Fighting Burnout

Iron Man 3 will be released on Friday.  I'm getting excited to see the movie after seeing the trailer.  If you haven't see the trailer, click the link.

What's interesting is the angle this movie seems to take.  This is a very powerful, rich man who could have anything he wants.  He has the girl, he has the money, and yet, there is this level of anxiety and worry that seems to overwhelm him.  He is consumed with the idea that he needs to build more and more super suits, and the obsession takes his attention away from his girl.

Have you ever felt that level of anxiety that consumes you?  Do you have obsessions that take over your life, because you worry about what may happen if you don't focus on them?  Jobs can take over our lives, if we don't be mindful of what is important.

Solomon writes about life and how much the pursuit of wealth is meaningless.  Listen to this passage he writes:

"So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?  Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest.  It is all so meaningless.  So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him?" ~Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 (NLT)

Eat, drink and find satisfaction in the work, but then he points out nothing has meaning without Him.  He goes on to say that we need companions to get through our short time on earth before we go to heaven.  The secret to fighting burnout is to find relationships that have meaning.  We need each other to be able to fight the battles that we face in our daily walk.  We need our loving friends.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.  Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

~Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Don't be afraid to share your real self with others.  This helps you be in the kind of relationship that will help you get through this life until we go to heaven.  This helps with the burnout we face in our daily walk.  We need our friends.  We need love.

Gift of Power

Bruce Banner or Incredible Hulk

Have you ever felt powerless and weak when you were facing an adversity?  Have you wished that you could be filled with power when the need arose?  Growing up as a girl in the 1970's, I admit I was fascinated with the TV show "The Incredible Hulk."  Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to gamma radiation and given to turn into a large and powerful creature when he became too angry, or if his life was in danger.  This is a power Bruce felt was not his, and rather was more of an alter-ego, because he wasn't always in control of the Hulk.

I've been studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament of the Bible.  When the Spirit came upon the believers of the early church in Acts 2, there were many signs and wonders.  Winds whipped through the house, and tongues of fires appeared upon the people.  Believers spoke in other languages, and performed all kinds of miracles.  They appeared for all to be supermen.  Men with innate power and abilities.

However, the source of the power was not theirs.  God would choose to fill them with His Spirit and then consume them.  The power manifested by the men was actually God's Spirit overflowing through them.  It gave them strength to speak before many people and withstand tremendous persecution and abuse.  God knew we believers would need Him, and His power is still bestowed on those of us who remain close to His Truth and choose His path.  I've written about our responsibility when we have this great power in a different post (Great Power, Great Responsibility).

When God fills us with His Holy Spirit, we may feel like Bruce Banner did when the Hulk came out - a bit out of control.  But, God means for us to submit to Him and allow His power to work in our lives and in the lives of others.  We must yield to Him.  If we worry about criticism, this means we are still focused on ourselves.  Don't worry about making a mistake.  Remember, God is big enough to handle your mistake.

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:29-31

One Man's Disability is God's Superpower

Have you ever felt less than adequate?  Let's think about those among us living with a disability of some kind.  Some people have difficulty walking, and others have difficulty thinking clearly.  Some cannot see, and others (like me) cannot hear.  Some disabilities are invisible, but completely debilitating.  Autism spectrum disorder is one such disability.  People with this disorder (on the higher functioning end) describe themselves as socially awkward, or having extreme anxiety in social situations.  They have intense interests and a singular ability to focus on their specific interest.  They often have a black-and-white view of the world, and have a strong sense of justice, as they know deep down what is right, and cannot see or tolerate anything else.

As a special educator, I sometimes recognize these hidden disabilities in others.  I love to watch these people overcome their weakness and capitalize on their strengths.  After reading several books in the Bible written by Moses, I am convinced he was such a man.  When God chose him to deliver the people of Israel out of Egypt, he protested.  He knew he could not speak with others, and would often get tongue-tied.  He needed Aaron to speak for him.  Why would God choose him?

Moses had a singular knowledge of what God wanted, and the ability to know it to the smallest detail.  Think about how detailed the Tabernacle had to be, and what the different offerings needed to be to please God.  The repetition and detail in these books written by Moses indicate an individual with the ability to see the importance of even the tiniest details.  God knew he needed such a person who could remember all the small details to get it right, lest something go wrong, and sin be exposed in God's presence.  God needed a person wired just like a person on the Autism spectrum.

When you see someone with a disability, or if you are such a person, think about what makes you strong.  What can you contribute for the work of God?

"Then the Lord said to Moses, "Write down all these instructions, for they represent the terms of the covenant I am making with you and with Israel." Exodus 34:27 (NLT)

Unlikely Hero

Bilbo Baggins, resident Hobbit from Bag End, in the Shire of Middle-Earth was quite surprised to find himself on a journey "there and back again."  Hobbits are also known as halflings due to their small stature, and are usually quite content to stay at home, eat and drink and be merry among their friends and family.  Bilbo was no exception until Gandalf the Grey (a wizard) named him to go with the dwarves to reclaim a treasure from a dragon.  Neither Bilbo or the dwarves felt he could do this adventure, but Gandalf assures everyone, "There is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye."

God saw a similar unlikely hero in Moses.  Think about his story.  He was trying to live a quiet life as a farmer in a quiet land when God appeared before him as a burning bush.  God gave him a huge task to go to Pharaoh and lead the Hebrew people out of oppressed Egypt.  Moses did not believe he could do it, protesting more than once.  God did not accept the excuses of Moses, and gave Moses the tools he needed to accomplish the mighty task.

What would God have you to do?  What task seems insurmountable to you?  Did you know that Moses was just like you?  He was full of anxiety and self-doubt, but with God, he did it.  So can you.

"God arms me with strength,

and He makes my way perfect.

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

enabling me to stand on mountain heights."

(Psalm 18:32-33 NLT)

Go.  Accomplish your task.  Fulfill your purpose.  God will arm you with strength.

Accepting Mercy

Redemption.  Mercy.  These are the overwhelming themes of the show Les Miserables.  I recently attended the movie version of the well-known musical, and I was struck by how strong the message really is.  The show opens with a strong image of punishment of convicts in 19th century France.  We meet Valjean, a broken man, convicted of stealing bread for his sister and repeated attempts to escape.

He is finally granted parole, and leaves the prison.  He does not find solace in the town he dwells, as there is no mercy for convicts there.  Desperate, he steals silver from a monastery.  When caught and returned to the monastery, the monsignor claims he gave him the silver and gives him candlesticks in addition to the silver.  This man knows he should be punished for stealing.  However, the monsignor granted mercy.  Valjean responds with repentance and a vow to live right.

As we watch the show unfold years later, Valjean gets to show mercy to young woman and her child, but still remains on the run from Javert, the officer determined to find this escaped convict and return him to prison.  A revolution unfolds, and Javert is caught as a spy by the young revolutionaries.  Waiting to be executed, Valjean finds him, and shows him mercy.  He allows Javert to escape with his life.

Javert is a man who knows all crimes must be punished.  He knows he was "convicted" as a spy, and deserved to die, especially at the hands of a man he mistreated.  He has no idea how to react to this, and could not accept the concept of a pardoning.  Why is he free?  Why didn't he die for his sins?  He commits suicide, unable to bear the idea that forgiveness could trump judgement.

We were granted a pardoning by our God.  We were given mercy when we deserved death for the sins we committed.  What will you do with this undeserved mercy?  Will you respond as Valjean did, and repent?  Will you choose to live right in the eyes of God?  Or, will you respond as Javert did, and refuse to accept the forgiveness our God offered?

You get to choose.  Accept forgiveness or refuse.

"Go and say to this people: When you hear what I say, you will not understand.  When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.  For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes - so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.   So, I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it."  (Acts 28:26-28 NLT)

Addicted to Sin

I cannot wait to get to the theatre to see the new movie, The Hobbit.  I am excited that the writers brought back several familiar characters.  I am oddly fascinated with Gollum.  This is a wretched, pitiful, disgusting creature that is nasty to everyone.  What would be the draw in this character?

Gollum was once a river person named Smeagol.  While on a fishing outing with his relative, he encountered a ring, one that immediately ensnared his interest.  He refused to part with the ring, killing his relative.  His continued obsession of the ring warped his thinking patterns and contributed to his insanity.  Gollum both loved "his precious" and hated his addiction to it.  

The story of Gollum could be repeated in many of us.  So often, we unwittingly stumble upon some temptation, not realizing the chokehold that it could become for us.  Whatever it is, we love it.  For some of us, the temptation is money, for others, it is food or drink.  Some of us really have a love for mood altering drugs or alcohol.  Others fall into a trap of an extra marital affair.  No matter what it is, we love the sin, but we hate what it does to us.  Sin is deadly.  

Sin will kill us, as we continue to hold on to it.  Just look at the demise of Gollum.  He died clinging to his precious ring.  But there is a truth you should know.  Sin does not have to kill you like it did Gollum.  Jesus died to save you from the trap of sin.  He has redeemed you.  All you have to do is give your sin over to him and live in his sovereignty.  

"Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.  Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life.  So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.  Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law.  Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace." (Romans 6:12-14 NLT)

Isn't There Anyone Who Knows What Christmas is all About?!?

Who remembers the anticipation of our favorite Christmas movie to be played on network TV?  How eagerly we waited to watch Lucy trick Charlie Brown or to watch Snoopy glide so effortlessly across the ice?

As I've gotten older, I find myself getting caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, just like Charlie Brown's friends did in 1965.  However, it is getting more and more difficult to find the message of Christmas purely stated in the mainstream media these days.  I thought we could all enjoy listening to Linus give the Christmas message once again.

Let's take our example from Linus and make sure we share the message of Christmas with others this season.  

"But this will be your opportunity to tell them (your persecutors) about Me (Christ Jesus)." Luke 21:13 NLT