A Lasting Resolution

Do you know how long the average New Year’s resolution lasts?  Thirty-six hours.  That’s it!  Yet every year millions of people set goals they will reach toward and never really achieve. 

I have found the only way to make permanent, lasting change in my life is to look beyond the surface.  So if I decide to make my New Year’s resolution to lose some extra weight, conventional wisdom would tell me to grab the latest diet book, maybe consult with a friend who just lost some weight, and dive in!  You would hear me say things like, “this is the year!  I’m gonna do it this time!”  I’d probably join a gym (their membership is highest in January and tapers off by mid-February) and have a weekly menu planned.  I may even lose some weight! But in a few days, weeks or months I’d find the pounds had crept right back on, and I’d feel defeated yet again. 

I think we’ve all done the drill.  I know I have!  I’ve set that goal, tried to overcome my fear of failing at it yet again, only to reinforce my fears by—you guessed it—failing!  I’m so glad God has taught me a different, better way.  The key to true change lies in dealing with what’s beyond the surface and digging into the heart. 

There’s a interesting scripture in Proverbs 4:23 that says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  And when God says, “above all else,” I sit up a little straighter and pay close attention because I know it’s important!  When I think of my heart, I think of my emotions, my passions, even my thoughts.  Some versions of the Bible, in fact, translate this verse as, “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.”  God is saying it’s of first importance to be aware of and to protect these things.

Even the word “guard” has implications.  If I need to guard something, it’s because it’s likely to be attacked.  How many times have you felt attacked emotionally and mentally, oftentimes by yourself?!  Guarding myself against my own attacks is probably the biggest challenge I face on a day-to-day basis.  It’s amazing how quickly I can go from confidence and peace to mentally berating myself and feeling crappy about who I am.  Fortunately, I’ve learned how to consistently fight back with God’s positive truths about me.  I’ve learned how to protect my heart.

So now when I make a goal, I take the time to look well beyond the surface.  Instead of focusing on the pounds I need to lose, I look instead to a much bigger picture.  Do I value my health—really?  Why or why not?  Do I believe I deserve to be healthy, not just in my head but deep down?  Why do I consistently turn to food for comfort?  Is there an issue from my past that’s keeping its hooks in me and needs to be dealt with?  If I self-sabotage, why?  It’s in the asking of these types of questions I begin to see my true heart about health, weight and eating.  And learning to combat these with God on my side is the beginning of true, lasting change. 

For Further Thought:  As you approach the New Year, think of the one goal you most want to achieve.  Above and beyond your action list for this goal, think of any thoughts or emotions that could block your progress.  Once you’ve identified them, start tackling them with God through scripture and prayer.  Get professional help if you need to.  Remember: you deserve blessing because you are a child of God!  Fight back against anyone who tells you differently—including yourself!

Michelangelo

I had the privilege of visiting the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy that houses the amazing sculpture of David, carved by the great Michelangelo himself.  As you enter the gallery, you’re ushered into this long, narrow hall.  Now at the end of the hallway stands the David in all its miraculous glory, but along the path leading up to him you see partially carved blocks of stone.  Fascinatingly enough, these were all of Michelangelo’s mistakes!  Some had very little carving; some were almost completely formed, like a body that had somehow been trapped in stone.  While several of these pieces were practice stones, some were works of art in progress destroyed by one wrong cut.

 Sometimes I can feel like that, like that last big cut in my life has ruined and destroyed me in ways from which I will never fully recover.  The pain is too great; the wound is too deep.  I feel trapped, unable to be released from the stony prison of my mind and heart.  I may run around and try to mask it with a lot of activity, or shove the emotions down so deep they rarely gurgle to the surface, but inside I know I’m cut, broken.  I feel alone.

It’s in those moments I have to remind myself God is my sculpture, not Michelangelo.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  He doesn’t use me (or any of us!) for practice marble.  He is the Master sculpture, the great I Am!  When the thief comes in to deface and destroy me, God knows how to work around that bad cut and still release the masterpiece within me.  Even when I’ve been the one knocking that hammer to all the wrong places, wounding and scarring and destroying myself until all I see left is a pile of rubble, God is still God.  He still knows how to pick up each tiny piece and recreate it into something even better, something miraculous. 

The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “[God] has sent me to repair broken hearts, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners … to give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy and praise instead of depression and sadness. People will call them magnificent …” Is. 61:1b-3 (Voice, NIV)

I love that!  And I love knowing that even when no one else gets what I’m going through, God does.  He absolutely, positively gets it in all of its ugly, messy, painful glory.  He understands it even more deeply and clearly than I do.  He knows without one bit of hesitation how to heal and empower me to move forward.  He not only sees me right now at this very moment more clearly than I do, but He also sees the amazing person He intends for me to become. 

So I’ve learned to lean on His vision for me during those times of deep refining until I begin to believe again in what He has in store for me.  I’ve watched Him mold me into something greater, wiser, stronger, and yes – more joy-filled.  He helps me step into my truth: I am sacred, special, loved.  He reminds me that not only can I make a difference, I already have.

How about you?

For further thought: “Now all of us reflect the glory of the Lord as if we are mirrors; and so we are being transformed, metamorphosed, into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, just as the Spirit of the Lord accomplishes it.”  (2 Cor. 3:18, Voice, AMP) 

Can't Buy Me Love!

The Beatles used to sing, “Money can’t buy me love.”  Nowadays, I’m not so sure we believe them!  Money for me has been a journey.  I have had times of tremendous abundance and times of deep scarcity.  My journey started in my childhood, as so many things do.

I grew up in what I now realize was a pretty plush lifestyle.  As a kid, it was all I knew.  It would be a few years before I realized not everyone had a large home, travelled extensively, had family and relatives with recognizable names and/or businesses and who socialized with people the world viewed as prestigious. 

It wouldn’t be until my parents divorced and we moved into a much smaller home in a blue-collar community a few years later that I began to become acquainted with this idea of scarcity.  I became quite aware of all the things that were no longer easily in reach, from clothes to restaurants and travelling experiences.  I grieved what I could no longer have, failing to see all the wonderful things I did have.  It was a time of hurt, bitterness and fear.

Now keep in mind I still lived far more comfortably than so many in this world.  My mother worked hard to provide for us and she did an admirable job.  Her incredible example still inspires me today.  But not having as much took me to a place of fear that only God was able to help me work through.  It would take time and experience for me to understand money is neither good nor bad; rather it’s mirror reflecting my character in how I choose to use it.

That process has taught me so many lessons!  The biggest one is so simple and yet can be so easy to slip through my fingers if I’m not careful: I have many, many blessings in my life, and very few of them have anything to do with money.  My most treasured moments are centered around people, not things.  I don’t mourn the loss of a hovercraft to play around on, fun though it was.  I do mourn the loss of my grandmother’s smile and her tremendous practical wisdom.  There’s no comparison between the two.

I’ve also learned that The Beatles were right after all; money can’t buy you love … or joy, or happiness, or fulfillment, or anything else the advertisers try to delude us into believing.  I have known some very, very successful people in my lifetime, some of whom are current, close friends.  I have known people of very modest means, some of whom are current, close friends.  What I have seen time and time again is that happiness, joy, peace and meaning are never found in financial success.  Rather, those incredible qualities come from how we approach life, how closely we are tied to our fellow man and to God.

I have seen rich and poor alike give generously, love generously and live a life that draws in the admiration of others.  I have also seen incredibly stingy, grasping, selfish people wrapped in a cloak of misery.  Again, money wasn’t the common denominator; character was.  At the end of the day, it’s not what we have but who we are that matters.  Proverbs 17:24 tells us, “The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.” 

I share this because I find the holidays are one of those times it's easy to buy into the lie that we need to spend lot of money to achieve that perfect Christmas morning, or that perfect feeling of family and sentiment.  We go into debt and set ourselves back financially for months, and for what?  A plastic jeep some kid will drive for maybe a few months?  A computer that will be obsolete in another 2-3 years?  The latest gadget that will quickly be replaced by the next, newer gadget?  I’ve been guilty of it myself, wracked with misery over what I couldn’t provide versus remembering all I can and do provide to those I love, not just on Christmas morning but every day of my life. 

This Christmas, I want to really focus in on what matters: my family, the people I appreciate and love, and the true joy that comes from being with them.  I want to remind them to do the same.  I don’t want to waste energy and effort looking for what I wish I had, or what I want to have eventually, or focusing on the pieces that are missing, which is so easy for me to do!  I want to take time to intentionally acknowledge what I do have, really grabbing a hold of the blessings and joy all around me.  How about you?

For Further Thought:  “Wealth is a crown for the wise; the effort of fools yields only foolishness,” (Proverbs 14:24).  What are some ways you get tempted to make foolish choices with your money?  What are the drivers behind it?  How can you reach for wisdom instead? 

Rejoice

Ahh, the holidays.  It’s that time of year where houses are decorated, trees are thrown up, and the malls become a sea of humanity I loath to navigate.   It’s the time where that one neighbor of yours literally covers every square inch of their house with artificial lights, blow-up Santa's and plastic reindeer (which, of course, is always your kids’ favorite house to see!).  The utility bill goes up, your expenditures sky rocket and Christmas goodwill and cheer can get lost in the shuffle.

Christmas is also a time where a few other things sky rocket – the suicide rate, alcohol consumption and oftentimes your blood pressure!  It’s when you get to be subjected to that one wacky relative you avoid the rest of the year or have to deal with the craziness of family dysfunction.  Or that first holiday you will spend alone and all the emotions it entails.  Ho! Ho. Ho …

In all the melee of what we call “the holidays,” I have learned how crucial it is for me to stop and reflect.  At the end of the day, it’s not that perfect gift or family gathering or Norman Rockwell moment that will bring me permanent joy and peace, no matter how tempting that is to believe.  The perfect instagram picture or Facebook post won’t do it either.  Nope--the only thing that brings me perfect joy and “peace that passes understanding,” Philippians 4:7) is Jesus Christ.  It does happen to be his birth I’m supposedly celebrating, an easy fact to forget.

Isaiah tells us, “The people walking in darkness (that’s us, folks!) have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.  You have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders.  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,”(9:2-6). It’s not the light of the decked out house that shines brightest; it’s the light of God sent down to save you and me, to redeem us for something much, much greater.

Jesus was born, as Isaiah tells us in chapter 61, to be God’s light for us.  “He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion (again, that’s us)—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness …”

This always fills me with hope because I remember how much God has transformed me and how far He has taken me, even through deeply challenging circumstances.  It reminds me to give to others out of a sincere heart the most meaningful gifts of encouragement and love.  It reminds me that God will continue to mold me to become a mighty oak, tall and strong and beautiful before Him. 

So when I’m tempted to overspend, overeat, overstress and overreact, I stop.  I take a quick moment to remember I wear God’s crown upon my head, all because a baby was born in a manger to a virgin 2000 years ago.  Most of all, It reminds me to look at a message that can start to feel trite or repetitive and put the depth and meaning back into it. And I find I can relax, let it go, and truly rejoice.  

For Further Thought: Take some time out to look at what you’re wearing.  Is it a garment of praise, or a garment of stress?  Are you filled with gladness or filled with too much food and debt?  Make some time to remember what the whole point is behind this crazy season so you can stay centered with God in the midst of it and actually embrace the message. 

We Interrupt This Program

Hello Dented Fender Fans!  As I’m sure you’ve noticed, we’ve experienced some technical difficulties these last few days.  Everything is up and running once again, from the blog to the website link located on the top of the right column.  Posts will resume starting next Tuesday.  Yeah!!

I want to take this moment to thank everyone for your feedback, post suggestions, and especially for your readership!  When I first started, I had maybe 20 or so hits in a week.  We are now up to as many as 1000 hits in a day!  Thank you to all of you who have found enough value in receiving a weekly dose of encouragement that you chose to share and forward thedentedfender.com on to someone new.  You are the reason this continues to grow – and I continue to write!

Have something specific you would like to see me write about?  Email me at ennoiaministries@gmail.com.  See you (finally) next week!

Blessings,

Barb Boettcher

The Comparison Trap

Einstein once said, “Everyone is a genius.  But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”  I hate to admit it, but I have spent many years doing just that.  It’s so unbelievably easy to begin judging yourself by the wrong standard!  When I compare myself to something I’m not, namely other people, it robs me of who I am meant to be.  Even if I compare myself favorably, the end result is the same.  Any standard you use to measure yourself against that is different from who you’re designed to be is a standard that will always leave you feeling insecure, unsure and unfit.

So if I define myself by money, which I have done, my worth becomes completely enmeshed in how much I have or don’t have.  This is a precarious place to be because for the vast majority of us there is always someone out there with much, much more.  Money can also be taken from you.  And frankly, you can be an absolutely miserable human being by any definition of that word and have quite a bit of money. 

If I define myself by looks, which I have done, I become a victim of time.  Last year’s face had a few less lines, a few less flaws and wrinkles.  Even though I push myself physically, at some point I have to acknowledge I can’t do quite as much as I could before.  When I look around, there is always someone better looking, younger, thinner, or in better shape than I am.  Putting hope in appearance is like stepping onto something that looks like a sunny spot on the beach only to later realize it’s quick sand. 

In my life, I have judged myself by the quality of my relationships, the quantity of my relationships, my performance, my skills and talents, my ambition and discipline, my renown, my control, my emotional stability, my parenting, my position and even my faith.  I feel either high or low depending on how I rate myself, all the while using others as my comparison point. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, I suspect there are things here that sound familiar to you if you were writing out a list of your own. 

One of the most beautiful, freeing things I have ever done was to say good-bye to that crazy list altogether and to quit defining myself by anyone else’s standard, even my own.  Instead, I’ve embraced a deeper richer truth: God loves and accepts me unconditionally, apart from my performance.  All He asks is that I love Him in return.  How well I learn to love and trust Him doesn’t dictate His love for me, either.  His love is there regardless.

The more I learn to receive and accept His love, the more I am able to hear His direction in my life and head down the path He would have me walk.  Sometimes the road He asks me to take is scary because I can’t see where it leads me.  Sometimes the path is frustrating because I think I know the way I should go so I run ahead of God only to get lost on a side path.  Yet God is always right there, leading me forward.

A crazy thing happens the more I learn to simply walk the path God has marked out for me.  I begin to find the unique, remarkable individual genius God has placed within me.  I see more clearly my inner contributions that only I can give this world for there is no one else quite like me.  Instead of comparing myself to others, I can embrace my own truths, which in turn frees me up to simply love and accept people for who they are.  After all, they’re not called to be me anymore than I’m called to be them!  So I can celebrate their victories, share their joy and their tears, and love them more unconditionally because I’m not trying to be them.  I’m simply encouraging them to be the best version of themselves God created them to be.  And they do the same for me. 

For Further Thought:  Psalm 139:14 says, “I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe.”  We are also told in 1 Corinthians 12:14-18, 27, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, 'I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,' would that make it so? If Ear said, 'I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,' would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it … You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything.”  What can you do this week to step further away from comparing yourself to others and move more closely into who you have been designed by God to be? 

Revelation

I had a revelation today.  I was thinking through this past year, all the goals God had laid on my heart, and how remarkably nearly all of them had materialized.  It’s been a year of abundant blessing after leaving a season of strong storms.  I have taken the time to celebrate God’s victories in my life, to honor Him and others for those blessings.  I deeply believe in marking moments, of acknowledging the victories in life because I think God wants me to!  That way, when the next storm hits I have these moments as all-important reminders of His faithfulness to me.

Still, being the driven soul I am, I have to admit my thoughts drifted quite quickly from the many blessings to those few goals left that hadn’t materialized.  I was sort of frustrated about one area in particular because it’s the one thing I most wanted.  I asked God why not this one thing, this one key area?  Why couldn’t this one area come to fruition? 

And—here comes the revelation—God answered me in a most unexpected way!  He didn’t remind me to be patient, as He has in the past. He didn’t tell me He had my back so I didn’t need to worry.  Nope!  Instead, He gently reminded me it wasn’t going to be that one more thing that would complete my happiness, fulfill me or bring me more permanent joy.  That peace, joy and love come from within me, from being secure in who I am with God. 

It really struck me in that moment how easy it is to think it’s just that one more thing we need in order to be “happy.”  It can be a relationship, a promotion, a dollar amount, a home, a certain car—you know what it is for you!  The thing is the joy from these things is short lived.  Even something as deep and meaningful as a relationship can’t complete you or give you a sense of joy you don’t already have, not on a permanent basis.  We set ourselves up for disappointment when we forget there’s only one true source of joy: love.  And true, deep, unconditional, unfailing love can only come from our Creator and our walk with Him.  Only He gives us that sense of complete acceptance and deep worth regardless of our failures and challenges.

I got the gentle reminder I needed: you can’t give away what you don’t already have.  The answer isn’t one more thing; it’s digging in deeper into God’s love and grace for me, of knowing my infinite worth before Him.  It’s in remembering I belong to Him, and in His eyes our relationship is worth every price He has had to pay.  It humbles me, God’s love.  It fills me with true joy. 

Interestingly, the more I learn to let go of my desires and the outcome, trusting Him instead, the more He blesses me.  It’s like I untie His hands when I finally quit holding on so tightly!  I walked away this morning not praying for my goals, but instead praying for God’s peace and for my trust in His will. 

For Further Thought: Matthew 6:33 tells us, “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” What is your one area you need to work on surrendering and trusting God in?  What is something you can do to tie in more deeply to God’s love for you?

Getting Out of the Desert

I had an interesting morning.  I was out on my balcony praying in the sunshine, looking back over this past year.  I remembered the fear, the times of trial, the insecurities and moments of deep doubt.  But right next to each of those moments was a victory, a moment of overcoming, of moving forward.  God reminded me that all He had promised—and some neat things He surprised me with!--had all come to pass.  Now it may not have been in my timing, but neither did I have to wait forever.  Sometimes it was even ahead of my timing, but they all brought joy. 

It shames me how quick I am to doubt God.  At this point in my life He has delivered me from so much, so often, and so thoroughly you would think I would just live in a constant state of surrender and peace.  Certainly I reside there more firmly than I ever have before, even during times of deep trial.  But I’m still human, and my thoughts still fight against me. 

It reminds me of the Israelites marching for 40 years around Mount Sinai, lost.  God had delivered them from the Egyptians and had done some remarkable, crazy powerful miracles in front of them (these are the folks Moses took out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea in front of, etc.).  Food even dropped out of heaven for them each morning!  But they were restless; discontent.  They doubted God.  They actually longed to be back in bondage because at least they understood all that would lie in front of them.  It was walking in faith and not always knowing the outcome they found so very difficult. 

I can relate.  I catch myself walking around the Mount Sinai’s in my life, falling easily into a well-worn path that sadly leads to the same mediocre or downright bad outcome.  And when I arrive at that same point of discontent and misery I can actually feel surprised, like I somehow didn’t realize I would end up there once again.  Yet every time I take the reins of my life back in my hands, every time I choose to not trust and surrender, that’s exactly where I end up.

Far from feeling discouraged by all these facts, I felt incredibly encouraged.  Why?  Because I realized that each and every time, regardless of my actions or my level of faith, God always prevailed.  Every time He told me something He made it happen, even when I got in the way.  And the wrong decisions, the less than stellar choices He used for good purpose.  Nothing was wasted in His hands.  Nothing.  How cool is that?!

These are the things that deepen my faith and help me to get out of the ruts of my life more quickly.  These victories remind me God has something so much greater in store when I have the humility to look away from the mountain (an unhappy but known quantity) and toward God and his plan for me (a happy but often unknown path).  These are the moments I know God’s strength is so much greater than mine, and that my life is defined not by my mountain, but by a God who loves me and takes me by the hand, leading me to victory after victory.  And as I sat in the warmth of the sunshine, my heart smiled.

For Further Thought:  How about you?  What is your current mountain?  What are some ways you can remind yourself to keep your eyes on God instead of the mountain this week?  And in the moments you blow it, remember these scriptures:  “Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, he remains faithful to us and will help us, for he cannot disown us who are part of himself, and he will always carry out his promises to us,” (2 Timothy 2:13) and “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).

The See-Saw

Now I can’t speak to how men self sooth, but for women it usually involves ice cream, chocolate or something high in sugar, fat and empty calories.  That way, we can simultaneously eat yummy, fattening food while beating ourselves up emotionally for eating it, further perpetuating the love-hate see-saw ride we’re on.  I know you know what I’m talking about!

I hate the see-saw!  And those mental attacks can come out of nowhere.  I’m sitting there minding my own business, exhausted after a long day, and it’s like the good guy in my head took a nap or something because the bad guy starts creeping in past my defenses.  It can start off innocently enough.  Maybe it’s just a reminder of something that went wrong with my day, or something I would like to handle better in the future.  Then – wham! – those thoughts somehow morph into a litany of all that’s gone wrong with my life or all I need to handle more effectively, or worse - a good back beating of all my failures and character flaws.  Dang!  It just doesn’t take him long to get me deflated. 

Thankfully, I’ve learned to let the good guy in my head, the Holy Spirit, come to my rescue.  The Spirit never tries to just pacify me with pithy statements of how it’s okay because we all make mistakes, or how I should just be happy.  He’s willing to take me back to the scene of the crime and take a good, hard look with me.  He never lies to me.  He never sugar coats things.  But he’ll remind me of how I handled a situation better than the one before, or how I recovered emotionally from it more quickly, or how I learned such a powerful lesson from my circumstance it has propelled me forward.  In other words, the Spirit reminds me of my true victories and of what really matters.

 

Even if it’s an area of my life that’s currently “under construction,” he whispers in my ear words of encouragement, reminding me my life is a journey to be travelled.  He helps me recall ways I’ve grown over time previously to help me maintain hope and vision for the current hill (or mountain!) I find myself climbing.  He restores my hope and peace.

I've learned the easiest way to step back onto solid ground is through prayer.  When I take a moment -- or sometimes a really long moment! -- and invite God into my situation, He obliges. When I feel like I’m stuck on that crazy sew-saw of emotions, he reminds me of my positive truths and helps me regain my footing. 

For further thought:  There’s a passage I love that starts in Ephesians 5:16 which I will condense here for our purposes: “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law … those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”  Your sinful nature – the bad guy in your head – reminds you of the “law,” or all the ways you’ve screwed up.  This week, look for ways to allow God’s Spirit to remind you the grace and freedom you’ve been given, of His unfailing, unflinching love for you, and continued direction for the path He is leading you on. 

Radio Show

Hello to my Dented Fender subscribers!  First of all, thank you for all your support and encouragement these last several months.  It has meant a lot!  Anytime you have a topic you would like me to talk about, feel free to reach out to me at ennoiaministries@gmail.com.  While I can't promise to do every topic, I will do my best!

Tomorrow evening, I will be a guest on a talk radio show called "Love & Laughter" speaking about some of the content from my upcoming book, Renewed: How to find a Window When Life Has Closed the Door.  The show runs from 7-8 pm EST.  I would be honored if you would consider tuning in and listening.  I've included a link below that will take you right there.  I've never been on a radio show before so I'm a little nervous.  Any extra prayer you could send my way would be most appreciated!  I hope to have you join me :-)

In the meanwhile, my regular post will come out tomorrow.  Thanks in advance for any of you who are able to tune in, and especially for the prayer!

Blessings,
Barb Boettcher Lownsbury

Link (Once there click on the "Play" icon):

http://www.iheart.com/live/talkradio-1080-wkjk-4908/

If for some reason the link doesn't work for you, go to iheart.com.  Search for Talk Radio 1080 WKJK.  Once you reach the station, click play.

Broken

When I was younger, I used to think if I could learn from everyone else’s mistakes, I could avoid making any major ones myself.  Now there is some wisdom in that; certainly I have avoided a lot of situations and hardships simply from having the foresight and knowledge that comes from such searching.  Yet I learned the hard way no matter how well I lay out my ideas and game plans, life has a way of not cooperating.

The truth is none of us get through this life without being broken.    We think we can insulate ourselves from the pain with money, success or fame.  Even in love we assume we’re safe from the deeper hurts in life now that someone we believe in and trust is by our side. 

The real truth is safety is an illusion.  There is no such thing.  You will go through challenges in this life that will break you.  The key isn’t to insulate ourselves; the key is found in how we handle the moment of our brokenness.  It’s a turning point; a fork in the road.  It’s in that very moment you have a choice: to move forward toward healing and freedom in a way that will transform you, or to continue down that path of bitterness, shame and regret.

Two things I have learned. It’s in our brokenness Christ shows up most personally and helps us find a deeper, better way; and no matter how far down the path of bitterness and brokenness you are, it’s never too late to take the fork in the road that leads back to God and wholehearted living. 

God is a good God.  He’s not out to tempt you, to ruin or destroy you.  Yet we also live in a fallen, broken world, which means challenges are going to come our way that are far greater than we can handle on our own.  When you and I learn to lean into God during these storms, He rescues us in ways we could never anticipate or imagine.

I think that’s why those crazy early Christians wrote, “Look, we count as blessed those who persevered under hardship,” (James 5:11a).  It’s because they knew in the depths of challenge and despair you and I would also see the depth of God’s mercy and love in ways we had only glimpsed before.  Our faith becomes bedrock, unshakable.  Even though our knees may still quiver and tremble and doubt can shadow our heart, His light pierces through more quickly each time we learn to trust and surrender to His voice.

When you’re sitting there sorting through the ashes of what were once your dreams, remember: “[God] has sent me to repair broken hearts, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to give them a beautiful crown instead of ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy and praise instead of depression and sadness. People will call them magnificent …” (Isaiah 61:1b-3).

For Further Thought:  God has a way of taking our shattered dreams and molding them into something even greater than we could have asked for or imagined.  This week, pray for God to show you His vision for your life, and for the courage to then walk toward it.