I recently finished a book by Mark Batterson titled In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I started it early last semester, but when school got crazy, it got washed to the wayside. Well... I started it again and recently finished it. VERY good book. I would highly suggest it.
The book is based off of a passage of scripture from 2 Samuel 23:20-21 where Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Despite the slippery ground and snow, he caught and killed the lion. It is possibly one of the most courageous and yet somewhat audacious acts in scripture but is often passed over. Benaiah goes on to be chief of Solomon's army for his courage.
Batterson uses this passage of scripture to suggest that we all face lions on snowy days in our lives. However... to live the life that God has planned for us, there are times when we have to face the lions in our life and chase them. If God can do immeasurably more than we can ever imagine (Eph 3:20) , we have to trust that the God-sized risks He is calling us to are the path we need to take. Batterson suggests that when we take the time to look in the rear view mirror of life "you'll see that God has purposely positioned you everywhere you've been-- even when it seemed you'd taken a wrong turn." As I think back through my life... Gods hand has been in it all. Right there.... even when I felt like I had not only taken a wrong turn, but was totally off the map and path.
The following was posted on Mark's blog recently. He calls it the Lion Chaser's Manifesto. It has been resonating in me recently... maybe because its the new year, maybe because my life as I knew it changed recently... who knows and well... its really not important why. But... I hope that maybe you will find some sort of courage or strength to chase the lions God has put in your life as it has me.
"Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue god-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Criticize by creating. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion."
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Say....
"Have no fear for giving in, have no fear for giving over. You'd better know that in the end, its better to say too much then never say what you need to say again. Even if you hands are shaking, and your faith is broken, even as your eyes are closing, do it with a heart wide open... say what you need to say." - Say by John Mayer
So I have realized over the past 4 days one key thing that I think I knew and practiced before, but now realize how completely critical and important it is-- When times are good or bad, highs or lows-- no matter the situation, you have to say what is on your heart to be said. You only get one shot at life and often one shot at those hard conversations that seem so scary and overwhelming yet are the exact conversations that need to happen. I am not saying run out and be mean, harsh, or critical. Don't unleash your own hurt and pain on another person just for your own emotional jollies. Instead, really think through what your head, your gut, and your heart are saying... and take the time to really processes those feelings. Think through how you want to say it and exactly how things are said will affect the other person. BUT with careful thought and consideration, say what is on your heart to say... be nice about it, but real, honest and totally open. You just might be surprised and things just might go better than you had expected. Making that phone call or talking to that person face to face may be overwhelming, scary, and even seem impossible but in the end.... its better to have said what is on your heart to say and to have said "too much than never say what you need to say again...."
So I have realized over the past 4 days one key thing that I think I knew and practiced before, but now realize how completely critical and important it is-- When times are good or bad, highs or lows-- no matter the situation, you have to say what is on your heart to be said. You only get one shot at life and often one shot at those hard conversations that seem so scary and overwhelming yet are the exact conversations that need to happen. I am not saying run out and be mean, harsh, or critical. Don't unleash your own hurt and pain on another person just for your own emotional jollies. Instead, really think through what your head, your gut, and your heart are saying... and take the time to really processes those feelings. Think through how you want to say it and exactly how things are said will affect the other person. BUT with careful thought and consideration, say what is on your heart to say... be nice about it, but real, honest and totally open. You just might be surprised and things just might go better than you had expected. Making that phone call or talking to that person face to face may be overwhelming, scary, and even seem impossible but in the end.... its better to have said what is on your heart to say and to have said "too much than never say what you need to say again...."
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Relationships.....
I started this post a couple of weeks ago when I was having relationship issues... and now as I am in the midst of another relationship issue.... I am back at it.... a few things for singles out there. (mostly I write this because I find it helps me.... forces these things to the forefront of my brain when my heart is trying to get in the way.... I think I want my head to take control, but my heart is not giving up easily...)
1. "Be Focused -- I say this a lot when talking to single ladies…but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not settle. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do more than we could ever imagine…that’s HUGE! I have seen WAY too many ladies settle, hoping that they could “fix the dude up!” Ladies–God didn’t call you to fix him…only Christ can do that. If you are in Christ then you are the King’s daughter…and you do not need to settle for the boy who can’t accept responsibility…you need to wait for the man who is WILLING to fight for your heart." (by Perry Noble, and can be found here.) Let me add that YOUR HEART IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR! I promise! I struggle regularly with this fact, but it is worth fighting for and if he not fighting for it now while you are dating, he is not going to fight for it later either!
2- Don't get all emotional and stay mentally balanced. I struggle with this one like no other!! ( I care about people too much I think... I am already an emotional person and wear my heart on my sleeve.... I over analyze and think... etc.)
3- Be honest-- with your self and the person you are dating. If things are not going as you hope or think they should be willing to be real and honest and say it. If in your head and/or heart you know its not right, then be honest and say it. Holding your true feelings back and not being honest only leads to frustration, anger, hurt and contempt of the other person, when they may not even know they are doing anything wrong.
4. Be Consistent-- Be the same person you are when you are together as you when you are apart. Also be consistent over the course of the relationship... I have recently heard of the honeymoon phase of dating where, not to single guys out, but typically guys stop actively pursing the girl. Not acceptable-- GUYS... you are fighting for her heart... keep fighting for it even when you have won it. Dating the girl and pursing her never ends.... even if she is the one you marry. As perry says here..."Treat her the same no matter what–THAT is an issue of character."
5. Wait for the guy to pursue you....I struggle like no other with this one. I don't know a one girl out there who does not want to feel the love and attention of guy.... BUT.... "Girls chase boys while women wait to be pursued." Go check out that link... Perry nails that post with 4 things single girls should know. Single guys can check out THIS link to 5 things a single dude should know.
6. Break off the relationship when you know that is what you are supposed to do. This post on I/we should break up is the gut check many of people need. We are all guilty of staying in relationships longer than we should. We are guilty of trying to make the relationship work. But at some point we have to just say this is not God's will and end it. Its a hard step to make, but will make each of us better off in the long run.
Finally... a little recap that were some tweets that Shane Duffey did on advice for single people... just bullets... but a very good set of straight forward advice...
I know this post is full of links to Perry Noble's blog.... and though I don't always agree with Perry, his posts on relationships are always right on. Sometimes they make me feel empowered other times they make me feel guilty... BUT they are always helpful. I hope they help you too!
1. "Be Focused -- I say this a lot when talking to single ladies…but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not settle. The Bible says in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able to do more than we could ever imagine…that’s HUGE! I have seen WAY too many ladies settle, hoping that they could “fix the dude up!” Ladies–God didn’t call you to fix him…only Christ can do that. If you are in Christ then you are the King’s daughter…and you do not need to settle for the boy who can’t accept responsibility…you need to wait for the man who is WILLING to fight for your heart." (by Perry Noble, and can be found here.) Let me add that YOUR HEART IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR! I promise! I struggle regularly with this fact, but it is worth fighting for and if he not fighting for it now while you are dating, he is not going to fight for it later either!
2- Don't get all emotional and stay mentally balanced. I struggle with this one like no other!! ( I care about people too much I think... I am already an emotional person and wear my heart on my sleeve.... I over analyze and think... etc.)
3- Be honest-- with your self and the person you are dating. If things are not going as you hope or think they should be willing to be real and honest and say it. If in your head and/or heart you know its not right, then be honest and say it. Holding your true feelings back and not being honest only leads to frustration, anger, hurt and contempt of the other person, when they may not even know they are doing anything wrong.
4. Be Consistent-- Be the same person you are when you are together as you when you are apart. Also be consistent over the course of the relationship... I have recently heard of the honeymoon phase of dating where, not to single guys out, but typically guys stop actively pursing the girl. Not acceptable-- GUYS... you are fighting for her heart... keep fighting for it even when you have won it. Dating the girl and pursing her never ends.... even if she is the one you marry. As perry says here..."Treat her the same no matter what–THAT is an issue of character."
5. Wait for the guy to pursue you....I struggle like no other with this one. I don't know a one girl out there who does not want to feel the love and attention of guy.... BUT.... "Girls chase boys while women wait to be pursued." Go check out that link... Perry nails that post with 4 things single girls should know. Single guys can check out THIS link to 5 things a single dude should know.
6. Break off the relationship when you know that is what you are supposed to do. This post on I/we should break up is the gut check many of people need. We are all guilty of staying in relationships longer than we should. We are guilty of trying to make the relationship work. But at some point we have to just say this is not God's will and end it. Its a hard step to make, but will make each of us better off in the long run.
Finally... a little recap that were some tweets that Shane Duffey did on advice for single people... just bullets... but a very good set of straight forward advice...
I know this post is full of links to Perry Noble's blog.... and though I don't always agree with Perry, his posts on relationships are always right on. Sometimes they make me feel empowered other times they make me feel guilty... BUT they are always helpful. I hope they help you too!
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