Pushing for Persever(ence?)

Lord, I read about perseverance today - something I can’t spell and don’t have a lot of. 

And watching the Olympics, seeing all these athletes who don’t even know how to give up or quit.. well, it’s a bit convicting. 

You already know this, Lord, but I’ll say it out loud: I tend to give up quickly when things get the least bit tough. 

Yesterday, arguing with my teenager made me want to quit. Today, wrangling middle schoolers made me consider early retirement. Tomorrow, I know facing a dirty house and piles of laundry will tempt me to move into a tent. 

My go-to reflex response to difficulty is to throw up my hands and walk away. 

But Lord, you’ve given me purpose, and that should push me forward (even when I’d rather sit down and cry). 

Remind me of my purpose, God. 

Image by Unsplash

In parenting, Jacin and I are training our kids to obey us so that obeying you becomes second nature. 

In my classroom, I’m building relationships with students, showing them the unconditional love of Jesus.

At home, I can serve my family and worship you through small acts of faithfulness (and drudgery) like vacuuming and washing clothes.

And YOU, Lord, show me exactly what perseverance looks like. 

You, Lord, demonstrate astounding stick-with-it-ness in your relationship with me. No matter how sinful or inconsistent I am, you never throw in the towel. You never give up on me or leave me. 

Help me imitate your purpose and persistence. 

Remind me to look to Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith, who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.” 

Remind me to “consider Him” so that I “will not grow weary or lose heart” (Heb 12:1-3). 

Knowing & Doing

The Ascension

At the beginning of Acts, Luke describes how the recently-risen Jesus leaves Earth and returns to Heaven. It’s a shockingly brief account:

“He (Jesus) said to them (the disciples gathered around Him): ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Acts 1:7-9

Boom. That’s it! Luke tells it almost like it’s just an everyday thing for the once-dead Son of God to be sucked up into Heaven in a whoosh of clouds. Scripture says the disciples stood “looking up intently into the sky as He was going” (Acts 1:10). I’m sure their eyes were wide and their mouths wide open in amazement. And if they would have had time to digest what they had just seen, I bet their next thought would have been… Whoa. Ok, so what now?

But they didn’t have much time to mentally mull over what they had just seen because “suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’” (Acts 1:10-11)

What Are You Looking At?

Suddenly two angels appeared. They sure didn’t waste much time. And it’s almost as if they punched the disciples in the arms and said, “Hey! What are you guys looking at? He’s gone, so let’s go! Stop standing around with your mouths hanging wide open. Get to work!”

The angels’ question, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky?” uses the Greek word istemi, which means to stand firmly or to fix or establish. It makes me imagine the disciples’ feet were cemented to the ground, overcome with awe. But these “Men of Galilee” had no time to stand and wonder. No time to ponder or even praise. The angels’ words made it clear the disciples weren’t meant to stop or stay.

The Transfiguration

It reminds me of the time Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus’s transfiguration. Scripture says Jesus was “transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:2-3). Wow. This was undeniably an incredible spectacle to behold. In response, Peter suggested they build temporary shelters and camp out in this obviously holy spot. It wasn’t a bad suggestion - to stop, be still and worship - but this wasn’t the time for sitting and soaking. In fact, immediately after, Jesus leads them back down the mountain, back into ministry.

In both instances, the disciples experienced something amazing beyond words. And in both instances, God urged them to watch, learn, and go.

Interesting.

There are definitely times in the Bible when God commands us to be still and let the Lord fight for us. There are times when Jesus reminds us to sit and soak, like Mary, instead of busting it in busyness like Martha. There are certainly times in life when we need to stop and worship.

But there are also times when we need to stop soaking and go; times to put our knowledge into action.

Knowing and Doing

While the angels’ words to the disciples may seem sudden and even harsh, the meaning behind their message is unmistakable. Experiencing Jesus’ transfiguration and later His ascension was not just to increase the disciples’ knowledge or strengthen their faith (though these were certainly byproducts!). Walking and talking with Jesus, seeing Him perform miracles, rise from the dead and then return to Heaven - all the disciples experienced- was meant to transform their lives and propel them in obedience; to compel them to service. And the same is true for us.

I’ll be the first to confess that I like soaking. I enjoy reading and learning. But is my soaking and all the knowing really accomplishing anything?

It occurs to me that learning about Jesus is much easier than teaching others about Him. Knowing Jesus requires much less energy than sharing Him with someone else.

Experiencing Jesus in personal Bible study and worship is much more comfortable than serving Him in public.

But if my worship doesn’t result in obedience, what good is it? If learning about Jesus in Bible study doesn’t transform us into His servants, why waste the time?

Knowing and doing are two vastly different things. While it’s not smart to rush into doing without first knowing, it’s equally unhelpful to possess much knowing without then doing.

This is exactly what James was thinking when He wrote that believers shouldn’t just know the Word of God; we should also obey it.

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

And this is the same message the angels gave to the disciples when they said,

“This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). In other words, stop soaking! This same Jesus, the one you’ve walked and talked with, the one who makes promises and keeps them, the one who walks on water and calms the winds, the one who was and is God in the flesh, He will return. It’s time to take what you know and go.

In his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, John Stott wrote,

“God intends us to penetrate the world. Christian salt has no business to remain snugly in elegant little ecclesiastical salt cellars; our place is to be rubbed into the secular community, as salt is rubbed into meat, to stop it going bad.”

Like the disciples, standing on the mountain top, worshiping in church, learning in Bible study must all culminate in going, in serving, in obeying. Our knowing must result in doing.

Surrounded & in Perfect Peace

I love the word pictures Scripture uses. I’ll admit that sometimes the Bible can be tough to understand. But other times God paints a picture for us using simple language and comparing eternal truths to everyday images we understand. The passage I read this morning was one of these simple word pictures.

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forever more.” (Ps 125:1-2)

I’m no geographical scholar, and I can’t tell you much about the topography of Israel. However, I can easily envision Jerusalem sitting safe in a lush valley surrounded by mountains and cliffs which form natural barriers of protection for the city. And just as the mountains encircle Jerusalem, this Psalm says we as believers are surrounded and protected by God. What an image! God Himself surrounds us, encircles us, hems us in on every side.

In his book A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson notes:

“People of faith have the same needs for protection and security as anyone else. We are no better than others in that regard. What is different is that we find that we don’t have to build our own.”

The book of Psalms is full of these images of God as our protection. God is our “refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). He is our “fortress” (46:7). He “encamps around us” and delivers us (34:7). He is our “rock of refuge” (Ps 31:3) and “hiding place” (Ps 32:7).

During Old Testament times, many ancient cities built walls to defend against outside opposition, but even then, life wasn’t ever 100 percent safe and secure. The Isaelites were constantly threatened by surrounding enemies - Pharoah, the Philistines, Babylon, Rome. But in the midst of conflict, the Israelites knew their safety didn’t come from walls or armies; their safety came from our all-powerful God who set the stars in the sky simply by stretching out his arm. Is anything too hard for Him?

How amazing to know that this same God protects us still today. His word tells us that He “will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord himself is the Rock eternal” (Is 26:3-4).

So whatever comes up today, whether it’s trouble or hardship, confusion or frustration, we can move forward in confidence because our security doesn’t come from any man-made military or citadel. The Lord Himself is our fortress. And when we’re not sure we can hold ourselves up, we can be sure God is holding us. Be held. Be surrounded. Be at perfect peace.

How to Obey When It’s a Struggle

Good Advice I Didn’t Take

I’ll never forget it. I was 12 years old and I had just gotten a cool new outfit for Christmas. Blue and black Umbro shorts and a matching quarter-zip sweatshirt. (Umbro was cool back then for soccer fan families like us.) The day after Christmas we scrounged up a street hockey game with some friends across town. I got dressed in (duh!) my new Umbro outfit and headed out the door. My mom stopped me and strongly suggested I change clothes. She warned that I’d probably be cold in shorts (since it was like 30 degrees outside. Yes, that’s cold in Georgia). I shrugged her off. My dad echoed her concerns and said something like, “I’m not gonna stop the game and bring you home if you’re cold, so you might want to wear something warmer.” Yeah. Right. I was looking good and refused to change clothes.

Half way through the street hockey game, I was working up a sweat but admittedly, my legs were cold. (DANG IT!) In fact, the longer we played, the more my legs stung from the chilly wind. Being the nonathletic quitter that I am, I gave up the game and went to sit in our van. I thought the car would surely be warmer than the winter air, but I was sorely mistaken. Inside the van was just as nippy as outside. I remember curling up into a tight ball in the back seat, trying desperately to imagine some far off balmy beach and fall asleep. Not much helped as I waited another 90 minutes for my dad and siblings to finally finish their street hockey game and return to the van.

It’s a small moment of time that still stands out as significant to me. It was the day I realized my parents might actually not be stupid.

Have you ever gotten sound advice that you decided to ignore?

Ever been told to go one way but you went the other?

Been told don’t, but you do?

Told do, but you don’t?

God’s Advice the Israelites Ignored

The Israelites in Jeremiah’s day could definitely identify. After one of their own assassinated Bablylon’s appointed vassal king, the Israelites ran to Jeremiah for advice.

Is Nebbechanezer, the king of Babylon, angry?

Will he come after us in revenge?

Should we stay put or flee to nearby Egypt?

They were scared and desperate for some divine direction. Jeremiah agreed to pray on their behalf, asking God for guidance. Then days later, Jeremiah shared God’s answer with the anxious band of Israelites:

“He said to them, This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land’ “(Jer 42:9-12).

“Just stay put,” God told His people. “Stay here. There’s no need to run off to Egypt. Remain here in Israel, and I will protect you. Don’t worry about old King Nebbie. If you just chill here, I’ll cause Nebbie to be compassionate towards you. You’ll be safe. I promise.”

Obedience: The Struggle is Real

God’s advice was clear, but it didn’t make much sense. The Israelites were just sure King Nebbie was itching for revenge. It was only a matter of time! Why in the world would they stay and wait like sitting ducks?!?! The answer was clearly Egypt. It was right next door, and Egypt had everything Israel didn’t - peace, food, safety. Yeah, God said to stay here, but Egypt was clearly the better option.

And surprise, surprise… God knew what the Israelites were thinking. He knew their fear and saw them calculating routes to Egypt, so God doubled down to make sure His instructions were crystal clear. He spoke again through Jeremiah:

“Then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die’” (Jer 42:15-16).

God’s directions were simple, but obeying was tough. Their common sense screamed, “Run! Go hide in Egypt!” Following God’s advice meant the easiest and safest route was actually deadly, while the dangerous, risky road was really safe. It made no sense. So what did they do? They packed up and followed Google maps to Egypt. And later, just like God had warned them, King Nebbie invaded Egypt and killed them all.

Huh. Who saw that coming?

When we start with surrender, obedience is the natural next step.

Seriously, though. It’s easy to point fingers at the stubborn (and maybe stupid?) Israelites, but don’t we often do the same thing?

We read God’s Word and know what we need to do to obey. Then we don’t.

We know the good we ought to do, but we don’t.

We know there’s a more godly way to spend our time or energy or money, then we don’t do it.

Surrender: The Solution to the Struggle

Yep, there’s gotta be some Israelite blood in us somewhere down deep, cause we’re not much different. The majority of the time, we know what we need to do to live in obedience. It’s actually DOING it that’s difficult. The struggle is real. What’s the answer?

Surrender. Again and again. On the regular.

Some might say, “I did that already. When I became a Christian, I gave my life to Christ.”

True. But how many times after that have you tried to take it back? Tried to regain control? Take back the reins? We’re human, and part of our sin nature is a self-serving pride that says, “I know better than God. I’ve got this.” This was the Israeltites’ issue. They understood God’s directive: stay put. But their pride whispered doubts and suggested another route. That pride is one reason we struggle to obey. So surrender has to happen repeatedly. Regularly.

I find that the mornings are a great time for this. Whether it’s during my morning quiet time, or on my drive to work, or in the brief moments alone in my classroom before the chaos begins, I try to find time to stop and surrender:

God, I am not my own. I was bought with a price. My body, my life, all that I am, is yours. Lead me today. Use me for your kingdom work. Bring yourself glory in and through me today, God.

So go ahead: raise the white flag. Surrender. Admit your weakness and access His strength. Confess your sin and dress in His righteousness. Acknowledge your limited knowledge and trust His omniscience.

When we start with surrender, obedience is the natural next step.

Packing a Lunch that Jesus Can Use

I love when you read a passage of Scripture you’ve read many times before and still walk away with fresh truth every single time. Truly, Scripture is living and active. It’s God-breathed and supplies us with exactly what we need each time we read it. Here’s an example of encountering new insight in an old passage:

I was reading in Mark 6 about Jesus sending out the 12 disciples, then listening as they reported all the amazing things they saw and did on their inaugural mission trip. As usual, people kept pressing in, so Jesus suggested they take a boat across to a quieter spot. Then, SURPRISE!, the people “ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them” (Mk 6:33). Instead of sighing and whining about the inconvenience, Jesus “had compassion on them” and began healing and teaching them.

As the day wore on, the disciples started to worry about the logistics of hosting a huge, hungry throng of people in the middle of the wilderness. It’s not like McDonalds was close by, and GrubHub wasn’t yet a thing. How were they going to feed all these people? The answer seemed obvious: send them home. Here’s how Mark records it:

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” (Mk 6:35-36).

Seems completely logical to me. But, because Jesus is Jesus, and because He loves to teach about His powerful provision, Jesus gets that twinkle in His eye and responds, “You feed them.”

Huh.

If you’re confused, you’re not alone. The disciples were baffled. Despite the fact that they had just returned from a mission trip where they experienced first-hand Jesus’ power over sickness and evil, they still looked at this problem through a worldly lens.

Ummm… what?

Us feed them?

Riiiiight.

With what money? With what food?

How in the world do you want us to accomplish this?

I imagine Jesus smiling, immensely enjoying himself but masterfully concealing his excitement about what’s coming next. He calmly tells them to go amongst the people and see what food they can gather. The disciples return with only five small loaves of bread and two fish. (Commentaries indicate that such a small amount packed in a lunch probably indicates it belonged to a child.) And then… well, you know the story… Jesus uses that meager amount to miraculously feed the enormous crowd of thousands, with plenty left over to feed the astounded disciples.

We’ve all read it before. It’s a familiar passage that many of us have heard since we were little people in Sunday School. But this time, when I read it last week while at my kitchen table, I started to wonder about that kid in the crowd. The one who gave up his lunch. As I paused and looked up from my Bible, I gazed across my kitchen, with the sink full of dishes and the countertops cluttered with school papers, mail, and lunch boxes. And my mind wandered from that boy in the crowd to his mother at home. That kid probably had a mom who packed his lunch before he took off with his buddies, running to find Jesus. And that mom probably had no idea that her kid’s lunch would be the raw materials for a miracle. There’s no way she could have known she was packing the makings of a mid-day meal for thousands.

That mom was just going through the motions of her daily grind, taking care of her house, husband, and kids. Packing a lunch was probably something she did daily - just another insignificant household chore. Little did she know that Jesus had big plans for her son’s lunch. And as I was thinking these thoughts, it struck me. It may sound wacky, but it was just like God whispered it (silently) to my mind:

You never know when the lunch you pack for your kid may later be used for God’s glory.

You never know when the lunch you pack for your kid may later be used for God’s glory.

I’m not talking about Jesus appearing at my kid’s elementary school and performing miracles with his turkey sandwich and doritos. But I am talking about everything else I pack into my kids’ hearts and minds before school. I suddenly have lots of questions.

Before school each morning, what am I doing to help prepare my kids to see God at work around them throughout their day?

During the morning rush, how am I equipping them to live Godly lives at school that day?

What truths am I sending with them daily as they walk out the door and into the school building?

When they leave home each morning, are they ready and excited to love others like Jesus?

I realize that on most school mornings, I am often much more focused on packing my kids’ lunches and bookbags than I am on packing their hearts and minds. And you and I never know when the things we pack for our kids will later be used by the Savior. So this week I’ve tried to be more intentional about the process of “packing.” When I sign their homework folders, I pray for their teachers. When I pack their lunches, I pray for them. On the way to school, we listen to Christian music or work on our family memory verse (which the older ones just love - insert eye roll here). When we sit in car line, I remind them to keep their eyes open today for someone who needs the love of Jesus (“I know, Mom, I know. *sigh & eye roll* Bye!”).

We’re not perfect. Some days the prayers are much shorter than others. Other days the ride to school is silent or moody (“Y’all stop arguing! Don’t look at each other, talk to each other, or touch each other!”). But I’m a work in progress, and so are my kids. I may not pack the yummiest or healthiest lunches on the planet, but I can at least be purposeful with what I pack in my kids’ hearts and minds. May they each have something available for Jesus to multiply and use.

Why You Really Shouldn’t Follow Your Heart

As I was growing up, one of my family’s favorite animated Disney movies to watch was Mulan. If you haven’t seen it, you should. For my sister and me, it was an instant hit because of the main character. Mulan is a girl who disguises herself as a guy and joins the Chinese army. She does it to save her father, but along the way she realizes her self worth and begins to figure out who she really is. For my brother, Mulan was a favorite because of Mushu, Mulan’s miniature dragon sidekick. Eddie Murphy voiced Mushu, so you can imagine the humor the dragon adds to the movie. And now twenty five years later, my 3 littles love watching Mulan, too. In fact, we’ve even purchased the sequel to Mulan, creatively named Mulan II, which they also love. (Just the other night, we watched the live action version of Mulan. It was still good, but it didn’t have Mushu in it, so the kids gave it two thumbs down.)

I’ll be the first to say I appreciate Disney movies and the hours of entertainment they provided throughout my childhood. I’m also thankful for the hours of quiet they’ve afforded throughout my years of motherhood. However, I don’t always agree with Disney’s worldview. In fact, I’ve been known to pause a Disney movie playing in our van or family room and discuss how that particular movie’s scene was contrary to our Biblical worldview. (And each time I do this, my kids cry out in unified sing-song style complaint, “Mooo-ooom!”)

As good as Mulan and Mulan II are, these two movies are definitely, without a doubt, pause-worthy. I’ve hit pause on these movies so many times, my kids now know it’s coming. And here’s why: Mulan, like many other Disney princesses, lives by the mantra “follow your heart.”

And “follow your heart” is possibly the absolute worst advice anyone can give, even if it is from a beautiful Disney princess.

Our society’s answer for everything is to look within and follow your heart. This view assumes that the human heart is essentially good and can be trusted to guide us in the right direction. Friends, this is bogus and even dangerous advice.

The Worst Advice Disney Ever Gave

At first glance, the advice to “follow your heart” might seem harmless, perhaps even inspirational! Every Disney movie worth its salt says this line at least once. (Hallmark movies love it, too.) And it makes sense. We want our kids to live full, happy lives! I mean, don’t we want them to know they can be and do anything their hearts desire? Well, sorta, but no, not really. There are much more reliable things to follow instead of your heart. Let me explain.

Today’s society counsels kids (and even adults!) to FOLLOW YOUR HEART! We see the heart as the beautiful, pure, trustworthy center of our true selves. Our heart is where we form our own identity. It’s where we look for truth. Our heart helps us determine our destiny. Want to know what’s true (for you)? The world says, Follow your heart. Want to know who you really are? Follow your heart. Want to know which way you should go? Follow your heart. Want to know what to do next? Follow your heart. Our society’s answer for everything is to look within and follow your heart. This view assumes that the human heart is essentially good and can be trusted to guide us in the right direction. Friends, this is bogus and even dangerous advice.

The Bible’s Advice

As Christ-followers, we need to see the heart as the Bible sees it, not as the world sees it.

Contrary to what the world tells us, the Bible teaches that “the heart is deceitful beyond all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). Whoa. Did you get that? God’s Word says our hearts cannot be trusted. Instead of trusting our hearts, we should be suspicious of our hearts. The Bible tells us that we are all born sinful from the very beginning, which means our hearts are NOT inherently good. Instead, our hearts are self-centered, sinful, and flawed. Romans 3:11 tells us that, apart from God, “there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away and have become worthless.” The moment we emerge from the womb, our hearts are programmed to be for us and against God. Basically, the Bible teaches that the human heart is selfish and sinful. It cannot and should not be trusted.

Though it’s a nice sentiment to follow your heart, let’s be honest. Our hearts are impulsive and super emotional. If I were to make all my day-to-day decisions based on what my heart wanted, I would have killed several people, cussed out a lot more, and be fat and hopelessly addicted to chocolate. My heart is selfish! And a lot of times it overreacts. Or goes in the absolute wrong direction. Following my heart would actually get me in a lot of trouble.

The World’s Advice

The world’s advice to follow your heart is a symptom of a common illness called self-helpism. Teasi Cannon describes it best in her contribution to the book Mama Bear Apologetics: “according to self-helpism, I don’t have to deny myself or repent of anything. I only have to find myself. For Christ followers, its’t the opposite. We don’t truly live until we die - die to selfish desires that exalt us against the wisdom, love, guidance, and righteousness of our maker. We are called to surrender all,” not find and follow ourselves.*

That’s deep. You might want to read that again.

We are called to surrender all, not find and follow ourselves.

The whole “follow your heart” mantra boils down to your basic belief system.

• Why are you here?

• Whom do you serve?

• Are you here for yourself or God?

The answer to these questions helps you know whom/what you should follow.

Duty or Dooty?

At one point in the Disney movie Mulan, she says, “By following my feelings, I wound up doing the right thing. I guess I’ve learned that my duty is to my heart.”

Hold up! Hit that pause button and tell your kids several things:

If you follow your feelings, you’ll do lots of things you’ll regret.

Your feelings (or heart) won’t lead you to do the right thing. In reality, following your heart will often lead you to do the selfish, sinful thing.

Your duty is to obey God, not your heart.

At the end of the day (or movie), I want my kids to know that following your heart is not their duty; it’s actually the opposite! Following your heart will actually leave you in deep dooty.

*(If you don’t have the Mama Bear Apologetics book, I highly recommend grabbing it. It’s a deep read, but it’s an EXCELLENT handbook on how to teach our kids to think for themselves through a Biblical lens. Check it out HERE. At the very least, check out the Mama Bear website with tons of resources HERE.)