Gatlinburg and Humility....

Mike and I drove up to Gatlinburg, TN last week for a couple of days of hiking in the mountains.  We wanted to get away, but didn't have much money to spend, so we just "Pricelined" a couple of hotels (Priceline is my very favorite new "find"! -- Thanks to my oldest son, Derek), packed some sandwiches and drove up into the mountains. We hardly spent any money, and had a beautiful trip.  Our friends, Ron and Cindy Melcher live in the area, so they came over for dinner one night and we got some amazing BBQ, then walked the G'burg strip at night, stopping for fudge at one of those cute little candy stores, and for the free moonshine tasting at the "Old Smokey Mountain Moonshine Factory".....   LOVE me some G'burg!!

Found this old post of mine on Humility and thought I would re-post this morning.  Being up in those majestic Smoky Mountains sure made me feel "humble".  God's greatness and grandeur made me get weepy up on top of those mountains.  I felt so small and insignificant, yet at the same time so precious, protected and special.  Humility.....

"Humility is a strange thing.  The minute you think you've got it, you've lost it. 

Understanding, deep within our soul, that God is in charge of our life removes our fear and anxiety.  Quietly, then, we receive the gift of humility.

The realization that we are only responsible for our own actions lifts a great burden from our shoulders.  We know humility each time we agree to let God take charge of the rest.  The burden of all outcomes is rightly God's.

Humility teaches us that we will know just what we need to know at the moment we need it -- now and in the future.  These moments that are claiming our attention now are all we need be concerned with.  God will offer us every message we need in the quiet of our soul when the time is right.  We can be at ease.

Today I will humbly accept my responsibilities in life and be glad that God will take care of the rest."


Because I struggle with self-confidence on a daily basis, I thought I had humility in the bag.  But after reading this, I realized that I still have a long way to go on that.  Why?  Well because....

1. I still want to carry the burden of all outcomes.  (silly me)

2. I want God to clue me in on His plans ahead of time.  "C'mon God, we partners, right?   I don't want to be on a 'need to know' basis!  Give me the road map of the future NOW so I know what's coming around the corner!" -- Sigh.  I guess I DO need to work on some humility.

   I will say that I've been making a strong effort this week to adjust my thinking and TRULY turn some things over to God that have been in my tight grasp for awhile now.   It certainlyhas made my heart a little lighter to know that I gave those things away and I truly don't have to carry them around anymore.

How about you guys?  Have you been desperately holding on to something that you were hesitant to turn over to God because you were afraid that He might not handle it the way YOU wanted it to be handled?   It ain't easy sometimes, that's for sure.    Just try loosening your grip this week on ONE thing that you've been desperately holding on to.  Watch and see how much lighter your burden feels.  God's got it.  He does.  And what I've found is that usually His plans for ANY situation are SOOOO much cooler than the ones I had!

Ya'll have a great weekend!

How do YOU see God?

"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." - A. W. Tozer

Lately I've become acutely aware that calling yourself a "Christian" doesn't necessarily give someone an accurate picture of how or what you believe.  Growing up as a southern baptist in little Arkadelphia, Arkansas, I led a pretty sheltered life.  I thought all "Christians" believed the same thing.  That they all shared the same moral code and value system.   I knew that there were a few little differences.  For instance, those Methodists didn't believe in dunking you under water... they thought sprinkling a few drops on your head was enough!  How crazy, right?!!  And the Church of Christ didn't believe in using instrumental music in the church service and thought you had to take the Lord's supper EVERY Sunday!  Bizarre!!   AND the Catholics believed you could go in some little booth and confess all your sins that week to the priest and you'd be "forgiven".  NUTS!!!   Thank goodness I was one of the "normal" baptists who had it all figured out. Ha!  

Well, I WISH those little differences where the only things that "Christians" were arguing about today. It seems the little cracks in our belief systems that used to separate us have become a grand canyon in which there is no way to join together anymore.   The saddest thing is that it must be extra confusing for non-Christians.  How the HECK are they supposed to know what Christians believe when WE don't seem to be able to agree on it anymore?   Sigh....

I've been reading Pete Wilson's book "Empty Promises", and I've been on chapter 10 this week -- "You Are What You Worship"... and he talks about worshipping "an accurate picture of God so you can reflect an accurate image of God."    I guess that's the main problem we are facing.  Everyone has their own "image" of God.  

     Do you see God as a cosmic cop waiting for you and others to screw up?  If so, you may spend your life walking on eggshells.
     Do you see God as an impatient father withholding his love from you until you finally become "good enough"?  You may never stop jumping through hoops, trying to make him happy.
     Do you see him as a heavenly concierge whose main concern is your comfort?  You may resent him for not doing his job.
     Do you believe he thinks and acts like you?  Chances are, you'll be confused most of the time, trying to figure out his next move.  

So this question is for all my Christian friend's out there today.... how do YOU see God?   And how do you balance the "legalistic God" with the "peace, love and merciful God"?   Please share...  :-)

*italics are direct quotes from "Empty Promises" by Pete Wilson.  

Sometimes, the things we are the most hesitant to do.....

I was recently asked to lead some worship songs at a women’s retreat that an amazing lady named Diana Pemelton was putting together. She teaches a great class named “And God Made Woman” which I’ve gotten to sit in on a couple of times and I was thoroughly entertained and at the same time emotionally moved when I did. She has a gift for speaking right to the heart of women.

Anyway…. When I first got the invitation, I wasn’t at all sure that it was something I was comfortable doing. I had never led worship at a women’s retreat before. Plus, I’m not a big camper and just the word “retreat” sounds like something involving woods, tents, and bugs. Ick!! Not ANYWHERE near my comfort zone. However, I had been praying for God to send opportunities for me to share my music and it’s hard to look up at God when he gives you exactly what you had been praying for and say, “Uh, gee God, maybe I should have been more specific in my prayer. Yes, I prayed for an opportunity to share my music, but I had a nice air-conditioned theatre where people pay me big bucks in mind.” Picky, picky…… SO, I emailed Diana and said, ‘Do you still want me to help with the music at the AGMW retreat?’ She immediately responded with a big YES!!!!, so I looked up to heaven and said, “Okay God… I hear ya. Just guide me through this, ok?”

Boy, am I SOOOOO glad I accepted the invitation to be a part of this awesome weekend with some AMAZING women!! First of all, I’m happy to report that there were CABINS with Air-Conditioning!! No tents were involved..Hallelujah!! I had a wonderful time getting to know all these women and hear their stories. Relaxing on the swings and taking in the beauty of God’s art in nature. Laughing, eating, crying, eating, sharing, eating……you get the picture! We even got treated to a belly dancing lesson!! Now THAT by itself was worth the drive. Now I’m seriously thinking of taking belly dancing lessons!! My husband will LOVE that!! J

Anyway, the whole experience was a “lesson learned” for me. I was reminded of this truth: Sometimes, the things that we are the most hesitant to do, end up being the most rewarding. SO…..

Thanks to Diana Pemelton ---for inviting me to be a part of this eye-opening weekend. http://conversationswiththewomeninmyhead.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Melissa Irwin… for sharing her beautiful, beautiful story and letting us experience the deep devotion of Christ through her journey! http://untilthejasperwalls.blogspot.com/

Thanks to Leslie Shew… for sharing some invaluable health information to us all, so we can be more aware of what our bodies are saying to us! http://www.integratedlifewellness.com/

Thanks to Jonnelle Rein…for helping organize the whole thing and especially for the belly dancing lessons!! LOVED IT!!

Thanks to Lorrie Harden….Diana expressed over and over how much you helped her get it together. What a treasure you are!!

And most of all.. thanks to every single woman who showed up at Hillmost Christian Camp this weekend to share your stories, listen to our stories, and make this such a special weekend!!

Oh… and BIG thanks to God… for giving me the strength to stretch outside my comfort zone. And for just showing up. He does that “showing up” thing really, really well.

Everybody have a GREAT WEEK!!!…. Hugs… M