ramblin' rae
  • Blog
  • About
  • #Write31Days Life in Stereo
  • Wearing my Blog on My Sleeve

Writing Through The Fog

A little humor. A little music. Heaps of Grace.

Queen of the Introverts

10/29/2014

1 Comment

 
Look up introvert in the dictionary and you will see my picture. Small talk makes my heart race with anxiety. Meeting new people is nerve wracking. I replay everything I say ad nauseum in my mind. Big gatherings overwhelm me. My contemplative nature annoys even me at times. I get stuck in my head. Really stuck.

But I was reminded this week that my status a a follower of Jesus comes well before my status as Queen of the Introverts.

It came from an unexpected conversation. It was asked by a disciple of Christ. By one who actually reads her bible and has such overwhelming love for her savior. An believer who isn't complacent. And it struck me with a big ole "DUH".       
 
Why don't we just do what Christ asks of us? Why don't we love one another?

It was born of a discussion of our behavior as a family of believers. Look around at church on Sunday. You can even observe me on Sunday. Are we behaving like family?  Am I too afraid to risk looking like a fool to greet someone I haven't before? Am I so prideful that it prevents me from making the space a little more comfortable for another who's as nervous as I am? Too many thoughts are in my head like this....I don't know what to say. I'll say something stupid, I have nothing to offer, I am a total goof-why would they want to talk to me? Am I in someone's personal space? Are they in mine? Oh no, eye contact! Theme here-I I I I !. It's so ridiculous, that these same thoughts have even prevented me at times from giving to people who happen to be homeless. What if they don't want what I have, will I say the right thing, will I look like a dork? Anxiety rendering me useless. Not okay. The Holy Spirit is pushing and it's frightening and encouraging all at once. 
 
God's word speaks, convicting me. And I tell him I'll try to do better and usually leave it at that, not knowing whether I will allow him to make me truly uncomfortable in action.
 And then Yoda walks in.
Do. Or do not. There is no try. 
There is no loophole for introverts. God's grace is sufficient to cover the stumbling words and awkward pauses. Jesus commands us to love our neighbor. Let's be gloriously uncomfortable together this week. 

Mark 12:30-31English Standard Version (ESV)

30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

p.s. i write this as a personal conviction and as a record for accountability. i know we are all struggling. and He is not done with us yet. press on in His marvelous grace.
 

and also "weird al" is now stuck in my head, too

1 Comment

 Miracles by Eric Metaxas

10/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
a rare quiet afternoon reading a thought-provoking book
          As a fierce skeptic of modern day miracles, you'd think this would not be a book for me. The Holy Spirit has been opening my eyes as of late to the world which we do not always see. 
         Having read Bonhoeffer and Amazing Grace and seen Socrates in the City broadcasts and events such as the Presidents' prayer breakfast, I have formed a respect for the author, Eric Metaxas. Yes, even after catching him on "Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld" a time or two. I was curious to read what he may write on the subject. 
         It was not what I was expecting, though I'm not sure what that was. The apologetics aspect was a welcome surprise, though I know there will be some debate about the age of the Earth, etc. But the evidence of our Creator is humbling. Metaxas also does a good job with defining miracles and what the purpose for them is, namely, pointing to their source. The most impactful section of the book for me was "The Biblical Miracles". It shone a light on Jesus in a powerful way for me.The "why" behind his doing them. His humanity, love, compassion, and graciousness. Something shifted in my heart. I love that God is always revealing himself anew, even after 38 years of my life here. 
        I'll admit that I struggled with "A Watch Stops". I still do. It's a reaction to anything to do with Benny Hinn. I was so troubled that I put the book down for several days after having devoured it up to that point. But wrestling is not bad. We have to be measured and discerning, but take in the bigger picture. Do I really believe that God works even around people whom I believe to be hucksters? Hmm. I'm still wrestling. Keeps me seeking to know God more deeply. 
       There is so much more to mull over, pray on, research, and dicuss in this book. I believe that's the point.

                    From @EricMetaxas on Twitter,
                   My @MiraclesTheBook isn't about winning an argument about God. It's about beginning a conversation about God -- one we're not having enough.  
           
          Now, being one who connected with Mr. Metaxas's statement  in the chapter, "USS Washington, June 1940", that "the idea that some things are so sacred they cannot bear unveiling" I am wont to share many truly personal things. But reading this book, as a cynic, brought remembrance of experiences that I have personally had and not shared. One of those follows.
                   "..he is such a big God that he can afford to deal with us on an intimate level,to encourage us and to wink at us and to hold our hand when we need him to do that." Miracles chapter 13, page 257
           As a seventeen year old, I had reached what I thought to be the absolute bottom of despair. Some pretty devastating things had transpired that I won't go into here. I was alone at night in my room sitting on my bed, absolutely gutted. Tears were flowing down the cheeks of a girl who cried maybe once up to that point(very british dna, you know). I really had no desire to ever walk out of that room again. I quite literally felt a set of warm arms wrap around me and hold me. God, in his love and mercy, knew what I needed and reached in to comfort me. 
           Miracles covers a lot of ground and touches on measuring miracles, questioning them, conversions, faith, the character of God, our relationship with and view of Him. I need to read it a second time. I appreciate that it has caused me to turn to scripture with renewed vigor and start a dialogue about the enormous power of my Creator. I am now expecting to see Him at work, rather than be surprised by it. Get a copy at Amazon or Barnes and Noble and we'll start a discussion. 
           Disclosure. As part of the Miracles launch team, I received a free copy with no strings attached except a promise to honestly review it.
0 Comments

a new adventure waits

10/20/2014

0 Comments

 
“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
   Be deliberate in greeting those you encounter today. Spread the smiles around. Look at your fellow man. Be that bright spot they may need today. Pray for those hurting around the world, but don't forget to spread love to those who have been put right in your own backyard.  You never know how you're needed and where today may take you.


0 Comments

    shirley decker

    Disciple. 
    Nerd.
    Wife.
    Mom.
    Singer of random songs.


    Archives

    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2018
    January 2018
    April 2017
    November 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All
    Book Reviews
    Condemnation
    Life Giving Grace
    Messy Family
    Repentance
    The Flesh
    The Pride Of Life

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • About
  • #Write31Days Life in Stereo
  • Wearing my Blog on My Sleeve