I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be "Spirit-led". It seems that I ask the Spirit to lead, or at least be a part, of most things I do, yet often times it doesn't feel as if I am being led. I've been thinking about my role in inhibiting the Spirit's leadership and direction.
The other day a friend of mine asked me, "When was the last time you were in a service and the Holy Spirit took control?" He was asking me how long had it been since I had been a part of a gathering where the "plans" were interrupted in light of the Spirit giving direction. A time when nothing else mattered but resting in the presence of the Spirit. A time when experiencing God's presence together trumped every other agenda that we held that minute, hour, or day. A time when God's presence was palpable and intimate in such a way that people were spontaneously moved to respond.
What a good question.
I had to think a while...
Why does it feel like those moments have been so sparse?
I think sometimes it is too risky to allow the Spirit to lead. When I think about my own life, it is more comfortable to ask the Spirit to be a part of my pre-established, risk assessed, neatly packaged plan than it is to let Him genuinely lead. After all, I can craft a plan that meets the approval I have set for myself, and the approval of others around me. I will most often craft a plan that will not upset anyone else or even cause others to notice. My plans "work" and are even affective.
And at church? The same is true. If we are not careful and intentional, We can get caught spending gobs of time planning a service that fits neatly into a pre-specified time slot, laced with predictability, pleasing to the "Christian consumer," in which we are more concerned with execution than sensitivity to the Spirit. We can become more driven to action by "consumer" response/reaction than the nudge of the Spirit. Or, even worse, we can begin to lead based on what people will accept and enjoy instead of following the Spirit's lead.
Not only is trusting the Spirit's lead too risky, it is also associated with shallow, emotionally-based faith, and lazy preparation. Too often, people have not prepared to worship God or have not sought his will in their life and resort to calling on the Spirit to "rescue" them from their laziness. That is not trusting the Spirit. That is chasing an emotional whim in desperation. The Spirit will lead through preparation, human ingenuity/creativity, and emotional passion. I believe the key to being Spirit-led is seeking the Spirit through prayer and preparation. Asking for the Spirit to move and submitting to his leadership is neither lazy nor shallow.
God desires more than just being a part of our scripted plans, He wants to lead us. He is calling me to "seek first His kingdom and righteousness," and let the careful planning fall appropriately into place. My prayer:
"Lord give me your grace to seek and follow your Spirit's lead in my life. May your direction speak loudest in my heart."
God is still teaching me about being sensitive to His leading. I am thankful for people willing to engage in conversation with me. What do you think?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Sports!
So...I guess it is time for me to blog about sports.
I absolutely love this time of year. At this very moment, I have just finished watching the third round of the Player's Championship, I am currently watching game five of the Penguin/Capital series, and am flipping to the Royals game during commercials. This is one of my favorite seasons for watching sports.
The Royals are off to a really hot start behind the complete dominance of Zack Greinke. "The K" is newly renovated and much improved. Karalie and I watched Greinke pitch a complete game, shutout earlier this week and he is definitely the favorite to take home the AL Cy Young Award. The great thing is Greinke is not alone. The starting pitching has been spectacular so far. I can't wait for Luke Hochevar to get the call-up from Triple-A. Who would have thought that Alex Gordon going down for a while would have been a blessing in disguise. Teahen seems comfortable and confident, both at the plate and in the field. Overall, the Royals' approach at the plate has been more disciplined. The addition of Coco Crisp and Kevin Seitzer has given this team a swagger at the plate. Now, I just have to get used to them getting clutch hits and pitching out of jams. I am not ready to guarantee a playoff appearance, but I can say that I am more excited to watch the games on t.v., and much more anxious to get to the stadium. Go Royals.
The NHL Playoffs are starting to heat up. And, as I write this, game five of the Pens/Caps series is heating up. It has been a blast to watch Sidney Crosby against Alex Ovechkin. I am hoping that the Penguins find a way to pull this series out. They are going to need Fleury to be the best he's been to get past Ovechkin. It seems that he is looking to shoot at all times. Every time he touches the puck he is looking at the net, and most times he gets it to the net. If he is not hitting someone, he's shooting the puck. I just get tired of the Cap's overconfidence. I would love to see Sid the Kid and Geno get the last laugh in this series.
It all comes down to goaltending in the playoffs, or does it. Tim Thomas looked like the best net-minder all year, until now. The Bruins need complete dominance from Thomas the rest of the way if they are going to come back from a 3-1 hole against Cam Ward. It was goaltending that knocked out my favorite team. The St. Louis Blues got swept right out of the playoffs. After putting together one of the greatest runs to make the playoffs I have ever seen in any sport, the Blues ran out of energy and creativity against the strong play of Luongo and the Cannucks. All that to say, I was very proud of how hard the Blues fought all season long. I can't wait til next year when they get Brewer back. Go T.J. Oshie.
So enough hockey talk. I know that nobody cares but me. So my pick is Boston over Detroit in 6 games.
Alex Cejka takes a five stroke lead into the final day of the Player's Championship. This is probably my second favorite tourney to watch all year. It will be interesting to see how Cejka responds playing in the final group with Tiger.
I used to always get frustrated when golf announcers and former players would discount Tiger's dominance by declaring that his competition (the other players in the top 20 or so in the world rankings) is not nearly as talented as the competition that Jack and Arny faced. I hate to compare athletes from different generations (because it is impossible), but I think I am starting to see their point. It seems that when Tiger is not at the top of the leaderboard the players that are cannot put together a solid round. Week after week the final four groups come in bogeying three of the the last four holes leaving someone in the clubhouse for over an hour with a win or a tie. I am getting tired of seeing so many people buckle. When is someone going to smell the victory and break 70. Instead, it seems that people are trying to avoid winning by giving the championship to someone else. Take this week for example: Tiger hacks it around and saves a few pars while everyone but Cejka gives up their advantage. Let me guess what happens tomorrow. Cejka 74, Tiger 69...Tiger wins in a playoff! We'll see...
I absolutely love this time of year. At this very moment, I have just finished watching the third round of the Player's Championship, I am currently watching game five of the Penguin/Capital series, and am flipping to the Royals game during commercials. This is one of my favorite seasons for watching sports.
The Royals are off to a really hot start behind the complete dominance of Zack Greinke. "The K" is newly renovated and much improved. Karalie and I watched Greinke pitch a complete game, shutout earlier this week and he is definitely the favorite to take home the AL Cy Young Award. The great thing is Greinke is not alone. The starting pitching has been spectacular so far. I can't wait for Luke Hochevar to get the call-up from Triple-A. Who would have thought that Alex Gordon going down for a while would have been a blessing in disguise. Teahen seems comfortable and confident, both at the plate and in the field. Overall, the Royals' approach at the plate has been more disciplined. The addition of Coco Crisp and Kevin Seitzer has given this team a swagger at the plate. Now, I just have to get used to them getting clutch hits and pitching out of jams. I am not ready to guarantee a playoff appearance, but I can say that I am more excited to watch the games on t.v., and much more anxious to get to the stadium. Go Royals.
The NHL Playoffs are starting to heat up. And, as I write this, game five of the Pens/Caps series is heating up. It has been a blast to watch Sidney Crosby against Alex Ovechkin. I am hoping that the Penguins find a way to pull this series out. They are going to need Fleury to be the best he's been to get past Ovechkin. It seems that he is looking to shoot at all times. Every time he touches the puck he is looking at the net, and most times he gets it to the net. If he is not hitting someone, he's shooting the puck. I just get tired of the Cap's overconfidence. I would love to see Sid the Kid and Geno get the last laugh in this series.
It all comes down to goaltending in the playoffs, or does it. Tim Thomas looked like the best net-minder all year, until now. The Bruins need complete dominance from Thomas the rest of the way if they are going to come back from a 3-1 hole against Cam Ward. It was goaltending that knocked out my favorite team. The St. Louis Blues got swept right out of the playoffs. After putting together one of the greatest runs to make the playoffs I have ever seen in any sport, the Blues ran out of energy and creativity against the strong play of Luongo and the Cannucks. All that to say, I was very proud of how hard the Blues fought all season long. I can't wait til next year when they get Brewer back. Go T.J. Oshie.
So enough hockey talk. I know that nobody cares but me. So my pick is Boston over Detroit in 6 games.
Alex Cejka takes a five stroke lead into the final day of the Player's Championship. This is probably my second favorite tourney to watch all year. It will be interesting to see how Cejka responds playing in the final group with Tiger.
I used to always get frustrated when golf announcers and former players would discount Tiger's dominance by declaring that his competition (the other players in the top 20 or so in the world rankings) is not nearly as talented as the competition that Jack and Arny faced. I hate to compare athletes from different generations (because it is impossible), but I think I am starting to see their point. It seems that when Tiger is not at the top of the leaderboard the players that are cannot put together a solid round. Week after week the final four groups come in bogeying three of the the last four holes leaving someone in the clubhouse for over an hour with a win or a tie. I am getting tired of seeing so many people buckle. When is someone going to smell the victory and break 70. Instead, it seems that people are trying to avoid winning by giving the championship to someone else. Take this week for example: Tiger hacks it around and saves a few pars while everyone but Cejka gives up their advantage. Let me guess what happens tomorrow. Cejka 74, Tiger 69...Tiger wins in a playoff! We'll see...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lengthening Lent
As the Lenten season comes to an end and Holy Week approaches, I hope that I will continue to live without some things. This year I felt like God was challenging me to give up something a little less common than chocolate or television. In fact I have never heard of anyone giving up what I felt like he was asking me to give up, yet I knew that I treasured this one thing more than I should. Not only was this thing dear to me, but it was also the fuel that kept my negative attitude and discontent burning. It was creating in me an ungrateful heart and contributing to my lack of joy. God was asking me to give up.... ..... .... complaining.
I never really realized how much I complained (and still do) until I tried to do without. It was crazy to realize how many things seemed worthy of a complaint. My mind was so consumed with the things that weren't as I thought they should be that I was missing all the things in my life that were better than most. My focus was way off. So, every time I caught myself wanting to complain I would instead think of something I was thankful for. After a while, I quickly realized that I really shouldn't be complaining at all. God has blessed me in so many ways and yet I still want to focus on the things that aren't perfect. The Lord has helped me to adjust my perspective and attitude by refusing to complain and thanking God for His blessings instead. What started as a Lenten concession will hopefully continue as an attribute of my "new life" in Christ.
I never really realized how much I complained (and still do) until I tried to do without. It was crazy to realize how many things seemed worthy of a complaint. My mind was so consumed with the things that weren't as I thought they should be that I was missing all the things in my life that were better than most. My focus was way off. So, every time I caught myself wanting to complain I would instead think of something I was thankful for. After a while, I quickly realized that I really shouldn't be complaining at all. God has blessed me in so many ways and yet I still want to focus on the things that aren't perfect. The Lord has helped me to adjust my perspective and attitude by refusing to complain and thanking God for His blessings instead. What started as a Lenten concession will hopefully continue as an attribute of my "new life" in Christ.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Great Oaks
What's Happenin'
Recently, God has given me a scripture that has been a huge encouragement and source of motivation. Here it is...
-- To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. -- Isaiah 61:3
This verse beautifully paints the picture of God's redemption. It seems that all too often our circumstances lead to carrying around this heavy burden. Sometimes our burden is not only the source of stress, depression, and a loss of hope, but may even lead to spiritual or emotional death. We don't often pack on this kind of burden all at once, but instead we pile on thing after thing. Life continues to add to our burden but offers little or no relief from it all. As the weight of life suppresses us, we naturally become more discouraged and pessimistic. We are so consumed by the burden we carry that we fail to even see beyond our pile of garbage.
That's why I love this verse. Isaiah is telling us about an offer God wants to make with us. He wants to make a trade: We give Him the portion the world has handed to us, in return for the portion He wants to give us.
God did not intend for us to be nothing but burden-bearers. He wants to redeem death and bring about the beauty of life. He wants to turn our pain and rejection into joy and happiness. He wants to lift our burdens and give us a spirit of Worship. He intended that we not be weighed down by life so much that we are seemingly insignificant, but rather we be as significant as a great Oak tree. God created us to be a magnificent display of His Glory.
The question becomes...Will you make the trade? It is not a question of whether God will follow through. It is a question of whether or not you will relinquish your burden.
God has been encouraging me to not let my burden diminish my spirit of praise.
Recently, God has given me a scripture that has been a huge encouragement and source of motivation. Here it is...
-- To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. -- Isaiah 61:3
This verse beautifully paints the picture of God's redemption. It seems that all too often our circumstances lead to carrying around this heavy burden. Sometimes our burden is not only the source of stress, depression, and a loss of hope, but may even lead to spiritual or emotional death. We don't often pack on this kind of burden all at once, but instead we pile on thing after thing. Life continues to add to our burden but offers little or no relief from it all. As the weight of life suppresses us, we naturally become more discouraged and pessimistic. We are so consumed by the burden we carry that we fail to even see beyond our pile of garbage.
That's why I love this verse. Isaiah is telling us about an offer God wants to make with us. He wants to make a trade: We give Him the portion the world has handed to us, in return for the portion He wants to give us.
God did not intend for us to be nothing but burden-bearers. He wants to redeem death and bring about the beauty of life. He wants to turn our pain and rejection into joy and happiness. He wants to lift our burdens and give us a spirit of Worship. He intended that we not be weighed down by life so much that we are seemingly insignificant, but rather we be as significant as a great Oak tree. God created us to be a magnificent display of His Glory.
The question becomes...Will you make the trade? It is not a question of whether God will follow through. It is a question of whether or not you will relinquish your burden.
God has been encouraging me to not let my burden diminish my spirit of praise.
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