Look Up

I’ll never forget trudging across my college campus during the coldest month of the year-January. Bowling Green State University would never receive the reward for the prettiest campus in the country. It was flat, with a tree here and there, and when the wind would rip through, you could barely catch your breath. I wouldn’t see that many people on my walks to class because I’d have my head down, wrapped tightly in scarfs, with only my eyes showing. I don’t think I saw other students going to and from class until things thawed out sometime in April.

The last few years have been tough for all of us. I sometimes feel that we’re all like my “younger me” wrapped in scarfs, with only eyes showing, shuffling along, hoping things will get better.

I love this version of Colossians 3:1-3: “So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (The Message Translation of the Bible, Eugene Peterson)

This verse is a loving and gentle push for us to stop trudging around in our weariness and frustration. Stop looking at all our problems, irritations, and annoyances. Quit living in discontentment. Practice setting your heart on Christ, which means striving to put heaven’s priorities into daily practice. It means we focus our hearts on what’s eternal, rather than the temporal.

How in the world do we see things from Jesus’ perspective? We walk with Jesus. We study the Gospels and learn from Him. We recognize that we are raised with Christ and should act just as Jesus did! We talk to Jesus constantly and ask Him for help. Jesus lived in supernatural power and if we know Christ, we have been given the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. We have the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in us! The Spirit helps us lift our eyes to the eternal and see things from his perspective. We learn to walk through these challenging days because of our hope in Christ, not the circumstances.

Here is a quote to sit with: “Love heavenly things; study them; let your hearts be entirely engrossed by them.” (Clarke) 

Attitude check. How are you really doing? Seek Christ. See things from his perspective. Get your eyes off the ground and stop shuffling along. He will help You get through anything that comes your way. Look up. 

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Tired of Being Tired

I’m tired of COVID. I'm tired of talking about COVID. It seems to be a topic of conversation, no matter how much we want it to go away. I'm tired of being cooped up, tired of being scared, tired of being careful, and tired of masks, tests, and more masks and tests.

The fatigue of COVID is even more significant for health care professionals and those who have been affected by the loss of life due to COVID. It has affected so many people in so many ways! There is so much sadness and grief due to this horrific illness. 

What’s particularly tough with COVID is the prolonged stress that we ALL have felt. To top that off, there continues to be uncertainty about what’s next. Will there be another variant? How will we personally be affected by COVID? Given these two questions, how will we cope?

I’m tired of being tired! Maybe you are too.

I believe that God gives us instructions for our daily life and truly wants to meet our specific needs. He knew that humans would have times where we would be worn out, wiped out, and basically exhausted. Jesus seems to speak personally into what most of us might be feeling: 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30, The Message

Did you notice that Jesus speaks specifically to “being tired?” He literally invites us to come and spend time with Him and He promises to help recover our life. He’ll show us how to rest and walk through life with his grace. Jesus desires to walk closely with us and help carry our burden.

Personally, Jesus has carried me closely and walked with me through many a burden over the years. I honestly don't know what I'd do without Him. I know He will continue to do so all the days of my life. He knows my weariness with COVID. He knows your weariness. In fact, Jesus knows all of what you and I are going through! He literally loves us like crazy and wants to link arms and carry our burdens. Receive this invitation from the One who knows and loves you most.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio. 

Martin Luther King Jr. Reflections

Today, we honor Martin Luther King Jr. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929. King experienced racism from an early age, and those events stayed with him and eventually brought him to live a life of activism and promoting change.

Although none of us have had the joy of being in King’s presence, we do have many speeches and quotes that reflect his heart, passion, and life.

Today, I invite you to reflect on just a few of Martin Luther King’s words. Sit with these quotes. Pray about them. Consider how and why MLK might have said what he did. Allow God to challenge you through King’s life and words below: 

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Challenge: How do you need to keep moving forward? How do you need to persevere in your life right now? Pray that God will help you take that next step.

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness."  Challenge: Do you have any lingering bitterness? Pray that God will help you get rid of all bitterness and help you love, even when it’s hard to love.  

“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.” Challenge: Perhaps, MLK knew that it was tough to forgive, especially considering how he was treated. But he knew he MUST forgive. Will you forgive, even when it’s hard?

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Challenge: Hebrews 11:1says “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” King knew he didn’t know the whole picture. But he had a relationship with God and faith to trust God in what He didn’t see. What’s your one step? Just take it. God will give you confidence.

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? ‘But….the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” Challenge: How might God give you this same mindset? Consider the verse in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility, consider one another as more important than yourselves.” Ask yourself “If I don’t help, who will?”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” Challenge: Have you decided to stick with love? Day after day after day? Ask God to help you stick with love.

“We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” Challenge: Throughout the Bible, God tells us not to fear, but to have courage. Will you trust God and not give in to fear? Build your dike of courage!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Crummy Attitude Fast

Starting this week, our church is challenging us to 21 days of prayer and fasting. I’m wondering what to fast from. Who in the world wants to say goodbye to a daily Dr. Pepper, chips and salsa, or a good cookie?

Fasting is voluntarily reducing or eliminating your intake of food, drink, or another action for a specific time and purpose. Many people fast from social media as a means to find focus and prioritize their time. Others fast from that favorite sweet or daily coffee, that if taken out of our life, would be painfully hard.

It’s during a time of prayer and fasting that God can teach us so much as we practice self-control and patience. We let go of our “loves” and instead cling to God as our main “love.”. It’s in those moments, we draw closer to God and become less attached to the item we’re fasting from.

As we start 2022, it might be a great time to fast from anything that hinders us from being the best possible version of ourselves. Consider these crummy attitudes that are worthy of a fast:

Grumbling- Complaining about something or someone in a bad-tempered way

Holding a grudge- a persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult/injury

Gossip- Unconstrained conversation or reports about other people involving details that are not confirmed as true.

Critical Spirit- A critical spirit is difficult to spot in ourselves but easy for others to spot in us. Tears down those around us and rob us of our own ability to enjoy life. Overly critical and judgmental.

If you could pick one of these attitudes to fast from, which one would it be? How could fasting from this action, help you be a better version of yourself?

God wants to change us from the inside out. For me, I have seen how fasting and prayer can strengthen my relationship with the Lord as I become more desperate for Him. Fasting reveals my sin as well. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight! I realize how hard it is to let go of that food or attitude that took precedence in my life. It’s in those private moments with God that I plead with Him to change me and transform me. 

I’ve picked the crummy attitude that I’m going to fast from. What about you? Let's start 2022 with a better version of ourselves with God's help!

May God give us more and more of Himself as we fast from these lesser things. May God show us what masters us and slows us down. May God help us make necessary changes in our lives. May God give us the courage to say no to things that distract us mentally, spiritually and physically. May we thank Him for what He teaches us in the process. Amen.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Engaging With God in 2022

I've heard some describe 2022 as 2020.3. It's easy to be a bit cynical after the last few years. Perhaps, it's a bit hard to look with expectations and hope into our 2022 lives considering the last few years. 

Here are a few thoughts about engaging in your relationship with God and finding hope in the coming year.

Spend time with God- That’s right, spend time with God. God is not just this being out in the universe that is legalistic, distant, and cold. God is very near and longs for a personal relationship with you. A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  What comes to your mind when you think about God? Are those thoughts your opinion or an accurate assessment of God?

I encourage you to open your Bible (or Bible app) every day in the coming year. When I start my day reading Scripture, it changes me and changes my day! Read the book of John in the Bible if you’re just starting out. Read a Proverb a day. (There are 31 of them!) Get involved in a bible study. When I study God’s Word, I learn more about who God is and who I am. I realize He is God, and I am not. I clearly see his desire to be personally involved in my life. That gives me such confidence and hope as I venture into 2022! Prayer: Dear Lord, Please help me engage in a deeper and closer walk with you in the coming year. Show me what that looks like.

Grow in Prayer- Prayer can be quite intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Many grew up believing it was the pastor or priest that prayed, not the typical person in the pew. Yet prayer is all about relationship. Relationship with God. He longs to talk to you, and He longs for you to talk to Him. That’s prayer. We can talk to God about anything…and He listens.

I encourage you to take time each day for prayer as well as bible study. I use a large, lined journal and have a section where I write down those things that are on my heart that day. Writing it down just helps me. Then, I have a section where I list out prayers that I pray every day: Praying for family, those that are sick/hurting, those that are grieving, my church, and the military/government/country. Prayer: Dear Lord, Show me how I can grow in my prayer life this year. Help me to see not only the joy of prayer but the power in praying!

Be disciplined with social media- The more social media is a part of your life, the more power it has to affect you adversely. Do you compare yourself with so and so? Do you wonder if so and so will comment on your post? Do you ache for likes? Do you worry if you don't "like" someone's post? Do you struggle with FOMO if you’re NOT on social media? Maybe it's time for a break! I will take regular breaks from social media. This little discipline has helped me immensely keep my mind focused and keep my priority on God and those precious to me. Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us to sort through all the information that comes our way so we can determine what’s important and what’s not important. Guide us toward your good purpose for our lives.

Believe God for big things- What do you want to see happen that only God can do? We often limit our expectations, because we can’t possibly believe that God can do what feels so impossible. Yet, God delights in us trusting Him in everything, even our wildest dreams, expectations, and hopes. What are those things in your life that only God can do? Pray: Dear Lord, Help me to trust You in all things, even what feels impossible. Help me never stop praying!

With each new year, lots of folks vow to become better versions of themselves. Honestly, even with the best of intentions, our flesh will fail us. We need God. I encourage you to engage with God in 2022. Be blessed!

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.