Climbing...

My life's journey is like rock climbing...

My ability and training allow me to climb well for the most part. However, Christ is my guide, my leader, in whom I follow behind and am tethered.

Naturally there are easy sections of the mountain where we cover a lot of ground easily, at a good pace, singing, talking. Other sections are a bit harder, so we're focused, concentrating - on occasion in our own zones. Still other sections are extremely dangerous and highly difficult. It's at these sections where just being tethered to Christ is not enough. At these sections it is impossible to get through without holding fast to Christ's hand!

The past few years, we've been working through a very difficult section of the mountain. We've gotten so high that we are enveloped in thick clouds... my view is very limited, at times I'm unable to see at all. Strangely there are these enormous flocks of birds and helicopters and planes circling so the noise is just insane.  I've lost my grip on Christs hand. I'm reaching for it... with the clouds I can't see and the noise is drowning out His voice. I'm beginning to panic... I can't see His hand.  I can't feel His hand. I can't hear His voice. I know He's there, I'm tethered to Him and the tether can never be severed. I know I am safe.  I know all is and will be well - regardless of this blind and deaf spot.  I've just lost my hold... I need to get it back in order to get through this section.

Guess it's like Peter (and the other disciples) when crossing the Sea of Galilee, a storm was brewing and suddenly Jesus is beside the boat. Peter is panicking - so He asks Peter to step out and come to Him... Peter does so. Peter is walking on water!... But then, he gets distracted by what's happening around him and loses sight of Jesus. He begins to sink... Jesus is still there, never left, telling Peter to stay focused to look at Him... but, Peter is still flailing - maybe he was sinking too much to focus, could only manage to concentrate on not drowning... so Jesus reaches out and pulls Peter to safety.

I'm distracted by all that's happening in my life right now. I'm sinking... I need to be pulled to safety, now...  ME OF LITTLE FAITH. Father, I believe... just help me with my unbelief. Help me grab hold again... Clear the clouds, let me see... Silence the noise so I can hear...

The good news is... He will.

Matthew 14:22...Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 

4 Work Habits That Are Making You Sick (& How to Stop Them)

Eating lunch at your desk, never taking a day off - these good-girl practices are actually bad for you, experts say.  Here's how to do better!

Scary but true: A batch of new research shows that the little routines women think make us superstar employees are actually risky for our health, says David Ballard, Psy.D., of the American Psychological Association.  

Please - break these four habits immediately!

1. SHOWING UP SICK

It has a name - presenteeism - and experts say it's an epidemic among women.  "We tend to say, 'Getting the job done is the most important thing. So I'll just ignore that I'm feeling like crap,'" says Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of A Happy You.  But pushing through an illness just means you may be sicker longer.  And never head to the office if you're running a fever or felling achy, "both signs that you may be contagious," says Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D., an internist in Anniston, Alabama.

2. SITTING STILL ALL DAY

Did you know that you burn an average of 124 fewer calories on the job every day than a woman in the 1960's would have?  Work just isn't as active. And staying glued to your chair all day is a recipe for health disaster.  It can lead to weight gain and raises your risk for heart disease and diabetes.  Try walking to coworkers' desks instead of emailing, suggests Toni Yancey, M.D., a health professor at UCLA. (And if it's 6:00 PM and you haven't moved since morning, consider some gym time on the way home.)

3. EATING AT YOUR DESK (my biggie, laurie)

In a recent study, people who were told to use a computer during lunch not only had trouble remembering what they'd eaten, but actually ended up eating about 125 calories more later in the day than those who didn't work through lunch. "If you don't pay attention to a meal, it's almost like it never happened," says Lisa R. Young, Ph.D., author of The Portion Teller Plan.  Don' let lunch amnesia happen to you!  Run outside to get something - or at least take 15 minutes to savor that sandwich.

4. BEING TOO PLUGGED IN

Fielding calls and emails after hours is more stressful to women than men, research shows, because we feel guiltier about being out of the office. Set boundaries about how much you'll be available.  "Otherwise, collegaues will note that you will email back at 9:00 P.M.," say Jessica LeRoy, clinical director of the Center for the Psychology of Women in L.A. "If you must write an email at night, consider saving it, and hit 'send' in the A.M.  

-  published in Sept 2011 Glamour Magazine by Nicci Micco

Care Less

Recently someone I love was extremely hurt, even felt betrayed by something I did. What I did was a general action. It was not directed toward this person or any persons. The relationship is restored, but a little strained at the moment.  I'm confident things will be back to normal soon. They always are as we love each other and always will... But in a closing statement this person said "I've learned, again, not to care so much."

I know that feeling well. Have uttered those words repeatedly through my life and have heard it uttered by many others.

But I got to thinking...  what an astronomically selfish statement:

“I have learned to care less.”  

“I shouldn’t care so much.” 

“I could care less.”  

I am making no judgments about people, myself included, who have made this statement. On the one hand it seems rational and even appropriate in situations of hurt and betrayal or even unreciprocated care.  It’s a very universal feeling and expression of the human experience.

Yet, that statement conjures up indifference, dismissal, judgment… even condemnation and unworthiness of/toward the other person. Often we are withholding ourselves from that person and exacting those feelings toward them without their knowledge.  Worse even… if we say those words out loud – to the person – then they now carry the weight of our rejection.  Even if we maintain relationship… that dismissal, that indifference remains a part of the dynamic.

On the other hand “to care about someone” by definition means displaying kindness toward, concern of or to make special preference for another; to be solicitous of; to have thought or regard for; to make provision or look out for.

Simply put… to care for someone is to love them.  It requires action/interaction/presence.  When we care, it means we have feelings that bind us to the other person. It means we want the best for them; we want them to be happy, to succeed and to not be in harm’s way or to fail.  It also means we wouldn’t do anything intentionally to hurt or sabotage them. To love/care means taking a risk; stepping out on that limb. It means accepting that we may and will get hurt on occasion.

“Caring for” is about the other person – not about us.  By saying "I should care less" we are saying that our priorities, our self-protection outweigh the relationship with the other person.

Don't get me wrong - there are circumstances in which the hurt/betrayal is a violation of ones being and continued contact or association is detrimental.  You can care less of those monsters/abusers… those violators.

But I'm talking about in the very human, fallible course of all relationships. The Good Book says the commandment that surpasses the law, which surpasses all commandments, is to love your neighbor as yourself.  In other words, we are to put others before ourselves.  So as believers, when it comes right down to it, we have no right, no authority to care less. We're certainly not to be doormats, but we are to always care. We are to always put others first. We are to care with every fiber of our beings… regardless.

The flippant and angrily said words “I’ve learned, again, to care less” said by this beloved person, left me far more hurt and cut to the quick, then they felt by my action.  Thank goodness, I know them well, their heart and intentions… my hurt was short lived.  No harm, no foul.

A Prayer about Our Restlessness and God’s Quieting Love

Zeph. 3:17

• He will quiet you by his love. English Standard Version
• He will rest in his love. American Standard Version
• He will be quiet in his love. New American Standard
• With his love, he will calm all your fears. New Living Translation
• The quietness of his love will calm you down. New International Readers Version
• He’ll calm you with his love. The Message
• He will renew you in his love. Revised Standard Version

     Dear heavenly Father, I am thankful for all the ways this one tiny portion of the your Word is transmitted from Hebrew to English.  For every one of these translations speaks to our restless state and your quieting love. As your people, we are so thankful that we can bring our fidgety, on edge, uncertain, confused, ambivalent hearts to you. For you welcome us; you understand us; you promise us peace.

     Father, for those of us living in the dis-ease of lingering guilt and paralyzing shame, bring the truth and grace of the gospel to bear in great power. We praise you that, because of what you’ve done for us in Jesus, you are completely at peace with us; we don’t have to be afraid of judgment. You are resting in your love towards us. We don’t have to cower in doubt or busy ourselves with penance. We’re not in a doghouse; we’re in your Son. Your brow isn’t furrowed, but your arms are outstretched.

     Father, for those of us off balance and out of kilter because of career confusion, unsettling providences or developing stories of unrest, let us hear you say loud and lovingly, “Be still and know that I am God.” Quiet us, Father. Center us, settle us. The only thing we want to do quickly is run to you. Show us the bigger picture of the story you are writing. Save us from our “need” to have all the answers right away. Spare us of trying to be, yet again, our own savior and deliverer.

     Father, for those of us reeling and wrenching in the face of heartbreaking news, calm us down with the quietness of your love. Hold us close and tight. For the unsettling medical diagnosis just received, be our peace. For feelings of “parent-failure” arising from another round of our kids making foolish choices, be our sanity. In response to “pink slips,” foreclosure threats, divorce papers, moral failures, addiction discoveries… harness our fears; quell our anger; be our wisdom; give us hope.

     For the occupied throne of heaven, the unsearchable riches of the gospel, the promise of sufficient grace and the certainty of our returning King, we give you great praise, Father. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ strong and loving name.

Scotty Smith

Pastor for Preaching

Christ Community Church

1215 Hillsboro Rd.

Franklin, TN  37069

615-468-2230 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            615-468-2230      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

posted: July 9, 2011 at 6:36am

It's good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9

A Prayer for a Friend Doubting the Faith

A Prayer for a Friend Doubting the Faith