Finding Quiet

     Every day it seems I wonder about the tension between service and solitude. Between programs and prostrating ourselves before God. Between work and worship. I'm welcoming this season of quiet. While I've been through the season of frenzied service (stayed much longer than I'd like to admit) I'm now finding I miss the sense of accomplishment that comes with a full calendar.

     I see that God is drawing me to a quiet, peaceful place. Deep down I know that He is here, that I'm not missing His call in any way. But the lure of the good stuff that fills up our days is tough to shake. I wonder, could I be doing more? Am I doing all I can?

     Suddenly, out of nowhere, my heart aches in thoughts of not "doing" enough for God. Back to my knees in prayer, I find comfort in knowing that if God wanted me to do more, when I seek Him on this matter, He would clearly tell me to get to work. Instead, He says, "rest, my child." So, quiet finds me once again, and my soul is quieted by His peace.

     It's funny how I deceive myself into thinking I'm not doing anything worthwhile. How easliy I can totally lose sight of the fact that I'm in seminary full time. And, that I'm teaching Sunday school. And, that I'm raising a son, loving a husband, and learning to create a home environment that is settled; learning to keep the chaos of the world from entering the threshold in any way. Yet, in the subtle ways of the enemy, my mind is drawn to the criticism of the clucking voices the world. The competitiveness of human nature. Fighting off the shortcomings of a frail esteem, looking to external validation instead of internal confidence in the One who overcomes it all.

      In prayer, I've spent many conversations with God asking if I'm missing something. If I'm being lazy, quitting, or just disobedient. Yet, in His still small voice, I hear the Lord whispering to my spirit, "you aren't missing it, you're finally getting it!" Getting it. Thank you, Lord for helping me better understand who You are, and who I am in You.

     Whatever I thought was important is laid aside to find what is most important to God. What titles, accomplishments, status and pride-driven plans were in place before are laid at His feet. Gladly. I'm quietly waiting for Jesus to take my best, mold it and shape it into His best for my life.

     Yes, I pray there are certain roles He will allow to continue in my life. Particular projects and lanes of ministry. But to ask Him to bless what I've put in place seems tragic. Trivial, really. Why would I ask the God of all creation to bless what I, His feeble creation, could conjure up for grandeur? Sad, really. Yet, in the human mind, this seems sensible. Like something we not only deserve to do, but should demand of our God. As if He has any obligation to bless the work of man's hands.

     No, I'm clinging to the truth that He will bless what is in His will. He will further His kingdom according to His perfect plan. All I ask is He allow me to come along. To follow Him and join in the work He is doing. Whatever it looks like. Whether anyone else ever sees the work of my hands, or if it is in obscurity. Because nothing is unseen to God, and He is the audience I crave.

     What will that look like in my life? Sweetness. Perfect submission. Not a five year plan and a perfect business model, but obedience that spells out the next step of working out my salvation. Of following hard after God. Of a commitment that will work harder than I've ever worked, persevere at a level I've never gone, and love deeper than I ever thought I could.

     And, of a life that has the gospel permeating every step. Of sharing the gospel through a peaceful life that is curious to a hurried world. Of a messed up, unpolished person who has the glow of a perfect Savior. A simple one who confounds the wise. One who has received grace, and extends that grace to others.

Jesus Needs Me...Or Does He?

"Jesus needs me this I know, for my culture tells me so..."

Are these the words to our beloved song from childhood? Unfortunately somewhere between the snack time, sing-a-long, and real life, we add a few of our own lyrics to the tune of our faith.

Jesus needs us?
Does He?

I propose that our faith gets turned upside down every time we make this subtle shift in our approach to spirituality.

Jesus doesn’t need us, He loves us. He wants to be in relationship with us. Nothing we can do will get Jesus to love us more. He has loved us with His perfect, unending, unfailing love, since the beginning of creation. He loves you as much as He will ever love you. Right now. Whether you check those busy blocks or not.

And, if we get this through our thick skulls, and into our hearts, the deeds that show up in our life will be based on our love for Him. Not our desire for perfection, acceptance, or approval. Our fruit will be our worship to God. Not the works of the flesh.

Do we stop serving? Absolutely not. I agree with James that faith without works is dead. I agree that we should help our brothers and sisters in need. But it is so easy to twist our heart attitude into thinking we can give Jesus some lip service and a handout, and He’ll like us more. No. He’s looking at our heart motivations. Why are we doing this thing? Who are we doing it for? If I do something solely for the purpose of being popular, perfect, accepted, or to make myself feel good (a personal pat on the back for helping that poor, helpless soul is a clear indicator of this) then I miss the point of serving with the love of Christ.

In recent years, Christian circles have been buzzing with the all-too-important phrase “needs based ministry”. In an attempt to get people out of the pews and into the world for Jesus, we’ve tried to convince our fellow Christ followers that the missions we do, the ministries we engage in, must be meeting the needs of the world around us. The movement is expanding into every need. Every activity. Everywhere, in every way. Everything from food, to housing, to oil changes, to hair cuts. Parties and candy. Sports and games. All good stuff, but Lord help us if we try to do all this to get Jesus to like us more; or simply because we think Jesus needs us to do it. Like He couldn’t fill the needs of people without us. When done right, the gospel is shared, and the people we meet will get more than a neat activity or helpful hand. They will receive the hope of Christ. Even if we don’t share the entire gospel message, God will know if we’re sharing His love or checking a self-made spiritual block. And in our right heart attitude, and only then, does any of our work glorify God.

In fulfilling this grandiose plan, often times we meet flesh needs, forsaking the most important need of all – spiritual regeneration and sanctification.

To me, this is the plumb line, the true measure of whether we’re doing it out of our love for Christ and a motivation to see others come into relationship with Jesus Christ. Are we more concerned with the stuff we’re giving out, or the spiritual condition of those who receive? If we give a cup of water in Jesus’ Name, we give it in His message, in the hope that they will recognize and receive the Living Water. Otherwise, we’ve only satisfied a fleeting sense of thirst.

I do believe spiritual conditions are a greater need. I also agree with my critics, who are at this instant are arguing with me in their minds about how we can’t share Jesus unless we meet “them” where they are. I agree. If they are hungry, they won’t listen unless their tummies are full. If they have other basic needs, they may not hear what you say about Jesus unless you show them the love of Jesus. Agreed.

But, there’s got to be a balance somewhere in our approach. I’ve seen this needs-based theology played out far too many times with humanitarian efforts being the extent of our meeting. Where the assumption that just because we’re wearing a Christian t-shirt, or we tell “them” we are from a particular church, then our outreach for Christ has been effective. In that way, I highly disagree that we’ve met the needs of others in a biblical way.

Friend, the “them” aren’t just a project. They are a lost and hurting people who will certainly perish if they don’t know Jesus. And, as Paul told the Romans, if no one tells them, how can they receive? The miracle of the Great Commission is that God allows us, His people, to be a part of the process. Not because we are super great servants; but because we should be a people who can’t possibly contain the hope we have inside us. Because we should be sharing the excitement we have about Jesus everywhere we go. Even when we give someone a glass of water. Why?

Because we do it in His Name.
For His glory.

When Jesus fed the multitudes, He did so because He had been teaching the people, or they had been following Him for miles; seeking Him. The people had been listening to Jesus teaching and got hungry. When Jesus healed, there were times He healed a single person in a crowd of many in need, as a tangible example of His power. He left others untouched. Why? I think it’s an example for us that it isn’t our job to try to fix everything – just what Jesus leads us to do. Obedience is key, and glorifying God is always the goal. Jesus’ central motive was giving glory to God, and proclaiming the hope of salvation.

When the early church heard that some of the widows from their own flock (fellow believers) were not being fed, some were appointed to answer this need, in order that those charged with the job of sharing the gospel could do so without being distracted. And, please notice, this was an assignment for feeding those within the church, not a humanitarian effort to feed all who are hungry. I believe God will call us to feed, clothe, help, serve and love, but we’ve got to be ever mindful to do exactly what He has called; not what we make up our programs to do.

I know, you may be thinking I sound like a heartless, uncompassionate person who is squelching the love of God. But look, if we get bogged down by trying to be a social justice organization that tries to meet the needs of all, we will lose out on the opportunity to effectively reach some. We will be so worn out from trying to keep up with our own wonderful plans that we won’t have time to hear from God about His distinct plan for us personally and collectively. We’ll put more emphasis on the program and process, and become more of an institution. We’ll lose our focus on letting God lead us through His Spirit, obediently following His every call. We’ll get into the destructive thought process of thinking that Jesus will only love us if we do all this stuff He obviously “needs” us to do.

Does He need us?

Seems to me, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit did just fine at Creation. They did perfectly well at Calvary and the Resurrection. They have brought forth leaders to show us how to be followers of Christ, including Paul who was forbidden by God on numerous occasions to follow his own travel plans. God has also revealed that persecution will come to those who truly follow His plans. The Trinity has given us hope that at the end of the day, at the end of the story, they won’t need us to help them defeat the devil.

God’s got all that covered.

What does He ask of us?

Repent and believe. Submit, obey, and be in relationship with Him. Love the church and the world like He loves us. Not because He needs us to, but because we are able to through our relationship with Him. As an outpouring of worship.

I propose that if we truly understand this concept, our service will not be draining. Or defeating. Or leaving us empty. We’ll know that it’s ok to stay in the lane God has created for us. Competition will fade. Contentment will come. Our destructive need to control others and gain power will go away. Our reputation won’t matter. Our resume won’t count. Our best efforts for success won’t even be a glimmer in our minds, because all our thoughts will be surrounded by one thought, “Am I glorifying God in this?”

We won’t care if we’re famous, popular, or promoted. All that will matter is that Jesus loves us, and our hearts will be set on living in light of that, however it is expressed.

I think that if we got this right, our effectiveness would increase. Instead of getting less done for the kingdom, our churches and families would function in a healthy manner, and we would better focus our time on the things God has equipped us to do. We would no longer feel bullied or badgered to be all, do all, or go with the flow of toxic busy-ness. We’d be free to live as the creation God made us (what a thought) and we’d understand the importance of Sabbath rest, true worship, and true witness. Best of all, we’d be reminded that Jesus loves us, because the Bible tells us so.

(C) 2010 Jennifer Devlin
www.jenniferdevlin.com

DIET in the Dust - A New Blog!

Hey, friends!

Well, after a year and a half, I've finally mustered up the courage to share the details - the good, bad, and ugly - of my weight loss journey.

The new blog, "DIET in the Dust" will give you the overall story, some excerpts from my journaling during the first six months, and some healthy tips. Together, let's leave those nasty "DIET's" in the dust - and reach out for freedom!

Visit the blog at http://dietinthedust.wordpress.com/

Thanks!

jen

Stepping Out in Faith Without Stepping On Toes?

Eight months ago, God began a work in my heart that is difficult to explain. Thirteen weeks into that transformation, I wrote a note here called "One Thing" that described where I was in my journey.

Twenty three weeks past that moment, I realize that this is not just a process for my benefit (as everything the Lord does in our life is for His glory and not our own...) but to be used as a testimony to draw others to this same freedom. Yes, in my "One Thing" note, I tried to be vague. Universal. Address the unspoken needs of life. Keep away from any hint of offending anybody by sharing details.Yet God says, share it all. Go there. Talk about the touchy issues no one wants to talk about. Bring the secrets to life. Go there. Show that freedom from the destructive talk in our head comes from the One who brings true freedom. Expose the cycle of pain that comes from conforming to the world's standards and expectations. Share the truth in love, without condemnation, judgment, expectation. Just share.

What a leap of faith! As a people pleaser at heart, it's much easier not to step out, because then you don't have to worry about stepping on people's toes. Getting in their business. Addressing an issue they'd rather avoid. Yet God says share. Why?

Because I've been there, and am still there, in the process. Because I recognize why people avoid the topic, and how we make excuses - avoiding the promise of freedom that comes from hitting it head on and never going back to the world's wisdom. Because we've all gone on a diet at some point in our lives, to try to live up to the expectations of the world around us. Because it has nothing to do with a scale, a number, a size or an image. Because being a living sacrifice to God involves our whole life, not just the things we can do without, or do well.

My motivation? Certainly not to say I've got it all together, or that I'm better than anyone. If anything, I've found a deeper sense of humility than I've ever experienced - through a new understanding of the depth and love of God and His grace extended to us. To bring freedom to those trapped in a cycle they see no end to. To love as He loves. To proclaim freedom to the captives.

By what authority and power? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the leading of God alone. Nothing I can say, and nothing I've done - only the revelation that He wants to be a part of our process. Lord of our process. Glorified.

And so, I'm stepping out in faith, preparing to talk about the last thing I'd ever want to share in public. Why? Because God said so. Even if I step on toes. Why? Because His power is perfected in my weakness, and He brings freedom that no diet can.

Please pray for me as I step out to share this message on December 3rd. It's a big step. Sure, I've done many events before, but this one has a special potential to radically transform the way we view food, diets, and our relationship with God. Not a diet plan, but a relationship with the Almighty like we've never known before. Selah.



Join us! December 3, 2009, 7 to 8 pm Bevill Center, Room 280, Huntsville, AL

What is Your One Thing?

I realize that I've been quite silent on the cyber side of life over the last thirteen weeks. It isn't because I've been disinterested in all things digital. Quite the contrary. Freelance work has captured my attention, speaking at women's retreats provided a sweet opportunity to encourage the hearts of women, a new book release was celebrated (Verses We Know by Heart: NT Edition) and a wonderful mission experience to Ecuador revived my heart for God.

Yet in the midst of daily life and hectic schedules, God has begun a work in me. A new work. An unexpected work. One I begin to share with you while experiencing a bit of trepidation. Why? Because it is a path I've begun to tip toe out on many times before, only to fail miserably.

Really? Fail miserably? Hmm. When I say such things to my hubby, he asks me if it is really failure. Sure, I miss the mark, but his point is this: what did I really want? Did I really want to change, or just do what I want? If I was set on acting like I wanted to change, but deep down I really wanted to rebel and have my own way instead, then I didn't really fail did I? After all, I got exactly what my rebellious heart wanted.

Successful rebellion. Ouch. Thank you, Lord for revealing the truth of my wayward heart through the one person that can get away with such upfront truth. He's absolutely right.

Ok, so with God revealing the heart attitudes and rebellious spirit that has lurked since childhood, I have been faced with the ugly truth. I've spent a lifetime loving sin. Relishing in it as I deny, make every excuse, and justify with whitewashed stories that became as flimsy as the whitewashed walls in scripture. Forgive me, Lord.

I've grown in my walk with the Lord in so many other areas of life, so why, oh why, dear Lord do I have to submit THIS vice (aka sin) to you? Why do I have to lay this comfort zone at your feet? I have to guard my mind and heart lest I become like Lot's wife who looks longingly back at the sinful comfort of the worldly things she will leave behind. I'm determined to press forward, as God has given me the desire and the power (Phil. 2:13) to tackle this bondage once and for all - never going back to the chains that I've placed on my own life for so long.

So, thirteen weeks later, God has taken this one thing - this one area of my life - and completely transformed it for His glory. No longer is my motivation propelled by the desire to look good, or to simply whitewash the exterior of my life with a better physique or more approval from man. No longer is the issue about self - it has become all about glorifying God in my body. Completely. Living as the living sacrifice He is calling me to be - in every area.

Not just the segments of life that I want to address, ignoring the addition to sin and self indulgence that has been cultivated for a lifetime. Nope. He has called on me to lay down this very issue that has become the little blue blanket I carry around like Linus. No more. I've given it to God, and only He can and will help me keep from reaching into the giveaway bag to cuddle that blue fuzzy sin again. It's done. I'm pursuing righteousness in this area. Period.

It's taken a lot to get to this point. It will take even more strength, prayers, accountability and daily right choices to keep on this path. God had to clear out a bunch of other spiritual junk I'd had lying around in dormat places of my heart for far too long - things that were stuffed deep inside my mind, causing me to reach for the comfort of worldly things rather than reaching for the freedom that comes from forgiveness and allowing Jesus to be Lord of those issues. Well, friend, I'm excited to share that I have cleared out those cobwebs and storage boxes, and because of that freedom and forgiveness, God has been able to move on to this issue I'm describing today. It's all connected. All a part of the transforming process of sanctification in my life.

I know that I know that if I had initiated this thing in my own strength, for fleshly reasons, I would have failed like every other attempt. I would have chosen the world over righteousness every time. I would have found the solution to be complete depravity and torture.

Instead, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, in His timing and purpose for my life, I am finding freedom. Ease in following the right choices. Strength in knowing that my friends will hold me accountable. Rather than allowing them to ask me any surface question about any sin they see (flesh consequences) I am asking them to simply, but firmly, ask me if I have talked to God about that choice. I'm not claiming complete victory today, because I know that true victory will only occur through a lifechanging shift in thinking. A transformed mind. A long-term focus on God over everything else. Never looking back.

See, it's between me and God. You have your own things that He wants to cleanse from your soul and spirit. He will have something new for you and me once we are victoriously transformed in today's one thing, but until then, God will focus on this thing until we see it through.

I won't go into detail about my issue, because if I do, human nature will rise up and there will be a bunch of people who jump on the bandwagon, wanting to succeed in the same area - simply because they like the external changes they might see in my life. Well, if that happens, my testimony has failed.

My heart is to see you seek God and find out what is on HIS heart - not mine or even yours. Find out the area that He wants to work, and join Him there. Allow the truth of God's perfect will to carve out the sinful habits, denial and patterns of the world that have engulfed you - no matter what the issue is.

Then, dear friends, together we can truly praise God that He is giving us the desire and the power to pursue righteousness. We will find ourselves walking together on this path to holiness, steadfast in our resolve that we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Though He loves us all equally, He equally loves us right where we are. Not only where someone else is (thank God) or not only where we will someday be. But right here, right now, in the midst of our one thing - the thing He's had enough of, and wants to show you how to have freedom from.

Are you ready? Will you join me? Not on my quest, but on your own. Will you enter the greatest race of your life, grab the ticket God gives you, and come along side me as we press on towards the goal?

Flipping the Christmas Coin

Last week I had the opportunity to publish an article in the Huntsville Times. As a part of the writer team for the Life Points column of the Faith and Values section of the paper, I'm allowed to creatively share what makes Christianity so unique among a myriad of spiritual choices this world offers. Always weaving in the gospel, yet bringing out seasonal issues has become a niche for me in this column. I just love writing to my community about the passion I have for Jesus.

This article, of course, centers around Christmas. Instead of the usual manger description, I challenge readers to look at the holiday madness as a two sided coin. On one side is Santa and the dreams of good children. On the other is a manger scene, and the hope of salvation. Which will you choose?

The link is here: http://www.al.com/huntsvilletimes/stories/index.ssf?/base/living/1229076924195780.xml&coll=1

I'd love for you to read the article, and let me know what you think!

Have a wonderful, Christ-filled Christmas,

Jen