Chomping At The Bit!!

Posted on September 21, 2012 by thelookingglassbykathy

I have enjoyed watching my granddaughter, Raigan,  ride horses at the local horse farm.  Not only is she learning how to care for and ride the horses, she’s also learning some spiritual truths about them from her “Ranny” as well.

One such spiritual truth came a few weeks ago when she learned how to pull on the reins to steer Rain, her horse for the day.  Pulling on the reins steers the horse because the bit in the horse’s mouth is fastened to them.  As I was watching Raigan maneuver Rain, I was reminded of James 3:3–“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.” 

Who says the Bible isn’t TRUTH?  This woman is in constant need of turning to God!  The banner over me used to be “say it or die”.  I had to speak my mind.  If I didn’t, I knew I was going to die!!  The bit in the horse’s mouth (in the scriptures) is likened to the human tongue.  Why?  Why would the horse’s bit be likened to the human tongue?  The scriptures say this, “Likewise [like the bit], the tongue is a small part of the body, but it make great boasts.”  It goes on to say that it is “a fire, a world of evil and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3: 5-6  Boy, can I relate.

In comparison to the total dimensions of a horse, a bit in the mouth appears trivial, yet the horse obeys it.  It’s a picture of restrained guidance instead of a fire that is out of control and destroying everything in its path, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.  The wildest stallion can be tamed and broken, but the tongue, now that’s a different story!

As Christ-followers, our unrestrained tongues can burn a hole in folks if we are not Spirit-filled.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  We have all had times where we’ve uttered a few regretful words, haven’t we?  Words full of deadly poison.  We chomp at the bit trying to hold our tongues, but somehow…we just can’t quite control it.  We use our tongues to both bless and curse.  How can we restrain our tongues from wreaking havoc?

Consider these scriptures:

  • Ask God to silence your lying tongue–Psalm 12:2
  • Ask God to silence your braggart tongue–Psalm 12:3
  • Ask God to give you a tongue that speaks wisdom–Psalm 37:30
  • Ask God to make you aware of how you sin with your tongue–Psalm 39:1
  • Remember that the mouth speaks what is in the heart–Matthew 12:34
  • Use your mouth to speak the mystery of the Gospel–Ephesians 6:19

Dear one, stop and think before you speak.  Be quick to hear but slow to speak.  In doing so, you can stop chomping at the bit and allow the Spirit of God to rule and reign.  Let the Word of God be the bit in your mouth and trade beauty for ashes.

First Look:  Do any of the above scriptures grip you in a particular way?

Through The Looking Glass: What can you do today to help you be slow to speak?  Write a prayer to God confessing your sins of the tongue, ask His forgiveness and receive it in Jesus’ Name.

Posted in Issues of the Heart, Lessons from Scripture, Spiritual truths | 6 Comments

Got Scars? TakeThe Bandages Off!!

Posted on September 2, 2012 by thelookingglassbykathy

I broke my own cardinal rule on vacation this year.  I cooked a meal.  Breakfast to be exact.  My rule for weekends and vacation is that I do not cook. But because I wanted to do something special for the family, I conceded.  I woke up early that morning to cook a new recipe.  With the recipe in hand for the ‘creamy grits casserole’, I carefully followed every step.  As it came to a boil and before I reduced the heat, the pot of hot grits bubbled up.  Bubbled up right in my face.  Oouuccchhh!  It actually  burned the skin right off of my face!  My first thought was to run and jump in the Bay because my face was burning so much.  Since I couldn’t run or swim that plan was out so I settled for soothing it with some ice.  The ice immediately brought relief and I started thinking about how I was going to cover this scar before it healed.

At age 54, I am now a woman with many physical scars.  Scars on both knees:  One from a firecracker when I was a little girl and one from my knee replacement two years ago. A scar on my wrist from hot glue intended for a craft project.  A scar between my fingers from not being old enough to cut an orange in half.  I could go on but I’ll spare you.

I am also a 54 year old woman who has dealt with many emotional scars.  If you look close enough, you may be able to see the residual effects of those scars: a marriage that struggled for many years, loving a son who walked away from God and common sense, friendships that ended abruptly, church hurt, and the like.  These scars helped shape a heart that doesn’t always trust immediately, chooses not to have lots of close friends, strives to live with boundaries, deals with emotional eating, becomes detached at times, etc.  These residual effects are in direct response to being emotionally scarred.

Scars need to heal.  The bandages need to come off so healing can take place.  How does this healing look?  Transparency.  We need to be transparent. A clear looking glass, if you will.  Why is it so difficult for Christians to be transparent? Why do we hide our scars?  We need soul transparency.  We need to heal. Lets not pretend our lives are perfect.  They aren’t.  We all bear scars.  As parents, let”s be aware of how our children can be scarred.  Help them heal by listening to their heart when they’re troubled. We need to move past our church hurt.  Leaders need to be transparent.  Don’t let hurt cover you with a hard scab.

There’s a song that I absolutely love that ministers to my soul everytime I hear it.  I want to share the words with you here:

I wept all alone, suffered on my own, I didn’t think that anyone would understand, until you opened up and shared your painful past with me.  Then the wounds I kept hidden, were touched by Heaven’s hand, because God used you and all that you have been through.  Don’t hide the scars, don’t be afraid to let them show, cause someone who hurts will see themself in you.  There is healing in knowing I am not the only one.  You can touch another heart, don’t hide the scars.  Everyone must go through dark nights of the soul and bear the pain and all the wounds that life can bring, for in our weakest times, we need each other’s strength and with God’s love flowing through us, we find the faith we need.  So no matter where we’ve stood, it all works out for good…Don’t hide the scars.

Dear one, transparency brings transformation.  Allow others to see where you’ve come from and what God has done in your life.  Being transparent means being vulnerable.  You’ll be amazed at how others will be comforted and strengthened as you turn the looking glass towards you.

First Look:

All praise to the God and Father of our Master Jesus the Messiah!  Father of all mercy!  God of all healing counsel!  He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 The Message Bible

The Looking Glass Reflection:

Do you hear others talking about a similar situation you’ve been through but refuse to come alongside and let them know that you, too, have experienced that?   Do you hide it?

In what area of your life is God calling to be more transparent?

What steps you can take to do that?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Do You See What I See?

Posted on August 22, 2012 by thelookingglassbykathy

I am interrupting your regularly scheduled program to bring you this blog post.  I know, I know, I said this is a bi-weekly blog.  Forgive me, but I just can’t help myself today!!  I woke up this morning to the news that Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales was, well, over-exposed so to speak.  I must say my heart was sad and very troubled.  Troubled because I have enjoyed ‘seeing’ the man he’s becoming.  Representing his country and the Monarchy. I turned the tv up and waited for the full-blown story.  “Yikes,” I said, as I saw the pictures!  “What was he thinking?”, I asked out loud.  Okay, yes, he was behind closed doors and what he does should be nobody’s business. I hope he now knows ‘What’s Done in Vegas Does NOT Stay in Vegas’.  I know you’re probably thinking, so what?  What’s it to you?  Why do you care about Harry’s antics?  Aren’t there enough other things that could use your attention?  Yes, there are other things certainly more urgent and could really use my attention, but this story was a BIG reminder to me.  Why?  As a leader, I was reminded of what is expected of me when I am ‘off duty’.  You see, I believe that as a leader, I am never really ‘off duty’.  Even at home.  While I may not be fulfilling a specific role at the time, I am still on duty.  I am still representing Christ.  Always.

It’s been said that integrity is who you are when no one’s looking.  When we have the privilege of leading people, we must remember that we are to reflect Christ even when we’re not under the proverbial ‘spiritual’ spotlight.  Just like Prince Harry represents the United Kingdom, I, as a devoted follower of Christ, represent the Kingdom of God.  This goes for all of us who are devoted followers of Christ, leaders or not. Have you heard the old saying: “The higher the level, the higher the devil?” Well, its true.  The more influence you have, the more the enemy wants to take you down.  Not remembering this is a disaster waiting to happen!  Just like with Prince Harry and lots of other leaders we’ve all heard and read about.  While he will ‘hide for a while’, someone else now has the job of cleaning up his mess.  Again.  Indiscretion is a beast.  We shouldn’t put others in this predicament. Cleaning up our messes.  There are several things that I believe contributed to Harry’s expose’ (won’t go into that) and I think he should STOP and take a look at all that’s at stake.  For me, I try to remember what Numbers 32:23 says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.”  Indeed it does. I am living proof.  I have since learned to put some parameters in place in my own life.  For instance, I’ve chosen not to comment on certain FB posts that are political in nature (even though my fingers feverishly keep tapping my keyboard and my heart rate goes up!).  I try to watch what I say (and post) that could be misconstrued.  I also try to watch how I respond to others. When in doubt of how my comments may be received, emails won’t do.  I pick up the phone. I am also challenged to keep a complaining spirit to a minimum (will stop striving to do this when Christ splits the Eastern Sky!) and allow the Spirit to check the snarky comments I can make.  Especially to my husband.

Dear one, the looking-glass (God’s Word) teaches us to reflect Christ in our daily dealings (marriage, parenting, work, ministry, relationships, etc.) It would do us well to remember that when we think no one is looking, someone is always looking.  God is.  Let’s do well to represent Him well.

Until Christ is Reflected in me…

The Looking Glass Reflections–

+How have you had to remember that when you think no one is looking, God is looking?

+In what ways can you/do you reflect Christ in the ‘hidden’ areas of your life/ministry?

Posted in Leadership | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

The Looking Glass: A New Beginning

Posted on August 20, 2012 by thelookingglassbykathy

Welcome to my very first blog post for my very first blog, The Looking Glass.  For a couple of years now I have been encouraged to start a web log or a ‘blog’, for short.  I was intimidated for that period of time, but as I’ve gotten older and, dare I say it, a little wiser, I am challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone in certain areas of my life. So, here goes: my blog.  “Okay, Lord,” I said, “What should I write about and what should I call it?”  After months of jotting down titles that tried to convey what I wanted to focus on, the Lord gave me the title, The Looking Glass.  I was thrilled with His answer and I trust Him to speak through me in this venue.

I have shepherded and discipled others through writing before, so this comes fairly easy for me.  My focus has always been to write about how God’s Word was challenging me AND changing me in a transparent way.   Subsequently, as I shared those thoughts with others I was happy to know that my experiences were not wasted.  Others could relate to them, too!  They too, were being challenged and changed from what I was sharing.  That is my hope and prayer for this bi-weekly blog: To share my experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and leader with the hopes that others can see the Christ in me and be challenged by it.  Challenged to surrender to God’s Will as well.  I will challenge my readers to look to God’s Word (the looking-glass) to be the transforming power that allows one’s life to reflect Christ, for it is the Gospel that reflects His glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says it perfectly, of course.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (Italics mine) NKJV

Until Christ is reflected in me…

kathy

Posted in Beginnings | 17 Comments