Weakness is Weakness

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9

There it is. God uses our weaknesses. Christians everywhere agree. I mean, this verse makes it pretty clear. However, it seems to me that there is a huge difference in the way the Body of Christ views physical weaknesses versus emotional ones.

Physical weaknesses are the things we accept. Ligaments are torn. Lungs are asthmatic. Migraines can be inherited. We feel free to tell our brothers and sisters when we struggle with these things. We ask for prayer openly.

Emotional weaknesses are the things we hide. We plaster on a smile when all we want to do is cry. We fake it with small talk. We bury it beneath activities and full schedules. No one around knows about these weaknesses until the dam breaks and the flood threatens to sweep everything away.

This is wrong. And it is not only wrong, but it is also disastrous.

Fear. Depression. Loneliness. Anger. Anxiety. Addiction. All of these issues are real to the many people who struggle with them, but so few people want to admit that they are battling these overwhelming emotions. Why?

Is it sometimes because Christians lose their patience with these weaknesses? I don't think I've ever heard a Christian tell his brother or sister, "So what? Your back has been causing you pain for two years...Get over it, already! Suck it up and move that box!" But, do we treat people with emotional weaknesses with the same amount of patience and care? Or do we tell the fear-ridden: "That's a silly thing to be afraid of!" The lonely: "Stop focusing on yourself so much!" The anxious: "Put yourself out there!" The depressed: "You've got to get over this stuff and move on!"

Fact: God can use all weaknesses. Fact: The Body of Christ needs people, and people come in unlimited varieties with different strengths, hang ups, and weaknesses. God can use all physical and emotional weaknesses if we let Him. As one devotional I recently read mentioned, He will turn our MESS into His MESSAGE. He does not want us to remain where we are. He does not want us to remain bound to anger, depression, guilt, grief, or fear. And through HIS power, we will overcome.

The overcoming of weaknesses, whether physical or emotional is EQUALLY miraculous. Seeing a person who has struggled with blindness suddenly be able to see IS JUST AS miraculous as seeing a person who struggled with trust be able to love and let others in. It is God who is responsible for both miracles. It is God who comes in and transforms. If there is no difference in the miracles, then why do we treat people differently? Weakness is weakness.

Children's Church Lessons

This previous Sunday was my second run as a team leader for Children's Church. And while I believe that as a team, God is using us to teach the children of our church some things about Him and His Word, I also believe that He is using the children to teach us... or, at least teach me!

This week, we talked about following God's way. One specific Object Lesson was about following His way of compassion. I explained to the kids that compassion is feeling for someone else. You see someone else in pain or in need, and you feel for them. However, compassion doesn't stop there. Compassion is not JUST a feeling; it is an action. You see a need, and you do everything within your power to make it better or to make it right. Compassion doesn't merely notice the feelings of others, but it responds to those feelings in the appropriate way.

Seems simple enough, right?

Well, the lesson kind of hit home for me Sunday because of the actions of one of the precios boys that I am blessed to get to watch grow up. He was sitting on the front row with the others boys his age. After all young gentlemen had filed in, I noticed a new child sitting by himself on the back row. Already nervous about facing the strange experience of Children's Church, the boy was doubly nervous now. The only person he knew was one of the girls who was seated across the room and three rows ahead of him.

I went over to my friends' son and told him, "See that boy on the back row. Well, he's new, and he has not made any friends yet. Would you mind helping him feel included today?" Without hesitation or a second thought, he got up, walked to the back row, and sat down. After introducing himself, he asked the boy's name and stayed by his side the entire time. He even played on his team in a game, and when the competition was over and the two headed back to their seats, he patted him on the back and said, "You did really good."

And all of this took place BEFORE the Object Lesson on Compassion was taught. God works in mysterious ways, right?

It was simple to that child. A need was brought to his attention. He could do something about it. So, he did. End of story. No questions asked. No arguing. No, "Aw, why me?? This is really not a convenient time!" He felt for someone, and he did what was in his power to make it right.

How often do I do this? Do I see the needs around me as opportunities to show the love of Christ, or, do I care about others only to the extent that it does not mess with my plans or my neat little world? Am I filled with a love that does not allow me to stand still when things around me are wrong? Or, is compassion merely a feeling that does not extend to action? If so... it's basically worthless.

We can all learn alot from the children in our lives.

Nakedness

Ah, my shocking blog title has drawn you in... success!

There is a thought-provoking quote by C.S. Lewis in his book entitled The Four Loves which says, "Eros will have naked bodies; Friendship (will have) naked personalities." According to Webster's, the word Naked is defined as "Not covered by clothing; lacking embellishment; unarmed and defenseless; and devoid of concealment or disguise."

As I was thinking about this quote today, I realized that there are a select few people who witness my naked personality. These individuals get to experience a personality that is raw, stripped down, simple, lacking in pretense or defenses.

They know a woman who:
Over-reacts.
Is entirely too sensitive.
Gets frazzled easily.
Is racked with insecurity.
Has a knack for awkwardness.
Speaks without thinking first (often, unfortunately).
Questions herself and her motives.
Worries.
Wonders what her life will be about.

However, these same people who deal with the crazy conversations, the emotionallly upheaved phone calls, and the over-blown situational scenarios also get to witness something else entirely.

See, these same people also know a woman who:
Desires God to use her.
Values loyalty.
Loves fiercely.
Feels deeply.
Gladly bears the burdens of others.
Enjoys a good story and hearty laugh.
Wants to make a difference in the lives of those she knows.
Dreams big.

I have discovered that without nakedness people get nothing. Sure, they don't have to expose themselves to criticism or rejection, but they also are never known and therefore, never know others. Friendship, as C.S. Lewis wrote about it and as God intended it to be, takes the good with the bad.

Nakedness/Vulnerability is terrifying, but it is also necessary. It is necessary for love (as an action--not as a flighty feeling) to develop. It is necessary for healing to take place. It is necessary for others as much as it is for ourselves. Because, C.S. Lewis also pointed something else out about relationships when he wrote, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

I have a hard time believing that I am the only sensitive, over-reactor in the world. I have a hard time believing that I am the only one who sometimes feels insecure and less than enough.

I have a hard time believing that other people don't need to know that they are not alone.

So, the question is: Who have you been naked with lately?

Unstoppable

If I were to take a poll, how many people would have heard of a Hoplite Phalanx? Like, one or two. Ok, different question, how many people have seen the film 300 or know even a smidge about Spartan culture and combat? Plenty. Plenty of people have seen the film or know about this Greek City-State's fascination, nay, obsession with military might and strength. Therefore, plenty of people know what a Hoplite Phalanx is.

A Hoplite Phalanx is a military term. I am no military history fanatic, but bear with me... Basicaly, lines of men would stand right next to eachother. Line after line of men would form a phalanx. In this unit, each man would hold his shield on his left arm. Meaning, that alone, only the left half of his body would be covered. However, in the phalanx, he was secure and protected. As long as every Spartan soldier held his shield up, the man next to him was COMPLETELY protected. The entire front of his body was covered by, not only his own shield, but also by his brother's shield.

In all actuality, Spartan soldiers had no different weapons than their Greek counterparts. It wasn't individual skill that made them a sight to behold on the battlefield. As individuals, they were ordinary. As a unit, they were unstoppable. Spartans understood this. That is why, at a ridiculously young age, boys were brought to barracks to live. They ate, trained, and grew up inside a tight unit. These were the family they chose.

My mind has been going back to the phalanx recently. And, I could not escape how it can really represent a beautiful aspect of the Church. The body of believers is really the family WE choose. They are our non-blood related sisters and brothers, our spiritual mothers and fathers. They are the people that we grow with. They've seen us young in our Christian walk. They've watched us mature. And, they face battles alongside us.

More importantly, the phalanx shows that for the Church to be unstoppable, we must begin to work as a unit. We cannot merely cover our own butts with a shield and expect a victory. No, we have to worry about the brother (or sister) next to us. No one soldier is more valuable than the other. That is not to say that we lose our individuality in the body of believers! Absolutely not! God made each and every one of us INDIVIDUALLY. Notice this: In ancient Sparta, each soldier had to be well trained and well prepared. If they could not carry a shield or did not have the courage to stand against an onslaught, the entire phalanx was put at risk. Each Spartan had to be at their best, but not for the glory of themselves. It was for the glory of Sparta. The phalanx was made up of individuals who each had a role to play and gave themselves entirely to that calling. The same should be true for us...

Each individual has gifts and talents. Each individual has a calling by God. However, it is not for our glory, but for the glory of Christ. No one person is so special that they no longer are required to look out for the men and women around them. To be unstoppable, we must begin to protect, not only ourselves and our own interests, but the interests of the family we have chosen.

Culinary Chronicles: Afternoon Trip to India

Whenever I am home alone, I enjoy cooking without exactly knowing what I am trying to do. I can crank up the music and just go at it: chopping, seasoning, and mixing. No one is counting on it for a meal (besides me...and I can run to a drive through in case of a disaster!). This past weekend I tried my hand at a chicken currry and mixed veggies. Result: Success!



All you need to complete this recipe is boneless skinless chicken breasts, curry seasoning, olive oil, and fresh veggies. I chose raw mushrooms, three types of peppers, fresh garlic, and onion. I sauteed them until they were nice and soft (which is my personal preference). Then, I cooked up my chicken chunks which had been soaked in olive oil and curry seasoning for about thirty minutes.



To add to the deliciousness, I bought some Naan bread from the store. If you ever cook Indian or Moroccan, buy some Naan bread!! Seriously, you'll be glad you did. You can brush it with olive oil and garlic powder or you can just toast it in the oven like I did this time. I figured that would be alotta garlic since I already had the fresh variety in the veggies! :)



Once everything is cooked, you can serve the dish over lettuce leaves, or merely on a plate. Honestly, I felt like being a little dramatic! :) Warning: The curry smell will take over the kitchen...and the rest of the house!

Enjoy the deliciousness! :)

Rings

While headed to work recently, I got caught behind a logging truck. Stacked on top of each other, tree trunks were displayed for the entire world to see. Each one showcased a distinct ring in its center. I realized that when I was younger, I knew what those rings meant. After a few minutes of internet research, the meaning was rediscovered. According to an online resource, the rings on a tree do oh so much more than tell its age. On one website, a tree was studied and researchers said, “This tree is 62 years old. It’s been through fire and drought, plague and plenty. And all of this is recorded in its rings.” It is not just the measurable years that show in a tree’s rings—it’s the conditions. It’s the harsh, the temperate, the pleasurable, and the barely-survivable.

Sometimes I think that our hearts show our age the way the rings of a tree do. Our hearts are scarred, darkened, or refreshed all depending on the seasons we’ve survived or thrived through. We hold deep dark wounds from periods of drought, periods where love was too little and the pressures of life were too intense. We all have lighter years where blessings and joy seems to flow like a steady, pleasant rain. The truth is, we all show age—not because of our measurable years but because of our experiences and our environments. Bitterness and burdens add years to the heart.

I think this is what God does when He makes us new. Sure, He can change our circumstances. He can change and restore our relationships. He can heal us in a physical sense. But, I like to think that God is really in the business of making hearts new. He can remove the hurt and harm. He can transform the dark years that were plagued by dryness and doubt. He can take a heart that has been bruised and broken, a heart that is aged in the worst sense of the word, and make it brand new.

Culinary Chronicles: Berry Awesomeness

I have never used puff pastry in a dessert before. Ok, in all honesty, I have never used puff pastry for anything, but I have always wanted to try working with it in a dessert.



Puff pastry sheets are found in the frozen food section (near the pie shells). While unfolding the sheet that had been in the freezer for about a week, the three sections broke. I decided just to go with it and make individual desserts instead of one big dish. They have to thaw for about forty minutes (I just thawed them until they started to get all doughy) before baking for 15-20 minutes.



Don't even try to tell me that those don't look like little pieces of fluffy heaven. I used an egg wash to give them that pretty golden brown coloring on the top. They are perfectly flaky, and the smell... well, let's just say I had a hard time preparing the other parts of the dessert because of it! :)



Since it is Summer, I decided to use strawberries and blueberries. I love strawberries (a rarity for me, because I am not normally a huge fruit advocate), and my parents like blueberries. Also, they are pretty little berries, in my opinion.



Come on, tell me you don't think they are a lovely fruit! I suspect they are even lovelier covered in vanilla pudding. No, not instant vanilla pudding or the kind in the plastic cups that end up in little kid's lunches, but vanilla pudding cooked slow and steady on the stove. It tastes like the custard in my grandma's homemade banana pudding. Once you have tasted it, instant is no longer even a possibility... it changes everything. No lie!



The finished product. Layers of puff pastry separated by strawberries, blueberries, and pudding with a little cool whip for good measure. Experiment a success!

Enjoy the deliciousness! :)