Stepping Out

This week I was reading the story of the Israelites, and their first encounter with the land of Canaan.  Remember that one?  They had escaped the brutal working conditions of Egypt, lived in the desert off of manna, and were finally getting their first glimpse of the Promised Land.  Should have been a joyful occasion, right?  God had already done so many miracles for them, after all.  No reason to think He wouldn’t continue to do so…..

Except that’s not how the story goes at all.  Twelve men go into Canaan, but all but two let fear prevent them from stepping out and claiming what God had promised them.

So are you one of the ten who see only the giants in your future, or the two who truly see your own Promised Land as God intended, flowing with milk and honey?

It’s hard to be a Joshua or a Caleb.  For one thing, you’re usually outnumbered – there are almost always plenty of people around you who see only the negative.  It takes courage to make that first step to explore the world, and ask God to give you His eyes to see the future.  It means acknowledging that there are giants in this new world, but also trusting that your God is bigger. 

If we do not step out in faith, we will curse ourselves to wandering in the desert, denying ourselves of the blessings of the promised land He has for us.  And if you miss your opportunity, like the Israelites did, you may not be able to go back and fix it.  (After their pity party about the big scary giants, and God’s rebuke, they attempted to go back and claim Canaan on their own.  BIG mistake.)

Here’s the good news:  God probably isn’t calling you to leap across the Grand Canyon, right off the bat.  We do not have to see each step of the entire journey – only the next one.  Then we trust Him to show us the one after that, and the one after that, and so on.  We are called not to giant leaps, but to baby steps in the right direction. 

Only when we are finally in our Promised Land will we be able to begin to fully appreciate the journey that we have taken – some things will make more sense only in perspective.  Still others may never make sense.  That’s okay, too.  Just take it one step at a time, and He’ll put all the pieces together. 

It won’t happen, though, unless you ignore your own fears and the naysayers in your life  --- and take that first step.   

Where is God calling you to step out in faith?  Let me know in the comments, and I’ll add you to my prayers.

“Do not dare not to dare”  C.S. Lewis

Time for an Alignment

This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who He is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time." John 6:40

Is your life in need of some realignment?


True alignment is when we are completely in tune with what our Father has for us, and we know the part that we play in His world. We are confident in our calling, using and developing the gifts and resources we have to impact the world around us. There is no hesitation, no doubt – only joy at doing the will of God.


Sounds great, doesn’t it? But be honest, is that really a description of you – ALL the time? Ummm……. not always, for me. Looking at the big picture, I think I could say that on the whole, I’ve aligned myself with God. But there are definite instances where I’m in need of a little realignment. Some fine tuning, if you will.


Here are the top three situations that knock me out of line:


When I take too much responsibility on my shoulders. God gives me the opportunity to be involved, and I attempt to take over. For example, God gives me an intercessory burden to pray for someone, and in my arrogance I become convinced that I must also help find a solution for them. That’s not at all what it means to be an intercessor. The fixing is up to God, I just ask and keep asking for His resolution – otherwise I’ll throw myself out of alignment.


When I’m easily distracted, reaching for something that is clearly (and for good reason) unreachable. This often occurs as a response to make myself into someone I’m not, often mimicking a well-respected mentor or teacher in my life. For years I prayed for God to make me more like one of the women in my church, whose gentle, peaceful nature was easily recognized by all. And then I realized - if God wanted me to act and be like her, He would have made me her twin. He needs both of us. My overreaching caused misalignment – and robbed both me and those around me of my own unique abilities.


When I’m not submissive to his timing. I may be fully involved doing what God has asked me to do, but I become impatient with His timetable, and I overstretch. I attempt to speed up the process, and do too much too fast. It’s beyond my current capabilities, and I end up like the runner who attempts to run a marathon on his first day of training – exhausted, burned out, and sore.


Thankfully, God is always available to fine-tune me, recentering me in His will. I love the Message translation of John 6:40, above – His desire is for me to be on my feet and alive at the end of time. Not crawling on my hands and knees to the finish line, not quitting halfway through the race – but on my feet, celebrating His victory.


It just may take a few (okay, several hundred) realignment sessions to get there. All part of the process!

I DID - AND I'D DO IT AGAIN

Eleven years ago…..

I stand at the back of the church chapel,  in the dress that made me cry the first time I put it on.  I can see my soon-to-be husband at the end of the aisle, and our eyes meet.  A few moments later I join him at the front of the church, and before our friends and family, I promise to love him forever, in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for richer or poorer. 

At the time, I remember thinking that there is no possibly way I could love him more.  As it turns out, though, I was wrong.

Saying “I do” is only the first step of commitment.  True commitment can only be evidenced over time, as you navigate the ups and downs of life together.  Handling the stress of bar exams and engineering certifications.  Examining the miracle of ten tiny little fingers and ten tiny little toes.  Walking through our first house together, wondering if we would ever be able to afford the furniture to fill it up.  Weeping over the loss of loved ones.  Being strong for the other when a career path is closed.  Getting up in the night for a diaper change, so that the other one can sleep.  And then later, helping the kids downstairs find some breakfast, so the other can sleep in a little bit.  Running to the store in the middle of the night to get medicine.  Birthing a company.  Driving miles each day to get to work, so that we will be provided for.  Cheering at a soccer game when you can’t feel your toes.

That’s love.  I was, quite frankly, clueless when I said “I do”.  Every year brings a deeper understanding of what it means to love and be loved.  True commitment is looking at the past, all the joys and sorrows, and saying “I’d do it again.”

Twenty-eight years ago….

It’s Easter Sunday, and I’m dressed in my finest Easter dress, with my hair beautifully curled under my Easter hat.  My friends have already been baptized in the first part of the church service.  I’m walking down the aisle.  I can see my pastor waiting for me at the end, just like we talked about.  And I’m ready to tell everyone in my church that I want Jesus in my heart.  I don’t understand all the mysteries of the Bible, I haven’t worked at my theology.  I just know that having Jesus in my heart sounds like a good idea, and He loves me.    So I make a commitment to follow after him.

On that Easter Sunday, I have no idea what God has in store for me.  There will be exhilarating days of joy, and heartbreaking days of sadness.  He will guide me to strong friends who will hold me accountable.  He will help me fall in love with music to express the joys of my soul.  He will introduce me to Ben, and forever join us together.  He will also ask me to give up my dreams so that He can replace them with His own.  He will allow me to enter the wasteland of depression, stripping down my pride until only the very essence of me is left. 

But looking back on all that we’ve been through together, good and bad, I can stand before Him and love Him even more.  Twenty-eight years ago, I told God “I will.”  And I’d do it again.  In a heartbeat.

How to Succeed in Business....

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and evaluating (Those of you who know me are shocked, I’m sure).  Scattered Seed is nearly three years old, and yet in many ways, it’s still such a newborn.   

Stepping out into your calling is hard work.  Figuring out exactly what it is you’re supposed to do, and who you’ll be doing it for.  Trying to do it all on your own, and then realizing the need to have other people involved, even if they’re “just” offering prayer support.  Hours and hours of researching, planning, evaluating. 

Over it all looms the question:  “AM I DOING THIS THE RIGHT WAY?”

And so I look around me to see what everyone else is doing, and compare myself to them.  Advice is everywhere - friends, colleagues, and of course, the giant pool of data that is the internet.  How should my fees be structured?  Should I blog?  And if so, how often?  About what?  If the work is there, should I expand and hire some help? 

The temptation to just imitate everyone else is strong.  Business models are a dime a dozen.  And it’s not like I don’t have the capability to make a marketing plan or start a newsletter. 

But then I remember:  If I modeled Scattered Seed after the world’s business principles, I’ve lost the most distinguishing factor I have.  This isn’t a normal business – it’s my ministry.  If Scattered Seed succumbed to all of the latest business principles and models, well…….. it would become a worldly business. That’s not what God intended for me.

And yes, some of the decisions I make may not make a lot of sense to everyone else.   And it may fly in the face of everything that I learned in my college business classes.  That’s okay.  At the end of the day, there’s only one question that matters:  Is this what God has told me to do? 

So if weeks go by, and there’s nothing new posted to the blog, there’s no need for me to worry.  I’m sure He’ll eventually give me something to share.  And if there’s a lull in my work load, it’s probably for a reason (like perhaps, rest for the upcoming onslaught).  God created Scattered Seed, not me.  And as long as I stick to His plan, it’ll be a success in His eyes. 

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within ME (and you!), will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  Philipians 1:6