where light comes from the Living God.  Permeating, reflecting and shining so that what has been unseen in the world is plainly seen through the eyes of glory.

When I see the picture of real with my spiritual eyes, it puts the mundane, disappointments and troubles of this world in their proper place.  We are now only the black and white photocopy of our favorite color picture.  We currently have a matte finish that dims the color, brightness and glimmer of His glory in us.  But it will not be that way forever.

The black and white picture brings along with it the troubles and limitations of this world.  Although it feels very real, it is not real.  The race you are now running for God will eventually come out from under a shadow; and, for those who love Him, you will come out into true, genuine light.  It is a full color light that radiates because it is connected to the authentic source.  The appearance of this picture takes my breath away.  If I ever really sought to see the outward appearance of good, it must be this picture of glory that I can only see with my spiritual eyes.

Our current life lacks the luster of what is to come.  But shining depth is coming.  The real real will have the brightness and authenticity of His glory.  If I can remember that our current life is just copy and look upward to shadowless places, I can walk on air and sleep peacefully as life rages in its ebbs and flows.  If I can know that this life is only black and white, but see color in the Spirit, I can know the abundance of His power.  I can know that my Rock is a Deliverer who is not a copy.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which not see are eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:17.

For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.  Hebrews 8:4-6. 

ODDS

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By AbbyA

We’ve all got odds.  The things that you know aren’t likely — you know the saying “the odds are stacked against you.”   We all get that.  It’s part of life.  But I think the human spirit has a built in “beat the odds” factor.  I think we all like to beat the odds sometimes.  And, really, it doesn’t always have to be tangible victory.  Here is my odds story.

April was probably one of the worst months of my life.  It was not marked by death, sickness or divorce.  It was was marked by pressing pressure.  Heavy overload.  My forehead bore the persistant pressure for weeks.  At times, my shoulders and back physically hurt with pain.  The pressure seemingly came from the pain in my heart.  It is my thought that when the heart envelops a great deal of pain, the secondary experience of that is back-breaking and a heavy mind.

April could have been marked by disappointment or maybe other equally worse markers.  But it was not. I learned two things in April.  I learned that God is faithful and that He sometimes delivers at the very last moment of the very last hour.  In fact, that has been His timing recently.  In His wisdom, over the last several years, He showed himself faithful to me with a lot of time to spare.  It gave me the faith to believe that He would also be faithful when there is no time left to spare.  He did that in April.  And I think my faith is bigger and stronger because of His timing.

I also recognized that this battle is not mine.  We all know when we have caused ourselves to be in a bind.  But, in this case, there was no outright sin of mine to claim.  I was mainly in a bind because God saw fit to allow it.  And when my understanding of what was happening reached its maximum point of lack of understanding, I did not let the inability to solve the puzzle crush me in my humanness.  I did not open the door to what would make sense under the circumstances … such as defeatedness or despair.  Although I did cry some of the time, I decided to acknowledge and surrender to His plan.  There were too many problems for me to figure out and I knew that it was beyond what I was capable of.   I think I began to understand what Paul was talking about when he said that this battle is not against flesh and blood, but in the heavenlies.  No other explanation made sense to me.  If I am a tool He is using to work out His plan, if I have the honor of suffering for Him while war is waged in the heavenlies, then I am thankful to Him for April. 

I recently finished Beth Moore’s study on James and I like to think that I got a little bit of James in me.  I want a lot more of James in me.  And I know that I got some James in me because of April.  I do really like Jesus’ character in me.  And I like beating the odds. 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.  Ephesians 6:10-20

Inspired by my pastor’s January 6 message this year.

Good Night, Chicken Nugget

On By femmefuelIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

By JMathis

Dear Chicken Nugget,

You are so blessed to have the mother God has chosen for you. As you bathe in the warmth of your cocoon for the next several months, I pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to you about how precious and lovely your mother is, and how she is a light and a love to all who have come to know her.

As He quiets and reassures you, covering you tenderly, I pray that He whispers to you about your mother’s radiance. Her penchant to live vibrantly is infectious, as it reflects her desire to breathe in the movement of the Spirit and the ways of God.

It is through your mother, that you will learn about Him. For in her generosity and compassion, she will embody for you the essence of God’s transforming love for you and for others.

She is a brilliant diamond, sparkling with laughter, insight and wit, and her stories always hold the ability of drawing you into her heart. Yet, she never ceases to explore the worlds of her family and friends: comforting them during tragedy, encouraging them during darkness and lifting them up higher than when they first walked in through her doors. It is in these times, that she draws you into His heart.

She will be your advocate, your champion and your #1 fan. Focused and tenacious, she will fight for God’s best for you when the hallways of life seem to close in on you. She will do no less for you than she has already done for those within her constellation of reach.

She is a woman of causes, passions and ideas, and she longs to inspire people to chase their own dreams. She is a born teacher and leader, but most of all, her nature is as a friend. Learn from her, delight in her and draw strength from her. Just as God had designed, she is yours and you are hers.

Sleep tight and take rest, for when your day comes, you will meet this incredible woman who has housed you so sweetly. You will meet your brother whom she has so lovingly reared and your father whom she adores. She abounds with love for them and for her Savior, and will also spare no expense in filling your love tank with an endless supply of kisses, hugs and devotion.

Never forget that your mom IS a treasure, and should be treated as such. Sometimes life may divert your attention, but always remember how much she has poured into you, prayed over you and passed onto you.

Just as you are, she is fearfully and wonderfully made, knitted by the hands of God himself. Now, He has knit you to her for a lifetime, as He has knit you to Him for an eternity.

God has provided you with an amazing mother to safeguard your heart, your fingers and your toes. Love her and cherish her, as I do, and walk in the ways that she has taught, so that you will always remember to walk in Him. 

You are so blessed to have the mother God has chosen for you.

Good night, Chicken Nugget. Dream of Mommy’s love, just as I will tonight.

Hopelessness

On By badaimathewIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

By Bindu Adai Mathew

The torrid rains of April are falling.

A flashflood into my emotionally overwrought soul.

Tears fall from my eyes like overfilled buckets,

Like Noah, I watch as the waters rise above my head.

I choke on the hurt and gasp for air,

But unlike Noah, I see no salvation, drowning in my own despair. 

There is nothing.

No God. No hope. Nothing.

Except more rain.

 

I imagine this is what hopelessness feels like. I imagine that possibly this is what the son of Rick Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life, felt like before he committed suicide in early April.

Depression isn’t prejudiced like we are. It doesn’t pick and choose based on gender, height, or financial status. It doesn’t care if we are Christian or not…even if we’re the child of a famous pastor…depression hits us all. And it can feel overwhelming. At times our depression is the result of a situation and can be temporary. For some, depression can be clinical and an on-going life struggle.

Most of us are fortunate to rise above the rising waters and find our hope again. And some continue to fight. If you’re fighting depression today, I encourage you to let go of the cloak of shame. Don’t let it prevent you from seeking the help you need, the help you AND your loved ones deserve. Because no matter how hopeless it seems and appears, it is a lie, no matter how real it may seem. With God, we always have hope. And that is something we all need to be reminded of.

 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Psalms 30:5

I Am In The Rainy Season

On By femmefuelIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

By JMathis

I am in the rainy season.

Tidal waves of despair threaten to steal my well-being.

Flash floods of sadness threaten to kill my fruitful harvest.

The crackling bolts of fear threaten to destroy my peace.

To steal, kill and destroy are my enemy’s marching orders, and his thundering fists of defeat threaten to deafen and darken my hope.

The monsoon threatens to engulf and flatten my earthly castles and I howl angrily into the air, desperately in search of my Father.

“Where are you???“

I search for signs. I panic.

I listen for the sounds of rescue. I become anguished.

The storm rages on and my patience is battered and bruised.

I fall onto my knees, accepting that the waters will overtake me.

Confused, frustrated and disillusioned.

After what seems like hours, days and months, it is then that I hear His Voice:

“I am in the rainy season.”

I look up in the torrential downpour and I see Him.

I see Him on the cross, naked and forsaken. Pummeled by the gusts of my sin and hopelessness.

It was then that it washes over me that He was on the cross throughout the entirety of my rainy season, preparing my escape.

Preparing my liberation. Preparing my victory.  

Preparing my redemption from the jaws of the enemy.

The tempest threatened to steal, kill and destroy my salvation, but my salvation hung on the cross faithfully until my future was secured.

“I am in the rainy season.”

While the squalls of sin threatened to bury me, my Savior stayed on the cross until It Was Finished.

It was then that my spirit was flooded with the knowledge that It Was Finished 2,000 years ago.

It was indeed finished, so why was I allowing the enemy to steal my well-being? To kill my fruitful harvest? To destroy my peace?

To deceive me with empty, powerless threats?

I had forgotten that my Savior placed me on higher ground, on wings of eagles, in the palm of His safety, far removed from the sting of death and the barbs of the enemy.

He did all of this just for me, over 2,000 years ago, long before my rainy season.

Like a child, I had forgotten.

I had forgotten that the joy of the Lord is my strength. I had forgotten that His mercies renew every morning. I had forgotten that Love Never Fails.

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

I had forgotten that my Lord is King, Commander and Master over my rainy season.

I had forgotten.

“I am in the rainy season and It Is Finished.“

Yes, Father, you are in the rainy season and it is finished.

Help me never again to forget.