And I am sure that God who began the good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.           Philippians 1:6

I was speaking with a client recently about the value of personal disciplines in each area of life- physical, spiritual, and emotional dimensions. Disciplines give us a sense of structure and control. They help us to feel better about ourselves as we do the things that we say we are going to do. That being said, when we fall out of the habit of a discipline, it does not take long for the benefits to diminish.

I remember when I had a knee replacement several years ago. I had been walking several miles per day for years, but finally the knee gave out and I needed a new one. While I was in the hospital, and just a few weeks removed from regular walking, I saw that my calf muscle had visibly atrophied. Needless to say, I was depressed, but also determined to get back to exercise as soon as I could!

The point is this- disciplines are good for the body and soul, but be sure to keep up the habits. Indeed the saying is true, “If you don’t use it, you lose it!

Prayer: Lord, give us the strength to continue the good work you began in us, Amen

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Today, on this day after the election in the United States, I simply offer the calming presence of Psalm 23, and the beautiful blessing of Numbers chapter 6. No matter your political inclinations, your joy or disappointment today, the Shepherd is still the one who provides comfort and security- forever.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”                                                                                         Numbers 6:24-26

The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.             Proverbs 22:9

Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it. His words to his followers reinforced the essential doctrines of the need to care for our fellow man as set forth in the Old and the New Testaments. Time and again Jesus, and then his followers, set forth the need to display love for others, especially those who are suffering, afflicted, and in need of the help of others to navigate a difficult world.

Professing faith is not the same as practicing faith, as my friend Mike Slaughter would say. James, in his New Testament letter, warned that faith that does not produce good visible effects, is not the kind of faith that is effective. Indeed, what the world needs to see from Christians is faith in action- faith that shows love and compassion for a broken world.

THAT faith saves and demonstrates the heart of God.

Prayer: Lord, help us to truly put into practice what we profess, Amen

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.                     Philippians 4:8

(def.) Agency: a thing or person that acts to produce a particular result:

Oxford Language Dictionary

What lowers anxiety? Being able to do something- to take an action of some type. If we can do something, we have agency, that is, a thing or person that acts to produce a particular result. We have agency when we take actions on our behalf or on the behalf of others. We can have an impact. We can exert some measure of control.

As I have said numerous times, the more control we feel, the lower the anxiety present in our minds. Therefore, in situations where we feel threatened or fearful, concentrating on the things we CAN do is much superior to recounting the things we CANNOT do.

It is easy for all of us to fall into the limiting thinking of helplessness- recounting all the things that we cannot do at the time. Indeed, in many situations, there are things that we truly cannot do. However, if we are open to looking for the things that we can actually do to better or alleviate our situation, we can have more control over our emotions and anxiety.  

I recently spoke with a young couple who are mired in a difficult financial situation. They are living in an apartment that is in a neighborhood that they feel is bad for their children. They often feel defeated by what they have not done well- poor spending habits in the past for example. They feel that they cannot get ahead.

As we talked, it became apparent that this couple does have a lot going for them, but they often fail to see it. There indeed are some things that they CAN do that will help them get to their goal. They simply needed encouragement, and a look at things that they CAN do.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the CANS more than the CANNOTS, Amen

I look up to the mountains. Where does my help come from?
 My help comes from the Lord. He is the Maker of heaven and earth.

 He won’t let your foot slip. He who watches over you won’t get tired.
 In fact, he who watches over Israel won’t get tired or go to sleep.

 The Lord watches over you. The Lord is like a shade tree at your right hand.
 The sun won’t harm you during the day. The moon won’t harm you during the night.

 The Lord will keep you from every kind of harm. He will watch over your life.
 The Lord will watch over your life no matter where you go, both now and forever

Psalm 121

This beautiful Psalm is one of the Hebrew Songs of Ascent. I understand that it was sung by pilgrims as they made their way up toward the heights of Jerusalem for holy worship. These travelers might become weary on the long trek, and they encouraged one another by singing these Psalms that they had committed to memory.

The King James translation renders that first line “I will lift up my eyes unto the hills…” That catches my attention, not only because of its poetic beauty, but because of the literal value of the idea- I will lift up my eyes. There is a specific value in deciding to look up. It talks about a decision to look up when we are weary, not to hang our heads.

Have you ever seen athletes on the basketball court or on football sidelines put their hands on their hips? It is a sure sign of fatigue. Many coaches caution their players, even when fatigued, to not give in to a gesture that might give others the idea that they are exhausted.

Deciding to look up when the journey gets hard is a good concept. After all, the Psalmist reminded the pilgrims that their help comes from the Lord- the one who made the mountain that they were trudging up. God would give them strength if they looked up to him.

So, fellow travelers, when the journey gets hard, lift up your eyes to the Creator who gives strength.

Prayer: We are weary Lord, but our strength is renewed in you alone, Amen

I listened to an interesting podcast about election anxiety recently. The election in America culminates on Tuesday, November 5^th. My international readers may be following this closely also since the results will affect the entire world.

The podcaster related that anxiety is high among both Republican and Democrat voters because the polling numbers are so close. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are splitting the vote almost evenly according to most polls. If one candidate were leading the other, say 55%-45%, one side would be disappointed, and the other would be a bit encouraged. However, when both sides are so uncertain of the outcome, both have anxiety. As we know, uncertainty leads to anxiety.

Voters can cast their vote, perhaps put up signs, canvass for their candidate, write letters, etc. but they have no other control of the wider outcome. Anxiety grows where control is limited.

So, my dear American readers, take heart. The malignant, and often ridiculous, political ads will be over on November 6^th. Russian bots, and other evildoers who occupy disinformation sites on social media (and there are many) will stop their election tampering – at least temporarily.

The election results are not likely to be known on November 6^th. So, there will still be some anxiety for a while, but the end, mercifully, is in sight.

Note to Readers: I came across this blog from November 1, 2022. I can hardly believe that it has been two years since I wrote it. I post it again, in memory of some dear family members, lost too soon…

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  And you know the way to where I am going.”                                                                                         John 14:1-4 (New Living Translation)

As we get close to Thanksgiving (yes, it is already November 1), I began to think about family and the idea that there is always “room at the table” for family. This idea of family around the table came from several directions. Mostly, I was just thinking about Lori.

As I write this blog, my own family is preparing for another funeral. My faithful readers may recall that just over two weeks ago I wrote a blog titled “Lou”, about the passing of my cherished brother-in-law. Just 20 days later, his daughter, my niece Lori, succumbed to cancer as well.

I was reminded of the promise that Jesus made to his disciples as he was preparing for his own homecoming to his father in heaven. He essentially said- “There is room for all of you in my Father’s house, after all, we are family”

Lori had been a 40-year survivor of a different type of cancer. This last cancer ravaged her body too quickly, and despite a valiant, even heroic fight, she went home to be with her father all too soon. We will all miss her terribly. Her large heart had room in it for many people too. Now she is at home with her own father, and her heavenly Father as well.   

I cling to this promise, and I am sure that my big sister, Lois (Lori’s mom) and her two other daughters, Linda and Leanne, do too. Lori’s two children, Matthew and Becky, and her husband, Doug, are an incredibly strong and supportive family, sustained by a positive and abiding faith in Jesus.

Jesus told us of the promise of rest in his own Father’s house- big enough for an untold number of families. We indeed need that kind of assurance. He also knew that here on earth, we need the strength of our physical families to survive the crushing grief that accompanies such loss.

So, as this Thanksgiving season rushes up on us, remember that there is always room at the table for those we love, and even those that we don’t know yet.

The ones who have left us are still at the table with us in our hearts.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the promise of room in your house. We are heartened by it, Amen

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”                                            John 8:32

I had a situation with a client some time ago where he presented for treatment because he was frequently angry. His wife had asked him to seek help and he complied. He too understood that anger was becoming an increasingly large part of his life, and he did not like it either.

We explored his background, and it became evident to me that much of his anger was directed at himself. He typically blamed his anger on the actions of “stupid people”. The more we discussed this, he began to see that he indeed was angry at himself for some decisions he had made earlier in life that had altered his career course. When he was flashing anger at “stupid people” he may have unwittingly been reflecting on his own poor decisions. His reactions vented his anger, but it did not get to the root of his need to look at his own self-anger, and then, having accepted that, to forgive himself for the decisions that eventually harmed him.

This is a process, and I have great admiration for this client for doing the hard work of self-reflection and self-honesty. We all have blind spots, and typically we have some level of anger at ourselves that is not always at the surface. An honest look at ourselves can be very freeing as we own some things about ourselves that we do not like.

Such an internal look is freeing. Knowing that we are forgiven by God may also help us to forgive ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, help us to look at and understand our own heart, Amen

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.                                         Matthew 7:7 (New Living)

One of the questions that I challenge my relationship couples to ask one another is to directly articulate what they need at the moment. A simple question, really, but it is important to get in touch with it ourselves, and then to ask for what we need. Some people seem to feel that their partner should KNOW what they need, implying that their partner can somehow read minds.

It is often a sort of cultural norm that we don’t directly ask for what we need. For some people, they do not ask because they may feel it is presumptuous to ask for something of another person. Some may feel embarrassed or unworthy to ask for what they need. Some people just find it hard to ask for help of any kind.

It does take some level of humility to ask for help. As I often tell my clients, humility is the beginning of wisdom. Indeed, humility is the beginning of growth and the path to a more peaceful way of living life.  

Prayer: Lord, we know that we can ask you for what we need, and that you are faithful, Amen

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.”                           John 4:24

What is worship? Well, in much of the Evangelical world, especially in the past 30-40 years, “worship” time has become synonymous with “worship music”. That is the music that precedes the pastor’s message. There is an earnest attempt to have the entire congregation become involved in singing (usually) contemporary music, led by singers and musicians in the front of the congregation.

There are various styles of musical worship, and of course, worship is not confined to the music, or even a certain type of music. Prayer, congregational readings and other liturgies may be involved to have the congregation united in acknowledging that Jesus is Lord.  

There are some “high liturgy churches” where the music is less contemporary, and there is more emphasis on readings and congregational response in reciting certain rites and liturgies. There may be a highly structured approach like the Catholic Church (also Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran, and several other churches) where there is a “liturgical year”. This usually has a very prescribed worship practice, and every church of that denomination throughout the world is participating in the same liturgy.  

Finally, (and believe me, this list is far from comprehensive), there are Pentecostal types of worship which are much more spontaneous, less structured, and not overly time-bound to the typical “one hour” service. The music, dancing, testimonies and prayer may precede a lengthy message. Then more music may ensue. It is led by the Spirit, not confined by time.

While I like music, the “worship” time for me is not defined by the Sunday gathering. Our pastor is a gifted communicator, and he brings an excellent message each week, but that is also not my “worship time”. In fact, my idea of worship, where I can really connect with God, is when I am in service to His people. I find that my time with clients is really like a worship of God.

Certainly not all of my clients are Christians, or even necessarily believers in any organized faith tradition. Many are Christians, of course, but it does not really matter if we are discussing God’s place in their life or not. We are connecting on a very important level. They have chosen to discuss with me very intimate and often painful parts of their life. That is a precious connection- one that I hold to be sacred. I can, and do, affirm God’s special place in all of us since we are physical, spiritual, and emotional beings. I can serve God best by serving his people, and loving them right where they are.

That, to me, is worship.    

Prayer: Lord, you have given us the opportunity to serve you by serving others. What a marvelous plan, Amen