Thoughts on Tuesday ~ Kingdom Blockers

One of my favorite pastor's wives (which is a confusing thing to write: he has one wife, no matter how that can be misconstrued) used to write a Monday Morning Commentary on her blog each week. I always admired that for several reasons, one being that I saw it as a great way to support and cheer on her husband. I've thought about doing it many times, but it seemed like such a commitment to make to write a blog EVERY week ;). Mine may be more like today and be Thoughts on Tuesday, and other times I might make Monday Morning Commentary status...either way, let's get started.

Using the parable of the sower, Jeremy examined this truth:  There are certain things that block people from pursuing the Kingdom and living a fruitful life for Jesus. 

What’s blocking your pursuit of God and His Kingdom?

1. Satan (Matt. 13:19)
• In the passage, Jesus tells about the footpath where the seed falls and birds snatch it and carry it away; he explains that these are those who hear about the kingdom, but do not understand. 
• In our lives, it is our hard heart, hardened by the enemy, which prevents the Word from permeating and growing. This is often a pride.
2. A Shallow Commitment (Matt. 13: 20-21)
•  In the passage, Jesus teaches of the rocky soil. The seed grows quickly and then withers from lack of a deep root. 
• In our lives, as Jesus explains after his parable, these are hard times that come and take our joy. It may be persecution, suffering, or things just not going our way.
• To overcome a Shallow Commitment, we need Deep Roots. We develop Deep Roots through:
• God's Word: Get in God's word - read it, listen to it, memorize it, meditate on it, share it (FB, IG, text encouragement to others)
• God's People: Resist isolation and build community; allow others to speak Biblical truth and correction in to your life as well as encouragement.
• God's Spirit: Learn how to listen to and follow His Spirit. The Spirit is a gift the Father gives us when we commit our lives to Jesus. Rely on the Spirit.
3. Distractions in life (Matt. 13: 22)
• In the passage, Jesus teaches about the seed that fell among the thorns, and as it grew was choked out by those thorns.
• In His teaching, the thorns in our life are worries of this life and the lure of wealth (Mark goes on to add the 'desire for other things' to his list). Jeremy pointed out that our culture makes it easy for these very same distractions to lure us away.

The good news is that there is one last type of soil!

Matthew 13:23 (NLT⁾ The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

What a joy to know that I am not doomed to suffer a life of the blockers, but that I can live in the fullness of the good soil!

Hosea 10:12 (NLT) ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.

Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’

Which soil describes the condition of your heart and your life at this time? What can you do to correct that? If your heart is in the 'good soil' category, what can you do to maintain that and share that with others?


I see 'Distractions in life' as my biggest blocker. And, I'm thankful that Mark added the 'desire for other things' to his list. That's me. And, the 'desire for other things' aren't always bad things that I chase; I'm easily distracted by the lure of a clean, orderly home; by meeting deadlines for business; by meeting needs of others. However, if I'm not sitting at the feet of Jesus first and then serving out of His filling, I'm not producing a harvesty of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times more!

If you missed the message and want to hear it, you can find it here.

Delayed Obedience

I've heard it said that "delayed obedience is actually disobedience." I believe that's a parenting principle, isn't it? Funny how so many parenting principles apply to our lives as His sons and daughters.

It appears that it's been almost 2 years since I've last written a blog post. While my photography blog isn't so unloved that it's missed 2 years, it feels the pain of neglect, too. I need to get out of "I'm and introvert, and I like it" mode and get into "obedient share" mode.

For the last two years I have enjoyed a plethora of experiences ranging from deep despair (that time I lost my ability to move) to this is cRazY (can you believe someone gave us a top-of-the-line Yukon Denali?!), and, in time, I'll share some of those with you. 

So, what's been keeping me from it? Thoughts like:

"What happens when you run out of things to write?" (as if He can't give me more every day)

"I don't want to seem prideful or like I have it all figured out." (because I don't)

"No one really cares." (selfish much? it's not really about me, is it?)

"Who are YOU to write for other people to read?"

I laugh at that last one because I was just listening to a conference call for She Speaks that I have the honor and privilege of attending next month. She said (I'm going to quote, but there is some paraphrasing happening here, so read the quotations loosely), "Some of you are wondering what you have gotten yourself into not only by signing up for She Speaks, but by signing up to meet with a publisher. You're thinking, 'What was I thinking?!' The lie Satan is whispering in your ear is 'Who do you think you are to write a book and present it to a publisher?' The truth right now: It's not about who you are, because this isn't about you. You are being obedient to God."

So, here I am...being obedient.

For years I've had people speak into my life about the books I'm going to write one day. One went so far as to gift money for me to attend a writing conference. In the last year I've been dipping my toes in the water to get a "feel for things." As I spent a little time writing for StoneWater U, I found it is something I DO love and enjoy the challenge.

The next step seemed to be taking the step to use that gift and register for a conference. When I registered, I clicked the little box that said "I would like to meet with a publisher." I knew I registered later than those who were really "with it," and that the liklihood I would get an appointment would be slim to none. Really, it was a low risk box checking that I did. Earlier this week, I received an email that explained a publisher appointment had opened and asking if I would like to take it. The thought that ran through my brain was, "Really?! Could it be that I might really on the verge of doing this?" I stepped back long enough after typing, "Yes, I would love the opportunity," to say a prayer about my answer, and, feeling confirmed, I hit 'send.'

And then...

then I received the follow up documents. Suddenly I feel like I'm in grad school again with projects to complete that take me all the way back to my English undergrad years of analyzing and deconstructing pieces, except starting from the ground and building up. I have a lot to do, and I have a lot to learn as I go. Grad school was kind of crazy - I was teaching full time, expecting one child (whom I birthed early in one semester, so I went back to class when she was 5 days old...right around feeding time that evening...moms, you get this), and I finished as I juggled teaching and chasing a toddler and being a youth minister's wife.

It's pretty much deja vu: I'm running a business full time, chauffeuring and cleaning up and loving on two kiddos (all of you who stifled your laughs when I lamented how I couldn't wait until my two precious littles could cook and clean for themselves, go ahead, let that laugh out loud and proud ;), being a pastor's wife, women's ministry coordinator, and the other variety life offers.

You know, it may be that nothing comes of this. I go to an awesome conference, I learn a lot, and I sense I've been obedient and move along to His next plan.

You know the best part though, I'm no longer in the "delayed obedience" category...I'm walking in the freedom, purpose, and joy of surrender. This chapter should be titled, "Obedience," and I'm betting that it's going to be exciting.