Mountain Tops and Stormy Seas

We've all experienced both - yes? And I suspect we all would vote for Mountain Tops over the Stormy Seas. But unless you've experienced the stormy seas.... how can you fully appreciate the mountain tops?

Probably definitions would be in order though I suspect we all have the same basic understanding of the two opposites. Mountain Tops are those times when 'all's right with the world', when everything is emotionally smooth. Mountain Tops are those times in our lives that we can recall, especially when the opposite condition occurs, that give us hope of return to those places. MT's are times of joy, of insight, of extreme well being and so many other emotions. But they are not the places we tend to live in - they are the times of encouragement.

Stormy Seas, on the other hand, are precisely what they say - stormy times. These are the low points in our lives when nothing seems right, nothing is 'going right' - when we seem to be in a dessert time spiritually. However, these are the times that define us - that show us and others exactly 'what we're made of'. I wouldn't trade these times ever because, for me, they marked times of growth. SS's seem to be times of testing, of discovering what we really do believe in and what price we're willing to pay.

While MT's are times of refreshing and we all need them, SS's are times of character building and we all need these too. Whichever state you are in, learn from it -that's the important point. No one can live in the rarefied air of MT's and no one can live in the tumult of SS's - we weren't created to do this. But we have been given the opportunity to experience both. I would suggest that no one lingers long in either but recognize that both will come into our living as we journey through life.

Stand

One of the scriptures that has seriously impacted me is found in Ephesians 6:10-20, especially verse 13. These are the scriptures that talk about putting on the whole armor of God and then describes each piece in that armor and the reason for its inclusion. Paul tells us what each piece of the armor is designed to do and how we should be using it.

It starts out in verse 10 by saying 'Finally...' To me that is indicating the end, the last instructions. Finally. After all has been said and done.... finally. Then in verse 13 he says, "... and having done all, to stand." This is what caught my eye. You have the armor on, you are withstanding against the forces of evil and now.... you stand. What an incredible image!

We are instructed to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. We are to be strong but the power is in Him - we don't need to be powerful on our own. And then Paul begins to talk about standing and identifying our enemies - not flesh and blood. Our war is against a much more insidious enemy. But we are equipped.

When Paul describes the armor, to me it pictures a person who is/has: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, the shield of faith, salvation, and the Word. And if you notice, these pieces of the armor cover all the vulnerable spots. With such an arsenal and with such protection we are more than prepared. Therefore, all we need do is..... stand.

Confidence

Confidence is not arrogance. And confidence is not superiority. Confidence is a deep seated knowledge about who one is and the depth of conviction about what is being discussed. You do need both existing for confidence to display itself otherwise one can be interpreted as arrogant.

One test as to whether you are confident or arrogant is how you respond to views opposite to your own, even deeply held beliefs. If you react violently (not physical) to an opposition then you need to ask yourself why. Are you 'defending' your position? Especially in areas that you feel strongly about you need to be able to listen to the opposing view. Why? Because this helps you refine or solidify your belief.

Attacking an opposing view before it's been stated is the typical reaction. We've all witnessed that behavior innumerable times. IF, and duly note the word, IF my intent is to influence someone else of my position then yelling or cutting them off will never work. No one can listen to another's view if they don't feel that they've been heard.

If I believe in the validity of my position then an opposing view is not threatening. It's a time for... "Come, let us reason together..." And if the other person's approach is to cut you off or yelling, you don't have to respond in kind. Once there is a moment of silence you can ask them if they really want to discuss this or not. If they are in the 'or not' category then there is nothing you can do to provide an opposing view.

Always ask yourself the question - what is the purpose in this. If it's only to exercise your lung power then it's an issue of who can shout the loudest. If it's to listen to another's message and provide your own then it's your responsibility to provide the climate in which this can occur. Actually the question really is.... are you confident?

Obey.... or not???

Do you argue with God. Of course you do! We all do. The question really is.... after you've argued what do you do? Do you follow what God is telling you to do or continue in disobedience? It really is either/or and it can't be both/and.

Sometimes we use the...'is it me or is it God' as the basis for not doing something. It is rarely used as a 'to do'. Sometimes the hesitation is legitimate - not really certain but not in a disobedient way. Again the same question - do you follow God or not?

I'm a great proponent of, "...come let us reason together..." which could be viewed as a delaying tactic. It isn't, at least that's not my intent. It's a 'let's be sure' tactic. The 'I'm not equipped or prepared for...' doesn't work. Scripture clearly states that He would never ask us to do something we aren't able to. And it states that He always equips His people for the task at hand.

Have you asked yourself why you are hesitating? Is it pride that's stopping you - potentially looking foolish? Are you self conscious? Is the request out of your comfort zone? Do you really believe that if you were asked to do something you'd get some kind of 'sign' that would confirm? Signs are not the issue. Why are you unwilling to do what is requested? For each of us, the answers vary but inevitably we have to consider and then act on what we decide.

So eventually one comes to the bottom line - obey or not. While we may have misgivings about doing a thing, the issue is never one of our inability - merely our willingness. And while it shouldn't be, obedience should never be at issue. Obviously we tend not to look at it in this light but after you cut away all the attending issues/questions - it is. Obey? or not???

Content

For me, 'content' is on a continuum from not very to very. And it slides up and down the scale never quite reaching either. I know that Paul tells us that we should be content but I also think we need to define the word. 'Content' is aligned with accepting but in both cases positively viewed not a resignation.

There is something distasteful about giving up so if content is something we should attain then it can't be through this method. It isn't giving up or giving in.... it isn't a consolation prize. Content is mildly pleased, it really isn't an emotion/state that causes great exuberance and equally important, it isn't a stationary position. And my definition includes a provision for issue specific. You can be content in one area of your life and not very in a different area.

Paul talks about that he has learned to be content. Learned. Which means that this wasn't a natural state for him either and that it is a learned condition. Paul is talking specifically about need when he says: "... for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content..." (Philippians 4:11). So if Paul can learn, so can we.

Earlier Paul gives us some guidance on how to attain 'content': ",,, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these thing." (Philippians 4:8) One really can't meditate on those things and grumble at the same time.

Being content does give us a mindset of peace and in that state we can move forward. Content is not a place of no movement, it is a place to rest and reflect in order to move proactively.

Walk

One of the more 'popular' words in scripture is 'walk'. And rather than leaving the word open to definition, scripture defines and discusses it many times and in a variety of books. In Ephesians 4:1 we are told to, "...walk worthy of the calling..." Colossians 1:10 tells us to: "...walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him..." And these are only 2 examples.

If scripture is as interested as it is in how we walk, then we should be too. Another reality is that if we call ourselves 'Christian' then we need to model this behavior. It's important to remember that we are no longer our own... we were bought by a tremendous price so it's our responsibility to be pleasing. We need to walk worthy.

But what is walking worthy? How are we to walk? Scripture talks to us constantly about this. Simplistically, we need to walk in love, speaking truth in love. We need to love God first and foremost and then we need to follow the simple command to love others as we love ourselves. I believe a worthy walk is a loving walk.

Walking in love is NOT becoming someone else's doormat. Nowhere does scripture admonish us to do that. But we don't hit people over the head either. To walk means to walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), we walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). And these are only some of the descriptions.

Walking is a full time focus requiring all our concentration and dedication. But it is a do-able. If it weren't we wouldn't be asked to do it.

What is required....

When you look into scripture you find that the Lord does have some requirements for us. But they really aren't difficult, actually they are quite simple: "... to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." What I find amazing is that we have to be told them in the first place.

But what do those 3 requirements mean? 'to do justly'... Just means right or fair, correct or true - righteous. Now we see the full impact of the word. We are to be right and fair in our dealings with others. We are not to only look out for our own best interests when we interact - we are to be fair to the other person as well as ourselves. We are to be righteous. If you remember the definition it means to be in right standing. These words do dictate how we are to act and who we are to be.

'to love mercy'... In its simplest definition, mercy means: a refraining from harming, a disposition to forgive or be kind. And this is what we are to love. Mercy may conjure up a picture of a benevolent you dispensing your favor. But it is incredibly more. A disposition to forgive is a mindset that controls and dictates your words and actions.

'and to walk humbly with your God.' We really aren't particularly good at 'humble'. There's false humility, of course, but that's far from this. I suspect the word, humble, has a negative connotation depicting obsequious behavior. This is not what humble means. Again, in its simplest form, I think to walk humble is to acknowledge who God is and who you are in relation to Him.

The Case For Pride

Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, Your Honor: You've all heard the charges against Pride, which we have not disputed. You've also heard the sorry results of following after pride. Again, there is no defense except to say that it is always a willfull act to follow after. Pride may be guilty of enticement but it is always a choice to act, to follow.

This is the sentencing phase of the trial against Pride and Pride would like for me to state some mitigating factors in his defense. The first issue is: why is it so bad to have pride? You parents, when your child achieves a good grade or shows athletic prowess, aren't you proud of them? Don't you tell them? And when you've accomplished a goal isn't there some pride lurking around your emotions? Of course!

Isn't the real issue in this case not the 'badness' of Pride but the inability or lack of desire by others to qualify and quantify pride? Pride would contend that others misuse pride to their detriment, at least his blame should be mitigated. Yes?
......
There are some positive 'attributes' to pride but the scare about pride has contributed to the
distrust. I would contend that pride used in moderation allows us to express our feelings of success for ourselves and for others. It's when this pride finds itself expressed in feelings of superiority that we start to have problems.

I always remember the look on my parents faces when I achieved something and this was something that motivated me to work hard to see that expression again. That's not a misuse of pride. And my expression mirrored theirs. To me, that's a positive use of pride.

Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Pride is/can be detrimental to ourselves and in its expression - to others. But it can also be a positive motivator - it's all in how it's used.

PRIDE!!!

It is with a great deal of hesitancy that I even broach this topic. We all know the admonition about 'pride goeth before a fall'. And this is accurate but.... I also think the word's gotten a bad rap.

While we avoid saying the word, we substitute in order to express our feelings - we say we are pleased rather than saying we are proud, even when it comes to the accomplishments of others. (We certainly don't want to induce pride in the hearts and minds of others.!) But 'pleased' can be such a wimpy word - it really never expresses depth of feeling.

I'm not going to recite all the definitions and examples about the bad effects of pride. We all know them extremely well, they are legend. And they are true - remember, they are true. However, is there a 'case' for pride? Is pride ever positive? Is it possible to have pride but not have pride have you?

My parents were really quite wise in how they raised us, their children. They always demonstrated their pride in us when we accomplished something. And in that process allowed us to feel - no, not superior - that we had succeeded. I think, consciously or not, they modeled a positive way to express pride. Pride does not have to be a stumbling stone.

I'd like to present the case for pride.

Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury: this is the sentencing phase of the trial against pride. You've found him guilty and now must decide his fate. Up to this point the case against pride was open and shut - we did not present a case because it is more than obvious the destruction pride can cause. But.... is there any case for pride? I think there is.

Plan B

You do know what 'Plan B' is - yes? That's when Plan A doesn't work or no longer works and now you have to shift gears. Sooooo... do you have a 'Plan B'? And I'm not just talking about money - yes that's an important consideration but it's not the only area you need to have your Backup available.

Many people, to their own potential destruction, wait until the eleventh hour to quickly devise a Plan B. Not wise. Most of the time Plan B's require more preparation then A's. You need to have backup plans prepared in advance for any possible negative contingency that would strike your current plan.

I'm an options planner so I typically always have a Plan B in some stage of formation available for Plan A's 'failure'. I tend to look at ramification from doing and from not doing a particular action. Then again, I am a tad of a detail type so it 'comes naturally'. And yes, that means I have a C and D lurking somewhere in the background.... just in case.

But, there is one area in which I have absolutely no Plan B. In fact I have discarded any and all options to the Plan A because before adopting Plan A I considered all the options but found them lacking. The area? My religious stand. Simply - I am a Christian.

Don't like using the word 'religious' since it has such a negative connotation but that's what it is. Then it dawned on me that the word didn't always have such a connotation. It's come about through 'political correctness' and people misusing the word. I make absolutely no excuse for my stand. In fact I am very pleased to be able to state this.

Bottom line: if you are a Christian you really don't need a Plan B. Actually there isn't any.

Covenant

We in the West really don't have the correct appreciation, understanding and definition of this word. A covenant is more than just a 'contract'. Contracts can be broken - covenants aren't. Viewed in that light, covenants aren't entered into lightly. Covenants still are used by people in the East and last from generation to generation.

Looking at 'contracts' we see that they are extremely detailed - every dot and tittle. Nothing is left to chance. We make sure every eventuality is covered: who is responsible, for what in every contingency under the sun. My contention would be that the major reason for this is trust. No one really trusts the individual they are contracting with to fulfill the intent and purpose for the relationship - and this is from both sides.

Years ago an agreement was typically verbal and sealed with a handshake. Then again, you typically knew who you were dealing with and knew if they would keep their word. This is closer to the spirit of a covenant.

Covenants are serious and are entered into very seriously. The model for covenants is found in scripture. This is where we find that it typically is the stronger making a covenant with a weaker person and the covenant covers most of the critical components of life.

The first covenant in scripture is found in the first book of the Bible and was used by God to protect Adam and Eve. What we really need to appreciate is that this bound God to keep His word more than it was an act by Adam and Eve. And God did this to promote confidence by His creation that though they had grievously sinned, He was still with them.

Covenants are the foundation in our relationship to/with God. Do you know your responsibility in relation to this? Do you understand your privileges? Covenants always entail responsibility and privilege and provide the foundation for a fruitful life.

Unspoken Expectations

Expectation is really a two-edged sword. Expectations, from yourself, from others can be extremely debilitating because they are beyond your ability to accomplish. And they can be motivating, giving a sense of accomplishment.

The one critical component in expectations is the knowledge that they are even there. That may sound strange but it isn't. Often there are those unspoken expectations, basically from others. And when we don't fulfill them we reap the results from others without really knowing why. However, we also have unspoken expectations - for others, for ourselves.

It is the unspoken expectations that prove to be frustrating. How can you fulfill something you don't even know? If you do - it's by 'chance', and if you don't- you disappoint. In either case you really have little control, influence in this situation. While it is impossible to control other people's unspoken expectations, you can control your own. This requires you taking a hard analysis of what happened that indicated you didn't fulfill what you should have. Was your expectation of yourself even realistic?

Unspoken expectations are rarely motivational for the simple fact that any knowledge occurs after the fact rather than before - thus not the basis for action. What needs to occur in these situations is to confront them. If it comes from someone else you need to show them that lack of knowledge is no basis for judgment. If it comes from yourself - you need to do precisely the same thing.

It IS more than just a feeling.....

To dismiss what you are feeling as... it's only a feeling, diminishes the words only. It never touches the reality of the feeling. First and foremost: it is OK to feel what you are feeling. It is not OK to blame others for your what/how/why feelings. The feelings are yours. And it is not OK to stay in the feeling and wallow.

That said, feelings are far more powerful and pervasive than a momentary, fleeting... feeling. How you are feeling this precise moment colors how you see this precise moment. And to not allow expression of the feeling never works. Disguising how you feel doesn't work either. In both cases, if you push the feeling down it seems to seep out the edges and make itself known - often with destructive results.

So what are you to do about feelings? Own them. And after a short period of time, analyze them: what caused the feeling, what caused the feeling in the past, how do you cope with the feeling, how do you move beyond the feeling, who caused the feeling - you and/or your reaction and to what or another person, when did you become aware of the feeling, etc. Does this diminish the feeling? Absolutely not - but it identifies it and in that process lessens its control.

Feeling do control us - whether or not we acknowledge this. One question is: not if, but how do they then dictate our behavior? This really becomes the overriding issue - our behavior. How do we express our feelings without being controlled by them? How/what you feel is really more that just a feeling..........

Is it only a feeling???

Do you know what makes you happy? Sad? Joyful? Despondent? I would argue that it is extremely important to know this (and for the other emotions) because without this knowledge you are mired in the emotion. Mired is really not a good thing, even when the emotion/feeling is happiness or some other positive.

It is only by knowing what events, activities, words, ... that precipitate our response that we are able to overcome the negative and enhance the positive. We all need to be able to do this because in both cases we can become mired and we won't grow, move on. Too much of a good thing can be just as stifling as too much of a bad thing. What do you need to move on?

I believe that the first thing that's necessary in the moving on process is to realize that, either positive or negative, what you are feeling is really more than just a feeling. Or, at least the impacts from the feeling are more than just a feeling. Feelings are important - they give us a plethora of information, when we're ready to realize this.

Feelings color our world at that moment with how we are viewing other aspects of our world. They impact how we process other 'things' because feelings are quite powerful. Recognizing this fact is only the beginning, but it is the beginning. How we express these feelings also impacts our current reality. Those around us also 'read' our expressing, even when we don't say a word.

Feelings are like a pebble thrown into water. You can see the effect in the ever widening ripples. Do you see your ripples? Are you aware that your ripples impact others - positively and negatively? And recognize too that you really never successfully disguise your feelings.

Clinging to past 'what if'....

Are your 'what if's' in the past or for the future? Do you cling to the past and 'what might have been'? Or are your what if's option thinking for the future? It really does make a difference. And your experience with previous what if's do tend to mark your attitude for future what if's.

For me, the 'what if's' in life go along with my approach to decision making - option planning. I do focus on options and their ramification. Actually it's a behavior that I quite enjoy because it is mind sharpening. What if''s are creative problem solving. Do remember that you use what if's to generate alternatives for your current issue/problem/assignment/etc.

What if's should never be viewed as... if only's. We sabotage ourselves with if only's. And actually, unless it is possible to go back to square one and start again, the dynamics have undoubtedly changed and it's necessary to look at the situation with new eyes. As has been said often, the only constant is change so look at what has changed and how the situation looks now.

Your experience with past what if's do tend to influence how you look at current what if's. But again, don't let previous experience make you wary (when you've had a negative experience) or cocky (if you've had a good experience). What if's is a tool, a way of looking at life and determining the next steps.

Vices

Ugly word. The word even sounds evil. Granted the fact of the definition associated with the word gives the basis for a negative feeling, however it obvious isn't something we should encourage. Webster defines vice: an evil action or habit, evil conduct. And we all have them.... Regardless, no matter the number, we should attempt to overcome them and not enhance them. And never excuse them!

Vices tend to multiply. One vice seems to invite another vice but the second is far worst than the first and together they can seem to be invinsible. They're not! But when we don't deal with the first we do promote our destruction. A vice is not a cute little imp to be encouraged - it needs to be viciously pulled out and destroyed.

What do we do with our vices? Most people attempt to hide them rather than overcome them. Obviously this speaks to the fact that we really are embarrassed by them, and perhaps even ashamed. However we also are taking the easy way out if our response to them is to hide them. Overcoming takes effort, takes vigilance, takes commitment - but we can be victorious over vices. Since they are habit based, we need to realize that they won't go easily.

While I would argue that we really can't fully overcome them alone since I believe we need to have the help of the Lord, we do need to exercise our will power. Overcoming, I believe, is a partnership of our will and the Lord's grace. But we are able to be victorious - actually scripture promises this.

Plant... Water... Harvest

In scripture we are admonished to be 'instant... in season and out...' while this can be applied in a variety of settings, I find it especially applicable in sharing the Word. We really don't know where another person may be in the continuum of being aware of the need for accepting the Lord. I suspect that's why the agricultural analogy is used because we all can understand the phases of plant life from sowing to harvesting.

We need to be able to plant a seed.... then we need to be able to tend the seed (water).... and lastly we need to be able to harvest. But what we also need to appreciate is that the seed isn't ours. Did you understand that? Actually it took me awhile to really understand this when it came to sharing life in Christ.

People are in various stages on the continuum thus it becomes very important for us to be instant. It won't work to try and harvest when no seed has been planted. Perhaps I'm ahead of myself. The seed isn't the person, the seed is the Word. We need to be able to seed in other's lives. This requires us to have the seed planted in ourselves. We need to share what's in us.

However, it is equally important to understand where the seed is in the other person. You may be watering, like with your experience, your life in Christ. Or the person may be watered and the plant is breaking through the earth and you have the joy of leading the person to accepting and be harvesting.

What I find totally incredible is that the Lord chooses to work with us, through us to touch the lives that are around us. We have the great joy of either seeding... or watering... or harvesting.

Be not weary....

The scripture reads, "Be not weary in well doing for you shall reap if you faint not..." Not certain which are the most important words in that phrase. Some will glomb onto 'reap' because we all like the implication from that word. And reap really is a most positive word - and a word that is hope driven.

We all like to be rewarded for our efforts and reap implies this. However, there's also the first half of the phrase to contend with. And that is where the rubber meets the road. So often we do get weary of continuing on. Then we get into doubt - should this be what we should be doing? Did we make the wrong decision? Should we cut our losses? All of those types of thoughts emerge when we're in the 'be not weary' stage.

So how long should we contend with the 'be not weary' stage? Obviously the answer varies depending on the issue, the importance of the eventual reaping, our own impatience, our own doubts, etc. Unfortunately, at least for me, I tend to 'get out' before I should, just shy of the reaping point.

While we don't 'want to go down with the ship', when we find ourselves in a questioning position on what we're doing - we should, if possible, stand back from it and attempt to, as dispassionately as possible, analyze. Given the information, goal we started with - would we have made the decision we did? Is the prize still worth the effort? If so... then keep on keeping on.

Keeping on really is a statement to your personal commitment and your level of valuing. Is the eventual reaping worth the current reality? Only you know if you will be not weary...