The god of the Good Thing

To my friends who came over after reading my Girlfriends in God devotion today....WELCOME! :) I'm so glad you stopped by, and I'm praying that God touched your heart by the words in the devotion. I post a new blog every Monday, and I'd love for you to visit, again. Feel free to visit my website at www.lisawhittle.com or contact me at info@lisawhittle.com. Be blessed!


I woke up this morning, intending to write about something else. But after I dug into the Word, I knew God had something entirely different in mind. So for now, the dog story and application will remain on hold. ☺

I landed, today, in II Samuel 15 and the rebellion of Absalom and subsequent national rebellion of the people against King David, Absalom’s father. After welcoming Absalom back into his life (after fleeing after murdering his half brother Amnon), Absalom “thanked” his father by subsequently plotting to take away his throne. I’m thinking David probably had some better ideas for ways to repay him for his gratitude, but clearly Absalom did not get the memo.

The truth is, Absalom thought it was all about him for some time. He didn’t develop his mouth watering for power overnight. Instead, his good looks, persuasive actions and lack of accountability led him to believe he could do what he wanted and get away with it. He was a master of manipulation and knew how to work the system to get what he desired.

So it made sense that he would hatch an elaborate plan to win over the people from his father by means of mental extortion. The nuts and bolts of his plan was that he would go to the city gate where traffic was heavy and he could have the most visibility. (Since Jerusalem was the nation’s capital, business and government affairs were conducted there.) There he would involve himself in people’s concerns and complaints and sympathize with them, trying to plant seeds of discontent and anger in their heart. He would do this to make David look bad and himself look good.

“I understand your concerns…”

“If it were me, I would do it this way…”

“I am here for you….”

“I wish he would understand the way I do…”

“I agree with you…”

He even tried to look humble by not allowing people to bow before him in reverence, instead responding to them in a less-kingly way. He did all the “right things”, but in his heart, it was all wrong.

His subtle control got him what he wanted. The proof is in the pudding in verse 6 when it says, “…Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel.” Seemingly, Absalom was serving these people from a position of ministry. Truthfully, he was serving only himself.

As God is continuing to call me to a place of ultimate purity in my life, I have to take a lesson from this story and receive His memo to me. In the midst of the “good thing” I do in my life, what am I really trying to do? Do I serve to make myself feel better? Do I want to be seen as a spiritual mentor or communicator for pride sake? Am I trying to steal hearts away from God or others and for myself?

It’s not a new issue for any of us, I’m afraid. But it is an issue that must constantly be checked…and re-checked…and checked, again. Our motive…our desire…our goals. The “good thing” that, in the blink of a nanosecond, can go really bad.

Ironic, then, that I am in the midst of a Bible study called No Other Gods.

I’m adding to my “gods to watch” list…the god of the good thing.

Serving.
Speaking.
Ministering.
Caring.

I've seen where Absalom's "good thing" got him. (II Samuel 18) I think I prefer to do the good thing the "big G" God's way.

Monty

Hey friends!
I am just dropping you a quick note to say that I will be back with my next blog post either tomorrow or Wednesday. Our mentor, Monty, is in town, and my hubby and I are spending some time with him this morning, gleaning his wisdom! As I type this, I am headed out the door for a couple of hours at Starbucks, soaking in the last few hours before he goes home. Thanks for understanding! And...to those of you who know him...try not to be too jealous. :)

Not a Facebook Bashing Blog

There is a song that has been playing in my head for the past couple of weeks. I have to admit, it is only slightly less on my nerves than Bon Jovi’s Dead or Alive that my son’s play incessantly on their new Rock Band Ps2 game they got for Christmas.

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
For the Father up above looks upon you with His love,
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.

Where I heard this childhood song to get it stuck in my head, I have no idea. I can assure you, it isn’t a tune on Rock Band. But never mind. It is stuck in there for real, for sure and I’m afraid, for good. I seriously can’t shake it.

So as in anytime something like this pops up “randomly” in my head, and after a solid week of it NOT going away, I have finally started clueing in to the fact that Someone just might be trying to get my attention through this simple song. After a few circumstances, a little less eggnog and a couple of gentle nudges from the Holy Spirit, I think I’ve come up with my answer.

Vigilance.

Let me explain.

Not long ago, I entered into the wonderful world of Facebook. (If you are one of the 2 people in the world who haven’t heard of Facebook, it is an Internet social network that allows you to connect with people anywhere, anytime.) I honestly knew very little about it when I started, and up until my husband decided to join up, I never did much with it. But in the past two or three months, I have enjoyed re-connecting with childhood friends, high school friends, college friends, and my current network of friends by sharing emails and pictures, as well as fun information about my life. For a pastor’s daughter who has lived in over 10 states in my life, a tool like Facebook has been an awesome way to talk to people again that I might never otherwise get the chance to.

I even found my favorite high school history teacher on there. :)

But lately I’ve begun to notice something about this fun tool. I’ve seen it's likes before in blogland…in shopping malls…restaurants…and yes, even in my mirror at home. And I just can't shake the fear that it is carrying with it the potential to get us, as believers, in trouble.

A tool of distraction.

A means of addiction.

A way of escape.

A fulfillment of needs not otherwise getting met.

A huge time waster.

A facilitator of pretense vs. reality.

I have, of late, really seen this. Where meeting old friends and reconnecting with loved ones is a super cool thing, reconnecting with loved ones and meeting new friends to the detriment of a marriage is not. Nor is it a stretch to say that it’s happening. Sadly, it’s happening and happening a lot.

But this blog is actually not about Facebook.

In fact, you might be surprised to know that upon finishing this blog I do not plan on canceling my Facebook membership or cutting my Facebook ties. No, I am staying on Facebook, at least for the time being. But I am also doing something else.

I am remembering the words to that simple little song that is stuck in my mind, like it or not…”Oh, be careful little eyes what you see...” I am also remembering its three subsequent verses (in no particular order)...

Oh, be careful little feet, where you go…

Oh, be careful little lips, what you say…

Oh, be careful little hands, what you do…

Whether on Facebook or at church or in my neighborhood or in my ministry…

I am checking myself constantly. Praying about my actions. Making sure that my life stays pure before God through the relationships I invest in. Being careful of what my eyes see. My ears hear. My lips say. My hands do.

Vigilance.

I simply have to have it to stay out of trouble.

By this Monday morning Not a Facebook Bashing Blog I am hoping to encourage you to do the same. In fact, I'm burdened for us both this year, if we don't.

Be well, friends. Whether we connect on Facebook or on the streets of our "non-cyber world"...let’s be well together.

I'm Sure I Don't Know

Good Monday Morning, Friends!

I hope and trust all of you had a wonderful Christmas, as did I. Many pieces of fudge and several undeserving gifts later, I, for one, am worn out! :)

I have missed you, my Yes to God girlfriends, since our Bible Study concluded a few weeks ago and have been meaning to tell you just how much! Thank you for your love and well wishes over the holidays. I thought of you and look forward to getting back to visiting your blogs soon to see where God is taking you on your “get real” journey. Please know I haven’t forgotten the time we shared! :)

With prayer and discipline, I plan to get back to my normalcy with blogging what is on my heart, at least once a week, in 2009. This morning I find myself with a deadline for my article in Connection Magazine (www.womenoffaith.com) upon me, so this post will need to be brief in order for me to meet it!

Every month in the coming year, Connection has a theme – all centered on your relationship with someone. The copy I am working on has a theme of Your Relationship with God. I have to admit that it has had me a little stumped for direction. To me, the subject is wider, deeper and broader than I can write about in 1500 words. So I have been praying about what direction to take.

After several weeks of contemplation and asking for opinions from others, I’ve settled on the Hebrews 4:15 approach with a title of “My Cul-de-sac Jesus: Doing Life with a Personal God.” In thinking about all the aspects of my relationship with God, the fact that He is a very personal God who is intimately aware, concerned, and involved with my everyday life and circumstances is among what I most appreciate. Many of us grew up with ideas of who God was – many of us were taught something about Him. But as we all know by now, who we think God is, at some point in life, has to become personal. Especially in the midst of our trying and painful times.

Of all the things I don't know, one thing I’m sure of is that I can't anticipate what the new year of 2009 will bring. I think I’m pretty safe to assume that none of us can. We may think we have it figured out in some way, but life is never-always sure, fair, and predictable. Just this week, two of my friends in two different circles of life both emailed me to tell me their husband no longer loves them and has asked for a divorce. One friend was rushed to the hospital one week ago, only to determine she had Leukemia and was thought to have only 2-4 weeks to live. It wasn’t long ago that all of these friends thought they had their future figured out, too.

So knowing that God is near…present…and involved in my life is something I need to take with me into 2009, a year that is sure to bring unpredictability. I’m thankful, today, that in this life I do not have to go it alone, but rather, I have access to a very personal God who lives with me – not just in my mind – but in my heart and on my cul-de-sac.

An Open Letter to a Christmas Angel

Dear Marcia,

You didn’t even notice me today. I’m sure of it. Because if you had, I know you would have sent a smile my way. You’ve done it many times before when I have been in your store.

Standing nearby, you probably thought I was simply printing off pictures at the nifty little Kodak kiosk in front of your register. I was, but that wasn’t all I was doing. I was also watching you.

I watched you smile at every customer you serviced. Some of them, I’m sure, were strangers to you. Others, I could tell, were acquaintances; many of whom had undoubtedly become your friends through frequent stop-ins for a few forgotten necessities. Regardless, you treated them all the same. Warm. Friendly. Accommodating. Important.

I watched as you helped a woman use her debit card in the machine, turning it the right way to make it go in, quickly and quietly, so as not to embarrass her. I watched as you threw your head back and laughed when your co-worker whispered something in your ear that probably wasn’t even all that funny. I watched as you limped over in your signature fashion to Aisle One to retrieve an item for a customer in a hurry, too busy to be bothered with finding something themselves.

Just when I was about to stop watching, she came up to your counter. Frail and elderly, she reeked of smoke…so much so that I at first turned my head to catch a clean breath. The chair that housed her doubled as her shopping cart, with her purchases resting safely between her feet. Her face held more lines than I had seen on anyone, ever before.

Ironically, she came to you, asking for a moisturizer of a specific kind. She wanted to buy it, she said, for comfort, not for vanity, because at her age, who would notice? You smiled and then looked, but didn’t find it. Then you did something you didn’t have to do.

You picked up the phone and dialed a number. It was the Rite Aid across the street, a competitor of your employer. You asked the person on the other end if they had the product, and then you hung up the phone with a satisfied smile.

Yes, they had what she was looking for, you told your customer. Clearly sensing her hesitation, you asked her if she was ok…how she would get there…and if she had a car. But you didn’t stop there.

When she replied that her car was nearly out of gas, you made a suggestion that I was not prepared to hear. You gently, but firmly told her that you were going across the street to get it for her. When she said she was planning to use her debit card for the purchase, you told her that you would pay for the item and she could simply pay you back. Listening to you talk, I almost could not believe my ears. I waited to see if you would really go through with it. As I believed you would, you did. Even though the store was busy and people were waiting. Even though you hadn't yet asked your boss if you could. You didn’t even hesitate.

I have seen and heard a lot of things this holiday season. A busy shopper accidentally bumping into a woman standing too close. A baby crying, tired and anxious from all the over stimulation of seasonal hustle and bustle. The familiar sounds of Christmas carols and bell ringers from the Salvation Army. The excited child giggling with her friend, waiting in line to sit on Santa’s lap and make her requests.

But what I saw and heard today was among the sweetest of all Christmas sounds. It was the sight of a woman who cared. It was the sound of a woman who served. It was the picture of what “loving your neighbor” looks like. It was a reminder to me that not everyone in the world is a taker…there is such thing as customer service…and not everyone just looks out for #1.

I came to your store to finish up my Christmas shopping. But what I got when I came was much more meaningful than any gift I could buy, wrap and place under my tree.

I got to see love, in action. Care, in motion. Concern, in full bloom.

You could have stopped being accommodating at any point. And even then, you would have still been a nice person who did her job well. But instead, you chose to love, care and concern yourself with a person who was in need. You saw that need and responded. You went above and beyond what was written in your employee handbook.

And all the while, a girl who was printing off pictures at the nifty little kiosk in front of your register was watching. You weren’t trying to impress me. And really, you didn’t. Instead, you did something much more significant.

Marcia, you blessed me.

And so, today, I say thank you. Thank you for getting involved in a life. Caring for a stranger. And reminding me that love is much more sweet when you give it away.

Now may God bless you, Christmas angel. He was watching, too.

A Much Needed Pause

I learned two key things last weekend.

1)In the midst of real life with real issues and real struggles, God is gracious to give us beautiful moments to enjoy.

2)My husband is a really good sport.

I’ll get back to number one in a minute, but since I know you are waiting with baited breath to see my husband in a reindeer costume, I won’t make you wait any longer. I think you’ll agree with my point number two after seeing this picture…





















My cute hubby, a.k.a. Cupid, is pictured here on the right with his friend and co-hort, Mike (a.k.a. Comet), at our 2nd annual Whittle Class Christmas Party. These two are notorious for showing up in costume, no matter what our class event is. Last year, they appeared as Santa and his favorite elf. Before I show the picture to remind you, let me add here, unequivocally, that grown men should never, ever wear tights or beaded tunics. Ever.





















But back to the reindeer costume. My girlfriend (Comet’s wife) and I nearly wet our pants while we were making the costumes. I’m afraid I may need some counseling for how much pleasure I took in pinning a spraypainted swiffer pad to the back of the boy's pants to serve as the “tail.”














Yes, my hubby is a good sport. He may drive me nuts with his lame attempt at rapping and he might be the biggest procrastinator I have ever met, but anyone who lets his wife dress him up in women’s brown stretch pants and reindeer headgear is a good man. Or at least, a man with a really healthy self-esteem who knows how not to take himself too seriously and have a good time. He is also the fearless leader of our nearly 200 member class and he brings the Word to us every week in a dynamic and relevant way! (I’m grateful to say, not in a reindeer costume, though.) Can you tell I’m a fan? :)

But enough about number two.

Last weekend I also learned something else. Well, not really learned, as it was something I already knew. And that is, that in the midst of life and all its struggles, God reminded me of how very good He is to give us those little “nuggets” to enjoy.

This was one of those such nuggets.


Last Saturday was our 4th annual trip to the mountains to chop down a Christmas tree. I have to admit that the pragmatist in me resists this tradition every year when it rolls around. But while both my husband and I are tempted to go two miles down the road and buy a pre-cut tree for our family to enjoy, our children’s joy in this special yearly tradition keeps us paying the gas money, driving the 4-hour round trip and risking life and limb to climb with a saw and a stick in search of the perfect tree.

But the fun doesn’t stop there.

As has been our tradition for the past 4 years, “Comet” and his family always go along with us. For the past two years we have rented a van and ridden together to ensure the full Griswold experience. And this year was no exception. On Saturday morning we all piled into a 15-passenger van and set out on our tree chopping excursion. 4 adults, 7 kids and 2 small dogs.

We knew it would be fun. We knew it would be loud. We knew it would cost more than we should spend, in both time and money. But we knew it would be well worth it, just for the experience.

What we didn’t know is that just as we would make our way up the mountain, a light dusting of snow would appear and cover the road beneath us. It’s presence incited lots of “oohs” and “aahs” from the kids, and a few from us, as well.

And as I got to the top of the mountain and looked down around me at all the beauty my eyes could behold, I felt really grateful for the moment. 7 kids swirling around. 2 dogs sniffing their surroundings. Great friends. Majestic trees. A borrowed hat and gloves to keep my hands warm. A light dusting of snow to quite literally cap it all off.

In that moment, I didn’t forget that the mortgage was due and that life is not perfect. Nor did I forget that the pressure to sell more books and speak more places awaited me at home, as did the three loads of laundry sitting on my laundry room floor. But I did feel grateful to God for those moments in life that He gives to bring us pleasure and joy, despite all the rest.

The simple reprieves. A quiet pause. A moment to exhale or maybe one to take it all in. Reasons to be grateful in a very temporary world that He has dropped us in for a little while. Beautiful moments in life to enjoy.

On this particular day, it was with 1 "reindeer-ish" husband, 3 irresistable offspring, and a really amazing view.

Calling all Praying Friends

Hi friends!
I intended to post today about my weekend Christmas party and trip to the mountains, but I'm afraid the pictures of my husband in a reindeer costume are gonna have to wait until Monday. Believe me, they are worth coming back for! :)

On a much more serious and important note, I am writing tonight to ask for you to pray.

Some of you may remember THIS POST I wrote back in April about our friend, Kris Lawing. If you didn't, please go back and read that post now, as I think it will stir your heart to pray for him. Kris is a 37 year old with lung cancer, diagnosed less than a year ago after never having smoked and a track record of near perfect health. Even more complicated, his lung cancer had spread to places in his brain before it was initially detected. He has a sweet wife and a little 7 year old boy. Needless to say, it has been a tough 9months for his family since his diagnosis.

Kris had a body scan two days ago and it showed two new spots in addition to a spot they were watching. Not only did that spot not go away, but now these two spots have appeared. They are quite sure it is "disease." Obviously, the family is devastated by the news. He will begin chemo again after the holidays.

So...I am asking for your prayers. Kris and his family need them. I know you are praying friends, and that is why I am coming to you! God hasn't "left the building," and He very much wants us to access Him through our prayers!

On behalf of Kris and his family...thank you.