Uncomfortable Things

     A teacher, Mr. Azul Terronez, has asked thousands of students the question, "What makes a good teacher great?"
    Some of the answers to this question have been startling, some seeming downright absurd. One such answer was, "A great teacher eats apples."
    "OK," thought Mr. Terronez, "I'll eat apples then." And so he did. He ate them for breakfast. He kept them on his desk. He munched them between classes in the hallways. The children loved it. Soon they were bringing him more apples. Sometimes they would come up to him and discuss his apple-eating habits. To his surprise, Mr. Terronez discovered that by eating apples he had created a connection with his students.
    Another answer he received to the question, "What makes a good teacher great?" was this: "Great teachers sing."
    "What?" thought Mr. Terronez, "I'm not a singer!" Nonetheless, he was committed to his project, so the next morning he sang the assignments on his board to the class in his best operatic style.
    Jaws dropped. Eyes popped. There was a standing ovation. Apparently it was true. Great teachers really did sing!
    Sometimes in Christian life we are given directions that don't make sense. Because they seem odd, we think perhaps we can drop or ignore them. Some of the things seem small— ignoring the prompting to send a message to someone, not going to a function because we aren't sure where we fit in, volunteering an experience at laymen's evening. Others are larger: dropping the doctrine of the Holy Kiss, finding ways around holding the avoidance, forgetting to respect our staff. 
    These things are not always comfortable. Few of us feel relaxed in front of an audience telling a personal experience. Many agree that the greeting can feel awkward. There are days it is inconvenient to reach out to others. Sometimes we do not feel at ease listening to someone else's problems. 
    I believe that we serve a God who leads us into uncomfortable things. There, in those moments we feel so unsure of ourselves, we learn to lean on Him and His guidance. It is true that we will likely not always understand why we have been led into these places of discomfort, but we are to "...observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."  This statement is immediately followed with a promise: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  (Matthew 28:20) God's guarantee that whatever He calls us into, He will be with us through.
    Do you think eating apples was convenient when the juice dribbled down Mr. Terronez's chin? I doubt it. Do you think singing assignments to the class was without its awkward moment for a man who believed he wasn't a singer? Not likely.
    We will need to be willing to be uncomfortable. And don't get the wrong idea here. I'm certainly no example. Most of these things make me feel uncomfortable, too. Yet it is into these things, sharing a struggle, asking someone how it's going, offering a service when we're not sure if we will be accepted, that we are sometimes asked of God to venture. It takes vulnerability, but it is in vulnerable obedience we will find the reward.
    Don't wait. Claim your blessing today and start eating apples, even if it seems like an uncomfortable thing!

Someone to Thank

     Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Yes, I know it's somewhat hard to remember, what with the Christmas carols playing, the greenery and lights already on display, and the lines of holiday shoppers at Hobby Lobby, but coming it is. How are you finding your Thanksgiving spirit? Are you overwhelmed at the many gifts you enjoy, or are you finding it a bit difficult to breathe thank-you's to the Father throughout your day?
    What are the key factors in a truly thankful heart? I've been pondering this question lately, and I've come up with a couple ideas. In no way do I believe they are conclusive. Neither are they new thoughts. But then, thankfulness is not new, either. Google says that forms of the word "thank" are in the Bible 139 times. If the people of old had so much to say of thanksgiving, it is doubtful I could conjure up new ideas about it.  
    It hit me quite suddenly why Thanksgiving is slowly but surely getting squeezed into nothingness between Halloween and Christmas. To celebrate Thanksgiving, one must have Someone to thank. If you do not believe in a God, you have no one to thank. If you believe in a God, but do not believe He loves you, you have no one to thank. If you believe in a God and believe that He loves you, but dwell in a state of dissatisfaction, you will feel there is little to be thankful for. It is no wonder many people find Thanksgiving worth celebrating only because of the food!
    Another thing that has impressed me about Thanksgiving is how vitally important it is to realize our complete unworthiness. It is difficult to accept that we have nothing to offer God, that all our attempts at perfection fall pitifully short of His mighty plan. It is in letting go of our pride and throwing ourselves completely on His mercy that we begin to glimpse His glory and realize how great the debt He paid. As long as we attempt to stay in control of some area of our lives, our thankfulness will remain stunted.
    The benefits of a thankful heart could fill pages of print! Not only has science proved the value of thankfulness, in Psalm 50:14 we are commanded to "Offer unto God Thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High." The immeasurable blessing of a thankful heart has opened up to me in a new way lately. With a feeling of unworthiness and awe, I believe we also gain more trust in God.
    How does thankfulness promote trust? For me, as I realize more and more that I am nothing and He is everything, and as I become aware that it is His love and His love alone that has brought me thus far in life, I begin to see His hand in everything. With sudden amazement I look back at my past and realize that He has always been there and in His mercy has provided all that I need. He has provided for me not only spiritually, but mentally, physically, and emotionally. There is no area of my life that His goodness has not touched. With this realization comes the recognition that there is no reason to fear and every reason to trust.
    This Thanksgiving season I find my heart overflowing. I cannot praise Him enough. I cannot thank Him enough. It is so wonderful to have a Father who loves and cares for me in every way. As Christians, may we lean more upon His love and use our lives to thank Him, for we are blessed indeed to have Someone to Thank.
    Happy Thanksgiving to all!

    

A Bigger God

 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

A Bigger God

The mountain's rugged, the hillside's steep.
There's not a way at all, Your trust to keep.
I am a failure, I've failed You—
Find someone else, Lord, Your will to do.

I'm not the one, Lord, so small indeed!
I'm not enough to fill Your need.
Find someone stronger to serve instead.

I'm far too weak to walk this path You've lead.

Oh, Lord, it is so hard, this thing You ask.
It seems impossible, this heavy task.
I think I'm not the man You need at all.
Find someone else, I beg, to heed Your call.

"Dear child, I know it's hard to see my plan,
But please just trust in Me, I know you can.
You're whom I've chosen, this path to trod.
I do not need a bigger man,
But a smaller man who serves a bigger God!"

How oft we think that we are not enough
To face the mountainsides, the valleys rough.
Yet often truth lies in being smaller still
And letting our Great God work out His bigger will!

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)

Hash Browns

     It started with a science project thinly veiled as art one Friday afternoon. The directions said to extract the starch from potatoes, which we attempted to do. However, after the extraction, all the potatoes remained. It seemed a terrible waste to throw them away.
    Then one of the fifth grade girls had a great idea. "We should make hash browns!" she suggested. The others caught on quickly. 
    "Can we?" they asked. 
    "Sure!" I said. I was still helping a few of the boys with the project and would be in the kitchen to keep an eye on proceedings. The girls were of the fairly responsible and careful sort. What could possibly go wrong? Besides, it was bound to be good for them to experiment.
    They rummaged for a frying pan and oil, discussed whether they needed anything besides salt, and pondered on how much of everything should go in at once. 
    The last clear thing I remember hearing was something about needing more liquid and maybe they should add water. This comment was followed by a blast of white steam, then the outlandish shrieking of the fire alarm. The girls froze. Or at least I did for a second. Maybe they whipped the pan off the burner, maybe they didn't. I certainly can't remember. In an instant the homey scene had become chaotic. 
    We were yelling above the din. I didn't know how to turn off the wretched alarm, so I sent one of the boys to get the upper grade teacher. The student found him already on his way in, having heard the alarm out on the softball diamond. Thankfully, he soon quieted the awful racket. Blessed peace descended upon our group. 
   We laughed afterwards. I'm fairly certain all of us still remember the occasion, although the project itself and the hash browns may have faded in our memories. My class of that year and I now hold the somewhat dubious distinction of being the group that set off a fire alarm during art.
    There are so many different directions this story could have gone. The girls could have been frightened and burst into tears. I could have scolded them. Some of the students could have panicked and done something foolish. We could all look back at the occasion as an embarrassment to be forgotten. Maybe some of the students do feel some of those things, I'm not sure. But I actually appreciate the fact that we get to share a unique memory and that we can laugh about it together.
    That's what's on my mind today. Laughter. Visible happiness. Joy. There are so many sad and lonely situations, so many discouraging stories that we pass from person to person. What kind of ramifications do these worries and bad news have on our Christian Joy?
    I believe we are to exhibit our joy. Not in a giddy, foolish way, but in a peaceful, happy countenance. I am impressed every time I go to town by the amount of people with a sad, lonely, haunted look in their eyes. The beauty of the brotherhood at church on Sunday with a calm peace shining through is truly a miracle in contrast! 
    Psalms 126:2 says Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. Isn't that an amazing thought? It is through our joy that we can witness to those around us. Even those who do not know our Jesus will be able to see His hand in our lives.
    I'm not trying to say we should never be sad. That is purely unrealistic. But I do believe we ought to place more emphasis on joy and that we need to make a practice of finding the things that make us smile in every day. We need to look for the places where we can laugh and let go instead of feeding a fear or worry.
    What gives us that ability? It seems that the secret lies in trusting. My students and I were never really worried when the smoke alarm went off. Sure, we yelled and covered our ears and made sure the pan was removed from the burner, but we knew we were in no mortal danger. Although the smoke alarm was loud and painful to the ears, we knew there was no flame and that things were more or less under control.
    When we can give that kind of confidence to God, our outlook on life automatically changes. Instead of depressing and scary news, we start to remember that we need to leave things to Him. We need to trust that He has it all under control. With this assurance and faith in Him, we are able to be peaceful. Our hearts become joyful. Burdens may sometimes yet weary us, but still there is a quietness, a joy that shines out from every heart, because we know our mighty God holds all within His hand.

    Wishing each one of you a joyful day!

More verses on laughter and joy: 

Proverbs 17:22, Job 8:21, Proverbs 15:13, Psalms 32:11, Psalms 16:8-11, Psalms 4:7, Philippians 4:4

    

Complete in Him

     Do you remember doing art on Friday when you went to school? Maybe you loved it, the paints and the construction paper shapes. Maybe you dreaded it because things never turned out how you imagined. I loved doing projects and I still do. I know it's been a lot of years, but come along! Let's you and I sit down together and work on a project. 
    We've got plenty of paints and sequins, glitter and glue. There are brushes and pipe cleaners, foam shapes and beads, scissors and rulers. I paint a blue background and add a few purple clouds, some rugged mountains. You decide to crown them with white snow and glitter. We're thrilled with the result, but surely we're not done so soon? 
    Our enthusiasm is boundless. You want to use the hot glue gun. I, for some characteristically unpredictable reason have fallen in love with a fuzzy yellow pipe cleaner. Together we come up with the bright idea of adding a sun.
    Before we know what's happened, we've gotten carried away. There was plenty of room in the valley of our picture, so we've decided to use pom-poms to create a bear (also we can use the hot glue gun some more that way!). We ran out of brown pom-poms and were forced to use an orange one for his left leg. A sequin caterpillar has somehow squiggled its way up the mountain, managing to obscure half of the glittery snowcapped peaks. Our lovely blue sky and purple clouds have been blotted out by an industrious tree that unfortunately resembles partly decayed lettuce.
     We sit back sadly to gaze at our once treasured piece of art. "We should have just left it," you say. What can I do, but nod in agreement?
    And that is so often how life goes. I imagine, and perhaps you do, too, that I need something to complete me — the missing piece, the perfect finish, the cherry on top. We each have our ideas what that missing piece is: a talent that gets recognition, dressing in the most recent fashion, being known for my hospitality, learning to always have a fun and witty comment on the ready, a certain group of friends that will make my lonely life bearable, a more lucrative career, a secure future, a special person to love, a child to care for.
    Sometimes we lie awake at night with tears running down our cheeks and cry to God, "What is wrong with me? Will I always be left here with this ache that I cannot fill? Will I never be whole?"
    It's so easy to reach out a hand and grasp the paints or the glitter. "If I add a little more," we think, "maybe then I will feel complete."
    God watches us, patiently shaking His head. He knows how He has designed us, and He has a plan ready if we will only lay down our own ideas. There may be pain. There may be sorrow. There may be tears. And it's OK to grieve. It is healing to weep tears. But take courage! He has promised that Ye are complete in him (Colossians 2:10a). 
    Resist the urge to somehow add to what you are. That empty spot can be filled, but only by our submission to our Heavenly Father and His great plan for us. One day you will look back at your life and marvel how the place you thought was empty has been filled by His love, and you will stand in awe when you realize the miracle He has wrought to make you, indeed, complete in Him.