Author Archives: Lydia Floren

Loosening the Rocks (Rocks Series Part 2)

by Lydia Floren

In order to be free from a deep seated lie, it is necessary to immerse one’s self in truth, and for that truth to sink way down deep. When truth moves past our conscious thoughts, and buries itself into our hearts and spirits, it dislodges long-entrenched lies. Here are some ways to anchor truth into your mind/heart/spirit:

Repetition. Repeating truth over and over to yourself really helps to get it past the surface. For example, you could continually expose yourself to truth by any or all of the following:

Carry around a set of “truth cards.”
Program a message of truth into your phone.
Wear a bracelet, or other reminder
Write a reminder on your hand

The more creative and omnipresent your reminders, the more likely that the truth will be firmly implanted in your mind.

Different points of view. Instill truth by looking at the facts from different perspectives.

Do this on your own, by asking yourself questions. In the case of the perfectionism lie (“I must be perfect to be acceptable to God”), you could ask yourself, “What is perfect? Would I even know it if I saw it? Is my definition the same as God’s? What does God care about? What does the Bible say?”
Get an outside perspective. You might share your struggle with a trusted friend or advisor and ask for their point of view.

Multiple senses and learning methods. In order to learn something well, and have it really stick with you, involve as many senses and learning styles as possible. For example you might follow the adage “see one, do one, teach one.” Watching someone, then doing it, and then teaching it greatly reinforces what you learn. It also helps to absorb truth in different ways. You might

Read about a truth
Say it to yourself
Listen to a song about it
Watch a video that resonates that truth

The more methods you employ, the quicker the truth becomes part of you.

Memorization. The ultimate goal is to firmly implant truth in your memory. In my opinion, committing part of the Bible to memory has an impact greater than any other. The Holy Spirit works through God’s word in both the conscious and the subconscious mind, and is powerful indeed.

Reminders. No matter how you learn truth, remind yourself often of what you now know. It is kind of like waxing your car, so that the salt and debris of the road don’t corrode the metal. The truth might be in you, but it may fade a bit and need some buffing, to bring it back into present awareness.

If you abide in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32

What is your favorite way of loosening the rocks, and incorporating truth into your life?

Rocks In My Head: Rocks Series Part I

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by Lydia Floren

I have struggled with perfectionism a long time. Perfectionism is based in the false idea “you must be perfect to be OK.” This lie is embedded deep in my head, like a big rock surrounded by hard earth. In order to dislodge it, I have to chip away at the dirt and debris that surrounds it. With a boulder like this, it can take persistent effort to get it out of my thought process. But if I keep at it, sooner or later the rock will shift, and then shift a little more. Eventually, it will loosen to the point that it just tumbles down the hill, and out of my life. I experience a “paradigm shift”: a sudden change in the way I look at the world. It’s like a prism in the sun—when it turns, the light catches it at another angle, and a different color is revealed.

So far, my struggle with perfectionism has been a slow process. I’m not going to lie. I’ve been chipping at this problem for a long while, and I would love for it to roll on out of my life RIGHT NOW. But so far it hasn’t.

Truth seeps into my spirit, loosening the dirt. Day by day, the rock shifts, often imperceptibly. It is not until I step back and see the big picture that I can truly appreciate the progress God has made over the years. Slowly, steadily, He is dislodging this perfectionism lie from my life.

We all have big rocks in our heads, lies that have been ingrained in us for years. Some folks, like me,struggle with perfectionism. Others have “boulders” of blame, or negativism, or materialism. The process to extricate these lies can be arduous, because their tentacles wrap around many thought patterns. All the more reason to keep at it, and to occasionally look back, and see how far we have come.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

What rocks do you carry in your life? What truths is God using to dislodge those rocks?

Morning On The Marsh

Encountering God Our Father

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by Lydia Floren

When we step into God’s heavenly throne room for the first time, I imagine we will be juuuust a little bit intimidated. God’s “glory”—His powerful presence, His bright beauty—will surely take our breath away.

But here’s what I see happening next:

God glances down the great hall, and spies us near the door. His eyes light up, and a big grin spreads across His face. He steps down from the dais and strides toward us, arms open wide.

We, His children, we know that smile. We know those arms. We break into a run and race down that gilded throne room until we reach our Abba. He scoops us up, swings us around, smothers us in a big hug, and then carries us back up to His seat. Settled on His lap, we chatter away. He listens intently, His warm eyes never wavering, His strong arms encircling us. Once our words are spent, and any tears dried, He murmurs a few words in our ear–words of wisdom and encouragement, kindness and grace. He gives us a squeeze; we smile and nod. Then He puts us down, and sends us on our way.

God wants–and invites–this kind of encounter with us now. Every day. Isn’t this what WE also want?

Each morning, choose to enter your Father’s presence, confident of His warm welcome! Soak in His love and wisdom. Stay in His arms long enough to be restored and refreshed. And then joyfully walk along the path He has shown you.

Be loved. And then love.
Soak in God’s love and shine!

“You encircle me from back to front, placing your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5 NSV

Recent Post: All I Have Needed Thy Hand Hath Provided

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided

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by Lydia Floren

Can we really count on God to meet all of our needs?

YES.

Really? How can we know this?

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.

Great is Thy faithfulness Lord unto me.

Thomas Chisholm wrote these words, and sang them with confidence because he made a habit of remembering. He chose over and over again to recall all the times that God had provided for him.

When doubts creep in, make a habit of remembering. Choose–and then continue to choose– to bring to mind God’s past faithfulness in your life, and in the lives of others. And then choose to thank God for His consistent loving care.

The longer we follow God, the louder we sing

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25

Related Posts: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Recent Series: NOMB Part I, NOMB Part II, NOMB Part III

No Shadow of Turning

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by Lydia Floren

It is so easy to doubt God in a crisis.

Is God really going to provide?

Is He really going to take care of my current situation? Or is it all up to me?

In his song “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” Thomas Chisholm answers these questions with a remarkable image:

Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee.

There is no shadow of turning with Thee.

What is a “shadow of turning?” When you are walking in the sunshine, you have a shadow. Every little motion you make is reflected by your shadow. Any time you turn a little to the right or left, your shadow also turns. And if, as you are going along, you notice that your shadow has changed, you can be sure that your direction has also shifted.

When Thomas Chisholm says “there is no shadow of turning with Thee” he is pointing out God’s consistency. God is steadily walking toward the light, toward Truth, and He invites us to follow. As we do, we are, naturally, in His shadow. If God were to get off course—to turn to the right or left—we would no longer be directly in His shadow. The shadow would have turned.

In whatever crisis we face, we can count on God. He will lead. He will provide. He will see us through. 100% of the time. There is no shift—not even a slight one– in God’s faithfulness to us.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV

Related Posts: Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Recent Series: NOMB Part I, NOMB Part II, NOMB Part III

Great is Your Faithfulness

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by Lydia Floren

I went to a funeral recently. A celebration, really, of a life lived walking with God. The service was mostly music, and during the course of an hour the 400 or so of us attendees (or should I say participants?) sang a variety of classic hymns. I haven’t sung those words in years, yet I still knew most of the songs by heart. I guess that’s what comes from occupying a Baptist pew 3 times a week for 18 years. As I sang verse after verse of those old hymns, their words “fell fresh” on my heart. What wisdom and encouragement those hymnists gave us! The words of Thomas Chisholm, in his song “Great is thy faithfulness,“ were particularly encouraging to my tired heart.

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father…”

What does “faithful” mean, exactly?

“Faithful” is a powerful word. A faithful person is consistent. Steady. Loyal. Constant. In our corner. A faithful friend is “there” for us. A faithful person has our back, no matter what. Chisholm declared God’s faithfulness. How exactly is He faithful?

God is faithful to Himself.

No matter what, God is

Consistently loving.
Steadily leading.
Loyally defending.
Constantly providing.
Always present.

And God is always good.

God is faithful to us. Whether we are faithful back or not, and He

Consistently loves us.
Steadily leads us.
Loyally defends us.
Constantly provides us.
Is always present with us.

No matter what our circumstance, God is always faithful to Himself, and to us.

And God always has our back.

Great is Your Faithfulness, O God my father.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Related Posts: Be Still and Know That I Am God,

Recent Series: NOMB Part I, NOMB Part II, NOMB Part III

Spring In The North Woods

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by Lydia Floren

Spring is different in the North Woods, more than any other place I have lived. It is greatly anticipated by all who live here (especially a southerner like me) but still arrives unexpectedly.

One day it is winter.

The next day, spring.

Overnight—or so it seems–tulips bravely push past the cold. Green grass peaks through melting snow.

The woods blush with leaf-buds.

And then apple trees blossom.

And lilacs.

Wisconsin spring is beautiful. And brief. Almost in the blink of an eye the flowers fade, the woods unfurl a startling array of greens.

Summer.

Wisconsin summers take my breath away. The days are warm, but not scorching. The grass is a lush carpet, caressing my bare feet. The cool evenings stretch until 9:30 or 10, inviting me to linger on the back porch to watch the dusk settle, feel the breeze, listen to the fading echoes of children at play.

I am ashamed to say that even in summer, I can become inured, and then immune to the season’s magnificence. But the change of seasons in the North woods stops me in my tracks. Every year. Every season. The shifts–winter to spring to summer to fall–shout God’s greatness, His creativeness, His startling sense of beauty.

I can’t help but wonder. And awe. And give thanks, not only for the beauty surrounding me, but for the God who made all of this—who made each of us, His pinnacle creations.

I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

Happy summer!

Big Decisions, No Regrets

NOMB Part III: Curbing the Impulse to Fix Myself

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NOMB (None Of My Business) Part III: Curbing the Impulse to Fix Myself

by Lydia Floren

One time, when I was particularly aware of my failures and inadequacies (this happens a lot to perfectionists, BTW), I decided I would make a list of of each of my faults. It took awhile. It was quite a list. Finally I finished, and then wrote this prayer in my journal:

“OK, God, here are all the things that need changing in me. Where do you want me to start first?”

Here was His answer: “Why don’t you start with the perfectionist part?”

I was stunned. And then I laughed.

Perfectionism wasn’t even on my list. But once I thought about it, perfectionism, in a sense, WAS my list. The very act of writing down that string of deficiencies was my attempt to perfect myself, albeit with God’s blessing. But God had different ideas of what needed fixing. He knew I needed to change my tendency to perfect myself at all, and the audacity, in fact, to think that I could. Suddenly, I saw how prideful and foolish it was to attempt any self-improvement on my own.

I not only need God’s strength to carry out any change in myself, I need His wisdom about what really needs changing. His words, His wisdom, didn’t come from within me, it came from Him, and it is changing my life. Slowly. Recovering from perfectionism is a long process.

Not only are we unable to fix others’ problems, we are not even very good at fixing our own. We are quite blind to our blind spots. We don’t perceive the fixed false beliefs deep in our psyches that are obstacles to freedom and joy. And when God shows us one of those blind spots, only He can help us navigate the complicated path needed to free us from the lies and lead us into truth.

This is why Paul says, “I don’t even judge myself.” God is The Master Physician. He alone sees the big picture of my life, the unseen pain and distorted misinformation that unconsciously drives destructive thought and action. He alone knows the best way to blast me out.

God has serious skills.

Recent Series: NOMB Part I: Letting God Be The Fixer, NOMB Part II: Curbing The Impulse To Fix Others