The best recipe

What do you think of analogies, metaphors, allegories, and themes? I remember trying to find all of these in high school English texts, let alone understand their applications. Now, though, I see them in everyday life. Here's a recent example.

Yesterday, I baked bread from scratch. A few years ago, I tried it for the first time, and it was SO good! Sister and I just stood next to the oven after the bread had cooled and ate piece after piece with nothing on it - no butter or honey or jam. It was so fresh, and the aroma was intoxicating.

Fast forward a few years, and I realized it had been a long time since I baked those first two loaves. Why? Well, it's a time-intensive project. Is it gratifying? Yes. Is it nourishing? Yes. Do other people benefit? Yes.

So, it was time. Below are the fruits of my labor:

Recipe

Ingredients

Kneading

Rising

Doubling

Baked

Okay, time to make the analogy. This morning at church, Chuck compared the study of Scripture to baking. First, you start with a recipe (a passage in the Word). You make note of the ingredients, go shopping, and prepare according to the recipe (study the Word, make note of the principles and lessons, live it out). Then, you reap the benefits of preparing the dish according to the recipe (enjoy delicious food and experience nourishment and health benefits). Makes sense, right?

Now, consider what happens when you don't follow the recipe. Case in point: Before baking the bread yesterday, I attempted a new recipe from my aunt for almond flour crackers. I bought all of the ingredients listed (sea salt, basil, thyme, and flax), except for the almond flour. I thought, "I have plenty of wheat flour - I'll just substitute."

All you bakers out there, I can just hear you groaning for me.

Anyway, it didn't work. Not at all! The ingredients didn't come together to form a dough that I could cut into 2" pieces and place on the sheet tray to bake. It looked (and felt) like a pile of sand. Although I've heard it said that baking is an exact science and cooking is more free-form, it took this real-life experience to confirm it.

Can you make the analogy?

When we try to take shortcuts or make substitutions to the principles in God's Word, things don't go right. The Bible is not a list of rules set out to inhibit our lives. The Bible shows us how to live the best life. It is for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1). Shane and Shane sing it well in their song Liberty.

So, when we study the Word and follow the "recipe," is it time-intensive? Yes.

Is it gratifying? Yes.

Is it nourishing? Yes.

Do other people benefit? Yes.

Free will is like chess

I am working my way through C.S. Lewis' The Problem of Pain for the second time and reading it with fresh eyes.

Confession: I can only get through 5-10 pages in one sitting because he goes so deep! Lewis does not mince words or waste time with fluff. Every word, every phrase has a purpose.

Tonight's gem jumped out at me from a passage about free will. Almost as an afterthought to a fairly comprehensive explanation, Lewis includes this final sentence that summarizes free will in a way that hit home to me:

"(...)the chess player's freedom to play chess depends on the rigidity of the squares and the moves" (p. 65).

If life is a game of chess, we humans long to have the freedom to choose which moves we're going to make. We have a strategy that we think will help us win the game. We don't question the fact that there is a bishop and a pawn, a king and a queen, dark and light squares. We play with the game pieces as they exist. We honor and abide by the rules. There is a code to follow, and it is respected. There are some serious chess players out there!

The analogy is an easy one. In life, there is freedom to choose within "parameters" and in relationship with other "game pieces" (people). These parameters aren't established to ruin our fun or make life boring or a list of rules. They control the chaos and create order. The game Creator knows that the game will work best when played by the rules. He wants us to enjoy the game - enjoy it together and learn from each other. How fun is it when you play chess with someone who makes up rules throughout the game that work to their advantage? We all know what that is like.

So, the next time you think about free will, think about chess.

Bobby Fischer said it best: "Chess is life."

It's safer in the deep end

"You are better off in the deep water with Jesus than in the shallow water alone." -Priscilla Shirer


An ancient Galilee boat. I took this picture on a trip to Israel in 2010. This is a historical find. According to our guide, this boat was excavated and dated to be from the time of Jesus' ministry. The fisherman who used this boat likely knew of Jesus.

This morning, I listened to a segment of a message Priscilla gave to a group of women recently. In it, she focused on Luke 5 - a passage that focuses on our friend Simon Peter, and his frustration with an empty fishing net. He and his fellow fisherman had worked all night with nothing to show for it.

"He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets”  (v. 3-5).

Isn't that just like us? When Jesus steps into our situation and gives us a chance to exercise our faith, do you ever catch yourself thinking, "Well, if You had been around, Lord, You would know I've already tried that"? As if He wasn't there with us through it all. Maybe the answer to our prayers isn't some outrageous new thing. Maybe it's something we've considered before (and even tried on our own), but now it will be done in light of faith in God to handle it and not in ourselves.

"When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him" (v. 6-11).

He was patient with Peter, and in the presence of His glory, Peter recognized his doubt.

As Pricilla said, wouldn't we rather be in the deep end with Jesus than in the shallow water without? I would rather face impossible situations with the One who makes the impossible possible than live an "easy" life solving all of my problems on my own.

Crayon wheels

Do you remember those elementary school crayon drawings you used to bring home from school and proudly hand to Mom, awaiting her gushing approval and the subsequent posting on the refrigerator?

Now do you remember looking back on those drawings as a teenager or adult, with a completely different understanding of how to draw a wheel or a car or an airplane or a flower? If you drew one now, it might actually resemble the real object!

I recently started C.S. Lewis' book The Problem of Pain. When mentioning my latest author of choice, a friend made the comment about how challenging it is to read some of Lewis' writings because of his vocabulary. As I read a few chapters this week, I found myself agreeing. However, one thing I greatly appreciate about C.S. Lewis is that he doesn't mince words and he doesn't fill the pages of his books with flowery, unnecessary descriptions. Every sentence has a point. It may take reading a few paragraphs down before the purpose of a particular point strikes you - and then it hits square on!

I came across this gem in my reading this week:

"Beyond all doubt, His idea of 'goodness' differs from ours; but you need have no fear that, as you approach it, you will be asked simply to reverse your moral standards. When the relevant difference between the Divine ethics and your own appears to you, you will not, in fact, be in any doubt that the change demanded of you is in the direction you already call 'better.' The Divine 'goodness' differs from ours, but it is not sheerly different; it differs from ours not as white from black but as a perfect circle from a child's first attempt to draw a wheel. But when the child has learned to draw, it will know that the circle it then makes is what it was trying to make from the very beginning."
- C.S. Lewis

How different our understanding of goodness is once we know the Lord and grow to know Him better. All the 'wheels' of goodness I used to draw are scribbles compared to the goodness of God.

I am thankful that God works out His goodness in our lives. His goodness is worthy of our praise. Everything He does is good. And when we do good, we imitate God.

Let us study His goodness, praise His goodness, and model our lives after Him.

Believing is an active verb

This morning, as I read my daily devotional in Beth Moore's study on John, I put something together in my mind and heart that really hit home: Just as salvation was a one-time act and is also a daily act, so believing was a one-time choice and is also a daily choice.

 

We cannot rely on our initial moment of belief to get us through each day. Yes, it took that very profound decision to change our lives, but we have to carry it out beyond that moment. It is a daily choice to actively believe Him - believe that He is good and that He is working out His will in our lives.

I don't want to believe like Thomas - only when I see Him and the ultimate outcome. I want to believe Him in every season of waiting.

And so, each day is another day to believe Him.

“Vision is the ability to see God’s presence, to perceive God’s power, to focus on God’s plan in spite of the obstacles.” ― Charles R. Swindoll

Something we all have in common

Waiting.

Just like the saying "everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time," we are all waiting for something. Waiting for that next birthday, or promotion, or paycheck. Waiting for a husband or a wife or a child. Waiting for a fun trip or news from a doctor. Waiting for healing or reconciliation.

It is easy to become consumed with whatever it is we're waiting for and forget that everyone is in the waiting. I was reminded of that today when I visited my sweet grandfather in the assisted living center. Over his favorite Sonic meal, he brought up his own cause for waiting. This man, who has walked the earth for 88 years and was married for 67 of them, who has lived through wars and disease and injuries and the loss of my dear Meemaw, continues to face a season of waiting. He hasn't outgrown it or graduated from it. Does he ever get impatient? Sure he does! Don't we all?

And yet, his conclusion today was that God knows what He is doing and we have to trust Him.

Waiting is not a childhood or young adult phase or a class you can skip or pass. It is something we all face for varying lengths of time and during which we experience varying levels of suffering or pain or loneliness or heartache. 

In the Bible, David writes a song about waiting on God. He asks God how long he'll have to wait. When you read Psalm 13, it is so easy to commiserate with David - easy to ask how long and why. And yet, this man in waiting determines in his heart that he will trust the Lord,

 

"But I trust in Your unfailing love;

my heart rejoices in Your salvation.

I will sing the Lord's praise

for He has been good to me."

Waiting is hard stuff, but it does not mean God has forgotten us. He is right there, facing it with us. So often what we need is a change in perspective. I got that from Peepaw today - a reminder that I'm not the only one in waiting. And there is comfort in that.

"Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work."
- Peter Marshall

"Trusting God doesn't alter our circumstances. Perfect trust in Him changes us."
- Chuck Swindoll

Love songs

In this season of acknowledging love, in all of its stages and forms, I thought I would share some of my favorite love songs – past and present.

The Bible has the best definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love hopes all things…”
1 Corinthians 13 (United Pursuit Band)

Love is a gift from God.
God Gave Me You (Dave Barnes)

Love is about seeing each other through the many seasons of life. It’s a sweet promise of loyalty and commitment.
I Will Be Here (Steven Curtis Chapman)
Love of My Life (Michael W. Smith)

The older I get, the more I see that loving a person is a choice – a daily act.
Loving a Person (Sara Groves)

Love is about truly knowing someone and choosing not to give up, no matter what.
I Won’t Give Up (Jason Mraz)

Love is a beautiful dance…even through the mine fields. That’s what the promise is for.
Dancing in the Mine Fields (Andrew Peterson) 

Be generous with "I love you" this week and make sure the ones closest to you know how much you care. We are only here for a short time.

Life is a highway...or a winding road

Growing up, there was always a mile marker to aim for and look forward to:

• Learning to tie my shoes
• Going to "big" church
• Becoming a teenager
• Going to high school
• Sweet sixteen & driving
• Voting in an election
• Graduating from high school
• Going to college / grad school
• Graduating from college / grad school
• Starting my first real job

As children, we can all chart somewhat similar paths with fairly predictable milestones along the way. We know we're going to do X, Y, and Z, and so we plan ahead for and anticipate those events.

After we reach the end of the predictable, life takes on a whole new meaning. The choices we make about what to do and where to go next really do make a difference. I am discovering that the road ahead has fewer known destinations. Other than birthdays to mark the passing of years, there are no set-in-stone rights of passage in the future. Yes, there are dreams of marriage and children, but there is no schedule or timeline. The once straightforward road has become a winding road, and I can't always see what is up ahead.

I am a huge fan of planning ahead. I like to have time to think things through, get all my ducks in a row, and be prepared for anything. God has softened me a lot over the past few years, teaching me that I cannot always plan for everything. And often times, the plans I do make need to change. 

A professor once told me that the day I walk across the stage with my bachelor's degree is the day I will feel the smartest in my whole life. After that, I will continue to learn everyday how much I really don't know. Boy, was he right! 

And so this path ahead is unknown, with winding roads, hills, valleys, picnics, lookouts, precipices, and oases. I take each day as it comes, praying for guidance and direction. I set goals but write them in pencil, as I am growing more and more aware of how God's plans are always ultimately better than mine. More than looking for milestones, I take the time to savor friendships and opportunities to learn from people I interact with. I don't want to look so far down the road for what is next that I miss the people and opportunities right next to me. 

The best part of all is knowing that God sees me. He knows when I sit and when I rise. He knows my every thought (Psalm 139:2). And I trust Him.

The soundtrack of my life

The soundtrack of my life has played all genres of music over the years: church choir, school and civic choirs, piano lessons, public school band, small ensembles, symphony orchestras, and wind symphonies. My parents encouraged music and creativity in my formative years, and I eagerly pursued every opportunity to make music. The bassoon chose me at a beginning band drive at the end of my fifth grade year. Little did I know, this slender stick would become my passion throughout public school, college, and beyond. I gradually progressed from struggling to assemble it to fumbling my way through forked fingerings to making the Texas All-State Band to earning a spot in the bassoon studio at the University of North Texas. 

I studied music education at UNT and had the honor of playing in the Wind Symphony under Professor Eugene Migliaro Corporon for three years. His instruction deepened my love for wind band literature. The general consensus is that the bassoon is the orchestra’s instrument. Not so! Modern wind band literature is ripe with demanding, exciting bassoon parts that challenge the player’s agility and concept of tone while introducing the listener to its wide range of personalities beyond the rich, deep sound it is known for.

During my time at UNT, I learned about the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and jumped at the opportunity to audition. Despite my love of music, I had decided to take another route professionally, so I was thrilled at the prospect of continuing to make music with talented musicians. Playing with the LSWO is one of the key highlights of my life. I have been with the group since its first season, and I hope to play with these gifted musicians for many more years, sharing music with not only the arts community, but anyone who will listen!

Music is everywhere: in your car, the store, movies, television, churches, schools, the elevator…It is all around us, and the more we know about it, the more we realize how much of an impact it can have on our mood and outlook on life. Isn’t it remarkable how hearing a familiar song can take you to a moment in time that will forever live in your memory? Everyone has “that song” – the one that elicits a special memory that will never be forgotten. My hope is to share the joy music brings me through playing with the LSWO.

Healing might hurt

Do you ever have those days when it seems like your body is falling apart?

Today was that day for me. I was diagnosed with a sinus infection yesterday, so although I got medicine, I felt much worse today. Next, I realized I had a *painful* cold sore on my lip (and I have a rehearsal tomorrow!) so I bought some topical ointment. Let's just say I didn't realize the ointment would make my lip and tongue go NUMB! Then, I cut myself pretty good shaving, followed by an afternoon of sneezing fits (I think I hit seven in a row at one point). The dreary weather outside only added to my complaining mood.

Ah, the life.

The good thing is that God always helps to bring things back into perspective. I am daily reminded of how He provides for each of us through our physical ailments and needs. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and so I want to take care of mine the best I know how (which means nursing this infection and getting plenty of rest). I want to keep it pure so that I can be used by God for good works. I want to always be prepared and ready to go.

It is important to realize that God works His will out in our lives, and complete healing may not be a part of that will. It wasn't for Paul. His story reminds me that I should be thankful for unanswered prayers, especially in light of the fact that God knows what I can handle. Healing might actually hurt me if it allows me to walk away from pain without praising and thanking Him. Going through trials makes us stronger because they push us closer to Him.

Today really hasn't been all that bad. There are bigger things to concern myself with. I just needed to put it all into perspective.