Being Christian

Being a Christian is not something I take lightly, nor is it something in which I find cause to personally boast. Rather than turning people to Christ, boasting only serves to turn them away. 

I'll admit that there was a time when I spoke of being Christian with an air of superiority as though I had done some great thing to earn this title, but I've since learned I've nothing to brag about. Of my own, I am nothing and without Him, I can do nothing. I did not choose Him—He chose me. And as I am still a work in progress, on a good day I can seem like a bit of a hot mess.

Yet Jesus still loves me, which is one of the many reasons my earnest desire is that everyone could experience the unconditional, unending, unfailing love of Jesus. He is altogether lovely, holy, perfect, righteous, and so much more. As a believer, Christ graciously allows me the privilege of demonstrating His mercy and love through the way I interact with others. I was considering this when I discovered the following poem today on the Internet, which helped to remind me that as I walk in humility before Him, I allow others to better see Christ in me.

When I Say I Am Christian

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin,' I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.'

'When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow!

Written by Carol Wimmer 

One Year Ago Today—Celebrating God's Goodness

"How do I say thanks for the things You have done for me?

Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love for me.

The voices of a million angels cannot express my gratitude.

All that I am and ever hope to be

I owe it all to thee."

My Tribute by Andraé Crouch © 1971

One year ago today, I had just returned home from Holy Cross Hospital to begin recovering from what would become the first of two surgeries to remove my thyroid. I remember the days that followed. I remember the pain shooting through my throat. I remember the anxiety. I remember wondering if I would ever sing again or speak above a whisper. I remember hearing the word "cancer." I remember the first time I saw the scar. 

This evening, I was at Nationals Park with my sister for America's Night of Hope sponsored by Joel Osteen Ministries. What a perfect way to celebrate God's awesomeness! The scar is nearly invisible. I can still sing and speak above a whisper. And the cancer is gone. 

I'm truly grateful for this year. Everyday that I open my eyes to see the sun (or even the clouds) peeking through my window is a gift. Have I used each gift as well as I could have? No, but God is gracious and patient. Has the year been without challenges, disappointments and heartaches? No, but God has been with me at every moment to keep me from falling. Have I seized every opportunity presented to me? No, but God has granted me many blessings and wonderful surprises anyway. And He isn't through with me yet.

As Joel Osteen said tonight, each morning I awake is evidence that God still has a destiny for me to fulfill—and it is He who will propel me into it.

As a Man Thinks

"Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man,

Though my mind could think I still was a mad man,

I hear the voices when I'm dreamin', I can hear them say…."

Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas ©1976

Browsing the Internet, I came across the most stunning quote/question: "If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would that person be your friend?"

I've realized for some time that I tend to be my harshest critic—I think most of us tend to be—but coming across this quote gave me pause, especially since my initial answer was "not bloody long!" One of my dearest friends is likely laughing if she reads this blog because she is constantly having to remind me to stop "tearing yourself down." It's as if I don't even realize sometimes the damaging words I say or even think about myself, yet much like my friend, I am quick to point out when others say mean things about themselves.

Why do we say things about ourselves that we would never accept from a friend, or an enemy for that matter? Are we trying to be humble? Or just being "real"? And how do the things that we say about ourselves inform our decisions, our relationships, our lives?

"...Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

For over a week now I've been hearing these words in my spirit: "Discipline your thoughts." And suddenly, I get it. Throughout my lifetime, I've accepted many thoughts/words spoken to or about me without any discernment as to whether they were true or false, life-giving or life-destroying. They've become so much a part of my consciousness that I speak them to myself, shaping my reality for better or worse.

As a social science major, I can confirm that psychologists have supported this truth for years. And yet long before modern theories of self-fulfilling prophecy and cognitive dissonance or New Age ideology or the "Little Engine That Could," Solomon, who's wisdom came directly from God, wrote in Proverbs that as "a man thinks, so is he." I've read this verse many times. Some seeds take a really long time to germinate, but grow and blossom they do.

Lord, help me to lay aside every thought about me that is contrary to what you say about me.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer." - Psalm 19:14

A Meditation #2

"I need thee, O I need thee;
every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee."

I Need Thee Every Hour by Annie S. Hawks (1835-1918); Robert Lowry (1826-1899)

Jesus, I need you. I need your peace. I need your joy. I need your wisdom. I need your comfort. I need your embrace. I need your strength. I need your love. I need you.

Every hour, every moment of every day, I need you.

Taking Refuge In His Wings

"He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler."

- Psalm 91:4

My spirit is always full of joy, hope and peace, even when my heart is overwhelmed or cast down within me. God already knew this about me. So now do I.

I've been reminiscing today about Easter Sunday's service. The church that I attend held this year's service at a local hotel to accommodate the C&E attenders (the people you only see at Christmas and Easter), as well as a live radio broadcast. The service was lovely and exactly what I needed—albeit a bit unusual since it had to be restructured for the radio broadcast. But as in all matters of faith, you learn to flow with it.

The choir decided to break out some new songs, two of which really touched my heart. If you've never heard of Lydia Stanley's "Shadow of Your Wings," I highly recommend it. I'll even help you: View live performance

I cannot begin to describe the intensity of emotions that I felt as this song resonated in my spirit. It was as if God was using it to heal every wound and remove every fear in me. It has become my meditation day and night. I fall asleep listening to it and wake up with it on my lips. The other night I had it playing while trying to do my laundry and was so completely overtaken by God's presence I couldn't do anything but worship Him. Afterwards, I felt energy that I hadn't felt in months.

The cares of this world are many, and oftentimes they scream at me, at all of us, for attention. When the pressures of life build—responsibilities at work, caring for my parents, doing chores, helping friends and assorted neighbors, or even attending to church affairs—Jesus is my refuge. And when life feels like a breeze, I can still rest in Him. He reminded me this week how very restoring to my soul and body that can be.

What was the other song? "Our God is Awesome." I haven't found the version that was sung on Easter and only sermons are recorded for Sunday services. I'll keep looking and keep you posted.

He Is Risen!

"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" - Luke 24:5-6 (NKJV)

Three little words filled with so much hope, so much promise.

Jesus lives. Not even death could overtake Him. He arose from the grave and sits forever at the right hand of the Father, full of power—power to heal, power to save, power to resurrect all the dead things in my life.

My redeemer lives and abides with me daily. In Him, each day offers the possibility to begin anew. And through Him I can face any obstacle, manage any setback, or overcome any challenge in life. In Him is my hope. In Him is my faith. In Him is my life.

Most beautiful, humble king. Powerful. Holy. Glorious. You died to free me from the curse; you rose so that I might live an abundant life in you.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." - Revelation 1:18

About Regrets, Mistakes and Trusting God

"You hide behind your walls
of maybe nevers
Forgetting that there's something more
than just knowing better.
Your mistakes do not define you now.
They tell you who you're not.
You've got to live this life you're given
like it's the only one you've got."

It's The Only One You've Got by 3 Doors Down
© Universal Music Publishing Group


One of my dearest friends told me some time ago how she learned to live her life with no regrets. It followed a near death experience she shared with her husband and two young sons (although not so young anymore) on an airplane flight that didn't go as planned (I believe the plane experienced some sort of mechanical failure) and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.

At first afraid, she remembered grabbing hold to her husband's hand and then being very grateful. "If my life ends here," she prayed, "it has been a rich one." She considered how she had been blessed to marry her best friend, to have two wonderful sons and to have done and experienced many other wonderful things that seemed unimaginable to her as a child growing up in Vietnam. After reaching their destination shaken, but safe, my friend determined that going forward she would live her life regret-free by making every interaction count, saying what she feels, and pursuing her dreams, even if she failed.

I don't think anyone plans to live a life full of regrets, but sometimes we allow fear, past hurts and mistakes to so paralyze us that we don't seize the moments and opportunities that are given to us to live our dreams. I've made many mistakes in my life—I still make them—and I've experienced many deep hurts and disappointments. I've even experienced the dream wrecking paralysis. But life moves forward, never backwards.

One of the most difficult parts of my journey with Christ is learning to place my mistakes, hurts, disappointments, and even my fear, into His hands each day so that I can move forward with Him. It requires of me a trust like I've never known. And yet, His word promises that I will live a life without regrets when I follow where He leads me.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Hosanna in the Highest

"And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way;
others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

- Matthew 21:8-10

Happy Palm Sunday!

Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem just days before His crucifixion is one of only a few events in His life that is recorded in all four gospels.

I was curious to fully understand the praise offered by the multitude that greeted Jesus. It's become such commonplace praise in churches and worship music, just a matter of habit, but what does it really mean? (We may not apply much significance to the things we say, but I'm learning there are no insignificant words or details in the Bible.)

According to standard dictionary definitions, Hosanna is "a shout of fervent and worshipful praise, or cry of adoration." But according to Matthew Henry's Bible commentary, Hosanna actually means "Save now, we beseech thee." And Hosanna in the highest means "Let prosperity in the highest degree attend him, let him have a name above every name, a throne above every throne." More than a cry of adoration, the multitude is honoring Jesus as King of kings and expressing their desire for His kingdom to prosper on earth.

I too sing "Hosanna in the highest!"