What Does Easter Mean to You?

Easter in the Christian and other faiths is a very traditional and important time of the year.  Not only is it a time of reflection but it is also a time to pull aside and enjoy time with those you love and care for.

When I was a child, I can remember my mother dressing me and my brother up in our nice new clothes.  We were so shinny, a new penny did not have a chance when compared to us.  Even though I did not grasp the full concept of what it was all about, I did enjoy the isolated time with family and friends.  It seemed to me as if everyone was in a fantastic mood and the hugs abounded.  No one made a big deal of the fact that rabbits don't lay eggs…it was toooo cute to see all of those cute lil' people running around in search of those ever allusive eggs (the car ride home was not always fun with the aroma and all if you know what I mean).  

Therefore I always enjoy Easter, I mean what's not to love, here in the US it is Spring time, the children look soo cute, it's a celebration of the passover, Christ's death and resurrection.  The key focus for me has now transitioned from the activities I was involved in to the GIFT I am a recipient of!  When I think about the punishment that my actions warrant yet my debt says - PAID IN FULL!

What does Easter mean to you?  Have you allowed it to be a joyous reflection of the burdens you can let down and accept the gift of forgiveness?

 

 

When I'm afraid

Fear is a natural human response to a variety of situations.  Some situations we make out to be worse than they truly are.  When afraid many simply hunker down and wait for the thing which is causing the fear to pass.  This is a technique that I used often in times past.  I found that this was successful in some instances but not in most. 

Even with these experiences, my habits lead me to the same responses which in turn lead to more unresolved issues.  When I found myself beyond frustrated I would often have to take a hard look at the man in the mirror and admit that I had 'done it again'.  Done what you ask, the same thing I often did when I was afraid, use the same tools to handle the situation but somehow expected a uniquely different outcome.

Did I really expect a different outcome or was I just wildly hoping it would be different?  Once when I was younger I was with a close friend of mine, there were always dogs roaming free in our neighborhood.  In times past, I had always selected the option to run which meant a fun chase for the dog and another screaming from the top of my lungs experience for me! 

One day my dad saw me running fron a ~20 pound dog.  After laughing he told me to do the opposite of what my body was telling me to do because if I stood my ground I would be communicating to the dog that I too was willing to fight for my space.

Naturally the day came when my friend and I were faced with yet another dog delima. This time it was a snarling 80 pound brown & black German Shepard.  As the dog approached I remembered my dads words and  told my friend not to run.  My friend looked at me and then the dog and realized I could not protect him and so he raaaannnnn as fast as he could.  I stood there motionless but ready to sacrifice my 'weak' arm for the dog to tear into.

To my surprise the dog looked at me but ran straight past me after my friend who at this point was yelling at the top of his lungs looking for the nearest tree of fence.  This taught me that there are instances in life even though I am afraid, I have to seek other advice and be willing to stand up, fight and do something different.  I have had many experiences with dogs running at me since then and never have I ran.  Thus far it has worked but I imagine there may come a time when I need to rethink my methodology.

Are you at a place where you need to rethink the way you handle fear?


I John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us. (NKJV)

Blessings,
-d

P.s. My friend escaped without any harm

Hear My Cry

The baby cries at decibels I rarely hear, my insides churn but my external reaction remains one of control.  Am I not affected by these cries, just numb, simpmy indifferent and would rather not get involved?  Maybe it is a combination of these and others I haven't listed?

Either way, the baby continues to cry and the internal struggle continues.  Until, that is, I CHOOSE to act or not act.  If I were to act, what would I do?  It's not my child and I'm sure the parent(s) are in the process of reacting, but It's been 10 minutes...

The above is simply a realistic story I made up to illustrate the emotions I experience when I see those around me crying out for help in their own ways.  I encounter a legitimate delima whether to help or not and if so, how do I help.  Many of the situations we find ourselves faced with, we are not properly equipped to handle. So what do we do?

My response is often a combination of doing nothing, listening or providing help where I can.  I realize we cannot help everyone because not everyone wants to be helped. People cry for help in many different ways, some come out and say they need help, some show it through their choices, some try to bury it by being busy and I am sure their are others. Some situations call for 'tough love' and knowing where/how to set appropriate boundaries even though our hearts are wrenching. As I said earlier, we can not pretend to know the answer for all cries of help. What we can do is remember to pray for those around us who are in need of help, even if they don't want it.

Psa 39:12
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. (KJV)

Blessings,
-d

A Tough Conversation

Recently my wife and I embarked (yeah, I'm being sarcastic) upon a tough but necessary conversation.  At various times in our 15 years we have had these types of conversations where we both have been on the 'receiving' end.

This conversation like those of the past surrounded a sensitive subject which is why they are tough.  We have come to the place in our relationship where we tell each other (and accept) that these are tough but necessary conversations.  Just as important, we both know that when the conversation is done neither of our commitment levels to each other has changed.  We might be hurt, upset, disgusted, disappointed or clueless but to know that there is a deeper commitment seems to allow for a more open dialogue, with love as a guide light.

There are many times when I feel I am being chastened by my Heavenly Father & I simply want to sit on the sidelines pouting.  Then I am reminded that Proverbs 3:11-12 says;
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: 12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.(KJV)

So no different than God correcting us, we too need to correct one another. The key is that we do it with LOVE and not allow bitterness, hostility, anger, resentment or unforgiveness to serve as our guide(s).  The conversation my wife and I had was in love and good things came out of it.  What if for all the tough discussions we simply decided to allow frustration/anger to rule and just let it go?  I suggest to you that our relationship would never grow and we would simply enable behavior(s) that we shouldn't. 

Our caring and loving God is trying to do the same with you and I when He corrects us with one (or many) of those tough conversations.  The question is, will you put pride, bitterness & hurt aside to allow your relationship to grow?

Blessings,
-d

Challenging time of year

This time of year is truly a challenging one for me.  As hard as I try to let go of memories/emotions, I somehow come across a little storage reservoir that I did not know existed, at least that is what I tell myself.  Maybe that reservoir is me not wanting to let go because I have learned how to mask my true emotions surrounding this time.  Or maybe it is better for me to hold on to this reservoir so I do not have to face my true feelings and deal with the memories/emotions.

Then I get angry because I realize that I am simply lying to myself, I AM dealing with the memories/emotions.  The question is am I dealing with this in a way that I can find true healing or am I dragging this thing out wayyyy more than it has to be?  I am inclined to think the answer is the later of the two.  So what shall I do, I think I will follow some of my own advice I have written in the following blog entries - Determination, Hope Vs. Hopelessness, and my New Year entry.

With cases like this, it seems easier to write and talk about then actually work on.  Then I remember that, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."  Pray for me as I do the same for you, so that we all can enjoy the fruit of the Spirit.

Blessings,

-d

You are LOVED!

I have recently been reflective of how important it is for us to know that we have a place of acceptance and love.  All throughout life we are faced with different peer/societal pressures to do things so that others will accept us.  From the time we are children ostracizing other children so that we can be viewed as 'cool' up until we become adults and are led to believe that we are defined (and often confined) by how much money we make/have, where we live, what we do, who we marry, etc..  

The pull to belong and be loved is well documented and this desire has driven people to do some pretty awful things.  So why is it soo hard for people to freely show love to others?  I submit the following reasons (there are many more):

• Love was not shown in their home
• Loving people suggests you have to be vulnerable AND WEAK
• We have been hurt and the fear of being hurt again coupled with resentment will not allow us to come out of the cave we call safety
• We want others to feel bad or get REVENGE
• We do not want to waste our energy and take the risk because, "they have done this before"
• We get bad advice from someone else
• You add yours...

The inherit tragedy I see in these situations is that as we build walls to not let emotions out, we also keep love from coming in.  By always being on the defensive believing that others are not deserving or are out to get you can lead to us jumping to early conclusions and missing the true reason why people are showing love.  Of course there are people who are disingenuous but there are others who are genuine in there love for you.  I have found that it takes less energy and stress to simply be kind/loving and not worry about whether the individual is able to accept or appreciate the kindness/gift.  Does it bother me at times when people reject my gift, of course it does but that does not prevent me from continuing to try and be consistent regardless of their reactions.

I tell myself that I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CHOICES no matter what is provoking me.  I can assure you, I have been provoked!  When I get sobered up from my pity party, I realize that I too have provoked others, including my Lord.

He showed me love knowing full well that I would not be worthy of this gift and would throw it away on MANY occasions.  The more I reflect on His sacrifice the more I want to encourage others to try Him so they too can know they belong and are loved.  All they have to do is accept and open the gift, will you open the gift and at other times be the gift?  For you are loved!

I John 3:1 (NIV84) "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Blessings,
-d

We are expanding!

Hey everyone, just wanted to spread the good news that we are expanding to Twitter - @7Novus  Follow along and please tell others if you find encouragement from these writings.  More write-ups coming, just wanted to tell you all about the good news.

Blessings,
-d

http://twitter.com/7Novus