Do Motives Matter?

When my second son was about eight months old I volunteered as a helper in the Bible Story Room for VBS.  The woman who had volunteered to teach was significantly more than twice my age and was brand new to the church. I guess we all figured she had experience, but no one really knew her. We quickly found out that she wasn't interested in teaching the Bible to children; she had an agenda of her own.  She aspired to write and perform country songs, and her purpose for being there seemed to be to have a captive audience.  At about twenty-four years of age I worked to steer the class time back to the Bible Story and give the kids something they could apply to their lives.  I wasn't prepared to teach the lesson since I was only helping, but I tried to point the kids to the truth.  The woman I was working with could have sought to use music to bring glory to God, but instead she used the class for her own purpose.  I'm not sure that I ever saw her at church again after that week.  

Paul wrote in Philippians 1, "It is true that some preach Christ out of rivalry and envy, but others out of good will.  The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here (in prison)  for the defense of the gospel.  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.  But what does it matter?  The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.  And because of this I rejoice."

The lady in my story wasn't really preaching the gospel at all, but she certainly is a case of misguided intentions.  Her objective might have kept the kids from hearing God's word, but He had other plans that would not allow that to happen.  I am not suggesting that she intentionally attempted to prevent God's word from being taught, just that teaching it was not her purpose. Perhaps she heard something that would later change her life.  I'll probably never know.  So do motives matter?  Whether the issue is teaching, feeding the hungry or healing the sick, I think Paul's message applies to the outcome for the recipients:  they are taught, fed and healed.  For the individual with a selfish agenda, they will end up frustrated unless the Holy Spirit  changes their hearts.  I think it is important to examine ourselves often for false motives, and when we see that we have been doing something for the wrong reason, ask God to change our perspective.  

My oldest son questioned his reason for singing in the church choir, and decided that it was best for him to give that up.  He mostly stays in the back helping out with sound and projection, but also plays bass on the youth worship team.  A little over a year ago I had to step away from the worship team for a couple of months because I needed to reevaluate my objective in that ministry.  Thankfully, the Lord used the time to teach me so that I could return with a new perspective.  I recently had a disagreement with a friend who I thought was pushing their own agenda, but then I had to step back and consider what my "spin" was.  I'm still not sure how that will all turn out, but I am looking at things from different angles now and trying to make sure that I really have the good of everyone in mind as I was first convinced that I did.  Life is full of learning and growing, and for me, evaluating why I do what I do. 

Where I Stand

Sometimes I just don't know which way to turn, and then I remember that I need to keep looking out ahead.  It feels like being on a tight rope.  Something urges me to the left then I sway to the right trying not to fall.  One one side there's the pitfall of "I must achieve perfection," and on the other side is the abyss of "anything goes."  Let me explain...

There are those who think they have to do everything just right to get to Heaven, but God says, "all have sinned and fall short..." (Romans 3:23)  No one can live perfectly and earn their way to Heaven.  The only way is through the sacrifice of Jesus.  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."  (John 3:16)  You can't earn it.  You can't work for it.  It's a gift.  "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)  None of us can walk around with our snoot up in the air and say we are accepted by God because we are good.  We are not good.  He is good.  That is why He sent his Son to save us from ourselves: so that He could take our sin away and we could be accepted.  I know this, but  don't always act like it.

On the other side of the rope are those who think their sin should be accepted as a part of them.  They should be allowed to think, say or do whatever they want, and no one should be able to tell them it is wrong, not even God, but God says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways... As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (taken from Isaiah 55:8-9)  He says, "all have sinned" (Romans 3:23) and He means it.  He provides forgiveness of sin, not acceptance of sin.  He gave His own Son to bear our sin so that we could be set free from it, not to allow us to live in it. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."  (2 Corinthians 5:21)   If we are living for Christ, we struggle against sin, we don't let it have it's way in us.  

Do you hang out in one of these camps? Maybe you know the truth but you lean toward one like I do? One is no better than the other, they are both completely wrong.  I'd say my bent is toward trying to do everything just right in order to be accepted.  "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Do you have the courage to search God's word for the truth?  Are you willing to admit that the Bible has authority over what is right and wrong, and face any changes that you need to make in the way you think and the way you live?  It takes courage!  I know, because I have had to make some significant changes when confronted with God's truth, and He's not finished with me yet.

To a person who is not ready to accept the sacrifice Jesus made for them this is all foolishness, but I hope to those who have trusted Him it is making sense.  If you are leaning to the right, and think you need to be perfect, remember that God's grace covers you and He has set you free from sin. If you are falling to the left fight hard against temptation because though you are free from sin, you are not free to sin.  As I wobble back and forth on this narrow road I remember Hebrews 12:1-2, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us lay aside every weight that slows us down , and the sin  which so easily hinders our progress, and let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.  He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterward.  Now He is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in Heaven." 

I am not claiming to be getting this all right myself.  I know that I teeter and sway.  My eyes stray from the cross, and I think I need to get everything just right on my own.  I am quickly reminded that I can't do that when I struggle with temptation and when I fail, but I am saved by grace.  Praise be to God!!!  

1 Peter 3-7, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish spoil or fade.This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Pea Soup

Fog!  It was all around me, and it seemed to come out of no where.  I had been basking in the sunshine just moments before, and then there were clouds; clouds that were so thick I could not tell where the sun was.  The path that had seemed so clearly laid in front of me in an instant had vanished.  I felt alone.  I felt abandoned.  I felt cold, and the fog lingered on.  

For months I trudged through the clouds of doubt and depression.   Feelings of worthlessness overwhelmed me.  That's what they were though, only feelings.  One of the lessons God taught me during that time is that feelings are often not trustworthy.  Feelings are often false.  God's Word is trustworthy because it is guaranteed to be true.   If our feelings contradict what the Bible says, then they are leading us astray.

It was a time of great caution.  When you can't see where you are going, it is hard to move forward with confidence.  I had to trust God to lead me through the obstacles that seemed  to keep popping up in front of me.  Another lesson He was teaching me is that no one has the power to stop me from doing what He called me to do.  I felt the opposition and I was taking it personally, but I had to realize that though God was allowing the resistance to my progress, He was not the initiator of it.  He was going to bring me through and use me for His purpose.  Isaiah 54:17 says, "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me."  He was also leading me to rediscover my true identity.  I am his child.  I am not what I do or participate in.  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10.  I am God's workmanship, good works are something I do, but they don't change who I am in Christ.

The really tough thing for me, and the aspect that caused so much confusion, was that it felt like a few of my brothers and sisters in Christ were against me.  This was probably a deception from the enemy.  Sometimes though, we do start vying for our own agenda and forget that we need to let God decide who does what in his kingdom.  We form teams and committees and make decisions, but if we don't ask Him to guide us, we could be setting up road blocks for others that He wants to use in His service.  That makes it tough for the person who is struggling against the obstruction, but it's doesn't cause any problems for God.   "The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it"  1 Thessalonians 5:24.  To me this is an encouragement that nothing can stop God's plan including my weakness, as well as a warning not to stand in the way of others God is working through.

I really believe that the enemy was trying to prevent what God is doing in my life. Whether he was actually using people to do it, or was just using a misconception to discourage me, I may never know.  I do know, however, that I felt hindered.  I felt like others were pushing their own agenda and blocking me from effectively participating in a ministry I was called to.  I felt betrayed, and I struggled with jealousy and resentment.  That is where I first stumbled into the fog.  I begged and pleaded with the Lord to remove the negative feelings, but He led me out slowly instead, and right back to the path that I had not been able to see for so long.  I don't think He ever let my feet leave the path, He only allowed my vision to be obscured for a while. 

God has cleared away the clouds and I can feel the sunshine once again.  Sure, some days it rains, but the constant fog has lifted.  I am so thankful for the brightness and warmth, but I am learning to be grateful for the struggle I faced in ways that I never thought I could be.  It was a time that I thought I would rather forget, because if I looked back on it it would I would be filled with sadness once again, but the storm looks different after it's passed.  God used a difficult time in my life to teach me; He does that with every trial.  He brought me through the darkness, and he will lead me on.  No fog is too thick for Him to see through.  This is something I must remember the next time a haze dims my view.


A special thanks to Don Colburn for impressing upon me 1 Thessalonians 5:24 several years ago when I was suffering with "I can't do anything right syndrome." 

Also Thanks to the authors of the two books I was reading that taught me not to always believe my feelings.
Your Own Jesus by Mark Hall and Tim Luke 
When The Crosses Are Gone: Restoring Sanity To A World Gone Mad by Dr. Michael Youssef 

The Piano Lesson

I will admit I was nervous about leading music for the Good Friday Worship Service.  I am new to this, and very well aware that it was not a usual service.  The team only had three songs to do, and I was confident that they were appropriate, but they were also less familiar.  In addition to that there was a song I have been interested in doing for Good Friday for several years now, and my son, Austin, had agreed to do it as special music with me.  It was going to be the first time Austin played piano in front of a group of people.  We practiced a lot, and things were going well.  Everyone was committed to coming to practice on Thursday night, and I took my son, Cody, in early to set up the sound equipment. 

The previous night we had had a choir practice for Easter, and it did not occur to me then that it was a problem that the keyboard wasn't working.  I guess I figured it was something Cody would know how to deal with, but when the time came for the team to practice no one could get it to work.  I felt bad for the people who were standing helplessly waiting for practice to begin while a few guys messed around with the piano.  Finally we decided that the keyboard player would have to play guitar for practice.  Cody took the keyboard off the stage, and began trouble shooting.  He eventually discovered the problem but could not quite find the solution, and our local keyboard expert had a dead cell phone.  We could not reach him with a call, a text, or an email.  

Practice would have been better with the keyboard, but it went well enough. I, however, was beside myself because I was afraid Austin would not be able to play the following night.  I worried, and I fretted, and I prayed, but I did not have peace all night.  Friday morning I got up and I knew I could not concentrate on reading my Bible because I was too upset, so I did things backwards and wrote my journal entry first to try to release my frustration.  After I had read I went downstairs to look at my email, and I realized that though I had read the Holy Week emails our pastor had sent out, I had not read the accompanying scripture passages.  I decided to spend some time doing that, and the first one I came to spoke right to the trouble I was having.

Mark 11:22-24 says, "Have faith in God," Jesus answered.  "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain,  'Go throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  I know that God has power over any obstacle, but sometime I get tricked into thinking that He is putting the roadblocks there.  When I realized that Austin and I had been called to present that song Friday night I knew that the keyboard would work.  From God's perspective it was done. I love the way the verse says, "you have received," not "you will receive."  I still struggled though.  I struggled with the thought that I just wanted to do the song and it wasn't really God's will.  I thought I should be content with not being able to follow through with the plan, but I couldn't seem to find peace in that.  The more I struggled the more I realized that the reason I couldn't be content to cancel the song was because I was suppose to cast the mountain into the sea.  

The physical obstacle was only half of the lesson though.  Mark 11:25 reads, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive your sins."  My first reaction, when the keyboard wouldn't work, was to blame the last person who successfully played it.  I was holding something against someone, and it was making me miserable.  I had to let go of my frustration toward the person I thought was responsible for the problem, and leave it in God's hands.  As I thought about this I specifically remembered an appointment I had completely forgotten to show up for earlier that week. It helped me remember how often I let others down.  Within a short time after letting go of my grudge the phone rang and I was given the information Cody needed to correct the keyboard issue.  I still insisted on getting there a bit early to get it working, though it only took about a minute to fix. God was definitely teaching me a faith lesson through the circumstances.  The keyboard problem may very well have been an enemy attack, but the piano lesson was from the Lord.

Blind Heart, Come See

Do you feel like you are looking for love in all the wrong places?  Do you find that no matter how perfect a relationship seems, something always messes it up?  We all feel that way in our relationships with each other at times.  Love is a choice.  God loves us, and He lets us choose whether we will love Him back or not.  If we chose to have a relationship with him it can never be messed up.  He made sure it would be secure forever. 

Blind heart there is hope for your eyes now to see

What love truly is, and what love's meant to be.

Love never gives up and it never will fail

Love always hopes over doubt it prevails.

Come see, come see what love is meant to be

Come see, come see what love's become to me.

It began with a God who created free will.

He gave man a choice and we have a choice still.

The first man gave in to desire and pride.

We've all followed suit, but One perfect Son died.

A perfect Man who gave His life, God's only Son the sacrifice,

So from your burdens you will be set free,

when you let Him open your blind heart to see.

He'll come and change you from within, that's the work His love begins

And He will never leave it incomplete

It's a promise for His children who believe.

So lay down your heart at the foot of the cross;

What once seemed like wealth you will soon count as dross

Compared to the glorious love you have found

In the One who gave all. Let your praises resound...

To a perfect Man who gave His life, God's only Son the sacrifice,

So from your burdens you will be set free,

when you let Him open your blind heart to see.

He'll come and change you from within, that's the work His love begins

And He will never leave it incomplete

It's a promise for His children who believe.

And He'll send you to the world wit His story.

Blind heart there is hope for your eyes now to see...

Come see, come see what love is meant to be.

Come see, come see what love's become to me.

Blind Heart, Come See

 Juanita Huyett

©2013jmhuyett

Taste and See

Five members of our worship team were away at a conference together last week.  It was a nice time to hang out and learn together.  One of the things we were encouraged to do is to start writing songs about what is going on in our church.  Our tendency is to just sing songs from other churches.  They are good songs, but if we write our own it captures the heartbeat of what God is doing among us locally.  They suggested ways to begin doing this, and one of them was to use the pastor's sermon as a springboard.  This Sunday when I was sitting in church and our pastor said, "God's love is like ice cream," I thought, "there it is, I have to write a song about that."  It started out as a joke.  I don't think I really expected to get a whole song out of it.  I knew from the beginning that, though he was using this as a good metaphor, as a song it would be a bit silly.  I believe that God approves of our joyful laughter though, because He is joyful. I had a few unexpected minutes alone in the car Sunday, and when I prayed about this idea and began to sing, the chorus seemed to flow out.  All that was left to do was figure out the chords and build some verses to support it.  I've attempted to keep the meaning of the metaphor, while having a little fun with it.  I don't really feel like I write songs, but that God writes them through me.  Sometimes He just puts them in my heart and they come pouring out, other times I get an idea and He uses my effort to produce them, but either way they are His.  My daughter says this one is cheesy...  cream cheesy.  ;)  That's okay; I know she has a special affection for cheese.  I think she might be inspired to write a song about it.

The Ice Cream Song

Taste and see the Lord is good, Things don't compare, but if they could

And I could say it's like a food, then You're love is like ice cream.

You're love, You're love is like ice cream, ice cream

Rich and creamy, sweet and smooth; so many flavors I can't choose.

The good news is I don't have to... You give them all to me.

Chocolate, mint or rocky road, You're merciful gracious and good.

Add caramel, fudge, chips, nuts or fruit, cause you accept us all.

Dip it, scoop it, serve it soft. You paid the tab upon the cross,

So all you are is truly ours, each flavor of Your love.

The Ice Cream Song

Juanita Huyett

©2013 jmhuyett

March 19

This will be even more fun if Austin adds the rap that he is hearing in the background.  If he get's that part together we'll have to make a new video, or maybe have Cody help us mix an mp3 so that the vocals and guitar can be more balanced. I told him if he actually did it I would definitely add his name to the writer credits.  :)

Just Jump!

Sometimes my life reminds me of the time I got stuck on the high dive at the pool when I was in my tweens.  I climbed up there because I wanted to conquer the challenge.  I had a goal.  I had an audience too.  I got out to the end of the diving board and I stared down at the water.  I kept trying to convince myself to take the leap, but the longer I stood there the more nervous I got.  People started yelling at me.  Much of this was because there was a line behind me of people who weren't afraid and wanted their turn.  In the end I hung my head and climbed back down the ladder.  I don't want to live like that.  In the swimming pool of life it is time for me to hold my breath and jump, trusting that by the grace of God I will float and maybe even swim.

In the book of Matthew (14:22-33) Peter doesn't climb a high dive, instead he steps out of the boat on a windy night.  He has a purpose!  He is going to meet Jesus out on the water.  The waves are crashing around him, the other disciples are watching him, they may have even been yelling at him.  Peter probably looked at the water; NIV says he "saw the wind."  He started to sink.  Jesus rescued Peter from drowning that day, and he taught us an important lesson.  When our focus is on Jesus, and we look to him for our strength, every plan that God has given us will succeed.  When we become distracted by circumstances, spectators, hecklers or even cheerleaders, we fail to exercise the power available to us.  Focusing on our weakness, or our ability, rather than on Christ's strength is a tried and true recipe for defeat.

I'd been standing on the proverbial diving board for a long time waiting for someone to push me off.  I guess I'd rather be pushed because then, if I sink, there is someone else to blame.  I've been standing at the side of the boat looking out and asking, "do You really want me to do this, or is this just some crazy thing I have concocted?"  I recently took a long awaited plunge.  Storms raged around and in me while I hesitated, but finally the conviction became so strong that there was no turning back.  I've already had moments where I felt like I was sinking, but Jesus is always there and when I focus on him I rise.  Life is full of opportunities to take a leap of faith.  It's not meant to be a spectator's sport, and if we won't get wet we find ourselves watching it pass us by.  We receive so much blessing from doing the things God has called us to, but the glory is His alone.  If you've been standing on the edge, make sure your eyes are on Jesus then go for it, but remember to stay focused on Him.  I need to stay focused on Him!

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising it's shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Going

Water swirling, waves are crashing;

There is somewhere I must go.

Boat won't take me.  Faith will only.

Now my Savior's will I know.

Wind is blowing, boat is rocking;

I must step beyond it's bow.

Water's cold now, clothes are heavy,

But my end He won't allow.

Feet are walking.  Jesus calling!

Now my eyes are fixed on Him.

Arms that catch me. His face I see.

He's the Light that never dims.

J.M. Huyett  (March 13, 2013)