Fighting the Freak Out

We're having car trouble. This is something that usually causes me to freak out. Like, really freak out. Tears and moping and stressing and the whole deal. How am I going to get to work? How are we going to pay for the repairs? I'm going to have to get a second job! We're going to end up begging on the corner! It's really pretty pathetic.

When my husband let me know about our car trouble today, of course I started to go into freak out mode. But then something interesting happened. Something inside of me said, "This reaction is in direct contradiction to Scripture." But...but.... "No buts. It directly contradicts Scripture. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Well, when you put it like that...no, I guess I don't. It's difficult, but I am doing my best to fight the freak out.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. -- Philippians 4:6-9

From Genesis to Revelation

When I find myself in a pattern of behavior that is not God-honoring or downright sinful, I often look back to see "How did I allow myself to get to this point?"

For me, the answer seems to be the same every time: When I started abandoning my daily disciplines of prayer and Scripture reading.

So what are my discipleship partners (including my spouse, my ultimate discipleship partner) doing to keep ourselves on track?

We're reading the Bible in 90 days.

"Can you really do that?"

I think so. WGNR promotes it yearly. Can I do it? I'll let you know in September. So far, so good.

I have read the Bible from cover to cover once before. As I begin again, it is amazing to see how it all fits together, how consistent and faithful our God is, and how everything in the Old Testament points to the New Testament and the coming of Christ. I am really seeing for myself how the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of Crystal, too.

Have you read the entire Bible, cover to cover? You should. Whether it's 90 days or a year, make it a priority and start today. If someone told you they had an instruction manual that would answer every situation in life you would ever face, you would want it, right?

You already have it.

The deeper the roots, the higher the reach....

That was the quote I saw on a picture in the Starbucks bathroom as I was washing my hands today.

It really struck me. One of the reasons I am so passionate about children's ministry is because I was so affected by my Christian upbringing. I definitely had my time as a prodigal in high school and college, but when I re-dedicated my life to Christ, I was coming back to a foundation that had been firmly built throughout my childhood years. Things like the inerrancy of Scripture, the deity of Christ, and existance of a literal heaven and hell were not things I struggled to believe, because they had been taught to me as truth from a young age. Even though my tree of life has had some errant branches that needed to be pruned, when I got serious about growth, I already had deep roots.

This doesn't make me special or better than anyone else; it makes me fortunate. It's the reason why I serve in children's ministry today. I want to pass on what I was given. And to all the parents out there, I urge you to do the same. In an age where only 4% of Americans and 9% of Born Again Christians have a Biblical worldview, it is of the utmost importance.

Give your kids the gift of a Biblical, Christian upbringing. They may grumble now (I sure did), but one day they will thank you.

Thanks mom and dad!