Responsiveness

Today my toes will stride across the sand of Sunset Beach, NC. (Home of The Mailbox). My family and I are meeting my friend Zoe Elmore and her husband there for a little late-summer get-away.

I love to walk the beach, but only on the part close to the water -- on the sand that's been hard-packed by the surf. Running on the loose shifting sand gave me the worse ankle injury of my life!

Are you looking for some solid, stable ground on which to place your foot? Or your marriage, or your home, or your career?

Me too. This morning I found it. Or rather I found directions to it.  Actually, I found it and it was pointing back at itself.  Take a look:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” ~ Matthew 7:24-27 

The Hebrew understanding of the word "hear" isn't just the physical act of hearing. It's not even the more intentional effort of listening. No, the Hebrew conception embodied within the word "hear" is to hear and respond.

The biblical act of hearing isn't complete until we've responded to it.

If we have "ears to hear" as the biblical idiom goes, we don't just perceive what God is saying. We don't just listen to the sermon. We don't just cognitively understand what the Bible teaches, we hear it, believe it and endeavor to live it.  We respond to the truth.

We build our house on it.

We bank on it.

We source our lives there.

And when we fail to do that, we risk a crash according to this passage.

This has me thinking, how much Bible knowledge or scripture understanding do you and I have, but do not respond to?

How quick is our responsiveness? 

Looking back, the greatest times of growth in my life as a Christian correspond with the times I've been the most responsive to God's truth.

Scripture study and Bible memorization are terrific disciplines. They're critical to growing in Christ. But they're of little good unless we allow them to transform us. We have to respond.

If you're feeling spiritually sluggish or stuck, consider: How responsive have I been to God or  scripture lately? Have I yielded to what He's asked of me?

Let's be responsive today.

I know that's easy for me to say ... I'll have my toes in the surf.

Story Lovers Alert

If you follow me here or on social media, I'm guessing you are a non-fiction reader. As heretofore I've been solely a non-fiction writer. (Did you like my casual use of that fancy word?) What you may not know is that I love reading fiction as well. Right now I'm reading 3 different novels.

Do you read fiction too? I'd love to know what types? Romance? Historical? Contemporary Women's Fiction? Suspense? ... 

One day I just might write a novel. You'd read it, right?

Well, for all my fellow fiction readers out there, I know a survey you won't want to miss. Sound off on what fiction you like to read in this quick survey for Thomas Nelson and get a free eBook download in return, plus the possibility to win $10,000. 

Count the zeros, girls - there are four of them there!

So pop over and take this survey for Thomas Nelson. I did and I'm about to go figure out which novel to get as my free download.

Meanwhile, do you know about She Reads? It's P31's fiction division and I've just joined the ranks of the fabulous women that run it. Every month we feature a new novel & author and do a fun giveaway. If you love Christian fiction - or you'd like to wade into the fictional waters with a well-recommended novel - check us out. You can even discuss the novels with other women in our new discussion forum.

Happy Reading!

Aging brings a Gift

Here’s the thing. (When a post opens like that, you know I’m letting you into my thoughts mid-stream. So just try to track with me here.) Two weeks ago I marked another birthday. I don’t feel as old as I seem to inevitably be growing.

Aside from that little exercise in cognitive dissonance, I’m OK with it.

A couple years ago I made a new friend.  She is ahead of me in life.  She moved to my town having just retired (from some really cool jobs like being head honcho at a little television station called the Food Network. Oh and also the one that starts with an H and ends with a V). I must say, God gives me spectacular friends. 

wish my nails looked this good

When I told her 40 was approaching on my horizon, she insisted my 40’s would be my absolute best decade. I had my reasons for doubting her – my hips and thighs namely.  But I decided to listen and trust what she had to say. Because I’ve discovered that wisdom truly does come with age.

Let me pause here and be clear, you can age without gaining much wisdom.  It happens to some, and I think that’s a bona fide shame. It’s equally true you don’t have to live through a multitude of decades to gain wisdom. It’s there for the asking.  Free for the seeking according to the Bible.

 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5

“Come and listen to my counsel. I’ll share my heart with you, and make you wise.” Prov. 1:23

But age – or more accurately, TIME and EXPERIENCE – affords us perspective we don’t have when we’re young.  And perspective lives right next door to wisdom.

A few months ago, Sarah Martin at She Seeks asked me to share a piece of advice with the twenty-something set that frequents their blog. In writing that post, I realized how time and experience brings perspective, and perspective, wisdom. Hop over there if you want to read what I wrote.

Back to my wise friend who worked in TV. (I warned you this post would be rather stream of consciousness.)  She told me that in your 40’s you shed a lot of the self-consciousness and doubt that tends to plague us in our 30s.  She said our careers hit full stride in our 40’s.  And we become more comfortable in our bodies – even though they don’t look like they did in our 20’s – and with our decisions. We embrace our strengths more and worry less about our supposed weaknesses (those things God or life didn’t afford us).

That sounds really good to me. So I’m choosing to embrace my age.  I will welcome my 40’s. And my 50’s. And my 60’s. And my 70’s. And my 80’s should God allow me to live that long.

I don’t know where on the timeline you are, but I encourage you to embrace it, whatever number it is. Celebrate your years of life and the wisdom they bring. And share your wisdom with others. 

It’s a gift.

“Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.” Prov 16:31

Are you dreading or embracing aging?

Being Memorable

A stranger recently remarked, “You look like Rachel Olsen!”  I wasn’t sure what to say in response. It wasn’t a question. I didn't know how to categorize and file that comment.

Was I being recognized?  Or mistaken? 

There is some small thrill in being recognized – in being remembered, being memorable. Plus, there is satisfaction in possessing a strong sense of self – in knowing who you are to the extent that others know it too.

“I am Rachel Olsen … I think,” I replied, wondering if there was some other Rachel Olsen that I happen to look a lot like. After all, people constantly tell me I look familiar to them.

I’m not sure why this is. I have a feeling that means I’m mostly average. Not exactly forgettable, but not specifically memorable either. Or maybe there are just a lot of 5’3” pale-skinned brunettes walking about.

Turns out she had heard me speak at a church in town but hadn’t had a chance to see me up close. Charlie Chaplin once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. He came in third place. Knowing that, I smiled at her and struck up a conversation.

******

Women often go to great lengths trying to make themselves look, well, memorable. I suspect we all do that to some extent. And I reckon we always will. 
  

But today I realize it’s much easier to be remembered for what you said.

 “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Prov. 31:26

Or, to be memorable for what you do.

“She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable.” Prov. 31:17-18b

“She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.” Prov. 31:20

“She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.” Prov. 31:27

"Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." Prov. 31:31b

It's not only easier, it's pleasing to God. 

So, go be memorable today.