For When You're Ready to Realize That Complaining Doesn't Change Anything

Thankfulness.

Joy.

Blessings.

Gifts.

One day, I picked up Ann Voskamp’s book 1000 Gifts. Amazon recommended it to me, so I gave it a try. (I’m going to make a blog post soon about all the fantastic books I’m reading/have read recently, and this will be one of them. But for now, I just want to tell you about it briefly, because it’s critical for the rest of this entry.)

Ann Voskamp’s whole thing is counting the gifts that God gives. It’s thanksgiving for the seemingly small- and discovering that joy is possible. Giving thanks in all things (good, bad, ugly) teaches contentment in all things. Content in all things= joy.

Yes, I was wanting some of that joy. So I gave her Joy Dare a try. You count three gifts everyday for a year and at the end, you have 1000 gifts. (Then you keep counting!) And honestly, it’s March and I am still doing the dare. In the giving thanks for all things, it becomes like an instinct. It’s all about trying to change the response from complaining to thanking.

Someone asked me about joy last night. I told them really briefly about this. How I’m trying it, it’s changing the way I think, etc.

Then the challenge came.

Today, maybe instead of complaining at anything and everything, we could just give a little thanks?

That was my facebook status this morning. I’d like to say that, after making this status, everything was peachy and I felt like I was on cloud nine all day. But I wasn’t. I am, however, still smiling after a crazy weird day and it’s all because of Him and the giving of thanks.

I literally get in my car and turn the corner, where a terribly long traffic light is. It was red. And the train was coming, which means I’d have to sit there for over two minutes waiting. Yup, I timed it before. I roll my eyes and STOP. Give thanks, Vanessa.

God, thank you that this light is red. I guess if this light wasn’t here I’d probably get in an accident. Okay, red light, I’ll give thanks for you too. 

No lie, the light turned green. I was able to turn before the train came. 

I laughed out loud in the car.

A gift.

I get to work and Sister Stephanie had bought me a donut. Gift.

Silly playing with preschoolers. Gift. 

Laughter. Gift.

A job. Gift.

After work, I go to college. I had a test today. I’m on the road and I see a sign: Detour. There was an accident on the ramp that I use to get on the highway. A huge tractor trailer was practically upside down. 

I sighed heavy. Now I have to go another way. I don’t know if I’ll make it in time for class. And this is the teacher who is always grumpy and refuses to let the late kids come into class. Super.

But I STOPPED. Deep breath. Give thanks. 

God, thank you that I wasn’t in that accident. Thank you that I know another way to get to school. Thank you that I am actually remembering to give thanks right now. Okay, detour, I can give thanks for you too.

I prayed that God protected whoever was in that accident and I just kept driving. And, just so you know, I actually got to school 5 minutes earlier than I usually do. Gift. Give thanks.

Test. Another opportunity to complain or give thanks. This teacher’s tests are so hard. And there was a question I wasn’t too sure about. And of course, it’s a duplicate question. So if I get it wrong once, I’m gonna get it wrong the second time too. 

Great, I thought to myself. So I put down my gut-answer for both and said a little thanks in my head. After class, I checked in my notes and *ding ding ding* I got it right! Gift. Give thanks.

My mom said she saw some bathing suits at Marshall’s. So after class, I went. Well, me and bathing suits aren’t the best of friends. I looked in the mirror and wanted to complain. Surprisingly, this was the hardest of all to give thanks for. It doesn’t look right. It’s too big here, to small here, that looks so bad, that’s more than I want to spend, etc. And I just complain complain complain. 

You know what I’m learning though? 

Complaining doesn’t change anything. 

It doesn’t change the situation and it doesn’t change the attitude and it doesn’t make this spirit of heaviness go away. It doesn’t bring joy.

Here’s the secret: Thanks is what changes things. 

Thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you 

who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 

~1 Thessalonians 5:18

Now, thanks can’t always change the situation. 

I cannot give so much thanks that suddenly the bathing suits all fit me and look perfect. I cannot give thanks and that car accident be undone. BUT, I can give thanks, and my attitude can change. My perspective can change. 

See, thanks is changing me. 

Maybe you too, could give a little thanks? 

I can’t promise it’ll make you hit only green lights and look like an Olympic gymnast, but I can promise that it will change you. It will change your perspective.

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, 

or, whine, Israel, saying, “God has lost track of me. 

He doesn’t care what happens to me”? 

Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? 

God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. 

He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. 

He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. 

And he knows everything, inside and out....” 

~Isaiah 40:27-28

When the American Dream Isn't Enough

I just came to this beautiful conclusion. God has brought me to this most perfect place.

It's so good that I smiled- LAUGHED- in the shower. I wanted to get out, with shampoo still in my hair, and write it all down before I forgot. But I don't think I'll be forgetting this anytime soon.

You see, I can no longer contain this fire that has been shut up in my bones.

I realized that I'm done with passive Christianity. I'm done caring about what others think of me. I'm done laughing at things that aren't funny. I'm done trying to fit God into a box, a book, a part of my life. I'm done with being just good enough. I'm done pretending that I have all the answers. And I'm done pretending like it's all about the American dream.

Because it's not.

I don't want the American dream- if it means I have to water down my "Christianity".
I don't want the 9 to 5 job- if it means I'll be chained to it, like a hamster on a wheel.
I don't want the 2 car garage, house in the suburbs- if it means I won't be able to find the time and money to extravagantly bless someone.
I don't want some puffy status- if it means I'll have to gossip and pretend to be something I'm not.
I don't just want to wake up, rush to work, rush home, eat, watch my favorite show, go to bed and repeat, repeat, repeat- if I never leave room for God to shake me up.

I don't want that life. I don't want to be a passive Christian, filling up a pew, saying my "Amen," but never radically committing to following Christ.

There's the word I've been looking for: RADICAL.

When someone says radical, I get a little scared. 
If you're anything like me, you may think it sounds kind of dangerous.

That's because it is.

Radical faith is the kind that changes things. It's the faith that martyrs die for. It's the messy, give-thanks-in-all-circumstances-faith.

I'm naturally pretty introverted and shy. I'd use the excuse "Oh, God made me this way so He understands if I'm not radical." Yeah, I said that sorta thing a lot.

But He has called me, yes even me, to be radical. And He has called you too.

Allow me to digress for a minute...

Have you ever painted a preschooler's hands? More specifically, have you ever cleaned the paint off of a preschooler's hands?

I have. It's messy and goes like this:

"Okay now *insert preschoolers name* I'm going to move this chair by the sink and help you up. DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING. Here's some soap. Let's rub a little. Don't splash. Let's get all that yellow paint off!"

But it never fails. There will still be paint on something before you're done! On their clothes, on the counter, on the sink, on you. They leave a little evidence of their painted hands everywhere.

And I've been thinking that the messy trail of paint is really how we're supposed to be living our lives. We're supposed to leave evidence of God's radical love everywhere we go- on anyone and anything that we touch.

We speak to our neighbor, they should see the evidence of your Christian life.
We go to the bank, they should see the paint splatter.
We go to our jobs, our parties, our churches, our schools, our grocery stores- they should all see the love-trail that we're leaving, like the bright yellow paint.

If we lived, loved, like that, radically, then wouldn't all those we come in contact with know where to find God?!

Couldn't they see the trail, follow the tracks of bright yellow paint, and find that they were led right to the love of God, living and burning radically on the inside of us?

The American dream isn't enough for me anymore. I'm living radically.

Making My Thoughts a Sanctuary

I’m at Wegmans. I am eating a 6 dollar fruit salad.

I don’t know why I felt the need to tell you that, except for the fact that I have NO idea how to start this entry. Which is funny for me, because usually it’s not this hard.

I’m not sure how to start because I don’t want my words to be misinterpreted. I don’t want you to read this and think that I’m judging you. Because I’m not.

I’ve been fighting writing this for a while, but right now it feels like I won’t have rest until I say it.

I read this quote the other day and it really helped bring clarity for me, giving me the confidence to write this post.

“God tells us to make a sanctuary of our thoughts in which He can dwell.” 

~AW Tozer

That’s what I’ve been doing. I’m trying to make a sanctuary of my thoughts. Instead of filling my mind with: hours of TV, songs with disgusting messages, and that hamster-wheel of worry... I’m trying to fill my mind with peace, joy, and all things that glorify God.

It’s a constant struggle. Stand up, take a few steps, fall over. Repeat. I praised God in this moment, then complained in the next. I’m not trying to be perfect, but I’m trying to be better than I was yesterday, or even a few minutes ago. 

One day last year, I just decided that I’d stop listening to “worldly music.” I didn’t tell anyone. I just quit. And now, I feel like it is one of the best decisions I ever made. 

Now, after “fasting” for so long, I can see what it was doing to me. I can see the toll it took on my mind. 

There are songs that are so blatantly against the things of God- and I don’t think that people of God should be listening to them. 

That’s just my opinion. 

Philippians 4:8 pretty much says it all: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

It’s not just my opinion now. Now it’s God’s Word, commanding that you and I think on things that are worthy of praise. I’m sorry (not sorry) to be the one to tell you that God requires more from you if you are to bear His name. 

We need to bring glory to God by the way we live our lives. 

This includes the music that we listen to.

I’m not saying that you have to be like me. 

I’m not even saying you have to cut it out entirely. 

All I’m trying to say is: Are you making your thoughts a sanctuary? a place where God can dwell?

Names, Lambs, and Provision (This Could Change Your Life)

In this quest of mine to actually know Scripture, to hide His Word in my heart, I'm discovering who God really is. I'm learning more about His character because it's His story all throughout the Bible. It's God orchestrating it all- all for His glory.

I decided to learn what those names of God really mean. 
You know... Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shammah, etc.

So I would google a name each day and discover not only what it meant and where it is in the Bible, but also what that means for me. See, God is true to character. Those names are His identity. Who He was to the Israelites during the Exodus, is the same today. Right now. I find such comfort in that thought.

I think that maybe the most common or famous of His names is Jehovah Jireh. It seems like that's what everyone goes to during a hard time. If we know someone who's having a crisis, we say, "Oh He's Jehovah Jireh, He'll meet your needs." And it gets said so often, without even really thinking about it. 

Don't get me wrong. He does meet your needs and I think you should go on saying it, but maybe, not without actually learning the meaning behind the name in the first place.

Jehovah Jireh literally means "God who sees and meets needs."

It appears only once in the Old Testament and it is when Abraham is about to sacrifice his son Isaac. Yes, sacrifice. God was testing Abraham's faith, something Abraham would later become known by. But God sent an angel to stop Abraham and to basically tell him that he passed the test. God sent a lamb for Abraham to sacrifice instead. 

So Abraham named that place The Lord Provides. 

Even today people say, 

“On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

(Genesis 22:14) 

Abraham didn't have to sacrifice his only son on that hill because God provided. Jehovah Jireh.

Here's the part that struck me, the part I really want you to get:

God did not just see the need and provide a lamb for that moment. 

Jehovah Jireh sent THE LAMB, Jesus, years later- to die on a hill. The only Son, the perfect Lamb of God, died in Isaac's place. In our place. 

It's God's love that sent Jesus. It's Jesus' love that went willingly. 
It's the death on the cross and the resurrection that saved us and redeemed us. God saw the need and provided.

So here's my request: The next time you proclaim that God is Jehovah Jireh, remember that no need is too great for Him. He went so far as to sacrifice His only Son to meet Abraham's need. To meet our need.

What I Really Want You to Know This Christmas (And All Year)

Nothing is impossible with God.

No really, nothing.

That’s what the angel told Mary right after he said that she would give birth to Jesus. Savior-of-the-world-Jesus.

But before all that, the angel Gabriel went to Zechariah, husband to Elizabeth, who was a relative of Mary’s. Gabriel told Zechariah: Dude, your wife is going to have a baby, even though you’re both old. 

Well, the Bible says “well along in years” but it's the same thing basically. (Luke 1:7) 

The baby would be named John. 

John the Baptist.

Zechariah, like any human being, was a little skeptical. He wanted to know how he could be sure. Because he didn’t believe, the angel caused Zechariah to become mute until his child would be born.

So fast-forward a bit. Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant now. 

Gabriel, the angel, visits Mary. He tells her that she’s going to have a baby who “will be called the Son of the Most High God” (verse 32). Mary wanted to know how this would happen... 

The angel explained and then said in verses 36 and 37: “Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who is said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Nothing is impossible with God. 

The fact is that the angel proved it by saying that Mary’s old family member was pregnant too. Mary wasn’t alone. And this crazy thing that the angel was saying-was actually quite possible.

For nothing is impossible with God.

This Christmas, I want you to know that God sent Jesus as a gift for your salvation. 

I want you to know that He is the only reason for the season. 

I want you to celebrate those things.

But I also want you to celebrate the fact that nothing is impossible with God. Nothing.

You're not outside His reach. He is beside you always, drawing you close.

Your cancer is not too bad. He is stronger than your sickness.

Your finances are not too tight. God is more than enough.

Your heart is not too broken. He is the Mender of Broken Hearts.

Your life is not too messed up. He is the Life-Redeemer.

You are not too______. God is everything you need.

No more looking at your life through the lens of doom. 

Take off those ridiculous blinders. Let the scales fall from your eyes.

Jesus is bringing sight. 

Sight for all of the miracles He is doing in your life daily. 

Let the New Year be one of new vision, as you see things as God sees them. 

Nothing is impossible with God.

Bragging- The Only Good Kind

My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
    of your saving acts all day long—
    though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,
    for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

~Psalms 71:8, 15-17, 24

Psalms 71 is one of my favorite chapters. I have a bunch of markings all over it. 

I’ve underlined so much- and circled phrases that stood out to me.

[Side Note: If you want to start reading your Bible, but don’t know where to start, try Psalms. It’s so relatable.]

So anyways, I’ve read this chapter dozens of times and this time, I learned something new. Those verses stood out to me, not because they were underlined or circled, but because they all talk about God-bragging. Each verse boasts about God’s splendor, righteousness, salvation, mighty acts, marvelous deeds, etc.

God-bragging.

We know that bragging about ourselves is not very classy, but bragging about God?... Oh, it’s more than classy!

Did you know that we’re actually supposed to brag about God?

God says in Jeremiah 9:24, “If you brag, brag of this and this only: That you understand and know me. I’m God, and I act in loyal love. I do what’s right and set things right and fair, and delight in those who do the same things. These are my trademarks.”

He wants us to brag about Him, 

praise Him, 

and thank Him 

for all He is, 

all He’s done, 

and all He will do.

Praise Him for His loyalty, His righteousness, His amazing acts. 

Don’t you think He’s deserving?

He saved you from yourself. Brag about Him.

He redeemed and freed you. Brag about Him. 

He picked you up and carried you. Brag about Him.

He healed you. Brag about Him.

He called you by name. Brag about Him.

“Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, 

who has become for us wisdom from God. 

In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, 

and have been set free from sin. So, as the Scripture says, 

‘If people want to brag, they should brag only about the Lord.’” 

~1 Corinthians 1:30-31

God Can Use You

If you read this title and said  Amen, He uses me, then I want you to keep reading.

If you read this title and said Amen, but thought to yourself Me? He can’t use me. I don’t even have any talents. I can’t even do anything, then I really want you to keep reading.

You see, I’ll be brave enough to say that at one point, I didn’t think God could use me. This might sound like I’m fishing for compliments, but believe me, I’m not. 

Use ME, God?

Yeah, that’s funny.

I’m not super talented. I’m average.

I’m not funny. I’m corny.

I’m not bold. I get too scared.

There’s way too many things I can’t do. 

Then I read it. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Then I read it again.

But he said to me, 

“My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, 

my power is made perfect in you.” 

So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. 

Then Christ’s power can live in me. 

~2 Corinthians 12:9

And for some reason, when I read it that time, I got it.

I understood that God can indeed use me.

In fact, Christ’s power can LIVE IN ME.

I have to focus on Christ in me, the Hope of Glory- not on the me in me.

I have to focus on His Word, not mine.

I have to focus on His power, not mine.

Those things I said about myself are true. I am average, corny, and timid. But it’s totally not even about that at all. It’s not about me. It’s Christ in me! 

No matter what you are (funny, corny, talented, not talented, shy, bold, old, young, sick, healthy) - it doesn’t matter. The people who are using their talents for His glory, that you idolize, are only doing it through His power too. Just like you. He takes your ordinary life and makes it all for His glory. He makes it extraordinary.

Because when Christ lives in you, He changes everything. 

You+His power= Perfectly Usable.

Yes, you the child.

Yes, you the teenager.

Yes, you the young adult.

Yes, you *cough* old-ER person. 

Yes, you who is sick in bed.

Yes, you the teacher. The accountant. The secretary. The stay-at-home mom.

Yes, you on the stage singing and preaching.

Yes, you in the back, trying to not be seen.

Yes, you who still doesn’t believe me, with all your quirks and doubts, 

God can use you.

Yes, YOU.

I dare you: Quit thinking that God can't use you because you're not _____ enough. It's not even about you, it's Christ in you.