Scenic Sunday: More Yes, Less No

Two things happen quite regularly in my life...well, that was vague. There are more than two things that happen regularly. Let me start again...

There are two realizations that I encounter almost every Sunday:
   1. All the random "deep" thoughts of the past week come crashing together into one big logical idea, often influenced by the message I hear at church.
   2. I'm humbly reminded of how parenting is as much about me becoming the adult God wants me to be as it is about my kids becoming the adults God wants them to be.


That's why I started writing "Scenic Sunday" blogs a while ago. Sometimes, although not very often, I get a few moments after the kids are in bed to pour these thoughts into words, which helps me solidify them in my own life.

Today we had the privilege of hearing Nick Hall speak at our church. His message was about remembering what God has done in the past and believing that He can do it again. This is a guy who walks what he talks; who is out there preaching to this generation of youth about Jesus. He is inspiring in a particular way because our church is his home church. He is just "one of us" yet he is doing something big with his life.

As I was listening to his message this morning, I was paying a lot of attention, but I also let my mind wander a little to that place where I wonder if I'm doing everything I am meant to do. I'd like to think that I'm not the only one who ever has that "itch" on the soul... like a feeling that comes back over and over about doing big things with our lives. That risky question of "what if God asked me to...?" But we usually scratch it away temporarily with the simple explanation that not everyone is supposed to do that. Somebody's gotta stay home, raise babies and make dinner!

I am the strongest believer in parenting being your BIGGEST calling when you're in it. There's nothing more important you can do because you can NEVER go back and do it again! That said, there are things that come alongside the parenting package in our culture that are not our biggest calling or priority, but rather hindrances or distractions from fulfilling the potential God has given us. I'm talking about stuff, people. Houses. Cars. Entertainment. Image. Fashion. Keeping up with the Jones'. Credit cards. You know, all that stuff that fills our lives, schedules and storage closets.

Seems like I'm getting off track, but stick with me, I'm going somewhere... You don't have to be a parent for this to happen, but especially being a parent, you begin to find reasons for your material desires and things that were never legitimate needs become "needs". Yes, bless your family. Yes, have fun. Yes, enjoy everything God has given you. The key is to be content...but that's a different topic. Today what I really was challenged by was this question:

Am I setting myself and my family up for success for availability to God's calling on our lives?

If God said, "Come follow me and do ____", am I available to do that? Or would I have to say, "Oh sure Lord, BUT first I need to go home and pay off my debts" or "I need to get my finances in order" or "That would be too far out of our lifestyle comfort zone". We don't usually talk about God's calling in our lives and our finances together, but they really are connected in a lot of ways. How many of us are actually practically ready to respond with a resounding "yes" and follow wherever He leads us? How many times is our comfortable suburban life a reason for not saying "yes" more often?

I'm probably sounding a bit harsh...at least I feel harsh because I'm really preaching to myself. But challenges are rarely comfortable. These thoughts are all pretty raw in my brain still. I'm not exactly sure what the conclusion is. But I was reminded of something I recently read in a marvelous parenting book (Shepherding a Child's Heart): unless there's a good reason to say "no", say yes (to your children's requests). This is where parenting brings me back to me and God... I want to respond to Him with more "yes" and less "no". And I pray for the wisdom and courage to do that.