Crushing Waves

Do you ever feel like your life resembles trying to swim under this wave? Just the sheer magnitude and power of the water is enough to make you lose your breath- let alone the current it has to tumble you under its weight.

There have been times in my faith where I felt like a beginning surfer trying to navigate the surf off the coast of Australia... Unprepared, weak, insignificant, and used to a sense of failure when it comes to big waves. The pull and undertow of habits and compulsions seem to draw me in- ready to destroy the peace and promise I know is mine in Christ...but sometimes seems like an illusive dream.

In the fourth chapter of Mark an amazing story about waves takes place. Jesus is in a boat with His disciples, asleep- when the weather takes a drastic change. Fierce gale winds are tossing the boat around, and the waves are coming in over the side of the boat...so much so that the bible says the boat is filling up!

In the midst of this mini-Titanic Jesus is asleep in the front of the boat. This is symbolic on so many levels. The disciples are in a full panic- standing over the sleeping Savior while wringing their hands in worry and despair. Finally they wake Him up with a comment that is passive,aggressive, and downright angry... "Teacher, don't you care that we are perishing?" Jesus looks around at the waves, possibly yawns, and says "Hush, be still." The Bible says that the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. Seriously...

I love what Jesus says to the disciples (and to us) next. He says "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" Goodness knows that when waves are crashing around us the last thing we typically feel is filled with faith- yet Jesus says "Don't be timid- you don't have to be afraid!"

Truthfully, the reason we don't have to be afraid has nothing to do with the capacity of our faith. It has everything to do with the fact that Jesus is on your boat ...and He isn't afraid. That's where I put my faith. Not in the craftsmanship of the boat maker, not in the weather patterns of the sea, and certainly not in my ability to surf the currents...it's in His ability to stop the crashing waves of my life with one word, or to be my personal lifeguard when the undertow is too strong.

Blessings!
Gari

Extreme Life Makeover

This picture was taken of me (on the left) and a few of the Astro's wives as we stopped by the set of Extreme House Makeover this summer. A family in Houston was selected to receive a new home- and we got to be a part of seeing this happen. The family of 7 lived in a literal shack. To make matters worse, since the hurricane that hit this area a few years ago, rats lived in the home with them! They were a deserving family who counseled married couples and helped those in their community. To see a beautiful home resurrected on the same property that their former shack sat on was pure inspiration.
It got me thinking about how God does Extreme Life Makeovers on us... The kind of makeover that can rebuild a life broken from habits, compulsion, and despair. The kind of makeover that says "I don't care how trashed out you are, or what condition the walls of your life are in...I can rebuild them."

It was fascinating to watch the "real" process of the home makeover- not the version we watch on TV (which I love...and always have a box of Kleenex handy). The day of the reveal it was about 100 degrees, and humidity to match. But people showed up in herds. The camera men asked us to yell "move that bus" about 15 different times so they could capture just the right angle on film. Once the family got out and there were screams and cries- they went into their new home. Quickly I realized that the home wasn't even near completion! I was told by one of the directors that they were ushered into a small unfinished room, and it would actually take another week at least to finish the home. So much for "reality" TV! I wanted to believe that it romantically transpires just like we see on the television- the door opens and it's automatically lovely. The truth is... it takes time. Just like God's work in us takes time.
When we let Jesus rebuild, remake, repaint, uncover, and restore- we witness an unveiling like no other.

I know God's Extreme Life Makeovers are possible. I was chosen for one, and have been crying in thanks ever since. Instead of "Move that bus!" maybe we can cry out "Change my life...".

It's the ultimate reality...
Blessings!
Gari

Asking, Seeking, Knocking

One day after Jesus had spent some time praying, when He returned to His disciples they asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus started by showing His pattern for prayer... "Father , hallowed is your name... (praise and posture of worship)
Your kingdom come...(what you are doing in the spiritual realm, let us see in the physical realm) Give us this day our daily bread...(give me what food I need to sustain and enjoy, not to abuse or be compulsive with) And forgive us our sins... (and help me to forgive myself when I've messed up with food because I wouldn't treat others as harshly as I treat myself) And lead us not into temptation... (help me to realize that freedom isn't the absence of temptation, but the ability to not get sucked into it)...

After Jesus shared this model of prayer, He gave an example of a man that was quite frankly, rude in his behavior. At about midnight, he comes banging on his neighbor's door looking for food. It wasn't even food for himself or his family because they were in need, it was simply food for some people that had dropped by. Like going to a friend's house at midnight to borrow a pizza for some other friends. Rude! But Jesus uses this man, rude behavior and all to prove a point. He says that even though this man was ridiculous in his behavior, because of his persistence, he got what he needed.

In other words, when we are postured for real prayer, not prayer whining or worry with a few "God words" attached... with some persistence, we will hear God. We will see Him move, work , and show us ways to move towards freedom and hope with food rather than defeat and wallowing.

If we persistently ask God to open our eyes to layers of healing, to inspire us with His word and the hope for a different relationship with food... life begins to change.

Much love sweet blogging friends...
Gari

Garbage in the trash can or garbage in my body

It's the day after Halloween. Our doorbell rang off the wall last night for about three hours as I dashed to the door to hand out candy of all sorts to little warriors, princesses, super heroes and cheerleaders. They were darling! (For my readers from Africa we have this custom in America on October 31 where kids dress in costumes, go from house to house, and get candy that they store in a bag or pillowcase!)

When I knew it was too late for another trick-or-treater I looked at Bobby and sighed. We bought too much candy...again! I'm really not a big candy lover, and Bobby only enjoys it occasionally. So we accessed our candy loot, saved a few pieces we thought we would like, and threw the rest out. I know some readers are gasping right now! What about the waste? Why couldn't we find a way to give it away? How can you put something as yummy as candy in the trash?

Back when I was teaching I would bring the leftover stash to my classroom and use it throughout the year- but since I don't have a classroom now, it goes into the trash- and I can honestly tell you it doesn't bother me a bit. As a matter of fact- it's actually quite liberating.

I remember a time when I would have compulsively eaten away at that candy stash...damaging my heart, soul, body and teeth! Somewhere along the line we have bought the lie that if we throw food out we are terrible people. Yet we are willing to waste it in our bodies. The logic is crazy, yet we abide by it, thinking it's better to eat food we don't want or need to avoid wasting it. Here's a bit of truth to chew on... Our bodies are not garbage cans to be filled with compulsive amounts of food.

It's so freeing to throw something out instead of consuming it in guilt and deceit.

I often think of these words penned by the apostle Paul "Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord- and the Lord is for the body." (1 Cor. 6:13)

In other words, all the fretting, hiding, dieting, binging, and lamenting food...in the end- means nothing. It's just food. Our bodies (and sane minds) are for the Lord, and He is for our bodies. How wonderful!

So if you struggle with not wasting food, please realize that eating compulsively to not waste- is waste inside our bodies. It's OK to get rid of food that you don't really want or need. I often say this phrase "Garbage in the trash can, garbage in my body- I'll pick the trash can..."