B to the O-L-D

Today's diving in to how to live BOLD in love we talk about the B- Believe. I don't think there was ever a better example of belief in my life than my Grandmother, Patricia. Referring to yesterday's post, down to her very roots she knew who she was, and she knew what in life made her most happy- serving others. She was a quiet and soft spoken woman who's heart was truly the servant of God. This photo is one of very few I have left of her. She passes away in 1998 from breast cancer. That third photo over her left shoulder is me. She had each of her children's families and grandchildren's portraits on display equally, so no one ever felt favorited. She was compassion, and grace. When she was receiving chemo my mom was very cautious about bringing us around to visit her, because little kids are always carriers of some bug. But, my Grandma lived by faith and she believed God would protect her; she wouldn't get sick unless she was supposed to. So, she never let worry keep her from kissing us all over!

Have you ever met someone like that? Someone who is so obviously a believer and follower of Jesus that when it would be so easy for them to protect themselves they chose to put their well being on the line because they wanted to be there for others? (note; this is NOT an endorsement for abusive or harmful relationships. As a survivor of abuse do not try and love your abuser into wellness. It does not work.) This is those moments when it would be easier to just stay home and do "you", but you instead choose to go deliver a meal to a family who's mother has been under the weather. This is that moment when its raining and there is an older woman carrying her groceries alone, so you step in and help her get to the car dry and you get soaked while loading those groceries for her. This is those moments when what we believe becomes the way we live.

So what do you believe?

If you have found your faith in Jesus Christ, then you know part of our belief is a call to action. A call to live a life that sets us apart from others, just by the deeds we do daily. The key to living boldly, and having a belief that transcends the day to day in order to touch the lives of others is so simple.... it is LOVE. Love is the language that doesn't need words, it is felt and defined by our souls. If you have accepted Christ's love for you- that is step 1. If you have chosen a life that follows His teachings- that is step 2. Step 3 gets a little tricky it is action required because you "believe". I once had a Spanish Professor who told me that when examining our knowledge we should always look at the photograph not the mirror. She would joke that in the mirror she was still a 20-something swimsuit clad "hot stuff".... but in photographs she was a 40-something who ate too much Ben and Jerry's and needed to hit the gym. We can often lie to ourselves when we are self examining, but a photograph is more truthful. If you had paparazzi following you around today snapping photos of each of the mundane tasks that make up your routine, what would they see? Would the see you believing that God is going to get you to work right when you are supposed to get there... even if you get stuck in traffic? Would they see you using your belief to spread joy to someone who is struggling? Would your belief in a mighty God be visible in the steps you take, or the words you choose? How can you deepen you belief in Christ so that when those snap shots are taken you are seen listening, praying, patiently waiting and believing the answer, opportunity, lesson, or blessing is already on it's way? 

Have you had a taste of that Living Water today? Has your bible been cracked? Has your head bowed, even for a short pause? Have you shown love to someone today, whether they deserved it or not? Just like God called "the least of these" to write this blog, He invites us to love the least of these because we have all been"less than" once. Be that flower. Let your roots grow deep and long! Soak up the eternal springs of goodness, and let your faith be so well rooted that when those daily tasks shake us up, our belief is what spills out, not our emotions or tempers. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but those who choose not to believe have condemned themselves because they did not believe in the name of God's only son" John 3:18 

As the Lent season begins tomorrow my homework for each of you is to make a mental note to choose to believe God will come through in at least one situation this week you would normally take upon yourself to solve. Last night I had the joy of speaking with a dear friend who just moved to Japan. She told me that one of her worries with raising a 2 year old and twin 9month olds was how to break her 2 year old of a pacifier without breaking her heart, since her time is now juggled between 3 small people with big needs. So she prayed about it, she believed God would take care of it because she didn't have the answer. Then one day her daughter just dropped the pacifier and was done. She laughed and told me that taking time to notice when God has stepped in to answer a prayer like that is half the battle most days because she is just busy. Most of us would not think to even ask God for something so small. I would probably have googled it and read 3 articles on it before I even thought to pray about it. (no judging I am being honest here, remember?). But there is our loving Father, looking down from heaven more than capable of helping with every need, every pacifier, and every situation. The big ones and the small ones all matter to Him.

So there you go! Believe, it is so easy! Know truth, read God's word, and grow. Watch for the next blog post about Offering the O in the B.O.L.D. for Christ series.

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B to the O-L-D

Being BOLD in Love

I had to laugh at the Lord when this blog post was put on my heart about a week ago. If you have two eye balls and a Facebook account there is no doubt that you have seen lots of "bold" things posted in the last several weeks. Some of them the kind of bold that impassions us, and others the kind of boldness that makes us blush or slightly enraged. Either way, it is undeniable that social media has become a mixing pot of steam and emotion. What new take on boldness could I possibly offer? 

Like with anything Jesus presses on my heart, I have to ask myself, "Ok God, so what now?". About that time I found this beautiful quote from Willian Wordsworth ""How does the Meadow flower its bloom unfold? Because the lovely little flower is free down to its root, and in that freedom bold.” Did you catch that last part?? The flower is free- DOWN TO ITS ROOTS- and that makes it bold. In America we are free. That is a gift that was bought with the blood and sweat of many good men and women who came before us. What are we doing with that freedom? Is there something in your life that has enslaved you in a way that your roots are begging to be nourished again? Your heart is longing for fresh sunlight and a new day? Are your schedules so full that you are withering under the weight of your week? Has your cellphone replaced your loved ones and you get trapped "Capturing" life instead of breathing it in? Have political battles made you want to delete your social media accounts all together? I think our entire generation;  this NOW generation, I refuse to use the term millennials because it is too broad and trendy, is the last generation to remember what life was like before social media. Life with roller blades, skinned knees and catching bumble bee's in old butter tubs. Life before teens tweeted every silly thought that went through their emotional pre-pubescent heads. The last group of adults who actually got to be children, sheltered from the "who's who" news of Hollywood and the clash of ugly political battles. 

Raising three small children today I can assure you, there are thieves everywhere who want to steal your childs innocence, and never in history have they had more direct access to so many young and beautiful minds. Children have Ipad's they Skype with one another, they Face Time, my 4 year old can use Facebook Messenger but he has no idea how to wipe his own hiney (that is not from lack of trying). In our military life, technology is a huge blessing. When the need arises we love being able to use all these things to make our loved ones feel near, even when they are a word away. But, I am also saying that with all this technology and access to thousands of "stories", emotionally driven "click bait" is everywhere and the more they rile up your emotions the more a story gets shared. Before you know it the dialog has little to do with facts and we are all putting our belief in something very biased. Literally everything has become subjective. If we don't act NOW and change the dialog what will our history books read when our children are learning about today?

Here is the good news- we know TRUTH (John 8:32). We know Jesus (John3:16), We know that this world is broken (Ecclesiastes 8:8), We know that in HIM we are whole (Acts 17:28). We know we were created to be in this world but not of it! (Romans 12:2) We know that all the things of this world will fall away but our God is eternal (1 John 2:17).

(someday I am sure she will be angry I used this photo, but it fits my theme so perfectly!)

 I want to begin a 4 part look in to how we can live a life that is B.O.L.D. for Christ, but one that is lived with such love that those who appose our beliefs are brought closer to us through our differences. Lets loop back to that bold little flower for a minute- can we empower each other to be bold? Can we agree that although inherently beautiful, flowers are delicate and they need protecting, they are easily smashed, plucked, or wither without enough sunlight. It's a perfect balance of minerals in the soil that nourish it's roots, water that feeds it's soul and sunlight that pushes it to grow. Open your heart the next few weeks, let light shine on the areas you've been hiding. Let your roots stretch deeper as you get to know God and yourself a little more. Let the living water of Jesus Christ rain down on you and remind you that you are His beloved and you can do ALL things through him. Be BOLD little flower, your seedlings are watching you bloom. 

I argued with God on my ability, or inability. to even speak on this topic, I was met with a swift kick and a reminder with several verses that sometimes God calls the "least of these" for great things. So here I am first B.O.L.D. post coming tomorrow so keep a look out for it. 

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Being BOLD in Love