Salt and Light | We Are Light

Pam Sand October 18, 2019

Matthew 5:14
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.”

I love this verse, especially how it is translated in The Message. We are here to be light, and we get to bring out the God-colors in the world! Isn’t it awesome? It reminds me of a superhero power -- like X-ray vision, but better. Instead of just seeing through things, like what is on the other side of a wall, we get to see what God sees! Whoa! And not only do we get to see what God sees, but we actually get to impact the world around us – to bring out the God-colors. That sounds amazing.

We are here to be light. What does that mean?

Light helps us to see. When the sun comes up, when you flip a switch, when you turn on your cell phone flashlight – the light clarifies and brings into focus the world around us. Light also plays a part in our eyesight beyond just brightening things up. Did you know eyeglasses correct vision because light changes speed when it passes from air to a lens, which causes the rays to bend? I just found that out. It hits close to home because at the age of 45, I recently realized that it was getting hard to see things. The time on my phone. The print on a menu. Instructions on the back of a box. All these things were getting fuzzy. I couldn’t really read the small print and noticed I was starting to have to guess what the words actually said. I went to the eye doctor and got new lenses. Now I can see the small print! But I have to choose to put my lenses on. If I forget or leave them at home, I am stuck with a limited experience.

My lenses are helpful. They help me to make sense of what I’m seeing, and help me make decisions about what to do. You know where I’m going here. There is an even better pair of lenses that exists. Having God’s perspective, His light, gives us His lens to look through and gives us the ability to share His light with the world around us.

Isn’t that cool? And God models this for us best. He sees us through a special pair of lenses. He looks at us through Jesus! We forget that don’t we? We think He sees us as “sinners,” as lowly beings that He merely tolerates, as the person who messed up yet again, or even little piles of poo with some white paint on top. But He says that is not so! He says we are new creations, and when He looks at us He sees Jesus! (2 Cor 5:17) In Jesus, we are reconciled with God and counted as righteous before Him! (1 Cor 5:17-21.) He didn’t die on the cross because He had to, but because He so loved us and valued us that He chose to pay the ultimate price to redeem us. Can we believe that? Can we ask Him for His lens to look at ourselves, to see ourselves in His light?

Not only do we get to see ourselves how God sees us, but we get to join Him in His perspective of the people around us. Here’s an example: we do an activity with kids in Sunday School class that includes having the kids think of someone they have a hard time getting along with (which often ends up being a sibling.) We talk about how frustrating that person is, how they ALWAYS do the thing that bothers us, and how even the way they breathe drives us crazy! Then we ask God to show us how He sees them. And wow! Kids start sharing about how talented, kind, and funny their siblings are. Then it gets even more interesting because God shows them how their brother’s annoying habit of always coming in their room is because their brother wants to be around them. Or that the reason their sister ignores them is because she has hurt in her heart, and Holy Spirit invites us to pray for her. These are examples of how God’s light, seeing through His lens, changes the way we see the world around us. And then we get an invitation to partner with God to shift the world around us - to bring out the God-colors!

Another example is using light to expose lies. Bill Johnson says that if there is any area of our life where we have no hope, we are believing a lie. (Jer 29:11, 1 Pet 1:3, Rom 5, Matt 19:26.) God’s light shines and shows us where we are lacking hope and helps us identify what lies we are believing. Then we get to bring God’s Truth into the situation, and hope shines brightly! We get to live that way, and we get to be this for others – shining light into both our own lives as well as the world around us, exposing the lies and releasing hope.

So how do we bring out the God-colors in the world? We are here to be light! And God doesn’t ask us to be or do anything that He isn’t prepared to enable us to do. In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light.” The original translation of those words are, “Light, exist.” God supplies the light. In fact, did you know Jesus said He was the light of the world, (John 8:12 and John 9:5) and then later goes on to say we are the light of the world (Matt 5:14)? And when we are saved, we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us and we get to shine, bringing out the God-colors in the world! What an honor and a privilege.

Does this make us puffed up and proud – to be the ones with the light, the privileged ones who can measure it out to the people or areas that need it? No way! The light is LOVE, the light is Jesus, and we need Him just as much as everyone else! If we boast, we boast in Him (1 Cor 1:31.) And we can’t help but shine the light, with honor and joy that we get to share the Good News with everyone.

So many people and circumstances are waiting for the light, and even creation is groaning (Rom 8). We get to bring light to situations - releasing hope and wisdom and God’s miraculous power, bringing heaven’s solutions and answers to earth (Matt 6:10). We get to carry the light to dark situations that seem hopeless. And should you be tempted to doubt, to wonder if God really wants you to play this role, remember - the scripture says Jesus said it’s so!

Thank You, Father, for creating us to be Your sons and daughters. Thank You for shining Your light on us, allowing us to walk in our full identity as Your children. Thank You for creating us to be light, and to bring out the God-colors in the world around us! Show us the places in our own lives where you want to show us Your perspective. And show us the situations, the people, and the places You want us to shine Your light into in the world around us. We love You so. This will be fun! Amen.

About the Author

Pam is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids, women and families with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other.

Pam is currently serving as Children and Family Pastor at Valley Christian Center in Albany. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys. Their family will always be a much loved part of our CitySalt family.

Adventuring with God | Choose Your Own Adventure!

Pam Sand August 9, 2019

Let’s start with story time! Read the following story* and see if you can find yourself in this adventure:

Once upon a time there were 4 friends who were going camping: Derek, Izzy, Sofia, and Carl.

Derek was determined to be the first one there. He wanted to get started, and hoped they would put up the tents or build a fire right away. He didn’t want to have to wait around.

All the way to the campground, Izzy couldn’t stop talking--nonstop! She was so excited. She had camped last summer, and had so many thoughts about all the fun she was going to have again this
year!

Sofia had spent the week before the trip making treats to bring, to share with everyone. She packed an extra toothbrush because someone always forgot one. She was a little nervous, but instead of thinking about that she decided to think about things she could do to help everyone else feel welcome.

Carl had taken forever to pack. He made a list, and ended up having 4 bags worth of gear. Right before it was time to go, he undid and repacked them all again to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He brought matches in case they ran out, an extra pillow in case his got dirty, and a telescope because he wanted to look at the stars at night.

The first day went quickly, as they got camp set up and everything settled. After dinner, they all decided to sit around the campfire. As it got darker, and the stars came out, the group got pretty quiet. Honestly, it was a little spooky! Derek started thinking he heard noises in the woods. He was on alert, prepared to jump up and tackle anything that came out at them. Izzy kept looking at her friends, making sure they were still there. The worst thing would be to be left alone in the woods! Sophia was worried there would be a snake in her sleeping bag, and wondered if anyone would help her if there was. She knew she’d help anyone else if they found a snake in their bag! Carl thought about all the ways they could escape if the fire got out of control or the tents zippers all got stuck or the car got a flat tire.

Finally Derek noticed it was very late, and ordered everyone to go to bed. Tomorrow would be a day of adventure and he couldn’t wait!

The next afternoon they took a boat out to go fishing. Derek was the captain. He liked controlling the boat and being in charge of their destination. Izzy secretly stashed a squirt gun in her pack, thinking it would be fun to take a break from fishing and have a water fight later. Sofia brought the snack pack and extra worms. Carl was the last one in the boat. That morning he had gotten up early to make a check-list of what they would need, and he was repacking his bag one more time to make sure they had everything.

As they floated down the river, Derek steered the boat. Izzy kept accidentally breaking into song, even though everyone shushed her as she’d scare away the fish. Sofia made sure nothing fell out of the boat and everyone had sunscreen, while Carl studied the map.

All of a sudden, out of nowhere it seemed, they hit some pretty big rapids. Izzy had been hanging over the side reaching for a passing twig, so she flipped right out of the boat! Carl’s bag fell in, and Sofia tried to grab it but missed. Derek immediately started yelling, frustrated at himself as he felt he should have seen the rapids coming.

They quickly got Izzy back in the boat and headed back to camp. That night, after they dried off and ate, they again sat around the campfire. As the night got darker and the stars came out each person again fell into silence, this time thinking about the highlight of the day’s adventure. Derek thought about how proud he felt, steering the boat, and how next time he would keep everyone safer. Izzy remembered what a blast it had been, to float freely through the fast water. She decided she would definitely figure out how to fall out again next year! Sofia remembered helping Izzy back into the boat, and how thankful she felt when she was able to help her friend make it back on the boat, safe and sound. Carl was already thinking about the next day, and the lists he could make to ensure they packed everything up and didn’t forget anything on their way out.

*Story adopted from Four Friends Find Fun by V.L. Doyle and Dr. Robert a Rohm and the DISC system.

So what did you think about that story? And now think about yourself, and how you’d write yourself into it. Was there a character or two who you related to, or would you be a totally new person joining the adventure?

I relate to Izzy! Every moment I think I would like to be on an adventure or planning the next adventure. But boy do I need the Derek and the Carl and the Sofia to make the adventures a success.

The reason I love this story is that though they all were at the same place doing the same thing, each one experienced a completely different adventure. Wow! God made each of us so creatively. None of us are the same, nor do any of us experience things in the same way.

It makes me think about how amazing Jesus is. He knows how we are wired, how we see the world, what we need, and what our hearts’ desires are. We can trust Him! And He invites us to choose the best adventure: He walks up, holds out His hand, looks in your eyes, and says, “Come follow Me.” We just get to choose to say, “yes,” and start the best adventure there is, custom made for each of us. And He comes along on the adventure with you! He never leaves you. And He promises that though you may end up leaving some things behind and changing some things, and though it is a risk and may not make sense to the world, that it’s so worth it. The adventure with Him has more in store for you than you can ask or imagine! (You may be wondering what this adventure looks like? Just read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to see some of the customized adventures He led people into!)

So I pray today that we say, “YES,” and choose the adventure to follow Jesus. And that each day, each moment, our hearts are open to choose YES as we adventure with Jesus and each other!

About the Author

Perpetual Creativity | Creative Considerations

Pam Sand June 14, 2019

Today I had a creative encounter! Doesn’t that sound fun and exciting? It wasn’t at first. Rather dull and mundane, actually. But then, Jesus asked me to consider doing things differently.

I was leaving the pharmacy, where there was a problem with my refill yet again. I left frustrated! Now for me, as a 7 on the Enneagram*, I usually don’t deal with my negative emotions. My normal operation would be to brush off my feelings, change the channel in my head, and try to just go about my day. This doesn’t actually work, though. So to learn how to do this differently, I have been practicing the PAUSE. I have been practicing pausing and paying attention to how I’m actually reacting and feeling. For me, I find this easiest to do within a conversation with Jesus.

As I walked from the back of the store, where the pharmacy is located, I talked through the layers of my frustration with Him. First, I admitted the easy pickings. I told Him how frustrated I felt that they didn’t have the refill ready that I had made time to stop for. Also, they couldn’t fix the problem, and I would need to stop again later. Grr! And I shared that I was frustrated that this was actually the second month in a row this had happened at this pharmacy.

Ok, those were pretty obvious issues, and I had all these surface frustrations verbalized in my head after a few steps. However, as I kept walking, I felt Jesus’ invitation to share more. Would I consider looking a little deeper?

Not surprisingly, I realized that under those surface feelings there were some deeper things. Dare I say, even some anger? Yes! I realized I was mad! Mad that I have a medical issue, which makes me have to get medicine in the first place. I was mad at my body, for being weak and not responding to the medicine I had been taking forever. And honestly, I was mad at Jesus. I have prayed and have been prayed for over the years, believing for my healing – and haven’t seen it yet. I told Him about all that mad! Phew!

By the time I hit the front of the store, and stepped out into the sun, I was really at the core and the truth of how I was feeling. It was uncomfortable, as I usually try to stay away from negative feelings, but also oddly freeing.

Right then, I felt another question drop into my mind. Would I consider doing things a new way? I realized that my normal routine would be to shove down and ignore my negative feelings and try to will-power my way back to a positive mindset. This never ended in peace. It usually ended in me managing to keep the negative feelings tamped down until an unsuspecting husband or kid tapped into them!

But this time I observed something different. Something new. As I was honest and processed my real feelings with Jesus, even though they were negative and not fun, I realized I received peace. Not peace because anything had changed. I still didn’t have my prescription, I would still have to come back, and the pharmacy still might mess up the next time. I still have to take the medication, my body still wasn’t reacting great, and I may still pray and not see the healing that I believe God has for me. But right then, I experienced peace. A peace that surpasses understanding took over. It was a huge shift.

I realized that in pausing and taking just a few minutes to acknowledge all these feelings and talk to Jesus about them, I was doing a new thing. Instead of stuffing negative feelings down, ignoring them and hoping they’d just go away, I was able to process them. I was able to exchange them for peace. Wow!

So, what is creative about this? It didn’t end with a beautiful painting or a poem. It wasn’t exciting or loud or colorful. It didn’t even solve the initial things I was frustrated about. But the cool part, the creative part, is that I have a new way of thinking! That as I talk things over with Jesus, and consider what He brings up, my mind is renewed. I start to think differently. I develop new patterns. And I live in a new level of freedom. These simple shifts are incredible. They are life-changing!

God is the Creator. He created us, and He loves to create with us. As we are living life by rote, the way we always have, following the patterns we’ve always done, we get the same old results. But as we live life processing with Jesus, taking time to consider His perspective and thoughts, we get invited to create new ways of doing things.

Ephesians 3:20 says to never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you, that He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! Now that’s what we are talking about. He will do this in big, ah-ha moments but He will also do this in the day-to-day trips to the pharmacy. He’s that GOOD!

Jesus, thank You that You were here on earth and that You did mundane things. And thank You that You are still here, doing the day-to-day with us. We ask you to highlight areas where You want to create more freedom for us. Show us the patterns and habits we walk in. Remind us to pause and consider what You say. Thank You that we will discover new creative ways to be with you, that bring infinitely more than we could request, dream, or imagine!

Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

*Enneagram: Interested in learning more about the Enneagram? Check out www.enneagraminstitute.com or listen to the Typology Podcast to learn more!

About the Author

Beauty From Suffering | Suffering - a Gift?

Pam Sand April 19, 2019

I do not like to suffer. I also do not like you to suffer! I would really like to skip suffering all together.

Suffering. I looked up the definition. To experience or be subject to something bad or unpleasant. To be forced to endure. Yuck! Honestly, that sounds no fun. Suffering is not a subject I like to dwell on. I am not a fan. I’d rather not. And I would rather you didn’t have to either.

But the truth is, we can’t avoid suffering. Sometimes life is hard. It just is. When someone who we love does something that hurts our feelings. When someone outright betrays our trust. When we feel left out. When we feel alone. When we are misunderstood, or not heard. When hard things happen to us or to people we care about. When we are not well. When we’re in physical pain. When someone dies. The list goes on. And I guess there is no denying it… sometimes life is hard. Sometimes there is suffering.

It’s coming up on Easter. And suffering is a part of Easter. Honestly, I used to wish it wasn’t. I would rather skip to the resurrection. Come on! New life, death defeated, Heaven coming to earth, victory! Aren’t we glad this is our reality? YES!!!!

But before the celebration, Jesus asks us to come with Him to the cross. He invites us to walk with Him through His last days, His last moments, and right up to the end. Why?

Does He want to teach us the significance? Does He want to model some things? Does He want us to see how much He loves us? Yes! But He is also offering us a gift. The gift of being with Him in His suffering.

In Luke 23:49, after Jesus took His last breath on the cross and the crowds watching had gone away, the Bible says: “But standing off at a distance were some who truly knew Jesus.” Selah. Who was with Jesus at this end? Who walked with Him all the way? Through the betrayals, through the crowds’ hate, through the pain and the beating, through the brutal rawness, through the ultimate suffering? Who was still there? It was those who truly knew Jesus.

Wow. That made me think of my life, my suffering. Who are those I want by my side at my worst moment? And who will stay until the end? Who do I invite into my suffering, and who’s suffering am I willing to endure? The answer - those who truly know me.

Once wonderful friends of mine called to tell me the terrible news that their daughter had unexpectedly passed away. I was heartbroken for them. I was heartbroken for me too, because I loved their daughter. I got off the phone and was in shock. I didn’t know what to do. I called them right back and asked if I could come be with them. They said yes, and I dropped everything and went. It wasn’t even a question. I wanted to be with them and they wanted me there, and there was nothing else I could do but go. I didn’t have any way to make it better, I couldn’t change what had happened, I didn’t have any plan that could take away their suffering… but I could be there. Looking back, that to me was a sacred moment. They were inviting me into their suffering. What an honor that was to be there. And really all I could do was to be there, to be present, to witness and love in that moment. I will never forget it.

Sharing suffering is a gift. It’s generous. In a way that is deeper than a thought process, or something you can do, or a solution. Both offering the gift of inviting someone into your suffering and the gift of accepting the invitation. There is a cost to both. Sharing suffering is painful and helpless and vulnerable. But the reward is great.

I thought about that evening with my friends, sitting with them as the reality of their suffering was settling. I thought about others, who have been with me in my suffering. What are the results? What impact do these shared moments have? It changes you. The words don’t do it justice, but in an attempt to describe what happens in these moments between people, I would try words like trust, intimacy, friendship, security, honor, reliance... These words become real. They become a shared experience, a reality that you’ve had together, a deepening. Shared suffering is an experience that you both move on from changed.

And that is what Jesus invites us into. As we watch as He sweats blood in the garden, and we know He just wants us to be near. As He is wrongly accused, as He is stripped and mocked and beaten, but He knows someone who loves Him is close. As we hurry to find places to follow along the way, as we watch Him fall, and see Him catch our eye. As we stay as He struggles for breath on the cross, as we witness Him exchange a few last words and care for His mother. As the sky goes dark and the ground rumbles, and He takes His last breath. As He dies, we are there. Sharing that sacred moment. Truly knowing Him and offering our gift of presence. And we walk away changed.

Jesus, thank You for inviting us into experiencing this with You. Thank You that You will also be with us - in our worst, witnessing our ends, and present for our suffering. Thank You that our relationship with You includes intimacy, trust, security, friendship, honor, reliance, and real connection and relationship. That You endured the cross for the joy set before You, and that joy includes You thinking of each of us. Thank You for suffering, and for the gift of inviting us into it with You. Amen

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

About the Author

The “Aha” Moment! | Making Room for “Ah-ha” Moments with Jesus

Pam Sand March 1, 2019

“Ah-ha” moments with Jesus…. even typing that makes me smile. I don’t know that there’s anything better than an ah-ha moment with Jesus! Really, I don’t think there’s anything better. But even as I type that, I have to ask myself: “If I love ah-ha moments with Jesus more than anything, what gets in the way of having them?”

From experience, I know whenever I intentionally hang out with Jesus, I always have an ah-ha moment. And they come in different forms.

Often it’s a “DUH” ah-ha moment. Do you know what I mean? These are the times He says what might be the simplest thing, something that everyone already knows, but at that very time I need to hear it and it rocks my world!

Or when I am worried and as I just sit with Him and I get filled with peace, he reminds me that He is the Prince of Peace and that peace is always available. Ah-ha!

Or when I am reading through a story in the Gospels and He makes something become real. When I’m listening to a friend talk, or a sermon, or praying with someone and Jesus comes through and says something that opens us up to an entirely new way of looking at the situation. Ah-ha! So, if ah-ha moments with Jesus are the best, why don’t I experience more of them? I realize it’s not Him, it’s me! Every time I make time to hang with Him, I have an ah-ha moment. That is the key: making time!

Pondering this led me to think of one of the places I do consistently make room for meeting Jesus: when meeting with my Triad. Talk about a place where those ah-ha moments have happened. During Triad, I can honestly bank on having at least one, if not many, every time. (I am not exaggerating.)

If you are currently in a Triad, I’d guess you are nodding along with me, quite possibly with a big smile on your face, as you think of yours. Or, if you haven’t heard of this thing called “Triad”, you are wondering what in the world I am talking about? A “Triad” is a structured group of 3 people who meet up on a regular basis and practice listening prayer together. A specific time where we purposely practice both being heard and hearing others, while listening for ourselves and each other to what Jesus is saying.

And every single time, without exception, He has ah-ha things to say! He is so good that way. Let me tell you my Triad history: I have been in a Triad for several years. And as you can tell, I am a huge fan! At the beginning, though, I almost missed the boat. When I was asked to join one, I almost said no. I really didn’t think I had time for “yet another meeting” on my calendar. And even though the commitment was only once a month for 2 hours, I just didn’t know if I wanted to fit it in. Thankfully, though, wisdom kicked in and I decided to pray about it. I decided to commit and give it a try. And let me tell you: best decision ever!

And as I flip through my journal from the notes I’ve taken during our Triad sessions, the “ah-ha” moments fill the pages! There is a God, He loves us, He cares, and He talks to us! Having this scheduled time once a month to intentionally make room to listen to Him together, to practice hearing those ah-ha things He has to say, has been so life-giving and faith building.

Are Triads a magical format? Does He only show up when you Triad? Is Triad even a verb? Of course not. But I think the “magic” happens whenever we purposefully put time aside to actively listen. Jesus says “My sheep hear My voice” but for some reason this can be a struggle for many of us to believe. Or if you are like me, you may totally believe it but realize time flies by when you get busy and you just haven’t had time to listen. A Triad sets up a time and space for you and 2 friends to practice hearing Him and to see that He means it – we can hear His voice and He does have ah-ha things for us!

For me, joining a Triad has designated a time, once a month, in my schedule where I know I will have the time to talk to and listen to Jesus. It has become an easy rhythm to carve out this space. And it has become so precious to me. Also, the added beauty is I get to do this with my friends as well as with Jesus, thus having Him deposit “ah-ha” moments not only into my own life but into their lives too. Ain’t nothing better than watching my friend get encouraged, built up, receive breakthrough, and hear exactly what she needs to hear from Jesus. So good! And the relationship between my friends and I has become so deep in the process. When we get to hear Jesus’ thoughts about someone, when we get to feel His heart for someone, we just fall more in love with each other!

So is this an ad for Triads? Maybe! When you find a good thing you want to share it! But more importantly, I want to encourage us all to make room for those “ah-ha” moments with Jesus. However that looks in our lives today. He is a Person, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He wants to talk with us!

So let’s pray, “Thank You Jesus, that You love us so much and want to fill our lives with more ah-ha moments! Thank You that Your Word says we can hear Your voice, that You want to be our friend, and that nothing can stand between us and You. We say ‘YES’ right now to more ah-ha moments. We say ‘YES’ to making time to be known and to get to know You. We say ‘YES’ to asking for You to help us to create habits and rhythms in our schedules that make room for the ah-ha moments with You, Jesus!”

P.S. If you are interested in Triads and want more details: http://www.citysalt.org/triads

About the Author

3rd Sunday of Advent | Serious Joy

Pam Sand December 14, 2018

It’s funny, these things of God. They are usually simple, and yet also totally complex.

Take for instance, joy. Who doesn’t like joy? Who doesn’t want to be joyful? But on the other hand, joy? Really? It’s a good thing, yes. But there are serious things in this world. Serious issues and serious needs, serious plans and serious pain. Is it even ok to be joyful?

Like many things in God’s Kingdom, joy is complex… Joy can look so uniquely different to each person. What does joy look like to you? What comes to mind when you think of joy? To me, off the top of my head, joy is the sweet smiles and piercing giggles of glee from my boys. It’s catching a glimpse of a mountain, with a sunset behind it, and a person standing on the very top. Joy is the feeling in my chest when you walk in the room, and I get to hug you. Joy is the swirl of creamer as it sinks into the beautiful brown coffee in my favorite cup. These are the things that come right to mind when I think of joy. What about you?

I am 100% confident, though, that I don’t even scratch the surface when it comes to understanding joy. I believe joy is a deep, layered mystery. An important mystery. As a word, it’s mentioned in the Bible hundreds of times – it’s a reaction, a command, an attribute of God, a thing, a feeling... The Bible has an awful lot to say about joy. My favorites are where it says that the joy of the Lord is our strength and in God’s Presence is fullness of Joy - how cool is that? There are so many layers to this joy thing. The more I look into it, the more I feel the invitation to dive in even deeper.

So this Advent Season, let’s take time for joy. As we pause and make room for Jesus in our hearts, He can’t help but talk to us about joy! His birth was announced with joy, He endured the cross for the joy set before Him, and He gave us the Holy Spirit, who’s Presence produces joy.

Joy. Serious joy. The mystery of joy, the strength of joy, the certainty of joy, and yes, maybe even the dancing silly giggles of joy! Let serious joy meet you this season, wherever you find yourself. In grief, let joy be a silent but strong arm to lean on. Or in celebration, let joy join you on the dance floor. Because joy isn’t one thing or the other. Joy is the affirmation that love wins, joy is a part of God that is beyond our understanding… except that we can trust it and it is good. Joy is not an expectation, a manufactured feeling, or a performance. Importantly, joy isn’t up to us. Joy was God’s idea.

I’ll close with a spoken word piece that really resonates with my heart and expresses way more eloquently than I what I am trying to say. Also if you’re feeling inspired to dig into the mysteries of serious joy, there’s a list of some scriptures I have been sitting in this week to get your thoughts going!

To close, I pray for us all, that we each get blessed with a new layer of serious joy this Christmas that meets us with open arms right where we are.

SPOKEN WORD:

What does joy look like?

When hope is nigh,
Does it dress itself in wonder?
Does it cower in defeat?

What is the source of your joy?

Is it hopes and dreams newly kindled?
A new love bursting at its seams
Promises fulfilled

Does it manifest in silent hope,
The toothless smile eclipsed on the tender visage of a newborn?

Is it born out of moment or is it a discipline?

Is it ephemeral,
Does it ebb and flow between conscious thanksgiving and quiet reverence?

Nehemiah said to the Israelites,
Do not be grieved for the joy of the lord is your strength.

What happens when grief is not compatible with joy?

What if my pain doesn’t echo the melodies within a praise song?

What if my heart is too preoccupied with its rupture to see the Father beckoning still?

Joy is not the absence of pain.

Yet it stands in the midst of chaos and destruction and
Locks arms with peace, hope and love and resounds I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN

It is the inner dwelling of the chambers of the Father’s promises

Laced with purpose, joy infuses the most broken of futures and claims, however incredulous, there is a good and expected end.

Joy is the Father’s love song to the narrow crevices, the deepest cavities our soul.

And it sings:

YOU SHALL OVERCOME

-Spoken word by Ollie Danner

Verses to consider:
Luke 1:8-14
Psalm 16:11
Nehemiah 8:10
John 15:9-11
Colossians 1:11-12
Isaiah 35:10
Isaiah 49:13

About the Author

Tension | Lean into the Tension

Pam Sand November 16, 2018

I remember when I was little. We lived out in the country, and we didn’t have any neighbors close by. We loved the freedom to run wild, leave our car doors unlocked, and run outside in our pajamas. These were the upsides of country living!

The downside was the dark.

We had a woodshed that was outside our house. I’d say it was about 30 kid-sized steps from our front door to that shed. The folks kept our big garbage can out there, right beside it. During the day, we would race past the woodshed into the woods without giving it a second thought. But it was a different story at night.

I so clearly remember my Mom asking me to take a bag out to the woodshed one night. I grab the garbage and open the front door, planning to get back before the commercial break is over. I swing the door shut behind me, in such a hurry I decide not to grab my shoes. As I start out and reach the end if the porch lights, I notice that feeling… First my tummy starts to tingle in a not entirely unpleasant way. At the same time, my mind starts having staticky thoughts that aren’t exactly words but more like subtle warning bells. I tense my shoulders. I tip-toe on my toes, feeling the sharp gravel poke the pads of my feet. I move in a slow but steady pace towards the wood shed. I am brave and strong, but it sure is taking a long time to make it to the garbage can. I keep my eyes straight ahead, strenuously forcing my mind not to imagine the blackness to the right or left.

When I finally arrive at the can, I am going at a fairly crisp tip-toe pace. I open the lid, fling the garbage in, and then I lose the battle… I turn and race to the front door again, so fast I don’t notice the gravel pricking my feet, the darkness, or anything at all. I am laser focused on that front door!

And I arrive! Safe and sound. Breathing hard. I quickly look around to make sure no one noticed my panicked sprint. Once I assure myself I am safe from eyes, I laugh a little, quietly. I open the door, and step back into the wood stove warmth, the bright lights. I sit down on the couch by my brother as the show begins again, the tension forgotten. That is, until Mom asks me to take garbage out again a few nights later!

Why do I share this story? Well, you see, the trips to the garbage can happened when I was little. If memory serves me well, I traveled to the garbage can and back, in the dark, several times. And I am pretty sure the last time it happened I was a bit too old to react that way, but I still did!

Since then, a lot has changed. My parents have built a shop where the woodshed once was. I believe they still keep their big garbage can out there, but I haven’t had to take a trip to it for many, many years. And I have grown up. I’ve worked 7 jobs. I’ve lived in 14 houses. I got married. I had 3 beautiful boys. I have made many great friends, have traveled a lot, and am now 45 years old. A lot has changed.

But a part of that garbage can story still happens to me. Quite often if I’m honest. It happens when I overreact to someone’s words. When I feel insecure. When I’m overcome with a wash of shame. When I feel the tension, my first response is to ignore it. To change the subject, start something new, or totally redefine it. But I am learning instead to pause. When I sense the tension, I try to just stop for a second. In that pause, I ask myself to make the trip into the dark, to lean into the tension. At first I resist, but when I finally decide to go… my tummy starts to tingle in a not entirely unpleasant way. At the same time, my mind starts having staticky thoughts that aren’t exactly words but more like subtle warning bells. I tense up my shoulders, and my mind tip-toes towards what lies behind the shame, the insecurity, the pain, the memory.

See, to me, the dark trip at night out to the garbage created tension. And a similar tension occurs when I decide to lean into my dark side.

Human beings are awesome. God created us, as tiny humans, to be able to cope with so much that life throws our way. Before we understand things, before we can handle things, He is with us and He knows what we need to survive as children. We decide things, we hide things, we build truths, and we splinter off hurts. We are able to do what we need to do as a young child to be in the world we find ourselves. We are amazing.

And as we grow up, we get to grow up! We get to make choices. We can choose to continue in the same patterns we created as a little child. These patterns make us feel safe, and tempt us to continue doing the same things that made sense in our childhood world.

Or we can choose to accept an invitation. An invitation to lean into the tension.

There’s an invitation to explore. To explore what is behind, underneath, and in the middle of our dark side. We are invited to lean into the tension. To lean into the places that make our hearts race, make our shoulders tense. The places where we reject before we are rejected. The places where we opt out before we are not enough. To explore the parts of us we hide behind the mask that we think everyone loves. To feel the emotions that we haven’t felt for so long because it was easier to be numb. These are our tension.

And the tension is there, whether we opt in for the adventure to find out what’s beneath it or not. The tension is there. It leaks out at our family, at our friends, at ourselves. It sabotages opportunities and pushes away love. It keeps us finding ourselves in the same place, even though we moved and we changed jobs and swore we wouldn’t be here again.

The invitation is there, to lean into the tension.

For me, I realize the invitation is there more and more often. At first I resisted, with all my strength. I raced and ran and found every distraction and fun thing and opportunity to stay ahead, to stay away, to avoid the tension. And I didn’t even really realize that was what I was doing. But one day I ran out of places to run. I crashed and burned. And I cried. I cried rivers and more rivers and I didn’t know if I would ever stop. It was scary. But boy was it good!

And a beautiful friend of mine met me in my flood of tears. She told me about the tension. And shared how she had learned to use it as a tool. To observe herself, and just to notice. Not to judge or figure out or explain or fix. Just to watch. And as she watched, she became more and more aware of when the tension was there and when it wasn’t.

My wise friend also told me about her relationship with Jesus. You see, He helped her with the tension. He showed her that He was there from the start, that He has never left her, that He knows the true her beneath the walls, the lies, and the hurts and pain. That He is so proud of her. And He loves her. So much. And He would walk with her into the tension. Not every time and with no pressure. But when she was ready. When she noticed an area where she reacted or withdrew, or where she felt insecure or voiceless. She would notice the tension and when she was ready to accept the invitation, He would help her walk into the tension. She would see what had happened, and see why she had created the belief or lie. Most of all she would see He was always there, even at that time, and He never left her and always loved her. And she would be filled with love for herself, too, as she understood why she created that wall or believed that lie or avoided that pain. She often would be freed of unforgiveness or would set down a heavy load of offense. And she would find truth. Truth that would replace the tension and allow her to be her and to be true and to be loved and to be alive.

Often times, she and Jesus together would look at the tension and spend time unraveling the dark. Other times, she would ask a friend or make time with a counselor to help her do so. But He was always so faithful, always met her there, always healed and loved and filled the gaps with truth. And she began to anticipate the invitation to lean. She started to look at the moments when she felt the tension as the beginning of another area for freedom! To realize that God is that good! He created us to survive and to cope and to make it, but He doesn’t leave us there. He redeems and He brings new life and He does the impossible in us.

And I am forever grateful for her testimony and love. Thankful she shared with me this tool – to lean into the tension. And each time I accept, and I pause instead of run away, and I tip-toe step by step into the tension with Jesus by my side, I get freer and my life gets fuller. In the process, I am also learning to have grace for myself and treat myself with kindness. I am often amazed by how I survived, how I coped, how I made it. At the same time, I am looking forward to trading in the self-protection I relied on as it is no longer needed. Some days, I even get glimpses in myself of the ability to actually welcome the tension. That the insecurity, the shame, and the triggers will just make me smile because I will know that freedom lies behind them! I am not there yet. But I’m learning to lean into the tension.

And maybe this blog entry is for you. Maybe as you read this, you sense an invitation. Maybe your tummy has started to tingle in a not entirely unpleasant way. If you hear the invitation to lean into the tension, I am so excited that Jesus will meet you there. I bless you to see yourself with a lens of kindness and love, as you tip-toe towards the uncomfortable, as you lean into the tension.

Ephesians 3:20
“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.”

Psalm 139:1-2
“Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and You understand my every thought before it even enters my mind.”

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

2 Corinthians 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”

About the Author

Interruptible | Interrupted!

Pam Sand July 20, 2018

Oh boy, does the theme this month resonate with me. I have definitely been interrupted! Have you?

There are all sorts of interruptions. Sometimes interruptions come in the form of an invitation, and that is often the case for me. The short and long of it is that God has invited me and my family to move to another town, to another community, to a new church family. To sell our home. To say goodbye to our routines, our people, our normal, our coffee spots and running routes. To change our relationships, to move out of our comfort zones, to enter a new everything.

And as we’ve said yes to this invitation, He has been so faithful! He has taken us by the hand and showed us the way, but it has not been easy. Is change ever easy?

For us, this interruption has a lot of practical pieces. One is changing where we will live. We sold our house, and we have been hunting for a new one in our new city. It’s a process I normally would find exciting, but I have just been tired. I took a moment to check in with myself, and I saw I was feeling overwhelmed and exhausted! I needed a shot of encouragement, a new perspective. I bet you can relate.

It just so happened that it was recently time for our monthly “Silent Together.” Once a month, a friend of mine hosts a quiet retreat at her house. It’s a time where she brings a word and a passage, and we split up to be quiet with God and hear what He wants to talk to us about through the scripture. I call it “Silent Together” because though we go off individually to hang with God, and though we are separate, we do it together - and I like that!

The passage was Isaiah 55 and was it ever timely!

After reading the passage, and spending some time soaking in it, my friend had suggested we write a letter from God to ourselves, to see what He wanted to say through this passage. As I journaled, I was once again blown away by His timeliness and love. And thankful for the interruption.

So, have you been interrupted lately? Has your interruption been exciting and full, or maybe like me, somewhat tiring and long? Interruptions come in all shapes and sizes. The definition online was: Interrupt – to break in or disrupt. Seems like interruptions are often not instigated by us, and they usually cause a change that we may or may not be prepared for. Whatever your interruption is, take those moments to pause and check in with yourself to see where you are. Not in judgment, but in honesty! And I bless you to have those moments to spend with God, who has that shot of encouragement and perspective change that may be exactly what you need.

I will end with the letter He wrote to me, which may also be a letter to you! He is good that way. If your interruption right now is a 5 minute encounter, a relational struggle, news you’ve received, or an invitation - God’s Word is true and He will speak to you. Maybe through the letter below. Or maybe Isaiah 55 will be timely for you in another way. For the Word of God is alive and powerful! (Hebrews 4:12) At the end, I put the steps we went through to soak in this passage. Try it! See what He has to say! He is faithful, He is here, He loves you and has whatever it is you need today.

My journal letter from God:

Hey!

Want to have some fun? Welcome to the Kingdom!

In the Kingdom, there are some absolutes, some foundational truths that don’t change:

I love you.
I am for you.
My forgiveness is inexhaustible.
What I declare happens.
My Word does not return void.
I can be trusted ABSOLUTELY and FOREVER.

So note these. They are important. They are the boundaries, and within them you are safe and loved.

But here’s the good stuff!

Within these boundaries, where you are safe and loved, it gets wild:
My intentions aren’t always yours!
I do not go about things the way you do.
My thoughts and ways are above and beyond yours.

And as you go out with Me:
You will go out in JOY!
I, Myself will lead you home in peace.
And the land will be cheering!
And the mountains and hills will be singing!
And the trees in the field will be clapping!

Pause and picture this, My child! This is the Kingdom!

Just as rain and snow soak through the ground and nourish plants that grow, providing seed to the farmer and bread to the hungry… so it is when I decree something!

Think about that. Let that soak in.

My word will go out and it will not return empty.
It will do what I wanted, and accomplish what I determined.

And I determine GOODNESS!
And you can trust all I say.
ABSOLUTELY and FOREVER!

So turn your attention and seek Me.
I am near.
I am here.
I love you.

Let’s do this!

Thanks for reading and for letting me share my process! I bless you to go out in JOY and I’ll end with a portion of this powerful scripture:

Isaiah 55:9-11
My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you, just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth. For as rain and snow can’t go back once they’ve fallen, but soak in to the ground and nourish the plants that grow, providing seed to the farmer and bread for the hungry, so it is when I declare something. My word will go out and not return to Me empty, but it will do what I wanted; it will accomplish what I determined.

Directions for a quiet time with Isaiah 55:
Read Isaiah 55 silently to yourself.
Be still.
Read Isaiah 55 silently to yourself again.
Notice the words or phrases that surface. Notice if emotions or memories surface.
Underline the phrases that stand out. Write any thoughts you have in your journal.
Be still.
Read Isaiah 55 to yourself a third time.
Ask God what He is inviting you to.
Lastly, write a letter from God to you. What is He saying to you through this passage?

About the Author

Pam is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.

Seeing the Other | Love Looks Like Something

Pam Sand May 11, 2018

Thursday. The fourth grade classroom. You are headed in for your weekly time to help. You walk up and see a boy sitting alone outside in the hall where his desk has been moved. He has a really straggly mullet haircut, his jeans are too short, and he is slouched down. He’s obviously already pushed the teacher far enough to be removed from the class. You are tempted to think, “Phew, I don’t have to deal with him in my reading group today.”

Last week, he was late to your group. He was disruptive from the moment he sat down. He messed with the kid beside him, continually distracting everyone. When it was finally his turn to read, he read surprisingly well. His reading was clear and confident, until suddenly he seemed to lose interest. He began to mumble, and then switched to a funny voice all together. You gave him 2 warnings and then had to move on to the next reader, as he went back to banging his feet against the leg of the table.

He’s on your child’s soccer team. The parents constantly rumble about him. He is overly aggressive and can’t seem to really control his body. He too often escalates to tears, which is frustrating, or anger, which honestly is concerning. Someone has to always have an eye on him. In practice or on the sidelines, he is pushing kids and distracting the team or sulking by himself. You watch him walk up and pretend to give your child a high five, and then kick him in the shin guard instead. Your child has already told you he hates when he does this.

He is awkward and never knows what to say. He is so moody. He is so much work. It is so tempting to wish he wasn’t in your child’s classroom, that you didn’t coach the soccer team, that you didn’t have to put in the time and patience it takes to just be around him.

But you know. You know his story. You know his Mom, whom you’ve never met, had 3 kids before him whom she lost to the state. You know that he was taken from her, for his safety, when he was just born. You don’t know her and realize your heart would probably break for her story too, but every day you see the impact of it on him. His Grandma has told you how he never sees her, and how he cries himself to sleep almost every night missing her. You watch as about twice a year he smiles all day, his face glowing, because she has promised to pick him up from school. And that she has always called and canceled right before school is out. You’ve seen his face as his grandma walks in to tell him the news. Disappointed once again.

You know. You know that earlier this year, she had another baby, whom she was able to keep. He doesn’t understand. Why can the new baby be with his Mom? Why does she want the baby and not him? And you know that in reading group, he was reading along with a strong voice until he came to the part talking about a Mom making a snack for her son. When he started reading that part, he couldn’t do it, and to hide his tears he started being disruptive and changed the subject back to his behavior yet again. That’s easier than the pain.

You know his Dad, who struggles with agoraphobia & PTSD, has such a fear of life and people and the world, that he doesn’t often leave his house. His Dad often gets triggered when he is out in public, and has outbursts that are scary and embarrassing for his son. The boy knows his Dad loves him, but can’t handle him. When he is with his Dad, he walks on eggshells.

He has been raised by his Grandma, who loves him and does her best, but is tired. She already raised her children, and has to work full time, and has health problems that limit her ability to move and erode her patience.

And again, you know the result of this. You know he is heartbroken. You know he is also hard work. He is disruptive, and socially awkward. He doesn’t pay attention, he seems to want to get in trouble, and he is rarely approachable. You are tempted to avoid him, to be relieved when you don’t have to interact. To sigh in frustration when he is being difficult, and to be relieved when it’s time to leave him.

But you’ve known him since he started kindergarten with your child. You’ve seen glimpses, few and far between, of his heart. His tenderness used to leak through before he learned to cover it so well. His sad tears used to fall before he learned to change the subject. He used to try, before the patterns and the self-defenses started kicking in, taking over automatically.

What will happen to him? It’s hard to say. The road he has started down is a tough one. And what can you do? You aren’t around him enough to have a major impact on his behavior. You know your direct influence on him is only here and there.

But you believe love looks like something.

So you’ve prayed for him. You’ve asked God what He is doing, how you can partner with Him to love this child. You can’t “save him” and know you are limited. But God! God asks you to love the one in front of you, to see the other. And that is him. So what does that look like, you wonder?

And God has shown you. He told you to pay attention. And He showed you the gold He has put in even this child. You’ve seen, after someone walks away, the sulky defensive look lift off his face and sometimes he smiles. You’ve caught him daydreaming, and asked him what he thinks about. You’ve listened to his response. You have decided to relate to him at his potential, not his behavior, and you’ve seen him rise up to the challenge. You’ve noticed him, smiled at him, made sure to say hello to him by name. And it breaks your heart that these small, little acts of love have made a difference. You see the sponge of his heart soak them up, not always trusting them, but desperate to receive any drop. Desperate to believe he can be seen, he is valuable, that he is worthy of love. You’ve seen love at work. And it’s broken your heart and humbled you.

And God is so good. He’s also shown you how others are doing the same. God loves this child, and has surrounded him by people who are willing to see the other, to not disregard even this child. God has shown you that this child is not your responsibility, he is God’s, and that you get to trust that. But also you’ve seen the proof that love looks like something! And when we stop to see the other, the one in front of us, and we are willing to play a part in God’s love, that it matters!

Thank you, God, for giving us eyes to see the other. Let us live a life that sees the ones right in front of us. Thank You for this child. And for so many like him in the world. They are desperate for love. And love looks like something. Thank You that as we listen to you and are willing to say yes, that we can participate in love that makes a difference. Give us your heart for the one in front of us. Thank You.

“Ministry, however, is simply loving the person in front of you. It’s about stopping for the one and being the very fragrance of Jesus to a lost and dying world.” –Heidi Baker

John 15:12
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

About the Author

Pam is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. She joined our staff team in 2012 and oversees the ministry of ages from birth to eighth grade. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.

New Creations | Thank you, That’s True!

Pam Sand March 2, 2018

Once in Youth Group, we were talking about compliments. We issued a fun challenge: If someone gives you a compliment, you had to just say, “Thank you!” We realized our culture teaches us to be somewhat uncomfortable with compliments. To deflect or explain or change the subject. Someone’s intent to encourage us turns into an awkward exchange. That is so sad! So in our group, we started by taking some time to compliment each other and respond with a simple, “Thank you!” Then it got real, and we upped the ante. We had the kids respond to a compliment by saying, “Thank you, that’s true.” Wow, that was a challenge! Try it sometime!

We are so trained to see the lack, to see what’s missing, to use a lens that compares and comes up short – especially in regards to ourselves. This is a reflection of what we believe we are at the core, what our identity is.

Often in the City Salt Kids’ classes, we talk about our identity. Who we are. Who God created us to be. We even have a list of verses that the state who God says we are, and we practice believing this about ourselves. It’s so fun to work with our Littles, because they have no problem believing what God says! They believe it about themselves, they believe it about each other, and they believe it about everyone. Easily.

Around Middle School, this begins to change. This is a developmental time in a kiddo’s life, where their brains are actually beginning to be able to think differently about themselves and the world around them. And the world is sadly teaching them to not think much of themselves.

As we continue to grow, the world continues to beat this message into us doesn’t it? To compare ourselves to others, to never be enough, and even in the places we know we are good we aren’t allowed to share or talk about it, at the risk of sounding prideful.

It has been so fun to cover this topic in our woman’s bible study this session as well. We are going through a study by Kris Vallotton, called the Supernatural Ways of Royalty. We are taking a lot of time to look at who God says we are and what we believe about ourselves.

The other week, we had a fun time with this quote from Kris Vallotton:

“You are not what you think you are, and you are not what others think you are, but you become what you think the most important person in your life thinks of you.” -KV

This is so easy to see in my kids’ lives. For example, my third grader loves to play basketball. It just is a part of him. In the house, he will shoot a Nerf basketball at a plastic hoop for hours, playing out whole games in his head. This year, as he started playing on a team, we noticed he wasn’t taking a lot of shots. We encouraged him to shoot when he’s open, but he just didn’t seem to have the confidence. Finally, my husband had a brilliant insight. He sat my son down and told him the truth – that he has a really good shot and he believed my son should take shots in the game. From the next game on, things were different. My son would shoot! He didn’t make them all, in fact not most of them, but he keeps shooting and he has a new confidence because he knows his Dad thinks he has a good shot.

I think this principal applies to all of us, doesn’t it? The words that the important people in our lives have spoken over us, the words we have said over ourselves, the beliefs we have developed, all paint a picture of who we believe we are. And sadly, the picture we paint of ourselves is often way off from the one God paints of each of us. And God, our Dad, wants to sit us down and remind us who He says we are!

I heard it put this way once: You see a painting on the wall. If you insult the painting, you are also insulting the artist and the model. We are the painting, God is the artist, and Jesus was the model. And as our Creator, we get to renew our minds with what He says about us!

Romans 12:2 tells us that our outer transformation starts with changing our thoughts. We can begin to ask God how He sees us, and by spending time with Him and in the Word, we can begin to understand who we really are!

The first step in believing what God says about us is to know what He says. In the Bible, in Ephesians 2:10, it says we are God’s handiwork. And 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us we are a new creation! What does that even mean? SO much! We are something brand new, never before seen creation that was created by God Himself! And who should we look to, for understanding of who we are? Of course, the Creator!

A crazy thing happens as we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. We also begin to see others as God sees them. Instead of being clogged up with comparison and self-protection, we can begin to have God’s eyes to see people as He made them and to call that out in them. As we realize we are deeply loved and have enough, we can pass that message on!

Below is a list that we have been keeping with us in our Bible Study. It lists just some of the things that God says we are. If He says we are, we get to believe it! We have been practicing letting God talk to us through this list, and renewing our minds with how He sees us as new creations! Not perfect, but loved!

My challenge to myself, and to you if you’d like, is to do the same. Let your Dad, Father God, talk to you about who you are. Let Him define how you see yourself and see others. You see, He has His A-team players in the game and He wants to give us the confidence that He loves us and believes in us! John 13:34 tells us Jesus said, “A new command I give to you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” As we receive and realize who God created us to be and how much He loves us, we will have the ability to love others as He loves us! So good!

ACTIVATION:
Take some time to read through the list below.
Are there some that it is easy to believe about yourself? Some that are harder?

Ask God if there are any of these elements of your identity He wants to talk to you about. Take some time to look up the verses, journal about these with God, declare them over yourself. See how this begins to give you a lens to see these things in the people around you as well!

I am wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I am blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)
I am complete. (Colossians 2:10)
I am accepted. (Ephesians 1:6)
I am loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)
I am delightful. (Zephaniah 3:17)
I am forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7)
I am victorious. (Philippians 4:13))
I am beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)
I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
I am chosen. (Colossians 3:12)
I am holy. (Colossians 3:12)
I am dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
I am God’s handiwork. (Ephesians 2:10)
I am worth fighting for. (Exodus 14:14)
I am healed. (Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24)
I am worth it. (Romans 5:6-8)
I am set free. (Galatians 5:1 and Romans 8:12)
I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am royalty. (1 Peter 2:9)
I am God’s daughter/son. (Galatians 3:26 and John 1:12)

And as we walk in that confidence, know who He is and who we are, it is contagious and His light will shine through us!

About the Author

Pam Sand is a fun and encouraging team-builder that brings the best to those around her. She loves young people and is committed to serving and mentoring kids with opportunities to grow closer to God and each other. She joined our staff team in 2012 and oversees the ministry of ages from birth to eighth grade. Pam and her husband, Jared, have been married since 2005 and have three boys.

Fourth Sunday of Advent | Immanuel - “God with Us”

Pam Sand December 22, 2017

I have to tell you, I really love the Christmas season.

Upon hearing that, some of you agree and some of you cringe. And I think that’s a part of why I love it… the wonder, the complexity, the thought-provoking element that it brings.

For me, whether its Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Winter Break, this time of year gathers all my friends, from all sorts of backgrounds and beliefs, into a similar song. It opens hearts and love abounds. I love that it breaks down barriers and it brings people together. I love that so many share the desire to celebrate, to have joy, to be generous and festive. It’s a time when families gather, traditions are created, pictures are taken, and memories are made. It’s a time we think of others and how to delight their hearts. Even our houses are decked out with such gaudy atrocity that kids squeal with delight! Schools get a break, many people get at least a day or 2 extra off, and calendars are overflowing with party plans.

Pausing and looking around, I think we display community more right now than any other time of year. And I believe Jesus is with us here. In the middle of this. He is with us, and He loves this.

But there’s more, isn’t there? As I’ve gotten older and experienced more life, I have both experienced and witnessed a different view of the holidays. There is also the side of not having a group to gather with, of all this togetherness making the alone so clear, painfully highlighting what is lacking. Of not being able to afford to eat, let alone buy gifts for the family. Of the very words used to celebrate this time causing division and pain. Of the highlighted suffering in the world contrasted by spending $5 for a red cup. Of remembering a lost loved one, the suffering and sadness of the last with or the first without. Of memories being more painful than warm, of curling up at home and just wishing it was January. Of the tension of holding the broken overshadowing the invitation to celebrate. Jesus is with us here too. In the midst. Holding us tight and sharing in our tears.

And as I have taken this time to stop and try to capture a summary of what others may experience in this season, I realize that this is an impossible task. I am likely leaving out your point of view, what is important to you, what you are passionate about, what you love and what you hate about Christmas time, and I’m sorry. The truth is, each one of us would describe this season, this moment, in a totally unique way. Our internal design, our likes and dislikes, our memories and wounds, our families and surroundings shape each one of us so totally uniquely and cause us to experience this season so differently. I think that is amazing. But the really amazing thing is, in each of our descriptions, whether we know it or not, only one thing never changes - Jesus is with each one of us.

So this season I have spent many quiet mornings, with my cup of coffee, learning to just sit with this dichotomy. For me, I realize it’s actually the reason why I love this season. I realize that every single person would describe their Christmas differently. Their likes, dislikes, beliefs, and the list goes on. But that doesn’t change a Truth. Christmas is declaring a Truth. And the Truth of Christmas time is so much bigger than our current experience and circumstances. And whether we realize it or not, whether we make it the center or a side note, whether we even believe it or not, the Truth of Christmas is Jesus, and that He is with us.

Christmas is an indisputable Truth and a reminder of just that - that Jesus is with us. Immanuel. That He came down in the raw, in the real, in the poop and the blood, the miraculous and the mundane. He experienced the silly, the fun and the festive, and He also experienced the sad, and the deep, and the painful.

He is the two sides to the coin. He holds the tension. He knows that in God’s Presence is the fullness of joy, and that as we are suffering, we are in God’s Presence. He is the King and the Baby. He is the Ruler and the Crucified. He is the life that is attained through death. He is LOVE.

And that is what is being highlighted to me during Advent this year. As I go through each week, taking time out, making space, being present, the tension gets very loud. Trying to hold my view, and your view, and make space for the rest of the world’s experience right now. I wrestle with how to give a voice to it all, how to honor God in it, how to love people in it, how to balance having so much going on at the same time. As we prepare, whatever that looks like for each of us, we cannot help but stumble into this wrestling match – for each of us it’s varied and personal and real. And He is with us.

He knew there was no easy answer. He knew there wasn’t a right slogan or a pat solution that would help us with this wrestle of life. He made us way too complex for that! He made each of us so unique and varied. He knew that only by coming, only by really Him personally being with each one of us, would we have access to the answer. And the answer is Him!

Jesus said, “In this world you will have troubles.” And we can all attest that this is true. But….He is with us and He has overcome this world.

So as Christmas Eve comes upon us, and we get ready to light the last candle of Advent, this is what stands out to me: Jesus is with us. Immanuel.

My prayer as you read this is….that you would feel His presence. That whether this moment is filled with excitement or suffering, you would know that He is with you. His love gives you permission to wrestle and grace for what that looks like. He joins in your laughter and wipes your tears. He knows what hurts, and He understands our why. We just get to be exactly who we are, and He is always with us.

And He is with us, also helping us to love our neighbors – giving us the patience and insight to honor their wrestling, the love to let them be in their process, and the understanding of how complex and different we all are. He is reminding us that He came for all of us, and that He asks us to love and let His light shine, because through this is how others will come to know Him.

So this holiday season, I wish you a season that is filled with the wonder of the Truth. The Truth that is the foundation below it all, that never changes, that we can count on, and that will never will leave or forsake us. Immanuel.

Thank you for being part of my community, and a wonderful piece of my life that I treasure! Much love to you today!

Matthew 1:18-25
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

About the Author

Jesus Calms the Storm | Mark 4:35-41

Pam Sand September 29, 2017

I have the absolute pleasure of leading the Kids’ Ministry here at CitySalt Church. And each week I am moved into extreme thankfulness and awe, just by being with our kids! I love seeing how they experience God, and getting to rehearse the Truths I have known my whole life with them, while seeing it through their eyes. I feel like it gives me a front row seat and such a fresh perspective, reminding me to “be like a child.” (Matt. 18:3)

And though teaching the kids isn’t all about me, God sure does meet me in the middle of it. Each week as I sit with Him and pray and get direction for the next Sunday lesson, He speaks to me and shows me more about Himself and the Word. It’s so fun.

Most recently, as we’ve been looking at Jesus’ life, He has been highlighting the relationship aspect to me. I have been struck anew by both Jesus’ relationship with the Father and the beautiful way they interact, as well as Jesus’ relationship with His friends.

My latest example is the story when Jesus calms the storm (Mark 4:35-41). A few really key points jumped out and grabbed me, and I am excited to share them with you.

The first thing that hit me was the disciples. Lately, I have been really relating to those guys! As you read , and put yourself into their sandals, it helps to get a feel for what was going on. Jesus had just finished preaching all day, and then had stepped aside with the disciples and explained the parables to them. He was tired! In verse 36 it says they took Him “just as He was” in the boat, and they headed across to the other side of the sea which was more remote. Jesus lay down in the back of the boat, with His head on a hard leather pillow, and slept.

Next, of course, the storm hits! And the disciples are freaking out! They had been on this sea before, and I am sure had seen storms come and go. For them to be fearful for their lives, you know it was a big deal. This is where it’s really fun to put yourself right in the story – with the boat going up and down, the huge waves, and the storm crashing all around. I wonder who finally decided to wake Jesus up? I wonder if they had a discussion first? Maybe they were hesitant to wake Him, because they knew He needed sleep? You know they were scared and possibly frustrated. You can tell they are upset with Him when they do finally wake Him, saying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

How many times in my life have I looked at circumstances that I have been praying for, that are HARD, and my prayers have turned into rebukes? “Jesus, why aren’t You doing anything? Why isn’t this changing? Why aren’t they healed? Don’t you care?” Let’s just say, I can relate to the disciples! Can you?

Jesus, of course, wakes up and rebukes the storm, saying, “Quiet! Be still!” (v. 39) and the wind died down and the storm was completely calm. What would that have been like to see? Again, the disciples were familiar with the water, and had most likely seen lots of storms come and go. Never had they seen one immediately calm down at a command! Wow!

The last part of this story is Jesus’ response to His friends. He does not talk about the storm. He instead asks them questions. See, they had been with Him through a lot, had walked miles and miles by His side, had heard Him teach and had seen Him perform many miracles already. So He used questions to help them see what they were believing…Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (v. 40)

This is the point of the story that I love. As I put myself in the story, I realized Jesus did not mention the storm or talk about the circumstances at all. He was reminding them what it’s really all about – having our eyes on Him, having faith, and believing Truth despite what is happening around us. You see, they had expectations. They expected His love to look a certain way, they expected Him to do certain things, and they judged His heart based on what they perceived as the outcome. His questions were reminding them who He was, and allowing them experience that Truth in the midst of the storm.

Again, I can relate! When I am praying with someone who is hurting or a circumstance that is complicated, I can focus on the storm. I can come up with the perfect plan or solution and then look for Jesus to accomplish it. I expect His love and actions to line up with my expectations. And when it doesn’t look like that’s happening, what do I do? I can get frustrated, I can doubt, I can start to partner with fear and question Jesus’ love. “Don’t you care?” I know I have certainly done all of these things.

What I take away from this story, though, is that Jesus didn’t say, “I will calm every storm in your life.” He instead directed the disciples’ focus back to Himself, and what they knew about Him. This highlights the real storm, which is not the circumstances but what is going on inside of us. The battle between fear and faith, between believing God is good and judging Him by the circumstances. The battle between knowing His heart for us and letting our fear be the lens to how we see Him.

There is a never-ending supply of storms. Jesus said, “In this world there will be trouble,” (John 16:33) but He doesn’t leave it there. He goes on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” This is where we can place our hope and our trust. His love will never fail us. In the midst of the storm, we can turn our eyes to Him and we can rehearse the truth: He is good. His love never fails. With Him all things are possible.

Thank You, Jesus, that You are with us in the storms of our lives. Thank You that we don’t have to rely on circumstances and we can let go of our expectations, and instead put our eyes on You. Thank You for the reminder of who You are, that “even the wind and waves obey You.” (v. 41) I bless each of us with the ability to tuck into You in the midst of the storms, as you help us live in the reality of Your love.

Matthew 18:3 (NIV)
And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

John 16:33 (NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

CitySalt Church

Celebrate Goodness