I was sitting at my laptop this afternoon as the cursor flashed on the white screen for today's blog. I usually try to blog earlier in the day if possible, but this Monday didn't go exactly like I planned. Shocker! I wasn't sure about where I wanted to go with my Monday blog. Then Ridley called. He asked me to read his blog and wanted my permission to share. His blog wasn't pretty, but it was real. That has been our prayer together since we married. We want God to use our story. I don't mean just the part that we have both overcome to get to this point, but the story that God continues to write. There are parts we would like to erase, but life is messy. Life is also real. There is a real need to love people and a real need for hope that can only come in a real relationship with Jesus. If you make that your ministry, then there is sure to be a real enemy.
While riding home together after church yesterday, I told Ridley that the warfare has been heavy this past week. ( I think he already knew that). Ridley Barron Ministries is about to pick up with traveling again, we are leading a marriage conference coming up, Ridley is preaching on the book Radical, and I am lining up my schedule for speaking at women's events for the spring. So I joked and said, "You would think you are Billy Graham or something with all this warfare." Ha ha!
Anyway, here is Ridley's blog. If we are praying to remain real, then here it is.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Shiny Love
Each day we are encouraged to start with a daily devotional. We hear those words and think of our grandmother's Guidepost or Chicken Soup For The Soul that is in her guest bathroom. This morning I looked up the word "devotion" to see exactly how it would be described. I found "ardent love" and "commitment to some purpose". So then I looked up ardent. I found "glowing or shining like fire". Shining Love. I like that, but let's be honest, our love is not always so shiny.
Each year, Ridley and I pick out a devotional book to read together to start our day in God's Word and in prayer. Picking out the book is a process that we do together. I love that Ridley doesn't walk into Lifeway Bookstore, pick up the first book he sees and then bolts to the checkout. He scans the pages, checks out the author, asks me my opinion and we both have to feel it is a good selection. We have had some great books and some interesting ones. This year, I was a little surprised that we have both chosen the devotional book that goes along with The Love Dare. I admit, I wondered if I would be challenged much because I love my husband dearly and seriously, it is 365 days of LOVE. Then the Holy Spirit does what He does best and gets ALL in my business and it is just January 20th. This devotional book has already given me new eyes to see love in new ways and not just in my marriage.
The world screams, "Love if you feel like it". "Love if he or she pays attention to you". "Love if they look like you". "Love if they make you feel comfortable". "Love if they have money". In the Bible, John 13 paints this beautiful picture of Jesus having one last meal and intimate moment with His disciples. In an effort to show "shiny love", He washes the disciples feet. Do you understand the love behind that gesture? That was normally a servant's job. Not to mention there were probably some dusty, nasty, feet in desperate need of some exfoliation. Jesus chose in that moment to teach humility and service. Then in verse 34 Jesus says, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Notice He said, "you must".
Let's face it....life gives us plenty of opportunities to be offended. I just read in one of my email devotionals that being offended is a choice. Not an easy one, but we are encouraged in Proverbs 19:11 when we read, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his GLORY is to OVERLOOK a transgression.” I love the choice of the word "overlook". It doesn't mean pretend it isn't there. It doesn't mean it will feel good. It simply challenges me (us) to look past it and to show "shiny love". It becomes a teachable moment when we take difficulties and make them opportunities. That is truly being the "hands and feet (dirt and all)" of Jesus. He did it first, so it should be our devotion to make it our turn.
Silly me, to think my love didn't need any polishing! Be shiny today.
Each year, Ridley and I pick out a devotional book to read together to start our day in God's Word and in prayer. Picking out the book is a process that we do together. I love that Ridley doesn't walk into Lifeway Bookstore, pick up the first book he sees and then bolts to the checkout. He scans the pages, checks out the author, asks me my opinion and we both have to feel it is a good selection. We have had some great books and some interesting ones. This year, I was a little surprised that we have both chosen the devotional book that goes along with The Love Dare. I admit, I wondered if I would be challenged much because I love my husband dearly and seriously, it is 365 days of LOVE. Then the Holy Spirit does what He does best and gets ALL in my business and it is just January 20th. This devotional book has already given me new eyes to see love in new ways and not just in my marriage.
The world screams, "Love if you feel like it". "Love if he or she pays attention to you". "Love if they look like you". "Love if they make you feel comfortable". "Love if they have money". In the Bible, John 13 paints this beautiful picture of Jesus having one last meal and intimate moment with His disciples. In an effort to show "shiny love", He washes the disciples feet. Do you understand the love behind that gesture? That was normally a servant's job. Not to mention there were probably some dusty, nasty, feet in desperate need of some exfoliation. Jesus chose in that moment to teach humility and service. Then in verse 34 Jesus says, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Notice He said, "you must".
Let's face it....life gives us plenty of opportunities to be offended. I just read in one of my email devotionals that being offended is a choice. Not an easy one, but we are encouraged in Proverbs 19:11 when we read, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his GLORY is to OVERLOOK a transgression.” I love the choice of the word "overlook". It doesn't mean pretend it isn't there. It doesn't mean it will feel good. It simply challenges me (us) to look past it and to show "shiny love". It becomes a teachable moment when we take difficulties and make them opportunities. That is truly being the "hands and feet (dirt and all)" of Jesus. He did it first, so it should be our devotion to make it our turn.
Silly me, to think my love didn't need any polishing! Be shiny today.
Monday, January 17, 2011
So I am asking
Happy Monday to all of you. I am feeling the overflow of our sermon from yesterday as we are being challenged to be totally RADICAL in our thinking, our loving, our serving, and our surrendering. On a personal note, Ridley and I have started doing an herbal cleanse program to get the holiday junk out of our bodies and to start "clean" for the new year. We are on day eleven of the twenty four day program and I can't believe how great I feel. I also love the fact that we are doing this during our Radical series at church. We didn't plan it that way, but as we get back to foods that are in their natural state, we are realizing the things that we can really do without and feel better. Is it always easy? NO! However, we both see the benefits. This series at church is challenging us along the same lines in our everyday life. What can we really do without if we trust God fully?
In yesterday's sermon we were reminded that God didn't create us just for ourselves. Shocker! He created us to use us to reach others for His glory. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing. We are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. The Bible reminds us time and time again that it is not about us. It is easy to get wrapped up in the selfish perspectives of Christianity that He died for ME and He will forgive MY sins. Those are true statements but He didn't do that so we could be self centered with His grace. It is so we can share that grace and expand His glory.
I firmly believe that prayer is the first step to unselfishness. When our hearts are so burdened for each other to a point of prayer, there is an amazing power that is unleashed as we desperately pray for one another... believing.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18) ALL occasions and ALL kinds of prayers and request. Nothing is too small or too big.
The blog post that I have gotten the most response from was one last year where I asked how I could pray for you. I was overwhelmed and honored with your request. I didn't take those request lightly. They frame my bathroom mirror and they don't come down until God has answered. Yesterday, I pulled three request off my mirror and I praise God for those answers.
So, I am asking again. I want my mirror full because I believe in the power of prayer. I don't care how little or how big your request is. It matters to me and more importantly, it matters to God. He has an answer, but He may be waiting for us to ask. If you shared a request last time, then please update me so I can be specific. If you have shared with me at some point in passing, please respond anyway so I can fully understand your specific desire. You may do that in response to this blog, you may email me privately at lisa@lisadbarron.com or you can send me a Facebook message.
I may not know you personally, but I care about you and I want to show you how much Jesus cares for you and loves you. "For ALL the Lord's people." That means you!
I look forward to praying for you....believing.
In yesterday's sermon we were reminded that God didn't create us just for ourselves. Shocker! He created us to use us to reach others for His glory. We are blessed so that we can be a blessing. We are here to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others. The Bible reminds us time and time again that it is not about us. It is easy to get wrapped up in the selfish perspectives of Christianity that He died for ME and He will forgive MY sins. Those are true statements but He didn't do that so we could be self centered with His grace. It is so we can share that grace and expand His glory.
I firmly believe that prayer is the first step to unselfishness. When our hearts are so burdened for each other to a point of prayer, there is an amazing power that is unleashed as we desperately pray for one another... believing.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (Ephesians 6:18) ALL occasions and ALL kinds of prayers and request. Nothing is too small or too big.
The blog post that I have gotten the most response from was one last year where I asked how I could pray for you. I was overwhelmed and honored with your request. I didn't take those request lightly. They frame my bathroom mirror and they don't come down until God has answered. Yesterday, I pulled three request off my mirror and I praise God for those answers.
So, I am asking again. I want my mirror full because I believe in the power of prayer. I don't care how little or how big your request is. It matters to me and more importantly, it matters to God. He has an answer, but He may be waiting for us to ask. If you shared a request last time, then please update me so I can be specific. If you have shared with me at some point in passing, please respond anyway so I can fully understand your specific desire. You may do that in response to this blog, you may email me privately at lisa@lisadbarron.com or you can send me a Facebook message.
I may not know you personally, but I care about you and I want to show you how much Jesus cares for you and loves you. "For ALL the Lord's people." That means you!
I look forward to praying for you....believing.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
My Christmas Gift
From some of my previous post, you may know that Ridley and I did Christmas gifts to each other different this year. We were to take the money we allocated for each other and donate it somewhere in honor of one another. It was a secret until Christmas morning. Both of us wrapped what we came up with so we would have a surprise to open on Christmas.
So much thought went into searching and finding the perfect gift. Narrowing it down was the hard part. I went from excited, to nervous, to panicky (as I ran out of time), to peaceful, back to excited and then.....
Christmas morning came around. We lit a family candle, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and the unwrapping began. As we shared the morning with my parents, I began to pace myself on the unwrapping. At one point it felt odd that I didn't have all my usual little "love-on-you's" under the tree for Ridley. I love finding sweet surprises for him. The smiles and the gasp are priceless.
After all the gifts were unwrapped, we exchanged our gifts.
I went first. A sheet of paper was rolled up in a large plastic drinking cup with a red bow on it. At first glance, I thought Ridley's wrapping job was a last minute thing. You know....run to the kitchen, grab a cup and slap a bow on it. Then I began to read the papers. He had picked out verses about water. I read through all the verses as my heart began to race. I obviously knew water had something to do with it, but I couldn't figure out what the end result was going to be. After the verses, Ridley wrote that he knew "how much I loved my water". Ahhhhh.... the cup. There was a gift card to Living Water International. They were founded in 1990 to help provide clean water all around the world. They have completed more than 9,000 water wells and projects. Americans spend $500 billion on Christmas and just 2 percent of that would cut the world water crisis in half.
I was able to take my gift card, log onto the website and select certain projects across the globe that I could contribute to. People in the Amazons who don't name their babies until the child's first birthday because three out of five don't live that long. The elderly people in poverty stricken hospitals that can't recover because clean water is hard to find. The list goes on. In Matthew 25 when Jesus lists what's really important, water for the thirsty is at the top of the list.
Tears ran down my cheek as I thought about how perfect Ridley did in selecting something near and dear to my heart. I cried for the many people that my gift wouldn't be able to impact. I cried over my selfishness and I cried over the idea of what Jesus thought about his birthday gifts. It was a Christmas to remember for me. I have thought a lot about it off and on since December 25th. Today was one of those days as I read about the woman at the well. I have been just like that woman at the well. I have made the poor choices. I have also been redeemed and loved on by a Jesus that washes away our sin, when we ask.
Living Water.....the perfect gift.
So much thought went into searching and finding the perfect gift. Narrowing it down was the hard part. I went from excited, to nervous, to panicky (as I ran out of time), to peaceful, back to excited and then.....
Christmas morning came around. We lit a family candle, sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and the unwrapping began. As we shared the morning with my parents, I began to pace myself on the unwrapping. At one point it felt odd that I didn't have all my usual little "love-on-you's" under the tree for Ridley. I love finding sweet surprises for him. The smiles and the gasp are priceless.
After all the gifts were unwrapped, we exchanged our gifts.
I went first. A sheet of paper was rolled up in a large plastic drinking cup with a red bow on it. At first glance, I thought Ridley's wrapping job was a last minute thing. You know....run to the kitchen, grab a cup and slap a bow on it. Then I began to read the papers. He had picked out verses about water. I read through all the verses as my heart began to race. I obviously knew water had something to do with it, but I couldn't figure out what the end result was going to be. After the verses, Ridley wrote that he knew "how much I loved my water". Ahhhhh.... the cup. There was a gift card to Living Water International. They were founded in 1990 to help provide clean water all around the world. They have completed more than 9,000 water wells and projects. Americans spend $500 billion on Christmas and just 2 percent of that would cut the world water crisis in half.
I was able to take my gift card, log onto the website and select certain projects across the globe that I could contribute to. People in the Amazons who don't name their babies until the child's first birthday because three out of five don't live that long. The elderly people in poverty stricken hospitals that can't recover because clean water is hard to find. The list goes on. In Matthew 25 when Jesus lists what's really important, water for the thirsty is at the top of the list.
Tears ran down my cheek as I thought about how perfect Ridley did in selecting something near and dear to my heart. I cried for the many people that my gift wouldn't be able to impact. I cried over my selfishness and I cried over the idea of what Jesus thought about his birthday gifts. It was a Christmas to remember for me. I have thought a lot about it off and on since December 25th. Today was one of those days as I read about the woman at the well. I have been just like that woman at the well. I have made the poor choices. I have also been redeemed and loved on by a Jesus that washes away our sin, when we ask.
Living Water.....the perfect gift.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Stool Softener
I was in my favorite health food store the other day and while cruising through the aisles, my eyes were drawn to a bottle labeled "All Natural Stool Softener". I didn't think too much about it until I was almost 3 more aisles over. Let's just say that my fiber intake has been good lately so I wasn't in need of any stool softener. I suddenly began to chuckle because Jesus was pricking my heart and it wasn't about my diet.
You have heard me talk about the stool in my closet. That is the place where I go when I am needing to get away, cry, pray, or prevent from ripping someone's head off. It is the place where I pour my heart out to God in desperation. I am amazed how many women have shared that they have a stool in their closet. I also have some guy friends that study their Bible in the closet. Maybe that is why builders have been building homes with larger, walk-in closets. We need to walk in and stay a while.
There is a man in the Bible by the name of Nabal we read about in 1 Samuel. He is quite a character. You get the image that he was a rich jerk. He comes across as the type that would be rude and treat people poorly. He was arrogant and probably used his riches in the wrong way. But worst of all, scripture says that he was hard hearted. One of his servants said of him: "for he is such a son of Belial [the devil], that a man cannot speak to him” (1 Samuel 25:17). Imagine that: that there would be a man with such an unpleasant demeanor that no one could even so much as speak to him. But I don’t think this simply means that he was ill-tempered, but that he was also stubborn, and couldn’t be reasoned with. That is, if by chance he would stop and listen to another’s counsel, he would not be dissuaded from doing evil, or be convinced of any wrong-doing. We then see David being kind to Nabal in the Bible and later asking Nabal for a favor. Nabal is rude and offensive, but it is Nabal's wise wife that takes gifts to David and apologizes. Basically, she saves his butt. Nabal remained hard hearted and didn't listen to anyone. God finally gives him what he deserves. The man with the hard heart becomes stone and dies a few days later.
A hard heart can be a fatal flaw. It is basically arrogance and pride. It is the by product of taking our eyes off of God and focusing on ourselves. When I lower myself onto that stool in my closet, and lift God up, it is the very principle of worship. I admit I wrestle with Him in those moments but I don't get up until I surrender my ways to His ways. I confess it doesn't come naturally, but it is necessary to keep a softened heart. THAT is my personal recommendation for an "All Natural Stool Softener".
You have heard me talk about the stool in my closet. That is the place where I go when I am needing to get away, cry, pray, or prevent from ripping someone's head off. It is the place where I pour my heart out to God in desperation. I am amazed how many women have shared that they have a stool in their closet. I also have some guy friends that study their Bible in the closet. Maybe that is why builders have been building homes with larger, walk-in closets. We need to walk in and stay a while.
There is a man in the Bible by the name of Nabal we read about in 1 Samuel. He is quite a character. You get the image that he was a rich jerk. He comes across as the type that would be rude and treat people poorly. He was arrogant and probably used his riches in the wrong way. But worst of all, scripture says that he was hard hearted. One of his servants said of him: "for he is such a son of Belial [the devil], that a man cannot speak to him” (1 Samuel 25:17). Imagine that: that there would be a man with such an unpleasant demeanor that no one could even so much as speak to him. But I don’t think this simply means that he was ill-tempered, but that he was also stubborn, and couldn’t be reasoned with. That is, if by chance he would stop and listen to another’s counsel, he would not be dissuaded from doing evil, or be convinced of any wrong-doing. We then see David being kind to Nabal in the Bible and later asking Nabal for a favor. Nabal is rude and offensive, but it is Nabal's wise wife that takes gifts to David and apologizes. Basically, she saves his butt. Nabal remained hard hearted and didn't listen to anyone. God finally gives him what he deserves. The man with the hard heart becomes stone and dies a few days later.
A hard heart can be a fatal flaw. It is basically arrogance and pride. It is the by product of taking our eyes off of God and focusing on ourselves. When I lower myself onto that stool in my closet, and lift God up, it is the very principle of worship. I admit I wrestle with Him in those moments but I don't get up until I surrender my ways to His ways. I confess it doesn't come naturally, but it is necessary to keep a softened heart. THAT is my personal recommendation for an "All Natural Stool Softener".
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Words
I love the rejuvenation that a new start can bring so I pray that the beginning of your new year has been encouraging. Yesterday, as I was still fine tuning my prayer for the new year, I realized something I think we all tend to do. We look at the past year and make this mental list of everything we need to do different or better. Goals are a great way to live forward and push ourselves. However, I realized that focus seems to accent the defeats of the past year instead of celebrating the victories. I needed to be reminded of that yesterday. So, I decided to delay my "raising of the bar" for 2011 for a little bit and began to focus on accomplishments, answered prayers and victories of 2010.
It was the start of 2010 when a friend encouraged me to start this blog. She challenged me to put my thoughts out there and felt that it would be a great way for me to encourage people on a wider scale. She was pushy about it because she told me I had a "way with words". So I admit, the initial start of this blog was about me encouraging and loving others. In turn, I have been so encouraged and blessed by so many of you. You have prayed for me. You have comforted me on difficult days. You have pushed me on days that I wanted to quit. You have been real with me which helped me to feel more normal. You have made me laugh and you have made me cry. I have also made new friends that I haven't even met face to face yet. You have stretched me. So God did what He always does best. He pushes us to an uncomfortable place to grow us and in the process we are changed and blessed by others along the way. Thank you!
In reflecting, I realized the power of words. I am a word wound survivor. I lived through a long season where another's words tore me down daily. Words and statements can go deep and leave scars. It is our job to forgive those who hurt us with their words, but it may take some time for the scars to heal. It is a process where they fade over time. May that be a reminder and a challenge to you to be very careful with your own words.
"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)
I love this verse! In order to be wise about something, we are to study and practice. Therefore, we have to get into the Word to become much wiser about words that bring healing. "In the beginning was the Word." (John 1:1) If it was in the beginning, it must have been pretty important. How reckless of me to think that just because I am a Christ follower, I am always going to be a Christ imitator without continuing to study and practice.
So as you and I make our list, goals, and prayers for 2011, let us remember that Colossians 3:17 says, "Whatever you do, whether in WORD or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
I pray that the words chosen and prayed over for my blog in the new year, bring you encouragement, peace and healing!
It was the start of 2010 when a friend encouraged me to start this blog. She challenged me to put my thoughts out there and felt that it would be a great way for me to encourage people on a wider scale. She was pushy about it because she told me I had a "way with words". So I admit, the initial start of this blog was about me encouraging and loving others. In turn, I have been so encouraged and blessed by so many of you. You have prayed for me. You have comforted me on difficult days. You have pushed me on days that I wanted to quit. You have been real with me which helped me to feel more normal. You have made me laugh and you have made me cry. I have also made new friends that I haven't even met face to face yet. You have stretched me. So God did what He always does best. He pushes us to an uncomfortable place to grow us and in the process we are changed and blessed by others along the way. Thank you!
In reflecting, I realized the power of words. I am a word wound survivor. I lived through a long season where another's words tore me down daily. Words and statements can go deep and leave scars. It is our job to forgive those who hurt us with their words, but it may take some time for the scars to heal. It is a process where they fade over time. May that be a reminder and a challenge to you to be very careful with your own words.
"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18)
I love this verse! In order to be wise about something, we are to study and practice. Therefore, we have to get into the Word to become much wiser about words that bring healing. "In the beginning was the Word." (John 1:1) If it was in the beginning, it must have been pretty important. How reckless of me to think that just because I am a Christ follower, I am always going to be a Christ imitator without continuing to study and practice.
So as you and I make our list, goals, and prayers for 2011, let us remember that Colossians 3:17 says, "Whatever you do, whether in WORD or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus."
I pray that the words chosen and prayed over for my blog in the new year, bring you encouragement, peace and healing!
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