Bringing Faith to Life
Archive for December, 2017
Being Brave: Powerful New Devotional Book by Kelly Johnson
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These days, being brave is not optional; it’s imperative. And the bravery I’m talking about doesn’t come from girding your loins and bucking up your confidence. It can’t be bought because it’s not for sale. But it is available. In fact, it’s essential to the life God wants you to lead. This is the message of Kelly Johnson’s new Christian women’s devotional book, Being Brave: A 40-Day Journey to the Life God Dreams for You. (Abingdon Press)
Her inspiration launches from a conversation with her young daughter who, sensing her mother’s frustration at not being able to solve the events of a day she found particularly overwhelming, said, “Mommy, I just need you to tell me I’m a brave soldier.”
We all need to put on our brave. But how? Where does it come from? Where can we find it? Where should we look? Johnson is clear: God names us brave. “The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:7
Johnson cleverly uncovers an acronym that she uses as the backbone of the 40 day journey. The building blocks of brave are being:
- Bold
- Resilient
- Authentic
- Vulnerable
- Engaged
God’s spirit of Power helps us be bold and resilient. God’s spirit of Love helps us be authentic and vulnerable. God’s spirit of Self-discipline directs us to be engaged and empowers us. This devotional offers us the opportunity, through daily readings of scripture, story, prayer and reflection, to tackle what is holding us back and to discover what calls us forward. Our BRAVE says, Go on, take the Leap. I am with you in this.
As my mom used to say to me, “You’ll never know until you try.” When the stakes are low, that works, but when the stakes are higher, we need to hear someone tell us we’re brave. This devotional book will help you hear those words spoken to you in your own voice.
As I read TIME magazine’s powerful article detailing the stories of “the Silence Breakers,” whom they chose as this year’s Person(s) of the Year, I see this kind of BRAVE. In coming forward, they had everything to lose: yet, they were bold, resilient, authentic, and, while incredibly vulnerable, chose to engage with the world in a way that has ushered in incredible power. No timidity in sight. It’s why we believe them.
That’s what brave does. We don’t know what we can do until we try. After digging into Kelly Johnson’s book, you’ll be willing to try, too.
Find Kelly at her author page here.
The Reason for Christ: Seven Words
37 years
The vulnerable fetus Mary was carrying, whose conception was not completely science-based but entirely evidence-based, was born to humanity in all its diversity, so that we — no longer Jew or Gentile, no longer slave or free, no longer male or female, indeed without gender — we without right or entitlement but by grace through faith, could be called children of God.
It is for these seven words that Christ came to earth.
Merry Christmas!
Competitive Nearsightedness: it’s Treatable
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Both teams were there. Both coaches. Lots and lots of parents. The only thing missing was the referee. No one wanted to reschedule this last game of the season, which didn’t determine anything in the standings. We just needed to get it played.
As it happened, there was a parent on each team who was certified as a referee. Both sides agreed to play the game under the officiation of these two dads and abide by the outcome. They each would take a half of the field. At half time, when the teams switched sides, the dads would stay: even exposure to both pairs of eyes, one half on offense, one half on defense.
Man, that dad from the other team, he was BLIND! He called everything against us. But our dad, he was exceedingly fair, giving their team every benefit of the doubt. Really. Not kidding. That’s the way I saw it. But actually, in the end, the fouls called were about the same. If they had been somewhat partial, it went both ways. Season over.
I discovered something that day: my eye bends what I see. If I have a team favorite or a preferred outcome, if I want things to go a particular way, if I want a certain team to win, I tend to see things that way. And think I’m right. In my spectating life, the foul is always on the other team. And even if you point out the transgression committed by my player, I am quick to argue: she pushed first, he was just defending himself, it was inadvertent…. Apparently, I am biased. I see things with my jersey color overlaid.
What a great lesson our sports experience teaches. If I’ve made up my mind what the outcome should be, I’ll see myself as right and act accordingly. Point out my error, and I will swiftly find ways of justifying myself. That doesn’t make me right; it just makes me feel right, and a bit indignant that you can’t see it my way.
Watching those two dad-refs do their best and then watching both teams shake their hands and thank them for the game, improved my vision. I suffer from competitive nearsightedness; I am biased when looking out for my own best interests. Life lived faithfully looks out for the interests of the other, even my opponents, to ensure that they haven’t been wronged.
Developing an unbiased perspective? That requires surrender in service to the game. It requires us actually to embrace and accept the wisdom of “may the best team win.” No, actually. And that’s not easy. It’s unnatural. Gonna take some time, and practice. Everybody gets better with practice.
As one who seeks to live a life which follows Christ, the evidence of my practice is a growing expression of the fruit of the Spirit in my life.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. ~ Galatians 5:22
Am I growing in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Are you? Are we?
If we’re not getting better, we’re not practicing.