How Do You Measure Up? Take the Quiz…

January 23, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / Leave a comment

As a teenager, I loved taking quizzes and working from a checklist. No, not the Math/English/Science variety. The good kind. You know, the ones designed to provide insight into your very soul.

Pouring over the latest teen magazines, I could feel my heart-rate increase as my friends and I would devour every page, knowing there would be at least one feature entitled, What Kind of Man Will You Marry? How Cool Will You Be in High School? Are You a Good Kisser? What is Your Body Type? What Type of Boyfriend is Best for You?

The kind that asked 10 simple questions, directed you to tally up your A’s, B’s, and C’s, then revealed—with incredible insight, I might add—everything a young seeking heart needed to know.

It was from this source of wisdom that I knew I would marry a dark-haired prince, have 6.7 children (whatever that means), and maintain a svelte size 6 for the duration of my life.

I did, indeed, marry a dark-haired prince. The others? Not so much.

As we grow older and wiser, and leave Teen Beat and Seventeen behind, it’s easy to continue having a checklist mentality. And if we’re talking about our schedules or a grocery list, then it’s all good. The problem comes when our quiz/checklist goes something like this:

I attend church at least three times a month…check
I had my devotional time this morning…check
I’ve memorized scripture this week…um, not quite
I gave an offering last Sunday…um, I will this week
I’ve cooked a meal for someone in need…groan…
I have prayed for the needs of others…yes!
I have visited someone in the nursing home or hospital…check
I have not gossiped this week…sigh.

SCORE:
8 Checks – Wow, I’m amazing…running on all cylinders and impressing God big-time. (Well, maybe next week…)
5-7 Checks – I’m getting there… No one’s perfect anyway (Said in a really whiny voice)
0-4 Checks – (This is my score again?!) God must be furious with me. I need to work harder to get back into His favor!

So, what’s the big deal? We’re busy caring for our families, working long hours, and staying active in church. And we’re placing as much energy as possible into pursuing that vague, elusive thing called happiness…because, well, that’s what we’re supposed to be about, right?

Sanctified, justified, gloriously happy Christians.

But sometimes, we cling to unhealthy habits at the expense of our inner spirit—that mysterious place that our Creator wants to nurture and grow in His likeness. Keeping a checklist for the purpose of pleasing God can be a suffocating habit. It’s also a huge soul-shrinker and can lead to lack of peace and frustration with what we’re told the Christ-like life should be.

When we live by a checklist (or by tallying a quiz), we reduce our lives to a works-based faith. We are trying to earn God’s pleasure…and it can be exhausting!

In the book, Restless, Jennie Allen writes, “Because of grace, we have nothing to prove.”

Oh, the truth of this!

In Ephesians 1:4-6 (The Message), we read, Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

We are bought with His blood on the cross. We belong to Him!

It’s all about that GRACE, ‘bout that Grace, no devil… (Sorry, that wasn’t original, saw it somewhere and it made me laugh)

GRACE–Undeserved, unmerited favor.

I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:39 (The Message)

When we grab hold of this—that nothing can separate us from the love of God—something amazing happens…

We experience a freedom like no other! We are then compelled to do some of the things on our lists because we love Him. Instead of serving to earn brownie points or to retain favor, we serve as an act of worship—to show our love and adoration to the One who made us. Service becomes relational—we’re on mission with God.

I want my children to call or visit me because they love me—not because they think I’m keeping a tally on them. And when they’re little, don’t we want those sweet chubby arms around us from the simple joy of baby-love, not from a sense of duty?

Would God want anything less?

So, let’s put the quizzes and checklists away (I’m pretty sure my dark-haired prince is from the Lord, anyway).

After all, it’s all about that GRACE. 🙂

I Resolve

January 3, 2015 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 1 Comment

Heart Undivided is kicking off the year (football on the brain) with a new look. I hope you like it! The first post of 2015 is a throw-back to life with little ones. Ah, the memories.

Future posts will focus on the top soul-shrinkers in our lives – how little habits can be stumbling blocks in our quest to experience the amazing abundant life that God desires for us. I look forward to exploring God’s Word together!

***********

It’s hard to believe, but we are standing on the threshold of a brand new year. Looking back, I can’t help but wonder, Where did last year go? With excitement and anticipation I draw a deep breath and boldly take a first step into the future. I don’t get very far, however, before I’m interrupted with that age-old, most irritating question:

So, what’s your New Year’s resolution?

Sigh.

Can’t I just be happy about a new year without having to resolve something? Okay, I’ll play along. I resolve. . .I resolve. . .I resolve to be more decisive. . .I guess. Well, I’ll try anyway. And I’ll clean out the refrigerator more often. Although personally, I think the moldy stuff in the back is very educational for the girls.

I’ll try to remember to open the damper before I build a fire. I promise never, ever again to accidentally wash my red sweatshirt along with everyone’s underwear. And I resolve most solemnly to never again use Roy’s pliers to nail something on the wall (unless I can’t find the hammer).

I’ll try not to use the ATM quite so often (unless I run out of checks). Oh, and I’ll do better about recording specific amounts in the check register. And I’ll definitely put a stop to my impulse buying—unless, of course it’s on sale, wherein I declare the previous resolution null and void.

Wow. That’s a lot of changes to make in one year. Maybe I should just concentrate on one or two. . .

Father,
I want to thank You for
the blessings of the past year.
You have been at work
in my life in countless ways.
I praise You for Your faithfulness
and especially for Your forgiveness.
As I begin a new year,
remind me to grow from
my mistakes and to give
every moment to You.

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6

It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. Psalm 92:1-2

(From Time Out: A Quiet-time Devotional)

Remember the Child

December 2, 2014November 26, 2016 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 2 Comments

What is that sound?
Is it the sound of Christmas?

The ring of cash registers,
The grumbling of overworked, overtired parents.
Cries from children who can’t live without that certain toy…
What is that sound?
Shoppers scrambling for a shot at the best prices
At the best stores.
The seductive lure of advertisers
Blaring out from every radio and television.

The sights and sounds of Christmas…

If we look and listen a little more,
We can see cherub faces, pink from a recent scrubbing,
All lined up to represent characters in a story from long ago.
We can see a choir—rehearsed and dressed in matching apparel,
Singing about a child of lowly birth.
We see a room, alight with the glow of candles…
Inhale the scent of freshly baked goodies,
Delight in the laughter and love of family and friends.

But if our hunger for Christmas is real,
And our thirst for truth runs deep…
Perhaps we could look even closer,
And listen even harder…

Look beyond the gaudy neon signs and glaring lights.
Envision a night of exquisite beauty,
With the only source of light coming from a star-filled sky.
Listen…and hear the shallow breathing of shepherds and
The gentle bleating of sheep.
Feel the emotions of a new father and mother
As their eyes meet, and they silently rejoice in awe and wonder.
Behold the look of radiance on a virgin mother’s face
As she holds an infant soft in sleep.

Reach and touch newborn skin…
Feel the baby’s warm breath on your hand.
And as you touch,
Know that you are touching…
The Son of God.

Be careful…
Don’t lose the vision.
Open your heart and let this most holy of nights
Enter your soul and change you forever.
And when the world threatens to overwhelm you,
And you feel like you’re drowning in the season…

Remember the night…
Remember the sounds…
Remember the love…

Remember…the Child.

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (HCSB)

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (HCSB)

Have a wonderful Holy Season!

Joyfully,

Leigh Ann 🙂

Ten Things I’m Thankful For (That I Can’t Say in Church)

November 17, 2014April 25, 2017 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 1 Comment

At the risk of sounding unspiritual, I am going to compose a list of ten things for which I am extremely thankful – things that would barely receive an honorable mention during Sunday school, or a Thanksgiving service. I will not be sharing the typical offerings, i.e. the joys of: my saving relationship with Jesus Christ, my precious marriage to an amazing man, my children, extended family and dear friends. I will forego babbling on and on about how my heart puddles when my baby grandson “kisses” my face or how I almost cried when I had the privilege of feeling my youngest grandson kick in my daughter’s tummy. I will not share scripture about keeping a thankful heart. I will simply list a few things that make me smile.

So here we go…in no particular order…

1 – Peanut M&M’s

2 – Autumn in the South (Cotton fields, sunflowers, cooler temps)

3 – Diet Dr. Pepper

4 – Our overgrown mutt, Harvey, who can turn 27 circles in 10 seconds

5 – Peanut M&M’s

6 – A genuine wood-burning fireplace on a cold rainy day

7 – My husband’s goofy jokes and laughing till it hurts

8 – Andy Griffith reruns

9 – Football season (Go Panthers!)

10 – My favorite pair of blue jeans and a pair of fluffy socks

11 – Hobby Lobby

(I added an extra one, just in case someone noticed a repeat)

*******

Thank you, Father, for your good and perfect gifts – the heart-stopping amazing ones, and the simple-everyday ones!

(I have to share just one…) Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

Now it’s your turn! What are your “everyday” favorites?

It has occurred to me that while we might not hear these “blessings” shared in an adult setting, we would surely hear many like them in a group of children. We can learn so much from the simple thankfulness of a child!

Overwhelmed

September 29, 2014 / Leigh Ann Thomas / 2 Comments

I don’t like this, Lord
Not at all.
It’s inconvenient, somewhat painful,
And to be perfectly honest…
Not in my plans.
Did You ever think about, I don’t know,
Checking with me?
I have a lot going on, Lord.
Wife, mother, co-worker, friend,
(And the list goes on).
People depend on me to be
Strong
Confidant
Resourceful
Spiritual…
Yeah, right.

But getting back to that honesty, Lord
I don’t like this,
Not at all.
This particular circumstance is
Unnerving
Draining
Frustrating
Exhausting.
Why this situation, Lord and
Why now?
Isn’t there another way I could
“Bring You honor?”
And Lord, if it’s ok…
I have one more question:
How am I supposed to glorify You
When I’m so overwhelmed with me?

Don’t you see, Child? It’s my desire for you to be Overwhelmed…with Me.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)