Thursday, October 16, 2014

For A Moment

Today I'm sharing a guest post by my friend Shelley Fisher. 
Shelley is a Wife, Mom to four boys (God bless her) and teaches in Christian Child Care. She has a heart for children and for sharing the love of Jesus with them whenever she can. I'm excited to share a bit of her heart with you here today. 

“We do not see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs.  To put our beliefs on hold is to cease to exist as ourselves for a moment." -Lisa Delpit
This quote rings especially true for me as a Christian believer and how my beliefs affect me as a teacher and as a parent.   
My beliefs not only dictate how I behave personally, but how I interact with children overall.  Teaching children is an extremely high calling and one God takes very seriously.  He places a huge emphasis on this, as He himself said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  
He also states in Luke 17:2, “It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin.”  In literal terms, this means to show children the love of Jesus, bring them to Him in the light of our own love and belief in Him, and do not harm them in any way that will cause them to sin.  Sin, in this instance, means to cause them to not believe because our actions prove He is not who He says he is.  
Unbelief is a sin in and of itself… blasphemy.  This command is given to every “teacher” of children...any person who has ever encountered or engaged a child has the opportunity to positively or negatively impact their lives forever.  That’s a long time.   
I work in a Christian childcare center and so I am able to exercise my beliefs in an open environment.  
I’ve also worked in a secular childcare on many occasions where my beliefs are not openly accepted.  To put my beliefs “on hold” is to deny my God and “cease to exist as ‘myself’”.   Even “for a moment” can be life altering to a little one.  I haven’t been allowed to pray during mealtimes with them, read bible stories to them, or, in most cases, even say “Jesus loves you.”  
But…I can for myself.  
I can bow my head and pray for my food quietly.  
I can bring my bible and read during quiet time or lunch break.  
I don’t have to push my beliefs on anyone.  
I simply have to be myself and they will see Him in me.   
Even still, I can show them His love for them through my love for them.  I can pray for them as I go through my day with each one.  I can look for those special moments as I sit and play or dine or even through toilet training, that I can smile, laugh, talk and just be completely devoted to them even if… “For a moment.”  A brief moment in time, that hopefully will plant a seed and they will remember me and see Him.  
Because I wasn’t called to see through my eyes or hear through my ears, I’m called to see children through His eyes and through His ears.  
And so here, I confess, I have blown it.  I’ve blown it big time, both personally and professionally.  
I’ve had bad days.  I’ve said things under my breath and out loud in the confines of my own home.  
I’ve “ceased to exist” around those who I love, who love me, and with the children God has entrusted to me.  
Such a contradiction, isn’t it?  Here I say it’s unacceptable, yet I’ve done it on many occasions and even willingly in the heat of the moment.   
But, I’m not perfect.  I’ve never claimed to be.   I’m a sinner, like anyone else.  So, how do I reconcile that?  
Simple.  I understand and allow the children to see that part of me too. It’s not something I’m proud of or that I like about myself, but it is part of my nature and part of theirs, as well.   Because I do blow it, and so will they.  I do yell at times, and so will they.  I don’t want to share, or obey or honor my father and mother always, and neither will they.  
I teach them by my imperfection, that to be human, is to be imperfect.  But, I’m also able to show them that adults act like fools sometimes, and that adults, too, need to be sorry and ask forgiveness… even by the little children.  
 “For it is by Grace we are saved, through faith, and this is not of ourselves- but a gift from God” and it is by Grace that I intend to lead them. 
It is by Grace I’ve been saved and it is by Grace that I lead them.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

A Definition of You (and Me)



What is it that defines you?

Think about it.

What do the lines that draw the box of your life say about you?


We all have them.

These boxes.

Our 'safe' zones.

Imaginary lines that surround us in the comfort of our personal definitions.

Because that's what they are - personal, imaginary, comforting............limiting.


Are you defined by your pants size?

Your hair color?

Your acne scars?

Your waistline?

Your height, weight, shoe size, curvy, short, tall, skinny, big nose, small ears, round belly, ripped abs?


Or maybe you are self-defined by your college degree, or lack thereof.

Your salary?

Your job title?

Your office size, cubicle space, locker or desk drawers?

Your bank balance, unpaid bills, new car, old clunker, 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house with a 2 car garage and a white picket fence or your cardboard home under the bridge?


How about your kids?

Your husband? Wife?

Do their accomplishments or failures define you?

Does their status or grades describe what makes you unique?


The truth is that none of these things, or any other labels we apply, define who we are.


We like to think they do and we've become very skilled at wrapping ourselves up in the pretty patterned paper or plain brown wrapper of perception.


The truth is that sometimes we cling to the comfort of our self-definition - even when it hurts - because it's easier and more familiar to us than the beauty and freedom offered by the definition of our Maker.


Our Creator.

The one who spoke us into existence.

God Almighty.


This is how He defines you (and me):

we are "...fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14


we are "...created....in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27


we are "...God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved...." Colossians 3:12


don't miss this "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!..." 1 John 3:1


When I see how we are defined by God, when I read the love He has for us in the words He's spoken to us, I have to ask myself how much longer can I thumb my nose at Him and say:


"I don't believe you."

"You're wrong."

"I'm not good enough."

"I'm not smart, pretty, funny, thin.......worthy."


I really don't want to be defined by the perceptions of the world around me anymore, I want to be defined by who God says I am -

"fearfully and wonderfully made"

"created...in His own image"

"dearly loved"

"child of God".


It's time to re-draw the lines of my box.

Time to break out of the limits and barriers I've placed around myself and allow the story that God has written about me to be the truth that defines me.

Psalm 45:11 says:

"Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."


Define myself, or honor my Lord.

What will be your choice?


With a Courageous Heart,

~~Robin



Friday, September 26, 2014

Because - A Five Minute Friday Post

It's been a while hasn't it?
I've not met you here since the beginning of August and honestly, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find my voice again.
But I'm back and I'm staying and it has made my heart infinitely happy today to write again.

Today I used the word prompt from the Five Minute Friday Blog.
It was perfect for what was tumbling around in my heart and my head this morning.




I was chatting with a friend today about extending grace. 

Giving grace to someone when we don’t want to. 

And not just the ordinary don’t want to, but the digging in our heels, gritting our teeth, fighting with everything in us to not have to be the grace-giver. 

It’s hard isn’t it? 
So very hard to be graceful to someone who has hurt you deeply. 
Someone who continues to hurt you deeply even when they’ve beaten you up and left your heart in a broken, bloody mess on the ground. 

We may never know what drives someone to lash out in anger. 

To deliberately cause pain to another, especially those they claim to love. 
To enjoy the power and control that their words and actions have over our hurting hearts. 

But as much as it hurts us, as much as it grieves our soul, Jesus says we are to extend grace. 

To forgive and continue forgiving. 

Why? 
Why Lord would you want me to show grace to someone who has hurt me so deeply? 

Because, He says, you know what grace extended can do to change a life. 

It changed yours. 

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin

Friday, August 8, 2014

Fill - A Five Minute Friday Post

It's a challenge to sit down and write. To create pictures in the mind from words on a page, from the heart. It's even more of a challenge to explain it all in just Five minutes.
Once again I've stepped out of my comfort zone and written based on the word prompt from the Five Minute Friday Challenge. I invite you to walk with me today and see if you can envision what I'm seeing in my mind's eye.
Soli Deo Gloria


*********************************************************************************
I fill the hours of my days with tasks that carry me from place to place.
In and out of doors.
Up and down stairs and roads and emotions.

Each day starts with my mind filling up with ideas and plans and dreams, almost all to be left behind in the aftermath of my place to place.
My in and out.
My up and down.

I want to be filled with You, Lord.
Filled to the brim with your grace.
Your peace.
Your purpose.

Too often I am filled with everything but....

Fill me up today Lord.
Fill me with vision to see what you see.
Fill me with heart to love what you love.
Fill me with more of you Lord.

Empty me of......

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin

 "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things." 
 - Psalm 107:9 (ESV)


Friday, August 1, 2014

Begin - A Five Minute Friday Post

As a writer, it's always good to challenge yourself, to step out of your comfort zone and explore the new, so today I've taken the challenge - to write a blog post based on a journaling prompt in just 5 minutes. I've set my timer and we're gonna see what happens.
Ready? (Click HERE to visit Five Minute Friday)
****************************************************


So, I BEGIN.
That's the prompt, BEGIN.

2014 has been full of new beginnings for me and for my family. I've been making a real effort, most of the time, to stop and be still and to listen to God's whisper as He guides us through these beginnings.

I'm not always successful at the listening part, definitely not the be still part, but it's a process, right?
I begin.

I start, I plan, I get ready, set, GO!
And I get sidetracked, derailed, off pace - distracted by those "squirrel" moments.
It's human nature I suppose, to allow yourself to be sidetracked from your beginnings. From your set goals.

Human nature and fear.
And that's the truth of it.
Somewhere along the line, I allow the doubts and 'I can't' moments to creep in on the truth of God's voice and his word in my life and my beginnings become stalled.

Today, I begin again.
Once more.....

“But forget all that—
    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland."
- Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT) 

With a Courageous Heart, 
~~Robin

(#fmfparty)

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

The Truth is Never Grey


"And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32

Right this minute, in the living room of a suburban home somewhere in America, a family is falling apart.
And they aren't even aware.

There's a fit for prime-time show on the flat-screen tv, but no one in this family is paying any attention to it.
Because even though they are all together in one room, they are each wrapped up in their own private entertainment choices.

The husband is sitting in his chair in the corner, viewing a movie on his laptop. He has his ear buds in place, preventing anyone from hearing the sound but himself.
The wife is curled up on her end of the couch reading a popular paperback novel and their 15 year old daughter is on the other end of the couch, smartphone in hand, reading fan-fiction she's found on the internet.

A typical, modern day family, right?
Spending a quiet evening at home together.
Quality time, some would say.
But it's the secrets this family is keeping that are tearing it apart.

You see, this husband is cheating on his wife.
The wife is cheating on her husband and their daughter is damaging her future marriage before she's even thought about saying "I do".

What's even more concerning is that this could be any family, in any home, in any neighborhood, anywhere in America today.

It could even be yours.

How do I know?

Because at different times, the parts of this scenario have taken place in my home.
In my family.
In my life.

And if you think it can't or won't happen in your family, then you're kidding yourself.

It's time we had a talk.
And it's time we stopped believing the lies being fed to us by a culture that has chosen to ignore truth. Lies that convince us that wrong is right and cause us to stubbornly defend our poor choices.
Choices that don't honor the God of the universe who created us to be so much more than what we have become.

Yesterday I posted a blog link on my personal Facebook page that got a bit of attention.
It was a commentary written by popular conservative blogger Matt Walsh and addressed the latest darling pet of the entertainment world - the 50 Shades of Grey phenomenon. (Click HERE to view his commentary.)

If you've been alive and over the age of 7 since the initial book was released, my guess is that you've at least heard of this book, it's two sequels and now, predictably, the upcoming Hollywood movie.
But in case you've been living under a rock over the past several years - allow me to enlighten you.
It's not a decorating book, or design publication extolling the virtues of the color Grey.

Hardly.
It's a book about sado-masochistic sex between two unmarried people; an 'experienced' dominating male figure and a young female college graduate.
And that's probably the least offensive way to describe it.
According to a February 16, 2014 article in the Hollywood Reporter, the sales of the trilogy have topped 100 million dollars worldwide. In addition, the original book was listed at #18 in the Nielsen Book Scan Top 20 for 2013.
That's 2 years after it's initial print publication.
I'd say that it's pretty popular, wouldn't you?
However, as we all know, being popular doesn't mean it has redeeming value.

I'm not writing today to debate the merits, or lack thereof, of this particular book.
In fact, I haven't read the book.
However, I have read many 'romance novels' over the course of my lifetime, many of which dipped their 'literary' toes into these waters.
Starting with Harlequin Romance novels when I was 13.

That may seem awfully young to some of you, but consider this - today's children are being exposed to hard-core pornography as early as age 7. Any child who has access to the internet in any form is likely to have been exposed to some type of pornographic image or writing. And sadly, for many of our children, this initial exposure is leading to addictions and behaviors that are damaging their moral compass and leading to a lifestyle that can only bring regret and shame.

If you've read my own story (click HERE if you have not), then you know how my poor choices affected me and my loved ones. And truly, it's only by the awesome grace of our loving God that I am still here to write this today.
But as I've looked back, I realize that it was the unrealistic expectations that those 'romance' novels created in my mind that caused me to look for similar ideals in my own relationships.
The mystery of tall, dark and handsome coming to sweep me off my feet and make me feel like the woman I was meant to be was seductive to an awkward and unpopular teenage girl.
Mhmmm.
In truth, not so much.
For me that led to losing my innocence at the age of 14 and an unexpected pregnancy and my first abortion at the age of 17.
Not so romantic after all. 

Let's fast forward to what is happening today.
When our young daughters - and I say WHEN because it is happening, don't be fooled - when our daughters read the material in 50 Shades of Grey, and books like it, what ideals are being planted in their impressionable minds?
Minds that are already being told by the media that they are not pretty enough, not skinny enough, not sexy enough unless they meet an unrealistic standard set by a culture that has no moral standard.
Is Christian Grey this generation's mystery man?
Is sado-masochistic sex this generation's romance?
God have mercy on our children if that's true.

And how about you Mom?
And you Wife?
Have you read this book, or others like it?
Can you honestly say that the scenes you have created in your mind out of what you've read haven't appeared again when you are spending time with your husband in the confines of your bedroom?
Because that's what 'literature' of this type is intended to do - or so the authors tell us.
As my daughter's boyfriend commented on my Facebook post yesterday - "It's porn aimed at girls. It's the same thing as videos and images aimed at guys." "Girls function a different way than guys, therefore porn is going to look different."
If a 17 year old young man understands this, why ladies, can't we?

Let's take a look at what Ms. E.L. James herself says about her books.
In an article published in the Daily Mail newspaper in Britain - 4/18/12, quoting Ms. James:
"[she] describes her novel as a ‘romantic fantasy story’, which offers women a ‘holiday' from their husbands."

Listen up Christian women - I'm talking to YOU here.  
Is this what we are about? 
Taking a 'holiday' from our husbands?  
If that's the case then it's no surprise to me that the divorce rate within the church is higher than that of the unchurched.
Why do we believe that what we do in secret won't eventually come out in the light of day? 
Do you want to destroy your marriages? 
Go for it. 
For the cost of a Chick-Fil-A combo meal, you can download this 'romantic' drivel onto your e-reader and start the process. 

No one will suspect a thing until one day your sex life with your husband is no longer satisfying enough. 
One day you'll wonder what's wrong with him. 
And the next day you might start looking twice at the fellow in the cubicle next to you at work. 
And how many days will pass before you pick up the phone and make an appointment with your attorney?
You want a 'holiday' from your husband? 
Well, according to Ms. James, you can have it by reading her book.
It's just entertainment, right? 
You should be able to read what you want without being shamed for it, right?

Let's consider something else ladies, why are we hurt and disappointed when our husbands look at pornographic videos and images when we ourselves are reading pornographic stories? 
Is there really a difference in the result?
The medium is different certainly - images versus words - but as my daughter's boyfriend so accurately pointed out, "Girls function differently..."
We know this, it's nothing new; men are visually stimulated by what they see; women are emotionally stimulated by what they read. 
Quoting my Pastor: "When men are addicted to sex, they are scum bags, adulterers and perverts. When women are addicted to sexual content, it's art, women's rights, and love. I'm not shouting double standard, I just see a need for ladies to protect their hearts." 

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." - Proverbs 4:23

What Ms. James and other authors of her ilk have done is simply wrapped up deviant sex acts in a pretty 'romance' story that captures our hearts and sadly, we take the bait.
Hook, line and sinker. 
Problem is, we get caught on that fish hook, find that we can't wriggle away so easily and then spend a lot of time and energy convincing ourselves that being there isn't so bad after all as we get reeled in towards a certain demise. 

You know, because it's your life, right? 
It's not illegal, is it? 
It doesn't hurt anyone, does it? 
It's just entertainment, right?  

Hmm, isn't that the same justification husbands use when they are watching that movie on their laptop in the corner of the living room? 
"No one can see what I'm watching." 
"I'm not hurting anyone."
"I still love my wife."

Do you honestly believe that when you are enjoying intimacy with your husband that the images he's ingested don't come flashing across the flat screen in his mind? 
Because they do. 
And because of the magic of photoshop, the more visual stimulation they ingest, the more you come up lacking. 

You won't suspect a thing until he stops desiring those intimate moments with you. 
Because he's wondering what's wrong with you
He's finding the new intern at the office very attractive. 
And one day, he's picking up the phone to call his attorney. 

But, it's just entertainment, right?

There was another quote by Ms. James in the same article that really captured my attention. Let's take a look: 
"The only two people she has refused to share the book with are her sons. ‘Thank God, they don’t want to read it,’ she says. ‘They’re very proud of my success, but it’s not for them to read.’


That gave me pause, and it should you as well. 
If she doesn't want her teenage sons to read her book, then why would we want to read it? 
If it's too much for her teenagers in a world where sex sells and morals and truth have taken a back seat to personal gratification with no limits, shouldn't it be too much for adults? 
Those of us who are purportedly raising the next generation of leaders?

Sadly, if you aren't aware already, I need to enlighten you - our teenagers are already reading it. 
Not only are they reading this book and books like it, they are reading hard-core porn on the internet everyday. 
How do I know? 
Because my own beautiful daughter was caught in that trap - at the age of 15. 

And if you think it can't or won't happen to your daughter, or your son, think again.
In a home where both parents have a law enforcement background; where the tightest controls possible were on our internet; where our rules for her smartphone included random checks of content and messaging, our daughter was able to read hard-core pornographic fan-fiction on her phone and completely hide it from us for months.
And if that doesn't break your heart, then you don't have one.

Listen, Christian ladies, and yes, this post is for YOU because as Christians, we are held up to a Holy standard. A standard we can't expect the world around us to understand or uphold until their lives are invaded by the same Jesus who bled and died for each of us.

As Christians, we claim to believe the Bible. We claim to believe that it is God's Holy word, his love letter to us. His sacred text that is just as true and relevant as it was when he breathed it into life through his scribes.
So if we as Christian women believe in Jesus, believe that we are held to a Holy standard and believe that God's word is true, then why do we choose to ignore the parts of it that so clearly define God's perfect design for our homes, our marriages, our families and our standards.

In the article I shared yesterday, Matt Walsh quoted several passages of scripture that cannot be mistaken in their intent. Yet many of the commenters on his article chose to not defend and uphold the scripture, but instead chose to defend the book and it's contents and someone's right to read it.
Call it what you will, but I call it justification and it has no place in the Christian life.

Ya' know, I'm not pointing fingers at you without pointing one back at myself - none of us are innocent of sin, the least of all me.
But when we as Christian women chose to follow Jesus, we also made a choice to follow his teachings and his word.
Even though I fail him every day, I don't ever want to thumb my nose at his holiness or make a conscious choice to live in and defend the very sin that put him on the cross to die for me.
To do that is so much more than an insult, it's blasphemy and it's tragic and you can't call yourself a Christ follower if this is the way you choose to live.

To some of you, that may be harsh, it may sound judgmental (but please remember that I'm putting myself in this mix too - I'm forgiven, not innocent).
But there are no Grey areas in scripture.

The truth is there to see in Black and White.
The question is, what do you choose to see?

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

How Much?


 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens" 
- Ecclesiastes 3:1

There's a lot on my "to do" list today.
Too much.
Way more than I'll ever get done today.
I stare at that piece of paper and practically burn a hole through it with my gaze. It's almost paralyzing because there is no clear starting point in the chaos.
That "to do" list is like an annoying splinter in my finger - painful with no relief until it's gone.

And yet, could it also be like a badge of honor I'm carrying around?
Don't we spend copious amounts of time comparing our busy-ness with others?
"Wow, you're so busy, but you'll never believe what I have to get done...."

Yes, it's the game of one-up between Moms and Wives and Friends the world over. 
I think we secretly love our "to do" lists. 
Love the rush we get when we compare notes and realize that we are WAY busier that our friends. 

We love the fact that we are obviously needed more, we can accomplish more - since we have SO much to do, and we are way more important because of it. 

Mhmm....

You know, that's a lie. 
A big, fat, juicy, throw it on the grill, cook it and eat it kind of lie.
And we fall for it. 
Every. Single. Time.

Want to know why? 
Because we are filling up the empty space that pride has left behind with busy-ness. 
Busy work to distract us from what's really important. 
Stuff that we think if we don't get a jump-start on will overtake us and overwhelm us. 
Tasks that if we can manage to complete them will finally give us the super-woman cape we've secretly been craving. 

We idolize that "to do" list because it makes us feel important and needed and special. And if ours is longer or more complex - we idolize it more. 

On Sunday, the guest pastor at our church was speaking about how God hears our prayers in spite of the sin issues in our life. 
Hm. 
His last point was "in spite of - Service to Idols". 
He asked, "Do you know what your idols are?"
"Do you recognize them?"

Good questions. 
Very good questions.
So, I asked God about that yesterday. 

Is my "to do" list my idol? 
Having too much to do?

How often am I too busy for you?
How many times do I say "I'll pray later?"
How often do I read a devotion or listen to music and call that my "quiet time"? 

I push you away God - YOU. The most important presence in my life. 
The One I claim holds my life together. 

Reality is an embarassing truth - I fit in time with you and in your word when I can manage it
When I have time
When the conditions are perfect

This is so humbling. 

You managed to find time to DIE for me. 
You had time to reach out to me and offer me new life.
And considering how messed up my life was - the conditions were less than perfect. 

But you did it anyway - 
because YOU love me. 

So the question becomes, "How much do I love you, God?"
More than my "to do" list?

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin

Monday, June 9, 2014

Even Me


"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people..." - 1 Timothy 2:1

God, you want us to pray. 
To pray for and about everything. 
You expect us to pray 
for everyone.

Even the unlovely.
Even the prideful.
Even the hateful.

For the liars and the control-freaks, 
for the thieves and the bullies
for the gossips and the murderers.

In other words, 
you want us to pray for others
and
you want us to pray
for ourselves.

Change me O God. 
Align my heart with yours. 
Fix my eyes on you and help me see,
with your eyes,
through your heart. 

Grace, mercy, compassion and healing
are what you offer. 
To all. 

To ALL

Even the ones we hate. 
Even the ones we fear. 
Even the ones we don't understand. 

Even ME
Even me.  

With a Courageous Heart, 
~~Robin

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Is It Really Just Stuff?

"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you." Deuteronomy 5:16



As I walked into the shop at the antique center today, I saw a stranger sitting in my Dad's chair. 

It was a fine, deep blue leather, wing-back recliner.
Wing-back to suit Mom's decor, recliner to suit my Dad's need for comfort in his castle.

That chair had been Dad's spot in the family room for as long as I could remember.
In every family room of every home we'd inhabited.
It was the last in a long line of recliners in our homes. Each of them giving their all in service to one of the hardest working men I knew. Giving comfort after long days, working sometimes three jobs to keep our family afloat.

And now it was being usurped by a stranger who knew nothing of my sweet memories.
Knew nothing of the raw emotion his presence there stirred in me.

The night my Dad died, I remember curling up in that chair, comforted by the smooth, cool leather, the faint smell of my Dad's shampoo and the sense that he was holding me still. 
My Dad's hugs were always the best.
For a few brief moments, his arms wrapped around me, I was his little girl again, no matter how much I had grown up.

And today the little girl in me wanted to scream at that stranger to get up from my Dad's chair. Wanted to shout at him that he didn't belong there.
That he hadn't earned the right to sit in that place.

But the practical adult in me won out.
The practical adult with a furnished home of her own with no place for a chair whose memories were worth far more than the value of the chair itself.

And so went the minutes of my day.

Watching as strange hands unpacked carefully wrapped glassware and framed artwork and family heirlooms passed down from my Great-Grandmother.

Observing as strange eyes evaluated the worth of precious pieces not judging them by the rich memories each held, but by how much money could be earned by offering it up to someone willing to pay the right price.

It has been what seems a lifetime since I saw my Dad's cufflinks.
And my Mother's beautiful Japanese treasures sent to her from my then soldier Father. 

I've never seen them being examined by a strangers hands.

It's just "stuff", a few of my friends said to me today.
Yes, yes it is.

The memories are what count, a few more said.
Yes, that is true.
And on a day like today, I'm glad I have the memories to strengthen my resolve.
To remind my heart that it is still beating.
That I will survive this chapter in the story.

Because today I felt violated.
Robbed of the intimacy of the connection I feel to my parents through the evidence of their life together. The proof of their existence displayed in every photograph that was uncovered.

I am an orphan now.
There is no one living anymore that completely shares my history.

No one but me who can recount the story of my Mom's white oval platter. The platter that held every batch of homemade fudge she lovingly cooked for me and my Dad.
No one is left that remembers how we would giggle together and share the pan scrapings and the fudge covered wooden spoon as my Dad sat in his recliner wondering what was taking us so long in the kitchen.

Yes, it's all just "stuff".
But its the stuff that was part of the life that made the memories that blessedly will never leave me.
Even if I am the only one left who remembers them.

With a Courageous Heart,
~~Robin

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Hold On to What You Know

"...everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  
But evil people and impostors will flourish. 
They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.  
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. 
You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you." 
- 2 Timothy 3:12-14 (NLT)


There are days when I don't feel equipped to be the encourager. 
Days when the weight and heaviness of circumstances around me consume me because of a heart broken out of love for those involved.  

I wonder, how I can give godly advice and share wisdom when I too am in pain because of a situation. Where do I begin? And in some cases, what can I even say when I have zero ability to change anything?

Yesterday was one of those days. 
So, I turned to God's word, looking for something, anything to help me make sense of it all. Something to help them make sense of it all.  
As is his way, I didn't have to look too far. 

Our Pastor had spoken from 2 Timothy 3 on Sunday. While he focused on the final verses of that chapter, my reading drew me up the page to verses 12 - 14.  
The Apostle Paul had written this book to Timothy from prison. 
And not the cushy house prison he'd been held in before. 
No, this was Emperor Nero's prison. Dark. Smelly. Cold. Raw.
Not the place you want to find yourself anytime, much less the end of your life. But that's exactly where Paul was. And he knew he was going to die soon. 

Paul didn't waste his last words on lament and regret. Didn't focus on his situation or circumstances - even though he could have.
He chose instead to pour out his heart and soul in a loving torrent of words to the young man he considered his son in the faith. This final letter of Paul's was full of encouragement, instruction and hope. Hope even when things seemed bleakest. 

And what does he write?

We will suffer persecution.
Evil people will flourish.
They will deceive others.
Check. Check. Check.
My situation had all that and then some.

But it's what Paul says next that grabbed my heart and would not let go.
"But you must remain FAITHFUL to the things you have been taught." 

God whispered, "Hold on to what you know.
You know my words are true. 
I was with Paul in the dungeon and I am with you and your loved ones even now." 

So even though we are persecuted. 
Even though we see evil and false people flourish. 
Even though they attempt to deceive us. 
God is still greater than all of that. 
He is faithful and so I, we, must remain faithful. 

And hold on to what we know. 

With a Courageous Heart, 
~~Robin
 

Friday, May 16, 2014

The Mystery We Can Trust

"Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things." 
- Ecclesiastes 11:5


I love how no matter where we read in the Bible, it's consistent. 
Both Old and New Testament tell us that God is unknowable, a mystery, and it's impossible for us to understand his ways. 
 
Romans 11:33 says: "Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" 

Isaiah 55:8 says: "“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine."" 

Honestly, I wouldn't want to serve a God who claimed to be our Creator, our Savior and the King of us all if I could understand him. 
Where is the awe and wonder and mystery in that? 
Makes him kinda ordinary, right? 

So, even though at times it's hard to figure out what he's up to in our lives, we can trust that his word is true. 
We can trust that he knows better than we do what it is that we need. 
And we can trust that he knows where he's taking us. 

He's already written our future and he knows the end of our story. 

That's the God I want to put my trust in, one who will walk with me through the pages of my life as the story unfolds. We may not like the twists and turns at times, the story will cause questions and doubts and fear, but since he knows how it ends, it's all good. 
He's got this, we don't need to worry.
We can trust his word.

"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT)

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Obedient, or Overwhelmed?

"If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do." James 1:5-8 (NLT)

We ask God to reveal his will in our lives.
He responds with his "go and do" mission tailored just for us.

But, we don't like it.

Or it's not what we thought it would be.

Or we are afraid.

So, do we choose obedience and trust him?
Or do we waver?
Is our faith in God alone, or is our loyalty divided between God and the world?

If your life seems overwhelming, out of control, then perhaps you are being "blown and tossed by the wind" of disobedience.

His purpose will not be ignored.
His plans will not go unfulfilled.

But you will live in uncertainty and misery until you choose to act on his call.

Hard? Yes.
Truth? Yes.

With a (not so) Courageous Heart,
~~Robin


Friday, April 18, 2014

Finished. Forever.


"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:30




With a Courageous (and forgiven) Heart,
 ~~Robin

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Finding Truth

Yesterday, I prayed Romans 8:37 over my family.
"...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

We've all been feeling captive to a situation right now that we have absolutely no control over, but God's word reminds us in this passage from Romans that we are:

MORE than conquerors. 
Not simply conquerors, but
MORE than conquerors in Christ Jesus. 

We can rest and have peace in the TRUTH that Jesus has already won every victory for us. 

We have to remember to trust - 
His Will
His Purpose
His Plan. 

So today, I read out of John chapter 8, led there as I was reviewing our Pastor's sermon from Sunday. 
And it was SO GOOD. 
It was so good that I looked up verses 31 and 32 in three different versions. 
It was so good that I have to share what I found. 


"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" - John 8:31-32 (ESV)

The English Standard Version says:
"abide in my word"
Meaning, we need to camp out there. 
Park there. 
Sit down and stay awhile in the truth of God's word. 
In order to know the character of God and to be able to know His will, His purpose and His plan, we have to know HIM.  
You've heard it before, you can't know someone unless you are spending time with them. And the more time you spend with them, the more comfortable, the more familiar, the more relaxed you become. 

And you become comfortable enough to just be yourself. 

God wants us to spend time with him, getting to know the truth of who he is and being real with him. 
Not for his sake - he created us, he already knows everything about us - but for OUR sake. 
Because when we can be real with God, we can be real with ourselves - and that's where he can use us for his glory. 

"abide in my word"

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."" - John 8:31-32 (NIV)

The New International Version says:
"hold to my teaching" 
We must not only spend time getting to know the truth of God through his word, we must be willing to live out his instruction found there - trusting it. 

And isn't that so hard to do?
We are desperate for truth, we search for it everywhere. 
But when we find it, don't we question it?  
There's always that little voice that says "Are you sure?"

God is not unclear here -  we are to hold on to his teaching.
His truth.
Seeking and knowing His will. 

But let's be honest - seeking his will, knowing His will and DOING His will are very different things. 
It's the difference between disobedience and obedience. 

"hold to my teaching"




"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”" - John 8:31-32 (NLT)

The New Living Translation says:
"remain faithful to my teachings" 

We must Know God. 
We must Trust God. 
We must also Obey God. 

We must not waver in our obedience to his word. 
The enemy already whispers doubt into our ear, speaks lies to our hearts about the truth of who God is and what is found in his word; we must stand firm against his lies. 

Our trust in and obedience to God are an engraved invitation to the enemy to attack us. 
And he is relentless. 
Have you felt it? 
So many times we allow our tough times, our trials, the attacks of the enemy to confuse us. 
We allow them to lead us away from the very truth of the One who has fought our battles and won our victory already. 

Being faithful to his teachings means being steady - trusting in the truth of what we know of Jesus. 

Remaining faithful is a daily struggle - 
but what else can we do when He did ALL for us? 

His faithfulness, his sacrifice, his mercy and grace are all gifts we don't deserve. 
But when we remain faithful to his teachings he promises us that we will find truth. 
And the truth will set us free. 
"remain faithful to my teachings"

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36

With a Courageous Heart, 
~~Robin



Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Stay Alert

Because someone needs to hear this truth today: 



"Stay alert! 
Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. 
He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  
Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. 
Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. 
So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.  
All power to him forever! 
Amen." 
- 1 Peter 5:8-11

With a Courageous Heart, 
~~Robin