Archive - December, 2011

Bits & Pieces: Relationships

December 30, 2011 in Relationships with 0 Comments

In keeping with the theme of this week, below are the most-read posts in the  “Relationship” category for 2011. One thing that I learned this year was that people love reading about relationships – probably because they are so important to our lives, yet so hard to get right. Here are the most-read 2011 posts on this important subject.

 

 

 

May God increasingly be glorified in and through our relationships!

~N.A. Winter

 


Outcomes vs. Obedience

December 30, 2011 in Growth, Hope with 0 Comments

In business, we talk a lot about the “bottom line.”  It’s important to know the final result, the end of the story, the status of the scoreboard. Whatever it took to get there, at the end of the day you want to know the success or failure of the actions that were taken. Increasingly organizations also use what are called “leading indicators” – measurements that indicate what the final result will be before we actually get there. Much like the “bottom line” these measurements look at the outcome of the decisions that are made. Organizations focus on results because we tend to think they will be a good indicator of whether the decisions made and processes used were the right ones.

Like many things in God’s economy, however, He turns this upside down. One place where we see this is  Ezekiel 2:5-7. God tells Ezekiel to go to a “rebellious house” and indicates that he will be persecuted and ignored. However, God also says, “And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.”

Can you imagine that? God says, before Ezekiel even goes, that they are rebellious and indicates that they won’t be receptive to the message he has been sent to proclaim. Yet God still tells him to go, because Ezekiel’s job is to obey God. It’s God’s job to worry about the results.

It’s an important truth for us to remember as well. It can be tempting to try and think through all the likely outcomes when we are facing a decision. We want to plot and strategize to achieve the maximum results. However, if God has told us clearly that we are to do something, we need to simply do it. The One who holds the stars in His hands and commands the hearts of kings will manage the outcomes according to His purpose and pleasure.

 

How does trusting God for the results change our mindset? Why is it important to remember to obey even if we can’t anticipate the likely outcome?


Bits & Pieces: Purpose

December 29, 2011 in Purpose with 0 Comments

Today continues our trip down memory lane to the most-read 2011 posts on “Purpose.” I’m also captured by a deepening understanding of my life’s purpose which as noted in the Westminster Confession is to “glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” The most-read 2011 posts on this subject were:

 

  • Here to Serve – A lesson from a high school student about how we should view our time on this Earth as our time to serve.

 

 

  • Frustrating God’s Work – Our friends and family may, with good intentions, try to frustrate the work that God has planned for us. We need to remain focus on Him and what He has called us to do.

 

May we bring Him even greater glory in 2012!
~N.A. Winter


3 Lessons of 3 Years

December 29, 2011 in Relationships with 4 Comments

Yesterday, my sweet husband and I celebrated our third-year anniversary. It’s been a good three years. In many ways, it’s been a hard three years because of the circumstances that have surrounded us. However, in the midst of painful circumstances, it has been such a blessing to have each other to spur on in the Lord, to lean on, and to enjoin each other to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I am very blessed that when God picked out my future husband, He gave me such a great guy. The three years have been an adventure to be sure, but there’s no one I would rather be by my side as we ride the roller coaster of life.

Although three years, may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, you can learn a lot in just a short time of being married. I’m sure that the years ahead will hold many more lessons and insights, and hopefully I’ll be able to write about those too. In the meantime, here are three important things that I’ve learned from our marriage:

  • Say “I Love You” often.  If you think you’ve said it enough, keep saying it. – One of the things I most appreciate about my husband is that he says “I love you” a lot. If you listened to our everyday conversations, it is full with expressions of our affection.  I suppose some people could think that this could get old, that as the years pass on you don’t need to say it as much. However, I’ve found that I need the “I love you’s” now just as much as when we were first married, maybe more. After all, after being married for a while you are familiar with each other and it can be easy to assume that your spouse knows how you feel. My husband never makes that assumption – he says I love you often, and he says it with feeling, letting me know it’s not just the words that he says, but the way that he feels.

 

  • There’s no substitute for sacrifice.  – People go to all sorts of extremes to put their love on display. They buy extravagant gifts; they hire skywriters; they take exotic trips. What I’ve learned though is that there is very little that is more meaningful in your marriage than when you sacrifice what you want for the good of the other, or the good of the marriage. It’s not easy and in all likelihood your husband or wife recognizes that, and will appreciate it all the more. Scripture is replete with the admonition to serve others selflessly; no where should this be more prominent than in our marriages.

 

  • Keep trusting in God. Keep encouraging each other. – Another one of the things that I appreciate about my husband is that he lives the truth of this statement. When I’m concerned about what comes next, he points me back to our Savior. When I’m frustrated with the way things are going, he encourages me to take the next step. It’s a characteristic of his that I hope I emulate the more that we are married. It’s tempting to put your trust in your spouse, and although you should trust them, ultimately your trust must reside with God. Your spouse will sometimes fail; He never will. At the same time, it’s important that you keep cheering on your spouse – to be the person that God has called them to be. Point them to God, and then encourage them to follow Him.

Scripture makes it clear that God gave us marriage for our good. However, a good marriage doesn’t come without some work. These are just three lessons that I have learned in my short time being married. I’m looking forward to many more lessons, and many more years to come!


Bits & Pieces: Hope

December 28, 2011 in Hope with 0 Comments

As I wrote about previously, this week I’ll be sharing some of the most-read posts of 2011.  Perhaps it’s not surprising that so much of what I wrote about this year focused on the hope of eternity, as our family acknowledged the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing. May those who are in Christ be encouraged that regardless of what this life holds, we may eagerly look forward to the complete fulfillment of the hope we have in Him.

The most-read posts about “Hope” were:

 

  • Do A Little Dance - It’s important that we not only get through the trials, but rejoice through them. Our hope in God makes this possible.

 

  • Unknown Path – We might not know where we are going, but we can trust in the One who does.

 

~N.A. Winter

 

 


In Faithfulness & In Righteousness

December 28, 2011 in Hope with 0 Comments

Sometimes it’s easy to forget all that God is. After all, He is so majestic so all-encompassing that it is easy for our limited minds to emphasize one aspect of God’s character over another. When we are fearful, we focus on His peace. When we are wronged, we concentrate on His justice. When we commit the wrong, we emphasize His grace. It’s an unfortunate tendency, and has been the cause of much heretical preaching. When we neglect one part of God’s character, we are neglecting to fully worship Who God is.

This is one of the reasons that I appreciate how God describes Himself in Zechariah 8:8. He states that He will be Israel’s God “in faithfulness and in righteousness.” He articulates two aspects of Who He is so the Israelites can fully appreciate the depth of the promise that He has made. He will be their God in faithfulness – He will be trustworthy, steadfast and immovable. He will also be their God in righteousness – altogether different from any other god, a consistent standard for justice and holiness. Both of these are important. The Israelites needed to know that God, in His great love, would not abandon them. However, they also needed to know that God, in His holiness, would not having changing standards. He would be perfectly righteous – both in bestowing goodness upon them and in responding to their sins.

It’s a good reminder for His children today as well. God is our God in both faithfulness and in righteousness. His children never need to fear that He will leave them or that He will cease to be Who He is. At the same time, we should find solace in the fact that He is righteous – not only is He faithful to us, but He is faithful to Who He is and He will forever be perfectly holy and perfectly good. God is faithfully righteous and righteously faithful. And He always will be.

 

How have you seen God’s faithfulness or righteousness in your life?


Bits & Pieces: Growth

December 27, 2011 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

As mentioned yesterday, this week I’m taking some time to share the most-read 2011 posts. Today, I’m sharing the posts on “Growth” which focuses on how are maturing in the Lord. Growing is always an interesting topic because no matter how much I do of it, there is always more that waits ahead! As we enter 2012, may it be a year of growth for all of us!

The most-read 2011 posts on “growth” were:

 

  • Place Yourself in God’s Hands – A reminder that we can’t just assign God control for the events of the day, we must give Him control of our response and our lives.

 

  • Generous to a Fault – Is it possible to give too much according to God? A post about abundant generosity.

 

  • Seeking Him – A reflection about the times when we make the foolish decision to seek the distribution of God’s kindness rather than the knowledge of His character.

 

May God continue to grow us in the days ahead!

~N.A. Winter


Controlled Power

December 27, 2011 in Growth with 3 Comments

Living in Southern California, you get used to this thing called “fire season.” Unlike typical seasons based on  the tilt of the earth’s axis, this season is shortened or elongated based on how much rain there has been, the amount of dead brush, and wind conditions.  During fire season, one has to be very cautious because as Smokey the Bear says “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

Despite Smokey’s admonition, there is another way that officials try to prevent uncontrolled blazes. This is by creating what they call a “controlled burn.” To initiate this process, they purposely set a fire and then monitor it as it burns the dead brush. The idea is that if the spots are already burned, another inferno can’t consume it. It has the same strength as the unintentional blaze, but it has the discipline to use its power in a way that is useful.

In much the same way, Proverbs 16:32 teaches us that when we control the fire of our temper, we are stronger than when we lose control of it.  As the verse states:

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

This is a great description of what it means to be a person of “power” in God’s eyes. It’s not the one who is the loudest, who has acquired the most, or who has the most prestige – but the one who is disciplined and controlled and conducts themselves in a way that honors God.

This is not an easy thing. After all, when the blaze of anger wells within us, we want to let full vent to our fury. However, much like a controlled blaze prevents further damage, so does controlling our temper.  Appearances to the contrary, the one who “rules his spirit” is stronger than the one who can capture an entire city. When we are slow to anger, we are willing to wait to see how God works.

A controlled burn is no less a fire than an out-of-controlled blaze. Much like someone who is slow to anger, may be experiencing just as much righteous indignation as the person who is quick to display their temper. However, both a controlled anger and a disciplined spirit share one thing in common – the likelihood of unintentional consequences is greatly reduced. And there is a greater likelihood that it will be used for some good.

 

How have you seen God work through those that trust Him to rule their spirit?


Bits & Pieces: Being Content

December 26, 2011 in Being Content with 0 Comments

In keeping with end-of-the year traditions of reflection and contemplation, I wanted to share the most-read posts of 2011. My hope was that for those who may have missed previous posts, they may be encouraged by what has encouraged others. For those who have already read them, may God use them to further the work that He is doing in their lives.

For the next five days, I will share the most-read 2011 posts from each of the five categories that this blog focuses on: Being Content, Growth, Hope, Purpose, Relationships. As we look forward to 2012, may your hearts be drawn ever closer to our King!

 

The most-read 2011 posts about being content were:

  • Give Thanks First  – A lesson learned in sadness about the importance of starting with gratitude.

 

  • The Who and Not the What – A reminder that when we are content with our circumstances, we are really not content with our God.

 

  • To the Cross – When we are struggling with being content, we must not only look to the hope that is coming, but to the cross and what has already been accomplished on my behalf.

~N.A. Winter


Peace & Quiet

December 26, 2011 in Hope with 4 Comments

In the midst of the chaos of the holiday season, we talk a lot about stillness and calm. Perhaps it’s because our Christmases are anything but, we imagine the first Christmas as tranquil and serene. I’m inclined to think that this is a fabrication because if you have been around someone giving birth, usually tranquility isn’t the most apt description. Take into account the fact that immediately beforehand you had a teenage girl about to give birth and she couldn’t even get a room in the inn, and this is the makings of a chaotic night. We might like to imagine the first Christmas a a “silent night,” but I’m not sure it was.

However,  in the craziness of our lives, and in the hecticness of that very first Christmas,   there is at least one way where we can be quieted; we can be stilled with the majesty of His love. Much like a mother’s lullaby rocks a crying baby to sleep, our Father’s love can bring calm in the midst of our chaos. As He promised to a restless and rebellious city in Zephaniah 3:17:

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

If we think about it for a minute,  this verse offers some interesting juxtapositions.  He is both “mighty” and in their midst. This is the essence of the Christmas story. The One who is mighty, became lowly, and dwelt in our midst, that He might save.  Similarily, this verse says that God will both “quiet” the people and rejoice over them “with loud singing.” The One who throws a Heavenly party when a sinner repents and puts their faith in Him, will quiet a rebellious city with His deep and profound love.  His love will be our refuge – even though our circumstances might not change, we can find peace and quiet with Him.

The busyness of the holiday season, is quickly replaced by the busyness of other seasons. The chaos of our current circumstances is subsumed by the chaos of what comes next. But God offers respite. God provides rest. With the stillness and the completeness of His mighty love.

 

How have you experienced the quietness of God’s love?


Page 1 of 3123»