One Foot in Front of the Other

The moment of truth has arrived with a force noticeably stronger than a tornado blowing across the land. This ugly truth is not from God but the enemy who deceives the world. The world around you tells you that God is dead. It says that following Him is what sets you apart as different. The life you've chosen to live for Him and the calling He has given you is wrong. It will not lead you to anything but loneliness.

Yet that is the truth the enemy wants you to believe. He twists your mind into thinking you are really alone, strange, and not good enough. He feeds lies to deceive you into believing the line of naysayers along the way. 

Nonetheless, God is calling YOU to rise. 

He is calling your name. He whispers into your ear words to show you He is there. All you have to do is listen closely. Rise up and meet Him where He needs you to be. 

You don't have to be a Queen of a Castle to fulfill what He is calling you to do. You don't have to be the wealthiest or best educated. You don't have to have a long list of credentials either. You just have to be brave enough to walk the waters to Him, beyond what the enemy says along the way.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer, the lowest of the servant chain, testing the King's drinks for poison. He could have died in an instant with one taste. He still went out to help rebuild the Jerusalem wall. He was criticized the entire time by both enemies and those closest to Him. However, he still completed it. Not only did he hear God's voice calling him, but he finished the task given to him. He did not give in and quit.

How about you? What is God calling you to do? Will you put one foot in front of the other as you cross the ocean to Jesus? What or who is stopping you along the way? 

*Do you like to write? Do you have a blog? Perfect! Come join the party on Fridays at www.katemotaung.com .

When We Abandon Our Self For the World

For years, I was a follower. I followed peers in making decisions to use controlled substances in high school. I followed unhappy people when I started developing a negative attitude. I followed those who told me if I was like X, Y, and Z, then I would be a perfect Christian. I followed the opinions of others towards me as a reflection of being strange, weird, or not good enough.

Sometimes, I followed the world when I felt I had to be over-glamorous with my appearance or needed to look a certain way to gain applause. I thought that if I looked and acted a certain way,  even if it meant drawing attention to my body through immodest clothing or by wearing a self-righteous attitude, I would feel better about myself. In hindsight, I didn't. The applause lasted for a moment and then I was back to where I felt before I did what I did to get the attention.

I've been reading Donald Miller's latest book, Scary Close. He talks about how he attended a seminar called Onsite to help improve his relationships. What he came away from it was that often times, we cover our real self  with things like humor, attitude, or other mechanisms that draw attention to us as a way to receive love. He said that shame can cause us to hide our real self. Somewhere along the way, we felt like we didn't measure up. Therefore, to hide the shame of our real self, we create a character that we think others will like as our new "appeared" self.

Miller says, "The root systems of these lies we tell ourselves tend to grow together. It's all connected with the belief human love is conditional. But human love isn't conditional. No love is conditional. If love is conditional, it's just some sort of manipulation masquerading as love."

As a teenager, I was bullied pretty badly. I longed to be loved and so I craved it by cutting my arms. When I slashed my wrists, I never felt the pain. The only pain I felt was the need to feel loved. I didn't realize that I was loved. I didn't quite capture the love God had given me already through the sacrifice of His son.

I used to spend a lot of time using social media. I loved being able to connect with others. But let's be honest. A lot of it is about getting some attention for the things we post. Have you ever posted something not to get any "likes" and started wondering if the problem is you not being liked? To me, that's what a lot of it appears to be. And a lot of it appears to be a mechanism to show our appeared self as perfect.

We only post pictures of us when they look just right. We share our most intimate moments to gain satisfaction and applause from others. Today's world longs to have that feeling of love.

To really understand, just look around at some of the biggest celebrities. They'll do what it takes to gain attention whether being inappropriate on stage or taking drugs. But deep down, what they long for is to be loved.

Donald Miller says it perfectly when he says, "Nobody steps onto a stage and gets a standing ovation for being human. That's the difference between being loved and making people clap, though. Love can't be earned, it can only be given. And it can only be exchanged by people who are completely true with each other."

Finally, I gave it all up.

I gave up social media stuff. I gave up trying to cave into the pressure of doing what I could so I could have a moment where I felt as though I was liked. I realized I didn't need the opinions of man to decide whether I was good enough. God already thinks I am.

What I've learned more over time is that I needed to be authentic. I needed to remember that I was made in God's image and by HIS grace, I've been saved. I needed to realize that not everyone will like the real me. And that's okay. God loves me and He sees my heart.

So I've learned to throw a lot of the lies I had bought into away. I've learned to live a more authentic life, being willing to share my mistakes with others. I've learned that it's okay to try and NOT be perfect. Instead, I can be real and relatable.

Since then, I've become more confident. I feel like I can radiate the Gospel story to others through my authenticity. And instead of following what is okay with the world, I choose to follow Jesus instead, giving my all to Him. 

***Do you enjoy writing? Do you have a blog? Come join the party. Every Friday, you are given a word/topic to write about on your blog. Spend five minutes (or in my case more), and link up your blog at www.katemotaung.com.

Where Fear and Thrill Meet

How often can you say you've experienced a moment of fear and thrill where they meet in the middle? And yet, you sense God's presence there as well?

When all those emotions collide, you get a strange sensation of incredibleness as you stand there in view of the amazing wonders of creation.

Right about now, you are probably wondering what I am even talking about above. Last Saturday, our town experienced a tornado. We had several days of severe weather and we had already spent time in the storm closets. As Saturday approached, it was predicted that we may have some storms roll through but no mention of a tornado.

I have a whale of a fascination for weather and it's easily noticed by people close to me. I am pretty sure that I could easily get involved in some sort of weather job in the future and really enjoy it. Since living in Texas, I get a thrill over watching the storms that come through.  Anything having to do with observing creation is pretty neat.

 Before the tornado hit, I was watching a website that shows the storm chasers in our area with live streaming. It was pretty cool seeing one right up the road from us. As we watched his streaming, he was pointing out that there was something in the midst. At that time, the news channel warned the people of our town to take cover as a tornado had been spotted.

I looked outside and all of our neighbors were standing there looking in the sky. Since we had to travel to the neighbor's storm shelter, as we headed over, we could see what they saw. A funnel cloud headed our way near our neighborhood. The sirens were blasting and people were beginning to get into place. Ironically, we watched it as it was passing by on our way to shelter. I caught it on camera and it was that moment described above.

I felt fearful for what was so close and could be so damaging. I felt thrill for seeing something that most people see from TV. I felt God's presence as I thought about how amazing all of the different parts of weather is that He creates daily. It was really neat to say I could scratch that off this fascinated weather gal's bucket list.

I can't even begin to imagine what it must  have been like to experience the Red Sea parting or the whole earth flooding from the view of an ark. I can't imagine what it was like to have been Lot knowing a whole city was being destroyed right behind him. I can't imagine what it must have been to see that storm when Jesus began walking on water.

All that happens in regards to weather, the birds, the animals, and the miracles are all amazing. It can be fascinating beyond words when we take the time to really look around and see all that He has made. We need to spend less time absorbed with ourselves/technology, and focus more on what happens around us each day.

Get outside and watch the clouds pass by. Notice their shapes and sizes. See how many butterflies and birds you can find in the springtime. Admire each snowflake that falls while trying to catch a few on your tongue. Gather different colors of leaves together in the Fall and compare them. Go on a nature walk to see how many animals you can find. There is so much to see that we often forget about when we are absorbed in everyday life. It's a beautiful world.

       

Dancing Cheek to Cheek

I had a set of grandparents that both passed away in the last four years. Amazingly, they were married for well over 60 years. Together, they were a couple who were deeply in love all the way through their 90's. As they aged beautifully together, they continued to compliment each other so well with a deep set of love in each other's eyes only for each other.

When they went out to the store, my grandfather would rush over to my grandmother's door, opening it for her and putting her arm around his as they walked to the entrance. He wanted to be sure she wouldn't fall as they both became so fragile. They attended church each week and were eager to hear the message God had for them. And they prayed for each of their family members while lovingly guiding us with their wisdom they've learned along the way.

In their younger years, they would dance together to the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers song, "Cheek to Cheek." After my grandmother died, my grandfather still talked about the times they would dance to this song. They were an example of a Godly marriage. They loved the Lord and they loved each other. They were strong believers with traditional values and yet, they were incredibly kind to others.

Now that they are in Heaven, I often think of them and the future. I think of when we will meet again. There will be no more sadness, pain, or tears. Instead, we will be together rejoicing in the arms of our wonderful Savior. I am so thankful for my upbringing and the people along the way who have pointed me towards the cross. I am thankful for the reunions we will all have together in a place so unbelievably amazing.  

Until then, let us bring the light of Jesus to this often terrifying world. Let us be His humble servants as we dream about dancing with our Savior cheek to cheek. And when that moment comes, we will find that happiness we seek. 

Which Door Will You Choose?

"And above all, you must be asking which door is the true one; not which pleases you best by its paint and panelling... the question should never be: 'Do I like that kind of service?' but 'Are these doctrines true: Is holiness there? Does my conscience move me towards this? Is my reluctance to move to this door due to my pride, or my mere taste, or my personal dislike for this particular door-keeper?" - C. S. Lewis

A couple of nights ago, we turned on the news. The entire news coverage was on the Baltimore rioting. People were burning down buildings. Cars were driven in the direction of the police, swirled around, and the driven through fire. This city was being burned by those who were angry.

The next morning, I read two stories. One story was about Bruce Jenner. Another was about the hatred a bakery has received because they refused to make a cake for a lesbian wedding. And presently at the moment, the Supreme Court is deciding on what the definition of marriage should be for our nation. People call this the next Civil Right's Movement.

Friends, it's becoming increasingly harder to be a Christian during these times. People are becoming lovers of money, lovers of themselves, filled with more hatred, more envy, and treating each other with unkindness. 

But you are not alone. 

John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When you stand at the doors leading to different paths, knock firmly on the door leading to the Truth. Don't be fooled by the ways of the world. Devote yourself to prayer. Commit your ways to God. You are needed to share God's love to an angry, messed up world. Your neighbors need you. Your community needs you. And God needs you to go and bring others to Him.

When We Proudly Proclaim Our Calling

Sometimes it's easier to blend in the crowd. Sometimes, I'd rather be hidden away with a book than to  be out there facing something that's hard. I am not a confrontational person and I don't do well being in the spotlight. I never want the center of attention to be on me.

Yet, I am the woman who enters the grocery store with six children ages ten and under. Two of them sit in a double stroller which my older ones take turns pushing as I grab what I necessarily need to get us until I can do most of my shopping alone. I admit that I get stressed sometimes by the wide range of comments I know I will receive from others when I go somewhere with all six.

It's not that I am not proud of my crew because I truly am. It's not that I don't think children are a blessing because I really do think it. It's not because I don't want to show the world what a joy a large family can be. My heart is so full and I am happy to be the bearer of many children.

But here's the truth. In all honesty, it's because I feel like I am in a spotlight. I get questioned by nearly every passerbyer and as I've mentioned above, I'd rather be unnoticed.

However, what if God doesn't want me to hide away His purpose for me? What if God wants me to make it known that this is His plan and His desire to share the beauty of family in a not-so-family-oriented society? What if He wants me to radiate His plan for family and love where it's needed most? What if instead of trying to hide in a shell I walk out boldly and say, "Yes, what great gifts these are and God created this desire in my heart to bring each one into the world!"

I was designed to be a mother of many little ones. God has leaned the hearts of my husband and I to welcome many children into this world. We face many naysayers. The line of criticism often feels long. We hear those who think it's too many or that it's selfish. What many don't know is that our hearts are full and the love we have for one another is strong.

Each of us has been given gifts from God in different ways. We can't hide those gifts out of fear of what others might say to our decisions. We can live out our calling so we can proudly proclaim, "Look at how amazing God is with all that He can do!" Let's stop hiding and let's start living out our callings so that through it, we can lead others to Christ.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

If you could go back in time to give advice to yourself 5, 10, or even 15 years ago, what would you say? Would you change things about yourself?  Would you wish you thought differently?

Here are some of the things I would tell myself:

1.  Don't try so hard! You don't have to care so much for the opinions of man. You are already enough and you are doing enough. You don't have to push yourself over the limit and care so much about what others think you should be. Be who God created you to be! 
2. Live in the moment! Don't look too far down the road. Don't look back so much. Enjoy this day that has been given to you. Because every day is a good day to have a good day.
3. Put the camera down! Pictures are fun to capture and have the memories of a certain event. But taking many pictures takes away from the enjoyment of things. In an age of digital cameras and phones that make it easy to snap away, put the camera down and enjoy the moments right now. Just take a couple of pictures to remember a moment but not too many. 
4. Look at the bright side of things! When things don't go as planned, don't let those moments get you down. Trials will come and they are meant to build up our faith. You will get through them so keep on pressing forward. (Romans 5:3-5)
5. Be brave and do what it is God is calling you to do. Don't let the naysayers discourage you from your journey. You can do this! You can shine for Him!
6. Don't worry so much! Worry brings anxiety which is not part of God's plan.  Look at the birds of the air and remember that we don't need to worry about tomorrow. (Matt. 6:34)
7. Keep on loving like Jesus loves.  It's going to be hard. There are people that don't seem to deserve the love you give. But there were people who mistreated Jesus and He still loved them anyway. Love your enemies and the unlovable. 
8. Also, be sure to set clear boundaries. Sometimes, people feel the need to cross over the boundaries into your lane way too much. Be bold enough to say, "that is enough" and mark the lines so they can get back in their own lane. 
9. Don't spend so much time on social media. Many of those people aren't real relationships. Invest your time with the people around you. Keep special moments private without sharing them all over the place. Focus on relationships that aren't through a virtual world.
10. You are beautiful. Every inch of you that God created is beautiful. What the world thinks is beautiful is not. You don't have to weigh a certain amount and look flawless. You are perfect, just the way God created you. 

Though I would tell myself these things, I know that the things I've learned as I've gained wisdom was part of the growing process that I've needed. Tomorrow will still have it's challenges and new things to learn. However, as my faith grows, my reliance on Jesus helps me as I go through life.