Am I Closer to God?

October 26, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” John 17:1 NLT

Do you want to get closer to God? If you are a Jesus-follower you probably ask yourself, “Am I as close to God as I should be?” For most of us, me included, that question can bring up a nagging feeling of failure. No. I am not as close to God as I should be or as I want to be.

So, what do we do about it? How will we know if we are growing closer to God?

Jesus sets the example in all things, right? It would be easy to dismiss His example of intimacy with God. He was Jesus! But what if we looked at His example for clues that could show us we are on the right track?

John Chapter 17 records a long prayer Jesus prayed just before Judas arrived with the religious leaders to arrest and crucify Him. Jesus covered a lot of ground in that prayer, but He begins with a statement that indicates His intimacy with the Father and gives us clues to evaluate our own. Curious?

After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.” John 17:1 NLT

Prior to this statement Jesus gave a “pre-battle pep talk” to His disciples at the Last Supper. He taught them about how to live without Him and about the coming Holy Spirit. Then He addresses the Father. Jesus’s prayer was an agreement with God’s will, a recognition of His timing and a commitment to His glory.

What does Jesus’s statement show us about how can you and I evaluate if we are growing closer to God?

Where is God When I am in Pain?

August 3, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalms 46:1 NIV

I’ve been on a journey these past few months! I had my final check-in with the orthopedist this week. The bones are healed, and it is “safe” for me to return to all normal activities, although it will take a bit more time to regain strength and flexibility as my wrists continue to heal. I’ve been sharing with you what I’ve been learning through this. But there is something I’ve learned that I hesitate to share.

No one seeks out pain. However, pain is part of the human experience. Physical pain has been my most recent experience, but I’ve been through other types of pain in my six decades. So have you. Each of us experiences different kinds of pain: emotional, relational, mental, financial.

When we are in pain we have one goal: End it! We want to end the pain. But in most cases, we have no control. I could not end the pain of two broken wrists and all the side effects. I had to walk through it just as you must walk through your pain. Where is God when you and I are in pain?

What I am Learning: How to Roll with the Unexpected

June 8, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

I don’t know about you, but the unexpected can rattle me. My current season is full of the unexpected. I am currently healing from surgery on my right wrist after a fall that broke both my wrists. The morning of the surgery I found myself praying, “God, I know there are going to be unexpected things in this process. Help me to roll with the unexpected.” I am glad I prayed that prayer!

So, here are a few of the unexpected things that I experienced. Because both of my wrists are injured, the medical staff did not want to add fluid to an already injured body location. Did you know that an IV in the foot is the other option? Well, I didn’t. I was surprised, but not rattled when the nurse told me about it. “Time to roll with the unexpected”, I thought. The initial “pinch” felt like any other IV. It hurt at first, but then it was just weird knowing it was there.

For the same reason, a blood pressure cuff was wrapped around my leg rather than my arm. IV on the right foot. Blood pressure cuff on the left leg. I was connected to that all day as well. Every so often the cuff would tighten around my leg to get a reading. What a strange sensation! Surprised, but not rattled. Another opportunity for God to come through with grace. And He did.

I have never had a cast before, so I have never had a cast removed before. As the nurse was removing my cast so that the surgery could take place, the whirr of the machine she was using to cut through the plaster filled the room.

So, a thing happened this week…

May 18, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37:23-24 NLT

Hello, Friend!

So, a thing happened this week. I took a wrong step and fell backward onto my basement floor. As I struggled unsuccessfully to regain my balance, I called out the name of Jesus. He answered me in this miracle. Somehow, as I was falling my hoodie transformed into a cushion for my head, so I did not bang my head on the cement floor. As I was at home alone, that would’ve been a really bad day. I am praising Jesus for his great mercy and kindness!

However, my right wrist took the brunt of the fall.

Ordinary Day. Extraordinary God.

April 27, 2024 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Luke 5:5 NLT

Have you ever missed a message from a good friend? Sometimes the days get so busy that I don’t check my messages, or I miss a phone call from someone I really want to hear from. Does that ever happen to you? It’s easy to get caught up in our everyday life and miss what’s really important, isn’t it?

Jesus showed up in Peter’s everyday life. After a normal night of regular employment, Peter didn’t know what would happen when he said YES to Jesus and cast his net. But that YES completely changed his direction. Peter desired something different after he said YES to Jesus. And he left the familiar seaside village, people, and nets to pursue it.

I didn’t know how my life would change when I said YES to Jesus all those years ago (more years than I’d like to admit!), but the trajectory of my life completely changed. Where I wanted to go was altered by my YES.

Do you notice how Jesus is showing up in your everyday life? How might He be inviting you to follow Him today? How might your direction change if you say YES to that invitation?

What is Balance Anyway?

November 11, 2023 Cathleen Zahradnik

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV

Would you say that your life is in balance? Where do you spend your most thought and energy? Where would you like to be spending your energy? What area needs your attention?

If I find I am obsessing over certain details of my life, then I need to remind myself that I have lost my balance. You know what I mean. You lie awake while your brain is trying to solve a problem, or put a relationship back together, or put things in order that are really out of your control. Believe me, I have been there. In fact, I have been there VERY recently. Okay, it was today!

What I have learned is that if something is out of balance, there is a good chance that I am attempting to do it in my own strength. When I make Jesus the center of that situation, then I know what requires my effort and attention. When something is out of balance in my life, I need to step back and evaluate if I am staying connected to Jesus. Am I relying on His strength or depending on my own? Am I deciding what I think is best without reference to to His Word and His Spirit?

How can I put Jesus at the center of everything? What does balance really look like anyway?

One of the most helpful things I heard in all of my education for ministry credentials came from one of my teachers. It wasn’t in the assigned curriculum, and I can’t remember which teacher said it. But this concept changed how I approach priorities. It is the key that helps me find my balance.

We tend to think of priorities in a linear fashion. It is a very western approach. You know what I mean. “God first, then my family, then…” The teacher used the white board and wrote JESUS in the center. He said that when Jesus is at the center, He will show us where to focus our attention at any given time. There may be times when my family should be my focus. There may be times when my ministry receives greater focus. There may be times when I need to spend more energy on my physical or mental health or finances. If Jesus is the center of my life, then He will show me the right thing at the right time. Jesus at the center is the key to balance.

Find your balance by finding your center. What area of your life seems to be out of control and weighing heavy on you? That is an area that is out of balance. How can you find your center?

One thing that has helped me is to seek God for a Scripture that speaks to that area of life. If finances are weighing on me, then I find scriptures that speak about God’s provision. (Mt 6:33, Phil 4:19) If I am struggling to find peace as I wonder how circumstances are going to play out, I look up words that remind me to trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3, Proverbs 3:5-6) If I am struggling over a family relationship, then I remind myself that love is what matters most and ask what love looks like in that situation. (Galatians 5:6, Mark 12: 29-31)

Here’s the thing: Any area where I am focused on trying to solve the problem or smooth out the situation is an area that is out of balance. When I put Jesus back in the center of that area the angst settles, and I can wait for Him to speak. When He does, I can see clearly what He is asking of me, and I receive the grace to do it. When Jesus is at the center, I am in balance.

Balance does not mean everything is even. When you envision an old-fashioned scale, balance means both sides are even. If we think of our priorities in a linear fashion, we imagine everything being equal and lined up one after the other. But if balance is about being centered, then the majority of weight is in the center, and I can focus on one area more than another without being out of balance.

Jesus at my center means that He reveals where I need to pay more attention. My weight is on Him and He helps me to care for the area He highlights. The other areas will receive the attention they need at the right time.

Trying to spin all the plates at the same time and keep everything going at the same speed just doesn’t work. Find your center and ask Him where He wants you to focus. That keeps you in balance. You can do it. Isn’t that so much more doable than trying to keep everything even?

Balance requires constant re-evaluation. Because you can’t keep everything at the same level all the time, you need to constantly be re-centering. Keeping your balance requires constant re-evaluation. Keep checking back to center and ask Him where you need to spend your thoughts, energy and time. The courage and wisdom to tackle each issue comes from the center. He will show you the right thing at the right time. Stay open to the Spirit’s prompting to shift your focus while keeping your weight on Jesus.

Dear Friend, balance is not easy, but it is doable. If you and I can remind ourselves to find our center, focus on what the Spirit says and be ready to re-evaluate we will find our balance and move forward with grace and peace. You can do it! You can find your balance with Jesus at the center.

Key Question: What does balance look like?

A Scripture to Consider: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV

A YES Challenge: Look at your schedule and evaluate where you are spending most of your energy. Prayerfully consider if that area is out of balance. What steps can you take to make Jesus the center of that life area?

Prayer: Lord, I realize that I tend to pay attention to certain areas of my life more than others. Help me to understand myself. Help me to see what needs to change so that I can make You my true center. I want to rely on You to show me where I need to focus my attention and energy so that I keep You at the center. I need Your guidance by Your Spirit. Amen.

Accept the Unexpected: A YES Lesson from Mary

September 3, 2022 Cathleen Zahradnik

'And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38

Mary went through a lot in her lifetime, but we never get the sense that she strayed from her trust in God. The evidence of trust in the young girl who said, "Be it done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38) remains until the last mention of Mary in Scripture, gathering with the first group of believers in Jerusalem, praying and waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). We can draw the conclusion that she was there and experienced the birth of the church with Peter and the others mentioned there.

So, what would be the secret to her staying power? How did she live the YES life through the ups and downs of so much change and challenge? Since Joseph is not mentioned past the time when, at twelve, Jesus was found in the temple talking with the teachers, it's likely she lost her husband at an early age. She witnessed her son straying from the normal life path for people of her community, becoming an itinerant preacher who gained a large following and stirred up strong opposition, until eventually, she stood at the foot of the cross and watched him die. And yet, if she was praying with the early believers she must have also accepted and experienced the joy of his resurrection. What was her secret? What can we learn from her about living the YES life?

In all these things Mary learned to accept the unexpected.

Celebration

August 6, 2022 Cathleen Zahradnik

Today, Lord, I celebrate You:

In the sun and the heat,
In the cold and the chill,
When the sun rises over the mountains,
When the sun sets beyond the ocean.

I celebrate You:

In the voices that I hear,
In the songs of the birds,
In the faces that I see,
In the colorful variety of flowers.

Why Or What?

August 28, 2021 Cathleen Zahradnik

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I'm not usually one to panic. I'm usually the steady one, but not in the story I am about tell you! How do you handle a season of unknowing? Do you scramble to figure out what is happening? I often feel like if I can understand why something is happening, then I can be at peace, but that is not always possible and it wasn’t possible in this instance. Maybe you have a had a similar experience.

Tom and I were on a cruise to celebrate our thirtieth anniversary. I know, a cruise sounds luxurious, but this was the first time we had ever experienced seas so rough that it was sometimes frightening. Not only that, the motion was making Tom feel so sick that much of the time all he was up to doing was lying in our cabin to rest or watch movies. This morning Tom was hoping to feel better so we decided to leave the cabin for a while and let the steward attend to it. I had to finish something, so Tom went ahead of me up to the relatively quiet lounge with a panoramic ocean view where we expected to find a place to read for a while. When I went up to the lounge a few minutes later, I couldn't find him.

Your Predicament and Mine: What is the Faith-Filled Choice?

July 25, 2020 Cathleen Zahradnik

Reopening. There's a word we never expected to be using to describe our towns, our nation, our churches. Reopening is the current word, and with it there are so many questions. Too fast? Too slow? Should we hold this event? Should we go to this place? Should we wait to do this? Go ahead with that plan? Is this the right time? Yeah, a lot of questions. And they affect each one of us differently.

How are you facing the reopening questions in your life? Are you one to forge ahead or do you prefer to hunker down for a bit longer? What about the people in your life? What kind of reopening decisions are they making and how do you feel about them?

This reopening process puts each one of us in the same predicament with different details. How do we handle this? Let me propose a guiding Scripture. If something is repeated in the Bible it is worth paying attention to and this verse is quoted verbatim twice in Proverbs:

“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Prudent. Now, there's a word we don't use that often. To be prudent is to be "careful in the way that you make decisions or spend money so that you avoid unnecessary risks" (dictionary.cambridge.org) Prudent people avoid unnecessary risks. Notice the word unnecessary. There are real dangers. There are risks that must be taken in order to live in the world, in order to live for God, in order to fulfill His purposes. There are times when God asks us to face the dangers head on. But then, there are the times when we are hard-headed, selfish and stubborn. Those are the times when we ask ourselves to face things head on.

There are people who may declare that they are bold and faith-filled, but are actually foolish and taking unnecessary risks. They aren't being prudent, they are putting God to the test. When we take unnecessary risks, we put ourselves out in places that God has NOT asked us to be and call it faith. Boldness takes the risks that are necessary to accomplish God’s purpose, not our own.

True faith looks to God for guidance and wisdom. WISDOM. Wise people know what is appropriate for the situation. What is wisdom? The way I like to define wisdom is "to see things from God’s perspective". When I ask Him to help me pull back and see things from His vantage point, that is when I begin I to understand what I need to do.

I am foolish, a "simpleton" as the Proverbs say, when I "go blindly on", when I rush ahead without asking for help. Then I presume to know what God, or someone else, wants and take unnecessary risks. I have been there and you have too so we might as well admit it.

So, what do we do now? Do we stop all activity until things are absolutely safe? It doesn't seem like that will be happening anytime soon. And what do we do when others make reopening choices that they are comfortable with and we are not? How do we navigate this unusual and frightening reality?